Friday Random Thoughts

Lately, I've come across quite a few cool videos on the web.  Mainly thanks to a great co-worker (THANKS).  So today I thought I'd share a few I think are really worth watching.

First in the spirit of Halloween is the Party Rock Anthem Light Show.  Who has time to do this??



Next up is a TED Talk on Work-Life balance which ends with a great message:



And have you heard about Dr. Pepper's newest campaign targeting men and excluding women?  No?  Well, watch this for a good laugh.  Or a reason to be pissed.




And finally, worried about being pretty?  Worried about your daughters worrying about being pretty?  WOW.  This lady has the answer to all of that:

It's a Miracle!

I haven't posted anything grand lately.  Heck, I've just been BUSY.  (But aren't we all?)  Fall is one of my favorite times - pumpkin farms, jumping in leaves, and all the other numerous festivities.  I've also been traveling some for work and Charlotte has been such a handful at night that by the time she's finally in bed and settled I don't have the energy to do anything but sit on the couch and be a zombie in front of the tv (who is watching Revenge???). 

Plus, I've been working on that one area in my house.  You know the one.  Remember?  My "Monica" area.  Here's the post reminding you of the common "before": CLICK HERE.

After some hard work and long hours...yep, wait for it....I have a dining room TABLE!!  My husband about fell over and we even took pictures to prove it:

In other news, we got our family photos back and some of them are just too cute (so I'm biased).  If you haven't been on FB yet to see the preview of the three kiddos, click HERE to check it out.  I'll post more soon along with some "bloopers". 

And I recently ran into someone from college at a church picnic.  I didn't know him very well back then, but knew he was on the soccer team.  Which flooded me with memories.  I knew of the soccer team because I spent many hours my freshman year watching the soccer team play...or I guess I should say watching one particular soccer player.  Because I was the fool at school.  Many lessons were learned.  More on that to come... 

Top 10 Things I Should Care About But Don't

So last week I shared with you the Top 10 Things I'm really anal about when it comes to my kids.  Click HERE to revisit those.  I then promised you that I'd share the things I don't care about this week.  Some of them I really should care about more, but I just don't.  Or they are "rules" or another mom's pet peeves I just never followed and didn't lose any sleep over either!

1. Food.  I talked a lot about it last week.  However, I really don't care if it's organic.  "But, wait" you are saying..."don't you get your ORGANIC produce delivered to your door?"  I get produce delivered.  That's what is key....DELIVERED.  Most of it is truly organic, but that's just an added bonus.  If I'm picking up Chiquitas at the grocery, they are generally not organic.
2. And remember how I mentioned they have to eat 90% before dessert.  As long as most of the meal is finished, they get dessert.  Every night.  We love treats.  And usually they completely finish the meal after the dessert. 
3. I gave my kids the "unsafe" foods as soon as possible - eggs, peanut butter, etc.  Rice cereal with a bit of PB...yum yum.  Just kidding!  I waited a bit longer than that, but jumped on the chance to see if the kid was staying in the family or not.  Momma cannot live without PB.
4. I let my kids eat food off of the floor.  All. the. time.  We don't have a dog...who else is going to clean it up?
5. I let my babies sleep on their stomachs.  All of them.  Charlotte and Henry preferred it the most.  I used one of those Angel monitors with Charlotte for one night.  But she set it off every 2 minutes scooting around the crib on her belly so that was the end of that.
6. I also let my kids sleep with blankets and lovies once they could roll over.  Refused to put bumpers in the crib, but let the baby sleep with 5 blankies.  Makes no sense, I know.
7. I'm not overly concerned about chemicals.  Do I clean the bathroom WHILE they are in the tub?  No.  But I probably should pay more attention to what chemicals my kids are exposed to.
8. But then again, I'm not bathing my kids every night.  Swim lessons count as a bath.  And always will.
9. Music lyrics.  Someday maybe it will come back to bite me that Stella LOVES Bob Marley, Lady Gaga, Sheryl Crow, Blackeyed Peas, etc.  But am I supposed to listen to Laurie Berkner every car trip??
10. My kids go to daycare.  We love hand-me-downs.  I am too frugal to spend Gymboree prices on clothes that get ruined at daycare.

If you haven't yet read Dwija's Top 10 Tips for New Moms, be sure to do so.  At least the first two (and then I know you'll have to keep reading).  The first one didn't shock me, because I thought of a worse situation.  And then she came in with #2.  I will definitely NOT admit to knowing that holding a squirming one year old on a local Kroger toilet is much harder than holding a newborn on same toilet.  Nope, wouldn't know.  Not at all.  Quit laughing.  You know you've been there.

Veggie Pizza

This afternoon we attended our church's Young Families Grill Out.  It was so much fun and I forgot to take even one photo! Bummer.  All I have for you is the updated recipe (I did take photos of that) for the Veggie Pizza that is always a hit.  Click HERE for the recipe.  Stella was confused about the name "pizza" and Charlotte even asked "where's the pepperoni??"

Xavier Musketeer Madness - Saturday's Shout-Out

This afternoon we took the girls to Xavier's Musketeer Madness.  They had so much fun.  Stella finally got her XU pom-poms (they were sold out most of last season) and Charlotte fell in love with the Blue Blob mascot and talked daddy into getting her the plush toy.  The Blue Blob is actually on her t-shirt, but you can't see it because she's hugging the plush toy for every photo!  You can see photos of the actual Blue Blob by clicking HERE.

Am I At My Tipping Point?

You've been there, right?  You've made a quick buying decision and later had complete buyer's remorse, right?  You've felt so stupid about it, right?  Because you are smarter than the decision you made, right?  But what was the experience really telling you?  Was there deeper meaning?

What a week I've had of stupid decisions that I am definitely paying for now.  Let's not talk about the fact that the garage entrance finally jumped out and grabbed my driver's side mirror and had its way with it.  No, let's not bring that up.  Nor the fact that it was during daylight, in perfect weather, without the kids screaming causing distraction nor with the radio blasting.  No, let's not revisit that one.  Ugh.  (Yes mom, it finally happened.)

Let's instead discuss the already outrageous $3.60 Starbucks drink that ended up costing me ~$40 in shipping two ways and hours of time I'll never see again.

The highlights of this story are that this week I agreed to meet with a very nice lady who was selling some products.  Some deliver-to-your-house-monthly, much-better-for-you-and-the-environment products.  Delivered?  She got my attention.  She was a lovely woman, very genuine and very knowledgeable and I was listening to her while happily sipping my Starbucks.  So I was hooked and instantly enrolled.  And then I left.

And the gut feeling didn't sit right.  What had I just done?  What had I committed to?  And I did a little research, talked to some friends.  Gut feeling grew.  Pyramid scheme?  Not really.  Not by the truest definition.  Multi-level Marketing (MLM)?  More likely.  Good products?  Who's to really know?  Who's to really know about any products we use with all of the different claims of solid research and then scandals?  Some friends liked some of the products, some did not. 

But it wasn't about the products actually.  It was about the commitment.  The monthly obligation.  When the first shipment arrived the very next day (wow, the quickness even made me uncomfortable) I realized I suddenly felt TRAPPED.  I reread the part she circled about cancellation, called the number to cancel, faxed the cancellation form, mailed the same cancellation form to guarantee my escape, wrote the lady a sincere apology and felt a burden lifted the moment I lifted the package to be returned onto the post office counter.

Do I recommend this company?  I have NO IDEA.  Parts of it definitely didn't sit right with me, but I never even opened nor tried a product.  Apparently many people use it and love it and are very satisfied.  I have no right to an opinion of it myself.  I never gave it a chance. 

However, for me it was more about another obligation, another thing to manage, something else to have to keep up with.  (V - You were so right with your diagnosis!) The idea of that apparently overtook me in an almost subconscious way saying screaming…"RUN!"  Maybe it's a sign that I'm heading towards overload.  As the "Household Manager", am I at my tipping point?

For now, I'll stick to my Green Bean Delivery...which we are still enjoying (check out that sweet potato).  Delivery = still awesome.  With flexible terms and obligations I am comfortable with.

MOMents I'd Rather Forget

 

I'm sweating.

Is this really where my morning has gone?

I've been up since 4:30 working on the stack of papers on the desk.

My rare quiet time.

Then the real morning routine begins.

She smiles, she laughs.

Then a request she doesn't take well.

And the coin-flip works against me today.

NO! to pottying.

NO! to brushing teeth.

How dare I ask her to get dressed.

She's in tears, thrashing.

I now find myself sitting atop of her, cramming legs into pants.

She squirms. She cries.

Hugs don't work.

Threats don't work.

I'm angry.

I'm hurt.

I'm disappointed.

I'm deflated.

I'm sad. 

Sad especially for the other two.

The two who ride this roller coaster of Charlotte emotions with us.

Stella who tugs at my pants, "Mommy, I love you."

Henry who actually hugs my shoulder; something reserved for Andy.

Back to chaos.

Andy straps her into the car.

The door is shut.

I assume I'll hear quiet. 

But I still hear sobs.

Only now they are mine.

I pull myself together and head to work.

Lady Gaga blasts on the radio.

Starbucks becomes a necessity and the warmth calms me.

Andy calls to say she calmed down the instant she was in the daycare director's arms.

Of course she did.

These are MOMents I'd rather forget.

  

Top 10 Kid Things I'm Anal About

So the longer I'm a mother and meet other mothers, the more I see how different we are.  In our own psychotic mommy ways.  And I say this in the nicest way and include my own "mommy crazy" in that.  I've learned how diverse our mommy pet peeves are and how to not let another mom's personal pet peeve affect me anymore.  You know, that thing that you would never back down in a debate on, but in the end, it's really just personal mommy preference and not really going to kill your kid either way. 

So here's my Top 10 Kid Things I'm Anal About myself:

1. Sleep - Oh boy.  This could start many an argument.  But in our house, bedtime is strict and kids have NEVER slept in our bedroom or in our bed.  Our preference.  You want a kid kicking you all night...go right ahead.  But not in my bed.  (Yes, I've slept in a child's room while he/she was sick, but just for a few hours)
2. TV - I'm in the middle here of most mommies.  I don't mind some screen time, but I'm highly aware of what they are watching.  No Spongebob in my house.  Ever.  Not at these ages.
3. Electronic Gadgets - My kids have played on my iPad a handful of times.  In the airport.  At my work cubicle, etc.  For some reason my whole body just cringes at the idea of them on electronics.  I know that there are fine games, learning experiences, etc.  But how can it ever replace a good old-fashion puzzle?  Or coloring?  With crayons and paper???  Y'all remember that stuff??
4. TV in the Van - Our current rule is absolutely no TV anywhere near our house.  We used to have a 3-hour minimum travel rule.  But now, if we're headed to Louisville, we do allow a movie on the way there.
5. Food - Some say I am overly strict on this one.  My kids have treats and lots of them.  Just after eating 90% of their meal.  Even if they don't "like" the meal.  I'm the mom who doesn't cave to b-day treats at parties if my kids don't eat the dinner.  99% of the time, the dinner is finished on those occasions.
6. Food - I also don't give up on a food that isn't well received the first time around.  The rule at the table is one bite of everything must be taken.  Even if it is gagged and spit back out.  Too many times my kids won't eat something the first time, but clean their plates when I try again a few weeks later.  Things seriously go from gag and "I HATE THIS!" to "Mom, this is the best dinner ever."  Really?  Why do they do this to us???
7. Food - One more...dinner as a family.  We rarely eat out and 90% of the time we all sit down for dinner together at the table.  Extremely important to me.  And we all eat the same meal.  I don't have time to be a short-order cook.
8. Outdoor Time & Sunscreen - I want my kids outside.  As much as possible.  Maybe it has a lot to do with growing up on a farm.  And with outdoor time comes my craziness about the use of sunscreen.  I posted about that awhile back.
9. Babysitters - I also want my kids comfortable without us and to know that mommy and daddy need alone time.  Andy and I make an effort to go out alone and use a babysitter when we can.  We are also fortunate to have family help out as well.  So I'm happy when the kids are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a sitter on a Friday night.  Even if it means a little more junk food, movies, etc. 
10. Swim Lessons - Neither Andy nor I are Olympic swimmers, but we both can swim and value that.  So both of us wanted our kids in swim lessons from an early age to get them comfortable in the water as soon as possible.  It's the one thing we do every week at Kids First...and Henry finally starts next month!

What are your Mommy Pet Peeves or Things You are Anal About? 

Just wait until next week when I admit to you the topics I should care about, but don't.  Like what's in my kids' mattresses or wall paint....don't know, don't care.  But I know I should!

  



Pumpkin Perfect

The perfect way to end a perfect long weekend.

Hand in hand at the pumpkin farm.

Daddy snuck out of the office at noon.

The pumpkin farm was empty of people.

Piles of pumpkins.

Sunflower trail.

Corn maze.

Slides.

Goats.

Silly photos.

And great ones like these.

Hope your weekend and Monday were spectacular!



7 Quick Takes Friday: The One With Baby Rabies

1. Many of you know I've birthed 3 children.  Within 3 years.  There are TONS of books about getting pregnant, being pregnant and then raising your children.  My question is why isn't anyone making sure you read the books about what happens to your body after 3 babies DESTROY it?  I'm sure someone has written about it, but where?  My BFF knows some of my most unfortunate moments and sent me to baby rabies this week.  I had to stop reading the post at work because I was CRYING.  Both from laughter and from remembering way too recent situations I'm still trying to block from my mind.  It's gory...but real-life for some women.  Read it for yourself HERE.
2. On a happier note, I am still using Pinterest and loving every minute of it.  One of my favorite's this week is the Darth Vader Mood Chart.
3. And I really want to make some of these fabric knot bracelets!
4. Are you still recovering from that post on baby rabies?  I know, I know.
5. So I joined twitter and actually tweeted.  The 4 followers finally had something to read from me.  If interested, you can follow me here for more professional things and here for more mommy things.  I didn't think it'd be very appropriate to tweet things like the baby rabies post to my professional contacts.  There's definitely a line between HR Professional responsible for Executive Leadership Education and mommy of three and her tampon issues. 
6. Leading a double life can be exhausting (see #5 if you are skipping around). 
7. Seriously, go read baby rabies.  If anything, it will make you more thankful of your "normal" monthly situation if you've never experienced the super soaker shuffle.  Because I'm backing her up.  And there should be a support group.

Embrace the Camera - Sedona

It's hard to believe it's already been

one month since our Sedona trip.

If you've never been, it's amazing.

In a

couples-only

lots of hiking

breath-taking views

relaxing

spa service

read in peace

delish food

artsy-fartsy

too much wine

sleeping in

don't bring small kids

no routine to follow

kind of way.

 

My MOMent in the Leaves

Most weeknight evenings in our house go like this:

Rush out of work

Rush to daycare

Rush everyone into van

Rush home

Rush everyone out of van

Rush to potty and to wash all hands

Rush to get dinner done

(Andy rushes home)

Rush eating

Rush clean-up

Rush Stella with some piano practice

Rush play

Rush baths

Rush reading

Rush bedtime

See a pattern?  It's not really that bad, but sometimes feels like it. 

Always rushing to get the next item in the evening routine

completed and checked off of the list.

But not last night.  Last night my husband had pick-up duty.

(And for anyone doing regular daycare pick-up,

you know how AWESOME this is.)

So I made dinner slowly and ALONE.

No baby at my heels or screaming at the base of his high chair.

No girls bickering during the witching hour.

I threw it in the oven to keep warm.

Then I went out and started raking leaves.

And they joined me once home.

And for 30 minutes, we just played.

And laughed.

And got dirty.

And finger-swiped WAY too many items from the baby's mouth.

And fulfilled Stella's wishes of having outdoor Halloween decor.

While also fulfilling daddy's need to get the leaves up before the rain.

(Thank you pumpkin leaf bags!)

It was a great MOMent...

(Yes, mummy tattoo on forehead.  Thanks daycare.)

If you haven't checked out My 3 Little Birds yet, you are missing out...

I'm linking up with Mary Lauren today.

Top 10 Shows I'm Watching This Season

All photos from Wikipedia

1. Revenge - I am really enjoying this new show on ABC
2. How I Met Your Mother - This show just keeps on going; Andy and I actually declared it better than Friends the other night...I know!
3. Boardwalk Empire - Although I like the show, I just have such a hard time seeing "Nucky" as a love interest
4. The Good Wife - Have not started this season yet on DVR
5. Glee - Have not started this season yet on DVR and heard it's not good??
6. The Big C - Very behind on the DVR
7. Suburgatory - The first episode was good
8. Person of Interest - Andy's watching this one and really likes it; it's his lunch show!
9. Fringe - So I'm like 25 episodes behind.  Not kidding.  But I did like it a lot and plan to catch up.  Soon.  Really soon.  Or Andy's threatening to delete it off of the DVR.  He REALLY wants to switch to HD, but I don't want to wipe out the DVR just yet.  For any of you that watch it, well, I'm back at the point where there are suddenly two Olivia's and they are switched.  Yep, that far behind.
10. Here are the other shows that aren't "in season" right now, but I love them as well: 30 Rock, Weeds, Nurse Jackie, So You Think You Can Dance, and Entourage.  Oh crap.  Entourage really isn't returning, is it?  Well, only to the big screen. 

I was actually interested in Two and a Half Men, but thought that Ashton Kutcher totally disappointed in the first two episodes.  So I've completely written that one off. 

And yes, I know we are TOTALLY MISSING OUT by not watching Modern Family.  Maybe Santa will bring Season One.  But then again, Season One of Mad Men never got unwrapped from last Christmas.

You??  What are you watching??