Vices and Things We Can't Change

Vices, addictions, habits, crappy personality traits - we all have them.  Why do we beat ourselves up over them?

Here's what I mean:  I am a very talkative, label making addict.  Yes, me, I know it's hard to believe.  I really do talk too much.  A shock right?  And the label making; I've just got to get that in check!  Everyone must be talking about me behind my back!  It's all the gossip at the home and school meetings and at the soccer games.  I'm such a mess about it.

Yeah, right.

Why are people so concerned about what everyone else thinks?  What gives!?!?  It's not that important if you label everything under the sun with your p-touch machine.  It's not that important if your only vice is drinking too much coffee. It's not that important that you watch reality TV.  It's not  that important if you have to play Candy Crush every day.  It's not that important if you post everything that makes you happy on your twitter feed.

Who cares!?!

Stop feeling guilty.  Unless you're over drinking, (and driving), gambling your life away or chain smoking; having a silly habit or unchangeable personality trait isn't something you should feel guilt over.  Evict that shame and kick it to the curb.  We all need something or do something that helps us make sense of this world.  Life is difficult enough without having one little thing that makes it all feel within our control.  Mine is labeling like a mad woman.  I do have some control over it, but the perfect world would have labels every place.  I just love those things.  Here's a link to a cheap one: you really must buy one it would make me so happy: http://www.staples.com/Brother-P-touch-PT-D200-Label-Maker/product_637689  or this one at Amazon.

So if someone gives you a sideways look this week or snickers at something about yourself you just can't control.  Seize the moment and love who you are.  Own it and love all those little annoying things about yourself.  As long as you're happy and you're not hurting anyone; it just doesn't matter.   Find your way in this crazy world and make it what you will.

Be happy!

Buckets and My Boy

So much for P.P.P.P.P

Prior
Planning
Prevents
Possible
Problems

Yeah right.

Well, I should have known better.  It is Monday after all.  Damn you Monday.  You always sneak up on me and give me those sucker punches.

Last night I posted how I had myself all set up for the week ahead.  HA!

I said it - crap was going to happen.  There's no need to get into minutia, but the hardest part for me was my son.

He had a terrible no good very bad day. Not a thing went right for my little man today.  It started with a bloody nose before 5:00 AM and it went downhill for him.  By the time I got him after school he was SHOT.  All I did was look at him the wrong way and BOOM he lost it.  Which basically means I was a his verbal little punching bag.  There obviously were consequences for his behavior, but that's not what this is about; it's about what he did next.

In my son's school last year they introduced the Bucket Fill-osophy.  Here's a quick explanation:

The Theory of the Dipper and the Bucket
Each one of us has an invisible bucket.
It is constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us.
When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it is empty, we feel awful.
Each of us has an invisible dipper.
When we use that dipper to fill other people's buckets ~
by saying or doing things to increase their positive emotions ~ we also fill our own bucket.
But when we use that dipper to dip from others' buckets ~ by doing or saying things that decrease their positive emotions ~ we diminish ourselves.
Like the cup that runneth over, a full bucket gives us a positive outlook and renewed energy. Every drop in that bucket makes is stronger and more optimistic.
But an empty bucket poisons our outlook, saps our energy, and undermines our will. That's why every time someone dips from our
bucket, it hurts us.
So we face a choice every moment of every day: We can fill one another's buckets, or we can dip from them.
It's an important choice ~ one that profoundly influences our relationships, productivity, health, and happiness.

Back to our story

Before I put Kyle to bed tonight he asked me if I know what buckets were.  I immediately said, 
"Yes, and you dipped pretty deep into mine tonight." 
He said, "Yea Mommy. I know.  But I'm going to try and fill it up a little before I go to bed.  I'm sorry."

Gotta Love Kids!
Take that Monday!

A Working Mom's Sunday Night

It's Sunday night
(in the fall)

The football games are done
(Of course our team lost)

House is picked up
(In hopes that it will stay that way all week.  HA!)

Work clothes are laid out for the morning and each day this week.
(You know I'm going to change my mind and wear something else)

Kid's clothes are also laid out - Yay!
(He'll probably change his mind too)

All bags are packed, lunches too!

However, this is the only late night of the week,
I find that is calm (especially when my husband is in the firehouse);
the rest are like I live at the zoo.

I start each week with this way.

I can't stress over what will go wrong and right.

I know SOMETHING is going to blow up in my face.
(Those of you who know me, know, that if it will go wrong or bizarre, it will.  I just can't make crap up. Oh wait!  Didn't I write about that once?)

So my advice out there for all of you who are like me is this: hit that week hard and wish it well.  If it blows up in your face; oh well. There's nothing you can do about it. Just laugh (or cry if you need to) and let it go.

Good luck this week working girls.  We got this.

French Toast Fingers (Gluten Free or Traditional)

My son asked me for French toast sticks this morning.  I was more than happy to make them, since it's Sunday.  So here's what I did.  (Just so you all know, I love French toast, so it wasn't like he was twisting my arm or anything.)

Ingredients: (I used all gluten free ingredients, but you can use regular stuff too.)
Three Eggs
Milk
Bread
Vanilla 1 tsp
Cardemom (optional)
Cinnamon - 1/8 tsp
Brown Sugar - 1 TBS
Butter - for frying
Powdered Sugar (optional)
(Bacon - if you have some left over, crumble a little on top - YUM)
Syrup for dunking

Directions
1.  In a bowl, large enough to soak bread later, crack three eggs:

2.  Add a splash of milk

3.  Add a teaspoon of vanilla















3. Add an 1/8 tsp of cinnamon

(OPTIONAL STEP)



Now if you're willing to try something different, add some cardamom at this point.  Or even put a little in your syrup if you want to try out how it tastes first without fully committing because it's something new.  I was first introduced to it as a kid from my grandfather.  It's warm like cinnamon but more spicy.

4.  Next add a tablespoon of brown sugar

5.  MIX with your handy-dany whisk. 

6.  Cut up bread into sticks.  Soak in egg mixture.

 7.  While the bread soaks heat griddle and butter it.

Heat griddle to medium heat

8.  Add "sticks" to griddle.  Fry on both sides until golden.  

9.  Throw those bad boys on a plate and enjoy.  These are definitely sweet to begin with, but powdered sugar is just so French toast, I couldn't resist. This is also where I would add crumbled bacon.  (Yes, I used to do this all the time when I was younger, but bacon never lasts that long in my house anymore.)

This recipe was made gluten free, but it's ok to use gluten backed ingredients too.  

Either way, it's yummy

 

Dear Thursday,

Oh Thursday, you're such a tease.  However, there will be a foot update later.  I'll keep all you peeps posted.

My foot says hi!

BLT Dip

Like sooo many of us I LOVE BACON.

I know it's bad for me, but screw it.  I love that crap.  In fact, on my birthday, I received a pile of bacon for breakfast.

Isn't it beautiful?
With a candle and everything???

It's the best!

I know what you're thinking, "but you're skinny?"

I don't eat bacon everyday.  I'm not that stupid to kill my arteries and induce early onset heart disease.

I digress.
The real reason for this post is to share the AWESOME bacon dip recipe that my aunt and uncle brought to my birthday party.  (Yes, I still party for my birthday.  You're only as old as you feel and on the week of my birthday I like to party.  Sometimes like a five year old, others, like I'm 21, others like my age.)

So here it is:  TADA!  BLT DIP

Ingredients:
1 to 1&1/2 pounds of bacon, cooked, drained, crumbled and divided
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 (8oz packages) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 mayonnaise
1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded) or to taste
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (to taste)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (to taste)  [I know right now you garlic freaks are saying load it up - go ahead]
1 TBS mustard
2 cups chopped seeded tomatoes
1 to 1/2 cup shredded Iceberg lettuce
Salt and pepper to taste (your arteries are going to scream anyway, so do what you like)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a 1 & 1/2 quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.  
2. Set aside 3/4 cup crumbled bacon.
3. In a large bowl, combine remaining bacon, cream cheese, shredded cheese, sour cream, mayo, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, mustard (and salt and pepper if you wish).  Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.  Top with chopped tomatoes and the remaining 3/4 cup of bacon and lettuce.  Dig in immediately!
4. Serve with whatever chips or bread you like.  I'm gluten free so tortilla chips (the scoopy kind) were perfect for me.  

I promise the bacon lovers (and I bet some of the non-bacon lovers) will love it!

 

Crap that's not made up, continued & Internet Madness

Foot update.  I went to the doctor this morning.  This time I saw a different person.  What a difference!  Apparently, the initial treatment was not sufficient.  (See, I can't make this stuff up.)  The foot is still not broken, but sprained and bruised pretty bad.

This doctor gave me an air cast and crutches.  I should have had them since day one.  In addition, I was prescribed an anti-inflammatory.  

So today I have off.  (Shana tova to all my Jewish friends and family.  Happy New Year - see I was right.  Read my past post 8%, it really is the new year!  Maybe I should convert.)

I will rest up all day.  That equals not stop Internet surfing, ebook reading and charging devices.  I really love technology. My son has hijacked my Apple TV so that's out.

Have a lovely day all.

You Just Can't Make This Crap Up

I had one of those days.  One of those days in which you relay to your friend what happened, and they shake their head at me and say, "only you."

Yes, crazy things happen to me all the time.

Full on, I can't make this up, crazy crap.

All
the
time

If someone would strap on a camera and follow me around, I guarantee it would be entertaining.  (And not because I'm so flipping hysterical and charming.)

Take today for example: it was the first day back after summer break.  Normally this is a nutty day to begin with.  But imagine my surprise when I husband tells me there's a fire call at my building two seconds before I am to leave.  To most that would be the highlight of their day.  Fire trucks at your building are always cool as long as there's no fire.  Ok, a little fire would be alright too, as long as no one is hurt and nothing is really damaged.  Pretty exciting, right?  Probably the most exciting thing of the day, right?

Nope, my day went right downhill from there.

Next, I realized I forgot my lunch.  Again, no biggie, but it still stinks.  (Never fear, though, my wonderful husband dropped it off to me at work before he ran to his job.)

Then comes the crap I can't make up.  I was walking down the hall and BOOM. I'm on my face, hand, knees and pretty much splatted on the floor.  My shoe slipped out from under me.  Next thing I know I have a golf ball sized knot on my right foot and it's not in good shape.  I had to leave work to get it checked out.

BUSTED FOOT!!

Check out the lump

Oh, and PS - yesterday was my birthday.

See I can't make this crap up.

This kind of stuff happens to me constantly.  I can't be the only one that this stuff happens to, can I?

1/2 way to 70

This week celebrates my 35th birthday.

But I've decided to call it Half-way to 70 Day.  Thirty five is so lame, but seventy is such an accomplishment.

So I'm half there.  Great!

Too many people worry about their age or getting old.  I'm one of those people who really doesn't care.  You're as old as you think.  You're as old as you feel.

Age is all a matter of the mind.