Distractions: The good and the ugly.
Day Four of Clint’s Unemployment: It’s just a normal Saturday. It struck me this morning how today seemed totally normal. Clint was home, but he was supposed to be home, since it’s Saturday. Our family dynamic was the same as it usually is on Saturday. It all seemed comfortingly normal. It helped that we had distractions all day long. Mine started first thing. Jenny, Renee, and I had planned to run 9.5 miles on a route that I did... Read More
My ladies.
Day Two of Clint’s Unemployment: The day of le sigh. This was my fortune at dinner. I'm not sure I want *everything* to come my way. Sounds overwhelming. It didn’t occur to me until much of the day had passed, that I had been sighing a lot more often than I normally do. These were big sighs, too, and at random times. It was almost as if I had been trying to work things out in my head so thoroughly that I had forgotten to take adequate... Read More
A Weekend of Bliss
Oh my gosh, you guys. I have to tell you about the weekend I just had. Here’s how it started: Received invitation to one of my best friend’s weddings and saw that was a whole weekend family-friendly ordeal in May Got excited about the whole idea, RSVP’d immediately A month before the wedding, realized that taking 4 small kids to a place for the weekend that would likely involve late nights, partying, and fun, did not, in fact sound... Read More
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels at Home?! Srsly.
When I was asked by The Balancing Act to try out Auntie Anne’s at-home pretzel making kit, my mouth automatically watered. I immediately thought of the delicious aroma that surrounds my favorite snack spot in the mall and was excited to have the same delicious, buttery scent wafting through my own house. For fun (and because I am totally insane), I decided to bring my four kids in on this culinary adventure. Here’s how it went: Step One: Pose... Read More
One month down.
Last month, I confessed that we’re broke and told you about how we’re going to fix it. This past month has been eye-opening, to say the least… and has sucked, more than a little. Here’s an update on the first month of our Total Money Makeover: We budgeted everything out to the “t” and realized that we have way more expenses than income. Not a good thing. So, we decided to make some cuts. Read More Read More
Can’t take us anywhere.
Clint and I have been holding on to this $100 gift card to a wine bar near us for over two years. We would make plans to use it, and then think, “Naah. Let’s wait for (insert reason here).” This sucker was eating a proverbial hole in my pocket. An opportunity to dine at a restaurant we would never be able to otherwise afford was passing us by. Last night, we finally used the gift card. We asked our friends to come along and help... Read More
Meeting That Biggest Loser Dude & Inspiring Stuff
What would you say, if you had a chance to meet Patrick House, the most recent winner of The Biggest Loser? Probably something a lot less lame and awkward than what I said. He was standing alone, waiting to begin his talk at a local health club and I was in the audience. I decided I needed to take that opportunity to introduce myself and hopefully get a picture, since I knew I’d be blogging about his talk. Just as I walked up next to him, they... Read More
Licorice {Messy Monday}
Zander had his first taste of licorice this weekend… As you can tell, he hated it. Lookout Ronald McDonald. There’s a new clown in town! Read More
What’s on your grocery list?
This week, I need tips from you. I’m heading out to the grocery store and have no idea what to get to make dinners this week. I like cooking… I just hate trying to be creative and figure out what to make at 4:30pm when my entire house falls into a spiraling vortex of screams and whines. This week, I want to have a plan. A list. Be ready when that hellish witching hour rolls around. But all I can think to make is spaghetti and tacos. I’m... Read More
Things you should {& shouldn’t} do in a hotel room.
Last August, much to my chagrin, and despite my pouting and grown-up tantrum-ing, my mom moved to Arizona. Fortunately, she has been able to visit fairly regularly and is here for a few days this week. As a gift to Clint and me, she sent us to a hotel for the night and even gave us money for a nice dinner. It was a much needed break for both of us. She thought of it as her excuse to have some good quality time with her grandbabies, too. (Suckerrr!)... Read More
Adjusting to New Sibling(s) {Tips(y) Tuesday}
Did anyone try out the mac ‘n cheese tip from last week? Whadja think? I’m going to cheat an eensy bit this week, but for good reason. I’ve noticed that there seem to be a whole lotta babies making their appearance soon in my own world of Facebook friends, so I’d bet that’s true for you, too! This week, I want to offer up tips on helping your child adjust to their new sibling. I started writing up this post, when I realized... Read More
It’s all muscle. ({Fairly} Funny Friday)
My kids are really into dressing up lately, even the twins. I’m all for it, since it’s a cryin’ shame to spend money on Halloween costumes and have them only used once. This week, Wyatt insisted on wearing Colby’s (read: two sizes two big for him) Spiderman costume. Soon after, snack time ensued. And he remained cloaked in his disguise. Tell me this isn’t at least fairly funny: It’s all muscle, baby. Read More
Mac ‘n Cheese Like You Remember {Tips(y) Tuesday}
Remember how Kraft Mac ‘n Cheese used to taste ridiculously delicious when you were a kid? It was super cheesy tasting, salty, gooey… Hold on a sec, I’m drooling on my keyboard. *wipes mouth with sleeve* For the longest time, I thought that maybe my taste buds had simply changed, that things that were once delicious to me as a child, were now blah. It’s not true! I think that the recipe they’ve used for the mac ‘n... Read More
Worst Parenting Decision Yet
Despite my terrible night’s sleep (or lack thereof), yesterday turned out okay. Clint woke up with a nasty cold and called in sick and, being the super guy he is, let me take a 1.5 hour nap in the late morning. Then, after I fed kids lunch, I ventured out to donate plasma and stop by the grocery store. When I got home, I was feeling refreshed and so thankful that Clint had taken on the kids so I could nap and get things done. I decided he needed... Read More
Cookie Wrecks {Photoblog}
Friends don’t let friends bake without the proper equipment. In the case of Christmas Cookie Fiasco 2010, the missing essential items were cookie cutters. Though I’m significantly more artistic than oh, say, a rock, I am not so artistic when it comes to cutting shapes out of dough, freehand. I’m also not the most amazing baker. You could even say I’m not a master baker. (Sorry, couldn’t help myself.) I’m particularly... Read More
