Two Big Mans & A Shrimp
Welcome to my blog! Two Big Mans and A Shrimp is how Colton first described our family. "The Boys" as he calls his daddy and himself are the "Big Mans" and mommy, well.. I'm the shrimp!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Ebates, Anyone?
If you haven't ever used Ebates, I encourage you to try!! Ebates is a rebate site that pays you to shop online (HELLO.. like I don't do that anyway??) All you do is go to http://www.ebates.com/ , set up an account, search for your favorite stores online, and get a % back for shopping. It makes the great deals that pop up online even better!
Ebates is currently offering a $5 bonus if you open a new account. They will actually send you that money in a check!! I signed up right before Christmas and a check for almost $20 about a week ago.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
WOW.. almost a year!
Though I've looked at this blog over the last year, I obviously haven't done anything to it. I've got a million excuses (school topping them I think), but WOW.. I can't believe I really didn't do anything for nearly a year. I contemplated deleting this blog, since it's not like I have a million followers.. but there is something about a mother that just can't delete pictures of their children very easily. Even if it's only for me.. I'll keep the shrimp blog going.
So, here it is.. 1/1/11.. I've been married 11 years today (where did that time go?). It's funny, I don't feel 11 years older than 23.. but the girl looking back at me in the mirror is starting to tell me that 11 years has gone by :)
New Year's Day always brings resolutions.. and I hate them. I am a baby step kind of person - like to celebrate the small things, so a list of lots of big changes normally doesn't go over well with me.
With that said.. there are some things I'm going to try to focus on this year:
Happy New Year friends!!
So, here it is.. 1/1/11.. I've been married 11 years today (where did that time go?). It's funny, I don't feel 11 years older than 23.. but the girl looking back at me in the mirror is starting to tell me that 11 years has gone by :)
New Year's Day always brings resolutions.. and I hate them. I am a baby step kind of person - like to celebrate the small things, so a list of lots of big changes normally doesn't go over well with me.
With that said.. there are some things I'm going to try to focus on this year:
- enjoying the ride - 2010 seemed to have just started and it's already over. A year of my life... and my son's life is over in just a blink. I'm going to have to purposefully live in the moment (not easy for a complete Type A who's calendar is already full until July) but I don't get to live any days over and Colton is growing up too fast not to enjoy it.
- GRADUATE!!!! most of the reason that 2010 was gone before I knew it was because EVERY free moment I had was dedicated to homework! May 5th, 2011 I will graduate from Southeastern University with my MBA.. so happy!!!
- (this one is going to be weird unless you are a coupon crazy person like me) Track my spending/savings for 2011. I started couponing in October, so actually not all my free time was spent on homework, but I realized what an insane amount of money I was GIVING away just because I wasn't spending time preparing for shopping. I've kept receipts but the business dork in me wants to keep everything on Excel so I can graph/chart everything at the end of the year :)
- Homecooked meals.. I'm trying but have room to improve on this. I'm hoping to work on some freezer meals too. We eat out way too much (read: spend an insane amount of food in restaurants) and unless it involves a grill, my husband probably isn't going to be too involved in cooking it.. so, bring on the freezer food days!
Happy New Year friends!!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Monster Jam 2010

I guess I have to give up and admit that Colton is really a big boy. No more baby left in this one.
We got him Monster Jam tickets for Christmas this year.. weren't really sure if he would like it or not. I have never been to one.. have seen them plenty of times on tv.
It was so much fun.. I don't know if I had more fun watching the trucks or watching Colton having so much fun!! At one point during the night, they bring out motocross bikes that do some freestyle jumping. Colton (who has already been asking for a dirtbike) says "Mama, when I get my dirtbike, I'm going to jump ramps like that too!" Yep, I better be getting some nerve pills and saving up for the ER visits!
Christmas 2009

This year, we decided to go on a trip with Aunt Jenny, Uncle Dion, Kristin, & Clay to Stone Mountain and Maggie Valley (and one FREEZING cold night at Davidson River). We packed all day Christmas Eve so we would be ready to go Christmas afternoon. We got to Stone Mountain about 1am.. LONG DAY - but well worth it!
Colton had so much fun in the snow, we got to laugh alot, and I didn't check my email for over a week (best part)!!! Memories.. Bobby picks at me becuase I take so many pictures.. so I don't forget :) The middle picture of this collage is Bobby with some actors.. he was "Joe the fruit picker".. hilarious story..
We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! We sure did :)
Just Ain't Gonna Happen....
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Jill Barton, CLU!!!!
IT IS OVER!!!! I can't even put into words how happy I was about noon today.. when I walked out of South Florida Community College in Avon Park with a "PASSED" certificate in my hand!
Ladies and gentlemen, today I passed HS321 - Income Taxation.. MY LAST TEST FOR MY CLU DESIGNATION!!! I'm an official graduate of The American College. To those outside the insurance world (is there really anything outside of insurance?!).. you are probably scratching your head wondering what CLU or The American College is. To those in the insurance world.. you can understand my giddiness :O)
Now off to my MBA studies at Southeastern University!!
Merry Christmas everyone!! Hold your family close and remember why we celebrate.
Ladies and gentlemen, today I passed HS321 - Income Taxation.. MY LAST TEST FOR MY CLU DESIGNATION!!! I'm an official graduate of The American College. To those outside the insurance world (is there really anything outside of insurance?!).. you are probably scratching your head wondering what CLU or The American College is. To those in the insurance world.. you can understand my giddiness :O)
Now off to my MBA studies at Southeastern University!!
Merry Christmas everyone!! Hold your family close and remember why we celebrate.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Holiday Eating Tips
This one was too funny not to share.. Enjoy!
HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up!
Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello??!!
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a great holiday season!!
HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up!
Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello??!!
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a great holiday season!!
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