Hollywood is not REAL beauty, WE are!!!

I have not posted in way too long, and for that, I apologize!  It isn't until I start doing something like this, that I realize how little time I have for myself (or how bad my laptop at home is-so bad I can't even use it to get online to update my blog! I need a new one desparately)!  Alas, I'm afraid this is not a top priority for me or my husband- he would MUCH rather buy a new tempur-pedic bed and is feverishly working/hustling his way towards that.  I, on the other hand would like to work on plain old, boring paying off debt. You see, my husband happens to be an expert hustler and can wheel and deal his way from owning a ten speed bike all the way to owning a 2001 Monte Carlo.  Which is what he owns now.  And that's kind of how he got it.  Not really.  But basically.  But he is trying to hustle his way to a new bed for us right now.  So that's his main goal right now.  Oh, my knight in shining - blue jeans.

Anyways...  So something has been weighing heavily on my mind that I think deserves a bit of attention and discussion...The relentless, tasteless and shameless photoshopping and cropping of the ever beautiful celebrity/model in magazines and online images.  I mean, seriously.  This is just getting out of hand.  As if celebrities aren't made pretty enough with hours worth of makeup and hair done on them before a photo shoot with designer clothes and stylists to boot, the magazines find reason to photoshop, edit, crop, do anything they can to make that person look perfect.  Really?  Is it really that bad to show them with a wrinkle?  So what if their waist isn't 23 inches around?  So what if they don't have chicken legs?  And forget about them letting something like a little cellulite get past their keenly trained perfecting eyes.  God. Forbid.  You know what?  I WANT to see a little cellulite on one of these models/actresses!  I mean, I don't even know if these people are even what they look like in their pictures!  For all I know, with all this photoshopping going on these people could be down right nasty in person.  Before you know it people are going to be going to plastic surgeons asking to be sliced and diced so that their body can look like it did when they were 12 again!  This is just getting out of hand.

Nobody living a normal life has thighs the same circumfrence as their calves.  And why should someone feel the need to go on one of those "cleanses"drinking nothing but juiced grass for a week?  You know what I wanna know?  How many calories do these models eat a day?  For real.  In order to maintain those child sized waists there's no way they can be on a healthy diet.  And when a celebrity who is on a normal diet is photographed for a magazine, can we NOT photoshop them to make them smaller than they really are?  That's just stupid.  Why create unrealistic ideals to what a woman "should" look like in order to be considered beautiful?  Are ya with me ladies? 

This obsession we have with celebrity is so rediculous (totally not saying I don't get suckered into reality tv the way the rest of the world does-because God knows I love me some Real Housewives), but the way we idolize celebrities and models because of their beauty is so not healthy for our mentality.  Do they really look THAT bad in their before pictures???  Hell to the no.  So please, don't think twice about eating that fry because Britney Spears looked so good on her cd cover or because that model looked so good in that magazine.  Those pics aren't even legit.  You're a real person with a real life and a REAL body.  Nobody looks that perfect.  Hollywood should not define beauty, real life women should.

Can I get an Amen?

Thank you and good night!
xoxo,
Jess

A Little of This and That

Well, I brought Ace to the groomers last weekend for his first time, and boy!  Was that an ordeal for the groomer!  She took a full 3 hours to get a 7 pound puppy done!  He REALLY didn't enjoy it!  But he looks adorable!  However, the rest of the weekend and the last few days he has been acting weird, and whining ALL THE TIME.  I brought him into the vet to get him looked at and he seemed to think Ace wrenched his back while squirming at the groomers so he gave him some pills for the pain.  What a world of difference!  My little guy is back to normal! 

Easter was so great this year and my little girl looked so big compared to all her younger cousins!  It's always so nice to see the whole family. 

The night before Easter my little one was with her dad for his family's Easter, so me and Andy and a couple friends went out for a couple drinks...and a couple turned into a few, and a few turned into too many.  We were up a little too late for it being the night before Easter.  We sure took advantage of having no kids for one night and had so much fun!  It doesn't happen very often that we actually get to go out with our friends so it was a good night! 

It's Thursday afternoon and I am taking tomorrow off to for a cleaning day at home.  Our house has gotten to the point (again) where it looks like a tornado has blown through it.  So it will be nice to give it a good pickin' up. 

My hubby will be out of town this weekend.  Thinking of seeing if my mother would like to babysit one so I can have a night to myself.  I was thinking about trying to go out with some girlfriends again, but then I thought that a night alone would do me good.  Seriously, I treasure my alone time.  It just never happens. 

I'm reading a new book called "You Don't Sweat Much For a Fat Girl" With the caption on the cover: Observations on life from the shallow end of the pool.  It's by Celia Rivenbark.  She writes just like I do, a style that I have come to love in myself and with anyone else I know that writes this way.  Basically whatever comes to her mind, the way she says it is the way she writes it.  Her book is just a collection of short stories from her life or opinions she has or things she's heard.  It's halarious so far.  Her chapters have witty titles such as "Menopause Spurs Thoughts of Death and Turkey" "Twitter Woes: I've Got Plenty of Characters, Just No Character", "Kiosk Bee-otch Makes Mall Trip Treacherous", "Taking The Class Out Of Yoga", and so on and so forth...I'm on page 40 and already in love with the book.  This woman is halarious.  I highly recommend for a light read. 

One day I plan on writing a book like this.  One day...  I also plan on making myself rich.  Maybe that will be the way...  Until then we'll just take it one day at a time and live paycheck to paycheck, not quite Low Class, not quite Middle Class.  We are the Forgotten Class.  The ones who aren't quite making enough to live comfortably from paycheck to paycheck, but make JUST ENOUGH to somehow get by and not qualify for any kind of assistance- like free lunches for our kids at school or reduced rates at public daycares.  It is what it is.

I'm taking off...Take care.

xoxo,
Jess 

What's on my mind...

On my mind:

1.  Tonight I am dragging my husband with me to go to the re-release of Titanic in 3D!!!  I am soooo excited! 

2.  I'm also pretty excited about tomorrow-Ace, my shihtzu/poodle puppy, has an appt at the vet to get all caught up on his shots and an appt at the groomers.  I can't wait to get him all buzzed!  His hair is getting so long and he stinks!  (Our tub has been out of commission because of the bathroom remodel so we haven't been able to give him a bath in a couple weeks!)  I'm going to have them buzz him all over but leave his little goatee (hehe) so he can still be the badass that he is ;)

3.  Tomorrow night after all my errands and everything I'm finally able to have a couple drinks with one of my best girlfriends (who I actually met through my husband because she is one of HIS best friends-weird, I know, but it somehow works).  I miss her so it will be nice to catch up!

4.  This weekend will be the first weekend in a long time that I won't have Isabelle (until Sunday at least) and it feels weird.

5.  We got our tax return back!!!  wooo hoo!!!  It feels good to be able to pay our bills without struggling to do so or stretching our bank account so thin for once!

6.  Its Easter this Sunday and I can't wait to see my family.

7.  I spent $50 on easter candy and a couple little toys for Isabelle-and if my husband knew that he would KILL ME.

8.   Our bathroom remodel is ALMOST complete and I am getting so anxious for that project to be over.  And it looks SO much better than it did before!  Hopefully I'll be able to post pics soon!

9.  Once again, I am writing this post while at work...it's 4:00 on a Friday, can you blame me?!

10.  Just got my hair highlighted and trimmed yesterday (finally!) and I'm loving it!  I did a full foil of bleach highlights and it turned out great!  I have naturally blonde hair, but over the years it has turned to more of a dishwater blonde.  I like being a bright blonde, it's what I'm used to.  But please, dont peg me for one of those overly tanned, fake nails, extreme make up, cleavage baring, take pictures of myself all the time hussies...I'm not that at all.  I don't tan, the last time my nails were fake was for my wedding which was last August, and I don't wear a lot of make up. 

11.  I need to get my eyebrows done...ew, they look gross.

Well, I suppose that will do it for this edition of pointless ramblings!  Thanks for tuning in folks!  Until next time...

xoxo,
Jess

Double Standards?

Sorry people!  I'm alive!  I've been crazy busy lately with life and haven't had time to write!  I'm being naughty right now and writing while I work so forgive me if the writing seems a bit broken up.  I wanted to write about something that irks me, and I KNOW others feel the same way but don't necessarily say anything for fear of backlash towards them or offending someone.  However, I tend to state my opinion a lot and I'm always up for a good, friendly, informative, rational, intelligent debate.  I state my opinion when it's something that I feel strongly about and I know I would stand behind no matter what.  I state my opinion when I truly believe it is a rational opinion/argument.  I stated this opinion on my status on FB the other day and, not to my surprise, I had a lot of people backing me up.  Also not to my surprise, there were a few people that didn't agree.  Here it is:

Why is it ok that there are dating sites strictly for black people(BlackPeopleMeet.com, Blacksingles.com, etc), a tv station called Black Entertainment and articles going around about how black people have been killed by white people, but if there was a dating site for whites only, or a tv station called White Entertainment or articles about how a white person got mugged or killed and the main point of the article was that that offender was black there would be extreme backlash &/or law suits, etc? This doesn't make any sense to me....

That was my status that I posted.  It just seems like such a double standard to me.  This is exactly what black people  fought against white people doing for years!  They fought for equality.  This does not seem like equality to me.  And please, I want to make this clear, do NOT think I am racist in any way shape or form.  This opinion is regarding Equality, not races.  This post was brought on by recent articles I have seen being circulated on FB about 5 black people that have been killed (mind you, over the last about 40 YEARS) and their assailants were white and never charged with the crime.  The whole article focuses on the fact that it was black people that got killed by white people.  However, if it was switched around, this would be called racist and "stereotyping."  This post was also brought up because of ads I have seen on tv for those Black dating sights.  There are no White dating sights, and there never could be.  I just don't understand how people can think this is fair??

So there you have it.  That is my rant for the day...actually, I have a few more!  But we won't go there right now (there isn't enough time in the day!)  I hope this got you thinking.  I hope you understand where I'm coming from.  I also hope that this issue gets more attention than it has been sometime in the near future.  I just don't understand why this is not addressed more?  Is it just me?....

Until next time people!  Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!
And don't forget to stand up for what you believe.  "I would rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not." -Kurt Kobain.  Love that quote.

xoxo,
Jess

Crazy, Beautiful Life

So I will start of today's post by saying that my outfit does not match, like at all.  Such is the life of a perpetually late mom.  Which got me thinking about how crazy my life is!  Usual day: wake up, get myself and daughter ready, bring her to daycare, drive to work, pick her up after work, drive home, Monday nights she has dance, make dinner, take care of the usual house chores (picking up, feeding the dog and cat, laundry, which is never ending!), etc.  That doesn't include errands, grocery shopping, doctor appointments (which there have been a lot of lately for me-I'll explain that in a minute), driving Isabelle to her Nana & Abba's (her dad's parents) so she can go to bible study, paying bills, yard work and the constant repairing, remodeling and upgrading we are doing to our house.  Whew!  No wonder I have hardly any time to squeeze in date nights with my girlfriends!  Life is nuts, but life is good! 

One compalaint I do have right now is my health issues I've been having lately.  A couple months ago I decided to go onto Chantix and quit smoking (yay me!).  At the same time is when we started renovation on our bathroom.  I'm talking all-out, full-on top to bottom new EVERYTHING in our bathroom.  We tore out the tub, shower, vanity, toilet and floor and wall tiles.  Which, as you can imagine, caused a ton of dust to fly around.  I started having breathing problems shortly after-wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, the whole works.  It got so bad I was perscribed an inhaler and given prednisone (which helps with inflammation of the airway).  A couple weeks later I was so short of breath I had to go into the e.r.  I went home and scrubbed and cleaned my ENTIRE house TOP TO BOTTOM.  Every nook and cranny was picked up, dusted, vacuumed, wiped the heck down.  The bathroom is completely blocked off now, all dust is kept under control and the house is constantly vacuumed and wiped clean.  I'm STILL having these breathing problems a month and a half later even woke up one night covered in hives and itching all over. We (me, the docs, my parents) think it has to be some kind of allergy.  So I am headed to the doctor tomorrow for the some breathing tests and chest x-rays and hopefully referred over to do allergy testing, which I so desparately need.  OK-there's my rant.  I had to get it out.  It's been bugging me for so long and I'm just so sick of it! 

But let me think about the many things that I have to be so thankful for shall we:

-My amazing daughter who has saved me in so many ways
-My amazing husband-he is my rock
-My family and great friends
-My overall good health
-My job (and I'm so lucky to have a job that I actually LOVE!)
-Owning our own house!
-A realiable car
-Sping coming early
-A comfy bed
-Good books
-Food in our home
-Being able to pay our bills (we struggle, but we get by)
-My hearing and sight

There are so many things to be greatful for in life that I feel guilty complaining about the things that I do...But sometimes you just have to vent!  Life is good and I know it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking what I have forgranted. As my mom says "I'm not sayin, I'm just sayin..."

I'll end with a little quote that my grandma told me when I was younger and I was going through a hard time dealing with my parents divorce.  I'll never forget what she told me: "God will never give you anything that you can't handle."

xoxo,

Jess

Blog cherry...POPPED!

OK, so the blonde me is still learning this whole "blog thing" and apprently the name of my blog profile is "Aaaaaaand here we go!!!"  Which was not intended.  (Anyone know how to change that???) But well, there it is.  So the whole reason I wanted to start a blog is because of my love of writing and journaling.  I've always been a reader and a writer and love reading memoirs and novels, mostly pieces that were written by the author about themselves, true-life stories, that kind of thing.  I've always thought about writing a book, but have thought twice about that (my life is probably not that interesting to write about), but I am considering going to school for journalism-that is when my life settles down and my family is on a smooth track.  I'm writing this blog on my lunch break so please, bear with me.
 
OK-so, what to write in a blog?  I'll start with the first thing that pops in my head.  I am in the process of registering my 5 year old daughter for kindergarten which she will start in the fall.  First off-HOLY CRAP, I have a FIVE year old, and she's going to be in KINDERGARTEN!  You know the cliche when they see "They grow up too fast"...well, it's true, they really do.  My little girl is THE MOST important thing to me and to see her growing up so fast and so well adjusted to her life and everything thrown her way makes me very proud as a mother.  She is such a happy little girl and I can't help but give my self a little credit for that (insert smiley face here). 

Our life consists of family time-me, my husband (Andy), my daughter and my step-daughter who is 8.  I pretty much feel like I'm living the life of a 40 year old (never going out, activities with the kids, work, and keeping the house up).  It is what it is.  But we have a damn good life and I'm really happy with where things are at.  HOWEVER......the housekeeper (tee-hee) needs to pick it up the slack!  We purchased our house within the last year and have quickly realized how much harder it is to keep an entire house clean compared to a little apartment.  It gets away from you so fast and before you know it, a hurricane has blown through your entire home!  It's actually pretty rediculous right now because we are remodeling our bathroom (by "we" I mean my husband and his dad), and it's taking a while.  And, we'll just say that these two men are not the cleanest people.  But they're getting the work done and learning along the way and I'm very proud of them.  And I really don't know where we would be without Andy's dad in the whole purchase of the house and all the repairs and remodeling we have had to do and are going to do.  He has been amazing to us and we're very lucky to have him. 

My lunch break is running short and I have to get caught up on my current events and entertainment news (I love yahoo news!) so hopefully I'll be able to tweak this thing and add more later!  Thanks for stopping by my blog, and I promise things will get more interesting-and at times a little juicy (insert winky face here).  STAY TUNED!!!

xoxo,
Jess