It is nap time (via Mowser)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day and may the force be with you!

Valentine's is a very mild "holiday" around here. We don't do cards for each other. I do buy some to send out to the Grandparents and a few others but as far as Brad and I go - we try to love each other every day. Yes, there is your Valentine's Day cheese!

We are looking for a new TV, I love TV but TV shopping is horrible! Everything changes so fast that I know what I pay for this week will be $100 less next week! However, I also know that a new TV will free up some space on the TV stand and I can put up some more pictures! I love pictures!

We are also looking for new/used/old/whatever dining room chairs. We have an antique oak round table and the chairs we currently have are black with with tan caning in the seats. Well the seats are starting to come apart and caning is so expensive and they are cheap chairs so I think it is more economical to just buy some new ones. I found some chairs like I want through a los angeles furniture site but it was a set that came with the table. I just need the chairs...

One added off topic thing... So sad about Whitney! She had such a gorgeous voice. Sad for her family and friends.

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Monday, February 13, 2012

Mamavation - Boot Camp Day 1

It has been some time since I have posted a Mamavation post. I have just got back to blogging after taking a little over a month off and to be honest, not sure I was doing anything "mamavational" at all!

So today I put on my big girl pants and try again! I went to a boot camp, I will be going 3 day a week for 4 weeks. Let's just say they used the boot on me! I am one of 2 new people, the rest have been doing it for a while, therefore the instructor did not ease in. In his words, "you just finished the toughest day 1 ever." Of course, he was talking to everyone else because I lacked a few reps to actually finish.

I am so glad I am taking this step to get healthy but I am most certain that moving tomorrow will be an issue!

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Friday, February 10, 2012

It's Ladies Night

There is something that Brad and I aren't that great at. I know, I know, kind of hard to believe. We don't leave the house without the kids very often... It is not a huge complaint but I think it is healthy to get away from time to time.

So tonight I am going to downtown with some friends from my hometown. I am really looking forward to some good food, good conversations, and hopefully some live music. This is after all music city! Maybe we will hear someone tearing it up on a Fender Mustang. It has been a while since I have done this so I hope my dancing shoes work!

Be on the lookout for some fun pictures from tonight!

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Over due Catch Up

So, what has been going on around here? Lots of things. I started my second semester of "going back to school". I have this wonderful technology class (yes, there is a chance my instructor will read this) that I am really enjoying. I am still working about 35 hours a week for my great boss (yes, there is a chance that my boss will read this.)

We had an overly blessed Christmas. Spend time with family, Santa was good to everyone and I can't say enough how thankful I am for that time. We had a fairly sedate New Year's Eve. The only reason I was awake at midnight is because the fireworks from downtown woke me. I am such a light sleeper!

So that is our quick nutshell, you can always get more detailed information at Just Read and See - the hubby's blog.

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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Git Pickers in the House!

So, my husband and I are not exactly musically talented. (That was me be very nice!) We do love music but making music is not really in our abilities. However, there is some musical talent in our families. My Mom's twin can play any instrument that you put in front of him. My aunt is an excellent piano player her granddaughter is a first chair cellist at her University. Brad's Mom plays the piano.

John Loyd playing while Uncle Don tunes...

So this leads me to my boys. They LOVE music. Especially the youngest! I think he hears music in his head all the time. We have guitars, drums, a harmonica, keyboards, some shakers... So next is guitar lessons I think, I am wondering if I am actually going to have to learn how to use a guitar tuner. I have often joked that the tuning process takes longer than the music playing.

Do you think they make tuners that do all the work? I can sit it now a little box with fingers that actually turn the little knob things until it at the perfect place. Okay, that sounded creepy to me too!

This one looks kind of promising!

Wonder if I can get a combo pack that comes with a set of earplugs? So, the Partridge Family we will not be, but if my boys feel the need to hammer out a tune in the garage, Mom will be in the front row! Bring on the music boys!

Coming Back...

I can't believe it has almost been a month since I last blogged! Well I am coming back!

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Friday, December 9, 2011

Just a little further away please...

Well apparently not only have I partially lost my mind over the last couple of years but now that I am 39 I seem to be having a extra vision problem!

I have been near-sighted my entire life. I have had contacts since I was in the 5th grade. Well recently I have noticed that in certain light things are a little blurry and... wait for it...

I have to hold whatever I am reading a little farther away from me! eeeeeeeekkkkkkk! My Mom said it started happening to her around 40 so I guess all I can say is reading glasses here I come!

Do you have reading glasses? Do you just buy the drugstore one or do you have prescription ones?

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Monday, December 5, 2011

Simple Solutions to Christmas Stressors - A Guest Post

Now that we’re officially into December, most people will agree that the holiday season has officially begun. The stores are busy, radios joyful and soon Santa will be gracing the floors of local malls. While this season is famous for the parties, food and dÃ©cor, it’s also well known as one of the most stressful times of the year. Expectations and emotions can run on high and the pressure to have everything just right can be seriously overwhelming. It’s true, lots of things can go wrong at Christmas, but this year you’re going to be one step ahead. These simple solutions to common holiday problems will have you laughing the face of stress so that you can sit back and enjoy copious amounts of homemade eggnog.

Your beige couch looks a strange shade of brown: It’s almost inevitable that at some point over the holiday’s you’re going to have visitors and, whether you like it or not, your furniture is often the focal point of a room. Children, pets and general wear and tear can have a huge impact on the appearance of your furniture. Luckily, cleaning them is a breeze with a few key supplies – with some rubbing alcohol, a scrubbing sponge and a soft brush and you’ll have things looking like new in now time. Check out these great directions from Robin over at Chris and Robin’s Nest for step-by-step tutorial.

Not one more thing can fit in your fridge: It’s crazy how full a fridge can get this time of year. Your goal in the days leading up to a big meal should be to have one full shelf that you can designate to holiday food items. Take an inventory of what you currently have and make a decision about what is absolutely necessary. Combine anything you have double of and remove things that don’t absolutely need to be in the fridge, like bread and some condiments. The key to making extra room in the fridge is to organize like things together. If you have a few extra plastic bins around the house, these are great for adding space – having small stuff in a bin will take up less surface area than if it was sitting there alone. Doing this also helps you to see what you have and what you might need. Jenn at Clean and Sentisible has even more great tips, as well as a picture of what a real, organized fridge actually looks like.

Via Clean and Sentisible

Thanksgiving dinner left your oven a black, charred mess: Stoves and ovens get a lot of use during Christmas season, so keeping them in fine form is very important. While they work really well, store bought oven cleaners smell absolutely horrible and are even worse for the environment. Instead, combine natural ingredients like baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar to create a paste that’s just as effective. Apply the paste to the areas of your oven with caked on debris, let it sit for 4-5 hours and then scrub off. To get rid of funky smells, place a sliced up lemon in a casserole dish with a bit of water and bake for 20 – 30 minutes.

Your Christmas tree keeps falling over: You’ve bought the best stand, the sturdiest tree and still come home to smashed ornaments and broken trees. A great trick to keep Christmas trees in the upright position is to secure them by tying the trunk to a nail in the wall. While this isn’t always the best option for those who are renters, if you’re a home owner you’ll want to decide which is more inconvenient – filling a hole or cleaning up broken glass. If you position your tree in the same place each winter, you can camouflage the nail by painting it the same color as your walls.

You forgot to turn on the turkey: First of all, take a deep breath and relax – you’re not the first person this has happened to and you certainly won’t be the last. The solution to your problems lies in pieces, literally. Take your turkey out and start cutting it up into chunks the same way you would a chicken. If you haven’t already, cover your turkey in spices and oils to keep the moisture in. Next, place each piece in a frying pan, searing each side for a couple of minutes. Place your turkey pieces into a casserole dish and straight into the oven at 350 degrees for roughly an hour - when it reaches 170 degrees internally, you’re all done!

You have the time - plan ahead: If you do one thing this holiday season, planning ahead should be it. While there isn’t always time to head out and shop early, or pick up the things needed for the big dinner, make an effort to squeeze in a few extra minutes for list making. Write things down, like who you need gifts for, what you need to buy, ingredients for your pie, rum for that eggnog and where you have to go to find everything. Having this information sorted ahead of time can mean the difference between a 30 minute shopping trip and a 2 hour one. If you do have some spare time in your day, it’s also a good idea to try out a recipe well in advance of when you’re going to need it. Knowing for sure that a meal is going to go off without a hitch will take a big load off your shoulders.

You can almost guarantee that something will pop up this holiday season, but keeping these quick fixes in mind should help put out a few potential fires. Regardless of what happens, remember that the season is meant for friends, family and fun … so relax and enjoy it!

Jessi is a guest blogger who is interested in all thing DIY and has a passion for the holidays! She comes to us from PartSelect.com, online resource dedicated to helping home owners with every step of a repair and retailer of major appliance parts including Whirlpool parts.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Tea - Cute clothing for my boys! - A Review

Travel opens anyone's heart and mind to people and places that we don't know. The clothing we create at Tea transforms the foreign world into a smaller, friendlier and more familiar place. We believe that we bring a little bit of that world home to you. - Emily Meyer, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer [image]

Tea is a women and children's clothing company that travels to different destinations based on the inspiration behind their current line. How do I get a job there - right?

While preparing for this post I really enjoyed checking out the Tea website. Here are some things I learned... The company was founded in 2002 in San Francisco. The name Tea was chosen because tea is a drink enjoyed all the world, the company Tea is about bringing people all over the world together. I am also pleased to see that they support a charity that helps children all over the world. If you have a chance stop by their web site and look around. Don't forget to check out the Modern Mexico pictures!

So I recently got the chance to try out some of Tea's boys clothing! I was very pleased with the cute soft and well made clothes. When I pulled them out of the box and showed my 5 year old the Modern Mexico designs, his response was "awesome!"

Here is a picture of Hunter in his Modern Mexico holiday outfit...

I know, model material!!

Here is my same big boys showing off some Star Wars characters! Just so you know he picked this shirt out himself!

This particular outfit might make thoughts of needing a new baby boy just for Baby Boy’s Clothes enter your mind.

Love these pajamas! Cute cute cute!

Tea children’s clothes are available in more than 400 stores including Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Takashimaya, and fine boutiques throughout the US and abroad.

I did receive outfits to review.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Black Friday - not this year...

We had a great time at our 2 family Thanksgiving gathering yesterday. Everything went pretty much as planned and well you can't ask for better than that!

JL has a nighttime cough going on and therefore I did not sleep very much at all the 2 nights we were out of town. There were times I had the zombie thing going on. I thought for sure I would "pass out" as soon as my head hit the pillow last night, but unfortunately that did not happen. I did get a small nap in once we got home today and it is amazing what 45 minutes can do for you!

So, once again I did not participate in Black Friday. I really think I want to one year. Do you do Black Friday shopping? How much money does it save you? Are there certain things that you only buy on Black Friday, such as TVs, gaming systems, bridal lingere ...

I did look to see if a certain item I am wanting to get Brad was going to be on sale, if it had been I might had ventured out. Since he reads here from time to time I can't tell you what it is... Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. Don't forget that life is short and it is not all about us, do something kind for some one as often as you can!

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I need a name for my psuedo casserole!

So here is a dish I made today for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow...

It has cubed butternut squash, spinach, some olive oil, Gorgonzola cheese and a bread crumb topping.

I am trying to fix something a little more fresh, whole and healthy. I can't wait to see how it goes over with everyone. I also need a name for it. I am taking some baby steps to healthy but it still has to taste good. I am hoping that after my 2 meals tomorrow, I will not need to buy maternity clothes!

I will put it in the oven tomorrow to heat and brown the top a bit. Hope it is good!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Thanksgiving 2011

Wow how fast this year has gone. And how Thankful I am for it (the year not the speed of it)!

It has been a crazy (along with me) year. 2 rambunctious boys in the house make for a long exciting day, everyday. I also added extra work hours which is one more thing I am thankful for. I think I am finally adjusting to a new normal. I have found that normal doesn't have to mean everything goes smoothly.

I think I am going to make an A in one of my classes, I still have the chance to make an A in both but one is like a never ending time consuming Easter egg hunt. Just not sure I can find all the "eggs" before I have to turn in my basket... But I am very thankful for on-line classes!

I have noticed a thing going around Facebook, "what if you woke up tomorrow to find only what you thanked God for today." I think this is very profound. I feel that sometimes I am so self centered and selfish and so worried about my family and my kids having more more more that I forget to stop and just be thankful for how much we have.

I look around and I see these amazing people that give so much of themselves to helping others and suddenly I feel so very small. I think that one of my "resolutions" for the year was to be more helpful to others. I don't think I have fulfilled this at all. I may have written a few more checks and even though that is definitely needed, I don't know that for me it was a real sacrifice. Yes, we are a paycheck to paycheck kind of family (trying to fix that as well) so an extra check here and there may be a small significance but I think I need more. I think I need to see the difference. I think I need to touch the difference. So in an effort to be more appreciative and thankful I am going to do more hands on giving in the coming year.

So what am I thankful for? God, Jesus, my husband, my boys, my family, second chances, love, you, people who sacrifice, freedom, soldiers, my home, my country, TV, seasons, school, pre-school, church, friends, food, clothes, kindness, generosity, patience (whatever that is), forgiveness, medicine, Benedryl, Sprout, on-demand, naps, emotions, therapy, and the list goes on and on and on.

What are you thankful for? Are there things about the way you feel and give thanks that you want to change?

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