Little Fists

Things Missed...

2011-12-04T20:51:00.001-06:00

Looking back, I can see that it had been there for a while.

A feeling of unease. A mental fog.

It was easy to blame it on stress.
Work. School. Kids.
Homework. House. Animals.

Then summer came, but the feeling lingered.

I wasn't motivated to do much of anything.

It must have been latent fatigue.

So I slept. A lot.

School started.

The fog intensified.

I made myself believe that it wasn't so bad.

But one can only keep up the charade for so long.

Relaxation eluded me.

A glass of wine became glasses of wine.

I kept thinking that it would all slow down...

"Just a few more weeks and it will be better."

Those few weeks stretched on.

One foot in front of the other...just to do what I had to do.

I withdrew.

Spent a lot of time...

I can't tell you. I don't remember.

I abandoned writing. Put my camera in its case.

It was no longer enjoyable.

I was just too tired.

But slowly, I can feel the fog beginning to lift.

The days are not so laborious.

Fewer things are missed.

Finally.

Loss

2011-10-12T20:56:00.005-05:00

We knew it was coming.

We were all hoping and praying for a miracle.

It was not meant to be...

Last week, The Mr.'s mom passed away after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.

It's an ugly disease.
Ruthless.
It shows no mercy.

I regret never sharing certain things...

I'm not sure if I expressed the depths of my thanks for her son. He holds my heart and I credit her with his strength.

She always let me be me. We had differing tastes and styles, but not once did she try to change me.

I have no doubt that she loved our little family. She respected our traditions and never imposed her desires over ours.

She was a cheerleader for us all. There was never a time that she wasn't in our corner.

I am sure that she didn't realize how much she was loved.
How much she is loved, still.

My husband will miss her.

My children will miss her.

And I will miss her.

My heart is full...

2011-09-07T20:33:00.007-05:00

Sometimes life is just like you want it to be.

The planets align. The Fates allow.

This past weekend we went to the lake.

And it was perfect.

Beyond perfect, really.

Our fun for the day.

Lake water mixed with boat gas is intoxicating, in the best possible way.

I am now a huge fan of the windblown look.

Blissful me.

She's not quite legal.

Neither is he.

1-2-3 jump...

My little ducks, all in a row.

Real ducks.

Tuckered.

Not so much.

My love.

*sigh*

This is where I'm supposed to be.

Lakeside dinner.

Bat watching.

Lakeside beer.

Popping corn.

Lakeside night.

Kickin' it.
xxoo

And that was just day one...

All too soon it was time to make the journey home.

I sat and took one last look around...

And my heart was full.

So full that it almost hurt.

This is home.

Always.

This is it...

2011-08-16T21:04:00.007-05:00

This is it.

This is the extent of our grandiose garden dreams.

Bluebonnets.

The Girl was assigned a plant research project earlier this spring. Her heart was set on our beloved Texas state flower.

A pot was decorated.

Information gathered.

Soil scooped.

A hole made.

Seeds dropped in...

...and covered.

Over 70% of all bluebonnets grown in pots fail to bloom.

Ours were part of that 70%.

Terrible odds were against us. The fact that The Boy took it upon himself to create a bluebonnet dirt volcano didn't help, either.

Maybe we will have better luck next season.

I still have grandiose garden dreams.

But it's really a blessing that they fell through this year.

We had maybe five rain showers all summer long and a seemingly endless run of 100* days. I fear that watering our crops would have landed us in the poor house.

Our plans for raised beds full of fresh cucumbers, squash, chard, okra, peas, and zucchini will continue to take shape through the cooler months ahead.

Meanwhile, I've yet to give up on fall tomatoes and herbs.

Life Lesson

2011-08-12T21:22:00.000-05:00

If your tooth is really, really, really loose and your mom, dad, and brother all tell you to "please pull that darn thing"...you should pull it.

Otherwise, you will be eating a pretzel and not realize it has fallen out.

And then you will swallow it.

You will be very upset.

But your mom will assure you that the Tooth Fairy will still visit as long as you leave a note:

Dear Tooth Fairy,
I lost my tooth.
I swallowed it.
There is a big hole.
Please still visit me.

Pitiful notes ensure a good pay day, by the way.

Ten On Ten: August

2011-08-10T22:42:00.008-05:00

August 10th.

Ten pictures taken over ten hours.

Thankful for caffeine.

Bling.

Look out, greys.

Collaboration.

Reality check. Blah.

Fake BBQ. Meh.

Real popsicle. Much better.

Vacated.

Begone, ring.

Over my shoulder.

Al dente.

A handful of images captured throughout the day...

My last ten of the summer.

Anyone got a Kleenex?

(photo courtesy of The Girl)

I'll be back here next month.

Singing the beginning of school blues.

Life Lesson

2011-08-06T17:42:00.005-05:00

If you are entertaining your little sister...

...and put on her fairy wings...

...and your mom grabs her camera and takes pictures, but promises not to put them on her blog...

...she's lying.

July Surplus

2011-08-01T22:10:00.006-05:00

How has July already passed?

It was a month of little moments...

454 pieces.

Tanned feet.

Red, white, and blue.

At work.

Deep thoughts on a bottle cap.

Salt and pepper.

Sun lit.

Past bedtime.

Power outage.

Wonderfully bittersweet.

Summer concert series.

Late night company.

My summer is quickly fading away.

I welcome August and its little moments.

I just hope they slow down and last a bit longer.

Sucker Punched

2011-07-31T20:00:00.006-05:00

This week I was sucker punched.

Sucker punched by a monster fever.

A 103* monster fever.

This is where I spent most of my time.

I could barely sit up.

I did no reading.

No blogs. No books.

I did not drink any beer. Or wine.

I entered the kitchen for juice.

And drugs.

My drug of choice: NyQuil.

NyQuil is an excellent cocktail substitution.

I subsisted on hot & sour soup.

Oatmeal.

Toast.

No vegetables.

One Dr. Pepper float.

My children love me.

They took the words "eat whatever you want, just be quiet" to heart; A week-long run of lunches consisting of SunChips, fruit snax, and juice boxes was the result.

My children hate me.

This was evidenced by the vast quantities of dishware needed to serve SunChips, fruit snax, and juice boxes. Along with the number of daily wardrobe changes. And toy props that littered every room of our home.

I watched Bull Durham at 3am while waiting for the next NyQuil dose to kick in.

Nanny McPhee seemed to be on at all other times. Every single day. I'm not sure if that's my fever memory or true reality.

I finally had a legitimate excuse to put off folding laundry. I'm still milking that one.

Our cats started to mistake me for some sort of human pillow. I would wake with one camped out on my back. My stomach. My chest. Snuggled in my arm pit.

Purr. Purr. Purr. I'm still not a cat person. But they make OK bed partners in times of fevered delirium.

In my delirium, I kept dreaming that I made a slew of inappropriate posts on Twitter and Facebook. Turns out, I'm not a sleep-Tweeter. Or sleep-status updater.

I might not have made inappropriate updates, but my spelling and overall grammar did not fare well.

As my delirium continued, I wondered if I'd been made into a horcrux.

The Girl is now the favored child. I woke up more than once with her rubbing my feet.

The Boy needs to understand that asking a woman if she's going to "make herself look good" when sick will one day get him punched in the face.

I am his mother. I used self control.

I spent a lot of time looking for subtle signs of the monster fever's next victim.

The Mr. was convinced he was the next to go. All that anniversary canoodling was sure to come back to haunt him.

My fever broke late Friday night.

No other victims have succumbed to its destruction.

I celebrated last night with a non-NyQuil cocktail.

And today I made my bed.

{♥}

2011-07-23T23:40:00.005-05:00

Eleven years later and I am still unabashedly smitten...

Thank you for making life sweet, my love.

You are without equal.

♥,
Me

Make this and then ask for jewelry...

2011-07-18T17:29:00.001-05:00

It's *that* good.

The Mr. proclaimed it to be "the best stuff...ever". Then, he became putty in my hands.

I'm not much for jewelry.

Instead, I got help washing dishes and folding laundry.

You start with some plums.

Cut them in half and remove the pit.

Lay the plums flesh side down in a pan and mix the topping.

You might need help stirring.

Bake until golden, then let cool.

Sound good?

Here's how it's done:

Plum Cobbler

2 lb plums, halved and pitted
1/2 cup + 2 Tbs plain soy yogurt
1/4 cup water
1 Tbs apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
1 cup flour
2 Tbs cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350*.

Prepare the plums and lay flesh side down in a pan that has been coated with non-stick spray.

Mix the soy yogurt, water, and apple cider vinegar in a medium sized bowl until it is smooth. Add the sugar, vanilla, and almond extract. Stir until the sugar is mostly dissolved.

Add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until a thick batter forms.

Spread the batter over the fruit. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon. Bake 30-40 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving. Or don't and let the chips fall where they may.

I was inspired by this recipe, making some minor changes here and there.

Some notes:

I used Nancy's plain soy yogurt. I like it because it's really thick and has a slightly sweet taste. I'm sure you could use a regular, plain dairy yogurt as well.

I have also made this with cherries. It was awesome.

Also on the list of fruits to try: apricots, peaches, apples, and strawberries.

Notice that there are no eggs or oil involved. And if you use a soy yogurt, it will also be dairy free.

Vegan? Yes. Can you tell? Hellz no.

I doubled the amount of batter for the cobbler I made because I like a lot of topping. I had some left over and baked up some plain muffins.

They were like little pound cakes, really dense and sweet.

The Mr. and I considered getting out a couple of spoons, starting at opposite ends, and meeting in the middle.

That would be uninhibited, cobbler debauchery.

Tempting.

But then how would I get him to do my bidding the next night?

I Dig This & Miss That

2011-07-16T09:13:00.005-05:00

A long-overdue list of randomness that tickles me pink...

*Help in the kitchen.

The Boy is finally old enough to provide actual help. The kind that isn't help in theory, but in reality. Of course, now he's not nearly as eager like in days passed. Funny how that works.

*Vegan chocolate chip cookies from Whole Foods.

I told The Mr. that he had to stop being sweet and bringing them home. They are the size of a saucer and I have no control around them. Lord only knows how many calories are in one of those things.

*These popsicles.

We have (at least) one every day.

They are so yumz that I use them as leverage for good behavior.

*Little painted toes.

With pink sparkles, no doubt.

*Crossing books off my reading list.

I *loved* the The Hunger Games, times ten. It was completed in less than twenty-four hours. I have delayed reading the other two books in the series because I want them to last longer.

*New Blog Land friends.

Kim, Erin, and Janelle.

These ladies are funny, sarcastic, blunt, thought-provoking, and admit things that you aren't supposed to admit, especially in Blog Land.

You won't find cutesy. You won't find crafty.

You will find real life.

And you won't feel like a total loser-crappy mother just because you don't have children that never argue and only hug. And that you might, on occasion, raise your voice at them or use cuss words in front of them.

Or that you don't sew or knit all their clothes with fabric and yarn that you wove yourself. Or that you don't grow your own organic food all year long but instead, dare to step foot in a grocery store.

Or that your house isn't completely furnished with incredible thrift store finds. Or that it's a total pipe dream that everyone picks up after themselves without being asked. Or that you aren't married to someone that *can* read your mind so you get pissed off at him on a fairly regular basis.

Or that you are simply human.

I can't wait until we can share some drinks in person instead of getting sloshed together on Facebook and Twitter. Seriously. We are a motley cyber crew.

*Tufts.

That's what we call them.

This is Les. He thinks he's Mufasa.

*Working out.

I've never been a big yoga fan, but it's starting to win me over. The Mr. is being really supportive, but I think it has more to do with the downward facing dog position than actual health benefits.

I'll admit to not being quite as disciplined the past couple of weeks. My workout partner, shown above, has really been on my case.

She has been watching way too much Jillian.

*Set lists.

Especially when they include one of my favorite songs.

*Strapless tops.

It's hot. I have a tan. I don't have to wear a bra.

*Jeans that fit.

They aren't too tight. They aren't too baggy. They don't show my ass crack when I bend over.

*Face wash.

It removes all my make-up. It doesn't dry out my skin or make my face oily. And it smells awesome.

I've used it as body wash more than once.

*Rudi's bread.

This is the next best thing to homemade, and I don't get flour all over the counters.

Sold, sold, sold, and sold.

*Mike Vallely.

He's a skater from my generation.

He has aged very well.

*Heidi Swanson.

She is the wonder behind 101 Cookbooks, which has solved my "what to make for dinner" dilemma more than once. Both of her cookbooks are excellent. I've yet to make something that isn't worthy of being made again.

But most of all...I love her photography. It's perfect. Every little thing from her use of light to the subject matter is beyond reproach.

"I take photos of my day-to-day - places I visit, people I meet, little moments I want to remember...I've also found that photography is a good indicator for me - when my life is nicely in balance I shoot more photos. If I find my favorite cameras collecting dust, it's usually a sign that I'm over-extended in one way or another and I try to adjust. My hope is that photography continues to be something that inspires me throughout my life - not just the process of observing and taking pictures myself, but also appreciating the work of others."

Brilliant.

*Beer.

I've really been enjoying Shiner's Ruby Redbird. It really is a perfect summer beer.

*The Girl's vocabulary.

She still has some words that she mispronounces. I find it difficult to correct her because it's so sweet...and fleeting.

Some of my favorites: swim-soup (swimsuit), toe-food (tofu), hoga (yoga), and pasquito (mosquito).

*Visiting Austin this summer.

It's where my heart is.

*Eddie.

O.M.G.

He's at the top of *The List*, it's true...but even if he weren't, I would still love his Ukulele Songs. But since he is at the top of *The List*, it has been on repeat for the past seven weeks for hours (and hours) at a time.

Obsessed? Maybe.

Also on the summer soundtrack for 2011:
Beulah (365 day a year favorite)
The Belle Brigade
Reigning Sound
Tody Castillo
Fleet Foxes
The Mountain Goats
The Minus 5
The Decemberists
The National (another 365 day a year favorite)
Blind Pilot

Some things I'm missing...

*Skateboarding.

Since the temps are often in the triple digits, I have left my skillz by the wayside.

I'll roll again this fall.

*Smack talk.

I love it when someone can dish it *and* take it, but is still respectful and can give credit where credit is due.

I have some friends who are excellent shit-talkers. I salute them and their talents.

I also miss having something to smack talk about. Football season ended ages ago. Basketball season met a similar fate. Both of my beloved sports are more than likely going to be delayed or nonexistent due to lockouts.

I miss waking up and reading the sports page(s) on my phone while snuggled in bed. It made mornings much more tolerable.

*sigh*

*Teddy.

The Girl is getting older and she's aware of that fact. She knows big girls don't walk around a store or sit in a restaurant with a well-worn, stuffed friend.

So, Teddy has been spending more and more time in the car. And sometimes, is even left at home.

It's not that she doesn't love him or need him. She does. But still. It's proof that she is growing up.

I should be happy! I remember wondering how long she was going to drag that nasty looking bear around. Wondering how much longer I had to be nervous that she would lose him. Wondering if she was going to need therapy for an attachment disorder.

Now, I wonder if I'm more attached to Teddy than she is.

I think I'm the one in need of therapy.

Lots of simple randomness.

I feel as if I should buy you a beer...I would dig that.

If you are curious about some of the other things that make me smile, just type "I Dig This" in the little Google search box over to the side.

Boom goes the dynamite.

We are all about the tacos...

2011-07-14T15:51:00.009-05:00

Seeing as how I never got around to posting a menu last week, and since this week is practically finished, I think I will focus on our favorite meal.

TACOS.

I don't think we've ever declared it to be our favorite. But I usually make it once a week.

And no one complains.

That says "favorite" to me.

I always start with a can of refried black beans. This is key.

It's like the glue that holds everything together. Because who wants a taco blow-out?

The fillings vary.

Our current favorite is a zucchini-squash mixture. I chop it small and add it to a hot skillet with some onion and cook until soft.

Other common fillers: sautéed peppers, shredded cabbage, avocados, salad greens, corn, tofu, and tomatoes.

I think you can put just about anything in a corn tortilla, add some salsa, and call it dinner.

And don't forget the sour cream.

Some words on sour cream: There are good dairy free versions out there. I like the Follow Your Heart brand. But you know...it's just not the same.

This is one of those areas where I break the rules. I use sour cream made from milk that comes from a cow. It just tastes better.

I've accepted the fact that I'm not willing to compromise on sour cream.

Salsa, however, lends itself to experimentation.

Go on. Get crazy.

*image stolen from a friend's Facebook page*

Tacos.

They bring people together.

Ten On Ten: July

2011-07-10T21:45:00.010-05:00

July 10th.

Ten pictures taken over ten hours.

Sleeping...just a little while longer.

Drinking breakfast.

Wearing something new.

Smelling a stinky dog.

Sorting pintos and...

Soaking tomorrow's dinner.

Piecing together.

Refilling jars.

Bathing that stinky dog.

Cooling off and...

Soaking up sun...with Yoda.

Eating fast before they melt.

A handful of images captured throughout the day...

Brrrrrrr.

A cold front must have come through!

Look at that temp, yo. It's only 97*!

I was starting to think my thermometer was permanently stuck at +100*.

We spent the day enjoying the "mild" weather outside. We ignored the fact that the backyard is a dried up tumbleweed, that there was an empty Lone Star can on the porch, and that it smelled like a critter up and died under our deck.

The white trash pool no longer feels out of place.

Come back in August for another ten.

I won't be so sweaty and hopefully the yard will look better.

Happy TEN, y'all.

This is why we are eating more bread...

2011-07-07T21:53:00.004-05:00

I've mentioned that our family doesn't eat a whole lot of bread.

One loaf, on average, lasts about two weeks.

But this jarred goodness has cut that time down to a week and a half, minimum.

Before you get the wrong impression...

I did not grow these blackberries.

Or pick them. Unless picking them from the fruit aisle at HEB counts.

I don't even think they are organic.

**gasp**

They were on sale. Five pints for five dollars.

After languishing in the fridge for almost a week, I decided to save them from the trash bin and make them into freezer jam.

We washed them.

And mashed them.

Take turns.

It makes for tastier jam if everyone gets to do some berry pulverizing.

After you have mashed, then smash.

Who knew that adding sugar and pectin to decimated fruit would cause such a battle for front row seating?

I'm pretty sure his feet were clean.

A captive and perched audience watched as the jars were filled and lids closed.

One in the fridge, the rest to the freezer.

See?

Speechless.

And in serious need of a hair brushing.

Now for that container of strawberries...

What's For Dinner?

2011-06-29T20:02:00.000-05:00

Since the week is already half over, we have eaten most of this menu. I can report that it has been a perfect summer dinner plan. It didn't heat up the whole house, I didn't spend long in the kitchen, and everyone has enjoyed the end result.

I call that success.

Monday: green vegetable stir fry with cabbage, broccoli, & green beans, brown rice, magic sauce

Tuesday: refried black beans, corn tortillas, sautéed red peppers & onions, shredded cabbage, corn, tomatoes, and guacamole

Wednesday: summer corn and vegetable soup, salad

Thursday: pizza, salad

Friday: burgers, oven fries, tomatoes, avocado

Saturday: out

It has been way too hot to use the oven. But since pizza is next on the menu, I figure I will go ahead and make that plum cobbler I have been craving.

I will also be posting a recipe for the summer corn and vegetable soup. We had it tonight and The Boy asked if I could save some for his lunch tomorrow.

*This is where I had to pick my jaw up from the floor.* I think that's testimony enough to its yum-factor.

I've had a few peeps ask about vegan or non-dairy cheese. I'll be honest and admit that most of what's on the market leaves a lot to be desired. If you are a cheese connoisseur, you won't be fooled.

However, the Follow Your Heart brand has a mozzarella and a cheddar in block form that are pretty good. They melt nicely and have a mellow flavor.

I have made grilled cheese and other sandwiches using the Galaxy brand cheese slices. Again, they melt nicely and the flavor is mild. I present you with exhibit A, shown above. The Offspring chow them down, so it must be ok. They aren't shy with the constructive criticism.

Honestly, I don't miss cheese all that much. I went without even a sprinkle of cheese for four months and then tried some vegan enchiladas with the optional cheese on top. It was overwhelming to my palate. I ended up scraping it all off after just a couple bites. I've found I like the taste of food better without the cheese.

Go figure.

Now, for some input.

Is there an interest in some meat-free recipes?

I always try to keep meat-eaters in mind when making something. I think to myself: Would my Pops like this (if I didn't tell him it was vegan, of course)? Anything I post would be fairly simple to put together, family friendly, and pleasing to those not living off "rabbit food". I know many of you are doing a Meatless Monday or cutting down in meat consumption. This might make that quest a bit easier.

The key when serving such meals: don't use the word vegan. It's an immediate turn-off to most. I rarely use that word anymore unless I want to ensure that The Boy will find it "ewwww".

Also, on a non-food note, I have been challenged to do a vlog. I am not a fan of myself on video. But I have a hard time backing away from such challenges. There's just one problem: I have no idea what to vlog about. I've been racking my brain for a couple weeks and I got nothin'.

Give me a topic.

Something that can be filmed in front of my computer.

No, I won't sing.

No, I won't get naked. (Sorry, pervs.)

Help.

Good Times...

2011-06-26T20:12:00.004-05:00

I would replay this week, if that were possible.

It was good times.

The Offspring were shipped off to the country for a few days.

So....

I wore diagonal stripes to see a hot drummer play with his band. Flirting ensued. I took him home.

We sat outside on the porch and stayed up until the wee hours listening to music from years past.

Good conversation. The kind without the lulls.

The next morning that drummer told me to pack a bag. We were going to leave the city limits for the night.

A swim suit, mascara, a pair of clean underwear, and an extra shirt.

Let's hit the road.

And that we did.

Checked into a room.
Walked around.
Shopped through the windows.
Ate good food.
Had drinks at the bar.

All of it done away.

The summer solstice hit a couple days later.

Usually the solstice goes more or less unnoticed around here. This momma don't have it together enough to exchange solstice gifts, make special pajamas, sing songs around the fire, or whatever the solstice in-crowd is doing these days.

I am solstice-challenged.

But not this year.

This year, The Mr. and I celebrated the longest day by sitting in the white trash pool drinking cold beers under a beautiful Texas sky. The stars were out. A cool breeze was blowing. Eddie was playing his ukulele.

A summer memory made.

That picture is blurry. Blurry pictures mean you're having fun.

It's a shame The Offspring missed it.

Not.

The silence had to be broken at some point. The air conditioner soon followed.

The Offspring returned just in time to sit in a hot box, otherwise known as my house.

See that temp up there? 80*. That was taken at 11:30pm. You can imagine what the temp was after the sun came up.

Not cutting it.

It was 100* outside. And I had a cake to bake.

There were a couple of birthdays to celebrate!

The birthday girls pampered themselves with an at-home spa day.

Facials.
Toe polishing.
Nail polishing.
Make-up.
Lip gloss.

The works.

It's not a birthday unless there's cake.

Hello Kitty cake.

And of course, presents.

One of us received a Barbie who has a dog. A dog that pees.

Lovely.

I got a working air conditioner.

And a Zach Galifianakis bobble head.

Oh, and cards with sweet words inside.

My loves know me well.

Good times.

What more could a girl ask for?

37 Things

2011-06-24T23:55:00.002-05:00

My favorite lipstick is Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers.

I hate tan lines.

I rarely wear skirts. Unless I have a tan. And even then, it's rare.

I'm able to count the number of pedicures I've received by someone other than myself on one hand.

I'm picky about the movies I watch.

That explains why I rarely go to the theater.

I have four tattoos. Five if you count the one that's covered with another.

I'm not well traveled.

But I'd love to go for a long vacation in Italy. Off-the-beaten-path Italy.

I'm bad with names, but good with faces.

I really don't know if I could give up Dr. Pepper, even though I'm fully aware that it's pure rubbish.

Cash is rarely in my possession.

I'm not a fan of shopping. Especially mall shopping.

You don't have to give me a gift, but I always want a card. With sweet words inside.

I don't like driving with other people in the car.

In fact, I've developed a sort of car phobia and don't like being a passenger either. It's weird.

In college my nickname was 2-Can Dani. It still holds true.

Sour Patch Kids and Hot Tamales are the exception to my no candy rule. On occasion.

I have always had a dog. And I always will.

I'm not a cat person. Yet we have three cats.

I have OCD about most everything except laundry. I've come to terms with the fact that I will never be caught up.

I'm an only child.

I have hazel eyes that change from blue to green.

I am a terrible nail biter. Awful. I need an intervention.

When I wish upon a star it's for Spurs season tickets.

I always vote. Even in the small elections.

Getting carded seriously makes my day.

I don't wear earrings but I usually have on a bracelet or two.

I have a thing for owls.

Cereal should be eaten straight out of the box. It tastes better and saves on dishes.

Flirting via text with The Mr. is one of my strong suits.

I dream of living by the lake and growing tomatoes and black eyed peas. It will happen.

I still sit in my Mema's lap when I visit.

My 4th grade teacher was Mrs. Eubanks. She was great. I wish I could thank her.

I dust my baseboards and lamp chords. I can't be the only one that does this...

The Girl and I share a birthday. Pretty cool, huh?

I don't feel 37.

At all.

**Thanks for the inspiration.

In the blink of an eye...

2011-06-23T22:18:00.005-05:00

In the blink of an eye, my baby has grown up.

A couple hours from now, a new day will begin.

When my girl wakes up she will have kissed five goodbye.

Time to greet six with open arms.

Six.

She's ready. She owns it.

She is the opposite of an old soul.

She's innocent. Pure sweetness.

This girl is easy to love, I tell ya.

Happy birthday, Nora Sabine!

You are prized beyond measure.

The Return of: What's For Dinner? (plus bonus features!)

2011-06-22T21:47:00.005-05:00

It's been three months to the day since I posted a menu. So let's get down to business, k?

Monday: steamed vegetables over brown rice and black beans

Tuesday: spinach salad with artichoke hearts, mushrooms, olives, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, and cashew-tamari dressing

Wednesday: vegan vegetable lasagna

Thursday: burgers, oven fries, tomatoes, and avocado

Friday: out for veggie fajitas and margaritas

Saturday: orange-sesame tempeh stir-fry, brown rice, spicy cabbage

This plum cobbler looks mighty tempting. So does this pie. And these muffins.

All in due time, foodies. All in due time.

The vegan lasagna on Wednesday deserves its own post. Why? Because it's the greatest lasagna I've ever made or...dare I say...eaten. That's why.

Our family polished off half a pan in ten minutes one night. I have started making it every other week, although I'm tempted to put it on the menu twice that often.

Don't worry. I'll share.

All in due time.

Since it has been a quarter of a year since I posted a menu, I feel as if I owe you something.

How does corn pudding sound?

I adapted this recipe after the one found in this book.

This has become a family favorite. It's substantial and could easily be a heartier side dish or a main dish when paired with some beans. I usually serve it alongside a big pot of black eyed peas and a large salad.

Corn Pudding

1 package frozen, sweet corn, thawed
1/2 cup silken tofu
2 Tbs non-dairy milk
1 small onion, diced
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 cup flour
salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350*.

Coat an 8x8 baking dish or 9 inch pie plate with cooking spray.

Combine 3/4 cup corn with the tofu and non-dairy milk in a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.

Add onion to a skillet and cook until soft. Add to the corn-tofu mix.

Add remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Pour into the baking dish. Spread evenly with a spatula.

Bake for 30 minutes. Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving.

This can easily be adapted to more of a Mexican flavor by adding some chopped chiles or jalapeños.

This version is vegan, but you could stir in a bit of cheese or add a sprinkle to the top.

Now, an update.

I've had lots of you wondering how the vegan diet is going ever since I decided to go meat and dairy free.

To put it simply, it's great.

But nothing is really that simple, is it?

I was plugging along, enjoying a diet free from all animal products. Then about two months in, I noticed my, ahem, libido wasn't at its usual level. I started having some mad cravings for the forbidden animal protein, to the point of distraction.

I gave in. I had a buffalo burger. And amazingly, all cravings were sated. I still felt great. And my libido came back instantaneously. *wink*

Not being one to follow rules or be labeled, I don't claim to be a vegan.

When asked what kind of diet I follow, I respond with this: I eat a 99% plant based diet. I'm a 99% vegan, if you will.

Once a week I have a small portion of bison, which is one of the healthiest meat choices available. If you are a meat eater, I encourage you to go here and follow the links. It has a lot of eye opening and useful information.

The Mr. has been following the same plan. We held hands and jumped off the diving board together, and then realized to feel our best we needed a life preserver.

A life preserver in the form of a bison patty. Meat-eating vegans? Why not?

The Offspring have been eating a vegetarian diet with limited amounts of cheese and eggs. And of course, the once a week serving of meat. That means their mac & cheese and Life Cereal are still safe.

They rejoice.

I'm still tweaking things here and there: playing around with gluten-free, doing some food combining, adding chia seeds to the mix, reducing soy intake.

There are times when it makes my head spin.

But I figure this is a healthier channel for my food control issues.

Many of you have sent emails with words of encouragement, blog links, and recipes. THANK YOU! I've loved and appreciated them all.

And there it is: A menu, a recipe, and an update.

I'll be back next week...unless the angry vegans hunt me down.

Pops

2011-06-19T20:27:00.004-05:00

My Pops.

He's always been my superhero.

Happy Father's Day!

No one can beat you.

In the Kitchen...

2011-06-15T21:51:00.003-05:00

I still cook dinner for my family.

I do.

You might not believe me since I haven't written a What's For Dinner post since March 22nd.

I checked.

Well, I don't have a menu for you this week either.

I'm going to remedy that next week.

But until then, I figure we could just hang out here, in the kitchen.

My children are eating me out of house and home.

I think I say that every summer. With good reason.

I'm telling you, they eat all.day.long!

I need a grove of fruit trees to keep them full.

And an endless supply of Life cereal and tortilla chips.

Other beginning of summer observations:

A schedule is a must.

We spent last week loafing.

I realized very quickly that if we (I) were to make it to fall with our (my) sanity, loafing would have to have its allotted time slot in the day.

Popcorn, watermelon, and cantaloupe is a perfectly acceptable lunch.

Grilled (soy)cheese with a side of strawberries is a well received dinner.

For those still in the single digits age-wise, that is.

Who am I fooling? I'm down with it, too.

Although, my breakfast of lettuce, tomato, and hummus on wheat is not met with the same enthusiasm.

The Mr. thinks we are all nuts.

The Boy having another kid to play with across the street has blessed my life in ways I never knew possible.

This is a new thing and I'm a little scared to acknowledge how wonderful it is. But it is. Wonderful.

He goes over there and plays...for hours. They ride bikes, skateboard, run, trade Pokémon cards, play Wii, and other such boy things.

The key is, he goes over there. Not here. There.

Not that I care, but The Boy says that since this kid is allowed to have a messy room, it's better.

I knew my OCD would have some dividends.

We go through a lot of toilet paper in the summer.

You're welcome, Charmin.

The news is no longer safe to watch with children.

The word "wiener" would have brought giggles from my children even without today's current events.

I feel like I'm living in a Beavis and Butthead episode.

"Why do they keep saying...hee, hee...wiener?

Added to the mix: our youngest kitty was recently "fixed".

The Boy: But what's broken?

The look of horror upon The Boy's face when learning our little meow-meow's fate is one I'll never forget. I doubt he'll forget, either.

I've had enough of the male anatomy.

It's one week in.

That's what I know.

But with that knowledge comes a couple of cold beers at the end of the night.

Sweet relief from the feeding, scheduling, playing, noise, toilet paper replacing, and wiener talk.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Ten On Ten: June

2011-06-10T23:15:00.000-05:00

June 10th.

Ten pictures taken over ten hours.

Illustrating.

Blending.

Winning.

Repeating: Is it time to go out yet?

Answering: Yes. It is.

Feeding.

Perusing.

Snacking.

Stringing.

Preparing.

Cruising.

A handful of images captured throughout the day...

A perfect summer day.

We are on hiatus from early, rushed mornings. There is now time to color. And make smoothies.

The pool is inviting. The sun is welcoming.

There's time to read. Create. Play.

Afternoons are now being spent with neighborhood friends instead of math worksheets and reading logs.

It is simply perfect. Even with its imperfections.

Imperfections that I seem to have trouble naming.

Join me back here for another ten in July.

My love-of-summer-tune will remain the same.

I'm the DJ and I'm putting it on instant replay.

Summer Begins, Again

2011-06-05T22:07:00.006-05:00

It has *finally* arrived.

That glorious time of the year known as SUMMER.

Sun tans and flip flops.

Cold ice tea.

Another season with the white trash pool.

Salad for supper.

Sitting on the porch swing.

Free time. What a novel idea.

Swinging on the porch swing.

A new water gun.

Grilled fruit.

Ambushing little sisters with a new water gun.

A new summer soundtrack, downloaded and ready for memory making.

Green grass. Unless you live in drought stricken Houston.

Nightswimming. With...and without the children. *wink*

Rain dancing. And celebrating the late afternoon roll of thunder that may, or may not produce some relief.

Wine drinking, without the concern of next morning headaches.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

School is out.

We have quickly settled into a summer rhythm. It took all of one afternoon.

I celebrated by taking one long, indulgent nap. This was followed by a large glass of wine, sun on my bare legs, and splashing in the pool.

The rest of the weekend has been much of the same.

I can't express how happy this makes me.

And it's only just beginning...

It's not just for boys...

2011-05-25T21:17:00.004-05:00

Not one to be left out of all the action...

The Girl can rip it up, too.

Look out, boys.

to Jeff Tweedy, with love...

2011-05-17T22:17:00.018-05:00

It recently dawned on me that I have spent almost half my life with you in some form or fashion.

I discovered you in college. You were there in the background. I was drinking beer at Bluff Hole and smoking a cigarette. I fell for you instantly.

The next year you were saying farewell. I was stupid and weak. He told me not to go, and I obliged. Oh, how I wish I'd climbed in the back of that car and traveled those miles to see you. It was a sign. He left a couple weeks later. I kept the cd's. And came out on top. New Madrid.

You went through changes and so did I.

Late night drives. Should've been in love. Misunderstood. Say you miss me.

You led me to Mermaid Avenue. Sad and lonely.

Spring gave me Summer. "He feels lucky to have you here, In his kitchen, in your chair". That's what I wanted.

It would happen.

We drove to the airport, a new ring on my finger. "I could not see any wrong in you, and you saw none in me...".

A man who loved me.

I blinked and then we were three. A little sooner than expected. Every morning, for days on end, a drive to the hospital. Jesus, etc. was ever present. It breaks my hard exterior every. single. time.

Lots of living. And growing. And learning.

Some loss.

"Remember to remember me, standing still in your past..."

Always.

Searching.

You came to town. And then our little beauty arrived.

Three became four.

Lots of living. And growing. And loving.

And then you wrote some sweet little songs that were both happy and sad.

Timing. Perfect timing.

On and on and on. "I will live in you or you will live in me..."

It hasn't always been easy, but now I have "something that no one else has".

So thank you, Jeff Tweedy, for being my soundtrack.

What a sweet soundtrack it is.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are a Wilco fan, this post will make a lot more sense.

If you aren't a Wilco fan, you should be.

9...Not 19

2011-05-15T22:03:00.003-05:00

The Boy turned 9 this weekend.

Not 19, as he'd like you to believe.

9.

He is a puzzle.

A contradiction.

Carefree with a hard exterior.

Fearless yet shy.

He makes me laugh through tears.

He makes my soul swell.

He owns my heart.

Happy birthday, Eli.

My love for you is without end.

Rip it up, man.

You are golden.

Ten On Ten: May

2011-05-10T20:42:00.007-05:00

May 10th.

Ten pictures taken over ten hours.

Note taking.

Nail filing.

Trash magazine reading.

Facebooking.

Time checking.

Blog reading.

Lunch eating.

Garden dreaming.

Time checking. Again.

Texting.

Time checking. Yet again.

Bejeweled Blitzing.

Substitute teacher report reading.

Fan cooling.

A handful of images captured throughout the day...

A day spent inside.

At a teacher in-service.

That is why this is the most exciting ten. Evah.

**sarcasm**

This is a photo essay of how to survive such things.

What did I do before the iPhone? Poor past me.

I'm including a few extras that don't include apps on a smart phone or a watch face...

Bean snapping.

Foot playing.

Garage sitting.

I'll see you back here.

In June.

During SUMMER VACAY!

Excitement guaranteed, yo.

My Mom

2011-05-08T20:22:00.003-05:00

She holds some responsibility for my current smartassiness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mom...

When in doubt, know that I am forever thankful that you are the one I call "Mommy".

You have taught me plenty.

My love knows no bounds.

♥,
Your Baby Girl

Scenes From a Skatepark

2011-05-03T22:34:00.006-05:00

The family that skates together...

...stays together.

To be continued.

Currently...

2011-05-02T17:32:00.000-05:00

I'm gathering my thoughts.

Priorities are in place.

I'm taking action.

I'm sick of making pb&j sandwiches.

I'm pretty sure The Offspring are sick of eating them.

I'm working out.

I think I'm growing my hair out.

I'm laughing at the many stupid things The Mr. discovers on You Tube.

There's a lot of stupid out there.

I'm doing homework. Again.

I thought I was done with story problems.

Yeah. Not so much.

I'm secretly sad.

The Girl no longer sucks her thumb.

Teddy is no longer carried into Target.

I should be happy. But I'm not.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wilco this week.

And then the Avett Brothers a couple weeks later.

Pinch me.

I'm almost done with all my summative conferences at school.

*sigh of relief*

That means summer is around the corner.

*loud, celebratory cheer*

I'm counting down the days.

I'm puzzled by this child.

I'm more puzzled by the fact that he functions in this room.

I can't step foot in there without taking a sedative.

My head spins.

Repeat: Just.Shut.The.Door.

Over and over again.

I'm a sucker.

Notice to all feline types: This house can hold no more. The inn is full. Seek out the next bleeding heart.

Please.

I don't want to end up on Animal Hoarders.

I'm at a loss.

I'm trudging through the 7 stages of grief.

I'm on the second step.

Pray for me. Even if you aren't the praying type.

I'm leaving the past behind.

I'm shutting doors.

I'm moving forward.

I'm dreaming of a getaway with The Mr.

My mind frequently escapes to Laguna.

I'm taking the fine art of sweet-talking to a whole new level.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Currently, I'm feeling more like my self.

Pants Optional

2011-04-29T21:56:00.003-05:00

I'm here.

I'm extending my self-imposed exile a few more days.

I'll be sitting on my couch.

Drinking cheap Texas beer.

Pants optional.

Self Analysis

2011-04-17T20:54:00.005-05:00

This feeling has been nagging me for a while...

I'm uninspired.

No. That's not really it.

I'm lazy.

Sometimes. Out of necessity.

I'm bored.

Not likely.

I'm in a funk.

Possible...

I'm depressed.

Yes. That's got to be it.

But...

Not really.

I've been depressed. Really depressed.

This isn't like that.

Anxiety. It's anxiety.

I had that panic attack. Right?

Hormones.

When in doubt...blame the hormones.

But, no. Not it either.

OK.

Trying to figure out what's wrong with me is making me anxious and depressed. It's putting me in a funk. It zaps all my creativity and sucks the inspiration away.

Then it hit me.

I'm tired.

Really tired.

Physical, mental, emotional.

The whole shebang.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Life has been a lot more demanding this year.

Not necessarily in a bad way either.

My posse at school is a handful. There is no time in which I can fly on automatic pilot. I teach my ass off each and every minute.

These kids *need* me. And I love the challenge.

That myth about it getting easier as your children get older is just that: a big, fat myth.

There are times when I long for the diaper days. It was much simpler then.

I'm still working on the whole nose twitch thing a la Samantha, but have yet to perfect it.

Until then, my laundry needs folding. My dishes need washing. My floors need sweeping.

Sprinkle in traffic, dinner prep, a geriatric dog, and two naughty kitties...and the fat lady begins to sing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I feel like this place has become stale.

Wit and cleverness have left the building.

Sometimes it feels more like a chore: the picture taking, editing, uploading, writing, linking.

My Google Reader taunts me.

I want to comment and give you a tip of the hat.

But there are nights when all I want to do is sit around in my underwear watching mindless television, drinking Lone Star from a can.

Enter guilt.

Especially when I receive such lovely props from all of you.

I've started to avoid posting just to escape the ensuing guilt.

I've thought of pulling the plug. Sneaking away in the dark of night.

But I know I'd regret that decision.

Do any of you feel this way?

Does the whole blogging-reading-commenting cycle get overwhelming for you?

Am I just being a wuss?

Is this the most asinine problem to be plagued with?

I'm not sure how to resolve this quandary.

It's all so 2011.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Epilogue:

I'm not going to leave my throng of readers hanging.

I'll post when wit and cleverness rear their heads. And sometimes when they don't.

I'll check in as often as I can. But I'm not going to give myself an ulcer over the whole thing.

I say that all blasé, but know this:

I will still be racked with guilt as I sit on my couch in my undies drinking cheap Texas beer, watching people on television that are crazier than I am.

Cheers.

Ten On Ten: April

2011-04-10T22:31:00.005-05:00

April 10th.

Ten pictures taken over ten hours.

I can wear my contacts again.

Rejoice.

Boards.

Just. Shut. The. Door.

She's been leaving him at home sometimes.

This kills me more than it should.

Rip it up.

Meow.

Ride.

An element of dinner.

Color from above.

Steamed.

Not just for boys.

My hot skater.

And a proud daddy.

A handful of images captured throughout the day...

A day spent outside.

In the sun.

A day of fun.

Listen up, spring.

You should know, I love you more and more each year.

I hope your ten was just as sunny.

Don't let the pictures fool you...

2011-04-05T18:23:00.005-05:00

In a perfect world, I would bake our bread each week.

But, this is not a perfect world.

I enjoy the act of baking bread.

Measuring. Mixing. Kneading. Waiting.

And the aroma...

Sublime.

The reality: We don't eat a whole lot of bread.

No way! Really?

Yes. It be true.

Sandwiches are a once in a while thing.

The Offspring aren't little toast heads or pb&j fiends.

I tap into all the will power my soul possesses and steer clear. But only because I care about the size of my ass.

The Mr. is some sort of no-bread cyborg. I've never seen a person eat half a slice at dinner.

Weirdos.

My family is a big bunch of weirdos.

The whole lot of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This makes a simply delicious loaf. I swapped the wheat germ for flax meal with excellent results.

I could easily eat half a loaf all by my lonesome.

I've also made the cinnamon-sugar loaf.

I won't admit to eating half a loaf all by my lonesome.

I'll only say that it was shortly thereafter that I put the brakes on bread baking.

Such is the life in a house of weirdos.

Livin' (not so) Large...

2011-04-03T21:25:00.007-05:00

Yeah.

I've been keeping a frantic pace.

It has been intense.

I've cooked some dinner.

One night we had refried black bean burritos.

With copious amounts of avocado.

One night we had take-out.

With copious amounts of fortune cookies.

I've read a bit here and there.

Camera settings, egg replacements, NBA stats.

They all represent.

I wrote some lesson plans.

The letter j is captivating.

See.

The kitties are barely keeping up with all this action.

Maybe they are tuckered from continuing to eat all my plants.

So far, these have remained unscathed. I fear that they too have a death sentence.

I'm about as caught up on laundry as I will ever get.

That means I only have one basket, folded, and waiting for me to put it away.

One load is sitting in the dryer right now.

And there is a full basket of whites that need attention.

This is improvement people! Do I get a whoop-whoop?

I've endured a Spurs loss.

Times six.

Six?!?!?!?!

Are you effing kidding me?

It has been brutal. Sickening. Stick-a-dagger-in-my-heart horrible.

This means I've been having multiple beers.

My moods are known to change on a dime during football and basketball season.

I have been *most* unpleasant throughout this skid.

The hurried pace has broken our stinky, obese, partially blind, slightly deaf, and mostly senile dog. She lays at my feet, farting and snoring while deep in sleep.

You're tired just reading this, huh? I warned you.

Intense.

Does your rock and roll living compare with mine?

Make like a canary and sing.

I'll check-in and catch-up with all of you tomorrow. Because right now, I've got more large livin' to do.

Peace, out.

Life Lesson

2011-03-30T21:00:00.003-05:00

If you decide to enjoy a glass of wine whilst folding laundry, skip the red.

Choose a Chardonnay.

Then, when you knock over your full glass of vino and it spills all over the just-folded basket of whites, it won't stain your favorite white tank top.

Or your best fitting white t-shirt.

Or all your light colored undies.

On the up-side: You are more than entitled to another glass.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am still here.

Life has been keeping me busy.

That and re-washing whites.

What's For Dinner? (an extended version)

2011-03-22T17:13:00.003-05:00

This is a menu that has a little past, present, and future. I wrote it last week with enough meals planned to cover the remainder of spring break along with this current week.

The past.

Last week I made:

*this quinoa casserole and a salad

The kids were gone and we decided to stay in one night. I figured I could cook big and The Mr. would have enough leftovers to get him through the work week while I was out in the country. He referred to it as eating bachelor-style vegan.

*taco soup, minus the meat and ranch dressing mix, with added taco seasoning

This is what I made for Mom and Pops. Hearty, flavorful, and totally vegan. Combined with cornbread, it was the perfect introduction to a new way of eating for my meat-and-potato driven parents.

The next night we had burgers. There was the traditional beef patty, but I also brought a box of these. They held up well on the grill. Pops even tried one to show The Boy that real men can eat veg. I was proud.

The introduction must have gone over well. Pops sent me a text today letting me know they finished off the last of the soup. He also sent his menu for the remainder of the week. Not a bit of meat to be found! I asked if he was going vegan. His response: as vegan as I'll ever be.

I'll take it.

Here's to your health, Mom and Pops.

We got back home on Saturday.

We went to a vegetarian buffet for dinner. Upon hearing our destination, The Offspring were not enthused. Then they saw that they could eat with chopsticks.

I guess meatless options are infinitely better when you can dine with wooden sticks.

They were begging to go back before we had pulled out of the parking lot.

Thank you, chopsticks.

Since it was Saturday night...and we hadn't seen each other in a few days...and the kids were asleep...I thought it appropriate to get a little crazy. I poured some wine and...

...headed to the kitchen to make seitan.

That Mr. hit the jackpot with me. *wink*

Which leads me to this week's menu...

Sunday: "chicken" seitan, stewed squash, garlicky greens and mushrooms

Monday: black eyed peas, corn pudding, tomatoes

Tuesday: grilled tempeh and vegetable skewers

Wednesday: refried black bean burritos, guacamole, tomatoes

Thursday: spaghetti

Friday: hamburgers, oven fries

Saturday: back to the veggie and chopstick buffet

As I've mentioned, all our meals start out with a large salad, either romaine or spinach, with a bit of this, some seeds, tomatoes, cucumbers. As long as it's fresh and raw it's fair game.

I made some more chocolate chip cookies over the weekend. The Boy and The Mr. are weak in the knees over the latest batch.

I question The Girl's sanity, yet again.

She would prefer Life cereal.

And there you have it: seitan, chopsticks, and Life cereal.

I know you foodies are jealous.

Livin' Large, Baby...

2011-03-20T21:19:00.009-05:00

A peek into my rock star life...

A late night beer with a side of guacamole.

The Mr. and I know how to live it up when the kiddies are away.

I think I'm the only one that likes the time change.

Late night baking is fun when you don't have to set an alarm.

Most things are fun when you don't have to set an alarm.

I did some spring cleaning.

Beds were stripped.

Quilts were washed.

Rooms straightened.

Since The Offspring were gone, it stayed that way for a few days.

I took some time off from kitchen detail.

The Mr. and I went out for vegan enchiladas.

I think mole sauce and corn tortillas are a match made in heaven.

Victory.

My first batch of perfectly prepared tofu.

Mid-week I headed out to the country to gather The Offspring and visit with Mom and Pops.

I made a completely vegan meal.

Now, if you know my Pops, you know that he ain't the vegan sort. He is meat and potatoes all the way.

I was proud of Pops. He cleaned his plate. And even had seconds.

This cornbread = amazing.

If the vegan label makes you wary, set the bias aside. It was like corn cake. A perfect mate to the meatless taco soup we had for supper.

Perk of being in the country: Your table's centerpiece is picked from the backyard.

The downside: no dishwasher.

But, being able to watch a Spurs game on television with my Pops made it all better. So did beating Dallas. And then watching all the slow-mo replays during the post-game show.

Yeah. Doing the dishes by hand was well worth it.

I am a Spurs nerd. To the core.

St. Patrick's Day: the wee ones had green Sprite while the not-so-wee ones had green Lone Star.

Pops put a lot of food coloring in that beverage.

The Girl's upper lip was tinged green for two days.

Another perk of being out in the country: The Offspring spend most of the day outside playing.

Easy to do when weaponry is involved.

Don't worry. He didn't shoot his eye out.

All too soon, it was time to head back to the city.

Back to our crib.

Back to all the furries.

The Mr. still has his beard, so I'll include him in that group.

Did you see the moon last night?

It was a little cloudy here in H-town. But it was still big and bright.

Guess what peeps?

It's officially SPRING!

So, what's been going on in your rock and roll life?

Spill it.

And then share it over here.

So Long, Winter

2011-03-19T18:20:00.003-05:00

Dear Winter,

Today was your last hurrah.

It was in the 80's.

I think that Spring already has you in a headlock.

I won't miss the drip, drip.

Houston pipes are fragile.

Your early darkness was a bore.

A total buzz kill.

You are a tease, Mr. Winter.

You promised snow. A rare treat for south Texas kiddies.

Instead, you left two measly icicles.

Cheeky, you are.

No, I am not sad to see you go.

Although, I must confess that I will miss the once-in-a-blue-moon-snow-day-with-no-snow, hot chocolate, and warm cinnamon toast on a cold, crisp day.

So long, Winter.

Until next year.

The world is in turmoil, so I'm writing about granola...

2011-03-17T20:24:00.005-05:00

The world is c-r-a-z-y right now.

So it's only fitting that I write about granola.

I've never been a fan of granola.

It usually has coconut. I hate coconut.

It's also obscenely expensive.

I was inspired by this post and this post.

I more or less combined the two. Then I spliced them with my own take on things.

A mix of almonds and chopped walnuts.

Sometimes maple syrup, sometimes agave as a sweetener.

Meh. There are no hard and fast rules with breakfast cereal.

Mix it well.

Spread it out on a baking sheet.

Stick it in the oven.

Mix it around every 20 minutes for about an hour.

Let it cool.

Then stir in some dried cranberries and cherries.

Or whatever combo sounds good to your morning taste buds.

Granola.

The Mr. thinks it's better than sliced bread. When the granola canister runs low, he sounds the alarm.

So I double the recipe.

That way he'll share.

Perfect with vanilla almond milk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I eat my homemade granola with vanilla almond milk while sitting in my comfortable, warm, dry home with running water, clean clothes, a working bathroom, and my family close at hand, I can't help but think about those in Japan that have nothing.

Nothing.

It's all gone.

I admire the strength and civility of the Japanese people that are having to endure such hardship. They are an example to us all.

I encourage you to donate to the Red Cross or one of the other charities that are giving assistance to those that have been devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.

I will admit to being a bit dismayed over the lack of (publicized) help being shown to this country in need. I've seen no Hollywood-sponsored telethons, special charities established, or other such displays of support. From what I understand, donations are much lower for this disaster than those previous.

I realize times are tough.

Belts have been tightened.

But it's $10.

You'll enjoy your granola even more if you give just a little.

Livin' Large, Baby...

2011-03-13T19:46:00.013-05:00

A peek into my rock star life...

The Girl went to a birthday party with a henna artist.

She chose the most masculine design offered. What the...?

There was no swaying her decision.

Girl goes to the beat of her own drum, I tell ya, and she keeps me guessing.

There are nights when The Offspring skip a bath because I am just too tired to clean up the trail of destruction that is left in their wake.

They must have some disorder that prevents them from picking up their clothes, underwear, shoes, socks, and wet towels from the bathroom floor.

Yes, I know. They should pick it up.

They do. But their version of picked up and my version of picked up are very different.

And for the record, I've grown weary of sharing the bathtub with Hulk.

Thank you, Lord, that ketchup is vegan.

I had a panic attack of sorts. Or at least that's what I think it was.

I was sitting on the couch, folding some clothes and watching Forrest Gump on television, when suddenly I had the overwhelming feeling that something bad was going to happen. I couldn't shake it. It just got stronger and stronger.

The Mr. returned from band practice only to find his usually stoic wife having some sort of hyperventilating meltdown...because Forrest and Jenny finally got married...and Captain Dan got new legs...and then Jenny died!

Really. It wasn't the movie.

I don't know what triggered it.

All I know is that Valium can be a wonderful thing.

The iPad is not helping my cause when it comes to getting to bed earlier.

I started another project.

At least I thought about starting another project. What you see here is about as far as I got.

I really should finish that damn afghan. And the lightweight sweater. And the wrap. And the summer tank top that remains in pieces.

Should finish.

If cleaning up after The Offspring weren't enough fun, the kitties are adding even more frivolity to the mix.

They have knocked over three of my plants and are eating a fourth.

Good thing they're cute.

Why can't you eat oatmeal with chopsticks?

The Mr. has grown a beard.

I have always told him that if he grew a beard he would be sleeping on the couch.

Last week I changed my mind.

Maybe I've been looking at too many cute and bearded indie rockers.

I must say: He sports it well.

I've found myself glued to the television the past few days.

The devastation in Japan leaves me speechless.

I cannot imagine.

This hits home for us. I've never been to Japan, but The Mr. goes almost every year. He has seen the before pictures in person.

I'm in awe of nature's power.

On a happier note...

The Mr. surprised me with Spurs tickets.

Then he gave me an even bigger surprise.

Check out that ticket.

Row 1, baby. Just off the court.

I could hear Manu arguing a call with a ref!

The Mr. is awesomeness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And that's just one week.

I'm livin' large over here in H-town, yo.

What was your week like?

Show off your rock star life and link up over at Kimberly's place.

It's what all the Blog Land ballers are doing.

Ten On Ten: March

2011-03-10T21:29:00.004-06:00

March 10th.

Ten pictures taken over ten hours.

Wrinkles, begone.

Tofu prep.

Solo ride: a rare treat.

Word building.

Lessons learned.

Author study.

Texas proud.

Teddy's hangout.

Comic relief.

Waiting.

Parking lot.

A handful of images captured throughout the day...

It was a long one.

Thursdays always are.

School, tutoring, traffic.

Home.

Finally.

Now if you'll excuse me...someone just spilled a whole bottle of grape juice inside the fridge.

I have some cleaning to do.

And then I need to wash my mouth out with soap.

It's spring, yo!

I'll see you in April with another set of ten.

What's For Dinner?

2011-03-08T16:23:00.006-06:00

I wrote this week's menu after drinking a glass (translation: 3 glasses) of wine. Here's what I came up with...

Sunday: quinoa big bowl (from last week), salad

Monday: pasta with alfredo sauce and broccoli, salad

Tuesday: avocado-wasabi salad

Wednesday: black bean and sweet potato enchiladas, sweet corn, salad, avocado

Thursday: tofu scramble, veggie sausage, sweet potato home fries, fruit

Friday: veggie burgers (4th time's a charm, no?)

Saturday: out

So far, the wine made some good choices.

The quinoa big bowl was really good. The flavors involved were quite simple. I think that's what made it so tasty. I changed the original recipe a bit: I used roasted sweet potatoes, a red onion, and added roasted portobello mushrooms and sautéed bok choy. I think the sweet potatoes and mushrooms made the dish. The Mr. added a bit of balsamic dressing over the top. I needed no additional oomph.

The pasta and alfredo sauce was good, but I wouldn't call it a true alfredo sauce. It was more like macaroni and cheese. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Boy ate three helpings. Little did he know that there was not one bit of cheese in his beloved mac & cheese. The Girl decided that it didn't taste good based solely on the shape of the pasta. She can be maddening.

Tonight I made the avocado-wasabi salad. Wow. Big yumz on this one. I doubled the amount of wasabi that the recipe called for, but I have little restraint when it comes to wasabi. I suggest tasting as you go.

I've started making granola and baking bread. More on that later...

Because of all the granola-making and bread-baking, other sweet endeavors are being postponed.

But I'm not having to do without. The Mr. has been bringing me a vegan chocolate chip cookie every few days.

I guess that warrants me shaving my legs. *wink*

Next week is our spring break. I'm taking the week off from menu-making. I'm putting away the cookbooks, getting out of the kitchen, and I'm determined to make something that doesn't involve a food product.

Because this ain't a food blog, yo.

But until then, you'll have to deal with my wild kitchen endeavors.

'Ta!

It Ain't What It Used To Be

2011-03-04T21:03:00.004-06:00

The Boy: What is this?

Me: A burger.

The Boy: *pause* A burger of what?

Me: A burger of black beans and quinoa. It's good...try it.

*desperation move*

The Native Americans ate quinoa all the time. It's an Indian burger!

The Boy: I don't care about that, mom! I'm not an Indian!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No. Burger night ain't what it used to be...

But I'm thisclose to finding a very good replacement.

And no one will have to pretend they're an Indian.

A Noteworthy Salad...

2011-03-03T16:16:00.003-06:00

Eating lots of raw vegetables is a good thing.

I know this.

But snacking on raw broccoli just ain't my thing.

The solution?

This noteworthy salad.

It's a mix of broccoli, cabbage, kale, and carrots that have been run through the food processor. Any raw veg-mix would work. I'm thinking the addition of cauliflower and squash would be good.

We add a cup or so to the top of our salad at lunch and dinner along with a handful of seeds or some beans.

Then we top it with this no-oil balsamic dressing:

1 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup water
a few cloves of garlic
a tsp of onion powder
1-2 Tbs Dijon mustard
2-3 Tbs nutritional yeast
agave syrup, to taste

Put all the ingredients in a blender and let it whirl.

Please know that I don't measure anything. Those are total approximations.

I add agave until it's the right balance of sweet to the tang of the vinegar. So you'll want to taste as you go. Same with the mustard. I probably use closer to two tablespoons because I like a really intense flavor.

A few words on nutritional yeast: This is not the same yeast you use to bake bread. I get mine in the bulk section at Whole Foods. I really like its flavor, but I've heard it's one of those things that people either love or hate. I like to use it in dressings because it acts as an emulsifier instead of the usual oil. This saves tons of calories if you are a salad drencher, like me.

I use a Magic Bullet to mix my dressings. It is small but powerful and cleans up in a snap. Well worth the money.

*And this concludes the infomercial portion of this post.*

I'm shocked at how filling and...good this simple salad is.

Really, you should give it a try.

Your bod will thank you.

What's For Dinner?

2011-03-01T17:07:00.008-06:00

Here's the plan, Stan...

Sunday: pizza margherita, ginormous salad

Monday: maple grilled tempeh, wild rice with green beans and mushrooms, roasted brussels sprouts

Tuesday: New Year's Soup

Wednesday: black bean tacos, salad with avocado and sweet corn

Thursday: quinoa big bowl

Friday: veggie burgers, avocado, tomato

Saturday: out

We have a monster salad every night with dinner. Usually just a mix of greens, cucumbers, sweet peppers, and tomatoes. I'm sure as the weather gets warmer, the salads will be taken to the next level.

I'm making the New Year's Soup minus the chicken. It is such a good soup. No way was I going to banish it from the rotation. I'll add a few more lentils and maybe some chickpeas. And use vegetable stock, of course.

I'm tweaking the quinoa bowl, too. I think I'll sub roasted sweet potatoes for the ones called for and add some bok choy.

I've made vegan versions of chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies. They were both really good, although the vote was split. Those under the age of 9 enjoyed the chocolate version, those over the age of 9 preferred the oat variety.

I haven't quite made up my mind what will be next in the sweets department. The Girl has been begging for some blueberry muffins...a total possibility.

You'll have to excuse the onslaught of food posts that will be coming your way. I've had my nose buried in cookbooks for the past three weeks.

It's what's been happening.

A little like a new hobby.

I assure you, I won't post anything that wouldn't be good to the masses.

Considering the food-centered nature of my mind right now, I found this post by Daphne quite timely. If I start to prattle on about the beauty of a block of tofu or the serenity of a bunch of kale...kick my ass, K?

Here's a little more foodie fun:

Salad in a jar, anyone?

These pots and pans fill me with want.

Nom, nom, nom.

I think someone needs to serve me these in bed.
But I'll settle for that someone washing the dishes.

I can't wait to listen to this in the kitchen.

OK, foodies. Charge.

It's Only Fitting...

2011-02-28T17:57:00.004-06:00

It's only fitting that February conclude with a few things that are near and dear...

The casa.

There is no place I'd rather be come quitting time.

Or starting time, for that matter.

Her toes.

See them peaking out?

I want to pinch them.

Supper.

Every night we all sit down, as a family.

Now, there's just a bit more green.

The creatures.

All my furries.

I never want for cuddles.

My dishwasher.

He helps with the dishes every night. He always has, since day one.

I'm lucky. Good help is hard to come by.

Time-out.

I chose "pause" as my word for 2011.

I'm living it, as much as possible.

His play.

It's loud. It moves fast.

It won't last forever. Sometimes that's good. Other times, not so much.

Fresh baked cookies, piled high in the kitchen.

I needn't say more for this one.

So long, February.

xxoo

What's For Dinner?

2011-02-21T20:33:00.003-06:00

Inspiration has found my kitchen.

The new eating plan has brought a renewed sense of excitement to the nightly dinner prep. I have spent hours looking through cookbooks, gathering ideas, planning for future meals.

I told you I was a party animal.

I've whittled the list of things I want to make down to a week's worth of suppers...

Sunday: spaghetti, sautéed summer squash & zucchini, lettuce and tomato salad

Monday: stir fried leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, asparagus, & mushrooms with magic sauce, brown rice

Tuesday: baked Italian tofu, hot skillet salad

Wednesday: red posole with beans, salad with avocado, corn, & tomatoes

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: veggie burgers, oven fries, tomatoes, avocado, salad greens

Saturday: out

A quick update...

Giving up all meat and dairy has not been difficult.
At all.
No lie.

I have yet to feel hungry.

My jeans are looser.

My crew has had minimal complaints.

So far, so good, I say!

I'll admit that I'm lucky. The Mr. is totally on board with the changes being made. The Offspring are young and, although they might whine a bit, will eat what's on the table.

A batch of vegan chocolate chip cookies lulled them enough for me to launch a sneak attack with kale and chard at dinner.

I can't end this post without a standing ovation for Angry Chicken's magic sauce.

Holy smokes.

I'll admit to eating a spoonful...or two, straight from the jar.

When I read her post, I knew the concoction would be seriously delicious or a sad disaster. I should never doubt The Chicken. She knows her condiments.

I made a jar full tonight.

I had to make another batch to use on our lunches tomorrow.

OK peeps. That's my story.

Outtakes

2011-02-20T22:15:00.005-06:00

Just a few outtakes...

Valentine's Day came and went.

It was Monday.

I didn't shave my legs.

No luck was had. Sorry, Mr.

He wisely skipped the Vermont Teddy Bear.

Now, I feel a bit guilty about foregoing the leg upkeep.

I reorganized the pantry.

I think it's my new favorite place in the house.

All those glass jars filled with bulk items...*sigh*.

Froot Loops make counting to 100 much easier, ya know.

Nutritional standards can be overlooked in the name of education.

My reading material.

Research.

Plans.

I betray my coolness by admitting how giddy it makes me.

Naughty kitty.

He's gotten lost more times than I can count.

I don't blame him for wanting to be left alone in that beautiful pantry.

But if he's not there, you should also check the cabinets.

The drawers.

The closets.

The TV console.

Between the shower curtains.

Stuffed in pillows.

Oh, and The Girl's backpack.

I've been in the kitchen.

A lot.

I feel inspired again.

It's a nice change.

I think it's easier to let her start the night here.

The Mr. might disagree. He's the one that carries her back to her own room.

I'm not fighting it. I like crawling into a warm bed.

After eating fruit for dessert all week, The Mr. brought me a vegan chocolate chip cookie on Friday.

I transformed into Cookie Monster.

I felt like I had gotten lucky. And no one had to shave their legs.

It was a really good week.

Life Lesson

2011-02-17T22:45:00.004-06:00

Don't tell your teacher that you aren't feeling well and that you have an older brother at home named Francis that can pick you up.

This is especially important if your mom also happens to teach at your school.

Teachers talk.

And you will get busted.

Nice try, dude.

{A meat-free, dairy-free} What's For Dinner?

2011-02-13T20:55:00.010-06:00

Meat-free? Dairy-free? Yes. You read that correctly.

I fear that these menu posts will soon become a place where the crickets chirp.

Please. Be patient and have an open mind.

Some background:

We have always eaten pretty healthy. We weren't extreme, but definitely above the fray. You know: lean meats, whole grains, lots of veggies.

Then, a couple of week ago I read this book.

At first I thought, "Whatever."

Then I thought, "This is starting to make a lot of sense."

And then I thought, "Crap. This makes total sense."

I didn't want to buy into it. But I felt I had no choice.

And so, the decision was made: This family was gonna be making some changes.

I'm jumping off the high diving board and giving up all meat and dairy products.

The Mr. is giving up most meat but will still eat eggs and a tiny bit of cheese.

The Offspring will make a gradual transition to our new way of eating.

No sense in having them run away from home. Especially with the weather being as cold as it has of late.

So, without further ado...this week we will be eating:

Sunday: curried chickpeas & greens, cauliflower purée, chard & kale salad with no-oil balsamic

Monday: chickpea & rice soup with cabbage, romaine salad with sweet peppers & cucumber

Tuesday: baked tofu, black eyed peas, asparagus & brussels sprouts with lemon & mustard, simple lettuce and tomato salad

Wednesday: vegetable bean burritos, salad with avocado, corn, & tomato

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: black bean burgers, tomatoes, avocados, cabbage salad

Saturday: out

See. Not so bad, right?

Mind you, all of these dishes can be adapted for meat eaters. I've added meat to vegetarian dishes for years with excellent results.

Most nights we will have a piece of fruit for dessert. But I am going to bake a little somethin'-somethin' for the weekend.

I want to bake these brownies that just so happen to be vegan. Who knew?

Or these vegan chocolate chip cookies.

Sarah is also taking the vegan plunge. We have agreed to be a mutual support system to each other while we go through this switch.

I'm not going all militant, "Meat Is Murder", on all of you. I am doing this for pure health reasons. And shrink my ass reasons.

I'm a vain vegan.

This decision is right for me. And my family.

Our health.

I'm non-judgmental. What's good for us isn't good for the whole crowd.

I'll elaborate more in the future. But for now, what's important is that a change has been made.

I still like the taste of meat and cheese. And I'm not going to say that I'll *never* have it again. But a daily serving is a thing of the past.

Ketchup and Diet Dr. Pepper, however, are a completely different story.

Ten On Ten: February

2011-02-10T17:52:00.006-06:00

February 10th.

Ten pictures taken over ten hours.

Gargle.

Purr.

Snuggle.

Pretend.

Break.

Watch.

Water.

Nap.

Plan.

Snack.

A handful of images captured throughout the day...

Today was a school day. But we stayed home.

Not feeling well enough to go to school. Not feeling bad enough to stay in bed.

Scratchy throats. Coughs.

I'm not complaining.

My day was a lot prettier this way.

Although...

Fold.

It's still not done.

I'll see you with another ten in March.

That's when winter officially ends, right?

Praise. The. Lord.

What's For Dinner?

2011-02-06T17:44:00.004-06:00

On the menu this week...

Sunday: roasted vegetable lasagna, garlic bread

Monday: beef stew with cauliflower purée, spinach, roasted asparagus

Tuesday: tacos, black beans, guacamole, pico de gallo

Wednesday: chicken and dumplings

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: hamburgers, oven fries

Saturday: out

I am tiring of cold weather food. I miss my grill and the warmer temps that go with it. I shouldn't complain. Houston's weather is much more tolerable than most.

But still. I miss my tank tops and flip flops.

Seeing as how I'm bored silly with winter eats, I spent much of our cold weekend laying around, reading cookbooks, searching for inspiration.

That can be a dangerous quest...

So, I decided to bake bread. I made three large loaves that should get us through the week and then some. It's worth all the effort just to have that smell waft through my house.

I've been having toast every morning. Big slices of toast. I'm pretending that since it's homemade, the carbs aren't as bad as the store bought variety. I'm right, aren't I?

I cook big, ya'll. There will be plenty.

Stop by if you'd like.

This is what I'll remember about January...

2011-02-02T19:21:00.007-06:00

It's no secret that January was less than stellar around these parts.

No tears were shed when the calendar changed over to February.

But now that it's all said and done, this is what I'm choosing to remember about January...

cuddler

my boys

soothing

before midnight

work attire

take-out

held, always

made

here

in the blink of an eye

seen, again

to my right

neglected

a blur

never enough (sleep)

count

pampered

text-holler

every night

100 days, recorded

This is why I take a picture every single day...

To remember the good parts.

Bring it, February.

My battery is charged.

Life Lesson

2011-01-31T20:38:00.004-06:00

When playing Army at recess, make sure that you are far away from metal poles.

Otherwise, when you are battling the enemy, you'll run into one of them and bust your head open.

And then you'll need stitches.

The upside: double lollipops at the doctor's office and no homework.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm proud of you, man.

You are a trooper.

And thank you for not knocking out teeth or gouging out an eye.

Stitches I can deal with.

xxoo

Simple Suppers: Broccoli & Cheese Soup

2011-01-28T17:36:00.005-06:00

'Tis the season of soup.

This one won't disappoint.

I was inspired by Beki. She saw this and made a pot for her family to enjoy.

Here is my version...

Broccoli & Cheese Soup

1 48oz carton of low sodium chicken broth
2 cans cream of celery soup, the healthy version
1 can evaporated milk, fat free
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste
4-5 broccoli crowns, cut into bite size pieces
1 package grated sharp cheddar cheese (I use the 2% variety.)

Combine the broth, cream of celery soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings in a large pot. Stir to combine.

Add the broccoli and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let simmer for another 30 minutes or so. Use a hand mixer to semi-blend the soup. You still want some larger pieces of broccoli, but a creamy texture as well.

Add the cheese, a little at a time, and stir until well combined.

Ladle it up!

I served this with some chicken strips and a whole wheat quick bread.

It was yummy the night of...

...but even better the next day for lunch.

One of the coolest things I've ever seen...

2011-01-26T17:48:00.005-06:00

This has been around a while, I know. But it never gets old.

I was trying to entertain The Offspring while waiting at the ER for my zombie eye. You Tube is a great time suck for young and old alike.

This video is at the top of my favorites.

I think it's one of the coolest things ever.

If you haven't checked out Lauren O'Connell's other stuff, you really should.

And guess who she's friends with?

That be Nataly Dawn of Pomplamoose fame.

Yep. Birds of a feather.

And, oh yeah. They have a little side project.

All for your listening pleasure.

Lots of it.

January's Kitchen

2011-01-25T21:19:00.005-06:00

January hasn't been my best month in the kitchen.

But it's had its moments...

lunch: tomatoes and olives

roughly chopped

tunes

my two favorite colors, roasted

soup making

take-out

Ny-Quil coma

her new favorite

Sometimes the seemingly unremarkable shines the brightest while in the kitchen.

What's For Dinner?

2011-01-24T19:08:00.009-06:00

Well, hellooooooo again!

Thank you so much for all of your kind comments on my last post. Each and every one of them was appreciated and made me smile.

I figured the perfect place for me to catch up is with a weekly menu. This week I'm back in the kitchen full time. Slated for our dining pleasure is...

Sunday: broccoli & cheese soup, chicken strips, whole wheat bread

Monday: tilapia with artichokes, tomatoes, olives, & garlic; warm spinach and quinoa salad

Tuesday: white bean and chicken chili

Wednesday: burritos with winter squash & goat cheese; corn, avocado, & tomato salad

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: hamburgers, oven fries

Saturday: pizza

I want to make some blueberry scones or a coffee cake. But that probably won't happen until later in the week. I'm back in the kitchen, but I'm not going to go for broke.

I chose a lot of new recipes for this menu. I've been rather uninspired when it comes to food prep. I have the Everyday Food app on my phone and opted to let Martha lend me a hand. I mean, if Martha can't help, no one can.

Things have settled down quite a bit. But January has lost its favor. I am over it.

I'm over winter. I'm sick of being cold.

This is me. In my living room. Freezing.

I had to put on my big, puffy coat.

And I live in Houston! Don't ask me how I survived the harsh Minnesota winters for as long as I did. I would surely perish today.

I'm finally catching up with things around the house. My anxiety level is steadily dropping.

Laundry is almost caught up...as caught up as it will ever be.
The kitchen has been wiped down.
There is no longer a ring around my tub.
Everyone has clean underwear in their dresser drawers.

Now I just have to kick my zombie eye.

WARNING. THIS LOOKS REALLY GROSS.

This landed me in the ER over the weekend.

I kept thinking I had something in my eye and that it would eventually work itself out. Two days later, it was still there. The whole side of my face was sore and it felt like sand was scratching my eye. The Mr. made me put my stubbornness aside and go see a trained medical professional.

After numbing, dying, poking, and prodding, it was determined that there was nothing in my eye other than a monster eye infection.

The downside is that I am without contacts and eye make-up until things return to normal. The upside is that I get to enjoy some really good pain meds.

And it got me a day off of school.

That, I've determined, is just what the doctor ordered.

I'm back, yo. I'll be seeing you around the neighborhood.

The light at the end of the tunnel...

2011-01-18T18:46:00.009-06:00

The light at the end of the tunnel...I'm just now seeing a glimmer in the distance.

It's been a chaotic couple of weeks.

I mentioned way back when that our old and busted school was being rebuilt.

Well, the many months of waiting and watching has come to an end. Construction is complete, at least enough for us to move-in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Move. Mid-year.

**scream**

Noooooooooooooo!

Why, YES!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever moved? It's a gigantic stress ball, right?

Imagine moving with 22 five year old children in your charge. And having to teach them while at it.

I managed to get all of the popsicle sticks, books, crayons, pom poms, unifix cubes, glue sticks, and other kindergarten necessities packed.

This was no small feat.

But the mission was accomplished.

Everything successfully made it to my new classroom.

This, too, was no small feat.

I was given one weekend to unpack all boxes, arrange new furniture, and find places for all those popsicle sticks, books, crayons, pom poms, unifix cubes, glue sticks, and other kindergarten necessitates.

One weekend.

One weekend?

One weekend.

Have you ever seen a kindergarten classroom?

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: Kindergarten teachers spend at least a couple of weeks getting their rooms all decked out for the wee ones to come and wreak havoc.

I was getting a couple of days.

Thanks to loud music, Diet Dr. Pepper, and a Mr. who did an ace job of picking up the slack, the impossible became the possible.

The room was ready (enough) to greet my posse this morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had a very successful day in our new building. It was like the beginning of school all over again. We had to learn a new bathroom routine, where the office and nurse were located, where our new square on the rug would be, and most important, how to get to the lunchroom.

There were a few snafus: One of my little peeps decided to bring a snow globe to school, which shattered in her back pack. Another one stepped in mud up to her ankles...literally. This was all discovered while trying to exit the building for an unexpected fire alarm.

Oh, and did I mention this excitement all took place in the first thirty minutes of our day?

Which brings me to now.

Things are calming down.

I can see us returning to our familiar routine. Last night, I folded a basket of laundry. Tonight, I cooked for the first time in over a week. Tomorrow, I plan on cleaning the bathroom.

I've had to let things slide.

It has been a real struggle. I don't do well when things aren't "in their place". I have a difficult time concentrating. Anxiety is high.

It hasn't been pretty. The Boy started referring to me as an angry elf again.

I need time to catch my breath.

I'm hitting pause.

Please know, Blog Land homies, that I am reading and enjoying all of your recent posts, whenever I get a free moment. But commenting has been an extreme challenge. If you don't get a shout-out from me in the next few days, you know why.

I still love you...I just have to put away the clean underwear and get rid of the ring around my tub.

I knew you'd understand.

XXOO