Too late on a Tuesday

So yesterday (Monday) flew by. Big tall hubby hijacked the computer to work on a PhD paper therefore I was left manning the children on a seriously rainy day. Our back yard looked like a pond, and we live at the top of a big hill!

my things to do this week:

• finish desk clean up
• buy a new pair of jeans for me
• clean up my supply of baskets and organizers in the basement (they fell and are in a big huge pile on the floor)

menus for this week:

• chicken Parmesan
• tacos and taco salads
• navy bean soup
• salmon and red pepper risotto
• mac and cheese

A new year resolution for me (sort of)

Saturday was my birthday, the start of my new year. Woo, yipee, yahoo, rah rah. Do any of us celebrate anymore? Really after 25ish, it's kind of a let down anyway. Don't get me wrong, I love a good birthday: cake, ice cream, food, presents, hoopla, I just hate the getting older part. Wrinkles really stink.

In my January craziness, I forgot to post this... My word of the year, for 2011, I chose "pretty". I don't do resolutions anymore. So not worth it. I put enough pressure on myself everyday, I don't need a list of more things to do. I think the first time I heard about choosing a word was when I used to avidly follow scrapbookers' blogs. Ali Edwards, I think, is who first showed me the word of the year. I hardly ever read scrapbooking blogs anymore. I still love to scrapbook, I just like my mommy blog friends better :)

I picked "pretty" because well, I think there is room to be pretty everywhere. Of course, looks, don't we all want to be pretty? Duh, we're women, of course we do. I haven't left my house without make up in at least 10 years (going to the Y with my ball cap pulled down so no one can see me without mascara, does not count!). I hope to try new makeups, hairdos, etc. I think I could stand to be prettier in my wardrobe for sure. I mean, I live in Chuck Taylors (L.L. Bean flip flops in the summer) and jeans. Would it kill me to put on a necklace or a skirt or something? No. That I can do. For the last few years I have really been trying to be more polite and mannerly in public. At home, when the kids are in bed and big tall hubby and I are watching reality tv, the language is flying, I'm not going to lie. That is something we do, it's fun, it's a release from being P.C. all the time. But out in the world, around my kids, it's all about modeling good behavior. I think that is pretty. I am also going to strive to keep my home pretty. Which to me means, picked up, tidy, maybe fresh flowers more often, more holiday decor, who knows? I hope to also make meal times pretty. Use some of our china for a change. Cut veggies into cool shapes. Pull out the cloth napkins. Just little things, nothing earth shattering. I have big dreams of sending more real cards and notes to people, I think that is really pretty. I am still working on this whole concept. That's why it's my word of the "year."

I was also inspired by Kristin at Bringing Pretty Back. When I found her blog, I was already thinking about this concept for myself. I was thinking, gosh, people are just ugly so much. I don't mean snaggletoothed and unibrows. I mean, their behavior and their manners, the stuff they do. Kristin has talked about this a lot. Don't you love affirmations like that? Blogging makes those little "aha" moments much more special. It's good to find someone who shares your interests.

So here's to me being a prettier girl, inside and out. I really hope to share my pretty-ness with you as the year goes on.

Prep work

It drives my big tall hubby crazy how I buzz around after the kids have gone to bed. "Just come and sit down" he says to me all the time. I just can't help myself. I have to get everything ready for the next morning or I feel "off."

I know probably most of us do this but I am a nut, seriously. I get out all the stuff to make big tall hubby's breakfast/coffee. (Aren't I so sweet to make him oatmeal and coffee every morning? I tell him he is so spoiled all the time. He just kind of grunts at me but I secretly know he loves it.) I also set out juice cups for the kids and all our daily vitamins. I make lunches and get snacks ready. I make sure the dishwasher has been emptied and ready for the next day. I also take out the trash/recycling. I will also put a load of laundry in the washer so all I have to do is start it the next morning. I get out my workout clothes and put them right next to my shoes so I don't have to fumble around trying to find the right gear. I don't make my kids get their clothes out but when Parker goes to kindergarten next year, I probably will. Two bus schedules might send me into a fit.

One of the best organizers I ever got was a pill organizer for each of us. (One for me, one for big tall hubby and one for the kids) We all take a multivitamin each day. Big tall hubby and I take a couple other supplements, it is so much easier to have them all counted out and ready to go. If the kids have to take additional medicine, I put them in here too. I swear those extra few seconds I save every day make me feel like I invented the wheel. Big tall hubby teased me to no end when I first got the organizers saying I was like an old lady. Now he agrees that it is so much easier to grab what you need all at once. And you can see if you remembered to take your medicine each day. So ha, I am so smart.
Funny thing about all this prep work. I never used to do this. Before kids I used to just get up and shower, get my stuff ready, take my time. I have always been more of a morning person. I like to think I work so hard that is why I am exhausted at night. I still believe that even though as the years go on and I have more and more "stuff" to do for my family. I try to get it all ready so I won't be a running around crazy woman in the morning. But guess what, I still run around most mornings! I can't imagine what I'd be like if I didn't do all these things the night before.

A chip off the old block

Parker is like me in so many ways.

He likes quiet time. He likes to be alone sometimes. He is a perfectionist, poor boy! He is stubborn (yep, me too, just don't like to admit it). He likes things neat and tidy and he gets all wonky if his schedule is messed up. He is really hard on himself but he loves it if he gets things right. He likes to be silly but not really the center of attention. Gosh, when I say it all that way, he is just like me. One exception, he is gifted athletically, I am totally not. He is also a future organizer! Look...
He devised this method of "organizing" his mini-skateboards. (This was his word, not mine!) He thought this was so clever. Until he had to go to the bathroom. Don't you love those undies peeking out over his jeans? So cute.

watchin' my weight Wednesday part 2

Oops, I forgot to share a workout song with my previous post. My spinning instructor used this song in class yesterday and I remembered how much I love it. Fergie is the best. She is one of my idols. I know she is kind of crazy but I love her rags to riches/former druggie/used-to-be-rough-now-she-is-glam story. I mean she is so fierce! The girl knows how to work it. Not that I'm a stalker or anything but I do have a picture of her by my treadmill for inspiration. I have read that she is 5'2" (same as me) and she swears she works really hard for her body to look good, which is a welcome change from those other celebs that say, "oh, I just do some pilates and I look like this" WHATEVER! So I think heck, if she can look like that, so can I. I know, I know, she is a gagillionaire and she has trainers, cooks, no kids, and all that stuff but I need my inspiration. And she has a cutey-pie big tall hubby too, so we would totally be BFFs I think. Anyway, this is a great song for spinning (or cycling on your own) and light running. I think the beat is a little slow for sprints. Enjoy.

watchin' my weight Wednesday

Florida, 2010

I was going to write about another health related topic today but then I saw this picture and it reminded me of the beach, of course.

Then I got to thinking about our trip we just planned. (We are going back to Sanibel!!!! Not on our anniversary, bummer, but it will still be awesome to be back in the place where we said "I do" on/about our 10 year anniversary.)

Then I got to thinking, jeez, it will be bathing suit season soon.

Then I thought, oh man, I am going to be wearing a bathing suit in just a few months.

If that's not reason enough to eat well and exercise, I don't know what is!

Sometimes I have the best intentions

I have been meaning to share these since, umm, January. Sorry. I really have high hopes for my little bloggy someday. I have a whole little notebook of ideas just waiting to share. But you know, life gets in the way, sickness, house showings, Valentine's parties, all that "stuff."

I found these cute cake toppers at Michaels one day in December. They were super-duper cheap, like 29 cents or something like that. I snatched them up for our January birthday party. We celebrate Zoe's, Big Tall Hubby's, and my Aunt's birthday at one party for the family. For the past two years I have made them all a small individual cake. Everyone should have their own birthday cake, don't you think? Any-who, I thought these would be so cute. They are plastic and you just put the picture in there and voila, your cake has the cutest topper ever.

Here is the part I was thinking was blog-worthy. I think you could totally do this on your own using cardstock, die cuts, graphics from your computer, or your own artistic talents if you have them. I have had those picture cakes made before (where they scan in your photo for the top) and they are like $30. I don't know about you but my days of paying for expensive cakes are over. Besides, I like baking even if my cakes turn out a little cooky looking. Sorry I don't have a finished cake picture that shows them, the only one I could find was this one...

and it is showing the backside of the cake topper. (By the way, Zoe wanted here cake to be in the shape of an "8", see what I mean, cooky looking.) I vow to someday take excellent birthday and holiday photos, by then all my kids will be hiding from me probably!

I hope you get some inspiration despite my poor photo taking skills and my neglecting to publish current ideas!

Enjoy your day today.

Happy Valentine's Day (Monday)

Hi everyone. I hope this Valentine's Day brings you lots of hugs and kisses and chocolates (or jewels- whichever you prefer!).

Here are a couple goodies we made for Parker to take to school.

This one is for his teachers. We just wrapped a candy bar with patterned paper and taped it to his cool Star Wars valentines (man, do I wish my mom had kept my old Star Wars figures!).

We made these for his buddies. I put M&M's in these teeny baggies (found at Michaels in the beading section) and then we stapled a tent over the zipper part. He then put stickers on the paper. He gave these with his cards he wrote his name on, we wanted to do a little extra for his friends at school.I didn't get a picture but for Zoe I made fruit salad cups for her class. I bought cute little red cups and put the fruit salad in there. Then I put a plain baggie (not the zipper kind) over the top and secured it with a rubber band. Sounds kind of boring but it really looked festive. Her teacher suggested something not too sugary and I was happy to oblige. Zoe was so excited she loves fruit and couldn't wait to share them with the class.

my things to do this week:

• sort some pictures and mail copies to my family (long overdue!)
• write thank you cards for my early birthday gifts
• again, try to get my desk cleaned off so I can reorganize the drawers

my menus for this week:

(a bit of repeats from last week, big tall hubby has been working late a lot so me and the kids have been eating really simply)

• beef and mushroom stroganoff
• spaghetti (Parker request)
• egg and mushroom/spinach quiche
• pasta with shrimp and veggies
• homemade pizzas

Enjoy your Valentines's Day!

Just another note... did anyone catch the last Jersey Shore?! Was I the only one crying when Sammi-sweetheart left? With all her drama, you'd think I'd be glad to see her go but for some reason, I was so sad. Just wondering if I am the only nut who is addicted to this show!