Messes

We had a friend coming to stay the night last week so I had to get my ass into gear to clean up the house.  I'd like to clarify a few things...

The friend was my husbands best friend (now my friend to, but add emphasis to HUSBANDS BEST FRIEND)

The house was a disaster as it always is right after the holidays.  Like T O R N A D O disaster. 

My child doesn't clean up no matter how hard I try.

The friend was my husbands...

So obviously I had to get MY ass in gear to clean up.

You couldn't see the floor in the room he was to stay. 

Yes I said it... Don't you think less of me...

My feet hurt for days... because I don't think I sat down for 12 hours straight. 

And I find that when you try to clean up messes, you inevitably make more.  At least that's my experience.  My living room gets clean but stairs get messy.  My kitchen gets clean but my pantry explodes with things I didn't even know we had.  My daughters room get cleaned up but the loft/playland gets ridiculous. 

So... how do you combat this?  I feel like my life is in a constant state of chaos. 

I tried after the new year to get rid of things... and I have... but I think I need to get rid of more.

3 bags full

to goodwill...

And my closets and garage are still imploding with shit.  It's just that (for the most part). 

I'm ashamed.  No you can't see.  Unless you live by me and if you do you'll see the chaos in the garage. 

I clean it up 3x a year and then remember that guy that had a friend over last week, yea, my husband... he messes it up and then blames me. 

I should have titled this Husbands instead of messes... but then again, what's the difference?

Why I've been MIA

These last few weeks of work travel has gotten the best of me.  It's made me tired, irritable, and taken me away from my family.  Not only have I been gone every other week for the last 6 weeks, but I have been busy with Maeve which is doing really well and taking up most of my free time! 


It always makes me laugh how I start out the year with great ambitions for this blog.  I see others gain traction and I just sit here plugging away with minimal to no change.  I'm truly beginning to believe that if you want to succeed in the blogging world, or any entrepreneurial world for that matter, you must be a SAHM or only work on that one thing! 


That's not me.  I'd like to be there, but I'm not just yet.  I have a full time job that takes me away about 40 hours a week.  I'm lucky that's it's flexible and there is a often downtime so I occasionally have a chance to write a post like this.  But yesterday, I took the day off and I swear to you, I feel like I got nothing accomplished?!  I posted here for the first time in forever {insert Frozen tune} about my new cup rack, and I made drafts for the rest of the week, but it's like I'm always flying by the seat of my pants and never gaining traction!  


Today I just wanted to say thanks and sorry.  My goal is to give you {Hello?  Are you there?!} posts 3x a week.  Lately that has not been happening.  I've been trying to keep up with my one post a month even over at The City Moms... and that DIY happened at about 8:30pm last night... so you see how I'm working.  Doesn't help that my turdmuffin has been going to bed around 10pm and then getting up for an hour to tell me things she forgot to tell me before finally falling asleep (hopefully before me) in her own bed and then waking up at 4:30a on the dot to come sleep in my bed. 


I'm always wondering how people do what they do.  I assume people probably wonder how I do what I do, but I'm here to tell you it's all a farse.  haha. My house is a disaster.  I feel like I'm always looking at a device.  I feel like I'm drinking POTS of coffee every day.  AND I'm not doing what I want to be doing like blogging and decorating and entertaining...  It can't be healthy to be stressed out, strechted thin, and then hating most moments of it!


So... that's all my excuses...


But on the bright side, I somehow finished two books recently.  Both were books that enlightened me in some ways.  Both were complete opposite sides of the spectrum -- Books entitled Making Things Happen & Moms Who Drink & Swear.  You can see how I might fit into both at this point.  haha.  I have slowly started to revamp my kiddos room.  I've done a couple DIYs and spray painting projects which make me happy.  I've been paying off some debt which is always good.  And we've had a Maeve collaborative shoot as well as cranked out a wedding!


Now if they had pills for feeling like you've slept without sleeping, I think I'd be good! 


Oh well... I know I only have a handful of followers and I'm honestly not even sure if any of those followers still read Little Miss Martha as it should now be titled "Little Miss Martha takes on the World and Falls Off the Wagon But Gets Back On Again Every Other Month."  Wonder if that blogger name is still available... checking... seems more appropriate. 


All I know is that this blog has chronicled some very very important days in my life.  It's been a way to vent and document.  It's also been a way to meet people believe it or not.  It also led me to start Maeve and the blog over there (which is also lacking some good content due to making sure I get some sleep sometimes...).  I'm not going anywhere.  I'd love to just be a fun place to stop and maybe see some fun quick tutorials, hilarious pictures, inspiring quotes, or even just real life things. 


I hope you'll stay along for the {bumpy and sometimes one of those where you fall out and get back in because it keeps tipping over} ride...

xo,

Meeting Another Blogger -- Ninja Mom

Do you ever wonder why we blog?  Why you blog?  Still... that is...

We all started for a reason and then sometimes I find myself wondering why am I still doing this?  There's not enough time in the day for me to get more than 3 hours of sleep... so why on gods green earth would I maintain something I'm not sure anyone else really reads!??! 
No? Just me...??? Well I"m weird, but it's ok! 
And if you are actually reading this, thank you very much for stopping by.

I recently did a Fundraising Event where I set up my Stella & Dot Booth.  It was a lovely event - Glamour. Giving. Goodness.  A Fundraiser for the National Kidney Foundation of Indiana - Filled with vendors, and great people!   But I had read before I went that there would be 2 bloggers there -- not thinking anything of it I was confused by the book signing going on to my right all night long, but again -- Mommy Moment -- I didn't think anything of it so I just stayed at my booth and smiled. 

Then when were were slow, I went over to check things out...

This is when I met Nikki 1...

Actually I lie, she told me to go over. 

But I went and I chatted with Nikki 2 about her book because Nikki 1 was walking around.  YES, both bloggers were named Nikki.  It was kind of comical.  Cause Confusion while making people laugh -- Genius!  I looked at their books and chatted, and read a few of the titles of the chapters of Moms Who Drink & Swear and I knew I was sold.

Then I realized that Nikki 1's was entitled I Just Want To Pee Alone -- yes, she had just told me that, but I was sold on that one too.  And let me tell you, I LOVE IT! 

Nikki 1 writes Ninja Mom aka Nicole Shaw.  Go on over and check it out -- Seriously because you are going to pee yourself laughing.  She's the best combination of charming and funny.  I think I miss her already. haha.  No, but seriously. I'm always amazed at the wonderful people, amazing opportunities that come out of Fort Wayne that no one knows about.  I'm a lover of all things home so I try to support and enjoy and share as much as possible so that I can do my part and not ever have to live there again! Makes me feel better about abandoning moving away from my family up there.  Hopefully I'll never move back to the Fort because I love it down here so much more, but you never know. 

But Nikki writes as a freelance journalist for her own blog, our newspapers in Fort Wayne, and Nick Mom!  Like really a mom from Fort Wayne is a blogger with Nick Mom?  I think that's awesome as I see the commercials constantly for Nick Mom after my millionth time of watching Yo Gabba Gabba and I figure it's a cute little sanity break in TV for moms after the kiddos go to bed and think that the people involved are probably from elsewhere in the country... NOPE!  Right here in good old Indiana! 

Nikki was too funny.  Like her, I Just Want To Pee Alone is laugh out loud funny.  It's a compilation of short stories from herself and other mommy bloggers.  I read it on my way down to Memphis for Sister's Graduation.  It made me realize that it's time to move on from following the wedding blogs to joining those of my own kinds -- those who pick up poop with their bare hands from the bathtub, those who are woken up by their 1 year old in the middle of the night ready to play and go for the day, those who have to clean up puke and change dirty diapers -- yes, they are my folk now! 

But meeting her also made me realize that I do love blogging... I love that my blog is a blog about good things... this is where I vent... this is where I come and post about something that makes me happy after I come home to a grumpy husband and a completely trashed house.  This is something that is me and something that I can come back to.  I love it and it's sometimes awkwardness, as well as for it's sucky moments or typos or crappy content, but also for it's GREAT posts and comments from others, and interesting content.  I know I'm inconsistent, but you have to love me for that! Well you don't have to, but I'm really begging asking you to. 

happy monday

xoxo,

I have a blog?

Ummm... yea.  So obviously I've been missing for a few days.  I have all these ideas of what to blog about and how I'll do it but then finding the time to sit down and actually do it is killing me... there is none.

The other day I said to myself, "I have a blog?"  I was driving home from work on my way to my new other work and then it his me... CRAP... I hadn't blogged in like a week or something like that!  I love to blog, it's one of my favorite things about me!  I love that I blog and can lay things out in front of people without worrying about judgement and not worrying about how it looks! 

The only thing I worry about is the state of my pictures...

But I realized that these last couple weeks have been hectic.  This weekend my husband was in town for hockey, but was MIA for both days.  I have taken on a part time job to help deal with some new expenses in our household and that's keeping me busy 2-3 days a week.  Then I have Stella of course... oh yea, and Ella!

I'm trying to find time for it all.  I'm trying to keep my sanity which is quickly slipping away.  I'm trying to do it all and finding that maybe I'm not superwoman.  Maybe I'm just your typical girl who wants it all, but can't have it.  I feel like I'm stuck in this cycle that I am struggling to get out of.  Will I ever get out?

When I clean my house it's messy again.  When I clean the garage, it gets messy again.  The bricks in the front of my house are always a mess.  There's always laundry to do.  There's always a project that needs finished.  There's always a problem with our house.  Typically I feel alone.  Typically I feel like I pick up the slack everywhere.  I feel guilty that I sleep or eat or buy something.  I feel guilty that I'm not with my baby enough.  I feel guilty that I don't exude love and kindness to those around me that often.  I feel angry and jealous.

Are all these things normal?  I hope so.

So yes, I'm hopefully back to blogging with some time management spreadsheets that should help -- that's what they are meant to do so I guess I'll be the judge of that! 

Please don't judge my vent...
It was short and I'm sure I forgot much.
One day I will do a happy vent... one day.

xo,

Random Ramblings -- Like Woah

Well, lets try this getting on track thing again...

Wow.. I have been out of it.  I feel like there is no time for anything anymore!  And can you believe it's already Thanksgiving!  I'm just like woah! 

I've been WAY out of it with regards to blogging.  I feel like this was/is an outlet for me to unleash on the world when I'm down or mad or disappointed, or a reason to share a craft or update I did around my home that I'm (kinda) proud of (or not), or a reason to just craft in the first place.  And it's my way to actually READ things -- I would check blogs daily... now I find myself trying to catch up and missing out on major life events like how Katie over at Bower Power had her little boy!  While she has no idea who I am, I love her blog and love to read it!  Same with others that I have tagged in my favorites on the blog (keep scrolling down and you'll see them -- Favorite Little Blogs).

My life has gotten a bit more complicated over the last few weeks -- between work travel, work, holidays, hockey, and just random life issues my stress levels have probably plato-ed, or at least I hope they have.  I'm ready for my life to have some sort of order, but I usually find myself falling just short of that.  But because of all these things colliding at once, I feel like I'm missing out on things and want to get back into the blogging game for sure.  I love having comments from people, or getting new followers (yes, I know you are there and I love you for it), or following old followers (yes, I look at your blogs too!)!  It makes me feel somehow connected to the world.  Move over World News, blogs keep me in the loop!

So with all that being said, Thank you for following, reading, hanging, and bearing with me through the no posts!  I love you for it.  And even though I get sick of everyone on Facebook putting what they are thankful for for the days of November, I am thankful for things too -- I'm just not THAT public of a person...yet.

______________________________________________________________


Thanksgiving is tomorrow so there are things to be THANKFUL for like pumpkin pie and cheesecake!  Oh yea, and family of course. 

Maybe I'll have a few moments to get caught up on things this weekend.  In the next couple weeks, I'll be playing catch up.  I'm not going to put a hard and fast deadline on my catching up because it's taken me 3 months to fall of the bandwagon so it will probably take me a little while to get back on... but, there are things I want to share.  Cute things. 

So look for posts about:

Pumpkin Patches
Halloween
Holiday Decor
Baby Kakes
San Diego
Hockey Tournaments
Gifts
Thanksgiving!
Back problems...
Budgeting
First Birthday Party Ideas

That's about what I have at the moment, but there is more.

____________________________________________________________________

Stella & Dot Specials

**Through Today, use promo code BETTER and get these earrings at 50% off.  You just have to be logged into your Stella & Dot account to use it.  If you don't have one, go here and make one!  :)

**November 27th - Dec 17th -- Purchase any fixed charm necklaces and we'll donate a gorgeous Stella & Dot accessory to military service women and family members.  Good at Online and In Home Trunk Shows too!

**I'll be having a GINORMOUS SAMPLE SALE in the next couple of months -- I can't decide when I want to do it.  I'm thinking next month! 

**I'm also offering as a gift to my holiday hostesses -- $15 electronic gift card (until we get the physical ones back in stock) to anyone who books and holds a trunk show (online counts too!) between November 15th & December 20th.

**And don't forget -- Spend $50 and get these pieces at 50% off!
Astor 5 Strand -- $158 $79
Estate Chandelier Earrings -- $49 $24.50
La Coco Clutch -- $148  $74
Marchesa Necklace -- $178  $89
Juliette Gem Drops -- $59  $29.50


Currently Open Trunk Shows to purchase through!--

Darla's

http://www.stelladot.com/ts/s7yj5

Men Shop for Your Ladies for Xmas!  

 http://www.stelladot.com/ts/65sl5

*Send your love this link with your wish list!!!

Decisions Decisions

Yes, there comes a time in someones life where they have to give up something that they enjoy very much...
And that time has come for me.

After sitting down and looking at my crazy life schedule, taking into account that I will soon be travelling much with work, and chatting it out with my husband, I've decided to take a step back from coaching.  It's something that I thoroughly enjoy doing, but at the moment I just feel that I do not have enough time and energy to put into it right now - It's very time consuming...beyond the 10 hours a week I was on the ice. 

This is a sad moment in my life.  I've been skating ever since I can remember... I can't remember a time where I didn't have to lace up my skates before or after work or school.  I can't remember a time where I wasn't carrying an extra bag around with me just because I had to have my skates for a practice.  I can't remember a time when I went to the movies and in the middle I heard music and thought to myself - this would be great to skate to, which I'm sure I will still do.

I love watching kids grow up on the ice... I love sharing my sport with little ones. They are so eager to learn. They love to try things that are hard and usually aren't too scared of what could happen {yet}.  They are so cute in their helmets, gloves, winter coats, snow pants, and smiles or tears.  I love how they call me Miss Abby and how they give me hugs before and after lessons.  The kids make me laugh, cry, and sometimes even fall. You don't want to disappoint them with an unpassed test because they cry and then in turn, you want to cry.  It's so fun to see their faces when they do pass and they get their badge.   The correlations they make are fantastic and hysterical!  And since they are not always so sure on their feet, they occasionally get in your way or trip you! My fondest memories are skating. The friends you make, the mentors you have, and the love you find for something that is your special thing.

Skating teaches you so much.  I'm not exactly sure how or why, but it does.  Maybe it's because you have to learn how to practice on your own, you rely on yourself to get from beginning to the end of your program, you are in charge of you and no one else.  I think it helps you grow up...

I always liked that about skating.  It was just me.  All me.  I couldn't blame anyone, I couldn't get mad at anyone but myself if I messed up... unless I didn't and the judges still were brutal.  But, that happens.  I just liked going out there doing my thing and knowing that I was doing something that most could not.  Skating is special.  It's not like soccer or baseball.  It's not a sport that everyone can do. It takes coordination, power, a mindset, and confidence.  That's why it's so special.  And that's why I loved sharing it with those who were eager. 

I'm sad to be leaving my current kiddos, but I can do so because I know that whoever they choose to continue on with, I have confidence in.  We have a great set of coaches around here and I'm lucky to be able to work with them and be able to call them friends.  They are wonderful!  And they all have their own unique qualities... good and bad, but we love them all the same!  They are strong women and a few strong men. 

Maybe some day I'll be back when Ells wants to skate or asks what those brown things are in the garage...  My mom thinks I will be back when Ells is about 5 but for now I need to focus on my family.  I need to have some moments where I'm not running around like a chicken with my head cut off and I have a minute to breathe.  I need to spend as much time with Ells as I can when she's young.  I'm the only one she REALLY recognizes at this point and I don't want to become a stranger to her.  She's my Ells. 

So I say goodbye to the sport I love and has defined me as a person.  It's been everything in my life up to now.  It's how I grew up always hanging out with older people... how I grew up travelling all over for competitions... it's how I learned to get ready on my own.... it's how I became disciplined enough to get up to practice before school and after... it's how I learned to not quit at something once you've started and how I accomplished that by passing all the levels in not one but two skating disciplines... it's how I got to do some extra traveling and earn some extra money after high school by becoming a professional figure skating on a show... it's how I got through college earning money to live on... it's how I met my husband... it's a huge part of me and I'm sad to let it go, but it's the right time.  There are so many other good things about skating that I would love to share, but as the tears well up in my eyes, I realize it is special and always will be.  It will always be that part of me and I will always be a figure skater. 

New Camera

SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!

I can't even tell you how excited I was last Friday when I got a little package!  YAY!!!

It was my new camera....

What kind you ask?
A Nikon D5100.  I splurged a little.  I work hard and felt I deserved it.



It's wonderful. 
Still working through the manual, but loving it at the moment! 
And had to share!

Took a ton of test shots, but hoping to have a few photo sessions this weekend! 

Speaking of photo sessions...

Ells is set up to have a photo session with Michelle of Rylee Madison Photography next weekend for a 4 month photo shoot!  Yes, she's 4 months already!  Can't believe it!  Don't worry I'll share pics when we get them!

Random Ramblings...

Today I was thinking, as I got up at 4:00am to grab Ella who was crying but not awake, about how many things I need to do on top of all the stuff I already do.  It's amazing how your stresses can just switch on almost automatically as you wake up. 

I was thinking about how exhausted I am but how good I felt because I actually got to sleep last night from 10:15 when I passed out on the bed until 4am.  Then I know I'm one of those moms, but I love to "nuggle" with my little one when she's sad or frustrated so we lay in bed together.  She curls right up into my chest.  Usually she lays on top of my chest with her head "nuggled" into my neck and passes out, but it's so fun to just be together.  I always tell her "it's you and me kid."  Mr. K doesn't like that so much...

I was thinking about what the day was going to hold.  Our new house cleaner is coming today so I was trying to get ready a little quicker than normal for work so that I could take care of a few odds and ends that I know Mike will not do.  I was throwing those not really dirty clothes into the closet on the valet so they were not on the floor.  I was making a pile of dirty clothes for Mr. K to move to the laundry room.  I was making sure my valuables (I know...) were put away... even if it meant tucking them into the top drawer of the dresser until I got back to them tonight... I was making sure that all of Ella's stuff in our room was tucked away at the end of her bassinet.  It's funny how you clean the house for someone to clean it!  And I was doing all this while trying not to make any noise and wake her up! 

I was thinking about how the dogs will have to be in the garage for most of the day because of the cleaner coming... Usually they stay upstairs while the sitter is there.  Today they'll be in the garage.  At least it's supposed to be a decent day.  They'll get a big blanket to lay on and toys (hopefully).  This also made me think about how Lex needs a new name tag and if we should get them chipped...

I was thinking about how we are making it through... We just had a new baby, we are working off less income than we've ever done in the past, and how we are scraping by.  I was thinking about how I feel like I'm busting my butt to make ends meet and how we are doing it... It's kind of strange how things usually come together.  I've been selling things on Ebay, Craigslist, working on S&D, skating, and have gone back to work full time this week.  Man do I miss maternity leave. 

I chuckled as I got around this morning... thinking about how Ella is such a turd that she rolled over for the first time for the babysitter yesterday and how I was laying on the floor with her when I got home and walked to the kitchen for 3 minutes and when I got back she was on her tummy so I had missed it again... do you think she did it again all night?!  Nope.  I'll just keep waiting for my turn to see it. 

I was thinking about how I'm playing single parent this weekend while Mr. K goes to Detroit for hockey.  It'll just be me and E this weekend and we've got a lot going on.  She'll be attending learn to skate with me again which I promised I would never do to her, but have to.  She is a part of the welcoming committee and has become somewhat of a mascot to the program!  haha.  She'll be driving to another rink to have a cupcake for the 2 year anniversary of a friend's liver transplant.  Then she'll be attending via baby bjorn her first ice show/recital on Sunday so that I can help with getting kids on and off the ice. 

I was thinking about all the things I want to do like run, travel, read, and relax.  Yes, I know some of those are daily things and others are once in a lifetime things, but I was thinking... will I be able to do the things on my Bucket List?  Do I even really have a Bucket List?  Maybe I should write it out...

I was thinking about how I need to write out a schedule for Mr. K and the sitter.  Apparently Mr. K can't remember it so has asked me to write it down.  This is a schedule for Ella.  It's pretty basic but the most important times are the morning and evening so we can get things done and start getting sleep again... Excuse me so I can start getting sleep again!

I was thinking about how I need to stop thinking about so many things!  But the stresses just continue on so the lists get longer... and I attempt to get them done at some point.  Being an adult kinda sucks but it does have it's great moments to so we'll push on...

The Crazy Kellermeyers

Have I ever told you before that I'm crazy!?!  Well, I'm admitting it... yes, I am. 
Call me crazy!

These next six months are probably some of the most important... monumental... life altering... exciting... and most of all supposedly wonderful times of our lives... right?!?  I say supposedly because I'm still trying to get used to not feeling well all the time!  hehe...

But here I go into these next six months with a crazy crazy schedule...

Yes, I'll be [hopefully] working my 40 hour a week full time job
AND
Now, like a crazo I've decided to take on almost 16 hours a week skating...
AT 4+ MONTHS PREGNANT! 

That is definitely a "things that make me go hmmm.... "

Yes, I'll be at the rink six days a week and my husband will be there five.  Two of those days we'll be teaching on the same ice... how weird is that?!?  But how are we going to get anything done?  I'm a little confused on how this will work. We need to completely prepare our house for a baby and we are gearing up for one of the busiest skating season's we've ever done! 

To top that off, Mr K has informed me that he'll be going out of town to Toronto or Windsor or somewhere in Canada for about 4 days like 1-2 weeks before I'm due!  I'd love to go, but I don't know if that is a good idea or not... hmmm....  But what if he's gone!?!  LOL.  Why am I stressing about that now?!?  I have six months to figure that out!

At least we'll be bringing in some extra cash... right?  I'll just need to keep telling myself that no matter how tired I am!  Think GREEN!!! 

Welcome to the world of The Crazies Kellermeyers...

Gray Days

Ever go to the bathroom and look at yourself in the mirror and see this two inch squiggly gray hair sticking out of the top middle of your head?

Oh... no?  Really?  Ok, must just be my luck then because this happened to me at work the other day! 

I knew it was time to color my hair again, but man oh man... I didn't think gray hairs were that mean!  hehe.  In the process of trying to pull it out, I found another.  I was totally mortified by this!  But it got me to thinking...

{1} Since I'm clearly "going gray" at 26, would I choose to embrace this trait about myself and let all my hair go gray?

Meryl Streep looks beautiful here as
Editor In Cheif of a Fashion Magazine in
The Devil Wears Prada

{2} If I did that, what do you do in the mean time while your hair is trying to go gray?  Do you dye it gray so that it's uniform or do you rock the salt and pepper look?

via

{3} Or would I rather go for a Stacey London or Mrs. Kalb look once this process began?  Mrs. Kalb was my 7th grade teacher who had the Stacey London thing going for her as well. 

via

Things that make you go hmmm...
What would you do?

Must Share This

We interrupt this very important Royal Wedding Week Posts for something that I must share! 

I know you've all wanted to do something like this while in Ikea, right?

{Notice all the tags}

via

via

Well, hop over to Christian Gideon's blog to check out more of "What if you lived in Ikea?"  These pictures are HILARIOUS!

I'm theenking... I'm theenking...

Always a scary thing....
What is that from?  You know, I'm theenking, I'm theenking, I'm theenking... I can't remember. 

So this morning as I was getting ready for work I did start to think about a couple of things...

How much are we absorbing now?  I mean REALLY absorbing...  Sometimes I feel like I don't absorb anything anymore... maybe it's an illness or something, but for the life of me, I feel like new things come in one ear and out the other. 

Why do we do what we do?  Why do I get up at 5am to be to work at 6am (usually late) to be away from doing things I love 40 hours a week?  Why do I then do another 5-10 hours a week at another job?  A job that is stressful and challenging and often feels like you are getting nowhere.  Why am I always feeling that I'm doing all that I can and it's not usually enough... ???  Things that make you go hmmm....

Do you ever grow out of feeling like you are in high school?  This is a tricky one and has been bothering me a lot lately... I feel like no matter what I am followed by the clicky girls, the drama, the unfriendliness, the competitiveness, and usually feeling like I'm not included.  It's probably a paranoia of some sort, but it's really annoying.  Do people grow out of their clicks?  If you aren't right in someones face all the time do they just "forget" about you and leave you out? 

This has always been a pet peeve of mine.  Growing up, I was a competitive ice skater and that was the excuse to not include me on things... "Oh, we thought you were skating."  Oh.  Ok.  Whatever.  I feel like this is a continual problem that I face.  Even at work, people forget to include me on things that I'm supposed to be involved in (meetings) and group lunches.  Will I ever get over this?  I hope so.

Where do you meet GOOD friends?  I am hoping this will come along with kids.  I have a ton of acquaintances and a ton of people I know.  However, with that being said I do not have a best friend.  I do not have a ton of people that I even consider FRIENDS.  I think I have about five max.  People that I could call up with a problem and chat it out with.  I am not good on the phone.  I'd much rather email or have coffee with someone so I think part of this is my fault, but it takes two people to be friends.  It takes two to make a friendship work.  I've found that even when I do well with phone calls, emails, etc... the other end fails me.  This has happened more often than not. 

Because of this, it's hard for me to let people in.  I don't want to be shit on anymore!  I put up a guard.  I am just fine with what I have now... I would enjoy having a handful of people who just dropped by now and then... or we did dinner with or cookouts or football games or something... I do like to go out, I just don't have anyone to do it with.  And poor Mr. K... he doesn't understand.  He's got GREAT Friends and is a lot more extroverted than me!  We compliment each other.

How to get in shape?  Hmmm... this is a hard one for me.  I hate working out.  I hate sweating... lol.  I know, wierd.  I honestly think that I worked out all my life and now I'm ready for a break.  I do like running... I am going to try to run at least 3x a week for the next couple of weeks and see where it gets me.  This weekend I ran with Lex and it felt so good.  He was such a good dog the entire time AND the weather was beautiful AND it felt great!  Now... to make it a habit. 

Ok... enough random ramblings from me.  Sorry it's such an odd post.  I'm in an odd mood.  I'll get over it.  If only I could quit my day job, be a stay at home housewife, blog, DIY, teach skating, and do Stella & Dot.  Goal?  Maybe... we'll see.  It'll probably be a while.

Weekends

What a weekend. 

It was filled with highs, middles, and headaches!  I felt busy all weekend, but of course, took no pictures and I also felt like time was moving slowly so that I could just continue on. 

Starting on Thursday, I was in bed with a migraine all day.  Ugh to migraines!  They stink!  I get them all the time, but especially when the weather changes a bit and since it's going to be 72 degrees today and 40 on Thursday, I'm guessing another is in my future soon. 

Friday was nice.  I had to run some errands and finish up my shopping for the blog swap!  Excited to see what Miss Maria thinks of her little gift.  I hope she enjoys!  Then had lunch with my grandma who insisted on buying me something!  I wouldn't let her.

Saturday I had to teach ice skating at one rink and then put my kiddos on at a competition at another!  I woke up with my head pounding, but couldn't let the little kids down so I just drugged myself up with Excedrin and pushed through.  That took me through 3pm.  My kids did sooo great!  Morgan - Basic 4 - 2nd, Rachel - Basic 5 - 2nd, Lindsay - Basic 7 - 2nd, Sarah - Freestyle 1 - 2nd, Reid - Freestyle 1 - 1st, and Grace - Limited Beginner - 2nd!  So proud of all of them!  Can't wait to see some pictures taken by the lovely Andrea!  Then out with grandma so she could buy me that thing!  So... I got some TOMS.  Love them!  And then dinner at Benihanna's.  LOVE IT!!!

And finally Sunday!  I think it takes forever to get here!  But we got up and went to this place called Jim Dandy.  Anyone ever heard of it?! Well, we had a coupon so Mike wanted to go.  Never again.  Sorry, Jim Dandy.  But I can get warm food for the same price and it's probably better at Perkins!  Oh well, at least we tried it!  Then we came home and raked the yard so we could reseed it.  Our yard is an on-going process!  It never ends!  Last night I gave Lou a haircut.  Wish I had a picture of his bum... got a bit too close... well, not closer than when they do it at the groomer, but I'll have to post it tomorrow!  You'll laugh.  He's got to feel naked! 

And so far it's not been to bad of a Monday. 

Ever Need This?

Do you ever have days where you need a topic to talk about?
I know I do. 

Today is one of those days...
I have a lot of topics in progress, but nothing is finished because most of them are DIY. 

So today I'm using this. 

A Blog Topic Generator. 

Let's see what it says?
It said the Most Terrifying Animal. 


No thanks...
Have you had any luck with this type of thing or how do you decide what to blog about?! 

Happy (hopefully) Monday!

I'm Tired

This week I feel like I'm drowning and can barely make it up for air.  I am oversleeping, I'm tired all the time... I just feel like maybe, just maybe I'm doing too much.  While sitting at my desk yesterday I figured out that in two weeks I'll be skating 7 days a week. I went from trying to be done with coaching to 7 days a week in like no time.  I think it took me 6 weeks to get back to this.  And I'm working on booking up my March Calendar for Stella & Dot Trunk Shows, and we'll be home 2 weekends in March as well so needless to say... I'm busy.  <--- This reminds me of Sally O'Malley (SNL Molly Shannon) saying I'm Fifty! And I like to Kick, Jump, and Kick!  I'm Fifty!  So make sure you read it like that!  ;)



Example of Group Lessons
This is what I do.

 Don't get me wrong, I love skating, but the rink is kind of draining.  There's constant drama on who likes who and who's working for who and what sessions are available and have or haven't been cancelled yet AND that's just the rink side.  Then you have the parents (thankfully all mine are just fine) wondering why the rink may have cancelled something or why hockey gets the good ice and we don't <--although I'd argue this one because my husband has a hockey practice that starts at 9:15pm and I will just put it out there right now... I would never do that on a regular basis--> or how the lesson went or when there is a competition and where it is.  It's just like a roller coaster of emotions... now 7 days a week. 

And it's not like I'm there forever each day... usually about an hour.  Fridays and Saturdays I do three and four hours, but I feel like at some point I'm going to burn out.  I might be there already... we shall see.

via

On top of that... You all know that I'm a Stylist with Stella & Dot.  I love the jewelry.  I joined so I could wear the jewelry and get it for FREE!  I love the women on my team and those on others.  I love the friendships that I see forming.  I love that it's such a fresh new company and I love being a part of it... I feel like I'm always doing something for it.  Not everyone is like that AND I know I'm not, but I put the hours in during my "free" time like lunch hours or right after dinner or directly from skating.  I love doing trunk shows.  They are so fun!  I love everything about this company and this new venture of mine so I WILL NOT GIVE IT UP... even if it means that I have to get out of my comfort zone and talk to strangers or work a little harder to book a trunk show or stay up late to put orders in... I love it!  I love everything about it!  Did I say I love it?  Why do you think I'm always sharing about it? 

It's just that looking at my schedule I work about 40 hours at my full time job with CBP, I work about 12 hours skating, and I work about 10 hours a week just doing random S&D stuff.  It adds up.  And the 12 hours skating does not include the numerous emails that I'm sending, responding to, and rifling through to make sure everything is covered and everyone knows what's going on.  :)

This is why I initially started this blog.  To vent.  So thanks for letting me. 
I'm just wondering... when does it get easier?  Ever?  I'm starting to think not.  That's OK.  I'll forge through. 
Does there come a point where you REALLY have to let go of something?!  And how do you choose...?
Hmmm.....
Little Vents and food for thought today.... Hope I didn't bore too much! 

At least it's Thursday!

Can I Just Say...

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to go home today.  It's been a crapola Thursday and they are supposed to be great because I have tomorrow off! 

Craps of the Day:
{1} Got up late which turned into showering late which turned into...
{2} Couldn't figure out what to wear so I change like 4x this morning...
{3} Which meant I couldn't dry my hair so I had to wear a wet bun...
{4} Mike and I both parked in the garage because of the sub-zero temperatures, but he didn't quite pull over far enough so... I could barely squeeze through the middle of the cars...
{5} Rubbed against our salty, snowy, dirty cars... wearing black pants!
{6} Got to Starbucks and spilled my coffee on the way out on my had and burned it...
{7} Got to work and spilled my coffee on the way in on my cream sweater...
{8} Had to send out an email spreadsheet at work and sent it out wrong
{9} TWICE!
{10} I can barely keep my eyes open and keep coughing
AND it's not over yet!!! 

So I don't know about you, but so far I've struck out on today!  It's only 10am and I have 6 more hours here and then it's home time... Time to get into my sweatpants (not coffee stained!) and cozy home, spend a little time with Mike before he leaves me for hockey {the mistress}.  That should be another blog I do... Maybe The Kellermeyer Chronicles should turn into Life of a Hockey Wife.  Not a bad idea... I'm sure someone out there has already done this. 

Just some random ramblings for the morning.  How's your day going so far?  Hopefully better than mine!

-- Typical Tuesday --

Does anyone feel the same as I do about Tuesdays? 

Every Tuesday I struggle.  It's a very typical Tuesday for me...

To walk out the door late
Spill my coffee
Forget I need to stop and get gas
Not wear any make up... Who am I kidding?  This is almost everyday.
Forget utensils for my lunch
Have a crazy to-do list
Over it before it begins...

I think for most people this is Monday, but for me I get a double whammy.  Monday's aren't usually much better. 

-- Fails and Accomplishments --

Ok, so I have failed at almost everything this week! 

I failed to post on the 17th (which was technically last week) about the adorable ornament that Daphne - my ornament exchange partner - sent me.  My camera is on the fritz.  Hence no picture.  I want to be able to do it justice.  I'm hoping that I can get it fixed tomorrow. 

I've barely been blogging for the last 5 days or so.  I've been crazy busy.  With my trip to San Diego, finishing Christmas shopping, cleaning my house for company... I often wonder how these bloggers who I follow do it so great and so consistently great!  I am hoping to get there someday!

I failed to announce that Daphne was the only person who commented on the Santa Ornament Giveaway so she's the WINNER!!!  Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!  ;)  Congrats Daphne!  I'll be sending it your way soon! 

I have failed at being on time to work now 2 days in a row.  Slick roads and snow storms do not help this cause. 
I've failed at successfully wrapping my gifts cutely!  LOL.  I know, but seriously I had this whole plan and it completely bombed so I ended up just using all kinds of wrapping paper and ribbons and bows, etc.  I really like to wrap in themes as I wrote about here... but obviously, that will not be happening this year. 

I failed at sending out holiday cards this year.  I was totally planning on it too!  Well, unless I get them out Monday of next week, they are not going!  <-- not like I even have them yet... actually they are on their way... I broke down!  HA.

And I can't remember when the last time I went to the gym was... that has to be knocked WAY up to the top of the to do EVERYDAY list!  Seriously!  Pants are getting a little tight!  lol.

Among all these fails I have done a couple of things...
1. Started skating again. 
2. Rearranged my loft and am now loving it.
3. Have become Qualified for Stella & Dot this month! 

I think that's it.  December has not been what I thought it would! 

Happy Holidays Blog Hogs and a belated Merry Christmas!

-- Happy Columbus Day --

Happy Columbus Day! 

I am working on many upcoming posts today!

Because of the long weekend, I was inspired to do hands on work! 

But until then, enjoy the day!

-- Good Morning --

Ok, so I just have to tell you a little about how my day has gone...

Woke up this morning.  Did not want to get out of bed.  Typical Monday. 
Clothes were wrinkly.  Of course.  Threw in dryer...no time to iron.<--would ever happen at 5am anyways
It's freezing outside <-- complete exaggeration, it was 50 degrees
I'm dying for coffee.  Thought Mike set the coffee maker last night since he'd cleaned it.  Bad Assumption.
Come downstairs half dressed to make the coffee. 
Make coffee.
Finish getting ready.  Dogs are following me everywhere. 
Make lunch.  <-- grab healthy choice, apple, string cheese and throw in bag.  Very complicated.
Coffee is finished.  Grab a traveller mug.  Oh wait, there isn't any.  They are all dirty and/or lost. 
DAMN.
Grab a mug.  <-- always a bad idea for a 5:30am drive to work
Attempt to leave
5:35 <-- only 5 min late
Attempt to leave
5:37 <-- by the time I get in my car will be 10 min late
Decide that even though I have coffee in my hand, I'll need to stop at Starbucks for a coffee...  I know, don't ask.
Get in car.  5:52 by my car clock.  On MY time, not really on time. 14 min fast for whatever reason. 
LATE.
Hit the steering wheel as I get in the car.
Spill coffee all over my leg. 
Thanking god that I'm in almost all black. <-- not going in to change
Start car. 
Pull out of driveway. 
Almost to highway when I realize I forgot my lunch.
DAMN.
Drive. Drive. Drive. FAST. 
Hoping there are no cops.
Pull into Starbucks.  
Apparently Starbucks is having a party.
Maybe all these people who are never here at this time on other days have has the same last 30 min like me?!?
Grab my Grande Pike.
Go to work. 
Starving. 

Here's to a great start to the week.  Yea Right.