b as in budget.

We were given a big dining room table from another large family about 5 years ago.  It needed a little pick-me-up so I sanded it bare and gave it a nice staining.  It was a nice respectable brown.  Pretty.

That brown table, however, began to bore me after a while.  Ryan and I shopped around for a new table but who wants to shell out $500 or more for a large dining room table when you have a perfectly good one at home? 

Not i.

So I got this wild idea that I could spruce it up myself.  I’ve never been one for painted furniture, but I am one for color. Plus, paint is easy. I entertained the idea a little.

That led me to do some research on colorful kitchen tables. I was surprised at how much I liked the multi-colored sets I found.  These pieces weren’t for purchase, they were tables and chairs that the owners had painted.

And I fell head over heals for the bright and cheerful results that came from a brave spray painter.

I laid my wacky ideas out in front of my husband.  He seemed a little unsure about it at first but the more I explained the more he thought it would be a fun change. A few weeks later he bought me some spray paint.

I started the kitchen table remodel over the weekend.  Then it rained.  Then it stopped raining and got really cold.  So, in order to get our kitchen table back in the house (we’ve been eating on the floor) I’ve had to withstand the 40 degree weather to get our furniture painted and back inside where it belongs. 

I’m only indoors right now to thaw my hands and decided to tap out this post.  I’ll post pictures when I have it all done.  Hopefully tomorrow before the snow hits.

Snow.  80% chance.  With accumulation.

I still can’t believe it.  I thought we left all that nonsense behind when we moved from WA state to Florida.

[shakes head in disbelief]

Just after Christmas I took all the kids to Walmart to use the gift cards their Nana sent them.  It was crowded and I think we accidentally went on Screaming Kids Rally Day or something.  Kait(15) and I found ourselves doing constant head counting to make sure we had all 6 boys with us.

It was like herding cats.

The kids, after much deliberation, had each selected something of great importance that they just realized they ”had always wanted”.  And much to the cashiers delight, each child paid separately. After much profuse apology to the people in line behind us, our cashier, and the cashier next to us, we made our way to Walmart’s enter/exit arena (which more resembled the crowded ticket booth lines at Disney World).

Still counting heads as we took the baby out of the cart and grabbed our bags, Kait steered one of the middle boys by the head, making sure he didn’t get lost in the crowd.  She said with only a slight hint of impatience, “this way, Ben”.

Only, it wasn’t Ben.

It wasn’t even one of our kids.

“Oh.
You’re.
Not.
My.
Brother.”

[calm down cheeks]

Kait’s face was r.e.d.  She looked over to find a lady standing there cracking up.  Kait apologized for steering her sons head.  The lady said it was okay.  This mom obviously had a sense of humor.

We made it out to the van with all the same children we went in with.  No more.  No less. 
[heavy, heavy sigh of relief]

That trip came close to giving shopping at Walmart new meaning. Go in with 7 kids, come out with 8.

In all honesty, I’d probably not even notice.

On the heels of some stay-at-home-mom criticism, and the typical “being a stay at home mom isn’t as easy as you think” response, I feel the need to chime in with some truth about my life.

I’d love to keep you believing that my job is hard, that I’m just that selfless, organized and put together. That I have way more energy, or drive, or I’m a better person, or whatever you may think I am.  But really, when you get right down to it, I’m just this gal with some kids and a husband and a giant frying pan.

And, get this.

I
like
it

!

I like it way more than when I worked full time outside the home (13 years ago when I had just 1 kid).
I like the modicum of chaos that is my day.  I like (well after the fact) the humorous oopses.  Like the toilet paper art episode.

I have no desire to entertain any fantasy that has me again joining the work force and leaving my children for somebody else to raise.  I’m not worthless.  I don’t hate learning.  I’m not sitting on the couch eating bonbons watching some soap opera.  I haven’t enlisted Spongebob to babysit my kids all day (what, with no cable TV and all…)

What I am is in that peacful place that comes from doing what I know is right, no matter what different life another would have me live.

It’s okay if you don’t agree. It’s okay because it’s my life  and it doesn’t matter what you think about me.

I have joy here.
Even when whatever it is that threatens you about the way I live my life causes you to show your not-so-pretty side.

And even when I find a steamer in the bathroom trash can.

i promise.

but this wine glass is just too cool. 

not that i’d ever drink an entire bottle of wine.

not that i never drank an entire bottle of wine.

i just wouldn’t do it now.

good grief!

i just think it’s a neat glass, already.

You talked a good game.  You actually had me believing that I’d finally find sustainable warmth within your boarders.  And I did.  It was lovely and I felt comfortable wrapped up in your sunny rays.  The warm rain, the stifling humidity…  Ahhh.  It was delightful.

But then you changed.

And now this. 

Snow? Accumulation?  Really?

I’ve no words to convey my disappointment in you.  I have plans.  Projects.  A garden.

Think about the squirrels.

Think about me!

And I have to tell you, my dear sunshine state, 46 degrees is very unbecoming of you.

I broke my blender two weeks ago.  I went to set it on the counter, but for reasons I cannot explain it didn’t stay there.

The glass top shattered into a thousand very tiny pieces.

It wasn’t a great blender, but it did the job.  I used it a lot to make frozen drinks, milkshakes, etc…  I was sad.

The next day I got an email from Kelly at MyBlogSpark.  She offered to send me a small blender and a coupon for a free package of new Yoplait Frozen Smoothies with frozen fruit and yogurt pieces. 

Talk about perfect timing!

Not only was I super excited about the new, perfectly sized blender, but I was also thrilled to be able to try Yoplaits new product at no cost to me! 

I got my package in about a week and took my coupon with me shopping, fully expecting to get my smoothies and test out my blender that day.  However, Yoplait Smoothies are not available at either grocery store I shopped at that day.  So, I had to wait a few more days until I could get to Publix, which always has everything I can’t find anywhere else.

Publix had only two varieties.  The strawberry banana and the mixed berry.  Both sounded good but I got the strawberry banana to try out for this giveaway. I also picked up a mixed berry with the $1.25 off 1 coupon found here. 

Each package retailed for just over $3 and includes 2 servings.  That’s quite a high price in my estimation. $3 feeds my 7 children breakfast for two days.  However, convenience isn’t usually cheap.  And these smoothies are really convenient.  
I want to point out that one serving of  Yoplait Smoothies have a full serving of fruit as well as real Yoplait yogurt pieces with live & active cultures, and are an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin C. Add the recommended amount of milk and they also provide calcium.

This morning I pulled out my new, small, super lightweight Hamilton Beach blender, poured in 1 cup milk, and both servings of smoothies.  I blended it up, adding a little more milk to make it drinkable (it was thick enough to eat with a spoon).  It was very good.  Just sweet enough for me (I have a love affair with sugar) but not too sweet for my husband who prefers more fruit and less sweet in his smoothies.

Now, there is something pretty cool about this little Hamilton Beach blender.  It has a detachable cup.  Just blend, twist, and take your smoothie with you.  The blender lid has a sip top.  I really like this feature.  Also, the cup is all one piece.  No detaching the blade, no loose pieces to get misplaced. 
Very cool.

And even better…

MyBlogSpark and Yoplait, in exchange for this review, have generously provided me a duplicate blender and freebie coupon to give away to one of my readers!  So, Yay for you!

Here are the rules.
It is so easy to enter and there are 4 ways to win! You’re only required to enter using one method below to win, however, if you use all four methods you’ll have a better chance!

US address holders are welcome to enter per the rules below. Pay special attention to the closing date! You can enter 4 times by following the directions here by 2/18/2010. Everybody is welcome to enter – even if I ‘know’ you.

1. Leave a comment telling me what was your favorite frozen treat as a child (or now), or tell me something child-like about yourself.
2. Leave a post on your blog or website spreading the news about this giveaway. Make sure to leave a link back here.
3. Twitter about this giveaway. The tiny URL for this is http://tinyurl.com/yk77y4h.
4. Subscribe to We Are Culbertson’s RSS feed.

To receive each entry you have to leave a separate comment for each of the 4 entries.

1 winner will be chosen on or around 2/19/2010.

We will announce it on the blog here. I’ll also email you if you’ve provided your email address. But, I can’t hang onto your winnings forever so make sure you check back!

Subscribe to our RSS Feed so you don’t miss any of our giveaways and winner announcements!!!
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I have a serious number of blog  posts floating around in my head lately.  Situations being what they are right now in my life’s environment have caused my mind to explode with opinions, and opinions about those opinions.

For some reason, however, nothing is coming out right.  I am barely able to formulate a simple thought when I sit down to blog.  Like I’m in fog.  When my husband and I get to talking everything flows out nicely.  But when I come to put those enlightened thoughts down here, it just comes out a big mess.

And that’s just about frustrating. 

I did write something good.  Really good.  But I wrote it when I was really angry.  So I didn’t post it. I’ve got this 24 hour rule when I’m mad…

Yeah, and for good reason. (notice, i didn’t post any good and angry posts)

Just writing this to say something.  Anything. 

I just need to write. Ya know…

Loved this post by Generation Cedar.

…would you buy them from us?

My kids, in their entrepreneurial spirit, have been bugging me to help them start a business.  For more than a year now I’ve been searching around for something with low start up, low cost of failure, and high chance of success, and reasonably priced products.

We love board games.  Our family has a slew of them and we often sit around our dining table with one laid out before us.  And since we don’t have TV and we’re one of those families that stress family time, board games seem like a natural business for us to get into.

The start up cost is minimal, and the board games are good quality and reasonably priced when compared to what you find at Walmart.

But would anybody buy them from my kids?

Would you buy them?

I spent all day cleaning up my house.  Each room got a good scrubbing, the living room furniture got re-arranged (can you say dust?).  The kitchen floor was scrubadubdubbed by my two older boys.

It looked pretty good.

My friend came over and said, “Your house is awfully clean”. And I was happy.

But that was yesterday.

Today is different and I’m wondering why I spent all day yesterday working so hard picking up.  There are magnetic letters littering the floor.  Couch pillows tossed to the ground.  Foam from a bean bag floating around.  Junk mail, books, slippers, blankets, a half chewed dog bone, a machine gun, Little People, flash lights…

All strewn across my living room and kitchen floors. It’s enough to drive a person mad.

How does this happen?

I hear giggling.  Out of the corner of my eye I can see flashes of hair flying through the air as the little boys jump from the couch to the giant bean bag.  Jesse is hollering something unintelligible to some non-existent person on the other side of our large livingroom window – he is so cute I can barely stand it. 

I think to myself, life is so good.

Pinch me.