mmmm, can you smell it?

Nope --- not the manicotti in the oven. Or the coffee in my cup. And I wish it was cookies baking in the oven. Instead, it is the GLORIOUS smell of fresh school supplies. Is there anything more exciting than opening and organizing new school supplies. For as long as I can remember I have loved school supplies and the anticipation of getting new ones for a new school year sends adrenaline rushing through my veins. (and really makes me miss my old job, wah!)

Back in the day (going WAY BACK), my Mom used to pre-order our supply bundles and we would head to Fasullo's local drug store/pharmacy to pick it up a few days before school. I would rip that bundle apart as fast as I could to write my name on the fresh, clean goodness of notebooks, folders, and crayons. Oh yes, you know there is NOTHING quite like the clean aroma of a new box crayons.

Crayons, colors, 'crowns', however you say....they smell good!

Over a matter of days, I would organize, re-organize, pack and unpack my backpack in with pure delight.

When we lived in California, it seemed like school had just ended when Target put out the massive quanities of supplies. And then put them on sale. I was literally scooping up supplies within a month of school letting out. So, I had to keep the supplies hidden for about seven weeks before the kids could enjoy the adrenaline rush. Let's face it, there would NOT be any adrenaline if they had to even think about supplies at that point anyway. I hid them because I didn't even want to think about school either.

So today, I ventured out WITH a list and much to my dismay not one box of crayons was on the list! (Ian is getting a supply pack like I used to so I was only shopping for three.)  Not that we need any because we have plenty, but really? Nine binders, loads of dividers, and several composition books later my fingers were itching for something Crayola. I did wind up with two pack of colored pencils because we can never have enough of those but the list was void of Crayola requests. Gone are the days of crayons, markers, colored pencils by the basket full. Now it is mostly reams of college ruled paper along with notebooks, binders, and a couple folders. Binders are $$$$ and I am sad to know they won't likely last the year. We got a few other key things like pencils, pens, highlighters, and erasers, but it's not the same.

 

Maggie, Sean, and Amanda quickly organized and labeled their stuff but they are not quite ready to head back to the classroom just yet.

I will hold out hope that Ian will have some crayons in his supply pack. He will have the opportunity to rip it open, organize it, label it, and enjoy the scent of the fresh box of crayons. And if he doesn't, I might just have to buy a new box for .25 on sale and hid it in a Ziploc to savor the scent a little longer. (and be super sad that they don't need them in 4th grade)

My babies are getting older and their supplies are evolving as well, it doesn't mean I can't relive my childhood a little.

Another month/ another meal plan

July has been a wash so far with meal planning because we were on the go so much. However, now we are home for the long haul. People ask me all the time - how do you have time? why bother? So I will try to respond without sounding holier-than-though. Nothing is perfect but this system works pretty well for us.

1) How do I have time? --It really doesn't take much time at all. I only have to think about what to make for dinner 12 times a year. Isn't that surreal. It is a huge relief to pull out what needs to be thawed the day before and just have it in the fridge ready to go. No more daily hustle of trying to figure out dinner and ending up with pizza or fast food. Yesterday when we were just chilling I pulled out the folder of old menus; drew out a calendar on paper; and started asking 'dinner request?'. Usually I get several answers from each family member and then I start filling in the blanks from old menus. I try not to repeat things within the same month so when someone complains "spaghetti again?" I can respond with "we really on have it 12 times a year so hush :)"

2) Meal planning helps us stay on budget.  We spend a lot of money on food. Let me say that again, we spend A LOT of money on food but I shop sales, use coupons, and buy in bulk when it makes sense. For example, I bulk flax seed meal, brown sugar, nuts, couscous, etc. from the bulk bins at Sprouts. I buy smaller amounts than pre-packaged and it stays fresher because it all goes in a sealed container at home. I am also only buying what I'm going to use so there isn't a question about how long something has been hiding in the pantry because there isn't much extra in there. Of course, it has the essential snack, school lunch, extra items from a Costco run, but the core for cooking gets used. There is no random filling of the grocery cart; I buy what I need steering away from pre-packaged stuff. (here are some other specifics from an old post)

3) Meal planning reduces the amount of fast food we eat and keeps dining out to a minimum. If there is a plan, I/we have no excuse. Fast food and eating out are insanely expensive and terrible for you. Recently I have been noticing how SALTY food tastes when we eat 'convenience' foods. All of the traveling recently just reiterated how much I love when we have a meal plan and that I am helping my family stay healthy.

4) Meal planning is teaching my kids that eating a variety of foods is good for you. I would have never dreamed they would like mashed cauliflower, sautéed yellow squash, or polenta. They have come a LONG way and after years of exposing them to variety they will eat what I cook. They don't like sautéed spinach but I serve them a tablespoon full and still expect them to try it; they never know when their taste buds will change. I'm hoping one day they will thank me, but I'm not holding my breath.

So that brings me to the current plan --- end of July until August 17; I included my random notes about ingredients and meat so I can see what I have in the freezer or leftover.
22nd - baked chicken, stmd. broccoli, fruit salad
23rd - manicotti (ricotta, spinach, prosciutto, parm), salad
24th - tacos (ground turkey), black beans
25th - chicken pot pie (using leftover chicken from 22nd), melon & berries
26th - swiss steak (top round) with onion & bell pepp, mashed potato
27th - grilled red snapper, mashed cauliflower, asparagus
28th - parm.-lemon mahi mahi, sautéed grn beans, garlic mashed potatoes
29th - baked ziti with Italian sausage, sautéed eggplant
30th - chicken cordon bleu, creamy polenta, salad
31st - meatloaf (beef/turkey), green peas, baked mac n' cheese
Aug. 1 - chicken stir-fry, homemade fried rice
2nd - chicken quesadillas, refried beans
3rd - grilled fish (check sales), baked sweet potato, sautéed spinach
4th  - spaghetti with turkey meatballs, salad
5th - tuna melts, fruit salad
6th - chicken enchiladas, Mexican rice
7th - Boboli (make our own pizza), ceasar salad
8th - sausage sandwiches, sautéed yellow squash, cantaloupe
9th - chef salad, fruit
10th - rib-eye steak (freezer), Ranch red potatoes, creamed corn
11th - bbq pork butt (freezer), stmd. carrots & brocc., watermelon
12th  - red beans & rice, French bread, salad
13th - carnitas tacos (leftover from 11th), corn salsa
14th - tuna patties, wwht pasta salad, fruit
15th - sloppy joes, salad
16th - crusted tilapia, risotto, green beans
17th - hot dogs, fruit salad 

Some days are healthier than others; but overall I'm good with it. Home cooking is still better than most anything I can buy. I say 'most anything' because homemade French fries still don't hold a candle to McDonald's fries.

Off to prep the chicken for the oven............Happy Eating!

I got nothin'

I am out of gas. Six road trips since the beginning of April....includes moving across the country. Trying to make life fun on a budget. Minimal hotel stays on our trips because we stay with friends and family. And apparently I am still failing.

I am tired. Tired of trying to make ends meet. I am not a spend-thrift by any means. I meal-plan and shop for what we eat. I can't afford Nordstrom's; I usually get my kids clothes at Kohl's (on sale with a coupon), Old Navy on sale, or Target. How do people do it? I will be applying for another merchandising job to see if I can add another penny to the pot.

I am a grumpy mess. Still running on this hamster wheel of life. I am trying to be quiet and drown myself in housework but it's not working. I wish I were prepping my classroom for VBS like I have for the last 8 years or so but that's a distant memory now. :(

So for today, I have nothing. Nothing fun to blog about. I try to keep the blog as a journal overall so today I log a post about the days that are stressful, mundane, and depressing. Have a great week to all of our friends at Good Shepherd VBS.

All good things must come to an end

Our Ohio vacation is nearing it's end....a visit to Grandma's house always involves lots of time visiting with family, fishing, swimming, and go-cart riding.

And for the past 15yrs, it includes a trek up to Cedar Point if it happens to be a summer visit. We have seen the childrens' area evolve from Berenstein Bear country to Camp Snoopy over the years. And this trip has proven to be bittersweet. I think this is the last time that we will need to visit Camp Snoopy

 

because Ian is the caboose on the family train. While the old coal train is mostly my speed, the kids are all venturing on to bigger (and scarier) things.  Although Ian and I did bail on the GateKeeper at the last minute Even though I didn't make my 9yr old ride the insanely intimidating GateKeeper, he did ride the Raptor. He may have panicked on the way up the click-clacking-climb-of-death, but he admitted that he loved it. I told him that if he paid attention, I did my fair share of screaming and that the Raptor is my LIMIT. There was no GateKeeper,  Millenium Force, Gemini, Wicked Twister, Maverick or the like going to happen for me. He was very happy about that and was pleased to spend his time in Camp Snoopy while adding the Iron Dragon to his risk taking ventures. The 'big' kids are independent, brave, and coaster crazy. Maggie was highly disappointed by the fact that the Dragster broke down. Where have my babies gone? The time flew faster than a speeding coaster.


Yesterday, I ventured over to the Ohio State Reformatory with my sister-in-law and two oldest nieces. It was built in 1886. It looks like a majestic castle.

It is also the sight of where several movies and music videos have been filmed. Specifically, one of my all time favorites - Shawshank Redemption. The Reformatory itself was amazing; yet creepy. To think that 1,000s of prisoners, guards, wardens (and their families) lived here was unbelievable.

The temperature was hot and it was very icky, sticky in there. Contrast that to the bitter cold winters and this place must have been wicked. The ceilings are brick and the walls are THICK.

The 7x9 cells (for two people) were TINY. It is said that many parts of the place are haunted and I can tell you when I wandered away from the family to grab this picture, you better believe I quickly walked ran back to the area where the family was. It's the Shawshank safe!!! So cool.

But THIS gave me goosebumps.....

I know......it's a movie prop. And they had Andy's escape tunnel too. But in this setting with the REAL jail all around, it was awesome. We had a really nice time and it was topped off by a grown-up dinner at Olive Garden. Sarah and Ann head to college soon; Sarah- a junior at College of Wooster who will soon be doing a semester in Russia! and Ann - a freshman at Dartmouth. Gone are their years at Camp Snoopy too.

 

Today we made our traditional visit to Downtown Mansfield for a ride on the historic carousel and a meal at Coney Island Diner.

They may get older, more independent and sillier but I'm hoping that there are some things they will never outgrow. Good times with family never come to an end.

 

If you can't bet 'em, join 'em :)

Aaaaahhhhh, vacation in Ohio. It's really green.

And it's unusually cool too. Slight breeze and not much humidity. This year the farmer's field is soybeans and not corn so we have a really good view of the deer that come out to graze daily.

 

I've been fishing in the neighbor's pond with the boys and caught a bass :)

They are liking the fireflies too. Now, they are anxiously waiting for the grass to dry out some more so they can enjoy Grandma's go-cart without destroying the grass.

 

We went to a rib fest (small town rib fest but nevertheless delicious) and tonight we are probably going to hit the drive-in. Because there isn't much to do in small town Ohio. Except relax. And be on your computers.....

Sarah is working on her internship writing; Annie is wondering where her tranquilty went and where all these crazy cousins appeared from; and Kim is exploring all of the options for the most cost efficient way to get us to Cedar Point.

 

Really? I have to get in the car for an hour ride to a crowded amusement park in the heart of summer. Yes, I do - because we can't wait to hear "enjoy your ride at Cedar Point, America's Roller Coast" one more time. I can't promise that I'll attempt the Dragster

but I might be brave enough for the GateKeeper.

Keyword: might......don't count on it.

 

Maybe I need to go with what Sean says all the time, YOLO! Or, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

 

On the road again......

How is it possible that I haven't blogged yet in July? Well, I've been busy. Busier than usual. You know, summer busy that involves juggling kid schedules/ working your part-time job/ and keeping them from getting too booooorrrreeeed. We had friends visit near the end of June and then shortly thereafter we hit the road to New Orleans. We spent the 4th of July weekend with tons of friends (and some family visiting too). If someone had told me last 4th of July that I would be spending 2013's celebration in a campground in Covington, LA with my best friend and her family I would have told you that the notion was impossible. I'm learning nothing is impossible. We shared lots of laughter; enjoyed plenty of food; cooled off in the waters of a Bouga Falaya tributary; and loved every minute. Golf cart ride anyone?

Now that Maggie is finishing off her summer testing, we are heading toward family in Mansfield, Ohio. Yep, another road trip. Just me, four kids and the dog.....oil change, check; tire pressure, check; wash and detail, check; full gas tank, check. There is more laughter to share; food to enjoy; and cool waters of Grandma's pool -- along with cousins to hang with; a pond to fish in; and go-cart rides. So while affording a trip to Hawaii or the like is impossible at this point (much to the kids dismay), vacations and memory-making are possible.

Praying for safe travels as we add three more states to the ones we have navigated --- adding Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky. First Stop - Jackson, TN here we come

TX Camping -the New Braunfels edition

Or maybe I should call it 'the camping trip that almost wasn't.'

 Last Friday, we packed up the trusty Suburban and headed south five hours to New Braunfels. First stop Mountain Breeze Campground....."um, no -we don't have a reservation; the guy on the phone told us "first come, first served." And you don't take dogs???? There is a dog on your LOGO!" Oh crap. Things got tense as we discovered that dogs aren't allowed as a general rule. (GAH.....we have no problem boarding him or getting a dog sitter had we known.) So we decided that we would check every single area as we drove back toward town with a hotel stay as a last resort.

Rocky Beach had a spot! (time noted: 6pm) They made it clear that about 1000 people would be loading into the river steps from our spot but we were low on options so we simply said yes. Employees strolled by and saw the dog and the first thing we unloaded and tied up was Fritz. We didn't hide him. We unloaded everything in the HOT buggy camping spot and started assembling tents. THEN, the lady comes over and says "oh, you have a dog? we don't allow dogs. You have to leave; we will give you a refund." Did you feel the earth stop spinning????????? Collin had to turn around and decompress before he went postal; I stood there frozen with the tent poles; the kids were SILENT; somewhere an explosion happened because somehow we handled it calmly and simply started tossing things back in the Suburban as Collin started tying gear back onto the luggage rack. What a blessing in disguise.

Two miles down we stopped at a Mom&Pop campground that had a dog sitting out on the grass. So we were hopeful. Collin went in to ask about sites available and quickly came out to converse with a guy on the porch. I could read the man's lips...."let me see him." He wanted to meet Fritz. Before he even got to pet him, the guy saw Fritz's sweet face and how anxious Fritz was to give him some luvin' and he said "come on in." We set up camp 50yds. from the general store, Koozies bar with bands each night, beach volleyball, and horseshoes. We were able to rent our toobs (spelled correctly) from them and they shuttled us up to the drop off. The friendly couple had just bought it a year ago; re-did the camp sites and upgraded the grounds. They were the nicest people and the staff was super friendly too. So, by 8:30pm, we were set to chill. At a site that was a lot cooler and LESS buggy than Rocky Beach. With fireflies = awesome.

We did away with cell phones and time. Who knew what time it was? We enjoyed hot dogs, smores, eggs, sausage, toast, burgers, and more smores. ('the evolution of the toasting marshmallows' post coming soon). We went through a jar of peanut butter in less than 24hrs. And it was all good. Warm, but good. As rustic as I get - insert porta-potties and no showers. Immaculate porta-potties with sanitizer so it wasn't terrible. And at least we had the river for tubing; it's sorta like a shower, right? Brushing your teeth using a cup of water, no problem.

Tubing was fine. The water was cold yet refreshing and I managed to carry my camera double-bagged in a Ziploc and grocery bag so I was able to get some nice pictures. The scenery was beautiful. I got stuck on rocks a bunch and the crowd was younger than we had hoped (smoking, bad language, ridiculous music) but we took it in stride and had fun.

Amanda's quote of the weekend was "I need band-aids, aloe, and OFF." And that about sums it up. Camping in Texas does involve wearing OFF but I won't complain because anytime I wake myself up snoring in a hammock it is a good day!

Ol' River Hideaway will see us again :)

(.....will post pics soon......having issues with uploading from the camera/ desktop is in the shop)

ONLY for my son!

We got the news........Ian has been drafted to the Dallas Cowboys for his football team. REALLY?!? While most parents would be thrilled with this, especially since we live in Cowboy country and could have overlapping fan wear/gear/bling, but I am not one of those people. I AM NOT a Cowboys fan. Never have been. It could have been ANY other team (besides the Atlanta Falcons) in the entire National Football League and I would have been ok with it.

So for this season, I will be sporting a Cowboys visor or hat......the cheapest I can find on clearance......and solid navy, white or gray shirts this season. I even have a gray sweatshirt with a navy football on the front that will work :)

For my SON's sake, I say GO COWBOYS

 

I had a plan......then I found out that he will stay with this team until he goes to middle school. HUH??? Oh geez, and I thought typing this post was giving me hives. It's gonna be a long road.

Sure, why not?

For several years, we joined a large group of friends and headed to Santa Barbara to El Capitan Canyon for Father's Day camping. I called it 'Beverly Hills' camping because you could choose between a cabin (with a kitchenette and private bathroom) or a safari tent. Both came with maid service. Not kidding. If you left and went to the beach or out hiking, they would come while you were out and make your bed, sweep the floor, and tidy up. They also had spa services; they would even come to your tent/cabin for the message. It was a great introduction to camping as a family because the area is beautiful and being with a large group the kids were easily entertained. We haven't done that since 2009.

We have done real tent camping up in Bass Lake, CA and we did an RV trek to the Kern River a couple of years ago. So, Collin expressed some interest in camping/tubing this weekend. It sounded good but we never made any plans one way or another. Until last night at 8:30pm; as in, 12 hours ago. The kids are baffled. Really? Camping? Tubing? On a river? TOMORROW?

Tomorrow is now today and the mad dash is on. I've got the lists rolling and am heading out to the grocery store in a few to get the essentials (ya know, graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate!) and to gas up the trusty Suburban. We hope to hit the road before noon with Fritz in tow because he is always up for an adventure that involves chasing the kids and water.

We plan to go tubing on the Guadalupe River

and have some chill time.

 

Armed with sunscreen, OFF, and Citronella candles we'll see what camping in South Texas is all about. Sometimes you just have to say 'sure, why not?'.

 

Taking it in stride

SUMMER IS HERE!

Well, sorta.

Two of my kids have summer session tutorial and one has a strength & conditioning camp (bet you can guess who that is!) so there is no sleeping-in happening for me. And the schedule is dumb -- drop-off 8am, drop-off 8:30am, drop-off 10am, pick-up 10:30am, pick-up 11am, pick-up 11:30am. See, dumb! BUT I'm trying to take it all in stride because it is not for very long and we have most of the day to do something. Except, it is HOT; really HOT already. Supposed to be 97 today with a heat index of 100. Beyond the pool I am out of ideas because funds are tight.

This past weekend we met some really nice neighbors. There was food, drinks, and lots of sports smack talk so hopefully we will get invited back. It is nice to feel like I know somebody just a few doors down and Ian has multiple playmates at his fingertips. Just yesterday he had two buddies join him for some fishing. Oh - speaking of buddies......Sean is quite the social butterfly. I keep reminding myself that him being here with his friends is a good thing but Saturday night they tp'd Maggie's room while she slept and last night they pt'd Ian's room. It is hilarious harmless fun and he is making good choices overall but young teenage boys are like a litter of puppies.....they are rough and tumble; they eat a lot; and they are loud. I am grateful they are house-trained at least. Deep breath - take it in stride because all too soon he'll be striding off to bigger and scarier things like driving, girlfriends, and college.

I am still working on striding through exercise too. Last week I hit 15 miles!!!! I decided to keep a journal of my daily exercise because I need to SEE what I'm doing because the scale isn't showing me anything. My stride may never look like this

and you likely won't see me running at sunrise (or on a beach either) but I am moving forward and that has to account for something.

So as you stride through life today try to stop and think about things you can be grateful for. For me, I would say:
1) the fact that my a/c works
2) children who have transitioned through our move VERY well
3) good running shoes.

Meals a plenty

Haven't done this since March.....feels so good to not have to think about this for another month. I highly recommend pre-planning; it will save on your grocery bill, it will help you look at what you are eating, and it will save on the daily anxiety of 'what's for dinner'. Feel free to share some ideas and snag some from my list too.

June 2013 -
2 - crawfish etoufee, salad
3 - tuna melts, honeydew
4 - chicken enchiladas, homemade Mexican rice
5 - tortilla crusted tilapia (from Costco), stmd. carrots, salad
6 - homemade chicken pot pie, strawberries & melon
7 - take n' bake pizza, salad (of course, it's the last day of school!)
8 - garlicky shrimp, stmd. broccoli, ranch red potatoes
9 - bbq chicken, black-eye peas, stmd. artichokes
10 - red beans & rice, salad
11 - crockpot roast over creamy polenta (carrots, green beans with roast)
12 - meatloaf, baked mac n' cheese, green beans
13 - hot dogs, homemade greek pasta salad
14 - chicken stir fry, homemade fried rice
15 - Chip-'Hall'-tole (carne asada burritos with fresh guacamole, cilantro rice)
16 - parmesan-lemon mahi mahi, sautéed green beans, garlic mash. potatoes
17 - shake n' bake pork chops, risotto, peas
18 - lasagna, Caesar salad
19 - sloppy joes, stmd. carrots, watermelon
20 - chicken tacos with corn/bean salsa, fresh berries
21 - chef salad, fruit salad
22 - chili, cornbread
23 - grilled tri-tip, baked sweet potato, green beans
24 - ham steaks, creamy mac n' cheese, eggplant
25 - sausage sandwiches, stir-fry squash, cantaloupe
26 - roasted whole chicken, stmd. cauliflower, couscous
27 - mustard molasses pork chops, stmd. asparagus, brown wild rice blend
28 - grilled salmon, stmd. broccoli, quinoa
29 - chicken parmesan, salad, garlic bread

Now I just need to get the ingredients to get us through the 15th. Although, thinking about shopping and how much food my kids will be eating once school is out on Friday scares me to death. The burpees challenge that I committed to for June scares me too. But, onward to healthier living and hopefully a better appearance in a bathing suit.

Making the most of May

In recent days, I find myself missing Irvine and all of our friends there. Maybe it's because the Irvine High family lost four teens in a terrible accident this last week or maybe it's because it is getting hot here and I'm longing for the beach, either way SoCal is on my mind. I miss my co-workers and the kiddos at Alderwood; there was laughter every day in one form or another and I really, really miss them all (including the times I was laughing at myself). I miss the incredible staff at Stonegate and all the amazing activities there. Most days I feel like a stranger in a strange land if I venture any place outside of my home but looking back, I think I have made the most of May.

I took a big leap into exercise with committing to an abs challenge. I figured I really need cardio too so I hit the pavement. I just added it up and I did 46.86 miles on road - WITH MY FEET. And, no one was chasing me. Me? And I didn't break out in hives (broke a lot of sweat though). The abs challenge was killer, but who knew that I could do a 145 sec plank; 45 Russian twists (when I figured out how to do them correctly), and 100 sit-ups in one session. Me? The scale doesn't say that I accomplished much but two of my children said my butt looks skinnier and this is what my arms are starting to resemble.

Far from perfection, but much better than it was. I will continue on in my quest, but I foresee more workouts at the community center since the heat is setting in.

Many appointments have been scheduled and conquered. Maggie is in braces; all the kids have had dental cleanings; Collin and I have had physicals and other assorted tests. Amanda has an IEP plan for 6th grade (middle school here) and I am now a licensed driver in the state of Texas.

Making the most of May wouldn't be complete without recognizing the fact that this is the 8th blog post for me this month. I haven't blogged this much since July 2010. So, I'm happy about that. Still keeping up with my resolutions for the year so I'll call it a successful plan.

Now I just need to develop a plan/schedule for the summer hoping to make the most of our summer days. However, I want to make sure I take time to stop and smell the roses, literally. My rose bush that I planted out front is blooming nicely thanks to our weekly thunderstorms. So even though I'm missing Irvine, Texas has been a good move for our family and I'm jumping into June with both feet running.

Color me aggravated

According to Flylady, it's anti-procrastination day. Ok, I'll bite. That exercise that I procrastinated doing by an extra hour actually DID get done so that was bonus calories burned on a draggy morning. I'm not going to complain about that. But........as of 2:35 this afternoon I am beyond aggravated.

I tried to be productive. I really did. I was going to check GET A TEXAS DRIVER'S LICENSE off my list. Keyword - WAS. I completed my online forms, printed them out, and gathered up the other random papers (this includes my CA license, my ss card, my birth cert., a city bill showing my current address). Armed with my charged Nook, I was ready to be there for hours. I was going to be productive.

I get there to find out "you don't have what you need". What? Pre-completed forms and FOUR forms of identification. Nope, not good enough. Apparently, I need my marriage license AND another form of proof of residence. I'm not even kidding. Can you see the stream coming out of my ears? (and this doesn't even include car registration; that's a completely different office within your own county, oooookkkkkk)

So, that 42 mile trek was all for nothing. Sigh. (at least I get decent priced gas with my Kroger discount) And then I get home to read THIS in the brochure "Unless you are surrendering a valid, unexpired out-of-state driver license, you must be able to show you have lived in Texas for at least 30 days prior to application."  HUH?? I was there planning to surrender my CA license and I had proof of residency. I am either stupid or confused. Why couldn't I wait in line today?........steam.....

STILL determined to be able to check something off my list of random things to do I grabbed the phone and decided to make a dentist appt. for the kids and a physical appt. for myself. The kids are scheduled for Saturday and I'm set for Friday afternoon. Yeah, for being able to mark TWO things off the list!!!!! But....here comes the but.......WHY do I have to provide every drop of personal information over the phone JUST to get an appointment? I know we are first time patients and all that; I know there will be a gazillion forms. So, why does scheduling an appt. take at least a 10 min. phone call. It seems like a lot of people spend a lot of time doing work twice and this is one of those situations, ugh.

And, on another note, key people in the IRS can simply plead the fifth. Is it really that simple? To hide and get out of a scandal, you can just plead the fifth or say "I don't remember." Many so-called leaders of this country are NOT leaders, they are cowards. Dishonest cowards.

And, my scale still hasn't budged.

BUT, my anti-procrastination day was a success with two small things marked off the list. And I'm off to mark off two more things ----finish emptying the bathroom box of random stuff and watch 'Ellen' with the kids because she makes me laugh and my frustration will go away.

You WILL NOT get the best of me Texas DMV; well, at least maybe not until next week.

Keeping it real

I finished my first 5k in two years this morning. I am proud to say that I did it in 38:50 with an 11:58 per mile pace. That's good for me and faster (and farther) than any of my workouts to this date. I didn't finish last. But with all the adrenaline rolling through my veins, I still get frustrated when I look at the world around me. Here is what I do know:
- I love the race atmosphere; so I'm going to sign up for Run or Dye on 6/22 (because I have to set small goals and commitments or I will quit).
- I am 43 years old and out of shape but I hit the road for 9.46 miles last week and 14.3 this week. It's better than sitting on the couch that entire time, but I'm not going to be smug and call myself a runner or that I love 'getting out there.' It still sucks as far as I'm concerned because I'm not seeing results.
- I have been doing an ab challenge along with my road work. And although, I can now plank for 85 seconds and such, I still feel aggravated.
- I have been exercising steadily since the beginning of May and the scale has not moved at all. I do not pretend to be an exercise guru and have to force myself to move forward as I want to turn around and come home. I try to channel Bob or Jillian from the The Biggest Loser and remind myself that I can run for 30 more yards before I can walk.
- I know I shouldn't let the scale define me

 but seeing some sort of results would be nice.

 

- I am not going to pretend that I eat totally clean, paleo, or gluten-free. I will say that I am drinking about 80oz. of water a day, eating at least 5-a-day of fruits and veggies (often closer to 7), and focus on eating whole grains if I'm consuming breads, etc. That has to account for something?

-I am aware of everything that goes in my mouth these days. I was tempted to grab a burger and fries while out yesterday but opted for a 6-inch roasted chicken sandwich from Subway with some baked chips. These choices HAVE to account for something, right?

-I was fully aware of the two donuts I inhaled after the race today. Like the title says - keeping it real.

-I am trying to set a better example for my children. Trying to send the message that exercise isn't always easy or fun, but better health is important.  Their Mom who adores sleeping in got up and out the door by 7:15am on a Saturday. (And I hope they remember that tomorrow is my off day so I will be sleeping in.)

 

Reality is that I have to be comfortable in my own skin. I have to keep moving forward for MY health. I have to stop focusing on what other people can do or how much better other people look - that is REALLY hard for me. There is no magic pill; it takes hard work and commitment. And even with hard work and commitment, I still likely won't look like other people. And if I want to eat some potato chips I am going to.

 

Today's race didn't finish with any big hoopla or crowds of cheering people. There was no medal at the end...just the satisfaction of knowing that I ran 3.2 miles for charity. All I got at the end was a hug of pride from my husband and a cold bottle of water from Ian. And 472 calories burned. That I'm sure I promptly negated with the donuts but that's what I call keeping it real.

 





PSA

I feel it is my duty to let you know that So You Think You Can Dance starts tonight on Fox. Season 10; I'm sure it will be amazing. Makes my summer complete.

Can't Wait!!!! Set your DVR.

Now back to making dinner so we can zoom through the commercials :)
(with my finger the mute button in case Mary Murphy starts cackling)

Sharing a day; it's all good (mostly)

Happy Birthday to the girl who made me a Mom 15 years ago......

My Maggie.....with beautiful blonde hair and striking blue eyes (and cute clothes from H&M, not A&F), she came into this world with a strong voice that she still uses to this day. I'm proud of her talents in singing, dance, drama, and band. She is a performing arts 'nerd' (her words) and pretty much a mini-me (she's way better than I ever was). She loves learning to cook too.

She is my guinea pig at this Mom gig. Poor soul. She challenges me a lot (especially when she challenged me to this piggy back shot)

but overall she is a great kid who makes friends easily, is trustworthy, and knows what modesty means. She is most happy when listening to show tunes and eating carbs (my kind o' gal). I love her to pieces even when she thinks I don't. (If you are reading this Mag, get off your phone and clean your room for 15 min. :))

 

This Mother's Day reminds me of the blessings I do have in my children:

Amanda is fiercely independent, nurturing, and a hard worker. She has a soft heart for babies and animals. (now if she had such a soft heart with her siblings) She said she wants to be a nurse or physical therapist for kids in rehab "like she had." She makes me proud.

and these two turkeys boys bring me such joy and anxiety all wrapped into one. For those interested, yes - Sean is really that much taller than me now and Ian is doing his best to keep up (note the on-the-toes pose). Someone once told me that 'boys adore their Daddy, but hold their Mom's heart' (or something like that). It is absolutely true. I love my girls but these boys melt my heart like no other. And geez, can they smell like no other.

And this little guy, I love him too. He and Ian happily greeted me with coffee in bed so I can't complain.

These flowers are sprucing up my kitchen nicely. So I'm not gonna complain about those either.

 

But, you will hear me complaining loudly if I have to clean up the dinner dishes like I did the breakfast ones. (give me credit, I lasted five hours and when they didn't get touched I got a tad witchy.) 

 

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms I know....you make a difference everyday even if it doesn't seem like it! I hope everyone has time to reflect on the blessing(s) in their lives and has a few moments of peace. Because, let's be real, the laundry that isn't getting done today will still be staring at us tomorrow.

 

Fuming mad....rant alert!

Have you heard about the idiot (that is polite for douche-canoe) that is the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch? How he only welcomes 'the cool kids'........if you haven't, read this. She sums it up pretty well. To me Mr. Jeffries looks like the kid from The Mask; and this poor kid couldn't do anything about his appearance because he had an disease/ he was an amazing human being; Mr. Jeffries chooses to look this way in an attempt to be 'cool.' Really? Do you own a mirror?

I won't go on about his appearance because that has nothing to do with the real issue. The issue is his agenda. His agenda is pure and simple - only the skinny cool kids can shop here; if you don't fit my mold, you aren't welcome. (and I would like them to look like whores too!). It is a free country and he is a business-man. He is free to do whatever he chooses; and I have the freedom to tell him to go take a leap.  And I have the freedom to encourage others to boycott his stores What teen-age girl doesn't have some sort of self-esteem issue.....from something as simple to how her hair looks to big things like how her body is shaped and what number her size is.....

So, I will offer you some alternatives that are super cute and WAY more reasonable on the bank account. http://www.hm.com/us/product/11610?article=11610-E    super cute and only $9.95
or this
http://www.hm.com/us/product/06947?article=06947-E appropriate and only $17.95 (there is actually fabric and not meager remnants of denim)
or this
http://www.rue21.com/en/for%20Girls/Tops/Short%20and%20Long%20Sleeve/WAVE%20STRIPE%20CS%20TF.aspx?color=SALMON not sure about the length but it covers more than a lot of clothing out there

Then there is always Old Navy for basic tees and shorts too. In reality, some of my most comfy basic pieces are from Costco, but that's just me.

So, before I get off my soapbox, I urge you to avoid A&F like the plague. There are many reasonable options out there. Please shop somewhere else.

Your ears will thank you as well.

Monday musings #3

Another Monday is quickly upon us and I feel the need to blog. Things are rolling along at a swift pace and before I know it the kids will be out for summer and asking the dreaded "what are we doing today?" So on this May 6th, here's a little brain dump...

• Spring is here in full bloom and we've got the Zyrtec to prove it.
• Ian had his football evals last Saturday morning; they had about 750 kids total on the day for the program. And they have more registration this Sat. THAT is a big football program.  (and it only goes up to 6th grade)
• Maggie turns 15 on Sunday. We are debating over who gets to rule the day since it's Mother's Day.....I say 'I get the day b/c I brought you in to this world!'/ she says 'but I'll only turn 15 once!'
• She starts with orthodontia on May16th....happy belated birthday to her, muhahaha.
• We took a road trip this weekend down to Seabrook to attend a crawfish boil held annually by one of Collin's college buddies. Crawfish, cocktails, lots of laughter, and fresh seafood to take home from Galveston Bay. Simple goodness; thank you for the hospitality Adams Family :)
• The family dipped their feet in the warm waters of Galveston Bay. I think the first comment was 'this is sooooo much warmer than the Pacific.' Fritz was running around like a crazy fool so he loved the water too.
• I filled my car up for $41.75 today. I paid $2.76 per gallon with my Kroger discount. Sweet.
• I exercised today. Yes, you should mark it on your calendar right along with me.
• I am doing a 5K in two weeks. Let's hope I don't embarrass myself.
• Dinner tonight is broccoli beef and fried rice (scratch) with orange chicken (frozen Costco) and fresh pineapple. Tomorrow is gumbo (shrimp, chicken, saus.) with rice. Help - I haven't meal planned for May completely. I did buy fresh basil and parsley plants today, though.
• still doing Flylady; I love having my house clean. Yes - I know we haven't been here a month and I'm not totally unpacked, but my family can make a huge mess in a short amount of time. It was very refreshing to be able to hit the road quickly and come home to a relatively clean house. And the laundry is a lot less annoying since I'm doing small manageable tasks. (and the kids are actually keeping their dishes out of the sink and putting them in the dishwasher, woot.) Small victories.
• I did get a quick fix on my camera lens at a local camera shop (they literally called the guy the lens chiropractor and the lens cracked when he 'fixed' the tweek; it works so I'll call it good for now)
• Things to do....DMV remains on the list; add schedule a doctor's appt for a physical for me; find the hardware for the boys' bunk beds; get the old fridge and gas dryer put on Craigslist.

And to end on a sappy note, go hug your loved ones. Last week I lost a high school friend to a random freak accident (that happened while her loved ones watched in horror and could do nothing). In the blink of an eye she lost her life. RIP dear Paula.  It has been a serious reminder to me that even with all the busy stuff going on (as noted in my brain dump above) I always have time to stop and tell my kids and my husband 'I love you' before they walk out the door.

New blog address/ relocation ramblings, episode 5

I figured it only appropriate to adjust my blog address to reflect our location. So, now it is www.hall6intx.blogspot.com I hope the handful of people who read here can still find me.

SO how is Texas?
I would answer with so far/so good.
Here's a picture of the house from when we first arrived.

and here is a view from the backyard

this was from the first time Ian and Fritz were out there running around.

We really love the view. Tons of birds, squirrels, rabbits, turtles, ducks, an occasional crane, and geese sometimes.

 

Overall, it is really nice. Our neighborhood is located in a nice community and Amanda and Ian are able to walk to and from school. Sean and Maggie take the bus from a stop three houses down. (Can I say the mornings are quite pleasant with different wake times and out-the-door times. Maggie has about 35min on her own with no one to argue with about the bathroom. Small victories.) There is tons of shopping close by so I feel like I'm still in Irvine yet don't know where I'm going most of the time. The kids seem to be adjusting and making friends. Ah, friends. I miss them so much. (especially this little chicklet, Miss Gracie - this is how she said 'good-bye' to each of us/ with nose kisses and forehead rubs)

 I am pretty much the lone ranger. Fritz keeps me company as I unpack and ramble about cleaning. I am pretty sure the friendly folks here think I'm crazy because I'll talk to anyone.....gotta have some adult conversation. The weather changes enough that it always makes for nice conversation, ya know.
I keep telling myself to 'give it time' but I'm not known for my patience.

One of the reasons we moved was to be closer to family. And we already took advantage of that opportunity. Our roadtrip to NOLA this weekend was swift but fun. The kids got to hang out (literally) with my Mom and the cousins for a few. Add in some great food, SNOBALLS, and some time with the Caluda family and I would call it a success.

Collin and I made it to the Theta Xi 50th Anniver. Formal. We got to dress up like grown-ups and hang with some old friends. We even went to The Bulldog (same location/new name), a bar we used to go to in college. So, it was even more fun for me because I had friends :)

So as Ian would say 'life is good!'

(except for the barf that Fritz just blessed me with, thanks pal)

Take me home

Sunbeam bread got me thinking about my home, Louisiana. Here are a few things that cross my mind when it comes to Louisiana....
1) A snoball is NOT a snow-cone. Nor is it shaved ice. It has a texture all it's own and is not easily duplicated. Everyone has their favorite flavor or combination. I'm looking forward to my next chance at a spearmint or strawberry personally.
2) The Holy Trinity is sacred in Louisiana. Many people are strong in their faith. BUT there is more than one holy trinity and the second involves onion, bell pepper, and celery. Don't believe me? Watch a Southern cooking show or ask someone about Cajun cooking.
3) The delicious red crustaceans that people enjoy by the pound are CRAWfish not crayfish. And they are best served spicy with mini red potatoes and corn-on-the-cob (served on newspaper is best).
4) Red beans are not from a can. They come dry in a bag labeled Camellia :)
5) Sweet tea is serious business.

and last but not least
6) Blue Bell ice cream is THE BEST. (My kids go through a gallons of ice cream quite easily)

 

Texas has brought us a LOT closer to all of these things considering I can get all of them here except the snoball. And that makes going home this weekend even more exciting. A long road trip topped off with great food, great friends, and specialty foods that speak to your soul. Yeah you right!