Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Pregnant!

SO for the next 7 months I am going to be pregnant (I've done 2 months already ~yay~). So "The Plan" has changed slightly.  
I have been sosososoosososso sick from this kid the last couple of months and have been eating what I can and anything that doesn't make me want to vomit, and those things have not necessarily been the healthiest.

Black Olives and String Cheese... nom nom.. sometimes I throw in some chips too.
 

I've had heart burn so bad that even exercising makes me want to vomit.  



High or low blood sugar, vomit. 



Dishes, also vomit.  



So the plan for the next 7 months is to keep this baby healthy! Being a diabetic and pregnant is TOUGH! 



For the last two months I've had to eat eggs for breakfast because carbohydrates in the morning kill my blood sugar for the rest of the day (eggs are stinky, vomit). 



But as the weeks have gone by things have gotten better, I've ventured to lower-ish carbed cereals (Kix, Chex, etc) with portion control and fruit, I can make it through breakfast now. YAY!  



I am however making THIS for Christmas breakfast and intend to eat a bunch of it. :)

Ramblings of a Diabetic

Yesterday I had an epiphany. Maybe it's silly that I didn't realize it sooner, but live and learn I suppose.

1. Not all diabetics think the way I do,

and

2. not all people involved in with diabetes know what they are talking about. 


1. I have always assumed that people with diabetes (type I and II) don't want to purposely give themselves glaucoma, kidney damage, nerve damage, heart and blood vessel disease, etc.  Maybe it's just me, but I happen to like my feet where they are.  The damage caused by uncontrolled diabetes doesn't manifest itself until MANY years after the individual has been diagnosed and usually does so over time.  The person may not even FEEL that they are getting sick, until it is too late.  I just assumed that it would be a no brainer to do your best at keeping sugars in control and if your best isn't good enough, to seek medical expertise until your best IS good enough.

Apparently this isn't the case.  Some diabetics just "don't get it." I once talked to a man who had a Hemoglobin A1C of 11. ELEVEN! (for minimal complications it needs to be UNDER SEVEN).  Then the other day a plumber came over to our house to fix the leaky fridge told me that he has a pump but that he doesn't like wearing it, so he doesn't wear it.  ?!?!!?!?!.  That means the $1,500+ machine that is supposed to be pumping his medication into him 24/7 isn't.  That is certainly something I don't get. 

Health vs. being annoyed by insulin distribution.  Yeah shots suck.  But in order to live suck it up and DO IT. 

2. I went in for an ultrasound yesterday and the doctor (an ULTRASOUND specialist) told me that he could take care of my diabetes for me. ... ??? What? He said "I know keeping track of everything can be really stressful, if you need us to, we can do it all for you." What is an ULTRASOUND specialist going to do? Come to my house and check my sugars every hour? Send me low carb/low sugar foods to eat and then tell me how much insulin I need to take (my pump already does that...)? Honestly.  Now that I am pregnant I check my blood sugars 15-20 times a day. I can't use two fingers on my left hand to check sugars because they have been poked so much the callouses are too thick to poke through.  I adjust my insulin according to those readings on an hourly basis... it is the ONE and only thing in my life that I COMPLETELY control (when I need help, I seek medical advice).  It really bugged me that he thought he could "take care of it".  


Anyway.. those are my ramblings. If you read it, awesome, if not, I don't blame you :)

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Venting

Okay. I think it's safe to say that I haven't posted in a while. I know. 



Give me a break. 



Holy cow! Stop freaking out!  I didn't realize you relied so heavily on my every word. 



Jeesh.



Now that I know let me at least explain myself... 



Have you ever been running through thick woods at night...? 

Like the really creepy woods, where the moonlight eerily casts corpse-like silhouettes of the trees...?

and your heart is racing
(and not the good kind of racing like when you're watching a Hugh Grant movie)?

~yowch~
.... the bad kind of racing like you're being chased by a giant 12 legged beast from the fathomless depths of the universe.... 







...IN FACT...






YOU ARE IN THESE DARK CREEPY WOODS BEING CHASED BY A 12 LEGGED BEAST FROM THE FATHOMLESS DEPTHS OF THE UNIVERSE...!!!




Well if you ever have been through that, imagine your stress level right at that moment you tripped over a tree root...

Yeah. 

That's how I feel when I stare at the thousands of post-it notes on my desktop telling me what I have "To-Do" this week. 

Their so called "cheerful" yellow makes me want to eat vomit. 




In fact, 
I would rather eat vomit than have to complete the things on said "post-it" in the miniscule amount of time my teachers, family, holidays, teachers, dr. appointments (but mostly teachers) have allotted me. 

Honestly. 

Don't they know I can't write a 17,000 word essay, do 3 curriculum reviews, 14 lame-o modules (that really have NOTHING to do with real life) 19 observations, go to a classroom for 18 hours and practice my 'newly' acquired teaching skills all in 2 weeks? and then expect me to still find time for my kids, church, BLOG, holidays, husband, bathing, basic personal hygiene, eating, sleeping, (oh and have I mentioned I'm pregnant so I'm sick all the time?) etc.



Well they should. 



Well they should. 




So that is why I haven't been posting lately. I'm sure you can imagine the relief I will feel in a couple of weeks when we have a break for the holidays :)

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Thanksgiving

I am grateful for: 

My family
  
Modern medicine

Juicy turkey

Pies that set

5 lb yams

Murder mystery games during the feast,

figuring out who the murderer was.

My home. 

Texting. 

Good friends.

Holiday theme songs that have no apparent meaning except grand silliness.


Redbox, 

Tetris,

diet Root beer,

Taco time crisp burritos 
and a husband who humors my cravings.


Dinner out with my siblings, 

early shopping with my sister, 

naps. 

Singing songs to calm down children, 

tucking in teddy bears, 

kissing my kids on the forehead. 

Adding one more to the family :) 


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Birthdays

Okay, so I didn't post ON my birthday, give me a break, I've been busy. BUT I thought I would post SOMETHING about birthday because I was not particularly looking forward to this one, and I'm really not that old. 

A little know fact about me:

I

Am

A

*Major*
Birthday

Brat.
 

           And not just in the sense that I like to throw my children elaborate birthday parties, but that I also expect my birthday party to be just as elaborate (I know, bratty right?). I just love birthdays so much!! They're a celebration of that person and that day is a day to let them know that they are loved! 

So pretty much from the dawn of my first birthday I have not so subtly hinted (starting in about August) that my birthday is coming and that YOU should ALL be PREPARED to MAKE ME FEEL SPECIAL!!! 
But for some reason this year was different. In fact, I was dreading the coming of the "Big day".  I will admit I have been lying about my age since I was about 19.  Not because I wanted to be younger, but because that's when I got married.  I didn't want people to judge me for being married so young. Then just after my 20th birthday my son came.  Then I really didn't want people to know just how young I was.  So I lied. I told everyone I was 25. That's right, 25.  Seems like a good age to be with a kid, and then two kids... But this year I turned 26. A year older than the age I lied about for so long.  So that makes me.... really... old. 

Maybe not as old as my father who will be doubling my age in November :)

However, I will have you all know that my husband and sister did an amazing job at easing me into my new found year.  
Mr. R made me laugh until I cried by getting me one of these: 

And my sister let me share the day with her beautiful one-year-old daughter. (She even got me roses, ROSES!! HOW NICE IS THAT?!?!) 

In reality 26, is not old at all, despite the new found wrinkles, and going to school with teenagers, I am 26 and fabulous. :) 

Forget Not...

Troubled waters.

Blog

So as I'm sure you know, it's been awhile since I have posted. It's not that I don't love you all for reading my posts it's just that school has literally taken over my life.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

dinner

I just made THIS for dinner. With a few adjustments. I put it in the oven at 425 for 50 min. Opted out of the second slather of cheese.  Used Gruyere and Mozzarella instead of Parmesan and Cheddar.  Added some French Onions and Parsley TA-DA!!! A deliciously "fancy" dinner for four. The kids LOVED 'em.


Monday, October 10, 2011

Reality Vs. Fiction

I used to think I would grow up to be a Prima Ballerina. With no ACTUAL pointe training, this obviously was the dream of a little girl and not a reality. So far I have grown up to be a mom (a pretty good one too), a wife, and last but not least a student.


However, I have come to the conclusion that being a student is also not reality, although the homework, time consumption, and general feeling of endlessness are in fact quite real. I have had several professors (especially this semester) act like their class is god's gift to the program and that I should be honored to be graced by their lectures.





How ever much they fuss, those professors are wrong. They are not reality. My family and home life is. My husbands love, the smell of my daughters hair, the kindergarten milestones of my son, cooking my favorite meals in my kitchen, chatting on the phone with my sister, finding love notes on my bathroom mirror, going to a friends bridal shower, prepping for Christmas, making Halloween costumes, are all reality and will take precedence over a class. I will be responsible for the lectures I may miss and I will (and do) get good  grades, after all I do pay to go to class.... and probably my professors salary.

Monday, October 3, 2011

My favorite Relief Society talk.

This was my favorite talk at the General Relief Society meeting.  For now I will just post the talk.  I would like to add my thoughts to it a bit later (as it's getting pretty late and I still haven't showered).  

 

Forget Me Not

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency


Dieter F. Uchtdorf
It is my prayer and blessing that you will never forget that you are truly precious daughters in God’s kingdom.
My dear sisters, what a joy it is to be with you today. I always look forward to this annual general Relief Society meeting and the excellent messages given here. Thank you, sisters. It is a precious honor for me to be assigned by President Thomas S. Monson to speak today and to add a few thoughts addressing the sisters of the Church.
A while ago I was walking through a beautiful garden with my wife and daughter. I marveled at the glory and beauty of God’s creation. And then I noticed, among all the glorious blooms, the tiniest flower. I knew the name of this flower because since I was a child I have had a tender connection to it. The flower is called forget-me-not.
I’m not exactly sure why this tiny flower has meant so much to me over the years. It does not attract immediate attention; it is easy to overlook among larger and more vibrant flowers; yet it is just as beautiful, with its rich color that mirrors that of the bluest skies—perhaps this is one reason why I like it so much.
And there is the haunting plea of its name. There is a German legend that just as God had finished naming all the plants, one was left unnamed. A tiny voice spoke out, “Forget me not, O Lord!” And God replied that this would be its name.
Tonight I would like to use this little flower as a metaphor. The five petals of the little forget-me-not flower prompt me to consider five things we would be wise never to forget.

First, forget not to be patient with yourself.

I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way: God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.
Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not.
And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does.
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
It’s wonderful that you have strengths.
And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses.
God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths,1 but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect,2 and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s OK that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.
Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.
In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him. If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life’s sweetest experiences.
For example, insisting that you have a picture-perfect family home evening each week—even though doing so makes you and everyone around you miserable—may not be the best choice. Instead, ask yourself, “What could we do as a family that would be enjoyable and spiritual and bring us closer together?” That family home evening—though it may be modest in scope and execution—may have far more positive long-term results.
Our journey toward perfection is long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tiniest steps in that journey.

Second, forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.

An acceptable sacrifice is when we give up something good for something of far greater worth.
Giving up a little sleep to help a child who is having a nightmare is a good sacrifice. We all know this. Staying up all night, jeopardizing our own health, to make the perfect accessory for a daughter’s Sunday outfit may not be such a good sacrifice.
Dedicating some of our time to studying the scriptures or preparing to teach a lesson is a good sacrifice. Spending many hours stitching the title of the lesson into homemade pot holders for each member of your class perhaps may not be.
Every person and situation is different, and a good sacrifice in one instance might be a foolish sacrifice in another.
How can we tell the difference for our own situation? We can ask ourselves, “Am I committing my time and energies to the things that matter most?” There are so many good things to do, but we can’t do all of them. Our Heavenly Father is most pleased when we sacrifice something good for something far greater with an eternal perspective. Sometimes, that may even mean nurturing small but beautiful forget-me-not flowers instead of a large garden of exotic blooms.

Third, forget not to be happy now.

In the beloved children’s story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the mysterious candy maker Willy Wonka hides a golden ticket in five of his candy bars and announces that whoever finds one of the tickets wins a tour of his factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate.
Written on each golden ticket is this message: “Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket … ! Tremendous things are in store for you! Many wonderful surprises await you! … Mystic and marvelous surprises … will … delight, … astonish, and perplex you.”3
In this classic children’s story, people all over the world desperately yearn to find a golden ticket. Some feel that their entire future happiness depends on whether or not a golden ticket falls into their hands. In their anxiousness, people begin to forget the simple joy they used to find in a candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter disappointment if it does not contain a golden ticket.
So many people today are waiting for their own golden ticket—the ticket that they believe holds the key to the happiness they have always dreamed about. For some, the golden ticket may be a perfect marriage; for others, a magazine-cover home or perhaps freedom from stress or worry.
There is nothing wrong with righteous yearnings—we hope and seek after things that are “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.”4 The problem comes when we put our happiness on hold as we wait for some future event—our golden ticket—to appear.
One woman wanted more than anything else to marry a righteous priesthood holder in the temple and be a mother and a wife. She had dreamed about this all her life, and oh, what a wonderful mother and loving wife she would be. Her home would be filled with loving-kindness. Never a bitter word would be spoken. The food would never burn. And her children, instead of hanging out with their friends, would prefer to spend their evenings and weekends with Mom and Dad.
This was her golden ticket. It was the one thing upon which she felt her whole existence depended. It was the one thing in all the world for which she most desperately yearned.
But it never happened. And, as the years went on, she became more and more withdrawn, bitter, and even angry. She could not understand why God would not grant her this righteous desire.
She worked as an elementary school teacher, and being around children all day long simply reminded her that her golden ticket had never appeared. As the years passed she became more disappointed and withdrawn. People didn’t like being around her and avoided her whenever they could. She even took her frustration out on the children at school. She found herself losing her temper, and she swung between fits of anger and desperate loneliness.
The tragedy of this story is that this dear woman, in all her disappointment about her golden ticket, failed to notice the blessings she did have. She did not have children in her home, but she was surrounded by them in her classroom. She was not blessed with a family, but the Lord had given her an opportunity few people have—the chance to influence for good the lives of hundreds of children and families as a teacher.
The lesson here is that if we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.
This is not to say that we should abandon hope or temper our goals. Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life.
The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy.

Fourth, forget not the “why” of the gospel.

Sometimes, in the routine of our lives, we unintentionally overlook a vital aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ, much as one might overlook a beautiful, delicate forget-me-not. In our diligent efforts to fulfill all of the duties and obligations we take on as members of the Church, we sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks that we must add to our already impossibly long to-do list, as a block of time that we must somehow fit into our busy schedules. We focus on what the Lord wants us to do and how we might do it, but we sometimes forget why.
My dear sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ is not an obligation; it is a pathway, marked by our loving Father in Heaven, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come. The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us.
While understanding the “what” and the “how” of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the “why.” When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight. It becomes precious and sweet.
Let us not walk the path of discipleship with our eyes on the ground, thinking only of the tasks and obligations before us. Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us.
My dear sisters, seek out the majesty, the beauty, and the exhilarating joy of the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The “what” and “how” of obedience mark the way and keep us on the right path. The “why” of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming the mundane into the majestic. It magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration.

Fifth, forget not that the Lord loves you.

As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I sometimes felt a little like that flower—small and insignificant. I wondered if I would be forgotten by my family or by my Heavenly Father.
Years later I can look back on that young boy with tenderness and compassion. And I do know now—I was never forgotten.
And I know something else: as an Apostle of our Master, Jesus Christ, I proclaim with all the certainty and conviction of my heart—neither are you!
You are not forgotten.
Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.
Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!
He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name—you are the daughters of His kingdom. The Psalmist wrote:
“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? …
“For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.”5
God loves you because you are His child. He loves you even though at times you may feel lonely or make mistakes.
The love of God and the power of the restored gospel are redemptive and saving. If you will only allow His divine love into your life, it can dress any wound, heal any hurt, and soften any sorrow.
My dear Relief Society sisters, you are closer to heaven than you suppose. You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine. Continue to increase in faith and personal righteousness. Accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as your way of life. Cherish the gift of activity in this great and true Church. Treasure the gift of service in the blessed organization of Relief Society. Continue to strengthen homes and families. Continue to seek out and help others who need your and the Lord’s help.
Sisters, there is something inspiring and sublime about the little forget-me-not flower. I hope it will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet. Please never forget that you must be patient and compassionate with yourselves, that some sacrifices are better than others, that you need not wait for a golden ticket to be happy. Please never forget that the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inspire and uplift you. And never forget that your Heavenly Father knows, loves, and cherishes you.
Thank you for who you are. Thank you for the countless acts of love and service you offer up to so many. Thank you for all that you will yet do to bring the joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ to families, to the Church, to your communities, and to the nations of the world.
Sisters, we love you. It is my prayer and blessing that you will never forget that you are truly precious daughters in God’s kingdom, in the sacred name of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.


Random

I kind of love this blog. 

 Weighing the Options… 
Fine, you win this one Elaine. This iron chain is heavier than air.

3 things...

I make good pie.
I made some awesome fall decorations (thank you past me).
The future me is always thanking the past me for doing awesome stuff.


Today

Ate pie today.
Lot's of pie.
I kind of loved it.
I kind of wish I hadn't.

But I like pie,
and it was good.


http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-pie-by-grandma-ople/detail.aspx


Saturday, September 24, 2011

SO as you all know I started Weight Watchers again. ~yay~ THIS time I am doing it a little more CAREFULLY. My goal weight isn't ridiculous and I don't intend to be a size eight. I give myself a little more freedom so I don't feel deprived. SO FAR, I have lost 8lbs. I know, not a lot, but I can tell you that my blood sugars have been significantly better :)

I posted some new Diabetic Friendly recipes, go check them out. I am trying to make a bunch of frozen dinners for my family so we quit going out for pizza, throwing noodles in a pot, and staring blankly into the fridge for something to eat. I also had the GOOD FORTUNE of getting a FREE deep freezer from a friend who was moving (Thanks RACHEL!!) and I have taken it upon myself to make DINNER TIME EASIER for my family when I am not home (see, I can be a good mom, even if I'm not around). 


 
This Weeks Adventure:

The girl got a new bed. A lovely bed with drawers.  
It needed a mattress so I bought (what I thought) a mattress for her at Sears. 
When it came, it was not a mattress. 
It was just box springs. 
and 
it was too big for her bed. 


Turns out the bed was built for a BUNK BED sized mattress (3 inches SMALLER) then a REAL TWIN BED. 

LUCKY US
The boy's mattress fit HER bed and the new box spring fit HIS bed.
BUT
we are still one mattress short.
SO we went to the mattress store. 
and 
bought a REGULAR TWIN SIZED mattress for the boy. 
Problem solved. 




In the parking lot of The Mattress Store Mr. R and I revved our motors and giggled 
(we took 2 cars, one for the kids, one for the mattress).










So we did a bit of research and basically ended up spending $300 on a new bed for the boy. 
Ew. Ew. Ew. 
This bed better last him the rest of his life. HIS LIFE.  





Also Mr. R wrote this note on our mirror the other day and it made me feel super good. 
I laughed. 

Laughing sure helps with the stress :) 

I love my family.

ALSO Today is the Relief Society General Conference session. It is so uplifting and I always leave with a smile!! :) YOU should check it out!!


Friday, September 16, 2011

My husand.

This is going to be a bit sappy, and short too. But I'm sure you won't mind :)

Pretty much this week has been beyond beyonding kinds of stressful. Between studying for tests, going to meetings, V cutting M's hair, Kindergarten homework (who knew kindergartners had so much homework), and regular mom business, Mr. R has been amazing.

He brought home flowers the moment he knew I was freaking out about my week, and they have been a lovely reminder of how much he loves every time I look at them.

He also discovered the white board marker that has been sitting on the bathroom counter and been leaving me silly/cute notes on the mirror next to my vocabulary words.

He has dropped off and picked up kids when I have been to burnt out to go on with my day.

He's dropped off and picked up ME after my 6:30 class.

Pretty much I love this dude. He has totally made my life a bit easier.

Thank you Mr. R. :)

3 things...

I passed 2 test in one day :)
I figured out that studying with a whiteboard marker on my mirror is awesome.
Pretty much I love the new blue feathers in my hair :)

Monday, September 5, 2011

Someone else's giveaways

http://www.thedatingdivas.com/giveaways/novae-clothing/comment-page-2/#comment-17386

http://www.thedatingdivas.com/giveaways/hapari-swimwear-rocks/

I am posting someone else's giveaway because I want to enter the giveaway :) 

Friday, September 2, 2011

5 Other things You Might be Doing That are Making Your Life Suck.

Today while wasting time catching up with friends on Facebook I was directed to THIS website. Pretty much it embodies how I feel about life. My FAVORITE post was her most recent one entitled

9 Things You Might be Doing That are Making Your Life Suck.

Number 3 seems to be my biggest deal lately... there's nothing like a "delete friend" session Facebook to make your life a little less sucky. 

It has actually inspired me to add a few things to her list. SO here is MY list. 

  5 Other Things You Might be Doing That are Making Your Life Suck:  

1.  Spending More Hours on in Front of a Screen than in Reality.  

I once took a survey where it asked me how much time I spent in front of the TV. I circled 2-4 hours a day. I lied. I LOVE TV. I have a huge problem with Hulu and Netflix.  We don't have cable or satellite for the very reason that I just don't have the self control to turn the stupid thing OFF.  I can waist countless hours in front of nighttime television and sitcoms. In fact I can get into "The Zone" in front of several shows that I don't even like. Being in said "Zone" will make me grumpy and when mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

SO My advice for you is, if you're life sucks TURN OFF YOUR SCREENS!!! Computer, TV, iPod, Smartphone, tablets, etc. Do it for a day, do it for a WHOLE WEEK. Read a REAL book, with pages that TURN. You'll be AMAZED at how much time you have.

2. Texting your Life Away. 

This actually may be a lot like #1 but isn't it nicer to hear someones voice than to always be getting a text from them? Be more personal. CALL the person you're trying to contact. STOP WAITING FOR THEM TO TEXT BACK and ask them that simple question you have and let them answer you. 

3. Allowing yourself to hate you. 

 You are amazing, and you know it. Keep telling yourself 3 things a day that you like about YOU. You are the only YOU in this whole world. Being "normal" is AMAZING!!! No matter what you're going through right now, it could always be worse, in fact, someone out there DOES have it worse.  

4. Stop blaming yourself.   

Sometimes there really isn't anything you can do.

5. (I am piggy backing on Andrea Owen's #3) Trying to Please Everyone. 

You can't. Your grandma will always think that you shouldn't eat that cookie, your kids will always point out that zit you were trying to hide, and you might not be able to always come up with a third thing in a list.  You're not perfect, stop trying to make everyone else think that you are. 

I AM NOT PERFECT. I never claimed to be. I have ONE BILLION things I am working on one at a time. I can say however that I KNOW when I am doing what is right then I am happy. 

3 things...

I am a fabulous mother.
I am great at getting things organized for school.
I have lost 4 lbs!! :)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Finished it!

Now all I have to do is wait for fall. I am so done with Summer. 


Dang, I look good. :)

Monday, August 22, 2011

3 things...

I am great at scheduling things.
I am very punctual.
My new Jeans look amazing on me.

Zucchini Boats

Ingredients

  • 1 large zucchini, cut in half lengthwise
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef sirloin
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 
  • 1/4 cup grated carrot
  • 1/2 cup low fat mozzarella cheese
  • 1 (26.5 ounce) can spaghetti sauce, divided

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Scoop out and discard zucchini seeds, leaving the hollowed-out shells. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. add ground beef, Italian seasoning, basil and 1/2 the red sauce.
  3. Stuff the zucchini halves with the meat mixture, and place them into a baking dish. Allow sauce to drip down the sides of the zucchini boats. Cover dish with tinfoil.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven until the zucchini are tender, about 30 minutes. Remove foil then sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the zucchini, and return to oven until the cheese melts, about 5 more minutes. Heat the remaining spaghetti sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat while the zucchini boats are cooking. Serve the zucchini boats with the additional sauce on the side.

PROJECTS!! :D

It seems like right before school starts I force myself to finish the unfinished projects that are stashed away and I start some new ones because I know I won't have any time to do it later.

After completely failing at an attempt for a skirt, I started THIS project because I am good at crocheting, and hey I think it's cute.

Sure I might look like a dork in it, but i twill keep my head warm and I am sure SOMEONE out there will think it's cute. :)

I have also started gathering the pieces for the children's Halloween costumes. I will have an Ash Ketchum this year. Simple enough.  No real "costume" needed just a red trucker hat and a blue vest with some jeans. I am also making some felt Pokeballs :) Yeah. He's going to rock.


AND Little miss wants to be Strawberry shortcake. A little more complicated than the Pokemon trainer, but still not exactly a "costume" I found a pink striped shirt at Old Navy that I think will be just perfect, and a couple of ribbons with a straw hat that was free (YAY!) She will look so cute.

I have found that having projects helps me to stay busy and happy. Being bored can lead to some self-destructive things.... for instance remember my blog about OREOS?!?! Well I haven't done that in a while and I think it's because I've been busy!! YAY!!







School shopping 
Trips to IKEA
family day
Halloween costumes
silly hat beanie
failed skirt 
Weight Watchers
sister visiting
Girls Night In party


Yeah, I would say that is a pretty satisfying list of "to dos" I mean honestly when school starts I highly doubt I will have time for much more than my sweet sweet children.  Hopefully I don't lose sight of my self-worth in the madness of it all :)

Friday, August 19, 2011

Family DAY

Today is going to be a family day!!
We're taking the kids out to lunch and to a movie (Kung-Fu Panda II).
It should be interesting.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Service

One good way to feel good about yourself is to get off your derriere and do something for someone else. Not the regular make dinner, do dishes, vacuum rooms, stuff that mom's always get to do. That can  sometimes feel like slave work not service (even though it is...). 


This week I my neighbor had her baby! YAY!! A little bit too early, he wasn't quite done cooking. So between trips back and forth to the hospital we were able to provide a bit of service for her cute family!



Tonight I am hosting a "Girls Night In" where we will be doing our nails and eating tasty treats! What a great service it is to get together with friends and have conversations with adults!




I also found this WONDERFUL blog The Dating Divas and have remembered how important it is to serve the people we love the most! I have plans to make THIS for my sweet husband and it makes me feel really good just thinking about all of the things I love about him. 

There are all sorts of things we can do for other people! I'm sure you've heard that sometimes people put others people down to make them feel better about themselves, but what about doing the opposite!? Do something AMAZING and NICE for someone else to make you feel better about YOURSELF. Doing a bit of service is good for the soul. 

GO AND SERVE!!! :)

Thursday, August 11, 2011

3 things...

It has been a long time since I have done a "3 things..." post and I can tell you that I have been slacking about doing it everyday. It really does make a difference to say nice things about myself (even if it is embarrassing).

I am a good mom.  (the new chore charts are a dream)
I have said this before, but I have some really amazing hair.
I am good at doing laundry (and I LIKE it :)