{mastering the art of toddler bedtime; remembering to slow down}

Soo... it has been a while since I last posted here... life has been busy. But now, Spring is springing and I'm feeling refreshed and energized!

Previously, I posted about my issues with being able to get my son to sleep at bedtime... I had never had an issue, but hit a rough patch during which me putting him to bed resulted in screaming and crying... I can happily report that the tides have turned!! 

{Although I'm taking the credit for this change, I'm fully aware of the fact that he may have just gone through a phase of toddlerness and he's now through that rough patch... but it feels better to think that I am doing better...}

I figured it out. 

My approach to bedtime has been different than my husband's... to him, bedtime has been a slow process, often delayed by miscellaneous tasks and letting Ben mosey through it all. Hubs is a bit more laid back than I am, and doesn't really stick to a set bedtime. Bedtime just happens when it happens... Although I'm not a fan of letting a 2 year old dictate what time he goes to bed, and get away with procrastinating... what results from hubby's plan of attack is extra quality time between the two of them. 

My way of doing bedtime was more strict, and had become too rushed... the clock struck 8, and it was time to be in bed. No distractions. He got a bath, hugs, three books... and then it was lights out. I was always focused on getting him to bed in time to get a good night's sleep, and making sure that I had the time to do the things that I needed to do that I forgot- bedtime is special. I forgot that even if I had spent the whole day building blanket tents, giving hugs, and playing with trucks, bedtime is special... Bedtime requires quality time. {He'll master the art of collapsing out of sheer tiredness later in life when he doesn't need snuggle time from his mommy....}

So, the past few nights that I've been in charge of bedtime have been different, and wonderfully so. {I work nights, so I'm not always home for bedtime- which I think was contributing to my rushing; I have limited nights at home so I overplan/stress about what I can do while I'm home. AND I think it adds to Ben's need for some extra QT since he doesn't always get it from me... a perfect storm} My goal bedtime has not changed- 8 or 830 remains my deadline. But, the process has changed. 

We now start our routine at about 645 or 7pm. {We used to start at 730 or 745.} Ben loves swimming and playing in the tub, so after dinner we gather all of his toys and hop in! I started tasking him with undressing himself while I run the water. {He loves taking his shoes off, and needs to learn how to work his pants for potty training...} When all of his toys are in place, and there is a small ocean of warm water, I put on my Disney Spotify playlist, and he hops in. He swims, we play, we sing, we talk, we wash until he's done... Usually about an hour later. Then, we brush teeth, slather on some lotion, get on some pj's and snuggle up to some books. 

Magically, by 830 he is happy, sleepy and ready to say goodnight. No crying, no pleading... no tantrums... just sweet dreams. 

...I'm sure there are many moms who, if they ever were to read this post, would say "DuH!- you're a lame mommy for not knowing that bedtime is a two-hour process and how could you cheat your baby boy out of even more special quality time with his mommy?!?" My reply? No mommy is perfect. My mistake resulted in a couple weeks of teary bedtimes, but has led to some of the most awesome nights ever. We all stumble sometimes and need to reprioritize. The most important thing is that my little man is loved, healthy and happy. 

{sweet tooth; looking "comfortable"}

I will be the first to admit that I have a sometimes-insatiable sweet tooth. Brownies. Cookies. Ice cream. Cakes. Yep. 

Sweet tooth or not, I try my best to eat a healthy diet. Plenty of fruits and veggies, not many bad snack foods, etc etc etc. I often forgo dessert at home {unless I have free time after my son goes to bed, and make a mug cake- which I often share with hubs}. 

All that being said, sometimes there is just nothing like a warm, chocolatey, gooey corner piece of a fresh pan of brownies. {...there are four corner pieces... my mouth is watering}

I may have noticed that my sweet tooth has been getting the better of me lately... and yes, the frigid temperatures and frequent snow-fall has somewhat sucked my workout motivation out of me, and no. I'm not happy about it. 

BUT, darling hubs told me the other day that I was looking a little "comfortable" {in his defense, he did say that both of us were} and that really kicked my butt. 

At first I was pissed. {How dare he?!?}
Then, I got even more self-conscious. {If he thinks I look "soft", everyone else must think worse}. 
Then, I realized: If the man I'm married to, and have asked to be honest with me about everything, and have entrusted with the position of my life-long partner can't tell me that I've {maybe} gained a few... who can?!? After all, he also named himself as a guilty party in  winter-weight gain, so what's wrong with keeping each other in check and healthy?

The logical side of me is happy that I married a man who won't lie to my face and let me leave the house in a dress that DOES make my butt look big... {or actually let my butt get big in the first place} the emotional side of me is going to get over it- right after she finishes the brownies. 

It's time for me to get off my butt, and get back to the gym. 

{lent; negative self talk}

I hope that everyone enjoyed their Fat Tuesday! The hubs and I were pillow-deep in tissues and sick day sniffles, so I took it easy on cooking. {Which is a bummer because I was looking forward to making some amazing Emeril something-or-other full of okra and creole spice...} We had takeout.

So, since it's the first Friday of Lent I thought I'd figure out what my plans were for the next 40 days. 

I grew up in a fairly Lent observant house. Macaroni and Cheese and fish on Fridays... gave something up... went to church. The older I've gotten, I've become less of a churchgoer, but I like to think I still maintain traditions and observations. Every year at Lent, I evaluate what I could stand to sacrifice and what I could stand to improve upon. 

A few years ago, I stopped giving up chocolate or swearing or... {I felt like a little kid back in the confessional trying to come up with something bad, rather than an adult making a meaningful commitment} and started to come up with something that I could do a better job of in order to make myself the best I could be. 

This year's commitment is getting rid of negative self talk. I have a lot of ideas of what I would like to do within my career, personal life, and mommyhood and often talk myself out of them. I let myself think that things are "too hard" before I really give it a go and end up falling short of my potential. It's not good for anyone. 

So, my Lenten challenge to myself- and everyone out there- is to give up on the negativity. So often we miss opportunities and fall short simply because we talk ourselves out of it. If we all lived up to our potential, and gave 100%, imagine how awesome things could be.

Good luck!

Positive thinking also helps with stress management...

{Cycle for Survival 2014; quick NYC trip}

The "Shore Girls" 2014

This past weekend was my Cycle for Survival ride in NYC. Just like last year, it was an amazing experience- a room filled with enthusiasm, inspiration, and the most amazing energy you could ever experience. This year was different though, because of who I got to ride with. It was the first year since her diagnosis and treatment that my cousin was able to ride as a Survivor... being a part of her victory ride was pretty beautiful {even though she may say otherwise due to her hate of sweating in public}. I could not have been more proud to be there, and I am already looking forward to next year. 

I also got to stroll through the city for the first time in a long time... I haven't been up to New York in a while. In fact, I may not have been up since last year's ride. My hubs and I had planned a date day in the city last summer, but that day ended up being far from what we had planned {more on that another time}. It was nice to walk the city streets and remember just how awesome New York is. 

I got to grab lunch at the Kati Roll Company... it was recommended by one of the docs I work with, and I will definitely be stopping there again... Quick, delicious, simple, homemade Indian street food. {YUM!} My only regret is not getting more than one roll. 

{Ben's love of the Olympics; What do you want to be when you grow up?}

Intently watching the Olympics

It has unfortunately been a while since I've checked-in here... They say that it takes 21 days {I think... maybe it is 28?} to form a new habit... couple that with the usual life stuff, and a wrist injury from playing in the all-too-present snow, and sitting down to type just wasn't in the cards. {Plus, when you're laying low in the snow, it gets difficult to come up with fun things to talk about}. 

I know that it is old news by now, but the Olympics are over. But, they were Ben's first Olympic Games, and he was enthralled... so it was a big deal for us.

We had a lot of fun watching them as a family, talking about the different events and explaining them to Ben. When we played outside in the snow {hubs built a toddler-sized hill of snow in the front yard to sled down} he was "snowboarding"... he really got into it. When athletes fell down, he would cry, "Oh no!" and was truly upset for them waiting with baited breath to make sure that they were ok.... {he also showed concern for Bob Costas}. Conversely, when someone had a great victory he was thrilled, and cheered his little heart out. He paid close attention to every event, from Slopestyle to Ice Dancing and everything in between. 

One night, {curious to see what he would say, given his new found love of winter sports and professional athletics}, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He seemed to really think about it, but didn't name any one thing. They only thing he emphatically said "Yes!" to {when I started to rattle off a list of: Olympic athlete, nurse, doctor, fireman, police man, et al...} was Daddy. {Awwww....} 

So, we remain curious... we keep guessing, giving him as much fuel as we can to nurture his imagination and watching him take interest in things... So far our guesses include: dancer, fireman, policeman, librarian? {he loves books}, and so much more. {We obviously have no idea}. But, one thing we can hopefully look forward to is watching him one day with his own kids, {we'll be awesome grandparents}. 

This little girl is incredible! I hope she sticks with design, and keeps having fun with it! {It makes me want to have a little girl...} Kudos to her mom, too!

These photos are adorable... the "dreams" are beautiful and fun. 

{working nights:late night snacking}

I started working nights- again- about a year ago. It's an interesting shift... wide awake while most everyone is resting, drinking coffee at all hours, and eating... stuff.

It's hard sometimes to figure out what to eat during a 12 hour overnight. I know some who prefer not to eat much, if at all- thinking that if they were home, they'd be sleeping and not eating. But, I'm far too hungry to be that restrained. {I think the only way I can ever go 12 hours without eating is if I'm sound asleep after a holiday meal}. 

I have learned that eating a regular meal is a no-no for me... often making me sleepy. I've seen and felt {in my waistband} the effects of giving into late-night, sleep deprived, junk food cravings {sometimes Cheetos from the vending machine are just irresistible}... and sadly, I'm beyond my college days of being able to sustain myself on Ramen. 

So, I snack... every few hours... all night long. 

Popcorn, cereal, yogurt, sometimes fruit {not as portable and quick to grab as I wish}, peanut butter/crackers, Luna bars, nuts {my big treat! we keep them out of the house because of Ben's allergy}... and whatever else I can make myself think of as healthy, but tasty to keep me going. 

Some of my favorites:
- Homemade trail mix- I like to mix it up with banana chips, sunflower seeds, peanuts and whatever I crave at the moment. I make it in a big batch for us all to enjoy throughout the week. 
- My favorite special yogurt treat....
-... because two little kisses go a long way at 3am... 
- A great alternative to hospital coffee. Perks me up, and gives me a little boost of Vit. C. 

{my toddler: bad bedtime}

...sneaking a book into bed...

My sweet, adorable, wonderful boy is definitely in the midst of his "Terrible Twos". Today was full of meltdowns and battles of will. The culprit {we think}: we noticed one of his two-year molars coming in. {Thankfully, that's something we can help} 

I work nights. So three nights per week, it is just my hubs and my son at bedtime. Somehow, my hubs has become the Sandman while me putting our son to bed is kin to giving him espresso and license to cry. 

Tonight, we had a role reversal. My husband was called into work tonight, leaving me home to tame the toddler. Because we are aware of the bedtime drama, {and I had managed the daytime tears} my hubs did the usual bedtime routine of book reading, song, and tuck-in. Of course, Ben crawled right into bed and was seen angelically snoozing on the monitor... 

Then, {I'm pretty sure he heard my hubs getting ready to go}... we watched as he got out of bed, and got one of his favorite books... and then a flashlight... and then a toy. Hubby walked out the door. 

I was ok with him playing, as long as the light was off and he was in bed. {Eventually he would nod off... right?}

As soon as I was comfortable on the couch downstairs ready to watch some Hulu, {yay Mommy time!}, I started hearing the sounds of his trucks, and noticed the light on in his room. {and the pitter patter of his little feet} I attempted using the monitor to mysteriously and invisibly speak to him and tell him to turn his light off and get into bed... 

...one book; backrubs; some snuggling; some begging; and one hour later, he was asleep enough for me to tiptoe out. 

Curious to learn why I can't seem to get him to sleep, I consulted Dr. Google. Turns out, the problem is likely the fact that when he cries in the middle of the night, I hug him; when he has nightmares, I hold him, try to kiss it away, and if its bad- bring him to our bed. {I'm the soft spot- the pushover} Hmpf. 

Maybe these adorable pjs would help?
The book of the night...

{more snow; pretend summer picnic}

Love my grill pan. 

So, for anyone who lives in the Northeast... or along the East Coast in general, we're getting more wintery weather. {I think we should just move the Winter Olympics here...} No matter how much I try to enjoy the winter wonderland I'm surrounded by, I can't help but crave Spring, and the sunshine days of Summer. 

Last night, as we buckled down in anticipation of an expected 6-10 or 12, or 18 inches of snow {I love weather forecasts}, I decided we were going to at least pretend it was warm, bright and sunny... I could almost smell the sunscreen!

It was just me and Ben, since my hubs had to work last night... so I left the menu up to him. Not surprisingly, he chose hotdogs. So, we stopped at the store on the way home from school and picked up some Boars Head (Lite) hotdogs, and shredded cabbage for coleslaw.

Immediately upon walking through the door, we changed into our snuggle clothes {pjs by another name, because to a 2 year old, the idea of changing into pajamas at 5pm is meltdown material}, and fired up the grill pan. 

Pretty soon, we had dished up hot dogs, coleslaw, baked beans and sliced strawberries, and headed to the basement to snuggle up and think warm thoughts...

Believe it or not, it worked! We managed to keep the winter glum at bay {something about the bright flavor of a strawberry just makes everything better}. We even abstained from watching the Winter Olympics for the first night since they started... {because there's no snow when its warm.}

So far we've gotten 10 inches of the white stuff at our house... with more coming, I think... or maybe now it's just ice.

I hope that everyone is safe and warm! I think we're going to go play!

How awesome does this look?? 
I cannot wait to wear sundresses again!! This one is gorgeous! ...I really like this one, too.

{homemade valentines: crafting with a toddler}

Our little disaster area/dining room table

What would be a sweeter gift to receive for Valentine's Day than a card, handmade by a sweet little two year old? Nothing. {My thoughts exactly.}

Fueled by a desire to make out-of-state relatives smile, I vowed to help Ben make handmade Valentines for his grandparents, and great-grands. 

There is nothing like trying to convince your two year old that drawing is more fun than playing with his trains, helicopters and fire trucks.... But, persistence pays off... 

It was awesome to see him light up and be enthusiastic about the process of stamping heart shapes with a carved sweet potato; incredible to watch him with his ever-progressing ability to manipulate crayons, stamps, colored pencils and pens; and heartwarming to see the amount of concentration that he put into things, when given the direction, "let's draw a picture for ____ to say I Love You". He would often stop in the middle of coloring, repeat the person's name, and then return to coloring with renewed sense of purpose... dedicated to creating just the perfect card. There was also the thrill of working with stickers... 

Yes, there were a couple of meltdowns; yes, I even wanted to give up at times {we allotted several days to this project}; but I'm really glad we did it. 

I think that Ben will be bringing many smiles... and have many Valentines. 

Artwork by Ben, flourishes by Mommy. 

My favorite Valentine so far this year... 
I love this one... and this one, too!

I would love to dress my little man up in this... 
I think that these are a great alternative to the usual conversation hearts... 

{meaty monday: stuffed cabbage stoup}

As I mentioned before, I'm not very good at keeping to a Meatless Monday schedule. Prime example: tonight's dinner featured one and a half pounds of ground beef. 

Oh well... we will have meat free Tuesday. {doesn't have the same ring to it, I know} 

Tonight I made what was intended to be a comfort-food Sunday meal: Rachel Ray's Stuffed Cabbage Stoup.*   

I am part Polish, and grew up with Golabki {labor intensive stuffed cabbage}. My grandmother made it, my mother makes it... and I found a shortcut. {someday I will make the real thing... and some pierogi}

This "stoup" was very good. Paired with a buttered roll, it was a warm, hearty-yet-healthy nod to an old family recipe. {hubs had two bowls} I will definitely make it again. 

I think the only flavor that I missed was the depth that gets added to the golabki when it is baked in the oven... maybe I could try roasting the cabbage before adding it to the soup? Next time. 

I am looking forward to seeing how everything melds together for leftovers tomorrow- the recipe says it only makes four servings... they would have to be belly-busting servings. 

The stoup in my beautiful Le Creuset Soup Pot... Thank you Mom!

*My modifications to her recipe were: substituting meatloaf mix for 90% Lean Ground Beef; I used Basmati Rice due to personal taste preference, and cooked the rice in the microwave while I was browning the meat, et al.; I added a dash of sour salt with the initial spices and then a squeeze or so of ketchup {based on a shared family recipe containing both}... oh, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce just because. 

I love these bowls... in my dreams I have a whole set- not just three.

...These spoons are beautiful, and funny! ...Makes me want to go shopping!

{cycle for survival}

Me and my team 2013

Once in a while... if we're lucky, we get to be a part of something amazing. Have one of those spine-tingling, goosebump-making, is-this-a-movie? experiences. 

Cycle for Survival is one of those experiences for me. 

There is a lot of cancer in my family. Typically, it has affected the older generations... But, a few years ago, it decided to strike young. One of my cousins was diagnosed with breast cancer at 31 years old. Thankfully, today she is a survivor. She is an incredibly strong woman with an awesome sense of humor and a big heart- I cannot imagine the world without her- or her new baby girl. 

After being diagnosed, she sought out the best at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. She is my link to Cycle for Survival. 

Cycle was started by a former patient and has grown into something amazing. Once an event held with a few spin bikes in one small gym; Cycle now takes place all over the country, with hundreds of bikes... and raises millions of dollars. {100% of which gets allocated to research projects within six months}. 

What blows me away about Cycle is the energy. Current patients, survivors, parents, sisters, brothers, friends, and co-workers all affected by cancer {in one of its many forms} fill the gym with the most unbelievable energy I have ever experienced. They share stories, they honor memories... they stay positive. They fill others with hope {even after experiencing devastating losses}. 

Last year, I cried. I smiled. I laughed... I was in awe of all of the amazing people who came together in one room to really make a difference. It was humbling. Empowering. Breathtaking. 

This year, I will do it again. I am proud to say that I am a part of such an amazing event. I am proud of my family's survivors, and of those we have lost. 

I'm gonna help kick cancer's ass. 

{hot tea, cozy blankets, chick flicks; sick day}

For the past week, I've been fighting the good fight against a persistent cold... up until last night, I thought I was winning. 

After drinking countless mugs of hot tea, cups of orange juice, and as much water as I could stand- some even mixed with Emergen C to amp up my efforts- I was down for the count. 

Of course, as would only be appropriate at such times, tonight begins a three-night stretch of work for me. SO, I have taken today as a sick day... I am hoping that if I get extra sleep, laze around, and drink even more fluids, I will have the energy and health to make it through. 

Who could possibly feel crummy with a "puppy" like this to cuddle up with?!? {she snores}

My chick flick pick {say that 5 times fast!} was The Switch... very cute; a good standard romantic comedy. I loved Jennifer Aniston's apartment in the latter part of the movie... I typically love her characters' style... 

Does anyone want to make me a heaping bowl of chicken soup? ...It looks amazing... 
... This looks even better, though... Why do I always crave spicy chinese take out when I'm sick? {maybe its because someone else does the cooking and cleaning?}

{happy humpday: happy spaces}

This Wednesday I'd thought that I would share one of my happy places... our living room collage wall. 

Our wall started after reading/studying/falling in love with younghouselove while they were decorating their second house... 

I wanted to create a focal point for the room while showcasing some of our favorite memories... things that would make us smile. 

The centerpiece is one of our favorite wedding photos... {taken by our awesome photographer Rob @ Humbled Eyes Photography}. Over the last couple of years, we have collected and created other pieces to enjoy... one of our favorites being the little box we hung that holds hotel room keys from our different vacations together. 

This year for our anniversary {5 years is the wood anniversary- woo hoo!} after a lot of thought, and few ideas, I made a wood-burned plaque celebrating us as a couple... it has become one of my favorite things on the wall.

I also got lucky finding free printables to make my own... here are a couple sites to get you started...
If you enjoy vintage, there is plenty to choose from.
Pretty prints to make your own.

{snow days}

Snow-covered backyard... admittedly, it is prettier when covered in white.

So. We got more snow yesterday. 

I think we got about 8 inches. 

This winter has been ridiculous. {It makes me want to move back to Florida.}

I am not the biggest snow-lover. One of my friends from work described how I feel very accurately, when she described snow as "breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly annoying". 

I have to admit that it is absolutely beautiful. Everything looks fresh, new, and full of wonder when covered with snow. {Well, at least while it's fresh snow}. 

Then comes the annoying side of things... it's wet. {and so becomes everything you wear when you go outside to play in it, or are otherwise dealing with it}. It is deceptively heavy {and it must be shoveled in order for normal life to continue}. It's cold... very cold. Also, with snow, comes ice, and salt... and that brine stuff that they treat the roads with. The salt and brine will coat everything you own- car, shoes, pants, wood floors, dog, et al.- and leave a destructive white film everywhere. {which means that 

What is making me more of a snow-lover, is how excited my son gets when he sees it falling... and how he points out everything that the snow is falling on , {"snow on mommy's car, snow on daddy's car, snow on Ben's house", etc.} I also love how great it is to watch my husband recreate his childhood memories of snow with our son... and how happy it makes both of them. 

{blurry} photo of hubs and son playing in "the cave"

Last night, seeing my husband share the snow cave he built, hearing him tell our son stories of when "Grandpa" used to build caves like that for "Daddy", and listening to our son marvel at the awesomeness of the thing that his Daddy built just for him really made me happy. 

Like, bringing my son to the beach I grew up on, and to Disney World for the first time, happy. 

Maybe after soaking up more of those moments, I won't be so annoyed anymore. :-)

The cave... yep. We got a lot of snow. 

Tips on beating the winter blues.
...A nice warm drink never hurt either. 

{superbowl pizza}

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Last night, we had a little get together with another couple and their adorable soon-to-be one year old boy. None of us were particularly interested in the Superbowl, or the teams that were playing... but we very much enjoyed the National Anthem and Halftime Show.

We also got to play referee to our boys- Ben got a little jealous that another kid was playing with his toys {particularly with his ride-on Dusty Crophopper} so that was fun. Low and behold, today Ben is looking and asking for his new friend... so I guess he wasn't too upset. 

I also got to play in the kitchen and make some fun food. After some contemplation about the menu {make fun "football food" vs. a menu highlighting favorite foods from Seattle and Denver}... I decided to go with football food, because football and wings are like the peanut butter and jelly of sports- and it's what the hubs voted for. 

Menu

7-Layer Dip {a lighter version}

Hummus and Pita Chips/Veggie tray

------------------------------

Caramelized Onion and {Turkey} Italian Sausage Pizza

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

------------------------------

*Football Shaped Carvel Ice Cream Cake*

I kept it pretty small and simple because it was just four of us and two toddlers, and I'm glad that I did. We don't really have any leftovers. {I ate the last piece of Buffalo Chicken Pizza for breakfast and it was awesome... shhhh}

The Buffalo Chicken Pizza was really yummy... I adapted a Rachael Ray recipe to make it faster and simpler. {making pizza dough was not on my to-do list for the evening}

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

1 - 12" pre-made crust (I used Boboli thin crust)
1 1/2 - large chicken breast, shredded (I used a rotisserie chicken)
2 tbsp - unsalted butter
1 tbsp - Worcestershire sauce
2 1/2 tbsp - hot sauce (to taste)
1/2 cup - tomato sauce
1 cup - shredded Monterey Jack cheese (I also added a small amt of cheddar)

blue cheese dressing, and diced celery for topping pizza after baking.

In medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Test to make sure its spicy/mild enough for you. Stir in shredded chicken breast, and warm.

Top pizza crust with chicken, then shredded cheese. Bake according to crusts' package directions. Allow to cool 2 minutes-ish. Sprinkle diced celery and drizzle with blue cheese.


The pizza was really, really good- much quicker and easier than the wings I made last year, and I still felt like I got my buffalo chicken fix. 

The Carvel cake was also delicious.... I love ice cream cake.... I might have some after lunch, and dinner. {I'd have it now, but I have to set a good example for Ben... right?}

Look at all those delicious crunchies!

 Enough about food... 

Adorable. Just adorable. {the Budweiser guy isn't bad either} Bud really knows how to make a great commercial. I very much appreciated the Hero's Welcome also. 

I am not a big football person, and I'm definitely not a Tim Tebow fanatic, but I thought it was really quite impressive of him to show himself in commercials during the Superbowl, in which the Broncos were playing... well, the Broncos were there. Not to mention, they were the best T Mobile commercials I've ever seen... 

{menu planning; i survived the grocery store on a saturday}

Happy Saturday! My morning started peacefully... surfing the web at 3am, and reading blogs. {Working nights leads to some odd sleep patterns}. 

At around 530, I decided that I should just give up, and get out of bed to begin my weekly ritual of menu planning and grocery list making. 

I like to cook- unless I am overtired and don't feel like it that day- and I try to make sure that the three of us are eating well. Most of all, I try to make sure that every day, we sit down as a family and have dinner together- especially now that Ben is talking about his day at school, which I do not want to miss a word of- and its nice to know that every night, no matter what our schedules are like, we have at least 10 minutes to eat together. 

Over the last few years, I've gradually come up with a system for meal planning. It has helped reduce my trips to the grocery store- I hate shopping- has made it easier and quicker to cook- because I always have a game plan- and saves some money. 

Our menu for this week-or-so. It's a busy one. This week's planning/shopping was a little heavier duty because of the Super Bowl Party we're having tomorrow night- read, we're having friends over, none of us watch football, so we'll be watching the commercials, eating and playing with our kids. 

Here's how my menu plans typically go:
Monday- meatless
Tuesday- beef
Wednesday- chicken
Thursday- fish
Friday- something fun {pizza, dressed-up hot dogs, etc.}
Saturday- something that I can spend some extra time on
Sunday- family dinner, something that tastes "homey" {meatloaf, roasted chicken, etc}

I start by writing down basic scheduling events that affect mealtimes on a blank menu page. {Ben being at school means I don't have to worry about his breakfast and lunch; me working two nights in a row means the second night needs to be a quickie meal, etc}. Keeping that close at hand, I start to scour my book of favorite recipes {happily stored in a pretty binder, like this blue one}, my Pinterest boards, email, CookingLight and the internet at large for ideas... sometimes, I just make it up. 

The biggest challenge for me is keeping it interesting. Too much of the same cuisine gets old- fast. {which leads to wasted food, and more money spent on take-out}. I like to eat- and cook- Indian, Italian, Chinese, Thai, American, German, Polish, Mexican, Greek, and more! So, I do my best to make a menu plan that allows us to enjoy some variety every week. I try a lot of new recipes, and if they work well, they get printed and added to my pretty binder. 

Keeping tomorrow a secret, the menu for next week is:
Monday- vegetable empanadas and side salad
Tuesday- chicken curry, roasted cauliflower, rice
Wednesday- crockpot pulled BBQ chicken, beans, coleslaw-type-salad
Thursday- Tilapia with pineapple salsa and broccoli
Friday- stuffed cabbage soup
Saturday- take-out/leftovers
Sunday- Wegmans Spicy Orange Chicken

This week is really screwy due to me working Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights... oh well.

Having gotten the meals planned, the next task was to get the shopping done- no easy feat with a toddler in tow on a Saturday afternoon. I had visions of my hubs and I splitting the list, playing with Ben and conquering the store with grace and efficiency... {HAH} Instead, I shopped and the boys went outside and played. 

It worked well- Ben didn't have a meltdown in the store, and I didn't have to unpack the car.

Then, we got naptime! ...and I played around on my computer...

I love this car...

Eeeek!! I missed my nap opportunity... time for some coffee...

{cereal for dinner}

Happy Friday!!

Growing up, I remember Friday nights being filled with pizza and a movie... or a low-key meal and TGIF {Full House, Family Matters and Step-by-Step} on tv. 

When I got older, I started going out with my friends or boyfriend on Friday nights... In college, Friday nights meant parties or more nights out. I started working nights/weekends, but the goal was usually to get the night off so that I could go out and have fun. 

In the past few years though, I've started to re-learn the value and fun of a low-key Friday night. Even though I don't work Monday- Friday anymore, Friday night seems to be a natural lull night... a night to unwind from the week, take it easy, change into pj's and start spending quality time with my little family.  

No crazy gourmet meals, no long lines at restaurants {Friday is made for pizza, quick fixes, and take out}. Or, you could choose- read, adorably and persistently demand- to have cereal for dinner, like Ben did tonight.  I can't think of a better ending to the week!

{That is, unless I got to have this Friday Night! ...I love this video} 

{local favorite: halo farm}

Local, cheap and delicious. Halo Farm is a store/dairy/ice cream lover's paradise. I happen to be an ice cream lover.

When my husband was a kid, they apparently had a small petting zoo out front, where kids could see/touch an actual cow, goat, et al. I'm not sure when the real animals were taken away, but now you can see a few life-sized cow statues...

They happened to be up and running when I was there today. It is fun to stop and watch for a little bit... and reminds you of how fresh their milk really is. Smart.

I say I go for the fresh- and cheap- milk, but the real reason is the ice cream. Not-too-rich, creamy, great flavors {including Peanut Paradise, which is LOADED with chocolate covered peanuts}, made with their local milk... and cheap. Always on sale: $3 per pint, buy 2 get 1 free. {Is it sad that I have that memorized?} Every time you go, you can't help but stock up... and then go home, scoop up a bowl {or eat out of the container like my hubs}, so you can go back for more...

Mmmmmm...

Another one of my favorite ice cream places: Nokomis Groves, in Nokomis, FL. There is an ongoing "war" in my family about which is better. Orange/Vanilla or Lime/Chocolate. {I'm the Captain of Team Lime/Chocolate.}

{happy humpday}

Happy Humpday! 

IT IS SO COLD! This Polar Vortex nonsense with non-stop snow and perpetual freeze is really starting to get to me. 

Sure, there are good things about cold weather... I get to wear fuzzy socks; burrow into my cozy (synthetic) down comforter; wear fun, chunky scarves; curl up with hot tea; and enjoy one glorious day of sledding/snowman making/playing in snow.

BUT... enjoying the cool air is what fall is for... and snow is really only fun the first time of the season, when you don't have to shovel it or drive in it, and can really enjoy the look and fun of it. {Can you tell the awe of the first snow has worn off?} 

In celebration of a Happy Humpday this week, I thought I'd share my warm thoughts/dreams of summer and warm sunshine to help us all defrost... grab a beach chair!

Royal Caribbean Cruise to Bahamas with my mom: 2006

Not pictured: our crazy attempt at jet skiing with me in control... which I definitely did not have the experience or upper body strength to do without being happily terrified the whole time. We saw a ton of starfish, soaked up the sun in style, and did something new- It was a great trip!!

Ben at Siesta Key Beach, Florida

My favorite beach, and one of my favorite photos... To think, I used to live within 30 minutes of a beach that has made the Best Beaches list more than once... Sand like powdered sugar, sunshine, warm blue-green water... Mmmm... It was awesome to watch him take it all in and enjoy splashing around in the same water I grew up in!

I'm feeling warmer already... :-)

...If you have to return to a cold, snowy reality, here are some fun things I found to make it more enjoyable!

The must-have snowman kit... we have yet to bust ours out of the package!

My favorite Christmas present this year.... My manatea... Fred helps me enjoy my tea with a smile :-)

Slippers... really awesomely warm, soft, cozy slippers. I wear mine all the time!

{couch to 5k and beyond: a race to my 30th birthday}

So, in 346 short days, I will be turning the not-so-big 3-0. I never thought of myself as the type of person who would mind such things. I love my little budding laugh lines, can deal with plucking the occasional gray hair, and generally don't feel old. Sure: I prefer to stay in my pj pants at home, watching Hulu, sipping a glass of wine- or gin and tonic- as compared to going out clubbing- yes, I do think the music is loud... but that doesn't make me old. It's just my personality, right?

It wasn't until the other night at work when a pleasantly confused patient asked me what my goals were that I really started to think about what me being thirty meant. 

There are a lot of things that I thought I would have done by now. I haven't traveled hardly anywhere on my list of places to see; I haven't finished having kids- my goal was 2 by thirty and then done; I haven't obtained my ultimate dream job; bought my perfect house; obtained the wardrobe I dream of; lived the romantic carefree life you see in movies; finished graduate school- something, it turns out I don't really want to do anyway... the list goes on and on. 

The more I think about it, the more I come up with. Granted, some of the items on the list are silly or unrealistic, but some are completely reasonable and attainable. 

I've decided after some sulking- followed by some rational thought, and a self-inflicted kick in the butt- that sure, there are things that I haven't done BUT hopefully, I have time. Life is a work in progress, and I need to stop thinking of it as a "To-Do List"- yes, I am still keeping the list in the back of my mind for future motivation. 

So, rather than freaking out about what I haven't accomplished in my 29 years, I am going to celebrate and enjoy what I have done... and work on doing my best to send my 20's out with a bang... while running 13.1 miles through Disney. 

The Walt Disney World Marathon weekend has always been held on my birthday weekend in January. Traditionally, my mom and I would head to WDW to celebrate my day, and about 15? years ago during our annual getaway I took notice of the fun, and added running in the weekend-long event to my bucket list. There it has sat. Well, it's time to get off the bench. 

Once upon a time, I was athletic, I loved working out and did so regularly... then I got lazy- enjoyed college, got married, pregnant, busy- kicking into gear when I needed to [read, in order to lose almost 60lbs of baby weight] and then letting life get in the way of regular exercise.  

SO, after my aforementioned kick in the butt, pre-planning, and shoe shopping- I've started my adventure. First, I'm working on the well-known Couch to 5K program. Then, I will take on half-marathon training. 

I am going to turn 30, dressed as Minnie Mouse, running through the Magic Kingdom- with my Mickey Mouse costumed hubs running by my side. 

I haven't been this excited about something in a while... it has been almost as fun as planning my wedding was! Thirty is going to be thrilling!

I've already picked out my skirt.
... and my shirt.
Unless I decide to go really big, and wear a tutu.