So What! Wednesday

I can't believe it's Wednesday already!  You know what that means...

This week I am saying So What! if:

- I worked a 14 hour day on Tuesday and had to hurry up and draft my SWW post before I went to bed - priorities, people. 
- I didn't go sled riding with my family on Saturday (refer to Tuesday's post) - I don't like snow activities.
- I was in tears when I realized I lost a charm off of my bracelet that I just got for Christmas.  It wasn't just any charm, it was a photo of my kids.  I loved it so much and wore it everyday.

This is the picture that is on my charm.  Awesome gift!

- I prayed to St. Anthony (patron Saint of lost and stolen articles) to find my beloved charm.  I found the charm and hour later.  Thank you very much!
- I am annoyed once again by politics.  I don't think I will be able to stand 10 more month's of this nonsense.  You don't know who or what to believe and it's just downright maddening.

What are you saying So What! to?  Link up over at Life After I "Dew" and dish.

Happy "Over the Hump" Day,

Snow Days...

In case you didn't know, I live in Northeast Ohio and grew up in Western Pennsylvania (that Pittsburgh Steelers obsession is making a little more sense now) and we have our fair share of crazy weather around these parts.  This winter has been a little odd since the temps have been up and down and we really haven't had too much snow at any given time {YET. - there's always April}.

Last Friday, however, was true snow day - by the time the kids woke up on Saturday morning there was about 5" on the ground.  Alas enough snow to go sled riding!  They were so excited so they, along with my hubby took to the hills.  Noticeably missing from the photos below is me.  I wasn't the one behind the camera either (don't judge). 

I don't like the cold.  I do like to watch the snow fall and I like the way it glistens in the night.  I like it even more as long as I don't have to go out in it.  So, despite Bella & Ethan's best efforts and pleas to try and get me to join them on the hills of Rocky Ridge - I opted out for a nap by the fire and a little pinning on Pinterest.  They did come home to piping hot cups of hot chocolate (with built in marshmallows as my son says) and bowls of my mama's homemade chicken noodle soup.

Aren't they cute bundled up in there winter garb?

Stay Warm,

You May Say I'm a Dreamer...

...But I'm not the only one.  That's why there are over 3.2 million users on Pinterest.  Have you been sucked into the world of virtual pinboarding yet?  I'm here to tell you friends, it is ADDICTING.  I love this definition I found on Pinterest:, because it pretty much sums it up for me:

So yep!  I am a dreamer.  I have 23 boards that are comprised of "My Style", "Hair & Make-Up", "Kids Cuteness" and "Holiday Happiness" - just to name a few.  I see something I love and I Pin It!  I see something I would love to make and I Pin It!  I see a quote that I want to remember forever and I Pin It!

If you have a Pinterest addiction like me then you get it - you know why I'm obsessed.  I've always cut pictures out of magazines of hairstyles I liked, clothes I wanted to be able to fit in, crafts I thought I might some day like to try.  The problem with all that has always been that I don't like clutter (nope not one single bit), so I'd end up throwing it all away at some point in time.  Now I can pin until my heart's content (as if) and not have to worry about clutter.  As a matter of fact, I love the way my boards look.  Here's a few snapshots of BellaBud's Pinterest Boards.

I love that I get to pin pretty things, pretty people, pretty places and many of the things I dream about.

So today, on this snowy Saturday, I'm looking forward to Pinning and Dreaming.  Come follow BellaBud on Pinterest.

Pin it!

Bad Day

Everyone's entitled to have a bad day, right?  Well yesterday was mine.  For whatever reason(s) everything was going wrong for me.  Maybe it was post-flu, lack of sleep, too much to on my plate...  Regardless, I don't want to get into the details but let's just say, posting this photo on my Facebook page, was not one of my finest moments.

I try to be happy and remain positive, especially on my blog and for the most part - I succeed. Yesterday, well, it was a different story.  It was mostly work stuff that had me frustrated, but once I vented to my BF and husband, I felt better.  Sometimes that's all it takes and a little humor (case in point with the "punch in the face book" - admit it, that IS pretty funny?!).

Nonetheless, today is a new day and I've made up my mind that I'm going to be happy - no matter what. 

 Be Happy,

So What! Wednesday

Let's get it out of the way right now...So What! that I took a 2 1/2 month blogging hiatus.  I'm back. Yay!

This week, I am so happy to be back representing my blogging pal, Shannon over at Life After I Dew, so I am saying So What! if:

• I like blogging more than I like working for a living, I mean, who doesn't?
• My beloved Steelers lost against the Denver Broncos dashing any hopes of making it to the Playoffs.  Denver squeaked out an OT victory and their coaching staff did a great job, but let's be honest, they beat the Steelers practice squad. Every single key position had substitutes.  Here's to next year, boys!


• I am obsessed with these Kellogs 100 calorie fruit crisps.  They are AH-Mazing, I swear.  Two of these crispy bars, drizzled in yummy vanilla icing are only 100 fruity calories. Mmmmmmmmm.

• If I literally took down my Christmas tree on January 14th.  It was the last of all things Christmas in my house and I guess a part of me wasn't ready to let it go or maybe I just couldn't motivate myself to do it.  Nonetheless, my house is back to normal - can I get an AMEN?!
• My kids both have iPods and iPads - the iPods, they saved up their own money and bought last year.  The iPads were hand-me-downs from Mommy & Daddy.  I was fortunate enough to win two new iPad2's (from my awesome hobby as a Thirty-One Consultant) so now we all have one.
• If I don't like when guys write 'LOL' ~ it's totally a girl thing. 
• If it irritates me when even girls write 'LOL' after everything they comment on Facebook.  Seriously, this is a pet peeve of mine.  I mean are you really Laughing Out Loud because you just bought a new bathing suit for vacation?  Didn't think so.
• If I'm over my blog design, everyone's getting a facelift and I think it's time for BellaBud - now calling all blog designers, who wants to take my blog from drab to fab??

Well friends, that's a wrap.  What are you saying So What! to?

Happy "Over the Hump Day"!

It's Not Fair!

Ugggghhh...those three words together are my least favorite in the English language.  Especially, when they are spouted in haste by my seemingly "blessed to have what he has" son.  It makes me angry and sad to hear those words.  Angry because, unlike my siblings and I growing up, my children have everything they could ever want.  Sad because, unlike my siblings and I growing up, my children have everything they could ever want.  Don't get me wrong, we weren't deprived and we had a great deal of fun growing up.  We just didn't have all of the material things that kids have today.

Not to generalize, but I feel like it's never enough with kids these days.  I'm not saying that it's not partially my fault that my kids have as much as they do.  Understandably, I think we as parents always want our kids to have more than we had.  My husband and I do, however, make sure that are kids earn and deserve what they have.  They do chores, they get good grades, they must always use good manners, they are very respectful, and they regularly donate their gently used toys and clothes to a local domestic violence shelter.  Overall they are really good kids and I'm so proud to be their mom.

I do get frustrated though, when I hear my son yell out "it's not fair"  whether Bella saved up more money than him, or she bought a new book, or a friend got a new toy for whatever reason.  I try to teach my children that they are so fortunate to have what they have.  Some days they "get it" and other days, well they just don't. 

 So I have to give them a little dose of reality by referencing the Will Smith movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness" where the little boy, Christopher had only one toy (a superhero doll) that he lost while running to get a spot in line at the homeless shelter.  I know it might be a little dramatic, but it drives home my point.  Then I show them they're playroom full of toys and games and remind then again, how fortunate they are.


A little bit of everything

I just want them to be grateful and appreciate what they do have, as stated in this lovely quote I pulled from Pinterest:

Be grateful,

Not As I Had Planned...

So...I had a 'Manic Monday' post planned for today.  It was written, it was good and then it was useless.  It became useless because my circumstances changed.  Actually my whole Sunday and Monday got rearranged because my son was sick with the flu.  My world stopped turning because my sweet, active, all-boy, little boy had the highest fever he's ever had and a terrible head and belly ache.  I didn't want to do anything but hold him and he didn't want me out of his sight.  I didn't mind, believe me.  In my opinion, that is my most important job as a mom. 

I'm a planner.  I have a routine.  I live by to-do lists.  I need to be organized.  What I am not is all-that-flexible when it comes to a shift in that routine.  Motherhood, however, has helped with that teeny little flaw.  When it comes to my kids - I'll stop the world. 

Today's quote seems spot on, even though I may not be responsible for the situation I am given - I am responsible to how I react to it.  So, I shuffled some things around and sacrificed some sleep, and it all worked out fine.

Be Flexible,

Where have I been?

Hello Friends!

Happy Saturday.  Yes, It's been a little while since I've posted and I am sorry about that.  I love my blog and I love TO blog, but the holidays were Busy - and I mean Busy with a capital B!  So with a little lot of urging from my daughter (aka Bella) I am posting today.  She said "Mom, you really need to update BellaBud!"  Three shades of red later - here I am.

Last year's blog posts consisted of a lot of "quotes of the day" and they're really my favorite things to do.  Thought-provoking quotes can really do just that 'provoke thoughts'.  So since I didn't have a New Year's post (however, I did have a New Year's toast), I'll start with this one...

I decided that 2012 is going to be my year ~ I'm going to do it right in every way.  Stay tuned...

Happy New Year,