Olive's Eye Update and the A-Z Thingy

Thank you so much for all of the well wishes on Friday. I thought those five hours in the waiting room would be rough,  but they flew by reading all of your messages. I really appreciate that.

We got home a little after noon on Friday and have been laying low since. She has had a fever off and on, which is normal, so we are just waiting on her hand and foot. Nothing new. :)

Since it will take her brain a few weeks to adjust to the new vision, we will go back for a check up around Easter. And we will start talking glasses too. It's amazing because we have already noticed a huge improvement in her appearance. She is looking straight at us now. I thought I noticed it after surgery, but then Chris said something when he got home that night. Then yesterday, we got a babysitter while we went to a movie, and she noticed it, too.

She was in pretty good spirits before surgery, minus granny-slapping all of the staff that tried to touch her.

After surgery... She looked like Devil-Baby. :) Her eyes are still really red, but her sweetness is slowly returning.

 

 

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Have you all seen this A-Z thing? Never to be one not doing what everyone else is doing and miss an opportunity to talk about myself... Here we go!

 

A. Age: Veintisiete

B. Bed size: Queen-- too small with a 6'2 husband, 4 year old who still co-sleeps with us, and snoring dog.

C. Chore you hate: I don't hate chores. I love cleaning. In my house, if you have time to lean, then you have time to clean. Non-cleaning chores? Dropping the kids off at daycare.

D. Dogs: One red-headed step dog named Chauncey.

E. Essential start to your day: Waking up in bed and checking my phone. Drinking my awesome juice.

F. Favorite color: "Green, like the color of money."

G. Gold or Silver: Mind game of my life. I bought these shoes a while back with a yellow gold buckle, then I wanted a gold watch and a gold wedding ring. Then I realized I would also need a gold trimmed bag for it all to match. Then I gave up and went back to white gold and silver.

H. Height: 5'6, 140 pounds of sexiness.

I. Instruments you play: The fiddle at my Pity Parties.

J. Job Title: Something not related to my pathetic Political Science degree.

K. Kids: Two bambinos. Dreaming about reversing Chris's vasectomy and having a third.

L. Live: Live Strong? Or Live Band? Favorite live band is Modest Mouse.

M. Married: To the one and only Hubby Jack.

N. Nicknames: Holls, HoGlo, Hot Stuff

O. Overnight hospital stays: Just with my 9 pound children and my no-longer functioning cervical floor.

P. Pet peeve: If I listed them all, I would no longer be liked.

Q. Quote: "I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult." -- E.B. White

R. Righty or Lefty:  Righty

S. Siblings: One who needs to go to the crazy house, a brother {Butkus} who is a year younger than me, and of course the infamous Noel. Then, I also have two step sisters, DeDe and Holli, whose dad used to be married to my mom. But we've embraced the crazy and kept the family.

T. Time you wake up: 4-5am

U. University attended: Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville, where the E is for Excellence.

V. Vegetables you dislike: Edmane. ;)

W. What makes you run late: Being low on gas, two children, having to rob a bank on the way.... In my last life, I was always late. Always. We called it Holly-Time. Now? I loathe tardiness.

X. X-rays you've had: I think just my mouth. Nothing has changed, but every dentist feels like taking a peek at the freak show inside.

Y. Yummy food: Thin crust pizza, Little Debbie cakes, Miller Lt. Preferably all together.

Z. Zoo animal favorite: I don't do the zoo....It's always been forced.

 

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Sponsor spots still open for $10... New sponsors will be up tomorrow. Send me an email if you are interested: holly.j.stanfield@gmail.com

 

AND.... Have a fun and safe NYE!!!

 



Olive's Eye Surgery is Today

A Christmas miracle {and an annual deductible avoided}... Olive is having her eye surgery this morning.

Unfortunately, Chris took up his remaining six vacation days all this month-- trying to use 'em so he wouldn't lose 'em. He has two surgeries himself today that he couldn't give to someone else. And Haven is on a "vacation week" from school. But Chris called them yesterday and they said it was totally fine for him to come today.

So Chris is going to work. Haven is going to school {which, his conniption about this is worse than taking Olive by myself}. And Mama Bear and Olive Betty are off to Children's. I know that we could have asked people to come with me, but I just want some peace and quiet, ya know? Just me and little girlfriend.

The actual procedure is moving her eye muscles, so that her eye focus is moved to the front and not off to the side. It should take about 90 minutes, then she will be in recovery... and shortly later, we will be home.

Please send any little prayers and positive vibes our way.

Happy Friday, friends!

And if you're clicking around today, Lindsey is hosting a giveaway HERE and Laura is hosting one HERE.

Holiday Hangover

What do you do when you have a hangover from the holidays? Keep drinkin'!

Which is why, today, I am packing up Vivian and driving three hours to see the love of my life, Darci {pronounced: Darr-sayyyy}.

We had these grand plans of spending the afternoon at a spa, but then about 8pm last night, we settled on margaritas at 11am. To say that I can't wait to see her is an understatement. She has all of the sass and crass of a New Jersey Housewife. We hung out in Tulsa and we've been making plans to reunite since. If you don't know her, please check out her blog HERE.

Also, could you do me a big favor? While you're bored on facebook today, just scrollin' around... Will you "like" THIS photo of Darci wearing Hazel & Olive clothing? Tankyewverymooch.

The kids are taking a "vacation week" from daycare this week. Which is just a fancy way of saying that I am using up my one free week a year and keeping them home. Chris has the fortune or punishment of being a SAHD today... and I am completely OK with coming home to toy parts scattered across the house and the kids covered in cereal.

Mama is hitting the road... {in my Rugrats-Angelica voice} Hasta la vista, Babies!

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Also, there are still some sponsor spots open for January {10 dolla make ya holla}. Sarah from Fueled and Aflame sent me this email last week. If you're a newer blog trying to branch out, sponsoring a blog is a great way to start.

Results not typical.

Side effects include being awesome and have someone reading your blog other than your mom.

Consult your friends before beginning a sponsorship regimen.

Merry Christmas!

{In my Justin Timberlake voice} Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

 

Christmas card from Kristen at Little Laws Prints

 

Sponsor Winner, Christmas, Pee, and a Big Ol Ring

Thank you to everyone who participated in the {jumbo} sponsor spot giveaway. And a special thanks to all of my sponsors for the Blissdom help. I hope you all saw some traffic over the weekend.

Because I am such a picky rule follower, I only counted the comments that mentioned that they followed someone... before 6pm last night.

The winner is Laura Boswell from Walking in Memphis in High Heels! Please go click on this girl's blog. She looks like a damn super model. I just ate 6 chocolate dipped pretzel sticks, covered in sprinkles, while reading her blog. She is also Lindsey's {from Plane Doctor, His Nurse, and 3 Little Passengers} SIL. :)

If you're interested in sponsoring in January, read THIS or send me an email at: holly.j.stanfield@gmail.com

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Are you guys done with your Christmas shopping? The only thing we have to go out and buy today are those white paper bags that people line their sidewalks with on Christmas Eve. We were the only house that didn't get the memo last year. After pulling into the driveway after our annual Mexican & margaritas on Christmas Eve, it was too late to go out and grab bags.

My goal today is to watch Home Alone, the Family Stone, and Love Actually.Then I will finally put on some makeup, grab some Mexican with Chris and the kids, and go look at Christmas lights. Chris and I exchange gifts tonight, Haven opens one gift, Olive will just sit there because she doesn't know what the hell is going on, and we will prepare for Santa's arrival. After Santa comes, we make our second journey to central Illinois for the Stanfield Christmas's. One at his parent's house. One at his Mamie's house.

Let me back up and explain how Christmas trip number one went, in case you missed the highlight on Facebook HERE.

Every year, we make a three hour drive to my hometown on the Saturday before Christmas, where we celebrate Christmas with my step dad, his daughter's, and their families. {Btw, him and my mom are no longer married, so please add this my family dysFUNction list} Always yummy food, lot's of beer, and good gifts.

This year, after the Christmas party, I wanted to take Haven to see the Festival of Lights. It's this big drive-thru light show in East Peoria, IL. One of the things I am a snob about? Besides THESE things? Hotel rooms. I will pack a cooler to save money before I go cheap on a hotel room. So of course, we get a room at the Embassy Suites and I day-dream about what a magical night this will be for Haven.

Now, let me back up. We already got off to rough start because after a trip to Walgreen's to get an eyebrow pencil {holla!}, a trip to the grocery store to get my favorite child some organic food meals, and a trip back home because we forgot wedding rings {people don't need to be thinkin' we're havin' problems!}, before we finally get on the road. Then, of course, Haven has to pee. I see that the next gas station is in four miles. I contemplate pulling over on the side of the highway after he points to the side of the road and tell me that he needs to pee in the rocks. Chris veto's that idea. Two miles later, Haven takes a smelly piss in his booster seat. Oh wonderful.

So we stop, get him cleaned up, and get back on the road. We had a great Christmas with my step dad and his family, then we head to East Peoria for this super-amazing-out-of-this-world-light-show. Pull in... Haven is scared. He keeps saying, "I wanna get outta here."

Can I just say that I always do this to myself? Just like the time that spent our life savings taking him to Disney World. I made reservations for us to have lunch with all of the Disney Jr characters. What happened during lunch? He hid under the table in fear. Or the time that I wanted Haven to have a home cooked meal on Thanksgiving... so I sweated away in the kitchen for 7 hours and almost divorced his father, only for him to eat a bowl of cottage cheese and corn mixed together.

Needless to say, he wasn't impressed. I was bummed. We trekked back to the over-priced-for-one-night hotel and passed out. Only to wake up and the heat not be working. Big Holly got that shit comped.

In the meantime my brother, Butkus, got engaged! What is the proper way to welcome someone into your family of dysfunction, shit, greatness, and love?

Merry Christmas, friends!!

{Jumbo} Sponsor Spot Giveaway

I started hosting sponsors back in October to pay for Blissdom. I don't have ads on my site or rich husband yet, so I reached out to you guys. In exchange, I shamelessly plug your blog, give you a spotlight, and linkup to anything you might be hosting.

Now this weekend, I get to buy my Blissdom ticket and reserve my hotel room.

THANK YOU!!

As my way of saying muchas gracias, I am giving away a jumbo sized sponsor spot. It will be a 300x300 spot on my left column. That is the size of four normal sponsor spots together. :)

All you have to do is follow my current sponsors, if you don't already. I want to show them my thanks for helping me get to Blissdom.

Each new follow is a separate entry.

For instance, if you have been living under a rock and you don't follow Elle Noel, click over on her blog. If you like what you see and decide to follow her, come back over here and leave a comment that you are now following Elle Noel.

And you want to stop by Alexis's blog, too? Leave a separate comment saying that you are a new follower to her as well.

There are almost 30 ways to enter, if you are not already following the sponsors listed.

 

Please click around and check out all of the blogs on my left side bar.

Some sponsors like Journey of a Dreamer and Fit Chick to Fat Chick require an email address to subscribe. They are worth it. Let me know if you are a new subscriber, leave a comment as a way to enter.

Giveaway ends this Sunday night at 6pm CST. I'll then use the Random Number Generator to choose a winner.

Current sponsors are allowed to enter if you start following new blogs today. :)

Winner will be announced Monday morning! Have a great weekend! And thanks again!! :)

Christmas Linkup: Vlogggging It

My homegirl, Sarah, from Fueled and Aflame is hosting a Christmas themed linkup. You can blog it or vlog it.... just play along!

Sarah is a new{er} blogger, she is a sex ed teacher, she is a Weight Watchers girl, she is funny and sassy. True Tennesse girl through and through.... Check her out HERE.

Ignore my Liz Lemon outfit and the flames that keep coming acrossed my face.

Questions:

What's your favorite holiday movie?
Do you have any special traditions?
What's your favorite ornament or decoration?
Best gift you've ever received?
Worst gift you've ever received?
Favorite winter accessory?
Real tree or fake?
When and how did you find out that Santa was not real?

Also, while you're jumping around, please check out these ladies.

First up is my friend, Jessika! She is a mom to a little boy named Parker and is in the middle of settling into her brand new home. Seriously, wait until you see these home pictures. I am drooling and thinking of ways to find a pole or rob a bank. Check out Jessika at Mommy Mishaps HERE.

And next up is Lindsey from A Plane Doctor, His Nurse, and 3 Little Passengers. Lindsey just got a blog design and it looks like awesome sauce over there. She is a mom to three kiddos and a NICU nurse! She is busy, fun, and an all around great blog friend. Please check out here page HERE.

Happy Thursday! It's food day at work.... my inner fat girl feels like it's Christmas morning. :)

Also, be sure to come back tomorrow for a big sponsor spot giveaway!

Tootles!

Christopher

Some days he makes me coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs.... and some days he makes me laugh so hard that I cry.

Today is the latter.

Check out "The Hubbies" awards HERE.

Villager Teeth

I've had these big Glover teeth all of my life.

Big English villager teeth on the top.... little piranha teeth at the bottom. Some over crowding in the bottom has lead to a fang tooth down there.

I had braces through 8th grade and had them removed the day before summer break. The next day, I was on a plane to Atlanta for the summer with my brother and sister.  Often times, during my childhood, we would spend weeks of our summer's in Atlanta with my mom's mother, Toni. We were not allowed to call her "Grandma" as children, so that people thought her and my mom were sisters. But that's another post, another day.

So we're down in Atlanta with Toni and I melted my retainer. It was just a plastic molding of my teeth that got too warm during a scrub and melted. I actually didn't think that not telling her would cause my teeth to immediately shift. After all, she was more worried about my brother's Athletes Foot. In between freaking out about how I was going to go all Jewel with my teeth, she was putting my brother's Airwalks in the microwave... {in a thick Spanish accent} "trryyyying to keeell tha fungusss."

Summer ended. Teeth shifted. I have been hiding behind a computer ever since.

I looked into invisalign last year. And truth is, I will probably start the process soon. I have to get my wisdom teeth pulled and rob a bank, but no big barrier stopping me.

We all have that one thing that we would change about ourselves. Ketchup packet boobs, not always awesome personality, that credit score that is following me from college, doing attachment parenting with Haven and now he is 4 and still sleeping with meeeee.

I'd keep it all. Just change my teeth.

I want my teeth to look like Joe Biden. Big Biden teeth... nice and bright. :)

Anyway, in the meantime, I bought this whitening kit a few months ago. It was $100 and they send you a kit in the mail to take impressions of your teeth. You then send off the impressions and they send you back custom plastic whitening trays.

It took me two months longer than the normal person to get back my trays. I am pretty sure they had to make a machine to get a tray made my my top teeth.

 

Actual size. Each wisdom tooth could hold an egg.

 

King Kong teeth on the left. Little turtle teeth on the right.

Verdict? Ehh. I bought the Achromasia 17% syringes. But I want to try something better. More potent. Borderline illegal. I don't care if all of my enamel comes off in the wash. Does anyone have a recommendation?

And now moving on to two gals with great teeth!

First up, Melanie! Mel, my love. The person at the party with the best stories and laugh. This is her. I grabbed this photo from her blog, 4 Kottez Runs It, and the caption when I saved it said "Outta here." :) She is one of my favorites on instagram, too. We're doing the Go! Half Marathon in April together, where I will tape a Little Debbie cake to her back to keep running. Go check out her blog HERE.

And everyone, this is Lora from Raising Steppe Sisters. She is also bringing those pearly whites to St. Louis to run the Half with Mel and I. It's going to be a par-tay weekend. Lora is an accountant by day and mom to twin girls at night. She is also one of my favorites on instagram with her funny hash tags. Go check out her blog HERE.

And that's all I have today, kids. In the words of Elle Noel, we "just gotta fake it til we make it" on Thursday.

What's the one feature you would change about yourself, if you could?

Olive's Eyes: Surgery Update

Oh mmm Gee. It's Monday already. I went to bed with a migraine last night {first one in a year}, so I feel like I was robbed of my weekend.

All I have to do is fake this dog and pony show until Thursday, then it's an almost two week vacation for this girl. Two weeks of driving around the Midwest, wrapping presents, cleaning the house, cleaning up the mess from the unwrapped presents, trying to figure out why toy companies secure such cheap toys to cardboard like they are 14k gold, doing the SAHM gig for a week to appease my ovaries, and then bam! back to work.

I'll still be posting... just not a 4am. :)

We went to Children's last week for Olive's one year eye appointment and surgery discussion. And let me just back up and say why I love my blog friends so much. No one in our families called or texted us that day. Or the next day. Blog friends? You guys were all over my heart. Family? They are on my shit list.

Basically, Olive is going to need this surgery multiple times through life. The sooner we can get it done, the better. The surgery will move her eye muscles so they are aligned in the front. Right now, Olive can only see best out of the right side of her eyes. One eye goes in to focus and the other one goes up. She does this on the right side because the nystagmus is so severe on her left side. Most people have a 5-10 degree head tilt/turn. Olive has a 30 degree tilt/turn. What the surgery will do is move that focus to the front, so that she doesn't have to tilt her head as much.

Since she is a baby, it's difficult to take her eye measurements, so the results won't be perfect. But they recommend the sooner the better, so that she doesn't get used to always tilting her head to see. Right now the surgery is schedule for the 2nd week in January, but they will try to squeeze us in this month if there is a cancellation. We're both on vacation and we've paid our deductible on her for the year, so it would be an Oreo Blizzard if she could get in this month.

Now that I know what we are going to do about her eyes... someone tell me what I am going do about her hair. :)

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The Mama Laughlin Holiday Pay it Forward is over and I will be mailing Traci her checks today. We raised almost $400 for her before I was able to give out her personal address. I don't know the final amount, but I do know that her and her six children are going to have a better Christmas because of you! Thank you so much.

If you would still like to do something, my friend Amber is sponsoring a family on her blog HERE.... and I know that the little girl living in Chicago is still in need of help. You can read the story HERE or read the news article about the tragic event HERE.

A teacher at this girl's school is collecting the donations on her behalf.

You can mail donations/gift cards to:
Pam Millonzi
Admiral Byrd School
265 Wellington Ave.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

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Happy Monday! Cheers to a week of cleaning, wrapping, and food parties at work!

What's your favorite gift that you have bought for someone this year? We bought a good one last night for my in-laws-- can't wait to post pictures next week.

Fun.

Back when Chris and I started dating, we'd go to shows every weekend. Usually, it was him and his dad trying to drive us to dive bars where it was best to get a tetanus shot before entry.

We don't go to a lot of shows anymore.  Buying the tickets, paying for a babysitter and booze just isn't worth it unless we love the band.

So there are a few reasons why I don't like going to concerts:

1. Expensive {see above}.
2. I go to bed by 8:30 every night.
3. I hate sitting through opening acts.

One more thing I should mention is that, for me, concerts can be just as awkward as church. The only thing more uncomfortable than greeting my neighbor is trying to clap with everyone else.

I'm tone deaf. In fact, Evil Norma told me that I couldn't carry a tune in a basket-- when I was 7.

At church and at shows, I have to watch other people clap to stay with the beat. I don't hear the beat in my head.

Which results in me looking much like that Monkey from Toy Story 3.



Anyway, fun. was amazing. I could listen to Nate Ruess sing the words on the back of a paint can. And of course, 14 year old Holly had to get a concert shirt. Do you remember how exciting it was to wear your concert shirt to school the next day? I would love nothing more than to rock this dinosaur shirt at my office today.

OK... so top five bands that I would go see in concert any time.

1. Garth Brooks
2. Fun.
3. Taylor Swift
4. Modest Mouse
5. Jay Z

Who do you HAVE to see in concert??
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Also, I did my recap on the ML Holiday Pay it Forward HERE. From what I know, the family that is still in the most need is the 11 year old girl who lives with her sister. She was the one who watched her father kill her mother. Her and her sister are in a tough spot financially right now, just trying to make the day to day bills. If you have been thinking paying it forward, but didn't know who to help, this is who I would recommend.

You can read the story HERE or read the news article about the tragic event HERE.

A teacher at this girl's school is collecting the donations on her behalf.

You can mail donations/gift cards to:
Pam Millonzi
Admiral Byrd School
265 Wellington Ave.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

And thank you to everyone who has made a donation to the families that I have posted. This was all Mama Laughlin's great idea and Aly and I are just happy to see it all come together. So many families are going to have a better Christmas because of you.

Santa and Christmas Cheer

I am linking up today with my Home Slice, Darci, from Strongly Feminine. Darci gallivanted around Tulsa with me last month. The best way I can describe her is as a New Jersey housewife that lives in Kansas. Please check out her blog HERE for for all of her f-bombs, mean muggin' photos, and cute babies.

I love baby/Santa photos. The more awkward and frighten poses, the better.

1. Adorable first year photo. The days he would wear things like collared shirts and vests for me, without having a Nanny 911 conniption.

2. Classic I'm-freaked-the-eff-out pose. And I love his chubby belly hanging out at the bottom of his sweater.

3. Why in the hell is Haven sitting on the floor in front of Santa? I think old Santa was too scared to hold newborn Olive and have Haven on his lap, so they had him sit in front. Big Holly would normally have thrown a fit, but I was probably too worried about what I was going to order from the food court to care.

4. This year, I wanted both babies on his lap. But the kids were spent. We went to the mall to have Olive's 1 year photos taken. When we pulled into the parking garage, we realized we took her stroller out of the trunk. Chris had to carry her through the mall in her pumpkin seat to the photo place {I refuse to spend $7 to rent one of those obnoxious ass strollers-- neva gonna happen}. Then we decided to kill two birds with one stone or throw stones at a problem {again... so many sayings} and have pictures taken with Santa. But Santa was on the other end of the mall. So while Chris chugg-a-lugged Olive in her seat, I was in charge of Haven not touching anything at every mall kiosk we passed {the tobacco free ciggs, the helicopters, the scarfs, the weirdo that wants to straighten your hair, etc}. When we finally got down to Santa, he was gone. Some punk ass kid was listening to his music behind the register. I asked where Santa was and he replied, "Santa's at the North Pole." Really asshole? When is Santa coming back...? "40 minutes." Then in my Sandlot voice, I was like, "NOoOoOoOoOo." Needless to say, we ate dinner and came back down. Everyone survived, but Olive Betty wasn't having it.

Cheers to next year!

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In other Christmas news, my friend Meredith still has Christmas cards in her Etsy shop HERE. It's not too late to send something out {Elizabeth Lowder, I'm talkin' to you}. These are customized digital images that you can email out to friends or print tonight at the store. 

And speaking of  Elizabeth... We were at a concert last night where fun. was playing with Formidable Joy. Elizabeth was there to see Joy and we were there for fun. When we got up to our seats, we were the third row from the back of the highest level. We saw her during a break between opening acts and she gave us her bomb ass seats, since they weren't staying for fun. She is so nice, sarcastic, and fun... and she makes this hand made Christmas ornaments HERE!

Mama Laughlin's Holiday Pay it Forward is still going on through the end of the week. Be sure to check out her page HERE or Aly's page HERE if you want to help more families in need.

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Happy Wednesday!.... and don't forget to find me on Facebook HERE.

Holiday Pay it Forward: The Recap

When Mama Laughlin first came up with this idea, we tossed around a few ideas on how we could help the most people through our blogs.

I am clearly not on the Oprah Winfrey level of blogs like Mama Laughlin, or even Aly, but I know my readers want to help.

Instead of picking 12 stories, I decided to pick five... and go balls to the wall {what does this saying mean.. and why does it flow so freely off my tongue?} helping these five families for the holidays.

There have been a lot of people who have donated very generously, but I'll get to that in a minute. There have also been some people who have wanted to give to the most needy or least responded to situation.

Through Friday,  I will be posting these stories again. No donation is too small.

 

 

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First up is Traci... you can read about Traci HERE. She is a widow to six children. I can't even imagine what Christmas will be like for her or her family. I know Traci through a mutual friend. All of the money collected will be sent straight to her to hand deliver on our behalf.

If you're interested in donating, please send me an email and I will provide you with Traci's information. On Saturday, I received to large checks in the mail in Traci's name. One came from Melissa who had lost her father as a child and another from Amber who lost her husband earlier this year. This is the best example that I can give about the meaning of truly paying it forward. To have been in that situation, either as the fatherless child or the widow, and read Traci's story and feel the want to pay it back.

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Next is little Brooklyn. I wrote about Brooklyn HERE. As a mother, I cannot even let my mind think about what I would do if I was in her mother's situation. Brooklyn has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in the abdomen. The day before her diagnosis, her parent's announced they were pregnant. In addition to worrying and taking care of Brooklyn, they are also worried about her mom's health.  If you would like to donate to Brooklyn's family, you can do it HERE. Between medical expenses, taking time off work, and basic living costs, anything helps.

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The story about the 9 year old girl who witnessed her father kill her mother gave me chills. The story is posted HERE. A teacher at this girl's Chicago-area school is collecting the money on her behalf.  You can read the news article HERE. Today, the girl is 11 years old and living with her 21 year old sister. Life is hard for both of them emotionally and financially. They are having trouble coming up with basic living expenses like food, rent, and utilities. When I think about the most needy people this holiday season, I think about this girl and her sister.

If you can donate, please send a check/gift cards to:
Pam Millonzi
Admiral Byrd School
265 Wellington Ave.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

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Jenn is a fellow blogger that I wrote about HERE. She just left the hospital after undergoing a double mastectomy due to a breast cancer that is quickly moving and not responding to chemo. Jenn is only 37 years old, with two young children at home. Obviously medical bills have been rolling in for some time. During the holidays, it can be tough to pull it together emotionally, physically, and financially for her children. If you would like to send Jenn some love, please visit her blog HERE or her donation page HERE.

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And finally it's Erin and Andy from my post HERE. They are a young couple with the calling to adopt a child from Ethiopia. Since I have read Erin and Andy's story, I have second guessed all of the "stuff" that I want to buy my kids for Christmas. This is a great example of giving something more for the holidays and helping this couple bring home their baby. If you would like to donate, please visit their donation page HERE

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And thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, to my friends who have donated already. For the widow Traci, and the 11 year old girl living with her young sister, please send your donations by Friday. We would like to get that money to them in time for Christmas. If you would like more information about what you can do to help, shoot me an email or grab the button and share these stories on your blog.

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Diarrhea Cha Cha Cha

This morning, I was going to have a Mama Laughlin's Holiday Pay it Forward recap thus far, then there was a pisspukeshit explosion in my house-- also known as the stomach bug.

For a Mama Bear and a bleaching OCD freak like myself, this is my worst nightmare. With my second worst nightmare being kidnapped at 27, thrown in a van, and forced to live with gypsies in the woods. My mind does go there...

This all started Friday night with Haven not eating... Ok, no big deal. I guess I'll just eat his mac n cheese for dinner... and those Reese cups that Chris brought home for him. Saturday morning, he was acting tired, clingy, wanting to pinch my elbows.

For those of you who don't know, Haven has to pinch my elbows to fall asleep. Like, the loose skin part of my elbow when my arm is laid out straight. Someone once left me a comment letting me know that this is called my wenis. So now every night, when he pinches my wenis to fall asleep, I think about all of the mommy-issues he is going to discuss with his therapist some day.

Back to my story! I lay back down with Haven Saturday morning, when he tells me he has to poop. OK. I roll over to open the bathroom door for him, when I realize the Diarrhea Bus already took a stop... in my BED!



I was really trying to hold it together, but the smell, fresh freakin' steam, and the noise {yes, noise!} it was making on my crisp white sheets sounded like the carbonation of a freshly poured soda.

No big deal. I played the I gave birth to his 9 pound 9 ounce self with an allergic reaction to the epidural all while suffering an anal fissure so this clean up chore will be given to Chris. Just like ferberizing, potty training, bath time, car seat installation, daycare drop off, and dirty diapers. I am pretty much off the hook for the rest of their lives. Which also explains why I only needed to cough for Olive to fall out because there is no coming back from what he did to my body.

The rest of Saturday was pretty typical... clingy and fever. Oh and one more Diarrhea Bus stop in my bed {but I was prepared this time}.

Sunday, we woke up and everyone felt back to normal. I spent a good four hours bleaching my shoebox of a house.... and I thought we were in the green zone {or end zone... or twilight zone... I am not good with sayings/phrases}. Then BAM! Chris is sick.

And when your husband is sick, the world might as well be ending. He started hallucinating in the middle of the night... and he still hasn't got his physical for my increase-in-life-insurance request {episode of SNAPPED dodged}, so I can't take any chances. He "feels like he is going to die." He has told me this 179 times. :)

The icing on the cake? I just went to get Olive out of her room and there was a funny/nasty smell... like the smell of cats. I flip on the lights and there is puke EVERY.WHERE. And the smell....? Again, like cats. And Holly Stanfield does not like cats.

Someone come save me... right meow.

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And a few housekeeping items:

1. Where We Can Live Like Jack and Sally is now on Facebook. You can follow me HERE.
2. Since the social media whoring cannot be controlled... You can find me on keek HERE. It's like an instagram {@hollystanfield} for videos. But I can't figure out the difference between following someone and subscribing to their page...?
3. My love, DAR-sayyy, is hosting a Santa Picture Fail linkup on Wednesday... so get your funny pictures ready.

It's Friday, Friday, Friday, Ohhhhhh

Chris is giving away a blog design over on Mama Laughlin's blog today. He really thinks he is famous now. I am expecting him to come home with a publicist and backstage rider at this point.

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Kimmy asked about Olive's eyes yesterday. We went to the genetics counselor at Children's last week. When I arrived with Olive, that asked why was I there? I was under the impression by her eye doctor at Children's that we had to have this genetic testing done before they would do surgery.

After waiting alone with her in a hot room for an hour, a doctor comes in a does a physical on her and asks me the same question again. By this point, I was a Testy Tessy {what's new?} because I just wanted to do the blood work and go to the cafeteria already. The lady asked if there was a chance that Chris and I could be related. W the W??? Like I have a mutant child or something.

Truth is, we don't care that Olive has this condition in the sense that she is OK... and we're not having anymore children. The genetics's people called yesterday to apologize and say that we didn't need the testing to move forward with surgery. Now, we go back next Thursday to see the eye specialist there.

For anyone new reading, Olive has Ocular Albinism and Nystagmus. To focus, it's easier for her to look out of one corner of her eye, so she is constantly leaning her head on her shoulder.  90% of the time, her eyes look normal to us. The other 10% is when she is tired or we are out of her focus, and we notice the nystagmus and uncontrollable eye movements.

If anyone is familiar with these conditions, please shoot me an email. I love nothing more than have an Oprah Winfrey ugly-cry at work.

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My StL blogger-lady friend, Elizabeth, owns the Etsy shop HERE. She makes custom, hand painted Christmas ornaments on solid wood. Please visit her shop, Fleur de Liz Designs HERE to order.

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And finally.... another round of Holiday Pay it Forward with Mama Laughlin and Aly.

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I will have a recap on Monday, spotlighting the stories from this week, so there is another opportunity to give. :)

Hi Holly,

I really enjoy reading your blog, and I love your candor! I know you're doing the 12 days of giving series, and I wondered if you and the girls have all 12 days accounted for? A good friend of mine, Erin, and her husband Andy are in the process of adopting a child from Africa and have hit a setback. They also have so much money left to raise. If this is something you'd be willing to share I would be forever grateful. I'm sure you get tons of requests, so I won't be totally crushed if I don't hear from you. However, I knew it was worth a shot.

Their story can be read here: http://ahomefordurye.blogspot.com/

Thanks in advance if you can help. Or no thanks if not (just kidding, of course).

Have a great Christmas!

Angie Deak


Adoption is very expensive. For Erin and Andy, they need to raise between $25-35k in order to bring home their child. If you would like to help Erin and Andy bring home a child from Ethiopia, then please visit their donation page HERE. If adoption is something heavy on your heart, then please grab the button and share this story on your blog.

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Happy Friday!! What are you doing this weekend?? :)

Happy Birthday, Olive! And a Recipe

Today, my sweet girl with fuzzy platinum hair is one. After I pushed twice and coughed once, the easiest baby was born. The nurses had the hospital director come down to the nursery because they had never seen a baby with so much blonde hair. She has been stunning from the moment she was born.

People always say it's expensive, you'll be tired as shit, you won't ever pee alone again that it will fly by.... and it really feels like she has been with us the whole time.

The night she was born, I changed the lyrics to a Jimmy Buffet song to, "Hey Good Lookin'. Whatcha got cookin'? How about cookin' something up for me. Hey, Olive Betty. Whatcha got ready? How about cookin' something up for Mommy?"

Clearly I could compete with Weird Al, but the truth is, Olive still loves this song. And whenever I want her mean muggin' face to smile for a picture, I always sneeze or start singing our new lyrics. I was almost thinking about having a Jimmy Buffett party for her first birthday. Oh the pinterest inspiration I would pave for a baby celebration!

Happy Birthday to Olive Betty!

You're always ready for a drink and a good party. I hope that never changes.

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And today, my lady friend Lora from Raising Steppe Sisters is hosting an easy recipe linkup. Never too miss a linkup or second plate of food, here is one of my easy go-to recipes.

Holly's Smooth Enchiladas. Recipe found HERE.

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And the Holiday Pay it Forward continues with Mama Laughlin and Aly-miester!

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Today the person in need is another woman, mother, and blogger. Meet Jenn.

Mama and friends,

I’ll keep this as short…

I’d like to nominate my friend Jenn Fickes for your “pay it forward program”.

· Jenn is 37, a mother of two and today she had a double mastectomy due to a type of breast cancer that is quick moving and growing and didn’t respond to chemo.

· At the beginning of Aug Jenn did a Tri for the Cure, not knowing anything was wrong with herself, the next day went for her routine OB/GYN appointment and found out that she herself had cancer

· She is an amazing person, mother, friend, blogger & an inspiration (she lost a ton a weight, the healthy way, 4 years ago after having her first child)

· She’s a stay at home mom of 2 children, her 5 year old little boy is Autistic

· They have insurance but the medical bills are rolling in and just this year (2012) they have about incurred about $11,000 in out of pocket medical bills

I’m including her blog address if you’d like more info: http://jennscancerblog.wordpress.com/

Any help would be grateful.

Jenn has a donation page on here blog HERE. I am asking you as another blogger, to please visit her page. No amount is too small. If that's not possible right now, please go leave her some love. And grab my button and spread the word! Jenn should be at home with her kids celebrating Christmas-- not in the hospital.

Please pay it forward.

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Baby Got Back

You guys. I am outta control.

Remember when I finished the 30 Day Shred HERE? Yeah, I don't look like that anymore.

I have gained FOUR pounds just since Halloween. My stomach is a bottomless pit and this picture below looks like someone stuck a basketball pump needle inside of me and just started pumpin' away.

When I gain weight, my face is the first to show it. This time of year, from Halloween until New Years, is always when I pack on my weight, like mama freakin' bear. Halloween, birthdays, Tulsa, Thanksgiving, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays... I can't make myself anorexic catch up.

Which is why I am so glad that Courtney started a Diet Bet. Basically, everyone throws in $20... and whoever can lose 4% of their body weight in 4 weeks splits the pot. When I joined, there was only $40 in the pot-- just Courtney and I.

Now there is over $4000 in the kitty.... Come to mommy right meow!

So here I am in all of my Debbie cake-Busch heavies- no cardio- little water- havin' fun glory.

In four weeks... I will be 138 pounds... or I lose my $20.

Cheers to playing mind games with the holiday bulge.

{I love the word BULGE}

And if you are like me... and love some good Before and After weight loss photos, please check out these beauties!!

First up.... Megan from Miss Madison's Charming Life! Or as everyone I know refers to her... Pretty Meg, from her instagram. This lady is a MAAA-cheeeeeeeneeeee. Really. Like has lost over 100 pounds. Check out her photos HERE. And it's great to see people lose weight and become beautiful to society on the outside, but Megan is also really beautiful on the inside, too. She sent over a big donation yesterday for Traci, the widow. I cried a little at my desk because you think you know people and it's a great feeling when they far exceed your expectations.

Next up is my lady friend, Leigh Ann from Elle Noel. I don't even know where to start with Leigh Ann. When I was in Tulsa, Leigh Ann came up in conversation... and I am pretty sure we talked about her dedication, discipline, and amazing legs for at least an hour. She is a girls girl. She is fun, her posts are honest and upbeat, and I love her vlogs. Check out her Former Fatty page HERE. Girlfriend is bringin' it!!

And last but not least, the latest internet fitness queen... Jennifer from Fat Chick to Fit Chick. Have you seen the instagram craze #merryplanksmas? She is hosting a December fitness challenge that you can read about HERE. Chris is also blogging about his love of planking today.You can follow Jennifer's blog by submitting your email address on the right hand side. She is an amazing inspiration who has lost mucho grande weight. Check it out for yourself!

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Holiday Pay it Forward with Mama Laughlin and Aly! Feel free to grab this button and paste it on your own blog to spread the word.

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This next story is so sad... I haven't been able to stop thinking about this young girl.

Location: Suburbs of Chicago

When I read your blog this morning about paying it forward this Christmas, I immediately knew who could use your help. My sister is a 3rd grade teacher in the suburbs of Chicago and in February of 2011 one of her then 9 year old students witnessed the murder of her mother by her own father.
Here is a link to a recent news article HERE.

She is currently being raised by her 21 year old sister and to say they are struggling is an understatement. I know that they are in need of clothing, food, daily essentials, money for utilities, etc. or to have some gifts and toys to open this Christmas would be amazing.

Any kind of assistance, for food, utilities, clothes, or gas can be sent directly to her teachers. They will make sure that this young lady gets the money to help her and her sister get through this tough period in their lives.

If you would like to pay it forward, please send money/gift cards to:

Pam Millonzi
Admiral Byrd School
265 Wellington Ave.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

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Happy Wednesday!!

Olive's Gingerbread Party and Brooklyn

Olive Betty is borderline diabetic after this weekend.

In addition,we cannot put her down without a conniption, because she was held for 30 straight hours by friends and family.

Girlfriend made out like a bandit... which is OK with cheap ass Big Mama Holly because I will be putting most of these toys back under the tree. She has no idea what's going on.... I am in the best birthday party competition, but I don't care about the Christmas competition.

My love, Amy from Story of Us, took all of the pictures for me so that I could relax. Even though I never relaxed because right before the party: Haven let Olive outside on the front porch. Chris made a comment like, "Well, she almost didn't even see her party!" Followed by a 2 liter explosion in the kitchen, my new kitchen rugs being ruined, followed by an A&E Hoarder's house {we made a path to get through the house and there were shitty diapers everywhere}, followed by Haven letting Olive out the back door... and her rolling down three steps to a concrete landing... But she lived!

Here are some pictures to make it look like we had a great time!

The Sweets Table:
I filled up candy in glass bowls... and to decorate the cupcakes, I found Wilton fondant gingerbread men. For the past few weeks, I have been saving old Starbuck's Mocha glasses. I rubbed them with Goo Gone and threw them in the dishwasher. I filled them with milk for the kids when they had a cupcake. And of course, Betty Crocker from Hell  over here, made girlfriend a Gingerbread Man cake. The invites, thank you notes, high chair banner, birthday banner, cupcake picks, and favor tags are from Little Laws Prints.

Look at my little chocolate face! She grabbed a piece off the plate before we even blew out the candle.

And of course, since little Holly had an audience, she had to show off. She was doing her drunk-man-walk for everyone.

My friends Sarah and Allyce also celebrated first birthdays this weekend... so check out their blogs, too. :)
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Mama Laughlin's Holiday Pay It Forward: 12 Days of Christmas

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And now moving on to another little girl.... This is Brooklyn.
Location: Kosiar Children's Hospital, Louisville, KY

On November 23rd, 2012, Brooklyn was admitted to Kosair Children’s Hospital with what doctors thought to be a tumor located on one of her kidneys.  After further tests, it was determined that the mass was Neuroblasto​​ma { a malignant, cancerous, tumor that develops from nerve tissue}. It usually occurs in infants and children. She is a bright, energetic, and happy one year old who is facing a long and tough road ahead. One thing for sure is that Brooklyn is a fighter and with the love and support of family and friends she will WIN this battle! God is with her every second of every day. Please continue to lift this sweet little angel and family in your prayers.

A foundation has been set up to help Brooklyn's parents pay her medical bills, as well as supplement their income while they are unable to work. Not only are they worried about their little peanut, they are worried with how they will make their house payments. They have to be eating every meal out, as the children's hospital is an hour away from home. So there is another expense.

What is even more sad about this story is that Brooklyn's parents announced they were three months pregnant on Thanksgiving Day. Only to wake up the next day with this nightmare. Since this time, they have learned that Brooklyn has stage 4 cancer in her abdomen. In addition to worrying about Brooklyn, they are also worrying about her pregnant mother.


Anyone that would like to read more, can visit Brooklyn's CaringBridge page HERE.

If this story pulled on your heart strings and made hug your own babies harder, then please donate on their donation page HERE.

Money for gas for the hour drive back and forth to their home, for medical expenses, for time off of work, for food, for survival..... ANYTHING helps.

This morning, I donated $10.... Can you do the same?

You can also grab the button and then copy & paste the story onto your blog... Spread the word. Let's help Brooklyn and her family for Christmas. Be sure to check out Mama Laughlin and Aly's blogs today for other people in need during the holdays.