Soapbox...On My Mind

A Rant on Mean People

2011-04-30T21:03:00.000-07:00

I've decided I just don't like to be around mean people. And not even just extremely mean people, but even those that are just trying to be funny by being overly sarcastic or throwing out jabs here and there for a laugh. I prefer to be around people who are nice. Kind, thoughtful, considerate of others feelings, and don't laugh at the expense of others.

I know, it all sounds sugar coated and rosey, but I just don't want to waste my time hanging out with people who get others all riled up and agitated, rather than building them up and making them feel good.

So what do you do, when those "mean" people are family members. More specifically in-laws. When family is so important and I feel it is important to keep family ties strong and spend time together. Yet when we are together, the mean cutting jabs just seem to tear us apart. Or at least create barriers and perhaps unkind feeling. I'm not trying to be overly sensitive. But I just don't like feeling the way I do, when we come home from those get togethers with certain people.

So what do I do? I need to figure that out. Get a tougher skin? Stop getting together? Say something about it? Ignore it? I don't know. I just wish everyone would be nice. That's all.

Thanksgiving Point Giveaway

2010-12-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

On No Biggie, there's a giveaway for a family annual pass to Thanksgiving Point. Yes please! Go Here.

MaxExtract77

2010-12-17T14:12:00.001-08:00

I could sure use one of these vaccuums. Enter here.

giveaway

2010-12-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

This looks like a fun wii game here. from here.

Little Tikes

2010-12-03T13:19:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn't want to go shopping with one of this play shopping cart from www.jollymom.com from www.littletikes.com?

Hoover

2010-12-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

We could really use this! From www.hoover.com
at www.jollymom.com

Visa Gift Card

2010-11-08T20:30:00.001-08:00

Giveaway here

My favorite movie

2010-11-07T14:50:00.000-08:00

a giveaway on my favorite movie. Here!

4 in 1 easel

2010-03-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

win it here. it's from here.

another great giveaway

2010-03-28T12:19:00.001-07:00

I'd love to win this!

Downeast giveaway

2010-03-28T12:14:00.001-07:00

Go here.

Awesome bike/stroller Giveaway

2010-03-28T12:05:00.001-07:00

Go here and to see this!

Saints to Sinners Bike Relay

2010-03-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

There's a cool giveaway going on at My Giveaway Today. It's for the Saints to Sinners Bike Relay. It looks like fun, AND they're raising money for Lou Gehrig's disease. Go here for a chance to win.

I can always use diapers

2010-03-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

Go here to win!

Shabby Apple

2010-03-15T22:20:00.001-07:00

Great giveaway here.

Of all the giveaways...

2010-03-07T12:04:00.000-08:00

THIS is the one I want most? A 5D for me? Ooh, I would be so happy!

Cool scooter giveaway

2010-03-05T14:30:00.000-08:00

Go here to win a scooter from here.

Maurices

2010-03-05T14:22:00.000-08:00

Enter here to win a GC ro Maurices.

Bouncy Seat Giveaway

2010-03-05T14:08:00.000-08:00

Great giveaway here. From Here.

DVD player giveaway

2009-12-13T18:34:00.001-08:00

Enter here.

Hello Kitty Camera Giveaway

2009-12-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

My Daughter would love this!

Great Giveaway

2009-12-09T20:19:00.000-08:00

Go Here. From Here.

AmEx gift card

2009-12-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

Win a $50 gift card here. And check here.

Christmas Traditions

2009-12-01T07:48:00.000-08:00

What's your tradition?

We like to do a Sub-for-Santa every year. It's good for the kids to give to others. And good for us too. It's always fun to see the looks on the recipients faces. For more traditions, go here or here.

Giveaway

2009-11-30T07:58:00.001-08:00

Walmart gift card here.

Touchsmart Giveaway

2009-11-30T07:39:00.000-08:00

I would love a touchsmart from here. Giveaway here.

Trampoline Giveaway

2009-11-30T07:25:00.000-08:00

Oh, please let me win this! From Here.

for my girls

2009-11-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

my generation doll here.

stroller

2009-11-24T12:16:00.000-08:00

don't forget this one

great giveaway here!

Heeleys

2009-11-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

My boy would love these!

I need this!

2009-11-24T12:07:00.001-08:00

This is a giveaway I really need!

Leap Frog

2009-11-16T18:14:00.001-08:00

Great gift giveaway here.

stroller giveaway

2009-11-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

great giveaway here!

z tejas

2009-11-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

win a gift certificate here.

Tip Junkie

2009-11-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

12 days of junkie going on here.

Rolled Canvas

2009-11-09T08:54:00.000-08:00

I would love this for me!

Generation Doll

2009-11-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

I would love this for my daughter!

Barefoot Mommy Giveaway

2009-11-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

Awesome stroller giveaway here!

costume giveaway

2009-09-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

win a great halloween costume from here. go here to enter!

For the Hubby

2009-09-16T12:37:00.001-07:00

He would love to win this!

Great giveaways

2009-09-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

Go here for lots of great giveaways!

Hair dryer giveaway.

2009-08-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

I'm needing one of these.

Back to School

2009-08-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

Crayola giveaway here.

Super Cool

2009-07-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

I want this. Enter here!

Cool MP3

2009-07-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

My kids would love this! Enter here.

digital frame

2009-07-10T08:57:00.001-07:00

This would be great.

cute shoes

2009-07-09T08:56:00.001-07:00

And look how cute these are!

Ikea Giveaway.

2009-07-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

This would be great to have.

This is a great giveaway

2009-07-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

I would love to have this for my kids! Check it here and here.

Please let me win this!!

2009-07-07T08:33:00.001-07:00

My computer just crashed. I should have had one of these!

Potty Gear.

2009-06-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

This would be helpful.

Design Dazzle

2009-06-16T15:06:00.001-07:00

A great mural giveaway here.

Fun for my Son.

2009-06-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

Ooh, I want this for my son. And these!

Frugal Giveaway

2009-06-05T08:11:00.000-07:00

I would love this 4-in-1!

More good ones!

2009-06-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

I would love this one! And for photo editing, this one from here! AND this camera.

Barefoot Mommies

2009-05-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

Great giveaways here, here, here, and here!

Plasma Car Giveaway

2009-04-27T07:38:00.000-07:00

Oohh, I want this! Go here!

Great Giveaway

2009-04-12T10:02:00.000-07:00

Cute shoes here!

Children's Place Giveaway

2009-04-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

Awesome giveaway HERE! Check out The Children's Place.

Frugal Mommy...

2009-03-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Great giveaway here! I want to win some shoes!

another great giveaway

2009-02-19T09:02:00.001-08:00

Here!

Pediped at Barefoot Mommies

2009-02-07T18:18:00.000-08:00

check this!

Bedtime giveaway

2009-01-20T13:32:00.001-08:00

Here's a cute giveaway from Barefoot Mommy.

Another Barefoot Mommy Goodie...

2009-01-16T10:21:00.001-08:00

Check out these cute giveaways.

Barefoot Mommy Giveaway

2009-01-15T09:44:00.000-08:00

Here's a great giveaway from JC Penny...

Cute Dresses...Giveaway!

2008-12-27T13:04:00.001-08:00

Check out this great giveaway! So many cute dresses!

Shoo Foo...

2008-12-17T07:59:00.001-08:00

Another great giveaway....Here. Shoo Foo.

Great Giveaway!

2008-12-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

Look at these cute sboots! Click here to enter to win!

Grandparents Shouldn't Play Favorites

2008-12-05T22:14:00.000-08:00

I've been told that being a grandparent is a wonderful thing. You can delight in your grandchildren without having to deal with the daily grind that parents do. That's what I've been told. I have wonderful grandparents. I love them all, and I always felt loved by them too. I have one grandma specifically who has a special gift for making ALL of her grandchildren feel loved and appreciated. She loves us all equally no matter what we're accomplishing or doing in our lives.

Maybe this is why I am so irked with my mother-in-law right now. Normally, I like her a lot, but she does NOT have the gift of loving all of her grandchildren equally. I can deal with other quirky things she says or does, no big deal, but when it comes to loving my children and the way she treats them, I am less tolerant.

I think a grandma should at least TRY her best to love all grandchildren the same. At least TRY to want to spend time with them, TRY to tell them you love them, TRY to act like you like them, TRY to be equal with your time and attention. Kids love their grandparents automatically, and it hurts me when I don't see that love returned.

Why would you ever invite some of your grandchildren over, but say, "but don't bring so and so?" I just think it is so rude, and thoughtless, and eventually damaging to the child. I really believe children can sense an adults' attitude towards them. Babies can tell when adults are stressed, toddlers can tell when adults don't like them, kids can tell when they're not wanted around.

I just think GRANDPARENTS SHOULD NOT PLAY FAVORITES! Even if they do have a favorite family or child, they should at least TRY to make the others feel loved and not like they just don't matter. Don't invite some but not the others. Don't give gifts to some and not the others. Don't visit some and not the others. Don't just hold some and not the others. It doesn't have to all happen at the same time, but my goodness, make an effort to make it happen eventually! Hmphf!! It's important for children to feel loved by their grandparents. That's not asking much! Not money, not presents, not things, just good old fashioned love and attention. A knowledge that their grandparents love them...equally, just like the others!

Plastic Surgery, Enhancements, Tucks...

2008-11-13T15:15:00.000-08:00

Do I dare write this post? Controversial, yes, but something that seems to be on my mind. Let me start by saying, if you've had it done, I don't judge you. I don't fault you. I don't need to know your reasoning. I still like you! If you haven't had it done, and are thinking about it, I guess this is for you, from me.

I don't think you need it! The way a person looks does NOT in any way affect the way I look at them or consider them as a person. Some of my favorite people are obese, flat, big-nosed, whatever...It isn't their looks that make me like them, it's their personality.

Why do people feel they need to be a certain shape or size? Will being that shape or size really make them happy? Is there a reason why so many people are trying to artificially mold themselves? What's wrong with variety? What's wrong with being flat or having a saggy chest? What's wrong with being a size 10 or 16?

"Flat" and Beautiful

"Large" and full of personality and smiles"Ugly" but nice. Ok, I know she's fictional, but you get the idea. Some of the most caring and influential people in the world aren't exactly "eye candy."

Granted, I believe we should all be healthy and take care of ourselves, and there are definitely medically valid reasons for surgery, but really, why can't we all be happy with the bodies that we've been given? Especially if we are lucky enough to have healthy and working bodies?

I guess I just wish that women could have enough self-confidence to walk proudly in their skin, and not worry so much about their outward appearance. The world would be a more meaningful place if people would spend just as much time worrying about how they're treating other people rather than what people thought of them.

11 days of Giveaways

2008-11-12T08:17:00.000-08:00

12 days of giveaways

2008-11-11T18:17:00.000-08:00

Check this out for some great Tip Junkie giveaways and Christmas shopping from Mom-preneurers...

When You're Sick...

2008-08-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever paid attention to the comments people make to you when they find out you're sick? I've decided they usually fall into one of three categories.

1. Sympathetic. They feel bad for you and tell you they hope you feel better soon, and ask if there is anything they can do for you.

2. Apathetic. It seems to go in one ear and out the other. They treat you the same as any other day, including asking you to watch their children, or talking your ear off when you'd rather be resting.

3. Selfish. The only thing they want to know is if you're contagious. Nevermind if you feel horrible, as long as you don't pass it on to them...

When Your Child Throws a Fit...

2008-07-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

The other day I had a good friend visiting from out of town. It was great to see her and her 2-yr-old little boy. We had a nice visit and it was fun to catch up. Just as it was time for them to go, her 2-yr-old (who was obviously tired from the travel schedule) starting throwing a tantrum. Crying, throwing toys, backing away from his mom, etc... I place no judgement, I have children of my own, all moms have been there, but here's my question. What do you do when your child throws a fit? My friend just stood there and watched her child cry and cry, occasionally asking, "what's wrong?" At first, I figured, she knows her child, maybe this will pass quickly as soon as he gets it out of his system. But the crying went on and on for several minutes, with my friend just watching.

When my kids melt-down, my first instinct is to remove my child as quickly as possible so that others don't have to witness the scene. Or maybe it's because I don't want others to witness the scene. But she just calmly stood there and finally after about 10 minutes, they started making their way out the door. At this point, I was just as exhausted as the 2-yr-old. Once they got outside, everything was fine and they proceeded to get in the car and leave. Although it was great to see them, I'm embarrassed to say, that I was kind of glad to see them go. I still love them, and I'll be excited to see them again, but ending on the never-ending tantrum was kind of a downer. Kids will be kids, and I know that, but it got me thinking about the way I would handle the situation. What would you do?

Photoshopping

2008-07-21T14:01:00.001-07:00

It seems that photography is all the rage these days. I love it. My friends love it. Strangers love it. It's a great hobby and a great skill. However, what I am learning, is that even though I have a fancy new SLR, half the skill is not in just taking pictures, but in the photoshopping.

So here's my internal debate. If you're editing and photoshopping your pictures every time, how great is the photography, really? Don't get me wrong, I think the photos look awesome after they've been edited, but if you smooth out every blemish, and tweak all the lighting, are you really capturing the moment? Part of the reason I love photographs is so I can capture the moment and the person or thing. I want to remember them just how they are in that moment. But if each photo is edited, I'll be remembering a false memory.

Before

After

What do you think? How much editing is too much? Obviously, magazines edit their covergirls to make beautiful covers. But we all know that. They're not real. I want to take real photos. However, I also realize that photography is an art form, so editing and tweaking enhances a photographers ability to be creative and artsy, and I'm all for that.

So, that's my internal conversation on photoshopping. I'm for it and against it. I'll admit, I find myself spending a lot of time playing around with my photos in photoshop. You can get great results. Just know, that I plan on leaving a few of those scrapes and bruises in place on my children's faces, so I can remember them exactly how they are!

Internal Conversations

2008-07-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

Frequently, at night, I find myself having internal conversations with myself, preventing me from falling asleep. I don't so much mind the conversations, it's the fact that I'm exhausted and want to fall asleep, but am unwillingly preventing myself from doing so because my mind is racing. So in an attempt to solve this problem, I have decided to start a blog, releasing these internal conversations, in hopes that I will be able to fall asleep more easily at night.

This blog is not intended to offend, hurt, or cause frustration to anyone, it is merely a way for me to express the random thoughts that cross my mind. It will be PG rated, and hopefully thought provoking and interesting, mingled with nonsense and rambling. So feel free to agree, enlighten, share, challenge, or give an amen to what you read. (In a polite, non-offensive, non-profane manner of course. ) And if you don't like what you find here, simply move on to another blog that suits your fancy. I've learned I can't please everyone, but to those who are interested, you're welcome to the Soapbox...On My Mind.