Balanced Fortune

“A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.”

Well, this is funny. Remember, I have my Happiness cup that I keep all my fortunes in, and I pull them out randomly when I get a chance to write about one. What is funny about this?

Guess what I had for dinner?! Two, yes TWO cookies. One was a lemon frosted sugar cookie and the other was basically a death by three chocolates cookie…it was either that or two mini cupcakes.

If my kiddos ever came to me and told me, “Hey, Mom for dinner I had two cookies.” I would flip out. I mean seriously flip out – Pop and Tart I know you check in occasionally, so please remember…Do as I say, not as I do!

Do I really think that “a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand?” NO! I have not worked hard losing 80 pounds to blow it having meals of cookies. It is not something I do on a regular basis; I just failed to plan ahead. It would not have taken much. I could have thrown together a quick meat and cheese plate, a simple salad. I could have, should have, would have – but I got caught up in my day and ran behind.

A friend of mine keeps telling me, “Life is too short.” I don’t know if he ever reads my blog…probably not. But, if he does…I know. Life is too short to get caught up and forget to feed myself. Life is too short to get caught up and lose the little/big things in life that matter. My kiddos, my wonderful hubby, my friends and family…I need them for my balance. But how often do I fill my time with “cookies” and try to balance myself with it.

What are my “cookies?” Television (love me some Food Network!), my jobs, my little tasks that just cannot wait another minute, reading all my friends Facebook posts, playing games…What are yours? What do you use to fill your time instead of balancing your life?

That’s kinda sad…I admit, rather than balancing my life, I fill my time. I need to work hard on finding my balance. I want and need so badly to find it. My heart, my soul, my kiddos, my wonderful hubby, my friends and family need me to be balanced.

Change is hard, choices are hard, and balance is hard. Realistically, we all know “a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand” is not true. A balanced life cannot just be all play, all work or all anything…all cookies.

Live, Laugh, Love ~

Vanilla Mama

PS – there are no lucky numbers on this fortune. Pick your own, and for the love of God and all that’s holy…don’t EVER rely on me for your lucky numbers. For the record…I haven’t played the lottery since Christmas. (Maybe I should!)

Fortune of Good News

“Good news will be brought to you by mail.”

Please! Please! I could use a little good news…no more bills, just good news. And, NO I don’t count the Publishers Clearinghouse!

When I think about it, and it doesn’t take much thought, I don’t get much mail. I get plenty of bills, sales notices, coupons, but not letters. What is even sadder is I don’t send mail. I don’t even get Christmas cards out most of the time, let alone birthday cards, Thank You notes, just everyday thinking of you cards. Ask anyone who has known me for years…I am great at emailing, I respond on facebook, I text like a mad woman possessed. But, a simple letter, well frankly, I suck!

Yes, there is my confession. Ask my pen pal in Germany from the 9^th grade, oh…wait, you can’t, I wrote ONE letter! Ask a lovely, lovely lifelong friend in New York, ask my family. They will all tell you I suck!

It is a strong way to put it, but I am a realist if nothing else (except when I am wearing my rose colored glasses) and I know it, I own it. I wish I could say, I will work hard to change it, but I know it would probably be a lie. I wouldn’t mean it to be. In my heart I see a neat clean organized desk with lovely Marthaesque stationary where I would sit with a LeBlanc pen and write heartfelt notes to my loved ones. As I gaze upon my desk…umm, kitchen table…I have a nice basket with stationary and envelopes, I also have a pile of paperwork and bills to plow through. Where will that stationary end up?

Why do I even have it out? Because I sent my son in college a care package. Yes, me the queen of not sending mail, I sent a care package. It had coffee, boxers (sorry Pop!), school supplies, an awesome Papo Mutant Gorilla and a letter on my stationary telling him how proud of him I am. I cannot tell you how excited I was for him to get his package, I know he loved it, he was on the phone when he opened it. I will see him this next weekend, so I probably won’t send him a care package this week – but I look forward to surprising him.

“Good news will be brought to you by mail.”

In this day and age of the fast and faster gratification, tweeting and posting, I don’t hold out much hope of good news in the mail. What is truly sad - most of the good news I get in my email inbox is just a chance to order Viagra at 20% off with free shipping or I have won the Lottery in Sweden based on my email address. I know you have the same emails, sitting in your junk box…

THAT’s WHAT I NEED!! A Junk Box for my MAIL box!! If only the mail man could filter it as he puts it in my box – Bed, Bath and Beyond mail – Ok! To Current Resident – JUNK! I could even set it up for him, a separate slot and everything. But, since it is probably the Junk Mail we receive that actually keeps our tried and true Mail Men/Women in service, I shouldn’t complain too much. I just need to send more MAIL!

Maybe if I would send more mail, I wouldn’t rely on my Ebay or Amazon purchases to make my mail nirvana happen….

Live, Laugh, Love~

Vanilla Mama

PS…Your lucky numbers: 11, 13, 15, 26, 35, 40 – Oh 40, I am going to face you down next year! I am finally starting to feel the age I am in my heart.

Meanest Fortune



This pic has nothing to do with the post, but I WANT ONE!!!



“Never corner anything meaner than you.”

I am going to start off by apologizing for how long it has been in-between posts (and Book Blurbs – which I know I will never catch up on, I may just have to hop around), life has been moving all around me.

Since my last post, I have gotten my oldest son to college – a whirlwind trip to be sure and my wallet is still reeling! My middle Tart has started his sophomore year of high school and little Frosting has begun Pre-K with a new teacher. I lost part of a tooth and got a crown (temp right now)…paid a king’s ransom for it! Honestly I could probably go on and on…can’t we all.

So, with all this I pull out this fortune, “Never corner anything meaner than you.”

I could complain all day long, but there are some really wonderful things that I am grateful for! I have a son in college, another in high school and one in Pre-K. I was able to get a tooth fixed. I have two good jobs and co-workers that I truly enjoy working with.

What exactly do I need to corner? What is meaner than me? I need to corner the dirty rotten scoundrel that stole my old checkbook information and is cramping my style…I don’t like having all this hanging over my head. Might consider taking on the cable company to figure out why my bill is so high when I don’t have any premium channels. 

Probably the meanest thing I need to corner is MY HOUSE! The clutter monster continues to try to take over…I have read tons of tips on how to tame it, but that critter just won’t quit. It is MEAN! If I turn my back for a minute (or two or a couple of days), it just seems to spread like mad.

So basically…I may have to ignore this fortune and corner it.

Thanks for checking in – I’ll be making my rounds and trying to catch up!

Live, Laugh, Love ~

Vanilla Mama

PS…there are no lucky numbers on the back of this fortune. Now, really…that’s just MEAN!



Frugal Fortune

Frugal Fortune

“You shouldn’t overspend at the moment. Frugality is important.”

As our country dives deep, deep, deep into debt with numbers that if my 5-year old would ask if possible, I would say – of course not…that will never happen to you! But, it is. It is happening to all of us.

We are raising the debt ceiling, our credit rating is falling…does any of this sound familiar? Is this happening to you?

Is the United States government finally facing the reality that most Americans face every day?

Too many finical obligations….too little cash.

Where do you make cuts? Where do you choose not to spend your money? (as I sit here with acrylic nails that are desperately in need of a fill, unpainted toe nails and gray roots showing…store brand staples in my cabinet and Groupon pinging off the roof…) Small changes are happening here. A coupon diva I am not – post about that later.

The government choices are much harder. But, I think that if some of the trust fund babies that can afford to get elected would give up some of their benefits…it might make a difference, a small one.

We live in an entitled society. From the Congress Man who is entitled to a lifetime of benefits and retirement for his service, to the poor who are entitled to health care (– and as a member of the uninsured for a couple of years – I DO NOT say this lightly!), to the 16 year old who is entitled to a new car, to the 4 year old wanting a cool toy with his Happy Meal. (and Apples Fries!)

“You shouldn’t overspend at the moment. Frugality is important.”

On a more personal level…I have a son going into college. Thank God for Pell Grants, for scholarships, for parents working together to put him through college, for grandparents offering an amazing amount of support. But – all the same, it is an expense. He is moving…moving…(getting into emotional territory with no tissue available) to another state. There are expenses. Being frugal is very important, overspending must be avoided, we need to try to set an example.

I want my son to grow up without debt, without unnecessary financial obligations. I want my children to not rely on our government for their welfare, I want them to be financially independent.

The same with everything…I have to try to set the example, and I will admit, I am not always the best, our government is not the best, but I pray that they learn from example. In some cases, we all must learn for the example of what NOT to do! I always stress the importance of education to my kiddos…I never finished college, did not finish medical transcription training…at this point, I am where I am. I am entering a new phase in my life, I want to write…but have little time raising 3 kiddos, being a wife, having 2 jobs – I feel like my house will never come together, I am not spending enough time with my family, my parents, my spouse, my friends, on my jobs, on my writing, on myself…I am overspent. Overspent finically, emotionally and physically…I need to learn to be more frugal. Smarter about my time, smarter about my money, pay more attention to politics and turn my air up to 80 to avoid the rolling blackouts that may happen here in Texas.

“You shouldn’t overspend at the moment. Frugality is important.”

How do you try to live this fortune? How are you frugal and avoid overspending? Tell me, I want desperately to find the balance I need.

Live, Laugh, Love ~

Vanilla Mama

Cannot forget the lucky number…is it the path to financial independence or just another unnecessary expense? I promise to let you know, if you do!

16, 17, 20, 26, 29, 30

(as a side note…all of these are AGES I have passed…SIGH!)

Coming up will be a money saving post, and hopefully a couple of book blurb posts…

Close Fortune

“The one you love is closer than you think.”

I am pretty sure that the one I love is pretty darn close…I have three kiddos that are my world, a wonderful hubby that supports me (and all my craziness) and a devoted dog.

How much closer can the one(s) I love get?

I always tell me kiddos, “I am always with you, no matter where you are I am there – in your heart, in your mind.” I tell them that they are always with me, that I am always thinking about them and they are in my heart.

The ones you love are always closer than you think. Even if you are across the country (I keep telling myself that as I prepare to send my son to college), even if the person you love has left this life – they are closer than you think. I don’t just say that to comfort myself or to comfort anyone else, I trust that God’s here with me and that my loved ones are, too.

If you have faith (and really even if you don’t), they are there.

This is going to be a short post, it’s been a long week dealing with work issues, some health issues (I have fibromyalgia and have been in a flare up), and my BABY turning FIVE. I will be spending tomorrow catching up on my reading and hopefully get a couple of book blurbs in, possibly mixed with Fortunes – that is SO much fun to do.

I hope that you all have had a good week – anything special you want to share, anything you would like to see from me?

Next week will prove to be a crazy week as well…but, hopefully I can get my Yoga in as I need to and work on taking better care of myself!

Live, Laugh, Love~

Vanilla Mama

Feeling Lucky? 16, 19, 25, 29, 30, 40…if you feel lucky, share!

Worthy Fortune

“Past experience: He who never makes mistakes never did anything that’s worthy.”

Boy, I have made some mistakes in my life!

What have I learned? Never, Never believe the color that is on the box (esp. when you buy it on clearance it Kroger), never drink cheap wine…never do them both at the same time! There is nothing worse than a hangover with orange hair.

I have made worse mistakes to be sure, but most of them I am not willing to share in open company. But, what I will tell you is that from these mistakes I have grown as a person.

There is no better teacher than experience, sure there is a lot you can learn from books…but, unless that book hits you upside the head and takes you down a notch will it actually help you move forward in your life?

Maybe…maybe not. Same can be said for making a mistake, can you learn from a mistake? Maybe…maybe not.

It depends on if you are open to even admitting that you’ve made one.  

Accepting responsibility for a mistake is something that has become as rare as a day without a reality tv show in the primetime lineup. To grow, to move forward, to do something worthy after a mistake requires that atypical step of taking the blame…and the consequences.

Past experience, something worthy?

I will say that my past experience has brought me here…I have three wonderful children, a wonderful hubby, a great job and I am writing this blog…is it worthy, I hope so! I am a product of everything I have done, and all that I have been through…so, I will...

Live, Laugh, Love~

Vanilla Mama

Will my mistake be not playing these numbers? Maybe, but I will try to learn from it –

3, 20, 14, 5, 42, 10

PS - Gotta give a huge shout out to Jen over at Makobi Scribe who featured me as a guest post! Check it out by clicking here.

Book Blurb #9 - Down by the Water

Down by the Water

18 years ago before she went away to college, something magical happened down by the water, Emily saw Carlos. She was resentful that someone else had discovered her secret place, her own escape, until she saw he was crying.

Without a single word, she walked through the shallow water at the base of the gentle falls and held him while he cried. When the tears were finally spent, she walked away in silence.

Carlos knew that he had to find that girl, she held his heart while it was breaking after his father died. Who was she, how did she know about this place? Why can’t he find her?

Each time he returns, he hopes to see her, but in the years since that moment he has not.

Now, after a bad divorce Emily has moved back to town…will Carlos and Emily find each other again Down by the Water?

What is Book Blurb Friday? Why am I playing catch up? Have fun, click through and find out, and join in ~

Vanilla Mama