Good Thing the Tooth Fairy Can Smell

Happy day in the Poppins Household!!!


We've lost our first tooth! That's right, the first Poppins Family baby tooth has finally been wiggled and giggled and, in the end, flossed out. Altogether a very exciting moment.

All was going well. My son even made his very own Lego Tooth Holder to put under his pillow.



The tooth was placed safely into it's holder and set in a safe place until it was bed time. Sadly bedtime came and went and the tooth never made it under the pillow. It's all good, it made it to the pillow first thing in the morning.

Now the thing about putting a tooth into a Lego holder in the morning is that it is impossible not end up playing with that Lego holder during the day. So when bedtime came the Lego Tooth Holder had gone missing. Oh no!

Luckily, the Lego Tooth Holder was found, but the tooth had gone missing.

TRAGEDY!!!

Luckily Mommy Poppins knew what to do ... Improvise!

First we ransacked the room looking for the tooth. No luck.

Then I had an idea.

"It's ok," I consoled him. "The Tooth Fairy will know the tooth was under the pillow because she can smell teeth."

"Oh!" he said excited. "I didn't know that."

"Well the Tooth Fairy is pretty awesome!" I said.

Just like that! The lovely innocence and naivety of children comes in handy at moments like this!

So I said, "All you need to do is write the Tooth Fairy a note so she knows you lost it."

We grabbed a crayon and some paper and....


The best part was in the morning he was so excited to see the Tooth Fairy had taken the note that he didn't even notice she left him money!

That's my boy!!!

**** For my writer friends**** I wrote a (slightly) opinionated blog today about my thoughts on agents. I personally think they are awesome!!! Come tell me what you think!

Why I am Thankful For the Hubs

That's right. On occasion even I am capable of loving my husband like I love my new novel. (Sometimes even more!)

So this is why I am thankful for him....

Because on the night before Thanksgiving he refuses to watch Love Actually (The best Christmas movie EVER!) BUT he decides we should sit and listen to Christmas music on the X-Box for 3 hours straight.

As long as it's on the X-Box everything is fine!

Husband you rock!!! I'm in love with you! (Shhhhh don't tell Patrick Dempsey, he might get jealous)

Words to be Thankful For!

Whilst everyone else writes about their awesome families and wonderful friends, the roofs over their heads and the food on their tables ... I am going to write about what I'm thankful for.

My favorite words!

Because although I am thankful for all of the above, I am also thankful for the wonderful world of reading, writing and arithma ... um well just reading and writing.

So here is a list of words that I am ever so thankful for, and of course WHY!

Totally - this is Totally the best word ever. If there is a sentence that can NOT incorporate the word Totally, it has never been spoken by me! Observe........

Awesome - (and/or Awesomeness) - Everyone is Totally made up of little pieces of awesome, so why not tell the world about it.

Fantabulous - What? That's not a word? Oh well it Totally is now cuz it's freaking Awesome!

Actually - Actually this is my favorite adverb. If you could get a penny for every Actually I cut out of my manuscripts ... um ... well you'd Totally have over a dollar! That's for sure.

Phantasmagoric - Also not a real word, but just saying it aloud Totally gets me all excited!

Seriously! - Exclamation point is necessary with this word, although sometimes a question mark can Totally take it's place. Seriously! I'm not sure if it was Gray's Anatomy's fault, but I've Totally been addicted to this word or at least the last 5 years.

Son of a Monkey - This is more of a saying or group of words, but they flow from my mouth on a frequent basis, so I Totally couldn't leave them out!

Now I know some of you may be Totally confused by my age after becoming aware of my favorite words but I am indeed nearing 30. The problem is that I Totally grew up in the 90's ... and it stuck. Lucky for you my dear friends I am Totally not saying, NOT! or Cowabunga, or Tubular. So I Totally think it's all good.

Oh yeah ...

It's all good! - I Totally say that a ton too!

So I Totally hope you all have an awesome Thanksgiving and don't forget to be thankful for all your Totally favorite words!

Interactive Blog Post

So yesterday I had a non functioning brain, today I am on a slight brain function overload. Not sure which problem I like more, but neither are of use when trying to write a blog post.

So instead I am going to make you do all the thinking, but I promise it will be fun! Kinda like "Simon Says", but let's call it "Poppins Demands" (Cuz when I tell you do something it's not a suggestion, it's a demand! Or at least that's what I tell my kids when they say "But why!")

Poppins demands you head to your freezer right now and pull out a bag of Chocolate Chips. (Everyone keeps their bags of heaven in the freezer right?)

Did you put a chocolate chip in your mouth already. Bad blog reader, Poppins didn't say Poppins demands!

Fine, Poppins demands you put a hand full of chocolate chips in your mouth. (Better?)

Now that we are all feeling better Poppins demands you think of your favorite blog to read. (Well besides my blog of awesomeness of course)

Got the blog in mind?

Poppins demands you leave a link in my comments section so we can all know how awesome that blogger is!!!

DO ITTTT!

Wonderful.

My favorite link today is over at White Platonic Dreams. BEST QUERY LETTER EVER! Poppins demands you go read it!

Now ... Poppins demands you rub your tummy while patting your head until the cows come home.



Hey you ... yeah that's right, I saw you roll your eyes! Poppins did not demand you roll your eyes. Now go start from the beginning again!

And last but not least, Poppins demands you have a wonderful day and return here tomorrow. Ah ah...no excuses...Poppins demands you return!

Vacation on the Brain

I went on a little mini vacation this past weekend to spend the weekend with my BFF's from high school. It was a blast. We went through all our old photos, shopped, had a girls night out and just generally had a really enjoyable time. Then I came home and my house was perfectly clean and my husband had done the grocery shopping. He let me take a nap and we ordered yummy pizza for dinner.

It may just have been one of the best weekends ever.

And now it's Monday.

Um yeah, my brain is still stuck in vacation mode. I can't seem to find the on button that triggers the auto pilot mode. Anyone seen it?

So as I desperately search for my ... well my brain, you merely get left with my little BFF montage. Enjoy :)

Can I get a Crown (or 4) with that Value Meal?

I may or may not be in the middle of a New Moon hangover. It is possible that I did not fall asleep until almost 4am and had dreams that consisted of (very hawt) vampires and werewolves mixed with themes from my latest WIP. I pretty much feel like I haven't slept in over 24 hours.

BUT ...

It was SOOOO worth it!!!

I'm sure there are those out there that did not enjoy it. But I totally did!

And not even JUST because of these ...



Though they did contribute to the overall likability of the film.

Actually I really enjoyed Jacob Black's personality. Oh come on! Really he has an awesome personality in the movie ... I swear! Really I've tried very hard not to be Team Jacob mainly because he's way to young and I find it slightly disturbing. But I have to admit after watching him play the part, and he played the snarkasm part perfectly, I am kinda routing for him and Bella. (GASP!!!) But let's be realistic, his snarkasm can't compare to the over all angst of a hot (adult) vampire!!!

Ok so aside from that I promised a story. And when I make a promise I deliver!

Yesterday I decided it was imperative that I found myself a set of New Moon Burger King crowns. My Team Edward shirt and Mini E just didn't feel like enough to make me look like a complete idiot. I wanted to go a bit further.

So this is how I accomplished it....

BK #1

I walk in, telling my 4 yr old that we were not going in for food. He convinced me that we were indeed going in for food. But I wanted to take care of the crown first. So I walked up to an older woman. And when I say older I say as in the actual age of Edward kind of old. (give or take 30 or 40 years) I walk up with 4 year old and ask her for a crown (or two) and she looks at 4 year old and get's so excited and hands me over a Nickelodeon Teen Choice Award crown. FAIL.

So I say, "Um do you have any of the new crowns?"

"No these are the only crowns we have," the ancient woman replies still smiling at 4 year old as she begins to hand over the second crown.

I grab 4 year old, throw the crown on his head and say thank you as I head out the door before she can hand me a second crown.

4 year old is excited about the crown so he doesn't notice that he didn't get food ... until we get in the car empty handed of course. But I tell him not to worry. We are going to try a different BK. All is well.

BK #2

We walk in to a much shorter line so this time I actually wait, next to two really cute college boys. (This can be a problem sometimes living in the same town as a Big Ten school) We get to the counter and a teenagish boy is standing behind the counter and normal boring crowns are sitting on the counter.

"Do you have the new crowns?" I ask in a covert voice.

"You mean New Moon?" he says with an all too wide grin. I glance to the side hoping cute boys aren't staring at me and my full grown adultness as I ask about crowns for a teenage movie.

"Um yeah," I answer.

"Yeah I'm going tonight too," he says as he hands me a couple crowns. Only a couple. There are 4 of us going to the movie. I look at the 4 year old and ask him if he's hungry. As if I even had to ask.

"Can I get some cini minis?" I ask, then add, "And two more crowns with those."

"Sure!" he says.

So I go stand in line with my four crowns waiting for my $1 meal when another woman, possibly a year or two older than me, comes in and asks for a few crowns also.

I look at her and laugh.

"Are those for your kids?" I ask laughing and holding up my crowns. We share a little chuckle.

Then the manager walks up as us two, well aged, women begin to leave and she grits her teeth and says to the boy, "You're only suppose to hand those out with the gift cards."

OOPS!

So there you have my BK Crown Adventure. It was a bit funnier while it happened. But hopefully you enjoyed it a bit too. Now off to possibly get maybe 10 minutes of sleep before I have to finish cleaning the house, finish a scrapbook, pack and get ready to go on a road trip for the weekend. And somehow I need to fit a shower in there and I still have some Grey's Anatomy to catch up on!!!

Has anyone seen some extra time?

Confession Time

Now I know you all know (or most of you do) how much I love Harry Potter.

But I've been trying my best to hide another love of mine. It's popped up here and there...but for the most part I have kept it on the down low.

Today however I have decided to come out of the closet.

I am obsessed in love with Edward The Twilight Saga. So much in fact that I have read it 5 times and watched the movie as many ... or maybe more am going to see a Double Feature this evening.

That's right! I will first watch Twilight then stay to watch the premier of New Moon. It's the moment I've been waiting for since last year all week!

So as I sit childishly excited and giddy and think about how I am will be attending my premier later this evening in a mere 10 hours and 56 minutes I thought I'd share some of my favorite pictures with a dear friend of mine ... Mini E!

"I'm brooding..."

"Check us out! We can walk like Egyptians!"

"This strawberry smells delicious! (Oh who am I
kidding, I don't eve like food!)"

This is absolutely ridiculous totally normal for
two adult women to pose next to poster sized Edwards.

"Sing it buddy! Hey maybe I should
go get my piano and we can play
some super angsty teenage medolies!"

"Say it! Out Loud!"

"Choose Team Edward!"

She looks way better in this picture
than she does as a manly action figure!



And get ready for it.......



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Is it freakin 9pm yet!!!
I'm so ready for my movie!

Oh....how did this one get in here???

The Wisdom and Vocabulary I have Gained from Blogging

Blogging has opened me up to entirely new vocabulary. I feel a bit smarter now that I blog, now that I am a blogger in the great blogosphere. I can hold entirely new conversations with my friends and although my husband has no clue what I am talking about, I know it is only because he is not made up of all the little pieces of awesomeness like I am!

Before I began blogging I did not know there was such a thing as a puppy sized elephant or that Snuggies are really called WTF blankets on the black market. I had no idea that Cakes could be a Wreck or that there was actually a blog dedicated to the little Passive Aggressive Notes that people write.

Now when someone tells me they snarfed, I know it has nothing to do with vomiting. And last but not least I have learned to be snarkastic. I never knew there was so much snark in me. Why say wit or sarcasm or snide humor when you can say snarkasm!

Thank you dear Blogging Friends, or should I say Blogiends or maybe Frioggers, because you are the best source of wisdom and vocabulary out there! It is because of you that I feel so smart and KNOW I will one day be a super fantastic writer made up of so many pieces of awesomeness that I might possibly explode!

Question of The Day! (Updated)

If you had to leave your home as a teenager and could only take 10 items with you, what would they have been?

UPDATE!!!

You are a teen in the late 90's. Somewhere between 13 and 15. You are being taken from your home and told you can only bring what fits in your back pack.

Feel free to throw in some mysterious items!

This is a very important question friends. I NEED YOUR HELP!

(You guys are awesome by the way...thanks for your help!)

Hunger has Taken Over!

I'm hungry.

Apparently so is my four year old. (Are four year olds ever NOT hungry?)

Because I am hungry I thought I would introduce you to a few of my favorite foods. (All sure to make my tummy rumble even more, but what ya gonna do.) These aren't just favorite meals, these are cravings. Some of them are holiday cravings, some of them are nostalgic cravings and some are just "I need some dang salt and a little bit of chocolate" cravings.

I'll even be nice and categorize them for you!

Holiday Cravings

Green Bean Casserole - I tend to make it in the winter months as my dish to pass. It's yumilicious!

Meat Balls - Not any old meat balls, no I'm talking half chili sauce half grape jelly. That's right Barbecued Meat Balls!

Nostalgic Cravings

Cheese Fries - But the key is ... they MUST be from Steak and Shake! I have tried them from almost every restaurant on the planet (Because yes I've totally been to every restaurant on the planet...how dare you doubt me!) and nobody has cheese fries like Steak and Shake!


Shaped Kraft Mac and Cheese - This has always been a favorite. I used to ask for it on my birthday when I was little even. Do you remember when the only shapes were spirals and wheels? What happened to the wheels? I loved the wheels!!! When I was pregnant with my daughter, I HAD to have a box of shaped Mac and Cheese every day! And in high school it became best served with a side of ... (just wait for it, you'll love it!)

Hungry Jack Mashed Potatoes - That's right. Mac and Cheese was always best served with a side of mashed potatoes. Can we say Atkins Diet No No!

SOS AKA : Shit on a Shingle - (By the way happy Veterans Day Daddy!) My daddy learned to make this absolutely heart stopping (possibly literally) meal over seas. I was in heaven every time he made this! Still make it for my kids who look at me like I'm crazy.

Give me some Damn Salt and
A Chocolate Bar Cravings

CheezeIts - By far the best little snack food in the universe ... especially when shaped like scrabble pieces. Never did listen when my mother told me not to play with my food!


(MSG Filled) Sesame Chicken - Be it buffet style, nice sit down restaurant or the ever so delicious PF Changes, I am definitely going to be in for a good dose of deep fried goodness at least ... every other week ...


Cuver's Cement Mixer - Butter Finger and Peanut Butter Cup please!



Nachos Bell Grande - OMG they even got the picture right. Minus Beans and Onions ... though they are missing the EXTRA cheese sauce ... pitty. (Can also be considered a "Late Night Snack Craving")


which if we are naming midnight snack cravings we might as well include the cheese fries and add an order of ...

Double Cheese Burger Meal - Best served minus onions.


Pardon me while I go plunge my gourds full of food because my drool is forming in the corners of my mouth and I slightly look like I've gone dumb.

Over compensating for something?

So there is a little something you might not know about me...

I'm a little competitive.

What? Don't you look at me like that...

Fine! (And yes I pressed down very hard on the keys when I wrote 'Fine' ... I hope you felt it too!)

I'm a LOT competitive.

There. Happy?

I like to win. No actually I love to win. I'm not sure why I am this way. Maybe it's the need to prove that although I'm little I can still be awesome. Maybe it's just the need to feel like a winner. Maybe I like the smell of victory (although I have a feeling victory kinda smells like schwetty socks so I'm pretty sure that's not the case.)

I even decided to take NaNo from a competitive perspective. Visit my website if you are interested to read about it.

I can't help it. I take everything from a competitive view.

"Oh you want to play tennis? Are you any good? No. Sweet let's go get our rackets!"

"Karaoke Revolution American Idol style? Bring it ONNNNN!"

"Bejeweled Blitz? Don't mind if I do!"

You get the point.

My question to you is ... do you think an overdose of competition is healthy? Do you think it fuels your creativity and keeps you at the point where you are always the best you can be?

I think competition is healthy to a point. I suppose it all depends on how you handle the defeat. If you can deal with not always being the winner...Compete away. If you can't ... still compete, but work on your losing skills. It's ok to not win all the time. (I'm still working on this phrase...just a little...I swear!)

Considering a Change

I've been exceeding my word goals on NaNo by large amounts and I am super excited. My book is coming along quite nicely, ok well ... it kinda sucks considering I'm just trying to push out words. But I am writing, and for the most part I am getting the story out and providing myself with something to work with in the editing process. All and all a very good start.

You may have noticed however that I was missing yesterday. All this writing has left my brain incapable of thinking of anything that does not directly include my story, thus I could not for the life of me come up with a blog topic yesterday.

BUT

Its ok.

Jody Hedlund wrote a great post today about building a platform and when you should start. I've been thinking about that a great deal lately. I've been so wrapped up in the blogging world and keeping my twitter going and trying to make my name known to anyone and everyone that I have thrown my writing into the back seat and it's just been sitting there quietly. (unlike my children while they are in the back seat!) I almost forgot what it felt like to write.

Now granted building a platform WILL help me in the long run, if I'm not writing and not progressing, what good is it going to do me.

I've noticed quite a few of my blogging friends only write 3 days a week. I am considering doing the same myself. I think I have just been afraid that if I stop writing everyone will forget me! At the same time I have noticed that I have been so busy plopping out blog posts about incredibly irrelevant crap that no one is really reading my posts anyway. That's not cool! I love my readers. I don't want to bore them!!! You guys are awesome!

So what do you think? Will you forget me if I move down to 3 days a week? Will you miss me?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

What the.....Nano What???

I must admit, when I saw someone was doing NaNoWriMo last year on facebook I laughed. I thought, "What the heck kind of dorky thing is that? NaNoWriMo....who named it? Mork and Mindy?"

Granted I had only been writing for a couple months at that point and had a million other things going on that I didn't even bother to research it and see what it was.

But this year...I'm all about it. I have a book I have been procrastinating upon and I intend to finish this story by the end of the month. And it is SUCH A GOOD story!!

Now the trouble is going to be fitting it in between all the other daily chores of life. It is going to mean ignoring my family for at least one hour every day and it is going to take some major discipline to actually write while I am ignoring them instead of surfing the web.

It's also going to take me putting away my little self editor and just writing without care. Just getting the words down and the story put together. So much easier said than done!

Are you doing NaNoWriMo? Have you done it before? Any advice?

I'll be posting links to my website for updates on how my novel is coming along if anyone is interested!!!