Bookjamas!

One day after work, I went to Target. I wasn't looking for anything in particular at the time, but I stumbled across something amazing!

Bookjamas!

I has one of those "Why didn't I think of that?!" moments.

A set of children's pajamas with a matching bedtime story book!

They sell for $20 each. 

A little pricey, but such a cute idea. 

These would make great gifts for birthdays, Christmas, or any other occasion.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find their website. :(

The one listed on the tag took me to a domain that is under construction. 

I went back yesterday, and they were on clearance for 70% off! I got the Aliens Love Underpants set, and the How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? set for $6.00 each! 

Such a steal!

Marvel Super Hero Mashers!

Ian, my 3 year old, absolutely LOVES super heroes. It seems like all day long he is in an epic battle with some evil doer! A few weeks back, while watching television, he came running into the kitchen screaming "I want that!" I went to the living room and saw THIS COMMERCIAL for Marvel Super Hero Mashers!

Mash up your hero, and then crack up your friends! Hasbro’s MARVEL SUPER HERO MASHERS feature your favorite MARVEL Super Heroes and Villains with completely interchangeable parts and accessories, so kids can create their ultimate (or ultimately silly!) hero. Would a hero with SPIDER-MAN’s body and HAWKEYE’S head shoot arrows or webs? With MARVEL SUPER HERO MASHERS, the possibilities are colossal for you to make YOUR mash-up! Thirteen figures will be available in this assortment in 2014, featuring favorite Marvel characters like CAPTAIN AMERICA, SPIDER-MAN and GREEN GOBLIN. Each figure is sold separately and comes with an accessory. 

Each MARVEL SUPER HERO MASHERS BATTLE UPGRADE figure comes with multiple Battle Gear pieces, including a launching missile, for even more crazy combinations! With MARVEL SUPER HERO MASHERS, the possibilities are colossal for you to make YOUR mash-up! Seven figures will be available in this assortment in 2014, featuring favorite Marvel characters like HULK, THOR and VENOM. Additional Mash up arms included with Wave 2 figures. Each figure sold separately.

We chose Spider-Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Thor and Doctor Doom. All in all, these are super good quality action figures. Thor and The Hulk have personalized shooting launchers. Spider-Man comes with a shooting web, and Captain America with his shield. The capes are kind of heavy, but flexible. The pieces break apart really easily, but they can be tricky to put together sometimes. The heads, for example, are a little difficult to put on. This is due to the fact, that when the head is assembled, it can move up and down, as well as side to side. The arms and legs also move quite a bit, making it easy for them to sit, stand, aim, etc. These toys are great for working on those fine motor skills!

Hasbro has a whole line of heroes and villains to keep your little ones imagining and creating. You can find Marvel Super Hero Mashers online or at participating retailers. 

What kind of hero will YOU mash up?!

New Years Resolutions

I know I'm 2 months behind, but I would hate to leave anything out.

• Lose at least 50 lbs (Overall goal: 140lbs)
• Pay off ALL credit cards and not use them
• Sell our house and begin the process to build our dream home
• Start taking classes towards my RN degree
• Become closer to God
• Start savings account for breast augmentation and tummy tuck
• Try to cook at home more
• Drink more water

25 Days of Blogging - Christmas Challenge {Day 12 - Day 25}

I suck at these challenges. I can never remember to do them in time, mostly because our life is so crazy busy right now! But here it is! Be patient, this is going to be a long one!

Day 12: Wrapping paper or gift bags?

That IS the question. Wrapping, of course is cheaper, in my opinion. But when you have a mass amount of things to wrap, it can become very time consuming. I think lots of people use bags for that reason. But I would have spent at least $100 on the bags alone. So I chose wrapping paper this year. And it was absolutely FREE. My grandmother was cleaning her shed out of all the Christmas stuff she had acquired over the years, and I scored big-time on wrapping paper. I wont have to buy any more for several years!

Day 13: Favorite Christmas book

The Night Before Christmas

I remember my grandmother reading us this book every year on Christmas Eve. We loved that the pages "popped up" and came to life right before our eyes. She still has this book. One day I hope to read it to my children, as well!

Day 14: Real or artificial tree?

This one is easy! ARTIFICIAL! I hate the way the real ones smell, look, feel, etc. The messy pine needles, etc. Not to mention the chopping, the loading, the tugging/pulling/lifting, etc. No. Artificial trees are sturdier, last longer, come pre-lit, and weigh less. You can use one for many years before having to purchase another. I'll never have a real tree. Other's love them. But not me! 

Day 15: The best gift you've given

Everyone says I give the best, most unique gifts. But I would have to say the best gift that I've ever given would be the meal that I bought for someone last year on Christmas Day. Jerod's aunt cooked on Christmas day, as usual, but it was several hours earlier. So when supper time came around, we were hungry. We drove around town looking for something that was open. The China Buffet was basically the only place that was open. We went in to get some carry out plates. I noticed an older man, sitting alone, who had on clothing that was soiled and worn out. When we paid for our food, I asked to pay for his as well. I had the cashier take his ticket to him, that I had signed "Merry Christmas! This meal is on us! Love, The Straver Family." Unfortunately, we didn't stick around to see his face. But I could only imagine how I would feel if someone had done that for me. 

Day 16: Hardest person to buy for? 

My Grandma. She literally has EVERYTHING. She doesn't ever want anything, or need anything. So when shopping, I try to get gifts that are fun, useful, unique, and also different from the years before. But when I get to her name on the list, I just go blank. What do you buy for the person who has it all? 

Day 17: Post a picture of and old Christmas card

Unfortunately, I don't keep Christmas cards from previous years. 

Day 18: When do you open gifts?

Our family opens gifts at my grandmas on Christmas Eve, then we come home and open our Christmas Eve boxes, which include Christmas pajamas, a movie, a book, hot chocolate, cotton candy, and popcorn. We open gifts Christmas morning before going to my dads for breakfast, where we open more gifts. Then we go to Jerod's aunts and grandmas for more festivities and gift opening. 

Day 19: Favorite stocking stuffer

My favorite stocking stuffer is lottery tickets! This year, Jerod bought me a $5 ticket, and I won $100!

Day 20: Favorite Christmas meal

My favorite Christmas meal. Hmm. This is a hard one. I can't really say that I have a favorite "meal", because I love them all. They're delicious and unique in their own way. But my favorite food that we have during the holidays is dressing. I LOVE dressing. Any way, any time of day, hot or cold! 

Day 21: Do you travel on the holidays?

The most traveling that we do is to our family get together about 15 minutes away.

Day 22: Eggnog or hot chocolate?

I like both, because they're both family traditions of ours. But any other time, I prefer hot chocolate!

Day 23: Your plans for Christmas 2013

December 22: Dinner at Jerod's cousin's house
December 23: Dinner at grandmas with my sister
December 24: Dinner at grandmas with my dad, stepmom, and siblings
December 25: Christmas morning with Ian, breakfast at Dad's, lunch at Jerod's aunt's, visit my other grandma in the nursing home, eat out with my family

Day 24: Favorite Christmas Eve tradition

My favorite Christmas Eve tradition is the one that we do with Ian. We all get a gift to open, which includes Christmas pajamas, a movie, a book, hot chocolate, cotton candy, and popcorn. 

 






Then we make "Reindeer Food". (Oats and glitter) Ian sprinkled it around our deck.

And just before bed, we bake cookies for Santa! This year, in Ian's note, he asked for popcorn. Haha!

 




Day 25: Christmas Day!

Ian got his popcorn! :)

Before:

After:

Merry Christmas, everyone! 

25 Days of Blogging - Christmas Challenge {Day10 - Day 11}

Day 10: Favorite holiday scent

This is a tricky one. I know that you could take this as far as saying "Grandma's famous honey ham". But I'm thinking more along the lines of home scents. To me holiday scents, are supposed to be warm and inviting. I'm particularly fond of amber, latte, cashmere, vanilla, spice, caramel, eggnog, brown sugar, marshmallow, coffee, etc. BUT this year, while Christmas shopping, I stumbled across a holiday body scent that I love, which also works wonders for my migraines. I plan on picking up a few of the lotions to put in my desk drawer at work!

Bath & Body Works - Twisted Peppermint

Day 11: Favorite Christmas tradition

I can't really say that I have a favorite. I love it all. But I really love the family time and the memories that we make together during the holiday season. 

Christmas Eve Dinner and Gifts at my Grandma Wood's House

• Traditional tree
• Antique decorations
• Traditional dinner
• Envelopes on the tree with our names on them. Card and cash. 

Christmas Morning Breakfast and Gifts at my Daddy's House

• Biscuits and crock pot sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, and ham & cheese croissants
• Spiked Eggnog and Bloody Marys
• Opening gifts
• Some sort of Christmas movie

Christmas Evening Dinner and Gifts at Aunt Renee's House

• Finger foods
• Traditional dinner
• Dirty Santa

Even though my dad has breakfast, we still have Christmas morning here. We all open gifts and take pictures.

Here are our family's traditions:

• A gift that Ian can open on Christmas eve
• Bake cookies for Santa
• Christmas pajamas
• Picture with Santa at the mall
• Lights of the Delta
• Gingerbread house

Next year, we are bringing out the Elf on a Shelf. 

Ian was just a little too young for it this year. 

25 Days of Blogging - Christmas Challenge {Day 9}

Day 9. Easiest person to buy for?

I would say that the easiest person to buy for is my step-mom, Connie. We ALWAYS get her Bath&Body Works stuff. She LOVES it. We get her a different signature scent every year. This year, we went with Country Chic. She is a straight up country girl. Small farm town. Agriculture business father. The whole works. Her dad used to plant tons of sunflowers, and now that he's gone, they really mean a lot to her. So this gift is PERFECT!

25 Days of Blogging - Christmas Challenge {Day 8}

Day 8: Post a picture of Christmas decor.

Click HERE, for more! (:

25 Days of Blogging - Christmas Challenge {Day 7}

Day 7. Most memorable Christmas

This is an easy one. It was the Christmas of 2000. The year my mother died. My grandma was getting her house remodeled. New kitchen, new bathroom, new carpet, removal of windows, new paint and appliances, etc. Basically, it had been going on for months, and it was a huge mess. She always did a huge Christmas meal- turkey, ham, dressing, gravy... the works. All sided with a hundred desserts. But without a functioning kitchen, she wasn't able to prepare her normal meal. We had sandwiches made from a deli tray. She even brought the microwave into the cluttered living room so that I would have melted cheese. We all sit around a small table with our folding chair and shared stories about Momma. It was a sad time. My grandmother was an emotional wreck, to say the least. She felt bad that we didn't have a good meal or a Christmas tree out up. She had so many gifts for us, but didn't have most of them wrapped. She still, to this day, regrets that Christmas. But to me, it was the most at home I had felt since Momma had passed. No, it wasn't traditional, but that didn't mean that it wasn't special. I'll always remember it. 

NEATS

I left the hospital that I was working at about eight months ago to find my true calling as a nurse. Don't get me wrong, I loved the hospital, and who's to say that I won't end up back there at some point before retirement. But at this point in my career, I want to do something that sits close to my heart.

After job hunting for a month, I stumbled across an ad on Craigslist. The ad was searching for several nurses and medical assistants to work at a new clinic that is designed to treat people with opiate addictions.

I know, I know. Craigslist. It has a bad rep. Everyone has seen the Lifetime movie about the "Craigslist Killer." I could have been drawn in, raped, killed, and then feed to a group of motorcycle riding cannibalists. But, being the strong minded individual that I am, I responded to the ad.

I waited about two weeks and thought that it must have been a scam, and that I would never hear from these people. The next day, I got a phone call from the man who owns the clinic. He asked me if I had time to chat about who they are and what they do. I said yes, and learned later on in the conversation that I'm being asked to interview for this job.

I felt that my interview went great, but I didn't receive a phone call for about a week.

I was getting my hair cut and highlighted when I got the call asking me to join their team. I was stoked! My husband even took me out for sushi to celebrate.

I have been to several meetings, training events, and have even taken two trips to their other clinic in Texarkana, Arkansas for training and observation. I love the people that I am going to be working with. We are going to make a great team!

It has been a long wait for this job to start up, but we're just days away from opening!

The company that I work for is Northeast Arkansas Treatment Services! (NEATS)

We provide outpatient treatment services in Jonesboro, Arkansas for persons addicted to the opioid class of drugs, including prescription pain medications and heroin.

If you have read some of my other posts, you may remember that my mother died from an opiate overdose in 2000. I believe that a clinic, such as this one, could have helped her a great deal. This is another reason that this job means so much to me. My heart is in this job, and I cannot wait to see the way that we change and impact these people’s lives.

Services We Provide:

• Prescribing, administering and dispensing methadone, buprenorphine and other medications
• Individual and/or group counseling sessions
• Psycho-educational sessions
• Family sessions
• Targeted medical evaluation and assessment
• Referrals
• Case management and other support services

Our Mission:

The mission of Northeast Arkansas Treatment Services is to provide the highest quality medication-assisted treatment to persons who are addicted to opiates and to do so in a supportive environment that always respects the dignity and self-worth of those people we serve.

Our vision is to be recognized as a premier provider of ethical and effective treatment services that result in optimal outcomes for those people we serve.

Our treatment philosophy is based on the understanding that opiate addiction is a primary disorder that can be treated successfully with medication, counseling, and supportive services and that quality treatment can help people resume productive and meaningful lifestyles.

For more information, ways to contact, and eligibility criteria, please visit our WEBSITE!

25 Days of Blogging - Christmas Challenge {Day 1 - Day 6}

Before I begin, let me just say I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I love the whole aspect of it. The decor, the movies, the shopping, the family gatherings, the smells, the food, the weather, etc. That is why I chose to do this challenge. Normally, I find these things weird and annoying. But here we go! Here is the list! And of course, I'm several days behind. I'll play catch up on this post, and then I'll try and stick it out day by day. It is a challenge, you know?

Day 1. Your favorite Christmas movie 

Day 2. Your 2013 Christmas wish list

Day 3. When/how did you learn that Santa wasn't real?

Day 4. Favorite Christmas song

Day 5: Best gift you've ever received

Day 6: Your favorite tree ornament

Day 7: Most memorable Christmas

Day 8: Post a picture of Christmas decor

Day 9: Easiest person to buy for?

Day 10: Favorite holiday scent

Day 11: Favorite Christmas tradition

Day 12: Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Day 13: Favorite Christmas book

Day 14: Real or artificial tree?

Day 15: The best gift you've given

Day 16: Hardest person to buy for?

Day 17: Post a picture of an old Christmas card

Day 18: When do you open gifts?

Day 19: Favorite stocking stuffer

Day 20: Favorite Christmas meal

Day 21: Do you travel on the holidays?

Day 22: Eggnog or hot chocolate?

Day 23: Your plans for Christmas 2013

Day 24: Favorite Christmas Eve tradition

Day 25: Christmas day blog and pictures

Day 1. Your favorite Christmas movie 

My favorite Christmas movies is How the Grinch Stole Christmas! I'm talking about the 1966 animated short film, which you can watch HERE! I loved the 2000 version with Jim Carrey, but I'm still a sucker for the classics! This movie, while still silly and kid friendly, has a great moral story behind it!

Day 2. Your 2013 Christmas wish list

To me, my wish list, is more of a NEED list. Haha. The last one, I've been wishing and hoping for!

• Nikon camera
• Viva La Juicy perfume
• Sephora Moonshadow baked eyeshadow palettes
• Urban Decay Naked Flushed palette
• Urban Decay Naked 3 eyeshadow palette
• MAC Haute & Naughty Lash mascara
• Jeans
• Piko tops
• Leggings
• Riding boots
• Eyelash extensions
• BFP

Day 3. When/how did you learn that Santa wasn't real?

My mother was so good at keeping Santa alive. But when she passed, I noticed that things weren't quite right around Christmas time. The year she died, we woke up to no gifts under the tree, and then the Sears truck delivered everything that we had circled in the Christmas WishBook shortly after. The next year, I opened a gift from "Santa" and then another from "Daddy". Both were in the same handwriting. I knew then, but I tried to keep it a secret as long as I could for my little sister.

Day 4. Favorite Christmas song

I'm a music person anyway. I can analyze and make sense out of any song I hear. My favorite Christmas song would have to be "Winter Wonderland". I love most all Christmas songs, but this one just sticks out to me. It talks about the look, feel, and sounds of Christmastime. I feel like I'm in the middle of town, bundled up, spinning around in the snow on Christmas morning when I hear it. It makes me feel warm and at home.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,

In the lane, snow is glistening

A beautiful sight,

We're happy tonight.

Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,

Here to stay is a new bird

He sings a love song,

As we go along,

Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,

Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He'll say: Are you married?

We'll say: No man, 

But you can do the job

When you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,

As we dream by the fire

To face unafraid, 

The plans that we've made,

Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,

And pretend that he's a circus clown

We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,

Until the other kids knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,

Though your nose gets a chilling

We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,

Walking in a winter wonderland.

Day 5: Best gift you've ever received

The best gift I've ever received was my engagement ring. It was given to me in early December 2009, by my dear husband. 

Day 6: Your favorite tree ornament

This is a hard one. We've changed ornaments and decor every year. And we don't have any with any sentimental value that we reuse every year. So, I'm gonna say that my favorite are the ones that Ian's godmother's parents get him every year for Christmas. They are always the pretty Hallmark glass ones, and we don't put them on any tree because of Ian and the dog.