The Balancing Act January 16, 2008

As I mentioned I am trying to work out.  It’s embarrassing to say the # of times I’ve entered the gym during the 5 years I paid for membership.  BUT in the past 4 days I have gone 3 times. So I think I’m off to a good start..  But I’ve already hit a glitch, the balancing act.

 J feels that he hardly spends time with me nor the kids.  Sadly he is at work (due to the long commute) for a good portion of the day.  So when he returns it’s time for dinner, shower and bedtime for the kids.  I thought that taking the kids to the gym after work and placing them in the kids club while I worked out would be a good idea, but it seems to be cutting into family time.

I have to work out for my health, I have to watch my boys, I have to manage the household, I have to be a wife, and oh yes, I have a career as well. So, how does a person balance it all?  All the books say it’s about efficient time management, but seriously, how much more can I manage my 24 hours of day?  Somehow I have got to figure out a way to juggle it all and not let one of them drop.

*whine, whine, whine, can I have some cheese with that*

All time high January 14, 2008

I’ve been on a weight roller coaster pretty much all of my life.  Although it is isn’t a huge amount of weight that I battle with, the fact of the matter is that I am constantly stressed about it.  Well, 2 kids later and 26 months post partum, I really thought I would have been back to my “normal” self (it’s all sort of relative now). But alas, I am at an all time (non pregnant) high.  Getting on the scale this morning shocked the living beejezus out of me.  I knew that my muffin was spilling over the pants top a bit more, but I’ve been in denial about it.  But rather than lamenting on it, and trying to find some reason as to why I’m fat and can’t lose the weight I’m seriously going to do something about it.  So here’s the game plan:

1) Eat based on the WW Core plan

2) Get over my dislike of the gym and go to the gym *gasp*!  Heck, I’ve only had a membership for years and I’ve gone less than 5 times!!!

3) Stay committed to sister that I will run with her.  Baby steps so we’ll just do an 8K in Feb.  How is it that I used to run half marathons when I can barely waddle my fat self to the mailbox nowadays?!?!?

 Stay tuned and please help me stay accountable.

6 Alladin Vests down! December 5, 2007

In the future, I will, at all costs, avoid working with material that has sequiny things adhered onto the fabric with glue.  Everytime my sewing needle pierced the fabric it would get some of the glue on the needle and get all gummy and cause the thread to snap.  What should have been a relatively simple sewing project took much longer because every so often I would have to take the needle out and wash it and rethread the entire machine.

 BUT, on a good note I finished 6 of the Alladin vests for N’s winter program at school.  The mom that I volunteered to help will be giving me the head turbans to sew once she finishes cutting them.  I’m so glad she’s cutting because that’s my least favorite thing to do.  I just really hope that she doesn’t wait till the last minute and we need to pull an all nighter for this.

On another note about the whole Alladin getup, they have asked that we find white pants and a white shirt.  The white pants have been a bit challenging so I think I may just quickly sew up a pair of loose fitting pants made of satin-y material.  And maybe a tunic to match.  Guess I will be trying to come up with a pattern using our scrap newspaper.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

The moments that make it so worth it December 3, 2007

Most days I feel like my boys are trying to see how they can drive me crazy, but then there are the moments that make it all so worth it.  Yesterday night I was sitting on the sofa with D and N and reading books.  Normally when D gets off the sofa, N will scoot closer to me and not let D back on.  But it was so nice to see N actually make room for his brother and help him get back on the sofa.  And the boys were being so cuddly and nice with each other for a change.  And FINALLY, after over 2 years of having 2 boys, I am seeing N trying to actually engage D in activities and share with him!  These moments make me forget about all the moments of stress.

Working Mother Woes December 1, 2007

I have decided that never will there be a perfect answer between being working mom versus a stay at home mom.  But I have it pretty good as I am an in-betweener as a working at home mom.  Ofcourse the business travel sucks, but the extra time at home is nice.  I get to drop off and pick up the kids at relatively normal hours, I participate in school activities as much as I can.  The one thing that I don’t really do is socialize with the other moms that hang out at the lobby after drop off and before pick up.  So I haven’t found the comradeship with other parents.  With D’s class I am a super active parent, bringing in goodies, helping out with activities,etc.  But there are no other active parents.  Well, at least the teacher likes me so maybe D will get special attention?  But with N’s class, the kids have been together for a couple of years already and there is already a parent clique that I can’t seem to get into. 

So I took matters into my own hands! (J shakes his head at me for this)

I saw the mom that was designing the costumes for the winter recital come in to drop off her son, so I waited for her in the lobby and introduced myself and offered my sewing services to help her.  She asked me a couple of questions and when i told her that I work I could see her face twitch just a bit.  But she composed herself when i told her I work at home and have lots of flexibility with my schedule (ok, so I BS’ed a bit).  I think I might have scared her for just being so “HERE I AM” but she quickly invited me into her home and we chatted and now I have to sew 12 Alladdin vests.  I guess it’s a small sacrifice to get my foot into the door of the parent clique.

Mmm, Turkey Day Leftovers! November 24, 2007

I just love Thanksgiving!  Regardless of who the company is I just love having people over and being able to cook a nice big meal.  This year we had J’s parents, aunts, uncles and a friend of mine over for a total of 15 people in our teeny tiny home.  The more the merrier!

Because of a nasty little spill I took down the stairs I had to really limit the cooking this year. 

Appetizers:

Proscuitto wrapped asparagus, variety of canapes, spinach artichoke dip, cheese and fruit tray, 2 types of ceviche (thanks to J’s aunt)

Main Meal:

Turkey with orange scented cranberry sauce, Glazed Ham, Dressing, Garlic & Chive Mashed Potatoes with Turkey Gravy, Rum Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Creamless Creamed Corn, Mac N Cheese, Green Beans, Scalloped Sweet Potatoes (thanks to K), Broccoli Slaw (thanks to MIL), Fresh baked rye bread (thanks to K)

Dessert:

Pumpkin & Pecan Pies

Phew, I think I just gained 10 pounds typing that up!

It might just be me, but after cooking food all morning long, when it comes to mealtime I have absolutely no desire to eat.  Not sure if it’s because I’ve been smelling food all day long, sheer exhaustion or the constant hostessing (aka waitress’ing) that needs to be done.  So typically on Thanksgiving day I don’t eat much.  But the day after I really get to enjoy the food in the peace and comfort of my quiet home during nap time, legs propped up with the TV on.  Yumm! Thanksgiving never tasted so good!

Happy Birthday D! November 22, 2007

I cannot believe how quickly two years have passed! It feels like just yesterday that you were our tiny little infant.  Despite being nearly 8 pounds, you looked so tiny to us because your brother was born looking like the michelin man.  But you were perfect in every single way! Since this was my second C-section and planned at that I had it all planned. We “greased the palms” of the nurses which got us a private hospital room with a private shower. And we stayed the entire allowable duration so i could thoroughly enjoy my private time with you and only you. It was so nice to bond with you. You had that new baby smell and you were so precious.

And then we took you home. See how tiny you were several days after birth! You were smaller than Oaffie! I don’t know, there was just something about you that made you so loveable.

Time passes so quickly, and it’s the pictures that captured the feelings of awe with all the firsts that you had. When you first rolled over, when you first started to crawl-only backwards though, when you first started to walk and then run. As bad as I feel that I slowed your development by wearing you more and not allowing you to explore on your own I really enjoyed wearing you and being close to you all the time. And the extra closeness we shared is really apparent to this day as you are such a little momma’s boy.

When you turned one we had a little family party for you and I was so adamant about making sure that your party was as equally nice.  No way my second son was going to get anything less just because he was second born!

And now, you are entering the wonderful age of the terrible twos.  But for some reason, maybe it’s because I know that you are going to be my last, anything that you do, no matter how “terrible” it is, is just adorable to me.
Happy Birthday D!

I will love you forever and a day….mom

Back from blogging sabbatical November 22, 2007

I have been an awful awful blogger as of late.  But I am digging myself out from under a rock and will be back to blogging again.

Update on the biz October 4, 2007

I have been such a bad online vendor.  I have been bad about getting new things onto the website.  Part of it is that I have been a bit busy with custom orders that weren’t made through the website and the other part is that my regular day job has been keeping me busy.  Oh yes, and the fact that we were living in a dust bowl (ick!).  But I finally got my butt in gear and posted some new pieces.  And I ordered new materials for some other ideas I have.  Yeah!

And I have a domain name.  It’s a secret for now.  But as soon as it’s up and running, you guys will be the first to know!

“A Whole New World” October 3, 2007

A whole new world it is indeed!  The preschool is having this very elaborate production for Christmas where each class gets to go up on stage at the local college auditorium and perform.  N’s class is performing “A Whole New World” from the Alladin movie and the teacher has asked that we parents get our Alladin-ish costumes ready.  Ofcourse there are tons of Jasmine costumes for the girls, but I’m running into a challenge with the boy costume.  I may have to drag out the sewing machine and blow the dust off of it.

D’s class is themed a Toy Shoppe and they are asked to dress up as dolls.  The problem is I just cannot choose between the marionette Pinocchio or Raggedy Andy.  Both are too adorable!!!!

I’m glad that my worries today are over the Christmas production as opposed to something like the kitchen remodel (which is done-yeah!)!