Ponytail Challenge

livin' a large & lavish lifestyle

2010-10-23T17:46:00.004-06:00

(mostly just large)

So, I bought myself a girdle today.

I had one already, from my last postpartum stage of life, but poor thing has been used & stretched to odd dimensions- that couldn't possibly resemble a normal body shape. Must be because the kids played with it.....yeah....that's it.

What is your latest totally unnecessary make-ya-feel-better-about-yourself purchase?

(Bonus, got it 50% off).

Lovely lady lumps.

2010-09-11T17:53:00.002-06:00

4 weeks left.
Already 10 pounds heavier than ever before.

We'll blame it on the recent entrance into my 30's.

(....yeah.....that must be it.....not the cinnamon rolls consumed for breakfast, lunch & dinner today)

Conclusion: The Ponytail Challenge Blog will be a necessity once again in my life- so stay tuned.

good, bad & the ugly

2010-05-11T10:11:00.002-06:00

good: I am pregnant!

bad: allergy season = sneezing

ugly: ponytails & plaid maternity shirts

yeah, yeah, I know.

2010-02-01T07:15:00.002-07:00

I have been searching everywhere for my ambition! Hall closet? Countertop? Just as soon as I find it I really will begin this again....

Reunited and it feels so good.....

2010-01-18T00:18:00.002-07:00

Alright- after a few requests, this blog might just have new material coming it's way.
But, first, I need to know if anyone out there cares. 20 comments on this post by Friday and we will start Ponytail Challenge again.

knocked off my pedestal

2009-03-17T14:57:00.003-06:00

While I've been without the internet, I have had many enlightening conversationswith my children.

Day one of riding in the new hand-me-down carseat:

son: Mom, why is my car seat all fuzzy?

I don't know. What do you mean?

son: Fuzzy. It is all fuzzy.

Like a blanket or a stuffed animal?

son: No. You know, fuzzy, like the hairs that are always in my food.

(gag)

Mental note to self: invest in school cafeteria quality hair nets.

Hope you all feel better about yourselves now.
Your welcome.

m.i.a.

2009-02-28T00:28:00.003-07:00

We finally closed on our house yesterday. *phew*
This means I am officially in the process of moving.

..........which means that I officially have a good reason to have a messy house.

Life is good.

I love when things are official.

oh-yeah- Did I mention that my husband is officially on crutches for 3 more weeks and has been for the past 2?

How have you been?

breaking up

2009-01-21T23:20:00.004-07:00

A year ago, in the midst of 9th month heartburn, I spent late nights scouring the Internet, surfing the time away while my baby worked on her cardio kicks inside my womb. Night after sleep deprived night (my theory: nature's way of preparing a mother for the sleep loss that comes along with a newborn), in these late hours, I discovered blogs.
We hadn't had the Internet in our home for a few years in order to save the budget. People actually put their lives out there for the whole world to see?
Day after day, home with my children, I was in need of adult camaraderie and it was only a few clicks away in this new cyber world.
Then, the baby came and feedings ensued. Oh, the feedings! With a glowing screen beside me, I nursed the nights away with my daughter tucked in the crook of my arm.
At first, it was a big extended home town reunion on my computer screen. So and so had so many kids, lived in a big house, still was in school, started a business, traveled the world, took the cutest pictures of their kids in their beautiful and spotless homes.
Soon though, I noticed myself comparing my dirty kitchen to the beautiful, spotless countertops in backgrounds of pictures. The family blog I started could only have the 1 out of 1000 pictures that I felt worthy to be posted for the world.
How was it that I felt fully confident to go to the grocery store sans make-up, with ponytail and sometimes even lounge pants? Yet, this image I was starting to portray online was very different. In a late night light bulb moment, I decided to start this blog. Maybe if I found a way to work on a few little things about myself; I could be more content with who I was, what I already had, and who I could become. I didn't really need to look good for other people. I needed to feel good for me. Maybe other women out there felt the same way. And wow! You did!
Something so simple as spending a few minutes each day actually fixing my hair rather than slicking it back with the closest baby head band did wonders for my daily outlook. I have spent the past year concentrating on little personal "fix-ups" with the weekly challenges.
As small and simple as they have been, I feel so much better about myself. A risque streak in the night gave us the giggles. We all found it difficult to recognize the good about ourselves, but we did. It was a good reminder. Good to know that after all of the wiping, cleaning, picking up, commanding, asking, begging, cooking, driving, rocking, reading, etc.; there is still a little room for recognition of myself, and the good that I possess. The good that you possess.
We will be moving in a few weeks to a new home. With this new home will come a new budget, which will be held tight for the next few months as we ensure that all bills are paid and more than Ramen is digested. (I am a strong believer in Ramen. Except for the shrimp flavor. Seriously, who eats that?)
Examining our finances, we decided to, (at least temporarily), cut the unnecessary. I gave contemplation to the idea of pulling my son from pre-school, but in the end gave-in to the fact that it might rank slightly higher in importance than my daily blogging fix. I'll still be posting here and there, (especially in the next few weeks), but challenges will be fewer and farther between.
I've never really introduced myself on here or shown pictures of much besides my fat rolls......so that will be coming too. If you have future challenge suggestions, or would like to "guest post" one, please share.
I've never experienced much of a long-distance relationship, but we'll see how it goes. Let's stay friends though, ok? Friends. Good friends. (name that show)

a series of unfortunate events

2009-01-20T21:53:00.003-07:00

Whilst walking in to a local business establishment:

:01 Gingerly lift the sleeping baby in car seat from car.
Whack car seat against side of car. Baby bonks head.

:03 Crying begins.

:05 Mother distracted by baby, other two children goof around, causing middle child to slip, fall, child bonks head.

:06 Crying x2

:07 While balancing baby in car seat with one arm, mother reaches to help up middle child. Baby's shoe drops.

:09 Oldest child, the helpful child, reaches down to get shoe. Comes up to hit head on bottom of car seat.

:11 Crying escalates x3

Mother laughs. What else can you do at this point?

Finally, get from parking lot to building. Minutes later. Middle child needs to go to the bathroom. Locks self in the stall. Needs help. Mother can't give it. You know what comes next. Yes, yes the child did. Of course she did.

We had granola bars for dinner on the drive home.

The big announcement I promised? On a day filled with multiple head wounds and sanitizing public bathrooms, I'll do my deep thinking/posting a little later on.

winter's warmth

2009-01-19T10:44:00.003-07:00

Thankful Monday.
Last week, winter cried truce and temporarily faded away. In the midst of muck in my front flower bed, the bulbs have claimed back their yearly presence. I couldn't have been happier. New, green plants! In January. In Idaho!

We, (being me and my children by default), were so excited that we ignored all rules of winter, donned our work wear and spend an afternoon outdoors. I, cleaning out weeds and plants that should have been pulled last fall and the kids, turning on hoses (in January. in Idaho!), and digging in the mud.

It was as if we transported to June for a few hours. Absolutely as good as going someplace tropical for a winter reprieve, but without the busy airports, language barriers, strange bugs and sunburns.

Today, Thankful Monday, I am grateful for my little glimpse of warmer days to come. Who needs a groundhog to predict winter's demise when you have tulips to do the job?

Speaking of demise, the next up-coming post is going to have a big announcement. Stay tuned.

What are you thankful for today?

challenge........freebie

2009-01-15T10:52:00.002-07:00

I could spend the next hour thinking up and dreaming up a witty challenge for the week.

I could cut-out paper dolls with my 3-year-old.

I could search the WWW for the perfect picture to go with this post.

I could snuggle with the kids.

I spend day after day trying to amuse the kids long enough to turn to what I want to do. (Blogging, phone calls, house work, etc.) Lately it has been different, changing.

I am quite sure that in 20 years I want to be sure that I savored the time I had while my children were young.

Challenge......... freebie

A little less time blogging, a little more meaningful time.

Kids these days.

2009-01-12T09:44:00.004-07:00

Even though it pains me when I realize how much, how fast, how inexplicably they grow up, there are a few things that make watching this boy shy away from his mamma's affections a very laughable experience. "Dude," prefaces every sentence that comes from his mouth. And the one raised eye brow? Heaven help me. Break dance? He can spin on the top of his head like only a ninja turtle could compare.

And this little punk? Beware. If she even so much as lays down one card in a crushing game of Crazy 8's, you will know full and well in a voice that only another 3-year-old can give justice to, "I destroooooyyyyyyeeeddd you!" (Insert evil laugh here.)

Today's Thankful Monday, I am loving all things dude, peace-out, wasup and rock-on.

Dude, what word is used to extreme measures at your house? What are you thankful for today?

Peace out.

Pictures taken by the talented Cortney Boice.

challenge......... healthy, wealthy & wise

2009-01-07T10:03:00.003-07:00

How do they do it? What sixth sense do little babies have to know exactly, the moment to open their lovely little eyes, and cry out in the night to be rescued them from their comfortable cribs?

No matter if I go to bed at 10 p.m. or 2 a.m., precisely 2 minutes after my head hits the pillow, my too-cute-to-really-be-annoyed baby wakes up. Every single night. Exactly 2 minutes. No exaggeration. When she was first born, each morning, my husband would set the older two children up with juice boxes, dry cereal and PBS cartoons before leaving for work. This allowed the babe and I to linger longer underneath cozy covers and made for perfect morning after morning. Daddy dearest never could have imagined that such a kind gesture would turn into nearly a year of late mornings. No longer a newborn, not even close! she just took her first steps! she still wakes up often and all night long. I just don't have the heart or is it backbone? to make her cry it out to get back to sleep. It is an inevitable cycle of a babe sleeping in the crook of my numbed arm, way more dry cereal than 2 small children should consume on a daily basis and memorized scripts of Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

challenge.......... healthy, wealthy & wise

Early to bed, early to rise.

For the week, go to bed and wake back up just a little earlier than usual, even just ten minutes.

I have actually been working on this for a while. I am getting the early to bed part down quite well, but the early to rise? That is another story; a long dreamy, cozy, comfortable story. In yesterday's daily sister phone call, I told her I was going to start serving my family an actual breakfast before my husband leaves for work.

As in, actually kiss him good bye in the upright position. As in, up by my own accord, not by the pleading plight of a 3-year-old. As in, turn a light on in my house because it will be so dark still that I need it. As in, toast and eggs, not just eggs. Ooohhh, lah, lah. I am fancy. You know you have your work cut out for you if even your one and only sister doubts. And if there is one thing that my childhood sibling rivalry taught me, it was that at all costs, prove your older sister wrong. Good luck to me and good luck to you.

Anyone in?

When do you typically retire and rise each day?

mix & match

2009-01-05T08:49:00.004-07:00

Thankful Monday.

Even though he is *only* 5 and I am a *wise* 28, my boy leaves me speechless on a constant basis. Not speechless in amazement, mind you, but speechless because I. Have. No. Clue.

Ligers. Didn't you know that they are the coolest animal ever? The toughest? They could definitely take down a bear, lion and big foot....... all at once. Just ask him.

Want to know how they came to be? Just ask me. Apparently.

Mom, how do you get a Liger?

A mom lion and a dad tiger. OR a dad lion and a mom tiger.

I know that, mom. How do you make one?

Speechless. Longer than necessary pause.

Um, uh, well, the scientists do it. They know how.

Well, do they just take the mom and the dad and mix them together or something?

Or something. Let's definitely go with the "or something." I'm not sure. We'll have to ask an animal scientist someday.

But how, Mom? How do they mix them together?

I don't know.

Thinking hard, inquisitive look on his face. But, how? How do they mix part of the mom with part of the dad?

Um. uh. Oh shoot honey, I need to call daddy really quick about um, uh....what he wants for dinner. We'll have to figure it out later. Please forget. Please forget. Please forget. Every conversation from the past of how my son has my eyes, but his dad's nose was suddenly racing through my subconscious. You know what is coming, right? You know his little brain will quickly go from mixing a liger's parents together to his own body being a little mixed together as well........AAAAACCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!

I didn't sign up for this. I didn't.

Oh, but I did. Three times.

For now, for today's Thankful Monday, I am just glad that I can delay the conversation, give roundabout answers and be very, very thankful that they are still quite little. The birds & the bees can fly to someone else's house for a few more years.

What are you thankful for today?

sticky situations

2008-12-29T22:38:00.006-07:00

Yes.

Yes, it really is.

Tape can be useful in many home situations. I've used it to "sew" a few seams, pack totes beyond their capacity, patch many a hole and to keep curtains in place. Desperate times, desperate measures.

This one, this one, this one!

She knows exactly what she is doing.

It started the second time she ever sat in the high chair.

See that skinny little chicken leg? It used to be chubby & deliciously plump. Then the fat melting climbing and crawling began.

Just for the record, the tape didn't work. Does anyone know where I can buy baby-sized handcuffs? Straight jackets?

Seriously. Not kidding.

Anyone?

challenge..........the not to-do list

2008-12-17T09:56:00.003-07:00

How is your week? Filled with spiritual, uplifting Christmas happiness?
Except often times it is more stress, lack of sleep, frantic trips to the post office, rushed trips to the box stores you swore you weren't going to shop at this year.

It's here. The mad dash, the final stretch. 8 days left.
I love it. I love this week. As a lifelong procrastinator, this week, this week is where I thrive.
Shortly after I had my first child, I felt very sure that all of the sudden, I needed to do all things expected. Send out handmade personalized Christmas cards, bake the best sugar cookies for the neighbors, learn to make caramel's, and purchase personalized gifts for my loved ones. Not to mention, sew intricately pieced matching stockings for each of us and help with a church performance. I did it all. Even the caramels! And it was horrible. And I haven't done it since.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the satisfaction of accomplishing so much. But, I didn't enjoy what I should have enjoyed this time of year. I didn't enjoy the simplicity of helping another.

I was so busy thinking of all that I needed to do, that I forgot about what was done hundreds of years ago in that humble lowly stable.
Sure, I hummed hymns, hung up a picture of the manger scene, and even crafted a little nativity of my own, but I did so much more than that. So unnecessary. So much more that I didn't let the real meaning of Christmas be the simple perfection to my holiday.

challenge.......the not to-do list

Out of all of the many, many things you surely have on your agenda in the next week, let a few go. Even just one.

A few years ago, I became wise and changed our routine. I don't send out Christmas cards, and I don't take the neighbors a plateful of goodies. *gasp* *shocker*
We changed our routine to what has become a fun tradition. We send out Valentines in February and take around treats then. It is fabulous. It is stress free. It is just as good as delivering treats on December 23rd.

Mrs. A, the older lady down the street really doesn't care how cute my sugar cookies are, but she really could use someone to talk to her, to break up the monotony of day after lonely day.

This next week will be busy, but even for a procrastinator like me, still enjoyed. Because it isn't so much about all that I am going to accomplish, but very much about what I'm not.

So, what aren't you going to do?

winner, winner. chicken dinner.

2008-12-15T23:39:00.002-07:00

hold the peas, please.

"Abby" wins the signed copy of A Zoo in my Belly. She said, "I have never been a big fan of Peas. eewwww!"

***disclaimer**** I will never again hold a giveaway with multiple chances to win. Some of you had 1. Some of you had 12. In order to use random.org to find the winner, I had to revert to the brainy jr. high student I once was. Thank heavens for Mr.Steiner, his pocket protector and projector screen in 1994.

2008-12-15T10:16:00.005-07:00

The winner will be announced soon.
(the definition of "soon" is up for debate)

I was just wondering though...........................when exactly do you think it would be a good idea to do my Christmas shopping?
It just wouldn't be a traditional Christmas for me if I didn't wait for a few more days.

Seeing how it is Thankful Monday, today I am very thankful that only 2 ornaments have broken so far, redecorating the tree was surprisingly easy after it fell down, and the leaking tree stand isn't making the carpet stink anymore.
All separate events, in case you wondered.

How about you? What are you thankful for today? How is your holiday prep going?

the not-so culinary wonder & a giveaway too

2008-12-11T00:05:00.006-07:00

Every now and then, my culinary skills surprise even myself. After tucking my children into bed the other night, I began to clean the kitchen. (I never finished, mind you. I began.) As I cleared the dinner dishes I reveled in the triumph of serving my children a healthy dinner that they actually ate. I made a stew of sorts: chopped up misc. veggies, threw in odds & ends of dry pasta, experimented with seasonings. It was fabulous. For dessert, they engulfed home-canned peaches. All I needed was an apron and a house dress to be the picture of proper mothering. Then the clock ticked and my moment of ego-centric satisfaction came to a screeching halt. It was then that I started also putting away the Fruity Pebbles from breakfast and tried to remember if I had actually fed the kids lunch or not.

My children happen to be allergic to milk. I allow this little kink in kitchen creation to be an excuse to not cook a lot of variety or force them to eat many veggies. If I couldn't slather mine with ranch dressing & melted cheese, I wouldn't eat it either.

Luckily my son has decided that broccoli is at least edible with barbecue sauce for dip. Gag. The only time I have ever thrown up while pregnant don't hate me was the day I tried to convince him that broccoli was really good and took a bite myself. Double gag.

A solution for the broccoli gag:

Cute right?
This lovely little book will be signed by the author herself, wrapped and stashed snugly underneath our Christmas tree. Page after page of amazing images that call-me-a-convert actually make veggies look appetizing and fun.

My obsessed with lions-tigers-ligers-and-all-things-that-roar son will be thrilled to learn that the hungry noises in his hungry tummy (when his tired mommy is sleeping in bed instead of making him breakfast), are actually zoo animals growling for food. It might just even buy me an extra 5 minutes of sleep each morning.

Want one to stash under your tree too? We (Dr. Magoomagraf & I) are giving one away. Dr. Magoomagraf will even sign it for you. Go ahead, ooooo and ahhhhh.

The down low, 411, fine print, rules & regs:

1 entry: leave a comment telling your favorite and least favorite fruit/veggie.
extra entry: go to the Zoo in My Belly site and come back & tell us all what you love.
5 extra entries, (just to add a little spice): email me OR post on your own blog a picture of you or your child eating a fruit or veggie
5 MORE extra entries: blog or email all your friends about the contest

Contest ends Sunday, 11:59 pm, MST.

The good Dr. Magoomagraf is also hosting a fun contest here.
See you at the zoo.

challenge........ONE

2008-12-09T09:59:00.007-07:00

Each week i give a little "pep talk" to promote whatever challenge has been dreamed up. This week I am going to keep it short and simple.
I like short and simple. (5'2' and definitely simple.)
For your motivation, read yesterday's post.
For your challenge:

ONE

Do one simple good deed, to one that it will make a difference to. Shovel a walk for one person who can't. Leave a $10 bill for one in need. leave a quarter for one child without. Visit just one who is lonely.
One simple deed, one simple gift, one simple message of love.

Anyone simply in?

one in a million

2008-12-08T09:24:00.004-07:00

Thankful Monday

When I was in Jr. High, my dad moved out. Out of 5 children, my mom was still supporting 4 of us. We were at that age where everything cost money. A lot of money. School events, clubs, classes, and a way to transport us to all of these places. My mom worked hard to make it all happen. I took every babysitting job available and we were all very much aware that "times were tough." Somehow, though, I don't remember a single sad or neglected Christmas. My mother likely does, but the wonderful thing is that I don't.

A few weekends ago, we discussed this. Mom started telling me about all of the people who slipped her a few dollars here and there. Mysterious gifts left on the doorstep and the ability of a few neighbors to get past the gossiping and whispering of our situation, in order to share our burden.

I can't imagine how much harder that would have all been for my mother in today's economy. There are so many without jobs, the fear of losing jobs, and the terror of not being able to make ends meet.

In my own little family, our budget is small, but we still have the luxury of children who are young enough to be thrilled with used toys off of Craig's List and the best that only clearance sales can offer.

Processing the scope of need in our communities, nation and world is simply overwhelming. But, when I stop and focus on just one need this season; one person, one family who could use some cheer; I can make a difference.

I am sure you are guessing what direction tomorrow's challenge is going.

You all know the starfish story, even though there were millions drying out on the beach, how could throwing them back, one at a time even begin to help? As the child throws one more back to the ocean, "It made a difference to that one."

Today, Thankful Monday, I am so glad that someone did just that so many years ago for a mother with a houseful of teenagers.

And, even though I really didn't think so then, I am thankful that the car my siblings and I had the opportunity to drive started, (on days it didn't rain or snow, wasn't too hot, wasn't too cold), and only stunk part of the time.

This picture is really close to what it looked like, (minus the beach, the paint, the shine, a hubcap and plus almost 20 years). But the pretty sunset? Yes, yes, we had lots of those.

What are you thankful for today?

CHALLENGE.....apology UNaccepted

2008-12-03T23:27:00.003-07:00

A few years ago, we lived in the slum of slums in town. Our home, a glorified trailer, was one of the nicest on the street. The neighbors liked to tell stories of drug deals and drive-by's. Two doors down were several drug busts and how shall we say it? slightly peculiar behavior. We moved out over 4th of July weekend. The next night, someone attempted to have a bonfire inside of the empty home. (Attempted...thankfully did not succeed.) When company would come to stay, I would apologize for our humble abode. Despite all the things you are now envisioning, it was a good place to live; a good "starter" home.
I cried when we left. This was the home I brought my first baby to. The nursery I decorated, the place where we transitioned from "the young married couple" to a family.
This was the home that I kept tidy because Grandma and Mother-in-law lived within minutes and could stop by at any time.
Now, we live in the country. WAAAYYYY longer than a few minutes from Grandma's. Rarely does anyone come by unannounced and therefore rarely do the shoes/coats/bags/papers/keys/sunglasses make it further than the entryway of our house.
Rarely, doesn't mean never. (Sometimes the simple things get me.)
Since we recently returned from traveling, the entryway also includes junk, an overflowing suitcase, junk, blankets, and more junk. I mentioned junk, right?
I have this neighbor, you see. A dear sweet neighbor. She only lives 3 houses from us, which in the country is actually over a mile, but still equals a neighbor. Her home is meticulous. We are talking plastic-coverings-on-the-furniture meticulous. Shade-gardens-with-exotic-plants-and-water-features meticulous. So, she came by.
Of course she did.
Me, immediately, "Sorry about the mess. We just....blah, blah, excuse, excuse."

In an effort to teach my kids about service, we went to an elderly couple's home to rake leaves. (interpretation: I raked a few leaves while yelling at 2 small children to watch for dog poop and stay out of the road, while trying to keep a baby in pack warm on my back.) So, of course, when we leave, me: "Sorry I didn't get more done. Sorry it took us so long."

Why do we apologize for so many things? Why do I need to apologize to my neighbor who has raised 7 children of her own because I have a home that looks like children live there?
My brother and sister-in-law needed to stay at our home last week while traveling through town. Of course, I quickly apologized for the lack-luster arrangements made in their behalf. They just wanted somewhere to sleep.
When someone at church compliments my efforts, why do I feel the need to brush it aside and apologize that a lesson wasn't better? Why do I make effort to create dinner for my family, and then apologize for it's imperfections?

CHALLENGE................apology UNaccepted

None of us are perfect, so why do we need to apologize for it? I am quite sure that everyone in my examples above couldn't care less for my apologies, yet I still give them.

For the week, you can't apologize for being you. You can't apologize for what you might think are your inadequacies. Make dinner and burn it? Oh-well. Don't apologize for it; at least there is food to eat.
Messy house when someone stops by? No apology needed. At least there is a warm doorway to step into.
Taking too much room in the aisle at the grocery store? Don't apologize! Just simply say excuse me.
Suddenly stop posting on your blog? Don't apologize (ok- this one might be revisited next week, after this challenge is over.)

Anyone in?

delayed

2008-12-03T11:23:00.003-07:00

I know I should post a challenge today.

My heart & mind are preoccupied with the news of a dear friend recovering from an accident.

My everything else is occupied with these three. I don't think I would have it any other way.

Picture from our family photo session last week, by Cortney Boice.

22 days left of these children being extra good because of the elves looking in our windows. 22 days left of procrastinating.

deals, delight, discovery

2008-12-01T10:32:00.004-07:00

All good things must come to an end...

Going to my mother's house is always a delight. The kids wake up, I send them out to Grandma and I stay in bed. I have good intentions of helping with the mealtime dishes, but she always has them done before I even get up out of my chair. All of the classic, perfect meals from my youth were laid before me, for seven straight days. Two nights in a row, I went out without my usual accessories of 3 small children. The first night, I called, checked on the kids, thought of them throughout dinner and hurried back to Grandma's house.
Night number two involved some shopping.....for myself! I was slowly, methodically looking through each and every rack of clothes. My husband, exasperated with my leisurely perusing, asked what was taking me so long.........
Do you know how long it had been since I entered a store without a child in tow? I don't know either, but a very, very long time. I didn't have to stay near the center of the aisles, to ensure little sticky hands did not grasp things they shouldn't. No one needed to go potty, right now! No one forgot to tell me they needed to go potty before it was too late.
Of course, there was a down side too. My usual shopping adventures include a constant dialogue regarding everything around us. This keeps the kids from getting too distracted and delays the inevitable "she's squishing meeeee!" "he won't scoot oooooverrrr!" from inside the shopping carts. I found myself creating constant pre-school dialogue with my husband. I think he thinks I'm nuts. Oh-well. After 8 years of being married to me, I don't think he was too surprised. Oh look! I see Cinderella shoes over there. Look at all the colors of shirts. How many colors do you see?
He has commented recently that I talk to him like a child..... I have strongly disagreed. I am afraid that this post solidifies his correctness and my need for daily adult interaction. I digress.
My once-forgotten shopping skills were re-discovered. I found these jeans for $8.75 and these jeans for $14.99. Thank you. That is right. Camille is back. All thanks to this store.

Shopping without my children. I was giddy. Dare I say I almost skipped down the aisles? It was heaven. Yes, I do in fact imagine heaven to include my children whom I adore and can't handle being away from, but interspersed with mini-shopping trips while Grandma tucks the children safely into their beds.

We arrived back to our own home last night. For once, we had left it spotless. Coming home was so nice. The kids tried to figure out who had painted our walls and cleaned while we were gone. We should clean more often. Along with our bare counter tops and floors, the cupboards and fridge are also empty.
How much nutrition have my children received from their 3 meals they have had since returning? Peanut butter and apricot jelly, meal 1.
Peanut butter and raspberry jam, meal 2.
Peanut butter and honey, meal 3.
I am all about variety.
I think we have to go to the grocery store this afternoon. Back to reality, shopping with 3 children and playing a competitive round of "I spy with my little eye...." in the produce aisle.

What is on your "back to reality" schedule today?

More than the big 4

2008-11-24T10:22:00.004-07:00

Thankful Monday the week of Thanksgiving?
Anything I write would seem so trivial.

Here are the rules for this post. You must comment with something you are thankful for.
You CANNOT list any of the big 4: family, friends, home, food
I hope that you are all lucky enough to be thankful for these things, but we will all have ample enough opportunities to hear about those in the next few days.

Creativity my friends.
Today, I am thankful for a clean kitchen. I am mostly thankful that we are traveling and will not be home, so therefore my kitchen will STAY clean.

Also, traveling- very very grateful to the people at the Red Vine licorice company.
A 6 hour trip & there is still a bunch left in the bag.

What are you thankful for today?

Neener, neener

2008-11-22T23:56:00.006-07:00

I'm pretty sure this is what she was thinking last Thursday as I pretended to be a photographer:

Smile? Whatever.

Neener. Neener

Neener. Neener.

Ahhhhhh HAAAAA haaaaaa HAAAAA!

Happy Sunday.

Stop. Collaborate & listen.

2008-11-20T22:31:00.005-07:00

Ice is back with my brand new invention....

Is your head nodding against your own will yet?

In preparation of this post, I checked out this link and discovered I have been rockin' out and teaching my kids the incorrect lyrics of Vanilla man's hard work. Apparently it is a really good thing that I have been singing it wrong.

"Bum rush?"
"Wax a chump like a candle?"

Say Whhaaaatttt? Whatever.
Regardless of my inability to rap, I sure have been giving it a good try. Need a laugh?
Imagine housewife in green plaid pajama pants. Over sized t-shirt with unidentifiable goop from baby's hands. Mini trampoline. Rapping. Hip-hop. Hand motions. Head nodding. Lots and lots of head nodding. My awesomeness is oozing from the screen right now, isn't it? Word to your mother.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Since I finally met my goal of losing the love handles, (well, most of them), I made two choices:
a) Scheduled family portraits that I have been putting off for 2 years
b) Quit putting forth any flab to fab effort because duh! I met my goal.

What? What is that word I forgot about? Oh yeah. Maintenance. In order to defeat the chocolate my kids gave me out of their Halloween stash (the chocolate that I stole, hid and devoured), I came up with two solutions to combat those 2 fatal choices.
a) Dance like no one is watching
b) Schedule an emergency hair highlighting appointment before the pictures. Only guarantee that something on me will look good in the pics.

My decision making skills are superb.

Back to my beat box calorie burnin'. My kids figured out how to work the CD player and life has never been the same since, especially my ear drums.

"Pump up the jam, pump it up...........let's get this party started on the dance floor...oh-ah, oh-ay...get your booty on the dance floor...."

Why can't I stop typing the lyrics? I am sorry. Forgive me. I have been reliving the 90's as I type. If you only knew how many I have typed and also erased. Heaven help me. Tomorrow I am breaking out the knotted tee and ratted bangs.

My muscles have been so sore! As I am shaking my child-bearin' hips, I imagine looking like the Dancing with the Stars pro's. I could totally be Julianne's body double, (from the ankles down.....maybe, if I had some spray tan). Flab to fab tip for the week? Shake it.

Speaking of shake it, if these two words are uttered in my home, whether it be in reference to a bottle, rattle or other; my son immediately breaks out with "Shake it, shake it.........shake it like a Polaroid pictuuuuurrrrre!" Complete with gangsta hand signs.

Rock on.

Speaking of things that rock: Cortney is quite the rockin' photographer. If you live in ID or UT, do yourself a favor and have him take your photos. He is even amazing enough to possibly skip getting emergency highlights.

Now, if you will excuse me, I must "check out the hook while my DJ resolves it." What does that mean?

What song do you rock?

job hazards

2008-11-18T23:12:00.007-07:00

Is it just me or...................

Do you ever watch the news stories detailing living conditions in which CPS, (Child Protective Services), finds neglected children? A few weeks ago, the local station showed a shot of the deplorable, (normal), mess that was on a baby bouncer found in a tragic home.
Really, have you ever had a baby in the blow-out stage? My home has had it's own moments of deplorable standards. (Moments, days, weeks, months; who's counting?)

Have you ever wondered if your own home could make it onto the news? This morning, I picked my babe out of the high chair and discovered she had been sitting in her own waste. Meanwhile, the older two were ignoring all safety precautions with antics such as this:

Did you notice that the 3-year-old is only partly dressed?

The cleanliness of the rooms in the background?

Or, how about the crying baby in the distance?

Will I watch this clip in 20 years and realize how it all went wrong?

Oh no, because you see, I love it. All of it. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Even the poop. It stinks, but I guess it just comes as one of the hazards to the best job in the world.

What might I find happily hazardous in your home today?

Can you smell that?

2008-11-17T10:15:00.005-07:00

If you have a realty sign in your front yard and complete strangers could potentially come into your home on any given day, do you think the smell of a dead mouse could potentially be a turn off?

You know, hypothetically speaking, just in case any of you are trying to sell your home.

Today, Thankful Monday, I am really, really grateful for candles, Glade, Scentsy, Febreeze,perfume, deodorant and all other things that make my life a little less grotesque.

What are you thankful for today?

CHALLENGE..........P.Y.O.C.

2008-11-11T10:03:00.001-07:00

Today, in celebration of my non-drinking status (so I haven't ever been able to host a B.Y.O.B. party), I am hosting a P.Y.O.C. party.

CHALLENGE........P.Y.O.C

Pick Your Own Challenge

For myself I am going to cook dinner every night this week- without consulting the family. IF I don't ask them what they want and I just make something, they will eat it. Usually, however, I get opinions. "Should we have stew tonight or spaghetti?"
Then, I am greeted with whines, lots of "I don't feel like that tonight's" and "We want chicken nuggets!" over and over again.
So this week, my own P.Y.O.C. is to cook according to me. No consulting and no in put. Selfish aren't I? That's right, and I am proud of it.

So, what is your P.Y.O.C. this week? Start picking up your laundry room? Stop picking your nose? Wash your windows? Try to sell your house so that you don't have to wash your windows? Change out of your pajamas before noon? Stay in your pajamas all day and curl up with a book? Wash your face? Face your wash?

2008-11-10T11:00:00.003-07:00

My new best friends, Gabrielle and Susan, were toasting to themselves being good mothers last night. Meanwhile, Gabbi's kids call out that they are hungry. Gabbi then yells that they can get their own frozen waffles. I laughed and laughed. Then, I didn't.
Because, then, I realized that is SO ME! Then I laughed again.
I stayed up until midnight last night watching old Desperate Housewives episodes online, trying to decide why it is that I like the show so much now, but loathed it years ago.
As I watched and watched, I related. (Not to the sneaky sultry stuff, but oh-so-much to the rest.) You see, years ago, I didn't have children. I wasn't desperate. Years ago, I didn't lay in my bed in the early mornings while my children watched cartoons and dined on days-old doughnuts, dry cereal...or even in the very tired moments, Halloween candy.

Early mornings are definitely my most desperate moments of the day. I love to get every extra minute of warmth out of my bed.
As I type this though, the TV has been nixed for the remainder of the day. The kids are putting their imaginations to good use by sitting on the couch, staring at the blank screen and pretending to watch. Awesome.
Today, on Thankful Monday, I am so ever grateful for a warm bed to linger in and a nursing baby to justify the lingering.....

Oh- and as long as we are on the topic of justification, I have done quite well with last week's challenge. Thank you very much. Except for a slight mishap with a link on CNN.

What are you thankful for today? What is your most desperate daily moment?

when things backfire

2008-11-05T23:55:00.005-07:00

It all ended with a sigh from him and a "Why does everything I do seem to backfire?"
Me, "Oh, nothing bac..."
Silence.
In fact, quite technically, things did backfire tonight.

911, flames, firetrucks and all.
As I started my nightly ritual of blog checks and the local news, I heard a crackling noise. Muting the tv, I really heard a crackling noise. Jumping up to the window, I saw HUGE flames on the side of our property. When I say HUGE, I mean it. Taller than our house flames. Not a second to analyze, just pick up the phone and dial 911, flames.

On the side of our property are, (were), very tall, very wide, very ugly shrubs. Earlier in the day, (like 5 hours earlier), my husband set out on a few Honey-Do tasks. Burn a few weeds here, burn a few weeds there. Wonderful smokey smell in the crisp cool air and dried ugly weeds around the yard no more. Hooray!
Who knew that while the kids were playing fire trucks and fire fighters in the house, things were smoldering and brewing outside. The kids rarely play with the toy firetrucks & firehouse.

Irony. Love it. Loathe it.

Within minutes, before any of the rural volunteer firemen could arrive, the flames had all but disappeared. My panic & the dispatchers' instructions to describe the fire were contained too. The shrubs are near our "pump house" and well. Somehow, we now have no water. Hopefully the electrician will be here ASAP. Until he does arrive though, the dirty dishes that I chose not to do right after dinner, (or lunch, for that matter), will be hidden away in an undisclosed location.

I have always thought that I could play it cool in an emergency.

Yeah...um.....not so much. This wasn't even an emergency, emergency. There was a chance the house could have caught on fire, but I had ample time to get the kids out. No one was in grave danger, yet I still couldn't form complete, coherent sentences with the 911 dispatcher.

"How high are the flames ma'am?"
Uh....ah....um...high!
"Are there any structures nearby ma'am?"
um...well...our house...you need to get a fire truck here....yes!
"How close is your home to the flames?"
I duuuuu....nnnnooo... maybe um, uh...20 feet...um...or...

Seriously. The flames started to die down as fast as they had flared up, but at that point, with no water in case things started up again, the firemen soaked and soaked and soaked the side of our yard. You know what is really ridiculous? The whole time, (once it was it was clear we were out of danger), I was thinking, I should take a picture of this to post. The firemen putting out the fire that no longer existed, the kids staring intently out the window at the truck's lights. The neighbors SLOWLY driving by to see why a fire truck was spraying water at a pretend fire (It was there, I promise! It was really big, bad, and scary too- just not for long.) I digress.
Where was I? Oh, yes- pictures. My camera was out in the car. Somehow, I didn't think the firemen would appreciate the need for me to go out into the bitter cold to fetch my camera for some great blogging photos. Oh-well. Use your imagination. Picture a huge firetruck and 4 men fighting a blaze no bigger than the flame of a candle. Nice.
And all that effort will cost us a pretty penny in an insurance premium.
Really though, I am beyond thankful that nothing tragic occurred. Losing the big ugly shrubs only costs me a little privacy from the neighbors, but that's ok. I like them. Maybe they will let me wash some dirty dishes before Grandma comes to see the damage. After all, they helped me out with my last non-emergency too.

Oh- and just a tip: You know how they always say shrubs area fire hazard. Well, "they" are right. I can't even imagine if that had all been right next to my home. Reality is, I can imagine, and that is all I have been doing. There have been more than a few prayers of gratitude around here tonight.

Please forgive the incoherent sentences in this post. My hands are still trembling and apparently, so is my brain.

Have you ever had to dial 911? Did you keep it calm and collected? Panicked and frazzled?

(Updated).....on to the really important matters....

2008-11-04T22:25:00.005-07:00

The elections our over, hooray.
Now, PUH-LEASE, can we get on to a more pressing matter?
What shall I do with the slightly dead, but slightly alive, (name the movie), Beta fish in the kid's fish bowl? I keep thinking it is dead, jiggle the bowl & see a slight flutter. Do I put it out of it's misery? It isn't officially belly up yet, but definitely not quite belly down.

Flush it before the kids see it?
Give it a proper memorial and resting place in the flower bed tomorrow?
Send Daddy on a top secret buy-a-look-alike-fish-to-replace-it mission?

Advice, please.

****UPDATE****
Estimated time of death: 11:00 a.m.
Mom scooped.
Son dumped.
Daughter flushed, with squeal of delight.
Together we all said in cheery voices, "Bye-bye LouLou Shoes Blue Shoes!"

Son looks up at mom and says, "Now we can get a pygmy goat!"

Crap. There goes the excuse I had been giving as to why we couldn't get something else (not to mention the very neglected dog in the backyard). Life and death is much more complicated and over-analyzed to us in the older crowd.

I should have gone with the replacement fish.

CHALLENGE........un-just

2008-11-03T23:25:00.006-07:00

The day that would never come is finally here. I had firmly set in my mind that today's challenge would be (duh) to vote. Then, I quickly realized that we should have a sanctuary free of the political jib jab. Plus, I really, really can't decide if hauling my 3 small children to wait in line for hours to cast my vote in a state that isn't questionable ........is really worth it? I know, I know. I will go. I am sure the experience of having 3 small children with me will be quite memorable.
Thank goodness for an endless supply of suckers leftover from Halloween- how many is too many? I think that at 9 months old, my babe can officially begin a love affair with candy. It is bound to happen sometime, right? I can't get her to eat mushed up vegetables, so why not skip right ahead to the inevitable?
In her future, when she reads history books and listens to speeches commemorating the most important presidential race in history (blah, blah), I will turn to her, wipe a tear from my eye and say, "Darling, I will never forget November 4, 2008, the day I introduced you to all things sugar. The world has never been the same since." Our family dentist will then wipe a tear from his eye and say, "Thank you, for your generous support towards my vacation home that began with your first born son, and carried on with a legacy of cavities for all of your children."

Last Friday, just hours before the gathering known as trick-or-treating, I requested and received a prescription for fluoride for my kids. Then, that evening, I let them have as much candy as they wanted because, obviously, the fluoride would outweigh the risks of the sugar. Right. Right?
It is kind of like when I justify feeding the kids Ramen Noodles for lunch by including a multi-vitamin. Chewable, in pretty colors and shaped like dinosaurs, of course!
Justification. I am good at it. Really good at it.
Today was the first really cold, really rainy day of the year. I love it. I had nowhere to be. No errands to run. No gas to waste or money to spend. I stayed in my pajamas all day. Or, shall we say running pants/lounge wear?

CHALLENGE...........Un-Just

There are a few things that I just can't justify. For instance, reading celebrity gossip sites. They are addicting, comparable only to the grocery store check-out line. I read all of those headlines too. I haven't ever actually bought a tabloid, mind you. Who does that? I did go to the Dr.'s office early a few months back, just to get my gossip fill from the magazine choice in the waiting room. In my teen years, the girl cousins and I would find Grandma's stash of the Enquirers and hide out in the basement, reading all about the latest alien abductions, end-of-world predictions and Dolly Pardon's chest size. I apparently inherited more from my Grandmother than a lack of height. Now-a-days though, tabloids are vicious. What if someone wrote those things about me? Or my family? Or my children. My children! I would be ballistic.

So, the challenge: Find one simple, unjustifiable, "fluff" item to remove from your life, even just for the week.

I won't be reading the in's and out's of the 90210 on the WWW. I don't think that Lindsey, Brittney & Paris will miss me too much. Sorry girls. Oh- and Miley- don't get me started! I should stop now, yes? Maybe I will get the dishes done in my new spare time.
Maybe I will make a few extra trips to the grocery store. Definitely Wal-Mart, the slowest lines ever. I kid, I kid. About going to Wal-Mart. I'll go somewhere else.

What is un-justifiable for you?

Fixing the freak out.

2008-11-03T09:06:00.005-07:00

Most things this past haunted weekend were quite subdued around our home. We still haven't even carved a pumpkin. Although, there have been several promises to the kids of "We will!" and "Maybe tomorrow's." So, maybe tonight. Jack-O-Lanterns like November, I am told.

Image from edupics.com

A misguided judgement call take the kids for flu and immunization shots did not end well on Halloween day. How many 5 & 3-year-olds are excited to get shots? Mine were. There was a lot of bribery involved, which included extra trick-or-treating and Sonic Limeades.

First, the 3-year-old was upset because she wouldn't be getting any shots. She was lucky enough to get the flu mist. How many would be sad about that? But, as I said, there was a lot of talk and sugared bribes involved in the prep work of this office visit.

Then, my oldest. My play-it-cool-to-his-sister-and-be-tough son. It was the awaited day of the booster shots. He hopped up to my lap, dropped his pants and was ready.

Was.

Then, wasn't.

It ended up taking 3 of us to hold him down.

Freak out. And not the fun Halloween freak out, mind you.

Later in the day, it was trick-or-treat time. The near-by town is the place to go. We walked up and down a few blocks of old buildings with hundreds of other sticky fingered, sweating under the layers of costumes. They were tired from the days adventures, (mis-adventures). They were hot from the beautiful afternoon weather. I chose to wear my tall, cute, but not-so-practical boots. Needless to say, it wasn't the most exciting of days for us. However, the saloons (that's right, saloons, not bars) in town gave out fantastic candy. And, what is wrong with small children walking in to dimly lit "over-21" establishments for a little candy once a year? Ummm...don't answer that.

The day ended early. The only door we knocked on was Grandma's. Dinner was microwaved corn dogs by Grandpa.

Lots of candy? Yes.

Lots of fun? Not so much.

No magic.

In an effort to spice up the weekend, we learned that the "Switch Witch" would be paying a visit to our home. The Switch Witch is a good witch with a major sweet tooth. She will trade goods for goodies. Sometimes she leaves books in the night, some houses she leaves toys. What would she bring to ours?

The Switch Witch must have been very tired by the time she got to our house- so she sat right on our couch and ate all of her candy, evidenced by the wrappers strewn about the trunk (our version of a coffee table). She must have forgotten to go to the dollar store for books the day before, so she left penny rolls instead. She played a little trick in exchange for her treats. The kids woke up with their bedding switched. My son, opened his eyes covered in a sea of his sister's pink bedding. My daughter awoke with cars and trucks parked above her belly on a very much not-her-own bedspread.

How did the Switch Witch do that?
"She must be magic!" "Do you think she said PRESTO with her wand?"

There were pieces of torn green crepe paper marking everywhere the witch had been in our house. She even left her hat!

"Do you think she will come back for it?"

"We had better lock the doors!"

Thankful Monday: I am so thankful for the absolute innocence of childhood. The ability to forget a VERY un-magical Friday and revel in a very mysteriously magic Sunday morning.

Now, I must go hide in my closet for the 14th time in the last 24 hours to stuff my cheeks with a little hidden already un-wrapped chocolate.

What are you thankful for today?

Lost and Found

2008-10-30T10:01:00.003-06:00

Flab to Fab Classifieds

Lost: Muffin Top

Found: Saddle Bags

If you find Muffin Top, please keep it. If you have information as to where I can also lose my saddle bags, please leave a comment here. Identification pictures to be posted soon. Reward may be offered for the safe loss of Saddle Bags.

What is your Flab to Fab classified ad?

CHALLENGE.....Forward March!

2008-10-28T00:13:00.003-06:00

We have one week until the face of America changes. A new leader of the free world will be crowned. We all get our moment of say, our chance to stand in a curtained booth and vote however we want. It is our individual moment that comes every 4 years to nudge the leader of our choice closer to what is arguably the world population's most powerful thrown. There it ends. Usually.
Really? Truly?
Does the person living in the big white house across the country really, truly affect my day-to-day life? Does he/she make me feel better when I balance my check book? (um....because I balance my check book.....um....and I am really organized like that) Do the powers that be in Washington ever consider coming over to take care of a mouse for me? In all actuality, a day filled with comments on this blog makes me smile and brings more simple joy than seeing my candidate of choice win an election. Did I really just admit that?
Sure, politics and the powers that be have a very necessary role in society. But, so do I. So do you.
Thanks to our good friend Oprah- whom I would love to watch daily while eating bon bons on my couch, but don't because of the daily 4 o'clock meltdown that inevitably occurs in all households with small children- the phenomenon of "Pay it Forward" gains momentum every year. Currently the media is obsessed with the doom and gloom that is our world. But really, our world isn't doom and gloom. There is goodness out there- lots of it! And, surprise! It isn't all that hard to find. It is here. And here. And over there.
Kirsten, AKA blogger "Kiddle97" has challenged her readers to take on Pay it Forward. Kirsten always leaves funny, witty comments. She has little pet names for her family. She calls her son Meister and Smoochorno. How great is she?!
Most of us don't have a huge interaction with the world population. Seriously though, do you realize how easily we can reach the masses? And for free? This is coming from a girl who spent her career days taking money from people to get their message out, (advertising).
Think of all the wonderful email forwards you get from friends, and your friend's second cousin's friend's Aunt, once removed, whom you have become best friends with through blogging. Think of all the names you scroll through to get to the actual email message and all of the names in the blog rolls. Really, easily we can make a difference. Really, easily we can spread the word.

CHALLENGE.....Forward March

Pay it Forward this week. It can be simple. It can be letting people merge into your lane during rush hour. It can be big. It can be giving the single mom struggling to make ends meet an anonymous donation.

Spread the word. While blog surfing/stalking/lurking earlier today, (not that I do this often....I mean, I usually only look at the blogs of good friends....never at old boy friends' blogs or friend of a friend blogs or complete stranger's blogs....oh, no, not me....and I am sure not you.) I came across a post regarding the holidays. I would post the link, but since I uncharacteristically was blog hopping, I don't have any idea where I found it. Anyhow, the poster discussed the getting, getting, getting of the holidays- up until the week of Christmas. Then there is 7 days out of the year where we think about giving.
Why not start early? How hard would it be to give a little extra treating this week? To actually give something more than a few canned goods before Thanksgiving?

Last week, I was driving through town. It was a very cold, windy day. There was a woman, obviously limping from injury, weighted down with grocery sacks, trudging down the street. Now, picking up complete strangers is not exactly the smartest thing for a mom, alone with small children to do, but I did pull over. I think the lady thought I was crazy. She politely refused my offer of help. But, I like to think that maybe, just maybe, it made her day that someone attempted to help. Maybe, just maybe she offered to help someone else in return. Maybe, just maybe she didn't think I was crazy?

If it is possible, whatever good deed you decide to do, end it with a "Pay it Forward" note or answer to somebodies thanks. Imagine....we really, really can make a difference. Maybe not to Iraq, Iran, Barrack or John, but definitely to someone who needs it, lots of someones.
A lot of you read. You don't necessarily comment, which is fine, but I know a lot of you read. If each person that reads this today begins to Pay it Forward this week, we could literally make a difference in the life of thousands of people within a few weeks, maybe even days.

Oh, la, la. There I go again, trying to save the world, right? Here is the great thing though- we can. We really, really can.

Anyone in? Have any good ideas for the rest of us?

Sweatin' to the Oldies

2008-10-27T00:35:00.005-06:00

If you are wondering where I have been, see last week's challenge. Blogging was not top priority. However, searching high and low for the perfect wig for my husband's Richard Simmons Halloween costume was.

I spent Saturday afternoon glitterizing, (Anyone know how to get glitter out of a baby's hair? You know, just in case I ever need to.) a pastel tank top and attempting to make a pumpkin cake.

The baby discovered the art of this:

I spent Saturday evening hiding from the microphone at a costume PAR-TAY, avoiding the possibility of being forced in to participating in dreaded karaoke contest.

However, this man, who may or may not be my aforementioned Richard Simmons- look-a-like of a husband, rocked the house. He may or may not come home tonight after realizing that I posted this photo on the world wide web.

Thankful Monday. I am very grateful that I did not, in fact, ever "take the stage." What are you thankful for today? How do you feel about karaoke?

CHALLENGE.....Prioritize

2008-10-21T23:45:00.004-06:00

Do I fix the kids breakfast or have cereal bars while watching Curious George? Clean the house or read some books? Yard work or dishes? Groceries or gas? Work or stay home? Vitamins or force-fed broccoli?
In the past few weeks, I have read many blogs about the struggle a lot of women have in the great debate of where our time is best spent.
For the most part, my current state in life is extremely flexible. My children are young enough to not be involved in a lot of activities. They are completely satisfied with a Ramen Noodle dinner or a banquet. Their boredom can be solved with the push of a button. Literally. I can hand them a banana and some crackers, turn on the flat-screened babysitter and blog/surf/veg all day long. And sometimes I do. Not always, but probably more often than needed.
I decided a few days ago to not post a challenge this week on the afore-designated Tuesday. Why not? Five years from now, will it really make any difference whatsoever that I blogged every Tuesday morning? I highly doubt it. 5 days from now it won't make much of a difference. The baby and I snuggled half the morning. The kids and I all settled in the cold morning air under an ocean of blankets for the latest in the adventures of a large purple dinosaur. Oh! How I swore I would never let my children watch Barney!
We talked together, danced together and cleaned together. And we had fun! Sure, I do some of these things everyday, but today, there were no pressing concerns on my mind. We were just simply being a family, nothing more and most importantly, nothing less.

CHALLENGE.......Prioritize

Pick something in your life that is "fluff." Let it slide to the back burner for a while. Let yourself de-emphasize the unnecessary and re-emphasize the simple, the what really counts.....the what will I really be glad that I did when I look back in 5 years. Will I be glad that I did the dishes or snuggled with my kids on the couch? Maybe you are always on the phone. It doesn't matter if you have kids or not. Before kids, I spent way too many extra minutes at work straightening the pencils in their drawer. Maybe a certain book series with a movie coming out in a few weeks has captured your being.

I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time in the past few years with my husband's grandmother. She passed away a few months ago after living for nearly a century. She was an immaculate housekeeper, good cook and quick to share her thoughts. Grandma remembered more things from her youth in her nineties than I remember of mine- and I am still in my twenties! My small children and I took over her home at least weekly for the past few years. Sometimes we were there several afternoons each week. In her life, she was meticulous in how she kept her home. She cleaned things that I didn't know needed cleaning. The filters in her furnace were actually changed before the recommended time. The rugs were beat and the light fixtures polished. I always felt inadequate in my homemaking skills until about a year ago when she told me something that I will never forget.
As my kids ran around the many breakable things in her home, she told me that she wondered if maybe all that housework really wasn't as important as she thought it was when she was raising her children. I don't remember her exact wording, but the point was that the most text-book perfect homemaker that I had ever met was saying that all those things (dusting, dishes, laundry, etc.) really didn't matter. I felt validated. I felt so happy walking in to my cluttered home that day.
It is nice to get the work done. It is nice to spend time on my own little projects.
It is even nicer to put that all aside for a while to just be.....................and maybe dance to "Pump Up the Jam" with the happiest 5-year-old in Idaho.

Please don't think twice when you see that frazzled mom head-banging with a baby on her hip. She is just getting her priorities straight.

Anyone in?

eeek!

2008-10-20T13:00:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was filled with good food, lots of company and a clean house. Perfect right?
The guests were gracious enough to wash up all of the dishes. Their kids were hungry enough to gobble every last morsel of homemade doughnut to be found.
I went to bed exhausted and happy with the results of hard work and a little prayer. (Is it kosher to pray that the food you are serving your in-laws is delish?)
I woke up, happy in a clean house. Fast forward many lazy minutes later to when I decide to get the baby dressed for the day. Opening the bedroom closet door, I see it.
A little movement. Hear a little rustle. See a little brown fuzz whoosh by.

A mouse. Few things that can be found inside a home are more disgusting. Actually, I can't think of anything more disgusting. Now living in the country, across from a grain field, this was bound to happen a few weeks ago, but it didn't. The weather has stayed nice and the mice have stayed out.
No matter how many times we patch any hidden spots that the mice could get in, they still find a way.
So Gross.
Anyhow- I am sure some of you are dealing with the same thing. Here is the clincher though- I am a complete bi-polar wimp. Bi-polar in that my fear is unjustifiably, yet uncontrollably against all common sense.
When I see a live mouse, there is no screaming, jumping or standing on chairs. I find them intriguing. My brain switches to defense. I go to my cupboard of arsenal. Within minutes, 4 traps were distributed in the closet. 20 minutes later, success.
Now, for the screaming, weeping and wailing. I can't handle them once they are caught. I want them caught- but then, I see them up close. I see their beady little eyes, germy little bodies and imagine the nastiest of the nasty germs spreading like ripples. I had a great picture to post, but I would have to shut down this blog from all of the virtual mouse germs it would spread. You can be grossed out here.
I have been known to call my husband home from work to take care of a mouse caught in a trap. Today though, it was out of the question. I geared myself up. "I can do it! I can do it!" Got plastic sacks, I was ready.
It was still alive. "I can't do it. I can't do it!"
Remembering the neighbor boy down the road, I decided it was worth the change in the bottom of my crumb filled diaper bag to pay him to take care of it for me.
No such luck. He wasn't home. But, his mom was.
*Blush*
I said, "No, no it is ok. Never mind."
She came right over, marched right in, picked it up, took it out, killed it and threw it away.
I am forever indebted.
I am forever embarrassed.
Today, on Thankful Monday, I am really, really, really thankful for good neighbors.

What are you thankful for today? How do you handle mice?

S.O.S.

2008-10-17T22:16:00.004-06:00

In telegraph form......

Lapse of judgement.

20 guests. Sunday dinner.

New recipes.

Must clean.

Must shop.

Must cook.

Send help now.

What's your weekend telegraph?

Please go! Flab to Fab

2008-10-16T10:10:00.006-06:00

I have been hiding in my bed all morning in hopes that this day would magically skip to Friday. Do I really have to post my flab to fab this week? I feel like I am lagging behind on the track at my old jr. high school while the somewhat masculine, female coach with a permed mullet blows her whistle for me to "get going!" The problem is that she isn't really there and maybe, just maybe I need her to be.

Schlumpy.

This is how I described myself to a friend last night. We "chatted" (on-line), about the slump everyone seems to be in. Jessica brought up a certain book. I have sworn on every cheesy high school graduation that I would never NEVER relay a life lesson through a Dr.Suess book. Then, I dug it out of the "extra-book box" sitting in forgotten corner of the house. Insert foot-in-mouth now.

"Oh, The Places You'll Go!"

Forget high school graduations. This book should be given to those who have finally experienced a little life. Reading it now, after a few kids, a few hard years of marriage, an economic crisis, need I really go on?, it all makes sense. Dr. Suess really was on to something other than signaling the 12-year awaited release of graduation caps and balloons. As the last book Dr. Suess ever wrote, maybe the great doctor really had schlumpy me in mind when he wrote it- not "let's party!" graduated, I'm an invincible 18-year-old me.

My slump. I am climbing out. And really, I am grateful that it really is all in my head....or my mouth per say. As far as fab to flab goes........I'm going to have to take a "bye." Advancing on to the next week of play without actually having participated this past week. To make it short: Reese's Pieces, cookies we made, cookies people from church made, Doritos and dinner at Grandma's house. Then, to avenge myself: a vengeful lawn mowing (apologies to my once-beautiful flower bush) and I skipped dinner last night. Ridiculous. I know.

Luckily for me, the "For Sale" sign officially goes out in our yard tomorrow. So, there will be lots and lots of hard work going on in the next few days. I will recoup my losses with every dead plant and weed.

Oh , yes I will! 98 & 3/4% guaranteed!

What is your best life lesson book? How is your own Flab to fab?

Oh- and next week is "shirt week" so there is motivation for you!

CHALLENGE......Extra Baggage

2008-10-14T09:54:00.004-06:00

Spring cleaning. In general, my attitude to spring cleaning is: phooey! Spring is the time of year to escape the house and go outside. Dirty kitchen? Shut the door and go outside. Clean, fresh air aplenty.
Fall, however, in the fall, I go a little crazy. I finally get my motivation that lacks the rest of the year. I begin preparing to settle in for the cold weather. I begin to clean out and clear out. I am really good at beginning these projects. I am really bad at finishing. This week, I began to clean out my bedroom closets, dumped everything out of them and began to sort. That got boring, so I left the mountains of linens and clothing to clean out my pantry. Soon enough, I had enough of canned goods and went on to start to finish decorating my son's bedroom from when we moved 2 1/2 years ago. All the while, eating candy after snack after candy that I discovered in the pantry. (Pantry? Really, it is just a large cupboard. A real pantry? Someday.)

The week has come to resurrect my favorite challenge from the past.
Here it is, the original Extra Baggage challenge from April:

This weekend has brought to light a few.....shall we say....issues that I have. Friday night, I fed my family pizza. I really, in all seriousness, do not think that pizza is that unhealthy- in moderation. After my 3rd cheesy bread stick & 4th piece of pizza, (all of which were dunked in creamy ranch dressing), it was obvious I don't think too much about moderation. I exercised last week for the first time in many many months..... I was quite proud of myself. I was even a little sweaty, the heart was thumping and my legs felt like jello. Too bad this all occurred after 10 minutes of jumping on my kids' mini trampoline.... and that was the entire workout session. (Shout-out to mini trampolines- I really do know several women who have lost A LOT of weight doing this. I think you have to jump for more than 10 minutes though.)I bought 2 lbs. of candy from the bulk section at the grocery store Saturday.I bought 2 dozen rolls, 2 loaves of bread, 12 bagels, cream cheese and marshmallows. Carbohydrates anyone?I ate 2 lbs. of candy this weekend...... ok, it isn't all gone yet..... but I kid you not, it is getting close. AND, I only have let the kids have 3 pieces each so far.Our Sunday tradition is to have Cinnamon or orange rolls. Not for a snack- for a meal.... or two meals.I could keep going with my terrible habits, but I wouldn't want to gross you all out. For those who don't know me, I am lucky enough to have a petite build. I have never been extremely overweight- but I have never been right on target either. I have about 15 to lose. My problem isn't necessarily the weight- but the distribution of the weight. There is some major "baby baggage" to lose. The "muffin top" doesn't stuff into my warm weather shirts. The "junk in my trunk" only gives me 2 pairs of jeans that are wearable. My girdle is only comfortable for a few hours- seriously- I have a girdle. AND I LOVE IT! Anyone who has had a baby or needs to fit into some cute little dress should get one. It is self esteem in a store wrapped package. I know, I know... you shouldn't think you can buy self esteem... blah blah blah. I LOVE my girdle! I got it just 2 months ago after baby #3 was born. My body decided that pooches are very trendy these days. Anyways....

CHALLENGE

It's all about the extra baggage baby! On yourself and around you.

Lose 1 pound. (For the skinny mini's and pregos out there: gain 1 pound!)

Throw something away. Clean it out or donate it. We all have some things we have been holding onto.

I still have several old t-shirts from high school. I don't wear them. I just move them around and have them take up precious space in my next-to-no storage home. Why? I wouldn't be that sad if they were lost. I just have a few hoarding behaviors. A few months ago, I geared myself out to de-clutter. I threw out lots of clothes that aren't in style- I just held onto them in hopes they would fit again & you know.... they might come back in style. I threw out shoes. Really, did I need 5 different pairs of lawn mowing shoes? (Truly, I had 5). And, the old canvas shoes I was keeping for the once-every-5-years rafting trip I go on. Extra bonus- I have a bit of a water phobia- so next time I am invited to go rafting..... darn. I just won't be able to go without my special "rafting shoes."So, I de-cluttered. It felt amazing! So, this week I am going to try and clean out some more. Maybe I will get so busy that I won't eat the rest of that candy & then I will lose my 1 pound.

Back to the present: This original challenge is pretty much verbatim to what I could have wrote today- except that the baby is a little older. And, instead of multiple lawn mowing shoes, it is pair after pair of ragged flip flops. Time to get back to work.

Anyone in?

Scandalous.

2008-10-12T22:41:00.003-06:00

Thankful Monday.

Years ago, I remember seeing the commercials for the upcoming new show. It was going to be a hit. It was going to be unlike anything viewers had ever seen. It was prime-soap opera scandal, wrapped up with a perfect white picket fence. I thought, then, that Desperate Housewives was fit for viewers who were in fact, just that: desperate, for something to watch.
Fast forward a few years and a few kids later. I dig this show. I can relate to the characters. Not so much the sleazy, skeazy parts, but very much the mommish, scatterbrained, housewife parts.
The local ABC channel has been airing the first season after the late-night news and I think I am hooked.
(Mother: yes, I remember our deep conversation back in '04, at the old house. You were in the old tattered blue chair, I was reclining in the striped sectional. We were having a "What has the world come to?" conversation all stemming from the newest filth to hit the American airwaves; Desperate Housewives. Well.....Mom.....um....uh.....you see, I didn't think just watching it once would hurt....the remote was lost! I couldn't change the channel.......and, um...well....I just wanted to fit in....and...well....uh.... guilty as charged. I hope you can look me in the eyes as we feast on your perfect stuffing at Thanksgiving dinner.)

Every year, I seem to find my newest guilty-pleasure TV show. Generally, I am about 5 years behind the rest of the world in my "discoveries," but, whatever. I fluctuate from funny fluff like Everybody Love's Raymond, Friend's, (how did I miss an entire decade of pop culture?), to another certain scandalous show formerly on HBO, now edited for local viewing.....but I can't actually type the name of it- or else I really might not get to enjoy my Mother's Thanksgiving dinner. Awwwkkkwwwarrrddd. Why is it that even as a grown woman, I still need to live up to certain expectations? Is it an innate desire to be good and wholesome? Or maybe just a really strong desire to enjoy a steaming heap of holiday mashed potatoes and gravy? The world will never know.

Guilty pleasures. Everyone should have one. (G-rated of course, family friendly blog here.) I am thankful for mine. What is yours? What are you thankful for today? I really, really want to find out that I am not alone in my "rebellious" ways. Gabby? Susan? Lynette? Bree? Anyone?

Last Chance

2008-10-10T09:44:00.005-06:00

Time's Up! Winner announced below.

Today is the last day to comment on this week's challenge for a chance at a very oh-so-cool clock. Scroll below to Time to Go!

shivering

2008-10-09T09:58:00.004-06:00

Flab to fab.

As I sit, I can barely type because of the numbing cold in my fingers. The frugal side of me refuses to turn the heat on in our house for a few more days. The kids are ok with it, because I give in and let them watch extra television so that they can stay snuggled in blankets in the couch, scooby-do pajamas and all.
Could it be quite possible that shivering burns calories?

*pause*

Oh, man, do I ever love Google. I am a Googling fanatic. Ta da! Shivering does burn extra calories, up to 400 in an hour. That is awesome. I am not turning the heat on until Christmas. Sorry kids. Mommy is fat. We have to be cold. It is the only way. (umm....besides hard work and exercise....oh, and not eating the Halloween candy)

We put up a pull up bar in the bedroom doorway the other night. I would take a picture of it, but then I would have to clean my room and well.....some teenage habits are hard to break. I could only do one whopping pull-up. 2 days later, I can almost do two. Now that is progress people! By no means do I hope to grow Madonna arms, but a little toning isn't such a bad idea.

For being un-flabilicious, I am quite un-routine. The kids have their mini-tramp out in the family room this week. Rather than actually jump for a long period of time, I sporadically jump on it throughout the day. 10 jumps here, 10 jumps there. But, you know what? It all adds up and THAT is much better than nothing, and very much justifies the fact that I had a cinnamon roll for breakfast. What's wrong with that? Grains and dairy (frosting) all in one. Next time, I will have one with raisins. The health benefits will be phenomenal.

There you go. Flab to fab at the beginning of the Holiday season. Ooohhhhh.... how are we all going to make it until January? What is your combat the calories plan?
Have you turned the heat on in your house yet?

CHALLENGE.......time to go!

2008-10-06T23:37:00.007-06:00

Suzie Wins!
Yay Suzie! Through blogging circles, I have realized that Suzie enters A LOT of drawings- and she finally won. I can't wait to find out what clock Suzie picks out. Her comment on the Bode22 blog was the winner. She told Meg: I love, love, love your clocks. I may be way out of it here, but I have never seen such original clocks! Suzie, I can't wait to find out which one you pick out.

All day long Sunday, I mentally prepared to be out the door by 5:30 in order to be at our destination on time. I even had extra help with Grandma in town.
Have dinner early? Check
Plan on leaving early for some "buffer time?" Check
Be ready ahead of time? Check
Somehow not make it out the door until 5:40? Double Check.

It was the same with getting the kids ready for church a few weeks ago. Even the night before, I laid out everyone's clothes, just to save those few extra precious minutes the next morning. We didn't even have to be there until noon, but I wasn't taking any chances. That morning, first thing, the kids were bathed. Everyone was ready early. Then, it was just sitting around, waiting for the time to pass. The time to go came and went, and we were still home.

Why is it that no matter how much you plan to be on time, it is often (always) so hard to actually be on time?
My baby, who has recently triumphed the skilled Cheerio to mouth maneuver, somehow has also mastered the have-a-messy-diaper-the-moment-mom-needs-to-put-me-in-my-car-seat maneuver.
I, myself, sabotage every perfect plan I create. My keys- oh, my keys! O' brother, where art they? They start out on their designated hook. As I take them off in preparation to walk out the door, I run back in to the house for the "oops- I forgot to...." task. Then, I must retrace every step, in hopes of quickly recovering wherever I set the keys. I remember one thing and forget another. It isn't just the mommy-brain either. In my college days, my co-workers and boss created a key hook, with a large sign above it reading, "Camille's keys," so that everyone in the office could find them for me.

When I was growing up, all 5 kids in our family took turns watching out the window for the bus. We geared up all morning for the 4 minute warning to actually get out the door.

I can hear myself so clearly (and my siblings): "The bus is turning down the laaannnneeee."

3 minutes: "The bus is at the end of the laaannnneee." Oohh, now it is go-time. Brush the teeth, grab the back pack.

2 minutes: "The bus is coming up the laaannnneee." Frantically run around searching for homework, shoes, etc.

1 minute: "The bus is turning off the laaaannnneee." Don't forget your clarinet! I know, clarinet right? Don't say anything. I know what you are thinking.

I started training to be late when I was 5.

CHALLENGE......time to go!

So simple, right? Should be. Might not be. Could be. Try to be on time to something you are usually not.
Maybe, just maybe even be early.

Just to keep us all motivated, the fabulous Meg, is sharing her time and talents with us! Each person who agrees to the challenge, will get a chance to win their choice of clock from Bode22! One of Meg's clocks was featured in the Better Homes & Garden September magazine? How cool is that? I have an old antique plate I am sending her to make into a clock for the perfect Christmas gift. Or, I might be selfish and keep it. Only time will tell! Ha ha, time will tell.... I am on a roll.

Leave a comment by Friday at midnight. Tell us what clock you love at Bode22 and tell us what you are going to be on time to this week.
Leave a comment on the Bode22 blog and get an extra chance. Take the time to blog about this and get an extra chance. Ooohhh, ahhhh....extra chances.

Um....excuse me, but I just checked the clock and I am running late. Seriously. I am not kidding. Now go. Check out the clocks. Have a great time.

the ultimate

2008-10-06T10:34:00.007-06:00

The weekend with mom/grandma/gamma went all too fast. As usual, she helped me come up for air from the pit of unfinished projects. I had good intentions of making sure that she really relaxed. But, alas, her willingness to help overtook me. Her extra eyes to help watch the kids. Wow- what a difference that makes! The laundry was caught up (for about an hour), the garden's last hope of produce was taken care of, kids' books were read, the baby was fed (by someone other than me!), an upcoming (HUGE) project was started and almost completed, floors mopped......I could keep going, but I will spare you.

Before she came, I sent her a little pseudo-invitation via email, asking if she was coming, inviting her to eat fresh peach pie with us. Of course, me, being the way that I am, and 3 small children being the way that 3 small children often are, I never made the pie. So of course, Grandma made it for us. My great-grandmother's pie crust recipe (ice-cold water is the key), and my mother's fresh peach pie filling. It is the absolute, ultimate, take me back in time, comfort food. That pan above contained a lot more pie when I woke up this morning. But, oh mercy! I just can't help it. I keep going to the fridge, digging in, for "one last bite" before the kids see what I am up to and expect me to share. Then, I go back again and again.

And yes, yes I did eat that much. And I plan on eating more. And enjoying every last crumb. Flab to fab can be paused for your ultimate comfort food. Since I am the CEO of Flab to Fab, (or something like that), I can make up the rules as I go. And, I am very open to your own suggestions for new rules as well. Work with me people!

Thankful Monday is full of whipped cream and sugar, food so delicious, so can't-resist-it, that it is really, truly, comforting. Mmmmm.

What are you thankful for today? What is your ultimate comfort food?

tiiiiiimmmmeeee.....is passing me by

2008-10-03T09:42:00.002-06:00

Oh yes it is! I hope you just sang that title.

My mother is coming in to town today! My usual days are quite mundane, but today! Oh- today! House to clean, husband's business tasks to do, stores to shop at, funeral meal to help with, and lots of miles to drive.
It was so fun to read everyone's opinions last week about the skinny jeans. HAAA! I would do a giveaway with skinny jeans, but I think only 2 readers would participate. There is a giveaway coming next week though, so stay posted.
So, today's "inquiring minds want to know" is quite easy. If you could wave your magic wand and have anyone at your door to visit for the weekend, who would it be?

loose ends

2008-10-01T10:39:00.003-06:00

tied up.

As I sat mourning the temporary loss of my connection to the blogging world on Monday, I knew exactly what I would be posting I was thankful for. It is so wonderful that in those desperate moments of my day (or late nights), when I need just a smidgen of adult conversation to tide me over, I can flip open the lap top and there you all are, conversing with me.

Tuesday. After debating errands and tantrums, I settled upon going to the big box store that I always swear I won't go to ever again....... I looked quite ridiculous, I am quite sure. Two children in the main section of the cart, the baby in the front. Groceries and miscellaneous supplies piled in their laps, and wedged around their bottoms. I refuse to let them walk through the store. It keeps me within my budget, since no extras will fit in the cart, and it keeps many un-suspecting shoppers out of the perils of crashing in to a curious 4-year-old.

Chilling out (chilling, get it?) in front of the yogurt area, I noticed an older woman giving me quite the peculiar look as she overheard my very adult conversation with my very non-adult children, discussing the dilemmas of traditional and soy yogurts (dairy allergies in our household). She even gave a light-hearted remark about how I talk to them as adults. *blush*

So- Thankful Monday (Wednesday- whatever): Thank YOU. Thank you for being my saving grace, my co-workers, my daily adult conversation and ear to listen. Now, on to the other loose ends:

A while back, you all came to my aide for birthday ideas.

A babe in bowling shoes. Perfect.

The pink bowling ball cake, with accidentally perfect "marbling." (if your color isn't mixed consistently, consider it marbling) It was a hit.

And the much requested salsa recipe. (posted below) I finally remembered t0 buy a bag of chips last weekend. An empty jar of salsa and a few hours later, I was a complete woman. Did I mention that I didn't share with my family? Any of it. So good.

If you missed yesterday's challenge, you are missing out. OUT, I tell ya!

So, what are you thankful for today?

Caliente

2008-10-01T10:00:00.003-06:00

This recipe is for canning. It comes from the Okamura family. Around these parts, this family is known for their good food. This salsa is fantastic- mild or hot!

If you are canning, try to stick to the recipe. The only things you can interchange are the types of hot peppers. This makes A LOT! If you are using it fresh, you can improvise and decrease amounts however you wish.
If you are making this, please read the original post for a few trial and error tips.

Salsa

Chop & place large pot:

20 lbs. tomatoes
9 jalapenos (2 w/seeds will be mild, more = hotter)
6 anaheim peppers
6 yellow chile's
6 green bell peppers
6 white or yellow onions

(I have stuck with the listed peppers in the past, and used different varieties than the anaheim's & yellow chile's from my garden this year. Both ways worked fine.)

Bring the above items to a boil and THEN, add:

3 12 oz. cans tomato paste (more for a thicker salsa, less for thin)
1 cup vinegar
6 cloves garlic (minced or pressed)
1/4 tsp. cumin
3 tsp. pepper
6 tsp. salt
1 bunch cilantro

Stir all together. Bring all items back back to a boil. Place in jars!

You must process your jars in a water bath:

20 minutes for pints, 30 minutes for quarts
Yields approx. 20 pints

When canning, your process time, will vary according to your altitude. Please check out these official canning sites for more details/directions (here, here and here)- because, you all know how un-official I am!

CHALLENGE.......the great outdoors

2008-09-30T00:13:00.000-06:00

due to technical diffic...blah...blah...... Wednesday will be "Thankful Monday" this week. I will also be posting the infamous salsa recipe too. (finally!)

Hour after hour yesterday, I twiddled my thumbs as I watched the clock waiting for the phone to ring. The wonderful people at the cable company had given me a "window" of time to await the internet repair man. My window of time? Between 8 am and 5 p.m.
Nice window. Not that I had anywhere to be, because I didn't, but since I couldn't, I wanted to. That makes perfect sense right?
So, at 5:01, after no call, I loaded the kids in the stroller, baby in the pack, and even included our very-neglected dog for a little fresh air. Have I mentioned that I love fall? Because, I really, really do. I need to get out more. Literally.

We made for quite the sight. Me, wrangling the double stroller and pulling the dog leash with all of my might. Meanwhile, my baby discovered the greatest new thing in the trampoline world, also known as: my back. About a mile down the corn-field lined road, things settled: the dog walked, the baby relaxed and the kids laughed. We searched for snake grass and cat tails. (countrified terms for ditch-bank weeds)
It was lovely.
I even finally broke in the new "cross-trainer" shoes I got for my birthday (in August). I know! August. They are so pretty and white though, I just couldn't bare to see them scuffed.
It was perfectly perfect. I might just venture out of the confines of my home/car/grocery store tomorrow too. And, maybe the next day after that.

CHALLENGE.....the great outdoors

Don't just go outside. Be outside. Lay in the grass. Breathe in the air- really, I mean it; big can't-get-enough of it gulps of fresh autumn air. I am quite biased towards fall, but you cannot, cannot get better weather, surroundings, color, smells, foods, etc. than in the fall.

It might reach even 90 degrees here today! 90! Yet, it still is cool & crisp this morning and will be this evening. I love it. I like it, I love it. I want some more of it. I tried so hard.....

For some reason, I have had odd songs going through my mind all day today. Like Bette Midler's Wind Beneath My Wings and well....I don't know the names or artists or any of the others, so I can't tell you. But weird songs I tell you. Weird.

Right at the end of our walk, my cell phone rang and wouldn't you know it, the repair man was almost to my house. I was all about opening up that 8-5 window for extended hours.
We arrived at the driveway simultaneously, and I led him into the toy-strewn family room, past the dishes laden table, and stepping over the booby-trap the kids had lovingly (not so much) set for the awaited "computer guy." It was complete with crepe paper fencing and NOT ALLOWED signs.
The best part? I was in such a great mood from spending some time outside that I didn't even care. I didn't care that he was late. I didn't care that the house wasn't in an orderly fashion. I didn't even care that my daughter called the nice repair man a poopy-head. Oh, and then she called a visitor that stopped by a while later a poopy-head too. Nope, still didn't care. Because, by then, we were back outside and loving it.

So, are you in? WAIT! Hold the phone! I love cheesy one-liners (It is a family trait, I can't help it! Blame my older brother):
Are you out?

Oh- and, does anyone know who sings that "I like it, I love it..." song? What is it called? What song is stuck in your head?

Inquiring minds want to know.

2008-09-25T23:28:00.009-06:00

.skinny cow.

While I contemplated the reality of wearing The Green Shirt yesterday, I looked in the mirror and thought to myself, "hmmmm....I wish I had a vest to wear with this. That would look good."

A VEST! Flashback to 1990.

I can't decide if I am happy or mortified that I am old enough that fashions from my youth are making their comebacks. Please, stop me if I ever contemplate perming my bangs again.

Somehow I don't think that look will ever come back though. I don't think it ever really left......because it was never really "in." But, oh- how I loved my ear to ear spiraled bangs.

Really? Truly? This is in fashion? This is not a Halloween costume?

I have been in denial. I happened to be driving by a high school at 3:00 last Wednesday. Inevitably, I was stuck behind a line of teenage drivers, racing to be the first to the intersection- because we all know how cool we felt when we did the same thing 'back in the day.' Of course, just to be cool, I rolled down the windows and blared the local pop station. Cuz, you know, that's what all the cool kids do. When I was in high school, my hot rod *a hem* only had the AM station, (not to mention it smelled like dead mice, leaked in the rain and made it's own random decisions to suddenly die), so I finally had the chance to experience car coolness. I am sure that all of the teens passing me thought that I was AWESOME with the windows down, radio blasting, 3-year-old picking her nose in the window, baby crying and 4-year-old yelling for a treat. SWEEEEEETTTT. I love it that I finally got my "cool" moment.
I digress.

The first girl I saw walking down the sidewalk, I thought, (honestly), "Too bad, those jeans are the worst! She probably doesn't have any money to go shopping."
Then, I noticed more and more...... I really thought the skinny jean trend was only in New York and CA, but sure enough, it is alive and well in Idaho.
How in the world to the tapered jean suddenly become so fantastic? And, why in the world do they call it the "skinny jean" when it really doesn't make very many people look all that skinny?

My lovely SIL, who is the epitome of coolness, Marissa and I are very desperate for your opinions. I know there are a lot of you that read, but don't comment. We want to hear from you!

Do you think they look good? On real people- not just models. Are they the same tapered pants we all wore in the 80's, but have made a comeback without the aide of over sized t-shirts, tied on the side?

While we are at it, check out this link. Your jaw will drop when you read it, it is inevitable. You will even try not to be astonished, but you will be. I can't even ruin the surprise by giving you the details. You have to read it for yourself!

Seriously? That's it. That is all I got on the subject. I am speechless. I am dumbfounded. I have thought about this story every time I nursed my baby today. I have been grossed out every time I nursed my baby today. Ice cream? Really?
Thanks Kritta for sharing.

Once again- all you non-commenters, please comment now. Since none of us can solve the $700 Billion financial crisis, we may as well boldly state our opinion on skinny jeans and breast milk. After all, don't we all put our pants on one leg at a time? And, with skinny jeans, that is one mighty hard pair of pants to put on. Do share.

green with envy

2008-09-25T10:08:00.007-06:00

Green shirts......there is just something about them. No matter what the size or material, I still somehow am drawn to them. As far as coloring goes, the color does seem to be good on me......as far as sizing goes, I seem to not make such wise decisions.
You all are aware of the flabilicious green shirt, which I have now owned for many, many, months. I must now admit that there is also another green shirt. It was a trip out of town, and the realization that I hadn't packed as well as I thought.
The family dropped me off at the doors of the evil big-box store and I ran in to grab a shirt to get me through the weekend. I scanned the aisles quickly, and my eyes rested on that green color that I just can't get enough of. Great!
I even grabbed a size larger than what I thought I needed, just to be safe. It was only $7.

Lessons learned:
Cheaper is not always better. In fact, despite my love affair with the dollar store, it usually is not better.
Make sure I am buying Women's sizes- not Juniors
Never, ever buy something that has a tag advertising (or is it warning?) "accentuates curves."
Never, ever buy a blouse that includes any percentage of spandex- even under 5%.
Spandex is a strange combination of the greatest invention known to the fashion world and the greatest tragedy. Stretch jeans? Yes. Stretch shirts? No, no, no.

I think this new green shirt was "accidentally" left at the relatives' home. Hopefully, they will consider it a donation of love or something like that.

So back to the original. I look forward to these days of posting my picture like I look forward to eating brussel sprouts.

The original, a long while back:

A month-ish ago:

Today:

See.....even un-motivated, lazy moms of 3 can make a difference. I even wore the shirt in public.
Sort of. I wore the shirt in the car to take my son to pre-school. And, I had a jacket on. BUT, I did leave my house in it. I did get out of the car to walk him up to the door too. I am sure that the one other mother that saw me was totally thinking about how I should lose a few more pounds in order to wear that. Ok, I know that she didn't think that, she was thinking about how amazingly cute her little girl with amazingly curly hair is, but whatever.
I know the shirt doesn't look fantastic yet, but it doesn't look quite as atrocious as before. Now, it just looks like maybe I should have bought a size larger. Before, it looked like I was trying to squeeze all of my glory into my 2-year-old's shirt. Someday, soon I hope, maybe it will hang loosely around me- and then you won't even see the wrinkles of fabric stretching against their will around me.

So, do you want to know my big secret for making more progress? The key to almost mastering my muffin top......

Fright.

I am afraid to go into a grocery store with all 3 of my children. I have a habit of avoiding confrontation, and now that my baby is mobile and likes to be entertained, grocery trips have become few and far between. I don't mind shopping when all the kids are contained. I hate shopping if any of them are walking alongside the cart. We all know that no child really walks alongside the cart. The big stores have the mammoth carts where 2 can be in the seats, and then the baby in the actual cart- but seriously?! I can't even park my husbands full-sized truck. Do you really think I can navigate those things around crowds and precariously stacked boxes of fruit juices? To those of you who can....jealousy.

The change in my eating habits has a lot less to do with will power and motivation, and alot more to do with a lack of options. Regardless of the reasons, having less junk food (or food in general) around the house has resulted in far less calories. Go figure.

In conclusion, may I just say: spandex..... can't live with it, can't live without it. And, mothers who have to, get to, shop with 3 or more children should have fast check out lanes all to themselves. Can you imagine that? The heavens are singing. I am turning this idea in to Google so that I can win a million dollars. Check-out lanes for frantic, frazzled, mothers....in too-tight green shirts. It gives me shivers......good shivers. Or- it might be lack of warmth this spandex-laced shirt gives me. I gotta go change.
Now.

Challenge........the little things

2008-09-22T23:36:00.007-06:00

Economically speaking, the past week has been somewhat un-thankful for me. Our real estate ventures (or lack of ventures) have had some major hiccups. Watching the news this past week makes me want to start collecting spare change, stashing it in my freezer and hoarding every last cent that can be found.
Highest jump in oil prices in a single day ever- ugh. Wallstreet plummeting. A good way to see the bright side of not having any money invested- no money to lose.
Apparently our home is considered "un-loanable" right now, therefore, un-sell-able too. Didn't see that one coming.
It is so easy for me to think, "I'll do this when I have this." IE: I'll be able to keep the house more organized when I have a bigger house with more storage. When I have more money to decorate how I want, then I will really spend the time to make things look good.

This week's challenge is in combination with what should have been yesterday's Thankful Monday.

CHALLENGE......the little things

Whatever your current wish list is right now, forget about it. If you wish for a new house, find the things in your current home that you love, that you would miss. If you wish the kids would pick up their messes, acknowledge the creativity it takes to create them. Maybe your car leaks oil and clankety clanks down the road, but that perfectly sized trunk makes it OK.

I was quite sure that this week I would be packing up boxes, beginning the process of moving up in the real estate world. Reality is that it probably won't happen for a while- and you know what? That's alright. I didn't think it was. But it is.

If I moved, I might not have the perfectly portioned wall for this:

My great-grandmother's dishes. They are the prominent feature in my dining room and quite possibly the best 48 inches in my house.

I haven't spent a lot of money decorating my home. These were inherited as a slight joke. I have lost my love of most things knick-knacky, but these farmers.....there is just something about them. A life of hard work, love and legacy. Just what I want to be in 50 years, minus the large noses, of course. If I packed them in a box and hauled them away, who knows what I would find when I opened it back up.

And the black kitchen walls? What was I thinking? I love them too. I don't think I could ever convince my husband to agree to black walls again. I would really miss them.

This corner. Ohhhhh myyyy.....I just can't lose this corner. These little chubby legs look so ridiculously cute standing in this corner. "Nose in" of course. If I had to move tomorrow, I would really miss this corner. I would really miss biting my lip so that I don't laugh while I am giving stern reprimands to a mischievous little girl.

If I moved to the quintessential bigger & better house, I could lose all of those things that I love. So, good thing I get to love them for a while longer.

Get it?

Got it?

Good.

What is the little thing that you are happy about this week? What WAS your "if only I had...." What perfect little detail are you going to concentrate on?

Are you in?

......continued

2008-09-20T18:40:00.002-06:00

flab to fab

Thanks for all of the great advice. Today is a good day. My motivation is back, it wasn't gone far- just stuffed waayyyy back behind those chocolate bars.

To make it brief, there is nothing like a ripped out pair of jeans, road trip to a much larger city and a new pair of jeans that *gasp* don't look half bad. A couple more weeks of flab to fab, and they might even look good.

It has been a looonnnnggg time since i last bought a pair ofjeans. I wasn't planning on a new pair until I reached "my goal." (don't we all say that?) But, alas, my options for pants officially reached drastic lows last week. Every pair I own either has paint stains or holes. And, I am not talking the cute trendy/vintage type of holes. I am talking about the holes-where-they-shouldn't-be type of holes.

I headed straight to the clearance at the back of the store. First I grabbed a size larger than my past, then, my old size, then, the size I want to be.

A play by play:

First, the bigger ones. Not bad, not bad. Besides my major suffering of flat-butt syndrome, or "Thutt" (thigh-butt combo), things came together quite well. No tugging, squeezing or sucking in.

May as well try the next pair. Again, on they go. Definitely my correct size. No problems, but what if......

The small pair. The itty bitty pair. The pair that should never have entered the dressing room with me anyway.
After a little twisting, hopping and creativity, they were on....... and buttoned.....and didn't look terrible.....not wonderful, but potential, definite potential.

Of course, being the smart shopper that you all know I am, I bought the small pair. It isn't too bad, really. I just can't wear a snug shirt with them or it is very eerily similar to the popular green shirt look.
I love them. Really, truly. It was great retail therapy. Seeing how we are on a tight budget right now (aren't we all?), I can't justify actually buying another pair anytime soon, so I have no choice than to keep up with my flab to fab work.

This week I am planning on doing crunches.... a lot of them. They will be 10 at a time, many times throughout the day. I never do crunches. My activity level has increased in the past few months, but I have yet to actually "target" an area.

Raise your glasses with me (of water, of course), here's to sore muscles that I never knew I had.

measuring up

2008-09-18T10:46:00.004-06:00

flab to fab

Yes, yes, today is the day to post my green shirt picture.....well, it just isn't going to happen. You will all get the opportunity to shamelessly point and laugh next week.
It is one of those weeks, days where know matter what you do get done, you still somehow feel like it just isn't quite enough. Even there isn't really anyone following me around with a ruler, I still feel like I don't measure up. Can I get a "uh, huh?"
In the madness of this week, I started to clean out my pantry. Well, what do you know? I discovered an 8 pack of Hershey's chocolate bars, forgotten on an summer outing that was supposed to include campfire s'mores. I don't even like Hershey chocolate bars, but there are only 3 left.
Are you getting why no picture will go up today? I think I have made a little progress. In fact, I know I have made some progress, but today, I'm just not feelin' it.
So give it to me. Give us all your best pep talk. If you haven't commented before, please give us all your wisdom, (or plea for wisdom), now. Today's flab to fab is much more about you and much less about me. What keeps you motivated? What gets you down? What are we all going to do to get back on board that flabilicious bus?

a vision of helping

2008-09-17T10:36:00.004-06:00

Remember all of the rush, the hustle & bustle to help out "NieNie?" The NieNie auctions became a very "in" thing to be involved with. Even the Today Show was "in" on the action. There are so many tragic stories out there. You only have to look for a few moments and you will find someone who could use your help- even a simple smile, a heartfelt prayer.
There is another mom in need of our help. I don't want this blog to become the voice of doom and gloom, but I think it is so important, so very very important to use the internet to find entertainment and joy, but to also be used as a tool for sharing in one another's burdens.
Carol is a mom a little more on the blog level of you and me. She has her little blog, posts about her beautiful little family and just had a new baby. This is where the commonalities take a major detour.
From her husband: "Carol Decker, my wife, had an emergency cesarean section on June 10, 2008. After the surgery she developed life-threatening hypotension from a septic pneumonia infection. After fighting for several weeks, the medicine she was on to save her life had the unfortunate side effect of blocking blood flow to her legs, left arm and eyes.
Since then, Carol has had both legs below the knee amputated, her left arm amputated and she is blind."

When you look at your family today, look with new eyes. I am looking around my house right now, looking at the disasters my kids have created, looking at the banana peels in the family room and the juice spilled across the table. I am looking....... and I am tearful......and I am ecstatic that I have the ability to be right in the middle of all of the mess.

There are a few auctions being held for the benefit of the Decker family here.

Thank you, Rachel, for bringing this story to our attention.

CHALLENGE.......the one, the original

2008-09-16T09:59:00.003-06:00

Every so often, there is a week where life just gets very, very busy. There are extra errands to run, a trip to get ready for, the final days of preparation to major projects. Throw in a sick kid or two, and -whamo- there isn't a whole lot of time left for me..... or, I am guessing, you.
Today's errands? Drop off/pick up son at pre school, go to bank, edit a bunch of photos- of other people's families, drive to town to print out photos, do a "favor" for a friend, take kids to their gymnastics class, on and on.......
Oh- and one more little thing- we decided yesterday that we are putting our house up for sale next week....oh, and put a bid on a different house..... nothing to major, right?.....nothing to stress about......did I mention I have to go to the bank?....aaaack!
In the midst of all of this, I am of course, blogging, because, of course, I have nothing better to do, but it is good to take a quick little escape, a quick little moment to re-vamp. As I stare down at my thrown together clothes, brush back the unkempt hair from my face, this week's challenge is all to clear:

CHALLENGE........the one, the original

Ponytail Challenge

Fix your hair everyday this week. Whatever your "fall back on hair style" of choice is, you can't do it this week. Spend a few extra moments on you. Make yourself feel a little extra worth it. Even if you are just scrubbing toilets and folding laundry, you will feel better about yourself.

As for me, I actually do my best work and accomplish the most when under pressure. However, I definitely feel my best when I have spent just that couple extra minutes for me.

Anyone in?

salsa making, the PC way

2008-09-13T11:39:00.006-06:00

that's Ponytail Challenge way, not politically correct (because I'm not) and not personal computer (because I don't have one)

Yes, the Ponytail Challenge way- full of pain, sweat and tears....but not necessarily in that order.

1- Gather your peppers and tomatoes. All that your garden or market has to offer. When you think that you have enough tomatoes for salsa making, go back and get twice as many. When referring to the web to find out an accurate way to measure 20 lbs. of tomatoes, you will receive answers that vary from 2 cups = 1 pound, all the way to 8 cups = 3 pounds, 16 cups = 20 pounds. Hmmm.....might be time to just buy a scale.

Notice the gloves.

2- Start chopping. Chop and chop. Then, chop some more.
2.5- Stop, change baby's dirty diaper, hand children box of dry cereal to eat for lunch. Wash hands.

3- The tears part...... it is always good to have a good cry. Lots and lots of tears.

4- Get really annoyed at chopping and pull out the food processor to do it for you. It might be wise to skip right past #2 to this step. I suggest leaving your gloves on. Chop up your peppers.

5- Decide that maybe you should check the "hotness" level of the unknown variety of peppers you picked from your garden. Touch the tip of your tongue to pepper- ever so quickly.

Notice the lack of gloves.

6- Run to sink- ever so quickly. Drink a lot of cold water.
6.5- Pretend that you don't hear your baby crying to be picked up.

7- Make the wise, educated decision that maybe you have enough peppers in your salsa.
7.5- Try to yell- I mean calmly tell- your children to stop jumping on your bed- while your tongue and lips are swollen, burning, tingling and slightly numb.

8- Place everything in to your biggest pot.

9- Your pot is not big enough. Now, place everything in to your 2 biggest pots.
9.5- Give your children the bag of jumbo marshmallows for the great nutritional content.

10- The sweat. Feel as if you haven't showered in weeks because you have are been standing in a hot steamy kitchen for 6 hours.

11- Forget to take anymore pictures and the rest of the day, because at this point you are so tired and sick of salsa that your brain has switched to auto mode.
11.5- Auto mode brain allows you to pretend that you didn't know that your children ate the whole bag of marshmallows and that you *gasp* can't believe they did that......when really, you are glad it held them off for an hour so that you could finish up your project.

12- Curse for not having any tortilla chips to eat the salsa that should have only taken a few hours to make, but took all day.

13- Realize that maybe your children could use their mother when your 4-year-old asks at the end of the day, "Mom, can you watch the baby for a minute while I go to the bathroom?" Roll reversal maybe?

14- Look at the sink of dirty dishes, turn around and walk away......... just walk away.

15- The pain...... Hold a bag of frozen vegetables all night long because you weren't smart enough to wear gloves while handling hot peppers.

Pain, sweat, and tears. I have had a few requests for the recipe- I'll see how it turns out and then decide if I should "share the wealth."
Must. Buy. Chips. Now.

eeeeeeaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaeeeeeaaaaa.

2008-09-11T22:29:00.006-06:00

Flab to fab.

For the record, I think I should remind everyone that there is no specific timeline on this flabilicious project. For the record, I like to give myself little "safety cushion" rules such as this. That way, I can't set myself up for failure, right?

Jogging. I keep saying that I want to go. And I do, want to. But, I don't go. I even have a new pair of running shoes to replace the ones that I have been mowing the lawn in for the past 5 summers. How do you go jogging with 3 small children? The reality of going while my husband is home to watch the kids just isn't really reality. Well.....ok.....it could be. But I really like my lazy mornings. I mean, I really, really like my lazy mornings. I love laying in my bed, letting the kids crawl in with me and just drifting in and out of dreamland. Love it. What's a girl to do? (And, please don't answer "Get out of her warm snuggly bed and go!")
My little boy has started up pre school again a few times a week, I have a double stroller, so it might- might just be feasible......and even after 10 a.m.!

Also, as far as this weeks' challenge goes, I did it. I baked my first ever squash. I tasted my first ever squash and then I proceeded to feed the rest of it to my child. Tomorrow, I might just taste it again. I might even go crazy and buy a brussel sprout at the grocery store. Mind you, I am not committing to actually eat the thing, but I will feel healthier with it simply sitting in the crisper drawer of my fridge, right below the tub of cream cheese and pound of butter.

I will be making salsa today. Lots and lots of salsa. Jar after jar of salsa. Last year was my first attempt at canning salsa. I remember the acid from chopping tomatoes ate away the plastic gloves I was wearing. This year I am going to try using my freshly washed garden gloves to keep it all from seeping in to my not-so-soft and not-so-smooth skin. The smell of peppers, onion, cilantro, garlic and tomatoes roasting in my kitchen was the best smell of the year. My fitness routine today will definitely be concentrating on the arms. Hour after hour of chopping vegetables does a lot of toning. Seriously, check out the arms of all the chefs on Food Network. Plus, it all just adds up to this week's veggie challenge, right? (Have you noticed I have a few self-affirming questions in this post? It never hurts to get a little validation from your virtual friends in blog land.)

Last, but certainly, oh how certainly not least.
A friend stopped by my house yesterday. She doesn't know anything about my flab to fab project. She said, and I am directly quoting here, "Have you lost weight? You look like you have lost weight."

Insert hallelujah choir here.

Me: well, no.....but I would like to.
Her: Really, you look thinner.
Me, not so great at accepting compliments: I wish.
Inside my little head though, I was squealing like my former 14-year-old self. I revert back to my 14-year-old self in my head a lot.

And that my friends, is about as good as a weekly flab to fab check-in can get. At least, until that green shirt looks good on me. If you want to make someone else's day, please, oh please, ask them if they have lost weight.

eeeeeeaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaeeeeeaaaaa.

That is my 14-year-old squeal in case you were wondering.

CHALLENGE........double veggie dare

2008-09-09T09:59:00.003-06:00

You are all famous. That is right, every one of you that read about the Nielson family & participated on the auction- you are famous.......in a roundabout sort of way. The story of Stephanie and the blogging world coming to help save the day was on the Today Show today. So cool.

Ok. Back to reality.
I love seeing the fresh produce sold in stands all over town. It all looks just so good. Except, I don't really think it is good. I just can't bring myself to actually go to the farmer's markets and see everything that I should eat- but don't.
Squash? yuck. Pumpkins? only to be carved. Broccoli? the only food that has ever made me puke. Beets? we won't even go there.
I love the look of fresh vegetables. I don't so much love the taste. Actually- that is a lie. I might like it. I don't really know- because I refuse to eat it.
In college, my roommate Angie would eat bowls full of brussel sprouts. disgusting (not Angie- just the brussel sprouts) I have always admired her for it though. I don't have a clue what a brussel sprout tastes like. My sis-in-law makes fancy looking sweet potatoes in hollowed out oranges for the holidays.
We are a steak and potatoes family.
Chicken and rice.
Pasta & meatballs.
PB&J
When I am feeling like a really exotic cook, I might have bananas out on the counter- you know, because they are imported form South America. Sooooo exotic.
Sometimes I even saute' sliced potatoes instead of bake/mash them. (In this case, saute' would be my schmancy replacement for "fry.") I start my children's' dietary needs out with great gusto- all the variety that Gerber & Beechnut have to offer. A few years ago, while in Mexico, I even stocked up on the baby food offered there to add more variety to my then-baby's palate. Papaya, mango, veggies I had never heard of. Once the mush stage of feeding ends though, variety in my home also ends.
This time around however, when it comes to the baby food, I am attempting to go organic. Not organic off the shelf, but organic from the garden. The beans from my garden have already been steamed, smashed & frozen. I even bought a yellow squash last week (gasp). It is still sitting in the crisper, but I have great intentions of baking it, and having it baby ready in nice little ice cube trays in the freezer soon.
Will I try the squash myself? Well.........

CHALLENGE........double veggie dare

We all know that diets and healthy living trends seem to come and go as fast as my sink fills up with dirty dishes. Lately, I have been noticing a lot of vegetarian talk. A lot of emphasis being put on "all things in moderation," especially meats.
I am not necessarily about to ditch the meat from my recipe box- chicken nuggets are a major staple of my children's diet and my husband....well.....the man likes his prime rib- but could I, at least add a little variety to our culinary life?
Could I at least give the squash a little taste test?

The rules:
Try a new vegetable/fruit that you wouldn't regularly.
Try it more than once.

So simple. So easy. So scrumptious.

Ok- scrumptious- that might be pushing it. How about, so healthy?

Anyone in? How do you do when it comes to eating your veggies? What do you think about the vegetarian lifestyle? Could you do it? Would your family revolt?

forever forgetting

2008-09-08T10:11:00.003-06:00

Last night I went to bed with the best idea for Thankful Monday. I remember thinking it would be a fabulous post.
It would be funny and touching. Laugh out loud and tears of joy. The best post ever.
I love it when I think of great ideas.
Unfortunately, I have a teensy weensy problem with forgetting things.
What was so phenomenal that I stayed up late just thinking about it's greatness? I have no idea. I will probably remember it in a few weeks.

I do this all the time.

I am a classic put-it-here-so-I-won't-forget-it-and-then forget where "here is."
Currently lost in their chosen location: remote for car, social security cards, bank card, gift card, numerous needed papers, etc.
Every so often I luck out and come across a random treasure in a random location.
Just Friday, I found my wedding ring (missing in action for about a month). I would love to tell you where I found it, but I can't remember.
This all drives my husband c-r-a-z-y. However, he is learning to accept it.

So that, today, is what I am thankful for: that those nearest and dearest to me are learning to accept me- flaws & all or at least they are learning to cope with it.

I cannot help but justify all of this to the fact that each and every day I am responsible for remembering each and every detail for 3 other people's lives too. Sometimes always it all gets jumbled together.

What are you thankful for today? Have any good organization/memory tricks?

Oh- and stay tuned, because whenever I remember that amazing topic I was going to write about, I am just sure that you will all be brought to tears of joy.......

checkmate

2008-09-06T00:08:00.000-06:00

The big birthday bash is coming up later tonight. Thank you for your great ideas. The party talk has got me to thinking though.

We are having a family party, not friends. My kids are the youngest of all the cousins. All of the wonderful ideas for tutus and dress-up and such just wouldn't work with the 8 to 14-year-old crowd.
The thought of little girls trying to bowl in fancy princess clothes is so adorably hilarious that I toyed with the idea of changing to a friend party instead- or simply inviting some friends along too.
Then,it hit me. My children do not have friends. I couldn't think of any friends to invite. Not a single one.
Sure, they know other kids. They see kids at church on Sunday. My son is back in pre-school. They are in a little gymnastics class at the local Y. But none of these others are friends.
We have never invited other kids over "just to play." I babysat a 4-year-old all day today. After she left, I asked my own if they had fun with her. Both gave a resounding "no."
I realized that I have spent so much effort into ensuring that my son and daughter view each other as their own best friend, that I have failed to allow them to have other friends. (I realize the brother/sister best friend gig will only last for so long, but I keep my fingers crossed.)
I called my son to me as I pondered on all of this. I asked him if he could have any friend over to play, who would it be?
His answer? My 13-year-old niece. I told him he needed to think of someone closer to his age. He then came up with another niece- several years older than him. Next, I said ok- no cousins. Who could we invite over to play next week? After a lot of thinking, he mentioned a boy from his pre school class last year. Last year!

What have I done? What should I do?

So much of how we as parents control our children is like a chess game. We move them along, prodding slowly forward, a few mishaps back, but always aiming to a final goal. The question: is the opponent the big scary world out there or is it myself? Is my sheltering of my most prized game pieces actually causing more harm than good?
I am quite sure that we are inviting someone over to play next week. And hopefully the next, and maybe the next after that. Now I just have to figure out who.

flab to fab and a cupcake

2008-09-04T12:20:00.006-06:00

To make a very long story about my procrastination habits short, I need help!

Do you have any idea how to combine a princess birthday party and bowling in to one?

This little lady will be mighty dissapointed if I don't figure this one out.

As far as flab to fab goes, well....... I went to the grocery store the other day. The Halloween candy is out.

I bought.

I ate.

All of it.

I enjoyed.

I think I am going jogging tonight to justify it.

Next week is the 1 month mark again, so I will have to post another green shirt picture.

No more trips to the grocery store.

I am feeding my family corn on the cob from the garden and zucchini for a week............uh, after the birthday party of course.

Really- anyone have ideas? If not, I would love to know what your favorite, can't resist it, candy is.

$585

2008-09-03T00:25:00.005-06:00

Yeah for us!
Thank you all. Those of you who donated, those of you who bid, those of you who prayed and those of you who simply were a little more grateful for your own health and family.
This is so much more than I hoped we would raise. Wow.
Can you imagine if on a little blog like this, $585 could be raised, all of the blog auctions put together really, truly are making a major difference in the life of a family need.

If you won an auction, pay your amount directly to the NieNie Recovery pay pal account, link button to the right. Email your receipt to ponytailchallenge@gmail.com.

Apostrophy Market Bag: disco mom
Just Be: anonymous (I have your email)
Ivy & Mae tie: cgogis
Pretty In Pink Tutu: jess
Halloween Tutu: jody
Jane Tutu: The Leishman's
Glamor Girl Tutu: jody
Blog Makeover: amelia bedelia
Blue Minkee: soswift's
Pink Minkee: Julie
Scentsy: camille
Bloom Necklace: beachscapecodcupboard

I will draw a winner for the drawing later today.

mommy dearest

2008-09-02T22:40:00.003-06:00

Obviously, I didn't post a challenge this week for the first time.
I would like to give you some dramatic, deep, soul-searching reason, but I don't have one. I simply didn't do it. I'm not going to. You can't make me. And if you want to ground me to my room, the idea of being sent to my bed actually sounds quite heavenly.
I did, however, have a few random realizations this last weekend.

It has been apparent for a month or so, my lack of coolness. Hitting up a few Labor Day sales however, really iced the cake. Brand names. I have no and I mean absolutely no idea what brands are in or what brands are out. I used to be very up on the in.

In high school, my best friend Bridget and I would work our tails off to support our weekly shopping trips to the trendiest stores in town. My oh-so-cool college roommates introduced me to a slightly more refined and expensive taste. Now though- I have no clue. It has been a long.....very, very long time since I went in to a store to buy jeans. We are talking several kids ago long time. Of the two good pairs I own, one was for $6 from a thrift shop and happens to be the pair from flab to fab. The other was ordered on line off of a clearance sale.
I ramble.
So, shopping on Monday. I first realized that the brand of jeans that I would list as a "go-to, never-fail" brand is now sold at Wal-Mart. Ugh. Wal-Mart. Now I can't buy them. They are not "not cool" because they are sold at Wal-Mart, I just have major Wal-Mart issues.
Next, I went to a "cool" store. Many, many brands. Who knows? Definitely not me.
The best part? I don't even care. Button them up without any major muffin toppage and I am a happy momma.

Against all of my teenage will, I am slowly, but surely, turning in to my mother.
There are shirts hanging in my closet that I wore 10+ years ago. Vintage baby!
I give my kids and husband "the look."
My 2nd daughter is super cute. Just like my mom I tell ya. (and yes, my 1st daughter is cute too, and so is my older sister.)

So, I am wondering.....am I normal? Are any of you turning in to your mother? What do you do that you swore you would never do?

Auction: the down low, low down, 411

2008-08-28T00:50:00.002-06:00

If you are just checking in this week, you might be wondering why I am auctioning my flab to fab Thursday away....... well, you know me- any excuse to not have to actually admit failure, hanging my head in shame......
Really though, click ahead to read about Stephanie Nielson & family, their tremendous trial, and the blog world pulling together to save the day- or at least help pay part of the road to recovery......

All auction items have been donated by women who are simply willing to help. They are giving their products, with no strings attached, for these fundraising efforts. Amazing.

Auction Rules
please note, as I have never ran an auction before, rules are subject to change, per any confusion or drama that may occur....... but rule #1 is set in stone.

1. All proceeds will go to the Stephanie and Christian Nielson Fund, via pay pal. If pay pal is not an option for you, I will help you work out another payment method. Easy Peasy.

2. Bids are to be made in the comment section of each item's post. Check the newest comment for the current high bid amount.

3. Bids need to be even dollar amounts. IE: $20, not $20.01

4. If you wish to bid anonymously, that is fine. Choose the anonymous setting in the comments, give yourself a wonderful secret identity and email me with who you are; ponytailchallenge@gmail.com
I swear on Clark Kent's name not to reveal your secret identity.

5. Auctions begin now. More may be added over the next few days.

6. Auctions end Tuesday, September 2nd, 11:59 pm

7. As a great big THANK YOU, anyone that bids will be entered into a drawing for a gift card to their favorite restaurant. Also, if you blog about these auctions & the Nielson family, you will get a chance. Do both and get 2 chances.

8. Confused? Me too. Basically: guilt free shopping. You will feel good about helping someone in need and help 4 beautiful kiddo's parents & extended family concentrate on healing- not paying bills.

If you have any questions, I will try to answer them quickly, via the comments section.
Happy bidding. Other blog auctions can be found via DesignMom.

Oh- and just to get the full auction experience, please imagine an auctioneers voice calling to you.....gimme 1 dollar, 2. Do I hear a fooouuurrr-uh? Four, four- going once, wup! In the back left corner 10, gimme 11......

Auction: Little Birdie Pleated Market Bag

2008-08-28T00:49:00.001-06:00

Tweet. Tweet. Cute right?

Tori's bags, (Apostrophy Designs), have been on my wish list for a while now. They have darling little details & make me smile.

The darling little details: A hand-crafted purse that is big enough for all of your belongings. Made with 3 7x7in pockets, all lined and backed with a durable interfacing.

Auction: Just Be- Item of choice!

2008-08-28T00:45:00.002-06:00

Bid for your choice of item from Just Be. They sell super cute & chic purses as well as cute twirly skirts for the little ones. Just Be products are sold in boutiques around the country.

just be... is a company of mothers, daughters, sisters and friends intertwined and connected through pieces of fabric. Each just be... appliquéd purse is as individually beautiful as you are.There is beauty in individuality.

Auction: Walk Tall Tie

2008-08-28T00:45:00.000-06:00

Sorry- but the cute model isn't up for bid- just the tie.

Ivy & Mae's new Walk Tall line is so fun. My too-good-to-be-true (but she is true!) friend Jessica is the creator. Her skills amaze me.

Features: Handsome and fun all wrapped into one! 100% heavy weight cotton with an elastic neck for easy on and off.
It is made pre-tied and ready to go! Color choices: blue, pink or brown

Auction: Tutu Heaven

2008-08-28T00:44:00.000-06:00

Too too cute! Talented Lindsey, of Tutu Heaven has donated 4 darling tutu's.

For your little angel:

Glamor Girl Tutu

Halloween Tutu

Jane Tutu

Pretty in Pink Tutu

Specify in your bid which tutu you are bidding on.

Aucton: Blog Makeover

2008-08-28T00:39:00.006-06:00

Do you like my blog design? I do. Shauna is a wonderful blogger, wonderful designer and wonderful person.

Her blog has examples of her work. You will be impressed.

Up for bid: Custom Blog Header & background from "See My Designs by Shauna."

She will use your pictures to personalize it or you tell her what you want & she will find it! She is AWESOME to work with- I can't express that enough! Shauna works with you to create something personal and even puts up with many, many questions and changes....and then more questions.......
I might happen to know this first hand, but am not necessarily admitting to it.

Auction: Minkee, blue

2008-08-28T00:34:00.000-06:00

Kami is the talent behind these darling "Minkees." .

I think that these blankies are so dang cute! Even I want to snuggle with one. Did I really just admit that?

Kami will turn this cute little puppy into a Minkee like this:

Auction: Minkee, pink

2008-08-28T00:33:00.000-06:00

Another "Minkee" from Kami. My daughter already wants it.

Kami will turn this cute pink pal into a Minkee like this:

Auction: Scentsy Package

2008-08-28T00:31:00.004-06:00

I can attest first hand to this product. The scents are wonderful. You know when you walk into someone's home and it just smells good......not just good, but, can't-stop-sniffing good. I heart Scentsy.

Lyndsee is offering a deluxe warmer & 3 Scentsy bars.

You choose the scents to go along with this oh-so-cute dragonfly warmer. Scentsy is "the hottest new thing in candles," a wickless product that looks and smells fantastic.

Auction: Bloom Necklace

2008-08-28T00:30:00.000-06:00

My favorite necklace designer is back! (Lisa Leonard) How could this necklace hanging around your neck not make you smile? Love it.

From Lisa Leonard herself: The Bloom Necklace. The perfect piece to represent mama and kiddos. The larger flower represents mom and the smaller blooms are her children. Each piece is hand-stamped with a special word or your kids' names. The pendant is 1 1/2" long and made of genuine sterling silver. Strung on 18" sterling ball chain (you can customize chain once instead cart) with freshwater pearl detail. The center of each flower is a hole, hand-drilled. So sweet, so unique!

we are all enlisted......

2008-08-26T12:27:00.008-06:00

***UPDATE****
Fundraising Auctions will begin tomorrow. There are some amazing items being donated- and I'm not just saying that......there are really, really good items. Spread the word & come back tomorrow for a little feel-good shopping!

It's about time for me to hold a giveaway again.....however I think the idea of a "giveaway" is changing this week.......

In the very-extended blogging circles that I peruse, I have been following the recent story of "NieNie." From the blogosphere..........
Stephanie Nielson was in a plane crash with her husband, Christian Nielson, and his flight instructor, Doug Kinnear, near St. Johns, Arizona. Doug Kinnear passed away soon after arriving at the Maricopa County Hospital.

Christian & Stephanie remain in critical condition at Maricopa Burn Center. Christian has sustained burns on over 30% of his body. His wife Stephanie’s body was burned over 80%.

You can get more information here and here. Have your tissue box ready. The medical costs for their recovery will likely reach millions in the upcoming months of pain and healing.
The events are tragic,yes. But, the outpouring of love from complete strangers is turning tragedy into a story of love and sympathy. The example of selflessness from the Nielson family and fellow bloggers is nothing short of amazing.
Many bloggers out there are holding "silent auctions" on their blogs.
100% of proceeds will go to the recovery fund for this sweet family. I am hoping that all of you will join with me in this cause. If you have ANYTHING to go towards an auction to be held here on the Ponytail Challenge, please contact me ASAP. It can be homemade, store bought, etc. The auctions will be held all of next week.
Please spread the word of this story and the fundraising across the blog lines. This family needs any and all help that we can give- whether it be your spare change or a heartfelt prayer.

CHALLENGE...........bag it

2008-08-25T21:55:00.009-06:00

Don't let yesterday's post fool you. I am not all that resourceful. I mentioned how canning peaches was so much easier than I thought.......
Apparently canning is sorta like child birth. The excitement of the end product makes you forget the long, hard, back-breaking work. And it was my friends, a very long day.

Many, many times today I contemplated the necessity of my day's project.

Wouldn't it be easier and make just as much sense to simply use the coupons I clip every Sunday and just buy the fruits & veggies- already washed, peeled, canned and ready to eat? The actual expense isn't that different.
The time it takes for a novice like me is great. All day long, my children were left to their own devices. The babe spent the day in the same onesie she spent the night before. There was a lot more TV and a lot more..... shall we say, creativity? This meant a messier than usual family room and lots of snacks. Apparently my starving daughter can make a PB sandwich by herself. Who knew? I was super excited to discover this makeshift kitchen on the carpet. Something like that.

Speaking of coupon clipping-
Each week, I gather the newspapers into a pile.

Each week, I have great intentions to take these papers with me to drop off at the recycling bins in town.

Each Thursday morning, I take the piles of newspapers out to the trash for garbage day, and think to myself, next time I will recycle. I seriously have guilt about my newspapers. Silly, ridiculous guilt.
A few weeks ago, in one of my many time-wasting, blog-stalking moments, I clicked to The Story of Stuff. This is a web-video all about production, consumption, environment. Now, generally, I lose interest in such things after a few minutes. This story is a full 20 minutes long- almost an eternity by internet attention span standards. I watched the whole thing. There was a statistic given about the football field sized areas of trees being cut down at an insanely fast rate. It has stuck with me.

The grocery store that I go to requires customers to bag their own groceries, in exchange for cheaper prices. I usually double bag, almost always use plastic and use more bags than I need to.....on purpose so that I have the bags to use at home as garbage sacks. Please don't hate me. I keep thinking I will maybe try out those re-usable shopping bags, but frankly, I have been too lazy.
But that video- that dang video.

CHALLENGE......bag it

Take your own bag to the store this week. It doesn't have to be the grocery store. It could be the dollar store, produce market or your candy bar fix at the gas station.

Maybe you all are much more "aware" than I am and have already been doing this- if so- well, I have a different challenge for you.

Use a coupon. Don't just clip the coupon, but actually use it.

So, some of you probably already are coupon queens. Couponing is all the rage right now. So, how about another one.....

Recycle something that you normally don't. I will actually take my paper pile to the big blue bins. Maybe I will get all crafty and make something new out of something old. Don't hold your breath on that one.

Really? You already recycle too?
I would type what I am thinking, but then this blog wouldn't be quite so family-friendly.

I am running down the road to catch the environmental awareness bus. Ok- maybe speed walking.

I know! Use cloth diapers instead of disposable.
HAAAAAA! I kid. If any of you really do that- I bow to you. And really don't envy you.

So basically, do something, anything this week, to be a little better of a steward of this lovely Earth........even if it just means simply not double-bagging your groceries.

I would love to know what you already do, what you have good intentions to do. If you complete this challenge, come back here and leave another comment and tell us all about it.

You might just be surprised at how a simple little something can make your heart happy too.

Are you in?

the harvest

2008-08-24T23:43:00.008-06:00

My heart is happy.

I never really understood that little phrase until I "grew up." Today, though, I keep looking around at things that really, truly do make my heart happy.

It started last year when I decided to become a little more domestic and attempt a garden. Some things grew - almost 50 perfectly perfect pumpkins, lots of tomatoes.

Some things didn't- 5 rows of corn, all afflicted with "corn smut."
An accidental planting of the hottest peppers on the chart (don't remember the name) also resulted in an accidental eating of the hottest peppers by a then 1-year-old. The gophers liked my garden as much as I did and the sunflowers created the perfect backdrop for my entire backyard.

On a whim -call it a horticulture high- I even attempted canning. My shelves made room for peaches and salsa. So good. And, SO much easier than I expected.

Harvest.

It is here again. I love it. This year's garden has done well. Few pumpkins, better corn. Heaven reaching sun flowers and green beans that will be pureed into baby food. The gophers found the neighbor's garden instead of mine. I planted, what I call my "salsa box." Everything is ready to be chopped, diced and sliced. The cilantro didn't grow (if anyone knows how to grow cilantro, I would love some tips) and the peppers have cross pollinated into a new breed, but who cares? They grew, and will be mixed up into jar after jar of homemade goodness.

Can I just tell you how happy I am that "organic" is in? Organic is an excuse to not have to buy pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Organic is an excuse for the rampant weeds that I have officially declared a truce with. Organic means that our corn may not be big & plump, but I can be proud serving my children "all natural" produce.

We went to the fruit orchards owned by our church. After picking for others, we were able to pick peaches for ourselves. The butterflies in my stomach are all a-flutter thinking of making my mom's peach pie, ok- maybe the excitement is more about eating the pie than making it- but yum-oh.

Saturday, I spent the entire morning at my in-laws taking these:

Off of these:

Then, I spent the entire afternoon doing this:

Sunday, I let the kids mash up all of these berries and added untold amounts of sugar to make freezer jam.

Today is peaches. Later this week will be the salsa.
I love it. Love it all. Hmmmm.....except maybe that one pesky problem.....

Remember the zucchini I mentioned a few weeks ago? It is still quite the prolific producer. How about a "My zucchini is bigger than your zucchini" contest? Details to come, and definitely a great prize. If you have zucchini in a garden- or maybe grandma's garden- let one of the little buggers just keep on growing. Measure it & take a photo to document it. Oooohhhh.....I am getting excited. This could be quite funny....I mean fun.

If you aren't excited for summer's end, lets indulge a little, shall we? Crunchy leaves. Hot fresh peach cobbler with ice cream on top and pumpkin rolls. Cool nights and caramel apples. The unmatchable smell of fall. It is in the air and I love it. Oh yes, most definitely on this Thankful Monday, my heart is ever so happy.

What are you thankful for today?

discovering treasure......

2008-08-22T23:20:00.004-06:00

The favorite game of choice at our house this week is playing hairdresser with Mommy's head.
I actually love having my hair played with- even at the mercy of 2 & 4-year-old's not-so-delicate touch. However......the fun came to an abrupt halt when:

with great excitement and the sheer delight that only a new discovery in a child's life can bring, my son today exclaimed,
"Mom! We just found silver in your hair!"

What are the odds?

2008-08-21T00:45:00.002-06:00

Before I get in to my weekly flab to fab rant- let us digress for a moment -or many moments- to be in awe of this woman, Natalie du Toit. The shortened condensed version is that Natalie is the first ever woman amputee to compete in an able-bodied Olympics. Her story is amazing, inspiring, and much better than anything that I could possibly have to write about today. If you have a spare few minutes, read her story. She has said, "I still believe in myself as a whole person." (Photo: Laureus World Spor ts Awards) This is the quote that hangs on her wall:

The tragedy of life does not lie in not

reaching your goals;
The tragedy of life lies in not having goals to reach for.

I think I am in love with this quote.

I think I am in love with gummy bears again too- you know that bag I mentioned not liking last week? Well, try and try again. I just couldn't give up on those bears. No need to worry, attempt after chewy, sugary attempt of taste bud training and our relationship has rekindled, good as ever.

Back to having goals....

Whew. Do I ever have a new goal to reach for today. The major dilemma is deciding if I want to reach for it. Earlier, my husband called from work with a, "You had better sit down for this."

I should have known. A similar phone call came about a year ago, only it started with a "congratulations!"

It is that time of year: summer coming to a close, school starting, fairs happening, ripe tomatoes in my garden and cool nights. It all brings us to the one downfall of my favorite time of year, fall. It is the thorn in my side. It is hunting season.

Are you shaking? Are you crying? Are you weeping and wailing?

Last year's phone call:

Him: Congratulations!

Me: On what?

Him: You drew.

Me: Drew what?

Him: On your hunt.

Me: What hunt?

It should be noted, I had not ever hunted before, had never necessarily wanted to hunt. However, I did at this point own a gun that my husband had lovingly bought me for Christmas the year before- because, you know, I would use it so often......

Today's call:

Him: "You had better sit down for this."

Me: "Uh-oh. What?"

Him: "Just sit down. You aren't going to like this."

Me: imagining a speeding ticket, unexpected bill, loss of job?? "Ok. I am." I wasn't.

Him: "You drew on your hunt........."

My husband's work allows him waaayyyy too many opportunities to peruse all that the state of Idaho's hunting regulations have to offer. Last year, he decided his 6-month-pregnant wife would really enjoy hiking and crawling, (yes, I am serious, crawling-I believe "real" hunters say stalking), through sagebrush in the hopes of shooting an antelope and then feeding her family the meat throughout the winter. Against the 90:1 odds, I won. Luckily for my entire family, and several speedy antelope, I am a terrible shot.

This year, he decided to go for the big one. The hardest hunt to draw on. Nearly 1000 desperate hunters put in for their chance at a few tags. This woman who couldn't care less got one of them and her elated husband got another. Here we go again.

I know that I am being a little cruel to the man I just gushed over a couple days ago, but really- how am I supposed to go hunting with a baby attached to my chest? Because really- there is a baby attached to my chest quite often.

He has good intentions. He says he wants us to be able to spend time together....rriigghhhttt. I do like going with him into the great outdoors- I just don't know that I necessarily need to be shooting at something.

What to do? What to do? I would burn lots of calories hiking. And since I just mentioned an exercising activity, this post now counts as my Thursday flab to fab check-in, but really, I want to know what you all think. Are there hunters in your family? Do you hunt? Would you hunt?

CHALLENGE.......Bon Appetit

2008-08-19T00:39:00.002-06:00

I was very tempted to not post a challenge today. I am still having too much fun reading the comments from yesterday! But, alas, rules are rules, and Tuesdays are new challenge day.

On the days that I actually act like a "proper" housewife and cook my family a "proper" homemade meal, rarely do I actually get to eat it while it is still hot.

A typical dinner would be the rush of the short order cooking, dishing up everyone's meals, pause for prayer, sit down to eat..... oh- wait, the 2-year-old needs a new fork. Now, I can eat.

Oops. Forgot the kids' milk. Ok. Done.
Now milk spills. Clean-up time.

Finally, sit down, raise first now-luke-warm bite to mouth....interruption....."I gotta go potty......"
Help 2-year-old, come back to eat. Now, 4-year-old needs second servings. The baby needs nursed. Eventually, usually after everyone else is nearing completion of their meal, I begin mine.

After almost 5 years of my housewife gig, daddy dearest has started to notice this mealtime regime, and is enforcing the "wait for mom before you eat" rule. But, then everyone's meals end up cold- so, I tell them to go ahead.

Is this just my house? Is this normal? Why, when it comes to dinnertime, am I always left on the back burner?

Then, there are the simple meals.

A peanut butter sandwich for the kids:

The remnants that I eat:

Again, is this just me? Hopefully not- or this challenge is going to leave a bitter taste in my mouth. Man, I am on a roll with all of these foodisms.

CHALLENGE........Bon Appetit

Treat yourself to a luxury meal. For me, this means sitting at the table, (not standing at the counter with a baby on my hip), and eating fresh food. Fresh as in, immediately after it is prepared- not when everyone else is prepared for me to enjoy it.

Make something that YOU like to eat. (gasp)

Serve yourself first. (bigger gasp)

Back in my career days, most meals were spent at my desk or stuffing my face between stoplights while going to see clients. Imagine going to a restaurant or even a shady park and actually relaxing for a quick break. Most of us spend so much time serving others- this is the week to serve ourselves- or at least our stomachs.

I might even eat breakfast before 10 a.m. It might even be something more than a few handfuls of dry cereal or scrambled eggs (not handfuls of eggs, in case you were confused. Except, actually, I guess I do technically pick the leftover bits out of the pan after I dish up the kids' plates). I wonder if my body will go into shock from being fed well and on a somewhat scheduled basis this week?!

What is your favorite meal? When was the last time you actually got to eat it? How about the last time you got to enjoy it?

You Don't

2008-08-18T00:11:00.008-06:00

I thought I was so old that day. So, wise, so mature, so ready for my "grown-up" life.
I knew how to pay the bills, I knew how to cook a few meals.

I didn't know nearly as much as I thought I did.
8 years ago, on August 18th, my husband and I began our journey together in life.

I stayed up late the night before, making a "tape" of our songs. My dearest fiance, didn't have the guts to tell me that "our songs" were actually the songs he had schmoozed every former girlfriend with as well....... alas, I thought they were so romantic that day- later on, he divulged the "truth." A man just can't go wrong with U2 on his side.

My bridesmaids (most of whom read this) had terrible dresses. I am really sorry girls.....the material was cheap though, and like most things I come up with, the idea had much more "vision" than the reality. Basically, I forced my sister & best friends to wear green gunny sacks with cap sleeves. Maybe you made me look better that way though- and really, that is what was important, right?

We woke up that morning to pouring rain. I had spent an entire student loan to fund the decorations for my outdoor reception. The sun came out in the afternoon, everything dried up and the party began- without bows along the fence line and candles on the tables, much simpler than my overzealous planning had once imagined.

Our first apartment was rented, sight unseen. When we arrived in Northern Idaho, to the big "party school," we began an extremely challenging, heart-wrenching, newly-wed life. Neither of us had ever been to the town before. The steep hills on the walk to school became my enemy. The kitchen in our apartment was basically a hallway with counters on either side. If one of us was at the sink, the other could not get through to the fridge. My apple green dishes that began their career are being rinsed in my dishwasher today. We are down to 2 dinner plates.

After discovering the perfect find at a local thrift sale, we brought home a cat-hair covered, stinky weaved-fabric orange recliner. It went great with our welded-back-together futon. The worst part? We actually used the recliner. (shudder) I can't believe we used it. I am itchy all over just thinking about it. When we moved the next year, the guys that bought our lease inherited the recliner as a move-in bonus....... sick.

We were the only married couple in our huge complex, surrounded by partying co-eds. I was only 20. Of, course, I thought I was ssssoooo old and mature. Now, I understand why many co-workers and other students were astonished when they found out I was married.

From day 1, I was busy. 2 jobs, full credit load and a competition team for my major. I knew enough people on campus to feel comfortable. My work quickly created new acquaintances.
My husband couldn't find a job. His class load wasn't too hard. He didn't know anyone and there weren't many people that we shared commonalities with. He spent a lot of time home alone, thinking, thinking, thinking. It was a bad recipe for our first year of marriage. When we were not together, we had very opposite agendas. We learned a lot that year- much more from each other than from the university that we were paying our tuition to.

The past 8 years have been filled with ups and downs. Would I do things differently? Oh-yes! But, I wouldn't go back to those times for anything. It was so hard for us- harder than I would wish it to be for any other couple. The wonderful thing is that now, the ups are a lot more frequent than the downs. Our bantering is about the dishes- not our commitment to each other.

When I look back at the point we started from, the uproar we put ourselves through, the point we are at now, as cliche' as it sounds, we really have come so far. I can't wait to see what comes in the next 8 years.

How fitting for me today, "Thankful Monday," to be my anniversary.

To my husband, love you. I am thankful today for everything you don't do: you don't give up on me. You don't wake me up in the mornings. You don't mind bringing home dinner when I ask. You don't make me take care of the mouse traps. You don't buy me cheapskate gifts- even though I do for you. You don't care about my odd-shaped pinky toes. You don't mind my mismatched socks. You don't get annoyed when I "sip" on your drinks after I order water for myself. Most of all, you don't give up on me.

Happy Anniversary.

Oh- and in case you are wondering, that loan was finally paid off last year. Some of the purchases still sit in the craft closet at my mother's house, never used. Do you think that sage green, pale yellow and pale pink will make a comeback?

I am curious- if you have ever been married, what were your colors? If you were getting married today, what would your colors be? I would have to go with black, lime green and white.

And, as always on Monday, what are you thankful for?

one BIG footstep ahead of the current events

2008-08-15T22:52:00.004-06:00

I have been laughing over this all night long. Just a week ago, a lot of you participated in a silly poll about Big Foot. If you haven't kept up with today's current events, read this article from CNN.

Those of us that were in the 6% of believers.....I mean those of YOU...... that were in the 6% of believers might just be on to something. If you are going to the mountains this weekend......make sure you have your camera ready. You never know what you might see.

*Disclaimer....even though scary stories around campfires may or may not have me possibly believing in Big Foot's existence, I am pretty sure this story might be a little on the "imaginative" side.

good vs. bad

2008-08-14T23:41:00.012-06:00

Flab to Fab Check-In

Fat Rolls.
Good:

Now THAT is flabilicious. (I swore I would never take one of these trendy-type pics of my babe- but then I did, and then I melted.)

Fat Rolls.
Bad:

(2 months ago, beginning of Flab to Fab project)

Fat Rolls.
Better.

(Tonight. Notice the Olympics on in the background?)

Not bad, eh? Considering that I haven't (please raise your fingers and commence air quotes now) "officially" exercised much and haven't stuck well to my "diet," I am quite pleased with the slight deflation of my spare tire region.

A few people that know me have inquired about the necessity of this flab to fab project of mine. I feel the need to clarify a little. I am not large. I am not a skinny mini. I am somewhere in-between. I am finally close to being content with my weight. The problem for me is not the amount of my weight, but the shape -or lack thereof, depending on how you look at it.

Imagine bread dough that has finished raising. The moment something touches it, it caves. That cute green shirt pictured up above has got a whole lot of dough underneath it. For me, this is about my squish. Squish is still squish- whether it is big, medium, or small.

Flab to fab, for me, is about making the squish...well, .......not squishy.
So, are we all okay now?

Back to the check-in portion of my never ending soap box that is this blog.

Today I hit up the bulk candy section at the grocery store. My weakness lies in sugary, chewy candies. Not to mention doughnuts, cheesecake, Reese's, more doughnuts, hot bread, and fruit snacks. I have lots of weaknesses. This certain list may happen to also be a few of the items I have ate this week. If they do happen to be things I ate this week, it is ok, because it is my birthday week. Calories don't count during the week of your birthday. I know some people say this on the day of your birthday, but it is a well known fact (to me) that birthday weeks are calorie free.

I bought some gummy bears. I LOVE gummy bears. I opened the bag as soon as I got in my hot car- didn't even turn on the AC first- and it was hot, but the gummy bears were calling to me. Low and behold, they didn't taste good to me. Then, I went a little wild and tore into the other bulk bag of candy I bought. After trying my next fave- cinnamon bears, still, no love. I went for the never-fail item: Snickers bars- good.....but not great. SAY WHHHAAATTTTT???

I think that it has quite possibly been so long since I indulged my taste buds to the sweet goodness that is candy, the love is leaving.

Thank goodness that if I ever happen to choose to go back to any of the earlier listed weaknesses, the relationship with them is still strong.

You know- just in case I "happen" to go back to those.

This is why my diet derailment has not gotten me totally off track:

You see all of these luscious plants in my garden? I mentioned last week that I had been weeding....... dang weeds won't stop growing.

This flower bed had lots of weeds too. I'm going to invent an exercise video with simulated weed pulling. Maybe I will sell it to the Wii Fit company or make lots of money with late night infomercials. That would be awesome......... and my yard would look awesome.

This flower has no purpose on being in this post- I just like it. And, I am a random person. And since I put my pretty baby on here, I can put a pretty flower too.

So, what do you think? Do calories count on your birthday? How about Halloween? Christmas? Groundhog's Day?

speaking of amazing.......

2008-08-13T00:01:00.001-06:00

Can I just say, with a giddy squeal.....
I am lovin' the Olympics!

So. ....... Much. ........ Fun.

Are you into the games?

CHALLENGE.........be

2008-08-12T00:01:00.001-06:00

This will be brief. Keeping on theme with my post yesterday and last week's challenge, it is a good week to just.....how do I put it?.....just breathe.......be........be happy with who you are today.

I first titled the challenge "just be." Then, I realized that is exactly the problem. We all often see ourselves as "just" a mom. "Just" a wife. "Just" single. "Just" fill in the blank.

Challenge......be

There is no "just" about it. Each of us, each and every one of us, are amazing. Amazing as we are today, right now, in this very moment. You are amazing. You just have to recognize it.

I am obviously all about finding little ways to improve myself. But, for today, this week, I can take a break from improvement, and try to be happy with who I am and who I want to become.

Can you? Just for now?

Consider it a vacation from challenges. Summer is coming to a close and we all need a little R&R.
Leave a comment and you are in for a prize. The winner will receive a $20 gift card for the restaurant of their choice. There is nothing like feeling amazing about yourself while eating equally amazing food. Contest is over at Saturday's end.

The only catch? There is always a catch. Your comment must begin with the words "I am amazing because"

I have.

2008-08-11T00:50:00.001-06:00

Thankful Monday

My mind is racing with thoughts tonight.
So many questions I am pondering.
It is one of those late nights where the idea of my head hitting the pillow is feared, for I know that my thoughts will consume me.

It all started on Friday. My little babe broke out in hives before my eyes after taking the kids swimming. Within minutes, her entire forehead was covered in blotches and her eyes had started to swell. Allergies run strong in our family and I was not willing to take chances with my 6-month-old. We were minutes away from the urgent care, and I rushed over- wet clothes and all.
Me: a mom in a panicked fear, a knowledge that my baby was probably fine, but the nagging "what- if."
The receptionist: calmly and slowly begins handing me form after form. Clickety-clacking away on her keyboard, she momentarily lifted her eyes from the screen to say, oh-so-nonchalantly, "We see babies with rashes all the time..."
This was not a rash. THIS was the potential for a serious problem. THIS was causing my eyes to brim with tears. Didn't she get it? THIS was a BIG DEAL to me. THIS was not ok and I was not ok and my baby was NOT OK. I was handing over some cash for my co-pay. I was paying for it to be a BIG DEAL to someone. Urgent care. Urgent. Didn't she get it? I thought we needed immediate help. I could fill out those forms later. My baby might or might not have had a throat swelling at that very moment. Finally, she understood that the real emergency was that this mamma was about to go ballistic even if the baby was likely fine. She quickly went and got someone to check my babe's oxygen levels, which were fine. The hives seemed to start disappearing as quickly as they came. It may have been luck. It may have not have been an allergic reaction at all. It may have been an answer to my silent pleading prayer. I don't know. I won't ever know, but I was thankful for what it wasn't. I was ridiculously thankful, but I kept letting myself think, "what if?"

Next up, Saturday night. It was my birthday & we took the kids to celebrate with some friends from out-of-town. After feasting on hot bread and pasta, we downed some Krispy Kremes and headed to the friends' hotel to let the kids swim. It was all fun and games until someone got hurt. There were 4 adults. 3 of us close to my 2-year-old, 3 of us who didn't see her step into the deep water. 3 of us who kept chatting while her chubby little feet found the bottom of the pool. It was my husband, the furthest away that noticed her little hands reaching for the surface of the water- literally inches away from me. She was fine. A major scare, but she was fine. I was RIGHT NEXT to her and didn't even see her go under. I didn't even realize she was by me. How did I not see her? What if......?
It became increasingly apparent to me this weekend how much divine help we receive in everything that we do. Not just the extreme situations, but ALL THE TIME. It really only takes a matter of moments for things to change. As I type, I am letting the tears stream, snot run and the lump in my throat grows with each sentence.

Sunday: nothing monumental occurred. A basic Sunday for our household. Church, naps, snacks all day long, and watching the Olympics. My husband and I seemed to both be on edge with each other. As I reflect, I think it probably has to do with the roller coaster of emotions we have felt this weekend and realizing how close we came to having it be a very non-basic Sunday for us. When we do have an argument, it is usually about the same things. I think this is typical for most couples. Today though was different. It was the same tension as always, the same topic. But, somehow, we both just let it go. Without saying anything, we both knew that today just wasn't the day for it.
But now, as my mind is racing, I reflect and realize, is there really ever a day for it? Can't I just let things go? He doesn't always think before he speaks. I over-analyze everything that he says. Can't I just leave it at that? Do I need to be so defensive all the time? There are 3 little someones so much more important than our petty bickering. Wouldn't it be just as easy to "let it go" and just have fun with the kids instead?

It is a good day for a Thankful Monday for me.

There are a few blogs I have discovered in the past few months of families who have experienced the recent loss of a small child. This weekend I became so close to becoming one of these mother's. It is so easy to take for granted what I have............ So easy to be annoyed with the tantrums instead of useing them as a chance to pick up my hysterical daughter and hold her close until she is ready to giggle again. How often do I exasperatedly nurse my babe yet once again in hopes that she will finally take a nap. Wouldn't it be just as easy to turn on some music and dance with her? I expect so much out of my oldest. I have high expectations for him and he gets "the look" all too often. Can't I just remember that he is only 4- and to let him be only 4?
I am so thankful today for these mother's blogs that I have read recently that have shared their loss, their pain, their strength, their joys. (I am requesting their permission to add links, and will add them here)
This weekend has been a TREMENDOUS reminder for me to hold dear to what I have and forget about what I "have not." I have a home. I have a family. I have a tender knowledge that my daughters were protected this weekend. I do not need to wonder "what if?," but "what now?" For me, this is a week to hug a little more, speak a little softer, snuggle a little longer, and forgive a little quicker. My tears have dried up now, and my soft pillow awaits.

What about you? What are you thankful for today that you might usually take for granted?

$8.49

2008-08-08T10:24:00.005-06:00

On at least a weekly basis, I get sale catalogs from Victoria Secret. I know, I know- say/think what you will- but I love their bras and shoes.....I know, I know, shoes........right? Seriously, they are so cute and about once a year, I starve my family for a week so that I can buy a pair of these shoes.
Last year it was some great knee high brown leather boots. These boots gave me the self-esteem boost that my 8 month pregnant body needed. It was soooooo worth not giving my children Christmas presents....... oh- come on. I am not that terrible of a mother. The dollar store had several fantastic gifts for each of the kids.

So, anyhow.... the catalog arrived last week. I am talking about THE catalog. The clearance catalog. I am a sucker for clearance. My closets are filled with items I don't wear, don't use and won't eat. All for the sake of saving a penny .................and wasting a penny and wasting the little storage I have.

After leisurely perusing the pages, while my baby crawled around in a dirty diaper.....sorry sweetie, mommy is really busy right now.......I came to the swimwear section. There is nothing like seeing supermodels in stringy itty-bitty things to get a post-baby-body feeling a little schlumpy. UNTIL I read: $3.99.
That's right. I, being the brilliant shopper, am ordering a bikini for $3.99. It even has the phrase "spring break" emblazoned across it. I have had 3 children, my belly looks like I have had 3 children, eat a lot of candy, and have been out of college scene for 7 years. Perfect for me, right?
A few years ago, I bought a different bikini on clearance. I should clarify that I have never actually had the nerve to wear a bikini- I don't know that I ever will, but you can't pass up a good deal, right?

Something like that.

Seriously though, I am seeing results from my flabilicious project. Slow results, but still, results. What if, just what if, I get my body to the point where I felt good........dare I say "hot?"..........enough to wear the bikini? It will probably just be worn in my bathroom, with the door closed and when no one else is home. Most likely, just long enough for me to be able to look in the mirror and say, "Oh-yeah, that's right. That is me!" BUT- How cool would that be? In the words of my 14-year-old niece, "like, totally, like cool.'

I realize that I am wasting $3.99, plus the $4.50 in shipping. However, I don't pay for a gym membership. My elliptical came from a pawn shop and my work-out shoes are 8 years old. $8.49 is a fair price to pay for a little self-motivation.

Flab to Fab......all inclusive

2008-08-06T23:11:00.009-06:00

Thursday Check-In

FYI- for those of you who love to see my fat rolls, I will be checking-in once again next week with "the shirt."

Do you ever wish you could be on one of the get fit & fabulous reality shows? Such as: Biggest Loser, Fit Club, etc. Can you imagine being able to be at an all inclusive resort where the opportunity to exercise surrounds you? Healthy food options are all around you, with temptations near by just to "test" your ability to withstand sweet sugary carbohydrate filled goodness?

Of course, in my dreams, this wish is minus the cameras and other people to witness my attempts. Oh, and it is okay to give into the sugary goodness once daily.

I have been lucky enough to be staying at such a place. Apparently, I have been at the "resort" for the past few years.

My husband and I had the brilliant idea to leave life in the city for a "few acres out of town." To anyone else that is contemplating this idea, may I suggest: include a high allowance of funds to be spent on a weed wacker, Round-Up, garden tools, gloves, and a few more weed wackers.

Since, our funds have not necessarily allowed for large quantities of these items, I have been spending ridiculous amounts of time in our yard pulling, prying, digging and raking. I dream at nights of buying the "Hula Hoe 1000L." Looking on the bright side though, I have been burning almost as many calories as the weeds I plan on torching later today.

I really, truly enjoy yard work. But the weeds- oh- the weeds!
We are surrounded by fields. If you have never lived in the country, let me explain. Every weed- each measly little single weed has the capability to produce seeds ten-fold. Every time the wind blows, literally millions of seeds land in my yard. Now, I realize that many people have figured out various solutions for said seeds, their yards are show places, but I am still working on it. I am quite positive the solution includes lots and lots of weed killer and a live-in nanny for the children. Neither of which are in my budget.

Our property is turning out to be the all inclusive healthy body makeover resort I needed.

This week's work out routine is proving to be my most effective yet: just plain old hard work. Out with the elliptical & Nikes; in with the gloves, mosquito spray, and hoe.

How am I ever going to stay motivated by dirt, dust, hay fever, and the never-ending pulling?

After reducing myself to bribery, (I reduce myself to this on a daily basis- just beyond television and fruit snacks this time)- I promised to take my kids to the swimming pool today. It will be the first time I have been in a swimming suit in public in over a year.

I should have no trouble staying motivated this up-coming week.

How is your flab to fab this week?

Oh- and if you would like to stay at my all-inclusive-resort for a little body magic, (AKA: be my slave and do yard work), room rates are low & include all of the free zucchini you could wish for.

CHALLENGE.......jack of all trades, master of SOME

2008-08-05T00:42:00.004-06:00

Nancy Drew and the Sweet Valley Twins (popular late 80's/early 90's book characters), were great friends of mine 15+ years ago. Together, we would hide away in the depths of my overflowing tween closet, racing to finish chapter after chapter instead of more "productive" activities such as cleaning or practicing the piano.

There are 5 children in my family. 3 boys, 2 girls. Without much objection, I am the bossiest and loudest. I remember growing up: showing off for attention, batting my lashes for praise and brushing my hair 100 strokes each night. That is what Claudia, from the book series, The Baby-sitter's Club, did to have gorgeous hair- and she never wore the same outfit twice.
Taking this great literary example to heart, I spent my spare time babysitting many unlucky kids in order to afford the luxuries of the local mall. Meanwhile, my siblings were working their tails off for more long-term rewards
Brother #1 is a doctor and does his personal home remodeling on the side. Brother #2 is an amazing musician- can play any instrument- and a published author. My sister can play the piano beautifully, teaches her small children sign language and never forgets anyone's birthday. I thought I had hope in my little brother- but nooooo- he has decided to get all impressive on me too- He just graduated with a 4-year degree and is now studying for graduate school.

Whatever.

Seriously.

Mom- I know you secretly read this blog- maybe you should have tied me to the piano bench and withheld my food until I practiced.

I loved to try new things- the love was always at first sight though- and never lasted long. There was the year of softball, the year of gymnastics, the years of karate and clarinet. My on again, off again relationships with piano and swimming lessons, 4-h photography & babysitting. I dabbled in crafts and sang a great lip sync to Ace of Base.

I was then, and am now, the classic jack of all trades, master of none.

CHALLENGE........jack of all trades, master of SOME

We all have something we are good at. The problem is if we can recognize it. As women, we compare ourselves so harshly to one another. In a poll a while back, 100% of you said that you compared yourself to others. I am going to take a wild guess and assume that these comparisons were in a self-depreciating light.
After a bit of reflection, I am forcing myself to acknowledge that my "talents" don't necessarily need to be flashy or showy.

This week's challenge rules:

Identify 3 things that you are good at- some sort of talent- whether it be an amazing voice or the ability to get your white laundry brilliantly bright. Maybe you can parallel park in 2 easy maneuvers like they teach you in drivers ed. Can anyone really do that?
Comment here with your skills or write them somewhere that you will see them all week long.
Take a few minutes to recognize a little lovely about yourself, and try to be proud of it!

If you have trouble, ask someone else- a close friend, your 2-year-old, anyone. Don't question what they tell you. Accept the praise.

This challenge is similar to one a few months ago, but I think most of you out there, me too, need a little nudge in finding the good within.

My "special talents" will be listed in the comments.

Wiping my way up the corporate ladder

2008-08-03T22:54:00.008-06:00

Thankful Monday.

No media for 2 days?
What was I thinking?
Seriously.
I must admit failure.

Why is it that something I was without for so long- way back in '07, before Internet graced the cables wrapped so ungracefully around my house- was so hard to once again not have- even for a measly 48 hours?

Through my husband's work, we have lap tops at our beckon call. There are 3 in the house right now.
It seemed every time I passed through my family room, they were taunting me. You know, like:
Camille, come to us....we are much more fun than dishes....or laundry........ we don't care if you stay in your pajamas all day. We will let your baby slobber on us.....we would love to waste untold amounts of your time......

So, of course, like the good, ambitious mother that I am, I snuck a few log-ins, checked a few blogs, perused a few fave sites and sent a few e-mails.

You all realize that the challenges I post each week are more for me, what I know I need to work on- not so much what I think all of the rest of you need. I am selfish like that.
I really needed this last one- but not necessarily so that I stop using the media- just to remind myself to prioritize a little better.
Why do I love blogging so much? My husband doesn't get it, but I think that I have finally figured it out.
Back in the day, I loved to go to work. I really did. It was fun. I thrived on the busy pace and in's and out's of the business world. There was always drama to hear about and new people to meet. I had great friends at work.
Ever since I joined the labor force as a teen, my social circles always included my co-workers. Meggan in high school. Amy in college. Debbie in my "career" days. Of course, I can't forget Lindsy, Breanne, Patty, Lori, Hillary........... you get the idea.
Then, I took an early retirement.....unfortunately, "retiring" at the age of 23 doesn't offer a pension plan........to be a stay-at-home-mom.
I moved across the state, and began my new life of seclusion with my children. And, don't get me wrong, I love it, and for me, staying home with my kids is very rewarding..... but I have missed the camaraderie of co-workers. Even after living in this area for 5 years, I still feel that my real friends are back home, the ones who I have experienced things with.

Voila. I discovered blogs. All of the sudden, I have co-workers again. Friends. Women out there doing amazing things in the corporate world and women doing amazing things in the home world. And, the best part is that we are all sharing it with each other- our feats, and our failures.

There are other women going through exactly the same things I am going through. We have the similar work hours. The pay scale is comparable (non-existent), there are unlimited available positions, and we all have the same glamorous duties of wiping.
Yes, that is right. Wiping.

I am thankful today, on the great Ponytail Challenge Thankful Monday, for you, my "co-workers" and of course, my wiping career. What is the job description of a Wiper you might ask- well.......'

The ability to wipe: poop, mud, (sometimes you are unsure of which), food, soap, and any other "smooshable" substance off of a variety of surfaces, including: skin, wood, walls, carpet, toys, leather, fabric, plastic or hair. If you are extremely skilled, the ability to wipe poop out of hair must be acknowledged, however, not monetarily rewarded. No further info available on this particular situation- which I surely have sent to my repressed memory.

So, co-workers: what are you thankful for today?
AND- what is your job description?

Half-way House

2008-08-02T23:39:00.003-06:00

Instead of laughing at the slimy mushy mess of rice infant cereal that took over my kitchen, child and table today, I wanted to cry. Not cry because of the mess, but cry because of the milestone. What if this is my last baby? She is now officially not dependent on me for nourishment. There was a certain satisfaction in knowing that I was the only one that could provide my baby's needs.
I realize that technically, anyone could give her formula, but I am not being technical here- I am being emotional and hormonal.
Hormonal. Now that is an odd word. Hormonal. Say it out loud a couple times. Read it over again. Hormonal. Weird right? I am not sure why, but the word reminds me of brass instruments and deli ham- not necessarily together though...... trombone, hormone. Hormel brand meats. Weird.

Anyhow...
My baby reached the 6-month mark this past week. She is half-way done with being a baby. I realized today that everything around me seems to be "half-way" there.

Six.

Months.

Old.

Where have I been for the past 6 months? Where in the world did it go?
My baby is half-way to not being a "baby" anymore. She is crawling. She is sitting. I finally started her on rice cereal this weekend. She is no longer a baby-baby. Does that make sense to anyone but me? No more sleep-smiles or milk-drunk dazes. No more snuggling against me at any given moment and no more life-dependent need for me.

Then, there is the almost-3-year-old. She is officially at the half-way mark of being a big girl. Not the wears-underwear-and-put-on-her-own-shoes big girl, -I like that part- but the goes-off-to-school type of big girl.
Let us not forget my to-smart-for-his-own-good son. He is half-way done with being a little-big kid. He is going to be 5 in a few months. Out of nowhere he started adding and subtracting numbers this week. He couldn't care less about Big Bird, kiddie pools and "ring around the rosies." He is all about Spiderman, football and waterslides. 5.

Five.

I realize some of you are past the point of having a 5-year-old. Insert your advice here.
I know, I know- I need to look at my "half-way" as the glass is half full....not half empty, blah, blah, blah.
I am going to be one of those mother's who lives vicariously through their children. Sheesh. I already do.

2008-07-31T22:34:00.001-06:00

ow.

That's good right?

Flab to Fab......I hit the pause button

2008-07-31T00:16:00.003-06:00

All day long, I have tried to remember some brilliant attempt I have made in the past week on this flabilicious project. No such luck.

I am allowed a freebie week right? Please tell me I am right. It has been a very, very long day.

Nothing monumentally terrible has happened- it is just one of those days. You know the kind: dr. appts., embarrassing moments, comments taken out of context, an hour on hold with the phone company, tired children, Ramen Noodle dinner, and a sink full of dirty dishes- make that an entire kitchen full of dirty dishes. Seriously, not one clean spoon.
After I spent the better part of my evening wallowing in my own personal pity party, I got the urge to run.....
That's right, I said RUN! Now- don't get too excited for this exercise slacker; I didn't go- but only because it is dark outside and my little family currently has a silly fear of big foot- myself included, (scary camp stories will do that to a grown woman, you know).

I have never understood runners.
Randomly, it seems that everywhere I have been lately, marathons and talk of running has been a major theme. My nephews birthday party, the family reunion, a friend's phone call, etc.
I told them all that they are crazy. I told them all how much I hate jogging, how I haven't gone jogging in years, how I have no desire to. I think I just decided that I want to be a hypocrite. I want to run.

I think I get it. I have no desire to be in a marathon, mind you. but, I want to run. I want to release some frustration. My alarm is set. I am going before my husband is off to work.

I am going to hurt. I might not make it past the edge of our property and the only shoes I have to run in are the ones that I have used for the past few years to mow the lawn. AND, I think I am excited.

I just hope big foot doesn't get me.

CHALLENGE............Media Meltdown

2008-07-28T23:21:00.003-06:00

Just over 2 years ago, we moved our little family out of the ghetto in the city to a "fixer-upper" in the country. Since most of our budget was blown on the "fixer-upper" part of the equation, we cut out the "extra's." Out with Kellogg's and in with Malt O' Meal. Good bye bottled water, hello tap. We put a little more effort into opening the windows at night and not using the AC. We did not get the Internet.
And, really, truly, I did not even miss it all that much.....
until we got it back.

After 1 1/2 years off-line, we rejoined this century and justified the expense.
Of course, the plan was to bank on line, pay bills, be able to email.............. then I discovered the world of blogs. At 8 months pregnant with heartburn keeping me awake and nothing but infomercials on tv, I became a woman obsessed.
How had I missed so much technology change in such a short amount of time? And, my-oh-my, have I made up for lost time.
All of the sudden I felt like I had friends surrounding me. Blogging is like having co-workers to bond with. Being a stay-at-home-mom, living out in the country, surrounded by fields, the Internet all of the sudden connected me to the adult world again. I could have a much-needed girls' night out just by sitting on my couch and gabbing through the keyboard.
Fast forward 7 months, and my family seems to be constantly plugged in- one way or another. My children watch way too much tv while "mommy is working" on the computer, working, riiigghhtt. Once the evening news comes on, the TV seems to stay on much longer than needed and I check this blog for all of your lovely comments ridiculously often.

CHALLENGE..........Media Meltdown

Pick your time frame. (For me, it will be 2 days, a full 48 hours).
Go without any media for that time. No TV and no Internet. Depending on your situation, you might want to throw in Ipods, texting, etc.

I am hoping to use my new "free time" this week to play catch- up after the big family vacation. Besides housework, maybe I will be a better mom for a few days- read a few more books & play a few more games. Maybe I will be a better wife- a little calmer, a little more "on top of it." Maybe, and mostly what I want, is to be a better me for a few days- a little -A LOT- more productive and to re-align my priorities.

Can you do it? Will you even consider trying? How much do you rely on the Internet and TV in your life?

And the winner is.......missing?!

2008-07-28T19:32:00.005-06:00

Stacey, who said: ..............If I HAD to pick one favorite piece it would be the Faith, Hope, Love piece because I think that is so true of everything (especially marriage) in life!

Congrats Stacey! And of course, thank you to Lisa Leonard for your amazing designs!

Last week's winner of the Apostrophy Necklace has yet to claim her prize. "Jane," you have 3 days until it goes to someone else.

Losing my cool

2008-07-27T23:05:00.011-06:00

It all started with a haircut. A simple haircut. A haircut that "mom" didn't want to give, but the "cool" uncle did.

Once upon a time, a fleeting moment in time, I was cool.......
possibly only to my children, but cool nevertheless.

Somehow, someway, without my knowledge or permission, I have lost my cool.
It is official- my son, at a mere 4 years and 9 months, no longer finds me "cool."

Isn't that only supposed to happen when he is a teenager?

Our vacation was full of people that are apparently much cooler than I.
Aren't your kids supposed to think that their extended relatives at reunions are weird while you are trying to convince them otherwise? There wasn't even a moment of question for my son. From the get-go, all of these people were apparently much cooler than his mother.

How dare I hold his hand while walking around at the family reunion?

How could I even imagine he sit with me instead of "the boys" at dinner?

At least kids still turn to their mothers in time of need right? HA! The boy received a horrific scratch from the teeth of a terrifying mongrel, (AKA: the cousin's cute little dog may have barely grazed the skin after being slightly provoked by slightly hyper children), I wasn't even cool enough for comfort.

Even with this blood sucking leach attached to his foot, I still wasn't quite cool enough to solve the problem.......

I wasn't cool enough to get to hear about this amazing race to catch a calf at the local rodeo.

I wasn't cool enough to go fishing. Boys only of course.

Ironically though, I was considered cool enough to solve the stench problem this little trophy caused in our ice chest.......... funny how that works.

Today, being Monday, and me, having designated Mondays as "Thankful Days" here at the Ponytail Challenge, I must humble myself to be a little grateful for something.

I am very grateful that my 2-year-old still thinks I'm cool.

Sweetie- I still think you are cool too, and as long as you promise to keep thinking that I am, I will keep letting you eat licorice before breakfast.

What are you thankful for today?

Oh- and does anyone know how I can get my cool back?

Flab to Fab....... reunion routine

2008-07-24T00:02:00.004-06:00

If you are looking for the giveaway, click here......
or scroll down to next post.

Thursday Check-In

I am writing today from the past.....sorta...... writing a post ahead of time- being the procrastinator that I am, this is a first for me....

If all goes according to plan, I should be accomplishing all sorts of active, healthy tasks as you are reading this; all while attending the worlds' longest family reunion.

Rafting and hiking are on the agenda. It is too bad that I have a water phobia and forgot my baby back pack. Boating and swimming are also in the plans- once again though, water phobia, plus a recently acquired acute fear of swimming suits, (I am working on the "cure").

Seeing how I will be lucky enough to be waking up in a beautiful cabin, next to a beautiful lake though, I will be walking- a lot- maybe I will even bring back last week's new ninja walk routine or use my babe as weights and do some arm curls while I am at it....... come to think of it, she would probably really like that.......giggling babies can motivate any sore muscles to "do it again, do it again!" And, as far as my great stealth ninja walking moves go- why not give the older relatives something to gossip about? Maybe they will all feel bad for the poor, young mother of three small children who seems to be breaking.... and offer to babysit while I go take a nap. Ooohhh- I am liking this idea. You all know that family reunions are great for good food, juicy talk and the best "people watching" there is. I may as well fuel the fire, right?

And, just to make you all feel better about your own travels, we made it almost to our final destination today in just under 10 hours.
It should have taken 4 1/2. Life was a little more....shall we say, exciting? To give you an idea: 4 potty breaks in the first hour, a flat tire, major detour, beautiful waterfall on the detour, lots of "don't touch your sister," a little "don't lick your sister," and then a "don't spit on your sister."

Best lessons learned? The baby goes in the middle on the ride home and Skittles are great problem solvers.....I prefer the term "problem solving" to bribery, but they might- maybe- just slightly be interchangeable in some given situations of mine.

It is a good thing this week's challenge is about finding joy in the unexpected.......... let me tell you, it has been an EXTREMELY joyous day.

To my comrades in the path to being flabilicious, how are you doing?

To the rest of you: go eat some Skittles for me- but not the yellow- those are my favorite.