moments in the mommyhood - slacker...well sort of...

Source: google.com via luvinthemommyhood on Pinterest

i'm slacking today.  yesterday was my anniversary with the hubs so i didn't spend all night on the computer...well, ok, i did spend most of it, but not as much as normal.  so this is a bit of a slacker post that i couldn't resist doing because last night at like 10:00pm i found the above awesome of awesome pic on pinterest and could not wait until friday to post it.  i seriously need this blown up on my wall.  i love it that much.  i'm sick like that, i know.  but almost everyday i feel as though i need a starbucks iv and have said it on many occasions on here so i only thought it fitting to share it with all of you.

Source: None via luvinthemommyhood on Pinterest

i also haven't been sleeping well this week.  not due to the kids, they have been sleeping better, but due to my own little brain.  i'm sure a lot of you can relate, especially creative types.  i'm having a hard time calming down my little noggin because i'm feeling so crafty at the moment.  it's the new machine.  it's so nice to sew on i want to sew even more than ever before and the ideas they keep a coming but this momma can't make them.  not enough time in the day.  but those ideas?  they don't leave me alone.  it's like they fester until i get them done.  i even write down ideas in the middle of the night.  any of you do that too?

Source: featherweightt.tumblr.com via luvinthemommyhood on Pinterest

i've also been having nightmares :(  yes....i'm a loser.  the scary movie i watched the other day (insidious) is seriously still freaking me out.  can this even be possible?  i had nightmares all night last night.....really bad sleep and couldn't bring myself to turn the tv off cause i was so eeby jeebied..lol.  i think i have too much of an overactive imagination and i also fall into that 1% category from the print above...haha.  i think i seriously need to A) stop watching horror movies and B) think about the feng shui in my bedroom.  i'm not really into feng shui, but hey, if it's gonna help me not freak out like a little baby every night i'm willing to give it a try.

on a happier note wanna see some of my fave pics from my wedding 3 years ago? i love seeing other peoples...i'm nosy like that..haha.  in case anyone is interested we got married in tofino, bc on mackenzie beach. yep.  cheese factor with the mackenzie beach part but we just couldn't help ourselves we love that beach.  it was such a gorgeous day and even though the pics look rainy, it wasn't.  the sun had been shining and a gorgeous mist had rolled onto the beach.  perfect day.

look how tiny mackenzie was?  Awww....

oh, and our anniversary, well mackenzie closed all the drapes all over our condo and insisted we set the table, candles, wine glasses and all and put on romantic music.  she picked out my clothes (she even attempted to choose my bra and underwear which i of course told her was taking it just one step too far), told me how to do my hair and then dressed her and harper.  it was the cutest thing when the hubs walked in the door with flowers and there we all were...i had a good chuckle, oh and the hubs scored major points for the flowers :)

how has your week been?  sleeping or not sleeping?  any of you going to join me and gynnab (fb pal) for some starbucks iv?  c'mon...you know you wanna....lol.  

Up your summer fun factor - the new mega issue of Action Pack is out!

school is out, summer is here (sort of weather wise) and we're all trying to figure out what the heck to do with our kids.  especially when they are older than toddlers & babies!  do you have a vacation planned?  road trip?  a break between summer camps?  well, look no further "action pack: a mini-mag for kids who want to do stuff " has their mega summer edition out!

a jumbo sized action pack filled with summer goodness and activities galore brought to you by the fabulously talented kathreen of whipup.net.  there's a great section on boredom busting games for those long car rides and bad weather days and check out these other great features as well:

- campfire recipes(yum!)

- weather experiments
- creative outdoor art projects
 
 and we can't forget about the crafts!  this super issue has bright, clear instructions for:

- a utility tool belt & bag perfect for your outdoor adventurer

- flower press & nature journal
- nature jewels & a woven fly swatter

and we all know that in the summer we all spend tons of time outdoors and this issue of action pack has a whole handy and resourceful section all on adventure & survival that includes super duper how to's to make your fishing rod & trap, how to safely light your own campfire & survival knot tying! !!  makes me want to go camping right now :P

how fun is that!!  seriously...i keep telling kathreen that i don't care that i'm not 7 years old, i want to do all the things in her awesome action packs!!! (you can find the other issues here) so fantastic!  so beat those summer boredom blues & get your copy of action pack today!  click here to go the shop - it's easy!  action pack is a downloadable e-zine that's available for the fabulously affordable price of $6!!!  hello!  $6 is a great price to pay for a jumbo mega-issue filled with activities, games, recipes & crafts for kids that may just help us mom's save our sanity and even enjoy an hour or two of peace and quiet :) so go have some fun! happy creating!!!

do you have a favorite summer craft or activity that you do with your kids?  what's your favorite boredom buster game for long car rides?  we all love tips to help make the summer that much more fun so share away folks!

braid it up buttercup - a round up of braids & other romantic hairstyles

pretty side french braid from lovemaegan.com

i have to admit that i have been a wee bit obsessed by braids and online hair tutorials lately.  i usually have a shorter hair style and have taken the leap to grow it back out for a while and it's finally getting long enough that a few of these may be an option.  also, the hairdresser in me just LOVES this stuff (for those of you who don't know i was hairdresser in my non bloggy life)!

1. twist updo 2.Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Deirdre on Pinterest 

3. Source: hairromance.com via Annie on Pinterest 4. Source: facebook.com via Natalia on Pinterest

i've been drooling over romantic images of lovely girls with even lovelier braids and thought i would share some of my faves from pinterest (you can find my pinterest boards here).  i also have a few pals from knit night that are in need of some snazzy hair styles - one as a bridesmaid (jane) and one as the bride (mandy) and i bombarded them on saturday night with hair tutorial talk instead of knitting chat..lol and they so nicely asked me to post about it.

 all hair tutorials above from one of my fave blogs "a cup of jo"

 whether it's a bun, side braid, milk maiden style, fish braid, french braid, loose braid, messy braid...i love them all!  now i just need to get my hair to grow faster or my 4 year old to let me practice on hers :p

1. Source: inkandpost.com via MaJose on Pinterest 2. partial cascading braid

so here ya go ladies...lots of inspiration for you to swoon over.  let's get braiding!

Source: rodeo.net via Emilia on Pinterest

Source: tabletonic.blogspot.com via Lazy on Pinterest

Source: chelsaskees.tumblr.com via Erin on Pinterest

Source: ringohaveabanana.blogspot.com via Data on Pinterest

and here's a few wedding ones for you mandy & all you other brides to be out there ;)

1. gibson roll  2. side updo

chestnut bun from "a cup of jo"

but let's not forget about the how to's!  below are some of my recent faves!

* the lovely blog cupcakes and cashmere has some lovely hair tutorials.  i heart this one!
* cheri from the crafty blog "i am momma hear me roar" had a hair week the other week that was filled with lots of hair goodness!i loved her waterfall braid tutorial.
* you can find a ton, and i mean a ton of romantic hairstyles & braids over on "hair romance".  you can even pick up an e-book filled with them!  check out one of her free hair tutorial videos here!
* i'm absolutely swooning over the new website "the beauty department" featuring the gorgeous lauren conrad (i admit i have a girl crush on her & yes, i was addicted to the hills). check out this pretty pinup girl tutorial.
* the uber stylish "from me to you" has this messy (in a good way) hair tute.
* you can find a ton of romantic and girly hairstyles over on "my yellow sandbox" as well.  she did a 30 days & 30 hairstyles that is awesome!!! i like this one!
* here's a boho holiday hairstyle.
* cute braided hairstyle for long hair.
* just in case you missed it above all the hair tutorials on "a cup of jo" are equally as fabulous as the next and i love all of them.
* and the newest one going around the blogoshpere like hot cakes that i couldn't resist featuring is the "how to get vintage style curls without heat".  i first spotted this on grosgrain.  i'm going to try it out this week (for those of you have seen it doesn't this girl have the best accent ever? she's so lovely).

how to get vintage style curls without heat

* and last but not least here's a handy little braid chart i spotted on pinterest as well.

Source: misschicgeek.com via Emily on Pinterest

so get creative with your summer hair!  hope you guys had some hairtastic fun!  what's your fave hair tutorial online?  do you have a braid hair pic you love?  what's your fave way to style your hair in the summer that's not your average ponytail?  let's talk hair girls!

lovely clusters - the pretty blog

are you looking for a blog to get lost in with soothing images, pretty lovelies and beautiful handmade goodies galore?  well let me just say that when i'm having one of "those days" and i feel the need for some soothing and relaxing eye candy i pop over to lovely clusters.  rachel's blog and shop is filled with the most gorgeous pictures, mood boards, color inspirations and dreamy images.  i love to get lost there.

one of my favorite parts of lovely clusters is the ability to search for pretty things based on your color preference.  i mean hello....i can search under teal & turquoise!  love it! and then voila! lots of pretty things to buy in my fave colors!

don't get me wrong, i'm a pinterest addict - proud of it too, but before pinterest came along and even now it's here i still visit lovely clusters.

rachel even has catalogs now!  lovely free emags filled with lots of inspiration.  you can find the spring/summer and fall/winter issues here.

so go get inspired or how about some shopping...go treat yourself to something handmade and pretty from the one of the many gorgeous shops featured on lovely clusters.  

after drooling over all of the good stuff rachel puts together over on lovely clusters i knew when doing my research for the luvinthemommyhood blog redesign the other month that she was the girl for the job.  who else better than to help give you guys your "brain latte" than rachel.  yep, that's right, she's a graphic designer as well.  you can find her shop here on ironwood design studio.  i don't want to embarrass her too much but I do have to say that rachel - you are ahhhhhmmmmazing!  i love the blog and you seriously rock!  thank you for doing such a wonderful job and for putting up with all my crazy ideas. giant hugs and thank you, thank you, thank you!

you are sure to find something you love over on lovely clusters:

* blog  *shop  *facebook  *pinterest  *twitter  *catalogs

are you on pinterest?  are you a fan of lovely clusters?  do you sell on lovely clusters?  where do you go for inspiration online?  you can follow me on pinterest here :)

feeling inspired by...

the orchid my baby sis got me for my birthday...

Source: None via MorgenStern on Pinterest

creative stillness...

Source: flickr.com via Mochi on Pinterest

quiet time...

Source: sarahjanestudios.com via Amy on Pinterest

being able to find time to sketch again...

Source: flickr.com via Vicky on Pinterest

snuggles...

Source: havealittlefaithinme.tumblr.com via Jasmine on Pinterest

lace...

Source: dottieangel.blogspot.com via Ginny on Pinterest

and friends :)

Source: sayingimages.com via Samantha on Pinterest

things may be a bit quiet off and on around here this week.  the hubs is still sick, i'm a bit under the weather with my ol'pal (endometriosis), the baby has decided that 4am is her new wake time and it's been hectic around here.  i still haven't been able to use the new sewing machine yet and it's killing me..lol.  i hope to post everyday this week but if i'm a no show one day you know where i am :)

i hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are feeling inspired too.  in fact i'd love to know what's inspiring you this week.  leave me a comment below or even better, why not post about what's inspiring you too and then link to it below so we can all see. happy creating!

a little blue...

i'm feeling a bit blue today. my parents and grandma just left this morning and after having a very long cry last night (i know, i'm a bit of a baby) and watching my little girl cry for an hour too i'm not feeling much like posting the post i had planned. it's so hard to be apart from your family and loved ones. i grew up in a very small town where i was lucky and blessed to have my parents, both sets of grandparents and uncle/aunt and cousins. it's just such a different life than i had envisioned for my wee ones to only see my folks & their great grandparents once a year or so. it's hard on me and hard on them. it really cements to me how precious the life i had as a child growing up was and how having all that family nearby helped to shape who i am today.

i have learned to cherish the moments i do see them now and hope my daughters will too but i'm still finding it oh so hard to say goodbye and to get back into the ol'routine. i miss my mommy :P

are any of you missing family? did you grow up with your loved ones nearby and now find yourself living far away from them? how do you cope? what do you do to get through those days when you're feeling a bit blue? come chat, i could use some cheering up :)

(i love you and miss you guys already mom. thank you for everything.)

i've got a thing for tea...

ok, you all know i've got a thing for tea. i know a lot of you do too. remember tea cup month? so fun! well i got super excited when i heard that kathreen of "whipup" had chosen tea & sew as her theme this month for her super fabulous e-mag 'action pack: a mini mag for kids who want to do stuff'! i love the whole premise!

it's perfect timing for mother's day and all things spring/summer & tea! learn how to sew a tea cup & jam tarts, brew your own tea & bake tea cookies, learn how to dye fabric with tea, make your own tea cozy and more! "this ‘tea & sew’ themed issue contains instructions & printables for a busy afternoon or two of tea drinking, cooking and sewing: lots of experimenting with flavours, sewing, dyeing and baking." there's also even the perfect project for mother's day included!

kathreen created 'action pack' with the idea of "inspiring kids to be creative, to develop and nurture healthy habits, and to feed inquisitive minds, and challenge imaginations". ‘target="new"action pack’ is designed for busy parents and creative energetic kids. needless to say i love it and this month's issue does not disappoint.

kathreen's even got something special for all you luvinthemommyhood readers just in time for mother's day. pick up your copy of 'action pack' and get 20% off!!!! wowsa! great deal ladies! it's valid for 2 days so get yours now! 'action pack' is only $5 (what a steal), is ad free and delivered right to your inbox in a gorgeous pdf! just enter this code at the checkout here:

AP3luvinthemommyhood

i have one and i plan on making/creating everything in it with or without my kids....haha, you're never too old to play right? so get crafty this spring! may is the perfect month for letting your imagination go wild with images of all things tea! happy sipping!

have you all bought action pack yet? what's your fave tea craft to make with kids? do your kids have a love of tea? what's the tea of choice in your house?

a little about me, a little about you

image source

every once in a while i get the urge to pop one of these fun "a little about me, a little about you" posts on the blog. i love hearing more about you guys so join in! just copy and paste the questions and fill them in on your own blog post. if you decide to do one, leave me a comment with the link so i can come read it and learn some more about you as well! i don't know about you guys, but i love these things. they are fun, c'mon, just admit it, it's a great way to learn a little about each other. here we go:

image source

Making : a dress for my friend's daughter sadie
Cooking : a cup of peach passion tea
Drinking : pellegrino..yummm!
Reading: Modern Top Down Knitting and Mockingjay
Wanting: a new casual dress perfect to throw on with my fave pair of boots
Looking: at my baby girl asleep in my arms
Playing: hide & seek with Mackenzie
Wasting: time wishing I had more of it
Sewing: a quilt for Harper
Wishing: my family lived closer
Enjoying: that I got to go out to a knit night on the weekend
Waiting: for my hubby to get home from work
Liking: the fact that i got a lot of sewing in today even though my she-devil of a sewing machine tried to deter me
Wondering: when i'll be able to find a bed to replace the broken one we're sleeping on
Loving: the way my 10mth old baby girl blows me kisses and rubs my back when she hugs me
Hoping: that i can finally decide which sewing machine i want to buy
Marvelling: at how quickly my girls can mess up my just cleaned house
Needing: some more fabric...one can never have enough fabric, yarn or shoes right?
Smelling: my cup of peach tea
Wearing: hubby's baseball tee and yoga pants
Following: american idol
Noticing: that my baby is going to be 1 in 2 months!
Knowing: that so far I haven't made a mistake on the dress I'm sewing. crossing my fingers it stays that way :)
Thinking: of how excited I am to see my family coming to visit soon
Bookmarking: all of your fab crafty tutorials!
Opening: my knitting bag to get a few rows in before bed
Giggling: over Harper running - so adorable!
Feeling: tired (what a surprise)

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yippee!! i'm done! that was fun! c'mon....join in on the fun - you know you wanna!how about we sit down together and enjoy one of these delicious goodies? doesn't this look positively evil? not sure what's gotten into me. i'm a salt person but lately all these sweets floating around blogland have had me drooling up a storm!

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are there any questions you would love to know about me? ask away in the comments below and if enough of you want to know a bit more about lil'ol me, i may just put together a fun little post about it answering all your questions.

sewing 911 - what's your machine of choice?

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over the last few months we've briefly chatted about new sewing machines here and there. i've gotten a few requests for a more detailed post about different machines and which ones YOU all are all using and loving! my bday (eek) is coming up in june and i'm getting this momma a new machine. i've been saving my pennies. yep, that's right...the old 11 year, moody, sensitive, finicky, temperamental machine that i've been using is going to be put in storage. i know...i know...i keep threatening to throw her out the window but i just don't have the heart. she'll be my backup and go into retirement...she's tired ya know :P

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i've been keeping my eyes open and asking questions to lots of people about their machines and the many kinds that are available and i still can't seem to find the right one or make up my mind. who knew buying a machine would be so hard? i feel like i want to know more about them before i go into the local shops and sit down with them. i get overwhelmed if i don't have a chance to read reviews and be one of those consumer types who's researched the heck out of a product before buying it. i just get all fidgety and nervous and then can't make up my mind if i want to buy it or not. the machine ideally has to fit all the criteria on my checklist or there is no point in buying it. here's my checklist.

what i need my new best friend to be able to do :

- drop in bobbin (preferably top)
- one step buttonholes (more than 1)
- automatic needle threader
- auto tension
- a whole whack of stitch patterns
- free arm
- lots of feet
- adjustable stitch length and width

extra bonuses:

- drop feed for free motion sewing
- heavy metal frame for no movement while sewing
- push button stitch selection

what's on your list? i would love to hear what you are all looking for in a machine as well. i've put together a poll for you all so we can all share what machines are our faves! select an answer from the options and then share in the poll in the "other section" (that allows you to write an answer) your make/model so we can check it out!


also please leave any comments you would like about your machine and why you love it! i need all the help i can get! the more info we all share the better! i'll put together another post soon with the results and links to other good sewing machine posts/roundups.

image source

what do you love about your machine? pros/cons? what features are your must haves? let's chat sewing over our coffees :)

action pack: a mini-mag for kids who want to do stuff

i was so excited to find out that kathreen of "whipup" is launching march 1st a fab new mini-mag called "action pack: a mini-mag for kids who want to do stuff".  geared to kids aged 7 and up this is the perfect thing to get the tween crowd making, playing and creating!  after all, not all of us have kidlets that are wee ones. 

kathreen developed action pack with "busy parents and creative energetic kids in mind".  it's an easy printable pdf, costs only $5 (wow!), there's no ads and it's filled to the brim with "20 pages of craft projects, outdoor activities, cooking, drawing & more, everything a kid needs for a weekend (or two) of activities".  all the projects inside are kid tested and approved :)

projects like beeswax candles, lip balm & hand lotion (with your own labels!), beeswax dipped origami boats (they float), honey cinnamon cake, drawing lessons, fun facts & more!  ummmmm, i wanna be a kid so i can do the projects in action pack. hello....these are fabulous!  such a great idea! 

most of my readers know i'm a big believer in encouraging handmade in my home so to see this kind of publication come out to encourage not only our wee ones, but also our tweens, teens and everything else in between to create and use their imaginations does my heart good.  you can download and purchase your copy of action pack here for only $5 buckaroos.  skip the latte....you won't regret it.

you can also find lots of other crafty inspiration and goodness over at kathreen's blog - whipup.  you are sure to find more than enough projects to keep you busy and your kids.

so get inspired, find a project and get creating!  your imagination awaits!  what is your favorite kind of craft, experiment or project to do with your kids?  would your child love action pack?

inspiration in unexpected places

we've had some sleepless nights here...here's knocking on wood they end soon, but in the meantime here's some pics of our visit to the local victoria butterfly gardens. so fun! i could have sat in there in the warmth taking pics and having butterflies land on my head all day. only thing i regret is not taking my good camera with me. it's too big to handle sometimes when i have harper in the carrier - she's always grabbing and pulling at it. so next time i go....it's gonna be all about the pics. i felt so inspired by all the color and patterns in all the butterfly wings, plants, fish and tropical life in there. i honestly didn't expect to feel that way. i just wanted to sit down with a sketchbook and draw out some designs and ideas that popped into my head for all sorts of lovelies. it was so inspiring. i love the unexpected pops of pink and yellow. who knew butterflies could do that to a girl?

have you found inspiration in an unexpected place recently? here's to sleep filled nights :)

the shoulders have taken over

ok, i had a totally different post planned for today but i seriously could not restrain myself from posting about the golden globes. i look forward to the golden globes and the oscars each year. the hairdresser in me loves to check out the hair, the makeup, the clothes and ohhhhh, the glamour. this year's awards didn't dissapoint. my fave all around....yep...anne hathaway. LOVE. I DIE. hahahha, yes, you guessed it...rachel zoe was her stylist. i knew as soon as i saw anne that rachel had a hand in it. she looked flawless and that dress, while i'm not a giant fan of the comeback of the the big shoulders it works on anne.


my other faves for the awards show...claire danes - a close runner up to anne. this simple dress fit her like a glove and was beautfiul in it's simplicity. sofia vergara also looked stunning and man can that girl work her curves. gives us busty gals some hope :) the newly single eva longoria and scarlet johansson also looked lovely.


now for the worst dressed. i seriously hated michelle williams dress. her haircut - adorable, but the dress...heinous. ugly. next up j-lo. i'm not feeling that white cape and all the pounds of makeup you're wearing and jennifer love hewitt..not sure about your dress but the hair, oh the hair. me no likie. and last, but not least, helena bonham carter...what can i say...worst dressed. bah. ok, i'm done...hahaha, i got it out of my system, i promise tomorrow i'll be back with our regular schedule programming.

did you watch? who was your fave? least fave? did your fave movie/show win? i think it will be a fun morning chat, why don't you join me...coffee's on :)

p.s. today is your last day to enter to win $75 worth of jewelry from olive bungalow! click here to enter.

the princess & her tower

mackenzie, like most kids her age, is into everything and wants to do most things "by herself". she loves, loves, loves to help in the kitchen. she wants to clean, wash dishes, cut, chop, cook and make food with mommy and daddy. we want to allow her to help, but our kitchen chairs at the moment are 6 year old $15 ikea chairs. cheap and not sturdy at all. so when she tries to help she's always wobbling and scaring the wits out of me. if she's not dragging our cheap chairs around, she's using her potty...which needless to say doesn't belong in the kitchen, nor is it high enough for her to safely reach the counter and interact the way she could be. so when little towers contacted me about reviewing their fab product "the learning tower" i couldn't say yes fast enough.


now this isn't a review blog, but i agreed to write this post because i think this is a fantastic product that a lot of parents/children could benefit from and that i knew would work for our family. it allows me to not worry about the safety of my child while she gets to experience the joys and fascinations of being "just like mommy". whether it's just washing dishes or even pulled up against my sewing desk so she can safely watch me stitch - it's come in very handy. she plays with it during the day as a fort, she sits in it with her dolls, she climbs on it, she reads in it, plays with her friends in it...and just plain enjoys it. she calls it her stander...haha.


the best part is that when harper is 18mths she can use it too. the learning tower is designed for 18mth olds - 5 (6) year olds. the base the child stands on is adjustable (no tools required) based on the age/height of child and can hold a weight capacity of 500lbs and is designed to hold 2 kids! can i climb in it too??? it was designed and created by another mom - carol gamble. thanks carol!

you can get some great accessories for your learning tower too! turn it into a puppet theatre (fun!), attach the fab art easel (one side chalkboard/other dry erase) add one for their toys and you've got a great asset to any child's playroom, bedroom and kitchen. the learning tower also comes in 9 stylish and modern colors. ours moves all over the house during the day. i'm even thinking it would make a great place for those times when your child needs to "wind down". it would make a great calming asset to any parents arsenal :)

so get baking, crafting and just plain playing and let those kids imaginations go wild. it's time for cookies, paints and puppet shows! sounds like a good day to me! and because the folks at tiny towers are so awesome they are offering all of you a discount of 10% for the next month. the code for the promo will be LITMH (for luv in the mommyhood). thanks learning tower!

you can find out more about the learning tower here on their site, keep up with new products and information on their facebook page & twitter page and share your pics on their flickr page.

what do you guys think? would you use one? do you already have one?

how to be alone...

i fell in love with this and couldn't resist sharing it even though i'm technically not blogging....hee hee. i wish i had seen this years ago. it's beautiful, simple and shares a message that i feel is important - finding comfort in yourself and your own company. so lock yourself in the bathroom with the laptop (if you have one) away from the kiddos and the hubs and enjoy some solitude ("cause if you're happy in your head, then solitude is blessed....") if only for 4 minutes.

a song about baby poo??

the hubby is making a special video for us with pics of the girls & video clips from the last year and this is one of the songs he found to put in. i laughed my ars off. thought you guys might too. now remember, i'm sleep deprived :P

baby poo by the arrogant worms

hope you got a laugh with your morning coffee!

p.s. the arrogant worms are a great & might i add hilarious canadian band.