Smart Kids = Awesome Person to Take Care of you in RETIREMENT

I am a 30- something, no more spring chicken, so Hubbs and I have been talking a lot about saving money for retirement. I came up with a super hush hush secret plan we will call "My Kid Is Smart." Now the genius in that everyone will assume you are helping your child be the best they can be but what actually is happening is I am preparing them for future careers that will ensure I have a happy retirement.


For example: Oldest is going to be the doctor and Littlest will be a veterinarian. I started brain washing already, they don't have much choice at this point. Now see, great careers + good money makers = nice big comfy home with a sweet little cottage in the back for dear old Mom and Dad. PERFECTION. Free rent and easy access to grandbabies. Isn't that what retirement is all about?


On with the "My Kid is Smart" plan: Littlest started Kindergarten this year (Wahhhhhhhaaahahahahhahahha). During the second week of school she came home and announced "I decided I can read now" and boy did she. I couldn't believe it, she had been holding out on me! The catch is though that she will only read what she wants to read and in typical K-grade style she is more interested in looking at the pictures and making up her own story.

Fiddling around on Pintrest I cam across this blog and decided "I can do that" and so I did. Only slightly different, mostly because I forgot what kind of paint chips I needed and I had also forgotten my phone so I couldn't look it up and the lady at the paint counter thought I was crazy when I asked her about it and gave me the side eye while I snatched up about 100 paint card thingies. I wanted to make sure I had enough- sue me.

SO, here it is- Operation Word Family. For a complete list of everything/ how to make it the right way go here.

Here are the Word Families (words that all end the same)

Here is Chubaca- intrigued by all the pretty colors (or my burrito).

He just couldn't keep his dang nose out of it.

Admittedly, it is pretty awesome.

The pink stack is word beginnings- 'totally' different

than the original- what can I say, I am a rebel.

My computer hates me. It won't let me rotate this pic.

Whatev- Right? You get the idea.

I did eventually cut all the word endings into 3 parts so it would be easier to work with/less distracting. 

Pretty amazing, Right?

B-Dub OUT.

Thought I Fell Off the Planet? Me Too!!

Ahhh, Blogger- I have missed you! Sorry for the absence but crafting, school starting, and living sort of got in the way.

During my absence I have been busy (Get it, Busy B-Dub....) getting my craft on, don't worry I will share my ideas and how-to's. I even opened an Etsy Shop for all you B-Dub coolness needs.

BTW, have you discovered Pinterest? Totally addicted, chuck full of excellent ideas- and a way to organize them? Awesome. This site is invite only so let me know if you are in need- I can totally hook you up!

And now I'm off again- Oldest needs to be picked up. Until next time, meanwhile enjoy the eye candy: (obviously available in my Etsy Shop- shameless self promotion, I know...)

Fun with Shutterfly!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Oldest Biggest Day

Oldest had a big day today, surgery #2 on his ear. See, he had this lump that showed up a year or so ago and we had it removed in October. Pathology report: cyst. Gross.

Pre-op, too cool for school 

The day we went to pick up Charley from his deployment Oldest's ear started oozing. Even grosser.

ENT doctor decided he needed to go back in and clean out whatever is built up in there- hence surgery #2. So as of right now there are a few options as to what exactly was growing in his ear lobe.

#1: another cyst
#2: the sutures from surgery 1 didn't dissolve properly and became infected
#3: unknown

Post-op, not so cool now huh...

So now we are playing the waiting game until the lab sends its findings. Hopefully next week we will have some answers.

Lucky boy got to keep his ear lobe!! 

Dr. wasn't sure he could save it =) 

Cross your fingers and dot your i's that this is the end of ear lobe drama.

Poor boy has been sleeping ever since. 

Codine is good like that.

Animal Education, by Randall

Watch and be educated. If you produce nature shows of one kind or another keep this guy in mind for your next gig. I bet more people would watch documentaries if they were as fantastic as this one.

Easter Baskets and Naked Bunnies

Searching for the "perfect" Easter basket for Littlest has been a hair pulling, "no you aren't getting Dora so stop having a fit or I will give you a real reason to cry," "Holy cow, I'm never bringing you out in public again. Ever." sort of thing every year. Of course it could be worse. I could have to search for a basket for Oldest too. Luckily for me C's mom saves everything including his childhood basket. Oldest has since inherited said bunny basket and loves it- saving me precious brain cells every year. 

Littlest had the cutest basket for a few years before it turned into a toy and was subsequently destroyed. Every basket since has followed in its predecessor's footsteps so this year I decided I wouldn't spend any more money on something she will destroy in less than a week. You guessed it- I made one.

Crochet holding 3 colors of yarn together: Green Purple White

Problem is, this is boooooooorrrrrrrring so I added in some green and purple ribbon.

Not gonna lie, I still think this is fairly boring so I scoured the internet for some sort of appliqué or something to give this baby some life. I went with naked bunnies. 

Naked bunny needed a friend. And a bow tie. Every 'bunny' knows naked looks better with a bow tie. And an eyeball, they definitely needed eyeballs.

See there? All dresses up in their bow ties and ready for their chippendale auditions. Poor bunny on the left doesn't stand a chance, they don't like guys with droopy eyeballs and his just won't stay up.

So here we have it folks, one naked bunny Easter basket. Total cost: 0 dollars. Mental humor every time I see it: PRICELESS.

(although I still think its kinda boring, any suggestions?) 

ps. keep in mind this is for a 4 year old.

pps. any ideas on what to put in a 10 year old boy's Easter basket? I'm clueless.

Ideas, Thinking, and Such

I miss you guys!!!!


Now to the goods without further apology for my long absence here it is:

I think once a week or so I'm going to post about free stuff. This will be mostly for my couponing buddies so if you aren't interested, well, too bad :)

Besides, who doesn't like free stuff?


In further news: We spent spring break in Nashville and I LOVED it. If you haven't been to Gaylord Opryland you are missing out. Except we didn't actually stay there cause lets face it- I'm no millionaire, so we sneaked in the back door and wandered aimlessly for hours. Thats how we roll.

Me and Momma of B-Dub

INSIDE Opryland. Yes, inside.