Future Guilt

It is way to early in the morning for me to be awake, let alone typing on here. Yet, here I am with my head full of thoughts that just won't stop. I have felt so guilty recently about my parenting. I'm not perfect, far from it. but I wonder... what will my kids remember about me when they're older? 


Mommy sat at her computer too much.
She couldn't cook at all!
We were always running late for school. 
She yelled too much. 
There were days our dirty clothes pile filled our rooms! 
She stressed about money.
Mom could lose her cool in an instant.
She would torture us with her bad singing everywhere in the car!
Mommy was too hard on me.


All those moments as a mom I work hard everyday to avoid, will those be the things they remember most? Will they look back and smile? Am I doing OK? I know most people will say "Oh honey, they won't think of those bad things! They will remember that you loved them, that you took them to cool places, the weekends shopping at the farmers market, the times spent on the trampoline. They will think of you when they see a classic Ford Mustang, when they burn dinner it will make them laugh thinking of the many meals you tried to cook, they will know that you did your best!"


Really? 


I'm not so sure...


I think I lose my temper with them too much. I wish I would think before I opened my mouth. I should really duct tape my mouth closed. 


I wish I woke up bright and early every day to make them a hot breakfast before school, I wish the house was always sparkley and clean with the clothes put away perfect. That's just not in the cards. 


I wonder if my mom ever felt the same way, because I sure think she did an amazing job! I remember her yummy cooking, how the house was always tidy, she always smiled at everything I did and took the time to pay attention to me. We traveled the world, and she taught me a lot about life. I don't remember bad things. Did they happen and kids just don't retain all that if the good outweighs the negative? Boy I hope so. 99% of the time it's all good around our house. 


I hope they turn out alright. I really am trying to do my best! 




au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time... 

Never Ending Choices

Choices, life is full of them. 


Should I get a coffee table or use an ottoman instead? 
Is it chilly, do the kids need pants for school and not shorts? 
To clean the house or watch the Sex In The City movie?




Am I content or am I restless?


That last one is a choice I feel like I have to make every day. I am the restless type. I love change (mostly). It keeps me on my toes. When life stays the same for too long I get all jumpy and long for a new choice. 


Some new choices have come up in our family life that could shake things up a bit. 


My husbands career. He loves his job and plans on staying for a long time, but he is considering going back to college and completing his Bachelors degree. We would have to re-adjust our schedules to accommodate his studying and he would have way more on his already full plate... Still, it would open doors for him. And show our children how important furthering you education is. Choices.


My son made a big choice this week, he has stopped playing football. I am a little sad. He has played for almost 4 years now. He had asked not to play a few months ago. I made him a deal at the start of the season if he still wasn't into it then he could stop. Well, he wasn't into it anymore. Maybe some day he'll get back out there and be my little football man again, but for now he has made a choice. With that choice came another. He has now made the local swim team! He loves it and is working very hard to be the next Michael Phelps.


And while we're on the subject of choices. I really want to re-do my kids bathroom! There's this hideous wallpaper border (that I did not put up there, I swear) that needs to come down, but then what? What color? Do I change out the shower curtain? 


Choices, choices, choices... They are never ending:) 




au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time... 

30 Days About Me (Favorite Clothing Store)

Can I say I don't like clothing stores? OK, so maybe I don't dislike them, but I'm not a fan. Clothes shopping is more out of necessity than just for fun for me. Plus I live in a small town so we don't have many choices...


I love little independently owned boutiques down town. 


I love homemade items from the local farmers market.


I love when my mom gives me clothes she doesn't want anymore (mostly because she is smaller then me so if they fit that means I've lost weight!)




Now, shopping for accessories I really enjoy! 

purses, shoes, sunglasses (I have a serious addiction to expensive shades), costume jewelry and scarves. good times :) 








What is your favorite clothing store? 









au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time... 

30 Days About Me: Recipe (I Can Be A Foodie Too!)

Alrighty peeps, I know some of you have read this before (this is 2 years old, how times flies!) But I don't cook, like ever. So I had to repost because trying to re-create goodness in the kitchen could be dangerous!!

I love reading about my blogging buddies yummy culinary creations! I wish scrumptious aromas often filled the air in my own kitchen. Well, I've decided to do something about it. I too can document my fabulous food concoctions! 

Today's assistant will be my lovely daughter.

The delicatessen of choice? Box cupcakes, yum :)

Step 1: Turn box over and read the back, collect ingredients.

(after you chug a glass of wine)

Step 2: Pick out your cupcake cups.

(this will eliminate any unnecessary cleanup)

Step 3: Put cups into pan, arrange in a colorful pattern, a MUST!

(in my experience it makes the cupcakes taste better, i swear)

Step 4: Put packaged mix, eggs, water, and oil into large bowl.

(if you spill the powder as it comes out of the bag just scoop it off the floor and add to bowl, no one will know!)

Step 5: Make the hired help do the mixin'.

(watch her though, she can be a real messy cook)

Step 6: Time for a taste test!

(nothin' like some raw egg goodness!)

Step 7: Does it taste good? if it doesn't then abort immediately.

(OR finish the yucky cupcakes and give to a friend!)

Step 8: If it does taste good, then lick the mixer beaters!

(am I the only one who's tongue can't reach the center pole?)

Step 9: Admire your handy mixing skills, and thank the help.

(meaning bribe her with candy so she'll leave and quit eating it)

Step 10: Pour mix into cups, stick in oven.

*be sure to turn the oven on... VERY important.

(note the beautifully clean oven? the advantages of being a bad cook!)

Step 11: Banish the mixer the the "chamber of never used appliances."

(kind of like the "Island of Misfit Toys" without the island, or the misfit toys)

Step 12: Take out of oven and place on a plate to cool.

(be sure to keep out of reach of dogs. They like cupcakes on the counter... apparently.)

Steps 13 - 15 are not available due to next batch being left in too long, smoke detector going off and hands being burned trying to remove said burned cupcakes from the oven without pot holder. *ouch* No children or animals were harmed in the making of this post.

Good luck and happy baking!

au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time...

Great School & A Change Is A Comin'

The other day I talked about my kiddies 1st day of school pictures. CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THOSE PICTURES. This week has been a busy one, I now have a 2nd grade daughter and 3rd grade son. Look how much they've grown! How does that happen? 

(yes, I am aware that I need to sweep my dusty porch!!)

I may have said this before but I'll say it again, I love the kids school! They get 2 days of P.E. each week, prayer before lunch over the loud speaker (yes this is a public school!), and the best teachers a mama could ask for. Both kids have been blessed with great teachers and a good group of kids in their classes. The biggest advantage to living in a small town is that I am close personal friends with much of the teaching staff, so I always know what's going on regarding my kids education. 

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Health update: My hubby has been doing pretty good with his health. His heart is strong and his little health scare has created great changes in our home. We are still eating very healthy, my husband has dropped 40 pounds! (way to go sweetie!) I have dropped 15, sure not as impressive but I am working hard on it (most of the time). 

(no that is not us, but I thought if it was a real picture of us running it might scare you! AHHHH! Image me 50 pounds heavier and my hubby would NEVER wear spandex pants!!) 

In the next chapter of our healthy lifestyle/weight loss journey we will be doing a full body detox. I am scared out of my mind! We have never done this, I have no idea what to expect. So in preparation of this body cleansing I ate some cheesecake... What? I figured if we're going to detox might as well say good bye to an old friend, ha ha.

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I hope you have had a great week. I hope to fall into my back to school rhythm very soon where I can juggle all these house hold chores and get back on track with my playstation Zumba (oh yeah, I do that. LOVE IT!) Well, I must be off. My Friday night glass of red wine is calling my name. 

au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time... 

How Do You Shop?

Today the kids and I did one of my favorite things, grocery shopping! No not that kind of grocery shopping, this kind...

We are welcomed by chatty greeters at the door ("welcome to the farm!")

Sometimes it is a little crowded with families near the entrance (we "moo" as we go by)

Easy to read signs lead the way (there's a very sweet sheep dog hiding under that ramp)

Sweet smells and beautiful things are everywhere (organic produce creates such vibrant colors)

We select the freshest produce (there's so much to choose from I have to restrict myself)

Imagine the things we can create (oats, barley and homemade granola)

Fully stocked shelves (I love fresh honey!)

There are often items I want to buy yet have no clue what to do with (homemade wool yarn, if only I could knit)

Friendly check out folks (Charlie the farmer, who is so fun to chat with whenever we come by)

Affordable neighborhood prices (you'd be shocked at how cheap eating local can be. Oh and see those green things on the left? Fresh homegrown figs set out to try, YUM!)

As we leave we are stared at in the parking lot by others (they were very chatty today as well "Baa, Baa, Baa, Baa") 

We head home with or goodies in tow (windows down, country music on the radio and happy kids)

Now that is what I call a grocery shopping trip :) Please support your local farmer. Stop by and see what they have, you'll be pleasantly surprised at all the yummy good things that await you. 

au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time... 

30 Days About Me (Somewhere I’d Love to Travel)

Oh Geez, EVERYWHERE!

But seriously there's just a few places I would love to travel:

• London, England
• Alaska
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Kauai, Hawaii (already been but REALLY want to go back!)

• Paris, France
• Christchurch, New Zealand 
• Brazil
• Salzburg, Austria

• Cairo, Egypt
• Tokyo, Japan
• Orlando, Florida (I'm always up for a DisneyWorld trip)
• Athens, Greece

• Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
• Sydney, Australia
• Morocco
• San Marino, Italy (All of Italy for that matter!)

• The Atlantis, Nassua Bahamas 
• Fredrikstad, Norway
• Las Vegas, Nevada 
• Edinburgh, Scotland

That's like 10% of the places I want to go :)

This was a fun trip around the world! Now I am all ready for a vacation. Where do you want to go?




au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time...

30 Days About Me (Things I am OCD About)

There are a few weird things I do.


If I am getting myself a drink I always put in 7 ice cubes, must never be 6 and more than 7 is just  too crowded in the cup. Yup, weird. 

When I am loading the dishwasher silverware slots I have to have equal forks, spoons and knives in each slot. Yup, that's weird too.

MUST BE sock, sock, shoe, shoe. NEVER sock, shoe, sock, shoe.

And lastly when I kiss my kiddies at night I always kiss them twice on the lips and once on the forehead. I don't find that one too weird :) 

What things are you a little OCD about? 











au revoir, adieu, ciao, till next time...