Revisiting Friday Follow. :) Yay!

Since I have the time to visit some new blogs, I'm going to participate in the Friday Follow blogs and stuff this week.  Next week I don't know if I'll have as much time since I start my new job, but I'll definitely try.

Yes, I have a new job!  I'm working seasonally with Old Navy for now.  It's not a career but a job that will bring in income for the time being.  After the seasonal employment is over I will start looking for an actual job but I had to take what I could get for now, we need the paychecks.  I did have an interview with Coach today and will definitely take that if it is offered to me.  It's a much better job with better hours and pay.  It's just the big waiting game now until I know if they think I'm a good candidate for the job.  (I hope so! I love Coach.)

Read More

Thank God It's Friday!

I feel like I haven't participated in the Friday Bloghops in so long.  Well, that's simply because I haven't!  Those of you who are new, I'd like to welcome you to Mommy Misc... :)  We currently are under re-construction and hope to have our grand re-opening around Thanksgiving. 

My name is Kristin and I am a 25 year old single mom of two girls.  I reside in New Jersey (It's really not that smelly, honest...)  and I spend most of my time in New York City since I live 20 minutes away.  I love theater, I love writing, I love my girls and I love shopping. :)

I work from home as a customer service agent and personal shopper for Bluefly and I am also a freelance writer.  I did have my own business, but that is on hold while I make a regular income. lol :)  I also write this blog and enjoy doing so.  It's a past-time of mine!

I really don't know what else to say about myself, but I am always open to questions!  

We currently have a giveaway going on for Brilliant Lenses.  You can click the banner up the top to enter that!  Saturday we will be posting a new giveaway, so be sure you come and check us out!  If you want to keep posted on our giveaways and articles, join our twitter, our feed or our Facebook to be notified!

Read More

Friday again!! Friday follows.

FRIDAY AGAIN!  Time flies when you're....having fun?? lol  Honestly, I can't believe it's Friday again.  It seems like just last week I was leaving on my very short trip. (From Fri to Saturday LOL)  It's crazy that a week has passed!  One more week until my next trip! (A week from today.)  So, hey everyone!! (New and old!)  Welcome to Friday Follows @ Life of an Artsy Mom!

My name is Krissy and I live in New Jersey.  Just 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan, which is where I am a lot of the time.  I have two girls that are 2.5 and 4.5 and they're my life.  Currently, I am a stay at home mom, but actively looking for a new job!  It seems like almost everyone has been effected by the economy and downsizing from jobs.  No one is spared!!  

I like anything girly.  I spend way too much money on make up, I love getting my nails done, I change my hair color more than I change my underwear -- Ok, that's a lie...if that actually was true it would be pretty gross, wouldn't it? lmao  I love anything pink and my room would definitely tell you that!

On top of all that, I'm a single super mom to my two girls.  (Who I commonly call tornadoes or hurricanes.)  It's hard being a single mom of two rivaling girls, but I feel what doesn't kill me makes me stronger! (And boy does this make me stronger!!)  My girls love each other, but of course they do love to beat each other up sometimes.   I hope the sibling rivalry gets better as they get older. (Wishful thinking!)  I also hope they become neater as they grow up.  I'm getting tired of walking into the living room and stepping on a polly pocket or lego.  It's pretty painful and leaves an odd indent in your foot. ;)  

1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it? I did!  I had (and still have) a stuffed rabbit that went with me everywhere as a kid.  I believe I got it on my first Easter.  Her name is Bunny Bunny (I know, how creative) and if I ever misplaced her, I would not sleep until she was found.  It was like a "security blanket" for me.  Honestly, I still love that thing.  She went to college with me, she went to the hospital with me when both of my girls were born and she goes on road trips with me. (Still!!) Everyone makes fun of me, but I don't care.

2. Do you dream in color?  Sometimes I do.  I don't remember most of my dreams, actually!

3. How tall are you? Do you wish you were shorter or taller? I'm 5'7" and I guess I kind of wish I was about 5'9".  I think if I was, my weight would even out and I'd look thinner! lol

4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be? I have absolutely no idea.  I would go with: Any voice other than the annoying computerized voices that mine has! :D

5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot? It depends how tired and lazy I am on that given day. Yes, I know. I always feel guilty when I leave it in the parking lot and not in the cart corral.  There are some days when I just can't even imagine walking the distance to return the cart in the right place. lol

Read More

Another great Friday!! Social Parade and other friday follows!

We LOVE Fridays!

Who doesn't?

The weeks seem to be flying by so quickly and summer is slowly disappearing right in front of our eyes!  Of course, I'm excited time is flying because my mini vacation is nearing in the beginning of August, but soon we'll be trading in our bathing suits and vacations/daycations for early mornings with our kids, getting them to school, fighting over homework... Ahh, the joys.  I actually like the downtime of summer.  Though I'm not too fond of the heat wave we have been having -- I've never been a huge fan of the heat.

Fridays in bloggy land are great days.  They're days that we get to read some new blogs and meet some new people!  Not to mention possibly gain some new readers and reach your blog out to people who wouldn't have known it if it wasn't for Friday Follow, Social Parade, Fucked up Friday Follow and all of the other great blog hops!  

My name is Krissy and I'm a writer, blogger, artist, single mommy and super woman!!  I multi task, have eyes in the back of my head, and can flip pancakes at the same time that I'm getting my youngest daughter out of mischief!  Damn, I really need a cape and to wear my underwear on the outside of my tights... I also need a super kick ass logo on the front of my super woman leotards...

As a single mom of two rebellious girls who love to push their limits and try to stay up later and later each night, I hardly get any sleep.  Why, I'm super woman!  I can definitely run on only two hours of sleep!  Well, sometimes.  There are days you can walk into my house and well, not be able to walk in without treading through a flood of toys.  Those are the days that I just give up.  Honestly, I do try to keep up with the storm that we call hurricane Olivia and Alayna, but I'm sure every mom gives up after cleaning one room 9 times in one day.  

We have a 6 year old Teacup Yorkie with infertility problems and paranoia.  No, I'm 100% serious about this.  Pixi is my little furbaby and I love her to death.  I must love her to clean up her pee pees and poo poos multiple times daily.  Because of her paranoia of outside and paranoia of doing her business out there, I disinfect the floor daily.  Lysol, Pine Sol and other disinfectants are definitely frequented in our house.  (I was told by our vet that her paranoia is normal.  Are you serious? My dog is afraid of pissing and shitting outside? Excuse my language.)  

If I come off as a bitch sometimes, that's because I'm dieting.  Yes, I'm currently a recovering fat girl who lost almost 30lbs since this round of dieting and almost 70lbs overall.  I'm trying to find my inner skinny girl that I know is there.  I used to hide behind my weight and walk around without any confidence.  Screw that.  If people don't like me, it's their loss.  I've finally started doing something for ME and even though I may get bitchy when I get cravings and have to deny myself, I'm very happy that I am gaining the will power and accomplishing my goals one pound at a time.  

Reading new blogs and meeting new people are two things that I love to do.  Definitely do leave your mark in my comments and I'll visit you back! :)  I'm definitely an insomniac sometimes, so reading blogs = something to keep me busy when I can't sleep!

Read More

MY NEW CAR, Social Parade and other Friday Follows!!

WELCOME to Friday Follow here at Life of an Artsy Mom!!  I'm so glad to have all of you here, the new followers and the old!  

1. What is one food you could eat everyday? I absolutely love buffalo wings and french fries.  They're definitely my weakness, especially when I'm on a diet!  I always crave them.  I'm one of those people who can't have their buffalo wings mild either.  I need them spicy. :)  My fries...well, I don't like to make them at home because they're just not the same!  McDonalds fries are just delish as are Burger King.  Wendys fries are on the bottom of my list! (Sorry Wendys lovers!!)  Of course, right now since I'm on a diet I can only dream of eating that stuff....

2. Are you working in the career you thought you would be when you were 18?  Not at all.  If you told me when I was 18 that in a year and a half I'd have a daughter and 4 years later have two girls I'd say you were crazy!!  When I was 18, I wanted to be a web designer for a large company.  Right now I am currently unemployed, so that really wasn't what I was planning, but life takes different paths than you plan and expect.  It's so difficult in our economy to get ANY jobs around here, but I am looking and I will get something eventually.  I would love to start something that can end up being a career for me and not just a job.  Things happen when they're meant to.

3. What is something that you wish you would have done when you were younger and you didn't?  I learned early on that life is too short to have regrets.  I believe it.  That said, I don't regret anything that I did or didn't do.  If I had to answer this question,  I wish I would have went to the public High School around here and not the private.  I think it would have opened a lot of paths for me and I also think it would have made me a stronger person.  I was picked on so much at my little private all girls High School it lowered my self esteem greatly.  Constantly, I'd change myself to try to fit in and I felt I had to because my class was a class of 50 girls.  If I had gone to the public HS, I would have had a class of about 1,000 and wouldn't have even had to change myself because I would have known I couldn't have pleased every one of those thousand people.  Though, I do believe HS made me stronger in the end because I did have to deal with all of the bullying and criticism. 

4. What color are your kitchen walls? Cream colored wallpaper with blue country stars.  We also have a border that's country apples in a basket.  It's adorable and I wish I had the money to completely accessorize my kitchen to match the wallpaper because I'm in love with it!!

5. Do you remember what your very first favorite song was?  I DO!!!! TLC, "Waterfalls" and Alanis Morsette, "Ironic".  I had two... :)  

Now, I have to brag...I must.  Previously I had posted about possibly getting a new car.  I needed one so badly as my old Subaru Forester was a 2001 and it needed a lot of work.  The car wasn't worth the $2,000 it would have cost to fix the brakes, shocks, struts, body damage, wheels, fan belt, etc...  The car was a mess and deemed, by my mechanic, too dangerous to even drive.  He said every time I drove my car, I was putting my life in my hands.

Being a single mom, money is extremely tight and I had absolutely no budget for a new car.  My only hope was selling mine and my moms and buying a new car straight out with whatever we got for ours.  Financing is not an option with the student loans I am still paying off.  I took my car to a few "cash for your car" places to see who would give me the most, and between my car and my moms, we got $7,000.  (Not bad for two cars that were a little older.)  

I believe in things happening that are meant to be because I got off the highway due to traffic about a week ago.  I never do that and usually wait on the highway, but I just didn't feel like it that day.  I wanted to go locally.  As I was driving down the street, I saw a car for sale.  It was gorgeous and exactly the car I wanted.  I took the number down and gave the owner a call.  He wanted $4,500 for the car and said it was in excellent condition, he just needed to sell it because his father passed away and it was his car.  

So.... I introduce you to...

The new love of my life.  That is a bad pic.  I actually took this pic about two weeks ago when I saw the car for sale for the first time. lol I wanted to show my mom, so I snapped the pic out my window.  I still have to get a good picture of my car.  It's a 2006 Chevy Equinox.  I. AM. IN. LOVE.  

It's in excellent condition, just a few scratches on the console. (Which I can deal with!)  It runs amazing and is bigger than my car, which is what I was looking for.  It can fit the car seats as well as another person in the back and is more than roomy.  I LOVE IT.  The only problem with it was the amplifier for the radio wasn't working and the CD player itself was jammed.  Not a problem!!  The keyless entry remote was broken as well.  Oh well, that's a luxury, not a necessity.  As long as the car runs... :)

Today, I ended up in Best Buy buying this lovely little thing...

A brand new Sony stereo for my car.  It was on sale for $84.99 and installation was so cheap.  They had it done for me in about an hour.  (THANKS WILL FROM BEST BUY!!)  I had money left over from what I got for my car, so I decided to just splurge.  After all, we are taking a ride down the shore on Sunday and my kids always need to listen to Imagination Movers. lol No joke.

That's my lovely car getting it's stereo installed. :)  I love this car.  It only has 70,000 miles on it.  Who am I to complain??  All I want to do is drive now and my mom and the kids want to go for rides.  I can't blame them!  This thing is amazing.

I don't know how the hell I was lucky enough to snag this car for $4,500, but I did and I'm so happy.  It looks expensive (ha!) and is the car I wanted for a long time now.  

Read More

It's Friday! Yay! :)

I feel like I've been so absent from Friday Follow!!  Well, I have.  Alayna has been sick with strep for the past week and I'm a little frustrated at my pediatrician.  The pediatrician refuses to give any antibiotics.  I'm no physician but I used to get strep five times a year for 15 years. (No joke.)  I was given antibiotics every single time.  I'm just being told to give her Tylenol.  Doesn't that seem off to you??  I'm worried that Alayna is gonna turn out like me with being prone to strep.  I finally got my tonsils out when I was 15.  My pediatrician (related to Alayna's) never believed in tonsillectomys.  I just feel like mother's know best, and I believe that's 100% true.  

I remember reading a post about mother's intuition on Theta Mom's blog.  There were many follow up blogs to it because it's a great subject and it's true.  It was very interesting reading the stories of how mothers were right over doctors or over teachers and so on.  I have a great story of mother's intuition as well.

Alayna was born prematurely.  Surprisingly, she weighed 8lbs 7oz. (At almost 35 weeks - Yes, my dates were right.)  She ended up in the NICU for quite a while because she had some normal problems that many preemies have, despite her weight and length.  Her main problems were digestive issues and feeding problems.  She wasn't born with the sucking reflex and therefore had to be fed through a gastro tube.  She would not take a bottle no matter what, and I was assured that it was something she just hadn't developed since she was premature, but it could be learned.  She said sucking is an involuntary action for babies, however it has to be developed.  It felt like an eternity that Alayna had the gastro tube, especially to a mother driving 45 minutes each way per day to go to the hospital to be with her daughter.  They kept trying the bottle, wanting her to get the hang of it and sometimes she did, sometimes she didn't.  

When Alayna started to learn how to suck on a bottle, she would take a few small ounces of formula and then throw it all up...violently.  This led to the gastro tube being put back in because she would throw up everything she had taken in.  Even so, for me, the smallest amount that she drank from a bottle was cause to celebrate.  

This continued to happen for a long time and her weight started to go down.  They could not figure out what was wrong with her.  Me, being the determined person I was, went online and began to research.  The next day before I went to the hospital, I went to Babies R Us and bought everything that I had read about to try.  I was hesitant that the NICU wouldn't allow me to try, but we had this one amazing nurse Carol who was very caring and understood my feelings.  She let me try what I wanted to.  

The new formula I had brought in and the new bottles semi worked.  She didn't throw up as much formula as she had used to, but it was still cause for concern because in order for her to leave the NICU, her body weight had to be over a certain amount and consistent for two days straight.  She had to stop throwing it up and the hospital had no idea what the hell was going on.  Which frustrated me even more.  Isn't a neonatologist supposed to be knowledgeable? Aren't they supposed to know everything?  I had many emotional ups and downs there.  I would burst into tears, I would scream at the neonatologist.  All of which are very common in the NICU because of the pressure the moms are under.  

One day after doing research I came up with something that sounded just like what my daughter was going through.  I printed everything out and took it to the nurse Carol.  There was a covering neonatologist there that day and she listened to me very intently.  The article was about infant reflux in premature babies.  She thought it couldn't hurt to give it a try, so she ordered many GI tests for Alayna.  Turns out, I was right.  She had severe reflux.  Once they put her on Pepcid and started giving her a lactose free formula, the throwing up stopped, the constant crying stopped and she was my happy little baby.  Almost two months after she was born, she came home.  I owe all of that to mother's intuition.  If I hadn't stepped in and did my research, God only knows how long Alayna would have been in the hospital.  

Read More

Friday Follow, Social Parade and so much more!

I LOVE FRIDAYS!! Have I not said that before?

I love this Friday  more than others because this weekend (and up until Tuesday) is going to be just the best.  Saturday we're having a yard sale and Sunday a friend and I are going away until Tuesday. :)  It's going to be exciting.  I actually cannot wait.

Care to see the list that I wrote?  It's stuff I need to pack for my trip. ;)  See? I'm *somewhat* organized!

I do have to shop (tomorrow) for my uncle for Father's Day.  Even though I'm leaving Sunday morning, I want to have something for him for the day.  He has been like a father to me since I was little.  Unfortunately, my father died when I was 3.  Father's Day, for me since I was a kid, was mostly for celebrating my grandpa and uncle.  It's still a Holiday for us, none the less.

Yesterday, my mom and uncle wanted to clean through downstairs so that we could have some of the things cleared out for when we have to move and also get some things together for the yard sale, so I took the kids with me to Kohls.  I had some coupons and a gift card that I wanted to use up and I did need some shirts.  I got some great things and only paid $5.  I had a $10 off any purchase card that came in the mail as well as a $5 off coupon that was e-mailed to me.  On top of that, I had a gift card that I had found in my wallet.  (I love finding gift cards I haven't used! It's like finding free money!)

For you new followers and visitors, I have some questions I got off of various "meme" sites that can give you some new information about me. (And not bore my regular readers! LOL)

When was the last time you got stuck somewhere and where was it? About a month ago I got a flat tire on the NJ Turnpike.  It wasn't fun at all.  I was pulled over on the side of the road for almost 3 hours before a NJ Turnpike truck came to change my tire.  Turns out that AAA doesn't even SERVE the Turnpike.  So if you get stuck there or break down, you're screwed.  Nice to know that AFTER the fact.

How many pens do you have in your purse/pocket/on your person?  It's a funny story, actually.  I carry about 5 pens with me.  Why?  Because I'm completely anal when I go to the grocery store and don't have a pen with me.  Seriously, I start to flip out and have to buy pens to cross off my list.  I'm not kidding!!  It's bad. lol

Do you prefer ice cubes or crushed ice? Complicated question, seriously.  In iced tea I love ice cubes.  When I go to McDonalds, I don't get ice because I feel they cheat you out of the soda you pay for since they put so much ice in the cup.  When I'm sick, however, I love crushed ice.  Got it? ;)

How many different hair products do you use on a daily basis? I used to use a hell of a lot to tame my hair.  Recently, however, I've been using WEN Hair Care and actually am growing to love it.  I can just use one product in so many ways.  It's very versatile.  Click here to read my review on the product.

 Do you plan on cutting down on your television watching time in the near future? What about computer use? I actually don't watch too much TV.  All I watch is Medium, Will and Grace, America's Got Talent, American Idol, Bachelor, Bachelorette and some other investigative shows.  It really doesn't equal to a lot.  However, computer use -- never. :D

If you have any other questions for me, you can ask me over at my Formspring. (Click here) 

 

Read More

Welcome to Life of an Artsy Mom - Friday Follows 06/11/10!!

Fridays are my favorite day of the week because I get to find some new blogs and get some new great followers.  I love new friends! :)  On this great day of the week, I love to take my free time to blog hop and read (and comment on!) blogs that really deserve it.  Let me give you some information about me so you know who you're following!  For my regular followers & readers -- we will be back to our regularly scheduled blogging shortly! Ha!

My name is Kristin but I am either called Krissy or Jess.  I am a 25 year old single mom of two girls from the Metro NYC area. (I actually live in New Jersey, but 20 minutes from Manhattan.)  I am an artist (fine artist and jewelry designer primarily) but I also do merchandising jobs for companies who need extra help.  I love to blog and love to write.  For me, it's an emotional outlet, as is art for me as well.  I consider myself a theater junkie.  I see Broadway shows much more often than I'd like to admit.  If you'd like to know more about me, I go into a lot better detail HERE. :) 


Random facts:

• I never tan.  I'm the only Italian that I know of that burns...and burns badly.
• Because of that, I am forever trying to find a self tanner that actually works well. 
• I love Apple products.  And yes, I am hyped about the new iPhone 4!! :)
• I have naturally curly/frizzy hair.  I flat iron a lot.
• Purses are one of my addictions.  I have too many.
• Yard sales are love for me.  I find some great stuff.
• I love to refurbish old furniture and do that a lot from garage sale finds.
• My room is colorful.  Pink walls with a lot of colorful accents.
• Soon I will be getting a new car! (Thank God for trade ins and financing!)
• My Nutrisystem weight loss bears are my most prized posessions & motivation.
• I love to bead.  That's primarily the basis of my business.
• I spoil my girls way too much, but they also know the value of money.
• The Coach store is my weakness.  Even if I won't buy anything from there, I'll go in and look around.

Want to know anything else about me?  Yes, I've fallen into the Formspring fad Click Here to ask me a question. :)  I answer anything.

1. What do you think makes a good friend, or friendship? I believe a good friend is someone who is there for you no matter what.  Someone who listens to your complaints, someone who answers the phone or text messages when you need them the most.  Someone who you feel comfortable being goofy and yourself around.  I also believe that you should have some things in common, but this isn't always the case. :)  Some best friends could also be polar opposites!! 

2. What is the last thing you bought & later regretted? Oh man, shoppers remorse happens to me everytime I shop. LOL  There is no specific thing I may have gotten, but it happens to me whenever I come home with something.  I always ask myself, "Do I really need this?  Can I get by without it?"  The shoppers remorse usually dissipates quickly, but I guess it's healthy that it even crosses my mind in the first place.

3. Have you ever had a prank played on you? Yes.  All of the time during my elementary and high school life.  It got so bad that at this point in time, I hate pranks and DESPISE April Fool's Day. 

4. What is your favorite theme park?  I love Six Flags, although I haven't gone there too much.  I should be going a few times this year, though. :)  I also love the boardwalk in Wildwood NJ.  It's great for my kids. (And no, it's not THAT Jersey Shore!!)  Dorney Park is also so much fun. :)

5. Have you ever seen someone else give birth? No, No, No, No.  The only time I have experienced birth are the two times I had my kids. LOL

Read More

Friday AGAIN!?

Welcome Friday Followers!!

1. If you could go back to college would you change your major? Or, if you were to go to college right now...what major would you choose? I would definitely change my major.  I majored in 2D Fine Art and minored in Photography.  Of course, Photography is a great major, but as a 2D Fine Arts major, what would I do with it??  I never finished college because I had to take a family leave, but I would definitely major in something that I could use when (and if) I go back to school. :)  I don't know what I would change my major too, though!!

2. What do you love most about your home? NOTHING!! HA! Kidding.  I like that my home has so many memories.  It's fairly small and cozy, but I love it.  I am actually looking forward to moving, but I'm going to miss this place because I've been here for 25 years.

3. What types of books do you like to read (if you like to read at all)? I haven't read in a while, but I used to read whatever was recommended to me.  I actually wanted to start reading again, but I haven't had any recommendations in a while. If anyone has any recommendations, feel free to comment with them! I'm looking for something to read!

4. What is the grossest thing you've ever eaten? Clams and sushi. 

5. If you HAD to be a character on a TV show, whom would you be? Someone rich and lucky. LOL  :)

I know I say this EVERY Friday, but I can't believe it's Friday already.  The weeks seem to go by so quickly.   I'm going to make this short and sweet (Since I'm exhausted).  HI Friday Followers!!  I hope that you all decide to follow me and comment, I do follow back as well as comment back!  Hope to hear from everyone!! 

Read More