I'VE BEEN PROMOTED!!

Valley Parent Magazine has asked me to write a blog with them.  So, please join me at

http://www.valleyparent.com/organizedchaos/

They will promote it on Facebook, in their Magazine and Online.

Please subscribe to it!

I will be spilling my guts and sharing life lessons!!

I hope you enjoy!!!

You will ALWAYS be my Little Girl!

Me with my Mom and Brother!

I need to remember that when I'm dealing with my mother that I will always be her little girl.  Not feeling comfortable about her disapproval about my upcoming living arrangements I forced myself to talk with her.

It's strange how at 47 I'm still afraid of my mother!  In any case, it wasn't what I was doing it was HOW I was doing it which upset her.

I showed a lack of respect by not sitting down with her to discuss with her my decision to move out and live with David.  Apparently the little conversations here and there don't count because we didn't sit down and actually discuss details.

So, after apologizing and telling her how I totally understand how I disrespected her and how sorry I was, we ended up with Morgan getting to take her own bedroom furniture (which her Halmuni bought for her) and with me back on speaking terms with her.

She is more concerned about Morgan and how she will handle it.  We discussed Charlie (my chi) and Zody (Morgan's possible birthday gift). 

I am very happy now.  Whew!   My mommy still loves me.  LOL!

Charlie!

Zody!

My Body is Shaking Already!!!

This is how I feel today!!!  Why???  OMG, so much is happening!!!!  Tonite at 6:00 I'm meeting up with other people who, like me, are out of shape and ready to make a difference in their lives!!!  I'm beginning the Couch to 5K Program!!!

It's free.  It's fun. It's going to be THE change I need in my life to really be able to keep up with my 6 year old.  No matter what age you are (though I am pushing it at 47) you need to be in shape to keep up with a child!!!

What else you ask?  Well, as you know I'm moving!!!  This is a HUGE step in the right direction!!!  I'm finally going to have the stability of my own space.  It's been so long. And, since I've decided NOT to live in my condo in Atlanta, then, this is the best thing for us!!!!

My mother doesn't seem too happy about it, though.  I don't think it's because she wanted us to stay as much as she wanted us to move on her terms.  Her idea was to wait until Summer when Morgan was out of school.

My thinking is that the distraction of school will make it easier for us to make the transition into a new home, new routine.  Morgan has to have a predictable routine.  This will make it easier for her to learn how to become more independent.  

So, we will start out by teaching her to sleep in her own bed.  Keep her room clean (she's already pretty good about this) and studying, bathing and sleeping on time.

It will be a challenge, but one which is far easier to achieve if it is under controlled surroundings.  

No longer will she have her Halmuni (Grandmother) chasing her around with a spoon or fork full of food trying to feed her.  She'll learn how to sit and eat like a 6 year old!!

No longer will she have her Halmuni giving her EVERYTHING she wants ALL day long.  Now, she'll get it only when she spends time with her.  Now, her Halmuni can sleep in, visit friends, travel and enjoy her life; seeing Morgan on HER terms.

I'm very excited.  Today is the first day of a new life for me, my mother, my daughter and of course, David.  Hopefully he will not regret the decision to ask us to move in together.  LOL!!!

Oh, then there are the dogs.  I'll save that for another day!!!  Have a Super Tuesday!!!!

AutoCorrect = AutoEmbarrassment!

I have attempted for the past 30 minutes to find a picture to go along with this blog.  I can't breath from laughing so hard!!!

My abs are KILLING me from laughing.  I am going to attempt to find one so that I can share with you the unbelievable faux-pauxs from this website:  http://damnyouautocorrect.com/  It's sooooooooooooooooooooooo funny!!!

This was one of the cleanest ones I could find. You really must grab a tissue, put your drink down and read a few of these.  I guarantee you will laugh.

Let me know what you think!!!

My Man Rocks My World!!

I was going nuts wanting to get into the new apartment NOW instead of Thursday.  So, today David surprised me by going by and signing the papers so I can start moving!!

Yahoo!!! 

The Pool!

The Girls' Castle!

The awesome kitchen!

Our Floor Plan!

So, now I'm looking for help to get boxes UP 32 steps.  All this excitement but didn't think about the labor part!  Moving usually sucks, but I'm finally going to be able to live like a normal person.  No more living out of baskets! 

Can you believe that for the past 10 years I have been living out of baskets???  It's true.  My condo is in Atlanta.  I couldn't see paying for another place to live while here so I have been staying at my mother's.

This has been one tight fit since Danny came back after practically breaking every bone in his body!  Add Morgan and we are a full house.

Now, I'll have a closet.  Organized, neat....I don't like using dressers.  I'm a hanger kinda girl.  We are going to put a small dresser for me in the closet.  Why go from a dresser in the room to a closet to find what you want to wear?? That's insane. 

My head is spinning with excitement.  So, if this doesn't make much sense, blame it on my elation!!!!

Now, who will help me lug the boxes up all those steps????

How cute is this?

Morgan, Me, David and Lisi!

The Art of Negotiation!

My sweet Morgan desperately wanted Wizards of Waverly Place for her birthday theme.  While at WalMart I notice that they had their Valentine goodies at 75% off.  So, I told Morgan how much I loved hearts and how I really would love to make a heart themed birthday party which included giving each girl a teddy bear!!

That's all it took!!  We were off!  Picking 15 teddy bears, 15 lip shaped taffy candies, 15 buckets with hearts and so much more!!!!  I cannot believe the savings!!!!

Now, all I have to do is come up with an amazing, room stopping cake (purchased from The Corner Bakery, of course).

This makes me ssoooooooooooooooooooooo happy.  I'm going to give the Goody Buckets to the girls who sleep over and the Goody Bags to those who attend the swim party.

I love it!!!  The art of negotiation...practiced on a 6 year old.

Carol Ann's “Pre-Spring Pick Me Up” Botox Party!!! WAS A HIT!

I was amazed at how many women came out to Mediderm to get Botox and Fillers!  What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Sandra Okamoto and her photographer were also there to cover the party for the April Edition of Her Magazine.

How fun!  We enjoyed Brie, Grapes, Water, Crackers and Chocolate while we waited for our faces to numb from the cream.  There was a great sense of comraderie.  I was able to finally meet a few Facebook friends face to face!!!

One by one, I watched as they all had which ever procedure they wanted done.  Not one cried or grimised or complained of pain.  Joyce was patient and gentle.  Each of us received a very generous gift bag from Mediderm!

From 11:00 - 1:00 we chatted about our businesses, our friends, our families....THANK YOU Connie for bringing 3 of your friends, Christy, Leisa and Lisa for coming out and sharing this most awesome afternoon with me.

Save the Date:  Carol Ann's Fall Pick Me Up Botox Party in July or August.

Right now I'm working on a "Brighten Your Smile" Party.  I am determined to make 2011 a year of positive changes!!!

I hope you join me!

Couch to 5K

Okay, no more excuses.  I've decided to take the Couch to 5k Challenge.  Can you imagine someone in MY shape actually being able to run 5K?  I don't even know how far that is, but it sounds like a long way!!!

Always wanted to run, but never knew where to start? 

Join the Columbus Roadrunners during their next Couch to 5K training program starting February 22, 2011.

The Couch to 5K program is designed for people with no previous running or exercise experience. 

During the 8 to 10 week program, participants will build up from running/walking intervals to completing a 5K (3.1 miles).

Participants have their choice of two goal races – Celebrity Classic on April 16 and the Midtown Run on April 30. 

Participation is not required in either of these races but is encouraged.

Every Tuesday & Thursday @ 6:00 PM starting February 22

Lakebottom Park

(Meet in front of the restrooms by the tennis courts/oval track)

Cost: Free

Members of the Columbus Road Runners will be leading the program and will be available for support and questions.

She's ONLY going to be 7!

So, why do I find myself spending 6 months planning her birthday party?  Year after year I begin planning in December for a March party.

The biggest question is THEME.  It was easy for me when I was able to choose what she wanted.  Now, SHE gets to choose.  Wizards of Waverly Place is her choice.  How do you incorporate that into an Indoor Swimming Party and Sleepover?

We are having the party at the Hilton Garden Inn again this year.  This time we will have 2 suites so that the mommies can get some rest!

We will swim from 5 - 8.  Have cake, pizza, juice.  Then, the boys will leave and the Slumber Party begins.  How fun!!

We've decided to have stations set up to do the girls' nails, hair, toes, and perhaps even a facial.  I've had to beg other mommies to help!!  It will be so much fun!!!

The cake is always purchased at the Corner Bakery.  I ordered all of my invitations from Vistaprint.  Did you know you could actually order 100 cards for FREE!!!  It's true.

This year the brochures (yes, I actually order brochures for her sleepover party) were $20 for 25.  That's still a great value!!

I'll post pics soon of the invitations.  I'm still not sure how I'm going to get WoWP into the party.  I really don't want Selena Gomez's picture on anything.  It's Morgan's party after all!

What's in a Name Part 2

What’s in a Name!

You know I didn’t explain how my parents came up with MY name!  My father’s born name was Sheldon.  He was chubby all his life.

He was made fun of by the kids in the neighborhood.  “Hey Shelly the Jelly Belly”. 

Well, he said when he had children he would NOT name them anything which could be made fun of.  So, he selected Daniel Joseph for my brother and Carol Ann for me.

I was safely living my life without anyone making fun of me until the year Poltergiest came out.  Now, not a day passes where someone doesn’t tell me to come to the light.

As for my father, when he hit 40 he changed his name to Jacob.  I asked him, why.  He said he was tired of being called Shelly the Jelly Belly.  So, I asked, what do they call you now, Dad?  His reply, “Shakey Jakey”!

What’s in a Name!

I submitted the following for a chance to win a gift card.  I hope it wins!!

Selecting a name was perhaps more difficult than giving birth!  A name.  What to name my child?  Let me first say that I had another person heavily influencing my decision!

She was going to be saying the child’s name over and over again so I had to be sure she could pronounce it.

Names I considered Elizabeth (came out EErizabet), Rachel (came out Lacher), Olivia (came out Ohrivia), Emily (Ehmeree), Catherine (Katrin).

I spent a good seven months having my Korean mother say the names I considered outloud.  Every day, Mom say Mary.  Mom say Madison.  Mom say Victoria.

Finally, I found a name which I could stand to scream out; which I could stand to hear yelled across the room; one which I could tolerate having to repeat over and over and over again.  Morgan. 

My daughter’s name is Morgan Kyung (after her Korean grandmother) Kaplan.  Whew!  I must say it IS a beautiful name!!!  My mother is able to scream it nice and articulately from any room in the house. 

I’ve had to scream it outloud from many places; Monkey Joe’s, Relay for Life, Lakebottom Park, Imagine Art, the bathroom…oh the list goes on.

So Many Changes!

WE ARE MOVING!

Morgan and I have decided to take our relationship with David to the next level!

We are moving in two weeks to Grove Park Apartments. One of the main reasons we chose Grove Park over all the others (and trust me we've looked at just about EVERY apartment in the area) is because it has the most amazing Club House.

As the Organizer of the Parenting in Columbus Playgroup, Baby Boomers of Columbus and the Bunco Club of Columbus, I plan on hosting many events!!  I have waited a long time to be able to entertain again. 

As some of you know, I put my life on hold in 2001 when I moved back to Columbus to help my mother with her business and since then I've had a long battle of well, I'll get back to that later.

Let's keep talking about my new home.  It's been so long since I've had a closet and drawers!!  I'm thrilled to be able...crap...back to work.. More soon!  LOL!

Hello, my name is Carol Ann and it's been...

more than 2 years since I started this blog!!  Morgan is now 6 years and 11 months old!!!  LOL!!!

That is too funny.

I am still sorry I deleted my old blog on Myspace.  I had some funny stuff there.

This is a BIG time in my life.  I believe Morgan and I have decided to take the next step in our relationship with David.  We are moving into a new apartment in a week or so.

I'm excited and scared!

Awwwww a New Blog!

This is great! I deleted my entire blog from Myspace. I did it because I was trying to get away from a few people who were very interested in what I was saying and doing.

Now, the privacy of my new rant space. It feels good. I'll rant for a while, then, I may allow some people in (if they even CARE).

I'm too sleepy to post much right now. But, suffice it to say that I have been able to rid myself of the crappy people who have been weighing me down mentally and spiritually. Now, if I could just do it with my BODY!

Morgan is 4 years and 4 months old. She is turning into the most amazing fun little girl. I simply adore her.

I am becoming a better mother, too! Well, I could work on the yelling, but more on that later.