OUR NEIGHBORS

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What is Texas Tuesday?
A chance for you to show off the awesomeness that is TEXAS!! You can blog about anything; restaurants, vacation spots, venues, concerts, your hometown, shops, fashion, sports, etc. The linkup is not limited to Texans, we just ask that the post is about Texas.

We don't make following any of the hosts a requirement, but we do ask that you include our button and at least post about a Texas related topic. Any links that are not related to the link up will be deleted. (button code is in grab box below the image above)

If you live in the United States I'm sure you've heard about the tragedy in Oklahoma from the tornados yesterday.

The sad thing is that after a few days the news will move onto the next big story and people's social media won't be flooded with so many images and statuses about Oklahoma and it will start to fade from people's minds. The rescue crews and volunteers will still be there for months to come trying to evaluate damage and rebuild.

Today Texas Bloggers are trying to help raise money for our neighbors in Oklahoma. There are many ways you can help without going to Oklahoma. If you're reading this you're probably tech and internet savvy and will be able to help by just a few clicks online. Please review this list and see if there is any way you can help one of these charities/companies/organizations by donating money.

United Way of Oklahoma - The United Way of Oklahoma is accepting funds that will then be redistributed to the organizations working directly on the ground for this tragedy. You can go here to donate.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief Fund - The Southern Baptist Convention has a disaster relief fund set up to benefit any disasters in Oklahoma. Any funds you give currently will go towards relief of this current disaster. Click here to donate to the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief Fund.

Feed The Children Disaster Relief - Feed the Children is vowing to help bring people the everyday goods that they need to survive after many of them lost everything. You can help them provide these goods by donating here.

Team Rubicon – Team Rubicon consists of military veterans that still want to use the skills they were trained in during their time in the military to help people recover after a disaster. They are already on the ground in Oklahoma helping in the search and recovery efforts. You can donate to them here.

If you don't want to donate online you can always donate via text. (I did this during the West, Texas explosion several times and it simply just came on my next cell phone bill. Some go to general funds like the Red Cross, but they are there and helping, so to me that is still donating to Oklahoma and helping even though you're not giving to a fund set directly for Oklahoma.

Text STORM to 80888 to donate $10 to The Salvation Army.

Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross.

Text FOOD to 32333 to donate $10 to the Regional Food Bank.

Thank you for partnering with the Texas Bloggers to help our neighbors in Oklahoma rebuild.

Link up your posts to help Oklahoma or your Texas Tuesday posts below!

EVERYONE STRUGGLES

Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now.



Something I'm struggling with right now?

There's a few things, but one that's probably the most understandable to anyone reading this blog is with blogging.. in general. Lately I've been wanting to go to a blogger conference but the ones I wanted to go to are for "branded blogs" .. Am I branded? What exactly does that even mean? I'm a Mom, I talk about baby stuff. I craft and sometimes share it here. When I really wanna get wild I'll cook and take pictures to share, but if you search recipes on here don't be surprised to find like two posts. I'm a Nurse, but because of our social media policy at work, I can't really talk much about my job at all. I sometimes talk about Mr. H but surprisingly he's a very private and quiet person.

I have so many thoughts in my head and so much I'd love to talk about, but something is keeping me from it. I always say "I don't care what people think".. but truly, I guess I do? When I first had Teale I felt so judged and so pressured to do the right thing. Now 13 months later, I've realized there is no right thing. There is no perfect parent. There is no room for judging. I wrote a really deep post that I thought wold really connect with other bloggers, but received a nasty nasty comment on it and its kind of made me very hesitant abut really putting myself out there again. I mean, nobody deserves nasty comments like that, but it happens. Unfortunately.

Maybe I struggle with how people see me as a Mother because growing up, my Mom and I didn't have the best relationship and my Grandma is more like my Mother figure. I think that's why I go above and beyond for Teale. Someone once tried to insult me by calling me a "wanna-be supermom".. Why wouldn't want to be super Mom? That sounds pretty awesome to me! While I'm not super Mom, I am a Mom. A great Mom, I think. Teale deserves the best and more. I strive to see her little face light up and her little two teeth showing smile.

I rambled a little off track there, huh?
I also struggle with time to blog. I try to blog and reply to emails, etc after she's in bed but lately that's been like 9pm when she finally gives in and stops fighting her sleep. I have been working a lot more than normal, so at the end of the day once she's in bed I want to go to bed myself. I used to bring my laptop or iPad and blog on my lunch, but I haven't had a lunch break in months. I mean if you count charting on your patients while eating a banana/yogurt/candy bar with the other hand a lunch break then I guess I do get one? Ha.

What have you been struggling with lately?

BLOG LOVE

Day 19: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them:

Probably my favorite blog to read that's not a close friends is Raven's blog. It's a daily read for me and has been for about two years now I think? I love it because she is real. She will tell you like it is without a worry in the world and if you're like me, you'll laugh at everything, even if you don't always agree with it. I love seeing pics of her boys, they're adorable. Her Husband, he's not too hard on the eyes either. I especially love reading stories about her past.



Another is Kelle Hampton's blog, enjoying the small things. She is absolutely inspiring. I can't help but smile every time I read her blog. Sometimes I even cry, like when I read this post. She has a special needs child, Nella, who is probably the cutest child ever. Even cuter than my own, I believe. I could look at pictures of her family all day forever.



Another is I Wore Yoga Pants by Whitney. She never fails to make me laugh, ever



Then there's April, Red Dirt Mama, who I can call a friend in real life. We've met now twice and I absolutely enjoy her company and enjoy reading her blog. I don't read daily, sometimes it turns into a weekly session for 30 minutes or so catching up, but I enjoy her blog so much. Her Daughter is adorable and she's pregnant with a baby boy who will be here in just a few weeks. 


Of course, Crystal, my bloggy bff. We host Texas Tuesday together, we text all the time, we are SO much alike. I love her Son, Mason, he's adorable. I've met her now 3 times and met her Husband twice, I love getting to spend time with them. I wish we lived closer to each other so we could hang more often. She is a daily read for me no matter what. I always check her blog first. 

MARCH FOR BABIES

A few weeks ago we (Teale and I) participated in the March for Babies. We had been raising money for about two months prior to. Our team goal was $500 and we raised $135. I wish I could've done more fundraising, but I was so busy planning her birthday parties and working. I definitely am going to start earlier next year!



My Niece and Nephew also came and enjoyed being pulled around in Teale's wagon during the walk.



My friend, Jesse, also came with her Daughter Miss H and walked with us.



At the end of the walk we enjoyed visiting with other preemie parents that I met while in the NICU.



I had entered Teale's info to be in the Garden of Hope at the end of the walk. It was a small area where all the activities were and had a few of the preemie babies info on little signs.





By the end of the walk tears were starting to well up in my eyes. I knew I was going to cry, I did by the end of it. It was so overwhelming. The emotions were. I can't describe all the emotions I was feeling. I felt proud of my Daughter, so proud. I felt strong. I felt happy. I felt blessed, blessed that God chose me to be such a special little girls Mama.

MAKES MY HEART HAPPY

Day 14: Ten things that make you really happy

one) Teale. Snuggles with Teale, actually. They make my heart full.

two) When Mr. H hugs me. It's the best feeling, ever.

three) When I get my daily pictures or videos from my Niece, via my Sister of course. On lucky days I'll get a voicemail. It makes my heart smile.

four) Buying new junk. Better yet, finding new junk for free. Then fixing it up and keeping it for our house or sale it.

five) Getting new jewelry, especially necklaces.

six) Lazy days. Mainly lazy days on the couch in my pajamas. They've very rare, but I am a happy lady at the end of the day.

seven) The friendships I've made from blogging.

eight) Margaritas. Ice cream. Wine. Mexican food. Bubble baths.

nine) Dancing.

ten) Summertime. Summertime in Texas.


Cinco De Mayo 2011

TEALES SPECIAL DAY

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What is Texas Tuesday?
A chance for you to show off the awesomeness that is TEXAS!! You can blog about anything; restaurants, vacation spots, venues, concerts, your hometown, shops, fashion, sports, etc. The linkup is not limited to Texans, we just ask that the post is about Texas.

We don't make following any of the hosts a requirement, but we do ask that you include our button and at least post about a Texas related topic. Any links that are not related to the link up will be deleted. (button code is in grab box below the image above)

Today's co-host is Lauren from Enjoying the Journey. She is such a sweet woman. She is very good friends with Crystal and I can't wait to get to know her better. Go by and visit her blog!

Yesterday we celebrated Teale's "Special Day", the day we finally brought her home from the NICU last year after 7 long weeks. We decided to celebrate it yearly and eventually letting her decide what her special day has in store, but this year since she's only 13 months old we chose to go to the Science Spectrum in Lubbock for the day. A friend from a play group happened to have a few extra tickets so she gave them to us. Regular admission is $8 I believe. They also have a Omni theater there and a butterfly sanctuary.


(source)

They had so much stuff there for all age groups. They had a whole floor of wild life, aquariums, and other exhibits about the area that we live in. The middle floor was my favorite because they had a toddler section that was filled with fun things that Teale could actually do.





















The top floor was all about motion; trains, planes, automobiles, how stuff works, how things move. They had a section on sports with all kinds of displays and activities. They had a music section too that we really enjoyed! They had all kinds of mirrors that we played in. One was strange, it made you look like a little person in the bottom, and if you looked in the top you were really tall and stretched out looking. I made Mr. H come with me to take a pic in it and we laughed and laughed at ourselves for awhile.


Our heads were still in the stretched out section I guess? Oops!









After we left there we went to eat at Chuys Mexican food restaurant and then went to the mall and looked around for awhile. When we finally got back home around 8pm Miss Teale passed out immediately in my lap. Love that little belly poking out!



Link up your Texas Tuesday posts below!

EMBARASSING

Day 10: Most embarrassing moment (s):

There are a few that come to mind, actually.

1) When I was a sophomore in high school my friend and I went to Walmart with my Dad. First mistake. While at Walmart we were in the makeup section getting nail polish and my Dad comes up with a huge box of adult diapers and a huge box of super tampons yelling "Hey Amanda, I didn't know if you needed diapers or these tampoons!" Yes, tampoons, that's how he said it. We started to walk fastly away from us and he kept following us, finally sliding a huge box of daily diapers down a food aisle we were on at us, which the manager saw and asked us to leave the store.

2) If anyone knows me, they know I do not burp or "fart" in front of people. Okay, maybe in front of my Sister, I'll burp. Ugh, I hate the word fart. Anyway, when I was pregnant with Teale I really had to release some gas and Mr. H was tickling me and I ended up "farting" in front of him. I cried, I was so embarrassed. I just see that as very unladylike behavior and I choose not to do it in front of others. He doesn't do it in front of me either.

PS: If you don't follow me on Instagram you should.

MOST AFRAID OF

Day 7: The thing(s) you're most afraid of

I'm afraid of many things, some are probably crazy things to fear in the eyes of others, and some are common fears.

As a Mother I fear leaving my baby on this earth one day. I can't stand being away from her for more than a few days, I can't imagine being without her one day. I also fear that I will fail. That I will let her down. I want her to be proud of me.

As a Nurse I fear that the rumor will become true and that you will have to have your bachelors degree to be a Nurse in the years to come. I do not have mine for many reasons, but the main one being that I couldn't afford to put myself through another 2 years of school at the time. I have been seeing a lot of job postings for BSN, even for a floor Nurse position. I am working on getting into a bachelors program, but it will take at least 18 months to finish from the time I get accepted.

I am afraid of loosing my Grandparents. They basically raised me and are my parent figures. I can't imagine not having them to go to for advice and to tell them all the exciting things going on with Teale. They are the most caring, giving, genuine people ever. I am blessed to have them as my Grandparents.


(My Grandparents)

I'm afraid of loosing my Husband. We've only been together for three years, but I can't imagine what it would feel like to loose someone who you've been in love with and who has been by your side for 50+ years.

A few others things I am afraid of are: snakes, the dark, scary looking clowns, and elevators.

What are you afraid of?

TEXAS RANGERS

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What is Texas Tuesday?
A chance for you to show off the awesomeness that is TEXAS!! You can blog about anything; restaurants, vacation spots, venues, concerts, your hometown, shops, fashion, sports, etc. The linkup is not limited to Texans, we just ask that the post is about Texas.

We don't make following any of the hosts a requirement, but we do ask that you include our button and at least post about a Texas related topic. Any links that are not related to the link up will be deleted. (button code is in grab box below the image above)

We've invited Texas bloggers to co host with us weekly. If you're interested in being a co host for our link up please email me at princessofthepanhandle(at)gmail(dot)com and I will get you on the calendar.

Our co-host today is Jessica from Wnder What's Next and she wrote the cutest post called That's What I Like About Texas which is a common saying here in Texas. I love her post, because its got all the things I love about Texas in it. Whataburger, Dr Pepper, Texas Tech, and Josh Abbott band.

Today I'm sharing my favorite Texas Ranger baseball inspired wreaths I found on Pinterest. I'm not sure if I just want to buy one or try to make one myself?

Source: facebook.com via Roxanna on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Joy on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Kayla on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: via Jodi on Pinterest

Which wreath is your favorite? Link up your posts below.

PROFESS YOUR LOVE

Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them?

I don't remember how I started talking to Crystal, but I am so thankful that I did. I think it was mainly twitter and a few blog comments.. Then we were Facebook friends and then we were texting. Next thing I know I'm meeting her at the DFW Blogger meet up last September.



It didn't feel awkward at all! We hugged immediately and it felt as if I was hugging an old friend. We had so much fun that night!

She's so fun, outgoing, open, and down to earth .. like me. We just get each other. We're both very laid back, "country girls", who love a lot of the same things. Turquoise, old junk, baseball, bling, blogging, and our babies. We sometimes finish each others sentences and I"ll write her a text about something and sometimes she'll reply "I just emailed you the same thing!" And I'll look, there it is in my inbox. It's crazy!

We host a link up together, Texas Tuesday, which is about something we both love, Texas. Join us sometime!

She just came to my Daughters birthday party a few weeks ago. I love getting to see her when I can.


(Heather on the left, was also there with her sweet Daughter)