Absolute Mommy

Love/Hate {Volume One}

So I met a new friend. Her name is Noel, that's "no-el", and she has this super fab blog where she talks about her beautiful life, her faith, poetry, the bible, really let's just say she blogs about everything. And of course I'm smitten. So when I got a lovely email inviting me to link up, how could I say no? I mean obvs she reads this blog and knows I have yet to meet a link up I don't like.

So here we go with Love/Hate, which is a super cool way to get out some stuff you may or may not be sitting on. And of course with every linky it's a chance to meet new peeps. I have a feeling that this won't be the only Love/Hate post around here... It's way too fun.

Link up your own Love/Hates here

Hate: Sick babies

Love: 24 hour toddler programming

What did we do before Nick Jr and Disney Jr?

Love: Having comments on this blog
Hate: when I can't reply back via email

Love: Sunday night programming,
Don Draper, Eric Northman

Hate: Having to say goodbye to Don,
it was the Season Finale!

Love: Posting WIW on Wednesdays
Hate: Forgetting to take pictures of the
2 killer outfits I wore last Saturday.
Blogger fail!

Pinterest: me via Diana Taylor via familyeverafterblog

Love: This summer fruit salad
Hate: The price of fruit
Love: A trip to the farmers market
Hate: It's supposed to be 102 on Friday,
the day of said farmers Market!

Love: That I found this magazine cover on Pinterest.
Hate: That I no longer own said magazine,
and that they don't make them like this anymore!

Love: Blogging the night away
Hate: my 6:30 am wake up call

Love: Link ups something fierce
Hate: Saying goodbye to this one

Sleepless Delirium {Tues10} {Pinning}

Here's the deal. Mac has been sick. What started with Caitlin and a low grade fever, turned into Mac puking from midnight to four am on Monday morn. So on little sleep, and no caffeine (had to quit it back in Feb.), I've been parked on my couch watching the world go by via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Alas, I believe the bug has now hit me... So I'm most likely going to be MIA for the next few days... Apologies.

Here's what's been happening:

Me and sick Mac on the couch.

Chillin' to Disney Jr and Nick Jr.

Thank God, for 24 hour toddler programming!

New. Favorite. Show.

Seriously.

It's raunchy and hilarious.

Two of my favorite things.

Both that I aspire to be...LOL

Also since I couldn't resist today's Tuesday 10 is the 90s.

It's just begging to be posted about.

Here are my favorites of the 90s

One

Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic.

My first ever CD.

That's right, there once was a time when there were no CDs.

In a galaxy far far away without Internet.

Yeah, I'm that old.

On the plus side.

This CD is legit!

Two

Holden.

My first crush.

Seriously.

Damaged + Prepschool = Amazing.

Three

My favorite movie of the 90s.

Saw it like 6 times in the theatre.

Not sure how since I was just 17.

But this forever changed me.

It also taught me valuable lessons.

Like a "royale with cheese", never to say "what" again,

and if in doubt call the "Wolf".

Four

The best magazine of my generation.

For reals.

If you never read an issue I'm truly sorry.

There is nothing today as empowering as Sassy was back then.

Plus, it pretty much solidified that I had to be come a writer.

(I'm still working on that)

Five

First I met these guys.

Nirvana changed everything.

Including how music made me feel.

How music could change my moods.

Six

Then I met these guys.

And fell in love.

They wrote the best love songs and break up songs.

Mark Hoppus, 2nd crush.

Seven

Favorite TV show of the 90s.

I wanted to be Angela Chase.

3rd Crush, Jordan Catalano.

Also they show repeats on IFC!

Eight

This was how I wanted to dress freshman and sophomore year.

Grunge was what it was all about.

And I wanted a piece of that pie.

I bought a pair of Doc's with my birthday money the year I turned 15.

My mom still has them packed away.

Nine

Then this is how I finished my high school career.

Dressed like Gwen Stefani.

She was my style Guru for most of the late 90s.

Dickies, cut off wife beaters, crazy furs.

I was "just a girl".

Ten

This is who I wanted to be when I grew up in the 90s.

Janeane Garofalo.

She was a writer and an actress.

And she was hilarious.

Black hair, bangs, red lips.

Who am I kidding?

I still want to be her!!

All of these pictures can be found here on my "likes" page.

Since I'm short on time, I thought you could just reference them here.

I'm not trying to steal them or take credit for them.

And since we are on the subject of Pinterest. Have you ever linked up at A Night Owl Blog? Well she is one of my fancy June sponsors, and I've been wanting to link up to her Pinning party forever!

So since the majority of what was featured in my 90's post was from Pinterest,

done and done right?

Wrong!

Here are my newest pins.

Pinned around 3 am on Monday when Mac was in between sleep and puking.

Pinterest: me via Huiting via 24.media.tumblr.com

Pinterest: me via Amanda Luby via peetatoast.tumblr.com

And this is why, iPhones and sleepless delirium do not mix!

Have I provided you with enough material for a few days?

I hope that this bug/flu doesn't take over and ruin Father's day!

Seriously!

Pray for all us sickies!!

InstaFriday Photo Dump {my apologies}

Happy InstaFriday. I didn't have a post last week so I apologize for this photo dump in advance. But I had so much fun last week and took lots of pictures. I treasure my iPhone, and not just because I can check Twitter every two minutes, but also because it captures all the moments I would miss.

One

Tried out a new chocolate frosting recipe.

Grad cupcakes to celebrate my little grad.

I hear they were good.

Two

That's me and my gal Jenn.

Both our babies graduated preschool last Thursday night.

And we were happily heartbroken at our little people growing up.

Three

Getting ready to leave for Graduation.

New dresses and all.

Four

The weather at 8:25 am on graduation day.

And it was every bit of 100 degrees by 6:30pm.

Very Fresno this time of year.

Five

Celebrating with "celebration" popcorn.

Popcorn + melted white choco chips + sprinkles

EQUALS

happiness.

Six

The Graduate.

Bittersweet.

One

Mac and her BF.

She loves that cat.

And the cat likes her ok.

Two

Mac has this thing about ears.

She likes to pull on them for comfort.

Especially when she is tired.

Daddy's ear was all she needed on Sunday.

Three

Double Stuffed Oreo Cakester Faces.

Four

When I'm blogging before the kiddos go to bed,

this monkey climbs in the chair behind me.

And wraps her monkey arms around my neck.

So I decided we needed a picture of that.

And blogging got interrupted.

Five

Fighting for face time on the iPhone.

They are so ready for their closeups.

Six

Sunglasses.

Grocery store trip.

Lazy Sunday with my girls.

As a side note, aren't Caitlin's glasses awesome?

Caitlin and her blogger bun.

Highlighted on the blog on Monday,

but I had to show this picture again.

I just love those glasses.

Oh and this outfit was for a trip to the pool!

So in love with this picture.

Mac said she wanted to "hide".

Which means she wants you to count.

So I counted and my mom when to find her.

On the left is what we found.

On the right is her saying "hi".

Love that kid!

So that's whats been happening around the Crutchfield house lately.

What have you been up to?

Are you addicted to Instagram?

Have you heard about Operation Feed the Lambs?

Cat put together this project on her blog Stuff I Love.

Check out how she is trying to raise money

to end hunger for children world wide.

And while you are there check out some of her delicious recipes!

WIW: Preschool Graduation {Plus BNO}

Dress: The Loft Outlet

Shoes: Coach (the ultimate deal!)

Caitlin's black wedges: Payless Shoes

Mac's gold sandals: Payless Shoes (Dora the Explorer)

Sure it was about 100 degrees that night.

And yes, I wore Spanx.

After babies, Spanx is my go to.

But nothing was going to stop me from dressing up.

Because my usual is jeans, tank, flip flops.

The dress is a Mother's Day gift I bought for myself.

I have an unhealthy addiction to stripes, and

a co-dependency on anything nautical.

Of course I worried about the right shoe.

Tried on thousands (over exaggeration).

This pair was in my closet the entire time.

Yes, my Coach "to die for" gold heeled sandals,

that I stole from Macy's.

Well, not stole, so much as paid only $38.00 for them,

when they were originally close to $200.

The girls brought their own style.

Look at those wedges Caitlin picked out.

She's got style folks.

Just a matter of time before I let her style me.

And Mac?

Well Mac loves these gold beauties for two reasons.

One, they have Dora on them.

Two, they light up.

Seriously, what more do you want in a shoe?

In addition to Preschool Grad Night, I got dressed up again last week.

Let's talk about me wearing make-up two nights in a row.

Yes, I'm serious!

It really happened!

Top: The Loft Outlet (obsessed much?)

Shorts: Mossimo for Target

Shoes: DUH! Toms

Hair: Friar Tuck!

Friday night was BNO, (Bloggers Night Out)

hosted my the lovely Tiffany.

Natali and Andrea were there as well.

It was a great night of conversation and drinks.

We talked shops, blogs, and how to get out name out there.

We also talked about a beauty box swap...

The {Preschool} Graduate

It happened friends.

Last Thursday my first born graduated from Preschool.

I'm still not sure how that is possible.

That same day a good friend of mine was in labor.

All I could think about was the day that Caitlin was born.

The weather was the same, hot and restless.

My emotions were all over the place.

I was excited.

Anxious.

Elated.

I tried to do lots of stuff to take my mind off of the idea.

But in the end, 6:15 pm was staring me in the face.

So were a room full of preschoolers.

I took my seat and waited.

And when they called her name, I whooped and hollered with the rest of them.

Them being all 15 of us in the "Crutchfield" cheering section.

And I didn't cry when her name was called.

I hadn't even teared up.

Not when I got her dressed.

Not when I combed her hair.

Not even when I put her cap on her head.

I didn't cry until I posted this status on Facebook.

My status reads:
"My princess just graduated preschool. We made it Caitlin. Mommy loves you".

And then finally I cried.

Because five years go this was a stretch for me.

Emotionally anyway.

In that moment I did feel like we had made it.

To another major milestone.

Proof I was doing this motherhood thing just fine.

Because sometimes we're still not sure.

That all our blood, sweat, and tears are going to payoff.

Sometimes we wonder, "Will the bad always outweigh the good?"

Then a moment like this answers all our questions.

Sponsor Love:

Delilah is one funny...

Well I won't say it, but girlfriend brings the laughs.

And the tears too, so be warned.

We met on Twitter.

She blogs about all the joys of motherhood.

Even the ones that involve poop.

Check her out here.

What are you waiting for?