What are You Thankful for Today?

1. I woke to the wind, from an open window, slamming the bedroom door against the jam. The wind was warm and I was happy to hop up and quiet the door.

2. I was the only one who heard this wind so I quietly crept downstairs for 30 minutes of solitude before the chaos of the morning ensued.

3. I took the dogs outside to do their very important business and marveled at the wind as it tossed about the trees that were magnificent but still without leaves.

4. I welcomed my son as he was the next one to greet the day. He wanted my attention so I closed the laptop.

5. I smelled his breath that is becoming more like big boy breath and less like baby breath. Bittersweet.

6. I dropped my oh-so-independent 2yr old at preschool. Bittersweet again.

7. I had an awesome workout. One of the benefits of preschool.

8. I stopped by to see my extremely hardworking husband and was awed by his ability to still impress me.

9. I showered in peace while my daughter napped and I never ran out of hot water.

10. I basked in the sun of a most perfect spring day.

Another Meme

What is the sexiest part of the body?
The brain

If you kissed a frog, who would you like it to turn into?
A live-in housekeeper

What do you have stuck up on your refrigerator right now?
A calendar that I would be lost without, school cafeteria menu, reminder to make my gyne appt, lots of pictures, magnets and inspirational quotes

See more manic monday posts here.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Or at least at few, like "don't f*k with me. I want cookies and I want them now."

My Baby's Growin' Up

We registered for Midget Football today (starts in August). We didn't realize we would also get all the gear today. It was pretty exciting! What a cutie he is. I hope he likes it, as football has always been my favorite sport to watch.

Football was big where I grew up. I have no memory of my 7 yr old friends playing but I have fond memories of sneaking liquor into the high school games and drinking under the bleachers. Making fun of cheerleaders. Pining away for the quarterback.

I love the pure manliness and physicality of the sport. The fact that they need all those pads for protection, the sweating and grunting, the smell of testosterone in the air. Tight asses in little pants. Love it.

But I digress. None of that has anything to do with my sweet 7yr old playing football for the first time. I hope he doesn't get his ass kicked hurt. He's strong. He's tough. He could use a good beating. He's always had a freakishly strong threshold for pain. He'll be fine. I can't wait.

Haiku Friday

in the moment is
where I want to be right now
pay close attention

what is this moment?
it is dogs fighting loudly
then slurping water

it is a stinky
diaper on my sweet lucy
she's oblivious

it is cold, rainy
cloudy, windy, very gray
yet still beautiful

i am so grateful
for this day, it is perfect
perfectly alive

breathing deeply now
pay close attention today
all you have is now

Read more haikus this Friday here

Thursday Thirteen - 10th Edition

Thirteen Things I Should Be Doing Other Than This

I didn't blog at all this week because I felt I was spending way too much time blogging and/or thinking about what I would blog about the next day. I miss it . . . but do I miss it the way I miss online porn or the way I miss something really meaningful? I'm just kidding about the porn. Really. I should have used American Idol as a metaphor.

I should be . . .
1. doing laundry
2. cleaning up dog shit
3. exercising
4. switching out winter clothes for spring
5. organizing the toys in the playroom
6. writing thank you cards
7. reading an inspirational book
8. putting my children to bed
9. taking a shower
10. cleaning the kitchen
11. bl*g my husband
12. catching up on my correspondence
13. ironing

With the exception of one item on that mind-numbing list I think I should have just decided to blog.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Haiku Friday - 1st Edition

This is my first time
What is your excuse, huh, huh?
I have no excuse

What should that guy do?
Obama Barack, that is
Should he withdraw now?

The results are in
From my own personal poll
Yes, No. It's a draw

Racial division
Obama is eloquent
Democrats are doomed

Find more Haiku's here

Thursday Thirteen - 9th Edition

Phobias

1. Mysophobia: Fear of being contaminated with dirt or germs . My children definitely do not have this one, quite the opposite. See below.

2. Ablutophobia: Fear of washing, bathing, or cleaning. Who knew?

3. Brontophobia: Fear of thunder and lightning. I can't imagine. It's one of my favorite things.

4. Coprophobia: Fear abhorrence of feces and fecal matter.Children could either make ya or break ya on this one.

5. Emetophobia: Fear of vomiting. Understandable.

6. Necrophobia: Fear of death or dead things. Again, not one my kids are familiar with.

7. Kakorrhaphiophobia: Fear of failure or defeat. I think many of us are afflicted by this one.

8. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: Fear of long words. Come on! Who has this??

9. Nephophobia: Fear of clouds. I don't really get this one.

10. Phagophobia: Fear of being Eaten. Huh?

11. Gephyrophobia: Fear of crossing bridges. I used to be terrified of bridges as a little girl. They still freak me out a little.

12. Agoraphobia: Fear of open spaces, leaving a safe place, or crowded public places. I did a search for tunnel phobia and found that it would be classified under this or claustrophobia. Tunnels kind of freak me out too. I hate those movies where people are trapped in the big tunnels.

13. Philophobia: Fear of faling in Love.


Ultimately we know deeply that the other side of every fear is a freedom.

~Marilyn Ferguson
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Good for the Soul, Not for the Budget

My sweet, snotty girl hasn't been too pleasant the last couple of days. And rightly so. She's got a bug. A kind neighbor took the boys for awhile, helping to preserve my sanity this Spring Break since we are going . . . no where (that's ok, we are going to Mexico in April). I was able to get out of the house for some much needed retail therapy. As soon as we were out and about, riding escalators and trying on shoes, Lucy perked right up. Snot and diarrhea magically disappeared! It is 40 degrees and rainy today but I couldn't resist indulging her with these shoes. Shoes can brighten any day and even at 2, she gets this most basic phenomenon. She proceeded to enjoy the rest of our shopping just for the love of it. We smelled soaps and candles and marveled at how pretty things were. We sat in cozy chairs and fluffed pillows. Having a little girl that loves to shop as much as I do is definitely good for my soul, but, alas, not so good for the budget. Its probably a good thing that she was proceded by two boys who would rather do just about anything else.

A Sprinkle of Cancer Fighting Spice - Nice!

Real Age Tip of the Day

Whether you steep it, saute it, or soak it, oh-so-savory rosemary can elevate both your culinary skills and your health.

Why? Because not only is it one of the trendiest cooking spices, but the fragrant needle-leaved herb is also showing early promise as a cancer killer.

Antioxidant Action
Human studies are needed to confirm the effects, but in cell studies, rosemary extract has given both breast cancer and leukemia cells a real fight. That's good news about an herb we already know is chock-full of antioxidants -- those free-radical killers that help protect you from cell-level damage.

4 Ways to Get More Rosemary into Your Life

1. Stick a fresh sprig in your lemonade, or steep it in hot tea.

2. Add chopped rosemary to your tossed salads.

3. Use fresh or dried rosemary in marinades for meats or vegetables (olive oil, fresh or dried rosemary, and soy sauce make a nice, simple one).

4. Try this delicious rosemary-infused recipe from EatingWell.com: Garlic-Rosemary Mushrooms.

Weekly Winners - 1st Edition

This is a picture of my 2nd (of 3), Henry, side by side to a pic of his dad at the same age. Quite a resemblance, don't you think? Cutie patooties, both of them!







This is my first experience with fondant. I wanted to make Dora cupcakes without them being totally cheesy so I added flowers, hearts and stars made of fondant and they were adorable!







This is the Birthday Girl. 2 going on 12. Accessorized and ready to go. A picnic, the mall, she's there.










The Birthday Girl in her new polka dot throne. If I knew how to scan I would add a picture of myself at two with disheveled hair, no shoes, next to a bucket. She has no idea.




Learn more about weekly winners here!

Thursday Thirteen - 8th Edition

Thirteen Ways I Love Blue Cheese

1. On a salad. Any salad.

2. Filet Mignon with blue cheese sauce . . . yuuummmm

3. I love a homemade pizza with basil or sun dried tomato pesto mixed with red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni and then the blue cheese; baked until the cheese starts to turn a little brown.

4. There is a divine recipe for Blue Cheese Potato Salad that I could eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner (I reduce the amount of oil). It's also great if you saute the potatoes with sweet onions in olive oil (or bacon grease: )and serve warm. It's even better the next day warmed up again.

5. A burger with both creamy and crumbled blue cheese and crisp bacon on top is to die for.

6. Blue Cheese Burgers where the goodness in mixed inside is equally delightful.

7. I add blue cheese to this Cheesy Potato recipe, even though it's not called for. I don't put the chips on top though.

8. I add it to Buffalo Chicken Dip. I also add more hot sauce.

9. Grilled Pesto Marinated Flank Steak with Blue Cheese Fondue. I made this for a party once using filet instead of flank steak and it was decadent.

Less refined ways I've been know to eat blue cheese . .

10. With a spoon right out of the container

11. Sometimes I put the entire container in the microwave and use it as a dip for whatever chips I have on hand.

12. Melted over Nacho Cheese Doritos. Man, did that make the entire house stink! I had to put a candle in the microwave.

13. Rolled in a slice of pepperoni with a Frito on top.


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Pee Pee in the Potty

There is not anything much cuter than a little girl in her first big girl panties. Little does she realize that some day I'll yell at her to "shut up and put on her big girl panties!" and mean something completely different. Right now we are just relishing in the joy of underwear as a new accessory. So far it serves us no purpose other than prancing around and feeling pretty which, don't get me wrong, is a noble purpose in and of itself. Sometimes we wear the orange Curious George, sometimes the white Minnie Mouse. Then we put on a diaper, wiggle into our most comfortable chair and take comfort in what we know. Ahhhhhh.

Thursday Thirteen - 7th Edition

Thirteen Ways to Empower Your Young Children and Preserve Your Sanity

1. Put small plates, bowls & cups within their immediate reach. This works for all ages. My 2yr old loves to grab a bowl and present it for a snack. My older ones have no excuse for not getting their own snack.

2. Put cereal in a container that is easy to access for little hands. Its hard to fill a bowl from a bag inside a box. Give them a big airtight container with a scoop. Ultimately is saves you time and stale cereal.

3. Provide a quart size milk in the door of the fridge. They love to be able to poor themselves a glass or fill their cereal bowl.

4. Provide easy access to paper towels. That way they can take responsibility for any spills. Remember ... the responsibility they take for the spill is more important than how well they clean it (up to a point: )

5. Provide places close to the entrance or exit for coats, shoes, backpacks. Hooks and bins strategically placed can save you a lot of nagging.

6. Let them dress themselves. Any children over the age of three should be able to do this. Let go of your need to color coordinate them. Put clothes in their drawers that will mix and match and don't sweat it if they choose combinations that you wouldn't.

I once made my three year old go to preschool in his pjs because he refused to dress himself. He didn't get that I was empowering him! He did after that though: )

7. My boys have no desire to wear underwear. I put their underwear in their pants drawer so they at least see them before they pull the jeans out.

8. What is your biggest hiccup when it comes to making it out the door on time? We have a three story house and I found my boys always having to run upstairs for socks. We now have all socks strategically placed on the first floor near the shoes.

9. Small children love chores. Give them something they can do on their own . . straighten their bedspread, put their clothes in the laundry basket, clean their plate from the table. . . . and give them a star for it. They will be your biggest helpers.

10. Plan ahead. Give them time to get it all done themselves. If it takes 30 minutes to get it done then start 45 min early. Provide them with the tools to get it done and be on time. It is a valuable skill to learn to get it done while respecting the time of others involved.

11. Plan recipes that involve them, be it break and bake cookies or a can they can dump in a pan. They love to feel included and helpful.

12. Let them clean. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and water and give them a towel. How much harm can they do? Plus, they might actually clean something.

13. Label bins with words or pictures so they know where to put their toys. Set a timer for 15 minutes and give them a job. Everyone will be amazed at how much can be accomplished in 15 min when everything has its place.



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants