Memorial Weekend Thoughts

Memorial Day Weekend. The name itself conjures up images of girls gone wild. A suitcase filled with fancy, going out… well basically slutty clothes, makeup, and bottles of pre game mixers and alcohol.

I can remember the outfit changes, fashion shows with the girls, the nights out, the drinks, the hook ups, the “list” on the kitchen fridge of beer goggled conquests. Oh the craziness that went on at the shore. What happens at the shore stays at the shore!

I remember the drive to the house, windows down, maybe smoking a cigarette (this was twenty years ago!) the excitement, the start of summer. The hope of meeting someone special if you were single, the looking forward to soaking up the sun by day, dancing the night away by night, and having a blast hanging with your housemates.

Weekends at the shore were a continuous series of laughs, drama, closeness, drinking, and late night pizza ( although that part was an ongoing problem. I think we all would set out saying, “I’m not going to eat pizza tonight!”

But come 2 am, someone would inevitably cave… Waking up to the telltale evidence of a late night pizza binge.

Seems like a distant memory. Those were fun days for sure. But these days, these types of weekends, when my husband is home for that extra day, and we get three days of family time and BBQs with friends, it’s pure bliss.

Hamburgers, pool parties, smiles and s’mores.

This memorial weekend I was happy to be home, hanging with my family, the thought of me in a bar, cocktails and cougars, sends a shiver of scariness down my spine.

Here’s a picture of my watermelon decorated sugar cookies I brought to a BBQ. Will be posting recipe and video soon.

Five Reasons I Will Miss Winter

We are always running late! Maybe if I take a video of all of us in the morning, send it to the principal, she’ll see the struggle, take pity on me, and consider erasing those tardies from the report card?

Between the knots in the girls’ hair( what the hell happens between bedtime and morning? It’s like squirrels have a party in their hair! ) the crying fits of the little one, and the high maintenance demands at breakfast ( can I have one glass of juice diluted with water, one plain glass of water, pancakes with syrup on the side, syrup on top, and one with no syrup at all, just fresh fruit …I mean I hate to complain about that one, but come on… I’m just trying to get all three out of the house… and on time to school.

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God forbid I let my daughter walk to school in this day and age.. never know who is lurking in a shadowy corner ready to snatch her up in a suspicious looking white van ! Oh wait, we had that same story circulating in town back when I was a kid… and I did walk to school, and it was a long walk! Hmmm….maybe I’ll reconsider?

In any case, this morning was no exception, the typical flurry of missing shoes and lost blankets ( so imperative for that long 1 minute trip to school!) and I realized we were going to be late again if we didn’t leave at that very second … then I saw what I was wearing … my pajamas, gross shirt, no bra… and my hair, well that always looks terrible in the morning…How many busy moms out there run into a friend outside the Mom life routine and they’re like “Wow, you look amazing? What have you done with yourself?

And your like racking your brain for what you could have possibly done differently… oh right…

“Um, I took a shower….”

Oh the life of a busy mommy…

As I was sprinting out the door, screaming toddler in my arms, I realized that I was actually going to miss the cold, comforting routine of winter.

“Are you crazy?” I can hear the disbelief in your thoughts as well as mine…but let me tell you why…here are my five reasons I will miss winter.

 

1 Big Puffy Jacket –  Oh what hides beneath the dark, forgiving, comfy winter coat. Need I say more?

Woman all dressed in fur.

2 Tall Winter Boots- It’s such a simple look to pull off in the winter… leggings or joggers and boots…no sock issues – they can be high, short, mismatched, or no socks at all.

No need to worry about that patch of stubble on your ankle that you missed.

No need to be concerned about being fashionable! Who is thinking about that when you are freezing!

3 No fighting with kids about what to wear?

“Can I wear shorts?” They beg when the weather is questionable.

“I don’t need a jacket!” Yes you do. I don’t feel like getting another email from a teacher about this issue.

“I was so hot today at school mom! Or I was so cold today at school.” “You never tell me the right thing to wear!”

“Sigh…” mom hangs her head in shame beating herself up for her outfit choice mistakes…JUST KIDDING… I’m nothing like that- I’m more of a “Quit your complaining and move on kid” kind of a mom. But it is annoying having to hear it.

The changing of the season just adds an element of uncertainty and extra steps that I don’t have time for!

4 Red wine and baking

There is nothing more comforting than sipping a full bodied red, warm cinnamon and chocolate wafting through the air ( whatever it is I’m baking at the time) and not caring about the calories… Bathing suit and bothersome body worries buried far below the cozy forgiving sweaters….

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5 Control of my kids

When it’s cold out, everyone is happy to stay inside, all together, and I know where everyone is…the kids rush to the warmth of the car after school or their activities,  content to mostly be home. I can get things done, keep my house relatively clean, and have a little down time… but when the sun is out, they are ladies of the land… always wanting to be outside, play after school, running out the door, leaving a wailing Lexi behind, doors open, bugs flying in, coming in/coming out – leaving a trail of dirt and mud wherever they go. They want to ride bikes, scooters, go to the park… which is great ! Truly … it’s just I have to take them and it’s just more stuff to do. I know, I know – kids need to get out and get off their IPads ! You’re like stop whining and just take your damn kids to the park! I get it.

I’m just being honest here.

So there it is… I will miss you winter. Time to diet, get out the bug spray, work on my outside screaming voice, shave, and start wearing a bra to pickup!

Continue reading “Five Reasons I Will Miss Winter”

Day four – Make it, Do it, Love it

Busy day! Good busy! Spent the morning baking these awesome cookies – Snickerdoodle Surprise! I don’t think that is the official name but that’s what we’re calling them. My brother in law’s girlfriend, Courtney, told me about them and we love them! Always pays to ask someone what they’re baking these days!
The cookies are Snickerdoodles, stuffed with a marble size ball of Cookie Butter!

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Obsessed with Cookie Butter

Those who have seen me in the last week know all about Cookie Butter- really goes to show you the power of word of mouth…I am sure at least eight people will be buying this at Trader Joes soon! Yum. Arianna is loving this on her pancakes, which I totally forgot to mention that Tom made these tasty ricotta cheese pancakes, from SCRATCH, of course! and people, just so you know – BISQUICK is not from scratch pancakes! Just because your mixing, doesn’t mean home made!

This is what cookie butter looks like and its close counterpart, Biscoff Spread- picture, care of Courtney!

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After I picked Gia up from school, we had two of her friends over! So fun with all of the laughter and playing in the house! Grilled cheese and grapes- felt like such a Brady Bunch moment!

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Took Gia to gymnastics and brought her teacher some of the magical cookies! She was thrilled and said it was such a great surprise and was just what she needed today. Ahhh, behold the magical power of cookies, sure to cheer up any mood, just say the word aloud – COOKIE, sounds so sweet and innocent, a simple COOKIE, melts all your troubles away…bringing you back to childhood, mommy’s kitchen, homework at the table, simple joy.

And screeeeeech, stop the fantasy! Many of us were coming home to an empty house, rummaging around in drawers looking for leftover fortune cookies, but hey, at least it was a cookie, right?

Fun playing in the park for a bit after gymnastics, we met more friends ! That makes two new numbers I scored in my phone today for future play dates! I am so damn cute and fun- people just love me…..oh, wait, it was the kids that we’re playing, I’m just their kangaroo … Let’s just say I have a high jump and a big pouch …. Meaning I bring the kids everywhere and have lots of room for making new friends!

Ok, I totally apologize, sometimes I am so odd. Do you know that people used to ask me if I was high years ago and I didn’t even know what that meant! I can be a bit of a space cadet, OH WELL!!! It seems to have gotten me this far!

More on the self control front

Let me tell you about the mouth watering smells in my house today…cinnamon, sugary goodness, buttery grilled cheese…mmm…

Food confessions…

I ate a half of a Reese’s Pieces Brownie (leftover from a batch I made for a friend’s birthday celebration – it was amazing! Two mini peanut butter cups from the half pack that was still in my pantry!
One savory Snickerdoodle surprise cookie, oh that sweet goodness in my mouth! The usual Jill would keep on goin…I mean look at what else I have lurking in my closet. But I stayed strong, a few more not so fab nibbles tonight, couple bites of the kid’s sweet potato fries, a few bites of their leftover grilled cheese, but no major food frenzy!!! Hurray for Jill!

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I am a sucker for the Walgreens, dollar deal, just can’t say no to those poor salesclerks. “Will that be all for today? Did you find everything you need today? Do you want to buy the dollar deal of the day?”

OK! OK! I’ll take three!

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