3. 13 Things I MUST tell my daughter

When I found out I was pregnant for the first time, I quietly prayed for a boy. They just seemed "easier" (little did I know). The truth of the matter is having a girl scared the mess
out of me. The irony does not escape me- a woman scared of facing the daunting task of raising a girl.  But I am sure that this plagues most mothers. I just know I am not alone in this.

Since the day my daughter was born eight years ago, I have mentally rehearsed all kinds of conversations simply in preparation of "that day" when she asks about this, that, or the other.
There I was holding my newborn baby and all I could think about is how am I going to help her through so many things: crying over a boy, her first kiss, her first period, puberty, and so much more.

As much as I want to keep her locked away like Rapunzel (who ended up very well adjusted considering), I know none of these things can be avoided. She will continue to grow up, and while I cannot stop it, I can instill in her those values and beliefs that will allow her to grow in God. While there are so many things I want to tell my sweet baby girl, I think these are pretty high up there in term of importance.

1. God loves you.  Don't EVER forget this.

2. I love you.  Don't EVER forget this, either.

3. You are beautiful. No, I don't have to say this just because you are my daughter. You truly are a beauty.
4. I am so proud of you.  Little things you do each day just makes my heart beam with joy.
5. You will mistakes. Do not let them define you. Oh, the lessons you will learn. Tomorrow is always new and without mistake.
6. There is nothing you can or cannot do that will change the way I love you.  NOTHING! I may not always "like" what you do, but never will lessen my love for you.
7. You are enough.  Basically, this is about confidence.  You do not need another person do make you a better person.
8. Don't be in such a hurry to grow up. Enjoy your childhood. Miss it now and you will long for it later.
9. Don't ever be ashamed of your intelligence. Nothing is prettier than a girl with a smart mind.  No really.  I promise.
10. Never lose your love of reading. It can take you to worlds unknown.  Besides it is just fun.
11. If it ever comes down to following God's plan or making people happy, follow God. He will not steer you wrong.  You cannot fathom the wonders of God's blessings on your life.
12. Be yourself. Even though it may take you a while to truly understand what that means. Once you do learn, embrace it.  There is only one you; why try to be someone you are not.
13. Taking care of yourself is important. Being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy is vital. Once you know how to take care of yourself, you will be able to take care of others.

What would you add to the list?

2. 13 Websites to Kill Time

Sometimes after I have cleaned the kitchen, washed the clothes, put the kids to bed, checked Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other blogs, I just want to veg-out in front of the computer and waste time.  I don't want to have to think or make a decision, I just want to giggle a little. I have found 13 websites that are truly utterly useless.  They have no function except to make the minutes go by a little faster.  I guess they are not useless at all then.

Disclaimer: As much as I wish everything was Rated-G, some images or user-submitted entries may not be kid-friendly.  Please use mommy discretion when viewing for the first time until you determine whether or not it is ok.

In no particular order:

1.  Unnecessary Quotes - I am bit of a grammar nerd, so this appealed to me.

2. The Longest List - A index of the longest whatever. I said you did haven't to think; I didn't say anything about not learning something.

3. Wordle - I happen to LOVE Wordle.  You can make the neatest little word clouds.

4. Snopes - I like to go here to debunk every scam, chain letter, spam message I get.  Ok, this one is VERY useful.

5. The Drama Button -  This is so silly yet, so fun.  Try it once, and you will bookmark it forever.

6. Do Nothing for 2 Minutes - The title is self-explanatory.  A good way to just relax and take a break.

7. Dear Blank Please Blank - Funny and endearing, sometimes gut-wrenching letters submitted by readers.

8. Attack of the Cute - Enough cuteness to make you go into Awww overdose and an Adorable coma.

9. Cake Wrecks - I bake three cakes a year, one for each of my children's birthday.  I understand the hard work that goes into baking these special cakes.  These are just too funny.

10. Awkward Family Photos - Just makes you feel better about yourself.  Can't wait to see my pic up there one day.

11. Grouchy Rabbit- One-liners that make you go HA, UMM and EWW.

12. Craft Fail- When you need to remind yourself that everyone else is NOT Martha Stewart.

13. Free Rice - OK, my last choice and you do, in fact, have to think. I like vocabulary and feel like I am helping people.

So, there you have it.  A few websites to help you wind down after a productive day.

Are there any you would add to the list??

1. 13 Random Things about Me

I thought I would try a new series.  In the spirit of 2013, I thought I would write about Thirteen 13s.  Thirteen lists about 13 "things."

The first "13" is 13 random things about me.

1. I love the smell of Vick's Vapor Rub, Turtle Wax and Lowe's.

2. I don't like The Cat in the Hat. It annoys the heck out of me. It is almost a requirement for English teachers to like it, but I don't. Other Dr. Seuss books don't bother me, just this one.

3. I love toe socks. I think they are very comfortable. I bought and wore a new pair for the birth of each of my three children.

4. I grind my teeth and talk in my sleep I have since I was a child. I have also been known to cry and to spit (yes, spit) during slumber. Gross, right?

5. I had two favorite dolls growing up and they were my very favorite dolls in the whole wide world.  One was just a plain doll, Missy, and the other was my Cabbage Patch Doll, Eleanor Nan. They are still at my parents' house.

6. When I was younger, I used to fantasize that Luke Perry somehow got lost on my dirt road and had to stop at my house for directions. What can I say:  I loved 90210, and Luke Perry was so much cuter than Jason Priestley.

7. My favorite snack, to this day, is a whole dill pickle dipped in mayonnaise eaten with BBQ corn chips. It sounds disgusting, but I LOVE it. And, No, I am not preggo.

8. I had the lead in the school play my junior year of high school. It was a silly little musical based on a cartoon called LuAnn. Everyone said I was made for the part because my life somehow tragically resembled the cartoon-it was about a girl who longed for the attention of a boy who didn't know she existed. Yup. That sounded about right.

9. About 7 months after I turned 18, my friend, Maria, and I drove to Valdosta and we both got a tattoo. It is a blue rose on my abdomen, so no one ever sees it.  My mom just found out about it this past summer, and I think that in-laws still don't know. It is the most rebellious thing I have ever done.
10. One of my "bucket list" items is to sing the National Anthem for a crowd somewhere. The only problem is I have a fear of singing solo. I can talk and act the fool (drama all the way) but singing- gives me the butterflies. Something fierce. Despite the fact that my voice isn't perfect.

11. One of my goals is to write a novel someday. I have several outlines and have even wrote a little, but I can't seem to work through it. 

12. I can't stand Mariah Carey. I don't like her voice, the way she looks, her songs. I am sure she is a nice person. I just don't have anything for her. It is entirely superficial

13. I picked my college (Mercer) because I heard about it from the best friend of my cousin. I had never heard of it until then, but I knew about Macon because we drove through it on the way to see my Grandma who lived in Roswell. I didn't even apply anywhere else. 

Any random things you would like to share with me??