Friday, April 30, 2010

A Day Without Coffee? (and FF)

Today is day three of our broken Keurig machine...which translates into no morning java for me unless I stop on my way to the office for a splurge on a cup of Dunkin Donuts or Wawa coffee ... both good, but not the quality of what I get from my beloved home coffee machine.  Funny how dependent I've become on it since hubby gave it to me a few years ago as a Christmas gift. Turns out that it was one of the coolest gifts EVER. Now, it is spewing water when I don't want it to.  All the time.  Water in ... water out.  No coffee.  Boo!! 

Today will also be a beautiful day in NJ  ... so there will be no more crying over the coffee that isn't.  I cannot wait to spend the days with the kids outside this weekend in the beautiful weather.  I am picking up vegetable plants from the greenhouse at the school where I work -- cukes, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, even lettuce.  I'm sure Twink will be excited about getting those into the ground since she has been asking and asking (and asking) if we're going to plant anything this year ... this weekend it will be done! :-)  Enjoy your weekend where ever you are ... and if you feel like it, link up to the Friday Follow ...


Here's how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:


--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.
--Grab the Friday Follow button and include on your Friday Follow blog post.
--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
--Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you'd like.
--Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.
--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Too Much Coffee?

One of Maxine's best ... thanks to SheScribes for posting!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Friday, April 23, 2010

TGIF - Friday Follow

Well, last night was night two of no bottles for SweeTart! I think that she's getting a little better and realizing that because she is a "big girl" she doesn't get the baby's bottle.  She is going right to bed but then getting up and jumping in her crib because she wants a "baba....baba....baba....baba" but she jumped herself to sleep and Twink falls asleep at some point during those whines and cries - not even hearing them. 

Twink was the only "pre-team" member at gymnastics practice last night.  She did an extra practice this week because she has a competition tomorrow.  She is so excited about the competition, and how much she is improving with each practice - the excitement is contagious!!  Even SweeTart was "practicing" gymnastics on the living room floor last night after Twink showed us how far she has come in her cartwheel and round-offs.  It was very cute and I'm very impressed with and proud of Twink! 

Tonight is going to be "Movie Night" at our house.  Avatar has landed.  Pizza and a movie.  Yippee!!


Welcome to the April 23 Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! You're invited to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.


Here's how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.
--Grab the Friday Follow button and include on your Friday Follow blog post.
--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
--Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you'd like.
--Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.
--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Long Post Thursday. (I just made that up)


There are a few things that I need to cover today ... the first of which is this book.  I downloaded it on my Ipod so that I could listen to it while walking, but am winding up listening to it in the car on the way to and from work because #1) I don't get the Margaritaville satellite station; #2) when TV went all digital, they took my local ABC station off the radio (SUX - I cannot keep current with GMA or my local news if I leave before 7 a.m.); #3) I am tired of listening to people complain about the "state" of our State (NJ) on NJ 101.5 radio station; and ... I haven't been walking so there.  I said it. 

Anyhow, I bought this book on a whim and I had NO IDEA what it was about.  I could see the picture and thought it looked kind of spooky - Stephen King kind of spooky - so I "picked" it up from itunes.  Boy oh boy am I so far away from a Stephen King kind of book than I have ever ventured before -- in my life!!  I generally want to read "spiritually uplifting" books or books that are "self-help" but I can never get through them. I have all good intentions but then just get bored and the boys are laying on the bottom of my closet floor under a pile of dust an inch thick or out in the garage in a paper bag - waiting - (for me to finish them?  to yard sale them? to finally just give them away?)  This book is about GOD.  The Holy Trinity:  The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.  This book details them embodied as humans and reaching out to one particular man who has suffered the horrible loss of not only his youngest daughter but is losing himself and possibly his older daughter to what he refers to as "the great sadness".  At the point I am in the book, the main character "Mac" is currently seeking the truth of the "why" questions that have been haunting him for so long.  I LOVE IT.  I have never had spirituality explained in quite this way before.  It is uplifting and invigorating and at times quite confusing.   I am amazed!  It is definitely a book that I recommend and I'm not all the big on recommendig books (except to Traci who I sit next to at work!)  And, although I am a church goer, I am definitely not a pusher of my religion on others ... I am a quiet Christian ... who is finding more about those who "are" in this book. 

Next on my list:  My Journey from MuffinTopped-ness:
weightloss
Click on the button and join in the weight loss journey with a few others and share your stories.  Each week, shortmomma encourages and asks questions to be answered on the journey from Muffin Top to Skinny Jeans.  This weeks questions are: 

How do you handle a gain or the feeling of knowing your didn't do as well as you had hoped?  My first thought is to run straight for the vending machine for a Twix because, what's the freaking point?  I have a whole week to work another small weight loss off - PLUS THIS TWIX.  Wrong, I know, and I haven't done it yet but I've thought it a million times.   

What kind of effect does this have on you?  The feeling of not doing as well as I had hoped or the feeling of wanting to run to the vending machine?  LOL  They both make me beat myself up.  Know why?  I know that I didn't give it 100%.   Reason being???  Laziness?  Craziness?  Being totally busy with the kids, dogs and other schedules we've got going on???  Maybe a little of everything? 

Is there something constructive you can do to reward yourself for small steps?  I am open to suggestions!!

And how are you doing this week? ??  I will have to go weigh in later, but I was down a pound as of last Friday ... that is 8 all together since I started on March 19th.  I'm pretty sure that I've at least held steady.  I've not had any ice cream this week.  (Have I?  I don't think so!)  I've not put any candy in my mouth and I even still have Easter baskets out (horrible I know. I will put them away this evening.)  I had hoped to get down to one diet soda a day but yesterday had 3.  I haven't had any yet today, so maybe I can achieve that goal today.  I haven't done a sit up all week, even though that was another one of my goals.  I will bring my exercise ball up from the basement tonight when I take the Easter Baskets down (a  win, win siutation.)  And, I haven't meal planned at all this week.  We're flying by the seat of our pants.  I did make a WW "breakfast burrito" on Tuesday for me and the Hubs and took them to DinoBoy's baseball game because we were totally pressed for time that night. 

What were your challenges?  I think more than anything, my challenges are the same as everyone else's...how to get so much more done in a day.  I so need my sleep and am exhausted after a day at work, running to practices/games and holding SweeTart after she cries and cries for her bottle which has been thrown away.  Not so much physically exhausted but mentally exhausted.  I am asleep almost as soon as I hit the pillow -- although I do think that the Hubs beat me to LaLa land last night.  :-) 

I can come up with a super meal plan -- I have to take the first steps though to follow through with it after making it - like making a grocery list for the plan and trying to pre-prepare for the plan as much as I can.  Whether that takes place on the weekend, mornings before work or after the madness of  our evenings, it doesn't matter.  It is just something that needs to be done.

The Baba that is in the TRASH
Finally - SweeTart has the 5ths disease.  And an ear infection.  And she has gained a lot of poundage so says the doctor since her last visit two weeks ago.  Her bottles MUST go per the doctor's demands yesterday.  I knew from our previous visits that it needed to get done, I have even blogged about it.  We even bought all the new sippy cups and everything but we just couldn't stand to do that to her.  But last night we stood strong.  I threw the stinking bottles in the dirty trash cans.  Bottles are for little babies and she is a Big Girl.  (in more ways than one!)  Oh, the fits she threw last night.  And this morning.  But little by little, I think she is going to be okay with it.  I think the hardest will be today when she comes home from preschool but her poor Grandmom is going to have to deal with that one.  I can't be sure that bedtime tonight will go smoothly either but I'm praying that it will. 

 

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Post It Tuesday, MuffinTop Edition!


Ok, I'm going to try a new style of post today ...  why? 






 
 


Monday, April 19, 2010

Do YOU Know How?

Just wondering if anyone knows how to change the font (other than the 7 fonts that are available in blogger) that I type in for the body of my blog?  How about for the headers of the blogs? 

Any help is greatly appreciated!!! 

Toodles!

Friday, April 16, 2010

TGIFriday Follow!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Welcome to the April 16 Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.


Here’s how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.

Grab the Friday Follow button and include on your Friday Follow blog post.

Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.

Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.

Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from Friday Follow.

Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

You Gotta Believe ...

That the toddler years are going to go by so quickly and that we're going to miss SweeTart's quirky, bossy mannerisms.  She had her two year old appointment on Tuesday (pictures of her weekend birthday party will be coming) and the doc explained that she is the size of a three and a half year old - except in weight.  She is off the charts in her weight.  It is time to put the bottle to rest.  But .... I am not ready for it.  I think the thought of taking away her "baba" is more stressing to me than it will be to her.  Or maybe not. 

See, the Husband has a Plan.  He has a Plan for almost everything in life.  His Plan for taking away the Baba is simple.  Take SweeTart to the store with her birthday gift certificates and have her buy a whole slew of new sippy cups....any type her heart can imagine ... Dora, Elmo, Minnie ... whoever she can find ... as many as our cart can hold...and when we get home, there will be a "big girl" ceremony in which all the new sippy cups will be placed in the cabinet where the bottles are currently stored and the bottles will be tossed into the trash can and taken outside immediately (so I don't cave!!)  The end. 

Do we think it will work?  I am not so sure.  She relies heavily on her baba in order to "wind down" at certain times of the day and before bed.  I know it is my fault, I've spoiled her beyond belief.  But she is number three.  The baby.  Quite possibly our last little one.  Why shouldn't we spoil her a little (especially if it means that we're going to get a few minutes of peace and quiet??)  I can see her now jumping in her bed crying "mommy .... daddy .... baba .... baba ... pleeeease."  It is going to break my heart to tell her "no."  Can't the doctor just come up with a better plan?  She stressed that she is a BIG girl.  She stressed that the bottle will damage her mouth and her teeth (we had that with the other two because they had the binky for so long but once it was gone, the mouth corrected itself.)   She stressed that it will cause issues with her speech ... as she listened to the girl tell her brother and sister to "no - go away" when they got to close to her when she was being examined.  And the girl who told me "No, I don't think so" last week.  And the girl who counted to ten in Spanish the other day.  She often counts to ten in English.  I'm pretty sure that her speech is on track.  But the guilt ... I hate listening to her cry because she wants something.  I hate it when it sounds like her heart is breaking because she can't have something that she "needs."  (Yes, she is my third.  You would think that I've toughened up by now....NOT.)

Wish us luck.  Doc did say that it will be a rough 5 - 7 days after we decide to take it away.  And she needs to see her again in 6 months so that she can see if her weight has leveled off.  If not, then what???? 

Ok - I'm going to stop stressing for the day.  I'm going to give myself a fever blister if I keep up the worrying at this rate.  It is a beautiful day outside today ... maybe I will walk at lunchtime to help calm my nerves .... enjoy your day wherever you are.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Just a Tip

I blog-jacked this from another blogger's post ... I never thought about this at all.  This would definitely me out.   (How did I not know this if I have been following WW online for YEARS, even when I'm not actively participating??) 
Tip #7: Zip Lock Bags - I'm a big fan or proportion, especially when it comes to Riley and myself. We can both sit down with a bag of pretty much anything and just go to town so I like to separate snacks into little sandwich bags as soon as I open them so I can just grab and go. I learned this little tip from Weight Watchers!
It kind of goes hand in hand with the "loose the muffin top" challenge I've made with myself.  I put a weight loss ticker at the bottom of my blog, hoping it will keep me motivated.  The Biggest Loser group at school is great too.  We're a riot each Friday in the nurse's office while we support each other through our weekly weigh in.  We'll see if I can pull off another win this week - I'm doubtful - but there is always next week!

Wordless Wednesday


Friday, April 9, 2010

A Winner for Jacquelynnies Giveaway!

We used random.org and came up with #31 - JamericanSpice!!!  I'm still new to the giveaway stuff so I didn't save a copy of the generator - hopefully I will remember next time - I guess it comes with practice??  I will be sending her an email - so that she will got to Jacquelynnies website to pick out the free set of bows as she wishes!!

Big thanks to all who participated and an even bigger thank you to Jacquelynnies for sponsoring this give away on my blog!!  You rock !!

Friday Follow

Friday Follow


Welcome to the SPECIAL edition of Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

Check out this week's Friday Follow Sponsor!


Buttons and Blogs is your source for a blogger or word press make over! Whether you need a button or a complete redesign, Buttons and Blogs will give you a one of a kind design with you in mind. Business logos are also available.

Here’s how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.

Grab the Friday Follow button and include on your Friday Follow blog post.

Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.

Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.

Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from Friday Follow.

Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.


MckLinky Blog Hop

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Wordless Wednesday -

A thought to cool you off on a hot April day in our neck of the woods.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Friday Follow and my FIRST GIVE AWAY!

Friday Follow

I've grown to love Friday Follow - I'm meeting new friends and learning new things about blogging.  Today's Friday Follow is sponsored by Rita @ One 2 Try Tami @ Hearts Make Families and Lynn @ Midday Escapades.   Check out below for a link so that you too can become part of the Friday Fun. 

Ok - on to my give away - it's my first so bear with me please!! The give away is for your choice of three things ... only one winner will be randomly selected next Thursday, 4/8/10.  All you need to do is go visit either of these very cool sites for Jacquelynnies or her ETSY site and tell me in a comment here what you love ... we're giving away your choice of "leggies", a tooth pillow or a set of hair bows ... they're all really awesome items!!  Don't forget to tell me which item you LOVE and I'll need a way to contact you. 

Leggies are way cool and my SweeTart frequently wears them -- to put it simply, they're a baby "thigh high".  Others like to describe them as "leg warmers with feet".  They're perfect for our little ones -- and there are even darker colors now for the little men in your life.  I'm going to post a few pictures I think describe them best - but if you've ever had to struggle with socks coming off before you reach your destination, tights that are stuck on a dirty diaper or a little one complaining "too hot" on these lovely spring days when you dress them for the chill of the morning but it is so much warmer in the afternoon ... Leggies are what you've been dreaming of!! 




Ok - tooth pillows are kind of self explanatory as are barrettes --- I'm going to post a few tooth pillows and then ask you to check out the barrettes offered on the website.  This gal is full of ideas to make our lives as moms easier.  We searched high and low for a tooth pillow that wasn't "babyish" because we all know that once a tooth falls out our babies are instantly grown up!! 


MckLinky Blog Hop