Tuesday is gonna be CRAZY!!!!!!

This Tuesday, October 2nd....I want to know....

This will be a one-time link up where you will post things that you do that MIGHT make you a little bit *gasp* crazy!!!! (I imagine myself singing some "Crazy" by CeeLo/Gnarles Barkley...hence his pic in my button!)

I know there are some things that I do that seem completely normal...but my husband questions my sanity sometimes when I do them! Does that happen to you??

Do you have a behavior that seems totally acceptable to you but others might question? Do you do something a certain way because any other way is totally unacceptable?? WE WANT TO KNOW!!!!

We will link up and then check everyones lists out! Should be so much fun!!!!!



<a href=" http://www.thevintageapple.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://s15.postimage.org/wuienq4l7/crazy.jpg" /></a>
Play this song for inspiration!



Grab the button above and get your posts ready!!!! See you Tuesday!!!!

The Morgan Faith Fund

When a blog friend of mine, Tracy, reached out to me a few days ago letting me know about her cousin and her illness, I knew I had to post it here and share the story with all my readers and hope that we all can pull together and help this beautiful little girl out!!!

Meet Morgan:

Morgan was born on October 28, 2004 and has endured more medical procedures than any human should ever have to face. Morgan’s Mom, Amy, wrote about her condition below. It is long, but it gives you an idea what this family has faced.

Morgan has VACTERL Association. Every letter stand for a condition and those who have this have varying degrees.

V- Vertebral defects.  She has congenital scoliosis. She has many curvatures in her spine and has been monitored since birth by routine x-rays, MRIs and cat scans.  The curvature of her spine was found to have changed significantly six months ago at a routine follow up.  This is the surgery she is getting done on 10/4. She is followed by orthopedics and the spine clinic for this.

A- Anal defects- she doesn’t have anything associated with this letter in her syndrome.

C- Cardiac-she is post operative for TOF (a heart defect). She has had two open heart surgeries, one at 13 days old and another at 3 years of age.  She has also had 2 cardiac cauterizations and stents put in. As Morgan grows she will need possibly 2 more open heart surgeries. She is monitored by cardiology every 6 months with routine EKGs, cardiac echoes, and random lung scans.  These scans are even more in-depth than what is regularly run. 

TE- tracheoesophageal fistula. Basically this is a hole between the esophagus and the stomach.  She had this surgery done when she was 2 days old.  She went into cardiac and respiratory failure in 2007 and had a re-current fistula, meaning the one repaired opened up and had to be corrected again.  She had her g-tube(feeding tube) placed when she was 2 days old.  This is how she was feed up until 2007! She was followed by GI for this, but got discharged from the clinic 2 years ago.

R-Renal- She has one kidney.  She had 2 kidneys at birth and it was developed very small and it basically disappeared. People can live successfully with one kidney.  She still has yearly appointments with urology to follow her kidney.  We pay real close attention to possible UTI's, because the one kidney needs to be protect as much as we can. Thankfully there has been no issues in awhile.

L- Limb abnormalities-when she was born she was born with shortened tibia and fibula bones, basically Morgan’s bone where her lower leg is connected to the ankle is short. Boston Ortho has followed her even when I was pregnant. The decision was made that best way for her to be mobile was a prosthetic leg. She started walking by herself in 2007.  She has had a total of 4 surgeries on her legs. Morgan had a significant club foot when she was born and she was casted to correct that, and now wears an AFO brace to ensure stability. In the future she will need surgery on her foot to make it more flat because it is curved and has limited flexibility.  We go to the NOPCO in North Andover every month for her leg to be adjusted and monitored.

Morgan is so happy all the time She never complains of anything, just goes with it, and often says to me "mom nothing is perfect, it is what you make it”

Health care is expensive, even for a healthy child. Morgan faces scans, appointments, procedures, and hospital visits just to have her condition monitored. This can be financially difficult for any family. Morgan will be having surgery very soon and anything and everything helps.

Please consider donating!!

I'm not a fancy graphic designer at all, but I made a little button that you can grab if you would like to help spread the word. It will direct all your readers here to this post so they can read more about Morgan. 

<a href=" http://www.thevintageapple.com/2012/09/a-good-cause-morgan-faith-fund_29.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://s12.postimage.org/5hzuyshn1/morgan_faith.jpg" /></a>

You can donate through Paypal using the email address: morgan.faith.fund@gmail.com 

Please feel free to email Tracy (her cousin) with a any questions at tpeloqui@gmail.com

Thank you all so much!!!! 

Fun for Friday!!!

Happy Friday everyone! We made it!!! What a LONG week this seems to have been...between being sick, teaching, and trying to be a good wife (and not get her husband sick) I'm just plain ol wore out!

1. Peace out LONG work week! I'm ready for some sleeping in and chill time!
2. I'm on hunt for an iPhone 5...it's been a week and still no luck!
3. We are getting our carpets steam cleaned!!! It's WAY overdue and I wanted this done before we put any furniture in the baby's room.
4. Speaking of furniture...we are assembling the crib this weekend after the carpets are cleaned! WOOT!
5. This is the best "Fall" like outfit I could come up with in 90+ heat here in Texas...I'm so ready for cooler weather!!!
6. My favorite under-the-weather drink...hot water, lemon, and honey. However...I won't be drinking this anymore while pregnant...I had no clue that honey needed to be "pasteurized" before drinking it while pregnant!!! I don't even know where to buy pasteurized honey!!




Know what will make your Friday even better? Winning one of these babies:

If you win, you can choose ANY color!!! 

Blog//Twitter//Instagram

HUGE shout out to Nicholl who is giving away this amazing necklace! Y'all should definitely check her out...she has one of the prettiest blogs around and is just GORGEOUS! You should see her wedding pictures! I DIE!!!

Enter below! And Happy FRIDAY my loves!!!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

26 Week Bump-Date!

26 Weeks!!! Last week of my 2nd Trimester!!!!!

Forgive the dog-crate behind me, peeps. We had to move it in this room because it was in the room that is now the nursery...couldn't have Baby Apple sharing a room with loud-barking Ace, now could we?? This is the only full-length mirror in the casa....gotta make due with what I have!

How far along? 26 Weeks

Maternity clothes? 100% Maternity pants....I can wear my flowy regular tops and I mix in some maternity shirts here and there.

Stretch marks? Boohoobies. Same as last week.

Sleep: This past week I have been sleeping like a rock! Kindof nice. Only getting up once or twice to use the restroom!

Best moment this week: Getting my baby shower invite that my husband's family is throwing for me in about a month! So excited!!!

Miss Anything? Man, I don't know why, but I've been craving sangria like crazy! I didn't even love it before I got pregnant. What the heck? 

Movement: All the time!

Food cravings: Mmmm....Dunkin Donuts.....mmmm (chocolate glazed ones to be exact)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just the whole ice-cream thing....gives me terrible heartburn/GERD

Gender: Baby boy

Labor Signs: Nothing! 

Belly Button in or out? Still an innie!

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood: Awesome!!!

Looking forward to: Decorating the nursery.....if I ever get to it! 

What does Alphamom say about 26 weeks??

Your Baby:

• Is almost two pounds. Celebrate this milestone with a two-pound box of chocolates. You know, in order to really get a good VISUAL.
• Remember those early bubbly butterfly kicks? Yeah. Those have been replaced by something akin to a rabid mongoose flippin’ out inside a burlap sack.
• If you DO occasionally feel smaller, rhythmic movements in your belly, it’s probably your baby hiccuping. Babies actually get hiccups from late in the first trimester on, but most women don’t pick on them the second trimester or later.
• All five senses are fully developed. Whoa.

You:

• Are in the last and final week of the second trimester! (At least according to the books I’ve chosen to listen to — some mark the beginning of the third trimester as week 27, while some make you wait until week 28. Look, we’re all big and lumpy and ridiculously cranky, let’s get this final trimester STARTED.)
• Of course, the end of the second trimester also marks the end of the so-called “honeymoon” phase of pregnancy, as the final three months can get awfully uncomfortable. Back and joint pain, swollen ankles, restless nights and Braxton-Hicks contractions, ahoy!
• You’ll gain about 1/2 inch in belly/fundal size EVERY WEEK from this point on, oh mah gah. I guess I should stop being so smug about those pre-pregnancy lowrise jeans I’ve been wearing (with just a little help from my trusty rubber band).
• The books say we’ve gained about 16-22 pounds, so long as we’ve been following a “nutritious and sensible diet plan.” Bite me, books.

My week 26 thoughts----I have been feeling really good here lately. I am really enjoying being pregnant! I can tell that my appetite is really right where it should be and for the most part I am enjoying almost all foods! I have been fighting a head-cold for the past five days, so once that goes away, I should be able to enjoy it a little bit more. I am so excited that I am almost in my last trimester! Saturday/Sunday I begin the 3rd and final trimester and I just can't believe how FAST the past six weeks have flown by!

Here is what my Sprout app says about lil Baby Apple right now:

Have a good Thursday everyone!

Oh, How Pinteresting!!!

Happy Wednesday everyone!!!!!

Let's link up for:

Let's get started!!!!



What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is the place where you can catalog everything lovely.
You'll need an invite to get on the site...I can help you with that!
Email me your email addy! I'll send you an invite as soon as I can!
New to this linkup and you aren't sure what to do? Have no fear! Click here!!

Let's start pinning!!!

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I can't wait to see what you guys pin this week!!!!!!
Grab the code above and link up below!!!

How to Plank in your Wedding Gown. A Must-Read For Every Bride-to-be.

Step 1:

Drink beer at the hotel lobby bar after your wedding reception. I did this with all of our guests. The pic below is of me and my dad.

Step 2: Go up to anything that will allow you access to plank and proceed to lay on it. I chose a pool table.

Step 3: Make sure your dad (or anyone else wanting to have some fun) joins in on the festivities.

That is how to plank in your wedding dress. The end!

See all of our wedding pics here :)


Happy Tuesday!

Bonding over Bubbly...or in my case...water :)

I'm a weekend behind, y'all. SORRY!!!

So, last weekend I attended the Houston Blogger Symposium, and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!! I met some amazing women and did a little shopping, all while learning some new tricks and tips for le bloggy here!!!

Here are some snap-shots!!

Some of my favorite bloggers!!!! L-R: Selena, Meg, Me, Whitney, Lindsay, Jamie, Meg

*All photos courtesy of Paige Budde Photography

Posing in front of the sponsor board! Clockwise top left and around: Meg, Taylor, Jamie, Lindsay, Meg, Me, Whitney, and Dee

Oh and for those of you who asked...my dress is Motherhood Maternity!

Posing. Belly and me. I look a bit awkward, no?

Having fun! Me, Meg, Taylor, Jamie

Here are all of our speakers and sponsors... There was Kelly and Brandi from Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno, Julianne Agno from Francesca's, Meg Jones from Reward Style, Megan from Greetings from Texas, Kirsten from Triple Max Tons, Katy Atlas from Sugarlaws, Lisa O'Neill PR extraordinaire, Alicia DiRago from Dismount Creative, Davina Hirsch from Langford Market, and Kristina Braly from Pretty Shiny Sparkly. 

I was a bit star-struck when I met Kristina from Pretty, Shiny, Sparkly! She is so sweet!!! I also really enjoyed talking to the Mucho Mucho Bueno girls, but of course I wasn't smart enough to get a picture with them!!! What kind of blogger am I?!?!?

Our amazing host for the event was new-mommy Megan from Greetings from Texas! LOVE HER and so happy for her and her family!! Go read her wonderful news here! That's Laura Mayes right next to Megan too!


This was an awesome event and I can't wait to attend this one again next year!!!!

Cheers with water! :)

Happy Monday, loves!

Hi.

Happy Sunday from me and the camera hog Ace!!! Hope your weekend was wonderful!

xoxo

50% Off All Advertising!!!!

Happy Saturday loves!!!!

TODAY only, I'm offering 50% off ALL AD SPOTS!!!!!!!!

Just use the code SaturdayLove at checkout!!!!

Big things are happening around here and I want you all to be part of the fun!!!

Passing Notes

Last week, I posted this on Steph's blog and I loved it so much I wanted y'all to see it here too!!! Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed typing it up!!!  :)



Today I wanted to talk to y'all about passing notes. Remember when we were in middle school and passing notes was THE THING to do? Well, apparently....it still IS the thing to do! You see, I teach 8th grade, and believe me when I tell you....I've SEEN IT ALL when it comes to note-passing.

Just a warning...if a few curse words are offensive to you, I apologize!!! I'm showing you the notes AS I FOUND THEM, in all their glory!!!

Let me show you...

Exhibit A:

Christmas 2010. Student passes me a note. It's a Christmas card. I'm SO EXCITED. The card looks so pretty!

The outside of my card

Then....I open it.....

Isn't that just the nicest thing you ever read?!!?! I was so so so shocked!!!!!! Needless to say, this child was suspended.


Exhibit B:

September 23, 2011.

Student writes an open letter letting everyone know why he's failing my English class....

Yeah...its MY fault you don't As and Bs, buddy.


Exhibit C:

January, 2012

Young man passes this note to a young lady sitting next to him....

Who says romance is dead???


Not all the notes I collect are bad, though!!!!

This one was my favorite. He always called me his "angel" because I helped him pass all his tests!!! So sweet!


This next note I just found last week....I teach at a new school now, and you can see a HUGE difference in the way these kids think compared to the way the kids at my last school did....

I love how he said she reminded him of a cute Korean pop star!!! LOL!!!

If you are interested in seeing any more of my middle school amazing-ness, 

click over here and read a few of my stories!!!!!

Happy Friday, loves!!!!

Oh, How Pinteresting!!!

FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!!!

A huge huge huge happy FIFTH birthday to my sweet nephew!!!!! He is growing up SO FAST and I am hating every minute of it :(

Happy Birthday, J!!! Auntie Shelly loves you MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY!!!!!!

See you tonight!!!!!



Happy Wednesday everyone!!!!!

Let's link up for:

Let's get started!!!!



What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is the place where you can catalog everything lovely.
You'll need an invite to get on the site...I can help you with that!
Email me your email addy! I'll send you an invite as soon as I can! New to this linkup and you aren't sure what to do? Have no fear! Click here!!

Let's start pinning!!!

Source: myguidetohappiness.tumblr.com via Sarah on Pinterest

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I can't wait to see what you guys pin this week!!!!!!
Grab the code above and link up below!!!