Post Christmas CLEANUP.

This image from PaceButler.com a recycling company. Obtained thru Google Images.

By now you have opened all your presents and had the wrapping paper and presents every which way. Chocolate wrappers litter your living room carpet and the latest game machine is in the middle of the floor along with the controllers strewn out everywhere. Did YOU have a good Christmas this year though? My Christmas was absolutely magical. My children's eyes lit up when they opened up their presents and that is Christmas to me. Knowing that my children are happy. THEN yesterday one of my neighbors knock on my door (NOT the shrew LOL) and tells me she has some clothes available that would fit my oldest daughter. I pick up the clothes and in the pile of clothes she has for me are these boots...My daughter is in LOVE with these boots. They have heels and everything. (I don't have a picture of her in the boots yet. That will come later I'm sure.)
   Christmas is actually NOT over for me yet. My biggest present has yet to arrive. My dad and his wife are traveling from Pa to visit me. They were suppose to come on Monday but could not because of a huge snowstorm! My dad should be getting here tomorrow! I'm so EXCITED! I didn't plan on moving that far away from my family. I just went to college out West, got married, and settled down out here. Hopefully I'll be back again someday. (Someday SOON I hope.) Either that or have enough money to travel to see them. I'd totally ride an airplane. I love air travel.
    I spent most of yesterday cleaning my kitchen, doing the dishes, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the bathrooms, making my house clean from Christmas mess. That's why I haven't been around much. BUT I did get to tweet with 2 of my favorite peeps yesterday, @singdwingangel AND @fromtracie.
  So I hope all of you are having a fabulous Christmas with your families. I'll see YOU around NEXT year. Or whenever the mood strikes me to write. Or vlog. 'Cause I'm like that.
I write for ME.
;) And all of you, who enjoy reading my blog.
Toodles!

Merry Christmas my friends!

I hope you all are enjoying your day with your family and friends!
May you feel the peace and the magic of the season this year.

This is appropriate for my house because currently I have 2 cats and 7 kittens at my house. *sigh*
I can't wait until the kittens can leave their mama.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE a WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!

ICaughtSanta WINNERS!

Here are the winners. Announced video style like I normally do. I used Random.org to choose.
Thanks for entering. If you are a NOT a winner than please feel free to use this 25% code at checkout-- OCB.





Merry Christmas!! Now go and catch Santa Claus!
I will email the winners their codes shortly.

The DIGITAL Nativity (Thanks to the Empress.) :)

Google from Google images. Yup, I'm lazy again.

 The wonderful Empress had this on her blog today. I thought it was a rather cute way to present the Nativity. It is under 3 minutes long. Take a peek.






And I have one more thing to show you. This video is for laughs though.




I wish you and yours a very MERRY Christmas! I will draw names for the IcaughtSanta tomorrow night. Be on the lookout, OK? Perhaps I will draw some names tomorrow during the day so you can get that picture ready...

Thank you all for being my friend. I appreciate EVERY. Single. One. of you more than you know. You brighten my day. You bring laughter into my life. May 2011 be a blessed year for you. Enjoy the holidays this year with your friends and LOVED ones!

ICaughtSanta GIVEAWAY (You should enter NOW.) ENDED

The Winners of the ICaughtSanta giveaway will be announced shortly.
Please stay tuned!

No this isn't my Santa pic. It's from Google. I didn't get my picture yet. Don't worry there's still time.

Hey y'all. I hope some of you are still out there at least.
I have a really sweet giveaway opportunity for you all. Have you guys heard of IcaughtSanta.com?
Well allow me to explain...
In 3 questions...
1. Do your kids believe in Santa Claus?
2. Would your kids just flip if you got a picture of Santa in your living room?
3. Do you want a picture of Santa Claus in your house for future bribes to your kids to be good?

That's what I thought.
Here's what you have to do.
Easy-peasy by the way.

Leave a comment telling me WHO would be most excited on Christmas morning to see a picture of Santa Claus in your living room!


Extra Entries: Follow my blog! (Psst! Click the Follow button on sidebar!)
Follow me on Twitter. @ClutteredBrain
Leave me a comment on my FAN PAGE telling me how you really, really want to win!
What? You aren't my fan on my fan page? What are you waiting for then? Click the "like" button and like me on Facebook too! (Link to my fan page is above. Duh.) lol.

That's it for the EXTRA entries.
Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each additional entry you leave.
Hey if you wanna tweet it or share it with your Facebook friends feel free. Just let me know so I can count it as an extra entry. The MORE people know this AWESOME ICaughtSanta giveaway is out here, the more people will enter. Hopefully. Either that or 5 peeps will enter. And a total of 5 peeps can WIN. Yeah, that's right. I said, 5 people can win. I have a list of 5 free codes for a free Santa pic. Cool huh?

That's what I'm talking about.

Getting excited for the kids to see Santa now?
Wa-hoo. Now if I could only get a Santa to wrap all the presents...*sigh*

Go ahead. ENTER. Now. I'm waiting.
Giveaway ends Christmas Eve Dec 24,2010 at 9PM. Oh you people will be up. Wrapping presents and eating the cookies you left for Santa. I know better. Oh and it is 9 PM Pacific time. OK? Figure out when it will end in your time zone. I'm too lazy to do the math. Okay?

Disclaimer: I was given a code for a free icaughtsanta picture too. I was not compensated monetarily at all (Except for the free code for the picture--LOL) All opinions expressed about getting a SANTA picture in my living room are all mine. M'kay?

Dancing Santa....Ho ho ho.

Hey peeps.
Come take a look at me as a Santa.
A fat jolly old elf, the suit really is becoming on me I think.
Ho Ho Ho..Merry Christmas! (And NO, I don't think you all are ho's.....lol.
Love you!
Just click on the link above. Because I couldn't figure out how to embed the sucker....*sigh*

Image from Google. I don't really have a picture of me as Santa. Geez whiz.

Look I mingled!

Yeah, yeah I know I've been a slacker. I've been busy finishing up my CNA class and getting a job...
Yes, folks you heard me right, I got a job! I'll just be doing some home health work in St. George UT. (nurse assistant stuff) Yeah!

And now without further ado..the QUESTIONS!

This week’s questions:

1. What is the weather like right now, where you are?
2. Who wears the pants in your marriage?

3.  Are you bossy?

Tater tot casserole...after throwing your rice (cooked) cream of mushroom soup (1 can) and hamburger together, put tater tots on top with cheese. Bake in 350 oven for 15 minutes.
YUM!

Just click the button above to see other mingles! Speedy Jen is our Monday Mingle Mom. ;) LOL.
Thanks Jen for bringing back the mingle! (In Nov, we missed a few mingles. Thanksgiving and all.)

How the Grinch stole my Christmas

Heh-heh. I'm feeling a little evil this morning so bear with me ok?

T'was the school morning before Christmas and all I could hear:
"Just get in the car, I gotta to go to work and be of good cheer!"
(How a shrew can be of good cheer is beyond me.)

The twinkling of lights on a cold winter's night--
are ALWAYS interrupted by the screams of a fight.

When out on the lawn one day I heard such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
A mean old glare that was definitely NOT dear!

I asked the old hag "What was the matter?"
She threw up her hands and started the chatter.
"This is this and that is that--"
"I will always hate you and that is a fact."

I looked and searched in the shrew's eyes and asked--
"Why all the rudeness and lack of Christmas cheer?"
She just looked at me and cackled like the sound of a witch--
'Cause we all know that I live next door to a big nasty b@#ch.
(LOL. I told you I'm feeling evil. heh-heh.)
"I don't know you and you don't know me--"
"But it appears that you have lost the key."

The shrew looked up at me all puzzled inside.
"The key to happiness," I replied.
"Is all you need before you die."
The shrew just yelled her squealy screams and said,
"Where oh where can I find this gladness you speak of?"

"It's in the laughter of your children."
It's in the tears of a stranger."
"It's in the sound of the rain on a cold winter's night."
"It's being grateful for what you have and NOT for what the Jones's have."
"It's in this whole wide world we live in."
"Life is beautiful, and I my friend are glad I live in this beautiful, beautiful world."

"Hogwash." she says, and walks off.
It just goes to show you--
Sometimes you can NEVER change the path of a shrew.

(This silly poem was thought up by me when I walked my second daughter to the bus stop. It may or may not have been actually depicted actual events. Any similarity is purely coincidental.)

I'm doing what I can to help--Are you?

A blogger friend I know needs our help. Her friend lost a child recently. The child was accidentally hit while playing in the driveway by the daycare provider. I would be heart broken as a mother. And if I lost a child at Christmas time I would be a complete wreck. Babesrockinmami has set up a paypal account to donate for her friend. (Her friend is facing the burial costs of a child. Can you believe? Ugh. My heart goes out.) People are donating stuff to giveaway too. All to help this mother in need.

I don't have money to give. But I have a blog. I can post about this. I am hoping you all will do the same. You too can put the Riley button on your blog.
Spread the word. Help BabesrockingMami's (Stephanie) friend.
No one should have to deal with the loss of a child. If you can do anything, I'm sure Stephanie will appreciate it.

You can link your blog post up on Stephanie's site  so her friend can see the support.
Thanks for your help in spreading the word. Anything you can do will be appreciated--I'm sure.
I don't have much, but I have a blog to post stuff like this for.

To Mami's friend Sandra.
I found a poem that I hope will bring you comfort at this time.
I don't have money to give or much to donate but my heart goes out to you.
And I hope you find peace this season.
No one should have to deal with the loss of a child.
God bless you and your family as you deal with this loss.

Don't Tell Me

Please don't tell me you know how I feel,
Unless you have lost your child too,
Please don't tell me my broken heart will heal,
Because that is just not true,
Please don't tell me my son is in a better place,
Though it is true, I want him here with me,
Don't tell me someday I'll hear his voice, see his face,
Beyond today I cannot see,
Don?t tell me it is time to move on,
Because I cannot,
Don?t tell me to face the fact he is gone,
Because denial is something I can't stop,
Don't tell me to be thankful for the time I had,
Because I wanted more,
Don't tell me when I am my old self you will be glad,
I'll never be as I was before,
What you can tell me is you will be here for me,
That you will listen when I talk of my child,
You can share with me my precious memories,
You can even cry with me for a while,
And please don't hesitate to say his name,
Because it is something I long to hear everyday,
Friend please realize that I can never be the same,
But if you stand by me, you may like the new person I become someday.

Judi Walker
(In Memory of Shane)
Copyright 1998 

Poem can be found here. 
Just click the above link for source. 

Are you with me?

Christmas bells....Hear them ring...Ding a ling....soon it will be Christmas day.

Don't poison Santa's milk. That's just mean. Leave him chocolate milk instead. :)

Image obtained from Google. Because my butt is lazy today.

Christmas is almost here. I haven't seen any snow but I'm okay with that really. I hate the white stuff. My hubs and I are frantically trying to find something, ANYTHING that we can do to earn money. I figured out I could do a Paypal donation on my site but then I thought, "That's tacky." Donate to the Cluttered brain no money fund. HAHA. Right?
Hey I'm still laughing.
I'm not gonna lie. Times are tough around here. But the kids are still gonna get a Christmas, Santa is still gonna come. Somehow. Because I believe. I believe in the goodness of Santa. I believe in doing good for your fellow men. I might not be able to drop off a huge basket of goodies at your doorstep (like what happen to us last night) BUT I can give of myself to you, plus I can BAKE.
Maybe I can wrap up some cookies and fudge and give them to my girls this year?

Nah. I think I'll give the gift of time. I'll give the gift of myself. They will remember that tons more anyway.
How will  YOU give of yourself this Christmas season?

And yes I have noticed the shortened posts lately. I have figured all your attention spans are shorter and can only take me oh so much yakking on my part. So I'm giving you a vacation from me and my ultra LONG posts...lol. And I hear you are suppose to be short and sweet in your blog posts anyway.

Oh. And always add a picture. That's always a must. I hear T's daughter is for hire.

The gift that keeps on giving--

A Female cat (that has yet to undergo getting "fixed" YET) ;)

Anyone want a cute kitten for the NEW year? (not quite able to leave their mama yet.) I can FED-EX you a kitten if you want...Wouldn't that be a picture? Mail that meows.....lol.
I hope you all are enjoying the season with your family.
Don't stress out too much about gifts. Relax and enjoy the lights and all the yummy treats you are getting....
Mmm. YUM!
(Just don't step on the scale before January.)

What are YOU watching tonight?

Hey peeps! Tonight is THURSDAY. And I was wondering what are you watching tonight?
I highly suggest clicking on over to NBC and watching Community tonight. Abed is trying to find the meaning of Christmas. And guess what?
The whole darn show is done in clay-mation. (You know, like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer is done in.)
It is SWEET. I had the chance to PREVIEW tonight's episode. And let me tell you it IS funny.

CONFESSION 1: I have a small confession for you all. On Thursday, I am usually an ABC watcher. Mostly because ABC has Grey's AND Private Practice. BUT I think I might be watching NBC tonight. Community is funny. And I can always hulu my other shows the next day.

Who knows though? I might be hulu-ing ALL the shows 'cause I have to wake up at 3 AM tomorrow to be in St. George UT by 6 AM. And believe you me, I will NOT hit a deer. (And yes, we have found parts for the car. We were told 275 bucks for the headlight and the side marker light. My hubby found it on EBAY for about 40 dollars.) <--YAY!

And so I think I might go visit my bed for a few minutes. I think I feel a NAP coming on.
(3AM comes awful early you know. Stupid Pacific time and MST time zones. Sometimes I hate living on the border.)


Disclaimer: I received a preview of the entire episode to watch before Community actually aired to review it. Watch it. It really is a hilarious show. All opinions expressed are mine and should not be affiliated with One-2-One Network. I am a One-2-one network member.

Tagged? What do you know?

This post is all about the number 4.  Brought to you by Missy since she tagged me and wants to see my answers. ;) ENJOY!

Thanks Google image for the yummy pic of Christopher!

4 shows I watch:
1. Cougar town
2. Modern Family
3.  Parenthood
4.  Law And Order SVU (Honestly who can't resist Christopher Meloni?) *sigh*


4 things I am passionate about:
1.  Christopher Meloni...Need I say more? (and Dr. Pepper.)
2.  My  husband and children. (And Dr. Pepper.)
3.  My writing. (And chocolate.)
4. My values. (And Dr. Pepper.)

4 phrases I say a lot:
1. "Seriously?"
2. "Do your homework NOW!"
3. "Where's my cook?"
4.  "Don't forget to feed the cats."

4 things I have learned from the past:
1.  All things good or bad have a way of working themselves out in the end.
2.  Have faith. Good things will come.
3.  Christopher Meloni is probably way HOTTER in person. (Mmm, bet he smells good too!)
4.  And lastly, don't ever forget the past. Don't live in the past, but just don't repeat the same dumb old mistakes you made in the past. Get it? Good. Don't REPEAT your mistakes. LEARN from them!

4 places I would like to go:
1.  Christopher Meloni's house.
2.  Europe.
3.   Disneyland.
4. A cruise to a tropical island with clear blue waters and Matthew M. is massaging my back. Ahhhhh. Nice.

Ahh. That's about right. 

4 things I did yesterday:
1. Unload the dishwasher.
2.  Apply to jobs.
3.  Wipe the counter off.
4.  Tweet with @fromtracie.

4 things I am looking forward to:
1.  getting a job.
2.  a REAL paycheck.
3.  Being a nurse someday.
4. massaging Matthew M's back one day. (a girl can dream can't she?)


4 things I love about winter: Christmastime in the desert:
1.  No snow. I hate the white stuff, cars sliding around, cold temps, freezing temperatures...
2.  No jacket.
3.  sandal weather all year round.
4. I can make my own snowflakes and it is not going to be any colder.

4 things on my wish list:
1.  Christopher Meloni. *sigh*
2.  A blackberry, someday. (I'm not materialistic or anything like that. Don't judge. You I-phone user you.
3.  Matthew M. (Can you wish for a celebrity to give you a massage. I'm not picky. He can massage my husband as well. Double massage. But mine is longer. Always.)
4.  Peace on earth and a job.  (Yep, yep. The husband and me have our eyes peeled for jobs. We both need work. You got any? I am an excellent caregiver, and my husband is a brainiac in math and science.)

I need YOUR help!

Only Vote for Alexes. Ok? 

Hey peeps! Remember when I asked for help to be homecoming queen? And I finally got crowned? (I haven't received the crown yet, but I'm sure it is coming.) Anyhoo, I need YOU to vote for me again. And this time I get $100 smackaroos (Yeah that's dollars.) for just you voting for me.

It's a cute video I made for my friend Debbie. I want everyone to vote for her. (She is trying to be the next SAM-e Good mood blogger.) On her blog sidebar, (left, near the top) is a voting widget.  <--Click on this link to be instantly transferred to Debbie's blog and to VOTE for me! Please, Double please, Vote for Alexis. (My name is misspelled, but it's me.)

I could use the votes right now. I'm behind.

And I know last time, I promised to smash a pie in my face (If I won homecoming queen) and I have not yet done that. (I'm waiting on the actual crown, 'cause I got something in the works.)

BUT I will do anything. I could be like Cheeseboy and promise to dress up like Barney and order Chinese takeout, but I don't have a Barney costume.

Ahh well.

I'll think of something.
Just vote for me, one more time. Thanks! Tell the world to vote for the crazy brain that can't rap and LOVES to make others laugh. I appreciate it.
Love ya peeps!

So I hit a deer, now what?

Dangerous in UT anyway. Sheesh.

This weekend I decided to hit a deer. Well, kinda. The deer was waiting on the side of the road, and it didn't look he was gonna dart in front of me. I didn't want to hit anyone else by swerving so I continued to stay in my lane. Just as I passed him, the dumb old deer darted out in front of me and I clipped him with my passenger headlight.
  I was on my way to my clinical (for my CNA repeat class that I do not need 'cause I have 4 years experience but I let my license expire) so I could not stop and get the deer's insurance information. *sigh* We just finished paying over $500 in repairs and I hit a deer. *sigh*

I was a wreck until I had a break to call home and tell my honey what happen. After my clinical, he picked me up. He fixed what he could and drove the car back to his mother's house. (We are visiting his mother at the time.) The thing is this car was not being driven 'cause it wasn't working so naturally it did not have insurance. Now we have to get this car on some sort of insurance pretty quick BECAUSE now of course we stick out like a sore thumb to cops because we have no passenger light, side marker light, or grill.
  So that is where I am right now. My house is beautifully decorated for Christmas, (and yesterday I baked some more pumpkin bread.) Mmm, delicious. And no, I was not hurt or anything when I hit Bambi.

Don't worry about me or anything. That deer is in pretty bad shape though.

I did learn something interesting this weekend though. "Whatever you choose to focus your life on will come back to you in magnitude later." So if you focus on how hard your life is, no money, life is the pits, that's what you will get. BUT if you focus on the positive AND all the blessings you have, you will get that back in magnitude. I choose to be happy. Today and for the rest of my life.
Akuna Matata--means no worries. And that is what I'll be doing.
And hitting no more deer anytime soon. *sigh*

PS. And don't forget to check out my SIL and her Merryweather crafting store. If you have any girls that just LOVE to play with dolls. It would make a fantastic present. Ok?

Hey, hey HEY, Have I got a deal for YOU!

Image captured from Google. As usual.

Hey, listen.
I have some excellent Christmas deals for you.
And BEST news ever? You never have to leave your home.
Do you hate going to the store and fighting the crowds at Christmas time?
Check out this super SWEET homemade doll that just posted online a couple of weeks ago!

  See? The doll can come with any color hair you want. Brown, red, whatever. This gal can sew whatever you want. PLUS, get this, your daughter (or hey your son too) will have hours of entertainment dressing AND UNdressing this doll. And get this--

Are you ready?
The doll has underwear.


How many times have you walked into your kids bedroom and found the dolls naked?
*sigh*
*raises hand*
You NEVER have to see naked dolls again. Because you know why? (This handy gal sews the underwear on to the doll!) Cool huh?

Act NOW and get your child's doll and clothes BEFORE Christmas! This wonderful lady can sew these dolls in like 2 or 3 days. (Yep, she's that talented.)

How do I know this fabulous lady? She's my sister-in-law. I got to see her over Thanksgiving. And you know what? My 8 year old AND 3 year old played with the doll and clothes for hours.
Cool huh? (More time for YOU to blog or tweet or Facebook. Or read. Whatever you want to do. Eat chocolate perhaps? YUM.)

I gave you the LINK to her Etsy shop up above. Just click it and you can SEE all the ultra beautiful clothes this doll has.

So are you SURE you are done with your Christmas shopping? I suggest you order this doll RIGHT NOW.
Don't just do it because Cluttered Brain sent ya, go to the site, check it out. Super cute doll.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way to do a write-up on this post. I'm just telling you all what kind of super cool dolls you can get your kids or grandkids for Christmas...I'm so nice aren't I? ;)

Keeping myself organized these days IS quite a chore.

Image obtained thru Google Images.

So tell me, why is it always easier to clean when you got a partner to help you stay on task?
*sigh*
 To the tune of I've been working on the railroad: "I've been working on my kitchen.....all the live-long daaaaay."

Kitchen clean. Check. (Still some more straightening but it is looking good.)
Dining room getting more usable and user friendly.
Christmas tree is up (YAY!) And my Christmas lights are up....And my house is smelling goooood.

BUT I had to have a helper to it all done.

*sigh*

God bless my mother in law. She helped me clean the corners and the cobwebs.
And I kicked my butt into gear.
I think I need an assistant to help me clean and cook.
Anyone want the job?
I make great fudge for payment. LOL.
That's where I've been lately.
Oh, and I've been waiting for the cost analysis of how much it is gonna cost to fix our green minivan.
Things will work out.
I will get my act together in my kitchen AND on my blog.
(Well, actually I'm up to date on my blog, it's just EVERYWHERE else...) LOL.
So if you have been wondering where I have been lately, I've been in my kitchen, just a-mopping away.
I'm hanging in there.
How do you manage to get the dust bunnies out of your life? Do you need a cleaning partner too?