One Red Daisy

Flashback Friday: June 2009 Uncle Jeff and Aunt Jane

2011-02-11T05:34:00.000-08:00

Uncle Jeff and Aunt Jane were visiting my parents this last weekend from Kansas. Last time we'd seen them was the summer of '09.

Jeff is my mom's brother and that have kids that are all grown up now and on their own. Here's my mom and Jeff.

Funny, but I am actually the shortest of all of their children, with the female just a tad taller than me, and I learned the tallest "boy" is 6'10". I had always thought 6'8"!

They came over Sunday to see the Super Bowl and we all had dinner together, which was fun. Soren loved them, hanging all over them and wanting them to tickle him! They also brought him a t-shirt and this cute laughing cat.

Soren was hanging all over Grandpa too.

It was so nice to see you both, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Jane!

New Blog Address

2011-02-01T14:35:00.001-08:00

I am trying out WordPress and have moved the location of my blog.
Please go to here to start following. Looking forward to seeing you there!

WILTW: Lots of Goodies

2011-02-01T04:59:00.000-08:00

This week, I learned many new things:
1) Interval Training, while hard, can make one feel so proud of accomplishments!

2) I learned that switching over to WordPress could be a lot more difficult and time consuming than just staying with Blogger. It could have a lot of neat options, but with limited time, is it worth the transfer over? Does anyone know if there's an easy way to read others' posts from WordPress, like Google Reader for Blogger? When I realized all my "followings" didn't import from Blogger and that I'd have to resubscribe to all of them, I wondered if the switch is worth it?

3) When your son hits his Fisher Price t-ball set so hard the base of it breaks, and he loves to run fast, it may just be time for t-ball! (Enrolling this week!)

4) I learned that sometimes, some days, it is possible to just have crazy irritable days, for no particular reason. Pamprin, Diet Coke, and chocolate COULD help...they don't hurt, right?

5) You can wake and just wonder if indeed, you too, may just (but you hope you don't) get the crud being passed all around. Do Pamprin, Diet Coke and chocolate help with that?

For more fun, see Julie's blog.

What did you learn this week?

I Did It!

2011-01-30T12:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, it sounds so like Dora the Explorer, but I Did It! I did my Day 4 of the C25K running program yesterday, what seemed like the hardest day yet, and by myself. My running partner is from work, so Saturdays, we have to do it alone. Check this out:

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Yeah, so I ran 16 minutes yesterday. I've NEVER run that much, ever. I could never even run a full 4 laps around the track in middle or high school!

Okay, so I'm proud of myself. That's okay every once in awhile, right? What I learned were two (actually three) things:
1) It really helps to have an iPod. I can't hear myself breathing like they are my last breaths.
2) It helps to have a partner, someone you know is doing it too. Makes you not want to cheat.
3) Self talk is amazing. "You can do it. Only 2 more minutes. Look how far you've come!"

With no intent to really have this running program take me anywhere, because I just started it to start back into exercise, who knows where it might take me? A friend today said I have to do a 5K when I'm done. Who knows, maybe I should?

WFMW: Weekends and Motivation

2011-01-25T19:19:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I found myself highly motivated. That's not far from my norm, but my motivation to do chores in the early morning was high. Minutes after my son got out of bed, I had my first load of laundry in the wash (I'd even prepped it the night before), and shortly after breakfast, I was already dusting. Sure, we had company coming later in the day, so of course I wanted the house clean, but I had a moment (yes, a moment), where I thought, "I should do this every weekend, get the chores done early and have most of the rest of the day, or next day off." I felt exhilarated by the idea, then realized that while I felt that way Saturday, I might not feel that way every Saturday.

What I realized that might just work instead, is to go with the flow each Saturday, and see where my motivation takes me. I often try to plan, plan, plan my moments, to get the most accomplished, when in actuality, sometimes the less I have planned, the more I actually get accomplished because I do things as I'm in the mood for them. I also find I seem to have more fun and am more in the moment, versus where I need to be going or what I need to be doing next.

Of course, while that feels like a revelation, and one I'd like to stick with, who knows if I'll really follow through? I always love great ideas to start with, but don't always continue with them.

How are you best motivated on weekends?

See We Are That Family for more of What Works for Me Wednesday.

WILTW: Butt Kicking and More

2011-01-25T04:57:00.000-08:00

I wish I could brag and say I was the one doing some butt kicking this week, but honestly, I had MY butt kicked by this Couch to 5K program I'm doing. Ouch. My butt DOES hurt today.

That's one of many things I learned I learned this week:

1) After not exercising for several years, even just running 3 minutes at a time can kick your butt. I'm hoping days two and three this week are easier!

2) I shouldn't second guess myself on buying the next size up for my son in jeans. He's gotten skinnier, but definitely taller. He may end the summer in some great high waters. Hopefully other 3-year-old won't tease him.

3) I'm beginning to think it is easier to save money when you do Bountiful Baskets each week. It is so easy (and inexpensive) for side dishes of yummy veggies and fruits that all you really need is a great protein to go with it.

4) Blogging is super hard to keep up with when work, home, and family keep you so occupied. I miss being able to read all the great blogs out there. I started this one when I had some down time in the summer, and miss those days. Instead, I'm not trying to be hard on myself, and just post a few times a week, and catch up on a few favorites I read.

5) I need to give myself some downtime on the weekends, where I schedule absolutely nothing, on paper or in my mind, to just spend some great family time or downtime. It feels sooo good!

What did you learn this week? Has anything kicked your butt lately or have you done anything butt kickin'? :)

For me, see Julie's blog, always so funny!

Wow, I'm out of Shape!

2011-01-22T13:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I wrote awhile back that I was joining a friend in doing the Couch to 5K running plan.

I'm not sure why I'm doing it, except that I decided I really wanted to get back into exercising (used to be a huge part of my life pre-baby) and a friend at work was doing it. I thought I'd just join her one day a week. Well now, I figure in order to keep up with her, I should try to do the whole plan too.

The thing is, I aspire to be a runner, but I've never had the follow-through-ed-ness to do it. I always overdo it and give up. I'm more the hiker/biker/weightlifting kind of gal.

Anyhow...I decided to really join her, and this week did one of the sessions one the treadmill (probably not as good as real-life) and one outside. Today started week 3, and I had to walk 5 min, run 90 sec. walk 90 sec. ...then here's the big part...run 3 minutes (YIKES!), walk 3, then do the sequence again. To jump to the end of the story, I did do it. I did think also that my heart was going to jump out of my chest and I probably looked really silly in those last 2 minutes of running each cycle, like a dying person trying to get to that imaginary water pond they are hallucinating.

But, I did it. And I figure really, I'm more or less a week behind my friend since she's done the full two weeks prior, where I'd only done 3 of the 6 days. It can only get easier right, and easier with a friend. Today I was all alone in my neighborhood, choosing my route trying to stay behind, and pick my path behind, some random man walking down the road that I felt a little uncertain of.

I do feel like I have more energy, and it is always a great feeling knowing you have exercised for the day.

What are you doing lately for yourself that you are proud of?

A Meme for YouYou

2011-01-19T12:05:00.000-08:00

Okay, my friend Chelsea, who is passing on this meme, says meme rhymes with theme. I'm so glad to see that, because I think in my head, I've always said, "Me Me", like "You You."

Anyhow, she gave me this award, and I am passing it on too!

Since it is a meme, like a carnival, linking blog to blog, be sure to go see hers (see link above). Thanks Chelsea, for linking to me!

Rules for accepting this award are:
1. Thank and ink back to the person who awarded you this.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pay it forward to 5 recently discovered great bloggers. See below!(If I don't mention you, I'm sorry, but didn't have an email address for you to ask if I wasn't sure it was okay with you. :))
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their award.

7 Super Awesome Things about ME:

1. I used to do my best mental processing via journaling, but have since had to find other ways, since having a child. I've found I'm a lot closer to my friends in doing so, and love the ideas (and suggestions) they have to share about their own life experiences.

2. I like to schedule things. That's right. I like to fill in my calendar, know when I'm heading where, and what I'm doing. I also like to make and checkoff to-do lists.

3. I am double jointed in my shoulders. That's pretty awesome, or strange.

4. I really love my job and the people I work with (and have worked with, but work other places now).

5. I absolutely LOVE being happy. I used to wish for happiness every day of my life. Now, I guess I realize I can't always be that happy and I can't make others happy, so I just try to grab those moments when I can.

6. I need quiet time. Serious quiet time. Like a young child who has just stopped napping. I can't stand having my world full of noise.

7. I love being outside. When I am moody, the best thing I can do is just step outside for a walk or activity, or even just sit.

~ ~ ~

Ok… passing it on to some GREAT bloggers that you should know!

Sweet Peas and Buddies
Simple Organized Living
Calalilies, my sweet cousin's blog
Foolsewoode, a great friend from HS
Spell Out Loud

WILTW: Snacks and Other Things

2011-01-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

I always struggle with a title for this meme, hosted by Julie (check out her blog). Sometimes the things I learn don't always fit in a theme. This week is no exception!

This week I've learned:

1. When you start having to pack snacks and lunch for your preschooler, your stash of snacks and lunch items seems to decrease in desirability. What? I only packed myself 1/2 a sandwich and an apple for lunch? Where's that vending machine...I should sneak over to his preschool and steal some of HIS great snacks!

2. Your child CAN want to eat all of the snacks you've packed him all at once once he gets to school, 'cuz it is so cool to have snacks within reach or something.

3. Zappos (I'm not getting anything for this reference) DOES have a great return policy, of free shipping to and from. My first pair of shoes didn't work out, and they are already on their way back to them, free of charge. :) AND, I already got my next pair to try, AND they shipped them next day air, FOR FREE (not sure how I got that, but no complaints here!)

4. Cutting open a green chili can cause you to have a coughing fit. Not once, but twice. Oh, and not only that, but later, when you are taking out your contacts, and you THINK your hands are super clean, there may still be some lingering green chili under your nail or something, because your eyes WILL let you know as they burn...

5. Best for last, I learned that a mom (or dad) should look at the price of a pair of shoes BEFORE their child falls in love with them and the flashy lights that accompany them (see below). $49 after tax later... (Guess I'm glad it was just Christmas and he got some money!)

Does This Count?

2011-01-13T14:44:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't had true exercise in THE longest time. Well, ever since work got really busy and I got sick back in May (just allergies/asthma). Today, I am going to join a coworker who is doing the Couch Potato to (something) program where you walk 3 minutes, run 90 seconds, or something like that, for 20 minutes. Hey, it is a start, right?

*OK-correction on that, after having done it...5 min. walking, then 60 sec. run, 90 sec. walk for 20 minutes. It went pretty well!

It seems like it has been even harder to get exercise in that my son is really too big for his stroller now, and I used to take him for walks, at least on the weekend. If we went for walks now, it would be either like a stroll where we stopped and looked at a million things, or a mad, marathon dash to wherever he chose to dash to.

One day again, I'll be able to get out my bicycle trainer and ride it safely (so he doesn't stick his fingers in it) or actually be able to ride bikes as a family. That will be great!

Until then, I have to find those moments of time where I can squeeze just a little bit in. It all counts, right?

WFMW: To Do Lists for Weekends

2011-01-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

Sure it is only Wednesday, but if you are like me, during the week you think of all kinds of things you need to catch up on on the weekend.

What has worked for me is to make a Weekend To-Do List, that is a general Sat./Sun. list that could get done any of the two days. It helps me keep track of those little things I need to remember, like mailing a birthday card, or taking a pair of pants back to the store that I didn't like when I tried them on at home, and I can cross them off over the weekend.

I find it important to do this, as those little things just seem to slip on by. As well, my list is somewhat flexible, in that if it doesn't get done that weekend, usually it can move onto the next weekend's list. The list isn't the normal "to-do's" of each weekend, like laundry and things I'll never forget about, but just the odds and ends.

What do you do to help you remember your to-do's for the weekend?

For more ideas that work, see We're That Family.

WILTW: Short Memory

2011-01-11T05:22:00.000-08:00

This is always such a fun post to write each week. I should take some advice from Julie, who writes this carnival each week, and jot things down during the week to remember. Instead, it is usually compiled of things that happened over just the last few days, and sometimes hours. They say childbirth ruins your memory, but maybe it is just because you have more on your plate to attend to?

This week, I learned:

*Your child can wake you up from your own bad dream where ghosts are trying to pull you into a cabinet with his own monsters in his room (Are our dreams somehow linked?) [Last night]

*Your child can find that screaming/shouting is fun and draws attention, of EVERYONE, and won't be quiet no matter what you try (besides a spank, 'cuz I haven't tried that one...not sure on that one...) and you end up feeling like you have no control over your own, having fun shouting/screaming child in public. [Last weekend]

*A first dental visit for your child can be interesting, and you may LOVE the hygienist who is sooo cute in her magical way with kids. You may not like that they make the lobby so fun with toys that your child doesn't want to leave, but when he finally does, darts toward the street. Again, a failing parent moment as the old man with the dog blocks your child's way and glares at you and him as if you're the worst parent in the world. [Yesterday]

*When your child starts a new school, you may just be more nervous/excited than he is! [Last Friday]

*You may, after seeing some new blog layouts (Julie) want to switch over yourself, but ponder paying a monthly/yearly fee for it. [Weekend]. Love thoughts from people on this one!

*Getting little to no exercise in your life, other than chasing your darting child, can still allow your body to wake up very sore and make you think that that is exactly what you need, exercise again. [Ongoing]. I'm hoping with my son being so close to me now at preschool I could sneak in some exercise before getting him a few nights a week.

That's all I can remember, at least at 6:20 AM on a work day!

What have you learned this week?

5 Goals for my Grocery Budget

2011-01-08T05:54:00.000-08:00

I was reading Hummingbird Homemaking blog this morning and her post about focusing on 5 things for your grocery budget to focus on.

I love the idea, and someone named Ben awhile back commented on a money saving post I had, and gave me this link to spending under $100 a week on groceries, very helpful Ben, thanks!

For me, I seem to spend less when I really focus on looking at what I already have, like leftovers in the freezer, so for starters, here's my list:

1. Look in freezer and cupboards and plan menu (I already make menus, so that's good) around what I already have, leaving veggies options flexible in case I can make my sides from the veggies from Bountiful Baskets that I get each week.

2. Check the sales ad (which I already do) and look for things I need and/or regularly use and can stock up on.

3. Check my paper coupons and those online to match products I'm purchasing (I'm so sad that the store I shop at isn't making all coupons $1 anymore...)

4. This is in no particular order, but make a list of commonly used items and compare prices at Target and my grocery store to see which is cheaper. I did this after my son was born, but prices and products have changed.

5. Lastly, my son is now attending a preschool where I have to pack his snacks and lunch if I don't order hot lunch. I'd like to try for new and healthy snacks for him, as well as lunches, keeping in our budget, as this will cost us more each month (hoping to save in gas at least though, as he is closer to my work now). If you have any great ideas, please send them my way!

What are 5 goals you have for your grocery budget?

"What Do You Eat for Lunch?" Friday

2011-01-07T13:45:00.000-08:00

So I was at this yummy outdoor, in a tent, off a lunch trunk place for lunch today, with a couple of other bloggers friends and people I work with. I had THE best bean, egg, and cheese burrito, and I said to my bloggy friend, we MUST take pictures with our burritos for our blogs.

So, here I am, with my awesome burrito (okay, so it is halfway eaten already). Dorky idea, maybe, but hey, I'm a dork sometimes, aren't you? Just wait until I link to my friend's post. She really looks like she cares deeply for hers, like she's posing with a special friend.

What did you eat for lunch today?

Getting Back in the Groove

2011-01-06T08:26:00.000-08:00

"G" for Groove.

Whew! After having two weeks off from work, I truly realize how busy a work week is and why the house gets to be the disaster it is. I LOVED the break because the house got cleaned, I didn't have to take too much time to tidy up, and I felt relaxed. The thing was, I had the time to tidy up each day, and put the dishes on the drainboard away.

Now, I'm back to work and it feels like things are stacking up: junk mail, clean dishes to put away (at least they are clean, right?), grocery lists to make, laundry to do....I wish every work day felt like a vacation day, relaxing, don't you? But that's just not possible.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, it takes a certain mindset to keep sane in all the chaos and busy-ness. I have to tell myself that this just is the way it is, and move ahead.

For instance, we used to put my son to bed and be able to watch a 7 o'clock show. Now he's not down until almost 8 and doesn't go to sleep until about 8:45, calling out every 10 minutes or so for something or another, "I finished this book...want another!" "My tummy hurts. Need kiss." "Mommy, I don't want you to come...(though that's what he wants). That's a new normal and I just mentally need to accept it, be happy in it, and move on, because my son is awesome and healthy, and I have a lot to appreciate. Even if I can't watch a show even at 8 o'clock now, without pushing pause every so often to see what he needs. I know, I could be the meanie Mommy and tell him, "Go to sleep or else," but he's just not tired it seems, and truly enjoys the downtime in his room by himself, even if he has to check in from time to time.

My son is starting a new preschool tomorrow and I am excited for him. We went to tour it Tuesday and he didn't want to leave! He kept saying, "No leave Mommy. This is MY school!" I think he's going to love it. It will set us into another new normal though, in that I'll actually get to leave a little later each morning. It is attached to where I work, which will be WONDERFUL, and also different, in that I used to run errands before I picked him up, and now, well, we will be a team! I realize in all of this that I think he is ready for such adventures, and a lot more responsible than he once was, when he would take off in the blink of an eye. I'm actually REALLY enjoying him at this age (3 years and 2 months). He understands expectations, we can talk about things, it is a blast.

So while I'm getting back into the groove this week, I'll be getting in new grooves, with the new preschool and expectations, making school lunches and snacks. It is all really pretty exciting.

What kind of new grooves are you going through right now?

WILTW: Sleep

2011-01-04T05:29:00.000-08:00

SLEEP.....beautiful sleep. You'd think once your child was three you'd get some. I found over the last week, two different nights, that that just isn't the case. One bad dream, a call to his room, a request for another story.

Back to bed for Mom. 10 minutes later another call, because he wants a different book from the shelf or a certain toy to play with (at 2 AM). Yes, my son sleeps with the lights dimmed because he's afraid of the dark, so he can see all those temptations.

Need I also share that we had company just arrive at 12:15 AM that morning who had just settled in, so I couldn't just let him call out and ignore him?

Soon, Mom (that's me) crawled into bed with him to try to get him to sleep. Lots of face pats, little kisses, talking later (that's him doing it to me, who is trying to sleep), he nods off at 4:50 AM. I must share at this point, he had to be a daycare at 6:30 AM because we were going out of town. Nice, huh, for him and me.

Six days later, the night before going back to work after school break, and said company is leaving for a 6:45 AM flying and needs his rest as well as Daddy who is driving him to airport? REPEAT, only earlier wakeup, and ending up on the sofa because Mommy's back is killing her, feet to feet, finally asleep at 4:30 AM ish, with men supposed to wake up at 4:45 AM. Guess what, alarms didn't go off, and at 5:25 AM, when Daddy woke, people started flying all over the house, frantically, to get company out to airport.

What did I learn? On the nights when you really need your rest, it is inevitable your child won't.

For more, see Julie's blog.

Saving Money on Groceries in 2011

2010-12-28T19:25:00.000-08:00

One of my goals (okay, resolutions) for 2011 is to try to find ways to do so in ways that fit our family, not always ways that work for others or that I read about.

For instance, last summer, I really experimented with using grocery fliers and coupons everywhere I could find them to save as much as I could.

What I found was that I ended up with a ton of granola bars, cereal that hurt our tummies (too much fiber), cans of spaghetti sauce I still haven't touched, and overall, I realized that while I was certainly saving money off the regular cost of the coupon/sale items, these items were a lot of processed foods, not so healthy for us, and I didn't like that.

Sure, it took us through December to go through all the toilet paper, deodorant, and bath soap. That was good, and we used them. One plus.

I found also, that I would still use most of my budget to try to get all the savings I could, and sometimes feel that still, I didn't really have components to make meals I normally make, or would have wanted to make.

So, I started only collecting coupons for items we use all the time and didn't obsess about not having coupons for meals I wanted to make. I felt like I tried the obsessive system, and while there is a place for it, in my busy schedule, I want to know I have ingredients for meals and I'm feeding my family in a healthy way.

I've recently started doing Bountiful Baskets, and have loved, for the most part, what I get from that each week. It has its pluses and minuses too though and I'm wondering if I should continue.

Pluses? It seems like you save a lot on produce for the week. There are also some unique items which get you to be creative and try new things (like my persimmon cookies).

Minuses? I usually do my grocery shopping on Friday late afternoons. Bountiful baskets are picked up on Saturday mornings, and I never know what I'm going to get. This causes me to either wait to grocery shop, cutting into my weekend, or I end up going back to the grocery store again, to have things that are needed for the items I get.

I guess there are pluses and minuses for everything, but I'm curious, what are some methods that work for you for saving money on groceries? My ears/eyes are open to hear all kinds of suggestions I might not have tried yet.

WILTW: This Last Week of 2010

2010-12-28T06:47:00.000-08:00

As always, little life lessons are learned in as little as a week, and that's why it is always fun to reflect.

1. The first one I learned just yesterday, while trying to load photos from Christmas Eve in my family blog. Google only allows 1 GB for photos/images and I had exceeded my limit, starting my blog back in the fall of 2007. What? I didn't know there was a limit, and I guess with videos, that goes up quickly. So, I had to purchase 20 GB more for only $5.00. Have any of you had to do that yet?

2. I've learned too, that I dislike my method of "housing" my photos in iPhoto and folders on my desktop versus my old method of using some great Nikon software that was no longer compatible with my upgraded software. It is so much harder to resize and name my photos in one easy step. I must resort to something new. I really like all my photos stored in folders by month and year on my desktop for easy historical reference. It is going to take some time, but maybe that needs to be one of my New Year's resolutions, along with losing the 5 pounds I've gained over the holidays (since Halloween), right?

3. I learned that being 40 and getting little exercise in one's life, due to having a little one and less time definitely has its setbacks. After sitting on the floor helping to unwrap/play with new Christmas toys, lifting one's 37 pound child into a toddler swing moments later can send sharp pains in one's back, causing major discomfort for multiple days afterward... :(

4. Christmas is sure a blast with a 3-year-old. And, he can cry when he sees that Santa ate all the cookies and drank the milk that was left out for him.

5. Bean bag chairs are still really cool, and even better "lounge-size" so Mommy can also sit in it with child to read stories. It is also awesome for a great nap.

For more fun stories, check out Julie's blog.

Yummy Sweet Potato Soup

2010-12-23T08:07:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh. I found this recipe for Sweet Potato Soup at allrecipes.com and it is amazing!
I made it last night, and will definitely be making it again, really soon.

I don't know if it was the turnip added, or all the chicken stock, or the spices, but it was...did I already say? AMAZING. I wish I'd taken some photos, but there wasn't really much to see.

I've been on break since Monday and trying to take the time to do some extra baking and cooking of things I just normally don't have time to do. While I am not much of a "pull this and this together and create this" kind of cook, I've realized how much I love learning through cooking, and all the chopping and so forth that go into making something wonderful. That's the trick though....when I do spend my time making something, it has to be wonderful.

I had a not-so-wonderful experience this week making zucchini bread, which I was hoping to give away for the holidays. I found a recipe online, and it said to cook it 80 minutes. Well, most of my bread recipes call for 60 minutes. I really doubted the recipe, peeked in the oven at 60 minutes, poked in a toothpick that came out a little wet, turned off the oven at 65 minutes even, and....well, I shouldn't have second-guessed myself. It was hard. Dry and hard, and when I tried to cut it, fell apart. Guess where it ended up? The garbage.

What is something you've made lately that you really enjoyed, or something that didn't turn out after investing a chunk of your time?

On another note, HAPPY Holidays!

WILTW: Holiday Goodies

2010-12-21T06:26:00.000-08:00

Julie from Inmates to Playdates always has this hilarious post on Tuesdays that you have to check out, and join!

This week's in particular cracked me up, on the theme of the Cookie Exchange. I am so glad I have not EVER been under the pressure of attending a cookie exchange with there being a contest, like Julie's. That would be just toooo much! Especially when this year, I actually selected my recipe at 5:30 in the morning and had it made by 6:15 to make sure we had enough time to make my friend's cookies as well, who was visiting for the weekend, and also attending the luncheon/cookie exchange at noon. We had a lot to do! Anyhow, that pressure of having the most (or not having the same as another's would have been too much for me). I was also under the pressure of not having any cardomom (seriously...I'd never heard of that!) for my friend's spritz cookie recipe, so I was also on the search for an alternate for her. The things we do for friends, right?

Anyhow, I ended up making Blondies, a super sweet bar cookie, which was delicious and easy, since I only had to throw it in the oven once. We had a great time making my friend's cookies though, all morning, with the help from my son.

So, for this week, I wanted to reflect on what I've learned about holiday goodies:

1. The 2-3 extra pounds one gains around Halloween and Thanksgiving has no hope of coming off during the Christmas season.

2. One CAN have too many Christmas cookies through cookie exchanges and friends. Okay for a little while, then the husband starts complaining about the temptation.

3. One can think one has all of his/her baking done, only to find an amazing recipe at a cookie exchange, for these cake balls, and just HAVE to make them. Good excuse to have the hubby take them into work, right? I am currently in the process of making the chocolate/cream cheese ones and the white cake/cherry ones. Did all the batter yesterday and it is in the fridge waiting for me today to make the balls and dip today.

4. If you're like me and you love wrapping presents, it can take keeping your child in daycare/preschool just so that you can get those holiday presents actually wrapped. Otherwise, he'd sneak in while you're doing it or you'd be up 'til midnight. (Okay, some of you do that midnight thing...but not me.)

5. One's credit card bills can increase during the holiday season when one didn't start with any sort of holiday budget, due to this crazy economy. I'll take that as a goodie though, in that I could at least do that. Some aren't so lucky.

Wishing everyone a really wonderful holiday!

You Know You're the Mother of a Three-Year-Old When...

2010-12-20T13:27:00.000-08:00

You Know You're the Mother of a Three-Year-Old When...

*You say, out loud, in your own office, "I gotta go potty."

*You threaten your child with, "Are you going to be good for Santa, or do you want him to bring reindeer poop?"

*You run at the cry of "Mommy, I gotta go _______," to make sure no messes need to be cleaned up.

*You feel like you have a bipolar child, "I don't wanna do that!" (That's him, not me.), so you move on, then he bursts into tears, "I wanna do that!" (Or maybe he's a 40-year-old woman in disguise?)

*You giggle when your child is handed bells for his holiday performance and he shouts, in the quiet, "Mommy, I got bells!"

*You can no longer read a paper, or even have a moment of thought on the potty (or in the bathroom) before your child needs something in the other room.

*Your most relaxing time is the 30 minutes you have to spend each week in the allergist's office, waiting on your allergy shots.

*You contemplate moving into the spare bathroom so that everything you need is in one place for those early morning wake-ups.

*Your idea of downtime is when you are in the shower.

*You can no longer watch any more than 34 minutes of a movie with your child (and it is a kid-type movie) before he shouts, "Mommy, wanna watch Mickey!"

And of course, the list goes on....
How would I know who you are the mother of?

Sad News

2010-12-14T07:58:00.000-08:00

Here I just did a post on Fun Times, and at the same time, have some sadness. My coworker that I wrote about in this post, well, she passed away last night. The cancer just overtook her body and the tumor in her lungs kept bleeding into her lungs.

I don't want to think about it much. That's the easiest way for me to cope right now. It is just that she has a husband and three children, ages 6 or 7, 10 or so, and 13 or 14. How do they deal with all of this? It is one of life's terrible, terrible tragedy.

She was one of THE most positive, beautiful, and happy people I have EVER met, and she leaves a mark on everyone's heart who knew her. May her family and friends just feel comfort, comfort that she is not suffering any more.

WILTW: Fun Times

2010-12-14T04:39:00.000-08:00

I love thinking about what I learn each week, and it is even funner when I have a moment and I think, "I have to blog about THAT one." Had one of those this morning. See #1.

This week I learned:

1) Arguing with your 3-year-old about who is going to empty the pee filled potty bowl into the toilet, pulling it back and forth, won't get what Mommy is after (her emptying it). Instead, said bowl will be pulled out of Mommy's hands and child will quickly, somewhat "toss" the filled bowl toward the toilet, resulting in pee NOT in the toilet, but rather all over bath toys, magazines, potty seat, floor rug, etc. and Mommy ranting and raving about the situation doesn't change it. Hey, at least he wants to help, right?

2) You may be concerned your 3-year-old won't want to sit on Santa's lap. Instead, you have to be careful that he doesn't pile drive himself into the side of Santa's leg, running so hard to get to him.

3) Your child can wake up and insist you are too, because he needs to take care of things (see #1), and you have to get up at 4:55 AM, 3 days in a row (including the weekend!). Then, comes a school day, and YOU have to wake HIM up. What's up with that?

4) You can want your child to make a cook Christmas decoration, but when he's had enough, he'll stick the foam glitter stickers ANYWHERE but where you want them to end up.

5) Lastly, children sure make our lives more interesting, don't they?

For more, see Julie's blog.

Keeping up with the Holidays

2010-12-10T04:58:00.000-08:00

Phew! Is there a moment to breathe during this holiday time with preparations, family responsibilities, getting the house ready for guests that will be visiting, keeping up with work....wow!

How do you all do it?

I'm off starting the 20th, which will be nice. I can at least get presents wrapped then and under the tree, get doctor's appointments out of the way, hair cut and colored, lunch out with the hubby...oh, you see? It all just fills back up again, doesn't it?

Life must have been so much easier back in the olden days when all a woman had to do was get up at the crack of dawn (I'm already doing that), collect eggs, make food for the family, do the wash by hand, start making a big lunch for the men working the field, tend to the children, make a pie, shuck some corn, kill the chicken for dinner, call everyone in, eat, do all the dishes, get baths...oh.....lots of work then too, just different.

Anyway, I haven't been posting much at all, just focusing on getting the to-do's done. Sorry if I haven't been to your blog lately too, but I'll be back! I hope you are enjoying the season and not feeling under too much stress.

WILTW: Illness

2010-12-07T05:15:00.000-08:00

Some weeks are busier than others when it comes to learning, and this week's, well, it was interesting. If you are sensitive to sickness, you may want to skip this post.

Here are a few:

1. Husbands do not, I repeat, DO NOT like it when your son vomits in the back of their nice car (and of course, some hits the front too, as his carseat is positioned in the middle of the backseat.) Julie, picture this happening in your new Saturn. Wouldn't you just DIE?

2. They like it even less when they too, spent the day home sick with a cold as well.

3. You can receive "I need you at home," text messages while you are in an important meeting about 30 minutes away. You try with all your might to hope it can be managed without you.

4. You can receive more insistent texts, and calls, upon the second "getting sick" as soon as the two of them start eating dinner together (while the mess is still in the car) and you really shouldn't leave your meeting.

5. The 30 minute drive home can seem like forever as you call your boss and coworker and plan the following day's work together, as you know you will be staying home with said child.

6. Children of the age of 3 can learn quickly, how to use a bucket when sick.

7. Pulling up the floor rug, sleeping on the sofa, and making a bed for your child on the living room floor can save a lot of mess in the long run. (I did do that, not learning the hard way).

8. In the process of all of this, your husband, while sick with a cold, can also come down with pink eye. (Oh, did I also mention you have a cold in the midst of all of this?)

9. 15 days after having a sore throat, it might be best to get in to see the doctor (going today).

10. Your family (or you) tend to get sick on important days, i.e. meeting, and missing seeing Christmas lights at the zoo. It never fails.

To see other interesting adventures, see Julie's blog!

Holiday Rush

2010-12-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

Anyone else feeling the rush of the holidays? While I am so excited for this time of year, I feel like every cell in my body is on overtime. It wasn't until 1:00 this afternoon that I was able to stop for a moment, put my feet up and read the newspaper that I'd brought in at 6:00 AM.

Do you feel a little like my son in this photo with Santa, a little skeptical that you'll get all of your own Santa work completed? (Really, he was so happy to be on Santa's lap, and my husband caught him in a moment of thinking about what he'd like from Santa. It was a pondering look.)

I have a few things to check off my list:
1. Cards that I want to mail have been mailed.
2. Presents that need to be shipped are all wrapped and boxed and have their mailing labels ready to be taped on.
3. Our spare room is just about ready for guests.
4. My son got a photo with Santa. (We were supposed to go see lights and Santa at the zoo this week, but he got that terrible stomach flu-my son, not Santa, that is.) Sure, it was at a pancake breakfast, but Santa is everywhere this time of year, you know.
5. Cookies will soon be decorated with Grandma in a few hours.

How are you feeling about your preparedness about this time of year?

Yummy Persimmon Cookies

2010-12-02T14:54:00.000-08:00

I purchased my first Bountiful Basket about 3 weeks ago and split it with a friend. What an amazing selection of produce and it was all so good!

One of the items we received were persimmons. At first I didn't even know what they were. Once I realized they weren't ripe yet, I knew I'd have a little time to look around for a recipe. I had my heart set on cookies once I saw that might be a good idea.

I found this 4 1/2 star Moist Persimmon Cookie recipe that sounded so good! Indeed it was.

I had never even touched a persimmon, but had heard you needed to make just the right thing with it, and mostly likely not eat the peel. This recipe has you peel them and puree them. As a side note, the recipe mentions using 2 persimmons and I used three. Here's how they look pureed. (Of course many of you may already know that...but I'm pretty inexperienced.)

In any case, with all the spices, walnuts and raisins, these tasted like wonderful fall cookies. Great for this time of year, if you even find yourself with some persimmons!

WILTW: Christmas Decorating

2010-11-30T04:49:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned already how excited I am for this holiday season?
I was thrilled to actually start on Thanksgiving morning, working with my son to build a colored paper garland for our tree.

Making decorations with a three-year-old is GREAT fun, really it is, and I had to refrain from wanting to all our decoration making activities over the weekend.

Well, Friday we got right on some more Christmas events, like putting up the tree (that photo was from Friday) and making a gingerbread house.

Here are some things I learned along the way:
1. It says on the box that the icing should sit after assembling the gingerbread house for 15 minutes. Next year I will wait longer than that. See #3.

2. I guess you can eat the gingerbread as you make it? I've heard people saying since that they eat their gingerbread houses. When? Right after you make it? On Christmas when it is hard and nasty? I just figured you made it to look at it?

3. Back to #1. Important to let it sit long enough to harden. Or, have Mommy not work so hard on spreading the icing on the roof while the roof is on.

4. Just because your son looks cute wanting to open the Christmas decorations that you think aren't breakable doesn't mean they aren't. Christmas ornament + tile = broken mess.

5. Dogs are fun to decorate too and will put up with a lot to please their owners.

For more, see Julie's blog on suggestions on making Christmas time easier.

3 Things About Me

2010-11-27T15:32:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged, so I'm requesting that you write a blog post with the Threes of YOU, then tag as many others as you can think of. I'm tagging the following people:
1. Chelsea
2. Becca
3. Beth (she's my original tagger)
and any of the rest of you if you read this:
Gianna, Kendra, Julie S., Maria, Jerris, Stephanie (Day by Day), Julie from Inmates, Amy L (you can do on Facebook), Eileen, Lainie, Kathy W, Marisa, and the list goes on...

Three names I go by
1. Suzanne
2. Suz
3. Suzie (long ago)

Three Jobs I have had in my life
1. Teacher
2. Waitress
3. Patternmaker

Three Places I have lived
1. North Hollywood, CA
2. Long Beach, CA
3. Prescott, AZ

Three Favorite drinks
1. Diet Pepsi or Coke
2. Coffee
3. Water

Three TV Shows that I watch
1. Amazing Race
2. Parenthood
3. Survivor

Three places I have been
1. Tuva, Fiji
2. Germany - many places
3. Maui, Hawaii

Three favorite foods
1. Mexican!
2. chocolate
3. pasta
(Beth, I agree with you on all three of yours!)

Three friends I think will respond
1. Chelsea
2. Becca
3. Kendra?

Three Things I am looking forward to
1. dinner out with another couple tonight (and our son too)
2. seeing Due Date, the movie, with my hubby tomorrow
3. wrapping Christmas gifts

Three Things that are by my side
1.my organizer
2. oddly, a new container of salt, and shortening, something I never have, to make a persimmon cookie recipe!
3. the kitchen knives

What is your list of 3 Things?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T14:11:00.000-08:00

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't know about you, but I am really looking forward to some down time with my family, and starting to think about Christmas.

This is the first year that I truly, truly feel the excitement I once had as a child through the holidays. I think having a child has brought that back for me, and it is a WONDERFUL feeling!

I look forward to doing some holiday projects with our son, make cookies, and build our first gingerbread house together. I have never even made one myself!

Wishing you all the joy you once felt as a child too. :)

WILTW: Artichokes Grow WHAT Way?

2010-11-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

Some weeks it is really hard to reflect on what I've learned, but this week, when I saw it, I just KNEW it would have to be in my What I Learned This Week post!

1. Here it is, and do you know what it is?

Brussel sprouts. Yeah. That's how they grow! I was at a local organic food store, picking up other items and saw them there. It is kind of like when I saw pineapple growing at a farm in Hawaii. I had no idea!

2. Another thing I learned this week is that my son is at THE perfect age to want to be with me in the bathroom every morning, observing me do all sorts of things. I won't go into detail on this one too much, but one morning, after I'd used the restroom, he remarked, "Mommy, you have a ribbon!", pointing, well...down there. "Yes...I do," was all I could say, while holding back huge laughter.

3. Lastly, I've learned that Halloween through Christmas flies by when you have children. I haven't even put away all the Halloween stuff yet (stacked up in my room), and I'm hauling _____ to try to get my Christmas cards ready to get printed. Like Julie from Inmates, I love to do my holiday cards this coming weekend (well, she likes to be done by then), and I'm not sure I'm going to make it!

What have you learned this week?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

WFMW: Breaking up a Task

2010-11-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

So, as a mom, I struggle, like many of you, to actually accomplish some bigger tasks. I say, "Oh, I'll do that on my day off in a month..." and then, the day arrives, and I have too many other things on my plate.

While I can't claim I've done this for a long time, and it truly works for me yet, I am hopeful, but I have a new strategy.

Here's my scenario: I have two cute aprons that I am making and a photo collage replicating something my father-in-law already has and loves (it will involve scrapbooking too) for relatives for Christmas, and all of this also needs to be shipped in time.

Well, you could tell me, with a little one at home, perhaps I should just buy gifts instead, but I really want to make them. The problem is the time (or rather, time when my little one is asleep and can't feel the desire to want to use my sewing machine or cut pieces of my scrapping paper).

What I am trying, instead of doing it all in one sitting, is to do about an hours worth of work on the project after my son has gone to bed, and work on it night-by-night, or every other night until it is accomplished. Sure, I have to get things out and put them away each night, but, I guess that is just part of being a responsible parent. I think starting mid-November will work too, because I have enough days before I need to ship them.

I'm actually almost finished with the aprons after just two sittings of an hour each: one at nap time Saturday and one last night. It is nice too, because it is not too overwhelming all at once and I can figure out how to best use my time (do all the ironing of pieces at once, or things of one color).

What works for you to get everything done for the holidays?

For more, see We're That Family.

What I Learned this Week

2010-11-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

A week passes by like...a flash in the night. (Is that the correct metaphor? I always get them mixed up. It is a trademark of mine.)

The week passed by like a firefly in flight? Ooo...rhyming now...

Anyway, to the point. I have to really think about what I really learned last week. It went by super fast, but was definitely eventful.

I did learn:

1) A little boy can fall in love with a pair of mud boots and have to wear them day in and day out, even with his jammies.

2) Three-year-olds can be just as challenging (and lovable) as two-year-olds. I thought maybe a magic button could be pressed on the actual birthday, to stop the strange and unusual behaviors, but...his button must need new batteries. Still though....lovable.

3) Bountiful Baskets (I made no money for this reference) has amazing produce! I just did my first order last weekend, splitting it with a friend, and am doing it again this weekend. Everything was sooo delicious!

4) The voters in the area where I work (I live outside of our district) let us down on a proposition for educational funding for specials (art, music, and pe). It makes me angry, sad, and wondering what I'll do for our son when he gets to kindergarten. I love public education, but is it going to be right for him, minus all the specials? Will the funding be available for them by then? Will we, as parents, need to pay to help provide those opportunities? Will I, as a believer in all the specials have to be creative and develop some homeschooling opportunities for him?

5) I need to work on getting my son to hold my hand in parking lots and such. He has always been fiesty about this, but it is going to have to become a "have-to". He has random bouts of wanting to run off and it is terrifying me.

What have you learned this week? Check out Julie's blog to see more!

Question of the Day: Company and your Children

2010-11-15T04:53:00.000-08:00

I need some advice. If you have children, what do you do to help keep them entertained when you have company over for a visit and are making dinner too?

Typically when I cook dinner, my son gets to watch television, but I felt yesterday, when my parents came over for a visit and dinner (we were grilling burgers and making other things), I felt it would be rude to allow him to watch television, when they are here to see all of us.

I also don't want to just plug him in front of the TV, though honestly sometimes it feels like the safest things altogether, because he can't get into harm and he's also happy while people are here. Last year holiday dinners were hard that way because he doesn't have anyone else to play with. I though of buying him a special DVD to watch after Thanksgiving dinner so the rest of us can still sit back and enjoy ourselves and he has something fun too.

Just a few minutes after they arrived, and we started chatting a little, my son didn't know what to do with himself, and he will just start to act out, doing things like hitting people, or whining and clinging to me. It is really kind of shocking, because he NEVER acts like that, and of course, a bit embarrassing in front of my parents when he will suddenly hit them. I know deep down, that my son is just missing our attention, and wanting some of his own, but I don't know how to prepare him for that.

I could sure use some ideas. One time, when a friend was visiting we hadn't seen in a long time, I got my son a new toy, to occupy him for some visiting time. It somewhat worked. I also tried to prep a lot of the food during naptime and just have a meal in the oven. Perhaps those are some solutions too?

It is amazing as a mom how much you need to prepare/premeditate situations and try to be prepared for them. That, I am definitely learning.

My Morning Routine

2010-11-11T04:57:00.000-08:00

My friend Chelsea did this hysterical post on her morning routine. You've GOT to go read it. I felt the challenge to write about my own. It may not be as funny as hers, but it is what it is...

Here you go:

I wake up and glance at the clock. It is typically somewhere around 4:36 AM or 4:40 AM. Of course, because my alarm doesn't go off until 5:05 AM. (Might I interject for a moment that pre-child, I used to get up at 5:30, shower, and relax on the sofa with a good book, some coffee and a bagel or something until 6:30 AM. Yeah, I was sick like that, but LOVED that alone time.)

So then I lay there, checking the alarm every few minutes in case it is almost 5:05 so my alarm doesn't actually go off and wake my husband. Not that he minds, I just figure if I'm already awake, it is a courteous thing. Some mornings I may be interrupted by hearing something like, "Mommy, I scared of that bird on my gate." That was today. My son awake at 4:45 AM, so I tucked him back in and asked him to go back asleep. He didn't. He just laid there too, until I came to get him.

5:02 AM: Get up, put in my contacts, put on my makeup, and do my hair. I learned to stay in my pjs until after breakfast from when my son was still drinking bottles and would occasionally burp and lose the formula on my clothes. TMI? Probably...

5:22 ish: Go to my son's room and take him to the potty. He's usually awake, hanging out or playing. Seriously, and yes, he goes to be at 7:45/8:00 already. I'm not going later. Then I'll have NO time to myself.

We go into the kitchen and I make breakfast for both of us, usually cereal, but could be eggs. I usually read some email and check a few blogs then.

6:00 Clean up, pack lunch, get son dressed, sunblocked (he's fair, and I've had skin cancer, so I'm paranoid), and tooth brushed. The timing on that depends upon how cooperative my son is and how picky he is about the clothes he wants to wear.

6:10 On goes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or something to entertain him while I get my things packed and myself dressed, as well as get his shoes on. That depends upon how cooperative my son is. Two days ago, it took some frustration, overt maneuvers on part part, and some aggression in my voice.

6:30-6:40 ish: Out to the car, which could take 5 minutes, even in a garage, depending upon how cooperative my son is.

On to daycare dropoff, which could also take some time, and I usually arrive at work around 7:15, depending upon...well, you know.

What does your morning routine look like?

A Beautiful Woman

2010-11-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

I'm at work and can't concentrate. You see, just about 2 1/2 weeks ago, a coworker went into the hospital to have gall bladder surgery. She's just a few years older than I am, with three children and a great husband. She'd been in a lot of pain, and we all just thought, "Whew, she'll feel better soon."

During surgery, they found she had liver cancer....and later, lung cancer...then blood clots in her leg, and lung.... Last week she had her first chemo and got to go home for a few hours.

They found she had a blood clot in her arm. She had to go back to the hospital and they had to put in filters in her legs and arms to stop the blood clots from traveling to her heart.

Today, we were told she has pneumonia and they went to test the levels of fluid in her lungs and found she's internally bleeding and is being placed in ICU. Some of us are very fearful.

This is the woman you always see smiling, is so healthy, so happy, so loving to everyone who crosses her path. Her family always looks so happy and so loving too.

Why her? Why anyone for that matter? What can we do to protect our loved ones and ourselves?

I know there are no answers, and this isn't about me, isn't about me at all. It is about a beautiful woman and her family, but she affects us all because we love and care about her so much. It helps to write, and that's all right now.

I'm on the list to make dinner for the family and take it in to be delivered Friday. It is all I can do and it doesn't feel like enough.

WFMW: Steer Crazee

2010-11-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

I was a winner! Yes, a winner!

A friend of mine, Becca, was offering a giveaway for a Steer Crazee steering wheel cover, and, did I mention, I WON?

This giveaway really works for me too, being someone who lived in a hot environment about 8 months of the year.

Kimberly, the owner and designer, donates $1 of each of the steering wheel covers she sells to the Phoenix Children's Hospital, to buy toys for the kids. That is admirable, and besides, these steering wheel covers are really cute, and great in the heat. They are insulated.

See mine. She has such fun prints to choose from, and they are only $19.99. Go check out her site here and see which one you like, find one as a great gift for a friend for the holidays, or as an upcoming gift in the spring.

Thanks Becca and Kimberly!

For more of what works for others, see We're That Family.

What I Learned this Week

2010-11-09T04:43:00.000-08:00

This was a very big week for learning, and here are just a few of the things I learned:

1. The biggest? A two-year-old can be thrown out of daycare for attacking a parent. No, not my child, another one who had been constantly biting my son. Yes, he attacked me, trying to scratch me, spit on me, and kick me, then threw things at me. Well, this wasn't the first incident, that that doesn't count at THE only thing he got thrown out for, but wow...that was a shocker. I learned crazy two-year-olds can take you by surprise.

2. Red is a difficult color to make with food coloring. At least my son didn't really realize his cupcakes were more pink than red for his birthday at school. I heard red is hard. Any suggestions?

3. A 6' 6" man can throw his back out and become quite unmovable. But I also learned he can heal a lot faster than expected. That's been a big plus.

4. When asking your newly three-year-old son what he'd like to be when he grows up, he can answer, "A flower." I hope that isn't the case, for numerous reasons. I hope he doesn't hate me later in life, for putting that on my blog too!

5. Three can be more challenging than two. The age that is. I've been told by three people anyway. I might be in for a rough year.

6. When you realize you've hit 55:00 on your microwave timerfor your lasagna, realize at 53:00 that you've actually turned ON the microwave, not the timer, and go to reset it. Be cautious you are paying close attention, because you might actually, in also turning on the microwave light, get a little crazy and turn off your oven that was once cooking your lasagna, and be terribly disappointed, once the timer does go off, that the oven is not as hot as you expected, and your lasagna, which you were anticipating for dinner, now STILL has to be cooked, and you have to now make something else, while it cooks.

7. It IS possible to successfully take a three-year-old grocery shopping and actually have a good time. It just takes some prep work.

8. You can warn your child all you want, that he better get wherever he's supposed to be by the countdown of 5-4-3-2-1, then be prepared to follow through with the consequence you threatened, as he WILL test you, you WILL have to follow-through, and he WILL pitch a hissy fit.

9. It can feel like your house will truly never be clean, or picked up, or that you'll have the time (or energy) to do so.

10. Fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, even if it is at 9:15 PM.

For more, see Julie's blog.

The Great Things about Friends

2010-11-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

My favorite things about friends are (by the way, this is me with my great friend Amy this last weekend at her daughter's 3rd b-day party):

1. They are so great to laugh with.
2. They are so wonderful to confide in.
3. They are there to listen to your concerns and share stories that are similar, to make you feel so not alone.
4. Back to #1, sometimes you laugh so hard you almost pee your pants. That's the best (not the pee part, but laughing so hard).
5. They are wonderful to just hang out and spend time with (so hard to find that as moms now).

The list goes on, but today, I'm just thinking of my wonderful friends I see every day (K and M), those I saw this weekend (E, L, A, and P), one I'll see Thursday (M), those who think of my son on his b-day (so many), and just, all my friends.

Thank you! I love and cherish you all!

Thank You (Seeking Advice)

2010-11-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks all of you who posted suggestions for me! You see, not having grown up around smaller children or having had experience with little ones, even at my wise old age :), I just don't have many answers when it comes to children. All of you suggestions were great!

I took my son grocery shopping this morning, on a big shopping trip, EARLY. I figured that way we were bound to get a car cart. Sure enough, he got to choose between red and blue. I also let him bring some fun toys, and snuck some fruit snacks in my purse for later also. As well, one of you mentioned having a separate list for him. Great idea! I had him hold it, and as I collected those items, along with some others, he held them down in his car until checkout time.

Funny thing, as we started out by dairy, there was a rack of bananas and he turned to me to say, "Mommy I'm hungry. Want a banana!" So that kept him occupied for some time (just have to remember to pay for that extra banana at checkout. I forgot once and paid two weeks later!), and I saved the fruit snacks for the produce section, which has always been tempting to him.

It is a big start, and something I really want to keep up, so we have that quality time (if you can really call it that) together and it is no big deal to him too.

Thanks again!

Seeking Advice

2010-11-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

All you moms out there. I need some advice on a number of things I need to get better at:

1) How can you successfully go grocery shopping with a three-year-old (I've been avoiding it, but want to start doing it so he does a good job and has fun too)?

2) Can you only paint your nails during naptime or when your child is in bed?

3) How can you distract your child (or entertain) in the kitchen when you do some extensive cooking?
(I don't want to promote too much TV watching.)

4) Can you get bills paid and do paperwork when your child is awake? What is a good activity for them to do while you do this?

In other words, I am in a transition, where I don't want to try to shove so much into time when he's sleeping or I need to go off on my own to do it. I want to involve him and/or plan activities for him to have fun doing while I'm doing my tasks too. I'm getting too tired trying to do it all in limited time and want to branch out on my thinking.

Thank you for any suggestions you have!

WFMW: Doing it all at once

2010-11-02T20:59:00.000-07:00

Been eating Activia or Yoplait lately? See their pink lids? My husband and I have been saving up our lids, dragging them home from work (after a good lick, of course), and keeping them in a ziploc bag to enter online (the Activia ones) all at once and send the Yoplait ones in as well.

As I write this - actually, I took a little break to write this - I am putting all my codes in at the Activia site, all at once. It is a great task when you're at home from work with your husband who threw out his back. Isn't that awful? Well, maybe that's why I have the time to do it on a normal busy day, really.

I think that's the trick with things that add up. Keep them and then do it all at once. Works with laundry too, you ask? Well, maybe not so well as it takes much longer, but for other things it can:

*dishes from the day (note I mentioned day, not week)
*sending short email responses
*Christmas cards
*you name it

What do you save up and do all at once?

For more ideas of what works for others, see We're That Family.

What I Learned this Week: Colored Frosting

2010-11-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

I had a BIG "Ah ha!" this week that some of you may laugh at. You see, a few weeks ago, I made some Halloween cookies with my son. I kept wondering where you were supposed to find colored frosting. I only saw white, sprinkled and chocolate in the store. With it Halloween season, where was the orange frosting?

Some of you are thinking, "Duh...." Right?

Well, I decided for my son's birthday party last weekend, that I wanted to make him this cake. After my 40th b-day cake that I made, and I swore I'd never make another, this was quite a feat to undertake, but I was ready.

Part of the ingredients were for food coloring for the frosting. So THAT's how it is done! For being as old as I am and never having done anything with food coloring, that was a BIG thing to learn! It was fun to try to make the exact color I wanted, and I'm even more eager now to decorate more sugar cookies with frosting in the future. :)

I made sure to give myself plenty of time, when my son was sleeping, to decorate. I didn't have any special tools and mainly used a small butter knife to get in those tiny places. I learned it might be nice to have some accessories, and also make the frosting thicker. One thing I left off were the windows. I wasn't sure how to even tackle them.

I think it turned out okay though, do you?

Here's the final product the night before, with candles, and during our celebration.

He immediately knew it was Mickey's Clubhouse and that thrilled me. The tough part was cutting it all up into pieces!

It has actually made me feel adventurous and want to try more things related to cake/cookie making, so we'll see what lies in my future!

What did you learn this week? To see what Julie learned, go here.

Recognize me from Toy Story 3?

2010-10-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, my work decided to dress up as Toy Story 3 characters. With a little (okay, a lot) of work, here's what came out of it!

And here, riding my horse Bullseye (okay, don't laugh too hard!) Kathleen's my data coordinator, and I know I ride her almost every day, but not like this!

Ever Play...

2010-10-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

catch the flying electric toothbrush? Yeah...the start to my day. It is spinning around and I lose my grip. It drops, and I'm imaginary spittle everywhere, on me, on the mirror, and BOOM! I catch it, with nary a drop of spittle. Well, maybe one on my pj top.

If this is any indication of my day, I may be close to dropping some balls, but hopefully I'll catch them before they hit the ground. I don't know about you, but this is a frantic time of year for me, with the holiday, my son's b-day, and lots of family in town. I've never been busier, and we've never had (okay, that's not true, with the monster episodes a few months ago) more sleepless nights. Even my little guy was sick yesterday and needed a catch-up day.

Wishing you a day where you are able to catch all the balls you are juggling mid-air, or maybe even not let go in the first place! :)

WFMW: Looking Ahead

2010-10-26T21:22:00.000-07:00

I'm a planner. You could definitely call me that.

I like to look ahead, plan ahead, and fill in my organizer.

One thing I have found that really works for me is to write those things on the side of my monthly calendar that I need to remember to do in an upcoming month, as a reminder.

For instance, as I turn the page to November, I see:
*Condition leather car seats
*Call and make dentist appt. for Feb.
*Make gift for Aunt Pat

It is really the only way I can remember some of these things, and by writing them down the month I need to do them, I can clear out my mind for more important, current events.

What works for you related to remembering dates?

For other great ideas, see We're That Family.

What I Learned this Week: Halloween Time

2010-10-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

I think I'm in love with the holiday season (any holiday) have a child. It is loads of fun, but also loads of work too. Here are some things I've learned in the last week.

1. People dressed up in animal costumes for Halloween can be very scary and only Mommy should go near them (his perspective).

2. Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas can be scary to Mommy, but intriguing to son (his perspective) and call for a High Five!

3. The time spent making a Mickey Mouse shoes and shorts for your son can be well worth it, and having a practice day, trying on the costume and trick-or-treating with Mommy helps.

4. Halloween time can be LOADS of fun as a parent, seeing it through your child's eyes.

5. The theme the staff choose at your work, for dressing up for Halloween, (Toy Story 3), can be exciting, and cause you to have to create yet another costume for yourself in just a few days (well, really nights as a working girl...oh, that came out wrong...working professional).

6. Working on a costume can cause you to miss your favorite shows and have to DVR them, so friends, don't tell me anything about the most recent Survivor, last or this week's and Amazing Race!

What are some things you love or learned about Halloween?

For more, see Julie's blog!

Case of the Icks

2010-10-21T15:26:00.000-07:00

Don't you hate those days, where you go to bed feeling a bit off, slight sore throat, little headache, then wake at 4 AM realizing you really don't feel too good, and to top it off, lay there awake pondering, "Do I go to work, do I stay home, do I go to work, do I stay home?" and never go back to sleep, adding to your not-feeling-so-good day?

I think that may have been the longest sentence I have ever written, but seriously, I could have gone on.

If you're like me too, you figure you'll throw in a load or two of laundry while you're home sick, because it is so easy, only then you realize you still have to fold it, and punish yourself mentally because you'd rather be lying on the sofa or bed, sleeping.

You finally lie down on the sofa, two dogs curled around you, blanket on top and every so often think, "I'm going to sleep soon, I can feel it," and that kind of wakes you up? You lay there for oh, an hour and a half, get really hot under the blanket, feel drugged from sleep or lack of sleep, or this bug you have, and wonder if you ever really fell asleep?

Yeah, it is one of those days today, an "Ick" day, where I just feel downright icky, achy, and not worth much of anything, and I hope a good night's rest will turn all of that around. Afterall, it is Halloween season and our family has so many fun things planned!

WFMW: Lunch Break at Work

2010-10-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

My lunchtimes at work are precious to me. I have found that sometimes this is my only quiet time in the day to think and organize things on my to-do list. Sometimes it is the only way to get "me time" too.

I close my office door and do any of the following, depending upon the day of the week, while I eat my lunch:

1. Write a blog post (doing that today)!
2. View coupons I might be able to use that week grocery shopping.
3. Send a much-needed and late email to a friend or family member.
4. Peruse other blogs I like to read.
5. Make my grocery list.
6. Write down my home to-do list.

Sometimes it is a little messy and I may get a little chip grease on my keyboard (oops), but it allows me to go back to work a little more focused and feeling like I accomplished something too.

When do you find those little snippets of time for to-do's or things you like?

What I Learned this Week

2010-10-19T05:32:00.000-07:00

What I learned this week:
1. First of all, if you type "learned", really quickly, it turns out "learnded" and then you don't appear too learned.

2. On that same note, we went to a new park this weekend and saw these words in graffiti: "bich" and "fuch".....as an educator I think, if you're going to spray paint something, at least spell correctly! I'm glad my son didn't have to spell those out as he does many signs he runs across lately.

3. As the sun starts coming up later, my son is sleeping in more. Like now, it is 5:29 AM, and he is still sound asleep! (Remember those 3:45 and 4:30 AM mornings?)

4. Sometimes pumpkin flowers can be as fun to pick and carry around as the pumpkins you find.

5. Last, but not least, I learned something about myself last week. When I have serious time off, I take it seriously, and do too many darn things in that time. I think that's why people need getaway vacations, so they don't see all that needs to be done at home.

For more, see Julie's blog!

Thankful Thursday

2010-10-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling that it is time again to write a Thankful Thursday post. I have been so frantically busy the last three days of my "break" that I need to take time to reflect on all I've accomplished, be thankful, and move ahead these last two days, doing LESS.

Today I am most thankful for:

1. Getting my son's Halloween costume and accessories all finished. Check out these Mickey Mouse shoes!

2. Having time to get some birthday and Christmas present shopping done.

3. Having time to go have lunch out with my husband and a day off with him as well.

4. Being healthy this time of year and having time to get extra allergy shots. I usually have bad allergies and have been getting shots. Hopefully they are helping!

5. Getting as much done as I have. Lots of errands and ability to do some shopping I needed.

6. My dog not having anything more serious than a possible prior bug bite that he has been consistently licking until he's licked all the fur off his paw. Poor guy has to wear this for a few days and is seriously in depression.

7. Having the opportunity to see my son in his little soccer class at preschool.

8. The weather finally trying to cool off out here. The car has still read 100 degrees a few times, but it has been noticeably cooler. I LOVE being able to be outside in the cool, fresh air.

9. My son really getting the potty training down! He is doing soooo well. Only #2 accidents at this point, and he'll be 3 on November 6th. I'm happy to have pushed the issue a bit, as I think he was ready and able.

10. Lastly, having two more days of break by myself, in which I really, really, really need to slow down and veg a bit. Really veg. Really try to let the stress of being so busy slide away, and get invigorated again.

What are you most thankful for in your life right now?

I Think I'm in Love

2010-10-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

Through We're That Family, I just found an amazing (at least to me) blog called Simple Organized Living. I think I'm in love. Seriously. Not with her, but her blog. A little disclaimer though, I just read she doesn't have any children and I'm sure that plays a part in how much extra time she may have, and I say "may", because keeping up with a quality blog like the one she has takes time and commitment.

You should check it out too. My favorite section right now is Time & Money, though that is all I was able to read while eating my bagel (homemade...Trader Joe's..yum) and drinking my coffee, prior to having about 45 minutes to scrapbook, and this I must!

Oh, running a little late on that too, because as I dropped my son off at daycare this morning, he asked me to come read a book to him. Who couldn't resist on a day off, right? Before I knew it, there were three cuties sitting around me while I read them two books. My son had the cutest little smile on his face and I just know he was tickled that his mommy stayed to read to them. I so wish I could do it every day!

What I Learned this Week

2010-10-12T02:36:00.001-07:00

I had an interesting "dropping things" weekend. I wasn't feeling particularly clumsy, but something was in the air.

Here are some of the things I learned about that and others

1. I still "have it" when it comes to light mountain biking. See here. I made it without any injuries at all. Surprising after over 3 years.

2. I can have no injuries on a mountain bike ride, and then jam my toe into the edge of the shower and scrape the skin off the top of my right toe 15 minutes later.

3. Half an hour after that, I can drop a soda can out of the refrigerator onto the top of my left toe, denting the can, causing me to yell in pain, and blood can seep out of the cut it made.

4. Three hours later, my heavy water bottle (non-BPA of course) can fall out of my purse, onto that same toe.

5. Two days later, that same water bottle can go crashing out of a backpack and go sliding under two bathroom stalls in a park bathroom. So sanitary, yes?

This is all a few days prior to a scheduled pedicure appointment. Do you need to worry about sanitary foot soaks at a nice spa with any cuts/abrasions on your feet?

WFMW: Making Cookies with my Son

2010-10-12T02:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I made cookies with my son for the first time. The funny thing is, I think he's done it before at daycare, or at least done the motions of rolling out the dough and using the cookie cutters. We've used cutters for playdough before, but he seemed to have the groove already!

I bought pre-made dough, just to save time and have my son keep his interest up. I also chose to just use a few cookie cutters he could choose from in Halloween theme, and kept the frosting to simple vanilla, rather than any intricate designs (I don't even know how to do that anyway!)

As I was using the roller and trying to get it not to stick, he was telling me to use the handles. He had to model it for me. :)

He was much more into putting on the sprinkles than he was frosting the cookies, so I did that part. And most of all, the eating of them is the best part!

For more of What Works for Me Wednesday, go here.

Starting Another Week Off Right...or so I hope

2010-10-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

Last week, week one of my break, started off with a free coffee from Starbucks, by taking in my used bag of grounds.

Today, my free Bruegger's bagel and cream cheese coupon helped me get a yummy bagel! Ah...the comforts of great breakfast foods (okay, is coffee a food?) I changed my mind mid-order though, noticing they had pumpkin cream cheese. I wouldn't recommend pumpernickel bagel and pumpkin cheese. Strange, but not so bad.

I have a lot on my plate this last week of my break, and even woke up anxious at all I'd like to do. Really, who DOES that, unless they are going on some great trip or something? I really need to get some "I do and plan too much" therapy. I realize though, I have to blame it all on my son. It is his fault. With him around, I can't do little knick-knacky things like scrapbook, make Mickey Mouse shoes for Halloween, sort through and organize drawers. All heck would break loose, including me losing my mind. I have to wait and cram it all into my break time instead. See, it not really MY problem.

Did I mention I got a free bagel? Oh..sorry, yeah..just took a bite and drank some really good Starbucks, brewed at home, French Roast. Ahhh.... It even feels like fall today, which makes a great start to the week. My car was registering 69 degrees at 8 AM, so I'm sure it was cooler out even when I dropped my son off at daycare.

I hope everyone is off to a great week themselves!

Back on the Bike!

2010-10-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have the day off today and he had this great idea that instead of going hiking this morning after a great breakfast out, that we should back to our mountain biking spot and do one of the easy trails. I hadn't done this since at the very least, 3 1/2 years ago, after I found out I was pregnant!

We had THE BEST time and I was surprised that it all came back to me as well as it did, going through sand, over rocks, steering away from cactus. It was invigorating, and certainly the highlight so far of my break!

Keeping Busy

2010-10-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

I have sure been keeping busy this week, running here and there on errands, getting extra allergy shots while I have the time, having lunch with friends, shopping for some needed new clothes...I am definitely not on the road to relaxation, yet. I am sure glad I have next week off too.

We just received our 4th invitation to a birthday party over the next month, 3 actually next week, and then there's also my son's party on the 30th. Fortunately, we're just doing a family one, with grandparents who will be in town, so it will be low key. I wasn't actually able to have it on his birthday, November 6th, because one grandparent is leaving that day, and one of my dearest friends is having her daughter's 3rd birthday party on that day too! Whew! The 30th of October is kind of a neat day though, in that that was my son's actual due date.

I'm planning a Mickey Mouse themed party for him and he's also going to be Mickey Mouse for Halloween.

I've been working on the costume a bit this week too. Here are the shorts:

I wish I could have found even bigger buttons, but these were the biggest I could find. I actually made a second pair of shorts too, as potty training backups. I wouldn't want my Mickey Mouse to be stuck wearing little boy shorts instead of his red ones with his costume. I showed them to him last night, and when we were getting ready to go to bed, he told me he wanted his "Mickey Mouse jammies". I coudn't figure out what he meant, because he doesn't have any, but he must have meant the shorts!

The next step is trying to make those crazy big yellow shoes. I got some things to start with:

Only, I ended up finding some fleece slippers yesterday at the store that I think I will use as a base and create the shoe on top of, instead of making fleece socks. This will be next week's creative endeavor.

On a totally different note, I mentioned having gone shopping for jeans. Ever find a pair that fits you so well you want to rush out and buy a second pair immediately? Like a pair that doesn't hang in the crotch, sag in the bottom (or too tight) and actually fits you in the waist without that big gap in the back? Well, I'm there, with these, wearing them today and just hoping I'll be able to find another pair out and about next week.

WFMW: Numbered Sticker Chart for Potty Training

2010-10-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

The latest in our potty training at home has transitioned to every time my son goes pee in the potty successfully, he gets a sticker on a chart. I used numbered stickers so he can clearly see what number he's on, and prenumbered the spaces so he could put them on. Our deal is, once he reaches 10, he gets an ice cream cone, one made at home.

We filled up this chart and are now starting on our second. This has been such a great incentive that originally, he'd get an M & M or Lifesavers each time too, and he's more encouraged to just work toward the ice cream. I think we can probably phase it out soon too, but it has been fun to do together!

See We're That Family for more ideas.

What I Learned this Week

2010-10-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

I have learned a number of interesting (at least to me!) things this week:

1) An almost three-year-old boy can be as opinionated about his clothing as a woman my age. Each day he wants to pick out a certain color of top to wear. Today he wanted blue stripes. Hm...we didn't have anything to fit that exactly, according to him, and when he finally did decide, he didn't care for the pink trim on the inside of the polo's collar. "Turn pink off!" he exclaimed! You might ask why I let him be so particular, right, that it is my fault? Well long ago, I started offering him two choices each morning for an outfit, choices I'd already put together. He's just added to that.

2) A movie is never as good as a book. I just finished Eat Pray Love, which in actuality, I didn't love, but thought I'd go see the movie for some me time. It was okay, but the movie producers took some shortcuts and added in some thoughts of their own. Did you see it/read it?

3) I may have a number of days off this and next week, but they can rapidly be filled with things. Too many things (I know that's not a sentence. I'm just trying to make a point).

4) Today my car is scheduled for an intensive cleaning and waxing. First thing my son wanted to do this morning is go look at the stars in the dark sky. We couldn't see any, because the storm clouds have rolled in. Nice for a car wash, an expensive one, isn't it? We all need our money, including the detailer, so I won't cancel. I hope this comes back in my favor one day.

5) Having a child (or maybe it is just my age?) can make you need more sleep and wake up feeling like you've had less sleep as well as having moved furniture all day-the pain in your back and neck-...oh wait, is that from "flying" my 38 pound son around the house and lifting him in and out of the swing set?

For more, see From Inmates to Playdates.

Starting the Week Off Right

2010-10-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Today is my first "real" day off for two weeks. Ahhhh....

I really did have Friday off too, but spent most of it cleaning for company this weekend, so I'm not counting it. It was really a work day.

I'm trying to start this week off right by just relaxing and going with the flow. That doesn't come easy for me in my life right now, with being a mom. The little things that used to get done when I felt like it, and little errands run here and there all get piled into my days off instead of happening whenever I felt like it pre-child. That's not very healthy in order to really have time off, is it?

Well, I started today off by taking my son to daycare. That's one way I'm trying to really get some me time this break, by keeping him in his routine, in a place he loves to be, instead of trying to save a little money and have valuable mommy/son time this go around. We've had a lot of quality time lately, so I'm not going to feel guilty about it (even though "feelingguilty" is my middle name). I have so many little errands to run and little tasks to do that I just can't do when my son is home with me, i.e.: wrapping birthday gifts for friends and for him-he'll be 3 November 6th-, sewing some Christmas gifts and Halloween costume, scrapbooking, and this is the big one, attempting to make some Mickey Mouse shoes for my son's costume. Anyone have any ideas? I'm pretty handy with sewing and such, but really need to get a sense of what materials to use for yellow, sturdy, BIG shoes. Hmm... So, that's reason enough for daycare, right? (Do you sense I'm trying to justify here?)

Then, I took my empty bag of Starbucks coffee grounds to a nearby Starbucks and received my FREE TALL BREWED COFFEE! Yes, on the side of some of the bag of Starbucks coffee it states just that, and by golly, it works. I'm sippy it now. That is start of "starting off week right" #2.

Later today, I'm taking myself to see the movie "Eat Pray Love". Has anyone else seen it? I thought the book was okay, enjoying the first and third sections the most. I just think it will be a good popcorn eating chick flick, and I love a good movie.

I'd love to also get caught up on reading some of the great blogs I got into this summer. I met some really neat people and so enjoyed their blogs, but I haven't paid visits lately. I'm doing all I can to post myself. I feel it is sad that I can't do everything all the time. :(

Wishing everyone else a good week too, and happy October! I'm feeling the season after having decorated a little Friday too. My son calls it "The Halloween Window."

Finding Balance on "Vacation" Time

2010-09-30T05:51:00.000-07:00

Where I work, we get a three-week break this time of year each year. I usually work the first week of it, minus Friday. So, that means I have the next two weeks off!

Sounds terrific, but it always brings me some stress too, because inevitably I save all those errands and chores that can't be done with a two-year-old around for that time as well as all the fun things I love to do, like scrapbook, journal, and read.

How does one fit all of that in and not feel exhausted at the end of it? I guess that's how most people feel coming back from a vacation too, especially having a family. Lots of activities and fun, but you need a vacation afterward.

Besides tomorrow, which I'm going to spend grocery shopping and intensely cleaning the house, as both sets of parents are arriving soon (one this weekend, and the other at the end of October), I'm hoping to find some balance.

My husband had a great suggestion, and that is to prioritize the "me time" stuff, like scrapbooking or reading, first thing in the morning, to make sure it happens and I don't run out of time in the day. LOVE the idea!

One thing I do know, is that I need to stop trying to get so much done and instead, fuel up on energy for myself, and treat myself to that "me time" to keep moving ahead in a healthy way.

How do you find this balance? Okay, balance probably isn't the right word, as it isn't "equal", but how do you find time or make time for yourself?

WFMW: Cash Only for 3 Months, My Findings

2010-09-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

So, just about three months ago, I decided to challenge myself and use cash only for all grocery purchases (okay, looking back, it was supposed to be for my son's purchases and gifts too, but I didn't do that). In our household, groceries include all health, beauty, general household supplies and cleaning, and Pull Ups and wipes. I have found, through talking to other people, that their grocery budgets only include food items and they don't really budget for those other items. If you do, how do you fit in those expenses then? Just curious.

Here were some of my findings:

1. I don't use the same amount of grocery money each week, because I may go to only one store, or I may go to several, including a big Costco trip (for things that last longer-like several months), so I had to take out more than a quarter of my budget for the month just in case.

2. In the beginning, I was really bargain hunting, hitting up several stores a week, like CVS and Walgreens, to get their deals, on items I use, but didn't particularly need that week or even that month. Result of that? Lots of extra time spent shopping when I could have been relaxing on some time off I had, AND it actually left less money for the necessities that month.

3. I did a great job stocking up, but I noticed on things like body wash (I'm set until February probably) and for some reason, granola bars. We don't usually buy granola bars, though we like them, but all of a sudden, I had a ton. We're still eating on them now, and really, the sugar in those aren't so great for you, even if they are all natural (and not so great for someone who is hypoglycemic either.) I also found that a lot of the coupons that are out there are for junk-type food and that isn't what we typically eat. I found myself gravitating toward them, however, because they were good deals, on sale, and I had a coupon! Not the route I want to go though.

4. I had some great food (or at least food) stocked up through August, but when September hit, my freezer and cupboards seemed quite empty, and at the end of August, I didn't have any excess money to carry over either. I ended up having to make a big Costco run, which left us with little money this month. We actually had cereal one night for dinner and I have an $18.00 budget for food this week to make it to October.

5. Having cash actually meant I was spending MORE, I think, and not monitoring it as well. It wasn't as easy for me to see as when I wrote down my debit purchases each week (or every so often) to see what I'd have left.

6. Ending up with so little in August, and needing to buy lots of Pull Ups at that point too (I'd stocked up earlier and ran low), led me to decide my son really needed to be potty trained so we could save on the cost from here on out (he'll be three in November). Sure, I spent the extra money I would have spent on those on incentives toys the last two weeks, but hopefully it will be worth it in the end.

I gave it a shot, using cash only, and it didn't work for me. I think I'm actually going to go back to my old way of shopping with my standard coupons at one store a week (and Costco once a month) and just try my best to save.

What is your best money saving trick with your grocery budget?

See other great things that work for bloggers here.

WILTW: Being a Mom and Wife

2010-09-28T05:24:00.000-07:00

Whew! What a week of lots of learning. Here are some of the finer things I learned this week:

1. Your child can do well potty training with a treasure box of goodies to choose from. Problems though: the cost and frequency of having to buy new things for it, and when to stop! I swear he is going just to get a treat!

2. Two-year-old best friends can make your child's lower lip quiver and he'll cry when they both shout, "No!" at him playing with them. Makes a mom sad.

3. I am ecstatic Amazing Race is on again! Okay, maybe no learning involved there, except that I think the opening sequence with the host was filmed separately than the actual views of the racers. Did anyone else sense that too?

4. Having jury duty postponed can't be all that bad, in that it was supposed to be last week when I was super busy, and now I have it tomorrow, when I'm slightly less busy (though others have to pick up my slack).

5. Two spouses coming home grumpy from a day of work isn't all that great.

6. Party City's coupons for $10 off Halloween costumes can be deceiving, when it reads, "for costumes $ ____ - $34.99" and the one you want is $39.99. Not to mention some are even higher. I may not dress up this year. I was hoping to, but too expensive!

7. A $.49 horn from Party City can really excite your toilet training toddler as a "prize".

8. An almost three-year-old can have definite opinions about the shoes you buy, and say, "No want "doze!" No went "dem"!" and pull them off on the way to daycare (that is after you have snuck them on while he was watching TV after a prior issue with them).

9. Being too busy during a week and not being able to run your normal errands can make you want to pull your hair out. I'm glad I have some extra to spare!

10. Taking your husband and child grocery shopping can be interesting and your child can put on behaviors you've never seen before. Your child can also eat a banana in the store (way worth your sanity) and you own the grocery store an IOU because you are so concentrating on getting out of the store you forget to have them weigh an extra banana to pay for it.

What have you learned lately?

WFMW: Extra Cash for Kids' Extras

2010-09-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

I have found a way that works for me when it comes to having that extra cash for those little extras for my son. For instance, I wanted to enroll him in swimming classes last spring, but had no extra cash in our budget.

I decided to hold a yard sale and sell all of his baby furniture, toys, and clothing, things we didn't need any more. I made over $300. I socked it away for those little things we can't always fit in monthly, like those swimming classes, music classes at daycare, and just recently, I enrolled him in a 4-week soccer program. I love that I was able to do that.

I'm still selling some items here and there: a backpack carrier, his high chair, and now his crib. All of that will be put away for extras. I even snuck a little out the other night for a treat from Dairy Queen, since my son had been doing so well potty training.

For more of what works for others, see We're That Family.

Want a Laugh?

2010-09-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes funny moments need to be written down.

I was just in a middle school class, watching presentations for fast food restaurants students were developing. A girl said this:

"My target audience is singles, because singles are lonely and eat to fill their emptiness."

All of the adult judges, including me, busted into laughter...

WILTW: Potty Training

2010-09-20T20:24:00.000-07:00

Phew! What a weekend! I decided, as I mentioned on my last post, to do an intensive "Big Boy Boot Camp" over the two days. I learned many things in the process.

1. You can be so desperate as to take the potty everywhere your child goes, to help him be successful.
2. A treasure box (see in the photo next to him) of incentives can really help (so he gets to choose the prize).
3. It is a good idea to move all floor rugs, BUT, and this is a big but (not my butt, but the statement), IF your child has an accident on the floor and you clean it up, be sure to dry the area too, so he doesn't slip and have a terrible fall. Okay, two terrible falls. (Not that that happened to us.)
4. Books can be a great incentive for #2.
5. The 99 cent store has some great little books for just that.
6. Your child can do better than you expected on Day One.
7. Your child can do worse than expected after Day One on Day Two.
8. By 4:00 on Day Two, your child can be so excited and motivated for his next incentive that he can cry out, "I need help!" when his body doesn't produce the pee he needs for his incentive, and then cry. That can break Mommy's heart.
9. Holding onto the next incentive can make your child happy again (as long as it is still in the wrapper), until he can produce.
10. By the afternoon of Day Two, and into Day Three - the day he goes back to daycare-, your child can be so tired and irritated about the whole weekend that he no longer wants to follow any directions you give him, to the point of being defiant.
11. (Couldn't stop at ten): 3 changes of clothes at daycare isn't two bad if it is 3 changes to 2 successes and another at home. :)

For more, see From Inmates to Playdates!

Help Anyone? Potty Training Boot Camp

2010-09-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

I need your help. My son's almost 3 (early November) and I am ready to be rid of Pull-Ups. Pull-Ups that aren't helping on the potty training front at all. My boy loves his Pull-Ups. Back in February, he first peed on the potty, and was doing a great job, even letting me know in June, that he needed to go. After a trip in July, he has only gone once, and expresses no interest in the potty.

This weekend I'm contemplating boot camp. Potty training boot camp, the every half hour try, give lots of fluids, put in underwear, and WORK IT!

Any suggestions? I've come from the philosophy of "Wait until they're ready", but I think my son knows, and just prefers the mommy time and east of me changing him.

Readers, I'd love your help!

The New Normal

2010-09-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

Just when I think I am in a routine at home that works and I feel comfortable, truly happy, and feel like things are flowing along smoothly (for the most part), my boat starts to get a little shaky, something different gets in my path, and BOOM, I'm off course again.

I feel it. I start thinking, "Boy, this week has been busy, and so out of the norm. I'm sure next week will feel differently." But, it doesn't. I find I'm still a little shaky, and things aren't quite, well, "right".

An example of this was when my son started having sleep issues and monsters. We bought him a twin bed and he'd be up a million times during the night, and sometimes up for good at 3:45 AM. I ended up having to pack a "morning bag" of all my essentials that I could just grab and use to get ready in a different bathroom, since he was up. That became part of my "new normal" then, toting that bag out every morning and back again in the evening. We also starting putting him to bed later, and leaving his door open, which did not allow us to watch TV in the living room. I hated that! I wanted that "normal" back, my time to veg on the sofa. Instead, I was having to sit on our bed in the back to watch TV, and I didn't like that.

Over the last few days, we've been able to create a "new normal", of waiting until he's asleep around 8 pm, then closing his door, and we can watch TV once again in the living room. AHHH....it feels so nice, to have our dogs curled up next to us, feet up, in our space.

I'm realizing too, that something else has felt off lately. I've been needing to pick up my son later, so many nights a week, due to other obligations. It used to be I could get him by 4:30. Now, some days it is 4:45 or even 5:10. I hate it, because I know he's waiting, peeking his little (and cute) face into the window peering into the daycare lobby. I keep thinking my schedule will change, but maybe, just maybe, it too, is the "new normal". Maybe that's just the way things are going to be.

Being a parent is such a growing experience for me, for me to get out of my little shell I've been living in and realize how little control I have over every little thing.

I think I've coined a new phrase for myself, "The New Normal", that normal doesn't always stay the same, but it is normal for that time period, only, until something new steps in.

How have you seen stages like that in your life, and how do you go through them with a positive attitude?

Survivor Tonight!

2010-09-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

I'd love to hear if you are a Survivor fan too. I got started when I met my husband in 2001 and have watched ever since. We just DVRed tonight's episode and I'm getting ready to watch it.

If you are a viewer, I'd love to hear:
1) Are you excited about this year's season?
2) Do you think the girl's bathing suits can get any skimpier? C'mon! Maybe I'm just jealous because I look more like the school cafeteria worker from a few years ago in a bathing suit! (I may be exaggerating, but only a tad.)*Disclaimer: my husband says I'm being negative with that comment, and I don't mean to me...it is just, well, I look more like the 40 and over team than the 30 and under team. That's fair to say, right?
3) Will it be worth watching? I always hate the end when the person who I want to win doesn't win, and each year I say, "That's it, I'm not watching next year's!" But then, there I am again, glued to the TV.

WFMW: Grocery List

2010-09-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

Something I do every week, throughout the week, is make my grocery list.

I don't know about you, but when I think of something I need, I have to immediately write it down, or I'll forget it.

I use a 5 1/2" x 8" or so spiral notebook, and make a page for the grocery store, with my menu on the bottom portion, and separate 1/2 sheets for Target and Costco as well, for when I go there eventually.

What works best for me, and is something my mom always did, is to write down the items I need in the general location of where they are in the grocery store. For instance, dairy is in the far right as I walk in, so dairy products are written there on my list. That way, when I shop, I can't miss anything on my list as I go through the store.

For coupon savings as well, I may write "C" and circle it next to the item, reminding myself of the coupon I have paper clipped to my list, or if the store is running a "Buy 10 of these products, save $5.00" type of deal, I'll write "10" and circle it near the item so that I can make sure I've purchased the 10 I need for the savings.

It is what works for me.
Do you have some ways that help you stay organized with your list of needed groceries?

For more things that work, see We're That Family.

What I Learned this Week: The Ahh Moments

2010-09-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

Do you ever find yourself saying or thinking "Ah....?"

Here are just a few of mine from the week.

1. There is more than one use for an empty roll of toilet paper. (His doing, not mine.) Ahh...so smart!

2. Weeks can go by where your child listens for the most part and is happy-go-lucky. The husband even comments at how patient the wife is (that's me). That can all crumble in one day, when one's child wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, and so does the mom. Ahhhh!!!!!!

3. You can leave the house of people who had you over for dinner (who your child knows rather well), and he can call out, "Bye George and Martha (not their real names), I love you!" and you and your husband turn and smile, so tickled at your son. Ahh...so sweet!

4. You have Girls' Night Out, and you are tickled to even just have to time to drive alone in the car, with your music playing, the 30 minutes it takes to get to the restaurant. Ah...heaven. Then there was the great company and food!

5. Ahhh...the call from the doctor's office that they've sent in a prescription for antibiotics for what you believe to be a sinus infection that hit you like a ton of bricks over the weekend, and you don't have to miss work during a busy week to go to the doctor. And even more "Ah....for only $7.15."

What has been a moment lately that has caused you an "Ah," moment?

See what Julie has to share about what she's learned too.

Question of the Day: Finding Time

2010-09-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

As I rush through my morning routine, I think "How do I find the time to...":
*Fold and put away laundry?
*Pick up and put away things from our trip 2 weeks ago?
*Get organized to do scrapbooking one day again?
*Catch up with emails?
*Wash the sheets that are overdue?
*Look at all those great blogs I'm behind on reading?
*Wash or get my car washed, must less really need the detailing it needs?

I know many of you stay up until all hours of the night getting things like that done after your children are in bed, but being an early bird...I just can't. I'm asleep by 9:15/9:30 most nights, and up by...well, I was awake at 4:40 AM this morning because my son was, even though he played alone in his room and I drifted in and out of sleep until I got up after 5 AM.

I really only have, at most one to one and a half hours in the evenings when I can get those "extras" done. How do you do it?

WILTW: 3-day weekend

2010-09-06T19:27:00.000-07:00

It is always interesting to think about what I learn each week, and I'm so interested to learn what you've learned too. For more interesting adventures in learning, be sure to check out Julie's blog too.

1. First, I learned that one should anticipate if one notices one's child falling a lot one weekend, that it may continue into the week with multiple injuries, particularly facial ones.

2. I may not have learned this this week, but I did learn in prior years that when your child falls a lot, they may be going through a growing spurt. After measuring my son Friday night, I learned he's grown 3/4" in less than one month!

3. If your child starts sneezing and has a running nose earlier in the week, best chances are you and your spouse will come down with the illness and feel cruddy all of Labor Day weekend. :(

4. Having a cold allows you to make excuses to watch a lot of television with your child over Labor Day weekend, because afterall, he needs the rest too, still recovering, right?

5. It is okay to let your child take a 10 AM nap in the car on a Monday morning drive, if indeed he needs the extra sleep and you don't mind him missing out on the afternoon one, as long as you are sprawled out together on the sofa watching TV (that is hopeful for this afternoon anyway).

6. It can still be WAY TOO HOT outside over Labor Day.

7. Having a backup box of pancake mix when one wants Labor Day weekend pancakes is a good thing when the first one is full of....are they maggots..those tiny, icky things? Tell me, how on EARTH, do they get in that bag in the first place? That is my question of the day. Okay, and to be honest...it had been a LONG time since I'd made pancakes.

8. A balloon can make for some really good self-entertainment, for a long time.

9. It is possible, to be only 30 minutes from home and have to pee like you've never had to pee in your life, and have to ask your husband to pull over at a gas station to go, before needing to cough again and fear for wetting yourself.

10. A 3-day weekend is THE BEST!

That Kind of Night

2010-09-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have that kind of night where you know there are a million and one things you should be doing, but you can't quite put your finger on any of them (or maybe subconsciously don't want to)?

You even try going to bed to read 30 minutes early and your husband asks what you're doing.

You wander aimlessly, even attempting to make a grocery list for the week, with yummy meals planned, but can't think beyond the package of frozen ground beef and frozen chicken breasts in the freezer.

You ponder that it is a holiday weekend coming up and that you should make something GREAT on the grill (that would be the husband actually), but you've not been eating so well lately, so maybe you should go healthy instead of that terrific ribeye that sounds so good, or...there's always the KFC that is traditional for Labor Day weekend....but no...you're trying to think healthy (did I say that already?). Back to those frozen chicken breasts.

Even your blog post is a bit of a ramble, because like I mentioned, it is like you are lost in the middle of the million things you should be doing, but....well, they just aren't coming to you, nor....
do you really want them to.

Is this the perfect state of mind, where you can't stress over everything you have to do, because it is just not on your mind? Do you ever have that kind of night, or day, or moment?

Maybe my weekend away, with my husband and son, to see my dad and his wife was just that relaxing. Look, I was asked to kiss my dad on the cheek for this photo, and this was what was captured....I wonder if that was that kind of night too? :)

What I Learned this Week: Travel Edition

2010-08-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

Well, we just got back from a 3-day trip to my hometown, a place I haven't lived for 18 years now. Our purpose was to visit family and a friend, but along the way, I learned a lot of things.

1. It can take you longer to get through one little town with a gazillion lights (all on red when you get to them) than it does to travel like 80 some miles from one large city to the next (no kidding).

2. Many more stoplights are added to a town in 18 years, and they can drive your husband bonkers, as they are not timed with traffic, causing him to shout, "I could never live here!" You calmly have to state, "Just keep in mind, when I lived here, there wasn't a light here, or here, or there, or there, and as a matter of fact, there wasn't even a road there, or here, or there...." Things sure can change!

3. Not only do you have to watch your own child at a playground, but you have to watch others so they don't harm your child. Picture this. My son and I are on the upper layer of a playground thingy and a little boy (maybe 4?) is down below poking a stick through the metal. Sure, he's playing, but what the heck? What if my son falls on it, huh? Then my son starts to climb down this plastic rock wall, and out pops this kid, stick in hand, and proceeds to poke my son in the side of his leg or shoe with the stick. I yell, "Hey! We don't play like that!" and either me shouting or the fear of my son being poked by a stick causes my son to fall cheek first off the wall. Ending in this and tears. Can you see that poor cheek? I sure hope picture day isn't coming up!

4. Hotel beds are awesome playgrounds for kids. Pretty much anything related is called, "Fun!"

5. Waking up at 5:15 and getting to eat snacks and watch the DVD player until Daddy gets up is "Fun!" too. (Not me...I was the one supplying the snacks.)

6. Having an extra day off in the week is really FUN!

7. While you can bring along your weekly grocery flyer, coupons, and list, you can still go through your trip without touching any of it and deciding to "wing-it" the rest of the week.

8. As I've heard before, vacations are fun for kids and a lot of work for parents. So true. How can packing for a little one be 5 times harder than for oneself?

9. While your little one can be so well-behaved for 2 1/2 days, just 2 hours from home, when you stop to get lunch, he can completely meltdown, throw his lemonade across the restaurant floor, cause his mommy to have to take him outside and sit on the sidewalk while he freaks out, respond to a police officer who happens to be going through the drive through who asks, "Having trouble?", and hear from a patron later, "Just realize, it only gets harder when they are teens. You'll remember the good ole days," with a smile.

10. Lastly, spending time with family you don't see very often can be so rewarding, and any of it spent helping your children get to know them when they are here on this earth, is a wonderful thing.

For more, see Julie's blog.

WFMW: Routine

2010-08-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

For more of What Works for Me Wednesday, go here.

I have always heard that children do best with routines. So do I, I think!

Ever since my son was born, I've done my best to have set routines for our mornings and evenings (he goes to daycare M-F). Our routines look something like this:

AM:
I'm up and I do hair and makeup
I get my son up and changed (his Pull Up)
Start the coffee and get my son some apple juice (1/2 juice/1/2 water)
Make and eat breakfast (usually while I check email or blogs) and he's allowed to bring a toy to
       breakfast, but not dinner
Teeth brushed, dressed, and sunblock on
Then he gets to watch a show we have DVRed (I've created a verb here!) while I get finished getting
     ready
Then I come out, put on his shoes and we hit the road

PM:
When we get home from work and daycare, my son gets to watch a show while I make dinner (safer
      for everyone involved)
We wash hands and eat, then my hubby cleans up
My son helps me put more dogfood in the dogs' bowl
We do a variety of things until 7 pm: art projects, play trains, play on the computer (he's great with the laptop mouse, bath, etc. Quality time stuff
7-hang out with dad while I shower
7:30 bedtime stories and sleep

It works great for us, and he seems to love the routine.

What kind of routines do have set that work for you?

WILTW: Toys

2010-08-24T05:35:00.000-07:00

I've been learning a lot lately. Doesn't it seem like there are weeks when we do, and others where we forget so much?

I went to this neat Mom2Mom sale this weekend in our area, where mom sell their baby and toddler items out on tables, just like you would for a yard sale, but in the comfort of an air-conditioned hotel conference room. If I had a baby still, it would certainly be the place to sell. Having a tall 2 1/2 year old, however, I was somewhat limited to toys and books, as he is on the tail end of his 4T clothes, moving into 4s right now already.

What I've learned lately is that no matter whether a toy is used or not, if a little one thinks it is cool, it doesn't matter how much it costs. Case in point:

This is a toy train that comes apart (the cars do), that I got in a ziploc bag for $3.99 at a resale shop this summer. It has been one of his favorite toys since! He can put lizards or dinosaurs, or little characters in the rail cars, and pull it around all over the house.

Keeping this in mind, I found some great little toys at the Mom2Mom sale, knowing that even though he may get only a few months of use out of them at his age, it mixes things up a bit and allows him a few more options for play, while Mom saves some money!

One thing that has come up in conversation lately with friends is:
How many toys are too many toys? What do you think?

I am all into getting rid of the toys your child is too young for, so we don't have many of those laying around, but do you find your child is growing so fast that they need a variety?

For more, visit Julie's blog.

Money Saving Monday

2010-08-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

You know, I've been reflecting on this whole money-saving by using coupons/shopping ads campaign I've been on, as well as the one where I'm using cash only for groceries.

Here are some conclusions I've come to:

1. There are a lot of coupons out there, yes. Besides healthy and beauty coupons however, most of the coupons are for junk, junk food, not the things that are so healthy for you. If you try to save money by making those sorts of purchases, you may add to your waistline or just not eat as healthy.

2. A lot of the weekly sales also follow those coupons are are the things that aren't so great for you.

3. It is easy to overspend, or almost overspend one's budget trying to shop sales and get good deals to stock up.

4. CVS can have some great sales with their register rewards but it takes some planning to get back into the store again and make a thoughtful and needed purchase with those earned bucks. Otherwise their prices seem high on others items. That takes some planning. I had a good situation a few weeks ago where I needed sunscreen, used $3.99 in RR on a $5.99 sale item, so only paid $2 plus tax. I had to really think about that purchase though, and as a working mom, that's tough.

5. I realized I had a lot of success this summer, when I had time off, but realistically, I only have time for one grocery store and 1-2 other stores during the week. I already typically do Target once a week also, so it leaves little else. I also had more time to menu plan this summer.

6. Lastly, I need to experiment, yes, to save money, but also be able to work within parameters that are reasonable and HELP me save time and money, not add more time/planning than I'm already doing.

On the cash only, 3-month trial, that's going pretty well. I have one more month to go. I've actually liked it, in that I've had cash too for those quick out-to-eat purchases and it has seemed quicker to pay that way too, with less to track in my budget.

What have you learned lately related to saving money?

Made My Day

2010-08-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

As I reflected on my friend, Vicarious Chelsea's post about what a crazy day she'd had, about an hour later, a colleague walked into my office and just thanked me for what a great job I'd done at our meeting, being so prepared, giving them so much useful data, and just being who I am.

Wow, she truly made my day. She did. On all those tough, struggling days, when you feel like you can't keep up, aren't giving your all to all who need you, that just feels soooo good. Why can't we remember these moments when times are tough? Too bad I couldn't have made a video of her (think she'd mind reenacting it) to play when I need it!

When is one of those moments you've had lately?

WFMW: Scheduling

2010-08-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

I am somewhat of a structured person. You can say I like routine (although there are those days I feel there are so many scheduled things I want a day to do nothing...).

What works for me is to have set days throughout the week when I know certain things need to take place. For instance:

Mon after work: student blogging club I'm organizing
Wed after work: allergy shots (something new that I have to do for 10 months every week)
Fri after work: grocery shopping
Sat mornings: laundry
Sun afternoon: something fun with the family

That leaves me two days where I can plug in other errands, like a trip to Target or the library (today is library day).

While I would love to just head home after a busy day of work, having a two-year-old kind of forces to me try to get as much done in the hour or so I have before picking him up each day after work, and spend more quality time with him on the weekends.

On that note, how many of you do, or used to tote around your young ones to run errands on weekends? I think I would like to, but I worry that I'll feel rushed or make poor decisions, just trying to keep him from getting frustrated. He's a go-get 'em kind of child, so he'd have to be in a stroller or cart while I shop. I'm sure this will change as he gets older, as I'd love to have him with me too.

For more of WFMW, see We're That Family.

WILTW: Stress Relief

2010-08-17T06:22:00.000-07:00

What I learned this week (and for more, see Julie's blog) was how to cope with lack of sleep and stress. Being a mom at 40 is sure a lot harder, I'm guessing than 20, but I'm so much older and wiser, right?

Some of these are anti-stress related, some not.

1. Feeding ducks at the zoo lake is a lot more fun when there is actually food in the machine. (Last weekend we put money in, only to discover there was no food. How do you explain that to a 2-year-old?)

2. A hike in the mountains can be so relaxing and fun, away from the heat. Anytime I feel stressed, being outside is my best cure. Okay, that's not me, but picture my face on the other side of the receiving end of the pinecone.

3. Reading is relaxing. Okay, not me again, but I think I'm going to attempt to do some reading around my son soon, so we can both relax and enjoy our own books. I found him here one day, all on his own with a book I'd brought home from his daycare.

4. A digital clock may just help your son understand staying in bed. We're working on 5:20 right now, versus 4:15...AM

5. Non-stress related.....it sure is fun starting a blogging club for early teens. I had a blast with them yesterday and they are soooo excited! The most excited ones are 2 boys too!

WITLW: Lots and Lots 'o Things!

2010-08-10T08:06:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has been another week of learning a lot of things....I guess when you have a toddler, perhaps your learning ability is on as quick a speed as theirs?

1. Since I'm linking back to Julie at From Inmates to Playdates, one of hers was that she learned cactus can have beautiful flowers. Yes they can Julie! Here's one from our yard last week!

On the cactus note, I learned my son, at 2 1/2, knows cactus out and about when he sees them!

2. Spending a day giving a presentation in another city can really be inspiring and refreshing with the right people, for the right people.

3. Two nights of good sleep can make one feel so refreshed (note #2 was refreshing too!) and alive.

4. Great food when one is feeling down can lift one's spirits. See this amazing recipe for carnitas! Amazing! Thanks Becca, for the recommendation of the site! I'll be back for more. My son may not have wanted his (He actually threw it at me and got in big trouble...way big trouble...but I was so engrossed in my dinner I got over it, and he later got a quesadilla after he apologized.)

5. Having a complete meltdown can be good for the soul. I'll never forget crying in the hallway and my son pulling out his toy piano and making it play while my husband tried to console me. So sweet. It also ended in a pedicure later in the day (also refreshing, especially if you get little flowers painted on, and little blue jewels...ah...so happy), and a few hours away shopping, needed shopping, but a little break.

There were oh so many more things I learned, but these were some of the highlights. What did you learn this week?

Just Another Manic Monday

2010-08-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

Yes, I think I had it easy when our son was a baby. Maybe we even had it too good, in that now, at 2 1/2 plus (sounds like a hefty size, or "Pretty Plus" as they called it for hefty teens when I was a teen), our son is taking us for a ride. Joy ride? Certainly not, though I must say when he's in good spirits, we all are and he's a joy to be around.

Last night was the first night of 7:30-5:00 sleep. Ah...so nice. Yet he woke up in a bad mood and that carried him through the morning, being tantrumy and fiesty, to the point I was wrestling with him on the floor to brush his teeth and get him dressed, like a buffalo in heat (me or him, you ask?) In any case, it was not a pretty sight, and I got to where I felt like I just wanted to call in sick..mentally, but I have a big presentation with a partner to do out of town today. Got to plug ahead. I know all of you moms have been through it yourselves, and just keep reminding me, please, because it really helps. You feel so all alone in those wrestling, tantrumy moments that all you feel like wanting to do it have a tantrum of your own (That's okay too, right, sometimes, in the privacy of your own bedroom?)

Ever have those moments where you feel you're not cut out to be a mom? Oh, I would so love to hear everyone tell me they have felt that way. I just have to feel good this morning knowing that I followed through and was consistent with my expectations and consequences. No following directions, no getting to watch your favorite show. No coming to Mom to brush teeth or get dressed? Well, Mom is then coming to you and it won't be fun. You will get more mad and shed more tears. But by golly, Mom has to get to work and can't stop on a weekday to let you debrief about your feelings.

You love your child. At least I love mine. SOOOOO much. And I hate it when he doesn't follow directions, then doesn't understand the consequence (or so it seems), and suddenly not only is it his battle of wills, but mine too. I always heard consequences are just as hard for parents at time because they lose out too. I can kind of get a better understanding of that.

I just have to remember moments like this, where my son is so creative and so enjoys the simple things in life.

I also need to remember this:
I'm being a good parent by having having rules, expectations, and consequences, and I just need to stick to my guns. He will cry and he will get upset, because it is not what he wants, but as a parent it is my responsibility to let him know what expectations there are and how to be a responsible person.

Now, if I can just remember that on those manic Mondays, or Tuesdays, or......

What do you remember being some tough days of your child's life? Or yours, for that matter?

Friday Fatigue and Me Time

2010-08-06T05:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, maybe there is no carnival, but I could start one?

It is not really so bad, but after a successful morning of getting up at 5:10 AM yesterday, today my son was calling for me at 4:20 AM, and I couldn't get him to go back to bed after a long sit on the potty (him, not me), as he'd really, REALLY wanted to go so he could get an M and M. (He gets one if he goes pee, which isn't very often now days.)

So now, I'm feeling that Friday Fatigue. I'm trying to learn to be creative with the time, like write a blog post while he watches TV, or start a load of laundry, or one day, I think I mopped the floor. I suppose I could be watching his show with him, but this kind of mommy loves TV time to get MY things done and get a little ME time. Do you do that too?

Here's my little guy taking some "Me Time" for himself one morning. He took apart and toy and created his own little car ramp. I love the creativity! When he does things like this he can get so occupied and I just want him to go with it.

I just realized yesterday I still have a giftcard for a pedicure/manicure, and that would make for some great "Me Time" soon. How would you spend some Me Time right now if you could find it?

WFMW: Keeping My Wardrobe Manageable

2010-08-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

If you were to look in our walk-in closet, you might see that I actually have fewer clothes (at least out, hanging) than my husband. You would never call me a hoarder of clothing.

You see, I tire of clothing pretty easily, and I find myself just stopping wearing clothes that I don't care for anymore. I try to take these clothes, prior to them getting too worn, and fold them up to take to a resale shop so I can at least look for some new items or get some things for my son in exchange. It also gives me an excuse to go out and shop for new things!

Every few months or so, I take out those items that I don't really love anymore. I find that those things I do love I sear all the time, and truly those are the "keepers". This is at least for my work and casual clothes. Of course there are those items you want for those rare special occasions too, and those are worth holding onto.

That's what works for me. What works for you?

WILTW: Stress and Sleep

2010-08-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

What have I learned this week?

1. Sleep habits of a toddler don't change overnight and one can get somewhat used to rising at 4:30 AM every day. That is, unless there are two additional times your child wakes up during the night, leaving YOU then awake and not able to go back to sleep. Last night was one of those. So. Tired. Today.

2. Lack of sleep can make you not function so well. You forget things. You don't do things you should. You do things you shouldn't...it is all a muddled mess.

3. Lack of sleep can cause stress because you just don't keep up with things like you normally do. But, you're so tired you can't even cry. You just complain a lot more and grow tired of hearing yourself.

4. Just because your child goes on the potty in February doesn't mean by the first of August he'll be doing anything that resembles being potty trained. As a matter of fact, another thing I've learned is that little boys can shoot right throw a Pull Up and soak their shorts without even touching their Pull-Up. How on Earth does that happen? Oh, and that doesn't help adding to 4:30 AM wakeups...

5. I learned it is possible to plan too much in one weekend and just want to quit.

6. Lastly, I learned, reading on the Internet at 2:30 AM this morning, that maybe putting your toddler to bed even earlier can help them sleep later in the morning. I am willing to try this!

For more, see Julie's blog!

Time for 10 Things

2010-08-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking it is time for a 10 Things post again, 10 Things I am truly thankful for.

When I'm feeling stressed out and like I can't handle things, in the past, this was THE best remedy, because it helps me realize what wonderful things I do have in my life and to not take myself so seriously. On that note, I will try to look at things and laugh a bit while I write too.

1. I am thankful for the pain on the top of my foot, where it feels like a giant must have stood and jumped up and down. It is either from my wonderful son standing on top of my foot sometime this weekend, while he danced around as I changed his Pull-Up, or it is residual pain from these really cute strappy sandals I wore to a great brunch reception this weekend. In any case, I should be thankful, right, for my great son or a great brunch in cute sandals?

2. I am thankful that I am getting in bed soon to watch two great shows: Entourage and Hung, that we DVR'd. Love those shows and a great way to end a weekend. Okay, nothing funny about that, unless you've watched Hung. Funny concept, especially in my profession.

3. I am thankful for friends who still want to come over for dinner (they are childless), even though we have a 2 1/2 year old. I wonder, really, how much of the conversation involved discussion about our son (do they really care?) and really about topics that interest them. What does that seem like from an outside perspective...got to wonder.

4. I am thankful that I am in the mood to do a post, and try to get myself to laugh. I was close to tears, and tearful several times this weekend as I let my son let me get frustrated. Don't you hate those moments? I love it when my patience is even-keeled, not just on the brink.

5. I am thankful for zoos, where mommies can take their children when they are on such brink (see #4) so that their child has fun and so do they.

6. I am thankful I'll get to see some of my favorite people back at work tomorrow, having been out since basically Wednesday due to presentations and meetings. They make me smile, and laugh so hard sometimes I want to (well, not want to, but almost just DO) pee my pants.

7. I am thankful that I am so busy that I have to write everything down so I don't forget. I could be jobless in this economy, right, and have to stay home because I can't afford to even drive my car? (Okay, that's pushing it, but I'm trying to gain some humor on this one...)

8. I am thankful for my husband, who this morning, offered to give me a hug when I felt so overwhelmed. His hugs melt my heart and make everything feel right in this world, at least just for that moment. Thank you.

9. I am thankful for the random cash I have lying around. What, you ask? Well, I'm trying this cash only system, and in order to keep things accurate sometimes, I move things here and there with stickie notes, and, well, at times I worry I am going to lose some, or lose my mind trying to keep track of the different parts and pieces of the cash. Okay, maybe that one didn't work, but I guess I'm happy to have cash, or at least money, for my bills?

10. I am thankful, lastly, for being able to find so much to be thankful about. I need to remind myself of this exercise and try to keep perspective.

What are you feeling thankful for today?

Open for Advice

2010-07-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

I'd like to ask all the mommies out there for some advice.

I'm really feeling like I'm struggling finding any semblance of balance in my life right now, with working, having a family, and having an incredible lack of sleep from my son's crazy sleep issues lately. I feel like I'm doing all I can just to eat, sleep, get my son ready, and stay positive. My great schedule I used to have for planning for shopping, having time to shop, run my errands alone (I'm not sure this is a possibility anymore, and that in itself causes me stress) and all has fallen off the face of the earth, and before I break down and fall apart, I just want to hang on the rope and try to keep perspective.

I've now added two weekday activities to my week, which I'm sure will be affecting the craziness I feel on top of things too: an afterschool club and weekly allergy shots (which gets me home with my son 1/2 hour later than normal on that night).

When you first have a baby, all the books say to forget about chores and do all you can to care for your child and yourself. Is this still true as a working mom with a toddler? Do I get myself all worked up about nothing, or do the rest of you struggle with these things too?

Blogging Club

2010-07-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

Starting next Monday I am going to be sponsoring a blogging club for middle school students. I am so excited to watch them create their blogs and see what themes they come up with to write about. Of course I'm going over Internet safety and their parents have to approve them posting photos and have the link to their blog, to keep an eye on it.

I am struggling, however, with "model blogs" to show them as examples, that teens have created. I am not sharing my own blogs as I want to keep them private from young viewers, and separate from the class, so I'll be creating another one with them to model certain pieces.

Does anyone out there know links to any teenage/middle school blogs?

I'd also love to hear any suggestions you have, from the view of a parent, perhaps a middle school parent.

WILTW: Too Much

2010-07-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

I learned way too much this week, big lessons that I'll never forget and little things I'll never understand.

1. The latest, tonight, that external hard drives fail, and you can spend an inordinate amount of time trying to save to them (like 4 hours?) until you realize its death has come.

2. Working on a computer with no backup (yes, I deleted all my old ones trying to make room on my hard drive) is quite scary . My great husband has offered to give me his, but is currently moving files to do so.

3. Keypad on laptops should not be cleaned with Magic Erase and a little water. Yes, I shorted out my keyboard and had to get it replaced today at work (hence all the backing up and such). Do I feel like a schmuck? yes.

4. Even though children finally sleep through the night, their nights are often much shorter than ours when they decide to get up. 4:30 AM has been a trend the last 5 nights. I finally made a "morning bag" in the bathroom to grab and go get ready in our other bathroom so as not to have two parents awake too early.

5. See that sweater in my profile pic? Ever used a sweater shaver? Well yesterday I decided it was looking a bit pilly, so I decided to shave it while I was wearing it. I don't recommend that, especially in a bra with an underwire. When the little shaver hits the underwire, well, it makes holes in your sweaters. Like my external harddrive, my sweater has met its end.

6. Lastly, well, and I don't even want to admit this one, I made a big boo-boo this summer at work and read a colleague's notes in the same way others had written theirs, and this person had done the opposite (not my fault, right?). This caused numerous rearranging of students today and me being VERY upset with myself last Friday. Really upset. You know when you've really messed up but everyone else acts like it is no big deal, but you know it is. Ahh...that was Friday. BUT, a great buddy at work brought me pretzel M & Ms today. Have you tried those? Delish!

7. The biggest thing I've learned (okay, not really, but it is last), is that I am really struggling keeping up with postings and reading my favorite posts due to life lessons and responsibilities. I've had to tell myself it is okay, and that I'll find some balance again one of these days. So please forgive me if I haven't read yours lately. It is taking all I can to check my email.

Frankly, I think I learned enough last week to last me awhile. How about you?
See more at Julie's blog.

Anybody a Mac User?

2010-07-25T05:28:00.000-07:00

Anyone out there a Mac user? Yesterday I was cleaning my keyboard with a slightly damp Magic Erase and since then, I have lost use of many of the keys on the right side of my keyboard! I thought it might have been a glitch since I hadn't restarted in a week or so, so I did some software updates, logged out, and what do you know, can't log back in because my name includes some of those keys that aren't working! Anyone know a fix? Just letting it sit to see if wetness got in didn't work.

So, I'm on an old laptop right now, with no access to any of my normal files, photos, or anything and awaiting my work tech person to help me, seeing as how that computer is my work one. I can't take it to the Mac store or anything. Wow, being without my resources has been VERY rough!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. We've had our 4th morning in a row where our son has slept through the night but is waking around 4:30. Better than hours awake during the night, but still a little tough.

Finding Time

2010-07-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

Isn't it always tough to find the time to do all that we need/want to do?

These last two weeks have been particularly tough, with getting back to work full-time and managing the monster/sleeping issues in our house. What used include some relaxation and chore routine during the weekdays nights suddenly became just simply trying to get my son to go and stay asleep. Due to that, I have felt completely thrown off course. I know it has happened to everyone.

Last night, he was asleep by 7:15, with some encouraging words from Dad.

Oh, nice! Sure he was up at 4:45, and didn't earn his "wait until Mommy gets you up" award, but he is happy and a spaz today.

I love routine because I know how much time I have to do a particular thing, and can generalize whether I'll be on time, can get a certain thing done, etc. Mornings like today throw me off a bit and instead of being early because my son wakes up at 4:45 instead of me getting him up at 5:20 or so, I have to figure out how to have him entertained so I can sneak back in the bedroom to get my makeup and things to somewhat get ready before breakfast so it fits in the rest of the family routine, without him coming to the back to tell Daddy hello before Daddy wakes at 5:30, or we will definitely have a house full of monsters then!

I think what I'm learning most about parenting is to expect the unexpected, at all times, and just try to be flexible, knowing that around the corner, things will change again anyway. Sure, I feel/understand that today, but when the next change happens, I know I'll forget, won't I?

Until then, I'll try to find the time to squeeze in all the little things that didn't get done, or what the heck, write off a few things that aren't necessary...

How do you find time to get everything done when life throws you off course?

WITLW: Noses can be funny

2010-07-20T05:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I have learned a lot this week, things I've mentioned about monsters, that I can survive on little sleep (and so can my son), but most of all, that noses can be funny.

Picture this:

I'm lying in bed last night next to my son, trying to settle him to go to sleep. I'm faking that I'm asleep, to get him to rest too. I hear him whisper, "Eye," and touch my eyelid, then "Lips," and touch my lips, and then, "Nose," and he touches my nose. Then he pinches my nose and says, "Nose." I just bust out laughing, then so did he. Oh...that does not help a toddler go to sleep! At that point, he just kept saying, "One more time! Nose!" and wanted to pinch it again.

I can't wait to see what tonight holds.

On that nose note too, think I can get an almost 3-year-old to wear a black clown nose for Halloween, for his Mickey Mouse costume?

For more, see Julie's blog. What did you learn this week?

Monster Update Monday

2010-07-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

Well, this has been one of the biggest challenges I've faced as a mom, and some of you may laugh, and think I have no clue...or that there is so much more to come.

I've spent so much quality time next to my son the last few nights that it has taken me back to when I used to call out for my mom in the middle of the night after a bad dream and she'd come and lay with me until I fell asleep. That meant so much to me that right now, I want to be able to do that for my little guy too, to help scare away his monsters.

We helped by supplying him with a flashlight.

And this weekend, we broke down and bought a single mattress for the floor, to see if that will help him, and help me, be able to lay next to and ease him into sleep. He took to the bed right away, which was great.

Now I just have to help get him from waking up 4 or more times every night and come looking for me.

My friends and family have been such great support with ideas left and right, and the continual message that this too, will pass. My husband asks how many days? :)

What has been one of your biggest struggles as a parent?

Monster Madness

2010-07-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

I've been away from the blogging world this week, dealing with getting back to work full-time after six weeks of less work and we've had some monster madness at home. We just returned from a trip at the end of last week, had company and crazy schedules, transitioned my son into a daybed of sorts instead of his crib, and suddenly we had monsters on the floor and in the carseat, to the point of complete terror and nights awake from 1 AM on, so that Mommy (that's me) had only 3 1/2 hours of sleep one night.

Many of my great friends recommended monster spray (water in a spray bottle), I incorporated a sponge to wipe them away too, and we got a little Cars flashlight. It took about 2 extra hours to get my son to sleep last night, but he at least slept through the night.

With all of this, it has been all I can do to keep my head above water, awake at my desk, and moving forward. So, one of these days I'll get caught up again, maybe.

Until then, what have been things in your life that have thrown things off course for you?

WFMW: Harness Backpack

2010-07-14T06:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, you may be a mom who dreads seeing these things on children too. I say "too", because I used to feel that way, until I realized my child is a "runner". Yes, at 2 1/2 he is prepping himself to be an Olympic runner in a moment's notice. He just looks away and Boom! He's off! There is no stopping him.

A great friend suggested I try a harness style one, with a cute stuffed animal, but my son picked out this one for a trip we recently took (very cool and masculine, isn't it?). I have to say, it is THE BEST investment we've EVER made for him, at $13.99! Target. It even has a whiteboard under the flap, but we haven't used that yet, as I feared he'd draw everywhere except the backpack.

We started on a walk around the block.

Then, the airport. This was the main concern for a mother of a runaway. It was either this or the stroller, which would have been so restraining prior and in-between two 2 1/2 hour flights.

When he was safe from the fear of running away, he would simply just wear the backpack to hold his toys and sippie. Then I could easily grab the strap when it was time to walk back.

The best, when he just wanted to participate in pushing all our gear in the airport on the way home. We never did use our stroller, except to lug around the carseat and carry-on.

Go here for more great ideas of What Works For Me Wednesday.

WILTW: Toddler Traveling Tales

2010-07-13T05:50:00.000-07:00

This last week, I learned a number of things and if you interested in what others have learned too, see Julie.

1. Traveling with a toddler can be exhausting. (What is up with that hair???)

2. Harness backpack can be made to look cool and make your child FEEL cool. (Note he's buckling his own backpack above.)

3. Kentucky can make you hot and sweaty.

4. Eating leftover carrots that you feed animals on a farm is cool (even if you refuse to eat them at home). See photo above.

5. Arm farts (we call them "toots") are funny when done with cousins.

6. Sprinklers can be cold.

7. Big slides are fun feet first.

8. Chicken eggs you find on a farm get "messy" when you throw them.

9. Knowing how to evacuate a plane is important.

10. It is quite rare, I hear, to be invited into the cockpit for a tour by the pilot prior to boarding. Lucky fellow!

Resting...is there such a thing with a toddler?

2010-07-09T05:30:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you just need some rest?

Just the other day, I was tired, really tired, from walking outside in the sun with my son (and I mean HEAT), keeping him (oh, that was me) sane while we ate lunch in a restaurant, and by the time I got home, I was exhausted. As my husband and I have been saying lately, I felt 90 years old. I got my son down for a nap, but had numerous errands still left to do and chores to tackle. My hubby suggested I take some time to lay down (don't only 90-year-olds do that? I do remember my mom needing one every weekend afternoon...though maybe it was just to get a break from all of us). I laid down and my body just sunk into the mattress. My mind was awake, but my body was throbbing, and sinking further into the bed. I don't think I slept, but I had 45 minutes of solid, no-moving, rest. Boy, did I need that.

I knew my world couldn't stop like it could pre-children (child in my case), and that was the toughest part. My hubby and I miss those relaxing weekends. Now I feel like I have to cram so much in and think of activities for my son so that he doesn't say, "Watch show?" With only one child, he tends to want me to be his playmate. I love that, and do that, but I need some downtime too.

Should I just give in and realize that I will feel tired like this until my son is 7? That's my joke, that we'll be able to do so much once he's 7, that maybe, just maybe that's when I'll feel rested? I have also gotten less exercise since becoming a mom than I've ever had in my adult life, and I wonder, could it be that? I can't afford a club membership anymore, it is simply too hot outside, and I already have such little time with him, working full-time. (Excuses, aren't they?)

Do you remember the days of your toddler, or do you have a toddler now? Do you feel this way too? It always makes me feel better to feel others feel what I do, don't you?

10 Things I Love About Working

2010-07-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

I may be one of those odd mothers, who really enjoy working. I do, I love going to my job each day. Here are some reasons why:

10 Things I Love About Working

1. I love the interactions with other adults, and the great people they are.

2. I love having another focus outside of my own life.

3. I love the challenges that work presents to me. It takes my mind off of my own challenges.

4. I love the great friendships I've made through my work. Truly, the best friends I've made have come from my job.

5. I love the routine of going to work. I actually don't do well having too much time off. It is not that I don't know what to do with myself, but I feel out of sync, like something isn't quite right. It happens whenever we have a break (unless I'm in some terrific place like a tropical island...)

6. I love encouraging myself and striving to get better at my job.

7. I love (and sometimes feel guilty about) the downtime away from my family, to have a place for me, where things are about what I'm working toward.

8. I love encouraging others, whether other teachers or students, in what they are doing.

9. I love the people. Oh, have I already said that? Well, I do. I love the positive environment I work in. Of course people always have their concerns/issues, but that's just part of life.

10. I love that I love going to work, that it isn't something I dread. It is something I look forward to.

What are 10 things you love about a part something you do every day?

WFMW: wall art

2010-07-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

I just love being able to display my son's artwork, so in various places in the house, instead of fine artwork, I share toddler artwork:

The bathroom-

The hallway outside his room-

The wall between the kitchen and living room-

and of course the fridge (no photos there). Doesn't everything put their child's artwork on the fridge?

Where do you display your children's artwork?