I'm the Mother of an Adult Daughter!!!

This can't be real. My oldest can NOT be turning 18 today. An adult daughter? Me? No freakin' way!

Happy birthday, Amanda! I love you, big or small.

And yes, you still have a curfew. :)

(There's a YouTube video below that might take a minute to show up. As soon as I heard this song for the first time years ago, I knew I would play it on her 18th birthday. Have lots of tissues ready. I can't even swallow after watching it!)

I Got to Test Drive the New Dodge Grand Caravan!

Thanks to a connection in the DC Metro Moms Blog, I was given an opportunity to test drive the all-new Dodge Grand Caravan (the one on all the commercials and television shows like The View). Only 50 moms in the DC area were given this opportunity so I was very lucky (wooo hoo!)



From the start, I felt like I was cheating on my mini-van. I had a fling with a definite upgrade, and only came back to my van because I couldn't keep the Dodge Grand Caravan. My Chevy Venture was pretty ticked because it decided to no longer provide me heat when I drove it again (hubby's working on making it feel better and I think it might be coming around).

All those commercials that say the Caravan is a home on wheels? So true! You can eat, play board and/or card games, video games, watch television, eat on a table, watch movies, tailgate, use GPS navigation, make phone calls from a built-in dashboard phone service, and more.

The middle sweats swivel to face the back row and you can put a table up in between for games and eating. This picture is bad because there was no flash, but this is after a trip to McDonald's and my kids are eating using the table:



There are TWO...count 'em.....two pull down screens with two separate, wireless headphones. I can listen to Sirius satellite radio in the front, Matthew can play Playstation or watch a DVD in the middle, while Natalie watches Sirius Satellite television in the back (it comes with three channels....Disney, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon).





Even the puppy enjoyed the ride. :) We took her along on a trip to my Grandma's too (an hour and a half away) and it was like packing for a newborn! But everything fit perfectly in the spacious trunk:



There was plenty of room for the dog's crate, supplies, groceries (for lunch) with room to spare.

And those back seats? With a push of a button they automatically fold down into the floor to make even more room, or you can have one side up and one down, and....my favorite setting...they fold back and down to provide tailgate seats! Again, all with just a push of a button.

There's also storage in the floorboards if I had needed more room, a feature I used when I had a few grocery bags to toss into the van (closer to me in the front and easier to get to than the trunk).

The side doors automatically open and close and the windows on the doors automatically roll down, as well. I can't tell you how many times my kids wanted the windows down in the back in my old van. I really loved this feature! There were also pull-up screens for when the sun was shining too brightly, something you usually have to purchase separately and install with an ugly suction cup on the window.

The only problem I had with the van was with the passenger-side back door. My driveway slopes uphill a bit and there was one day that I could not get the door to shut automatically. I sat outside in the cold for about twenty minutes trying to get it to close.

I finally got it to shut by hitting the button and waiting until it was almost closed, then hitting it with my butt so that it was forced close. That wasn't fun! I thought it was because of the hill but when it happened again, I pulled into the road (which was a level surface) and tried to close it there with no luck (and had to go back to the button/butt trick again).

I have heard that mine was not the only one with this problem so hopefully Dodge does something to fix it.

Despite the one flaw, I would still buy this beauty if I could. I'll take a little door trouble for all the entertainment it provided to my kids and for all the features I personally loved.

Look how perfect the van looked in my driveway:





It was totally my trophy van! We were meant to be! How could it leave me?

Devra and I were *this* close to running away in the van together but she didn't want to miss reruns of Punky Brewster. ;)

Natalie summed up my feelings pretty well with this expression the morning that it left us:

No-Slip Hair Clips Winners!

Congratulations to Paige from Superpaige's Pad who won a set of 7, no-slip hair clips! I'll be getting your clips out to you as soon as I make them.

For those who entered but didn't win, I'm offering a special deal. Normal price is $5 per clip (which includes shipping), but you can purchase 5 for $20 and 10 for $40. I'm including close ups of the patters I had posted, plus pictures of a couple of new patterns.

Orders will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and if I run out of materials for a particular pattern you are interested in, I will do my best to get more of that material to make that pattern for you. I will also be adding patterns on a constant basis, so be sure to check back.

For now, here is what I have to offer:



In honor of the Fall Y'all Giveaway, I'll call this one...."Fall Y'All!"



This is from my new collection (ha!...don't I sound so designerish?). These we'll call "Christmas Clips." You can select a floral topper, or the jingle bells (and they really do jingle!)



Okay, I'll give these names after the girls in my life. From top to bottom: "Amanda," "Natalie," and "Sophie."



From top to bottom: "Chocolate Rose," "Candy Stripe," and "Diva Dots."



These are also new and are from my "Pastel Princess" collection. You can choose a floral topper, or the sequins.

All clips feature a small piece of velcro inside of the clip that prevents slippage. Ends are heat-sealed to prevent fraying. Clips measure 3/8" wide and a 1 3/4" long. They are two-pronged alligator clips.

If you would like to order, simply email me at ablondeandherblog AT yahoo DOT com And if you would like to be put on a mailing list to be notified when new patterns are available, send me an email at that address with "mailing list" in the subject line.

Thanks!

Fall Y'all Bloggy Giveaway

Remember the awesome Bloggy Days of Summer giveaway this past summer, hosted by Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer? It was such a huge hit, that I wanted to take part in it again.

I have one contest going on over at my review blog, but wanted to host one here, too.

So, I'm offering a set of 7, handmade (by me), no-slip hair clips, pictured here:



The colors don't come through very well because I need a new memory stick in my camcorder, but you get the general idea.

If you don't win the contest, but are in the market for adorable AND affordable no-slip clips, you can purchase them from me for only $5 (includes shipping and handling). Just email me at: ablondeandherblog AT yahoo DOT com I will have new patterns coming soon.

To enter the contest, just leave a comment on this post. Deadline will be 11:59 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 3. Winner will be drawn at random and announced on Sunday, November 4.

Good luck!

Meet Sophie

I am in love. Meet Sophie, the new addition to our family. She is the most precious thing EVER. She's a teeny-tiny, 8-week-old Bichon Frise.

There are two things I've had little of lately...time and money. Now, I'm going to have even less of both, but oh my gosh is it worth it! She has filled a deep void in my heart that was left after Copper passed.

She is my new furbaby and I love her with all of my heart! My camera does not do this gorgeous girl justice. Not even close. I really need a new Memory Stick.

For instance, her dog bed is an adorable pink and brown but you can't tell very much with these photos.

Anyway, it's all I have to show her off to you so enjoy! She is just a little furball of love and just wants to cuddle all the time. If she's alone, she cries until she can cuddle up to you. She romps in the grass and tries to jump over the tall blades. It's hilarious.

I'll tell you all about my cell phone disaster last night and how it almost kept me from getting my sweet baby girl. Long story so I'll save it for another post.

Oh my gosh I am so in love. Here is my sweetheart, Sophie:






Can you spot the puppy in this one? LOL She's so tiny, that her stuffed animal is bigger than she is! She's buried in there so you have to look closely to see her. Even my bunny is bigger than she is!

I Heart Elizabeth Edwards

The meeting with Elizabeth Edwards (see my post below as well) went very well. As I said in my previous post, I already admired her for her strength, courage and dedication to her family.

Now? I wish I could make her my new BFF!

Everyone who reads me knows I'm a Republican (at least I think they do) but there are some things that transcend politics and this is one of them. How can you not admire a woman who is fighting such a courageous battle against cancer, and supports her husband and children all while juggling so many things at once.

Here I sit, complaining about my health problems and not having any time. How does Elizabeth do it all?! I am in awe of her energy and strength.

There was something that she said at the meeting that made me breathe a sigh of relief. And that was that if John Edwards becomes president, only those making over $200,000 would face a tax increase.

One of our family's biggest concerns is being considered "rich" and being saddled with taxes we can't afford to pay (again, click here for my previous post on this issue). Knowing that we will be considered middle class was a HUGE relief.

The cost of living in our area is so tremendous, and that added with our health care bills makes it very hard to get by these days. We are by no means "rich" despite my husband's three-figure income.

I'm glad that the Edwards campaign realizes that families like mine are struggling and will not burden us with lessening our income through taxes. And I believe her and trust her when she says this.

It (being considered middle class) was promised before by another certain Democrat *cough* Clinton *cough* and that promise was broken. And my husband's salary was WAY lower at that time. That broken promise almost caused us to lose out on buying our first home.



On a personal note, Elizabeth was SO very down-to-earth with a wonderful sense of humor and in listening to her, she was no different than your friendly, next-door-neighbor. She even had a brief memory lapse and jokingly referred to it as a mix of "chemo brain," "mom brain" and her age.

I've been having a LOT of mom-brain moments myself, so that made me laugh and nod my head vigorously.

I just loved her. She's just real. And so is her husband. No flash, no glitz, just real people.

And I can say that of all the Democratic candidates out there, I like John Edwards the best and I wouldn't want any other Democratic first lady than Elizabeth.

I so look forward to meeting her in person when she comes to visit us DC Metro Moms!

Remembering Copper

Her last night with us.


A smile and a wink, despite her pain. She was always smiling like that.


In our old house, when she was younger, Copper would flop down in the yard and sun. It was the cutest thing ever....she would be totally out.


The younger Copper, enjoying all the love from Amanda and her friends.


This came from the vet who put Copper down. She was wonderful and so compassionate. I didn't expect to get Copper's pawprints, so this was a nice surprise (although it made me cry again). We're still waiting to receive her ashes.


Close up of Copper's pawprints. She had such cute, little, puppy paws.

Again, thank you to everyone who has shown me such kindness and comfort. I wish I had the time and emotional energy to respond individually to each of you and I feel so guilty that I don't.

I promise to get back to my regular blogging soon and to visit each of you in return.

I tried to get out of the house on Monday in an attempt to escape from the sadness. But as soon as I got in the van, I remembered what happened the last time I was in it...that I had taken Copper to the hospital.

Call me crazy, but I actually pet the air in the space she had laid in, in between the two front seats, crying and telling her I love her.

I was waiting for another sign as I drove, in the form that I usually receive them.....music.

The first song had no meaning to me, but I felt compelled to leave it on. Then they announced the band....Toto. Toto was my parent's and sisters' dog who recently passed away and one of Copper's buddies.

I changed the station and heard, "I'm gonna run to you...." And I smiled and cried.

Next song was the new one, "Who Knew" by Pink and again, I just left it on not knowing what it was about. Then I heard:

"I wish I could touch you again
I wish I could still call you friend
I'd give anything

When someone said count your blessings now
For they're long gone
I guess I just didn't know how
I was all wrong
They knew better"

and

"I'll keep you locked in my head
Until we meet again
Until we
Until we meet again
And I won't forget you my friend
What happened

If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong and
That last kiss
I'll cherish
Until we meet again
And time makes
It harder
I wish I could remember
But I keep
Your memory
You visit me in my sleep
My darling
Who knew
My darling
Who knew
My darling
I miss you
My darling
Who knew
Who knew

So by the time I got to the post office, I was sobbing uncontrollably and thought I'd have to go back home. But I sat in the parking lot letting it all out for about ten minutes and then got myself together.

I headed to Home Depot next and had to pass the animal hospital and Petco. And lost it again.

There are just so many things that make me cry. Going up the stairs for the first time without her. I usually had to carry her up when I went to bed and I literally could not walk up the stairs that first night. I had to turn around, pace the hall crying for awhile, then use every ounce of strength I had to walk up without her.

Tonight was the first night I've had to cook dinner since we lost Copper. Usually, she is right under my feet when I cook, something that used to annoy me to no end. Tonight, I would've given anything to have her back there, begging for food and tripping me up.

But I smiled a big smile for her and said, "Copper, can you smell this dinner? I know you'd love this one, and I bet wherever you are right now you actually get to eat it!"

We're waiting for her ashes to be delivered to us. I don't know what I'll do when that day comes. Every time the doorbell rings (and it rings alot), I freeze and fear overcomes me, but so far it's always been someone else.

I've moved her blankie out of the corner of our bedroom, her bowls out of the kitchen, her sleeping bag out of her favorite chair. It was just too hard to look at those things, but now the house seems even more empty than before.

I sleep hugging her collar to my face at night and every time I hear her tags make a clinging sound, for a split second, it feels like she's there and then I remember all over again.

Right now, I seem to be stuck in do-over mode. I want to go back and do it all over again. I want to turn the van around and come back home and see if she could hang on for longer, even though I know that wouldn't be the right thing to do. I just want to take it back. I want to wake up and have it not be true.

I just want her back so bad. :(