The Chocolate and The Cheese

I Did It!

2010-10-15T14:07:00.000-05:00

I finally put up a post at my new little home on the internet. Would you like to check it out? Yes! Follow me to A Mary Home. Don't forget to become a follower over there, then you'll always know where to find me!

Now You See Me, Later You Won't

2010-09-23T14:59:00.000-05:00

Although I've been away from this space for quite some time I was surprised to see that people were still reading it. Go me! So, although I am not going to be blogging in this space for much longer, I'm going to leave it up for the time being. If nothing else as a way for people to find me in my next space.

Next space you say? Yes, I'm moving. When I started this blog things were very different from what they are now. I thought we were moving abroad much sooner, I was not going to school and there were no definite plans for a second baby. That being said, the last few months I felt like I was not able to really be comfortable in this space. So I'm opting to move someplace else, under a different blog name and start again. I really hope that you will move over with me; I've so enjoyed having you along for the ride!

So, sometime soon I will post about my new digs. As soon as I find the time to put something up over there, you know, to make it a little more welcoming.

A Confession

2010-08-19T16:16:00.000-05:00

First let me come clean. I'm pregnant.

Now, let the next thirty-one weeks commence where I talk of nothing else except my growing belly, appetite and need for Cheetos. Not really, but I will say this; I'm tired. So tired that normal everyday tasks that should only take me a few minutes suddenly sit around, unfinished, for days at a time. Examples? The dishwasher, the dirty dishes, groceries (the non-perishable ones, duh), folding the laundry, making the bed. I mean, there are much better things to do, like, stuff handfuls of popcorn in my mouth while watching all the episodes of Angel, in order. Don't judge me, I am returning to school in a few weeks; maybe this is just me trying desperately to channel myself as a Freshman in college? Who the heck knows. What I do know that my "golden time," or nap time as it is commonly called, was once used to clean, cook, tidy up, rest and blog. Well, you know how much blogging I've done of late; and I like to do that, can you imagine how much of the other has been done?

One thing I can say is, Thank God for having our house on the market. As much of a pain in the ass it has been to keep this place show worthy almost everyday, at least I have a reason that I can't ignore to keep it that way. Except for the groceries, or the dishes. Those get done at the last minute, as I'm spraying Oust in the air to hurriedly try and cover up the smell of the frozen pizza I made for dinner last night. Because if I'm not cleaning, I'm sure as hell not cooking either.

Lady in the Sky, With Broccoli

2010-08-09T20:33:00.000-05:00

We've had a whirlwind, chaotic, hectic, exciting week. It was a week of fixes, car naps, quick meals and heat. Oh, the heat! I finally feel like today we had the chance to tone things down and take a breath. The Little Lady and I were left to our devices for the evening while the Mr. took a much deserved night off. We had a light dinner and then went outside for our favorite pre-bed activity, Bubble Chasing. (Well, she chases, I blow). The following conversation ensued.

Laying in the grass:

MP: Hey LL, look at all those clouds!

LL: Yeah mom, clouds.

MP: What do you see up there? I see bunny ears!

LL: They just puffy mama.

MP: (Humph, this might not work...)

LL: Mama, I see Lady!

MP: (Getting excited) That's great, what's she doing?

LL: Lady in Sky, with Broccoli. I like Broccoli!

MP: Well, yes, it does look like broccoli. What else do you see?

LL: Poop in a glass. Hahaha, mama, poop in a glass!

And here ends what could have been a touching, lasting mama-daughter moment. I hesitate to call it memorable, although I'm pretty sure this one will be hard to forget.

Summer Time, and The Living Is Easy.

2010-07-30T13:47:00.000-05:00

The last forty eight hours have been the kind of serendipitous summer time that I dream about all through January and February. Perfect temperatures, light wind, sun and a casual, laid-back schedule. It all started with a lazy afternoon outdoors. The Little Lady chased bubbles, then we laid out our blankets and read our books. LL read hers and I read mine. At one point she looked at me and said, "Your book good mama?" Seriously, this kid just keeps getting better and better.

The next morning we had an impromptu coffee date with some friends. We sat out on the patio and chatted while the kids ran around and entertained each other. Besides that one window licking incident, the coffee was great and the pastries delicious. After, we walked a few blocks to a new, great park. Let the kids run off some of the sugar they had just ingested before walking back and heading home. Then to cap it all off the LL and I went to a BBQ with some old friends of mine and she was just great. The only kid there and not one tantrum, not one fit, disagreement nor any sass. I was relieved and my friends were impressed. The only thing that could have made this all better would have been to have the Mr. around for our fun.

Here's wishing you some serendipitous summer time this weekend!

What's your idea of a perfect summer day?

Home for Sale, Cheap

2010-07-28T16:09:00.000-05:00

Nap time is usually reserved for a mash up of cleaning, organizing, eating, blogging, surfing the web and trying to relax as much as possible before the Little Lady wakes up. With our house going on the market tomorrow my house is the cleanest it has ever been. Literally. I feel like we're living in a model home. Kind of like Michael and George Michael Bluth from Arrested Development. It's equal parts nice and annoying. Nice having a super clean home and annoying that I have to keep it show ready all.the.time.

The best part of having a show ready house? I have nothing more to do during nap time than blog, eat and watch Angel. Because bad TV at nap time is the best way to relax. Well, maybe just if you're living in a model home.

Tales of a Two Year Old

2010-07-27T13:00:00.002-05:00

Potty training is an exercise of patience, control and humor on the part of the child, the parents and any other innocent bystander that gets caught in the way. Luckily for us the Little Lady has done quite well for a wee person of her age. We try to minimize and downplay accidents and have the mantra, "Pee and poop go in the potty. Pee and poop go in the potty." (Imagine us swaying back and forth while clapping our hands. Oh, the kinds of adults our kids reduce us to.)

So the other week a friend of ours came to stay with us and accidentally got some paint on her arm as she was helping me paint our back porch. The LL was quite concerned and asked if she had an accident and if she was ok and if she needed a bandaid or a kiss to make it feel better. Our friend replied, no, she was fine and then asked if the LL ever had accidents.

"Yes, I have accidents. I pee myself."

Spoken in a kind of sad, matter of fact voice. Like she was discussing the war in Afghanistan or the housing crisis. She sadly shook her head. Sometimes I swear this "Little Lady" of ours is actually a very tiny, very wise old woman.

A Minnesota Goodbye

2010-07-26T15:20:00.000-05:00

Here in Minnesota we have something known as, "The Minnesota Goodbye." Approximately an hour before you actually leave you announce that you're leaving, proceed to say goodbye to everyone in the room; individually, chat for a few minutes, gather your belongings and then, finally depart. It's annoying, expected and a hard trap not to fall into.

Parents of toddlers have a similar dance that they play, every time they are about to leave some place; especially if the location is particularly fun.

"Five more minutes Sally, five more minutes and then we're leaving."

The amount of time is really quite arbitrary. Sally doesn't know what five minutes is and thus it is really up to the parent to decide how much longer they're going to stay. But without that initial warning all hell can go loose in an instant.

"Two more minutes Sally. Yes, I know you don't want to leave, but everyone is leaving too."

The parent talks a bit more, gathers the pile of things necessary for a successful outing with a toddler; diaper bag, sippy cup, shoes, and begins their own Minnesota goodbye. Usually after the inital five minute warning the actual time that has elapsed is closer to twenty minutes. At least it is if you're me.

"Alright Sally, it's time to go. Yes, it's hard to leave, but we'll come back again soon."

Cue tantrum. If you're name is Little Lady this is your favorite course of action. No amount of prepping, Minnesota goodbye-ing or bribing can stave off this beast. It kind of makes me wonder:

Is the sign of a successful outing/play date a tantrum? If so, are they really worth it?

The answer if yes, of course, a tantrum among friends is much better than a tantrum at home.

Five Things Friday- Summer Drinks

2010-07-23T15:27:00.000-05:00

Hello good peeps! It's currently 79 degrees in sunny Minneapolis and I think it's high time I shared my favorite summer drinks with you. Whether you are chilling on a patio, sipping around a campfire or simply sitting in front of your A/C, here are five tasty, cool, refreshing drinks for your pleasure. What about you? What do you imbibe in the summer?

Moscow Mule: I had this for the first time at the beginning of summer and it is just about perfect. Ginger beer (not ginger ale), vodka and lime come together to form the most refreshing drink you can have on a patio. Sweet, spicy, with a nice little kick.
Surly's Cynic Ale: A light colored ale with a nice kick at the end. I could drink pints and pints of this brew. It's the ideal beer for a back yard BBQ.
Arnold Palmer: Part tart lemonade, part sweet iced tea. Love this combination in the summer time, especially in the afternoons! Nothing like a little caffeine kick to get you through the rest of a muggy day.
Starbucks Iced Coffee with Milk: Not Caribou, not Dunn Bros or the coffee house down the block. For my every other coffee needs I'll go there, but iced coffee? This is my favorite, my drink of choice in the summer mornings. These remind me of sitting on the patio in China; grading papers and watching the world go by.
San Pellegrino Limonata: Hands down my favorite soda (well, except for Diet Coke...) Effervescent, tart, bubbly and to me, it tastes just like summer. The Mr.'s work carries it in their communal fridge and I often ask him to swipe me one on the way home from work. Delicious.

Happy weekend everyone!

Question

2010-07-21T23:14:00.000-05:00

I took the Little Lady to her first ballgame today. It was a blast and she outdid her two year old self and sat/walked around/was tantrum free all the way through the middle of the eighth inning. Seriously, I know adults that can't do that. One of the reasons (I think) that she was so well behaved is that I fed her for almost three hours straight. I pulled out all of those "special treats" that I usually reserve for bribes, long car rides or special occasions. You know, like fruit snacks, cookies, cotton candy, ice cream cones. All in one sitting.

So it got me thinking.

When I go out, whether it's a fun night out with my girls, a date with the Mr. or simply treating myself to something nice I tend to feel justified in "splurging" a little bit. Mostly calorically. I'll have that piece of dessert. I'll order the deep fried asparagus (because it's still vegetables!). Or a latte and a cookie. Completely unnecessary, but it's a treat, so it's ok, right?

I started thinking that maybe I was approaching this treat business all wrong and I was just setting the LL up for a lifetime of special treats and eating out of boredom. I know I'm quite good at it, so it's no surprise to me that I'm showing LL the way too. I get why I do it, it's far easier to let me kid eat that extra pouch of snacks than to try to distract, entertain or simply interact with her in the way she needs at the time. But, from here on out, I'm going to try to feed less and interact more. Perhaps I can save her future hips a few pounds and give her another way to address boredom.

So my question to you is:

Am I teaching bad habits by filling the LL up with treats?

Or am I simply teaching her that it is ok to treat yourself once in a while?

Discuss.

Tales of a Two Year Old

2010-07-20T14:14:00.002-05:00

Apparently getting your house ready to put on the market it time consuming and stressful. Who knew? The last two weeks of afternoons have been spent tidying, cleaning, organizing and then reorganizing. The house was looking in tip-top shape; and then we had house guests. I'm hoping to return it to it's former glory in the next twenty-four hours. Wish me luck.

I thought I would start a new little series I'm calling, "Tales of a Two Year Old" in which I highlight the hilarious, ridiculous and often adorable/infuriating aspects of the Little Lady. We'll start off with this amusing little story.

Up until this week we could not, for the life of us, get the LL to count past the number three. It was always one, two, three, two... Then all of a sudden it was one, two, three, four, five, six, seven! Huzzah! What I say does sink into that cute little head of hers! So the Mr. still hadn't heard this new found skill, so I was prepping her one morning. And this is what she said. One, two, three, four, five, fuck.

Oh, fuck.

I wonder where she learned that from? Needless to say I was completely unaware how much was sinking in that little head of hers. It's time to break out the Swear Jar, or the bar of soap or whatever ineffective strategies my parents tried. Apparently, neither worked very well.

Five Things Friday- Post Vacay Edition

2010-07-09T19:37:00.001-05:00

I just spent the last six days at a cabin in the northern part of Minnesota, on a lake, with my in-laws. I'm not really sure what end is up, what food I have in my fridge or where dinner is coming from. Also, on a side note, why does my house always smell a little funky after being gone a few days? Does it always smell that way? But I digress. Here is my Five Things Friday list for this week, a look at five things that are perfectly acceptable to do on vacation; but are not advisable for the other weeks in your year. Happy Friday everyone!

Opening a beer anytime before noon. Generally not advisable if you work outside the home, or if you are the primary caregiver to a small child. After noon; 12:00 and one second, however, are all acceptable times to crack one open, if you want my opinion.
Wearing your swimsuit from sunrise to sunset. I would say that most days I would find it a little bit ranky to be wearing your suit all day, but there is something deliciously vacationingy about eating breakfast and dinner in a swim suit.
Your only thoughts are, "When do we eat again?" Really, for me, there is nothing better than vacation eating. Splurging, just a little bit, on the foods that you don't normally eat or take the time to make. Like this trifle, or these almonds, or eating all of your meals grilled. Yum.
Forgetting what day it is. No really, I had to think about it for about five minutes until I realized I could do a Five Things Friday post today. I had no idea where I was in my week. Ah, isn't that the best feeling? Forget about asking me what the date is!
Magazines! I hardly have the time most days/weeks to read magazines and thus have stopped all my subscriptions. However, whenever I fly or am vacationing I indulge and buy a few 'zines. Man, I love vacation!

What kinds of things do you do on vacation?

A Comedy of Errors

2010-06-30T15:14:00.001-05:00

Is it truly Wednesday already? Something about this week, heck this month, is flying by. We've been busy around these parts with getting the house ready for market and being gone for various family reasons. Summer is truly a seriously busy time. So busy that most days I feel like I'm running around like a chicken that has just had it's head lopped off. Whew! However, today I decided to change that and have a nice, easy day running errands. Whoo-boy. Was I wrong! Here's how the day has shaped up this far:

Little Lady woke at 5:15AM
I thought I had written out my grocery list, but hadn't.
Ditto on the weekly coupon clipping. Seriously, where have I been?
Finally made it to the gym at 10AM. (FIVE hours after I was woken up...)
After a great run and shower, realize that I forgot to pack my bra.
Clean shirt = thinnest T-Shirt I own.

Let's just digress for a moment here, shall we? Now, as I've mentioned before, I am kind of a busty lady. Like, if I'm not wearing a bra then the people standing to my left and right better watch out or else a wrecking ball may come crashing towards their heads. (Ok, ok. Their waists. Maybe their knees. I'm not that tall after all.) So when faced with the prospect of walking through the gym braless in my thiny, thin, thin T-shit, do you know what I do? Well, I would love to say that I walked out strong and proud, but in reality I held those babies together as best as I could all the while trying to pretend that I was closing my water bottle. Yeah. I'm sure I was convincing. Luckily for me there was a short cardi waiting for me in the car since I also had multiple errands to run after the gym. Humph.

Get LL to the first store only to realize that I no snacks packed. Fabulous.
Get to the grocery store and realize I am hungry. Never, ever a good combination.
Upon arriving home the LL pees all over the floor. No accidents while we're out, she even went on her own at the gym!
Two seconds later poops all over the freshly shampooed carpet.
Is it 5:30 yet? No? Oh, ok.
Oh, that's right. After cleaning up the floor, the LL and her clothes do I realize that there's a largish brown spot in her hair. Yep. Great.

I'm not even stressed, upset or down. How could I? It's like the day was out to get me before I even started it. Thank goodness we had coffee. Some bright spots in all of this? I bought myself some delicious treats. I am going to a private shopping party at a hip little shop. And I'm seeing Eclipse with my lovely lady friends. In the VIP section. Where they serve drinks.

Which is good, because I think I'm going to need one.

Five Things Friday- Severe Weather Edition

2010-06-25T21:09:00.000-05:00

Five things that I hate worse than tornadoes? Or the "T" word, as I like to refer to them as when my anxiety gets particularly bad? Let us see what that list would look like.

Nothing
Nada
Not a Thing
Nope
Not unless you count werewolves, but I'm pretty sure those don't exist.

Happy Friday!

It Doesn't Really Matter...

2010-06-23T14:39:00.000-05:00

...if your floors were clean.
... it you didn't do it the way they wanted you to.
...if you made the most money.
...if the paint colors matched.
...if you ate that last slice.

But, it does matter...

...if you told your kid you loved them.

...if you helped that person.

...if you were honest to yourself.

...if they made you smile.

...if, at the end of the day, you were happy just being you.

Couch to 5K- Part Two

2010-06-22T16:55:00.000-05:00

So a few months ago I decided I was going to become a runner. I didn't buy any special gear, I didn't read anything about running; I simply jumped on the treadmill and ran. Well, I proceeded to attempt to run. I made it through the first two weeks. At that point I repeated the phrase I've used since I learnt how to run, "I only run if I'm being chased...my body isn't made to run."

Then Emily had to go and start the program.

I'm not competitive. It wasn't that I wanted to try and "beat" her. But watching her go through the program and talk how much she hated it, but how it ultimately made her feel good made me think I should try it again. Perhaps this time with some forethought. I realized there was a podcast you could download that tells you when to run and walk, thus making watching the clock tick away unnecessary. I bought a pair of running shoes. Cheap, Target running shoes; just in case I couldn't stick with it. I bought some new earphones for my iPod that would stay in my ears while I was running.

Then, I bought a sports bra.

I still can't really believe that I did. I mean, I don't do sports. I have no need for a bra specifically used while you are moving in an active way. And I'm no A cup either. I'm a busty gal and, let me tell you, wearing a sports bra made all the difference in the world. Duh. Like; duh, duh, duh. Of course it did. So even though the podcast got lost on my iPod, I forgot my deodorant at home and my gym bag broke on my way to the locker room- I ran. Not far, not fast, but I did it.

And it felt good.

A Change in Perspective

2010-06-21T14:35:00.000-05:00

When I became a mom a lot of things changed. And no, I'm not just talking about my shoes size, my waist and my unending need for Diet Coke. The way I looked at the world changed. I became a master of ten nanosecond risk management. "Is this floor clean enough for you to crawl on?" "Is a fall down these steps going to be a lesson about climbing or a trip to the ER?" "How many doors does this room have and how many are viable exit routes for you?"

And people wonder why I am so scattered brained.

I also learned to look at the world through the eyes of my Little Lady. Puddles have become the most entertaining half hour after a rain storm. An empty coffee can and a chopstick have become, at once, the most terrific marching tools and migraine producers. An empty hallway in the middle of a mall can become the best playground when you are with you buddies.

A long hallway? Nah, it's a race track, something new to explore.

Giggles and tickles make any place fun.

Hanging out on the "subway".

Or just chillin' on a step.

The End of the World as I Know It

2010-06-17T15:20:00.001-05:00

It's true. I have a little escape artist on my hands. After months of deluding myself that the Little Lady was too short to open doors, she went and did it this afternoon during nap time. The sound of that door opening was the single most frightening sound I've ever heard in my entire life. I can't even begin to explain to you the mental upheaval I have right now. No longer can I place her anywhere without her getting out by her own volition.

No place is safe.

I know I can get one of those door knob thingys so she can't get out of her room. But now, the possibility of escape there. So long "quiet" time. However, the ramifications of this go far beyond my precious two hours of peace in the afternoon. No, now I can't leave her on the porch to play without ensuring, beyond a shadow of a doubt that the door is locked. Showers will be shared and I will probably find myself with a midnight wanderer once again.

And I thought poop in her pants was bad.

PTO for Mommies

2010-06-16T18:51:00.000-05:00

The Mr. has been sick, I've been potty training the Little Lady; so let's just say that my house is currently covered in bodily fluids.

So I'm ready for put in for some PTO. Anyone know where I can send in the slip?

Anyone?

Hello?

(tap, tap, tap)

Is anybody out there?

Sigh, why didn't I negotiate that into my contract?

Oh right, I don't have one.

Five Things Friday- My Morning Rituals

2010-06-11T14:50:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everyone! It's been a rainy, wet week around these parts, and although that is good for making us stay home to potty train, it does nothing to improve our cabin fever. The weekend is supposed to be a bit nicer, but cloudy. As long as it's not raining I'll be happy.

I have never been a person to have rituals or routines or even a set way of doing something. Or so I thought. After my morning "non-routine" got went all kiddywampus this morning that I not only have a routine, if that routine heads south I am one crabby customer. I won't go into the details of the derailment this morning, but I will say that by 7AM, the Little Lady was in the bathtub. So in an effort to recognize my own routine during the day I decided to write down what I thought was my first, necessary five steps that I do every morning.

Put on my glasses and a pair of yoga pants. Seriously, if I don't have any clean and have to get dressed, the morning is off to a rough start.
Pour a glass of milk and make the LL breakfast. If I even think of making myself something first her routine and day get off to a bad start. Oh, the things you do when you're a mother.
Finally, make coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
Turn on the laptop. Run interference so the Mr. doesn't steal said laptop to read the NYT. Settle in with the laptop and catch up on the world.
Pour enough creamer in my mug to make my coffee carmel colored. Proceed to inhale the sweet, sweet perfume of caffeine. Nothing better than that first sip.
Open my eyes.

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all have fantastic, fun filled weekends.

Say, how do you like the new layout?

Mid-Week Mind Warp

2010-06-09T13:41:00.002-05:00

By the time Wednesday rolls around most weeks I'm tired, and this week is no exception. We're hitting the potty training hard and we've come far enough that we're not turning back. The Mr. has been super busy at work, which leaves me flying solo most nights until (or past) bedtime. But instead of dwelling on all of the things that have made this week seem long or that have gone wrong or that have left me feeling worn out, I have decided to write a quick list of all the good things this week. Accomplishments and happenings that have made me feel better than (or simply) fine. I encourage you to do the same. Leave a few in the comments, I'd love to hear about your week thus far!

Pee hitting the potty. There's nothing that sounds better than that first success.
Friends that come over at night to gab and gossip.
BBQs with friends.
Finishing sewing projects that seemed difficult at the time. Finishing them and loving the results.
Chilling with the Mr. when he gets home.
An hour of quiet when the Little Lady and the Mr. are on a bike ride.

Here's hoping for an equally satisfying rest of the week!

11 Reasons Why You Should Be Careful What You Say On Facebook

2010-06-08T15:06:00.004-05:00

I needed a good laugh today, so I quickly Googled "bad Facebook statuses." Oh, boy. I got a good chuckle out of quite a few of these. Check out the list. Number One, in particular made me laugh. Facebook Nightmare.

Enjoy!

The Trifecta

2010-06-01T14:23:00.002-05:00

When I first became a mom I was very concerned about the amount of socialization that my kid would (or would not) receive if I became a Stay At Home Mom. Luckily, and I didn't know this at the time, my kid is a pretty social kid. However, at the beginning I made it a point to hang out with my nephews and mother-in-law as much as possible. The only problem was that they lived almost thirty minutes away, and the amount of money I was spending on gas was starting to get out of hand. So, I needed to find another outlet. I started searching online for Mom's Groups and was lucky enough to find a great one. My kid has been making friends and learning from her peers for almost two years now.

That's the first part of the Family Friend Trifecta. Your kid makes friends. They learn and grow and have a good time. The second portion of the trifecta deals with the moms. When I started attending get togethers I really wasn't looking for friends for myself. I thought I had enough friends and that I was doomed to a life without socialization. Boy, was I wrong! I feel like I've hit the jackpot. The ladies that I've met through the group are strong, intelligent, hilarious, fun, supportive and an invaluable resource of information and insight. I don't know what I would do without them! I love being able to call someone up to meet for coffee, go on a Target run, make last minute plans to go to the park or meet for a beer after a long day. It really does take a village and I don't know what I would do without these ladies in my corner.

So, the first two parts of the trifecta are somewhat easy to obtain. Kids make friends with anybody, women love to chat and friendships are forged. The final piece of the trifecta is almost myth. You hear about your friend's cousin's second daughter's sister completing it. Once families achieve Trifecta Status they keep it under wraps for fear that one small slip will unravel the months of searching and longing for that perfect combination. What in Heaven's name am I talking about? I'm talking about when the husbands/significant others become friends too.

I used to think that it was too much to ask. It seemed daunting to try and find another family that the three of us could all jive with, independently and as a group. The Mr. could go out for beers with the other significant other, the ladies could hang out and the kids all played well together. We had it once; but then they had to go and move away. But then, after giving up hope, we were lucky enough to complete the Trifecta again. This past weekend we were lucky enough to share it with not one, but two other families at a resort up near Brainerd, MN. There were five kids four and under. Three couples. Four bedrooms. What should have been chaos was controlled and the bare minimum of fights, tantrums and problems arose. There was plenty of laughter, much beer drank and many memories created. We went swimming, had bonfires, played and had a fantastic time.

You know it's a success when you get home from a long weekend and start to think, "I wonder if so and so wants to come over for a BBQ...oh wait, we just got home." Or you get a text inviting you to come over and play at their house the next day and you're bummed that you might not be able to make it. I can't even begin to explain how awesome it is to find other families to spend time with. Not only does it lighten the parenting load, but it makes gatherings less stressful and more relaxing for everyone involved. Parent and child. I can only hope that as the summer and years progress we can have more awesome weekends like the one we just finished.

Words for My Daughter

2010-05-27T14:26:00.001-05:00

Things I Learned Today

2010-05-25T22:03:00.003-05:00

When you peruse target.com before you make a Target run, make sure the the product you picked out and have decided on is actually available in store. Not just online.
Finding a bathing suit with a two year old in the dressing room should either be the government's newest torture technique, or the newest event in the X Games.
When your little lady turns two your entire house will be turned pink. Everything from her clothing, to her toys to her new beach towel. If you have the audacity to offer her another color, you will get the stink eye.
When you finally pick out a pool for you little lady to play in and ask the pubescent guy working in the aisle if you need a pump to blow it up. Don't listen to him. Even if he says it only takes "fifteen minutes" to blow up, with a bike pump; it will take you over two hours to get it half inflated.
Next time, double the kid's Target wage and make him blow up the d*mn pool.
An inch of water to a two year old is just as fun as a whole pool. Luckily, because that's all you could keep in the pool as you were pumping air into it.
Inflating a pool in a flat yard would be infinitesimally easier than pumping it up in mine.
Using a bike pump for two hours is like giving the world's longest...well, let's just say that this pool is no "Two Pump Chump."
No matter where you sit while you pump, the sun will find you. And it will fry you a crispy, crispy red.
Two hours of arm exercise earns you a beer and a large bowl of ice cream.
Spending all day outside makes for one tired little lady, and one tired mama.

My New Favorite Lipgloss

2010-05-25T13:17:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to take a quick minute to tell you about my new favorite lip gloss. Now, don't you all go thinking that I'm some sort of beauty know it all. Heck, I still consider wearing mascara and eyeliner to be making myself up. However, my dear friend Emily always has a new lipgloss and always looks fabulous. Likewise, my friend Connie also looks great at all times and has a firm handle on the whole make-up thing.

So when she told me I had to use this lipgloss, I listened.

What is this lip gloss you ask? It's the Minty Lip Shine by Victoria's Secret, in their Beauty Rush line. Victoria's Secret? Yeah, I know. I was dubious at first too. But this lip gloss is as if Burt's Bees Original lip balm and your favorite clear gloss got together for one night of hot, naughty fun and produced a love child. It's clear, shiny, minty and doesn't make my lips all sticky. I don't have to reapply every ten seconds and for me, that just about makes it perfect. And it's affordable and tastes good to boot. I would say it's almost replaced my Dr. Pepper Lipsmackers as my go-to lip color. Almost.

So if you're in the market for a new gloss, give it a try. They're even on sale and come in a few other colors.

No, Victoria's Secret did not pay me to write this. I'm just telling you about a product that I like and use often. Sharing the love, if you will. But wouldn't it be cool if someone did pay me to write a review? I'm just saying.

Five Things Friday- Things I Have Within My Reach

2010-05-21T13:59:00.002-05:00

Happy Friday everyone! I know I'm glad that the week is almost over. I have lots to do this weekend and a fun potluck to attend tonight with the Little Lady. Hope you all have fun plans for the weekend too! Enjoy!

Wii Controller: Used for starting Dora the Explorer from Netflix Watch Instantly. Seriously the best use of the Wii yet.
Two Cameras: Apparently I have photos I need to download and edit. Perhaps tonight that will get done. Probably not. They are this one and this one.
Electric Blue Nail Polish: The Little Lady and I now have matching toes. She's in love and oh so proud of having "big girl" toes.
Three Crossword Puzzle Books: Random fact you may not know about me; I love me some crossword puzzles. In fact, it was on my list of things for my Mother in Law to bring when we were in China. I only love the easy ones though.
My other laptop: Because I want to listen to this book, but the library only has it in WMA format, which is not compatible with my Mac. Really, the first time I've bemoaned owning a Mac! Although, I just need to download something to convert the file to a Mp3...just add it to the list for tonight.

Yawn...

2010-05-20T13:14:00.007-05:00

Life is just busy, busy, busy all the time around these parts lately. Yet, here I sit. Mindlessly surfing Facebook, randomly putting together dream outfits on Polyvore and writing this blog post. What should I be doing, you ask? Well, I could tell you, but after my highly rated post yesterday, it would put you right to sleep. Unless that's what you need right now. Then, by all means, email me and I will send you a copy of my to-do list. It's guaranteed to produce yawns all around.

Yawns? Really not what I'm looking for today.

So how about instead I give you a list of three yawn busters; a new recipe, a new site and a obscure fact? Yes? Excellent!

Shakshuka: I made this delightful meal last week and it was perfect. Easy, made with ingredients that are not only cheap, but on hand and oh so comforting. Next time I'll add some spinach either in the sauce or sauteed on the side. Really, not to be missed.
Academichic: This is a new find for me. I don't usually peruse fashion or outfit type blogs, but these three PhD students drew me in with their interesting, but wearable outfits and their interesting, intelligent commentary. Very well done in my opinion and gives me a little fashion inspiration as well.
Fact: Technically, zebras are black with white stripes; a shaved zebra would be completely black. Via this site.

Happy Thursday!

Dear World...

2010-05-19T13:19:00.002-05:00

Hello Dear World, today I have an issue to take up with you. Some of you will be on my side, many of you will feel like I'm talking to you. And only you. Honestly though? I'm not. I'm only talking to that person standing right behind you. I feel so strongly about this that I'm actually thinking of starting a Facebook group to bring this issue to the attention of everyone in the country. The issue of which I speak?

Black yoga pants are just glorified sweat pants.

Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. You see them everywhere. At the grocery store, Target, the park, in line at the DMV, at the Post Office, renting a movie from Red Box. People? This trend needs to be stopped. There are only three reasons why you should be wearing black yoga pants in public:

You just had a baby. Have a newborn? I'll pretty much let you do anything. Including parking in that Handicap spot at the grocery store.
You are going to have a baby. Extra points if you are going to have a baby, any day now. There just comes a time in pregnancy when nothing fits and just leaving the house wearing pants is a chore.
You are headed to the gym or are coming from the gym. Hence, you should be wearing sneakers and not a heel. I'm just saying.

Now, just to clarify, I'm not talking about leggings. Leggings are cute, functional and a necessity, I'm coming to realize, if you're a mom who likes to wear skirts at the playground. But that's another issue for another time.

I take issue with anyone who wears "athletic wear" and sees it as acceptable day wear. I get it, sweat pants (I mean, yoga pants) are comfortable. Black goes with everything and makes your outfit appear to be just that, an outfit. But it's not. Throw on a pair of jeans. Or a jersey skirt. Or buy some leggings and a couple of cute, flowy tops or dresses. Equally comfortable. Leaps and bounds more appealing to look at. After the little lady was born I made it my mission never to leave the house in anything that could be considered pajamas or that I would wear to the gym. Sure there are days when I'd love to loaf around in my sweats, but for the sake of everyone around me I put on pants. I mean, come on, even China is cracking down on wearing PJs in public. There are just some objects of clothing that I have no desire to see you in.

So dear World, let's stop with the yoga pants wearing, shall we? I promise never to wear low-rise jeans, tube tops, or a bikini if the rest of the world can agree never to wear their pajamas in public.

Have we got a deal?

House For Sale

2010-05-18T13:45:00.004-05:00

So as per my New Year's List (you know, that list languishing -----> on my side bar) I called our realtor and had him talk to us about putting our house on the market. Overall it was as positive as it could be, when you're trying to sell your house in the middle of a housing "slump." I don't really want to go into details, but we might even make out with our shirts, our pants and a couple of extra diaper for the little lady. There are no promises though.

So for the past week I have been in extreme clean and organize mode. Like, I've never cleaned this much in my entire life. The process starts innocently enough. First, there's Stage One. You find stuff you want to get rid of. You take nice photos and post them for decent prices on Craigslist. Dealing with strangers who ask idiotic questions about your old crap gets old. Real old, fast. So you move on to Step Two. Donating that old crap to Goodwill or Savers. You know, someplace where you can just pull up and they take the crap off of your hands. For free. Let someone else deal with setting a price and selling it. Hallelujah. After awhile though, even that gets old and you quickly end up at Stage Three. Buy a box of leaf bags and throw that sh*t out. Anything. Everything. Just get it out of my house.

I am currently sitting at Stage Three. And holding.

I have a whole post in the works where I discuss my issues with organizing and the Lightbulb Moment I had a couple of weeks ago. It's riveting stuff people. But for now I am sitting in my very clean house that is 80% ready to show. Just need a little more paint, a few more bins, and a lot more patience.

Rain Rain Go Away

2010-05-13T08:31:00.005-05:00

After an absolutely beautiful start to Spring we had the wettest, chilliest ten days possible. What makes it even more difficult is that the weather was so nice before! Sixty degrees in mid-March? Yes please! Transitioning to a rainy, cold week hasn't been easy. Especially for a mom and kiddo that love to spend time at the P.A.R.K. Ever try explaining to a two year old why they can't go to the park they just passed? You'll hear a chorus of, "The slide wet mama." over and over for the next few hours. Just as they quit...you'll pass another park.

We've been surviving the weather, but I can tell you we're looking forward to the sun and seventy degree weather coming tomorrow and this weekend! So I have a record for the next rainy week we have, I thought I'd make a short list of the things that keep us sane while we spend the time indoors.

Extra Bath Time: Warm, steamy, wet fun. Rain boots in the tub are optional.
A New Book or Two: Whether you head to your library or your local bookstore is up to you. Either way, pick up one for you and your kiddo. You deserve one too!
Build a Couch Fort: Best way to spend the afternoon and arguably the perfect spot to peruse those new books you just brought home.
Have an extra shot of caffeine: Whether it's an extra cup of tea, joe or Diet Coke is up to you. Just don't shy away from that extra glass; 3:00PM is no time to be fighting back yawns.
Dance Party: We spend a lot of time surfing around on Pandora. Chances are good that if you come over the laptop will be open and we will be dancing around the kitchen listening to some tunes.
New, indoor play space. (Check the malls) More and more malls are creating indoor play spaces for kids, which is awesome. Let your kid run a bit, splurge and get an Orange Julius for a special snack.
Messy Art Projects: Now is the time to break out those paints/glitter. What else have you to do besides cleaning that colossal mess?
Baking: Ditto with the baking. Chocolate chip cookies are always a favorite around here. Or if you're lazy like me you can just press them in a pan and cut them into squares. Done and done.

Enjoy your time inside. Let's hope for sun tomorrow!

Dear Jillian...

2010-05-12T14:40:00.003-05:00

Dear Jillian Michaels:

I loved you on the Biggest Loser. That no nonsense, bitchy style served you well. But now that you're invading my home and are taking over my TV? Yeah, I'm not feeling the love anymore.

You like to talk about how you were once in our shoes. How you'd like to have abs similar to your super fit demonstrators, and you'd do anything (not just about anything) to get them. Well yeah, I would too...unless it involves me doing hundreds of crunches and listening to you for twenty minutes or more everyday.

But, you've promised me that if I keep with it, I too will have rock hard abs and be in the best shape of my life. I believe that you even said I was on my way to being "shredded". Whatever that means. (And let's be honest, that doesn't sound like much fun, does it?) So I will continue to stick you in my DVD player a couple times a week. The cover says the workout is only twenty minutes, but I'm pretty sure someone is lying. Let's just agree to twenty minutes of invasion only. Twenty minutes in; and then you're out.

Good luck with your abs,

Haiku- Two for the Shower

2010-05-11T13:20:00.003-05:00

I shower with Gym.

We are not lovers, but foe.

The water trumps pain.

Get up and work out.

The water is worth the sweat.

Stress leaving is gold.

Five Things Friday- Mother's Day Edition

2010-05-06T17:14:00.008-05:00

I still think of Mother's Day as my mom's holiday. Perhaps as I get older and the little lady can participate more I'll feel as though the holiday is my own. Until then, it's brunch with the MIL and the Mr.'s grandmas and sending my mom a card and a snail. So, in honor of Mother's Day I thought I would write about the things that I found the most surprising about being a mom. This is a subject that I could fill notebooks and pages and pages of internet with. However, I don't want your eyeballs to burn into fiery little orbs, so I'll limit myself to a list of five.

Sleep Exhaustion is no Joke. Really. I knew I was going to be tired. Every.blessed.person.I.met told me that. But that doesn't prepare you for the bone numbing exhaustion of those first couple of weeks. And after that point you're so tired and have ingested so much caffeine you don't know the difference. Then one night you get eight hours of sleep and suddenly it's like that time in 6th grade when you got glasses and could see the people sitting on the other side of the gym. Oh, there you are Dr. Boyken! It's nice to see you too!
Being a Mom is Dirty. I always kind of pitied those moms I saw at the grocery store or Target with spit up all over them or snot around their knees and god knows what else all over. And then I had a kid. And it became inevitable. Every bodily fluid that the little lady could throw at me, she did. From both ends. It's better now that's she's two, but I still find patches of snot on my shoulders post-tantrum or a smear of peanut butter across the leg of my jeans. The amount of laundry I do is no joke.
Hugs really are an accepted form of currency. That's the other thing you hear before you have kids; it's a hard job, but the smiles and hugs are your reward. Seriously, I thought people were blowing a lot of smoke up my a*s. The truth is though, that after a particularly long tantrum or an afternoon of fights and "No's" one hug and a slobbery kiss make it all go away. And now the little lady has starting to identify me as "Her mommy." Man, there's nothing better than that.
The most critical person you'll meet is another mom. Before becoming a mom I saw motherhood as one big, happy clique whose only requirement for entry was a cute little baby butt and an in-depth knowledge of diapers. Who boy, was I wrong. I have never met a more critical, judgmental group that the "other mothers". The women you meet on the playground, at the grocery store, late night at Target, in magazines and on TV. (BTW, I'm not talking about my super fab, smart and non-judgement group of ladies.) The ones that say that they way that they are raising their child is the only way, and you, obviously, are trying to kill your baby. My advice to new moms? Wear earplugs when you go out in public.
Not knowing what you're doing doesn't end with a newborn. In fact, newborns are easier, in my opinion. You expect them to cry, you expect them not to sleep at night, they can't talk back, you can leave them someplace and go do something else and know that they will still be there when you get back. They fall asleep on their own, in the strangest of places and in the most uncomfortable positions. It's when they start to walk, talk, have their own opinions, want to do everything themselves that parenting becomes difficult. Or maybe that's just my kid.

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

Today

2010-05-06T13:39:00.003-05:00

I've been quite busy around these parts! We house/dog sat for my in-laws last Thursday until this Tuesday and coming back has me feeling like coming home from vacation...except we didn't get to go anywhere fun. My house is a huge pit and I've got lists coming out of my ears of things I need to accomplish. Luckily, it's kind of fun stuff. Organizing, cleaning, painting, creating, buying, giving. All in anticipation of putting the house up for sale. My little sister is coming this weekend to entertain the little lady so that the Mr. and I can finish some things around the house. It's been a busy week, sorry the posting has been light. Hopefully once some things are sorted out hopefully the posts that are ratting around my head will see the light of day!

Until then, say "Yes" to something today. Commit to something that makes you smile.

I Did It!

2010-05-03T13:47:00.002-05:00

Yep, that's right. I am a student again! A few weeks ago I started receiving emails from the Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) department at Hamline. They looked like mass emails about job openings and announcements. It was either a cruel joke or I had been admitted but not received my acceptance letter. After two days of emails and two days of trying not to get excited I finally called at 4:55 one afternoon (the office closes at 5). I told the woman on the phone that either Hamline was very good at playing cruel jokes on prospective students, or was I really admitted? She laughed and said, "Congratulations, you are a grad student."

A grad student!? I'm a grad student!

So I hurriedly filled out my FAFSA and got to worrying about how I was going to pay for it. Then Friday I got my Financial Aid info and sure enough, the government is more than happy for me to add onto my student loan debt. Now just to figure out how to reorganize my time to study, find a program to put the little lady in part time and relearn how to speed read.

Yes! I'm not afraid to admit it...I'm pretty proud of myself!

Two- Part One

2010-04-28T14:14:00.002-05:00

The little lady is two. I mentioned it before. Nothing in her short life thus far has been so difficult. The late night feedings, the poopy diapers, the cracked nipples, the sleep deprivation. No, now it's the temper tantrums and the hitting and the defiance and the general twoness.

But she's never been more wonderful.

We were out shopping today and she was being extremely good while I tried to hurriedly pick out some fabric. (Addiction anyone?) She kept asking me to "Hold you.", which I couldn't because I was busy looking at bolts of fabric. As the woman was cutting my selections the little lady entertained us both with her normal sweet, charming antics; but she still wanted me to hold her. I felt bad, but told her that I would hold her after we paid and were leaving the store. Finally as we were leaving, I picked her up. She clung to my neck in her version of a bear hug and said, "Mama, little lady happy. Like shopping mama."

Just stick a fork in my heart and call it done.

I've never heard her say that she's been happy before. Emotional development is the greatest reward. She's happy, she likes me, I'm not totally screwing up her life! It's nice to have these little moments for look back on when she's taking other kid's toys, hitting me in the face, screaming at the top of her little lungs and just generally being--two. Parenting a two year old is an emotional roller coaster. The highs are really high, but the lows, oh man, those lows are super low.

As we headed to the car I squeezed her little buddha belly tight and said," Please, don't grow up too fast. Don't become a teenager. From what I hear, they are worse than two year olds. And the hugs aren't nearly as sweet."

Craftyness

2010-04-26T15:18:00.004-05:00

I'm not very artistically inclined. I don't have a good "eye" and I constantly need verification from other people that what I'm trying to put together looks good. However, I am crafty. Not as in that late 90's witchy movie, but in that I can take things and make them into something new. When I was little I used to make jewelry and friendship bracelets and cross-stitch pictures for my teachers. You see, my mom is crafty too. I think I've come by it pretty honestly.

I kind of gave up on crafting after I went to college. I didn't have a lot of disposable income, or time, to spend whipping up crafty creations. I had bills to pay, food to buy and beer to drink. Perhaps if I had bought more sewing supplies and less keg glasses I would have some resemblance of a six-pack today. (Ok, probably not. But one can dream, can't she?) After the Mr. and I moved in together I had a short burst of domestic production, but it quickly died after I made curtains for three rooms in our house. Then we moved abroad and not only did I have no clue on where to purchase supplies, I had little time or interest in making something only to leave it a few months later.

(Wait a minute, I did craft a bit in China. In the winter time girls would make hats/scarves for their boyfriends, so I made a few too. The yarn was terrible quality and the "needles" were little more than roughly made chopsticks. Go figure. But I guess I can't say that I didn't make anything while I was there.)

After we moved back to the US I started temping, commuting from the suburbs each morning. Then the little lady came and I found that I had even less t

ime for my crafty projects. I thought about making things all the time, but every night I fell into bed without creating a single thing. Baking and cooking took the place of my creating things for a little while. But then the need to make something became too strong. So I hit up the craft store.

Never, ever let me go to the craft store un-supervised. It's dangerous.

I started making some dresses for the little lady. They were pretty easy! Then I whipped some up for friends. After that I moved on to making some cute T-Shirts for the little lady and her friend for their birthday. Then I started looking at apron patterns and pillow patterns and I bought some oil cloth to cover the little lady's table and chairs. I made a necklace like the one I've been wanting to buy for about $20 cheaper than I could have bought it. I'm out of control! Everywhere I look there's something that I can craft or make or repurpose. I'm loving all of this crafty energy, it's helping me to stay a little focused as we head into potty training and disciplining a two year old.

It doesn't help that JoAnn Fabrics keeps sending me coupons in the mail (plus giving me more when I checkout) and I have the cutest, independent craft store just up the block. Seriously. How could I resist? Not to mention a good friend of mine just moved to the city and it also a crafting addict and my mama friend is too. There's no hope.

I keep toying with the idea of opening a shop at etsy.com. If for no other reason than to give me license to make whatever I want. That way the Mr. can't complain when he sees the crafty receipts. (Not that he does...much) I'm on the fence. If I can find one or two more styles/things to make then I may try it out. Wouldn't hurt, would it?

And those dresses are pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

Realizations

2010-04-26T14:09:00.003-05:00

Last week my little lady turned two. I really can't believe it. The cool thing is that she was born my best friend's daughter's birthday. (Do you have any idea how much easier it is to plan a birthday party with someone else? Especially when that person is the nicest, laid-back, cool mama ever? Well, it simplifies things.) Her daughter was two when the little lady was born. Which means that big girl that visited us in the hospital was the same age as my little girl now. How does that happen? Where does the time go?

Throughout the week (yes, week) of birthday festivities I was busy. Busy cleaning, cooking, entertaining, crafting. It was wonderful, but I'm glad to get back into a somewhat regular routine. Including blogging. During all of that busyness I had plenty of time to think. I thought about a lot of stuff. There have been some exciting changes in our life and more to come soon. (For the hundredth time, I'm not pregnant!) I thought about this blog and identity and what I wanted to be when I grew up and how I was going to make that happen and how, in the midst of all of that I was going to stay sane.

Well, sane in a relative sense.

Then I had a realization. I'm a mom. I write a blog. I wanted, with my whole entire itty-bitty heart, when I started this blog to not become a "mommy blogger". But you know what? I am. Because right now that's my job, and there are things coming down the pike that are going to change that slightly; but then I'm going to be a mom and a blankety-blank. My identity is not just that of a mom, although at times it feels that way. But I can't hold back my "mommyness" because I think that I may fall into some cliched category. Being a mom is cool! And funny, and tough and sad and frustrating and dirty and boring and scary and pretty much every other emotion that us, as human beings, can feel.

So welcome back. You're now reading a mommy blog.

Really, in terms of content, things aren't going to change much. I'm still planning on putting up recipes. Still working on my New Year's list. I'll still rant about random things. And maybe if we're lucky we'll have another guest post from the best buddy. Perhaps the Mr. could be persuaded to whip something up too. He's actually quite the writer.

So that's that. This is post #151 and I'm feeling mighty great about where this is all going. I hope you're prepared for all of the poop. And the sand. Oh the sand! Playground season is very messy.

Almost Back to Our Regularly Schedule Programming

2010-04-20T13:19:00.004-05:00

A new post is coming soon. No really, I promise! I've been a bit busy as I prepared for the little lady's second birthday. Lots of parties, lots of prep and perhaps a little too much sugar. I'm working on finding a little direction over here too. More on that later. Until then get outside, feel the sun and enjoy your day. I'll be back soon!

Five Things Friday- Where I Embarrass myself on the Internet

2010-04-09T13:25:00.003-05:00

Happy Friday everyone! Because I don't have a shred of humility and because it's a gorgeous Friday, I'm going to go ahead and let you in on my ensemble at the gym this morning. Sound boring and inconsequential? Well, if you had seen me wearing this, you might think differently.

Black, kitten heeled shoes with a flower on the toe.
Black, saggy yoga pants that are the Mr.'s, and have bare spots on the legs where some unknown substance ate away at them while in the trunk of my car.
Coral tank from Old Navy that now reaches almost to my knees because the hem has ripped out.
Floral scarf with turquoise flowers and olive green leaves.
Old grey zip up that has started to shrink North, thus leaving the pockets almost at my bosoms.
And since I like you, and it really does complete the outfit: A white elastic headband, desperately trying to keep my hair out of my face.

If I was simply headed to the gym and didn't have to talk to anybody before I got to the locker room, it wouldn't be a problem. But I have to drop the little lady off at the gym day care first. Then when I got into the car this morning, the fuel light was on; meaning that I had to stand practically on the street while I pumped gas. In my threadbare yoga pants and heels. I think that calls for spelling the word hot, with a w: Hawt. So, since I'm lazy and my gym bag is really a reusable shopping tote; I chose to wear as many pieces that I was planning on wearing after my shower as possible. Hence the shoes and scarf. I'm not completely off my rocker.

Let me assure you, the outfit leaving the gym was much better.

Hope you all have wonderful weekends!

Need #2

2010-04-08T13:02:00.002-05:00

I need a plan.

I need to make some lists.

I need to clean.

I need to organize.

I need to figure out family pictures.

I want to buy a new lens.

I need a few more hours in the day.

I need to find this book.

I want to buy more fabric to make more dresses.

I need to pay the bills.

I need to buy a swimsuit.

I want to go to the gym.

What do you need today?

Long Term Goals

2010-04-07T13:15:00.003-05:00

I'm struggling with my To-Do list today. The To-Do list of the next five or so years. So, I'm taking one item on at a time. Now, I just have to decide where to start.

Spring Time

2010-04-05T12:49:00.002-05:00

This time of year the clock seems to move faster. The days are longer, but for some reason we're packing more and more into each day. I know why, we live in the mid-west and there are only so many months that it is pleasurable to be outdoors. So we picnic and BBQ and head to the park and go for walks. All the stuff that the other eight or nine months of the year it is difficult to do. I can't even say how nice it is to simply walk out the door, and go for a walk. No forethought about jackets or temps or any of the extraneous items that you need in the depths of winter.

But all of the fresh air makes me exhausted.

Maybe it's the fact that it's light longer and thus my days are longer too. We get up earlier, our day gets going faster and we spend it run, run, running. Even at night it's not difficult to be out past nine or ten. Try doing that in mid-January, when the temps fall by the double digits as soon as the sun sets. At three o'clock. There's just more stuff to do in the spring/summer. Besides all of the outdoor activities, people demand your time too. There's family get together's, bbqs with friends, then you have to go and see all of those people you missed all winter because you were hermiting away in your house.

This may make it sound like I am done with Spring/Summer already. Good heavens, no! I feel like it's just ramping up! I can't wait for drinks on the patio and lazy Sunday brunches outside, family bbqs every weekend. Staying up late to catch concerts in the park, long walks along the lakes. Pushing the little lady on the swings at the park, only to have her fall asleep on the way home, exhausted from a belly full of fresh air and sunshine.

Just make sure that I have a nap, or go to bed once the sun (finally) goes down.

New Year's List Update

2010-03-30T14:30:00.002-05:00

Hello folks! I can't wait for the little lady to wake up today so we can go outside and enjoy this spectacular Spring weather. Sixty-nine degrees and the wind is out of the South! A perfect day for the park, followed by some free, yummy pizza. Is it really still March?!

So I wanted to give a little update on my New Year's list. You know, the one over there --->? So far I have very little crossed off of my list. I attended the Open House. I made a decision about Grad School and my application will be completed and sent in before April 1st (yes, I am aware that is Thursday). I am planning out most of my meals every week, but I would like to become more consistent. I have an idea I will outline in a future post. I have two failures and they are that I have decided to forgo the Couch to 5K program. I just have to come to terms that I don't like running, it doesn't feel good to me and I can't commit to something right now that takes so much time. Maybe in the future. So no 5Ks for me. And I have decided against the Wii Fit, I can't justify the expense right now and I honestly don't have the time when I am home. Maybe I'll invest in a Cardio DVD or two. That seems more reasonable.

The rest of the list? Well, now that the weather is getting warmer it will be a little easier to get outside and accomplish them. I'm looking forward to the outdoor events and spending quality time in the fresh air. Seriously, I ask myself all Winter long why I live in the Mid-West. If the Spring/Summer months weren't so wonderful I don't think it would be worth it.

Manic Monday

2010-03-29T14:25:00.002-05:00

Everybody has a case of the Mondays over here. Tantrums, messes, no naps; this is the kind of day that take out restaurants love. The kinds of days that, by five o'clock I'm done. The house is destroyed (which, after the bust weekend we had, it started out that way) and I'm tired, hungry and in no mood to cook. So, instead of letting the day get me down I decided to find a quote to cheer me up/make me laugh and move along to picking up the pieces. It's not a perfect solution, but so far, it seems to have worked. Here's hoping that your Monday is going much, much better than mine!

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.

~A.A. Milne

Five Things Friday- Stuff I'm Good At

2010-03-26T14:00:00.002-05:00

Because I may seem like I don't like myself very much, because the sun is shining today and because I scored two awesome Little Black Dresses on clearance yesterday I'm going to let you in on five awesome things I am good at. Toot, toot! Here goes my horn!

Hand Rolled Cigarettes: I studied in Alnwick, England for a semester in college and when I headed over there I was flat out broke. I have always been a prolific social smoker, so I asked one of my good guy buddies to teach me to "roll my own". They're awesome and so much cheaper! I still can roll a mean cigarette, but don't anymore since the tobacco usually goes stale before I can finish a whole pouch.
Best Dish Picker: I have this knack of picking the best stuff on the menu. Usually when I order something at a restaurant the Mr. ends up wanting to switch with me. I just know what is going to be good! The same can be said of my ability to pick out restaurants, my intuition is mostly right on.
People Reader: Are they really mean? Or just socially awkward? Are they trying to insult you? Or are they endearingly blunt? Worth your time, or best to be left by the curb? I have the knack of reading people and can usually tell within a couple of meetings if I should add or delete their number from my phone. I give everyone a chance, but I have pretty decent nice-dar.
Fabric Whisperer: I have this knack with sewing. Fabric and I? Yeah, we are like this. Nothing I make is overly elaborate or complicated, but when fabric and I get together, we like to jive. Finding the fabric and co-ordinating it all together? That's another story.
Super Mom: I kiss boom-booms, make special treats, build forts and read stories with all of the voices. I am the best mom for this little lady and she in turn is the best kid for our family. I may not always get it right or it may take some time for me to figure it out, but in the end there is no body that gets this kid the way I do. Well, right now. We'll talk again when she's a teenager.

Happy Friday Everyone! Have a glorious weekend!

My Job

2010-03-25T15:17:00.002-05:00

It occurred to me the other day that I have a job. Yes, taking care of the little lady full time is a job, but that's not the one I'm referring to. No, I'm talking about the one that requires full-time dedication, motivation, organization and a eye for detail. The never ending job of keeping a house clean and tidy. For whatever reason I always saw housework as a shared job between the Mr. and myself. Or, I should clarify, what should have been a shared job between the two of us.

But it's not.

It's up to me. Now, I've never claimed to be a good housekeeper. In fact, I'm quickly coming to realize that I'm quite a sh*tty housekeeper. I can cook, bake, sew and make people feel comfortable, but my house? That's another story. It's not just that I hate doing housework; I don't know how to clean my house some days and when I do, I'm just not that good at it. There are cobwebs on the ceiling, dust everywhere and clutter! Oh, the clutter.

However, I have been hyper Spring Cleaning the last couple of days. Partly because we're going to be putting the house on the market soon and I want to "stage" it as much as possible. Well, as much you one can when an almost two year old lives in the house. That means there are piles of junk waiting to go to Goodwill all over, furniture is being rearranged, and pictures with family being taken down to be replaced with "urban" prints. In the midst of all this cleaning, organizing and redecorating, I realized something.

This is my job.

Like, duh! It's my job to keep the house clean and organized. When I think about it like that, well now, I can understand it! I don't like doing "jobs", I can add housekeeping to the list! For some reason declaring housework as my job makes me want to clean. (Well, comparatively speaking.) This doesn't necessarily mean that my house is going to be spotless morning, noon and night, I'm not good at this, remember? But, at least now I can commit to cleaning, every.single.day. My inner-Feminist is crying, just a little bit.

The rest of me? Singing for joy.

So in the midst of this recession, I have two jobs! Neither are glamourous and, in fact, many wouldn't even consider them jobs! How lucky am I. But hey, whatever gets me to wipe down the stove (yes Beugen, every night), sweep out the cobwebs and throw away the clutter. I'll call it anything, just so I can get it done.

Just Awesome

2010-03-24T12:48:00.003-05:00

Today is one of those days that most things just seem to go right. The little lady woke at a decent hour and sat in bed and talked with us until 7am. Then she actually ate breakfast and colored quietly so I could check Facebook and my email. The dishes were put in the dishwasher, no toys were taken out, so the house remained some sort of clean.

After the Mr. left for work we got in the car and drove over to a new friend's house for one of the best play dates we've ever had. Kids played. Moms drank coffee and chatted. There were no tears. No fights. No drama. Plus, the sun shone. Hallelujah! To make it even better the kid fell asleep on the way home and is still happily sleeping upstairs in her room. OMG, I feel like I'm jinxing something.

I'm pretty sure something terrible will happen when she wakes up.

After nap time we'll head to the park, because it's Spring in Minnesota! Where dad will come and pick up the little lady so I can get my hair cut and spend some time with a friend. Really, this might be the perfect day.

Or maybe it's just because I haven't been sh*t or puked on. The first day in almost six days. But the stomach flu is not something I want to discuss today. Really, it's for your sakes, not mine.

I hope that the rest of your day goes well too. The sun is shining, is it not? It can't be all bad then. :) And if it is, just remember that tomorrow is almost always a better day.

Guilt

2010-03-22T13:46:00.003-05:00

There's always a man or a woman at the corner when I drive up. Doesn't matter the time of year; they're out there rain or snow or hot, humid day. I think they take shifts. I drove by one day at "shift change", I heard one say to another, "The pickin's aren't so good today."

Sometimes I drive an extra five minutes around, just so I don't have to pass them.

Their signs say different things. "Homeless, anything helps." "No job, no money. Please help." I can't look them in the eye as I drive by. I tell myself that I want to help the world, but I can't even stop to help these sad, desperate people. It's not like I drive a fancy car and give the impression of money. I'm pretty sure that my yellow, rusty, missing one mirror, 2001 Ford doesn't put me in the "has it all" category. But it still gets me from Point A to Point B, warms in the winter, cools in the summer and carries the things I need.

It's more than they have. Even if it needs new brakes and wants to kill when it idles.

I wasn't paying attention today when I left the store. I turned right instead of left and got caught at the red light. I so desperately wanted to give the elderly gentleman something. I don't carry cash. The only thing I had to give was a banana. "But they're green." I thought to myself. Would he take it? Would it be insulting? A banana, who gives a homeless man a banana?

I drove by him. I couldn't look him in the eye. I had more than he, yet I still had nothing I could give.

I want to teach my daughter the importance of giving. To share what little she has with those who have nothing. What kind of lesson am I giving her when I pass the corner and leave those people empty handed? How does one teach compassion, empathy, giving to a child? I try to teach by example, but if it's hard for me to give, what am I teaching?

Five Things Friday- Procratination

2010-03-19T13:41:00.004-05:00

If this list was "Five Things I'm Good At", procrastination would be at the top. Making lists would also be up there, but that's because I enjoy planning everything out, only to procrastinate following it through. I never said that I was normal. So here it is, the top five things that I love to procrastinate on. I don't have an explanation as to why; it's just the way I am.

The Laundry. Have we covered this topic extensively enough? Yes? Alright, let's move on.
Leaving the House. This one mystifies me. The Little Lady and I love to leave the house, I'd put it up there as one of our favorite pastimes. However, I'm almost always running late. I think, "I can just read one more blog or do a load of dishes." Heh, wrong. I always underestimate how long it takes us to get out of the house and to our destination.
Deadlines. I work my best at the end of a deadline. Papers turned in at 11:59 PM, the day they are due. Tickets paid right before a Warrant is issued. I like to leave things until the very last minute. Just in case I decide to change my mind.
Buying Gifts. I have the best intentions. I love to pour over gift guides, planning the perfect gift. When I find something I tell myself that the occasion is too far away, I'll just buy it later. And then never do. Or forget. Not cool.
Getting oil changes. I am very aware how many miles my car has on it. I also know when I'm due for my next oil change. (Ok, when my car is due, I try to refrain from getting my oil changed.) However, the time comes and passes and it's like pulling teeth to get me to go into the garage. Strange. I always have to apologize to the mechanic, and then to my car, for not keeping her up like I should.

Growing Up

2010-03-18T12:49:00.004-05:00

Growing up my parents were fairly strict. We knew our limits, and we were reigned in close. Looking back, my mom was a little bit "crunchy". Our clothes never had wording or brands displayed on them, often the were homemade. She baked/cooked everything from scratch. We were allowed to watch a bare minimum of TV everyday, we didn't have cable. Our toys were fairly gender neutral, except for the few knock-off Barbies I had or were given as gifts. We all played with the trucks, the Legos, the games; my sister and I read a lot of books.

I don't remember my mom playing with me, not that she was neglectful, but getting down on the floor to play? Not in my recollection. I do remember that she would color with me at night sometimes. Sometimes. She expected us to play on our own, and we did! My mom emphasized things like, good food, a comfortable house, togetherness. We did a lot together as a family. All vacations were taken together. We ate dinner together every night. It was a rare day if we left the house, more often than not we spent the days at home. My mom stressed consistency, routine. We were her focus, her life and everything she did was with us in mind.

Now that I am a mom I'm shocked to see how much my mom has (subconsciously) influenced my parenting.

I don't buy clothes that have labels or logos on them. Rare is it when the Little Lady's clothes have words on them. We don't have cable and I try and limit the amount of character based TV that she watches. Dora is the exception. She loves it so hard, she interacts with the characters and I can actually see her learning while she watches it. I'd rather see her watching Shaun the Sheep or Fraggle Rock. I don't play with her as much as my friend's do with their kids. The Lady plays well on her own, for whatever reason. We play together outside and we read a ton of books everyday. But mostly she reads to herself or plays with her dollhouse.

I make dinner most nights and it's not from a box. My house is never very clean, but it's comfortable. I like to think it's the type of house that you would call cozy. The only real difference is that the Little Lady and I leave the house everyday, at least once. We would go insane if we stayed in all day. That's just our personalities. Weekends and weekday nights are family time. Ninety-five percent of all trips we plan, we take the kiddo with. She goes where we go. We try to eat dinner as a family every night. It's hard with the Mr.'s erratic schedule, but the Lady and I hold out as long as we can.

I can't believe how much I'm turning into my mom (there are other things, but I don't want to scare you away today). The most amazing part is that I'm glad that my mom imparted these traits onto me. I never felt like I missed out on anything (well, a Mr. Potato Head, but that's another story) and I'm glad for all of the time we spent together as a family.

I just hope the Little Lady feels the same way in twenty-odd years.

2010-03-16T13:43:00.002-05:00

"...understand that to nurture and love others with the grace you desire means taking care of yourself and cultivating your own inner harmony. Inner harmony grows not by finding ways to get away from your child, but by giving yourself the gift of a hot bath at the end of a long day, reading a book of poetry, talking to a friend on the phone, taking a nap, crying, getting a massage, having a day off from cleaning and cooking, staying in your pajamas all day, swimming, going out to eat, or attending a conference. Do something for yourself as you give. Learn to laugh at yourself and not take yourself so seriously."
Peggy O'Mara, The Way Back Home

I found this quote via Amanda Soule's blog, Soulemama, and it really struck a chord with me. I struggle so hard sometimes balancing life as a mom, wife, friend and human being that it's nice to be reminded that I not only need to take some time for myself, I deserve it as well. And so do you. Whether you're a mom, a wife, a husband, a dad, a son, a daughter, an employee, a boss or simply a human being. We all have responsibilities and sometimes they can bog us down, so take some time and do something meaningful for yourself. It's important! Not just for your own mental health, but also for your relationships. Aren't you the most happy after a good run, or a pedicure, after sleeping in, or an hour of peace and quiet? I'm going to make it a priority to do this for me. And for everyone else that surrounds me.

Spring in Minnesota

2010-03-15T13:44:00.003-05:00

Something wonderful happens in Minnesota, in the Spring, when the sun shines. People leave their houses, they greet their neighbors, you see children riding bikes down the street, music wafting from backyards where the scent of the barbecue lingers in the air. Kids jump in puddles, poke sticks into the snow piles that still remain, covered in black soot and gravel from the long months of Winter.

You can see peoples skin again.

Everyone has a smile on their face. Hands swing as they go down the street. Car windows come retract and people start looking at each other, not past and down the street. They connect; recognize their humanity, see each other as equals, not just as faceless blobs that hurry down to get wherever they are going to.

You'll never have a friend like a Minnesotan friend in the Spring.

The whole world seems lighter. And it is. Literally. The sun shines and the wind becomes milder; not the hot, humid breeze of Summer, but the soft, gentle wind that encourages you to open your windows and let the freshness in. The days are longer. People make plans to socialize and move about after a day of work. It's no longer necessary to hermit away in your house, tired and weary because it's dark and cold.

Spring is like crack for the soul.

Something wonderful happens in Minnesota, in the Spring, when the sun shines. People feel alive. They smile and sing. People other places besides to the house to the car to the destination and back. It is exciting, invigorating. You actually want to move. People turn their faces up, towards the sun, to catch the weak (but growing stronger!) rays shining down. Thanking the world for becoming warm again.

Emily's Guest Post

2010-03-12T15:11:00.002-06:00

Welcome my good friend Emily to The Chocolate and The Cheese today as she graciously enough wrote up a great post for us today. Em and I have been friends for years; roommates, classmates, moms-in-crime. I'm so grateful for her friendship and the fact that our lives have taken similar courses.

Take it away Emily!

My dear friend, MP asked me to write a guest post for this wonderful blog and true to form, I’m turning it in about a month late (oh, okay, six weeks)—but I haven’t just been procrastinating, I swear! The truth is that I’ve been struggling to come up with a post written cleverly enough to befit this space—no promises about the end result of my efforts.

Anyway, I considered writing about what a kind, intelligent and all-around wonderful person, MP is, but nixed the idea after realizing she’d probably just think that I was about to ask her for a REALLY big favor. So, instead I’m going to tell you about my guilty pleasure. We all have them, but mine is, perhaps, a wee bit more embarrassing than your secret stash of Us! Weekly or the cookies you hide behind the healthy snacks that you’re training your kids to eat. For those who know me in real life, no! I’m not going to write about Murder She Wrote; this is far worse than my affinity for J.B. Fletcher.

You may be wondering what could possibly be worse than a tattooed, supposedly hip, twenty-something winding down with J.B. Fletcher every night. Well, trust me, just... yeah, here’s how it goes down: Every afternoon, after feeding the kids lunch, laying the boy down for his nap and shutting the girl’s bedroom door (with strict orders to stay in her room and actually be quiet during “Quiet Time”), I creep down the stairs and shamefully pop in my favorite DVD. While I’m waiting for him too appear on screen, I close the drapes because quite frankly, there are some things that my neighbors just don’t need to see. Then there he is, lean but muscular, oiled and tanned in his short striped shorts and crystalled tank top and he says to me, “Let’s Sweat.”

That’s right, people, Richard. F*&#*n Simmons and for the next thirty-eight minutes and some-odd seconds, I sweat to the oldies, baby, and I love it. Go ahead and laugh, I know it’s funny, but something about him transforms me from my cynical, “I only run when I’m being chased” self into a person who really wants to push my body to be healthy. Maybe it’s because I know that he’s been in my shoes and has really struggled to get healthy, or because of his energy and enthusiasm (I can't believe I'm admitting this!). Whatever the case, when I’m done, I feel good; not just my body, but my whole self. I feel renewed and more like the glass-half-full (but twenty-five pounds lighter) kind of person I want to be.

So, while most of my friends see their cool boyfriend Gym a few times a week, I’m going to continue my secret, shameful, rendezvouses with my silly boyfriend, Richard.

Changes

2010-03-10T14:11:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I think this blog is dangerously close to becoming a self-help site. If you feel the same, please let me know. However, until I here somebody complain, I'm going to continue with my train of thought. And those trains keep coming back to how I want to change my life.

Now, I don't want you to get the impression that I'm unhappy. Quite the contrary. I simply have been evaluating some elements in my life and want to make some changes. Blame it on the season. Maybe it's Spring cleaning on overdrive? Or perhaps it because even bigger changes may be coming down the turnpike. In any case I've decided that since I am an adult, a mother, a wife and much closer to thirty than I have ever been in my life, it's time for me to "grow up".

Not that I'm out until 2am every night and living the night life. (Ha, the thought of me doing that now actually made me laugh out loud. As if I could stay up until 2am and then function with a toddler all day who wakes at 6am.)

What are these changes, you ask? Well, for one thing, I'm keeping my kitchen clean. I'm wiping down the stove and making sure that the sink is clean and the dishes are done.

Not monumental enough for you?

Well, how about getting tough on clutter? I'm trying to eliminate all those piles of "stuff" that are laying around the house.

Still not impressed?

What if I tell you that I'm trying to do more things for myself, that make me happy and give me a sense of accomplishment.

Now maybe we're getting somewhere.

Finally, I'm spending each day looking for the good things, the positive things, the things that make me glad to be living here, now, with this family and in this city.

Are you gagging yet? I'm not perfect, but I'm not going to let my imperfections control me anymore either. I'm lazy by nature, but I can accomplish things when the want is there. I generally have a care-free, "go with the flow" temperament, but I still get stuck in ruts. So simple changes to make my life just a little more clean, streamlined, joyous, and organized. These are the changes I think that I'll be making.

Sigh, I feel better already.

What I'm Reading- Blog Edition

2010-03-09T13:29:00.002-06:00

Hello folks! Do you spend as much time on the internet as I do? I am embarassed to admit how much time I'm online, so I'm not even going let you guess how many hours a day I log. So, what am I reading? Well, I'm glad you asked! My daily blog roll changes frequently, by I wanted to share with you some of the fun new blogs I'm currently checking out. Let me know what you think.

What blogs do you read everyday?

Mix it Up

2010-03-08T14:17:00.002-06:00

The last few weeks I've been in a funk. Crabby, cranky and generally just feeling rather off balance. The little lady wasn't sleeping well (which meant the rest of the family wasn't sleeping well), the winter seemed to drag on and I just couldn't bring myself out of the blues. Finally last week the sun came out, the weather turned a bit warmer and I began to come to terms with the fact the we may be a no nap house from here on out. After reading my good friend Sarah's blog post last Thursday I decided to turn my day upside down and shake this funk for good.

We went about our morning routine like any old, normal day. I went to the gym, the lady got to hang at the daycare and afterward we ran some errands. Then came nap time. Dun, dun, dunnnn. After just one attempt at putting the aforementioned lady down I decided to scoop her up and finish the errands that I didn't get to in the morning. We returned some movies, grabbed some apple juice and mama juice (aka, Diet Coke) and took a nice walk. Let me tell you, there is nothing more fascinating to a toddler than water running in a gutter. The girl was in heaven!

After we walked around the block we got buckled in the car and drove over to our next destination. We headed into Crafty Planet for a peek. I always mean to get in that store, but never prioritize the time for myself. They were so awesome and let the lady run around and play with fabric scraps while I shopped. Plus I got some good advice for toddler sewing, and some new fabric to boot. Next we walked down the street to a new restaurant that I've been meaning to get the menu for (they deliver). They had just opened for dinner so we quickly grabbed a menu as we proceeded down the block for our walk. After a little ways the lady needed a rest and a juice break so we sat on a bench and counted the cars go by.

Then it was time for home and a little bit of a movie while I cooked dinner for an impromptu dinner party. The food turned out great, the lady ate and played well and by the time bed time rolled around she could barely make it through one story.

Success.

Now a day that serendipitous is hard to pull off everyday. People's moods, attention spans and overall happiness all come into play. However, it made me realize two things:

One, the lady thinks everything we do is cool, if I spin it right. Water running in the gutter? What a cool river! Look, it's a bus! We could be doing anything and as long as I take part in it and we are doing it together, she is going to have a good time; which means I am too.
Two, sometimes we just need to break out of our routine. Now, most days the routine is the only thing that holds us together. The little lady knows when it's time to eat, change, sleep all because we do it (relatively) the same, everyday. But it's ok, or even great, to change it up now and then. Variety is the spice of life after all.

So the next time you feel like you're in a rut, change the day up a little. Forget your routine and take a new approach at the day. You might find that it makes the day go by faster and have a little more fun.

Five Things Friday- Cheap Things To Do This Weekend

2010-03-05T13:53:00.001-06:00

After a tough week there's nothing I look forward to more than the weekend. The weekend means that I have back up, some free time and more importantly, time to spend bonding with the family. After the Mr. and I had the little lady we realized the need to get out and about as often as possible. Thing is, kids can be expensive. However, if you get a little more creatively you don't have to spend much more than a couple of bucks per outing. So for this Fridays Five Things post I'm going to give you some things that you can do this weekend, on the cheap!

The library. This is a great place to head to on the weekend. You don't even have to check anything out, just sit and peruse the selection! Did you know that you can also borrow DVDs and CDs from the library? And audio books too? The library is a great resource and place to spend some time.
Explore a new part of your town. If you live in a city chances are you spend quite a bit of time in your own neighborhood. You know the best place to get a cup ' joe, buy your friend a b-day present or grab brunch. Try hunting out a new neighborhood, you new know what gems you will find!
Go for a walk at the mall, before it opens. If you have kids, this is perfect for you. Kids get up early and generally it's hard to find something to do with them until the rest of the world gets up. Most malls open early for walkers. This is the perfect location to let the kids run free, before the temptation to buy hits or the throngs head down the halls.
Ride Public Transit. Take the bus from one end of the line to the other. Take it to another part of town and then make your way back, stopping at any intersection the looks interesting. Or if you have to pee. Peeing on public transit is generally discouraged.
Take out your camera. Most of us have at least one camera laying around, and bemoan the fact that it never gets used. Change that this weekend! Take out your camera and document your weekend. Take some candid shots of yourself, your friends, that hottie that just passed you on the sidewalk. If portraits aren't your thing, go around shooting the unique architecture in your town or neighborhood. You never know what you'll find to take photos of!

Happy Friday y'all!

Enjoy your weekend.

Wordless Wednesday- Dreaming of Summer

2010-03-03T13:43:00.002-06:00

Not today

2010-03-02T13:48:00.003-06:00

I'm sick, the kid is running around like the small tornado she is and I have a To-Do list about "yey long" to finish. Like, should have finished last night, but was too tired because I was sick. Pity myself much? So that being said I leave you with some words that will hopefully brighten your day.

Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun...

2010-03-01T13:13:00.000-06:00

The sun is shining, the birds are singing and everyone in this part of the world is looking forward to spring. Snow is melting, green grass is tentatively poking up and I'm not listening to those of you who keep reminding me that March is typically the snowiest month. Shush. Let me enjoy my sunshine and meltiness; at least for today. This weekend we took our bikes in for a tune-up, which means that biking around town is just around the corner! We also took a bunch of walks around the neighborhood and our favorite places around town. It was fantastic.

It's so nice that I think a walk is in order for this afternoon. Wearing our (wait for it...) Spring Jackets! So if it's sunny where you are today, go and take a walk. You deserve a little taste of Spring after the long Winter!

Five Things Friday

2010-02-26T12:45:00.002-06:00

In an effort to help me be not only motivated, but organized enough to blog everyday, I have decided to add another weekly column, if you will, to the blog. Thursdays, you may have noticed, have become the Cookbook Showdown Days. It's nice to have a schedule I think, for me and for you too! So from here on out Fridays are now going to be know as Five Things Fridays. I'll present you a list of Five Things. They may be things I am thinking about, or dreaming about or thankful for or just random, inane, useless knowledge about myself. Whatever the case maybe I'm fairly certain that it will be entertaining. I think highly of myself, like that. Without further ado, here is the first installation of Five Things Fridays!

Five Ways I Combat the Winter Blues:

Head to the gym. Nothing like a little sweat to make the day seem a little brighter. Or if I'm feeling particularly lazy I just spend some time in the sauna, then take a shower. I'm flexible like that.
Dance in a Patch of Sunlight. The little lady and I often crank up Pandora and dance the afternoon away in the kitchen. This is particularly fun while I'm cooking dinner.
Take some Vitamin D. Chances are if you live in the Northern Half of the World and it's winter time you are a least a little bit deficient. I'm not a Dr. but a little extra Vitamin D never hurt anybody.
Make Dinner with a Friend. It's hard enough to convince me to leave the house at night this time of year, it's even more difficult if you tell me that I have to change out of my jeans and sweater. But at a friends house you can rock the jeans, share a glass of wine and kick out some mean comfort food like Creamy Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese.
Take a hike. Or at least a walk around the block. The sun is fleeting and the rays weak, but if you bundle up good a quick jaunt around the block is possible. The extra sunshine, the fresh air, it will do you good. Take some nice deep breaths, close your eyes and pretend you're on your way to get an ice cream cone. Too soon? Well, hopefully in the next few weeks!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Cookbook Showdown- 1,000 Vegetarian Recipes, Carol Gelles

2010-02-25T20:21:00.005-06:00

Welcome to this week's edition of Cookbook Showdown. As we continue with this experiment in my cookbook collection, you'll see a large number of vegetarian cookbooks. This is because when I started out cooking I was a vegetarian. Funny how that works out, huh? We still eat a lot of veggie meals, it's just something we're used to. Feel free to add a chicken breast or some ground beef if you feel so inclined.

This week we're cooking Spicy Barley with Mushrooms. It's pretty straight forward, which is exactly what I needed on a Tuesday night.

It's hard enough to cook dinner some nights, let alone have an attention span long enough to actually follow a recipe.

For this recipe you basically brown some onion and mushrooms until they get nice and golden brown. You want all of that yummy, mushroomy flavor to come out.

Then you add the barley and some water (I used some stock) and let them meet and mingle for almost an hour.

While you're waiting go ahead and grate some Pepperjack Cheese. Or just some Monterey Jack cheese if you can't take the heat.

Once the barley has soaked up all of that liquid, add the cheese. Stir it around and let it all come together. Cheese is kind of like that girl in school that was friends with everybody; it can make friends with anybody.

What you end up with looks a lot like risotto, but tastes even better.

It's creamy, it's mushroomy (I'll make that a new word yet), it makes a hearty, filling end of Winter meal.

End of Winter? Who am I kidding, Winter lasts until the 4th of July in this part of the world.

I bet this would be good with a nice chicken breast on the side, or maybe even a spinach salad. I wouldn't know. I ate two bowls for dinner and called it delicious.

So over all, how did this cookbook rate? If I had to do it over again, I don't think I would spend the money. Many of the recipes in it are too finicky or fussy or just aren't things that I would normally stock in my kitchen. It has some good ideas, but nothing that you couldn't get out of another, more comprehensive cookbook.

*Just a little disclaimer. I'm not getting paid to write these "reviews". These are all cookbooks that I have in my kitchen. I am not going to post the actual recipes because I'm pretty sure that would be copyright infringement and I don't really feel like going to court today. Or any day really. If at any time I do receive a cookbook from an author or a publisher (wouldn't that be grand!) I will give you a full disclosure; and my honest opinion.

Sharing is Caring

2010-02-24T15:09:00.002-06:00

One of the most difficult things to teach a toddler is sharing. They think everything in the world is theirs and they ever want to part ways with their "favorite" thing (or the favorite of the moment). In our house we try to talk about how we share with our friends because we want our friends to share with us, we share because we can't play/hold/have everything at once and we share because, indeed, everything is not ours. It's tough for a little kid, but a necessary skill to learn.

Sometimes I think it's harder to share for adults than kids.

Overall, generally, for the most part; I don't care if you use my stuff, take it, use it, return it or not. I'm not attached to it. Where I start to get ornery is when I have to share my time. I don't mean volunteering or giving my time to help a friend. I'm talking about when I have something planned, or I get a bit of precious "me" time and something or someone comes in the way of it. I want to throw a drop-down, drag-out tantrum like the best no-nap toddler. Tell me I can't leave, I can't see my friends, I can't make a cup of coffee, I can't write a blog, well you best be on your way before I count to ten. I've found that even when I set aside time to clean or organize if I have to spend my time doing something else, well, let's just say it's not pretty.

I'm trying to get better, really, I am.

I think since becoming a mom my life is over-structured, over-routined, set in a schedule. Before the little lady came I never carried a planner, never wrote down a thing, lived and did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I embraced the idea that kids need a routine to feel secure and comfortable; I whole-heartedly agree! The problem I have is that now I feel need to put everything in a schedule, including our down time and when I schedule in some personal time and it goes awry I get a little cranky.

Ok, a lot cranky.

So, I've decided that as I teach the Tiny Toddle Tornado to share, I'm going to take a page from my own book and re-teach myself to share as well. Take a step back and let life happen a little more, not get so crazy when life gets in the way of me getting a break. Because you what? I get the time I need, one way or another, and I don't need another thing to stress about.

Time

2010-02-23T13:30:00.002-06:00

Posting has been rather spotty around here lately. Have you noticed? I try, with the best of intentions, to pop out a blog post durning nap time everyday. However, nap time has been non-existent around these parts lately. I think I've finally figured the nap equation out again, so hopefully we can get back on schedule.

The other thing is that I have felt lately that I just don't have enough time. I'm trying to become more organized, prioritize what I really want to get done, be a present mom, get some "me" time in, go to the gym, spend time as a family, go back to school, be a good friend, put the house on the market, plan for a potential move, decide if I want another kid and generally just be happy.

Hmmm. No wonder I'm running out of hours in the day!

I feel like my house has become more organized; I've been committed to cleaning out closets and purging them and the other areas of junk collection in the house. It's not perfect, but it's getting there. The other 500 million things? Well, they're getting there. The problem is that it's hard to prioritize this blog when the house is a mess and someone is yelling, "Mooom, mommy! Mama, mom!" I like to think that this space qualifies as "me" time, however I just need to make time in my hypothetical, non-existent schedule. That's one of the things about having kids. They are on a strict, do not veer from, do or die routine. The problem is that they switch it up once every couple or weeks or so. Just in case parenting wasn't hard enough in the first place.

So bear with me for a little bit as I try to re-organize (or just plain organize...) my life. I should be back to regular scheduled posting soon. Or whenever this little lady decides that napping is part of her regular scheduled programming again.

Cookbook Showdown- How to Cook Everything, Mark Bittman

2010-02-18T14:33:00.012-06:00

Skillet Pork Chops and Flopped Potatoes

Let me just start off saying this. I love Mark Bittman. My friend Amy turned me on to him about a year ago and I haven't looked back. It is one of two cookbooks that I keep on my kitchen counter, because I use it daily. If I can't remember how to cook something, what temp I should cook something at, if I need a different way to cook something; I turn to Mr. Bittman. You really do learn how to cook everything, plus. Plus! He's funny and reading his commentary makes every recipe just a little bit better. So without further ado, let me introduce to you the story of the most awesome pork chops ever and the potatoes that flopped.

Yes, that says Eight Ways. That's one of the other reasons I love Mark Bittman. After almost every recipe he tells you how to change it up, make it better, more exciting, not mundane. Tonight I decided to make the Pork Chops with Mustard Sauce. Yum, my belly just did a little dance.

The recipe called for four pork chops, but the package I had languishing in my freezer only had three, so we went with three. Just more yummy sauce to spoon over the top later.

Now here's where you pretend my camera battery didn't die and you see the pork chops happily simmering away in my nice black pan with some garlic and chicken stock. Makes a pretty little picture, doesn't it?

After the chops are cooked you take them out, keep them warm and work on the sauce. There's the host of characters up there. Capers are also awesome in the sauce, but I didn't realize I was out until I opened the fridge. Oh well, next time.

You see, I cheated a little. I've actually made these a couple of times before. (The first time with capers, delicious!) The Mr. was at a dinner meeting, the Little Lady was happily eating crackers for dinner and I had these pork chops that needed to be cooked. Don't hate, it's just how it happened. Doesn't that sauce look lovely?

Then you add the chops back into the sauce and let them love each other for a little bit. It's good. So good that I ate the third little fella for lunch the next day. On a sandwich. With the sauce as a spread. Whoo-boy. It was good.

The flopped potatoes. See what that Mark Bittman did again? Ten ways to do potatoes! Who doesn't need to know ten ways to make braised potatoes? For this I chose to make the Cheddar and Horseradish Braised Potatoes. Sounds divine, doesn't it?

It seems easy enough. You brown some potato chunks in a little bit of oil, cook them with some chicken stock and then add in the cheese and horseradish.

Well, somewhere between perfectly done potato chunks and creamy, silky, cheesy goodness; this recipe went all down hill for me. There was too much liquid, not nearly enough salt and I had to add heaps of extra horseradish to even taste it. I was about to throw the whole dish. I was so disappointed. I was upset that I wasted almost a whole quart of chicken stock. But then I had an epiphany.

Why not mashed them up and make them the most delicious, silky, cheesy mashed potatoes ever! So that's what I did. The Mr. was beyond words when he sat down to eat this hearty little supper. It was tasty, easy, and except for the extra liquid with the potatoes, exactly what I've come to expect from Mark Bittman.

What?! You're still reading? Go out and buy this cookbook already!

Five Reasons Why I Love the Olympics

2010-02-16T14:04:00.003-06:00

All sorts of good will and happiness about your own country and the world in general. During the Opening Ceremony and the Parade of Nations everyone was cheering for everyone else. Nations that don't recognize each other in political life (I'm looking at you China and "Chinese Taipei") can come together in the spirit of competition. I think I just teared up a little.
Bob Costas. From the sports coats he pilfered from my grandfather's closet, to his attempts at making jokes; watching the Olympics just wouldn't be the same if Bob Costas wasn't sitting behind that desk.
Sports that you will quickly forget about ten seconds after the Closing Ceremonies finish. Curling, Skeleton, Luge, Cross Country Skiing, Bobsledding, Ski Jumping, Speed Skating, anyone?
Being an expert in an event after watching two competitors finish and listening to thirty seconds of commentary. "Look Mr.! Look how tight her knees are, how her head doesn't even bobble up and down. Wow, she got a lot of air on that heli...she's in it for the Gold."
Being able to watch something on TV that everyone else is watching. What can I say? Sometimes being the only one not watching "Project Runway" and "The Real Housewives of ..." can make a lady feel left out. At least this way I can keep up with the chatter at the water cooler.

Thoughts on Parenthood

2010-02-15T14:36:00.004-06:00

"One might as well try to ride two horses moving in different directions,

as to try to maintain in equal force two opposing or contradictory sets of desires."

-Robert Collier

Food Blogs and a New Feature

2010-02-11T14:04:00.004-06:00

I.am.addicted.

I'm sitting here trying to think about what to write about, staring out the window at the lovely sun and sneaking quick peeks to my other open tabs. Would you like to know what those tabs are?

Pizza Stromboli with Spinach, Mushrooms and Cheese

All Recipes Daily Recipes

Gnocchi alla Ro mana

Lentil Stew with Sausage

Are we seeing a theme here?

I am obsessed with food. Making it, looking at it, planning it, eating it, sharing with those I love. Anything that has the slightest, the smallest iota or connection to food, I want to know about it. It's getting a little ridiculous I think. I have cook books I've never used. A whole folder in my bookmarks of saved recipes I've never made.

The thing is though, I don't usually cook from a recipe.

I browse recipes to get ideas. To think about flavor combinations. To see what others are eating. To learn new techniques or types of food. The only time I totally follow a recipe is if I'm baking or trying a written recipe for the first time. And then there are usually still substitutions or additions. When I was in college one of the Mr. and my favorite things to do was to sit at Barnes and Noble and just look at books. Sometimes for hours. He would often grab some science fiction or historical book. I would head straight to the cookbook section. I had a notebook that I would write down flavor ideas and the occasional recipe. I kinda wish I knew where that notebook was now.

So in an attempt to "help" my addiction or, probably more accurately, give it some purpose I'm going to start cooking from one of my cook books every week. Not every night, let's not go crazy, but at least two recipes a week I'm going to cook from a book in my "collection". I'll take pictures and do a write up about what I think of the recipes and the book overall. I'm going to tag these posts with "Cookbook Show Down". Why? Because I write this blog and I can.

Once I run out of cookbooks maybe I'll start writing about my favorite food blogs. I'm pretty sure I won't lose interest in food/cooking for a long time.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

2010-02-09T14:36:00.002-06:00

The makings of these bars was really a comedy of errors. I didn't have enough oats. I thought I was making a 13x9 pan of bars, but really it was an 8x8. All of the pictures I took of the process and the finished product came out a little wonky. Most of them were blurry. And then, when I tried to find the recipe so I could post it with the pictures... I couldn't find it.

So, I should be telling you to go out and make these bars as soon as you can.

That they are the best combination of PB, Oatmeal and Chocolate Chips...

...Ever.

Instead I'll tell you that I'm searching and searching for the recipe and I'll post it as soon as I can find it. Hopefully soon, so I can make another pan.

Cures for the Winter Blues

2010-02-08T14:16:00.003-06:00

As I promised last Friday, I spent all weekend coming up with ideas that will make the rest of this long, cold (and now, super snowy) Winter go by just a teensy bit faster. As I said, not all are fun; however, they are all ways to either get you out of the house, or make you more productive inside. Take a peek at my list, won't you?

Organize Your Closets
Make a Fort with Pillows and Blankets
Organize Your Photos--remember to back them up!
Make Curtains
Make a treat to bring into work or to a friend.
Send someone a card in the mail.
Make a list of things you'll do this summer.
Plan your garden.
Finger-paint
Rearrange a room in your home
Paint Something
Make a Budget
Volunteer
Read the Newspaper
Join a New Club
Take a Class (Pottery, Language, Cooking, etc)
Google your Exes
Plan your next week (months) meals
Call your Mom--or your Best Friend
Find a new blog to read (Read Yes and Yes yet?)
Have someone over for dinner.
Make Valentines
Eat Some Chocolate
Take a Bath
Dye Your Hair
Go to the Library & check out a book you've been meaning to read.
Get a Pedicure (or give yourself one at home)
Take pictures of the Snow, Show yourself when it's 100 degrees & 100% humidity.
Do a Puzzle
Watch an old, favorite TV Show on Hulu
Try a new class at the gym.
Put on some bright lipstick
Or just spend hours searching the Internet for cool links...

What do you do to ward off the Winter Blues?

Winter Doldrums

2010-02-05T14:22:00.002-06:00

It's the beginning of February and we in the Northern Half of the World have another solid two months of winter left. I've stayed positive up until this point. Days filled with activities. Mornings at the gym. Projects at the house. Lots of good snuggles and movies. Anything to fill the days. But I think the truth has started to sink in.

We have cabin fever.

Even on the days that we do have a full day planned, we still end up at home. What was once a wonderfully cozy, happy to be, laughter-filled home has become boring, messy, I can't wait to leave house. Eh. I would say overall I still feel pretty good, but... But...

I think I'm ready for Spring.

So I've decided that I am going to beat this funk. No down.in.the.dumps.February for me this year. I'm going to get organized, motivated and beat this winter at it's own game. On Monday I'm going to have a list of ways that you can beat your own mid-Winter slump. Ways to stave off boredom and crazy, house-bound looniness. They won't all be fun. No siree, but they will help you get motivated and hopefully take your mind away. Yes, together we will beat this Season. Until then, have a fantastic weekend. Go out and enjoy the new snow, the warm(er) weather and the Super Bowl commercials. I'll be back here Monday, throwing you all a life line.

Wordless Wednesday- Next Generation iPod

2010-02-03T14:31:00.002-06:00

My Perfect Morning

2010-02-02T14:37:00.000-06:00

I sleep in late (ie. 8am). As my eyes struggle to stay open I smell the delectable, nay divine, scent of a pot of coffee already made and waiting for me in the pot downstairs. The house is quiet. I stumble down the stairs, already anticipating that first sip of coffee. I open the fridge and my favorite creamer is on the door. I open the cupboard, my favorite mug is clean and waiting for me to pour the hot, brown goodness inside.

Nothing like the first sip in the morning. Especially if you didn't have to make it yourself.

I walk around the corner where I see the Mac is up and running. My favorite blogs/websites are sitting open. Ready for me to peruse and comment. As I click tab after tab, I revel in the warmth of the coffee, the click-click of the keys as I type and the silence that abounds. As it turns out, all of my favorite pages were updated over night. Those bloggers--they sure are an insightful, funny bunch.

I stand up to stretch and notice that my book for book club is sitting, waiting, for me on the side table. And who refilled my mug? Those mischievous little sprites, I'll let you live in my house any day if you continue to keep my cup full and warm. I settle in to read a few chapters. The only sound I hear is that of the paper scrape against my hand as I turn a page. I chuckle out loud. My lady friends sure do know how to pick a good book.

I glance at the clock and realize that it's almost eleven. Technically I would suppose that the morning is almost over. Guess I missed breakfast. Oh well, I guess I'll have to catch brunch. I return up the stairs only to find that all of my clothes have been washed, pressed and put away. Sweet. No rummaging around for something to wear today! I put on something comfortable, put in a pair of earrings and head out the door.

I take a deep breath in and revel in the sunshine. Spring is finally here and the grass is just starting to get green. I hop in the car and head to my favorite brunch spot. Lucky me! My favorite outdoor table was just vacated and I slide in as the busboy is wiping it down. I order my cup of coffee and lounge back into my chair. The people watching in this part of town never fails to captivate me. I place my order and stroll inside to find the newspaper. I glance around the busy room. Aha, I found a stack of papers on a newly empty table and swipe them before the other paper seekers can grab them. I browse the headlines, nothing new, and continue looking for the crossword puzzle. Usually, by this time of the morning, they are already completed or the only answers left are the insanely difficult ones that only the trivia junkies can answer.

Believe or not, the puzzle is still empty.

I dig around in my purse, vainly trying to find a pen to use. That's right, I use a pen for the crosswords. I can't stand to write in pencil. Near the bottom I find one. Whew. I would hate for this puzzle to go to waste. I start at the bottom and work my way up. I can answer about every third clue. Not too bad. As I start to get frustrated, my eggs show up. Saved by the large plate of food; I dig in. I think brunch is the best meal of the day. You're combining two meals, so you feel justified in eating a little bit more, a little bit richer. And, since you haven't eaten all day, you're hungry. Food always tastes better when you're hungry.

Satiated, I drain my coffee cup and check my watch. It's half-passed noon. The morning is officially over. That's a good thing. Any more relaxing and I'd have to crawl back into bed. And I've got things to do today.

Happy Birthday to Me...

2010-02-01T14:30:00.002-06:00

Today is the day when I was born into this fantastic world we live in. Usually for my birthday I want to go out, out, out. Dancing and drinks, fabulous dinners and staying up late. This year I opted to celebrate last Friday with a quiet night at home with good drinks, friends and food. This morning I got my free latte from a local chain and renewed my license at the DMV. It actually felt great to get things done. Tonight I'm staying in with the Mr. and the little lady. For some reason take out and a movie just sound perfect this year. I'm looking forward to a year full of big changes, exciting adventures and relaxing moments. Just the way life should be.

Happy Monday everyone!

Enjoy the day of my birth.

Busy as a Bee

2010-01-29T15:00:00.002-06:00

Excuse me while I hurry to finish up making the house look presentable and making food for tonight. Ah, yes! Tonight I'm having my lovelies over for a little birthday get together and I'm cooking up a storm. I'll fill you in on the details later next week after I have finished (hopefully) and there are pictures to document the yumminess. Until then have a lovely weekend. Stay warm if you are in the Northern Hemi, it's been a bit frigid out there! Here's a little quote that will hopefully help make this weekend nice and warm.

"Pour down your warmth, great Sun!"

-Walt Whitman

Happy Weekend!

Books, books and more books...

2010-01-28T13:57:00.004-06:00

It seems fitting that on the day that I was planning on writing a post on my favorite books the author of one of my all time favorites past away. JD Salinger past away this morning at the age of ninety-one. You can read his obituary in the New York Times here. I read "The Catcher in the Rye" when I was in high school and chose to do a piece from it for a 'dramatic reading' that we had to do for class. I remember vainly trying to find a section that didn't have any swearing in it. I was still in high school after all. In the end I couldn't find one that I liked, so I bravely said the word, "Damn" in front of my entire English class and my teacher. It was liberating, and scary and made me feel so adult all at the same time. Thanks Mr. Salinger for giving voice to millions of angsty, hormonal teenagers, myself included.

On to my list of books. I love to read. Always have. I remember my mom forcing me to go outside and play and forbidding me to bring a book along because that's all I wanted to do, read. My favorite memories of childhood are reading in our hammock beneath the pine trees and sitting around the campfire with a book in my lap, eating peanuts in the shell and throwing the shells in the campfire. What I wouldn't give to be able to do that now!

There aren't many books that I would re-read. Here's a list of my favorites.

Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery

Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell

The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley

The Red Tent, Anita Diamant

Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

Brave New World, Aldous Huxley

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres

A Long Way Down and How to Be Good, Nick Hornby

The English Patient, Michael Ondaajte

I'm quite positive that there are some that I am forgetting and that I soon as I hit 'Publish' I will think of a few more. As you can see there's isn't much in the way of new fiction. So help me out.

What are your favorite books, the ones you are willing to read over and over again?

Hello Out There!

2010-01-27T14:30:00.003-06:00

Hello there! It's me again. Yeah, I know that you come here and see me almost everyday, but today I wanted to make sure and say, "Hi, how are you? How is your day going?" You see, I had a couple of ideas about what I wanted to write about today, but then I started thinking about what you might want to read.

You! Yes, you!

I see you reading this blog everyday, and I'm honored that you take time out of your very busy day to read my little spot on the internet. So what is it that you would like to read about? Any questions that you'd like to ask me? Topics that you would like to see talked about? Really, what is it that you'd like to know? I'm open for suggestions and would really love to hear what you have to say.

Leave a little note in the comments or contact me via email at palmer.mary1@gmail.com. I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Tomorrow, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Organization

2010-01-26T14:34:00.002-06:00

I have a hard time being organized. I'm a pack rat, clutter seems to follow me about and although I love the feeling of throwing/giving things away, I often lack the motivation to do it.

Not lately, however.

I don't know if it's the exercise, or the start of a new year or the fact that I've been ok with staying home more lately; whatever it is it's making me want to clean, de-clutter and simplify our lives. I'm going through closets, buying baskets and storage bins, throwing things away that I should have tossed years ago. It's therapeutic. There's the clothes that will never fit again, random craft projects, piles of magazines, souvenirs that we brought back from China and are still sitting in our closet. (If anyone needs any chopsticks, let me know. We have many sets.)

It feels nice to be able to walk into a room, a closet, the basement and be able to find something and not trip over the junk that's laying all.over.the.floor. LN doesn't really help, she likes to take things out, strew them all over the house and then leave them there for me to pick up. Which I do. At some point.

We used to be able to have a clean house by default. The Mr. and I have never lived in one place for very long. We like it that way. It's kind of a natural way for us to get rid of sh*t we don't need. After moving out of the house we lived in during college all of our Earthly possessions fit into a 5' x 20' storage unit. And there was still room to spare. I'm pretty sure we couldn't do that again if we tried really, really hard. There's the baby stuff, the dining room table, our bed, LN's bed, various other pieces of furniture that I can't bear to part with now. That being said I'm still fairly confident that we could down size much easier and less painfully than most people. The downside is that I also feel like we don't have a lot of 'nice' things. Our rooms aren't decorated, there's a randomness to our house that some days I love, and others drives me batty. Maybe someday we'll have a space that will match in some sort of way and will feel put together. Until then, we'll just have to make do with the hand-me-down couches and artifacts from our travels.

For now I'm going through the past two years of our lives and cleaning up house. Donations are being made, the recycling and garbage bin are full, we can set our coffee mugs on the coffee table and not be worried that a pile of something will fall off. I'm not sure how long this will last, but it sure feels good right now. There are still little pockets of random boxes in different corners of the house. And one of these days, very soon, I'll get to those too.

A Foray Into Bread Baking

2010-01-25T13:34:00.010-06:00

The little lady that resides here eats a peanut butter and honey sandwich everyday for lunch. Since she's consuming so much bread I got tired of shelling out upwards of $5 per loaf. Crazy! I could easily make a loaf or two a week, thus cutting down our grocery bill, and controlling the quality at the same time. So I've been "auditioning" bread loaves to see what will become my weekly standard. Last week I made a Semolina Loaf. Well, I attempted to make a 100% Semolina Loaf; but I didn't buy enough Semolina flour. So I added a bit of wheat. Then I realized that I didn't have any olive oil, so I subbed some melted butter. The results? Surprisingly really good, especially given the fact that I had to sub so many ingredients. Tasty, soft crumb and the little lady ate it right up. So good in fact, that I want to try it again with all of the correct ingredients!

See that little bit of yellow in there? That's the Semolina Flour, pretty isn't it?

Wait, who's that? Checkin' to make sure I'm doing it right?

Add the melted butter and some warm water.

Mix it all up, until a dough forms. Really, much easier than you think.

Knead it for ten minutes. This is the nicest dough I've ever worked with, nice and supple.

Now let it sit and rise until double in size. The picture for this would have been really boring,

good thing I forgot to take it.

Flatten it out, roll it up and stick it in a greased loaf pan to rise a bit more.

And there it is in all of it's brown and crumby glory. Looks delicious, doesn't it?

Oh, and it is!

Glad you approve Little Miss.

Game Day

2010-01-24T09:26:00.002-06:00

I have to admit, I kinda like football. In fact, up until about two years ago I think I knew more about football than the Mr. did. I went to every single HS game my Junior year. I was friends with one of the cheerleaders boyfriends, so we drove to all of the Away Games and did dorky things like blast Classical Music like we were thugs. Ah yes, I was so cool in High School.

So today the Minnesota Vikings play the New Orleans Saints to determine who will play in the Super Bowl two weeks from now. Emotions are running high over at my house and will only escalate when we drive over to the Mr's parents house to watch the game on their Jumbotron. It's always fun to hang with the family on game day. The Mr's dad makes something and throws it in the crock pot for lunch. There's veggies and chips galore. Today I made some yummy bars that I will tell you all about later.

So today is a big day. I guess for as much as I like football I don't really care who wins or looses today. I mean, I'm a Packer's fan at heart. The trouble is that if the Vikings win today, the Mr, his twin and older brother and their dad are all going to the Super Bowl. So I'm tied. If they win I'll be a football widow during the biggest game of the year. If they lose I'll have to deal with a crabby husband for the next two to three weeks. At least until the Super Bowl is over. Can't really say which one would be worse.

At least the Super Bowl isn't on my birthday this year. That's always a rip-roaring good time.

Happy Friday!

2010-01-22T15:07:00.002-06:00

Happiness is felt

by making other people happy.

Go on! This weekend, do something nice for someone else.

While you're at it, you might even do something nice

for yourself.

The New Year's List: Grad School

2010-01-20T14:39:00.003-06:00

So last night I officially crossed one item off of my New Years To-Do List. I attended the Hamline University's open house for the School of Education's Graduate Programs. It's part of my, "What Do I Want To Do When I Grow Up" process. LN is getting older and I need to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. We may or may not have another child, so either way I want to get a move on and start something for myself. A degree in Anthropology can take you a lot of places, but one place it can't take you is to the Employment section of the newspaper. At least if you're looking for a subsection with it in the title. That leaves one with a host of choices. Too many choices in my opinion and that's why it's taken me this long to decide on my next step.

I started the application process last night.

I'm not sure what the final outcome will be. I'm choosing to wait and make that decision until after I've heard whether or not I've been accepted. No use worrying about something that I, as of yet, still have no control over. So time will tell. I have to ask a few former professors for letters of recommendation and get my transcripts. Apply for Financial Aid. Tell myself again not to freak out because nothing has been decided yet.

I'm excited. And nervous. And apprehensive. And excited. I loved going to school. Passing by the library on campus last night actually made me look forward to going and studying. This time around will be very different. No more going to the library until eleven only to hit up the bars until two. I will be taking one (possibly two) class at a time so I can hopefully focus more on my studies since my focus will be somewhat split. One of the reasons I like this program is that all of their classes are either at night, on the weekend, or online. I can make that schedule work. LN will still be around after all and she does take up a huge portion of my focus.

So, we'll see won't we? I'm delighted that I've made a decision and I'm happy to see where it takes me. Time will tell and then I'll tell you.

Motivation...

2010-01-19T14:28:00.005-06:00

I'm not feeling any today. I started to peruse my favorite photo site to try and garner some inspiration, but it didn't come. I found a lot of pretty pictures, but nothing to write about. I'm headed out tonight for the ESL Masters informational session. I'm excited and nervous to learn more about this possible new chapter in my life. But I can't really talk about it yet since I haven't gone to it. I also started the Couch to 5K program last week, but I don't really want to talk about that either since I just started it. There's just really not that much going on around here today. It's getting cold again outside and has gone back to gray. So I'll just leave you with these few images that I found somewhat inspiring, absolutely beautiful or just plain awesome. Enjoy!

Water

2010-01-18T15:20:00.003-06:00

I used to drink a lot of water everyday. When I was still nursing LN I was making liquid, so I had a water bottle with me at all times. I would try and drink eight to ten ounces every time I nursed. Surprisingly, I didn't have to pee all that often. Now I frequently go to the gym, only to forget my water bottle at home. I make do with quick trips to the fountain between sets and before and after my run. By the time I get home I'm so thirsty that I drown about twelve ounces in one gulp. I pour another glass and it sits there on the counter until dinner time.

I've been getting headaches the past week or so. Fairly painful, I tried giving up coffee, but they only got worse. So I've cut back to one cup in the morning; two if I can feel it being 'one of those days'. It seems to have worked, for the time being. Instead of the coffee I'm trying to drink more tea and definitely more water. I was under the impression that an average adult needed to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to maintain a healthy, functioning system. That always seemed like a lot to me...so I Googled it to see if my memory was correct.

It was and it wasn't.

It's true that for years people have been told to drink eight, eight ounce glasses of water per day. However, I found many articles stating that the eight ounces a day factoid was a myth. Researchers have found no medical reason for an intake of water that high everyday. The kidneys have no problem flushing out our systems and we can stay well hydrated if we drink less or even no water throughout the day. So where did this myth come from?

"...the notion may have started when the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council recommended approximately "1 milliliter of water for each calorie of food," which would amount to roughly two to two-and-a-half quarts per day (64 to 80 ounces). Although in its next sentence, the Board stated "most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods," that last sentence may have been missed, so that the recommendation was erroneously interpreted as how much water one should drink each day."

Hm. Makes sense to me. Especially if you eat fresh fruits and vegetables, many of which are mainly made up of water. Or do you eat a lot of soup? Surprise, that's a lot of liquid too! So what does this have to do with my headaches? Well, to be honest, I am not sure. It makes sense to me that if I drink coffee, which makes me use the bathroom, I should probably replace my body's fluids. Same goes with exercising. If I sweat, I should probably drink more water. Especially in the winter when the air around here could dry you out like a mummy. Duh. (I'm sure you're all rolling your eyes at my brilliance.)

So here I sit typing, thinking about water, with a glass half full (yep, I'm that type of gal) sitting next to me. No headache today, although I forgot my water bottle at home when I was at the gym today. I forgot my towel too, which makes for an interesting story too; especially if you realize it after you've come out of the shower.

TGIF

2010-01-15T14:07:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday everyone! This has been a week; started off by watching three kids three and under, dealt with a sick kiddo and then sick husband and to top if off had to do a major re-work of our budget. Overall, not a lot of fun things going on. Instead of dwelling on the negative, unhappy, icky things that happened this week, let me give you a rundown of the things that went right. Positive vibes, happy thoughts and sunshine all make the world go 'round, don't they? They do in my universe at least.

Officially started the Couch25K program. I am loving running, it feels good and I like to see how far I've ran/walked.
Took my first yoga class in eighteen months. Felt great while I was doing it and then sore for the next two days. Just like it should. Looking forward to going back next week.
Got the dishwasher to start working again. Thank goodness! The dirty dishes were starting to take over the kitchen.
Went out with some lovely ladies for dinner and had some yummy Vietnamese food. Cheap date with good company. Yum, yum, yum, delicioso!
Cooked up some delicious black bean burgers, baked chicken fingers and peanut noodles. We've been eating them all week since two-thirds of the household is sick and whiny.
Made it to Friday without wanting to pierce my eardrums with a chopstick or drinking myself into oblivion. All in all, a very successful week.

What went well for you this week?

Have a great weekend!

Wii Fit Plus

2010-01-14T14:59:00.003-06:00

We rented the Wii Fit Plus and balance board right around New Years. I'm wanting to get something for at home that I can use during nap time or the evenings that I feel compelled to move, but not go to the gym. Let it be said that I am not endorsed by Nintendo and this is purely my own thoughts on the product and what it did for me. (Although, if Nintendo felt compelled to give me a Wii Fit and Balance Board I probably wouldn't turn it down. Hear that Nintendo?)

It took no time to set up and as an extra bonus did not make the Mr and I fight at all during set up. This is rare, when a new piece of technology enters our house you can usually guarantee some sort of fight will break loose. We're predictable like that. You just synch it up and turn it on. Easy Peasy.

We went through the enter Mii set up process and it couldn't have been easier. Well, I guess it would have been easier to stand still for the 'body scan' if there hadn't been a twenty month old climbing through my legs, but I'm guessing that not all of you will have that problem.

The games are easy to play and truly, get your heart rate up. Especially if you are playing Super Hula Hoop. Plus, as an added bonus you can look like a dufus in front of your significant other or friends. Even the Mr., the most skeptical person I know, enjoyed it and thought most of the games were a decent workout. They are challenging without being frustrating and just entertaining enough to make you want to play them again to get a better score. As an added bonus, it keeps track of how long you've exercised and approximately how many calories you have burned. Additionally it tracks your BMI and weight so you can see daily/weekly/monthly progress.

I think that the yoga/strength training sections were quite good as well. I was skeptical myself at first, I need a lot of help to get into the correct form for any sort of physical activity. Those balance boards are crazy sensitive though and can tell if you are off balance, putting too much weight on the wrong foot or are set up incorrectly. If I had never done yoga before I don't think I would have liked it, but since I've practiced here and there it was a nice little workout. The only think I didn't like about this section is that you have to do a pose, and then manually choose to do another pose. I would have liked if they had a routine set up for me to do or had given me the option to set a routine to follow. You can do that in some of the other settings, but I couldn't figure it out for the yoga section.

Overall I think we'll get the Wii Fit before the end of the year. I liked the ease of the games/routines and it was even something we broke out when some friends came over. LN liked to do the actions along side of us, especially the Hula Hoop game. That, my friends, was pretty adorable. I will say though, if you don't like to play video games at least a little bit, this might not be the product for you. However, if you think of it less as a video game and more as an exercise tool I'm sure that you'd find it fun to do.

Have you tried the Wii Fit, what are your thoughts?

Duh! #5

2010-01-13T14:05:00.002-06:00

The other night I was trying to reheat some leftover rice. Two things you need to know about me: 1) I cannot for the life of me make rice on the stove. I must use a rice cooker. 2) I hate re-heated rice. I usually try and make leftover rice into some sort of fried rice. The other night, however, I was too lazy to cut up veggies and we were out of frozen ones. So reheated rice it was.

The problem I have with reheated rice is that it gets dry, sticky and generally all ends up in one clump in the middle of my pan. I try adding water to it, but then it just gets gummy, pasty and turns into a big bunch of goo.

So the other night I did something different. I dumped the rice into a skillet and then I added two ice cubes. Duh! The ice kind of steamed and slowly melted right into the rice. I kept stirring them around so all the rice had the chance to absorb a little bit of moisture. The result? Perfect, moist, not gummy rice. Yes! I added some extra spices and served it with some chicken breasts. Easy, quick and delicious. Finally, another way to use leftovers.

Happy 100!

2010-01-12T14:27:00.003-06:00

So sorry for my absence yesterday. Around this time I was attempting to put three toddlers down for naps. Sweet twenty month LN, and her two male cousins; ages two and three. At one point they were all napping...but let's just say that it didn't last for long. Good day overall, but made me completely forget about anything except diapers, snacks and Dora the Explorer.

So here we are! At the 100th post of this wee, little blog. See, since I posted twice in one day last week, this is still the big 1-0-0 post. Whew, lucky me!

First things first. Allow me to announce the winner of my sweet little giveaway. Using random.org I plugged in the number of comments and allowed it to chose a winner. It came up with number two, Lauren! So Lauren, contact me through email and let me know what two awesome ChicoBags you would like. Score for you!

Lauren's favorite way to celebrate is thus:

It depends what I am celebrating...
Part of me agrees with Debbie. A glass of wine, great food, and time with friends and family are the best way to celebrate.
But sometimes, just a great dinner, wine, and a bubble bath (with bad magazines like People to read) are in order. Like me celebrating the fact that I am off bed rest, not a big family celebration, just a little "yeah" celebration.
I will also include the hubby's... a nice dinner out. And by nice dinner I mean a dining "experience" like Charlie Trotter's, Arun, or La Belle Vie. Something with various courses and a wine flight.

I have to admit, that her idea of a celebration sounds pretty good to me! Anything that deals with food seems like a good celebration. Not only do I love to cook, but I love to eat too!

I don't want this post to get all long and sappy. I started this blog in hopes of carving some time out for myself, I wasn't really sure I'd stick with it. In fact, I was pretty sure I wasn't. The Mr. and I had a blog while we were living in China and we never really stuck with it. Let me tell you, I would have WAY more material for the blog if I lived there now! I look forward to writing here everyday. It's kind of a game to see how many people have read my posts, where they come from and read the comments! There have been days that I sit here and think, "What the heck am I going to write..." but in the I'm grateful to have something that is mine, only mine and people that take time out of their busy days to read what I have written. Thank you! Let's hope that the next one hundred posts get better and better.

Kind Words

2010-01-08T14:54:00.005-06:00

Dear kind woman at the gym:

Thank you for giving me the nice compliment as you were leaving today. It wasn't much, but it made my morning! Being in the locker room at the gym is always a little intimidating. I'm not a size 0 and my body jiggles in places that it probably shouldn't. Previous to your kind comment I had been thinking how much I would kill to look like you. Not overly skinny, but toned, muscular and fit. It's nice to know that even people that look like you sometimes admire things about me too!

On my way out I complimented the woman who was watching my daughter. I hope that she passes on a compliment to someone else during the day. See what you hopefully started? A chain of sunshine, if that doesn't sound too cliched. So thank you, again, for being so nice. I can only hope someone tells you how great your hair looks too.

Sincerely,

Have you entered my Giveaway yet? Why not!?

At the very least click over here to find out what you could win!

The Season of Still

2010-01-07T15:33:00.002-06:00

I'm on self-imposed house arrest over here today. In fact, most of this week I've been laying low and staying home. Those of you who know me in real life this must come as a surprise. I'm usually the one who is, more often than not, away from home. My days are packed with to-do lists and stops to make. This week however, I decided to respect the season and slow down a little. Enjoy the look at snow from my armchair, feel warm and snug inside the house. Take time to finish those projects that have been building up around the house and get back into a routine with LN.

I'm lovin' it.

The house is slowly getting de-cluttered, emails are being answered, closets purged, decorations hung, food baked, recipes found...all in all a very productive few days. And throughout it all there has also been snuggles and kisses and "more mama's" and crazy dancing and lots of laughter. Being home can be good. But it's good to have a plan. Now, where shall we go tomorrow?

Have you entered my Giveaway yet? Why not!?

At the very least click over here to find out what you could win!

We have a prize!

2010-01-06T16:04:00.003-06:00

So, I finally decided on a prize! Woo-hoo, you guys are going to love it!

The winners of the Giveaway that I announced yesterday will receive:

Any two ChicoBags ($7.99 or less) delivered right to your home*!

These bags are awesome. They fold up small, are durable and can hold up to twenty-five pounds (a gallon of milk weighs about seven pounds). There are tons of colors/patterns/styles to choose from. The winner will email me with their choices and home address and I will order and send out the goods to you. Happy Be-lated Holidays to you!

*If it was me I'd take this one in Gray and this one in Pacific Blue.

What are you waiting for? Click over to yesterday's post and enter to win!

A Battle of Wills

2010-01-06T13:00:00.000-06:00

The Mr. and I fight, a lot. This isn't a cry for help, or really any big declaration. We're both stubborn, independent people. We butt heads, always think we're the correct ones and then we get over it. I guess you could say that we have an unique knack for driving each other crazy. It's a good thing we love each other!

So this morning I was driving him to work and I was talking about how I'm going to start getting up earlier that LN in the mornings. I haven't set an alarm in almost two years - I just wait for the little lady to get up, and then I get up too. Well, she's been getting up at 7:45, and that's just too late for me to be getting up. I have things to do people! So, anyway, I'm going to get up early from now on.

The Mr. told me good luck. Not in the, "Hey, good luck MP! I'm rooting for you!" More like the snarky, half-smile, uh-huh, sure kind of good luck.

Well, that stung.

So I told him that I have no problem getting up early. I am, by nature, a morning person. I used to work the opening shift at coffee shops, by choice! I liked getting up at 5:00 AM to be at work by 5:30. And plus, I just have a greater mental strength.

That might have been what set him off.

You see, the Mr. always sets his alarm to wake up early. Then I wake up, to wake him up, to shut off the alarm. I think he's actually gotten up early twice for non-work related things. Yeah, he's not a morning person.

Now, it's a matter of pride. I have to get up before LN tomorrow morning, or fear the teasing and "I told you so's" from the Mr. I'm pretty sure I can do it. I guess that just means that I need to go to bed before one AM tonight.

Have you entered my Giveaway yet? Why not!?

At the very least click over here to find out what you could win!

A Giveaway, A Giveaway!

2010-01-05T14:53:00.006-06:00

Well fellow inter-friends, I was going to post today about my experience with the Wii Fit. However, upon looking at my post number I realized that today was post #95. Which means that I get to announce the nifty little giveaway I have planned for post #100.

Giveaway you say? Oh yes, just keep reading folks.

I'm not going to get too introspective and sentimental today. After all, I have to leave myself something to write for the hundredth post. I'm excited that I made it this far. When I started out I really, really hoped that I'd actually write in this space and feel motivated enough to keep writing here. And I do! I like having something to do everyday that is for me, and really (sorry to disappoint you) only me. We can discuss this at more length next week, when I've actually made it to one hundred.

So, the details.

I want to know more about who you are. Yes, you! The people that come and read my stuff everyday. Or every week. Heck, if you're just passing through I want to know about you too. I have a nifty little site counter so I can see where you are all from; but that doesn't really make you human, now does it? So here's what I want you to do:

Become a follower of my blog, over there ----> on the right. It's easy and painless, it just takes one click!
Answer this question in the comments section between now and next Monday night at 8pm Central:

What is your favorite way to celebrate?

Winners will be drawn at random Monday night and announced on Tuesday afternoon.

What's the prize, you ask? Well, it's a surprise! (Not anymore! Click over here to find out what you'll win!) Partly because I can't decide on what to get for you lovely folks, but rest assured that it will be great and something that all of you will love. I guarantee it.

So what are you waiting for? Get to commenting! And following! Swing by here tomorrow for another great post about something that I'm thinking about. Perhaps that Wii Fit will get written about sooner or later.

Happy Thoughts

2010-01-04T14:22:00.003-06:00

The temperature outside is four degrees, but it feels likes a healthy negative nine. The Mr. has the car today, so that means LN and I are housebound. Not that I really mind, it is pretty cold out there! I love days like today. I feel no regret for hanging out at home, making a big pasta dinner and sitting snuggled up on the couch. We need these kind of days, especially after the busy holiday season. So I'm saving the post about my experience with the Wii Fit until tomorrow. For today I'm going to curl up with my cup of tea and write out what's making me happy today. Try doing writing things out, it makes the day better and those little irritations seem trivial. So here goes:

The warm, yellow sun streaming in through the window.
Being able to rock LN to sleep, and her now still being asleep.
A cozy house.
Friends that brave the cold to come and play.
An upcoming birthday.
Cooking dinner.
A bright new year, full of possibilities.
Having this space to write and talk about things that I care about.

So let's have it, what are you happy about today?

The New Year's List

2010-01-01T13:31:00.003-06:00

So since my post on Wednesday I've been thinking about the goals and things that I want to accomplish and finish this year. I have a number of projects that I would like to complete and see finished by this time next year. Some of them are dorky, some of them are fun. Some pertain to the family, some are solely personal to me. Enough with the talking about it already, let's go to the list!

(Note: I'm not even going to number them, I don't want to inadvertently place importance on one over another. These are all important and can be finished in any order.)

Attend the Masters of ESL Open House at Hamline and make a decision about Grad School.
Find a new family tradition that we can do year round. Maybe one night a month is indoor picnic/camping night.
Contact our Realtor to set in motion putting our house on the market later this Spring.
Buy the Wii Balance Board and commit to using it; especially with LN.
Plan out my weekly meals to cut down on grocery costs and last minute meal planning stress.
Go to an outdoor concert.
Finish my Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate.
Go to the Schell Brewery tour.
Add new and interesting content to my blog by ways of specific topics and 'columns'.
See an opera with the Mr.
Start the Couch to 5K program and run a 5K this Spring/Summer.
Cook from the cookbooks that I have at home, take photos of process and results.
Send in a Postcard to Postsecret.
Organize closets and cupboards; donating and tossing items as needed.
Keep in contact with friends; send packages and letters.
Cook/bake with LN more often.
Have a Slumber Party with my Lovely Lady friends.
Go to the top of Foshay Tower.
Take out the camera and take pictures of an Alphabet.

You know the best part of the list? See it? It's over there---on the right. So you can keep up with me as I cross each of these nice little tasks off of my list.

A New Years Carol

2009-12-31T11:13:00.003-06:00

I've been trying to figure out which way I want this post to go. Is a reflective look on all that 2009 has been? A look back over the last ten years of this new millennium? Or is it all about the new year coming, 2010. The hopes, dreams and promises that we aim to keep for the next ten years?

I guess I could write a post about a little bit of both. A quick dip into the past, and a little peek into what I think the future shall hold. I'll finish it up with a short bit about what I'll be doing tonight, the last night of 2009. A little 'New Years Carol', reminiscent of Charles Dicken's, "A Christmas Carol." I desperately hope that there are no ghosts though, they really don't know how to party.

Past: Memorable New Years' Eves (No particular order)

2000: I was holed up in a skanky motel in my little hometown with some of my peeps. We were drinking cheap champagne and playing some game that involved wrapping up in toilet paper. I had to be home by two AM so I had one glass of champagne at midnight. Somehow a live fish ended up in our toilet, don't ask me how.
2004: The Mr. and I are in college and broke as two goats. We get a cheap, cheap bottle of something, rent some movies, play some board games and fall asleep around eleven. You don't get much more fun than us!
2006: Shaoxing, China. There was much drinking, dancing and general carousing. I dimly remember throwing beer bottles at the side of a wall. And having night noodles with about ten foreigners. Most of the night is hazy, but I do have fond feelings about whatever else we did that night.
2008: My dear friend Connie comes into town and we spend the night drinking, gabbing and hitting on cute bartenders. We randomly meet up with a friend in town from China. I make it out past midnight and can still function the next day.

Future: ???

At some point I would love to spend New Year's Eve in Times Square. It will be crowded, and cold and I will probably be miserable. However, it's one thing that I want to do before I die.
I would love to partake in some crazy, cultural celebration for NYE one year. Perhaps Brazil or Thailand (actually in April) or New Zealand or Spain. Maybe when LN is a little older so she can participate and appreciate it too.

Present: NE Minneapolis 2009

Drop off LN at grandma's house.
Meet up with a dear old friend for a drink/dinner
Go see Holmes
Have another drink and hopefully be at some bar to watch the ball drop.

What are your big plans for tonight?

How's your list of resolutions coming?

New Years Resolutions

2009-12-30T14:29:00.002-06:00

I've never really been the type to make a (or a list of) New Years Resolutions. Oh, I might have made up something if someone asked me directly, but in reality I kind of thought that they were hokey. A way for gyms to sell you a membership that you are never going to use. Even for a list maker like me, I just could never get into it.

This year I feel like it will be different though. Mostly because I'm choosing to re-think the Resolutions list. In years past I always thought about them in terms of unattainable goals. Oh, I really love to lose thirty pounds, but I have no desire to go to the gym. Well, I would love to read a book a week, but I'm not willing to cut into my internet time to do it. Those type of things. This year however, I'm going to make a list of attainable goals. Things that I know I can accomplish, and not necessarily ones that have to last the whole year. I'm also going to add in a few things that I'll actually want to do. Like visit the Schell Brewery. Or institute a new family tradition.

I'm basing my New Years Resolution list off of two different kinds of lists. The "Bucket" list, like in the movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. And the list of "___ New Things Before My ___ Birthday", like my dear friend Sarah Von is doing over at Yes and Yes. Good, positive, make you happy to be alive lists. Oh, my new New Years Resolution list will have plenty of things on it that I won't be happy to do, but over all I want this list to be something that I can obtain, finish and feel good about.

So, over the next couple of days, think about what you would put on your list. I'll be making some notes and jotting down ideas too. Come Friday, New Years Day, I'll give you the list that I'll be living off of in 2010. Perhaps we can try and knock off some of these things together, what do you think?

Tunes to Move Your Body To

2009-12-29T12:42:00.003-06:00

As promised yesterday, here is a list of my favorite Tunes to Move Your Body To. Use them wisely. They may incite dancing in the street, in your living room or even some innocent car dancing. Add some to your playlist for the gym, it will help make those resolutions stick for more than the week they did last year. Now, get up and dance!

In Between Days- Ben Folds Five version

Ready for the Floor- Hot Chip

Wonderboy- Tenacious D

You're Fit But Don't You Know It- The Streets

Superstitious- Stevie Wonder

Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard- Paul Simon

I Just Want to Play Piano- Mark Mallman

Take Me Out- Franz Ferdinand

What songs make you want to get up and dance?