Monday, Monday

Can't believe it is Monday already.
I have to say though, I had a GREAT weekend. All we did was hang out with friends. On Friday, we went to the Zimmermans for a little BBQ trial run. Every year they host a 4th of July party and Bob was testing out his new smoker. We had brisket and homemade bread, yummy. Usually the Z's drive down to our neck of the woods and it was so nice to go up there and let Jessica play hostess (she is very good at it) They kids ran around, the boys gamed and Jessica and I just sat and chatted. We have the best conversations :0)
Since most of the DND guys were also having dinner up there, I took the opportunity to do a little baking. I have had cupcakes on the brain and I have been doing a little research on local "cupcake" shops. It is interesting to see what flavors are offered and how much they charge. $2.50 seems to be the standard cupcake price. I love the "idea" of a little bakery. Something like the "barefoot contessa", but the reality is not as fun. If I had a bunch of money laying around, lots of minions to do all the not fun work and all I had to do was show up frost some cupcakes and schmooze customers I would be all over it. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be in the cards right now, maybe later, but not now. I did decide that I would do a little cupcake baking and try out some different flavors. I made 4 batches of cupcakes: Mocha, lemon, cranberry and Dr. Pepper. I saw the Dr. Pepper one on a couple of websites and thought I would try it. It was okay, definitely needed more tweaking. I must say, after all that baking and "quality control", I'm a little cupcaked out. Oh well, I did manage to finish my little hand towel. I can't wait to make more. Quick and easy, my kind of project.
Anyhoo, it was a very late night on Friday (we hit the sack around 2:30 am) and we were looking forward to a nice slothy Saturday. Our friend Matt called and wanted to know if Joji could play. They spent the day doing all kinds of fun boy stuff like working on broken lawn movers, cutting up wood and playing with backhoes. The boy stuff then turned into sushi with the wives. We went over there and spent the evening laughing so hard we were crying. Another late night, but it was so much fun.
Sunday rolled around and it was definitely a quiet day. The kids had spent the night at Joji's mom's house so we got watch the football games (poor Farve) and catch up on our tivo.
When I was pregnant with Ben we went and saw a production of RENT. I was 29 and had never felt so "old and unhip". The movie RENT was on and I taped it thinking I might get it if I saw it again. Not really. Maybe it is the "westcoast" in me, but every musical sounds the same. It was okay, but not the life changing experience that others seemed to have. Oh well. I was also able to catch an episode of Mad Men. I loved it. I'm going to see if season one is out on DVD. I love movies/shows about the 50's. It is so interesting and the styling is so beautiful. I love how everything is so neat and tailored. Appearance was everything and makes for great eyecandy.
So now Monday has come and the kids are out of school. The sun is out and it is making me feel semi inspired to work in the yard. It is so much easier to putter when the sun is out. Today is also laundry day. I'm really tyring to get our closet under control. Maybe I'll post a couple of pics when I'm done (nothing like a little blogging accountability to help motivate)
Well, I'm off to get to busy before the motivation wears off.
Happy Monday everyone!! :0)

Stamina

People always ask me "when am I going back to work". I miss working, but I'm afraid I've been away long enough to forget how much stamina is needed. Yesterday and today I was gone all day and I'm totally shot.
Yesterday was a rare day. Sam had school and then a play date. I was free for a good 5 hours. I went into town to pick up a few things and of course, I seemed to buy everything else except what I was looking for. I went to TJMAXX to a get one of those cotton bins for Joji's mail. For the past six months, they have had a TON of different colors and designs. I was really hoping for a blue and white toile. Surely they would have it. Nope, not one. grrrrr so off to Target.
Well, of course when you walk in you have to walk past their dollar section and of course, you have to take a peek at stuff you don't need, but for a dollar you figure couldn't hurt. I was almost free and clear when something caught my eye, cotton dish towels. Now normally, I would not have given them a second look, but I was reading on some random blog (you know how that goes... a click, click here and a click, click there) and the girl had the sweetest little embroidery projects. One was a cotton kitchen towel with a little cupcake on it. I have a thing for cupcakes. I also like to embroider. However, my attention span is not very long, so this little design instantly appealed to me. As I was reading the post, I thought to myself, where would you find plain cotton dish towels? Target's dollar section apparently. They had the best baby blue ones and so I grabbed them. Last night I sketched out a cupcake, dug out my colored floss and went to town. I'm almost done. I think I will finish it tonight and post a pic tomorrow.
Back to Target...they didn't have those bins either, but of course, I left with other stuff. I truly believe it is physically impossible to leave that store empty handed. I have yet to do it. There is so much stuff there and they clearance stuff gets me every time. Anyhoo, since they didn't have what I was looking for I was forced to go to 4 more stores. I finally found something I liked and of course it was at the last store which was closest to home. Figures.
By the time I got home from all that running around it was after 4:00 (I had left the house at 9:00) and I was pooped. When Joji came home he immediately wanted to know what was for dinner. Just as I was going to say something really exciting like sandwiches, the phone rang and it was my girlfriend who suggested we go out for dinner :0) Dinner was a blast, but we didn't get home until 7:30. A long day indeed. Today was no better, I worked in Sam's class and Ben's class, ran a couple of quick errands and returned home 6 hours later. Yup, I'm pooped.
If I'm this exhausted after shopping and doing fun stuff, I'm not sure I have the stamina to keep up with a groups of Kindergartners, let alone keep my house running. Nope, I think I will linger in "stay at home" land a little longer.

Time Warp

I can't believe it has been a week since my last post. I'm not sure if it was we were so busy or nothing exciting has happened, probably a little of both. Yesterday, my mom and I made a trip to Goodwill with a massive donation in tow. I was able to get rid off 6 boxes of stuff and 2 large bags of clothes. On all of the "teach me how to dress" shows they always say you tend to wear 20% of your wardrobe 80% of the time. Well, I bit the bullet and donated that 80%. Kind of scary. I noticed that I don't have a lot of "work" clothes anymore. When I do work, if I'm not rocking the "kidnapper" look, I'm usually in khakis and a sweater. I'm trying to expand the wardbrobe, but comfort is key. I also need low maintance closes. I'm not the obsessive handwasher kind of gal, so I need wash and wear. And did I mention I do NOT iron. Yes, I own one and have used it recently, but that was on pants and even I can iron pants. Way back when, when I was still trying to impress Joji with my domestic skills, I tried to iron one of his shirts. It took everything I had not to launch the iron through the kitchen window. I vowed that would never iron a shirt again and if families at my school who were on free lunch could scrape the money for drycleaning then so could I. Thankfully, Joji's work clothes are jeans and polos, that I can do.
Anyway, I know have a pretty empty closet. Some might think, good news I get to shop. Well, I'm not there yet. I've been doing this thing called the daily plate and it is basicly an online food journal. I'm done with dieting and this seems to work. I still eat the same way, but just a lot less. It is a real eye opener and it helps you make better decisions. Since it is not a diet, there is no "cheating", no guilt and no "I've blown it, might as well make the most of it" binging. It is great. So far I have lost 20 pounds and hope to lose more. It isn't a "quick" thing, but I'm hoping a permanent thing. Anyway, don't want to buy new clothes until I can buy something fun. I was able to get into the next size down jeans the other day and I was thrilled. Slow and steady...
And now for something completely different...
A while back I mentioned that Joji and I did some work in our bedroom. Here is a picture of it. Photographing a room is tough and since our is kind of a funny shape it seemed to be even more tricky. Here is "my side" of the bed. I absolutely love the curtains in the room. I found them on clearance at TJMAXX and they are the perfect shade of blue and white. I think I would have blue and white everywhere if I could (maybe I will someday). The mirror over the bed was kind of a splurge, but I love its lines. The "distressing" finish leaves a little to be desired, but I plan to pain it and destress it so it won't look like a lepeord. This room has the best light of the whole house and waking up in here is so pleasant. I can't wait for spring when the leaves come back on the trees outside. You feel like you are in a tree house. My plan is to keep things very simple. I would love to put a window seat in, maybe for my birthday...
Last but not least, Kate over at Our Red House has tagged me for the seven random things meme. Here it goes...
1. I wish I had a mild case of OCD. I'm envious of those who find joy in cleaning.
2. I really wished I like more veggies. If only I could get excited over onions and peppers. I'm trying, but it is a slow going.
3. If you tailgate me I will slow down, so please dont'.
4. I hate to pump gas and will drive 7 miles into town to go the station that will pump the gas for you. I always tip the guys and enjoy the surprised look on their faces when they say thanks.
5. I wish I could paint.
6. I miss teacing swimming lessons-I was really good at it
7. I want to open a little cupcake shop called "babycakes"
I'm supposed to tag seven others, but everyone I would tag has been already tagged. So if you are reading this and need something for your blog,consider yourself tagged!!

Spring Awakening

So my last post was about wanting spring to hurry up and get here. (Now, don't get me wrong, I would LOVE a little snow and "late start due to snow", but I'm pretty over gray and dreary) Well, today I got a little taste. I was out cleaning out my tomato beds and I started to wonder if any of my bulbs were starting to poke through. So I did a little poking around and sure enough, tender tips have busted through!!!
It must have also flipped that "spring cleaning" switch because I came inside and embarked on a MAJOR purge. For those of you who have young kids, you probably know who the Kratt Brothers are. Well, my kitchen cabinets are like the closet at Animal Junction (over crammed and ready to explode) So I just took the plunge and started taking everything out. It didn't take as long as I thought and it was actually quite easy. I "had" a stack of 6 fiesta ware platters that I had picked up at TJMaxx a while back. While I used to use them all the time, I now have platters I like better. I just couldn't bring my self to take them to Goodwill, so I called a friend who collects it and they will soon be on their way to a new home. She was thrilled and so was I. I did the same thing with some other dishes I had.

Here is a picture of my "new" cabinet. Since it is a blind cabinet I literally have to get on my hands and knees to reach stuff, but since there is so much less in there I shouldn't have to too often. I was so inspired I did another cupboard. It felt sooooo good. I really have the purge bug and I'm looking forward to war on clutter. I talked to a good friend of mine today is also and avid thrifter and she said the line at the local Desseret Industries was 9 cars long. I guess I'm not the only one bitten by the declutter bug :0)

Dreaming of spring...

I know that 2008 isn't even a week underway, but I am starting to develop a slight case of spring fever. I was a bad girl and did not get any new bulbs planted this fall, so I hope some of my old bulbs made it through for another season.
Last year, I planted some sweet peas. Ever since I saw a story on the old (or should I say "vintage") Martha where she visited a sweet pea patch that was insane. The woman had a large plot with a bunch of trellises 7 feet tall and loaded with sweat peas. Amazing.

My luck with them is kind of hit or miss. (These pics are from my small crop last year)I suppose I should breakdown and actually do some research on the best planting conditions. My good friend told me you are supposed to sow the seeds on President's day so that is my plan this year. Where exactly I will plant them is TBA. I still have some (okay, a lot) of clean up left to do. The sun is out today and I guess it is as good of time as any :0)

We don't need no stinkin' badges...

Well, apparently I do.
Even though I consider myself a stay at home mom, I am lucky to have the ability to do a little freelance testing for our locat school district. My mom works with English Language Learners and my job is go and test the English of all new students. It is a very sweet gig.
These days school security is a big deal and everyone is supposed to have an official district badge. Since I am a contractor, I am not eligble for a badge. Most of the time, this is no problem, but today it was.
I was at one school this morning at 8:00 AM. My hair was done, I had make up on and I was wearing nice jeans, black clogs, gray sweater and a gray fleece jacket. Casual yes, but I have worn this before. I went to check in with the woman who gets the kids (I've been there a million times) and she is sitting there looking at me in kind of a weird way. She looks at my "visitor" badge (which is a avery lable with the date and my name written on it) and asked why I don't have a badge. I explain and then she says, "Well, you don't look very "official". I don't know if the teacher will let you take the kid. You look like you could be a kidnapper." What?????
I kept waiting for her to smile and say "just kidding", but she didn't. I'm so sure. I am in almost all the secondary buildings in the district and the dress code of the teachers is horrible. I went into one class and the teacher (who was young- early 20's) was wearing long basketball shorts, hitops and a hoodie. I haven't been out of the classroom that long, but we could only wearl jeans (and nice ones at that) on Fridays. You still had to look like you were at work and not about to putter in the yard. Anyway, so there I was thinking I looked pretty good for being up and aobut so early to find I look like a kidnapper. Nice.
My ego took another hit later when I was at my old jr. high. Of course, I walked into it, but still. I told the girl I was testing that I went to the school when I was in jr. high and she said. "wow, this is an old school."
Hope everyone's Friday was better than mine
:0) Laurie Anne (AKA the kidnapping granny)

Happy New Year

I hope you all survived New Year's Eve. This was the first year in probably 10 years we didn't do anything. It was so nice to just be at home and veg. I'm actually surprised that we even stayed awake until midnight. We watched the countdown from the Space Needle. I felt bad for the pyro guys because halfway during the show everything stopped. The local news folks who were covering the event said, "I bet the fireworks guys are really freaking out now, I wonder if Jim can get word with them." Yeah, right. Like they are going to want to chit chat in the middle of trying to get the show back up and running. Kind of funny.
Yesterday, I spent chipping away at the house. Cleaning, organizing, making piles for goodwill. My kitchen counters are cleaned off and that always feels really good. I was also able to do most of the laundry. I would have gotten more done, but Joji and Matt were building shelves for the preschool and I got recruited to stain. Today I will finish putting away the Christmas stuff and then it is off to Joji's mom's house for dinner. New Year's Day is a big deal in Japan. BaChan and Auntie cook for days and there is always a TON of food. I'm really hoping they make Gyoza. They are my favorite. I'm not a huge sushi person, so it is nice to be able to eat other things. My contribution will be Hot Wings. Akiko brought some home after our Christmas party and BaChan really liked them. Sushi and hot wings, quite the combo.
Ben and Sam don't go back to school until Thursday which is nice. I'm such a little kid when it comes to school vacations. I really enjoy them and it is a drag when they are over. There is just too much to keep track of sometimes. Although on the flip side, I need a little structure so school is nice for that. Structure always seems to be the theme of my new year's resolutions.
Here are mine
1. Take better care of myself (watching what I eat and working out more regularly)
2. Saying "no" to things I really don't want to do
3. Taming the clutter.
My plan is to start small and then each month, kick it up a notch. We'll see how it goes. Hope 2008 is a wonderful year for everyone.