mia's sock drawer: winner!!

alrighty folks!

first i want to thank everyone who participated

in the contest and gave mia and her socks a warm welcome.

in the process,

you made me feel like a blogger again

and that felt kinda nice :)

we do indeed have a winner and her name is...

jackie barnum

yipeeee!

jackie i'll forward your information to mia

so she can contact you regarding your win.

thank you so much again to everyone

and especially mia!

giveaway: mia's sock drawer!

hi y'all!

this.

is mia.

(adorable i know. and those silhouetes on her wall?

yeah she sells those too.

i know. i know.

so freakin talented it makes me wanna scream.)

she's one of my favorite people.

probably the nicest most sincere person

you'll ever meet

(if you ever meet her that is).

and sheeeeee,

owns a rockin shop called...

this little mia-o-mine,

is super deeeee duper creative

and she makes these daaaahling socks

trimmed with lace and buttons

and all sorts of frilly girl fun!

look at these!!!

you can't sit there and tell me

you don't want these on your daughter like NOW.

oh my holy mother of adorable.

what?

you say you want them on yourself too?

no worries!!

she makes them for ladies too!

these beige ones are probably my favorite.

i'm a huge fan of wearing my socks showing at the top

of my boots and these are a must with every outfit.

seriously.

mia made me a pair similar to these last year

and every time i wear them

EVERY. TIME.

someone asks me about them

because they are sooo HoT!

she has all sorts of colors and styles and trims

so do me a favor and head on over to her etsy shop

HERE

browse around,

and pick your favorites!

(because i know you'll have more than one!)

oh.

and since we're on the topic of favorites,

these are MiiiiiiNE.

mia was so kind as to even NAME them after me!

hot. to. trot.

that's all i gotta say about this.

and they come in black too!

aaaaaand

i may or may not have both pairs.

ahem.

now are you ready for the good stuff?

eeeek!

mia is giving away:

ONE pair of 'the hussy' sock

in the color of your choice (white or black)

to one lucky blog follower!!

to enter you must do one of the following

(or more than one for multiple entries.

just make sure you comment for each entry you do!)

*comment

with the name of your favorite sock

in mia's shop!

*share

this contest on facebook!

*blog

about this contest!

*like

her facebook page!

*pin

your favorite pair of mia's socks on pinterest!

contest ends sunday at 8pm EST time

and a winner will be announced on monday morning!

ps. all of mia's socks are unique and most of them

are limited in quantity.

soooo.

that means if you see one you like, you better snag it before it's gone.

got it? good.

how to make friends as a grownup. do's and don'ts.

DO be friends with sexy flight attendants

because when you're traveling home to TX from NC

and you're all giddy from just having spent 11 days with your Lover

who had just been deployed for 7 months,

that sexy flight attendant WILL tell the pilot to make an announcement

over the intercom telling the ENTIRE flight about it.

awesome.

DON'T be friends with anyone who can't appreciate

a good, thoughtful christmas present.

jerk.

DO be friends with anyone who likes

to workout with you and will overlook

your tomato red face and sweaty crotch

after each training session.

DON'T be friends with anyone who flirts with your Lover.

although, that narrows the friendship pool down to hardly

anyone because when your Lover looks as hot as MY Lover?

it's almost hard NOT to accidentally flirt with him.

uhmm, YES.

he is making duck face.

he's sexy and he knows it.

DO be friends with anyone who will tell you

HiLaRiOUsLy inappropriate stories about her husband's past

and even post pictures of his gangster mexican phase

on your facebook wall.

DON'T be friends with anyone who is too embarrassed

to meet you and your mustache-a-wearin kids

at chick-fil-a for lunch.

cause sometimes, ya just wanna wear a mustache.

DO be friends with anyone who knows how to throw a party.

nothing. and i mean NOTHING.

is better than good food and silly games with friends.

DO be friends with people who have a lot of kids.

this way, they won't notice your kids

behaving wretchedly horrid

because they're too busy being watching their own.

DON'T be friends with anyone who won't let you

pose them for a memorable picture.

DO be friends with anyone who will bring you bread

or any homemade goodness for that matter

when your house is falling apart with sick people.

DON'T be friends with anyone who takes life too seriously.

it never turns out pretty.

DO be friends with anyone who will appreciate

the "wooden whistle"

you brought them back as a souvenir

from your trip to san francisco.

DON'T be friends with anyone who won't let you

take 724989238 million pictures together

until you get one that's just. right.

DO be friends with anyone who isn't ashamed to tell you

that you totally have a camel toe in those pants.

DON'T be friends with anyone whom you can't

text pictures of your thrift store finds to.

that right there is a rare gem my friends.

DO be friends with anyone who looks hot

in an antique store mink stole.

only good things that come from that kinda power, people.

DO be friends with anyone who will take pictures of you

looking totally hardcore while getting a tattoo.

and just to be clear,

this is an example of "someone"

NOT looking totally hardcore.

no, it doesn't hurt.

DO be friends with anyone who will run a muck

and act a fool with you in public.

DON'T be friends with anyone who has a hard time

being 100% honest.

even if it makes them sound like a total slut.

in a good way of course.

DO be friends with anyone who will buy you wax lips.

that's an easy one.

DON'T be friends with anyone who isn't on the same

nerdy internet level as you are.

it's no fun making a hilarious honey badger joke

to someone whose never even heard of youtube.

and best for last...

DO.

lemme repeat myself.

DO. DO. DO.

be friends with your sisters.

period.

they'll always love you

no matter what.

deep thoughts not deep toots.

at the beginning of the school year, my Lover gave each of our tErds a special father's blessing. the blessings are more for the kids going to school to bless them to do well, be a good examples for their friends, make righteous choices, etc.

as usual, Lover is prompted by the spirit to say special things in each child's blessing that pertains specifically to their needs and strengths.

i sat there that night and listened to each blessing with the spirit in my heart, so thankful that i had been blessed with 5 of heavenly father's choice spirits to live in these latter days. i had been chosen to be their earthly mother, to lead and guide them, to walk beside them. as if my testimony that heavenly father knows us better than we know ourselves wasn't strong enough, the blessings that night solidified it even more.

miah's blessing stood out very loudly for me that night.

louder than the rest of the children's blessings.

he was blessed with

the strength to do the best that he can do.

and as long as he did that,

heavenly father would do the rest.

as most of you may know, miah is adopted and since starting school, we have noticed some significant learning delays that are more than likely attributed to his genetic makeup. things that his mom, sister, brothers, cousins, etc. probably struggle with. it's been frustrating for me to watch him struggle and i'll admit that i've lost it with him more than 1 or 2 or 10 times because in the moment, i don't understand how he can't figure certain things out that seem so simple. things that jake or kora easily picked up when they were 3 or 4.

miah has been placed in special reading and math classes in each school he's attended to help him progress but here we are, halfway through his 1st grade year and he's still lagging behind significantly. sometimes when i think about it i get angry. i'm angry at the school for not helping him more and listening to me. i'm angry at his birth family for giving him this genetic makeup, and sadly, i even get angry at miah. it's been difficult for everyone to say the least.

but.

today i was able to take the two little brothers and journey to the school for miah's christmas music program. i was late, and hot and sweaty and i was holding gus who had thrown up the night before and i was crossing my fingers he wouldn't throw up in front of everyone at the school. there was standing room only when i showed up so my arm almost broke off holding 82 lb gus the entire time.

anywho.

my point is, i was annoyed.

miah had sung these songs for me at home and i wished that would have been sufficient enough so that i wouldn't have to drag everyone up there to watch it at the school.

now before you write me off as the worst mother in the world,

i WENT because i knew that miah needed to see my face there.

i KNEW that regardless of everything else, it was important for him to see his mom watching him sing.

and as i sat there dripping with sweat, shoulder to shoulder with other moms and squirmy kids, i was overcome with the spirit during "i saw mommy kissing santa clause".

i watched that sweet miah of mine with his squinty paisley eye'd smile giggle about the words to the song he was singing, doing all the hand and body motions, having fun and every now and then glancing over at me to make sure i was watching.

my heart was so warm and my eyes filled with tears.

that was my boy.

MY miah.

and then i started to think about his birth family and the joy that miah brings to our family that they're missing out on. the sweet smiles they don't get to see. the silly, very LOUD laugh they don't get to hear. the cute style he sports with his skinny jeans and his metro hair and accessories they don't get to smile at. the most sincere gift giving and acts of kindness he does for everyone that they don't get to receive or be a part of.

it hurt me.

it hurt me to think that they chose a path that would never allow them be a part of his life. i tried to put myself in his shoes and wonder what that must feel like. and then to top it off, what it must feel like to be compared to your siblings that are nothing like you. to get yelled at for things you can't control. to KNOW you're different and to try so hard NOT to be.

i know i know.

i'm a sucky mom. just defriend me now please.

during that moment of spiritual enlightenment, i thought back to the words said during miah's blessing given to him almost 5 months ago.

"you are blessed with the strength to do the best that you can do."

the best YOU can do.

miah.

not the best jakob or kora can do.

or anyone else.

and if done,

heavenly father would take care of the rest.

and then i realized the words in that blessing weren't only for miah to hear. they were for me to hear. i needed to know that miah only has to do the best he can do and that he WILL succeed because heavenly father will do the rest. i don't need to stress, or freak out or scream, or get frustrated. i need to have faith.

now.

that doesn't mean i won't do everything in my power to make sure he gets the best education and help and resources he possibly can. or that i won't stop pushing miah to try harder and to be more focused and push forward. it just means i need to be okay with knowing that he won't ever be someone else. he will always be miah. and as long as he puts forth his very best effort in everything he does, he will be the BEST miah he can be.

and i'm 1000% okay with that :)

the brown lowes.

by miah.

it's inappropriate.

2 months since i last blogged.

i know.

i'm not really a blogger anymore.

i'm retired.

but i still have to document my kids' lives, yeah?

ok FINE i am a blogger

just a sucky one.

shut your face.

it's inappropriate

for me to find gus covered in chocolate

buck nEked

all while trying to clean up his mess

while Lover and i were...

busy.

it's inappropriate

for me to find and buy this rad thrifted belt

with a big 'ole bass buckle,

and the name 'richard' across the back.

oh you bet i'll wear this you son of gun you.

it's inappropriate

for my arms to be so dang long

that my kids use them as a swing.

all i have to say is,

google image the word "marfan syndrome".

okay this one's a toughy.

is it more inappropriate

for kora to ride around town on her bike

with her ken barbie hooked on the handle bars

with his pants down?

or is it more inappropriate

that ken has poof'd up bangs, full makeup with cat eyes,

lipstick and highlights?

he looks like he got attacked at the mac counter.

i can't decide.

it's inappropriate

for lover to buy ME birthday cupcakes on MY birthday

but have the place make one for HIM that's chocolate

since i like red velvet.

ok so i only get 11? wtc?

it's inappropriate

for you to smash ur baby's face.

but it's oh so fun.

it's inappropriate

for me to walk into the bathroom and see this.

too many thoughts run through my head.

did kora start her period?

have the brothers finally killed each other?

is this a joke?

is that from a hand or a head?

where is the body and how much time do we have to dispose of it?

thankfully it was only red velvet cake hands.

phew!

it's inappropriate

for me, a 33 year old MOM of 5,

to be in love with justin beiber.

but i am.

oh oh oh ohhhhh i am.

it's inappropriate

for gus to come running out of my bathroom

covered in shaving cream.

i swear we watch him...sometimes.

it's inappropriate

for me to continue to find thrifted awesomeness

like this flight attendant dress.

that i didn't buy!!!!

i hate my decisions sometimes.

it's inappropriate

for me to take pictures of Lover shaving

with his pants unbuttoned.

but daaaaaadgummit.

he's hot.

it's inappropriate

for my children to just melt.

right in the middle of the floor.

but unfortunately they do sometimes.

oh well, i've got 4 more.

it's inappropriate

for Lover to play with knives

cuuuuzzzzzz...

(you better be sayin this before i do)

he gun cut hisself!!

bessssst. fooooooo. lasssssst.

it's inappropriate

for me to be addicted to roadkill.

still.

i know. i just can't help myself.

oh dang.

there it is again.

guts and all just hangin out.

i love it.

it's inappropriate.

it's inappropriate...

for one of my kids

to have to suffer through life

with a north carolina birth certificate

while all his siblings

have an awesome shiny texas one.

it's inappropriate...

for me to allow michele's kid

to collect feathers at the park

while i babysit him.

feathers.

*gag*

feathers that came out of the body of birds.

nasty. dirty.

infectious covered BIRDS.

but then again, he's not my kid.

it's inappropriate...

for me to have to get my boob smashed

in this horrid machine.

dear mammogram worker lady,

you're very kind and all

as you manipulate my boob to lie flat

without any creases,

but i assure you,

there is no more boob left for you to smash

no matter how much

you pull from my neck and armpit.

trust me. i've tried.

it's inappropriate...

for me to look this amazing

in this thrifted leather dress.

for some reason i just can't help myself.

when i see something this obscure.

it has to be on me.

has to.

now,

please note the lack of boobs

in the breastical section of my chest

and re-read the mammogram post

with a better visual.

it's inappropriate...

for lover to address me so formally.

but when he does,

i make sure to return the favor in my reply

using the utmost respect.

it's inappropriate...

for isaak to flip me off as he sleeps.

but frankly,

sometimes i feel the same way.

it's inappropriate...

for me to look so sexy

after i'm done cleaning the house.

this one is for you britt.

it's inappropriate...

to condemn your customers to hell

for theft.

but more importantly,

it's inappropriate

to use quotations incorrectly.

the "lord"?

so not the literal lord?

just the fake one?

meh. that's nuthin.

it's inappropriate...

for Lover,

a 35 year old man,

to put gummy worms on his fro-yo.

but what's even more inappropriate

is that i'm not looking at his yogurt.

it's inappropriate...

for my hair to give itself

a blonde streak highlight in the front.

who am i rogue? from x men?

is this 1991?

it's inappropriate...

for this baby to be used

for any type of advertising

except for maybe a medication

that turns your baby into

a 50 year old man.

and lassssssst.

always the best.

it's inappropriate...

for isaak to remove his underwear,

throw it in my dryer,

and then use it as a target

to pee on.

yes, people.

that's a river of pee

in my dryer.