Friday, December 28, 2012
Reflections on 2012
I don’t actually recall creating and resolutions for last year, but if I had, I’m sure I would have failed most of them. Some things I did achieve this year were:
Not chopping my hair off. Just a few trims, and now I have crossed the line between the medium hair I have always had and the long hair I have been dreaming of since I was little.
I left the antidepressants behind. I have learned how to reasonably manage my anxiety and depression on my own through diet, exercise, and making sure I take time out to do things for myself.
I kept Wyatt alive for another year (woot!)
I went back to work and became a contributing (financially) member of our family.
I have learned to let things go. The only things I can control in my interactions with others are my own feelings and reactions. I control what I get upset about and how to deal with that.
To keep with my tradition of not making structured goals to fail, I will instead put some wishes/intentions out there for the coming year or two.
I would like to continue with my good eating habits. With the exception of special occasions, I have been practicing clean eating for the last month or so, and it feels really good.
I would like to make it point to spend more time outside.
I am hoping to get pregnant again sometime next summer (ish).
I would love to make some progress in decluttering our lives. Less is more, I say.
So there it is. A year in review, a year in advance, and an actual post from yours truly. Happy Friday!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Oh, the anticipation.
How is it that, while the rest of the country enjoys those first glorious dips in temperature, I am still weary to take my own son outdoors for fear of heat exhaustion? I am yearning for a cool breeze in place of damp heat. For plums and mustards in place of turquoise and corals. For jeans and my leather jacket. For a night spent around the fire pit. For the necessity of snuggling, cheesy as it may be. But alas, it is not meant to be yet.
To ward off my jealousies, I am doing little things to pretend it's fall. Pumpkin spice candles burn. Pumpkin bread bakes. Halloween preparations. I have already started playing my "cool weather playlists" on repeat. Measures have been taken.
It may not be Fall here yet, but even in my envy, I can't help but smirk when I think of the fact that in just another month or so, many of you will be freezing and preparing for being snowed in for the winter, while I will spend four to five months enjoying the season I am craving.
Monday, September 3, 2012
A Monday Check-in
Loving: Spending time at home. Over the last couple of weeks, I have made some little changes around the house: adding bookshelves, hanging portraits, rearranging Wyatt's room, etc., and it makes me want to spend my time here. There are few things that I love more than feeling cozy and comfortable at home.
Reading: East of Eden and The Primal Blueprint. I like having one fiction and one non-fiction going at a time. It gives me the option to either learn something new and interesting or to get lost in a world far away from my own.
Watching: Bubble Guppies. After a morning of stories and playtime, Wyatt gets to giggle and dance to his favorite cartoon, and I get to update the blog.
Thinking about: All of the little projects I need to work on. My SIL's baby shower is less than two months away, and I have so many things to do/arrange. Also, with the beautiful weather, I am a bit bummed about having to work this afternoon. I really want to hang out in the kiddie pool with Jason and Wyatt. They get to have all of the fun.
Surprised by: How lame I have been lately, and how much I genuinely enjoy it. There was a time when a night spent in was akin to a death sentence, but to be honest, I would so much rather get a full night's sleep than be cranky, tired, or hungover the next day. Life is to short not to be well rested and happy. The thing I look forward to most today is getting home from work, enjoying a home-cooked meal, and snuggling with my little man.
Making me sad: Wyatt isn't a baby anymore. I adore every new experience and milestone he has, but it does make me a little sad that he won't be my cuddly little first-born forever. He is developing opinions, aversions, likes, fears of his own everyday, and someday I'll have to beg for the hugs and kisses that come so readily now.
Making me happy: Beach days. Love. Friends. Making money. Taking my health seriously. Wyatt's love for glasses. The prospect of going back to school. The promise of fall.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
I swear I meant to post that recipe
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
"What a Girl Wants" Wednesday
Meet "What a Girl Wants" Wednesdays. Every week (or so), I will list and detail the little things in life I would like to have, do, or achieve. Also included will be current obsessions in fashion, food, and entertainment.
Let the games begin.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
It is hot.
I'll admit it has been my weak spot. I don't get Wyatt outside nearly as much as I should these days, but truthfully, it's exhausting. The sunscreen, the protective clothing, the bugspray, filling juice and water cups, shoes, making sure (again) there is enough water; before you know it, you have spent forty-five minutes just preparing to walk out the door, and you are BEAT. Forget the heat.
The exciting prospect of having the next five days off, however, made me a bit more adventurous this morning. Grabbing my brand-spanking-new camera, we headed to the backyard for some fun (and photo opportunities, of course). You know what? It wasn't THAT bad. Sure, I was drenched in sweat by the time we headed back in, but in an hour we played in the sandbox, explored the "enchanted" (read: overgrown) side yard, blew bubbles, and discovered Daddy's baseball bat.
Friday, August 10, 2012
When your lifestyle makes you sick.
I came to a pretty realistic conclusion about a year ago that I had a mild to severe gluten intolerance. Since then, I have yo-yoed back and forth between eliminating it from my diet and ignoring the symptoms. My weight has fluctuated more than it should at 25 years young as a result, and I have suffered some pretty nasty digestive issues that required too much testing to determine nothing that a change in diet couldn't have.
It wasn't until my recent return to work that I realized that the issues I have are more than just an upset tummy caused by too much wheat. My immune system is pretty shot. Within three weeks of working, I have dealt with four separate skin infections that I have a hard time kicking. I have spent way too much of my life on antibiotics to trust their effectiveness any longer, or to risk a mutation of the bacteria into something resistant and more dangerous, so I started googling.
My research found that in addition to a ritualistic routine of bodily cleansing, my diet was feeding the bacteria and allowing it to keep breeding like rabbits. Bacteria is fed by sugar. Sugar isn't just consumed in the form of sweets, but also in starchy carbohydrate bashed foods that are broken down to sugar in the body. That includes all of my favorite things: pasta, rice, bread... alcohol. So here I am, faced with the life-choice to eliminate all of these things for good in the interest of my health and the health of those around me. It's a hard one.
Wow, I could use a drink.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Definitely not company-ready
Monday, August 6, 2012
Discovering new levels of busy
Adding work back into the mix has left me wondering where the days go. On the days that I work I fight the clock, battling to squeeze in cleaning, cooking, the never-ending nightmare that is laundry, and quality time with Wyatt. On my days off, I end up wasting them catching up on sleep and anticipating the next day of work. Blogging is difficult. Nonexistent, really.
I do enjoy it though, and I am doing the right thing for our family at the moment. Plus, I am sure one day I will look back and wonder where I got all of the energy.
Luckily, I have a lot of things to look forward to in the near future: a new camera, a visit from my dad and sister, planning a baby shower, the anticipation for fall...
...which will arrive sometime in December. -__-
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The newest chapter.
Jason and I have been toying around with the idea of me finding work again since finding out about his layoff. We had a hard time working the details out. Finding a new job would be difficult. In today's economy, finding a job in which I would be able to only work weeknights and some (few) weekends, with all holidays, birthdays, family events, etc. off. Add to that the fact that I have a toddler who will inevitably get sick and a husband who occasionally has to do estimates in the evenings, and the result is a pretty undesirable scheduled employee.
The only real option was to go back to my former job as what I like to call "a freelance server." Put my phone number and availability up on the written schedule so that the other servers, hosts, and bartenders can call me to pick up their shifts. No strings attached. I have the right to refuse. I don't have to worry about requesting off for a weekend at the beach. Work as much or as little as works for my family on any particular week. Have the comfort and security of knowing that it is a successful and very busy establishment where the money I make will be worth missing Wyatt's dinner and bedtime a couple of times a week.
The idea is still a bit surreal to me. I haven't worked in almost eighteen months. I can count the number of times that I haven't been the one to put Wyatt to bed on two hands. At the end of the day, though, it is the right thing to do for my family and for our future together. Plus, who knows when I will have the opportunity to work again once Jason's business grows to the point that I may be needed or once we have another child. I am going to relish this newest chapter while it lasts.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Simple Sundays
Sometimes the best thing for clearing your head is to grab your husband and your little one and head outside to play.
There is something so humbling about a toddler that sees the wonder in things like sticks...
...or a chair...
Friday, June 8, 2012
What doesn't kill you
...makes your marriage stronger.
About a month ago, we found out that Jason was losing his county job. In an effort so save money, they chose to lay off the whole pest control department and outsource to a third party company. I think part of us had been expecting this layoff to come eventually, but I don't think we had really prepared for its imminence. I mean, I feel like every time I turn around I am hearing another story about a friend or family member who is now forced back out into the job market. This time it was us.
Luckily, Jason's business has been growing steadily for the last couple of years. There is still money to be made. No one is going hungry come July 1st. It does, however still raise some big (and scary) questions. What about insurance? Are we still going to be able to buy a house next year? What about plans for another baby? What about the PLAN?
The unknown can be...well, it can be a bitch sometimes, to put it plainly.
Despite the uncertainty of the months to come, there is a silver lining: no one is going through this alone. This new predicament has us talking. It has us scheming. It has us dreaming. It has us counting our blessing together. Together we are simplifying our lives and finding ways to be truly happy with what we have.
And what we have is love. Lots and lots of love.
Photos courtesy of Tara Sproc Photography
Monday, June 4, 2012
Bye Bye Boobie
Even before I found out I was expecting, I was very passionate about nursing. I knew that I would definitely be breastfeeding my children, and I planned to do so for an extended period of time. Our bodies were made to feed our babies, so to do otherwise not only seemed unnatural, but alien to me.
I did not have an easy start. Wyatt and I had some latching issues, and I was issued a shield to use. I did what I could with that, and with a little hard work and a lot of dedication, I weaned him from the shield and established a nice latch when my little man was about two months old. From then on, we were in cruise mode.
I loved breastfeeding. I still do. I embraced everything about those special, stolen moments that no one else could have with my son. I would get up in the middle of the night to feed him. Laundry would sit unfolded, dishes unwashed. I would proudly take my prenatal vitamins every morning and chug ungodly amounts of water throughout the day to keep my body up to the task of producing up to 30oz of milk every single day.
After Wyatt's first birthday, I decided it was time to move towards weaning. Our lives were getting busier, and Wyatt was getting much more active, so I could no longer just pull out the girls every couple of hours and sit around while he topped off. For the past 3 months, I have gradually dropped feedings to make the transition easier for both of us. And trust me, the transition is probably harder for me than for the little runt. We have been down to the very last night time feeding for a while. I realized it was me who was going to have to make that very difficult decision.
Tonight, Wyatt took a couple ounces of cow's milk from the bottle. I read him a story. I put him to bed. When I put him down, he just looked up at me and smiled. Then, he rolled over, closed his eyes, and then fell asleep. My heart broke and soared all at the same time. He was ready for me to let him go.
My baby boy is not a baby anymore.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Meal Plan(ning)
I have found that my discovery of Pinterest has revolutionized how I plan meals and write grocery lists. See something delicious? It is as easy as repinning for later or clicking through immediately to the recipe. The night before I head out to the grocery store, I head to my "Noms" board and browse past finds for dinner inspiration for the week. I bring up all of the recipes, write down the ingredients I know that I need, and viola! my list is pretty much complete. It's easy; it's fun; it provides a plethora of diverse options you may not have thought about on your own.
Anyway, here was my meal plan for the week:
Tuesday: Cajun roasted whole chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, and green bean, corn, and tomato salad
Wednesday: Jerk Salmon bowls with mango salsa
Thursday: Roasted corn chowder with chicken, lime, and cilantro
Friday: Balsamic grilled summer vegetables with basil quinoa salad and grilled tempeh
Saturday: Leftovers or dining out
Sunday: Pork chops, wild rice, steamed broccoli
These days are not set in stone, they are just a general guideline. For instance, if Jason came home and wanted to go out this evening, I would just prepare tonight's planned dinner tomorrow night. You have as little or as much flexibility as you would like, depending on how perishable your food is.
Tomatoes from the garden |
Hints and tips:
- I usually start my week off by roasting a whole chicken. It's cheap, easy, delicious, and the leftovers can be used to create a new meal(s) later in the week. Example: I used the leftover chicken from Monday for the chowder on Wednesday
- I also try to concentrate meals using fresh produce toward the beginning of the week, so they don't go bad.
- When looking for recipes, I go as seasonal as possible. This week's meal plan was heavy in tomatoes and corn because I am currently up to my ears in cherry tomatoes from the garden and corn is 20 cents per ear at the grocery store. Seasonal produce is far superior, and it saves a lot of money.
- I aim to make at least one freezer-friendly meal each week. This helps with future, busier weeks, when I don't have time for chopping, sauteing, and baking a full meal from scratch. If I always have a meal or two in the freezer, then I always have a backup plan. This is especially useful on a Saturday evening when you are just too lazy to cook.
Happy Friday everyone!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
What to do, what to do.
This afternoon my very sweet husband is giving me a couple hours off from mommy duty to...well,to do whatever I would like. I don't even know what to do with myself. It's something that is so rare for most of us mothers that it's hard to even remember what we used to do BC (before child).
I do know that I need it, though. Wyatt spent three days in full-on teething hell. He was running fevers, snot nosed, and cranky as could be. He couldn't stand for me to leave his side. So I didn't. I cuddled. I consoled. I was pinned down on the couch for hours at a time while he napped through the pain. By 7pm last night, I felt like I had run some sort of mommy marathon. I need a break.
It will probably just be a few small errands and a Starbucks coffee, but hell, after the past couple of days, that is just the kind of two hour vacation I need.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Computer troubles and other complications.
I have a lot if things I would like to blog about right now, but in the last three or for days, I have experienced multiple computer/internet problems, a randomly sick husband, and a feverish, teething toddler. None of these things are conducive to perfective blogging (or effective house cleaning).
Just know, you have not been forgotten, simply put on the back burner.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
I choose to be superficial today.
Oh new dress, you have lingered in my closet for the last nine days, sad and neglected. No more, I say.
The last few days have been a bit trying. After three whole days of ritualistic, homeopathic wound cleaning and treatment, as well a the exhaustion of battling an infection the old fashioned way, I need a win.
So today, I choose to be superficial. I choose to feel pretty, even if it means looking a little ridiculous prancing around the house in a seersucker dress because we have nowhere to go. Even if it means wearing an apron to do the dishes. Even if it means impractically wearing my hair down in 90 degree Central Florida weather. Today I choose frivolity.
Give it a shot; you might like it too.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wyatt meets watermelon.
Anyone who knows Wyatt has probably heard me describe him as a picky eater. Getting my boog to eat anything other than jarred baby food (which I should have NEVER introduced) or crunchy snacks has been a major struggle for us. I have done my best to be patient and give Wyatt the time he needs to get comfortable, but it is definitely frustrating at times.
Once a week or so, I will feel inspired to introduce a new solid for him to try. It usually ends up with him spitting it out, shaking his head, and throwing said food on the floor. Who knew a fourteen-month-old could be so fiercely opinionated? This week, I decided to give watermelon a go. Why not? We had three full ziploc bags of it leftover from Jason's party, and I am getting pretty tired of it already. He LOVED it! Like, shoveling-multiple-pieces-in-his-mouth-at-a-time kind of love. Like, stealing my watermelon out of MY bowl kind of love. I could not be more thrilled.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Wyatt and watermelon.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Making the best of it.
In order to make the best of my morning and not get too bummed, I turned to my very neglected (and very dusty) DSLR. It's old; it needs to be repaired; it gets the job done. It felt really nice to get a few real photos of my little one and tinker around with a little photo editing. Why did I ever stop doing this?