Menu Mondays

Have you seen this?:


Last week's menu:

Monday- chili
Tuesday- sausage ravioli w/ italian sausage and veggies in a cream sauce
Wednesday- none - went to Cheesecake Factory for lunch and hubby ate his leftovers for dinner.
Thursday- chili cheese dogs w/ tater tots
Friday- spinach and mushroom frozen pizza
Saturday- shrimp and tortellini in a cheesy white wine sauce
Sunday- nothing. A slice of ham while I was making tomorrow's breakfast and lunch.

This week:

Monday: pan-fried tilapia and pirogi w/ mushrooms and garlic
Tuesday: Baked spaghetti and garlic bread
Wednesday: taco chicken, black bean and rice casserole (making it up, I'll let you know)
Thursday: scrounging since Hubby will be eating pure deliciousness
Friday: grilled shrimp and cheesy risotto
Saturday: southwest chicken corn chowder

I want...

These trainer chopsticks for Spencer.

Weekender

I didn't take pictures of my weekend clothes, but it's a bit embarrassing. Saturday: black bib-style top (Target) and rose-colored shorts (Loft), with my leather Born flip flops. Today I left the same shirt on (and I slept in it (and the shorts) - how low-class, right?) and my Loft jeans and the same flip flops. Clean underwear, at least.

The hubby and I had a serious talk about finances last night and cutting back to not eating out as much (or at all if we can help it). The 3 months of no paycheck for me, coupled with the possibility of no job come January for him as well as that 14k in childcare has me in a nauseous frenzy. The problem is, that puts so much more of a burden on me: more cooking than I already do, more staying home. More coupon cutting, more price checking ... you name it, I'm the one who has to do it.

After we decided that we needed to cut costs (including even suspending Netflix while the season shows are on), the Hubby tells me that he's been invited to MY FAVORITE restaurant with friends from work and his friend is paying for him. Now I'm depressed because I want to go, but I don't really want to go with his friends and I don't want to spend the money but I love that freaking restaurant. It's just not fair - I don't have any friends who plan on paying my way for delicious food and at home I have to make it all myself. I'm going to try not to dwell but damn it.

We have had a nice weekend of doing nothing though. Saturday the boys and I sat outside and played/read/rode tricycles (guess who that was) while my husband did yard work and then played video games for the majority of the afternoon while the boys slept. Today I have Spencer playing out back while we catch up on our shows from last week (CSI, Fringe, Criminal Minds - not toddler-appropriate shows).

Anyhow, we made a list for grocery shopping this morning and still managed to go way over budget so now it's even more important to eat in. For every meal. Which I prepare. Which of course makes me less motivated to make anything at all.

Saturday
breakfast - french toast, bacon and coffee
lunch - chicken nuggets and mac & cheese
dinner - shrimp and tortellini in a cheesy wine sauce

Sunday
Breakfast - muffins and coffee
lunch - hotdogs
dinner - Voila skillet meal and french bread

Confessions

(late - my phone ate my blog post this morning)

-- Here was my second day of work outfit. I didn't realize how dirty this mirror was until I looked at the picture, but whatevs.
Top: Alex Marie, Dillards (I <3 Alex Marie clothes. Especially during a Labor Day/Memorial Day/Independence Day sale when I can afford them)
Jeans: my beloved from the Loft
Shoes: Alex Marie (see?) this is the first time I've had the occasion to wear them, but I'm so glad they aren't too dressy so I should be able to wear them with all kinds of things.
Accessories: rings and that's it. I forgot my earrings.

-- I can't remember the other things that I put in this post, I was so annoyed that my phone wouldn't post.

-- One thing I'm thankful for on when I went back to work is that the BBQ man came on Friday, and I was able to put my order of smoked chicken and yellow rice in on Thursday so I was able to indulge in the deliciousness.

-- I just realized that I'm going to be spending about 14k on daycare next year.

-- I feel nauseous.

-- When I was taking pictures of my outfit in the morning, Spencer insisted that I take a picture of him too.

-- He has been asking for a camera, and I told my in-laws that they could get him one for Christmas. Now I'm jealous because I know that's going to be his very favorite gift.

Starting again

Pictures taken in the bathroom at work.
Top: loft
Pants: charter club, macy's
Shoes: jessica simpson


I've been back to work for 3 hours now, gone through 428 emails (not an exaggeration) and I'd like to go back home now.

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On this my last day ...

This is what I did:

• got up at the same time that my husband went to work, and cleaned the house. Again.
• finished my thank you notes (no, I didn't get them mailed)
• had lunch with my husband (and his work friends)
• bought Spencer a couple pairs of jeans because he's been wearing 18mo jeans which appear to look like floods.
• sat outside at the mall and enjoyed a Bacia gelato and read.
• picked Spencer up early from daycare and let him play outside and in the sprinkler.
• cleaned the garage.
• took a shower and dried my hair so as to be generally ready for tomorrow
• took a sleeping pill (an hour ago, not kicking in yet)

I think I got the most out of the day. I hope, anyhow. I'm exhausted, so there's nothing more I can do anyhow.

So this is my last List update before going back:

Books read:
1-2-3 Magic - plot: count to three, put your child in timeout, be consistent. I mostly did this before, minus the consistency. I might still go out and buy this book (borrowed from the library and since there's a hold on it I'm not allowed to renew. Could not actively read, had to skim for the bigger picture.

The Maze Runner - very interesting plot, bare bones uninteresting prose. The author didn't try hard enough to make me believe the out-of-the-ordinary. I didn't learn to love the characters. I had to push myself through to find out what happened, and I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I hate when books rely too heavily on there being a sequel. I don't think I'll be reading the sequel. Was all that vague enough for you?

Crush - I have no idea why I heard of this book, but it ended up in my hold items at the library so I took it home and read it in 20 minutes. Sweet little book. Not badly written - would have appreciated a longer book by the author.

Harry Potter book 1: I'm one of the 3 people left in the universe who haven't read this series yet, and so I'm starting. I've seen pieces of all the movies so I know generally what I'm getting into. It's okay. There are a million better books but I'm going to stick it out.

During my maternity leave, I read 33 books.

Movies:
The Ramen Girl (Brittany Murphy). Hmmm. Cute, I guess. Hard to watch while cleaning since you have to read subtitles.
The Initiation of Sarah - pretty dark for an ABC Family movie, but Jennifer Tilly ruins it for me. I haven't liked a single role of hers since Vicki in Let It Ride

That's a total of 19 movies.

I feel like I ran out of time during my leave - I wanted to be able to hang out with MamaFuss and the kids one more time, and see Jonah again (he appears to be thriving right now), have more playdates/winedates with Suz and Jamie and take more walks and play more. Not yell as much. We got so good at it toward the end of leave, and I hope I can carry the attitude on during nights and weekends. We'll see - wish me luck!

Today's post is brought to you by the letters B.A.H.

And by the number 1. As in, one more day until work. As in, today is my last day before I go back to drinking my coffee in a cube.

I'm very torn on this issue. On the one hand, these last few months have really been great. I've enjoyed spending time with both my sons, and even though there have been some terrible battles with my toddler, I love that he is becoming his own person and he's such a sweet one at that (most of the time). I love that he says "I love you" for no reason at all and refuses to leave the house without giving me a "Hung" (hug). His tantrums have been insane, of this there is no doubt, but the good times have been so very good.

And Henry. When Spencer was little, I didn't think any child could be as even tempered and calm as he was. When I was pregnant everyone said he was going to be crazy high-maintenance because "you always get the opposite of your first". But Henry has proven to be even more even tempered than Spencer was. He doesn't care about his pacifier, he will sit in his cradle and watch people walk back and forth without demanding attention or entertainment. He's so strong; he's been scooting himself around the floor and my bed almost since the day he was born. Even now when he's had a cold for a week, he laughs every time he sneezes and blows snot bubbles and smiles big every time I wipe his face. I can't imagine not having him here. Right this very minute he is lying on my bed next to me nodding off from boredom. Some kids cry when they're bored - he just sweetly closes his eyes and waits for me to be done with the computer.

But. I do love my job, and I think even absence has made the heart grow fonder. I wonder what's going on with all of my case files, miss conversations with my co-workers and the attorneys I work with. I want to use my brain in the way that I can only do with my work. I can't wait to get back to see what has changed, what has stayed the same, and what is still quite ongoing. I wish I could find a happy medium, perhaps the discipline to be a WAHM (I need an out-of-the-house office to be productive) or a parttime job that I could find fulfilling. Right now this is what I need to do. I will cherish the moments after work and on the weekends with my boys. I will pack as much life into those times to make up for not being there from 7-4 five days a week (and sometimes longer when I have to travel). I was a good "parttime mom" before, and I'll be a good one now (you know you're never a parttime mom, but it's the only thing I know how to call it).

Moving on from the sappiness, I spent this morning cleaning my house (again), and then I set up shop out on my front porch with my coffee, applebuttered toast and my favorite newborn bundled up in his portable swing and finished my darn thank you notes that have been 3 months in the making. I've written them, addressed them, and sealed them up so that I can stop at a post office and get stamps (who actually keeps stamps handy for times like these?) and get them out TODAY before I forget. Again. It was a beautiful morning and the 45 minute job took 1 1/2 hours because I was so enjoying it. Plus I kept getting distracted watching four squirrels play tag in my yard, roof and the street.

Henry and I are having lunch with my husband today since it's the last time I can do that on a whim (Spencer's at daycare), and I have a couple of errands to run: I've noticed that Spencer has no jeans bigger than 18 months (which still fit in the waist but are looking like floods otherwise) (yes, he's nearly 3 - what of it? haha), and I really need tights for my boots (that's not cheating on 30 for 30, is it?)

Here's today's outfit (and one of MamaFuss's poses):

I've been having trouble figuring out where to take these photos because my backyard looks like a jungle so today I set up the tripod and took this one out the front door. Pardon the darkness. I have a feeling that the rest of my pictures are going to be taken by my phone in dark mirrors once I go to work so my husband doesn't think I'm nuts for doing this.

Top: sweater a la Dress Barn (when did their stuff get cute?) I know it's a useless sweater, what with its lack of sleeves, but I really liked how it looked on me, and if it's really cold I can just wear my coat over it anyhow.

Pants: Loft jeans - the blood came out after a soak in Oxyclean, a wash, spray oxy and another wash. Hallelujah.

Shoes: my beloved knee boots.

Accessories: watch, rings, brown button earrings and two (count them two!) flowers in my hair.