New Holidays

I haven't been excited about the holiday season in quite some time. However, this year I feel like starting some new traditions that will give The Kid some fond memories to look back on. I've found Thanksgiving and Christmas quite depressing for the last few years for various, but substantial reasons. I plan to try and clear all those thoughts away this year and be thankful for the things and people that are still able to bring joy to my life. Maybe enough time has passed or maybe I've grown just enough to know that it's time to move on. This year I find myself waiting and planning for this special time of year. For years I haven't been concerned about what foods to make, what clothes to buy, what family to see or anything else beyond what toys to buy for The Kid. But this year is different. I've made plans...I've created lists and thought of fun ways to celebrate this year. I can't wait for The Kid to put on his Christmas Eve pajamas, bake cookies and drink egg nog. I can't wait to put the tree up and catch up with family that I haven't seen much of during the year. Hopefully it all comes together as it has in my journal and this will be the first of many (since many) memorable holidays.

In Need Of Comfort

This is one of those days when a hot cup of tea and some homemade comfort food would make it all better. Not like chicken soup or mashed potatoes....more like ice cream sundaes covered and dripping in whipped cream, caramel, chocolate and strawberry sauce...yum....or red velvet cupcakes smothered in cream cheese frosting. I'm just having one of those days that needs a little push up.

The Best Fall Weekend!

Like I said before, Summer may now be officially over but the fun isn't! This past weekend was the first weekend of the new season and me and the kid welcomed it by going to Larriland Farm. We went on an educational hayride,  then through a haunted barn and a hay maze. After taking a break from the fun for refreshments (fresh apple fritters and fresh apple cider) we went over to the fields to pick apples, broccoli and raspberries. It was such a beautiful day out that we stayed at the farm for over 3 hours, then it was off to one of our favorite restaurants (Bahama Breeze) for a wonderful lunch of seafood chowder, lobster and shrimp quesadillas, fresh mango smoothies and shrimp pasta. It was a wonderful Saturday!
  Sunday of course was football day! We went to the Ravens game (and won!) early in the afternoon and the evening was spent getting prepared for another great school/work week. I'm looking forward to many more fun Fall festivities! I'll post pics later!

Random Calm...

And so as the dryer hums in the background, the dishwasher swishes and swashes, the shower runs upstairs and the scent of the grilled herbed chicken breast from dinner still lingers in the air...I feel a calm wash over me that feels a little weird and unfamiliar. It's the calm of knowing that everything is in order. It's the calm of no worries and the security of having everything under control. Tomorrow's clothes are ironed and hung, tomorrow's breakfast lunch and dinner is decided. Everything for the morning journey to work and school is waiting in it's place near the front door...ahhh...to feel prepared and organized is a wonderful feeling. And so now I can sit and have my cup of tea and read the final chapters of another great novel given to me by a friend who buys books and waits for my review before actually reading it herself. Friends...another part of the calm that has suddenly washed over me. Real friends, who know what it means to cultivate and nourish friendships with likeminded people. I know this post is so random...but i just had to share. :-)

Planning For A Great Start!

Hey Dolls! I don't know about you but I'm ready to say goodbye to lastweek and say hello to a clean slate! This past week has been...well...ummm...yeah...ummm...I don't even know how to describe it. If you know what hospital I work at, then you probably know what I mean. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to a fresh start. Time to get prepared for a successful work/school week for me and the kid. It's feeling more and more like Fall every morning and since the official start of Fall is this week...it feels perfect! I haven't done my usual Sunday prep for the week (laundry, ironing, schedules, etc...) but I have a day off tomorrow so I plan to get alot done during the day while the kid is at school. I'm planning to welcome the new season by taking the kid to pick apples at a local orchard and having a Fall harvest party at home. I'm planning for a great week...hope you guys do the same!

Healthier Me Update

I'm feeling good right now. I'm feeling motivated right now. I'm feeling like everything that I have plans to accomplish will take place....right now. I've started my workout, I've gotten rid of MOST of the things in the fridge and just started all over again. I bought lots of fresh fruits and veggies and more than enough things to pack a lunch for work and cook a different meal every night to cut down on ordering out. I'm still not in a stable routine for my 20 minute run but I'm getting there. The morning air has been so crisp and fresh that it definitely keeps me motivated to get out there! I just have to work on conditioning myself to be able to run the entire 20 minutes without stopping to walk in between. Right now I start with a 6 minute walk to warm up and then I run for 1 minute and repeat this cycle about 3 times. I was told by a trainer to decrease the walk time by a couple minutes each day and increase the run time by the same amount of time. This routine has been working for me and I feel so energized even though it's only been about a good week. I've also increased my water intake (I hate water by the way) so far to about 4 cups a day. I'm hoping to stay on this path until I reach my goal of a healthier lifestyle. That's my update for now dolls!

Mental Clutter...

must workout. don't forget niece's field hockey game on Wed. gotta stay organized. gotta make menu for the week. should work some overtime. hope I'm ready for this vacation by November. gotta take the kid to buy his instrument for school. gotta finish reading this book. gotta START writing my book. need to go shopping. hope the Ravens win tonight. need to get the car detailed. need an oil change. wish people would keep their constant complaining to themselves. glad I took that walk last evening. need to make a healthy food grocery list. should really re-organize the kid's room. gotta plan this dinner party. still not sure about having a Halloween party for the kid. gotta see when the haunted hayride and corn maze starts. gotta buy a box of green tea...the blueberry one. should make some cupcakes today. I felt unprepared for the morning...gotta get things in order. I feel the need to start "listing" again. I'm gonna drink my 8 cups of water today. feeling slightly agitated today. hope this week is as productive as last week. need to plan some fall activities for the kid. forgot to drop off a purple shirt for M...damn. the day will be over before I know it, hope I get something accomplished.

Getting that mental clutter out of my head and sending it somewhere really made me feel a little less stressed. have a great day!

Try Try Again!

Sooooo....I guess you're wondering how the whole workout thing is going. Truth is...it's not. I haven't worked out not even once yet but my plan is to "fully" commit by the end of the weekend. The reason is not that I've been too busy, or too tired. I've flat out just been too lazy to get out there and get started. I realize that no results will come from curling up with good books, baking cupcakes and cookies or saying to myself, "I'll do it tomorrow" (especially since tomorrow always turns into another tomorrow). My goal is to live a healthier life which ultimately involves more than just "wishing" myself a better body and good eating habits. I know that I have to get motivated, stay motivated and do the hardwork it takes to reach that goal. So no more promising myself that "tomorrow" will be the day....I have to start NOW. I've also decided that I am not going to weigh myself down by putting a number on how much weight I plan to lose. I'll lose until I feel comfortable with how I look but the absolute main goal is to just be healthier all the way around! So, let's try this again...and once again, I'll let you know how it works out!

More Of Mom's Flower Garden

Appearance

Although we are taught from an early age "not to judge a book by it's cover"...we have to think realistically. As much as we may not mean to do this, we often do. This is the reason that I stress to my kid how important it is to look clean and well put together at all times. I've taught him that having a nice haircut, being clean-shaven, having on clean  pressed clothes that fit and good hygiene will show people that he takes good care of himself...and it will also make you feel good. When you walk around looking disheveled people will think that you don't care about yourself or how you look and it could change the way you are treated by others. So...when you feel that you're being stereotyped or treated a certain way, take a look in the mirror and go over your appearance. If your pants are sagging, your hair looks like a bird's nest or you having earrings stuck in unnatural places....well...take another look.

Plan Of Action

Hey Dolls! I'm going to try and start the week off right with my new workout/healthier eating routine. Here are just a few goals I've set for myself to get started on, so here's the plan of action for the week.

* go to the gym at least 3 times this week and do some cardio and light weights

* do some walking in the evening or early morning (whichever my schedule allows on those particular days)

* drink more water, less caffeine (but I do need my morning dose of iced coffee to get me going in the morning)

* eat a reasonable breakfast in the morning to give my metabolism a jolt

* more veggies and fresh fruit, less snacking

* 50 crunches/sit-ups before bed

This is just a start. I'll let you know how it went at the end of the week. The goal is fitness!

Preparation For A Successful Week

It's Sunday. Time to get started on preparation for the upcoming week. The kid has gone to a Labor Day parade with my dad so I have some free time to get some things done early without interruption. Laundry and ironing, meal planning for the week, grocery shopping and I'm also planning to do some re-organizing around the house this week...little by little until the project is complete. The weather is now definitely starting to feel more "Fall-ish". It's much cooler and the night breezes have been wonderful but it's also still warm enough to enjoy meals out on the deck. I'm looking forward to another successful week!

Committing To A Better You

As I've said before, the start of a new season is like a chance at a new beginning. It's a chance to make new goals and new commitments for and to yourself. For the upcoming Fall season my goal and commitment to myself is to live a healthier lifestyle. I rarely eat the right things and although I have a gym membership, I don't exercise enough at all. I have made a mental commitment to myself to improve in both these areas. I've created a workout routine for myself and will try to make better decisions when it comes to what and how much I eat. I am so not ready to embrace the "mommy body"...and so, fitness will become one of my top priorities. We all have areas of our lives that need some upgrading or re-inventing. Use the start of the new season as your new start at a better you...no matter what area of your life needs some attention. I'll let you know how it works out for me!

Allowing Yourself Moments Of Peace

So...dinner's in the oven, the kids' homework is checked, I've already let calgon take me away and I'm already in my pink pajamas and fuzzy slippers. I'm allowing myself a few moments of peace. A few moments where I don't have to answer the phone, the door or the word "mommy" (the kid is playing at a neighbor's house). We all need these moments. When the long week catches up with you right in the middle, you just have to be able to not feel guilty about finding a small space to include some "me" time. If you don't allow yourself to have a little time BY yourself, the week can seem endless and exhausting. A walk around the neighborhood at dusk, a few minutes on the patio, a 20 minute nap after work, may not seem like alot when you think about it... but, when you are constantly taking care of other people you tend to forget that these small moments can exist. Talk to your family and let them know that during these times (whenever you choose), you do not want to be disturbed unless the house is on fire or clearing house sweepstakes is at the door. They will HAVE to understand. Trust me...you'll feel so much better if you allow yourself these "moments of peace".

Grocery Shopping 101 (for Ash) :-)

Ok dolls! A friend requested that I write and give some advice on grocery shopping. Hmmmm....ok, here it goes!

The first thing I do before I ever step foot into the grocery store is make a list. I make sure I have all the food staples such as milk, eggs, bread, etc...if anything is low it gets added to the list first. The way I write my list is probably a little OCD-ish...but it works for me. I think of meals that I may want to cook in the near future and then I write down everything that I need for that meal. I then break my list down into categories by isle. It keeps me from walking back and forth through the store. I write down everything I need from the produce section, frozen, meats, so on and so on. After I'm done with my list, I look to see if I have coupons for any of the items on my list...if so, I paperclip them to the list and stick it in my wallet or purse so that I don't run the risk of leaving either of them at home and get stuck doing aimless shopping. I also use a small calculator to keep an eye on how much I'm spending as I'm shopping so that if I'm shopping on a budget I don't go over.

Some more tips...

* get frozen foods last
* don't buy anything that is not on the list
* don't shop when you're hungry
* try not to bring the kiddies (they can't ask for anything that's not on the list if they aren't there)

Hope this helps Ash! lol

Some Fun Things To Do To Celebrate Back To School!

* Have a cupcake social-- bake some cupcakes from scratch (frosting and all), put on some kid music and maybe give away some little swag bags ( the dollar store is your friend) and just let the kids hang out and talk about their first week back to school

* Invite some friends out for a pizza night at your local pizza joint or dinner at a buffet (I don't know about yours but my kid LOVES the buffet)

* Invite some kids over (after they've eaten dinner at home) for a friday night dessert party (NOT a sleepover...sugar them up and send them home :-))--you can let them make homemade ice cream sundaes, rice krispy treats, brownies or my favorite...funnel cakes (you can buy a kit from bed, bath and beyond for around 8 bucks)

* Let your kid host a pajama movie night--tell the kids to come in their pajamas, pick up some boxes of candy, individual bags of microwave popcorn and make some frozen drinks (I use strawberry daiquari mix and tell them they're homemade slurpees)...and make sure you use cups with lids to prevent spills; pick a fun family movie, dim the lights and voila! pajama movie night

* And of course, you could always throw a little bbq--hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and dip satisfies plenty!

I hope you enjoy these ideas and find it helpful if you're thinking of a way to help your kid and his friends celebrate the beginning of the new school year....or if you just want to be the coolest mom on the block! Happy school year to all your kiddies!

Welcoming Fall!

Hey Dolls! School has begun so that means it's almost time...time to welcome a new season. Fall! I get excited about new seasons because with new seasons come new beginnings. The start of each season for me feels like a chance to start fresh. I especially love Fall. Fall just feels fresh. I love the cool days, the beautiful changing of leaves and most importantly FOOTBALL! It also just springs me into "nesting" mode. There's nothing like pulling out the down comforters and chenille throw blankets, getting the house clean, lighting some yankee candles and putting a big pot of soup or chili in the crockpot or getting the kiddies all bundled up to go tailgate and watch football with friends. Ahhh...Fall and fresh starts are right around the corner! I can't wait.

Everyone Needs A Bucket List

Today I've been thinking alot about how much fun life can be if you just go out and HAVE some! I made "the kid" a cute little print out and told him to make his own "bucket list" of things he'd like to do and places he'd like to go before he's all grown up and the "time to be an adult" hand of "you're not a kid anymore" smacks him in the face. It's funny how much thought he's actually putting into it. So far, we've got to go to Hawaii and he has to go to a football game at Virginia Tech...lol. I guess I'll get to work on my own list that I'm calling the "travel bucket list". So far on my list is Italy, Cabo and Greece. I think it'll be fun to make a list and even more fun to actually get to do everything on it.

Helpful Tips For The New School Year

School is back in session! For my house that means back to some structure and routines. Here are just a few tips to help you and little ones stay organized and on track for the new year.

* Organization is key to a successful school year for you and your kids. Have a designated place for everything school related such as bookbags, papers that need parents signatures, instruments, etc... There's nothing like trying to get out of the house in the morning and having to look for bookbags or homework.

* Prepare for the week as much as possible to avoid last minute to do's. I try to get all the laundry done on Sunday, iron a week's worth of outfits for the kid and myself and hang them in the closet complete with socks, undergarments and belts. I also try to keep school lunch items stocked and extra ice packs in the freezer for the lunchbag. If you have a kid who is known to forget his lunch, it is also a good idea to have some money on a prepaid school lunch account...just in case.

* The night before is a good time to make sure you know where everyone's shoes, coats, umbrellas and keys are. I like to leave them all near the front door. And, you'd be surprised how much a few saved minutes can make the morning go so much smoother. Pack lunches and decide on breakfast the night before as well. It may only save you 10 minutes but you never know when you may actually need those extra minutes.

* Planning your meals for the week is also a huge time and stress saver. If you already know what you're having you can make one trip to the grocery store and you won't run into problems like not having anything thawed out for dinner.

* Definitely keep the kids on a schedule. have a specific time for homework, chores, dinner, baths and bedtimes. The more they follow a set routine, the more organized and successful they will be.

* Bulletin boards and calendars are wonderful tools to keep everyone informed and on top of school activities, meetings, birthdays and appointments.

These are just a few of the tips that keep me from having to pull out my hair during the week. I hope you find them helpful!

Hey Dolls! This here is the new blog! Just got back to the school year "grind" with the kid after a great summer and now I'm ready to embark on the next great adventure. It's so crazy that we are almost done with 2010, but I plan to cram as much fun as I can into it before we say goodbye. In this blog I'll be sharing the randomness of my everyday life...I hope you find it as entertaining as the people who share it with me. I probably live a total of 15 different lives every. single. day. I guess I just refuse to live a plain jane, mediocre, average life...totally not my style. My goal is to be the best mom I know how and to enjoy as much of my time on earth as allowed. Enjoy!

Pothead

Mom's Summer Flower Garden