Wednesday Wisdom

During the past week my facebook wall has been cluttered with friends talking about feeling good in ones own shoes, ignoring gossip, and pretty much living life the way you want to.  My favorite quote that someone posted and it may have been just their own words is going to be this weeks wisdom.

Life is too short to stress yourself with people who don't even deserve to be an issue in your life.

I stressed about one person for way too long last winter/spring. But I eventually realized that I was wasting my time. So I let it go. And I felt so much better. In fact, I rarely even think about this person any longer.  It has made a huge difference in my life.

So I hope you can take this advice and run with it.

Diet update

I decided to switch my weigh in days from Tuesday to Saturday.

So this week was a little short.  But I am down 4.5 lbs. total.

Woohoo!!!

Am I smarter than a 2nd grader?

Although I passed the are you smarter than a 3rd grader test my SIL emailed me a couple of weeks back, I am not sure I am qualified for 2nd grade math (or reading for that matter). 

Today I watched my niece and nephew after school. My niece and the Drama Queen each sat down to the their homework.  After checking my niece's math homework (& yes I considered using a calculator), I was trying to explain how to solve the problem. It was something like 51 - 28, and I was shocked to discover that they no longer do math how we were taught.  She looked at me like I was insane when I tried to about carrying things over and crossing out a number.  She taught me their terminology nowadays to which I probably looked shocked. I even had to call my SIL to teach me so I could teach her.

I have to admit, I am a little nervous for when the Drama Queen gets to 2nd grade.  I told the hubby at dinner that I might need a tutor so I could teach our kids. He laughed at me.  But he didn't realize that  I was only half joking....

Pesto and Red Pepper Cream Cheese Bake

On Saturday evening, the family and I were invited to a friends house last minute for dinner. The hosts already had everything planned/prepared and didn't really need us to bring anything.  I couldn't go empty handed so we decided to bring this easy to prepare appetizer. One of our friends makes a similar recipe cold and without the crescent roll.  She also uses sun dried tomatoes in her recipe.  My hubby doesn't like the tomatoes so we changed it up and came up with this recipe.

Pesto and Red Pepper Cream Cheese Bake

1 can crescent rolls
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
4 TB pesto sauce
4 TB roasted red peppers, chopped

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a baking sheet. Unroll half of the dough on the baking sheet.  Press the seams together.
• Cut the cream cheese in half the horizontal way. Place one half of the cream on top of the dough on the baking sheet. Top with the half of the pesto and half of the red peppers. 
• Put the other cream cheese layer on top and repeat.
• Place the remaining dough over the top and cover cream cheese completely. Be sure to seal all the edges so nothing leaks out.
• Bake around 18 - 20 minutes or until browned.
• Let cool for a couple of minutes before eating it.

We serve it with wheat thins, but any cracker should do.

My word might just be "LOST"

So yesterday I went to see the movie Eat, Pray, Love at the theater. I have been wanting to see it since it came out but never seemed to find the time.  I read the book about 2 years ago. I saw it in Target and for some reason, it called me. I am not normally a fan of memoirs.  But I liked the book, really liked it.  The Italy part was my favorite. I have always wanted to travel there.

In July, my book club read the book. Lots of the women had different ideas than me about the book. But none of their thoughts really were able to change my opinion. I didn't find the author whiny. I didn't think the book closed up in a neat little package. I mean, it did, but not in a way that seemed fake to me at all. I understood the author.  I mean I don't have a box filled with maps, but I have a notebook.  And I have lots of dreams/ideas in that notebook.

So when watching the movie, there was a part in Italy where everyone was using one word to describe themselves and places they have been. I spent the better part of yesterday attempting to come up with my word. It is hard to come up with one word to define yourself.  I mean of course I could say mommy but I'd like to think I am more than that. And I could say tired since that is certainly true 99.9% of the time. I am sure some would say the word is b*itch. I have tons of b*itchiness in me. Just ask my husband or one of my best friends, or even someone who has gotten on my "crazy" list...it is definitely a describing word. But a defining word. I just don't know. While trying to think about all these words, I have thought of many things I have done and all the things I still want to accomplish. I thought about the goals I have set for myself. And how I am still not sure what I want to be when I grow up. I mean I know what I dream to be but that is a dream. A dream that I have never shared(& probably won't ever). So I think right now, today, my word is lost. 

I think I have lost myself a little bit. I have spent this year trying to get myself back. But I am not sure who exactly I am channelling. It isn't like I can be the 18 year old version of myself. I mean I have kids now. And I definitely don't want to be any younger versions of myself than that.  Now the college version of myself was fun, but way too insecure with boyfriends. And I don't think the hubby could go back to that time. He'd kill me. But I guess when I think about it, I don't really want to go back. I don't want to erase one single thing that has happened. I just wish I didn't get so caught up in the day to day. I wish I didn't feel like I have given up so many dreams. And I wish I wasn't so selfish so I wouldn't think this way.

I started blogging back in 2008. I know you can't see back that far.  Blogging has always been therapeutic for me. So with that said, I didn't advertise this being me. Not that I really do now. But I was extremely real on the blog. And because people I know read it now I found it necessary to censor myself so no ones feelings were hurt. But I realized yesterday, I was losing myself in the blog because of that. So I am back. No more censoring. But I will still keep names anonymous.  My family and friends didn't sign up for this. In fact most of them don't even know I blog. Hey, it is cheaper than therapy...

Friends...

Okay so last year, I was not in a great place. I had some friends who always left me wanting for more. Whether it was me being more thin, fit or fashionable...or even being a better mother, I always wanted more. I had a great friend from preschool/church. In fact, she was/is my best friend. But even she needed the acceptance of the "cool" crowd.

So at preschool I met a new friend. And the bff introduced us to a new friend. This all happened last spring, I feel like a whole new life has come my way. Life is great. I feel so blessed. And I have the best friends, extremely trustworthy and honest. People who make every day feel great. Not anyone I ever have to think about ulterior motives with.

Even this past weekend the hubby and I were out with some of the old friends. And one had the nerve to sit in judgement of another friends time in a 5k race. There are so many things wrong with it. One person in the car said something to him. But it just made me want to scream hypocrite. No one is perfect.  Yes I bet he feels good sitting in judgement of others in the moment. But to make fun of someone who is trying. Well, I wonder what will happen when his judgement day comes.

It all just made me(and luckily, the hubby) realize how lucky we are now.

Manic Monday

We all overslept.  And I forgot the Little Man's school bag at home. So I had to run to Publix to get him lunch.

I hosted playgroup at the house. This is always a source of terror and dread for me.

I spent all afternoon brainstorming/working on my new project.  I can't wait to share!

The hubby is out of town and so I invited a friend over for dinner. It is always nice to have another mom to share dinner with when he is gone.  And the kids love having the playdate. 

It is 7:19pm and the house is quiet. I guess that is my payment for the crazy day. I am about to have a glass of wine and indulge in some reality tv.

And maybe I will make a meal plan.  I haven't made one for the week yet.  I really need to go back to the monthly one. We'll see.

And yes I admitted it in print

In my last post I admitted that I am on a diet.  I started last week. I am not following anything in particular. 

I am cutting out soft drinks, avoiding fast/fried foods, and eating smaller portions. I am also going to do cardio 3 times a week and attempt to make it the gym for class 2 other times a week. We shall see.

But I have a goal in mind. And I have a reward in mind for when I reach the goal.  So I am motivated!  And week 1 went well. I am down 2 pounds so I am happy today.

A fortune cookie

Last week my sweet hubby took the kids out to dinner because I was hosting a Pampered Chef party. I needed some extra time to clean up plus the peace and quiet. When they got home two hours later, I was a little disappointed to learn they had eaten Chinese food.  I love Chinese and I'm on a diet, so the thought of enjoying some Sesame Chicken made me salivate.

Well the Drama Queen brought home her fortune cookie to eat.  When we cracked it open, the fortune said, "You are going to have a great birthday party this year".

We are going to be in Disney World this year for her birthday.  And we have a small birthday breakfast party planned for her with Minnie, Mickey, Pluto, our family and some friends.  She has no idea we are going to Disney or any of the details so it really is going to be a great birthday. I am getting so excited planning it all out.

Wednesday Wisdom

Okay so the boys woke up a million times last night.  And I am very tired. So my wisdom just wasn't there.  I ended up posting on FB "Beer then liquor, never sicker. Liquor then beer, in the clear."

But then about 10 minutes later while waiting in the carpool line at the Little Guy's school it came to me.  Of course, it came by way of a crazy lady inches away from banging into Little Dude's door because it couldn't be easy today.

Today's wisdom is"Patience is a virtue."

Everyones time is important. And I really don't think the 10 seconds saved rushing into the parking spot instead of waiting her turn really made that much of a difference in the grand scheme of things. Especially since the parking job was so lousy, it had to be straightened out thus the almost hitting me. Seriously lady!
Plus we were in the church parking lot where I felt bad opening my window to yell at you. So I was forced to shake my head at you instead. Not to mention it is carpool for a reason, not for you to bypass it and walk in your child anyway.  Ugh!

One of those days

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel completely incompetent?  Especially as a parent or in my case, as a mom?

Today was that day! It started off with a kindergartner who is super slow forgetting her homework because I rushed her to catch the bus.  And by rush, I mean I sent her running down the street after it.  After that I dropped off the other kids and realized I forgot to put the laundry in the dryer.  So on my way to a meeting I had to stop home for that.  Post meeting, I had to go home and pick up karate uniform for belt test.

Off to carpool/afternoon pick up at two different schools.  This year I have three kids at three different schools.  It is going to be a logistical nightmare I'm afraid.  So I picked up at school 1, rushed down to school 2, where my baby, a.k.a the Little Dude, was fast asleep in his teachers arms....where he cried himself to sleep because he wanted me.  Fabulous (please note the sarcasm here),an now he will become "that" kid to the teachers.

Off to karate for belt testing. When we first got there, Little Man had a complete meltdown over water. the teacher said he had never seen him cry before. Well that should have been my first clue just to take him home. I apparently forgot the Little Man's pants.  This was take two for testing because last weeks test didn't go so well.  His teacher was going to give him a belt even though he was terrible but I convinced him otherwise. Today's test was going well until about the last 5 minutes when the class starting acting extremely silly and not listening to our teacher.  So no belt again.  This didn't really bother me. What bothered me was the huge tantrum the Little Man threw when I forced him to apologize for his bad behavior.  It went from bad to worse. There was a tantrum about his booster seat, his water bottle and refusing to wear a seat belt.  He isn't the best behaved kid, but also isn't normally this bad either.  When we got home, he sat in time out but I am not sure he gets it.

The playroom clean up before dinner was a disaster, too.  Thankfully the hubby was home and helped with this.  Both boys ended up in time out while their sister cleaned the whole room.  So they had to suffer with no dessert after dinner.  This caused both of them to run from the dinner table crying instead of eating dinner. Finally after 30 minutes of punishment/time-outs they ate their food. 

We put them to bed at 6:45 tonight. Can you blame me?

Labor Day Weekend

We kicked off the weekend in style. The boys and I went on the lake Friday with the grandmas,  Pop-pop, Aunt J and one of the cousins. We beached the boat, jumped out and swam.  The boys played in the sand and "swam'. We ate lunch on the beach and then got about another hour in the water before we had to head home for buses.  It was so nice and mostly relaxing.

I taught some friends how to make Gigi's meatballs and gravy on Friday night for dinner.  We had 7 kids playing in the basement (and 1 dog), while we all took on jobs in a line to prepare the dinner.  I made the meatballs, P diced up the herbs, and D opened the cans. D was tired...she ran 18 miles that day for marathon training.  Once the sauce was simmering, we all sat down to enjoy a glass of wine. I had also brought over some fabulous cheese from Costco for us to snack on. 

The hubbies trickled in as they got home from work.  We heated up the kids dinner first, pasta with butter sauce and Parmesan cheese.  Once they were back downstairs playing, the adults sat down to eat.  Then we had some cookie cake and dessert for D's birthday. Nothing too fancy since we were really celebrating on Saturday night with a couples night out.

Saturday was spent watching Clemson play.  Go Tigers!!! They won the game although it was like waiting for water boil, trying to get them to score.

After the game, we went out to 37 Main for D's birthday night.  A Bon Jovi cover band, Slippery When Wet, was playing.  There were 4 couples who went out to celebrate. We had dinner and lots of drinks.  Luckily we had planned to take taxi's home but ended up with a DD.  It was such a fun night. I had a great time.

Sunday was spent running errands before we picked up our babies from grandma and grandpa's house.  And then we went to my nephew's 4th birthday party.  It was a pool party which was a great time.

The kids begged us to have their cousins sleep over and since we had nothing planned for the next day, we did.  Monday was spent with our family and a couple of friends, grilling out while the kids played in the kiddie pool.  It was an early night since school was back in on Tuesday.

All in all a great weekend!

Wednesday Wisdom

I think I am going to post a quote every Wednesday that I like/have learned from.  These past couple of days have been a little hard in my personal life.  Not for me but one of my good friends was treated very poorly by a mutual acquaintance.  Plus some good friends were trying to cause trouble by spreading gossip.  I have learned when people treat you poorly most of the time it is because they need to do that to feel better about themselves.

"When people show you who they are, believe them the first time." - Maya Angelou