I was too young to drive so my mother drove and I entertained. It was getting late and she was tired so we decided to find a hotel. Note: We didn’t know where we were or what we were close to. We drove around reading billboards checking hotel rates and pulled off at an exit. This was not a hotel. This was a motel. Right behind your motel room door was the warm Tennessee night. And there we were two girls by ourselves in God know where.

Because we were driving a U-haul we had to choose our hotel carefully. We needed a hotel with ample parking to park our truck for the night. Luckily behind this motel that we would be spending the night in was an entertainment establishment called “Boobies Bungalo.” It was exactly what you think it was. And because we were in Tennessee we couldn’t cross the patch of grass between the establishment and our hotel. (in fear of snakes) So we walked along the road. At night.

In the morning we enjoyed their “complimentary breakfast” of twinkies and coffee and ate it at the table in our room. The table thats top was detached from it so when you placed your arm down on the surface it toppled off the base. And we drove back home to Illinois.

I don’t look around enough at where I am and where I have been and where I am going. I shuffle from plane to hotel to our house with a yard and garage and back again without so much as blinking. But sometimes it hits me hard. Who am I to have so much?

And the truth is? It happended so fast that I didn’t even see it coming.

I am assuming most of you woke up to breakfast in bed. Maybe your spouse and children presented you with gifts and hugs and kisses. Maybe he got the kids ready so you could curl your hair or shower. (a rarity in motherhood)

My day goes a bit differently.

I woke up to child begging to play Wii. I reminded him that he was supposed to wish me a Happy Mothers Day. He happily obliged…and then turned on the Wii.

Of course I got a gift from my small child. A very expensive gift I picked out and purchased just for me. (he gets me the BEST stuff)

This afternoon we are going to lunch together. Me and him. Mother and son.

This is how the conversation prior to leaving shall go:

me: Get your clothes on!

him: WHERE ARE WE GOING?!

me: to lunch

him: With who?

me: me and you

him:….noone else? by ourselves?

me: yes, get dressed

him: I DONT WANT TO. I DONT WANT TO. I DONT WANT TO.

me: ITS MOTHERS DAY

I love everything about our crazy day. Some might find mothers day of a single mom to be a bit too narcissistic. Buy your own gifts, take yourself out to lunch, remind your children how much they love you, and just how greatful they are. Take a handful of mother son portraits (with my arm directly in front of us). However, I bask in this day. Any day I can remind someone of how important I am and buy myself nice gifts is a day for me!

Happy Mothers Day!

At some point in the past years things have changed. I no longer watched my friends being young in envy. I became content in the security and love that filled my life.

It is Friday night. I am sure many of my friends are getting ready to head out on the town. Do you know where I am?

I am baking cookies with a pretty happy little boy.

and there is nothing you could say to convince me that being young and wild is better than this.

This is the best Friday night I have had in a long time.

And chocolate chip cookies are the perfect ending to a day stuck in bed with the flu.

Well, that is a good question! While I have been setting goals and making plans to start my 52 Weeks to Fabulous.

On another note…my friends have been home. Flying across country from California they were more than shocked my the change in weather.

So we have been hanging out…

and seeing “sights” I never knew exsisted…

and since one of these boys had never seen snow before…Aiden got quite the treat!

I say this is a treat because quite honestly I cringe when I am forced to walk outside. and playing in the snow? yeah…doesn’t exactly happen.

Hope your week is going fabulous! More on my 52 to Fabulous journey tomorrow.

2009 from Cassie Boorn on Vimeo.

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,

that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake.   Amen.

I cannot believe how much has happened in the past year. Really, it seems like a decade has past since last year. I am trying to make sense of it but there really is no point.

Last February Aiden turned 3. We celebrated at Jungle Bungle and I marveled in how it was possible to have a three year old. I began working with Blissfully Domestic and broke into the world of blogging. I never would have imagined everywhere it would take me.

In may I finished my sophomore year of college. How I only have two years left is beyond me. It really does fly by.

In June Aiden and I took our first family vacation. We flew out to LA and hung on the beaches, went to Disneyland, and laid by the pool. It was an amazing trip and I am hoping to return next summer. In July I attended BlogHer in Chicago and had a blast. Obama was actually in the same hotel as me. I got to hang out at trump towers. Tour fox news. and be fancy. It was a great time!

In August everything got a bit crazy. We found out that we were going to have to move and packed our stuff up. After staying with my mom for one month. (yes I came out of that alive) Me and Aiden moved into a VERY tiny apartment closer to my school. He started at a new school himself which took some adjusting. We are enjoying our new atmosphere! I also began working with One2One Network as a project manager. I have learned so much from this position and cannot believe that I got here.

September was a crazy month! I was in school full force, adjusting to my new place, working my new job, and traveling like mad. Thanks to Sony, I was invited to fly out to LA. They put me in a hotel that I cannot even put into words how gorgeous it was. I was given cameras, stood on the red carpet, interviewed a couple of movie stars, and hung out with friends. It was the trip of a lifetime. At the end of September, I flew down to Nashville and road to Asheville for the Type A Mom conference. It was a great time. Except for the bears. and the things the altitude did to me.

In October things had finally settled down (a bit). Aiden was spiderman (much to my detest). He thought he was the scariest thing alive. I let him believe it. Mid-October I flew down to Las Vegas for yet another conference. I got to see some amazing people, party with Barbara Jones, shop with Jessica Gottlieb, and see Kim Kardashian. It was a fabulous time. Aiden also milked his first cow, road a horse, and ate his first caramel apple.

November was pretty timid. Aiden and I hang out at home most days. Memory and Candy Land take over a good portion of my life. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and spent much of November at the park and cuddling watching movies.

Here we are back in December. I refused to send Christmas cards this year so this is it. Consider it a Christmas Newsletter/Card…without the card. I hope everyone had a fabulous year and enjoys a Happy Holiday!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? To be honest I have never had egg nog. That is right folks..NEVER. It looks like Hot Chocolate will be the winner for me.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa does wrap the presents. In his special santa wrapping paper. In his special wrapping way.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? This year the tree is covered in white lights. I normally prefer colored lights. However, we had some issues with this stupid fabulous pre-lit tree that isn’t working.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. I never have. Honestly, I don’t ever see it anymore.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Soon after Thanksgiving. If we are lucky.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Cookies!!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I loved all of the presents. There I said it. I was obsessed with the material things that made up Christmas.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I was six years old. I asked my mother and she told me. Then end.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We usually did. We spend our Christmas Eve with my side of the family. Normally, we receive those gifts then.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? White or Colored lights and a massive collection of decorations. Mostly from my childhood and now Aidens.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Dread it. It is cold. It is messy. It is just gross.

12. Can you ice skate? Very Funny…

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not really no. I tend to favor gifts I buy myself. I am a hard person to buy for. FYI

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? I just enjoy the traditions. Baking cookies, doing crafts, decorating the tree. All of the special little things I get to pass on to my child.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? COOKIES

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Baking Cookies…sigh..

17. What tops your tree? A star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Normally I am a big gift giver. This year I am just not feeling it.

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? Meh.

20 Favorite Christmas Show? The Grinch is taking over our house this year.

21. Saddest Christmas Song? The slow songs make me tear up from time to time.

22. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Rudolph…Yes I sing it loudly.

Yes, I did actually vlog. I hate putting myself on video but I did it YAY!

You can thank Short Pump Preppy for teaching me how to use youtube and embed a video.

Yes, I am really that tech savvy!

And while you are thanking her for teaching me her tech savvy ways you may want to congratulate her on her television depute!

If you are looking for real gift guides check out these ladies below!

To Think Is To Create

Musings Of A Housewife

Mom Generations

4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?
I may have kicked a boy in Jr. High. I am nearly positive he deserved it.

5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people?
I was in Chorus. For a year. I was kicked out and told to “try art.” You can now find me performing brilliant remakes of the wiggles quite frequently.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about the preferred sex?
Their stunning personality of course!
7. What really turns you off?
Pettyness

8. What do you order at Starbucks?
Chai with Soy. I always say large. Apparently that is wrong but I refuse to learn the language of starbucks.

9. What is your biggest mistake?
Thinking starting a blog would make me super famous.

10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?
There is no need. I hurt myself on accident enough

11. Say something totally random about yourself.
I am the least techy people of all techy people.
12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? Once I was told I looked like that gorgeous blonde married to Jim Carry? …what is her name.

13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? I love Super Why.

14. Did you have braces? No I did not.

15. Are you comfortable with your height? I would like to be a bit taller. Dresses always fall at a weird spot making my legs appear very small.

16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? I never went for the romantic type. Luckily, there is still time.

17. When do you know its love? I will let you know when I figure it out.

18. Do you speak any other languages? I took four years of spanish.

19. Have you ever been to a tanning salon? I was a tanning salon addict. There I said it. Feel free to attack and warn me.

20. What magazines do you read? Glamour, Cosmo, Oprah Magazine, Parents

21. Have you ever ridden in a limo? Maybe Twice.

23. Do you watch MTV? I despise it with everything in me.

24. What’s something that really annoys you? I get annoyed quite easily.

25. What’s something you really like? sparkly pretty things.

26. Do you like Michael Jackson? Always despised him. Except, that movie he made with his siblings as a child? That was my faveorite movie at the age of five. Thanks mom.

27. Can you dance? I would like to yes but that would be lying. Do I dance? Heck to the yeah!

28. What’s the latest you have ever stayed up? I enjoy going to bed on a regular schedule. Call me crazy.

29. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room? nope.
30. Do you actually read these when other people fill them out? Never but I am always eager to talk about myself. Hence the title of this post…