Happy Friday Brainiacs! It's Party Time with The Wondering Brain! Woop! Woop! First off, I want to say "Thank You" to my wonderful hosts for taking over the blog party while I was working in beautiful San Diego! So, a HUGE Mahalo to:


I was told by so many people that it is more difficult to potty-train boys. So when I found out I was having a little boy, I got a little anxious.  I've tried so many ways to potty-train him, but it took some really ingenious ways for him to get close to it.  Reading Chelsey's story made me realize that I'm not alone in this journey of potty-training.  I feel like I can accomplish it now!" 



Stacey also loved Chelsea's post on faith: "I love to hear about different faith journeys, because I have struggled with my own for most of my life, and it is wonderful to read about another's journey through faith, especially when it is shared in such a beautifully positive and uplifting way." 


Keia's favorite last week comes from Marty's Thoughts On Life and Money: "The story she told was very touching and makes you slow down and think about the impact you can have." 


Cathy loved what Season of Sweets had to write: "Oh my! These are my favorite!" 


Woo-hoo! It looks like Chelsea from Life Unabridged hits a homerun with The Wondering Brain this week! Michelle loved what Chelsea wrote: "I so remember the days when I couldn't get a shower either. For 8 years I was a SAHM with my 3 boys who are 16 mos apart. While I wouldn't have traded that time in their lives for anything in the world, sometimes just the simple act of getting a shower was monumental."  


My props go to Laugh Lines this week! I loved her take on what she had to do when she became a mother. I probably should ask if her son still remembers how to speak Tagalog.  Seriously... I'm Filipina and I need to learn! 


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Sending love to Tiffany from Mrs. Tee - Love, Life and Laughter for another award nomination!  Earlier in the week she nominated me for the Squirrely Award and now I have a nomination from her for the Sunshine Award!


So the rules for the Sunshine Award are below:

Acknowledge your nominating Blogger
Provide 11 random facts about yourself
Answer your nominating Bloggers 11 questions they provided for you
Pick 11 Bloggers to nominate for this award
Post 11 questions for those 11 Bloggers to answer for you (you can not nominate the blogger who nominated you)

My 11 Random Facts:

1. I went to Montessori school and skipped Kindergarten
2. My husband and I met on Craigslist
3. I have a high end shoe and purse obsession...a pair of Christian Louboutin and a couple different Louis Vuitton's and a Michael Kors are in my collection currently
4. I switched High School in the middle of my Junior year due to the suicide of a close friend, I couldn't cope with it
5. I was a cheerleader in my local Youth Association
6. I used to hate the color pink, now I kind of like it
7. I'm learning sign language with Hannah for my Father-In-Law who is deaf
8. I've recently gotten into photography and can't wait to purchase a better camera
9. I was a Lemur in my Middle School play
10. My style hasn't really changed, just gotten more refined...now it's jeans and a white t-shirt with cute boots as opposed to baggy jeans, baggy t-shirt and reeboks haha
11. I'm not religious, more spiritual

11 Answers to 11 Questions

1. What would your dream vacation be?  probably taking the girls to Ireland or Europe when they are older and can appreciate it
2. If you could go anywhere for a week without the kids where would it be? we just did it haha we just spent 10 beautiful days in Alaska!
3. What is your favorite "me" time indulgence?  probably getting my nails done, I have to put my phone down and just zone out
4. What was your favorite subject in High School? English, which is why I enjoy doing my blog so much
5. What is your favorite dessert?  That's a tie between Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream and Red Velvet cake (YUM!)
6. If someone handed your $5,000 with no strings attached what would you do with it?  Probably split it in 1/3's with 2 of those 1/3's going into the girls separate savings accounts then take the last 1/3 and use it for me and hubby to enjoy and I might even take a portion and donate it...karma will come back around
7. Have you started Christmas shopping yet? No! I hate Christmas shopping, I never know what to get anyone but I should get started.
8. Do you shop on Black Friday? If not, why? No...well only online but even that's risky because so many people are doing it your computer can crash, I just can't stand the crowds
9. What's your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Turkey...who doesn't love Turkey on Thanksgiving?
10. What's your families favorite Christmas tradition?  I think we are actually starting that this year.  For the past 2 years we have been traveling to be with family but this year since Hannah is old enough to get the concept of Christmas I want us to be home.  I want to get everyone comfy PJ's, read a book on Christmas Eve, and watch "A Christmas Story" like I did when I was a kid then on Christmas morning have a good breakfast with opening gifts and a fire in the fireplace!
11. Have you decided what you will be for Halloween? If not dressing up will you hand out candy?  We will probably do both!  Since Savannah's birthday is about 2 weeks before Halloween and her party is a Cowgirl theme we will probably use the same outfits/costumes for that then go trick-or-treating early and come home and give out candy, Hannah will enjoy giving out candy on the porch.

11 Blogger Nominations

1. Hill House Rock
2. Frugal Fit Family
3. What's Up With The Wilhelm's
4. W.R.I.T.E.R. Mom
5. Chaos with a Curve
6. Me and My Mini Me
7. Reasons to Skip Housework
8. Tamara Camera
9. Southern Mess Moms
10. Lomholt Family
11. Geena Bean

Finally, my 11 Blogger questions

1. What are you reading now?
2. Are you a morning person or night owl?
3. Can you touch your nose with your tongue?
4. Can you close your eyes and raise your eyebrows?
5. Do you have any pets?
6. How many rings normally before you answer the phone?
7. What's your best childhood memory?
8. What are some of the different jobs you've had in your life?
9. Any new and exciting news you want to share?
10. What is most important in your life?
11. What inspires you?

There you go! That completes the Sunshine Award! I hope everyone I nominated enjoys this as much as I did!!

I'm back!!! Sorry I missed out on the last 2 weeks of #AskAwayFriday but I was away on vacation with my husband in Alaska!  That's a valid enough reason right? haha

This week I paired up with the wonderful Megan from The Patchwork Paisley...she's done some awesome #AskAwayFriday posts recently and I couldn't wait to trade questions with her and let me tell you she did not disappoint, I love all these questions! So without further a due, let's get to it:

1. Let's talk tats and piercings. Do you have any? Describe them if so. If not, would you ever? Why or why not? I actually have 7 tattoos! I have one on each foot that read "Trust in Life" and "Trust in Love" sayings I try to "walk my life by, then on my wrist on my left arm I have 3 flowers with Hannah above it for my 1st born daughter, on my right wrist I have Alis Volat Propris which is Latin for "she flies on her own wings", on my right shoulder blade I have a K for my maiden name with butterflies around it representing my family, on my left shoulder I have a butterfly that was drawn by a friend of mine and on the bottom of my back (tramp stamp style) I have a cross that I got the day I found out my grandfather passed away...


2. Sum up your trip to Alaska in 3 pics...

leaving our mark at Red Dog Saloon

Whale Watching in Juneau

spending quality time with my hubby

3. Have you ever had your "15 minutes of Fame?"  Does blogging count? Haha, no I haven't, I don't really have a desire to be famous...maybe the closest I came was when I did club promotions in DC, being know by security, bar tenders and managers and getting free stuff is always fun!

4. Hubby question: Ok- what would HE say is your best feature? Do you agree? If you are talking physical I guess he would probably say my butt haha...I guess my butt is okay in clothes :)

Now go ask him...what did he say? He said butt as well "I just want you to live in yoga pants"

5. How would you describe your parenting style? It's definitely different then I thought it would be.  I know I'm a good mom but my PPA (Post-Partum Anxiety) changes things sometimes.  I'm definitely the more strict parent out of me and my husband but I think that has more to do with me being a SAHM and being with them all day, every day.  All I know is that they are 2 healthy and happy little girls so I must be doing something right!




6. Aside from your cellphone and keys, what is one thing you can't leave the house without? Wallet, for sure my wallet!

7. Travel back in time 15 years. Where are you? What do you look like (a pic would be fab!) What's your favorite TV show and or song/musician? Oh wow, what a question...so I'm 29 now so that would mean back tracking to 14, okay so 14 I was in my 8th grade year so that would be Junior High getting ready to go into High School.  I was dating this boy that did a lot of drama classes, I wore a lot of Adidas, had braces and wore glasses...oh I wish I could find a picture!  I was obsessed with Backstreet Boys and I can't remember a TV show to save my life so I'll guess "My So Called Life" or "TRL".

8. Dump, hump, marry: In case you've never played- you're given 3 options, sometimes hotties, sometimes not so much (I'm being nice ;) you have to dump one, <ah-hem> hump one, and marry one.

Ryan Reynolds - dump, he's cute but not that cute and he's already been married and divorced
Channing Tatum- marry, mostly because of his relationship with his current wife, he seems faithful and loving in his marriage
Ryan Gosling - hump, I mean have you seen the scene in The Notebook??

9. What's one show on your DVR you're embarrassed to admit to liking? I don't have a DVR but anytime I watch a Lifetime movie or something my husband will make fun of me.

10. If you could be featured on one blog or approached by any company to write for, who would it be?  I'd love to write for Target or even a kids clothing company.  Munchkin would be another one since they have lots of cool kids products.

Thanks Megan! I loved the questions and I hope that you enjoy mine as much as I've enjoyed yours! 

I have to admit, I've been a little nervous to write this post but the only person I'm probably making nervous in posting it is myself.  I've spent every day of the last year and three months being a SAHM and the past 26 months of my life being a mother, there hasn't been many times in that period that I've been without my children and them without me.  Recently though I've had to start thinking of writing a will and what all goes into that, this process has weighed heavy on me but I'd like to share some of my thoughts on what I've gone through in doing our will.

Firstly, my husband and I must agree on everything, from who controls the money for the girls to who gets them should something ever happen to us at the same time and all the things in between.  Here are some of the topics that I've put heavy thought into:

1.  Living Wills: These can be touchy because you might change your mind later in life but for the most part my husband and I stay on the same page for this.  Should we ever been in a place where there's no chance we will wake up or it is painful to keep us alive our wishes are to not be placed on life support.  My husband has a DNR however I do not, this is probably our only thought difference on Living Wills, I believe that if I can be saved and given life again I want the help.

2.  Guardianship: In the event that something happens to both David and I at the same time we had to make a decision on where the girls and with whom the girls would be raised.  We did actually have a little bit of a hard time with this...both sets of our parents are both in their 60's and while I hope nothing happens in the immediate future I couldn't sleep well leaving that responsibility on those who had already raised children.  We considered other younger family members like my brother-in-law and his wife but David and I did settle on his cousins who live in Mississippi.  They already have 2 children of their own who are a little older and we know they would be well equip to care for the girls and give them everything they could need from hugs and kisses to a good education.

3.  Financial: This one can be a doosey,  leaving your money and possessions in the hands of someone else can be a little scary, what if they don't do the right thing or what if they don't want the responsibility.  We have decided to place that with a close family member, someone we both believe will make financial decisions only in the girls best interests.  I highly recommend picking someone with a good financial background of their own, if you go with a gambler chances are that they will gamble what you place in their hands.

4.  To Bury or Cremate: This has two parts to it.  First, you should check with your family members and find out what their plans are.  Did you parents buy you a burial plot? Do you know what they want for themselves?  All of these things can affect how you make your decisions for whether to buy a burial plot or where to be buried/cremated.  Second, you have to make your own decisions on what you want for your afterlife, thankfully David and I are on the same page of being cremated.  I don't know what it is about being buried but the thought that possibly bugs could crawl through me freaks me out.  I'd much rather be cremated and kept somewhere, whether it be a memorial wall or in a box for my girls or my ashes spread I haven't made that final decision just yet.  There's also a new thing where you can be cremated and your ashes turned into diamonds...that would be interesting, knowing that I could give myself back to my girls that way, maybe in a necklace for them to wear or a diamond for their engagement ring but it also has some strange qualities to it as well.

These are just a couple of the many things to consider while preparing for a life when you aren't around anymore.  This whole process has dragged up some hard feelings for me but it is something that has to be done to protect the girls.  I never want to think of a time with David and I won't be there for them but reality is that time goes on and eventually they will be without us, all I can do is make it the easiest process on this end for them since the emotional will be difficult. 

Have you created your will? How did you go about it?  Did you use LegalZoom or a Lawyer?  Any advice for those going through this process is always appreciated and I just might take some of it myself.

There's just something I love about this picture, the light, the Humpback whale, the island, it just is beautiful...