Author: Big Mama

Some clarification and other random things

Okay, as much as I appreciate y’all thinking that I am cool enough to have actually gotten to hang out with Kate Gosselin, I have to set the record straight because I’m afraid some people are under the impression that Kate is my new gal pal and we went out for a margarita last night.

Sadly, that is not the case.

However, I did get to see her from afar like 4000 other women at last night’s Girls Night Out event in Houston. It was fascinating to listen to her talk about the experience of having sextuplets and all that they have been through. She seemed to be a lovely person, but I have no inside scoop.

But thanks to Missy, I do have two pictures of her hair.

While I would never actually cut my hair to look like hers, I do admire someone with substantial hair courage. It’s a trait that I do not possess. I am the cowardly lion of hair.

Also, there a few other things I’d like to share in a handy list format.

1. I discovered on the drive home from Houston that I have a fear of toll roads. I’m always afraid I’m going to do something wrong or forget to throw in a dime or something and find myself surrounded by a SWAT team complete with a multitude of flashing sirens.

2. While I was getting ready to leave for Houston on Thursday, my hairdryer began to smoke and I saw a bright orange flame come out of it. It was extremely frightening considering my hair was only halfway dry.

Later I told P, “Oh my gosh, it was so scary. My hair could have caught on fire and burned completely up!”

To which he replied, “OR you could have been ELECTROCUTED.”

Yes. I guess that would be worse.

On the upside, I purchased a cute, new, hot pink hairdryer.

3. Check this out.

That is more than just a blurry picture; that is a speeding ticket. An undeserved ticket I might add.

I got it on my way home from Houston and the officer said I was going 80. HOWEVER, my cruise control was set on 70, a fact that I was quick to point out to him. Yet, I still received a ticket.

I’m totally going to fight city hall or whatever.

And now I’m off to watch “Friday Night Lights” and eat M&M’s. It really is the best way to spend a Friday night.
A continued giveaway

Okay, I don’t know what is up with my comments shutting down after a certain number (and HELP! if you know what the problem is and how to fix it!), but several of y’all have emailed and can’t leave comments anymore on the giveaway post.

If you want to enter the Engraved Euniques giveaway and haven’t already entered in the other post, please leave a comment here!

Thanks!
Edition 48: Fashion Friday, the lameness of it all

I had big plans, BIG PLANS, to write a great Fashion Friday post that would make y’all weep with joy over the superbness of the fashion tips and advice.

But, sadly, there will be no superbness here today and I will tell you why.

Last night, I was invited to attend a Girl’s Night Out Event in Houston with Lysa Terkeurst and Renee Swope of Proverbs 31 Ministries, and Kate Gosselin from “Jon and Kate Plus Eight”. I had the best time and didn’t get back to the hotel until 1:00 in the a.m.

You know what I don’t do at 1:00 a.m.? Write superb Fashion Friday posts.

And on a side note that is kind of fashion-related, Kate Gosselin has let her hair grow out a little in the front and she had some seriously good hair going on. Do you want to see a picture?

I would love to show you one, but I forgot that I had my camera with me until I got back to the hotel at 1:00 a.m. and found it in the bottom of my purse. So here’s what you get a picture of instead.

In case you can’t tell, those are a pack of Milano cookies that were left in the room with a nice letter welcoming a Mr. March. I guess he didn’t show up and, if he ever does, he will find that he is missing his Milano cookies.

They were delicious.

So, to recap. No picture of Kate Gosselin’s hair. Great picture of Milano Cookies.

I’m just here to serve.

Anyway, since tiredness is the mother of invention or something like that, I’ve come up with a brilliant solution to the Fashion Friday or lack thereof dilemma.

In the last week many of you (at least 2 or 3!) have emailed to ask how Fashion Friday started, so wouldn’t it be fun to go back to the posts from my original week o’ fashion that started the whole thing?

Just say yes.

And if you want to say no then just click away and come back next week.

1. Boots are your friend

2. Borrowing some wisdom from Tim Gunn

3. It’s all about a good jean pool

4. Questions, we have questions

5. I promise this is it…for now

Chances are good that a lot of information in these posts is no longer accurate and I’m positive most of the links won’t work anymore, but that’s how it all began. One week of fashion posts turned into Fashion Friday.

And the rest, as they say, is a very uninteresting history.

Y’all have a great Friday!
It’s a giveaway with your name on it!

I have always been a big fan of anything monogrammed or personalized. In fact, I believe it was fourth grade when I became aware of an invention that changed my life called the paint pen and promptly used it to write my name on anything that stood still long enough, although the ink didn’t really adhere that well to the surface of my cat.

And I’m sure if we dig deep enough there might be a reason why I need to mark all my belongings with my name, but let’s not really go there because I am frightened at what we might discover.

Anyway, since Caroline was born I’ve been able to fulfill my need for monogramming and such through her wardrobe. However, the day is drawing nigh when she will refuse to wear cute sundresses with a big “C” on the front because she has no appreciation for carrying on the legacy of Laverne DeFazio. Also, all she wants to wear these days are jeans with a Tinkerbell t-shirt that says “High Maintenance”.

You know what they say, if the shirt fits….

My point in all this rambling is that I was thrilled when Kaye from Engraved Euniques emailed me and asked me if I would be interested in doing a giveaway on the blog for one of her custom-made plaques and even more thrilled when she made one for me because did I mention I’m a fan of personalized things?

Kaye makes the cutest stuff and you should definitely go check it out. They would make a great gift for just about anyone or you could get one for yourself. They look a lot nicer than paint pen on a piece of construction paper is what I’m saying.

To enter the giveaway, here’s what you need to do.

1. Click over to Engraved Euniques and look at all the great stuff Kaye makes.

2. Come back here and leave a comment about which one you like the best. It is just that easy.

3. Please leave just one comment per person.

4. I’ll pick the winner using Random.org and announce it on Sunday, January 25th.

Y’all have fun!
You can’t change your spots

The other night Caroline and P got home from the ranch late. I walked out to the truck where I found her sound asleep and carried her into her bedroom.

As gently as possible (Don’t anger it! Don’t awaken it!) I changed her out of her dirty ranch clothes and into her pajamas. Then carefully, I tucked her into bed and just as I started to tiptoe out of the room, I heard a little voice say, “Mama?”

“What baby?”

“You look different at night than you do in the daytime.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you don’t look so good and you have a lot of spots on your face.”

Wow. Tough crowd.

And so today I give thanks for my foundation, otherwise known as a miracle in a bottle.
There also may be some Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch on the list

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I’ve been working out on the elliptical and am completely dependent on my iPod to get me through, especially Beyonce singing “Single Ladies”. Since then, many of y’all have emailed to ask what else is on my workout playlist. And by “many”, I mean like three or four of you.

Before I share this list with you, I need to confess that my musical taste hasn’t changed much since I was in fifth grade and “Kiss On My List” by Hall and Oates was my favorite song. My preferred genre of workout music falls somewhere between 1980’s Roller Skate Disc Jockey and Cheesy Pop Songs In General. I know it. I own it. I have no shame.

Well I have some shame, but not enough to change my playlist to something more current and trendy. I’ve got to go with whatever gets me through 30 minutes of cardio-activity.

So I’ll quit justifying my choices and share.

1. “Sexyback” by Justin Timberlake – I don’t think I need to explain this choice. If this doesn’t motivate you to work out then it’s time to hang up your Nikes.

2. “Single Ladies” by Beyonce – I’m pretty much a fan of anything Beyonce does, with the exception of the Destiny’s Child song “Pay My Bills” which just kind of irritated me but that’s a story for another time.

3. “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield – I know it’s the theme song to “The Hills” but I am a sucker for T.V. theme songs. Don’t even get me started on “The Jeffersons” theme song because it is a multi-layered lyrical masterpiece.

4. “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson – I’m embarrassed, but I’m going for complete honesty.

5. “Walk this Way” by Run D.M.C. – Aerosmith plus rap equals perfection.

6. “PYT” by Michael Jackson – This may be my favorite song on the list. But I will caution you that if you get carried away during your workout and try to do the P Y T hand motions that you used to do at the roller rink, you might lose your balance and fall off the elliptical.

7. “It’s Tricky” by Run D.M.C. – See? I am not kidding around with the late 80’s rap music.

8. “Wanna be Startin’ Somethin'” by Michael Jackson – Oh Michael. Back when you still had your original face you were a musical genius. How else can you explain “Mama se Mama sa Mama ma cu sa”?

9. “Why Can’t This Be Love?” by Van Halen – I don’t even know what to say about this one. The heart wants what it wants.

10. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey – Fifth grade. Magic Skate. Comb in my back pocket and lime green wheels on my roller skates with matching pom-poms. Enough said.

The issue at hand is that as awesome as this mix is with all the awesomeness, I’m getting a little tired of all these songs right now and need to shake it up a bit.

I’d love to get some suggestions from y’all.

What do I need on my workout play list? I am in need of a change and I believe it’s apparent that refined musical taste isn’t an issue.