Addicted?

I've been living the life of a deprived addict for the past week. Sneaking out of the house for a quick fix...searching for a connection...feeling agitated and grumpy from withdrawl...what's wrong with me!!

Well...it's my internet connection...it was off-line for almost an entire week. The first couple of days were brutal. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I called my provider every chance I had to get an update. I literally didn't know what to do with myself. I was lost.

I would leave the house after dinner and sit at the local Starbucks for a quick fix...or sit outside the library where there's free wifi. I felt guilty for leaving my family but I NEEDED to check my email and Facebook. I HAD to play my Facebook games of Scrabble. I couldn't let my friends down...could I?

Well...I actually found that by the end of the week I wasn't all consumed about my computer and in fact got quite alot of work done around the house. The house...inside and out...is starting to look neat and clean.

Is it sad? I'm not sure about everyone else but I realized how much my life revolved around my computer and the internet. I don't know if I will be able to change my habits...especially now that I've got it back online...but perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to cut out one or two hours of internet and spend some quality time with the family.

Child's eye view...the horror!!

So I was downloading the pictures from my son's birthday party the other day and to my horror I found some pics that my daughter took while I was baking cupcakes. Now is this what she sees when she comes up behind me?!!! I know that the camera usually adds 10 pounds but IS THIS REALLY WHAT SHE SEES?!! If so then I am truly going to hit the gym.

Although...it might just be camera angle...or the flash makes my butt glow bigger...AND definitely, for sure, she's standing too close...

Normally I wear black so I'm going to hope that my behind doesn't really look like I'm wearing a Depends undergarment...

Tears for Haiti

My church had a fundraising project this month collecting soaps, toothbrushes, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. to make relief kits to send to Haiti. I sent out a request to friends and family and collected two boxes of items. It wasn't much considering the enourmous need but it was something in addition to monetary donations. To finish off the fundraiser the Director of Church Relations from World Vision came to speak about his experience there during the earthquake. He had been there leading a group of volunteers when he was caught in the earthquake.

His talk moved me to tears as he recounted the first moments and then the chaos afterwards. Luckily their entire group was safe and the hotel that they stayed at became a makeshift hospital (armed with only shredded bedsheets and bottles of iodine) and morgue. I can't even imagine the horrors that he saw or heard.

One thing that I thought was quite haunting was the wails from the entire city of Port Au Prince after the earthquake. The crying from pain, sorrow, fear, desperation...

If you are interested here is his story "Wailing filled the air." I'm sure it will move you just as it has moved me. His story has left me feeling...I don't know...restless...uneasy...wanting to do more....I will have to do some research to see where I can help the most.

For those interested in making donations here are a few links. I love the new version of "We are the world" and it inspires me to do more. I believe every download of the song and video goes toward Haiti.

We are the World

Red Cross

Me so bad!!!

Happy New Year!! Happy Valentine's Day!! Happy Chinese New Year!!

I have to apologize...I am so guilt ridden. I can't believe I haven't posted since Christmas Eve. My only excuse would be laziness and lack of motivation. It surprises even me since the new year usually means a fresh start.

I have been busy trying to purge and clean out my mess. I am certainly not someone you would call a hoarder but I have to admit that I just threw out 26 single socks with sizing ranging from baby to about three years old. My daughter is six so can you imagine how long they've been hanging around my laundry baskets? It was quite liberating actually and now I'm in the purge mode. I'm collecting and passing on outgrown clothes...tidying up all the clutter filled corners...and clearing up my kitchen/bathroom/tabletops...

It's so hard to say goodbye to all my "stuff"...even though I know these things have no use or my children have outgrown them. My excuse for saving all that stuff was that one day my kids might have use for them or I could save them for my future grandchildren. Toys don't go bad, do they?

Merry Merry Christmas!!!

Well...after a long twenty-four hour drive we finally made it to Florida. We are spending a lovely two weeks with my sister's family for Christmas. Nice to get away from the cold and snow...even if it's only for two weeks. I just wanted to wish all my loyal followers a very Merry Christmas!! Wishing everyone all the best for the holidays and hoping that the new year will bring you much joy and happiness. Health and wealth to us all!!

Winner of the FabulousSavings.ca Give-Away!!!

Drumroll please.....

Thanks to Pamela from FabulousSavings.ca for choosing a winner! I would love to congratulate Cari of Can I get the Recipe? for being my first ever Give-Away winner!!! Hohoho Merry Christmas!! Please send me your full name and address so we can send out your prize. And you never know...it might even come before Christmas! Wouldn't that be fantastic?!

FABULOUS Give-a-way!!!

I am soooOOooo excited!! I am hosting my first ever give-away!! Whoohooo!

I'm so happy to be able to offer something to my loyal followers. FabulousSavings.ca is a fantastic free online coupon and discount site for Canadians and they will be presenting a $50 Walmart Giftcard to one of my Canadian readers. (My apologies to my international followers.)

Here are the rules:

1. It is open to Canadian residents only.

2. You must visit their site (http://www.fabuloussavings.ca) and answer the following by leaving a comment on my blog:

"Name a FabulousSavings.ca exclusive coupon merchant featured on the homepage & list the discount offered."

3. Become a follower of Screamin' Mama. Please let me know once you follow me.

4. Earn another entry by becoming a follower of my other blog Fork in Food. Please let me know once you've become a follower.

5. Maximum two entries per person. (1. Comment and follow Screamin' Mama 2. Follow Fork in Food)

This contest will be open for two weeks. Give-away closes by 12pm Tuesday, December 21, 2009. Good luck and happy holidays!!!

All time low!!

I've been crazy busy the last two weeks. My daughter was sick all last week and I had to plan a huge birthday party for my son and daughter this past weekend. Of course all the hard work paid off and the party was a hit. Just look at my cute cupcakes. Check out Fork in Food for my instructions on how to make them.

However, there is a price to pay for success. It's called laundry. Last night when I went up for my shower I realized that I couldn't find any clean underwear! I was too exhausted to run down to the basement (plus it's also where the boogey man lives so I refuse to go down there after dark) so I rummaged through my drawers and what did I find? A swimsuit bottom. Well it looks like underwear and feels like underwear, doesn't it? So I slipped them on after my shower and no one was the wiser.

In fact, I kinda liked wearing them and since I was still too lazy to go down to the basement in the morning, I wore them all day today. It was sorta like wearing a girdle all day. It really did keep my tummy all sucked in...and there were sexy black. Ok...I know...I know...I'm reaching now...so please don't tell anyone...it really was my all time low...

By the way, if you are reading this tonight...stay tuned because tomorrow I am offering a FABULOUS Give-away!!

Christmas Wreath - 10 minute craft

I can't believe I'm already making Christmas crafts. I have to confess the only reason why I'm putting up my Christmas decorations today was because I felt guilty about leaving my Halloween decorations up until yesterday.


As I was digging out all my holiday decorations I came across some things I bought from Michael's and the dollar store. Materials that I was going to use last year but never got the chance to make.


This wreath literally took ten minutes to make and looks great. I just took a grapevine wreath, sprigs of silver holiday sprays and some blue ornaments. I didn't even need glue!

Just cut up the sprigs into smaller portions and insert into the wreath...securing them in between the tight twines of the wreath. Spread out evenly.

After I just hooked the ornaments on with their original hooks and pinched the end to secure them. Voila!! A pretty, sparkly wreath to put on your door.

Happy Halloween!!

I have to admit Halloween is so much fun. I'm sitting here waiting for the first kids to arrive. My kids left about fifteen minutes ago and now I have some peace and quiet.

It was quite chaotic trying to get them out the door. Where are the hats? Are you warm enough? They think they can just run out in a sweatshirt when it's only 6F outside. Go to the washroom! Bag big enough? Where are your friends?

I have to admit I've been laughing more than usual lately. The boys have been perfecting their nerdy behaviour and they have done a pretty funny job at getting it right.

It's has been pretty exhausting though...

I spent three hours Thursday night making cupcakes for the kids' class parties. It's fun decorating but by the end I didn't have any enthusiasm left...I just wanted to finish the job and go to sleep. I won't even show you what the last ones looked like...