Sticking to It

So I haven't swayed from my plan. I'm right on target!  Everything is going well, I'm staying organized and I think I've developed a pretty good routine.  School starts for Marissa one week from today.  We get the puppy in 11 days and Christian's pre-k will start back up on Sept. 6th.  We are BUSY! :) 
Here are some changes I've made:

4:30AM wake up for morning workout- I'm home and ready to tackle the day by 6:15; no longer do I have to worry about getting that workout in between the crazy hours of "life".  We all know that busy moms have lots of priorities, and those don't necessarily have anything to do with "mom".   I'm really loving this time to myself and I like that it doesn't cut into my family or work time. 

Speed cleaning-  I have organized myself so that I can clean my house, top to bottom, in two hours flat.  This is a GOOD cleaning too...no skimping!  I put all my cleaning supplies into a large bucket, I start at the top floor, clean one room at a time, don't allow myself to run all over the house collecting things,  or get distracted, etc.  I just work literally from the top to the bottom-taking all the supplies with me as I go.  I don't stop to check email, I carry the phone clipped to my pants with an ear piece in so I can utilize both hands if I'm on the phone, and I just move move move until the job is done!  Nothing feels better than having the house completely clean by 10AM on a Saturday morning and having the entire rest of the weekend WORRY free! 

Kids and Chores-  I have strictly implemented and enforced a chore list for the kids.  Having them help, helps me A LOT!  They make their beds, bring their laundry to the laundry room, water plants, gather all the trash and put all their toys and belongings away.  Sounds simple...and its probably something they should have been doing all along.  The way I see it, they are helping out around the house and character building!

Prep before Bedtime-  I get everything ready for the next day the night before.  I lay out my gym clothes, pack the gym bag, have my water bottle filled and ready to go and breakfast front and center and ready to warm up and eat!  I have lunches packed, and my outfit for the day planned out.  I'm working on getting the kids' things ready the night before too.  I think that will help tremendously!

Go to bed EARLY-  I need to get my full 8 hours if I'm going to operate at this pace.  If my brain is tired, its not clear and if its not clear, none of these plans will happen. 

So I'm sticking to it and really happy with how things are going!  FORWARD MARCH!

Kicking Butt!

I made sure I set some goals for this week to help me get organized and in the mindset for the school year. I am SO glad that I did! I'm kicking butt! I cleaned the entire house and did all the laundry (and put it away! That in itself is HUGE!)I also did some major meal prep; protein oatmeal pancakes, banana protein muffins, got all the fixings for salads, etc. I'm feeling on top of the world and just ready to tackle the week.

I think my greatest accomplishment thus far is that I was able to pry myself out of bed this morning and get to the gym! 4:30AM is UGLY, but I know the rewards will be HOT! :)

I'm going to start listing my goals on Sunday mornings and seeing if I can stick to the plan. I think this is a great way to stay motivated and organized in life...

Routine Readiness

For the month of August, I'm desperately trying to get back into a routine so that I don't go into shock when the beginning of the school year arrives. I've been getting up at 4:30am, going to workout, home by 6:15 and then I start the morning shuffle of breakfast, showers, packing lunches, and getting the kids where they need to be and rolling into the office by 9am. This has been great practice and I think I'm getting the hang of it (a few minor lapses, let's call those "MONDAYS", but overall I'm doing very well!)

My biggest concern and reason for getting into this routine is that I know that life is drastically going to change when we add the puppy to the mix. Puppies are a lot of work; housetraining, crate training, exercising, feeding, playing, etc... Those things take TIME and puppies don't understand that there is a 30 minute commute, that the kids have to be at a certain place at a certain time and that she's only going to get about 20 minutes to do her business and then she's just SOL until our next stop. I've got to get myself organized so that I can devote the necessary time to get the puppy acclimated with our lifestyle and make sure that this transition is a happy one. I know this is not going to be easy and that there are going to be times when I question what the hell I was thinking bringing a dog into our craziness, but I know that this is going to be a lifelong commitment that brings our family much joy.

This morning, I realized that a 4:30am wake-up and a 7:30am school departure time does not really allow much time to dilly dally. I've got to make sure I've got a system down and that I'm fully prepared to get things moving in the morning. I think I need to sit down with my hubby so we can develop an effective plan... However, we all know about plans, right? I'll plan and the kids and dog will plan something different.

Lazy Summer leads to the Busy Fall!

I'm still here, its just that summer has KILLED my routine and I can barely remember what day of the week it is most of the time. This summer, I decided not to register the kids for tons of camps/activities. Marissa has gone to a few piano lessons, and I did register her for 2 camps, Theatre and Choir for a couple weeks in August. We spent a lot of time at our beach home and then visited my family in Kansas in July.

Its just been a very laid back summer and I'll admit that I've been totally slacking with working out, blogging, housekeeping, etc. I'm just enjoying the down time and spending quality time with the kids. I find myself sleeping in more, playing outside more, going to movies and relaxing more than I ever have in my life! Can't complain; except for the fact that I've put on a little weight. LOL! I'm not worried though, once I get back into the routine and on a workout schedule and back to the business we call life...I'm sure I'll drop the weight very quickly.

As we get closer to the school year, I'm trying to get back into a routine so that its not a shock to my system come September. I'm trying to get up and out to my workouts before the family wakes up. We're also getting our puppy Labor Day weekend, so I need to get organized in preparation for this wonderful addition to our family!

The kids' activities this fall are exciting. Marissa will be doing piano, chorus and hip hop dance, while Christian starts martial arts! We'll have a busy schedule ahead of us and I'm both nervous and optimistic that this coming season is going be full of wonderful new things!

Jumped the Gun

Looks like I won't be starting school afterall. After a long discussion with Marty, we decided that the timing just isn't right. Grad school is a huge commitment and would require Marty pick up a lot of slack at home and I would have to make sacrifices to allow the time and focus for school work. Thinking about my children being still so young and needing me so much, I think its best that I put this on the back burner.

I'm not even 30 years old yet. I have no idea what the future holds, but going to grad school isn't a priority right now and I don't want to miss out on my kids being little and my limited precious time in the evenings with them.

So I jumped the gun...grad school will just have to wait.

Encouragement

I took this post from my fitness blog, Figuring it Out wwww.aaloftus.blogspot.com because I felt that it could truly be applied to every day life and relationships.

Today I'm running/walking another 5K with a friend. It's her first 5K and she's really looking forward to it. I'm really proud of her. 3.2 miles is a big step for someone who's getting started. She's been working really hard to move towards a healthier lifestyle.

A couple weeks ago I met with her and we discussed food. I loaned her a book about clean eating and getting the right fuel at the right time. I think sometimes people just need to talk their goals out with someone; they need to hear some encouragement and they need to know that other people struggle too.

My friend has seen my transformation. She knows that I've struggled before, but she saw how my hard worked payed off and how much I now enjoy my healthy life and body. She knows it wasn't easy...but it was definitely worth it.

Something I've recently seen is that its really hard to lose weight in a group setting. For example, the girls at my work thought they would all get together and lose weight. The idea was that they would keep each other on track--well, that didn't go exactly as planned. Once one fell off the wagon, the others quickly followed. This was almost 16 weeks ago, imagine the weight they could have lost by now. Think about how much better and happier they would feel if they had stuck to it...

I think what they lacked was "encouragement". They needed someone there who was making changes and seeing results. They needed to be pushed and lead into a direction of health and fitness. Without the support and encouragement of others, you will most likely fail.

So think about the people in your life. Are you encouraging them to reach their goals? Are you supporting their efforts? Are you running the race along side them and letting them know you are there?

Also, are you thanking those that have been there for you? I know I wouldn't have reached the successes I have if I didn't have my strong support system and the love and encouragement that I receive from those who care about me.

Back to School

I couldn't stay out of school too long, could I?

Looks like I'm going back to school as of the 27th of next month! WOW! I must truly enjoy stress. Ha ha ha! I've applied to Walden University's online program for a Master of Science degree in Administration, Manangement and Leadership. I'm actually really excited! I thrive when I'm under pressure and I think that this is something that I really need to do for myself right now.

Having the degree won't earn me more money or land me a better "job" right now. I'm happy with where I am in my career and I enjoy owning my own business and being my own boss. Having the degree will however make me BETTER at my job and will improve the quality of my program without doubt.

Its a 20 month program, 10 classes, 1 class at a time, each class 8 weeks long. Not too bad! Its a lock-key program, so no need to register every sememster, they know exactly what class I'm taking and in what order.

So, off I go! I'm ready for the challenge!

Piano is here!

The Petite Grand Piano that we bought for my daughter was delivered this morning. I sat in nervous anticipation as the movers unloaded and reassembled this massive instrument into my living room.

I must have asked the movers no less than 6 times if they thought it was going to fit and/or look right in my home. They were probably so sick of my nervous energy. Once it was assembled, I literally felt sick to my stomach. Was this piano too big for our living room???? Would my husband say that it overwhelmed the room???? I was a mess!

After about an hour of rearranging the furniture, it all landed right back where it started and I decided that is what looked best. We shall see how this feels over the next few days. My daughter is going to be ecstatic when she arrives home from school today and sees this! I can't wait!
Updated:


Marissa apparently told her teachers that she was excited about getting a piano. The first thing she asked when I picked her up from school today was, "did you get the piano!?!?!" I just said, "let's go home and see..."


When we pulled into the driveway, she could see the piano in the window and she got so excited. As soon as we were parked in the garage, she jumped out and ran into the house. She pulled out the bench and began to play. She was ecstatic!


I haven't been able to get to her to stop playing, not that I mind. I'm thrilled that she is so happy and I'm delighted that our home is filled with music!

No better way to relax...

than to sip tea and listen to a thunderstorm. Its raining hard in Annapolis this evening. Its still light outside, but the rain is beating down and all you hear is the "shhhh"ing of the leaves and crackling and rolling of thunder and lightening. Its a beautiful spring song.

I'm sitting in my bed admiring the view of the river and the rain out our large windows and feeling my body unwind from our busy weekend. I look out the sliding glass doors to my left and see the raindrops hit the wooden deck. Plop Plop Plop. The rain does not come down angrily, but more as if it were giving the earth a drink. Its refreshing, satisfying and warm. I feel clean and revived. I imagine how the trees must feel to soak it all up.

The thunder rolls on and on and I can hear it moving farther away. My son comes upstairs; the rain storm has awaken him. He hasn't been asleep very long, but he asks if we can hear the rain. He watches outside for a moment before finding his way back to bed. He asks my husband about the thunder. My husband tells him that the clouds are crashing and rolling all over themselves; that seems to appease him and he is happy with that answer.

The rain ceases and a gorgeous sunset replaces it. I can still hear thunder in the distance. Ahhhh. Refreshed, relaxed, revived. The rain has washed away my tension as it washed the earth. Peacefulness overcomes me and I'm ready for a good night's rest and a fresh new week.

Fest in the Forest

Tonight I'm attending a fundraiser/party hosted by our friends for Lymphoma. I'm glad to be able to participate in such a worthy cause. The husband of the couple is a Lymphoma survivor. What an amazing thing for them to do for the foundation to show their gratitude to the nurses, doctors, specialists and their family and friends.

We're supposed to wear something fun and flirty...I'll see what I can dig out. The weather isn't as gorgeous as its been the last couple days, but at least it's not raining. I'm going with another good friend, Pam, while the husbands stay home with the kiddos. Initially, Marty was going to attend with me but we had a last minute babysitter snafu.

I'll post pictures when I get home. Should be a fun event!

UPDATE:

Well, no pictures. I forgot my camera/phone. Bummer. It was a lovely event and it was so nice to chat with some of the other guests. There were probably over 200 people in attendance and the hosts mentioned they raised over $20,000 for Lymphoma. Fantastic! Definitely and evening well spent, although I missed my husband's company.

Music to My Ears

We'll be hearing plenty of music soon; we just bought Marissa a Petite Grand Piano. It is being moved here to our home on Monday. We bought it used, got a great deal and its a gorgeous instrument!

Its a Kohler & Campbell KCG 450 – 4’-9” Mahogany finish beauty! I'll post pictures as soon as its all set up in our living room. I think its going to look phenomenal in our home. I'm really excited for Marissa and I think that this is going to mark the next big step in her musical endeavors.

Let's just hope she sticks with it; I'm sure she will.

Need some cash! Sell your Gold!

I recently cleaned out my jewelry box and I found a TON of broken necklaces, old bracelets from highschool boyfriends, lone earrings who had lost their match, random pieces that I probably got from a holiday or birthday many moons ago... I collected all the jewelry that I couldn't remember ever wearing or that I knew I would never wear again and headed to Smyth http://www.smythjewelers.com/ at our towne center.

$1500 later, yes, $1500 I found myself shopping for something that I would LOVE. They have a wonderful buy program. They priced up my gold and then gave me back a credit, you get 50% more if you take a store credit, so naturally that's what I did!

I had lost one of the diamond earrings from a set Marty gave me our first Christmas together, so I was able to match it and get my set back! I was thrilled! I still have some money left over too so I can't wait to see what I can find to spend it on. Knowing me, I'll probably get something from Marissa. LOL.

I've never trusted one of those "We buy gold" parties, but I felt very comfortable at Smyth and I'm glad that I did it. $1500 is nothing to sneeze at and I cleaned out my jewelry box, replaced a missing diamond earring and got money for what I considered "trash". YAY!

Maybe you have some hidden treasure in your jewelry box... Check it out!

Mother's Day

We had our Annual Mother's Day trip to Hershey Park, PA today. It was a gorgeous day and we couldn't have asked for better weather. I was surprised that the park wasn't more crowded, but not at all ungrateful for the short lines and more relaxed atmosphere of the park.

I absolutely love that this trip has become a tradition for us. I've been a mom now for almost 7 years and we've gone every single year since I've become a mother. My kids now expect it and very much look forward to our trip. I can't think of a better way to spend my special day that to be with my husband and children in the "sweetest place on earth". :)

This was a big trip for us. Marissa hit many milestones. She has graduated from face painting to hair wrapping. This was our longest line wait; almost 1 hour later, she had a 14 inch blue, purple and white hair wrap complete with beads and a dolphin charm.

Her next big milestone was that she won prizes at one of the game booths. She had to roll a bowling ball over a hump and have it stay in the second dip. Does that makes sense? Well, she did it TWICE winning a plush bowling ball first and then a 3 ft. plush bowling pin. This made her day!

The final milestone, wasn't so joyous. She rode her first rollercoaster. She was so brave; I'll admit I was even a little nervous. Once the coaster took off she lost it. She was terrified! Nevermind the fact that the coaster did an upside down loop, she was scared through the whole thing and cried. Perhaps she wasn't ready for this one. We were proud of her and she was happy she got her first one done and over with and I imagine it will be a loooong while before we get her on another one.



Christian had a blast today too. He measured up to Hershey Kiss (which is his FAVORITE candy!) He rode a lot of rides with his daddy while I was with Marissa getting her hair wrapped. When the two of them finally rode some rides together, they had the best time!



He also played some booth games with his daddy and he won a teddy bear (I had won one earlier for him too so he came home with two). I think his favorite ride was the train. He always looks forward to that one, but I think I've got a daredevil on my hands because what he was really wanting to ride were things that he was too short for this year. We'll see what happens in the next couple trips!

We finished up our trip with the usual ride throught the chocolate factory. My kids love the singing cows and for the entire two hour drive home they would bust on in chorus, "Hershey's Milk Chocolate!" I'm thankful none of us truly had "sweet tooth" at the end of the day and we managed to get out of the factory without purchasing any candy. The kids did however get a pillow each. Marissa's is shaped like a Hershey bar and Christian of course got a Hershey Kiss.

So that was our 2011 Mother's Day trip. It pretty much was the perfect day...

The Naked Palette

I finally jumped on this bandwagon. I wasn't exactly sure what the big hype was all about and quite honestly I thought it was ridiculous that anyone would spend $48 for 12 shades of eyeshadow. Tons of women I knew were raving about this product though and store couldn't keep it in stock.

I got an email that my local Ulta store had restocked them, so I thought, "what the heck, let me check it out." So I walked in, bought my palette (along with some randome hair products) and left $120 poorer...insane, right!?!?!?

This morning, I did my first combo; Naked, Virgin and Buck. OH EM GEE. Seriously, this stuff goes on like butter, barely takes any to get the color and lasts all flippin' day. I'm in heaven. I don't think I'll ever use another kind of eyeshadow. Sorry, Mary Kay, I've been faithful for so long, but I think you just got the boot. The color combo looks amazing, feels fantastic and my eyes just pop. I think that I waited too long to check this product out. For me, it was definitely worth the $48 plus tax. I can't wait to try new combos. If I could get a good picture of my eyelids, I'd post like crazy, but a picture of the palette will just have to do for now.

Check it out...you WON'T be sorry!

Trying something new

Everyone knows that my hair is constantly changing. Growing out, cutting short, new styles, etc. I've been stuck for a while now though and I'm losing my mind. I'm not quite to the point in my life where I'm ready to play with colors yet either, so I'm having to get a little more creative.

My hair is pretty short right now, so I was nervous to try it, but I decided to go ahead and curl it. It actually turned out "ok". This isn't the greatest pic, but it gives you an idea.

I've been playing around with it; I add some hair barretts and some flowers. Its ULTRA girly, which means its just my style!

I'm going to look into how to create a more substantial curl without getting too much volume. I'll keep you posted. This mama's got to do her best to keep stylish

She made it!!!

Whew! I got the phone call today right before picking Marissa up from school! She's made the chorus! I seriously got teary eyed! I told her when I picked her up from school and she was/is so excited! We are very very proud of her and I cannot wait to tell everyone I know (although, she's being very shy about it and is acting very private; I think she's overwhelmed. Poor boo!)

So here we go... I tell ya, she's going to be famous someday! :)

High Hopes

We haven't heard from the All Children's Chorus director yet... She said she would be in touch with us on Sunday; its now Monday night. I'm starting to think perhaps they didn't have a spot for Marissa :( It would have been nice of her to call when she said she would.

I don't want to get my hopes up too high, not to mention Marissa's, but I can't help myself. I really wanted this for her and I think that it would be something she would love. I'm crossing my fingers that they let us know one way or the other soon.

I hate waiting.

All Children's Chorus of Annapolis

Marissa had her first audition with the All Children's Chorus of Annapolis. She NAILED it, but we won't know until tomorrow if she made the choir or not. I'm crossing my fingers because I know she really wants this...me too!

She was so nervous for her audition, I sat in the room with her and listened to her work with the instructor on the piano and do some singing exercises; I was choked up the entire time! She was adorable and she really did do so well. I know I'm bias.

So we wait for a call tomorrow. I can't wait!

No apologies.

I've often times been the butt of a joke in that my kids are always so "done up" or "put together". Usually that's followed up with advice that I just need to let my kids be kids and dress themselves or fix their own hair or show their own creativity. I always have to roll my eyes at this.

Just because your child looks a mess doesn't mean that you're supporting great creative genious in your offspring...it only means that the child was solely responsible for their appearance. On the other hand, just because my children are dressed nicely, with meticulously fixed hair and coordinating accessories, that does not mean that I'm a controlling "Mommy Dearest". You choose your creativity and I'll choose to teach my children how to be well-groomed individuals.

Creativity and self expression can be fostered in so many areas of life. My children choose clothes that fit their style and their mood; I simply show them a nice way of putting everything together. My children are well mannered, well groomed and YES they are put together!

Isn't that what society looks at later in life? When you go for a job interview, you should look your best! When you date...you groom yourself to attract your partner, correct? Even the most creative individuals I know are well put together; they are stylish, colorful, eclectic!

My children are happy and CUTE! I know I'm biased, but I think they look adorable and they look well cared for and they feel good about their looks. They are CONFIDENT. So if you don't feel like dressing your children up or fixing their hair...fine. That's your prerogative! Don't hide behind "promoting creativity". I choose to teach my children to look their best and take pride in their appearance. No apologies here.

Arms - Christina Perri w/ lyrics

My love...

I realize he's not smiling, but for anyone who knows Marty, you know he's happy. He's pretty stoic. You never truly get a sense of his mood through his outward appearance. Believe it or not, we were actually laughing prior to this picture. I love the picture. It's my Marty... I couldn't ask for anything or anyone greater in the whole world. Corny I know, but its true.

Cute. Cute. Cute!

My son says the most adorable things. I honestly don't know where he comes up with this stuff! Yesterday while driving him to school I hear him talking about how he thinks he's growing. Then he exclaims, " mommy! I think my legs are growing! They are all the way to my feet!"

I just laughed! That was the best!

Class Clown

Well, here you have it; our little class clown. He's a jokester alright. Always crackin' jokes, giggling away, saying the darndest things!

Yesterday, we're in line to see a butterfly exhibit. We were with my daughter's BFF, her sister and her mom. The girls were so excited to see the butterflies. They were talking about how beautiful they are and how they are so majestic. Christian, in a tone that was just so "matter of fact" says, "You know they suck your blood?" Then he bust out laughing! Where does he come up with this stuff????

I love how happy he is about life. He loves to laugh, loves to make other laugh and within 2 minutes of meeting him, you'll know he has a heart of gold. God has truly blessed me!

Best Friends

Of all the things in my life that I can be thankful for, one of the biggest delights is that my children truly get a long. I know they are young, but I really don't foresee them ever drifting apart. They just LOVE each other. They miss each other when they are away; be it at school, playdates without each other, whatever the occasion. They are always THRILLED to see each other again.

I think it reminds me of my brother, Michael, and I when we were kids. We were so close and even today as we approach our mid twenties and thirties, we're still pretty darn good buddies. I think having a sibling is a wonderful blessing, but when that sibling becomes your best friend...well, life just doesn't get much better than that!

Beauty and Brains

Last week I met with the head of my daughter's school to discuss her SESAT (its a standardized test her school uses) scores. Normally, I'm not a fan of standardized testing. I think that many schools teach for the test rather than teach children how to think for themselves. I can say with the utmost confidence that her school does NOT do this! I LOVED their stress-free approach, the format of the testing and how happy and excited each of the students were to jump in and participate! One more reason to love her school!

Her stanines were right at 7-9. Her hightest scores in Listening and Reading where she scored in the top 4%. Her math and environmental learning scores were in the top 12%. These scores are compared nationally and I was so impressed with how well she did. As her parents, we've always felt/known that she's a bright little chicky...but this really validated what we've walways believed.

I've never seen her father or her grandfather, Beebop, so proud!

Easter Wish

This Easter is going to be especially hard. Its our first Easter without Karen. Easter really was "Karen's Holiday". I've spent the last 9 Easters with Karen. Many might think that Thanksgiving would have been the really hard holiday without her, to be honest, all of them have been hard. But Easter really became her thing. We always celebrated Easter in Bethany Beach. We would go to her Golf Clubhouse for Brunch and an Easter egg hunt and it was just always such a special day.

Karen wasn't religious, so I don't know why she chose this holiday to make so special for us, but she did. I can't imagine spending Easter any other way. This year, we're going to the beach to be with my father-in-law. I know this will be hard on all of us, but we're going to muddle through. My brother and his wife are bring their baby girl to our beach house and we'll do our best to make it a wonderful day for the kids. I wonder if my daughter will understand that things are different. Of course she understands the loss of her grandmother, Beemom, but will she relate Easter to her?

My wish for this Easter is for God to grant us peace. Its been almost a full year since we lost Karen and I know that this coming weekend is going to really drive it home how much she is missed.

Chef and Sous Chef

Something I've always loved about Marissa is her love for food. She's just like me, there are very few foods we've met that we didn't like. For her, she could live without raisins, but that's pretty much it.

Recently, she has become increasingly more interested in cooking with me. Personally, I think she loves the "science" of it, but I'm not complaining that she sees it from an educational aspect. I just love the quality time that we're able to spend together. To be completely honest, she's a great little helper too! She has a natural passion, a hunger to learn and appetite that's hard to match!

I think it's pretty crazy that a 6 year old loves so many different kinds of foods, the more exotic the better too! She's no "chicken nuggets with ketchup" kid. Her favorites include, sushi, mushrooms, squid and peppers. WILD! I have no doubt in my mind that by the time Marissa reaches her teens she will have an extensive collection of tried and true recipes that are specifically designed for her adventurous palette.

God sure knew what he was doing when he gave me Marissa. Eating and cooking are just a couple more things we love to share and I think it will be a bond that will forever keep us connected!

Disconnected

Over the last several months, I've really been evaluating my relationships with people. I find myself calling people out to the floor and standing up for myself more. On the flip side of that, I've also been just letting relationships fizzle while avoiding confrontation. We've all had those relationships, the ones that take more effort to keep united than you actually should put into it. It doesn't mean that the people are necessarily bad people, it just means your season is up. Not every relationship has to end in a bang. Sometimes, it just needs to fade out silently because there really isn't a "fault" of anyone's...its just a passing.

I've always kept in the back of mind: "A reason; a season; a lifetime. When you know why someone is in your life, you'll know exactly what to do." This quote has really helped me at times put into perspective what my relationships are and what value we bring to each other's lives. Recently, I've found myself looking deep into my relationships and evaluating what value we bring to each other. Sadly, I'm finding that I put a lot of effort into things that bring me value or allow me to give much value. I'm constantly finding myself exhausted and scrambling to spare people's feelings. Remembering this quote helps me understand what the relationship was/is in my life and also helps me evaluate whether it is something I need to put more effort into or just let subside.

So right now, I'm feeling disconnected as I evaluate my life and my efforts into relationships. How do I want to spend my valuable time? Why do I put so much effort into people who don't value me? Hopefully, I'll get my thoughts together and start feeling good about the relationships I have with people.

A Society of Dummies

I don't know why this angered me as much as it did, but boy did it anger me! I went to the book store this week to find a book on how to braid hair. I am looking for some "how to" books to learn some new hairstyles and braiding techniques for my daughter. While perusing the book selection, I notice there are a lot of "________ for Dummies" Really?

Gardening for Dummies
Make-Up for Dummies
Relationships for Dummies
Parenting for Dummies
Choosing a Dummies Book for Dummies (I wouldn't be surprised if they really had that one!)

What is wrong with our society that people are actually buying these Dummies books? Do we not know how to research anymore? Do we just search for the Yellow and Black book that screams, "PICK ME! I can explain this in terms that any moron can understand!" I was offended. I felt like if I wanted to learn anything on every shelf there was a book glaring at me and calling me a Dummy. Could these books be any more offensive!?!?!?!

So there is my rant. Do your research people and stop looking for easy answers. Just because you want to learn something new, don't sell yourself short by calling yourself a Dummy. BLECH!

We're getting a dog...that's ALIVE

We've have been prepping our kids that we're getting a dog this year. My son keeps asking, "One that's ALIVE?!?!?!?!" You see, he has tons of plush puppies, but he's never had a real dog of his own.

Marty and I have had English Setters prior to having kids. Now that our kids are getting to an age where they can be more involved in helping care for our family pet, we are ready to make the addition to our family this fall/winter.

We found a woman in New Hampshire that owns a pet care and training facility and also shows Setters and Retrievers. She will be expecting a litter this fall. Right now she is waiting for the female to go into heat. The puppies would be born at the end of the summer and would be ready to take home late fall. She breeds her dogs for temperment and does extensive screenings and testing to ensure that we get a healthy puppy for our family. We've met and seen a lot of breeders, and this one really made me feel comfortable with her values and standards of ensuring the health of all her dogs. She also does a lot of work to get to know the families and dogs to get the PERFECT match! I like how she isn't just "selling puppies" but helping families get their furever friend!

Above is a picture of Tiana (the mommy) with one of last year's puppy. Below is a picture of Tiana at show time.

We are so excited about our puppy and I'm thrilled that my kiddos are going to be able to participate in the responsibilities and duties it takes to raise a puppy to be an obedient, happy and healthy family member.

A little goes a long way

This past Christmas I got each of the ladies in my community book club an LCD booklight. So many of us use the Amazon Kindle (which does not have a light) and I have found my booklight to be so useful! It really was nothing significant and they didn't cost me more than $5/each. I wrapped each one carefully and tied a ribbon and attached a Holiday Poem (poetry has always been December's theme for bookclub). It was small, but I felt that each of the ladies would be delighted with the modest gift. I placed each gift in their mailbox and that was that.

While sitting watching television with my family this evening, the phone rings; its our neighbor, Martha. She asked if she could stop by the house to drop something off. It was odd. We don't normally call each other on the phone or visit each other's homes unless there is some sort of community event. I told her "sure" and in less than 5 minutes our doorbell rings.

Martha is in her 70's. She is absolutely lovely. She's a real southern belle; I don't know when she moved here, but she has a thick sweet southern accent. She informs me that her and her husband have just returned from Africa. The retired couple travels often, always visiting exotic places! She goes on to tell me that she packed her booklight and one night she ended up having to use it as a flashlight to find her way around late one night. She then goes on to say, it was so effective and easy to keep with her (and clip to her) that she ended up using it the entire 3.5 weeks they were there!!! She said through the entire trip she thought of me and how thoughtful it was that I gave her that booklight. Who would have thought!?!?!

So she brought me back a gorgeous handcarved wooden fork and spoon set; the handles shaped like giraffes. They are magnificent! I am so touched! She brought these all the way back from Africa for ME?!?!? I was literally moved to tears!

Its amazing to me how small acts of kindness can affect people so greatly. I will cherish these forever.

I've reached a new point in my life.

Yesterday, while finishing up my run on the treadmill at my gym...I look over and see an "old friend", who had her child at my preschool a couple years ago, riding a stationary bike. She was going through a divorce at the time adn she kept promising me tuition but then one day just stopped bringing her child to school. She wouldn't return my calls, emails, defriended me from facebook...etc. I was devastated. We had been friends for years! It was after that I vowed to NEVER take any of my friends kids. No matter what!

Well, she ran up a bill of a little more than $3,000. Then dropped me like a hot potato. So I don't know if it was the adrenaline from the run or what...but I stepped off the treadmill and walked over to the bike. She did not look happy to see me. I said very calmly, "Elizabeth...how could you do that to me?" We went on and on. I was very calm. She went on about how she was in a bad place...yada yada yada. I just stood there cold. I told her it wasn't even about the money; She should have called me, talked to me, something. We were friends! We still roll in the same circles and I've never once said anything negative about her. I just can't do that.

I might have felt sorry for her, but we were standing in one of the most expensive gyms in Annapolis. Its a little hard to hear someone cry "broke" when you know what memberships cost and you "know" their lifestyle so well. Like I said, it wasn't even about the money; Its about people just having absolutely no respect or morals when it comes to friendship/business/humanity, etc. I just can't take it anymore.

UGH!

So I walked away, with her screaming ,"Alice Anne, Alice Anne! Get back here!" I kept walking, with my towel in hand just sort of waived her off. Screw her. I do feel so much better that I was finally able to say my peace.

Partying it up Bachelorette Style

This past weekend we had my niece's bridal shower and bachelorette party. It was truly one of the best girls' nights out I've ever ever ever had. Everyone got along so well and we just had a great drama free, stress free, fun night. It was hard to believe I was the oldest in the group (that has NEVER happened!) but not by much. :)

DisneyWorld Recap (a little more positive)

Whew! I'm finally recovered! I'm literally laughing out loud that my initial recap was so negative. Overall we had a lovely time and I'm thrilled that my kids enjoyed the trip. We were only there 4 days, but we really covered some ground.

Day #1, we checked into the Grand Floridian resort around 10am. Our room wasn't available for a few more hours, so we checked our bags in and headed straight to the Magic Kingdom. We were able to ride several rides without too much of a wait. Pirates of the Caribbean will always be my favorite ride, and I was thrilled that our son enjoyed it so much. Marissa was a little "ehhh" It made her nervous, but she muddled through.

Once we checked into our room, we had a couple hours of downtime. We were Club Level guests, so we were able to pop up to the 4th floor for drinks and goodies. I'm telling you, I will never do Disney again without being Club Level. I'm thinking that with going Club, you don't need to have a dining plan. We had so much food left over on our plan because we just at on the 4th floor at the Floridian. Most of the food at the parks is really terrible anyway, so our options were so limited. I think next time, we'll just do Club Level and then make reservations for the character meals.

After we had some time to rest, we went back to the Magic Kingdom and rode more rides and caught a little bit of the parade fireworks. We were able to get on the Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, that was a FUN FUN FUN ride! All of us really enjoyed it. It was interactive, fast moving and the props and scenery were so well done (of course, its DISNEY!) but I really felt like we were in action with the famous toys!

We all slept like rocks that night; it had been an extremely long day of travel and theme park adventures.

Day #2, we slept in. Until 7:30 AM! I know, that's what vacation is all about! We hopped on a bus to Hollywood Studios where we were able to catch a Camp Rock Parade. Marissa danced and sang along as the cast members rocked it right there in the middle of the street. She was Star Struck for sure! We then headed over to Hollywood and Vine Play and Dine for breakfast/brunch with all the Playhouse Disney characters (it was really just Handy Manny, Agent Oso, Leo and June from Little Einsteins) Christian was a disaster. He just couldn't not handle the excitement. He refused to eat and would not so much as even look up to greet the characters as they came to our table. We made it through the meal and I was feeling a little deflated, but the day improved from there.

We were able to sit in at Monsters, Inc Laugh Floor. That was really funny and I'm still trying to figure out how they were able to interact with the audience as well as they did. The jokes were great, the answers were definitely not standard answers/questions or scripted. It was a great show. I thought it might have been over Christian's head, but he laughed so hard and I think it definitely left an impression on him.

I was disappointed that we were unable to get onto the Toy Story ride. They had released all their Fast Passes by 11am for the day. I'm glad that my kids did not fully understand what the ride was or that they would not be able to ride it. I'm thinking that they were overwhelmed by everything else they didn't really feel they were missing out. I do wish we had been able to see it though. Because of their ages, I don't know if they will enjoy it so much next time we go...

After Hollywood Studios, we went to Epcot. That was fabulous! Actually, I think Epcot is my favorite. Surprisingly, I think Epcot turned out to be my kids' favorite park too. People might not think that there is a lot for the kids to do at Epcot, but I think it is loaded with fantastic kid activities. We actually saw a lot of Characters too! My kids LOVE the "giant golf ball ride" Spaceship Earth. They wanted to ride it THREE times! LOL!

I love that Epcot has the Kidcot activities in all the different "countries". The kids loved looking for the Kidcot stations and getting their passports stamped. I also like the food in Epcot. We ended up eating in Italy at Via Napoli. The pizza was a traditional italian pizza and the wine was just what this mama needed! I would have loved to have had their fresh spaghetti and handmade meatballs, but I didn't notice that until we were leaving! Darn!

Another great thing about Epcot is that they do have so many hands-on kid friendly activities that have absolutely zero wait time. Marissa was able to participate in some great science activities and also get a realistic view of the future. I love the age she is at right now and that things are really starting to make sense to her.

Day #3 We started our morning at Downtown Disney. Marissa spent about 2 hours getting pampered at the Bippity Boppity Boutique. She was transformed into a princess and she totally lived it up! This year, she chose to be dressed as Princess Aurora. She chose the Disney Diva hairstyle, and even though I wasn't thrilled, she chose Princess Pink hair extensions; she looked adorable! After her pamper session, complete with hair, make-up, a gorgeous dress, shoes and accessories, she had a photo shoot and it really did make us so happy that she felt so special. I love how Disney does that for the kids! Christian didn't participate at the boutique, but they did give him a sword and shield. I thought that was pretty cool. He LOVED it.

We then spent the next couple hours shopping and collecting souveneirs for ourselves and family and friends. Everything was extremely overpriced, but of course, we had to get things! We got my niece, who is 15 months old, a Minnie Mouse plush dressed as Tinkerbell and a Minnie Mouse accessory set with bag. Christian got a hat, "Not too Large, But Definitely In Charge", the kids picked out candies and other goodies and we picked up a few other small random things.

After Downtown Disney, we headed back to the Magic Kingdom and rode some of the "kiddie rides". We also took the train around. Christian loved the train. I think that was another highlight...oh the simple things! Of course, everyone ooohed and ahhhhed over Princess Marissa and her pink hair and gorgeous gown. :) We goofed around at the MK for a while and then Marissa and I had to get ready for our dinner at the Royal Table at Cinderella's Castle.

The boys split and headed over to Animal Kingdom. I was sad to miss it, since I know how much Christian loves animals it would have been much fun to see his reaction while he was on the safari. Marty says that they had a great time and that the park was not crowded at all.

Meanwhile, Marissa and I caught a "Hannah Montana" themed parade in the street and then we did a little shopping on Main Street. We then headed over to the castle and this was the evening where all her dreams came true; she met Cinderella!!!!!!

She had her picture taken with the princess and then we were led upstairs to the Royal Table. There we ordered a lovely dinner, and met Belle, Ariel, Aurora, and Snow White. Marissa could hardly contain herself. It was truly a magical evening and the two of us had a great time together. She was just a doll! The food was "ehhhh" but they tried really hard to make it fancy. I imagine it is difficult to create high quality meals for such large quantities of people and that also suits children. Marissa is a foodie though, and I could tell she was somewhat disappointed in the quality of the food. :(

We finished the evening catching up with each other and sharing details from our separate experiences. We took a boat ride in the lagoon and watched fireworks.

Day #4 We were at the Contemporary Resort for breakfast at Chef Mickey's at 7 AM. Christian was a totally different kid. He was ecstatic to see Mickey and Friends. The kids ate great, the buffet was actually pretty good. They got to meet and get autographs from Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. They were thrilled! We got some great family pictures and had a wonderful time.

After breakfast, we headed back to Epcot...yeah, that's where the kids wanted to finish their trip. We rode the Viking Voyage and had lunch in Mexico. It was a calm day and I truly felt like we had spent the perfect amount of time on this vacation. This is not a vacation that is peaceful or slow-paced. The kids were completely satisfied with all we had done and I think all 4 of us were ready to go home.

So there's my recap. I hope it sounds a little more positive that my initial post. I think it will be 2013 before we go back. I think our max is every two years. :)

SUCCESS

NO TEARS SWIM DAY!


We are so proud of Christian! Not only did he get through lessons today without a single tear, he had FUN! YAY! I can't tell you how great that felt to not have to listen to him wailing through the entire 50 minute class. My husband was the hero though; he came with us to lessons, made a deal with our son and reached SUCCESS.


Marissa also advanced to the next swimming level and actually swam laps this week (in her "own lane" I quote) She demonstrated great techniques and even though the back stroke was difficult and a little scary for her, she persevered and did a fantastic job!


The kids were rewarded with a special family outing to see "Rango", which I was sort disappointed in, but the point is they worked hard so they deserved it and we were happy that they were able to pick a family treat.

Dress it up!

While on vacation, I came across this book, so the first thing I did when I got home was order it from Amazon.

I haven't had much time to really sit down and dive into it, but from what I've seen and read so far, it was totally worth the purchase. As many people know, I love fashion. I believe that we should love what we wear and wear it with sass.

This book gives you real insight to fashion materials, styles, trends, classic looks, accessories and even tips on how to get more bang for your buck. I love how each section tells you what materials are safe for all year wear and then it tells you how to layer, add on and optimize use. For anyone who loves clothes, but has a limited budget...this is a MUST!

I'll never forget what a newly divorced woman told me just a few years ago. She said she forgot how to be a "woman". She was so busy being a mom and wife that she just let herself go. She didn't focus on keeping herself put together. She wore sweatpants and a ponytail every day and never felt good about herself, in or out of clothes. That really spoke volumes to me and I've made it a priority to feel good about myself. I want to feel good EVERY DAY. Comfort and style can go hand in hand and I believe if done right, a woman can pull off a style that suits, or jeans, or dresses her comfortably and fashionably!

So happy reading, happy dressing and hopefully...happy shopping!

Where Dreams (or Nightmares) Come True...

DisneyWorld. The place where everyone's dreams come true; unless you're a parent, then it's where your nightmares suddenly become a reality...

My family just spend 4 glorious days in the gorgeous Florida sun, park hopping our way around the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios... Sounds heavenly, right? For the most part, yes. What parent doesn't enjoy watching their child's dreams come true? Don't we want the best for our children? That's why we pay ridiculous amounts of money to stand in lines with 30 minute minimum wait time, if you're lucky, and food that might as well have been made of plastic since it is loaded with perservatives and probably made weeks ago in a little food factory, wrapped in a cellaphane wrapper then frozen only to be microwave-zapped later to an edible state. Ahh yes, the American dream, amusement parks overloaded with snack foods, oversized characters, overpriced souveneirs overweight tourists and overtired toddlers, tikes, tweens and teens. OVER OVER OVER. That's how we do it right!

Why am I so negative after these past few days of family bliss, you ask? Well... BRATS. Yes, I've said it. BRATS. I've seen them all now. Every shape and size; every age; every over-entitled BRAT you could imagine. This does not exclude my own. I love my children. I love them with all my guts, but this week was anything but my dreams come true. I watched as my three year old became a tyrant and demanded more from my husband and I than ever before. I stood stunned as my six year old oozed drama and suddenly forgot what the two little flaps of cartilage on the sides of her head are meant for... It was like my children time warped into a land where parent's words were merely suggestions to be taken with a grain of salt. BRATS.

As we strolled merrily down Main Street USA, it was a common site to see a child being dragged by one arm, kicking and flailing wildly, with a traumatized parent pleading, bargaining, bribing the child to just smile, stand up, look at Mickey... It goes on and on; same old scene. A juvenile meltdown and a helpless parent with about a million set of eyes watching, judging, empathizing, nodding along and finally just gawking.

I was flabbergasted at the comments I heard from passerbys: "I want to be THAT princess!" or " I want ice cream! Not that ice cream, ice cream shaped like GOOFY!" or "Carry me!" or "I want to ride in the stroller!" Never mind that the child is almost 8 years old!

Tears, temper tantrums, shouts, screams, swats, spankings, bribes, and parents just plain walking away. How did we get to this point in our society? Where we spend thousands of dollars to take our children to the happiest place on earth, only for them to spit in our faces and demand more!!?!?!? We did it to ourselves. Perhaps the problem is we don't say "no" enough. Without arguement, we open our wallets and deliver. I'm guilty of it too! My children are a FRACTION of brattiness that I witnessed this week, but nonetheless, I felt exhausted and defeated.

We stayed at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at Disney World, right on the Monorail. It was fabulous. We were on Club Level, which meant snacks and goodies were out for us almost 24/7. Anything we could want. My daughter attended the Bippity Boppity Boutique, dined with all the Princesses at the Royal Table in the castle, got souveneirs that cost a fortune and will probably be forgot by this time next week and got just about autograph you could imagine from characters around the parks. My son had two meals with characters, Handy Manny, Agent Oso, Mickey and Friends, etc., got a sword and shield, was not forced to eat vegetables all week and rode on his father's shoulders all four days...yet, they both found themselves in heaps of tears and tantrums. Why? What more could they ask for?

I believe it was just all too much. What happened to just having fun? Without overdoing it?

I need to take some time to reflect and recover. I'm spent. Something went seriously wrong with our Dream Vacation and what is even more sad is that I don't feel like we were alone in this scenario. Are we setting our children up to be entitled? Are we giving too much?

To be continued...

New Year's Resolution Update

Now that February is here, I wanted to reflect on my New Year's resolutions and see if I've been holding true to the commitments I've made myself. Overall, I think I'm doing pretty darn good. 2011 is off to a fabulous start and I'm optimistic that the year is going to be a great one!


Resolution #1 Be a better wife.

Ha ha ha! Man is that loaded. As Marty and I approach the celebration of our first decade together, I looked back at the years we've spent as a couple and I came to the conclusion...wait for it...this is not easy for me to admit...ok, here goes...

I'm spoiled. I know, I know...you all already knew that, but its taken me a bit to realize just how good I have it. My husband is an incredible human being, the greatest friend, phenomenal father and the love of my life. (enough with the eye roll please) Over the last 2 years, I have really noticed just how much he does for me and how much he thinks about me and ways he can make my life more enjoyable.

I made a list of all the things he does to show affection. I was unable to complete the list because every time I thought of something, it occurred to me that there were ten more things to add to the list. It just never ended. It wasn't the fancy cars, jewelry, houses, vacations, etc. Those are nice and we are very fortunate, but it was the little things; silly things; personal things; non-tangible things that really stood out. How he makes sure I have all the right spices in the kitchen to make my favorite meals. He folds the laundry because he knows how I hate to do it because the heat of the clothes dries my skin out. He always hangs a white towel up for me in the bathroom because I hate using the red ones (funny quirk I guess). He goes through all my piles of things around the house and puts them away for me so that in my moment of panic when I can't find something he knows exactly where it is and saves the day. He organizes and updates my playlists and always adds my current favorite songs and I'm pleasantly surprised when I plug in my earbuds (that I actually forgot, but he remembered to put in my gym bag). He knows me. He takes care of me and he thinks its absolutely adorable that I'm frazzled and rushed and manic...and me.

So 2011, I'm doing little things to show him I love him too. For example, I have been starting his work truck in the morning so its nice and toasty for him when he leaves for work; although we quickly learned that he burned more gas with the truck sitting in the driveway than it actually used driving the 3.5 miles to work. Hey, I'm new at this stuff, cut me some slack! I often times feel like Amelia Badelia always messing things up, but I know he appreciates the thought.

In all seriousness, I think I'm going to earn an A+ on this resolution. I hope he knows how much I love him and how hard I'll work to be a good wife to him every day for the rest of my life...

#2 Adventurous Clean-Eating Cooking

This is going amazingly well! I am loving all the new recipes I've found. I'm cooking more and more, finding new ways to prepare veggies, seafood and chicken. I'm experimenting with healthier alternatives to my old ways of cooking and I'm very much enjoying the results! The family is happy and is eating well and that makes me feel good! You can check out my blog http://www.aaloftus.blogspot.com/ to get a peek at some of the recipies I've tried.

#3 Getting the Kids and Family More Active

This has been a really fun one! We've done Ice Skating, Bowling, playing outside more, exercising, swimming and visiting indoor gyms. I'm sure as the weather gets nicer we'll be doing even more. Marissa starts lacrosse this spring and Christian will hopefully get into a sport, although I think he's too young for anything organized yet. I love this quality time I'm spending with the family and I think we're setting an example of how to be fit and healthy!

#4 Do things myself that I would normally pay someone else to do

This really only applies to Housekeeping. I've had housekeepers on and off for the past several years and eventually something happens that makes me shake my head and say, "this would just be easier if I did it myself." I actually love to clean. No ones cleans my house as well as I do and it makes me feel so good to see my house organized and clean (especially when I've done it myself!) Also, its great exercise.

Unfortunately, I haven't been so successful with this resolution. I haven't broken down and paid anyone yet to clean the house, but my house also isn't staying in its best condition. Marty helps with the laundry tremendously, but I absolutely LOATHE putting it away. I hate laundry. period. Since my mom has been staying with us, she helps a lot too, but that makes me feel guilty. I wish I had more hours in the day or an extra day in the week that I could just devote to housekeeping...however, there isn't and I'm usually left carving any spare time I can find to get house chores done.

Yesterday, my mom, my daughter and I spent the day scrubbing, washing, vacuuming, dusting and steaming just about every surface we could think of. The house looks fabulous today; let's just hope I can keep up with it!

I suppose, overall, I'm doing ok with all my resolutions. The year is still young, but I'm optimistic that I'm making some changes in the right direction and I'm on track to keep up with my commitments and goals for 2011.

First they're sweet...

Then they're sour.

Sour patch kids. Yeah, I've got myself one of those! Christian is hilarious. One moment he can be the sweetest, most lovable, huggable, kissable little cuddle bug and in the same breath turn around and be a complete stinker (aka "little shit").

Yesterday I was using our little snow plow to clear out our driveway. He was already in his pajamas, but he bundled up and came outside. He comes running up the hill and says, "Mommy, this is hard work! Let me help you!" and he grabs his little toy shovel and gets to work. I was so touched! My three year old didn't want me out there alone! He wanted to take care of me! He wanted to help. Teamwork! (Channeling the Wonder Pets)

So in my moment of awe, I stop to turn around and tell him thank you for being such a big boy and great helper. I turn just in time for him to smack me in the face with a snowball. He giggles. Then he proceeds to pick up more snow, shape it and chuck it at me. The whole while laughing his silly little butt off!

Yeah, first they're sweet, then they're sour. Love that kid!

"Mom, Just Google It!"

That's what my daughter said to me when I told her I didn't know how French Fries got their name. "Well, can't you just Google it?" That's where we are today; 6 year olds telling us to look to the World Wide Web, even more specifically GOOGLE, to get information. When I was 6, my parents would have told me to look it up in an encyclopedia or go to the library. Information wasn't so easily available to us.

Does this "instant knowledge" help us or hurt us? Well, I would say that it helps us more often than not. I'm able to get quick answers for all those adorable 6 year old questions and the internet offers a plathera of information right at our fingertips. We're able to view pictures, videos, check various resources and even participate in online forums and discussions! Gone are the days when we could say, "I don't know." The solution to that is..."Google it."

An important reminder is that we need to educate ourselves and more importantly our children about internet safety. We also need to remember that not all information on the web is true; we need to check the credibility of our sources and continue to do the proper research. There is nothing worse than saying, "Well, the internet says...." and then sound like a jerk because your answer is totally wrong!

So back to the question.

Q: How did French Fries get their name?

A (according to Google): French fries are generally considered to be a Belgian invention rather than French. In Belgium and France they are called "pommes frites", pronounced "pom frit". This translates simply as "fried potatoes". The French part doesn't necessarily denote that the this is a French dish, but rather that the potatoes are "fried in the French style". There's also speculation that the French part refers to the julienne cutting of the potatoes, and since julienne was a bit cumbersome as a word, they started being called "French". Either way, the name stuck.

The good news for Moms and Dads is that there is always the fall back answer to every child's infamous question, "Why?" and we don't need Google to get that one; that's right, "Because I said so."

Karen...

I miss you.


More than usual today.


My heart is heavy; I close my eyes and remember the warmth of your hug.
I smile and I can hear your laugh in the back of my mind.
I find myself wishing for just one more moment...

Your name is a whisper. I pick up the phone and dial your number; I hang up.

The lump in my throat is made up of all the words I would give anything to say to you now...



All I can think about is how much I miss you...and how each day, I miss you even more.

The hardest job I've ever had...

is being a mommy. Granted, it is also the most rewarding thing in my life. I sometimes wish that parenting came with a training manual or a "reset" button. Wouldn't it be nice if we could say, "oops, I didn't like how that worked out, let's just reset this and try something different." when it comes to decisions we make regarding discipline and structure? A good friend of my mother-in-law's once told us that everything is just a phase, not to get to comfortable with anything a child does because if you wait a minute, everything will change. She laughed and said, "just when you figure it out, they enter an entirely new phase and you've got to start all over again with trying to learn how to parent."

Marissa is a chatterbox and even more so a songbird; we've already established that. She's a happy little person with a lot of spunk and only a little self-regulation. Its 4 AM and I can't sleep because I'm conflicted in how we are going to teach her the appropriate times for chattiness and singing while at the same time celebrating her spirit.

Apparently, she's a bit of a disruption issue at school. It breaks my heart because she doesn't have a mean bone in her body and she has the biggest heart of anyone I've ever known. I truly believe she does not realize that she's doing something wrong at school. Regardless, her behavior is unacceptable and I don't know how to get it through to her that she needs to be quiet. Half the time, I don't think she is even aware that she's talking or singing aloud...she's just in her own little world, or as I've stated before its more like we're characters in her own personal musical production.

I love my kids, of course, I'm their mother; but I adore who they are. Marissa lights up a room when she walks in. She is kind, beautiful and good hearted. She is brilliant, magnificent...I could go on and on. I truly appreciate who she is a person and I would not change her for anything. My heart overflows for her. How do I get through to her the importance of her behavior when #1 she doesn't understand what an issue this is #2 I believe that it is almost physically impossible for her to keep her music inside her and #3 I don't want to extinguish the spark that makes her so wonderful?

I could really use a good night's sleep...

First and Last Football Game of the Season

In support of my brother, I went to see the KC Chiefs vs Baltimore Ravens game today. It was a play-off game and I knew that the fact that we were Chiefs' fans in a Maryland bar didn't earn us a popularity vote, but we had a great time none-the-less. The Chiefs lost, but since it had been several years since they've even seen the play-offs, I would say that they had a good season and got pretty far...

What's important is that I had some quality time with my brother, learned how to drink beer (yes, I'm almost thirty and this was my first beer drinking experience!) and sported my red and yellow in a sea of purple and black. My sister-in-law Jessica said, "we're the REAL fans! We are in MARYLAND rootin' for Kansas City! That takes GUTS!"

Next year, Chiefs I'll definitely use you to spend more time with my brother!

If it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck...

then WHY do I insist it is a Chicken!?!?!?!

add this to my list of 2011 New Year's Resolutions

STOP trying to make things something they are not! I go through my life seeing the same patterns and expecting different results. That could be patterns in my personal life, work life, with my kids, my family, you name it... I'm always waiting for the change. The problem is, I'm always expecting something and my expectations are not always realistic.

I had a major eye opening experience tonight. I won't go into detail. I always say, "save your drama for your mama!" Long story short, I had a conversation that quickly turned into a confrontation and I just could not reason with the person. It went from calm to chaos in .6 seconds flat. Of course, I cried. I didn't understand, it wasn't at all how I had envisioned the conversation going. WHY do I expect conversations to be different with someone who cannot be rational?

This is just one example of how I try to make something different than it is. My husband always shakes his head at me; he's always saying "don't put so much faith in people. Be realistic in what you can expect from them and then decide if you can accept them for that." He's got a good point.

I cannot control others. Only I am in charge of my reactions and my feelings. I will not give others control over me. If it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck...damnit Alice Anne, its a DUCK!

Musical Adventures!

Marissa and I got GUITARS for Christmas from my brother, Mike and his wife, Jessica. We are over the moon excited about this! I've been interviewing instructors and we are hoping to start lessons this month in our home. The instructor will come to the house every week for a one hour lesson with us both.

I am really looking forward to doing this with Marissa. We both have such a passion for music and I think it will give us another thing that we can do together and really enjoy each other and our love for music.

Who knows...perhaps we'll be the next Judds! LOL!

Purging

Every new year, I find myself motivated to organize and rid my life of clutter and chaos. I went into a cleaning frenzy today in my office (shared office, really. I feel so sorry for my sister-in-law/director's assistant. LOL!) We only got about halfway through the cleaning. We organized the desk drawers, cleared the desktop and removed everything that didn't belong in our small 4ft by 10ft office. Yes, those measurements are correct, its a TINY TINY office!

Trash bags loaded with papers, odds and ends, broken office equipment and random things I believe I had some very important reason for holding onto throughout the year but have somehow now forgotten why, were carried away...never to be seen again. It wasn't pretty.

I soon realized I was working alone; buzzing wildly around; making verbal notes to myself and I looked up to see that I had small audience. "what?" I asked. One of the teachers replies, "you are crazy!" another responds, "oh, that's just how she gets when she cleans. You learn that AA gets really crazy and moves fast when she gets in these moods." We all laugh. Perhaps they are right. However, I don't hear any complaints when the room is clean and all is in perfect order :)

Tomorrow, maybe after we finish the office I'll come home and start on the family's closets. I'm feeling ambitious and ready to do some more purging. Unfortunately, that probably means I'll be ready to do some shopping in the near future!