Halloween Yarn Wreath

I've been getting my holiday freak on lately, peeps.  I'm out of control.  The other night at dinner, J said to me, "I just realized it's SEPTEMBER & you have our house decorated for Halloween." And I smiled, beaming & replied, "Yes, I know.  This is me, baby.  You don't have to agree."  To which he smiled & said, "I know."  I think he secretly likes it.

I am a yarn wreath-a-holic.  You can see my previous yarn wreaths here & here.  I've made numerous more for friends & gifts.  I've also had people literally knock on my door to ask where they can buy one.  Rad, right?

I usually make my yarn wreaths on my own.  Collin & the other kids never are involved & I usually want my yarn wreaths perfect looking.  Then I saw these wooden Halloween shapes begging to be hot glued onto my wreath & I decided our Halloween wreath would be kid created.

Supplies: A foam or straw wreath.  You can find these at any craft supply store.  (Veteran tip: buy the straw wreaths.  They are wrapped in plastic anyway & significantly cheaper than the foam ones.  This one cost me $2.00.  The foam one was $8.00.)  A skein of yarn.  I usually get a jumbo one & end up using about 3/4 of it.  A Sharpie.  A hot glue gun.  A wreath hanger or ribbon to hang your wreath with.  And lastly, embellishments.  If I hadn't seen these wooden shapes, I would have purchased these cute little black fabric bats they had.  Possibilities are endless.  You can do anything.  Hot glue is a miracle invention bestowed upon us crafters.  Use it!

I sat down & strung my yarn around my wreath during an episode of Real Housewives.  I'm a pro at this, so it only took me an hour.  If it's your first time, it may take you a few hours.  After I was finished, I set aside the wreath for the next day when we would have all the kids together at Abuelita's house in Oxnard for MJ's birthday.

Then?  Then, we colored.  Got our crafty craft on.  I poured markers on the table & let them have at it.

I used a Sharpie to write each of their names on the shape they colored & then hot glued those bad boys onto the wreath so they could see right away how their wreath would look since they wouldn't be able to see it on the door for another few weeks. 

When J, Collin & I got home, I grabbed some ribbon & hung the wreath on our front door.  I don't care that it's September.  Halloween is being celebrated in this house. 

Madison's Ninth Birthday

J, Collin & I travelled to Oxnard, CA this weekend for MJ's birthday. MJ is J's oldest & she & her sister, Andie live with their Mom there.  It was a small party with just the family & of course crafts because, duh.

A few days before, we had gone to Joann's & all of their Halloween stuff was 50% off, so I picked up a few wooden Halloween masks for the kids to all color.  I also picked up supplies for our Halloween wreath (blog coming soon).  The masks ended up costing us around 0.26 each!!!

The girls love anything crafty & as it turns out, so does J.  Homie was serious about his mask.  Even Abuelo Sosa got in on the mask action.  This is why I love crafts.  Everyone can participate & have fun.

After we finished our masks & yarn wreath contributions, it was cake time.  Collin's & Andie's favorite part.

MJ & Andie have always just welcomed Collin into their lives.  It's so sweet to see them encourage him to participate & even wrestle with him on the floor.  They just love on him & are the best big sisters. 

This was Collin's first time meeting J's Abuelo & Abuelita, too & I was a little nervous.  I wanted them to like Collin & see him as another grandchild.  I totally underestimated my kid's charm.  Abuelo & Abuelita instantly took to Collin.  For serious, it was like he has always been a part of their lives.  He cuddled with Abuelita & even let her rock him.  And he watched the PBR with Abuelo.  It was so magical to me to hear them both exclaiming, "Ooooh!!" at the TV each time a rider was bucked off.  

No posing speech was necessary here.  They literally just hang on each other like this.  I know it won't last forever, but I'm gonna soak it up while I can.

Picnic at the Park

Collin & Aiden get seriously stir crazy on some days. We are lucky to have a park within a five minute driving distance, so I've started taking them there on crazy toddler days. We packed a picnic lunch, lots of water & a couple of shovels & let them have at the park. They really like it. So much so that it's always a giant fight when it's time to go home. The little dudes will be drenched in sweat & clearly ready to go home, but they just wanna stay & play. It is frustrating, but they always end up asleep before I even pull into the driveway at home. 

The weather here in the High Desert is starting to get less hot & a little more bearable, so I'm hoping to be able to take the boys a lot before winter gets here & it's too cold. Andplusalso? Park days make for great nap days. Just sayin'.

Big Bear Day Trip

My sister, whom I lovingly refer to as Seester, & I have both had some major changes going on in our lives the past few months. She had a baby boy; MY FIRST EVER NEPHEW!!! She quit her job as a police officer shortly after because her husband is a US Marine & was stationed in Twentynine Palms, CA. She moved to the Two-Nine about a week before I moved here to Lucerne Valley. The great part about this? SHE LIVES ONLY AN HOUR AWAY! Holler at yo' sis.

She & her husband have been taking time to get to know California with day trips to fun places like Los Angeles to see the Chinese Theater & Roosevelt Hotel...& they came to Big Bear, which is just a ten to fifteen minute drive from where I now live. Naturally, I wanted to show her around Big Bear, so we made a day trip of it.

Guys? I have a serious love affair with Big Bear. If I could live anywhere in the world & Oscoda wasn't an option...because DUH, Oscoda is the best place ever in the world....my second choice would for sure be Big Bear.

It's a small town without being too small. You still get a lot of the amenities of a city, but not overdone. You get the mountains, the glorious lake, tree covered hills & a spunky little, "downtown," with fun shops that welcome pets & you get the best of all four seasons.

Seester & Keith fell in love with Big Bear, too. Keith & J checked out pricing to rent a fishing boat. We may even rent a cabin up there for Christmas!!!

Collin likes Big Bear, too. He can just run free & be a kid. Whenever we go, we usually let him pick any one item he wants from the chocolate shop or candy store. This day, he got super lucky because we hit up both stores & he got to pick something from each. A toy race car filled with little candy race cars from the candy shop & a piece of white chocolate M&M bark from the chocolate shop. Dude was in Heaven.

If you've never been to Big Bear, I definitely recommend going.

Interview Questions with J (via IROCKSOWHAT)

Jess from IROCKSOWHAT did this interview with her husband, Josh, a little while ago & I thought it was super rad! So, I decided to do it with Jacob. Totally blog jacked you, Jess. Maybe you should think twice about rocking so hard.


1. What was your first impression of me? When I first met you at school, I couldn't get over how finny & outgoing you are. You are so very witty & it all just made me feel like I was getting pulled towards you.
2. How accurate do you now think it was? On which counts do you think you were totally wrong and on which were you right? There was nothing at all wrong about my first impressions of you. I was right & then some.
3. What is your idea of a truly romantic evening? Honestly, a nice dinner in a restaurant with dim lights & a nice quiet atmosphere for us to talk about everything. And honestly, as cliche as it sounds, I love walking on the beach, around the beach, the harbor area, a pier. I really like spending time around the ocean. I would love to go to a jazz club.
4. If I promise not to get upset, can you tell me something that you’d like to change in me but don’t have the nerve to tell me? No. I absolutely love every single thing about you. Even the bad things. You have to love all of a person. 
5. If you weren't in the profession you are, what would be your other dream profession and why? Considering that I am not in my dream profession, I always wanted to be a professional musician. Preferably jazz.
6. Apart from the most obvious one, which other two areas of your body are the most sensitive and responsive? Hahaha! Possibly my hands & fingers. And my feet are incredibly sensitive. Like I cannot walk barefoot a lot of places & they are incredibly ticklish.
7. Which three parts of my body are your personal favorites and why? Your butt, because I mean DAYUM that's a damn fine ass. I love your eyes. They are the first thing I saw & I couldn't stop thinking about looking into them. I love your ears. They have the most amazing love for the best music. And your hands. They help your mind to type out your creativity. Even though you type oddly.
8. Can you name three qualities that attracted you when you met me/got to know me? Your genuine love & passion for life. Your love for music & how you will listen to anything before turning it down. And your blatant honesty. I love that you are honest, straight forward & to the point.
9. Which is your dream destination and why? Ok, there are three. Puerto Rico because my family is from Puerto Rico & I would love to see where my roots are. Ireland & Scotland because I would love to go there & hike the countryside, see all of the old castles & just see the culture.
10. Which is your favorite movie of all time and favorite scene in it? (If the other hasn’t seen it, narrate in detail.) Probably The Princess Bride.....the whole freaking movie.
11. Which fruit/vegetable do you think I resemble and why? Hard one...I'm sure there are a lot of fruits & veggies that I haven't tried that would probably work better for this, but strawberries. Because you are so sweet & I can't get enough of you.
12. Can you remember your earliest childhood memory of happiness and that of fear? Camping with my father & best friend, Joe. Fear, one time I was chilling on my boogie board in the ocean. I ended up passing out asleep for a minute. When I woke, I was MILES from the shore. I had gotten caught in a riptide.
13. Your favorite aunt/uncle/cousin and why? Uncle Ernie, he was my inspiration to play music. I have always looked up to him.
14. What are the qualities that draw you to people that you can base a friendship on? Um, I am not the best at making friends, hahaha! I look for people that are real. I have made obvious mistakes in the past & became friends with those who were not really friends. I look for honesty & loyalty. Someone who can be funny.
15. Can you give me a mock session of how you would discuss sex education when you have a child? I have not even thought about it. On purpose. But I will be as honest as possible. That's all I know.
16. Your first crush – what drew you to her/him? She was pretty. That was it. I knew nothing about her.
17. Your first date – where did you go, what did you do and how long did the relationship last? I don't remember, but I believe the relationship lasted a year. I'm sure it was to the movies.
18. How have you coped with break-ups in the past? Some form of depression & feeling sorry for myself. With my ex-wife, Jennifer, after she finally moved back to her mom's, I moved down to a friend's house & a couple of friends thought that taking me to a bar would help. Nope.
19. What has been your scariest dream? Which has been your most frequently recurring one? Silly rabbit, I don't remember dreams. Then again, everyone has the falling dream. Hate that one. I only remember dreams as I wake up & within a few minutes I forget them.
20. Which has been the best decision you ever made? Being with you.
21. Which is the decision you regret the most? Having a child with someone I barely knew. I don't regret my son at all & I'm so blessed to have him & thankful he is here. But I wish I had learned more about the person I was with at the time because she really misrepresented herself & now I have no choice but to have her as a part of my life for the rest of my life.
22. Can you narrate to me your proudest moment? The day Madison was born. After all the work was done, I leaned over & cut the umbilical cord of my first child.
23. If you won the lottery, what are the first three things you would do and which are the five things you've been most longing for, that you would buy? Make sure my Mom was taken care of, make sure your family was taken care of & take care of our debts. I would get us a dependable car big enough for all the kids, a house big enough for our families to visit, find a hobby & buy the stuff, a Harley...duh...& a concert grand Steinway. Black. (that's a piano for those who don't know)
24. If your house was on fire and you had a chance to grab only five things before leaving, they would be…? My family, our survival kit, as many pictures as possible, our computers (pictures on there) & anything sentimental of the kids.
25. If you were asked whom you would like to be born again as, the answer would be…? Hard one...I don't want to be famous because that is too much drama, but I would like to be in the field of music. Not necessarily touring all the time & everywhere, but with enough money to be comfortable. Basically, I'd be myself just doing something I love.
26. Which is your favorite flavour of ice cream, your favourite junk food and your favourite dessert? Ice cream with cookie dough or peanut butter in it. Flaming Hot Cheetos with lime. My mom's cheesecake.
27. Whose wardrobe would you most like to possess and why? No one in particular. I would just like to be able to get whatever clothes I want to get. Hahaha!
28. The one argument your parents had, that you would try and avoid with your partner, would be over…? I never heard their arguments. And when/if I did, I would leave. Go outside or put on headphones.
29. Which is your favorite asset/body part on a man/woman and why? Her ass! Hahaha! A strong ambitious woman. I cannot always be strong. I need a woman who can be there for me when I doubt myself. I need a woman who can take care of me when my back has me crippled. I have that woman, I mean.
30. The most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you was…? There have been so many that none really overcomes the other. I was at an award ceremony for band & I thought it would be okay to set my alto on stage & step over it. It didn't work out because I tripped over it & stepped on it in front of everyone, including my parents & Uncle Ernie.
31. Your most wicked fantasy has got to be…? (Be open to this one, if you react adversely, he/she will never feel free to confide in you again.) It involves a very expensive trip to Bora Bora & us renting a little house in the water...the rest is too explicit for your blog. Hahaha!
32. If our relationship doesn't work out, do you think we can remain friends? If no, why not? Our relationship will work out, so that's not an issue. Next question.
33. Who are you closer to – your mum/dad - and why? Mom, we always talked all the time. We are like besties. Dad & I always used to butt heads.
34. Your favorite song of all times and why – is it because of the lyrics, because of the memories associated with it or just the whole package? I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz, every single lyric in that song is us. Bottom line. 
35. If somebody handed you a magic lamp and gave you three wishes, what would they be? To have enough money to send all of the kids to good schools & for us to live comfortably. To be smarter than I am. To be able to read women's minds because I am tired of women assuming us men can read them! Hahaha! 
36. What upsets you most in a relationship and what makes you the happiest? Arguments or threats of leaving or other threats to make me stay. Making each other laugh. Genuinely enjoying each other.
37. What is your perception of how people see you? Laid back, I hope.
38. If someone told you they saw me with another guy, what would your first reaction be – she’s cheating on me, he’s probably an old friend or I need to get to the bottom of this? I would figure it was an old friend, but talk to you about it also. I know you would be honest.
39. Can you think of something you craved for when you were young and were denied? I wanted a game console & didn't get one.
40. Have you ever found yourself attracted to someone of the same sex? Nope.

Our Week via iPhone: June 03 - 09, 2012

Instagram // @hollydaysblog

Our Week via iPhone: May 20 - 26, 2012

Instagram // @hollydaysblog

Our Week via iPhone: May 13 - 19, 2012

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Celebrating Holly on Mother's Day

Hey everyone!!! It's Jacob (The Manski), and I just wanted to drop in a little surprise post for Holly. (I know . . . it has been FOREVER since I have been around these here parts. But I am going to see if I will be allowed to pop in again. ;-)) A copule of weeks ago, Holly did a post on Celebrating Our Guys, and I wanted to do the same for her on this very special day. For those that didn't get the memo, today is Mother's Day. It is a wonderful day in which we get the chance to celebrate the women that brought us into this world and showed (and still show) us how to love and reared our pain in the butt selves.

Holly is the most loving, caring, wonderful, imaginative, intelligent, witty, creative, *gasping for air!*, and the most incredibly beautiful person that I know. And to top it all off?, she is an amazingawesome mother. At times it is almost like she is the child whisperer. The first time she met Madison (my oldest), they were instantly friends. My girls are always asking about her and are anxious for the next time that they get to see her.

This woman!!! She is so beautiful, inside and out. One of the ways that the two of us connect so well is through music. I play (sometimes lately) the piano, saxophones and the flute, and she played the violin. Our love for music is on the same level. There will be times when my phone does it's special ring from Spotify, I open up the phone and take a look to see that Holly has sent me another song. Whether it is a song that reminds her of us, or a song that she knows I would love, or just a really good song, there it is in my inbox. Anything ranging from blues, to country, to rock, jazz, or some stuff that probably doesn't even have a title yet, she is sending it to me. And I absolutely love it!

Holly's love is so deep and never-ending. I could go on for forever on all the ways that I love her. But the bottom line is, is that she is such an amazing, loving mother to her son Collin, and my three crazy children.

Holly,
I love you beyond measure. I know that today is not always the easiest, but I am always, and will always be here for you. You are such an extraordinary woman and mother, and I am truly blessed to have you in my life.

~ Jacob (you Manski forever)

Our Week via iPhone, April 29 - May 5, 2012

Getting my plan on // Morning snuggles with Goo // My pirate baby // Went to Red Robin with my Dad who is visiting town for a month or so // J passed out & the kids being crazy // Eelio Estevez in our tank at work // Dude don't even care // Last minute bingo with my Dad, Seester, Keith & still in the belleh Everett (my sister is knocked up) // At the court house // Collin was visiting his Daddy, so I took it up on myself to have an afternoon bath // Seriously the best energy drink out there

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App Happy Friday: 360 (iPhone App Reviews)

So...this is new, eh?!?! I started this last year, but never went anywhere with it because of everything that was going on in my life at the time. Now I am back with it & this time i'm prepared to rock the shit out of some app reviewing for ya'll.

Remember my vlog about guilty pleasures? In it, I talk about my obsession with iPhone apps. Specifically camera apps. I can't even organize the damn camera apps into folders because I HAVE THAT MANY. Seriously. I was one of the FIRST people to get an Instagram...the DAY they came out. I don't think I'm alone, either. I believe Mamas use their phones way more than people realize. Our trusty iPhones are so handy! Need a recipe? NBD, I got my Pinterest right here in my back pocket. Let me just pull up my, "food," board & we can get our Paula Deen on in no time. Little Billy doing something cute? KAPOW, phone out of your pocket like lightning. ANd now you can edit & add a vintage filter to the photo. I don't know about you, but I'm a regular Andy Warhol thanks to my iPhone.

I am always perusing the app store for new apps & after three years of owning an iPhone, I have a good chunk of money invested in apps by now. People frequently ask me what apps to use, which I feel are best, which ones are worth the money, etc. So, this will be my weekly guide for all things iPhone app related.

Welcome to App Happy Friday, Edition One!!! Holler.


PS: No one pays me to do these. I'm just sharing my app knowledge/opinions.

I bought this app one day when I was at the beach with Collin. I wanted to get a good panoramic shot & I'd heard there was an app that would do that for you. I bought this one for $0.99, but I almost never use this. 

I think it would be great to have on hand if you were planning a family trip...or maybe if you have more than one kid. I know it came in handy today when I wanted to get everyone at the table when we went out to eat with my Dad.

Below are a couple of examples I took today with the app. You can do a full 360 or just as much of the room as you want. I guess it is pretty cool, but I just don't really find the need/desire to use it that often.

No one has paid me for this review. All opinions on App Happy Friday are strictly my own views & only to share my thoughts with interested parties. 

iPhone Photos: April 22 - 28, 2012

Birthday beer with J // Birthday pedicured feet // Birdhouse in our new lemon tree // Super cloudy day but no rain // Collin watering the lemon tree with Cub Cub // My pedicure // My boss asked for water while he bathed // "Mama!!! CAR SOUP!!!" // Period craving // "Mama!!! See sky???" // Just hanging out. Having a Diet Coke with my BFF // Nutella addict // Sporting my Rocky shirt // Sleeping with Thomas // What IS this stuff?!?! // I'm a coupon clipping whore now

Mama's Always Last

In my life, there are many people who need me for various things. I work full time, I mom full time, I am a housekeeper, a taxi driver, a chef, a sister (did I mention my little sister is pregnant), a daughter, a girlfriend, an ex wife, a student, a freelance writer, a master dish washer (can I get a whoop whoop for my Foreman grill?!?!), a blogger, a chino folder extraordinaire, etc, etc, etc. It has just been a way of life for me to place myself, being Holly, at the end of that list. That's just how it has to be & that's just how life is. Everyone else's needs come before mine (especially Collin's) & that's fine with me. Seriously, I'm not complaining or looking for people to feel sorry for me. I think this just happens when you become a Mom. I think your brain just makes you work hard to make sure everyone is happy & taken care of.

At any given moment, our mom brains are in a million different places: Collin had a little cough this morning, I'd better text to see how he is doing now. OMG, I have so much laundry to do when I get home. Crap! I forgot to take out chicken to thaw for dinner tonight! What's in the freezer that I can whip up? Did I water the plants before I left this morning? I need to remember to get gas on my way home. It's getting warmer, I need to get Collin some sandals & shorts. J is coming in this weekend, I need to make sure I have Guayaki in the fridge for him & set up Aiden's crib. Greg needed Collin's info for the new insurance, I need to get that over to him. We have a meeting at work on Thursday at 3PM, I can't forget my notes.

It's a Mom thing. I am completely sure of this.

This past weekend was J's birthday. He had been working so hard all week (coal shipments = back breaking work for him) & I knew his feet had to have been sore & aching from being stuck in his work boots. I knew he had had a pedicure at least once before from a previous conversation we'd had. What perfect timing for a birthday pedicure!!!

Of course, we did them together. We sat in chairs next to one another & we happily relaxed & talked...joked about what color he would get for his toes...nearly fell asleep in those massage chairs (those massage chairs, people!!!) as our nail technicians rubbed & lotioned up our feet.

Once we were done, J told me repeatedly how great his feet felt & naturally, as I do whenever I give anyone a gift, I asked him no less than 17 times if his feet felt good & how he liked his birthday gift. He did.

And then, as I looked at my toes that evening for the thousandth time & internally thought about what an amaze foot model I'd be, "Just look at those perfect toes!," (sister, don't even pretend that you don't do that after a pedicure), I realized I'd given myself a gift, too.

My pretty, freshly polished feet had given this Mama a sweet little boost of confidence & a much needed hour of relaxation & me time. I was revamped & energized & remembering what it is like to make sure I am taken care of first. You remember? Back in the days when you were your only priority or care? It felt good. Really good.

And I realized, it's okay to do this once in awhile. It's okay for me to focus on....me & get a pedicure. In fact, I need to do these things for myself sometimes. I get so burnt out running around doing everything for everybody & that sometimes frustrates me & makes me short with people or angry. This was such a great reminder to slow down. Enjoy myself & remember that I need to take care of me before I can take care of anyone else.

Celebrating Our Guys

I love me some Erika from rouge & whimsy. It was recently her husband's birthday (PS: They share a birthday, how OMFG cool is that?!?!) & she did this incredibly sweet post about him & it got me thinking....we almost NEVER get to see each other's guys. I mean sure, pictures here & there & the occasional he farts all the time, you guys, but never a full on post about/for them. She inspired me to dedicate a post all about my man & then I realized not many of us bloggers talk much about our manskis...& then a linky party grew it's wings.

I thought it would be fun to do a little linky party & have us all talk about our dudes. Why not? I mean...we do have some serious Baberham Lincolns on our hands, ladies. Amirite?!?!?

This guy? This is my Baberham. His real name is Jacob, though. Sometimes I call him Boo, Booski, Manski, Babe, Babers...but I mostly call him J. Despite his outward appearance, J is the sweetest Dada I know. All the man wants is to make his kids & this Mama happy. One of his best & worst qualities is his concern for others. But if that's the worst, then I'd say I'm doing pretty good.

J loves fiercely & deeply. He is protective & nurturing. He came into my life & Collin's life & just took us in & loved on us with all he had. Collin's loves his Cub Cub & let's be honest, what single Mama doesn't melt at seeing her beau wrestle & play with her kid one minute & then kiss his skinned knee or tuck him into bed while kissing his forehead the next? Talk about Mom porn. Can I get an amen?

J works at a cement plant/mineral mine for Mitsubishi...I didn't even know that they owned mines, did you?! He basically gets all all & sweaty & wears a construction hat & shiz like in the movies when a girl falls for a blue collar guy who works in the coal mines. Yeah, that's my man!

He loves art, books & tattoos (I needed to point that one out in case, you know, you didn't notice his heavily tattooed arm). But his passion is music. The man loves music. All of it. When he visits me & Collin on the weekends (he lives in Big Bear, CA), I always come home to a different genre playing on my Mac speakers or coming from his phone. Sometimes it's Miles Davis, sometimes it's 311, sometimes it's Rachmaninoff & sometimes (our fave) Jason Mraz. He often texts me filled with excitement when he hears a new song that reminds him of me. I know...how barfaliciously romantic, are we? I know it's sappy, but music was our first & only way to connect when we first started our long distance relationship.

He supports all of my blog endeavors & always encourages me to write. He talks about what a great writer his girlfriend is to anyone who listens & often brags about my blog & photography. He always reassures me I'm being the best Mama to Collin despite my feeling sad about how his parents are no longer together. He tells me how beautiful I am every single day. And I know he means it. He gets OMFGSTOKED to start a new book & even read The Hunger Games series just because I recommended it. And bonus? He liked it! He is always willing to listen to my ideas for vegetarian substitutes in our foods & is always willing to help, if not TAKE OVER COMPLETELY, in the kitchen. He reaches out to my blog followers knowing that they are my friends & to him? That means they are his friends, too. He is encouraging & uplifting with everything I do & take on in my schedule. He is my biggest supporter & believes in me.

He kisses my forehead because he knows that it's my favorite. He will tell me the truth if my butt looks to big or if my tits are hanging out....thank you breastfeeding...when I ask. He has the longest eyelashes I've ever seen on a human being in my life. And the sweetest, most kind eyes that just drink you in. His hands are dry & rough from all the hard work he does with minerals & coal, but still gentle enough to soothe a crying toddler by rubbing his back softly.

And if all of that wasn't enough? He has the most perfectly grown beard of all time. Ever. Like in the creation of beards. His beard rules. Literally, panties just drop when they see the beard.

I am so thankful to have this sexy beast in my life.

Tell me about your man. What do you love about him? What does he do for you that he may not think you notice? What is your favorite feature/quirks? Link up & tell me!!!

A Gift Guide for Your Guy, In Honor of Manski's Birthday

Today is my Manski's birthday!!! He is still stuck in Cali until Sunday for work, but he is coming for a visit & will be here Sunday & Monday night, so we have celebrations plan & Collin is going to be so stoked that there will be cake.

Anyway, whenever a guy birthday or Father's Day comes along, I always have the hardest time thinking of fun, unique gifts. I know I can't be the only one who gets stumped, so Manski & I put our brains together & came up with a sweet, small little gift guide. We both think that many guys can relate to this guide & would love anything on our list. PS: No one is paying us for this, we just searched our little hearts out on Etsy & Google for fun!

1// Wild Man Beard Conditioner from WildRoseHerbs. This also works great on mustaches, stubble, goatees or any other type of facial hair. You'd be surprised how dry your man's skin gets underneath that facial hair. J has a pretty epic beard going on right now & this is becoming a necessity.  2// Sirius Satellite Radio. Personally, I am a huge Howard Stern fan. And whether you like it or not, chances are? Your man probably is into his immature humor also. And that's just one perk to satellite radio! The stations are limitless from talk/sports to metal to country to indie. It's always got new music & bands playing, too. I love Sirius.  3// Railroad Spike Knife from rekamepip. J is in love with this knife after stumbling upon this Etsy shop. He keeps a knife on his belt for stuff at work & I have to admit...this is pretty rad.  4// Amor Eterno print from IllustratedInk. J is into all things Dia de los Muertos & actually has plans for another (tattoo) sleeve themed with the amazingly colorful & vibrant artwork that is associated with this day. I know he would love this print.  5// Sex Panther Soap from CellarDoorSoapCo. We are serious Will Ferrell fans around these parts. So, when I saw that Sex Panther soap existed?!?!?! Life? Complete. Anyone else? Anyone?  6// Hidden Message Leather Cuff from SilverMadeStudio. This is by far my favorite of the gifts. It's a masculine leather band that any guy could feel good about wearing. Plus, you can add a sweet, personalized message to be stamped on the bottom of the metal plate. I am so keeping this on my future list of ideas.  7// Wood Plugs from PangeaWoodCreations. Pretty self explanatory. J & I both have stretched ears & I love these wooden plugs so hard.  8// Han Solo iPhone Case by KustomCases. Many guys are Star Wars geeks. Me? I'm almost afraid to publicly admit that I've never seen any of the movies. J nearly collapsed in a panic when he learned this. I'm a girl. Is it that weird? Eh, whatevs. Anyway, when he heard about this case he regurgitated some unintelligible words. I'm assuming that means it's rad.

That's our little gift guide. Hope you enjoyed it & that it encourages you to think outside the gift giving box!

You Guys? Thomas is REAL!!!

If you know my son, Collin, you know that Thomas the train is basically his sole reason for walking this planet. So, when I found out that Thomas was OMGCOMINGHERE?!?!?! I wanted to take him. Sadly, prices to see him are, well, pricey. Go figure. So, I decided I would outsmart that greedy train & just take Collin to look & take in the wonder & amazement that is Thomas the Train. But unfortunately for me, the asshole train won't let you on the grounds without a ticket.

Last night, when I found this out, I for reals started crying. Full on tears, ugly face, mascara on the cheeks, hyperventilating crying. It wasn't just Thomas. It was a fun day with his Mama. I don't get a lot of days for just FUN. Days where I can say yes to everything. Want to see Thomas? Done. Want an ice cream? Done. Want to blow the $6 whistle for hours at a time? Ok.

I'm a single Mom. I work all day & all week. When I get home, I am cleaning or cooking or catching up on laundry or cleaning up after dinner or changing Collin's peed on bedsheets or stressing about how I'll make it through the month financially or worrying about the upcoming hospital bill from the tongue incident or giving Collin a bath or telling him not to put food in his nose or telling him to stop picking his nose or telling him not to throw toys at the wall or telling him to put away his books that he tossed all over the floor or putting Thomas the Train in the DVD player for the 17th time that evening.

Basically, single parenting is hard. And it sucks working all day & then coming home to my second shift & working until bedtime & then working again doing freelance/side/school work after bedtime. I work three given shifts any given day & that doesn't leave much of me for Collin. I'm sometimes a total drag & I hate not always being able to spend the time with him that I used to when I stayed at home. I feel so sad for him. I never wanted him to have this life, but I also know that I am doing my best by him. And when something like Thomas happens...& I can't give that small piece of happy to him, I lose my shit. Because it means (to me) that all my working? All of my being a drag? Is for nothing (just how I feel sometimes).

Naturally, I called Jacob sobbing. Because it was the end of the world. Duh. And then I took my pout party to FB. I just wanted the whole world to feel sorry for me. I was venting & sort of behaving like a brat. Which is why when an amazingly selfless & sweet person called me (I ignored the number because I didn't recognize it) & then texted me offering to buy the tickets, I refused. I wasn't looking for a handout & in reality, I knew Collin would survive not seeing Thomas. But this person was persistent & refused to back down, bought me FOUR tickets, so that I could take J & Aiden too & then THANKED ME for helping their karma. I will never be able to show this person how this gift made me feel. I was sobbing & dry heaving all over the place. It was more than just the God damned train. It was a fun day. A day where Collin didn't have a Mama who was working or cleaning or any of those other ors. It was a day Mama & Collin could play & be free & meet Collin's very favorite train in the world.

This person knows who they are & I could never repay you for the feelings & memories you gave us today. This is the only way I know how to pay you back. With the look on my son's face & the excitement in his voice when he saw Thomas.

I used my cell phone a lot because we were all over the place. They had all these different stations where you could get tattooed, color, play & all kinds of other stuff. Anyways, here are the cell phone pics. So happy sometimes that I have this piece of technology. The last one is a gem.

Dude.Was.DUN. D-U-N.

I swear to God, you guys, this was one of the best days of my life. I cried, even, when I saw how stoked Collin was to see the REAL LIFE THOMAS. HE'S REAL!!!!!

Also? I didn't get one single picture of Thomas the whole day. I mean, what the HELL, Holly?!