A friend shared Nana's Chicken Pastina Soup with me in January and I've been meaning to try it, but just never seem to have chicken thawed in our house. Well, thawed or not, I've had that jar of pesto in my pantry and I was bent on using it, but of course, I don't have pastina and wasn't really interested in adding additional carbohydrates to our dinner, so I basically left it out and it turned out great!
I often forget how fast and easy it is to use a crock pot, but this put that thought up front and center again. The other morning, I got up about 15 minutes early and cut up 3 carrots and 2 celery stalks, then threw it into the pot with a box of chicken stock, a handful of frozen diced onion, and 2 frozen chicken breasts. Viola! When dinner time hit, I just shredded the chicken with a fork and added 5 Tbsp of pesto and 3 Tbsp of lemon juice.
Could not believe how much the kids enjoyed the soup. I have learned to leave salt and pepper out of my soups since the kids seem to enjoy shaking them in there themselves, but they didn't really ask for any. Shocking. L even told me that he loved the broth, which I think is hilarious hearing that out of a 5 year old's mouth. It was even better the second day! What's the best thing about soups though? The kids eat all of their veggies :)
Only 1 problem: pesto + pregnancy = heartburn
So, until we meet again in the fall, chicken pesto soup. You will be missed. Instead, I will be looking for another soup idea for tomorrow night and our potential April Fool's Snow. I'm thinking something Thai inspired...hmmm....
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Are we victims of our lives?
There are many times in my life that I've come in contact with amazingly strong people, people who have had some of the worst things imaginable happen to them, and come out on the other side, unscathed. I know 2 sisters that experienced the same abuse, one is an amazing woman, mother, grandmother, wife, etc... that has truly made the best of her life; the other, lives life like a victim, expecting others to give her things/support since life has been so horrible to her.
It dawned on me that its all about how we approach those previous life circumstances, as a victim with expectations or as a stronger person that refuses to let those situations define who he is, that will determine our success in later life. I myself have had my does of shitty life circumstances, many that I brought upon myself, but others that I was just unfortunate enough to have happen to me. I am constantly trying to remember not to be the victim.
But, here is my dilemma. I truly believe what I wrote above, that you must select your path in life, how you are going to deal with all the good and bad you come across, in order to gain what you want. But, what about the people that say that God has chosen this path for this person. I guess its a free will vs. determinism argument. If I determine my destiny/happiness, how can you say that I have no control over the events that will happen.
What is making me think of this? I thought about this yesterday when thinking about my brother's death and how each of us 5 siblings has handled it differently. For example, my sister has found a renewed and much stronger connection with God. She believes that it was Dennis's time to leave this earth since his work was done. I, on the other hand, believe my brother was a victim of some cowardly jerk that just wanted to kill someone that was trying to help innocent victims. Same circumstance, same upbringing, but 2 totally different views on what happened. So, which is it then?
I thought about this again today while speaking with a friend that has been through more crap than anyone can possibly fathom. She said that its unfair that she has to deal with all this stuff that life threw at her. So, what does she do? Should she fight to get to where she wants to be or does she just allow God's plan for her to play out? How does she know God's plan?
If Dennis had known that God's plan was to have him murdered by an IED in a foreign land, would he really have volunteered and joined the Corps? Or, would he have? Or, would he have even had the option to decide? This friend, I believe she should try her hardest to show others that she will not be brought down by the circumstances life has thrown at her, to succeed in the goals she has set for herself. But, what if her path has already been determined? Or, is it not the path that has been determined, just the end?
I have a minor in Philosophy, but that has not helped me to answer my questions, instead it has only served to intensify them. Perhaps, one day, when I meet my maker, I will ask him/her what was pre-determined for me and which things I chose myself. But, by then, it won't have mattered, will it? So, I can only live life believing that I am in charge of my own destiny and the paths I take, no matter what litter is thrown in my way.
It dawned on me that its all about how we approach those previous life circumstances, as a victim with expectations or as a stronger person that refuses to let those situations define who he is, that will determine our success in later life. I myself have had my does of shitty life circumstances, many that I brought upon myself, but others that I was just unfortunate enough to have happen to me. I am constantly trying to remember not to be the victim.
But, here is my dilemma. I truly believe what I wrote above, that you must select your path in life, how you are going to deal with all the good and bad you come across, in order to gain what you want. But, what about the people that say that God has chosen this path for this person. I guess its a free will vs. determinism argument. If I determine my destiny/happiness, how can you say that I have no control over the events that will happen.
What is making me think of this? I thought about this yesterday when thinking about my brother's death and how each of us 5 siblings has handled it differently. For example, my sister has found a renewed and much stronger connection with God. She believes that it was Dennis's time to leave this earth since his work was done. I, on the other hand, believe my brother was a victim of some cowardly jerk that just wanted to kill someone that was trying to help innocent victims. Same circumstance, same upbringing, but 2 totally different views on what happened. So, which is it then?
I thought about this again today while speaking with a friend that has been through more crap than anyone can possibly fathom. She said that its unfair that she has to deal with all this stuff that life threw at her. So, what does she do? Should she fight to get to where she wants to be or does she just allow God's plan for her to play out? How does she know God's plan?
If Dennis had known that God's plan was to have him murdered by an IED in a foreign land, would he really have volunteered and joined the Corps? Or, would he have? Or, would he have even had the option to decide? This friend, I believe she should try her hardest to show others that she will not be brought down by the circumstances life has thrown at her, to succeed in the goals she has set for herself. But, what if her path has already been determined? Or, is it not the path that has been determined, just the end?
I have a minor in Philosophy, but that has not helped me to answer my questions, instead it has only served to intensify them. Perhaps, one day, when I meet my maker, I will ask him/her what was pre-determined for me and which things I chose myself. But, by then, it won't have mattered, will it? So, I can only live life believing that I am in charge of my own destiny and the paths I take, no matter what litter is thrown in my way.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Eyes wide
Today, okay, officially it was yesterday, but regardless, it was quite a day...eye opening. I did some CASA work and my eyes were opened to the ways of the system. I began to simplify my pantry (which for some reason also meant that I felt the need to paint it)...eye opening. And then, the kicker; my family was interviewed by a reporter, Carolyn Davis, from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Its not the first time we've been interviewed for a story about losing a family member to war, but it was the most informative of them all. Typically, the reporter will interview one person at a time, to get their story, but since she was running a little late, and we are a big family, Carolyn asked if it were okay to interview us as a group. Sure, not a problem, I told her, but I warned that she may need to speak to my parents separately. Its not really because I thought it would be uncomfortable for us kids, but because my father has never really been open with us about how Dennis's death has affected him. I mean, we can see that he is sad. We can see that he's hurting, but that's it. There's never any discussion about Dennis that ever involves my dad because he automatically gets up and leaves the room.
So, Carolyn starts the interview with my brothers, A and G, and myself. The, mom joins in. We must have been talking for 2 hours when my dad walked into the room, stopped, and then interjected. I can't even tell you about what, but I can tell you that when I looked up and saw him sharing, I nearly fell over. He shared some of the ways people and government officials have shown their appreciation, and then shared his views on "the rest". I sat there, dumbfounded, wondering who this man was that was talking. I mean, nothing he said surprised me. It just shocked me that he was actually sharing. And then, the question, "having served in the Marine Corps, how does it make you feel having lost your son in the Corps." I have wondered the same thing so many times, like does that bring him comfort, anger, sadness, pride, what? And there it was, the gentle dad that we rarely get to see. He kindly just explained that he's not ready to share that yet. Really, I don't know that he's got that answer yet. Broke my heart. But, for just a few moments, I felt like I had my daddy back.
Love you, Dennis! You are forever in our hearts, always on our minds.
Its not the first time we've been interviewed for a story about losing a family member to war, but it was the most informative of them all. Typically, the reporter will interview one person at a time, to get their story, but since she was running a little late, and we are a big family, Carolyn asked if it were okay to interview us as a group. Sure, not a problem, I told her, but I warned that she may need to speak to my parents separately. Its not really because I thought it would be uncomfortable for us kids, but because my father has never really been open with us about how Dennis's death has affected him. I mean, we can see that he is sad. We can see that he's hurting, but that's it. There's never any discussion about Dennis that ever involves my dad because he automatically gets up and leaves the room.
So, Carolyn starts the interview with my brothers, A and G, and myself. The, mom joins in. We must have been talking for 2 hours when my dad walked into the room, stopped, and then interjected. I can't even tell you about what, but I can tell you that when I looked up and saw him sharing, I nearly fell over. He shared some of the ways people and government officials have shown their appreciation, and then shared his views on "the rest". I sat there, dumbfounded, wondering who this man was that was talking. I mean, nothing he said surprised me. It just shocked me that he was actually sharing. And then, the question, "having served in the Marine Corps, how does it make you feel having lost your son in the Corps." I have wondered the same thing so many times, like does that bring him comfort, anger, sadness, pride, what? And there it was, the gentle dad that we rarely get to see. He kindly just explained that he's not ready to share that yet. Really, I don't know that he's got that answer yet. Broke my heart. But, for just a few moments, I felt like I had my daddy back.
Love you, Dennis! You are forever in our hearts, always on our minds.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
A lazy Saturday
Have you ever had a day where you 2nd guess your success as a parent, even though you've enjoyed every minute of the day? That was my Saturday. We really had a fantastic day: dance, sushi for lunch, a bowling party, a walk, shopping, ice cream, and then a quite movie night with my kids. It really was great because I got to spend alone time with each of my kids, doing things they really enjoyed. It really is a rare moment as parents of multiple children, that we get the chance to spend quality one on one time with our individual kids, but it really is fantastic when it happens!
But, by the end of the day, I was tired and not feeling too hot, so what better than a relaxing, no fuss meal. Okay, yesterday I was intrigued with the Paleo meals, but they take so much time and energy, neither of which I had in supply last night. Instead, we did a very simple dinner: blueberries, sunflower seeds, salad, carrot sticks and hummus, turkey wraps, and then ants on a log for dessert. The girls were actually asking for more carrots when all the food was done, so I suggested ants on a log, and to my surprise, they said yes and gobbled them down! I was shocked to see that the least enjoyed items were the turkey wraps. Neither of the girls wanted to eat theirs, and were content gorging themselves on sunflower seeds, blueberries and veggies.
This "feast" took me all of 5 minutes to prepare, but the kids gobbled it down while we watched Open Season 2 in the living room. The best thing about it was that the kids just kept eating the celery and carrots, no complaints. If I would have served them with dinner, they would have sat on their plates, only to be consumed after much complaining and tears. Not really your traditional definition of a dinner, but the kids did have chicken teriyaki, rice, broccoli and carrots, and miso soup for lunch, and L had a slice of pizza at the party, too. They should have had plenty of the necessary nutrients to get through the day. And, if not, thank goodness for vitamins!
But, by the end of the day, I was tired and not feeling too hot, so what better than a relaxing, no fuss meal. Okay, yesterday I was intrigued with the Paleo meals, but they take so much time and energy, neither of which I had in supply last night. Instead, we did a very simple dinner: blueberries, sunflower seeds, salad, carrot sticks and hummus, turkey wraps, and then ants on a log for dessert. The girls were actually asking for more carrots when all the food was done, so I suggested ants on a log, and to my surprise, they said yes and gobbled them down! I was shocked to see that the least enjoyed items were the turkey wraps. Neither of the girls wanted to eat theirs, and were content gorging themselves on sunflower seeds, blueberries and veggies.
This "feast" took me all of 5 minutes to prepare, but the kids gobbled it down while we watched Open Season 2 in the living room. The best thing about it was that the kids just kept eating the celery and carrots, no complaints. If I would have served them with dinner, they would have sat on their plates, only to be consumed after much complaining and tears. Not really your traditional definition of a dinner, but the kids did have chicken teriyaki, rice, broccoli and carrots, and miso soup for lunch, and L had a slice of pizza at the party, too. They should have had plenty of the necessary nutrients to get through the day. And, if not, thank goodness for vitamins!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Paleo?
I have a girlfriend who's family "went Paleo" a month or so ago. But, my recent stint with vegetarianism filled me with much skepticism about a diet that discourages legumes and grains and encourages lean protein in the form of animal flesh. I read a lot about how the acidity level of the human mouth/saliva differs from that of other carnivores, that we are more in line with herbivores. Made sense.
But, what I cannot deny is how great my pregnant girlfriend feels and looks. And, she inspired another friend of ours to give this Paleo thing a try, meanwhile, 2 other women I know are doing the same thing. The results? In one week, these 3 ladies lost 4, 4 1/2, and 5 pounds. They all seem to be doing really well on it and I haven't really heard many complaints at all. Can't help it, but I'm inspired to give this thing a try.
The thing to keep in mind though, is that this is not really a "diet", instead, it is a lifestyle change. I still have many questions, like:
1. Is this safe for children?
2. Is this safe for pregnant women?
3. What about all this meat? Is there a way to reduce the amount of meat and up something else?
Regardless, my kids had grains during breakfast and lunch, and my previous weight loss "travels" have taught me to limit my grains to once a day, so I decided to make a Paleo dinner of turkey burgers, roasted asparagus, and a salad with cucumber, sunflower seeds, and avocado. I pretty much knew straight off the back that the kids would only eat their obligatory 1 spear of asparagus, C would only eat the cucumbers, and J would only eat the sunflower seeds and avocado, so I decided to put some veggies in the turkey. This is not a new concept, obviously, but I wanted to see what I could hide in there tonight.
I decided to go with the yellow summer squash I picked up the other day. No one in my family, besides me, likes it, so I was intending on finding a way to fix it so that they would eat it. What better than to puree it?! Into the food processor it went with an orange bell pepper and an onion.
The mixture was ultra wet, but I went with it anyway. To the turkey, I added the puree, ground mustard, Worcestershire pepper, and an egg to help hold them together. Here was dinner:
The kids LOVED the burgers and had 2, which really shocked me. I think the flavor of the bell pepper overpowered the subtle flavor of the summer squash. They dipped their burgers in ketchup (which I'm sure is not Paleo-friendly), but I'm okay with that.
Paleo dinner #1 was a success. I must say that I will not go full boar with this as we will still have grains of some sort once a day, but I will be more thoughtful about the food I put on the table for dinner...well, when I'm not feeling like a complete lazy bum like yesterday ;)
But, what I cannot deny is how great my pregnant girlfriend feels and looks. And, she inspired another friend of ours to give this Paleo thing a try, meanwhile, 2 other women I know are doing the same thing. The results? In one week, these 3 ladies lost 4, 4 1/2, and 5 pounds. They all seem to be doing really well on it and I haven't really heard many complaints at all. Can't help it, but I'm inspired to give this thing a try.
The thing to keep in mind though, is that this is not really a "diet", instead, it is a lifestyle change. I still have many questions, like:
1. Is this safe for children?
2. Is this safe for pregnant women?
3. What about all this meat? Is there a way to reduce the amount of meat and up something else?
Regardless, my kids had grains during breakfast and lunch, and my previous weight loss "travels" have taught me to limit my grains to once a day, so I decided to make a Paleo dinner of turkey burgers, roasted asparagus, and a salad with cucumber, sunflower seeds, and avocado. I pretty much knew straight off the back that the kids would only eat their obligatory 1 spear of asparagus, C would only eat the cucumbers, and J would only eat the sunflower seeds and avocado, so I decided to put some veggies in the turkey. This is not a new concept, obviously, but I wanted to see what I could hide in there tonight.
I decided to go with the yellow summer squash I picked up the other day. No one in my family, besides me, likes it, so I was intending on finding a way to fix it so that they would eat it. What better than to puree it?! Into the food processor it went with an orange bell pepper and an onion.
Paleo dinner #1 was a success. I must say that I will not go full boar with this as we will still have grains of some sort once a day, but I will be more thoughtful about the food I put on the table for dinner...well, when I'm not feeling like a complete lazy bum like yesterday ;)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Simplification: Kid's toys and clothes
What to do on a snowy 3rd day of Spring? Why not tackle this week's Project Simplify hot spot: Kids' toys and clothes. I did take care of most of the toys and the girls' clothes a week or two ago, so this was supposed to be a breeze. Besides doing my big boy's room/clothes, and taking care of some hand-me-downs the girls had received, I decided to finally let go of the stuffed animals.
Stuffed animals were a huge problem in our house (until about 7 hours ago) because of my inability to get rid of them. The kids wanted to keep some, but not the ones I wanted them to keep. You know, the ones they got on the days they were born and the ones that had some kind of meaning to me, like the Sandra Boynton inspired ones that I got for L because we used to love to read them together when he was a baby. Here's what we started with:
Step 2. Had L try on some socks and clothes who's sizes were a mystery to me.
I could not believe the shear amount of clothing I was hoarding that didn't even fit L anymore, including the tuxedo he wore to my brother's wedding and for Christmas last year. If I had known, I would've gotten rid of it sooner. Actually, now that I've typed that, I realize that I was hesitant to do anything until I knew if we were having a baby boy or girl. So, goodbye to you, small clothes. Now, I'll just need to go buy L some new undies since I noticed that most of the ones he was wearing were 1 to 2 sizes too small. Oops! Sorry, dude!
Stuffed animals were a huge problem in our house (until about 7 hours ago) because of my inability to get rid of them. The kids wanted to keep some, but not the ones I wanted them to keep. You know, the ones they got on the days they were born and the ones that had some kind of meaning to me, like the Sandra Boynton inspired ones that I got for L because we used to love to read them together when he was a baby. Here's what we started with:
All of this was shoved in my kids' stuffed animal box. Scary! Here are the steps we took to manage this mess in less than 30 minutes:
1. Put all non-stuffed toys where they belong.
2. Take all of L's stuffed animals out.
3. Allow L to choose his top 5. This was hard for him, he even cried because he knew who got him what and didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Such a sensitive boy. But, he did it!
Chicken Little did not make original cut, but since P said, "oh, I like Chicken Little," L decided to keep him after all.
4. Put the remaining stuffed animals out for the girls to pick their top 5 and 2 baby dolls each.
5. I selected some learning toys/baby toys for Q and C, since they weren't going to be picked otherwise.
6. J picked her favorites.
7. The gross ones got trashed, including the white and pink lion because his hair was previously singed in the dryer.
8. C picked her favorites.
9. Our top picks found their less crowded home back in the box.
10. Our rejects were shoved in 2 garbage bags for donation.
I must admit. This was easier than I thought it would be because I finally came to the realization that my kids are not babies anymore, and as a result, there is no need to save the gifts they received as newborns and with which they never played. I even got rid of my teddy bear from 4th grade, my collection of pandas, and a Gund bear that I received in college as a gift from my big sis.
Then, on to L's room for some much needed TLC. Here's what I had to start with, along with 2 bags of hand-me-downs, and the clean laundry I needed to put away:
This was such a pain in the derrière. I thought that I had previously organized the clothes, but when I got into it, I realized that my organization turned into clutter when I started to add the clothes that were now too small for my big boy to the mix. There were also Christmas lights in L's closet, toys and shoes. Goodness. This took me 3 hours between moving things, sorting and refereeing the kids.
Step 1. Sort into size piles. All of the clothes from the closet and dressers got invited to this party.
 |
| Just a sample |
Step 3. Put all the clothes away.
The future clothes are out of reach in size piles and his spring/summer line is in easy reach. Very happy.
Step 4. Bag the clothes we are handing down to friends.
 |
| Notice the additional stuffed animals which joined their friends in the garbage bags downstairs. |
Then, I simply repeated the process in the girls' room. This time, it was quicker, easier, and involved putting the small items in the attic. All pictured out by that time ~ lucky dogs, you.
Sense of accomplishment! WooHoo!
All of that work made us hungry, and what better than to fight Mother Nature and have a spring time dessert: lemon bars. Yummy, especially when you pair that with veggie burgers, sauteed spinach, and fresh veggies. It makes for a fantastic end to a less than beautiful Spring day.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Planning new beginnings
A busy day today, all focused around new beginnings: kindergarten and a new playground.
Seriously, if the military wants to learn methods of non-violent torture, they should really take a lesson from our school district. Today, it took me over an hour to register my son for Kindergarten, and I still have to go back to the school to drop off a utility bill to prove we live at our house. Here's the thing. I called the school on 3 previous occasions, and receive no information as to what needed to be supplied at registration, and if you don't get the newspaper, you don't get the knowledge. Luckily, my girlfriend called me this morning to give me a heads up as to what needed to be brought. Problem: last week, I took care of my paper clutter. This means that I didn't have a single utility bill in my house, they've all been shredded. I brought 9 different forms of proof of residency when 3 were needed, but since none were utility bills, my son's registration is on hold until one is supplied. If you know me, than you know that I just can't handle stupid people or stupid policies. This is a stupid policy. Of course, I had to call the superintendent and complain. Grrr!
I also took the kids to help plan our local YMCA's new Kaboom! playground, sponsored by our favorite major corporation, MetLife. The kids each drew a picture of their ideal playground and shared their wishes. L wanted a castle/dragon playground with lots of spinning pieces and things to climb on. J wanted her's to look like an airplane (don't ask me why cause I don't know) with swings. I thought that was it. The kids shared their visions and I thought we would just come back on build day, but of course, there was more to this deal. The sucker I am, ended up signing up to do the recruitment of the 16 Build Captains, 250 volunteers, safety staff, and prep staff of 30. Let us not forget the 30% drop rate, so those are just the base numbers I need to have. Didn't I just say a couple of posts ago that I needed to reduce my schedule and simplify my life. Hmmm...guess that will have to wait until June.
With all I vent on here, though, I must say, I really do love my life. I love my busy schedule, though I often have dreams of simplifying it. Let's just say this venting is cathartic. If I didn't do it, someone might die, and it wouldn't be me ;) hehehe...j/k
Monday, March 21, 2011
Project Simplify: Paper Clutter
Last week's problem area to work on was paper clutter. Just the idea nearly put me into premature labor, but that just means that I was really in need of focus in that area. When I began this project, I put all my random stacks of paper into one large stack which measured almost 2 feet high. Eeeek! Of course, I was too embarrassed to take a photo of that. I began by simply making stacks: garbage, to look at more closely, bills to be paid, books, recipes, and other.
It is unbelievable how many pieces of paper I had that really could just be junked. This may make me sound like a bad mom, but there were so many papers the kids had drawn and colored on that found their home in the circular file. Not to mention some advertisements, magazines, flyers, old newsletters, expired coupons and whatever else my husband or cleaning lady would add to the stack in the corner of my counter. I even had this clutter of stuff on my counter that I thought I needed. Turned out, it was mostly junk.
What did I save? Pictures and my tax information. That's about it. There were 4 pieces of mail that required my response. Blah! How did I set those aside and forget about them? 3 of them were health insurance related and it made me realize something: our health insurance industry really needs an overhaul. One form was from our new carrier, trying to figure out if we had any additional insurance or Medicare. Ummm...we are paying our premium, so don't your worry about it. Pay the darn bills! Another form requested information as to the nature of a visit my husband had to the emergency department, just so they could see if they could sue or get money from another party. I get it. Really, I do. But, let's be honest. If someone else were responsible, do they really thing that we would have paid our deductible ourselves?! We would have reported the issue at the ED, not waited forever to let someone know. The last one was just a "how'd we do" survey. Really, P would never take time to fill that out, so I did for him. I highly question the accuracy, but, oh well ;)
Here is what remains of my stack:
What's in it now? A couple of coupons, a form I need to complete which requires research and phone calls, and my documents to complete our 2010 taxes. Hopefully, this stack will disappear this week. Fingers are crossed!
The next Project Simplify hotspot? Kids clothes and toys. Perfect! I've started that and the weather looks like its going to change from winter next week, so this could work. I'll just have to save 2 or 3 wintery outfits for each kid since, well, northeastern PA is cold until about June. Yep, you better believe it.
It is unbelievable how many pieces of paper I had that really could just be junked. This may make me sound like a bad mom, but there were so many papers the kids had drawn and colored on that found their home in the circular file. Not to mention some advertisements, magazines, flyers, old newsletters, expired coupons and whatever else my husband or cleaning lady would add to the stack in the corner of my counter. I even had this clutter of stuff on my counter that I thought I needed. Turned out, it was mostly junk.
What did I save? Pictures and my tax information. That's about it. There were 4 pieces of mail that required my response. Blah! How did I set those aside and forget about them? 3 of them were health insurance related and it made me realize something: our health insurance industry really needs an overhaul. One form was from our new carrier, trying to figure out if we had any additional insurance or Medicare. Ummm...we are paying our premium, so don't your worry about it. Pay the darn bills! Another form requested information as to the nature of a visit my husband had to the emergency department, just so they could see if they could sue or get money from another party. I get it. Really, I do. But, let's be honest. If someone else were responsible, do they really thing that we would have paid our deductible ourselves?! We would have reported the issue at the ED, not waited forever to let someone know. The last one was just a "how'd we do" survey. Really, P would never take time to fill that out, so I did for him. I highly question the accuracy, but, oh well ;)
Here is what remains of my stack:
What's in it now? A couple of coupons, a form I need to complete which requires research and phone calls, and my documents to complete our 2010 taxes. Hopefully, this stack will disappear this week. Fingers are crossed!
The next Project Simplify hotspot? Kids clothes and toys. Perfect! I've started that and the weather looks like its going to change from winter next week, so this could work. I'll just have to save 2 or 3 wintery outfits for each kid since, well, northeastern PA is cold until about June. Yep, you better believe it.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Beauty is ...
Beauty is a day like today. A day where the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and the kids get to play outside. We were so blessed to spend most of the day outside today. After spin, C and I took a walk with a couple friends, then a birthday party at the park, bikes in the driveway, walk around the neighborhood with the dog, and finally a walk to the grocery store with P. We haven't spent this much time outside since the beginning of fall.
Gorgeous. I brought hats for the kids, but of course, L wore his and the girls took theirs off. I even wore one. The sun was relentless, though. I even have a sunburn, and I'm nervous to see the kids in the morning, for fear that they do too.
The best thing about days outside? Dinner! That's right. It was so nice, there was no way I was going to make the blue hake, steamed spinach and butternut "fries" for dinner that I was planning. Instead, we just had some turkey and spinach sandwiches. Perfect! Tomorrow, though, its only supposed to be 30 degrees, so much better for baking butternut.
Just can't wait for the Farmer's Market to open so that we can begin to prepare our cold dinners for the rest of the year. That's right! Pasta and veggie salads! We can't get enough. Oh, and dinner on the grill. Nothing is better than eggplant or summer squash with a little salt, pepper, and olive oil. Yum!
Gorgeous. I brought hats for the kids, but of course, L wore his and the girls took theirs off. I even wore one. The sun was relentless, though. I even have a sunburn, and I'm nervous to see the kids in the morning, for fear that they do too.
The best thing about days outside? Dinner! That's right. It was so nice, there was no way I was going to make the blue hake, steamed spinach and butternut "fries" for dinner that I was planning. Instead, we just had some turkey and spinach sandwiches. Perfect! Tomorrow, though, its only supposed to be 30 degrees, so much better for baking butternut.
Just can't wait for the Farmer's Market to open so that we can begin to prepare our cold dinners for the rest of the year. That's right! Pasta and veggie salads! We can't get enough. Oh, and dinner on the grill. Nothing is better than eggplant or summer squash with a little salt, pepper, and olive oil. Yum!
St. Patrick's day o' ....
The verdict on the spinach green cupcakes is in: SUCCESS! That's right. There were a couple of kids that didn't like them, but all and all, most of the kids enjoyed them. Even more shocking? Some kids I know that don't eat anything, and I do mean anything, ate them! Strangely enough, they were right next to cupcakes with icing on them, and more of my cupcakes were eaten than the others. Score!
The weather in NEPA was drop dead gorgeous today, about 60 degrees and sunny. It brought me back to St. Patrick's Day 4 years ago. That was the day that we buried my baby brother. It was freezing cold out and the ground was covered in snow. Such a horrible day compared to today. The difference in the weather was echoed in my disposition from then to now. As I thought about that day, it made me think about how I cannot waste my days, being angry, sad, complacent or lazy.
I used that motivation to get some things accomplished around the house, most namely, I rid my home of baby boys. That's right. I have to admit that it felt good to get those boxes out of my attic, while at the same time, I felt so sad. I know they are going to someone that needs them, and I certainly do not. Its just the finality of it all. My L is such a sweetheart; kisses my belly every day, tells me that he needs to protect his sisters, just is a sweet and gentle little boy. My girls are full of piss and vinegar; mouthy, moody, loving, but its like they are mini me's. But, 4 kids is enough! There really is nothing anyone could say to me, even if they gave me a 100% guarantee that #5 would be a healthy boy, to make me agree to have another one, after Q. Sad, but cleansing to get those clothes out of my home.
I was also able to do 5 loads of laundry, dishes, wipe up the floors, clean the toy room, empty out my car, and pick up a butt load of dog poop. Oh yeah, baby! Problem? Right now I have 4 loads of laundry folded, on my couch and no more motivation to put it away. Help!
And, today was my first real experience in the court system, as a CASA. I witnessed the inefficiency of the court system, the ridiculousness of it, and how it can truly be manipulated, and not for the good. My role was truly minimal. I handed in my report, and then, when asked, I said that I had nothing further to add. Exciting...right?! I learned so much though, and hopefully, I was able to learn how to be a better support to my CASA child/teen.
Even dinner was a success. Chicken cacciatore over mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, roasted brussel sprouts and carrots, grapes, and cucumbers, celery and carrots with hummus. I love this little trick that you may want to try with your kids. Right around 4:30, I will put veggies and dip out, not say anything about it, but just put it on the counter. The kids will actually come and ask me if they can eat them. Awesome! And today, the cutest thing happened. L was trying to figure out if this was a flavored hummus, and asked, "mom, what kind is this?" C was so quick to respond, mouth full, "hummus!" She is such the fan. Love my kids!
The weather in NEPA was drop dead gorgeous today, about 60 degrees and sunny. It brought me back to St. Patrick's Day 4 years ago. That was the day that we buried my baby brother. It was freezing cold out and the ground was covered in snow. Such a horrible day compared to today. The difference in the weather was echoed in my disposition from then to now. As I thought about that day, it made me think about how I cannot waste my days, being angry, sad, complacent or lazy.
I used that motivation to get some things accomplished around the house, most namely, I rid my home of baby boys. That's right. I have to admit that it felt good to get those boxes out of my attic, while at the same time, I felt so sad. I know they are going to someone that needs them, and I certainly do not. Its just the finality of it all. My L is such a sweetheart; kisses my belly every day, tells me that he needs to protect his sisters, just is a sweet and gentle little boy. My girls are full of piss and vinegar; mouthy, moody, loving, but its like they are mini me's. But, 4 kids is enough! There really is nothing anyone could say to me, even if they gave me a 100% guarantee that #5 would be a healthy boy, to make me agree to have another one, after Q. Sad, but cleansing to get those clothes out of my home.
I was also able to do 5 loads of laundry, dishes, wipe up the floors, clean the toy room, empty out my car, and pick up a butt load of dog poop. Oh yeah, baby! Problem? Right now I have 4 loads of laundry folded, on my couch and no more motivation to put it away. Help!
And, today was my first real experience in the court system, as a CASA. I witnessed the inefficiency of the court system, the ridiculousness of it, and how it can truly be manipulated, and not for the good. My role was truly minimal. I handed in my report, and then, when asked, I said that I had nothing further to add. Exciting...right?! I learned so much though, and hopefully, I was able to learn how to be a better support to my CASA child/teen.
Even dinner was a success. Chicken cacciatore over mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, roasted brussel sprouts and carrots, grapes, and cucumbers, celery and carrots with hummus. I love this little trick that you may want to try with your kids. Right around 4:30, I will put veggies and dip out, not say anything about it, but just put it on the counter. The kids will actually come and ask me if they can eat them. Awesome! And today, the cutest thing happened. L was trying to figure out if this was a flavored hummus, and asked, "mom, what kind is this?" C was so quick to respond, mouth full, "hummus!" She is such the fan. Love my kids!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
St. Patty's Cupcakes
I was checking out one of my favorite healthy eating blogs when I saw a recipe for a "healthier" green cupcake and thought I'm definitely going to give this a try on St. Patrick's Day. That's just what I did.
The ingredients? 1 Box of white cupcake mix, 1 cup of applesauce, and 1 bag (approx. 4 cups) of spinach.
That's right, baby! SPINACH!
Now, here's the hard part, you have to puree the applesauce and spinach. That took about 10 minutes in a blender. Next time, I'll use my food processor.
Simply add the vibrant green sauce to one box of cake mix.
As you can see, that dark green turned to kind of a putrid pea green. I must say, I was a little disappointed, but it was green nonetheless. Roni, the author of Green Lite Bites, suggested adding sprinkles to the top of the cupcakes to make them look festive and attractive to kids.
Just bake according to the box directions and viola! 18 cupcakes at around 100 calories each.
Pretty? Yes! But, the real question is: How do they taste?
Well, after P outright refused to give them a try, I did manage to convince him to have 1 bite. His response was, "You better have some darn good frosting for these. They have a funky aftertaste." Uh oh! I have to disagree though. My vote is not an astounding "YES", but instead, just that they are okay. Would I pine away over these cupcakes? No. Would I eat one if someone offered it to me? Sure.
The true test is how the children will react. We will see tomorrow, and I'll let you know!
The ingredients? 1 Box of white cupcake mix, 1 cup of applesauce, and 1 bag (approx. 4 cups) of spinach.
That's right, baby! SPINACH!
Now, here's the hard part, you have to puree the applesauce and spinach. That took about 10 minutes in a blender. Next time, I'll use my food processor.
Well, after P outright refused to give them a try, I did manage to convince him to have 1 bite. His response was, "You better have some darn good frosting for these. They have a funky aftertaste." Uh oh! I have to disagree though. My vote is not an astounding "YES", but instead, just that they are okay. Would I pine away over these cupcakes? No. Would I eat one if someone offered it to me? Sure.
The true test is how the children will react. We will see tomorrow, and I'll let you know!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Overwhelmed...
Okay, so I know you think I'm going to write about how I'm feeling overwhelmed with all I have to do...NOT the case. Instead, I feel overwhelmed with the generosity of my friends, and feel the need to publicly share how completely awesome they are.
A few weeks before finding out that we would be adding to the estrogen in our house, I finally decided to purge my closet of all of my maternity and L and XL clothing. Phew! Then, October 25, I was shocked to learn that I needed it all back. Of course, when you donate to the Salvation Army, there's no going back. For the past few months, and today, I have been very fortunate to be the recipient of many maternity clothes from my fellow mommy friends.
I've also been super lucky to receive clothes for my girls from several of my friends, and a few for the boy too. What a nice surprise it is for J to get to look through a bag and pick what she likes the best, and its much easier on the wallet then going shopping, especially since P has a hole in his wallet when it comes to making his girls happy. Nothing makes our J more happy than getting a new outfit. Of course, she loves toys too, but ever since her 1st birthday, she honed in on the clothes and has been hooked ever since. Such the girl. And let me tell you, with the way my C treats her clothes, without the generosity of others, I fear we would have to buy an entire new wardrobe for baby Q.
And, this is nothing compared to the offers to watch my kids, well, and frankly just saying yes when I ask, that my friends/family are always giving me. Whether its a doctor's appointment, volunteer obligation, work, or just some alone time to visit my brother's grave site, my friends and family open their homes to my children. It makes me feel so blessed that they have such good caregivers to look after them when I am unable to do so myself.
Let's not discount the diapers, wipes, food, and everything else that everyone is always so willing and able to share.
Of course, there are also the compliments and loving/encouraging comments that they are always giving me. So nice when your children tell you that you are "meaty" or you have a rotten day, to be reassured that you aren't as BLAH as you thought you were. I guess that's one of the greatest thing about Facebook, when you are down in the dumps, there are friends there to hold you up until you remember that you are strong enough to stand on your own two feet.
I'd be remiss if I failed to mention my girlfriend 2 hours away who, after 4 years, remains someone who's friendship I cherish. To this day, she is generous with her compliments and by doing little things to make my kids feel special. Such an amazing person that I was so blessed to meet, as she only really knew L, but has been so sweet with my girls too, sending them hair ties, bedding, and homemade blankets. Got lucky being in that yoga class.
And, let me not forget my husband, who I could bitch about for a while. But, he truly is an amazing man that really pulls through when I, no, when we, need him. Let's be honest, we can all find faults with our spouse/partner, but its sometimes hard to recognize how truly fortunate we are that we found them. They brighten our days, lighten our loads, and make us feel the love and warmth of the world when we doubt that any good exists. They are there every night and every morning, to tell us that we are loved, even if its just over the phone. And, when we are about to crack or fail as parents, it is them that step in and save our poor children from seeing us fall apart. P has truly been generous to me. He has allowed for me to stay at home with our children, to raise them as I believe is best, and helps when I've clearly taken on more than I can handle. Thanks, babe!
I often feel that I do not do enough to return the favors, so I will take this opportunity to tell ALL of my friends, no matter where you are, that ANYTHING you need, I am here. I wish I had the forethought to always offer the help and compliments that you do, but unfortunately, my brain is often too fried. Please ask. I would be honored to lend a hand.
Happy Tuesday, all!
A few weeks before finding out that we would be adding to the estrogen in our house, I finally decided to purge my closet of all of my maternity and L and XL clothing. Phew! Then, October 25, I was shocked to learn that I needed it all back. Of course, when you donate to the Salvation Army, there's no going back. For the past few months, and today, I have been very fortunate to be the recipient of many maternity clothes from my fellow mommy friends.
I've also been super lucky to receive clothes for my girls from several of my friends, and a few for the boy too. What a nice surprise it is for J to get to look through a bag and pick what she likes the best, and its much easier on the wallet then going shopping, especially since P has a hole in his wallet when it comes to making his girls happy. Nothing makes our J more happy than getting a new outfit. Of course, she loves toys too, but ever since her 1st birthday, she honed in on the clothes and has been hooked ever since. Such the girl. And let me tell you, with the way my C treats her clothes, without the generosity of others, I fear we would have to buy an entire new wardrobe for baby Q.
And, this is nothing compared to the offers to watch my kids, well, and frankly just saying yes when I ask, that my friends/family are always giving me. Whether its a doctor's appointment, volunteer obligation, work, or just some alone time to visit my brother's grave site, my friends and family open their homes to my children. It makes me feel so blessed that they have such good caregivers to look after them when I am unable to do so myself.
Let's not discount the diapers, wipes, food, and everything else that everyone is always so willing and able to share.
Of course, there are also the compliments and loving/encouraging comments that they are always giving me. So nice when your children tell you that you are "meaty" or you have a rotten day, to be reassured that you aren't as BLAH as you thought you were. I guess that's one of the greatest thing about Facebook, when you are down in the dumps, there are friends there to hold you up until you remember that you are strong enough to stand on your own two feet.
I'd be remiss if I failed to mention my girlfriend 2 hours away who, after 4 years, remains someone who's friendship I cherish. To this day, she is generous with her compliments and by doing little things to make my kids feel special. Such an amazing person that I was so blessed to meet, as she only really knew L, but has been so sweet with my girls too, sending them hair ties, bedding, and homemade blankets. Got lucky being in that yoga class.
And, let me not forget my husband, who I could bitch about for a while. But, he truly is an amazing man that really pulls through when I, no, when we, need him. Let's be honest, we can all find faults with our spouse/partner, but its sometimes hard to recognize how truly fortunate we are that we found them. They brighten our days, lighten our loads, and make us feel the love and warmth of the world when we doubt that any good exists. They are there every night and every morning, to tell us that we are loved, even if its just over the phone. And, when we are about to crack or fail as parents, it is them that step in and save our poor children from seeing us fall apart. P has truly been generous to me. He has allowed for me to stay at home with our children, to raise them as I believe is best, and helps when I've clearly taken on more than I can handle. Thanks, babe!
I often feel that I do not do enough to return the favors, so I will take this opportunity to tell ALL of my friends, no matter where you are, that ANYTHING you need, I am here. I wish I had the forethought to always offer the help and compliments that you do, but unfortunately, my brain is often too fried. Please ask. I would be honored to lend a hand.
Happy Tuesday, all!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Too much on your plate???
Have you ever wondered if you have too much on your plate? With 3 kids, 1 on the way, a part time job with variable hours, volunteering for CASA, on the board of the MOMS club, and my hands in a hundred other pots, sometimes I feel very stretched thin. So thin, that by the time my husband walks in the door, I pretty much just shut down, shift over, Dad's turn. Maybe its because I know that in less than 4 months, I will again be a milk maiden, on call 24 hours a day. I'm sure that the hormonal imbalance that I'm experiencing is not helping matters either.
Today, I pondered quite a few things:
1. Am I too busy? I mean, I left the house at 8:30, got home at 4. What did I do? Preschool/gym, lunch (not enough time to drive home and back), pharmacy, picked up some bed rails for C, library (to kill 30 min and let the kids stretch their legs), C's well appointment, donation drop off at Goodwill, grocery store for garbage stickers (and other random stuff I picked up along the way). I also attempted to schedule my van for an appointment, left a message for C's specialist, and took care of a couple of business items while I was out.
2. Is this too much for my kids? By the time we made it to the grocery store today, C had nodded off in the car. I hated to get her out, but tonight is garbage night and we have to have those stickers. The kids all seemed to be exhausted, perhaps due to springing forward, though J and L would never voluntarily take a nap. They seem to pick on each other the longer we are out which increases my tension and the likelihood that they're going to get in trouble.
3. Milk??? The doctor told me today that C is in the 25th percentile in both height and weight, but 75% for head size. Smart kid, right? Well, then he asked about how much milk my kids get. My response? Not much. The idea of milk has recently scheeved me out. Last year, I reduced my consumption of animals and animal products. I read a lot about milk and the "unnaturalness" of human's drinking cow milk. It made me think...a lot. Does my family really need that much milk? I used to force it upon L and J, but with C, it has really switched from milk to water. And, my girls love water. The kids rarely ask for milk, and when they do, 25% of the time, I oblige. The Doctor's argument? For the past 80 years, we've been drinking milk and we have been living longer than we did before then. Milk is not what's causing the problems of today, its the over consumption of processed foods, namely sugar. Well, I agree with the last portion of his argument. Going forward, I will make sure my little kids (since L and C are on the tiny size) get a cup of milk a day.
4. Area 2 to simplify is Paper Clutter. I swear, this Simple Mom knows exactly what I need to focus on. I have it in my pantry closet, on my counter, in/on my living room table, in my bedside nightstand, and I'm sure other places as well. This will truly be a difficult thing to tackle, but I am looking forward to organizing that portion of my life. And, its a perfect time to do it since the bills need paid and the taxes need done.
5. My blog is pretty ugly. How can I beautify it?? hmmm...I am not very creative and I'm not sure that I want to put personal photos on here. Is it safe? Just more to ponder.
6. Veggies. We love them. We hate them. How can I make them more interesting for my family? Besides roasting and steaming, I'm pretty much at a loss. My goal this month is to make at least one new veggie dish a week to tickle the palettes of both young and old. Let's see what I come up with.
7. Is giving back to the community as a CASA volunteer taking away from my own kids? I know its not much, but twice a month, I have to arrange for childcare for my own children so that I can be there to support another child. Yes, this other child is in the system and needs support, that's why I signed up to do this, but am I putting too much of a strain on my kids or my friends and family by doing this? I certainly hope not because I made a commit to this girl and I don't want to be added to the list of people that have abandoned or let her down.
8. We don't have to do everything. I just came to this realization, after 3 years of being a stay at home mom, I've realized this, again. It seems that every now and then, this dawns on me. It reverberated with me again today, not that I could have chosen not to do any one of the items on our agenda, but because it drew to attention the fact that my whole week is scheduled. On top of preschool/gym, we have something to do each day. Tuesday: board meeting. Wednesday: Ob appt, CASA mtg, school board mtg. Thursday: CASA court hearing, St. Pat's party. Friday: birthday party, library, learning about maple syrup making. Yes, this week is an abnormality, but do we really need to do all of it?! Probably not. Just draws some attention to the fact that I should check next week's schedule so as not to overbook my kids. Though, my kids aren't really the ones with the busy schedules, its me, they just are the unlucky recipients of it. Poor things.
9. I truly am blessed. My husband, though insensitive at times, really is helpful and wonderful when needed. My kids are really great kids. Do they drive me crazy? Yes. Do they often need to settle down and be better listeners? Yes. But, they are sweet to other children and are typically well mannered kids. I am fortunate to be their mother. Maybe I should repeat that a few times so I will remember it.
Now, to begin to tackle the paper clutter, locate my staff COBRA notification, and clean the kitchen. Tomorrow, though, I plan on being back in full force with a nutritious and delicious meal for my family.
Today, I pondered quite a few things:
1. Am I too busy? I mean, I left the house at 8:30, got home at 4. What did I do? Preschool/gym, lunch (not enough time to drive home and back), pharmacy, picked up some bed rails for C, library (to kill 30 min and let the kids stretch their legs), C's well appointment, donation drop off at Goodwill, grocery store for garbage stickers (and other random stuff I picked up along the way). I also attempted to schedule my van for an appointment, left a message for C's specialist, and took care of a couple of business items while I was out.
2. Is this too much for my kids? By the time we made it to the grocery store today, C had nodded off in the car. I hated to get her out, but tonight is garbage night and we have to have those stickers. The kids all seemed to be exhausted, perhaps due to springing forward, though J and L would never voluntarily take a nap. They seem to pick on each other the longer we are out which increases my tension and the likelihood that they're going to get in trouble.
3. Milk??? The doctor told me today that C is in the 25th percentile in both height and weight, but 75% for head size. Smart kid, right? Well, then he asked about how much milk my kids get. My response? Not much. The idea of milk has recently scheeved me out. Last year, I reduced my consumption of animals and animal products. I read a lot about milk and the "unnaturalness" of human's drinking cow milk. It made me think...a lot. Does my family really need that much milk? I used to force it upon L and J, but with C, it has really switched from milk to water. And, my girls love water. The kids rarely ask for milk, and when they do, 25% of the time, I oblige. The Doctor's argument? For the past 80 years, we've been drinking milk and we have been living longer than we did before then. Milk is not what's causing the problems of today, its the over consumption of processed foods, namely sugar. Well, I agree with the last portion of his argument. Going forward, I will make sure my little kids (since L and C are on the tiny size) get a cup of milk a day.
4. Area 2 to simplify is Paper Clutter. I swear, this Simple Mom knows exactly what I need to focus on. I have it in my pantry closet, on my counter, in/on my living room table, in my bedside nightstand, and I'm sure other places as well. This will truly be a difficult thing to tackle, but I am looking forward to organizing that portion of my life. And, its a perfect time to do it since the bills need paid and the taxes need done.
5. My blog is pretty ugly. How can I beautify it?? hmmm...I am not very creative and I'm not sure that I want to put personal photos on here. Is it safe? Just more to ponder.
6. Veggies. We love them. We hate them. How can I make them more interesting for my family? Besides roasting and steaming, I'm pretty much at a loss. My goal this month is to make at least one new veggie dish a week to tickle the palettes of both young and old. Let's see what I come up with.
7. Is giving back to the community as a CASA volunteer taking away from my own kids? I know its not much, but twice a month, I have to arrange for childcare for my own children so that I can be there to support another child. Yes, this other child is in the system and needs support, that's why I signed up to do this, but am I putting too much of a strain on my kids or my friends and family by doing this? I certainly hope not because I made a commit to this girl and I don't want to be added to the list of people that have abandoned or let her down.
8. We don't have to do everything. I just came to this realization, after 3 years of being a stay at home mom, I've realized this, again. It seems that every now and then, this dawns on me. It reverberated with me again today, not that I could have chosen not to do any one of the items on our agenda, but because it drew to attention the fact that my whole week is scheduled. On top of preschool/gym, we have something to do each day. Tuesday: board meeting. Wednesday: Ob appt, CASA mtg, school board mtg. Thursday: CASA court hearing, St. Pat's party. Friday: birthday party, library, learning about maple syrup making. Yes, this week is an abnormality, but do we really need to do all of it?! Probably not. Just draws some attention to the fact that I should check next week's schedule so as not to overbook my kids. Though, my kids aren't really the ones with the busy schedules, its me, they just are the unlucky recipients of it. Poor things.
9. I truly am blessed. My husband, though insensitive at times, really is helpful and wonderful when needed. My kids are really great kids. Do they drive me crazy? Yes. Do they often need to settle down and be better listeners? Yes. But, they are sweet to other children and are typically well mannered kids. I am fortunate to be their mother. Maybe I should repeat that a few times so I will remember it.
Now, to begin to tackle the paper clutter, locate my staff COBRA notification, and clean the kitchen. Tomorrow, though, I plan on being back in full force with a nutritious and delicious meal for my family.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Simplification: Mom's Closet
While perusing Facebook, I noticed that one of my mommy friends was taking part in an organizational "event", if you will, called Project Simplify. If you'd like to learn more about it, visit Simple Mom. I could not resist! Though I am not participating in full (read: I am not taking photos and posting, etc, etc), I am going to tackle each problem area assigned.
A week prior, I had taken on my girls' room, out of dread and fear of adding a 3rd child to that bedroom in a matter of months. I took some of the ideas my friends have put into play and coupled those with the items I already had on hand. That's where it stopped though. I did not take that momentum and carry it on to other rooms.
Not only do I not have the motivation, I lack the know how. To be completely honest, my house is an organizational nightmare. I don't think that I ever truly moved in. And frankly, I am cheap. Its hard for me to purchase organizational tools because I'm not sure how to use them and I don't want to waste the money doing so. In other words, I need HELP!
Week 1's assignment was to focus on yourself and simplify your bedroom closet. This task could have been much more difficult, if I wasn't pregnant. But, since I am, I simplified their recommendations to meet my needs and took the following steps:
1. Trashed all stained items.
2. In my 55 gallon garbage bag, I placed all the clothes that I have not worn in at least 5 years and do not foresee wearing again. I also added a couple of old purses and clothes that I know that I will never wear again because frankly, they are ugly! Needless to say, the bag is full! I hope the Salvation Army can use it.
3. I placed all my non-maternity items on the top shelf so that I can revisit them in 5 or 6 months (well, 8-10 is probably more realistic).
4. The clothes that remained, are now hanging R.O.Y.G.B.I.V.B.B.ly in my closet.
5. Both of my dresser drawers were emptied, sorted, and repacked.
This only took me a couple of hours, which I have to say shocked me. I must say though, I'm glad I took the time to do so since every morning I stand in my closet, bewildered and bummed that I could find nothing to wear. No, I don't have more clothes to wear, but at least I can see what I do have. And, I learned some lessons:
1. I truly need to vary the colors in my wardrobe. Most of my stuff is black, purple or blue.
2. I have tons of maternity pants, none of which really fit me.
3. There are a couple of items that I refuse to ever give away: my brother's sweaters and a stained T-shirt with his picture on it.
4. I have a load of dresses to go out to a nice dinner in...and I'd really like to wear them more often.
5. I have been blessed with some amazing friends that have been ever so gracious to donate their used maternity clothing to me.
6. I really haven't gone clothes shopping for myself in a long time. Besides the clothes my husband has purchased for me as Christmas gifts, most of my wardrobe dates back over 10 years. And, yes, much of it is coming back into style. Lucky me ;)
7. Once this baby is born, I better lose that weight rather quickly or I won't fit into anything.
8. I do have lingerie, 4 items. Who knew?!
This really was a rewarding experience. I even carried that momentum into my kids' toy room this afternoon. WooHoo! I'm looking forward to receiving next week's assignment tomorrow because if anyone needs their life simplified, I feel like its me!
A week prior, I had taken on my girls' room, out of dread and fear of adding a 3rd child to that bedroom in a matter of months. I took some of the ideas my friends have put into play and coupled those with the items I already had on hand. That's where it stopped though. I did not take that momentum and carry it on to other rooms.
Not only do I not have the motivation, I lack the know how. To be completely honest, my house is an organizational nightmare. I don't think that I ever truly moved in. And frankly, I am cheap. Its hard for me to purchase organizational tools because I'm not sure how to use them and I don't want to waste the money doing so. In other words, I need HELP!
Week 1's assignment was to focus on yourself and simplify your bedroom closet. This task could have been much more difficult, if I wasn't pregnant. But, since I am, I simplified their recommendations to meet my needs and took the following steps:
1. Trashed all stained items.
2. In my 55 gallon garbage bag, I placed all the clothes that I have not worn in at least 5 years and do not foresee wearing again. I also added a couple of old purses and clothes that I know that I will never wear again because frankly, they are ugly! Needless to say, the bag is full! I hope the Salvation Army can use it.
3. I placed all my non-maternity items on the top shelf so that I can revisit them in 5 or 6 months (well, 8-10 is probably more realistic).
4. The clothes that remained, are now hanging R.O.Y.G.B.I.V.B.B.ly in my closet.
5. Both of my dresser drawers were emptied, sorted, and repacked.
This only took me a couple of hours, which I have to say shocked me. I must say though, I'm glad I took the time to do so since every morning I stand in my closet, bewildered and bummed that I could find nothing to wear. No, I don't have more clothes to wear, but at least I can see what I do have. And, I learned some lessons:
1. I truly need to vary the colors in my wardrobe. Most of my stuff is black, purple or blue.
2. I have tons of maternity pants, none of which really fit me.
3. There are a couple of items that I refuse to ever give away: my brother's sweaters and a stained T-shirt with his picture on it.
4. I have a load of dresses to go out to a nice dinner in...and I'd really like to wear them more often.
5. I have been blessed with some amazing friends that have been ever so gracious to donate their used maternity clothing to me.
6. I really haven't gone clothes shopping for myself in a long time. Besides the clothes my husband has purchased for me as Christmas gifts, most of my wardrobe dates back over 10 years. And, yes, much of it is coming back into style. Lucky me ;)
7. Once this baby is born, I better lose that weight rather quickly or I won't fit into anything.
8. I do have lingerie, 4 items. Who knew?!
This really was a rewarding experience. I even carried that momentum into my kids' toy room this afternoon. WooHoo! I'm looking forward to receiving next week's assignment tomorrow because if anyone needs their life simplified, I feel like its me!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Happy Birthday to my 2 year old, C!
This week is a roller coaster of emotions, but I'm SO thrilled that I get to celebrate the birth of my 3rd child. As I thought about how crazy it is to have her birthday the day after the anniversary of my brother's death, I thought back to what my girlfriend, Paula had said to me when I found out that I am expecting my 4th child, "Dennis knows you are a great mom and this is his way of showing that he's still here and loves you" (paraphrased, but you get the gist). Why did she say that? I found out that I was expecting on my brother's birthday. I realized today, that each of my children is somehow connected with my brother, Dennis. My son, L, was originally due on Nov 7, but after 2 ultrasounds, I urged the doctor to change his due date to what the ultrasound tech said, my brother's birthday. My J, well, she's named after Dennis because I was 6 months along when he was killed. And of course, the next 2 girls as mentioned above.
Is that just a coincidence? Who knows, but I am going to choose to believe that this is the universe's way of telling me that Dennis will always be a part of not only my life, but my children's as well. Thank you, universe! I really appreciate it.
Today, I woke up, revived and with a new attitude. Instead of depressed, angry, and empty (from yesterday), I awoke full of joy, hope, and a sense of "oh, no! I have a trillion things to do today. Eeek!" After getting the kids ready for school/the gym, we went and picked up the most adorable Abby Cadabby cupcakes and cake, hit school/the gym, ordered pizza, took some business calls and answered some emails, hung out with P before he left for his trip, and partook in a conference call for the YMCA. Oh yeah, baby! All of this before 11:30, the end of school and the beginning of C's birthday celebration with her friends from the babysitting room at the Y.
According to L, this was the best party ever. Oh yeah! Its amazing what some free swimming, pizza and cupcakes will do to a 5 year old. Problem? Poor C was not interested in swimming until about 15 minutes before it was time to eat. Why does it always happen that way? Must be the way the universe gets to us moms that are just trying to ensure our kids have fun. At least hunger called her name on schedule.
A quick run to the grocery store was in order following the party and before my afternoon conference call. Oh yes, because of course, the most stressful part was trying to figure out what to serve my family for dinner. After last night, a dinner of cod, roasted asparagus, and steamed cauliflower, which ALL of my kids devoured, you would think that there is really no need to stress out of dinner. But, it wasn't "that" family I was stressed about. My brother, and 2 of my sister in laws eat nothing. Yep. They are super picky, eat no veggies, and are very difficult to feed. Not to mention that my dad and grandfather usually always have something to say about a meal. Couple that with the fact that I had no time to actually make dinner, I was stressed. I went with my mother's suggestion and made sloppy joe's/whimpies (which apparently, my brother and his wife don't like), some pre-made pasta salads from the deli, a green salad, and leftover mashed rutabaga. Wouldn't you know? My kids ate nothing. That's right. They had a little pasta salad, some hummus on carrots and crackers, but that is it. Meanwhile, my niece and nephew inhaled their sloppy joe's.
Am I upset? Absolutely NOT! My kids will eat fish and veggies for dinner. Who cares if they won't eat ground meat in a tomato sauce. They love cauliflower! How many kids do you know that fight over the last floret? I know 3. I am not sad to be removing whimpies from my menu forever. Information that makes me happy that I chose this menu idea.
And, what's better than this? My brother, G, told me that he didn't believe that we'd be eating at 6, when I said. My sister-in-law, S, commented that she wondered why my brother, D, always has to get here early because we always eat late. Well, my friends, dinner was served at 5:58. Booyah! And that's how I roll!
The only thing that would have made the day better would have been having my husband here to celebrate with us...oh, and not finding out that there is a leak in my roof. All and all, a great day to celebrate the life of one very special little girl, a little girl that went to bed singing "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to ME. Happy Birthday to you".
The last 2 years have brought us 2 hospitalizations, at least 10 catheterizations, and a complete change in personality (yes, she will do it all by herself). She remains a little girl that is always eager to give kisses and snuggles her head against your shoulder when you pick her up. She loves her brother (Dodo) and her sister (Nina) more than anything or anyone in the world, oh, and Piglet (puppy). We are so very blessed to have her in our lives. My hope for her next year is that she remains infection free, successfully makes it through her surgery, embraces potty training, loves her baby sister and WeeTots, and continues to grow into the smart little lovey she is. Oh, and sleeping through the night in her own bed like she used to would be great too! Happy Birthday, C! Mommy LOVES you!
Is that just a coincidence? Who knows, but I am going to choose to believe that this is the universe's way of telling me that Dennis will always be a part of not only my life, but my children's as well. Thank you, universe! I really appreciate it.
Today, I woke up, revived and with a new attitude. Instead of depressed, angry, and empty (from yesterday), I awoke full of joy, hope, and a sense of "oh, no! I have a trillion things to do today. Eeek!" After getting the kids ready for school/the gym, we went and picked up the most adorable Abby Cadabby cupcakes and cake, hit school/the gym, ordered pizza, took some business calls and answered some emails, hung out with P before he left for his trip, and partook in a conference call for the YMCA. Oh yeah, baby! All of this before 11:30, the end of school and the beginning of C's birthday celebration with her friends from the babysitting room at the Y.
According to L, this was the best party ever. Oh yeah! Its amazing what some free swimming, pizza and cupcakes will do to a 5 year old. Problem? Poor C was not interested in swimming until about 15 minutes before it was time to eat. Why does it always happen that way? Must be the way the universe gets to us moms that are just trying to ensure our kids have fun. At least hunger called her name on schedule.
A quick run to the grocery store was in order following the party and before my afternoon conference call. Oh yes, because of course, the most stressful part was trying to figure out what to serve my family for dinner. After last night, a dinner of cod, roasted asparagus, and steamed cauliflower, which ALL of my kids devoured, you would think that there is really no need to stress out of dinner. But, it wasn't "that" family I was stressed about. My brother, and 2 of my sister in laws eat nothing. Yep. They are super picky, eat no veggies, and are very difficult to feed. Not to mention that my dad and grandfather usually always have something to say about a meal. Couple that with the fact that I had no time to actually make dinner, I was stressed. I went with my mother's suggestion and made sloppy joe's/whimpies (which apparently, my brother and his wife don't like), some pre-made pasta salads from the deli, a green salad, and leftover mashed rutabaga. Wouldn't you know? My kids ate nothing. That's right. They had a little pasta salad, some hummus on carrots and crackers, but that is it. Meanwhile, my niece and nephew inhaled their sloppy joe's.
Am I upset? Absolutely NOT! My kids will eat fish and veggies for dinner. Who cares if they won't eat ground meat in a tomato sauce. They love cauliflower! How many kids do you know that fight over the last floret? I know 3. I am not sad to be removing whimpies from my menu forever. Information that makes me happy that I chose this menu idea.
And, what's better than this? My brother, G, told me that he didn't believe that we'd be eating at 6, when I said. My sister-in-law, S, commented that she wondered why my brother, D, always has to get here early because we always eat late. Well, my friends, dinner was served at 5:58. Booyah! And that's how I roll!
The only thing that would have made the day better would have been having my husband here to celebrate with us...oh, and not finding out that there is a leak in my roof. All and all, a great day to celebrate the life of one very special little girl, a little girl that went to bed singing "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to ME. Happy Birthday to you".
The last 2 years have brought us 2 hospitalizations, at least 10 catheterizations, and a complete change in personality (yes, she will do it all by herself). She remains a little girl that is always eager to give kisses and snuggles her head against your shoulder when you pick her up. She loves her brother (Dodo) and her sister (Nina) more than anything or anyone in the world, oh, and Piglet (puppy). We are so very blessed to have her in our lives. My hope for her next year is that she remains infection free, successfully makes it through her surgery, embraces potty training, loves her baby sister and WeeTots, and continues to grow into the smart little lovey she is. Oh, and sleeping through the night in her own bed like she used to would be great too! Happy Birthday, C! Mommy LOVES you!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Today SUCKS!
I really have not much more to add to that. I wish I could wipe today off of the calendar since apparently, reversing past events is impossible. Reminds me of that song, "One More Day" by Diamond Rio.
Last night I had a crazy dream
A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didn't ask for money
Or a mansion in Malibu
I simply wished for one more day with you
One more day
One more time
One more sunset maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still for one more day with you
First thing I'd do is pray for time to crawl
Then I'd unplug the telephone
And keep the TV off
I'd hold you every second
Say a million "I Love You's"
That's what I'd do with one more day with you.
There are so many songs that make me think of Dennis, but I think of this song around March 9 every year. If only... What would I really do? I think I would just stare at him, and tell him that I love him and am proud of the man he became. Then, I'd probably beg him never to leave again. Sounds like he was my love, but no, he's my brother. The love between siblings is something so strong and powerful, but kind of unrecognized. Siblings grow with you. They know all of your indiscretions, but love you for them anyway. They are supposed to be there with you at your parents' funeral, to lean on so no one falls. They are lifetime friends, BFFs, if you will. You play together, beat the crap out of each other, take care of them as if they are your own children, feel responsible for their happiness and success, love their children as if they were your own, hurt when they hurt, celebrate all of their successes, and just in general, share in their lives. You kind of just expect that they will always be there.
What happens when you realize that that is not going to happen? Everything and nothing at all. Numbness. Shock. Disbelief. Anger. Hurt. Confusion. Sadness. Depression. Fear. Disgust. Blame. Guilt.
Every anniversary, especially the lead up to it, is full of all of these emotions, again. Its as if they all get together and celebrate the date. My eyes have been burning all day. Now, at 12:30 am, the "day of," I am beat. I am tired. But, I do NOT want to go to bed. GRRR!!! Damn you March 9. Damn you cowardly jerk that killed my baby brother. You were never blessed enough to know the pure love, joy and overall happiness that exuded from that wonderful man. No, not man, kid. Poor you!
Dennis, I love you more than words could ever express. You are so deeply missed and I will live my everyday to ensure you are never forgotten. May your son grow to know the man you were. You are always in my heart.
Love and miss you, dearly!
Last night I had a crazy dream
A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didn't ask for money
Or a mansion in Malibu
I simply wished for one more day with you
One more day
One more time
One more sunset maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still for one more day with you
First thing I'd do is pray for time to crawl
Then I'd unplug the telephone
And keep the TV off
I'd hold you every second
Say a million "I Love You's"
That's what I'd do with one more day with you.
There are so many songs that make me think of Dennis, but I think of this song around March 9 every year. If only... What would I really do? I think I would just stare at him, and tell him that I love him and am proud of the man he became. Then, I'd probably beg him never to leave again. Sounds like he was my love, but no, he's my brother. The love between siblings is something so strong and powerful, but kind of unrecognized. Siblings grow with you. They know all of your indiscretions, but love you for them anyway. They are supposed to be there with you at your parents' funeral, to lean on so no one falls. They are lifetime friends, BFFs, if you will. You play together, beat the crap out of each other, take care of them as if they are your own children, feel responsible for their happiness and success, love their children as if they were your own, hurt when they hurt, celebrate all of their successes, and just in general, share in their lives. You kind of just expect that they will always be there.
What happens when you realize that that is not going to happen? Everything and nothing at all. Numbness. Shock. Disbelief. Anger. Hurt. Confusion. Sadness. Depression. Fear. Disgust. Blame. Guilt.
Every anniversary, especially the lead up to it, is full of all of these emotions, again. Its as if they all get together and celebrate the date. My eyes have been burning all day. Now, at 12:30 am, the "day of," I am beat. I am tired. But, I do NOT want to go to bed. GRRR!!! Damn you March 9. Damn you cowardly jerk that killed my baby brother. You were never blessed enough to know the pure love, joy and overall happiness that exuded from that wonderful man. No, not man, kid. Poor you!
Dennis, I love you more than words could ever express. You are so deeply missed and I will live my everyday to ensure you are never forgotten. May your son grow to know the man you were. You are always in my heart.
Love and miss you, dearly!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Under Disguise?
A few years ago, I purchased Deceptively Delicious and The Sneaky Chef. I was so inspired to ensure that my children were getting their veggies, even if it meant that I had to hide them in their food. After reviewing the recipes, I decided that a. there were too few veggies per serving to really count and b. there was too much work required to do so. At that point, I vowed to encourage my children to find a love of veggies now, so that I didn't have to hide them for the rest of their lives, and as adults, they would be able to make healthy decisions for themselves.
Needless to say, I was inspired by my girlfriend to use my food processor. Hmmm...is that really the same as disguising their favorite veggies? Yes, but on this occasion, I didn't care. Another friend had been bragging about the excellent chicken cacciatore that she made, and I wanted it too. To me, cc is characterized by strips of peppers and onions in a tomato sauce. We've been doing so well though, with the lack of tears and wining at dinner time, I really didn't want to revisit this anytime soon. So, I lamented and threw 3 bell peppers (orange, yellow, red), carrots and an onion into the machine and watched it pulverize. Then, I just mixed it into a can of seasoned crushed tomatoes with 4 frozen chicken breasts, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp sage, 4 cloves of garlic, and some salt.
Served over brown rice, I thought the kids would be thrilled, but instead, C and L insisted on just having rice. Let's just say, they are addicted to rice. So, disguising the veggies didn't really save me from the winy tears. Instead, I got to hear them because I had adulterated their rice by adding cc to the top of it. When the protest ended though, I was thrilled that L told me, "this is excellent! When I'm done with this bowl, do you think I can have some more?" Success!
Do I feel bad that I essentially lied to my kids about what they are eating? Hmmm...yes and no. No, because they ate their bell peppers, packed with vitamins A and C, that fight against free radicals, promote lung health and good eye sight, and all and all, good health. Yes, because they don't know that they really enjoyed said peppers. I mean, how can I make this translate into future healthy choices? I guess every gain comes with some losses.
The lesson? In the future, I may continue to pulse the food into smaller, more bite size and manageable portions, but perhaps, I will ensure the pieces are big enough to discern. The kids should be able to recognize that they are eating something besides sauce, and when they ask, I will tell them that its something really healthy for them. Only after their plate (or bowl) has been licked clean, will I reveal the real identity of this healthy hero.
Needless to say, I was inspired by my girlfriend to use my food processor. Hmmm...is that really the same as disguising their favorite veggies? Yes, but on this occasion, I didn't care. Another friend had been bragging about the excellent chicken cacciatore that she made, and I wanted it too. To me, cc is characterized by strips of peppers and onions in a tomato sauce. We've been doing so well though, with the lack of tears and wining at dinner time, I really didn't want to revisit this anytime soon. So, I lamented and threw 3 bell peppers (orange, yellow, red), carrots and an onion into the machine and watched it pulverize. Then, I just mixed it into a can of seasoned crushed tomatoes with 4 frozen chicken breasts, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp sage, 4 cloves of garlic, and some salt.
Served over brown rice, I thought the kids would be thrilled, but instead, C and L insisted on just having rice. Let's just say, they are addicted to rice. So, disguising the veggies didn't really save me from the winy tears. Instead, I got to hear them because I had adulterated their rice by adding cc to the top of it. When the protest ended though, I was thrilled that L told me, "this is excellent! When I'm done with this bowl, do you think I can have some more?" Success!
Do I feel bad that I essentially lied to my kids about what they are eating? Hmmm...yes and no. No, because they ate their bell peppers, packed with vitamins A and C, that fight against free radicals, promote lung health and good eye sight, and all and all, good health. Yes, because they don't know that they really enjoyed said peppers. I mean, how can I make this translate into future healthy choices? I guess every gain comes with some losses.
The lesson? In the future, I may continue to pulse the food into smaller, more bite size and manageable portions, but perhaps, I will ensure the pieces are big enough to discern. The kids should be able to recognize that they are eating something besides sauce, and when they ask, I will tell them that its something really healthy for them. Only after their plate (or bowl) has been licked clean, will I reveal the real identity of this healthy hero.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Dear Citizens of the World,
Dear Citizens of the World,
I just wanted to remind you of some common decencies. These will not take too much time or effort to comply with, but boy, oh boy, will they make the world a better place.
1. If you are in your vehicle, typically temperature controlled, usually shelter from the environment, take the 30 seconds and stop to allow the pedestrian to cross the parking lot or street. This really won't make you that late for your important date, but sure will make the person who has no protection from the environment really happy.
2. The Earth is NOT your garbage can. I know! Is hard to believe, but we actually have garbage cans in which you can place items you no longer desire, aka trash. This does not only pertain to typical garbage items like cups, cans, paper, etc...but also pertains to your nasty cigarette butts. If you wouldn't throw it on the floor in your home, than you shouldn't throw it on the ground anywhere else.
3. Having a right and actually using a right are 2 completely different things. To reword: Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. Would you like an example? How about this: In the US, we have the Freedom of Speech which allows jerks to protest at military funerals. That doesn't mean that people, no, a**holes, should put the grieving families through the heartache and disgrace of doing so. Have some common decency you jack*sses! Is that one too uncommon? Ok...How about, just because you can comment in ear shot of a mother that her kids need the SuperNanny, doesn't mean you should! You don't know the circumstances of the situation. And, what gives you the right to make her feel like a bigger piece of poop?! Don't you think she already knows that her kids' behavior is unacceptable?! Just think about it!
4. If you happen to accidentally urinate on a public toilet seat, be courteous enough to wipe the urine off of the seat. You would think that seat urine is prevalent in the presence of male species, but it is all too common with women too. You know who you are. You are the one that is so grossed out that you refuse to sit on the pot. Instead, you choose to squat and spray all over the seat, confirming for the rest of us, that public toilet seats are disgusting. Either take a seat or CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF! Thanks!
5. There are these strange things called "stalls" located in many parking lots. The use? To house shopping carts. Typically, they are scattered throughout the lot to make it easy for you, the customer, to safely return your shopping cart to the store. If you are parked in the first few spots, you may not see one close, but don't fret. Instead, you can walk your cart back across the lot to the store. I know that it is easier to simply leave the cart next to your car, especially when the weather is poor or you have small children, BUT did you know that your cart could cause damage to others' cars or that it could block a parking spot so others can't easily pull in? Its true. Just a little extra effort from you could go a long way.
6. If you are the lucky recipient of government subsidies, you should show the decency to all of those that gave so that you could receive the spoils. What does that mean? I'll give you a few examples. If you receive housing assistance, do NOT destroy the home. If you receive money with which to purchase food for your family, do NOT spend that money on chips and soda. What? How dare I tell you what to eat. I know, I'm a snot, BUT, that's my money that you are using (potentially), and I think that you should use it to buy food that will actually nourish your body. Oh, and if you are fortunate enough to benefit from programs like the above, try to actually improve your life. Its not a free pass. There is no reason you should have a nicer cell phone, car, kicks, or clothes than people that scrimp, save, and sacrifice. Use your money to get yourself back on your feet. That's why you are getting it. Really? You didn't know that?! Hmmm...
Now, I don't want to be too picky or controlling when it comes to your behavior, so I will stop there. I simply request that you consider your fellow citizens of this world and how you can do little things to make it a better place to live.
Thanks for your consideration,
Me!
I just wanted to remind you of some common decencies. These will not take too much time or effort to comply with, but boy, oh boy, will they make the world a better place.
1. If you are in your vehicle, typically temperature controlled, usually shelter from the environment, take the 30 seconds and stop to allow the pedestrian to cross the parking lot or street. This really won't make you that late for your important date, but sure will make the person who has no protection from the environment really happy.
2. The Earth is NOT your garbage can. I know! Is hard to believe, but we actually have garbage cans in which you can place items you no longer desire, aka trash. This does not only pertain to typical garbage items like cups, cans, paper, etc...but also pertains to your nasty cigarette butts. If you wouldn't throw it on the floor in your home, than you shouldn't throw it on the ground anywhere else.
3. Having a right and actually using a right are 2 completely different things. To reword: Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. Would you like an example? How about this: In the US, we have the Freedom of Speech which allows jerks to protest at military funerals. That doesn't mean that people, no, a**holes, should put the grieving families through the heartache and disgrace of doing so. Have some common decency you jack*sses! Is that one too uncommon? Ok...How about, just because you can comment in ear shot of a mother that her kids need the SuperNanny, doesn't mean you should! You don't know the circumstances of the situation. And, what gives you the right to make her feel like a bigger piece of poop?! Don't you think she already knows that her kids' behavior is unacceptable?! Just think about it!
4. If you happen to accidentally urinate on a public toilet seat, be courteous enough to wipe the urine off of the seat. You would think that seat urine is prevalent in the presence of male species, but it is all too common with women too. You know who you are. You are the one that is so grossed out that you refuse to sit on the pot. Instead, you choose to squat and spray all over the seat, confirming for the rest of us, that public toilet seats are disgusting. Either take a seat or CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF! Thanks!
5. There are these strange things called "stalls" located in many parking lots. The use? To house shopping carts. Typically, they are scattered throughout the lot to make it easy for you, the customer, to safely return your shopping cart to the store. If you are parked in the first few spots, you may not see one close, but don't fret. Instead, you can walk your cart back across the lot to the store. I know that it is easier to simply leave the cart next to your car, especially when the weather is poor or you have small children, BUT did you know that your cart could cause damage to others' cars or that it could block a parking spot so others can't easily pull in? Its true. Just a little extra effort from you could go a long way.
6. If you are the lucky recipient of government subsidies, you should show the decency to all of those that gave so that you could receive the spoils. What does that mean? I'll give you a few examples. If you receive housing assistance, do NOT destroy the home. If you receive money with which to purchase food for your family, do NOT spend that money on chips and soda. What? How dare I tell you what to eat. I know, I'm a snot, BUT, that's my money that you are using (potentially), and I think that you should use it to buy food that will actually nourish your body. Oh, and if you are fortunate enough to benefit from programs like the above, try to actually improve your life. Its not a free pass. There is no reason you should have a nicer cell phone, car, kicks, or clothes than people that scrimp, save, and sacrifice. Use your money to get yourself back on your feet. That's why you are getting it. Really? You didn't know that?! Hmmm...
Now, I don't want to be too picky or controlling when it comes to your behavior, so I will stop there. I simply request that you consider your fellow citizens of this world and how you can do little things to make it a better place to live.
Thanks for your consideration,
Me!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Did I sign up for this???
Okay...I know that I am fortunate. My husband, kids and I live in a nice house, have food to eat, family to love, and really don't want for much. But, yesterday, I surely felt like I must have had a conversation with God before I was born, acting as the martyr, I must have requested that if he has extra crap that he needs to throw down on someone, I would be more than happy to take up the burden. Yes, of course this didn't happen, but it sure as heck felt that way.
I've been working extra hard with J, to get her to stop screaming and crying when she's asked to do something or doesn't get her way. Around 2, as our play date ended, we had made it tear and fit free. I praised her up and down, reminding her that she's so close to earning her reward: a 4 in. Snow White toy with the jelly outfits. It was all down hill from there.
I had originally had no plans on visiting the store, but I had to pick up some black garbage bags. So, off to WalMart we go. Oh yes, every mom's favorite crowded store. But NO, I would not fall into that trap. Instead, I decided to visit the new store that is closer to my home and almost always dead. They had some fantastic prices for their produce. Yes, its not organic. I know, but I'm not sure that buying organic is truly sustainable for our family. Too expensive. Regardless, I got a cart full of fruit and veggies (including a rutabaga). I am going to eat healthier, like I did when I was trying to lose weight. After making the trek to the back of the store for garbage bags, I got stuck in a convo with an older gentleman who commiserated with me. "You look exhausted. You really do have your hands full..." I forgot the garbage bags.
Then, the fun began. Oh yeah. This checkout has only 1 customer? Perfect! I unload and wait. And wait. And wait... Finally! My turn. Then, Ann Marie asks, "What are these?" "Plums," I respond. "Oh, I don't know because I don't eat this stuff." I knew then and there this was going to be an experience. This 50 year old woman asked me about every piece of produce, save the bananas, even the ones with the identifying stickers. Goodness! But, I stayed cheerful because it had been a good day. To make a very long story short, this woman had no clue how to weigh fruits and veggies. Instead, she weighed her hand, her belly, and pretty much everything else that could get close to the scale. Some of the items were ringing up incorrectly and she had NO CLUE how to fix the price. At least 30 minutes later (after beginning my order), I tell her, "Look, just let it go. I will go to customer service." But, about 10 items before she was done, J starts in, "Mommy, I have to go potty. I really have to go. I need to go now! I'm going to pee my pants." So, Mom of the Year, sends the 5 year old with the 3 year old to the potty. Now, I can literally strangle the cashier. Ann Marie gives me my total, and then, it took about 6 attempts to get my credit card through the machine. "Please, do not touch the computer" I insisted during the final swipe. Eureka! Success.
Now, I get the pleasure of waiting in the line at Customer Service. Yay! I'm 4th in line. That's not bad. Oh wait! Is that Donald Brown that just whizzed by in his jazzy and cut me?! Son of a gun! Why not say something, you ask? Well, Donald is about 65, deaf, and gets around town in a motorized wellchair that my dad services. Oh yea, so I stand there, seething. Can you imagine seeing a young woman telling off an old man in a wheelchair?! Now, a good 20 minutes later, I am up.
My kids have been angels...until NOW. Oh yes. J wants to sit where L is. C doesn't want to be in the cart anymore. Between telling the woman what's wrong "the apples are rung up at the wrong price and at 3 weights and the sweet potatoes are the wrong price," and refereeing my children's seat battles, I am just about done. Then, silence. Perfect. I turn to focus on the customer service rep when I hear a collective gasp, followed by a scream from C. She is now on the floor, on her back, hysterical. I rush to make sure she's okay and calm her, when I hear squabbling again. I turn to see that J is now sitting on L's head, kicking him out of her seat. I grab her with my free hand and put her in the cart. Now? Oh yes, she is screaming bloody murder. Goodbye Snow White. Cue collective loud whispering among the rest of the customers. Yes, please put the "Crap Mom" sign back on my forehead. Thanks!
And of course, as soon as we walk away from the customer service counter, the angels return. Smiles and all. Pure and utter silence. Thanks for the show, kids!
If that's not bad enough, I get home, the dog hurts L by wrapping her leash around his ankle and pulling him down, then snaps her leash as she bolts for the oncoming van. Oh yeah! This is the life. After getting her back inside and in her crate, I throw my cold food in the fridge and the kids back in the van. Off to KMart we go, for those darn black garbage bags and a new leash, which we procure in less than 3 minutes. But, no, I have to wait over 15 minutes to check out. This could go on forever.
We rush home, drop the leash off and run to my mom's to meet the reporter that's coming to do a story on the aftermath of military death. Oh yea, you guessed it. We get there 5 minutes late, only to get an email 10 minutes later to say that she can't make it and needs to reschedule. Okay, that sucks, but oh well. No biggie. Wait, is that dog poop on the floor (my parent's dog is really old)?! Oh good, I'll clean it up. This is my life, people. Let the jealousy begin now.
My hopes of a nice healthful meal full of veggies with a fruit dessert were shot! Instead, dinner was mini corndogs, leftover spaghetti and applesauce. Did you just vomit in your mouth?! I know! I cringed as I sat there at dinner. But, that's what you get when you go to someone's house that has to go grocery shopping while your kids are starving and must be fed immediately or they will pass out due to a lack of nutrition. Grrr! My poor mom. She even offered to take us out to dinner, but I could not deal with one more potential customer service snaffoo.
Tonight will be different though! I think I'm going to broil some blue hake and roast some veggies, maybe brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, and rutabaga. Along with my salad lunch, this should make up for the cookies and banana bread I had at this morning's meeting...I hope. Here's hoping the kids enjoy tonight's dinner as much as last night's.
Not likely, but a mom can dream...can't she?!
I've been working extra hard with J, to get her to stop screaming and crying when she's asked to do something or doesn't get her way. Around 2, as our play date ended, we had made it tear and fit free. I praised her up and down, reminding her that she's so close to earning her reward: a 4 in. Snow White toy with the jelly outfits. It was all down hill from there.
I had originally had no plans on visiting the store, but I had to pick up some black garbage bags. So, off to WalMart we go. Oh yes, every mom's favorite crowded store. But NO, I would not fall into that trap. Instead, I decided to visit the new store that is closer to my home and almost always dead. They had some fantastic prices for their produce. Yes, its not organic. I know, but I'm not sure that buying organic is truly sustainable for our family. Too expensive. Regardless, I got a cart full of fruit and veggies (including a rutabaga). I am going to eat healthier, like I did when I was trying to lose weight. After making the trek to the back of the store for garbage bags, I got stuck in a convo with an older gentleman who commiserated with me. "You look exhausted. You really do have your hands full..." I forgot the garbage bags.
Then, the fun began. Oh yeah. This checkout has only 1 customer? Perfect! I unload and wait. And wait. And wait... Finally! My turn. Then, Ann Marie asks, "What are these?" "Plums," I respond. "Oh, I don't know because I don't eat this stuff." I knew then and there this was going to be an experience. This 50 year old woman asked me about every piece of produce, save the bananas, even the ones with the identifying stickers. Goodness! But, I stayed cheerful because it had been a good day. To make a very long story short, this woman had no clue how to weigh fruits and veggies. Instead, she weighed her hand, her belly, and pretty much everything else that could get close to the scale. Some of the items were ringing up incorrectly and she had NO CLUE how to fix the price. At least 30 minutes later (after beginning my order), I tell her, "Look, just let it go. I will go to customer service." But, about 10 items before she was done, J starts in, "Mommy, I have to go potty. I really have to go. I need to go now! I'm going to pee my pants." So, Mom of the Year, sends the 5 year old with the 3 year old to the potty. Now, I can literally strangle the cashier. Ann Marie gives me my total, and then, it took about 6 attempts to get my credit card through the machine. "Please, do not touch the computer" I insisted during the final swipe. Eureka! Success.
Now, I get the pleasure of waiting in the line at Customer Service. Yay! I'm 4th in line. That's not bad. Oh wait! Is that Donald Brown that just whizzed by in his jazzy and cut me?! Son of a gun! Why not say something, you ask? Well, Donald is about 65, deaf, and gets around town in a motorized wellchair that my dad services. Oh yea, so I stand there, seething. Can you imagine seeing a young woman telling off an old man in a wheelchair?! Now, a good 20 minutes later, I am up.
My kids have been angels...until NOW. Oh yes. J wants to sit where L is. C doesn't want to be in the cart anymore. Between telling the woman what's wrong "the apples are rung up at the wrong price and at 3 weights and the sweet potatoes are the wrong price," and refereeing my children's seat battles, I am just about done. Then, silence. Perfect. I turn to focus on the customer service rep when I hear a collective gasp, followed by a scream from C. She is now on the floor, on her back, hysterical. I rush to make sure she's okay and calm her, when I hear squabbling again. I turn to see that J is now sitting on L's head, kicking him out of her seat. I grab her with my free hand and put her in the cart. Now? Oh yes, she is screaming bloody murder. Goodbye Snow White. Cue collective loud whispering among the rest of the customers. Yes, please put the "Crap Mom" sign back on my forehead. Thanks!
And of course, as soon as we walk away from the customer service counter, the angels return. Smiles and all. Pure and utter silence. Thanks for the show, kids!
If that's not bad enough, I get home, the dog hurts L by wrapping her leash around his ankle and pulling him down, then snaps her leash as she bolts for the oncoming van. Oh yeah! This is the life. After getting her back inside and in her crate, I throw my cold food in the fridge and the kids back in the van. Off to KMart we go, for those darn black garbage bags and a new leash, which we procure in less than 3 minutes. But, no, I have to wait over 15 minutes to check out. This could go on forever.
We rush home, drop the leash off and run to my mom's to meet the reporter that's coming to do a story on the aftermath of military death. Oh yea, you guessed it. We get there 5 minutes late, only to get an email 10 minutes later to say that she can't make it and needs to reschedule. Okay, that sucks, but oh well. No biggie. Wait, is that dog poop on the floor (my parent's dog is really old)?! Oh good, I'll clean it up. This is my life, people. Let the jealousy begin now.
My hopes of a nice healthful meal full of veggies with a fruit dessert were shot! Instead, dinner was mini corndogs, leftover spaghetti and applesauce. Did you just vomit in your mouth?! I know! I cringed as I sat there at dinner. But, that's what you get when you go to someone's house that has to go grocery shopping while your kids are starving and must be fed immediately or they will pass out due to a lack of nutrition. Grrr! My poor mom. She even offered to take us out to dinner, but I could not deal with one more potential customer service snaffoo.
Tonight will be different though! I think I'm going to broil some blue hake and roast some veggies, maybe brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, and rutabaga. Along with my salad lunch, this should make up for the cookies and banana bread I had at this morning's meeting...I hope. Here's hoping the kids enjoy tonight's dinner as much as last night's.
Not likely, but a mom can dream...can't she?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)