So Monday afternoon I was driving home from work, jamming to Christmas tunes, and I thought, Hey! TOT has to be about Thanksgiving! How exciting! And it is! How exciting!
1. What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?
Pretty much the same thing we do every year, going over to my in-laws' house and sharing Thanksgiving with my husband's family. This year I was supposed to do the Turkey Trot 10k, but I've decided to do a morning boot camp and then I'M MAKING THE TURKEY. And the sausage stuffing. And I'd gladly make everything else too, but I'm going to have to wait 25 years for that.
2. What are you most thankful for this year? My family. It's cheesy but I'm so thankful for my boys. I'm trying to have more patience for them, and it's just as rewarding for me as it is for them. I have a bit of a short fuse some times, and the little things set me off much faster than the big things. I'm trying to be thankful with every interaction, to slow my response down and calm down. Helps with husbands too. :)
3. Do you have any traditions on Thanksgiving? The parade? Football? Long naps? We always go to my in-laws' house now. There once was a day when that was different and involved more extended family and POKER and I miss that, but I like what we have.
4. Is it called stuffing or dressing? Is it in the bird or a separate dish? I'm happy with it no matter how it is, but we usually cook it separately, with sausage, and it's stuffing.
5. Do you cook? Less than I would like. One time, in college, I made the whole spread and had my mom and brother and sister over (I was between relationships and my roommates were out of town). It was awesome. One day I'll be able to plan a whole thanksgiving meal. Maybe I'll just do it in February.
6. What is your favorite dish? Stuffing. Which is why it's my dish to bring every year.
7. What is your dessert preference? More stuffing. Otherwise, I'd be happy with a holiday cookie and after-dinner coffee.
8. What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory? One year, when I was about 8, we had a special holiday feast where we made Roast Lion (it's a pork roast and beef roast slow cooked all day) and I just remember the FEELING of that holiday, not the specifics.
9. Do you plan to shop on Black Friday? We do indeed. My mom is spending the night at the house with the kids, and we're going to head out! We're actually even thinking of hitting the midnight-opening Outlet malls ... how crazy are we??
10. What are you most dreading about Thanksgiving this year? Nothing! Maybe the work days leading up to it?
For more, go visit Chelsea!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Fribble
I named this "fribl" when I emailed it to myself from work, where I wrote part of it. It was a shortening of "Friday blog", but I think fribble is a better descriptor of what I'm putting out in the blogoverse. Blogoverse? Blogosphere? I obviously can't think much better today than I could yesterday. Plus, I also obviously can't post on the correct day anyhow.
I keep wanting to write a thankful list with Spencer like we did last year, but every time I ask him what he is thankful for he says this:
As cute as it is, I cannot get him to consider anything else.
I put my Christmas tree up this last Sunday. Not decorated, but lighted. Monday I put the skirt down and the train around the bottom and finished the indoor decorating and put the Christmas doormat and wreath out. I’m so excited. I know that everyone wants everyone else to wait until after thanksgiving, but what’s wrong with wrapping the whole holiday up with a bright red bow? Christmas music is even on the radio.
I don’t know what to get the kids this year for Christmas. Henry got so much for his birthday that I’m at a complete loss as to what to get him, and Spencer … well, I’m almost overwhelmed with all the stuff that he “wants”. I’m thinking about getting him some more train parts to go with his wooden train set. My mom is getting him a mini-skateboard. I don’t overdo Christmas because everyone else does, and frankly they have enough stuff. And I can’t get them to get rid of anything. What do you get a 15 month old who already has everything, given that his brother already has everything and he just plays with those toys anyhow?
Skyrim came out last week, and I am a video game widow again. It's really frustrating, but it's not like I can expect him to sit in the living room with me and watch Grease 2, so I haven't figured out how to mention that's irritating that he sits in the library all morning playing a game that I won't allow the kids to watch.
Henry says “night night”!! He still has no other words, except for mamamamamamamama which I’m beginning to be convinced either refers to Daddy or his sippy cup and not me, but if you say night night, he’s start waving and say “ni-ni”. This does not mean that he’s ready to bed, but that he can parrot. He will also lay down on the closest pillow and wave when you say “night night”. He's gotten worse about actually GOING to sleep, and cries again, but at least he's cute about the heading-to part.
If you'll excuse me, A Girl for All Seasons is being sung on tv.
I keep wanting to write a thankful list with Spencer like we did last year, but every time I ask him what he is thankful for he says this:
I’m thankle for my momma and daddy and Henry and HOT WHEELS!
As cute as it is, I cannot get him to consider anything else.
I put my Christmas tree up this last Sunday. Not decorated, but lighted. Monday I put the skirt down and the train around the bottom and finished the indoor decorating and put the Christmas doormat and wreath out. I’m so excited. I know that everyone wants everyone else to wait until after thanksgiving, but what’s wrong with wrapping the whole holiday up with a bright red bow? Christmas music is even on the radio.
I don’t know what to get the kids this year for Christmas. Henry got so much for his birthday that I’m at a complete loss as to what to get him, and Spencer … well, I’m almost overwhelmed with all the stuff that he “wants”. I’m thinking about getting him some more train parts to go with his wooden train set. My mom is getting him a mini-skateboard. I don’t overdo Christmas because everyone else does, and frankly they have enough stuff. And I can’t get them to get rid of anything. What do you get a 15 month old who already has everything, given that his brother already has everything and he just plays with those toys anyhow?
Skyrim came out last week, and I am a video game widow again. It's really frustrating, but it's not like I can expect him to sit in the living room with me and watch Grease 2, so I haven't figured out how to mention that's irritating that he sits in the library all morning playing a game that I won't allow the kids to watch.
Henry says “night night”!! He still has no other words, except for mamamamamamamama which I’m beginning to be convinced either refers to Daddy or his sippy cup and not me, but if you say night night, he’s start waving and say “ni-ni”. This does not mean that he’s ready to bed, but that he can parrot. He will also lay down on the closest pillow and wave when you say “night night”. He's gotten worse about actually GOING to sleep, and cries again, but at least he's cute about the heading-to part.
If you'll excuse me, A Girl for All Seasons is being sung on tv.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Fall Into Reading – my bi-Wednesday post on Thursday
So! I’ve been trying to write this post since Tuesday, but sickness has made it impossible for the cloud in my head to lift enough to sit in front of a computer outside work long enough to type anything. However, I have made more time for myself to read over the last couple weeks. Here’s what has been on the agenda:
Season to Taste: I finished this one, and it didn’t disappoint. I liked the combination of memoir and informative context of what your sense of smell means. To me, right now, it means my house smells like pine and cinnamon.
Bossypants: I was not as big a fan of this one as everyone else. Dare I say, I just don’t find Tina Fey that funny? Parts of it, namely the motherhood parts (A Letter to my Daughter, the Teat Nazi), were hilarious. But I’m not a fan of SNL generally, and I have never watched 30 Rock. I just felt like she was trying too hard to be funny.
Beauty Queens: I tried listening to this book while I ran, and It. Was. Terrible. The most inane book I’ve ever tried to listen to, and if I had to listen to one more ridiculous footnote I thought I was going to scream (if I had enough breath left to do so while running). I didn’t finish it. BUT I kind of want to know what happens so I’ve requested it in print from my library so I can finish. How sad is that?
Night Road: I do love Kristin Hannah, and this one didn’t disappoint. I love how real but how beautiful her stories are. Things aren’t perfect, and tragedy happens, but there’s still hope. I also love how she brings the hope and then let’s the reader imagine where the story goes afterward. Love it.
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: I wanted to love this book. It has such an amazing premise, and every time I would try to explain the book to someone they would say “But it sounds so interesting!” … but it just wasn’t very well written. I hate to say that – it had such promise. I kept waiting for the magic, but the end just went downhill.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Tens
Thanks Chelsea, for giving me my Tuesday topics.
1. What are your pantry staples?
whole wheat pasta, bread crumbs (italian seasoned and plain panko), an array of canned veggies that I never eat. Cheerios, enchilada sauce and chopped green chiles. There's a lot of other things in there, but these are items that are always there, and I know they are always there.
2. What are your refrigerator staples?
organic milk (whole and fat-free), butter, smart balance, half and half, eggs, a block of cheddar cheese, low sugar grape jelly, and assorted condiments.
3. You already look like Heidi Klum (or your favorite supermodel). Now, what are the top three non-physical things you would change about yourself?
Am I Heidi Klum, or me in Heidi Klum's body? If I were me and you're just trying to say "what non-physical things would you change about yourself?" a) I'm impatient b) I pick fights when I'm bored, sometimes with my husband, sometimes with my toddler. c) I spend too much money.
4. What’s holding you back from your dream job? (If you already have your dream job, how did you get there?)
Money and time to go back to school. If I didn't have to account for my paycheck I would open a used bookstore and not care if I was in the black or red. Or I'd go back to school to get my Master of Library Science and work in a library. Or I'd say screw it all and stay home with my babies (one of them is kinda sicky, so he's sad right now).
5. You have $500 to spend but it has to be on one item only. Go.
I need a new phone. Mine is always iffy.
6. What is something that you are embarrassed to admit you buy on a regular basis?
Not on a regular basis, but I occasionally get a hankering for Ramen or the powdered Kraft mac & cheese. I always make mac & cheese from scratch and have for 20 years but that powdered stuff ... it can be tasty when you have a craving.
7. What’s in/on your bed every night?
Me, my husband and my teddy bear. Don't judge.
8. What is a non-necessity item that, no matter how expensive it gets or how tight your budget if, you will always find room for it?
hair dye. I tried to stop, and it just looked terrible. I dye it pretty close to natural, but it really needs that color boost. I did go to box, and I'm okay with that.
9. What is the weirdest sandwich you’ve ever made?
I'm not big on weird sandwiches. I like to grill mushrooms and then add them to a grilled cheese sandwich. That's stretching it a bit, I guess.
10. Would you rather: Be banned from Pinterest forever, but gain a million captive Twitter followers; or, never get on Facebook again but gain five thousand blog readers?
I have not gotten on the Pinterest OR the twitter bandwagon, so I guess I would go for being banned from Pinterest. But my Twitter followers would be sorely disappointed by my tweets, as there are none. I'm pretty attached to facebook and blogging though, so I'll leave that one as it is.
1. What are your pantry staples?
whole wheat pasta, bread crumbs (italian seasoned and plain panko), an array of canned veggies that I never eat. Cheerios, enchilada sauce and chopped green chiles. There's a lot of other things in there, but these are items that are always there, and I know they are always there.
2. What are your refrigerator staples?
organic milk (whole and fat-free), butter, smart balance, half and half, eggs, a block of cheddar cheese, low sugar grape jelly, and assorted condiments.
3. You already look like Heidi Klum (or your favorite supermodel). Now, what are the top three non-physical things you would change about yourself?
Am I Heidi Klum, or me in Heidi Klum's body? If I were me and you're just trying to say "what non-physical things would you change about yourself?" a) I'm impatient b) I pick fights when I'm bored, sometimes with my husband, sometimes with my toddler. c) I spend too much money.
4. What’s holding you back from your dream job? (If you already have your dream job, how did you get there?)
Money and time to go back to school. If I didn't have to account for my paycheck I would open a used bookstore and not care if I was in the black or red. Or I'd go back to school to get my Master of Library Science and work in a library. Or I'd say screw it all and stay home with my babies (one of them is kinda sicky, so he's sad right now).
5. You have $500 to spend but it has to be on one item only. Go.
I need a new phone. Mine is always iffy.
6. What is something that you are embarrassed to admit you buy on a regular basis?
Not on a regular basis, but I occasionally get a hankering for Ramen or the powdered Kraft mac & cheese. I always make mac & cheese from scratch and have for 20 years but that powdered stuff ... it can be tasty when you have a craving.
7. What’s in/on your bed every night?
Me, my husband and my teddy bear. Don't judge.
8. What is a non-necessity item that, no matter how expensive it gets or how tight your budget if, you will always find room for it?
hair dye. I tried to stop, and it just looked terrible. I dye it pretty close to natural, but it really needs that color boost. I did go to box, and I'm okay with that.
9. What is the weirdest sandwich you’ve ever made?
I'm not big on weird sandwiches. I like to grill mushrooms and then add them to a grilled cheese sandwich. That's stretching it a bit, I guess.
10. Would you rather: Be banned from Pinterest forever, but gain a million captive Twitter followers; or, never get on Facebook again but gain five thousand blog readers?
I have not gotten on the Pinterest OR the twitter bandwagon, so I guess I would go for being banned from Pinterest. But my Twitter followers would be sorely disappointed by my tweets, as there are none. I'm pretty attached to facebook and blogging though, so I'll leave that one as it is.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thoughts on a Thursday (but posted on a Friday)
I have been taking the stairs at work in earnest for a week now. This morning, it occurred to me that this might be the reason why my ass hurts. (side note: also excellent segue to walk into your boss’s office in the morning and go “Hey! I figured out why my ass hurts!”) Also, I’m wondering how many Google hits I’m going to get from this post. (“Dear Google, why does my ass hurt?” PS – I don’t want to know.)
It’s cruel and unusual punishment to make the office stairwell smell like breakfast sausage.
I left my phone at home on Thursday. It’s a) amazing how much I get done without it and b) terrifying not to have it. I’m so cut off! So what that I do have a work phone, and the internet, and work email and even F B for “work research purposes”. I can’t play WWF! What will I do??
Work, apparently. I’m rockin’ the “doing work” thing.
I finished Tina Fey’s Bossypants today. I think I’ll keep my opinions on that book to myself, at least until Wednesday when I do my Fall Into Reading post next Wednesday; which is coincidentally when my book club meets to talk about it too.
One day I will start reading the rest of my library books. Wonder if there is a cheesy teen vampire book or two in that stack ... oh wait, there is! There is!
It's also cruel and unusual punishment for the stairwell to smell like macaroni and cheese.
And one Friday thought:
Barney at six am is only worth it to watch Henry dance.
It’s cruel and unusual punishment to make the office stairwell smell like breakfast sausage.
I left my phone at home on Thursday. It’s a) amazing how much I get done without it and b) terrifying not to have it. I’m so cut off! So what that I do have a work phone, and the internet, and work email and even F B for “work research purposes”. I can’t play WWF! What will I do??
Work, apparently. I’m rockin’ the “doing work” thing.
I finished Tina Fey’s Bossypants today. I think I’ll keep my opinions on that book to myself, at least until Wednesday when I do my Fall Into Reading post next Wednesday; which is coincidentally when my book club meets to talk about it too.
One day I will start reading the rest of my library books. Wonder if there is a cheesy teen vampire book or two in that stack ... oh wait, there is! There is!
It's also cruel and unusual punishment for the stairwell to smell like macaroni and cheese.
And one Friday thought:
Barney at six am is only worth it to watch Henry dance.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Again
I know that I shouldn’t post about this two times in three days, but I’m so excited about the extra time I have these (couple) days that I can’t stop thinking about it. And therefore talking about it. And therefore writing about it. How did I get by before this week? How did I get myself ready and two kids ready and fed in 30 minutes? With a lot of arguments, I can tell you that. So the past three days? NO ARGUMENTS.
And! Spencer asked for eggs this morning for breakfast and I had time to COOK! For him! And made coffee, and cut up grapes for the teething monster (Henry) and everything else and was still reasonably on time. Spencer got to watch Thomas (gag) and got dressed and even decided to wear different shoes than I picked out for him without me freaking out because I was late. I’m definitely going to try to keep this up. I don’t so much mind the lack of evening time (I’ve been passing out at 9pm) because the kids are also going to bed early and I’m caught up on my DVR.
My one problem right now is dinner. Henry gets very hungry for dinner, and I’m not used to this because Spencer has never been a dinner eater. Henry has to eat by 6pm or he is a very cranky child. Before, there wasn’t much of a problem: I’d give him a snack and start making dinner and somewhere in the vicinity of 6pm, we would eat. NOW 6pm is 5pm, so he’s pretty much starving when we get home so he doesn’t even want to give me time to make dinner. What do I do? Is this why a lot of moms serve a lot of frozen processed food to their kids for dinner? And make two meals, one for the kids and one for the parents? I’ve never “judged” those parents, per se, but I’ve never been one of them because my kid didn’t eat much dinner. So I made our food and if he ate, great, and if not whatever. Now I find myself scrambling to feed Number Two’s hungry mouth all the time. A couple weekends ago I made a bunch of freezer food so I could feed him when I didn’t feel like cooking (homemade chicken nuggets, fish sticks, pigs in a blanket, English muffin pizzas) but I don’t really want to resort to that ALL THE TIME. Any recommendations?
While the extra time in the morning is great, on the drive to work I found myself thinking it was Thursday and then sadly realizing it was only Wednesday. I think I thought this because I was trying to remember how many pieces of bread I had at work for breakfast (two) and I have one a day, so I was thinking I only have two days left. But I only brought four this week. Bah. I’ve been extremely productive at work so I think I’ve done three days of work in two. Maybe I should take Friday off! Ha!
Oh! But then I got to work and got an email from athlinks.com showing that my time in Sunday’s race was a full minute faster than the gun time. 31:03! Still not beating my PR, but way way closer, and especially for a morning race that’s some kind of awesome.
Keeping it up this week!
And! Spencer asked for eggs this morning for breakfast and I had time to COOK! For him! And made coffee, and cut up grapes for the teething monster (Henry) and everything else and was still reasonably on time. Spencer got to watch Thomas (gag) and got dressed and even decided to wear different shoes than I picked out for him without me freaking out because I was late. I’m definitely going to try to keep this up. I don’t so much mind the lack of evening time (I’ve been passing out at 9pm) because the kids are also going to bed early and I’m caught up on my DVR.
My one problem right now is dinner. Henry gets very hungry for dinner, and I’m not used to this because Spencer has never been a dinner eater. Henry has to eat by 6pm or he is a very cranky child. Before, there wasn’t much of a problem: I’d give him a snack and start making dinner and somewhere in the vicinity of 6pm, we would eat. NOW 6pm is 5pm, so he’s pretty much starving when we get home so he doesn’t even want to give me time to make dinner. What do I do? Is this why a lot of moms serve a lot of frozen processed food to their kids for dinner? And make two meals, one for the kids and one for the parents? I’ve never “judged” those parents, per se, but I’ve never been one of them because my kid didn’t eat much dinner. So I made our food and if he ate, great, and if not whatever. Now I find myself scrambling to feed Number Two’s hungry mouth all the time. A couple weekends ago I made a bunch of freezer food so I could feed him when I didn’t feel like cooking (homemade chicken nuggets, fish sticks, pigs in a blanket, English muffin pizzas) but I don’t really want to resort to that ALL THE TIME. Any recommendations?
While the extra time in the morning is great, on the drive to work I found myself thinking it was Thursday and then sadly realizing it was only Wednesday. I think I thought this because I was trying to remember how many pieces of bread I had at work for breakfast (two) and I have one a day, so I was thinking I only have two days left. But I only brought four this week. Bah. I’ve been extremely productive at work so I think I’ve done three days of work in two. Maybe I should take Friday off! Ha!
Oh! But then I got to work and got an email from athlinks.com showing that my time in Sunday’s race was a full minute faster than the gun time. 31:03! Still not beating my PR, but way way closer, and especially for a morning race that’s some kind of awesome.
Keeping it up this week!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
TOT: A whole lotta random
Today's questions are just like I like 'em - random. Visit Chelsea for more!
1. What’s your favorite television show for each day of the week?
I watch too much TV. I can't promise I watch it on the appropriate day, but here are my favorites:
Monday: House, HIMYM (which isn't nearly as fun as it was, but still good)
Tuesday: The New Girl (LOVE)
Wednesday: CSI and Criminal Minds. Oh! And Suburgatory!
Thursday: Person of Interest. Is Bones on Thursdays?
Friday: ummm. We watch Fringe, CSI: NY and Chuck, but I'm not in love with any of them this season.
Nothing on the weekends except football and catching up for the week. We watch other shows (Prime Suspect, Big Bang Theory, and others that I can't think of right now) but I they aren't must-sees. Oh! And now that I'm caught up on Grey's, I could theoretically watch that in real time. I watch too much tv.
2. How many times do you wear your jeans before you watch them? As many times as possible, until the butt is saggy or someone (me) spills something on them.
3. What is your favorite pasta shape? shells or penne
4. Do you read newspapers? vaguely. I get most of my news through Facebook.
5. Do you sleep in socks? nope.
6. Favorite genre of movies? cheesy chick movies, and sports movies.
7. How do you feel about wrestling? umm ... I have no feelings about it whatsoever.
8. Should men pluck their eyebrows? I'm not into total manscaping or anything, but as they say in A League of Their Own "Eyebrows. There should be two of them."
9. Do you have dimples? no (sad face)
10. Do you like to camp? love it! Trying to get my hubby to believe the kids are old enough to start doing it again. We used to camp for 5-9 days all over the southern US and it was awesome. We had fantastic trips.
1. What’s your favorite television show for each day of the week?
I watch too much TV. I can't promise I watch it on the appropriate day, but here are my favorites:
Monday: House, HIMYM (which isn't nearly as fun as it was, but still good)
Tuesday: The New Girl (LOVE)
Wednesday: CSI and Criminal Minds. Oh! And Suburgatory!
Thursday: Person of Interest. Is Bones on Thursdays?
Friday: ummm. We watch Fringe, CSI: NY and Chuck, but I'm not in love with any of them this season.
Nothing on the weekends except football and catching up for the week. We watch other shows (Prime Suspect, Big Bang Theory, and others that I can't think of right now) but I they aren't must-sees. Oh! And now that I'm caught up on Grey's, I could theoretically watch that in real time. I watch too much tv.
2. How many times do you wear your jeans before you watch them? As many times as possible, until the butt is saggy or someone (me) spills something on them.
3. What is your favorite pasta shape? shells or penne
4. Do you read newspapers? vaguely. I get most of my news through Facebook.
5. Do you sleep in socks? nope.
6. Favorite genre of movies? cheesy chick movies, and sports movies.
7. How do you feel about wrestling? umm ... I have no feelings about it whatsoever.
8. Should men pluck their eyebrows? I'm not into total manscaping or anything, but as they say in A League of Their Own "Eyebrows. There should be two of them."
9. Do you have dimples? no (sad face)
10. Do you like to camp? love it! Trying to get my hubby to believe the kids are old enough to start doing it again. We used to camp for 5-9 days all over the southern US and it was awesome. We had fantastic trips.
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