Today

I think I've reached the point of burnout.

Although I'm not quite sure if its that time in my life where I am allowed to say that. Am I saying it too early? Is there a timeline for a quarter life crisis? Is it really a crisis?

I'm contemplating all this constantly. Every waking minute I am attending to my mind and body and asking WHAT? What do you want of me? What can I do to make you happy? At this moment they are in agree  that coffee is the answer.

They also request things like running and hiking and yoga (which I have neglected the last few years), clean food (because extra weight tends to depress one's mind and body), spiritual study (when you are without belief in something other than yourself you are just setting yourself up for unhappiness), and please please just take us out in Nature.

When viewing it from a distance I can see no, its not crisis, its not end all, it is just burnout. Burnout is not so bad. Being burned out means you can take a break, reset, rest your weary mind and body, find a place or some space in your life to take time for you and your needs. And if you can't? Forget that...you can. You must. It's that worn out advice to affix the oxygen mask to yourself before anyone else because you aren't' doing any good flailing around on the floor like a fish out of water. Grabbing your neck because you are drowning on air.

No worries. I'm not drowning anymore.

It's a new season in my house. Yesterday all three of the little darlings were shipped back to school. Yes, homeschooling is over for now. I believe in doing what works for you at the time. Right now this is what is working for us.

And now...time for that coffee.

Hi!

I honestly didn't intend to go so long in between posts. So quick catch up!

 

I went trail running. But its been a few weeks ago. The sunrise is especially

 awesome in the woods this time of year.

 

We did the whole Halloween thing. We hardly ever do this. My kids

can't eat the candy anyways so we usually avoid it. This year they were more

about the dressing up part. Stella had never ever had makeup on before. I think that

was her favorite part.

 

Vampire Princess and Harry Potter.

 

Naturally.

 

Maggie and I dressed as twins. Yep. We are dorks.

 

I took this picture in an attempt to show my sister that I do

indeed have chickens with sexy hair.

 

We went hiking with the dogs and this happened on the way. Allie is

a neurotic car rider. Boss just doesn't care.

The woods were extra beautiful on top of Rich Mountain.

 

We traversed the trail down to a late 1800's stone reservoir that once

serviced Queen Wilhelmina Lodge.

 

 

I'm telling you the colors were amazing.

 

And once you got back up to the top, the sky was pretty amazing as well.

 

 

Stella and I bundled up to watch the last soccer game of the year.

Can I get a hallelujah?

 

I got an early birthday present from Warren. I love real wood products.

 

There were numerous moments over the last few weeks that I have been

ever grateful for the opportunity to homeschool my children.

 

And we are just almost done with the kitchen. It just needs grout and then I can

share the full transformation.

 

Girls night! Stuffed shrooms!

 

My crazy friend Emily, whom I adore.

 

And man oh man! It is cold in Arkansas right now. We're talking tights, flannels, and woolen

socks with coffee in hand at all times cold.

 

See? Cash insisted on doing his math lesson bundled to the max.

 

 

Okay! You are officially caught up.

 

 

 

 

Man oh man you're my best friend!

I tell you what!  I miss this space. It's a happy happy space. Kind of like the one inside my head but instead filled with pretty colors and a snappy font to capture my random thoughts and keep them steady for a moment.

Except that can't happen if I'm not writing.

When will I ever be a regular blogger again?

Never you say?

You're probably right.

I could just do a big Instagram dump to fill you in on the last couple of months. Yep. That sounds about right.

And that's it in a nutshell. We raise chickens and drink beer. Sugarbaby turned 5. We visit the Skullcrusher and eat watermelon. I go running still and the boys had a stellar soccer season. We eat some amazing food and see some killer sunrises. The husband and I escape every now and then and eat oysters and drink good brews. And obviously I am no spring chicken and now require anti ageing makeup.

snarky ecards for all!

So true. How do those ecards know? Every dang time.

I spend a lot of my day doing nothing. Sure I get up at 6am and go go go until 8pm, but there are a few hours in the middle of that and also the time from the kids heads hitting the pillows until mine does, that I major in time suckage. Internet time suckage. I don't even like to use the word suck. My mother didn't like me too either. Crap. I also couldn't say crap. So in turn I get on to my kids for those two words.

Pinterest? Love it. Love love love it. Also despise it for making me lose hours at a time out of my life. I could be reading Chaucer or creating new recipes or writing the next great American novel (yeah) or making friendship bracelet for my multitude of real live friends! Instead I am pinning things that I wish I could make if only I had the talent. Or wish I could buy if only I had the money. Or wish I could wear if only I was a size 0. Or wish I could eat if only I was a size 0. But still.....LOVE PINTEREST!

I told you I resigned from Facebook. And that is totally what it feels like. Facebook was a job man! Facebook owns your ass. You must check it. You must LIKE THINGS! You must post pictures to get feedback or else you are a Facebook fail.

I literally feel free without the weight of Facebook on my shoulders. I used to Tweet but Twitter is way too much like Facebook. You get behind if you turn your attention for five minutes. Blogs and Pinterest. That's where its at. That's where I will be.

Friday....Because I Seriously Could Not Come Up With Anything Else

I'm just gonna go ahead and put it out there that this is going to be a jumbled mess of randomness. Nope, no coherent blog posts here today folks. You're lucky you are even getting a post. If you look at it like that.


Sugarbaby and I just returned from a chilly, nearly 3 mile run. I shamelessly jacked this photo off my running buddy's FB page. Notice the crazy Gary Busey hair. It was windy! Sugarbaby does not look pleased, even though she was actually having fun.

I fit my running in where I can because as you can see from this schedule below, I got no time for running or blogging these days. Which makes me sad.

MON- Piano lessons, soccer practice

TUES- Run with husband, tutoring, soccer practice, WRA Run Clinic (I get to run twice this day!)

WED- Work

THURS- Work, soccer practice, WRA Run Clinic

FRI- run with husband or whoever will have me, soccer practice and games

SAT- soccer games, work

SUN- RUN

Phew. And I am exhausted. Want to know what WRA is?  I am super excited to be helping with the clinic in our area. I get to run more, and I get to share what I love with other women.

We added some new members to our flock yesterday. Baby chicks are cute bombs! All the kids want to do is sit and hold them. Sometimes they love them a little too much, if you know what I mean. The husband has been hard at work building a chicken coop, which is more like a condo. Chickens need nice digs ya know.

Treehouse is nearing completion. We have had perfect weather for being outside until yesterday brought torrential storms to Arkansas and most of the South. Construction is currently on hold.

Plus.....lots of cute vintage dishes in the Etsy shop!

I'm Pretty Joyful, But Then Again I Might Have Been Drinking

I realized the other day that I am creeping up on 500 posts on this here little ole' blog. I plan on having a FUN giveaway when that happens so look for it next week.

Random fact: I used to have a good number of readers and commenters until I quit blogging for over 6 months and lost my domain name. Now all those people that followed me in Reader or had my feed emailed have no idea I even started writing and sharing again. That makes me sad.

Yesterday we made the bi-weekly trek to Ft.Smith to drop off the Monsterman. We ate way too much sushi and drank too many beers (shush I stopped at two cause someone's gotta drive this circus home), that's just what we do when we are anywhere with a population over 5,000.  I also wanted to hit up Michael's while I was there and I drug the boys in with me while the husband took Sugarbaby to her very favorite place, Tarj'ay. The fact that these two stores are right next to each other does not seem like a coincidence, eh?

I was trying to keep it short and sweet because I just couldn't imagine my sword fighting, bad mouthing, rough and tumble sons having any interest in a craft store. Dudes....I was wrong. You would have thought they were in Heaven. They wanted everything. They loved everything. I have to give them credit where it is due though. They are quite the little artists.

This is my pantry door:

I added my own piece to it this morning. Just as a reminder to myself and the other lovely people inhabiting this house.

Sharpie and watercolor are two of our favorite mediums.

She's Not Convinced

Hey y'all! I got a pre-nomination in the Best Parenting Blog category for Nickeloden Parenting Picks. I'd put the nifty little badge on here for y'all to vote if you like but I couldn't get the darn thing figured out. So for now if you are so inclined to vote, try this link and scroll down to the S's. I'll try later tonight after a jar of wine. Always helps me think better.

Wonder what my kids think of my "parenting" and this blog? I think this picture explains it just fine. The Monster can't make up his mind whether to smile about it or frown. Cashman loves me no matter what. And Sugarbaby? Well she is totally not convinced.

Mwahahaha!

A brain dump blog has been birthed! If you are fitness inclined, want to be fitness inclined, or just want to make fun of my silly ass please come visit at Run Fat Girl, Run. I promise that SugarBritches will now be free and clear of all that health junk.

Excuses Excuses

Okay folks. Let's be honest here. SugarBritches is just not rolling along so smoothly. Believe you me I've noticed the insane amount of fluff posted here. I promise I used to actually post substantial things. Stories and recipes and rants, er I mean opinions. Lately I've realized that all I give you lovely people is a random picture here and there, or a lame excuse as to why I'm not blogging. Or even a nicely bullet pointed update to my life. And while I realize you come here to read about my life (in a sense), you also don't give a flying rat's you know what about the mundane details from the past few weeks.

When I actually think about a blog post it almost always has something to do with running or eating. This is not a diet blog, a health blog, or a running blog. So maybe I should start one of those to get all this out of my brain and make room for things actually pertaining to SugarBritches. Would any of you read that? Probably not because if you're into running/health blogs you're probably off reading Tall Mom or Prior Fat Girl. I just love those two by the way.

Anyways, I do have a legitimate excuse for slacking on this blog and not starting another blog for my exercise brain dump. After the laptop breathed its last, the desktop caught a nasty bug. SUMS has installed some crazy non-Windows operating system and while I have access to all my old photos and can surf the Internetz to my hearts content, I can't get any new photos off my camera. I also don't have access to my Photoshop to manipulate said photos. That makes me sad. I think I might have even done the ugly cry a time or two. So all those lovely pics from my roadtrip with Supergrandma, well I can't make those into a even more lovely blog post. And it's a shame too because I captured a honest to gah genuine smile on the woman and that is damn near impossible. And those photos I took at the pottery gallery where we all procured $30 dollar (so you know they are bitchin) coffee mugs made by the sweetest Japanese artist? Can't get those either, although I do plan on linking to her shop because she is crazy talented. Oh and our new puppy? Won't be seeing her precious mug on here anytime soon.

I need a sugar daddy or a computer fairy or access to a small fortune. A reader and childhood friend in Florida recently emailed me that she was about to break down and send me a damn laptop just so I would blog again. "Love ya Sam!" I should just quit whining and make due.

In the meantime...I'll be running and savoring these last two weeks of school before summer unleashes the boys upon me 24/7. Pray for me.

Monday

Sugarbaby's birthday celebration was sweet, simple, and just perfect for her. I'll make sure and get a few pictures up tomorrow.

Posting will still be light this week. I'm headed out of town Thursday and hopefully my adventures will yield some blog material. It's inevitable when Sugarbaby and I go on a roadtrip with Supergrandma all the way to GG's, things are bound to happen. Murphy's Law and all that.

I know a while back I mentioned a vlog with the answers to reader questions. I promise promise promise that this is coming next week. In the mean time feel free to submit more questions so I can actually make the vlog worth your time.

Also, note the snazzy new blog header. Thanks to my dearest Bloggy BFF, Michelle. Her tag line idea was brilliant and was inspired by the fact that I am on a constant diet and in order to track how many ounces (and calories) of wine I consume, I tend to drink my vino out of mason jars. She thinks that's funny.

Welcome new readers and thanks to old readers for sticking around.

No Telling How Long This Could Last

We are experiencing technical difficulties. Laptop down. I repeat. Laptop down.

I've Got It Under Control

Have I ever mentioned I'm a control freak?

Not like, as bad as Kate or anything. That lady...she has issues.

But, say we're riding in a car somewhere. Together. Me and you. I will be driving. I have too. It's not even negotiable. I can not ride in a car with someone else. I only allow SUMS to drive sometimes and that makes me a nervous wreck. Even my mother, who obviously got me around safely for 16 years, yeah....can't ride with her very well either.

Also, I like to control the conversation. I'm working on that one cause I realize its not exactly an endearing trait.

In school if there was group work to be done, well you can bet your biscuits on who was in charge.

My controlling tendencies even drive me a little nuts. I'm working hard on not having to have it my way all the time. Especially when I see people who are just like me in action. I have to make myself take a step back and realize that its not the end of the world if things don't go my way. It may seem like it at the time, but seriously....the sky is not going to fall if Ashley's plans happen to not be followed exactly as I had anticipated.

But you know, that's one great thing about blogging. I'm totally in control! It's my blog. I can do whatever I please. Total control.

And with that, I feel like doing another round of Ask SugarBritches. And here is the kicker...I will answer all Ask SugarBritches questions via VLOG. Yep. Another video for those of you who requested it. But that means you have to ask a question. You have one week, folks. Forward your most pressing concerns, be it what brand of shampoo do I use, should you move to Alaska, do I really think those jeans make your butt look big, or whatever should come to mind to sugarbritches26 AT yahoo DOT com.

Yuck

I meant to have this big post today with a recipe and the works.

Sorry y'all. Everyone except SUMS has contracted a stomach bug. You can only imagine.

Anyways...I'm being interviewed today over at Say Anything.

You should totally check it out and maybe submit yourself or a blogger you love to get the third
degree of their own.

Edited to add: I just realized that an older post of mine was also featured at Arkansas Women Bloggers. Yay me!

Hiya Bossy's Council!

Welcome all minions of Bossy!

I must apologize because this is a very uninteresting time to be visiting my blog. I am in the middle of remodel hell and blogging has taken a backseat to paint swatches, sawdust, and wine. Lots and lots of wine. They should sell it at Lowe's right next to the wallpaper paste.

Anyhoo...please feel free to click on any of the links in the sidebar under the Best of The Blog. There are some good ones in there I promise.

And stick around because a vlog is in the works showcasing my revamped house and my Southern accent. I say y'all, a lot. Just sayin.

Checking In

I'm back. Kind of.

I mean I will still kind of be touch and go on the blog because I came home to a house filled with sawdust. Yuck.

But on the other hand I came home to a house with gorgeous new floors. Booyah.

It was a great trip filled with much shopping and eating as it should be. Not so much drinking cause yeah, my hostess is prego. And I did take my camera, but... I didn't take a single picture. Bad blogger. Bad.

And also, I need a moment to brag. Cause this is my blog, it's mainly about me and well anyone who knows me knows how hard I've worked to get to this point. Anyone who has read this blog for any amount of time over 6 months knows my struggle with my weight and how much I hate it. I actually tried on clothes (in a store) for the first time in a long time and I'm pretty sure I scarred all the other dressing room patrons for life with my extremely loud "Hell yeah!" as I slipped on a size 8 and they were loose. Size 8. Eight as in two sizes smaller than I was. I have to tell you that size 8 tastes so much better than chocolate.

But it's not over. The exercise has become a routine and although my routine has slowed down due to Spring 2010 Renovation, once that is over it is on full time again. The eating needs to be improved cause having your house in shambles and traveling kind of makes one want to eat whatever is easiest and that is usually junk.

Huge pinky promise that the very next post (which might not be until Friday or something) will contain before and after pics of the living room and kitchen. Hell I might get all fancy and do a video walk through for you. But if I did that you would all hear my accent and make fun of my like my Yankee bloggy BFF Michelle. I tend to channel my inner Sookie, especially after a few drinks.

Y'all have a terrific week and I'll be back in full force sooner than later.
Probably.
Maybe.
Hopefully.

Confession

I feel like such a slacker.

A blogging slacker. A running slacker. An eating slacker.

I only ran 5 miles this week. Sugarbaby is disappointed in me.

I've really fallen off the eating wagon. Especially at night. I need someone to come along and kick me in the ass. Please, someone talk me down from this. I don't want to lose these hard earned results. I don't want to relapse.

Whatevs. Enough whining out of me. Nothing to do but pick myself up and get back in the groove.

But the groove is so hard when your house is in shambles, your refrigerator is in the garage, Boy Scout chocolate bars are taunting you from the counter, and it is so damn cold outside. Aaaahhh! I said enough whining right? Right!

Okay done.

I will be a rockstar this week. Eating right. Running enough. I got this.

No more remodeling peeks until the floors are done which will be the second week in March. I'm headed out of town next weekend for a baby shower (yay Baby Phoebe!) so until then, don't expect to much from me. Not that you did anyways, just saying. I know I've been a blogging failure lately. It's just one more thing fallen by the wayside since my routine (and life) has been turned upside down by the SPRING 2010 RENOVATION. Ugh.

The end is in sight folks. Until then...

Inspiration

Please check out my new favorite blog. She is so inspiring. I want her house. And her dog. Make sure you scroll down to get the full effect and check out her house slideshow in the left hand sidebar.

Here We Are. Just You And Me. Alone. All Alone.

Well hellllllooo there friends!

Welcome to our new more private place. Some of you have asked about the back story on White Trash Barbie. She really is nobody important and hasn't caused me any problems, but she has caused a world of trouble for my sister. So this going private thing isn't so much because of her but more stemmed from some New Years Resolutions. One of them was to be more unplugged. I can't promise I will write everyday or every week even. But I know you guys will be here to listen when I do and I really do appreciate that.

So lets do a quick recap of the last few weeks.

Christmas came and went. The kids got mounds of toys. No pictures because my memory card crapped out and I'm too lazy, er broke, to buy a new one. But just imagine happy smiling SugarBritches babies surrounded by mounds of shiny wrapping paper. There you go. Good.

I got a gorgeous necklace with the babes names on it from The Vintage Pearl. I also got my bedroom remodeled. That one is still in progress. It is currently a lovely shade a grey and awaiting a new bed frame and light fixture. I'm sure the window treatments will be hung next week. Hopefully. Please lord let him get them up cause I'm tired of having to wear clothes in my room. I like being in my birthday suit.

New Years came and went. This we have a few pics of thanks to my friend J. I pilfered these off her Facebook page. This was the first New Years Eve night we've gone out since Cash was born. It was great fun as indicated by my glassy eyed state in the following photographic evidence.

And yes, that is a cigarette in my hand. I smoke when I drink, but no other time. I don't want to hear a word about it folks!

I'm still running. Not as often cause in case y'all are living in the tropics and don't know...baby its cold outside! I'm doing the treadmill as much as I can AND... AND...we got a Wii and Wii Fit for Christmas! Thank you so much GG! I've been doing the Wii Fit every day and I didn't gain a pound over the holidays and I'm now below 155lbs which hello! is a damn miracle. So the exercise and eating healthy is going well and I'm pleased to say that my resolutions are just as doable as last year's were so I've got a pretty good chance of succeeding. Maybe I'll share them with you. More on that later.

Okay so we've got another Girl's Night coming up weekend after next. This time it's a Mexican Margarita Fiesta! Tacos and tequila. Here's hoping I get my ass in gear and secure a new memory card so I can record all the fun for ya.

Also SUMS is having a birthday and I'm trying to plan a surprise party. We'll see how that goes.

Until next time....love ya, glad you're here, don't get mad if I don't post often enough. Also, remember when I'm private I won't show up in your reader so you might just have to come here and check in to make sure I'm alive. Make sure to check in on Friday nights cause that's when I get all tipsy and think I'm a brilliant blogger and one funny biotch. Which I'm not. But I think I am. So there.

Today

I am over here. Guest posting for my Bloggy BFF. See ya there.

Obligatory Pioneer Woman Post

Monday around noon, Supergrandma, Sugarbaby and I set off for Little Rock. We had well laid plans. Or so we thought.

PW's Arkansas book signing was in a Wal-Mart. Oh noooos! Why of all places a Wal-Mart? Only in Arkansas is she hitting up a Wal-Mart. We arrived in LR early in the afternoon, did some shopping (excuse me Supergrandma did some shopping because my debit card recoils in horror upon entering a Banana Republic), and checked into our motel which happened to be on an Air Force Base because now she has military wife status and all the perks that go with it. Lucky bitch.

Anyways....we wanted sushi. Where we live you can't get sushi. Period. So we decided to scope out the Wal-Mart and see how bad the line was before the sushi. This was at 5:45pm. The signing was supposed to start at 6pm. The line was long but not so long you couldn't find the end of it. I was thinking we might be there an hour and a half tops. Poor Supergrandma was starving so I prayed for it to be quick. Huh. Yeah. Well. We stood in line for 3 and a half hours. Taking turns pushing Sugarbaby around the store, chatting with the crazy old ladies behind us, and getting all hot and bothered every time Marlboro Man came into view (well maybe that was just me). He was standing at the corner of the line, right before you got to PW, signing books. Once we made it to him I was ready to hit the road. Who needs PW's signature once you've had your arm around MM and listened to his voice and maybe sniffed him just a little. Oh lordy. That is one fine specimen of a man. And the only proof I have of actually having touched him is a really crappy cell phone photo. It's not even fit for my blog. Cause I forgot the camera at home. I will never live that one down.

We exited the Wal-Mart at approximately 9:15 in a dead sprint. The sushi joint closed at 9:30 and was 5 miles away. Supergrandma may or may not have broken a few traffic laws in getting us there and then threw me out of the car in the parking lot to go and beg for the sushi people to feed us. They were very nice and understanding or at least I think they were and the service was extremely fast and the sushi was delicious. We were out by 10pm.

Through all this Sugarbaby stayed awake. This girl's bedtime is no later than 7pm and it was after 10 and she was still wide eyed. We made it back to the base with the requisite bottle of wine for us and bottle of milk for her. Everyone bedded down with their respective drinks and watched TV until Sugarbaby went to sleep. Except she didn't. Sleep that is. She hung out thinking it was a damn slumber party until after midnight. Finally we slept. And then at 6am on the dot, she puked.

Dog tired, we got ready, hit up a Starbucks (mana from heaven!), and did some more shopping before stopping off at Chili's for lunch because we're original like that. We made it to town just as the school bell rang, swooped up the boys and came home.

The end.

I'm going to take a nap now.