{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...