Catching up

Ok so SO many things happened while I was away from blogging this weekend. First of all I won my very first giveaway!!! I cant even take how excited I am!

The giveaway was hosted by Amanda@mailto:Amanda@http://serenitynow4amanda.blogspot.com/ I love her blog so go check her out!

and made by Paula Kathlyn! Visit her etsy shop@http://www.etsy.com/shop/retrogalusa or her blog @http://iaminthearmytoo.blogspot.com/

Also, I received another award, again so excited!!! I received this one from the lovely Messy Mommy @ http://aliasblogger.blogspot.com/. I absolutely LOVE her blog and am so honored to have been chosen. I am passing it along to some of my newest and favoritest blogs!



1. Nikki @http://westbrockblog.blogspot.com/

2. Mama Lungo @ http://thelungos.blogspot.com/

3. Ashleigh @ http://ladyrink.blogspot.com/

4. Danni @ http://lambaround.blogspot.com/

5. Rachael @ http://followinginmyshoes.com/

And last but definily not least, I am SO far behind in all of your blogs! I cannot wait to catch up with all of them and see how everyone is doing!

I feel really overwhelmed lately and Im hoping that next week, after easter, things will start to get back to normal and I can get back to my regular posts! Thanks to all of you for reading and sticking by me as I try to get it all together, if there is a such thing!

Weekend update!

Hello Everyone! I hope ALL of you had great weekends! Im franticly trying to catch up with everyones posts.


My sister is still here but shes getting ready right now so I thought Id have like 16 hours before shes done! Ha, yeah she takes a long time to get ready!


We have been having a great time so far! We took the girls to see "how to tame your dragon," and it was great! So cute! The only problem was that it was like 50 bucks for 4 of us to see it! Can you believe that!

Other than that, we have just been spending a lot of time chasing the girls and drinking wine! Its really been great! The girls are getting super spoiled and im sure it will be tough to get things back to normal .

Today we are going to get spring pictures taken and that should be an adventure all in itself!

What did you all do this weekend?

I love the word random!

Hellllloooo to everyone stopping by from Friday Follow!

Today my blog is going to be about random things.

First of all my sister is coming to visit from Nashville!!! Im so excited I cant even contain it! Shes only staying for a few days so my time in blogville will be limited. I wanted to wish all of you a happy weekend before I disappear.

Also, you can call me milli vanilli for the day because I am blaming it on the rain, ba dum ch! I got nothing done yesterday! It was rainy and cold and gloomy and just all around BLAH! I did get caught up on my DVR'd shows. Which leads me to my next random thing, is anyone watching any good shows out there?

Here are some of my favs, by the way, I LOVE DVR! I couldnt live with out it!

Desperate Housewives, Apprentice, House, Modern Family and Cougartown, The Office, 30 Rock, Private Practice, Greys, Ive been loving that new show..Who do you think you are?, Project Runway...thats probably about it. Anyways, Im getting bored of these shows.

What are you all watching?

Heres whats in my bag...

Ok so Maria at http://www.momofthreeseekssanity.blogspot.com/ tagged me in the game, Whats in my bag. I cant believe Im actually putting this on here but Im trying to be a good sport! A womans purse is such a personal thing! You can really learn a lot about your self once you see all of it laid out in front of your eyes.

So here it is in all its glory....

So what we have here is basically a hot mess! Starting from the left we have

1. photo booth pics of me and some girlfriends at a wedding last month
2. next to that is a spoon?
3. a bounce sheet to get the static out of mine and my daughters hair
4. a sucker
5. my 800 lipglosses
6. excedrin
7. cheek stuff so I dont look pale
8. anti bacterial hand stuff
9. wallet
10. puss in boots from shrek
11.one shoe?
12. back to the other side a visa gift card
13. one crayon
14. my daughters mp3 player
15.one hairclip and one earring?
16. a baby shower invite and a thank you card
17. back to the left again a build a bear gift card
18. wet ones, my lifesavers with my girls
19. tons of gum
20. one glove?

So basically I have a lot of random things that are missing the other half?


Wow!

Now I get to tag some of you women whose purses I think COULD have some juicy stuff in it!

Get dumpin girls!!!

1. Mandy http://www.suburbanstereotype.com/

2. Rachel http://www.littlegirlshinyworld.com/

3. Jamie http://jamiejenson.blogspot.com/

4. Laura Jane http://www.callmelaurajane.com/

5. Alyssa http://bloggin2noggin.blogspot.com/

6. Jane http://www.mylifeasjane.com

Apples to Gold

In this post, I will probably touching on like 8 different posts that I wanted to make but oh well.


Ive metioned before that im from Ohio. We have lived here in Pittsburgh for about 2 years now. We moved here knowing noone. Since that time, Ive made a handful of friends. Mostly some lovely ladies that I work with at church and like 1 or 2 outside of that. Its been difficult for me. Ive always been a real social person and never had a problem making friends. I love people! It has just been really lonely here for me since weve moved.


But I digress.....I was invited to join a womens group at our church called Apples to Gold and our first meeting was last night. Basically it is a group of older ladies coming together with the younger ladies of the church every tuesday for 7 weeks. We get together and cook, talk, study the bible, eat and just be women! Here is the link to the program http://www.applesofgold.org


I have to say that I was totally nervous about going to this meeting. Im always afraid I will offend someone by something I say or hurt their feelings. I also am not the typical church going woman. I can swear like a sailor, not to mention drink like one and I love ALL kinds of music. I struggle with myself because these things make me feel less of a christian. I kept wondering to myself, "will I fit in with these women?"


Anyways, it was exactly what I needed in my life right now. The women are ALL amazing and funny and I just cant wait to get to know them all more! Ill keep filling you all in on my journey through this!

Long Lost Friend

So this past weekend my best friend from college came to stay with me and it was amazing! I havent seen her in 8 years! Way too long if you ask me.


We lost touch after I changed majors and schools and then life just took over. Before I knew it, it had been a few, days, weeks, months, etc and we lost touch.

Thank God for facebook and we found each other again!

I just cant explain the feeling I had of remembering what I used to be like before husband and kids! We had such a blast catching up and I didnt want her to go! Because Im not as young as I used to be, Im still EXHAUSTED from the night and need a nap so Ill have to make this post a very very short one!


Tell me about your long lost friends and wake me up!

Glamorous! Fabulous! Posh! Wonderful! Classy!

Glamorous! Fabulous! Wonderful! Posh! Classy! Sexy!


These are all words that describe me because Im a new reciepint of the




Stiletto Award!!

Thank you sososo much Laura Jane @ http://www.callmelaurajane.com/! She is one of my favorite bloggers so make sure you stop by her site! Its great!

Yay! When I put on my stilettos they really do make me feel different! They make me walk into a room with my 'americas next top model' walk and I love them! For all they do for women!

First, to understand, let us understand the Stiletto… some words that describe it…

Classy – Strong -Exotic – Demure – Extreme – Ultra – Sexy - Bold – Funky

“Walking in extremely high heels is not something that the average woman (or man)
will need to do in their everyday life.However, there are times when this skill may be required.”

I want to salute the women who balance life, family & relationships with style & class! Those women who share their experiences with us…who encourage us, inspire us, teach us, make us laugh and basically keep us going! You know who they are! While you read this blog, your family is looking at you wondering what the heck you are laughing about so hard…or why the tissue is necessary for internet browsing. It’s the one that the kids are excited about because a new post means a new craft project or family outing. The one that inspires you to be a better mom, friend, person in general. The one that reminds you that we are all “in this life together” and you’re not the only one going through the hard stuff. The one that you secretly wish your blog was like…

“Heels this high are not meant for clubbing or walking long distances in. They are mainly used for getting from the living room to the bedroom, from the car to the restaurant, or for a short stroll along the catwalk.”

If you’ve received this award, someone out there thinks you deserve it! Be proud! Display the badge with honor! You earned it…after all it means that you brought something special to at least one other person, and really, isn’t that what life’s all about?

THE RULES!

This blog is meant to be shared, to be given out, to be bestowed upon any and ALL women who exemplify what the stiletto represents. If you’ve received this award, here’s what you do:

1. Display your Stiletto Badge of Honor on your sidebar! Wear it with pride…

2. BRAG ABOUT IT! -write a post about your award. Include the link to this page so everyone will understand what it’s all about! http://bit.ly/thestilettoaward

3. SAY THANKS! - include a link to the friend who nominated you for the award.

4. SHARE THE LOVE! -nominate 5-10 blogs that you feel deserve the award. Include links to hem in your post -and- leave them a comment to let them know they are nominated.

5. DO WHAT YOU DO! -keep at it. Keep inspiring and encouraging and sharing your life! We love it and we thank you!

So here are the blogs that I think can rock some stilettos!

1. Mandy @ http://www.suburbanstereotype.com/

2. Rachel @ http://www.littlegirlshinyworld.com/

sorry girl, I know we are awarding back and forth but how could I NOT give you the STILETTO award. You are too fabulous!

3. H @ http://www.dreamsandcaffeine.com/

4. Lizgizzy @ http://lizgizzy.wordpress.com/

5. The Apartment manager @ http://managingapartments.blogspot.com/

Have a GREAT and SUNNY weekend!

Thankful Thursday!

For this edition of Thankful Thursday, I want to tell you all that I am thankful for YOU!

Thank you for all of your wonderful blogs that so brighten my day, make me laugh, cry, and smile! Im still a newbie when it comes to blogging and I wouldnt still be doing it if it wasnt for all of you!

What are you thankful for today?

Branagan Shenigans

I interrupt this what the heck wednesday for a St. Paddys day post!

HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY EVERYONE!!!

Technically Im not irish but as you can tell, my last name is Branagan! I married irish! In Gods eyes we are one right? That makes me irish too!

Anywho, I love St Patricks day! I love it for totally different reasons now than I did when I was in college but still love it none the less ( is none the less one word?) When I was in college today was a holiday to me. My roomate and I would get up at the ass crack of dawn and head down to OSU campus for kegs and eggs, green kegs and eggs. Then maybe head to a class or two. After that go home and take a nap, get up and get all greened up and head out for the evening festivites!

Those were the days....

Fast forward to 2010!

Today I forgot, for a minute, that today was St. Paddys day and had to scurry around trying to find something green for my kindergartener to wear.

I dont want her getting pinched at school :(

Today I love St. Patricks day for what it means! Thanks St. Patricks for spreading the Word and saving the irish! It is greatly appreciated by my Mr. Man and his family!

So put on your green underware and top hat! Its time to celebrate!

Cheers~!

Tell me tuesday!

Lets see.....what do I want to tell today for this tell me tuesday?....hmmmm.....


Sometimes, I dont get a chance to shower every day....thats awful right!?

I guess I should get my stinky butt off this computer and get in the shower!

What about you?

honey, dont bother mommy while I punch this lady in her neck!

Ok so for those of you who havent heard, or been to the SITS page yet today, let me fill you in!
An article was published in the sunday issue of the NY times about women/mom bloggers.

Here is the link in case you are interested; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/fashion/14moms.html

I just want to say, WHAT THE H E double hockey sticks!

Why does this women feel the need to bash moms for having an outlet? Perhaps she has no kids of her own and doesnt really know how it feels? Does that really give her the right to judge?

Ive only been blogging for a couple months but in that time, have felt a huge amount of support from my friends that I have met through blogging! It nice to have an outlet or someplace to go just to laugh and have something for yourself.

This article really rubbed me the wrong way! Maybe its just me and my crazy self?

What do you all think?


Monday Mention, I didnt forget about you....here are 2 blogs that I think you would all love to check out!

Laura Jane @ http://callmelaurajane.blogspot.com/
H @ http://www.dreamsandcaffeine.com/

The happy dance!

Yay! So Im doing a happy dance right now im so excited! I have recieved a new award!! You like me...you really like me...maybe not....Anyways, so excited to accept this award from my girl!!! http://www.suburbansterotype.com/

Shes so awesome as usual! Thanks!

So in order to accept the award I have to tell you ten things about myself and then pick 10 favorite blogs so here goes:

Things you might not know:

1. I am awesome. Ok so Im really not but I do like to think I am!

2. I have a dog named Mr. T. I need to get some pics of him up here!

3. I have a degree in public relations that I have never used.

4. I used to be an intern for billboard magazine in NY before I met my husband.

5. I am originally from Ohio.

6. I love the history channel.

7. I can play a lot of insturments. Guitar, flute, drums, piano. None of them real well.

8. I am the worst dancer but if you get a couple drinks in me, my moves come out!

9. When my kids arent with me, I listen to ganster rap in my mini van. Not because I like it, but because I can.

10. Ive met a lot of famous people. Justin Timberlake, Adam Durwitz, Usher, Ani Difranco, Rob Zombie, Gavin Rosdale, 3 doors down, Jars of Clay, Natalie McMaster, Brian Mcknight, Ben Folds....thats all I feel like typing, in my old life before kids when I had a career.

Here are SOME of my favorites!

1. Mandy P of course! http://www.surburbansterotype.com/

2. Jamie @ http://jamiejenson.blogspot.com/

3. Rachel @ http://www.littlegirlshinyworld.com/

4. Carissa @ http://www.carissagraham.com/

5. Amy @ http://kazamy.blogspot.com/

6. Debbie @ http://athreestrandcord.blogspot.com/

7. Natalie @ http://thebusybudgetingmama.blogspot.com/

8. Maria @ http://momofthreeseekssanity.blogspot.com/

9. Candace @ http://ourloveremainsthesame.blogspot.com/

10. Kalee @ http://organizeme2010.blogspot.com/

and I wanted to add one more.

11. Sabrina @ http://justanothersmithfamily.blogspot.com/

Love 'em

Friday Follow!

C''mon! Jump on the bandwagon! Do the friday follow!! You know you want to!

Hosted by Rita @ One 2 Try Tami @ Hearts Make Families and Lynn @ Midday Escapades








Happy Hoping and come back later for another post!

Thankful Thursday!

Today is thankful thursday and I am so very thankful for this wonderful AMAZING weather! It seems toooooo gooodd to be true but Ill take anything I can get.

Ive opened all my windows and am going to turn up the music and dance with my kids! :)

What are you thankful for today? I cant wait to hear!

What the heck Wednesday!

Time for another edition of What The Heck Wednesday!
started by http://www.mommyologist.com/!

I am the worst speller! Ive noticed that a few of my bloggy friends are teachers and you ladies probably cringe when reading my posts because I am the worst speller. WHAT THE HECK! Why cant I get it together!

My kids are STILL sick! WHAT THE HECK! My dr told me that kids are typically sick for 7-10 days 7-10 times a year!Uhhhhhhh....


Why are all my thoughts continuing to go to "I wonder if this could be a post?" in EVERY thing I do! WHAT THE HECK! This blog is taking over! and I love it!

I cant seem to think of anything else interesting worth mentioning. WHAT THE HECK! Am I really THAT boring.....

Have a happy hump day everyone!!

47 degrees = 80 degrees

So Im not sure if anyone noticed, but I am from Pittsburgh. Where we got 3 feet of snow dumped on us in one day! And then some! Anyways, that last few days have been wonderful with the sun shining and everyone out walking their dogs and kids getting fresh air, but I have to wonder why people around here think its 80 degrees!

Here are a few things I saw while I was out walking my dog this evening:
a guy shoveling snow in shorts
a teenager wearing shorts and a tshirt
a man grilling
and a jeep with the top off!

Now come on people! 47 degrees does NOT equal 80!

This has been one of the longest winters that I can remember and I am SO ready to open my windows, turn on some jams, and dance in my living room!

Hope everyone is having a great week so far, just dont break out the flip-flops just yet :)

Tell Me Tuesday!

Its tell me tuesday again!


Tell me something about yourself that IS NOT on your blog!

Heres mine:

Ive had the same best friend since 3rd grade! I miss her a ton because we live in 2 different cities but love her more than ever!

Your turn!!!!!

My official boycott

Im not sure how many of you watch the bachelor but after these last two stints of the show, I have decided to officially announce my boycott!!

How can I waste my precious blogging time on a show that will, in the end, break my heart! I felt so awful for Melissa when Jason asked her to marry him and then two seconds later, said peace out! Then comes Jake...awwww...on the wings of love....southern gentleman.....etc etc...BAM! Suckers!

I just cant take it anymore!

I hope noone watched the Bachelor wedding tonight....im still a little bitter and no I wont get over it! So now, im stomping my foot like my two year old and watching reruns of house.

Goodnight all! See you tomorrow for Tell Me Tuesday!

Monday Mention

Ok so my monday mention is.......wait for it....wait for it....


Maria at http://momofthreeseekssanity.blogspot.com


I hope you check her out! Shes a great writer and new to blogging to go show her some comment love!


Also, I hope you guys arent hating this everyday day of the week theme thing! Im going to try to post some other things along the way but I dont want to be crazy annoying with all my posting!

Happy Monday!

Just a quick note!

Ok so I left to visit the in-laws for the weekend and let me say....I almost died without my blog!! It was awful! I was having withdraws like an addict! Panic attacks, night sweats, hallucinations!

Ok so maybe im exaggerating a bit but it was definitly hard! Anyways, I was SOSOSOSO excited to find that I got a bunch of new followers from Follow Friday! I actually started jumping up and down with excitement to get to check out all of my new friends pages! It will take me all night but im gonna do it!

To my previous new friends, sorry for negleting you this weekend and Im so excited to hear about how all of your weekends went!

Im off to read and I cant wait!

Heres to a great start of a new week!!!!:)

Friday Follow!

Happy Friday Everyone!

This is my first one and Im not sure im doing this right!

Thankful Thursday!

Today is thankful thursday!

and I am soooo thankful for my wonderful husband! Without him, I would not have my two beautiful girls and a life that I am so grateful to lead!

What are you thankful for?

What the Heck Wednesday!

I got todays theme from a wonderful blogger mommyologist http://www.mommyologist.com/

So here goes:

So my youngest daughter is sick. Shes got an awful cough and the green virus snot coming out of her nose (sorry about the image there!) and just not feeling the best. So my oldest daughter decides she not getting enough attention and pretend to be sick too! WHAT THE HECK! She has the funniest fake cough Ive ever heard and when I ask her about it, she tells me shes pretending to be sick because daughter #2 is getting more attention.

Ive been driving daughter #1 to the bus in the mornings because I feel so bad making her (and #2) out in the cold and EVERY morning this guy drives by and shakes his head at me for parking on the side of the road. WHAT THE HECK! Doesnt he have anything else better to do!I cant help it that the bus wont drive to my house and have personalized service just for my little girl! By the way, I totally think thats what she deserves!

Why do my kids have NO matching gloves? It seems like everytime we get ready to leave the house, it seems like they always are missing just that one glove. WHAT THE HECK! Is there like a glove snatcher sneaking in my house and stealing gloves in te middle of the night?

And lastly, why is Wednesday so hard to spell? Every time I write it, I always spell it wrong and have to go back and retype! WHAT THE HECK!

Tell Me Tuesday

Todays theme is Tell Me Tuesday!

Tell me something about yourself that is NOT on your blog!

Here's mine:

I hate to admit it, but I am a faithful reader of gossip websites Perez Hilton and TMZ....

What's yours?

once in a blue moon....

Once in a blue moon I get to go out with my husband on a date! It always has to be planned in at least a month in advance. As the day starts to get close, you find yourself coming up with all these wonderful ideas of the things you are going to get to do, all of the couple time you will have, all of the kid-free things that are possible!

The girls are packed and ready to go.Everyone has gone potty and the husband and kids are packed in the car ready to go to Gigi and PapPaps. SILENCE! I LOVE IT!!! I get time to myself, at least I think thats what that was? For awhile I just sit. Then I pop on my blog and the next thing I know, its three hours later. I wasted my enitre "me" time on my blog doing absolutely nothing. and it felt great! No guilt, no interuptions, no spills to clean up!

THAT day finally came for me this past saturday. We got up with smiles on our faces and cooked a grandious breakfast for the girls. Little winks and pats on the butt were exchanged. Yay!! What a day this will be! He even let me pick out the movie! I picked Valentine's Day, totally a girly movie.....the next thing I know....we are at the Olive Garden fighting in front of the waitress....

It really stinks when you build up something SO much that when it doesn't turn out the way you want, it can ruin your entire week! My sunday was spent in bed avoiding my husband so we dont rehash things that were said the night before after a few glasses of wine and bottles of beer.


So here I find myself again. Wasting time on my blog...this time I have no date at the end of the evening, total guilt for not getting dinner started, and I think my daughter just threw her glass of apple juice at her sister. Here's to hoping my next "once in a blue moon" will have a better turn out!

Monday Mention

I decided to do a theme post each day of the week.

Today is the monday mention and that means I will pick my favorite blog that I want to mention today and hopefully you will add your monday mention to your blog or to my comments!

My Monday Mention today is

http://www.the-bird-nest.com/


She is a new blogger like myself so check her out!!