What Should Be, IS!!!!

A nice photo of Miss M. riding with her *ahem* friend in Vietnam... we missed her then too! Darn it!!!!

Hurray! It's ladies (I use that term loosely...) night out and we're prepping to be LOUD! So all those folks down at House Wine better be having a nap today or they are just going to be sooo tired after we leave... kidding... sort of...

On a much sadder note, the reason we're heading out this evening is so that we can give M her one last hurrah in Worthington. She's heading back home tomorrow. Bummer. We will miss her and her kookiness. The funny thing about M hanging with us is that she's a good 10 years younger and yet, for some reason, it just doesn't feel like it! She blends in perfectly (not trying to make her feel old or anything, quite the contrary). We're hoping she'll miss us so terribly that at the end of the summer she'll hop on the next plane back to Ohio - and then, ANOTHER PARTY!

If you're out this evening and you see 5 screaming/giggling/dancing on the tables ladies, buy the youngest/oldest/loudest/quietest one a drink would you - I'm all about the free drinks?! And stop, say 'Hi', and get the cheese plate too you cheap skate!

Rainy, Chilly, Whatever...

No matter what the weather may be, cold, hot, rainy... I have to say that I love having soup for supper. Love. Love. Love. It's just one of those things that sends tingly sensations all the way down to my toes. Think about the smell of a hot chicken soup bubbling away on the stove - carrots, celery, onion, and chicken stock... Mmmm.... Whether you prefer a cream based soup or a stock based soup, I bet you also like the warm baked bread smothered in butter that usually accompanies said soup, or the crunchy and simple saltine crackers (also great to ward off that pesky morning sickness or for mornings after the night before...). There's something so utterly comfortable about a cup of soup.

Tonight at my house is a soup night. Quick, easy and filling. A nice tame chicken soup; onion, carrots, sweet potato (diced), chicken and a homemade soup stock. Yep, yum. One of the easiest, healthiest and "I don't have to fight with the kids" meals! I would have loved to throw in some curry or ginger, maybe add some pumpkin dumplings on the top but *sigh* this is not to be... Hope you have a happy meal time at your house tonight as well and if you've got a few moments perhaps you'd like to read these little bits on soup:

1. Okay, it's called "The Soup". It's not about soup so much as gossip. But it has some funny points - careful you don't spit soup out your nose while reading it (has this ever happened to you???)

2. An actual blog on soup (and bread). I especially like the recipe for vegan groundnut stew - I haven't tried it but it sounds quite interesting - even the name is catchy.

3. Or for the recipe poor here are a few places to check for that perfect pot of soup/chili/stew: allrecipes, food network, country living

4. And Campbell's - because how can you have a note on soup and not mention them???

Dressing Up.

Summer is fast upon us here in Ohio.  The temperatures this weekend were record and skyrocketed to 32C.  It was hot.  I'm not complaining - I'm just making a statement, really!  I don't think I was really prepared for the heat here.  It was hot in Colorado but a dry heat that was easily escapable and we had the reservoir to dip out toes in.  I think I'm going to have to invest in one of those $39.99 blow-up pools from Wal-Mart.

Anyway, the hot summer sun got me thinking of pretty little dresses... something I swear, every year, that I'm going to start wearing more of.   I wore one yesterday, so far I'm off to a good start.

Here's a few I thought were quite lovely...

A party dress from J.Crew.... *sigh* they have some very, very lovely numbers.   It's worth it just to dream.

Wanna play Cowgirl?  This is the dress for you!  Isn't it lovely?  Couldn't you just see yourself drinking a lemonade on a porch while the ranch hands wrestled the steer?  

A night out with the girls.  A glass of wine and  a wrap dress in disco pink!

And this one, for those work to night days....  The ruffle on the bottom just adds the "sweet" touch don't you think?  I think this is a new version of the one Julia Roberts wore to the Polo match in Pretty Woman...

My New Garden!

I think I'm getting old. No, I'm pretty darn sure I'm getting old - and not in age per se, but in body. I finally got around to digging an area for my garden (it's Spring here) and now, my hands hurt, my back hurts, my arms hurt... ack! I have to admit I'm pretty darn proud of myself and my little garden. In my mind it's going to be wonderful - reality might be a whole different thing....

I'm imagining a trellis at the end of the sitting area and then stones following along the garden (like the illustration - I'm so talented...). My idea is to bring the backyard together so it flows together and looks more like an actual garden. Right now I find it just a little too choppy. I'd like to put a rhododendron to the left of the trellis (at the end of the bricks) and then the garden itself will be a mixture of herbs, veggies and flowers - an all-purpose garden. It's not a large area so I have to make due with what I've got.

The next couple of days will be me trying to break up that dirt - I have a lovely neighbour that has a rotary tiller and I thought I would bribe her into letting me use it (oh, so cunning...) and possibly adding some manure or something to try to get it nourished before I plant. I'm not all together sure about time lines or anything so if anyone (R????) has any ideas or information it would be much appreciated. I'm a trial and error kind of gal and so far it's worked out...

Oh, by the way, I bought the primer for my desk so perhaps I'll actually get that finished this weekend too! I'm just full of energy.

What Should be Isn't!

It's Thursday night. I should be heading out with the girls this evening. I should have a glass of wine in my hand by 7:30. I should be rubbing elbows with the folks at House Wine. I should be out relaxing and having a wonderful kid/husband free evening. I look forward to Thursdays. I'm a stay at home mom. I don't work outside, EVER and aside from the occasional trip to the shoe store or kids playing/mommy talking morning, I don't get to see my girlfriends.

I won't be heading out tonight. I will be sitting at home. As you might know The Columbus Blue Jackets are playing at home this evening! Go Jackets Go! My husband has tickets, again, and so he will be there, which means I will be here. We don't have a babysitter yet. I'm not in a big rush to find one. It's worked so far and as the kids get older the need for a babysitter gets smaller. My husband and I usually take turns going out and so that gives the kids time to be with just one parent - they prefer it to be dad 'cause they see me all the time! I prefer it to be dad too (hee hee).

Anyway, if I could be out tonight I think I would have a wonderful Reisling. I had a lovely glass full at House Wine last friday and if I could remember the name of it...darn it... anyway, it was great. I'm thinking of popping over to House Wine today and getting a bottle just so I have something to enjoy when the kids go to sleep. Cross your fingers for me in the hopes that I actually get there. If I don't it will be a, just as wonderful, glass of tap water - with ice cubes and maybe a splash of lemon.

As the World Turns

It's Earth Day. Amazingly, not a recognized (ie. we don't get the day off) holiday but I'm sure Hallmark sells a card that plays some sort of tune. People like Leonardo DiCaprio and David Suzuki (Canadian guy...) live their lives like every day is earth day and perhaps having that little extra cash makes it that much easier. I was thinking about that as I was getting ready to write this as money seems to be the biggest answer (or lack of) to why people don't do more for the environment. I'm not thinking that everyone has to run out and plant a dozen trees in their yard or has to trade in their car for a Prius but there has to be little things that make us more "Earth Friendly". I watched Wall-E. It scared the crap out of me. Yes, it was cute and endearing but seriously, can't you just see the world becoming filled with crap in the next 10 years, if not sooner? So, I made a little list of things that I could do to help save this earth we call home....you know, besides recycling (which I do already).

1. Start composting - easy peasey lemon squeezey... get a bin. drill holes. buy worms. fill bin with worms, food scraps and paper. Voila, compost. Easy to follow instructions are provided by Wendy Tremane here. My friend Stacy already does this and I wanted to try it. Done. Put a check next to this one. Seriously, sooo easy and the kids love the worms. If you're feeling more energetic (more power to you) you could always purchase a composter, not cheap but the capacity is probably greater.

2. Find something to do with all those plastic bags from the grocery store. I know, I shouldn't have that many because smart people carry reusable bags with them and don't need the plastic ones. Unfortunately for me, I'm an idiot. I've got the darn things in my car and so many times I get inside the store and start shopping and realize I've left the bags IN THE CAR. Usually, I'm shopping with E and I'm sooo not running back out to the car to get the bags. Luckily, there are tons of things you can do with plastic bags. You could make yarn or make a wreath (I don't have pictures for this but my mom used to make these in scouts - cut 3 inch strips and tie around a wire coat hanger pulled out in a circle. Keep tying strips until you can't anymore and there you go - a wreath). Make articles of clothing and/or accessories... tons of things - try googling "what to do with plastic grocery bags".

3. Go see Disney's' Earth between April 22-28 and Disney will plant a tree in Brazil's Atlantic Rain forest. This one is easy! I went with S (he's 6) and be forewarned, this IS a nature movie. Things die. It's not overly pleasant in certain parts we covered our heads and cried. Sad, but pretty true to life.

I'm sure there are tons more but I have to start somewhere. It's hard to change over night or even within a year but little by little I'd love to start being more eco-friendly. In the April 2009 issue of Canadian Living there's an article on a family that gave up "stuff" completely for a month... sound easy? Try it and let me know how it goes!

Let them eat Cake.

You choose!
Is it wrong to let my kids have cake for supper?

A few weeks ago, my husband was out of town and so, on the last night the boys and I decided to have popcorn and ice cream for supper - not a vegetable in sight! It was great. I sprinkled the popcorn (not from the microwave I might add) with cheese for all that's worth. Not one of my finest culinary moments by far but I didn't have to fight with the kids to eat dinner and to me that's worth it's weight in gold. The kids thought I was a God - if only for a few minutes (hero worship passes sooo quickly with them). The added bonus: only 3 large bowls to clean - we went out for the ice cream.

Tonight, the Columbus Blue Jackets are playing in the playoffs. Home team in fact. My husband will be in the stands and so that means once again, it's just the boys and I for dinner. I've made a cake; from scratch. It's a carrot cake with actual carrots, pineapple, dates, walnuts and wheat germ, no oil to speak off - only yummy Greek yogurt, less sugar than it calls for in the recipe in hope it would cut the sugar quotient just a little bit (isn't that what the pineapple is for) and I used 50/50 whole wheat to white flour. Sort of nutritious...

I'm not wanting to make dinner. I made a cake already! Also, I have a cold and the thought of whipping up a meal of any sort just doesn't seem like fun. I could make a peanut butter sandwich but is that any better? So, my question again is: Is it wrong to let my kids eat cake for supper - tell me what would you do?

As summer approaches

It's been a long time since I've talked about wine. Have you been missing it? Yes? Well, so have I quite frankly. But tonight, no more, I've cracked open a bottle of Barefoots' Pinot Grigio and it's hitting the spot. It's not an expensive wine and probably not an affluent company (of this I do not know but it's sold by the case loads in Giant Eagle so I'm suspecting it's not) but it seems to win quite a few awards. Not this particular bottle however - it is the Official Wine of Pro Beach Volleyball 2008 (that says it all right there doesn't it).

The warm weather is pulling me towards white wines so I suspect we'll be hearing a lot about those or perhaps even warm weather drinks like Bahama Mamas or Pina Coladas! Oh, I sooo like an umbrella drink. I've got some Blue Caracao sitting on my counter anxiously awaiting Lemonade (anyone having flashbacks to University). I'm always interested to see how peoples choices change depending on the weather and so please feel free to let me know what you'll be enjoying this summer. I'm going to sit back in my big chair and drink this bottle of Barefoot. Have a good evening and enjoy the lovely weather wherever you are...

If you're in Colorado sit tight and have a hot chocolate for me! If you're in Manitoba, you might want to blow up a dingy and if you're somewhere near Lake Superior, well, hopefully spring is fast approaching, have a beer!

As an aside: If you haven't already bought it, rush out and get the new Tragically Hip C.D! They are my husbands favourite and if you buy the C.D. this is what will happen: 1. You get to sleep in. 2. The dishes get done without having to ask anyone. 3. The coffee will be made when you wake up.... *sigh* I think I fell in love all over again with the help of The Hip!

Random Act of Kindness

It was a dark and dreary day here on Wednesday and I really wanted to just stay in bed - all day.... Unfortunately, this is not a luxury granted to a mother of two on a school day.  I was up at 6 (because my oldest now thinks this is a great time to wake up and make loud noises - okay, he sings but it seems like noise at 6 in the morning) and the kids started bickering with each other around 6:30.  After a morning of,  "Get Dressed.  Brush your teeth.  GET Dressed.  Did you brush your teeth?  Wait, did you eat breakfast yet...  Why aren't you DRESSED?", I dropped the eldest off at school and my husband off at work.  Then, onto the grocery store with my youngest.  I had two things to buy.  I bought about 30 - and what were they?  I have no idea...  

Well, while I'm standing at the car, in the rain, loading the groceries into the car and explaining to my adorable and lovely child that whining and begging are not desirable traits in a human being (of course, I'm saying it like that too...) an elderly gentleman comes up to me, "Excuse me Miss", he says.  I, now annoyed because my adorable and lovely child is still whining about wanting Yogos and how the whole box is his and how he doesn't have to share with anyone, turn around and very abruptly say, "Yes?"  Thinking that he's probably going to tell me that I shouldn't whine back to the said child if I want him to stop whining (at least this is what I would say and what I was thinking in my head at the time).  But he doesn't.  Instead the conversation goes like this:

Gentleman:  "Did you happen to drop this money in the one of the aisles in the store?"  - let it be known to the court that the gentleman is holding a 5 dollar bill in his hand.

Me:  (In my head, "I'm an ass") out loud, "No sir I didn't but thank you for asking".

Gentleman:  "Well, hmm..., how about you just keep it and we'll pretend you did."

Me: (cause I'm an ass) meekly, "Oh, um, thank you.  Thank you sir"

Gentleman:  "Your welcome Miss.  Have a nice day now."

Gentleman gets in car, smiles politely and drives away.  Dumbass woman still standing in the rain thinking, "I'm a dumbass".  Now if you haven't caught this already then let me just tell you that there was no money dropped in the aisle.  I'm sure this came from his own pocket and for some reason he thought it was a good idea to give it to me.  Just one of those things, you know?

After pondering this for a couple of days I have decided that I am officially a dumbass and that if everyone behaved like this gentlemen did (I'm not saying everyone has to pass off $5.00 to everyone - just that his manners and attitude were nice) what a wonderful world it would be.  It seems that the days of holding the door open for someone, not talking back or just general politeness are gone and quite frankly, I miss them.  Just something for you to ponder.

40 days and 40 nights.

You have your vices and I have mine.

For K - cause she asked first! I had a hard time writing this one only because, like I've said previously, I'm not an authority on Christianity and I truly believe that every individuals feelings and relationship with God, Jesus and the church, is personal. I don't believe in forcing my opinions on anyone and I don't feel anyone else has the right to force their opinions on me. I personally don't think you have to go to a church to believe in God or Jesus or anything biblical. I don't think there is only one religion - Jewish, Muslim, Christian, whatever! I do however, believe a relationship with whomever your God is can be extremely important and fulfilling in your life. I'm a scientist and a believer in faith. And now, on with the blog...

Easter has just passed and with it the sorrow, suffering and retrospection of Lent. Not everyone who practices the religion of Christianity recognizes Lent and not all of us who do observe in the same manner or time frame. As with religion itself, it means different things to different people.

For me, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which means a big meal of pancakes on the Tuesday (to prep you for the fasting - I don't fast for Lent. I'm not that strong but I like pancakes and so this is just a bonus day) and ends on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. It is a reminder of the suffering (through fasting and through personal reflection) and preparation that Jesus Christ felt while walking through the desert in search of meaning and to gain the "confidence" (wrong word here but couldn't think of the right one) to lead God's people to righteousness and on the fortieth day, his battle with the devil (a test of his belief in God).

Most Christians "give up" something for lent - a fasting of sorts - and/or choose to spend this time increasing their relationship with God and Jesus. I'm not deep. I don't pray every day for 40 days (just so you know, the Sundays in Lent are 'free' days - kind of like an Easter days), I don't starve myself, I don't do something monumental... I give up chocolate and this year, I just gave up chocolate candy - M&M's in particular. Seems easy right? Yah, on the second day of Lent I did a "whoopsy" and took a bite out of a truffle. As soon as it hit my mouth I stared in disbelief! I spit the rest out and looked around like a 5 year old to see if I had been caught. The guilt is overwhelming and sort of ridiculous to someone not used to Lent practises.

Now that Lent is over I have eaten my fair share (and all of yours, and yours, and yours) of chocolate candies. I'm thinking I might have to go buy a bigger size of pant. It's bad. I have chocolate everywhere. It's so pathetic that I actually had chocolate imported from Canada - some chocolate bars we have there that we don't have here... I'm weak. I couldn't have saved all your souls. I would have felt bad about it though...

Need more information? Check out Wikipedia (really???), The Season of Lent, or for gosh sakes, open a bible (Mathew 3: 13-16, Mathew 4: 1-11, Luke 4: 1-13)!

New Post tomorrow...

I promise!

Palms - no not the one on your hand!

It's Palm Sunday. Does this mean anything to you? I have to admit that a few years ago it meant nothing and quite frankly, I had no idea that the Sunday before Easter was called Palm Sunday never mind what that meant. This by the way, is not a lecture on Christianity so hang in there... Palm Sunday gives reference to the day that Christ rode into Jerusalem - the week before he was led to The Cross. As Jesus rode in on his donkey the disciples laid their jackets down on the road and the people in turn laid cut branches of palms.

Okay, so maybe it was a little bit of a christian teaching but I really didn't intend it that way. Really, I didn't. What I was going to say, is that though this day has deep Christian meaning to me it's also a day that I miss my small community of Westminster Presbyterian Church - of which I am a member (I'm full of surprises, aren't I?), a place where my children were baptised and where I taught Sunday school for almost 2 years (why yes, this is true). On Palm Sunday at W.P.C. the children carry in palm leaves and walk around the church while the congregation sings. My children loved it! And the feeling of family and friends on this day (as well as any other day) in this little church is overwhelming. We were always welcome there. So, today I miss them quite a bit.

I'm sorry if you're missing someone today. I hope tomorrow is better. It's always hard when someone leaves (or if you do the leaving) but memories are a wonderful thing and some of us are lucky enough to know that the leaving isn't something permanent. I'll say a little prayer that all of you are safe and now you know it's not just talk - I actually do pray (shocking - who knew?).

Making Mountains out of Mole Hills.

Alright, from the last one of these we established that I'm gorgeous - you know, like the Cindy Crawford kind. Stop laughing. It's true!

Okay, ya, it's not...and lately, I'm developing a severe case of the zits - not acne, not little pimples - but rather the kind that take over one particular area of your face and show absolutely no mercy. They get big and red and they fester into something that someone like myself will ultimately have to pick at, creating what I can only describe as a HUGE, MASSIVE CRATER! I've tried to avoid it but I get a little zit and I can't help myself. I'll be watching a t.v. show or reading a book and I start picking and picking and picking, then, full blown scab.

So, how do you avoid getting even the littlest of zits? What sort of 'Beauty Regime' do you undergo everyday - or possibly every month??? For me it's been the pretty much the same sort of thing forever. In the morning, I wash my face in the shower - by having shampoo drip down my face (oh, the horror). Then I use the old pink Oil of Olay. Yep, that's right, the same thing your grandmother uses (if it's not Nivea cream) is what I use. And at night, if I remember (if I'm not lazy - if I'm lazy then I brush my teeth and head to bed - its worse than you thought right?) then I wash my face with an Oil of Olay face wash (a foaming cleanser), pat dry and then again, Oil of Olay toner, and (surprise!) Oil of Olay night cream.

I do NOT use a moisturizer with sunscreen in it (*gasp*). Oh, I tried once and the zits were unyielding! And so, away it went. I don't use anything over $10 - it's not that important, really?! In the summer I will use a sunscreen over top of my moisturizer if I know I'm going to be in the sun and I can't avoid it but generally, I just avoid being in the direct sunlight. I burn and burning isn't fun and I don't like to get hot (warm is good, hot and sweaty is not). So now you know my secrets - and why I have bad skin - I'm a dermatologists nightmare (freckles, freckles, freckles).

What do you do? Are you a clinique addict? Do you run screaming toward the Lancome counter? How about just plain soap? Or perhaps, you even indulge in a facial or two? *sigh*

Thursday Night Madness

Alright, technically there's no madness. I'm actually enjoying a night in with my two boys and it's pretty darn quiet. There is no 'mommies night out' tonight. I'm sorry to all of you who live vicariously through the five of us (really?) but we're all staying home. It's a beautiful day here - shorts and t-shirts for those brave enough and flip-flops (which may never make it back to the closet until October)! It's also the start of spring break and the beginning of a week long jammie fest (and not the kind you see in National Lampoons vacation/spring break/ sorority anything).

I am happy however, to report that I'm going to whip up a batch of margaritas and possibly share them with my neighbour should the weather cooperate (they're actually calling for rain this evening). I make a pretty nice marg. - by nice I mean it goes down really darn easy and you regret it somewhere around 2a.m. Good night no? If I'm feeling extra energetic I might just whip up some tortillas to go with them. No guarantees on that though.

Anyway, that's all I've got planned. Nothing exciting. Have a good evening and if the feeling strikes, call up some friends, go out, have a drink and have a good time!

It's Wednesday. Blah.

This is a picture of my son when he was 2. He liked markers. The picture has nothing to do with todays blog, I just thought it was funny.

1. My tub is still not void of paint. Some of the paint is actually stuck to the tub. It looks awful. I'm irked. It will come off somehow - I currently do not know how but google has got to have something somewhere on how to get it off.

2. Spring Break is coming and I have nothing planned. Nothing. I'm hoping that for the next 10 days I will get to sleep in, feed my kids cereal for at least 2 meals a day and not have to be referee 10x a day. I aim high in my ambitions.

3. I have lived in my house for almost 8 months and only have one recycle bin - our town gives out free bins to new residents. FREE! I finally went today (yay Karyn) and got 2, with lids -for FREE!!! I'm lazy -get over it. I have.

4. I have not yet finished the dresser or the desk I have been working on. Nope, not done. Still using my lap for my computer. They get hot - I'm starting to get marks on my legs - I think I might be slowly burning my legs...

5. I am watching Max & Ruby instead of doing dishes, washing clothes or one of the other chores that need to be done... I'm watching with E. We watch at least 2 hours of t.v. a day and we LOVE it! So there.

6. I bought a bottle of Fetzer today and I fully intend to drink the whole thing tomorrow.... not tonight. I'm watching a friends kids so probably best not to having alcohol in the system when doing that right?

7. I worked out 3 hours ago and still haven't showered. I probably won't shower. Just a warning for all of those who are going to be in close proximity to me at some point today. I'm not apologizing, just saying. I worked out hard too and worked up a great sweat. Eww.