Today Is....

Well today is a very special day for Our Sweeter Approach to Life.  One year ago today Hoss pushed the orange publish button and you all kindly welcomed us into your lives!  I say us because although I do all the writing, Hoss does all of the reading.  He's a great editor for content and at keeping me focused on the topic, while giving me great post ideas.

So I wanted to share some thoughts on our first year of blogging.

There are simply days that....

When I'm here......

I love it when.....

Some day I hope we can all get together and celebrate.....

I feel like......

Know that.....

I seriously sometimes forget that....

And many times it's best to.....

When I am like that it's best to know.....

There have also been days.....

Please know there have been days I have felt the need to say....

Know that.....

Every day I need to remember....

Even so there are times I feel like.....

And that Hoss should definitely remember that.....

I've also tried to cop out and say.....

Yeah, those days do not end really well for me, but I'm learning.....

And that.....

I try to remind myself that.....

I'm so thankful that Hoss understands.....

But Hoss also knows sometimes I just need to be.....

So thanks for joining in our lives and we've so enjoyed making friends, so....

And finally, to all who read here I want to.....

And because I love you guys.....

Much love!--Hoss and Baker

Going Nuts, Maybe?

The other day I did something I thought I would never ever in a million trillion years do.  

Some will question my sanity.  

Others will wonder what I was smoking (though I've never smoked anything, but pork in the smoker before, and I'm pretty sure that does not count).  

Still others will have a giggle, then turn around and have an all out gossip session wondering what the heck is going on at the Carlisle Home at the next spanking bloggers convention (I know that does not really exist, but it would be a cool thing if it did.)   

Okay, moving right along....

But I'm about to bare my soul here, so I'll just pretend you all will get your bless her little hearts out, have a quick gossip session at my expense and move on.  

So, two mornings ago, I went nuts.

At least, I think I did.  I'm not a 100 percent sure what going nuts looks like, but I'm pretty sure I did.

Right before I was to be paddled, I said something I never thought I'd say.

I know what you're thinking.  I sassed off, right?  

Nope!  Been there, done that!  Got the t-shirt.

Got rude?

Geez, you folks give me absolutely no credit whatsoever!

What kind of people are you out there anyway?

I see you smirking!

I can be good.  I really can.  I just am rarely good for the whole cotton picking day.   (I hate saying that out loud, humph!)

But that is not the point of this blog post.

Wait!  Where was I going with that?

Okay, I'm good.  I remember now.....

The point is I asked Hoss to do something that I can in all good conscience, barely say what I asked, but need to share with you just to see if I truly did flip my lid.

I asked him to stop....

Using the cheese board.

I know, I know....  What?  Why? 

That's not your place....

It's his favorite implement right now.

LIKE ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE!'

We all know this, right?

It packs a good thud, leaves a sting, nice red bottom.  All good criteria for an excellent spanking.

But folks, it was not cutting it!  

No, I have not lost my marbles even though I'm sure a few of you think so, especially when I tell you what else I said.

Drum roll, please.....

IaskedhimtogobacktoBertha!

What do you mean you cannot read that tiny print?

Here....Try this....

Hmm...still not working for you?  

I admitted to what I did and I'm done now.  

FINE!

Stop your fussing, I can hear you already.  

Sorry, this whole baring my soul thing is making me cranky.

Oh, you want me to say it a bit louder, so you can see it?

Clearing my throat now....

IaskedhimtogobacktoBertha!

Really, folks, you still are not getting it, are you?

I asked him to go back to BERTHA!'

Oops, sorry, I really did not mean to yell it!

Let me interrupt this blog post to welcome those who are just joining us here in blogland.  I asked my sweet man to go from using this:

To using this again!

Okay, back to our regular blog post.

So, I asked him this respectfully because the cheese, well, Bea as you all know her, just was not cutting it.

I know, here it comes, this chick has flipped, right?

Nope, actually I have not.

See the problem with Bea "the Cheese" is that she hurts in the moment.  But the sting does not really last.  

Now, you all know what I'm talking about.  The little twinge you get when you sit down that reminds you that you've been spanked.  The after burn, I guess is what it is called.

Bertha does that for me.  And as much as I hate to admit it.  I have missed that feeling.  And so I asked Hoss to please spank me with Bertha.  

There, I said it nicely and calmly.  And I'm pretty sure I'm not crazy or nuts, even though I'm sure a few of you questioned my sanity, hoped I had something gossip worthy to enjoy....

But I have a feeling, that I am not alone in where I "sit" right now.  Otherwise, you probably would not be on a spanking blog, would you?

True?

Let me hear some, "Amens!"

Anyway, it's none of my business why you're here exactly, but glad to have you visiting.

So I wanted to end the blog post right there, but Hoss said, "Uh uh! No way!  That's a cliffhanger, you have to say what happened."

So I'm obliged, as Hoss was so obliged.

I know he looked a little dumbfounded at my statement, then that grin.  That wonderful ear to ear grin.

Butterflies tumbling all over themselves, as I handed Bertha to him.

Hoss took Bertha (a little too eagerly in my opinion) and said, "It's been a long time, old friend."

Geez, really?  Let me not interrupt your moment, Buddy.  

(No, I did not say that out loud, I'm crazy, not stupid!  I just thought it, REALLY REALLY LOUD!)

Yes, that spanking happened.  Did it feel good in the moment?

Duh, folks, that spanking hurt.  Like really, really hurt.  

And it was only maintenance.

But it worked.

Now, I know what you are wondering.  

Come on....I know you want to ask....

I was wondering the exact same thing.

And, yes, you all, I felt like an old friend had come to visit too.

--Baker

Maintenanc-a-pline

Maintenanc-a-pline.  What?  You’ve never heard of that before.  Come on now….Really?  I mean doesn’t your husband like to make up words as much as mine?  Pfff!  Well, you all are definitely missing out.  NOT!

Well, to be completely honest, I had not heard it before Hoss used it either. My sweet husband decided upon that word many months ago.  See around here maintenance (not that I particularly like that word) happens fairly frequently.  Almost daily I would say.  I asked for it, it helps me to be reset.  Less stressed.  Come to think of it, it is actually more for stress relief because um, I have this thing called a short fuse.  

Wait, that’s not quite right.  I’m more of on a slow simmer most days.  When I cannot function at super woman capacity, I kind of get, let’s call it crabby.  Hoss, would call it something else, but let’s just pretend, for the purpose of this blog, that grouchy is an appropriate word and move on.  The thing is, we are so busy, and when the kids do not pitch in to help, I tend to bellow rather than react calmly.  I also do this to, Hoss, but not near as much as I used to.  

See this is where I’ve overstepped my boundaries and Hoss has to step in and deal with undesirable behavior from me.  He does not particularly like the word punishment though funishment is acceptable.  He likes the word discipline, but well, sometimes, discipline cannot be doled out when it happens and maintenance is going to happen anyway so maintenanc-a-pline it is.  It doesn’t really matter to me the word so much as it hurts like the dickens either way I look at it.  So basically, to summarize is maintenanc-a-pline is when maintenance marries discipline because maintenance was going to happen anyway and there is a discipline hanging out there waiting to happen, so let's just join the two in holy matrimony and move on.

So the other morning I had worked myself into quite the maintenanc-a-pline.  I knew it was coming.  I’d been sick with a sinus infection and toothache for several days and though I had been pretty much incapacitated for at least three days, I knew my bum would lose it’s spank-free status at some point.  I mean, geez, a girl can only be good so long, right?

Well, not according to Hoss.  He decided a healthy dose of maintenanc-a-pline was in order for not doing my check-ins throughout the day and then I sort of lost it on him momentarily when trying to explain a frustration I was having with one of the kids.  Please do not get me wrong.  I am allowed to share my frustrations, but talking over him, arguing or not being willing to listen to his point never goes over well here.  He sees that as disrespectful and I agree, it most definitely is...At least I didn’t sigh or cover my ears or better yet, turn my back and ignore him.  I know, I know, that would not help the situation.  Well, I know now it doesn’t help at all, but I digress.

So yesterday morning I had the opportunity to experience “the Cheese”.  Yes, I know, you all had wonderful and lovely creative suggestions, but he went with his own word... again.  I know, HOH and all that, but good grief, let’s “bea” more original, fella.  What is so unique about “the cheese”, but he likes it and well, it’s his cheeseboard, so what’s a girl to do?  Yes, just choose not to pick that battle and let it die before it starts.

Where was I?  That’s right.  I had a painful….er….I mean enlightening experience with the cheese board that left me sitting tenderly for a bit.  I still think it is crazy that being paddled can actually make me so compliant, but not like a forced compliance.  It is more of a heart change.  I went from being a crabby, complaining wife, to his sweet, adoring wife in the time it takes to experience a much overdue spanking.  I love feeling like that!  Well, everything, but my bum likes it!  I ended up having a fairly stress free day and enjoyed our kids and Hoss last night.  I know that maintenanc-a-pline is not easy to get through, but once it is over it’s a cure all for me.  My heart felt lighter than it had in days.  Now, that is a win all the way around if you ask me.

Hope your Thursday is a great one!

--Baker

** My apologies, sweet friends,I have been away far too long. I looked at my last post this morning and was shocked to see it had been almost three weeks since I last posted.  I have been in and around blogland briefly, but only commenting occasionally.  Life just feels like it’s happening at the speed of sound and I am always lagging behind.  But never fear, soccer season is almost over here and I hope to be back to posting more regularly!

What Goes Around, Comes Around

I've finally had a little bit of time to sit down and write a post to update you all on life here.  I know it seems like ages and I've lurked a bit here and there, but just have not had the time to actually sit down and post anything. Though there have been many ideas floating around in my noggin, time has alluded me.  

My mom has said the title phrase to me often over my lifetime.  "What goes around, comes around." When I was younger I really had no idea what she was talking about, but as a teen and then as an adult I have had plenty of opportunity to see this in action.  

The story I am about to share is a very true story and quite long, so hang in with me there. Each of you will probably have a good laugh by the end and if not Hoss surely did!

We're going to go back around 7 months to begin this story.  My man and I had taken all of our children up about three hours away for a mini vacation at an indoor water park/hotel.  While there we all took in a bit of shopping at a large furniture/home furnishings store.  I have shared with you all about my reader friend, Bea, before.  She's a lovely girl, but quite up to mischief, well almost as much mischief as I am.  So I told her I wanted to buy her and her husband a fun new present from the kitchen area of the store.  Now, Hoss knew that I had this in mind when we came to the kitchen area, but told me if I bought something for her I also needed to buy one for us.  I kind of shrugged and smiled and said a nice, "Yes, Sir!" as i perused the aisles, but also tried to wrangle our two youngest. Finally I found a nice sized cheese board.  Yes, I know, what kind of friend buys another ttwd/dd couple a cheese board, but I was rather naive at the time.  Hoss approved the purchase (one for her and one for us) and we headed about our vacation.  Our kids were told that we'd bought the cheese boards for a present and never gave it a second thought.

When we finally made it home a few days later I sent Bea a picture of her present and she apply exclaimed, "Um, No, thank you!"  I told her it would be fine, no worries, as Hoss made me get my own and would try it out on me before I sent it to her.  And Hoss did try it out on me.  It was mild I felt compared to Bertha and Hoss felt the handle too small for his large hand.  Hmm, okay, I passed that information onto Bea and she relaxed a bit.  At some point I sent her a nice little care package with some other nicer things tucked on top of the innocent looking cheese board.  Bea, being the intelligent woman she is put the cheese board to good use in her kitchen for you know, slicing cheese or bread or whatever and left it there.  I know....big chicken. (Just teasing, Bea, you know I loves ya). Ours ended up underneath other implements of destruction at the back of the toy drawer as Hoss deemed it was not really his thing.

End of story.   Yes?

NO!  

Oh, how I wish it was my friends.  I really really and truly do.....  

That cheese board decided to resurrect itself and it all started innocently enough.

About a month ago I got a scathing message from my sweet friend, Bea.  She is going on and on about that cheese board.  I asked innocently enough what her problem was and why was it my fault after so long of her having the cheeseboard in her possession.  Her story goes something like this....

Her youngest daughter is in the preschool age group and likes to collect things and deposit them about the house.  Guess what item Little Missy decided to deposit in her parents' bedroom?  

Ding! Ding! Ding!  You guessed it!  The cheeseboard.  

Her husband put it to good use and she was singing my praises!  NOT!

Apparently, it stings....A LOT!

Apparently, it's huge....it covers a good amount of surface area!

Apparently, it's hard....in other words it really hurts!

Apparently, it doesn't leave bruises!  Who would have thunk?

She definitely thought I was cracked at this point, 

or maybe she was cracked, who knows?

So....after hearing about this little wimpy cheese board for say a good three weeks and how it has wreaked havoc on poor Bea's bum and I kept up giving her a hard time, I told Hoss about it.

Oh, stop it!  I know it was a silly move....Oh, how I know, oy vey!

Remember I said Hoss used it on my bum.  It was mild in my mind and from my recollection.

So, the other morning......

Oh, I know.... You are all saying it....."You surely are not that dumb, are you, Baker?"

If the shoe fits, wear it.....I am hanging my head in shame to admit this, but curiosity killed this cat.

I asked Hoss to try it for a change to maintenance.  I know....I will be claiming it's the stupidest mistake I've made suggesting such a thing to Hoss.  

You all know Hoss, right?  Sweet loving spanky man to me.... 

Oh, how excited he was when he realized how much that blasted thing hurt!  He was doing less work with better results.....

Now, stop spewing your tea, coffee, soda, or hot chocolate, folks.  I know...I know.  Never suggest an implement that could possibly be worse.  But I truly remember it being mild.  I am not teasing here.  I though Bea was joking.  She often calls herself a wimp when it comes to spanking.

Folks, this was the real deal!  I mean seriously, I thought maintenance was rough that morning....

Oh, hush, now!  You knew it would not be long before I stuck my foot into it.  Attitude came out huge on Saturday afternoon.  The....very....same.....day.....

Stop laughing! 

What kind of friends are you???

I know how to light a flame and keep it burning, do I not?

So, yes, that same afternoon the kids were ordered outside to play and I got a walloping like no other.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have since learned my lesson.  What goes around, comes around.

Now, Bea and I have a favor to ask.  Both of our husbands love to name our implements, so we're asking you all to way in on a good name for the cheese board.  Trust me cheese board is too innocent a name for this devil of an implement.  I've included a picture below for your viewing pleasure and to help you with your decision making process.

(Do not let it fool you, that thing is wicked!)

Thanks in advance and hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

--Baker