Sequins and Granola

Mommies these days...we know too much. We've heard the horror stories! We've seen the news of the unthinkable. Every other Facebook post is another appalling statistic. I swear we are more focused on the 0.1% chance that something bad can happen than we are the other 99.9%. I jump to the worst case scenario every time. A bee sting is only 3 seconds from anaphylactic shock. A jammed finger is certainly a broken finger that could potentially turn into surgery that could turn into infection & antibiotics, oh my what if he loses his finger? I definitely go to extremes at times, but guess what? I'm not the only mama that does this. I applaud you girls that are cool as a cucumber when it comes to your kiddos- don't know many of you- but we should meet sometime so you can rub off on me. Mine is usually medical related (allergies, infections, fevers, deformities) that I worry about. But some moms jump to other conclusions bc they are so knowledgable. There are worries over ...

Attention mommas of boys: your sons can look good too! Here are 10 simple tips!  Tip #1: Please don't let that boy wear shorts that are too small! This is the most common thing I notice. Just because they're cute shorts for someone doesn't mean they're cute for your lil man. Run to Walmart & grab him a $4 pair of starter brand shorts before you let him walk out looking like a 1970's basketball player!  He will get beat up. Just don't. Tip #2: Hang his clothes together on hangers (shirt & shorts on one hanger) then put them in his closet. That way you can just let him think he's picking out his own clothes- nevermind the fact that you've already matched those puppies in appropriate pairs.  In all seriousness- best idea ever. Tip #3: Pajamas are not to be worn in public. No really, lady at Walmart, I saw you and your whole clan yesterday...house shoes and all. My 7 year old doesn't get this concept- he thinks it's ok to wear his Mario Bros ...

I cried at the drop of a hat. What would they think of my poor baby? He was 3 and it was getting worse! His eye was so crossed that he couldn't look me in the eyes. He looked past me, almost thru me. The same baby that would look in my eyes with such excitement and wonderment was looking inches to the left of where he should be looking. The doctors were calling it Esotropia. We were given glasses by our local optometrist, then eye patches, then bifocals to no avail. We were finally sent to a specialist at Arkansas Children's Hospital for a surgical consultation. Surgery! Surgery? I was freaked! They were wanting to cut my baby's eyes? Strabismus surgery. Ugh! I hated it! I couldn't sleep the night before our first visit to Children's. I had pleaded & begged to God that we would wake up & he would be healed. As we woke up it was clear that baby's eye was still definitely crossed. At 5 it hadn't corrected itself nor had God decided to heal him. So I pu...

This is my first Brooke's Bites post! I'm super excited about rethinking my blog a little. Of course I'll do the usual posts, but I'm going to add fashion & hair tips too! Wenesday's will be all things food- from fun cooking tips, nutrition, grocery shopping tips, recipes, & just plain ole good food.  Today I am passing on a secret weapon for when you're in a time crunch. This little nugget will help you fly thru dinner on school nights in a flash- & it's economical too! It has helped me this summer when we stay at the pool all day & are starving by the time we get home- no one wants to wait 2 hours to eat! The secret?: Rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store- $5-$6. It's not organic...but be honest, there's at least one night a week that you feed your family fast food or frozen pizza, it's better than that!  Pick up this puppy & deconstruct it that day. If you put it in the fridge before disassembling it will be fine...

This is an article I wrote for Women's Inc magazine. It's Back to School time & I pray for all you mommies to feel empowered & confident! Here's to another fabulous school year! http://www.womensinc.net/node/1707

Today I went to a water park with my boys. A friend snapped a pic of us in our swimsuits. I then uploaded it to Instagram like always- then to FB. An innocent enough share right? Or so it seems at the moment. Problem is, I started feeling guilty & deleted it a few hours later. This is not my first offense in the "forget that everyone doesn't see things like you" moment! In May we went to the beach (Josh, the boys, & I) & I posted a pic then too- & deleted it not even 12 hours later. I posted the pics out of the same mindset that I post any pictures- just an "oh let's capture the moment" mindset- not a "bikini pic" mindset. You see, as a teenager I struggled with deep body image issues. I would go days with so few calories I'm surprised I didn't faint. I would guzzle gallons of water & suck on a blow pop at lunch so I wouldn't be tempted to eat. I overcame all of those issues, thank The Lord! I see myself differently ...

3 hours down: we are somewhere but I'm not sure where because I haven't seen signs of life for a bit. We were thinking we could stop at some cool, interesting, filled to the brim with culture, spots along the road to Florida. Alas, we are encompassed by farm lands & rows of...some sort of farmy things...maybe rice, beans, grain? I dunno...and back to Facebook. 6 hours down: somewhere in Mississippi. I've already eaten a bag of potato chips & McDonald's fries. The effects of that  body wrap I got yesterday are long gone. Those fried taters are going to make for some beautiful skin on the ole tummy. And I've decided that I should've come prepared- you know like that girl that gets on your last nerve when you're all out to eat & she pulls out her container of dried out, white, boiled chicken & VOSS water insisting she can't eat the junk at the restaurant? Oh yes, I'm wishing I was that girl! Should've packed a cooler! But on the up s...