Aloha Friday: My Life to Music

Have you ever heard a song that reminded you of something or someone, or even that you feel totally relates to how you feel at that moment...  Okay stupid ridiculous question, of course you have!  That was a duh moment for me (slap self on forehead).

So here is my right now music to my life...

To hubs: Sounds Like Life To Me

• I find myself singing some of the lyrics to him when he tells me about bad points of his day "sounds like life to me, it ain't no tragedy". 

To Bear: Water

• I am not 100% sure why I chose this song for him, maybe because of the spring break line... Or because it is just very him.

To P-nut: In My Daughters Eyes

• Don't need an explnation for this one!

Me: Only Prettier

• I have been loving this song latley and well Miranda Lambert, she rocks!  I love the attitude of this song and am embracing that.

My Day: Supermassive Black Hole (music from the baseball scene in Twilight)

•   While the lyrics don't match my day, just the name "Supermassive Black Hole", it reminds me of dark and with Halloween this weekend, oh yeah, well that and someone at work today told me they were worried about me because I don't seem like my sunshine happy self who skips through the office (yeah I am like that).  I told her it was just when I am at work and it is outside work my day is more like Walking on Sunshine. 

Go and check out  An Island Life for Aloha Friday.

My question:

Tell me the song for your day!





Share a Spoon of Halloween Treats

Happy Thursday!  Today with Share a Spoon  is Halloween Treats.

While I was planning on making Pumpkin Shaped Sugar cookies last night, it didn't happen.

I only got this far...

My cookbook (a binder with typed recipes) and the cookie cutter were still in the same spot this morning.

The wine in the glass however was gone, along with the wine in the bottle.

Since the cookie cutter was out this morning I decided to go with a simple treat for my kiddos for breakfast.  It is the most simple thing to do and it is a sure way for my kids to eat their breakfast.

We do this a lot, with different shapes.  Bear's favorite is the "people" bread!

What you need:

Bread

Butter

Toaster

Cookie Cutter

Food Markers

What you do:

Toast your bread and butter it

Cut out your shapes 

Decorate? your bread (color on the unbuttered side)



Okay so I know, not to much effort on my part for this but...  I had my wine last night, I enjoyed it, I will bake tonight.

PINT

 

Making Changes

Today was great! (I started this last night and then got wrapped up in a movie)  Wow, I can finally say that all parts of my day were GREAT (well, minus the 10 minutes that Bear cried for on my run this AM).  I started the day by taking Bear to Church, Hubs stayed with P-nut and I got to sit in Family Forum and talk with other parents about raising children in the Christian Faith.  I am not sure if that was what helped my day, but I don't think so since this was the second week on the topic and nothing inside me changed last week... 
Actually, I know what it is.  I am so over the "stuff" that has been going on at work lately.  When I think about it, I am actually annoyed at myself that I let someone get in my head that bad.  Honestly, this person has got in my head so badly that it has affected my life outside of work.  I am over it, I will go to work, do my job and leave it there when I walk out the door.  Saying that and actually doing it helped this weekend.  (also there is a light at the end of the tunnel)
I worked out both days this weekend and have come up with a schedule with hubs so that he has his J.J. days and I have my cardio workout days.  On the days he goes to J.J. I will use those as my strength training days and since I do my strength training in the bathroom while the kids are in the tub I think I will have a well rounded schedule.  Hubs and I have also vowed to change the dinner routine at home.  We used to sit down as a family and eat, since the start of school life has taken over and it is one area that we have let go.  Hubs is out and I take advantage of the kids being occupied with something and I do house work (SO BAD!!!) and when hubs is at home and we sit, we have been eating in the kitchen and there are WAY to many distractions around.  So last night, we went back to eating in the dinning room and it was GREAT.  Bear talked his little head off about the day, telling us about his favorite parts of the day, hubs and I talked while P-nut just sat, ate, and looked at the fish totally happy with what she was doing!
I realize that sitting down as a family is way to important to let the everyday "tasks" get in the way of it.  So this week, that is my focus, that and letting work and the thought of it stay out of my home.      

Aloha Friday: Are you in the clique?

TGIF!  I am linking up again with An Island Life for Aloha Friday.

Back in high school I was not one of the "popular" people.  I was happy with my little group of friends.  I knew a lot of people and was friendly with them, but they were not my "will do ANYTHING for you friends", the one's you know are with you through it all.  In college I had my sorority friends, my friends in my major, my friends from ski team, and then my friends who I met freshman year.  Again, I knew a lot of people and hung out with everyone.  College went on and again I always felt most secure with my little close group.  As a wife and mom now I find that I yet again, I know a lot of people, but I have my few friends who I know are there through it all.  Most of them are like me, we have similar interests and I can be myself around.  I think this is my problem.  There are very few people in this world who I feel I can be myself around.  (Maybe that is why I started blogging, if you like me, read what I write, if not I never know about it.)  I don't like being judged  I don't like feeling that I am being judged, but does anyone?  I often feel that when I meet new people, I feel like I am being judged.  It might be in my head but...  
I think I have always felt this way even back in high school.  While I have heard that people think that I am a confident person I don't believe this to be the case when I comes to social situations that are new to me.  I tend to be fine by myself.  Like yesterday, Bear had a field trip.  We caught up with some of the kids from his class and he had a ball.  The moms were very nice and I am not saying that they were judging me, they may have or they may not.  I just felt out of the clique.  As I was driving home I was thinking about it, there are cliques that exist outside of middle school and high school, does it just naturally happen?  I see it in my parents neighborhood, where I work, etc. 
So my question: Are cliques the natural course that life takes or do we just stick with what we know from high school?   

PINT

 

(that should say "out" not "our" I guess my brain is not working?)

I Question...

Hello and welcome to my pity party, there is a table for one available (or more, I can make room).
I have been struggling with work lately.  I love the idea of what I do, that is why I chose it as my career.  However I have been questioning what I do lately.  I know part of that has to deal with me wishing I could stay home with my kids, but I have to work, I know I do, so I would like to like or love what I do.  I feel that some people just don't value what I do or think that it is important.  I feel as though I have been walked   stomped on last week and today.  It is not the way I want to start my week, it's just not!  Knowing that I have to work, I would head off every morning and most days look forward to the day.  Since being walked over I have been questioning my job, what I went to school for, what I lived/learn for my college life.  I just don't understand how someone can look you in the eyes and say that they value you and what you do, but then make decisions that greatly affect how you execute your job.  How can they make decisions that impact learning and say it is for the good, but leave so many with the impression that somethings just don't matter.  It is frustrating and I am a huge pot of bubbling emotion!  I don't like this, I don't like feeling this way.  I guess I put on my big girl pants and carry on, make the best of it, and hope for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, of course I guess I need to wait for the rain to clear to get to the rainbow to make it to the pot of gold?.?.? 
 

Manic Monday

Shh, I am running the flu shot clinic at work so I have a few minutes right now...
Every time I started to write a blog post this weekend I got side tracked by something.  Saturday I started to write about how I was looking forward to my evening on the couch with the hubby since the two nights before that I was out.  How I really needed it because I felt like I was back in college and my morning workout was terrible because I felt so sick from the jello shooters the night before.  (We had couples bunko, we do it twice a year, the guys love it)  Of course while I was writing the post we had a first in our home...  Bear and P-nut were taking a bath, Bear is playing and looks at me and says "mommy what is that?", M: "Oh, my, it is poop!".  B: "who pooped?" M: "um, well, if it wasn't you, who could it have been?" B: "ahah, P-nut pooped in the tub".  I get them out and tell Bear to go to my bathroom and he will shower, at that point P-nut starts to chase Bear thinking it is funny that Bear is running around saying "ah, poop girl is going to get me".  Fun times, fun times.
Now it is Monday and I feel like the weekend had flown by and I have nothing to show for it well except for my body needing to be detoxed!
Happy start to the week! 

Aloha Friday

It's Aloha Friday time.  Go over and check out An Island Life to link up.

My question:

When you need one, do you call a Babysitter or call on a Family member?

Last night I had a babysitter!  First time for us, crazy I know.  We are fortunate enough that my parents and my sister (and hubby) live just around the corner so when Hubs and I would like an evening out we can call on one of the powers that be living so close.  Last night however we had a "situation" (sorry I have been watching the Jersey Shore, don't judge me).  Hubs had class and I wanted to go to Girls Night Out at a local winery, with my sister.  So of course my sister couldn't watch my kids and my mom was going to her own happy hour.  So...  I called on a sitter.  The young lady I asked to watch the kids is somewhat of a family member but it was a little new to Bear.  He has been introduced to her before but didn't remember her (we don't see them all that often).  He was a little shy, P-nut warmed right up to her and I knew they were in good hands.  It was still crazy how I felt as I drove away.  Up until last night they have not been with anyone other than my immediate family (in-laws as well). 

Last night was great though.  I loved it!  Three girls, some wine, and good conversation!  It was so needed especially since I had a run in with the wicked witch of the west!

Share a Spoon of Squash

Butternut Squash Soup

1 medium (2 1/4-pound) butternut squash

1 small onion, sliced

2 can(s) (14 1/2 ounces each) chicken broth, divided

2 tablespoon(s) butter or margarine, cut into pieces

1/8 teaspoon(s) pepper

1 pinch(s) ground nutmeg

Unsweetened whipped cream (whipping cream and whip it real good, sorry I like Devo)

Cut squash in half and remove seeds. Peel squash and cut into 1/2" cubes.

Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Layer squash and onion in shallow 8" glass casserole. Pour 1 can broth over vegetables, then dot with butter and sprinkle with pepper and nutmeg. Cover with foil and bake until tender, about 40 minutes. Cool slightly.

Puree vegetables and liquid in blender, until smooth. In saucepan, combine pureed squash and remaining broth. Bring to a boil. Serve topped with a little whipped cream and a sprinkling of nutmeg.

*I had squash soup today but it did come from a V8 box!

** I am happy this week was squash because after my day I had yesterday I need to "squash" work stuff, such drama!!!  All I know is that I am happy that girls night is calling!

PINT

 

Exhaustion and Dishes

If you are wondering why most of this post is in cap letters it is because the cap letters are me yelling!  I have been exhausted (for lack of a better word) because exhausted doesn't cover what I am feeling.  P-nut has been a sleeping disaster, I am trying to not give in to her wanting to nurse = sleep is b-a-d!
So last night I fell asleep on the couch at 8:45 pm, Bear was next to me, yup, you read right, no one brought him up to bed, I did, when I woke up at midnight...  Hubs was watching a movie in the basement at that point, last thing I remember was the phone ringing and hubs saying, if she wakes up I will have her call you which could be tonight, or tomorrow.  I checked the caller ID this AM, it was K, just as I thought and that was at 9 pm.  So I get bear in bed and crawl into my bed.  At 2:30 am I hear P-nut over the monitor...  I wait, maybe hubs heard...  NOPE!  Monitor downstairs was off.  I get her and cuddle in bed with her (yes judge away she came into my bed).  Hubs comes up to bed at this point, I say "Hi", he asked why I was up...  Uh, COULD IT BE THE SMALL CHILD THAT IS NEXT TO ME BABBLING AWAY??? 
At this point I am so awake that we begin to have a conversation...
H: "What are you doing tomorrow?"
M: "The laundry, food shopping, folding what I didn't do tonight, cleaning up the kitchen since the sink is overflowing with dishes, you know, my norm."  "You?"
H: "I don't know, yeah the laundry pile in our room is nuts, at least it is clean.  Do you want me to take the kids to Sunday school?"
M: "You going to be up at that time?" (of course I am thinking to myself...  If you are going to make a comment about the clean laundry that is not folded why didn't you just do it while you were watching a movie...)
H: "Sure if you wake me."
I stopped talking and went to sleep.
I came downstairs this morning at 5:30 AM watched Real Housewives of DC and then started to do the dishes.  I HATE THE DISHES.  IT IS THE ONE THING I HATE DOING IN THE HOUSE, IT ALWAYS NEED TO BE DONE.  HUBS SAYS "LEAVE IT I WILL DO IT WHEN I GET HOME", LIKE HE SAID YESTERDAY BEFORE LEAVING TO GO FINISH A JOB (he does contracting work on the side, he works really hard, it is all to benefit our family and I am very grateful). HERE IS THE THING, I LEFT THE DISHES IN THE SINK YOU KNOW, FOR HIM, WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE GOT HOME AND DIDN'T DO THEM, I THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE DONE THEM LAST NIGHT, NOPE!  MAYBE I AM OVERREACTING BUT HELLO, YOU STAYED UP UNTIL 2:30 AM WATCHING A MOVIE AND COULD NOT HAVE EMPTIED THE DISH WASHER?  YOU EVEN COMMENTED LAST NIGHT WHEN WE GOT HOME FROM DINNER HOW YOU COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY DISHES WE GO THROUGH!!!!  SO OVER COURSE I CAVE IN AND DO THEM...  GUESS WHAT I AM NOT DOING TODAY, I AM NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE PAPER TOWELS!  WE HAVE ALWAYS GONE ON THE, WHOEVER TAKES THE LAST PAPERS TOWEL, TOILET PAPER ETC. REPLACES THE ROLL!  I DIDN'T USE THE LAST PAPER TOWEL, I AM NOT GOING TO REPLACE THE ROLL!  HA, HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT HUBS!?!  WOW, I need to grow a set of balls because clearly that is going to show him.
I'll see if he replaces the roll by the time I get home from Church, I am assuming he will not be up to take the kids to Sunday school!
*Sorry to vent, needed to get that out.
  

Aloha Friday: Dress Up?

Aloha Friday with An Island Life

If you wanna play stop on over and visit An Island Life and link up! 

I am answering her question here.
Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, what are you going as?

I have not dressed up for Halloween since the year my hubs and I started dating, back in 2003 (wow, I just realized I haven't dressed up for Halloween in 7 years!!!).  However, I think this year I might go as Alice Cullen.  (I am a huge Twilight fan)  Alice Cullen is my favorite (I also love her mate Jasper Hale but I don't think I can get hubs to dress up like Jasper).  I just love her and since I died my hair very dark brown (is that even a color) and it is a little on the short side I think I might be able to pull off the hair and then I have a good excuse to go shopping for an "Alice Cullen" outfit!  I am certain that while I am out with the kids as they go trick-or-treating no one will really think that I have dressed up, but I will know that I have!

Happy Friday! 
My question for you;
Do you re-use your child's Halloween costumes for your younger kids? 

My Lack of Balls

I have no balls!  While I know there are certain areas of my life that I feel strong and confident in there is one area that I know I lack in.  I have NO BALLS!  My sister (K) has a big set, I often wish I could speak my mind like her.  I just don't, I hate confrontation and often I am so easy going that I might fall asleep because of it.  Maybe this is the reason we get along so well, we are opposites.  My hubs has a set too (of course sometimes I think they get to big, okay that sounds gross, but you know what I mean). 
I just discovered that a friend of mine has a big set as well.  She is working a local soccer tournament this weekend (she is an athletic trainer) and her hubs told her that he wanted to go to PA to go hunting.  She responded "I am working this weekend", he asked her to find someone to watch their daughter.  This next part I love; she says "you want to go hunting you can take our daughter and find someone in PA to watch her".  So he did!  I love it, I wish I would have the balls to say that to my hubs.  I would have ended up with P-nut in the Baby Bjorn and Bear running around the tournament!  She also made him pack her up.  I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall there!

What to do with those Race Bibs and Medals???

I wanted to fill you in about two giveaways that a fellow blogger is having.  Heather at Run Faster Mommy has two awesome items up.  One is a BibFolio from Gone for a Run.  So cute, you display your race bibs in a cute made for you BibFolio!  The second giveaway is from Allied Steel and it is for a medal holder, for all your "bling" you earn from races!
I so want to win the Allied Steel one!  Go check out Run Faster Mommy and tell her that Go Mommy sent you!!!  (you know, because you love me)

Share A Spoon: Apple Cake

Today I am linking up with Think Tank Mama for Share a Spoon!  This week it's all about APPLES! 

(I know I posted this recipe before but it is so yummy and it fit so enjoy)

Apple Cake

2 cups apples cubed

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9-in cake pan. Combine all ingredients until smooth (of course there will be apple chunks) and pour into prepared cake pan. Bake until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool about 10 minutes and remove from cake pan to cool completely.

Hair It Is

Okay so I didn't post pictures of my teased hair/new hair cut but...  I dyed my hair last night.  Funny story actually, my sister and I rode last night, were did we ride...  To Walgreens to buy hair dye, I felt like I was in middle school riding to the drug store to by hair dye because my mom wouldn't let me.  Anyhow here are the pictures of my new look (not the best pictures I took them myself)

(Before)

After

That Kid

I went to Bear's Preschool Back to School Time today (okay yesterday, I was working on this and didn't finish) and something that happened while I was there was a perfect tie into something I have been planning on posting.  Little background for you; Bear is a wild child, a little love bug, perfect gentleman, and future President of Animal House all in one.  I kid not friends!  One minute he will tell me "mommy, you are beautiful" and then the next he will drop his pants in the middle of his sisters birthday party and pee (we were in the backyard) and see how high of an angle he can get his pee to go.  OH YES HE DID!  He and his cousin also tried to turn himself into a mummy with toilet paper and tacky glue!  So my child is no little angel, he is however MY little man who I would wouldn't trade for the world.
Anyhow, today as I am leaving I hear a father talking to the teacher "you know my daughter keeps telling me that a little boy in her class is pushing her and steps on her fingers, she doesn't know the little boys name".  I automatically think it is Bear and I question him about it as soon as we step out the door.  He tells me that he never stepped on any one's fingers and the only girl he pushes is P-nut.  OK with that answer I believe him!
I am so that mom who thinks that my son in the cause of the problem a.k.a. "That Kid".  He is not a "bad" boy, he is an "imaginative" boy.  I say this because he is not mean, I truly believe that, he is just not that mean kid.  He is just a crazy kid.  Someone once told me that boys and girls are different in the following way; girls look at something and say "I could get hurt doing that so I will not try it" and boys look at the same thing and will say "I am going to get hurt doing that, but it is going to be FUN".  I think it is so true!  (I am sure there are some girls out there who have the view of the boys and some boys who are not that daring) 
People I work with always tell me that it is good that I am aware that my child is no angel (especially since we come across many parents who feel their child does no wrong), of course there are some people who just don't believe me when I tell them just how my son is (I guess they have only seen that sweet, well behaved side).  Then they witness his fun loving manner and look at me and say "wow, you do have your hands full".  Don't get me wrong there are plenty of times that I wish Bear would be calm and not make a spectacle out of a trip to Target, but at the same time, life would not nearly be as "fun" as it is without his little antics, call me crazy!

PINT