Only 15 days?

Summer has come and gone.  I knew it was done when I printed out the school supply list and went right to the store to buy the stuff.  After vacation last week, we were unpacking the car and I looked at my husband and said "It's going to start again soon" and a cold shiver ran all over me!  While we don't make ourselves nearly as busy as some families do, we're still really busy.  Last school year, we were so busy, I thought I was literally going to lose my mind.  Trying to outdo myself at school proved to be chaotic for my mind (Got 3 A's and a B for my last session... at a price though).

Going into this school year, I've decided that I need a plan.  I planned last year, but VERY poorly.  There can be a melody to the activities in the house, I just have to find that melody.  I've been working on getting a melody going and I think I'm going to start with this little tidbit:

Last school year, my house... let's just say it wasn't company-ready at any given point.  I fell behind.  Plain and simple.  The laundry is always a pain, and not just in my house according to other friends with kids.  The little piece of paper above--that I found on Pinterest and quickly re-pinned--is going to start me off to keeping my schmidt together!  I'm going to customize my own list of course, but I need this.  NEED.  

Only 15 days until the madness starts.  I'm not ready, but I better get ready!

Quality Notice

My youngest son and I were having a conversation last weekend.  We had just gotten in the car to head to Ikea.  Before that, we were at my husband's company picnic where at the end of it, the kids were given a brown bag of candy.  Fun!

So, we're in the car, I hear the brown paper bags rattling around (my boys were rummaging for a piece of candy), my youngest son finds something, I hear the wrapper.  What came next made my eyes tear up it was so funny...

Me:  Got anything good, buddy?
Youngest son:  Oh yeah, I do!  That was some good candy...
Me:  What kind of candy was it, bud?
YS:  It was a Twizzler, the small ones.  It was QUALITY notice.
Me:  What?! *tears*
YS:  Yeah... it was quality notice.
Me:  What does that mean?! *giggling like an idiot*
YS:  Whatever I want it to mean... sheesh!
Me and Hubby:  *wiping away tears and laughing some more*

My youngest son is hilarious.  It started when he was a tot.  Now that he's older and can throw in sarcasm and his vocabulary is pretty heavy... there's no stopping him now!!  I think I'm funny.  I think my husband is funny.  My oldest son is funny, too.  But YS?  He's HILARIOUS!  Every day he says something that's teary-eyed funny.  When it's really good, I write it down.  This one is special to me... because that phrase CAN mean anything you want it to mean.  One of my friends is using it probably as I type this!  It's good for any type of situation, too.

Stub your toe in front of your kids?  AW, QUALITY NOTICE!!!

UPS ring the doorbell and wait for you to come get your package on a rainy day?  Awww, that's some top-shelf quality notice.

You just don't care about stuff anymore?  Meh.  Quality notice.

It applies, people!  It really does...

Random thoughts...

The first day of fall is a rainy one.  It's muggy and raining.  The perfect day for staying inside and catching up on some things, right?  Right.  Except, this muggy rain makes me want to sleep.  How do I counteract that?  If you said M&M's by the handfuls, then you'd be correct!!  Mopping and dusting and folding and wiping... that's what I'll be doing today.  Along with studying, of course.  This Microeconomics class isn't gonna have it's way with me... NO SIR!

The GOP debate--the parts of caught of it in between fights with my eyelids--was scary.  As expected.  Some of the audience boo'ing a soldier was just wrong.  At first I thought someone had sneezed really loudly!  What's wrong with people?!  Don't care what sexual orientation that man is... he fought for us.  There's nothing else to say.

This morning, when I opened the door to walk my kids to the bus stop, there was a spider in between the screen door and the house door.  He crawled through the bottom of the door when we opened it and made it's way towards our shoe rack.  I had no idea what my son was pointing at until I followed his finger to the ground and saw this MAMMOTH spider hustling to "safety" in my shoe rack!  I screeched, almost jumped into my oldest's arms like Scooby does to Shaggy, and started calling for the spider's extermination. Hahaha!  I can take a lot of things, but spiders ain't one of them things!

You ever wonder if you're someone only black friend?  Why do people self-segregate?  It bothers me that I've been in Delaware for 11 years and I don't have a close friend to show for it.  Not that my efforts haven't been amazing... I'm busy with my family and school just like anyone else, but I'll gladly make time for a friend.  It's actually quite weird.  I'm wondering if it's a socio-economical thing.  Maybe it's an age thing.  I can't put my finger on it, but it's weird.  I think it's just Delaware to tell you the truth--if you don't know someone that knows someone, then you're screwed!  I'm a Jersey girl.  I know folks in Jersey.  But I haven't been able to get to know anyone here, because I'm not in the inner circle (meaning "my granny lived here, my mom lived here, I live here, my kids will live here"... generations of people in the same spot tend to know EVERYONE that never moves out of state).  I have really close friends that I've had since elementary school--and I love them dearly--but they're all spread out across the US.  I'm thankful for the friends I do have though.  But would it be asking too much to have a girls' night out once a month without worrying that you're going to be a bad mother?!  WTF is up with that? 

Speaking of friends, a friend in my head (FIMH), Toni Daley--she's on YouTube--check her out--a natural-haired diva, is my kind of gal.  I've been watching her vids to try and figure out my hair/styles.  She actually shows you how she achieved the hairstyles she wears.  It's super helpful for someone like me--I don't want to fuss over my hair much.  Just want to do it and go!  Also, I love the banter between her and her boyfriend... very entertaining to me.  There's another friend in my head on YouTube--BorderHammer!!  She is hysterically funny and her hair and outfits are TO DIE.  If you have natural hair, check these ladies out!  There are many more, but these two FIMH are my fave. 

Some parents shouldn't be parents if they're not going to go all the way with it.  You can't be half good as a parent, because you'll mess your kid up.  You can't be half bad as a parent, because surely you're kid will be messed up.  But if you are present, you're there, you try to be in the moment with your kids--listening, caring, loving, disciplining, really nurturing them... then you'll be fine.  More times than not if a kid knows without a doubt that their parent is going to be there for them, they tend not to sway.  I wasn't sure and I never swayed, but I was scared!! Hahaha!  Kids fearing you isn't a great thing either.  A healthy respect is a great thing.  But fearing your parents is never a wonderful thing.  I don't want my kids to fear me.  But they will respect me... and I, them!

Having a puppy is like having a baby.  When my puppy wakes up in the morning, she stretches with her eyes half-closed and I pick her up and put her little head on my shoulder and she just lays there.  She's warm and squishy still!  She sleeps all night, but during the day, I have to watch her to keep her from killing herself.  So much energy!  She'll be starting her basic obedience training soon... if they can show me how to teach her to come back to me without me making squawking sounds and running away from her, I'd appreciate it.  'Cause there is nothing worse than looking like a jack-ass in the park trying to get your dog to return to you. Hahahaha!  She knows her name, but sometimes she just ignores us calling her.  Apparently, shih tzu's are known for kinda ignoring you or being stubborn.  That's not safe for her.  We have to get that all shored up before we take her anywhere bigger than our backyard/neighborhood.

So much for random thoughts... I have so many more thoughts, it's insane, but I need to run.  I have my house to clean!  TGIF!

Clock-watcher...

When did I become this responsible adult worried about checklists and time? I was just sitting here thinking about the things I need to check off on my list (you know the one... everyone has a list of things to get done in a day that never get done in that one day).  I'm also thinking about time.  There isn't enough of it!  I have a million and one things to do, not enough hands or time to do them.  I try not to be frazzled, but I'm failing miserably.  Time is one of those things that you have to watch because it WILL sneak up on you.  It's bad enough that I'm a clock-watcher to a certain extent.  I'll watch time slip away sometimes... like when I'm out running errands and I want to get back to the house to catch up on a few of my magazines or study for a test.  Those errands are going to eat my time and that's all there is to it!  I may have a few hours after the gym and errands and in those few hours, I'm running around trying to check off things... it's mind-blasting.

Is this what adults worry about?  Is this what my folks were talking about when they would say "there isn't enough time in the day"?  This has to be it.  I can't seem to maximize my time, but I see it needs to be done.  Desperately.  I need a plan of action, but my mind is never still long enough to formulate one. Hahaha!  It's tedious being me sometimes.  How was I supposed to know--as a child--that I'd be worried about the same things?  Deadlines give me the creeps, start times give me hives, and stopwatches aren't even allowed in this house! :D

Yesterday, I started dinner as soon as I got home from the gym.  That helped a lot--didn't have to run out of the door in the afternoon on my way to class.  I love people that have organized lives.  I watch them in awe.  My life has it's moments of clarity.  But I think there is something about the fog of it that I need or else why would I still be bugged by this disorganization of time.  The word "time" is seeming harsher and harsher as I type it here so many times... oh, dear.  One of these days, I'll be able to get all my things done AND have time leftover.  Hope that day comes soon.  Speaking of time... I have to go feed and water my pup.  She has no concept of time.  I envy her.

New Season

Woke up to a rainy day and if that's the way it's going to be, I'm going to like it.  Can't change it, so I'll put on my favorite crops and sneaks along with my favorite cardigan and it's off to run errands I go!  My boys are back at school after a long weekend of colds--even I caught it.  Kiddie germs are no joke!  One week back in school and already, they're assaulted by the germ factory that is school.  My plan today was to make some eggless oatmeal cookies and some regular chocolate chip cookies... extras for my husband to take to his team at work.  I think that's a great plan, as this rain is dampening my ambition a little.  Wouldn't it be nice if we were back in July?  Wake up... throw on some shorts and a tank and be done with it! 

I don't think it's time to pull up my heavier clothing, but looking at the forecast for the coming week, it seems that summer is really coming to a quick halt.  Which means I'm going to need some new boots and sweaters!  That always excites me about fall. :)  My boys wore their sweatshirts that they picked out while we were on summer vacay... they didn't think they'd get to wear those until October.  Mother Nature tricked us all!

Rain is saving the day in many ways here.  It slows me down.  I'm usually up and running and doing... I forget to slow down.  There's no set rhythm to my day.  The only constants daily are hygiene and the puppy's routine.  Everything else is kinda full of whimsy, like me.  I better get off this devil machine before I don't make it to the store to gather the ingredients and packaging for these cookies. Might make a pitstop at Starbucks... I think there might be something yummy and pumpkinny there for me to sip while I grocery shop.  Little treats.

Have a good one!

When is the right time?!

Okay, so... today, I have a million presents being delivered (gotta love Amazon.com and that Prime membership, man). That's a good thing, right? Right. BUT, where the heck am I going to HIDE all these presents?! Yeah... I didn't quite think of that. Do I wrap them all now? Do I just chuck them down in the back of the basement where I know the kids won't go... and I don't want to go either? My closet is occupied--all those shoe boxes are running thangs in my closet. There is a spare closet, but my summer shoe boxes and summer clothes are running thangs in there. LOL!!

Where do you hide/store your gifts until you wrap them? Or do you wrap them as you get them and put them under the tree? I don't want to do anything prematurely. I think it takes away from some of the suspense/anticipation when the gifts are under there WAY before Christmas. What do you think?

A little aside: Yes, my tree is skinny on purpose. :) It's a slim tree--I preferred to save room by downsizing the size of the tree.

Driving for dummies...

Yep. It happened. Someone backed up into my car in the parent pick-up line at school this afternoon. My brand new, 2010 pretty sparkly baby... someone hit her. No total destruction, just some scratches and bruises. Ya know how when you get a new car and you kinda worry about how you're going to feel about the first "someone opened their door into my car here" kinda scratch? Well, that's how I feel about MY car. I finally have a car that ISN'T a minivan and I LOVE her to bits. She (her name's Sassy) gets washed at the car wash with so much frequency that the workers at the car wash know me and know that they have to spray the front grill a bit more because bugs LOVE it. Now... she's damaged.

I was parked in the pick-up line like I am every day, same time, to pick up my boys. Well, today, I noticed a car that I don't usually see. No biggie... grandparents and aunts and uncles pick up kids all the time. So, I'm parked behind the car, not too close... some people who are impatient run in, get their kids earlier than 3:35 pm, and get back into their car and pull off. I heard the car in front of me go on and saw her brake lights go on. I noticed that there was enough room in front of her if she wanted to just pull out. Guess that wasn't good enough for her and her horrible driving. So, I went back to reading my Traditional Home mag (I want my home to look like that one day... one day when there aren't dead Honeycombs or Cinnamon Toast Crunch under the breakfast table) until I heard "the thump" and felt my car sway frontward and backward. The woman who backed into me got out of her car before I had spun around in my seat to hop outta the driver's seat. She went to the back of her car and immediately said "There's no damage on my car". Then she looked at my bumper before I got to address her--which I was about to--and said "There's no damage to your bumper either, but if you want to exchange numbers, you can call me if there's any damage." Um. As soon as she said that, I snapped a picture of her car and her and her license plate number. I also recorded that the school has a security camera right there, just in case. Yep, I'm one of those overplanners. Most of the time, it's a really good thing...

Hold on there, little lady. First, you backed into me and my brain is still processing this. Second, I'm not going to call the police, as we're at school and I'm not the one for instant drama... no thanks. Third, you need to get your insurance information and I need your contact info so I can contact your insurance company because THERE ARE NICKS ON MY BUMPER! Ugh. Some people! She gave me all the information after giving me her sob story about just moving back here and getting on her feet and how her and her kids don't really have anywhere to stay and how she'd take care of the damages, etc. Ya know, the sob story. So, once she gave me everything I needed, I got in my car, called my husband kinda freaked out, he calmed me down like usual, then I called her insurance company. They were very nice, took my claim, and said someone would be back to me in a few days. I want my Sassy restored to her brandy new condition.

I've only been in one other accident. That other one was someone else hitting my minivan last year... while I was sitting STILL! What the heck? Do I have a "HIT ME" sticker on my vehicles? I mean, give me a break... it's a joke. The accidents aren't ever my fault, thank goodness, but I don't want to have any at all. Especially while I'm reading my Traditional Home mag and minding my own damn business waiting for my babies to come running out to my car. Their sweet faces is what I wait to see all day and while she didn't ruin that (nobody's gonna steal MY joy), the experience was mildly unsettling. I am thankful it wasn't worse though... this can be repaired fairly easily and it will be by her insurance company!

Her adorable little girl was in the car with her, too. Hope she wasn't too scared. Good grief.


****UPDATE****: Her insurer just called me and told me that her insurance was canceled last month. Deeeeeep cleansing breaths... deeeeeeeeeeeeep cleansing breaths! Looks like I'm going to be on Judge Judy, y'all! Really, life? What did I DO to YOU?!

Sweet Potato Heaven!

I woke up early on Sunday morning, determined to make at least 4 pies. Little did I know that I'd end up making 10 sweet potato pies by the day's end! I have a bunch of family coming to my house for Thanksgiving and heaven forbid we run outta pie... that's not a good scene, man.

I'm a "dump cook" so I'm sorry there's no recipe--you'd have to see me do it to understand what to do. Nope, I'm not an 83 year-old southern woman. I'm lots younger than that and a lot more Yankee-er. But trust me, these pies are to die for! One of my friends has asked me to make her some pies--her hubby LOVES them. I bought one to a party at their place and he turned to me and said "You know you can sell these, right?" How sweet is that? See, I would sell them if my husband didn't hoard them. They're freezable and he's pretty possessive when it comes to his pies. I never knew that about him before I married him... makes me look at him a little different. :-P

Anyhooters, I'm on a cooking rampage. I made the brine for the turkey today, so I'll apply it to the turkey on Tuesday evening. I'm hungry just thinking about it!

Hope everyone has a happy, healthy Turkey Day--I'm pretty sure I'm going to have my hands full for the next few days. Peace!