Good Reports All Around!

     I had my first observation at my new job today.  I rocked it with a rave review from my instructor.   There was also a "we LOVE her" from a teacher (or two) in the classroom(s) that I visit which is always a nice bonus. 
     Later on the kids came home with outstanding report cards!  We have much to be proud of!!!

Booked a Camping Trip

     If you've followed me since this journey began than you know about last year and my adventures in camping.  You also know that I swore it off...

     I just booked a two night stay at a site that I approve of and am quite excited about...let's hope for calm and easy and a tad less "adventure" this time! 

Bloom

     I have been following Kelle Hampton's blog, "Enjoying the Small Things", for quite some time now.   It is about motherhood, womanhood, writing, creativity, photography and all of the emotions that are tied up with those topics.  There is also a celebration of the simple and wonderful and an appreciation for the moments in life that take your breath away.  Kelle has also invited us to her home to see her partnership with a wonderful husband, the tactics needed to carry on daily life and the milestones that come with living to the fullest.  Also...she has been candid about the challenges of parenting with her two beloved girls.  Her second daughter was born with Down Syndrome and took her on a whole new path. 

     "Bloom takes readers on a wondrous journey through Nella's first year of life--a gripping, hilarious, and intensely poignant trip of transformation in which a mother learns that perfection comes in all different shapes.  It is a story about embracing life and really living it, of being fearless and accepting difference, of going beyond constricting definitions of beauty, and the awesome power of perspective."

     She makes it all look effortless.  She tells us quite a bit...but we all sensed there might have been a little something we didn't know yet.  I can't express how excited I was to hear there was a book.  Tonight, I will begin reading it and like all things that have come to me just when I needed them to...I'm sure the lessons gained from it will be right on time.  Maybe we all just need a little more time to...bloom. 

Ethan's First Play

     They practiced for weeks.  I had to rehearse his lines after school as part of his homework.  They painted props as proven by stained little hands.  They reserved the gymatorium and invited other classes.  The Life Skills class as well as Book Buddies were invited along with all of the parents.  Emily was his first Book Buddy so she got to be there as well.  Every single parent of every single classmate was there to see a play that probably lasted longer than it is taking you to read this post.  But it was adorable and made us all smile and giggle.  He remembered his lines and it just might have been one of the sweetest little things ever.  One of those firsts you never forget.  Kindergarten has had its ups and downs but I think we're gonna make it...

Chocolate Goatee

     I did some new stuff with the kids during "Mama Monday" but those things got bumped as my new thing because sometimes the silly just beats out the crafty. 
     There is a tray of defunct "fudge" in the fridge.  As I tasted it I realized it reminded me of the top layer of heaven on the chocolate Entennman's cake.   As quickly as I said the words, "This would be good on a cupcake!"....there was John whipping up a bunch of them to top with the rich goo.  It was impossible to eat them without making a mess.  It was too thin to be an icing and too thick to be a topping but no matter what its density it tastes was sublime.  We dug in and there was no way to be neat or tidy.  I put down the role of nagging mother (who tries to teach manners at the table at all costs) and gave in...to...the...chocolate lava.  A drip here.  A smudge there.  Giggles started to spread as slowly but surely we were getting covered.  Hands, arms, noses...nothing was safe.  I then realized at the end of a long and productive Monday sometimes you just need a chocolate goatee.  It made my father laugh and my kids giggle.  Then I sang a little "Somebody That I Used to Know" and made myself giggle.  Get it? Huh? Huh? Do ya?  The morals of this story are: don't take life too seriously and chocolate makes everything better!
   

Birdsong

     I watched a bit of the new series tonight.  It looked like Warhorse.  It also caused me to open up my laptop and to read a bit more about the topic.  There is so much that we just don't know.  Warfare underground was a whole new topic to learn about...but one that I'm not sure I'll continue to watch for entertainment. 

The Secret Garden Musical

     I grew up in a household that adored the musical.  We watched them often.  I still remember taking vinyl out out of a jacket and carefully placing it on the spindle of the record player (within the cabinet that took up half of the living room).  I would sing along to the sweet lyrics that accompanied the beautiful music.  As I got older I was lucky enough to see some real Broadway shows.  When we moved out of NY and headed to PA we left the giant console of music back in the old house...and found a few local theaters that made us even happier.  Many a summer night were spent enjoying traveling productions of our favorites.   We even had season passes for a few years.  I thought I had seen just about all of them...
     I have just had the absolute pleasure of seeing yet another musical...The Secret Garden.  I went to see my friend Mark perform.  This is my second time in the audience at one of his performances.  Last year I laughed and cried through a play that he starred in...this time I got to hear him sing.  The boy can sing.  I mean...really...can...sing.  It was beautiful.  The entire cast was truly terrific.  From the convincing accents to the stunning costumes it was a treat...but the singing was superb.  I've watched many performers and these were simply some of the best!  Great job, Mark!!! (But you do know I expect a mini-musical every time I see you now....)

Grapefruit Seed Extract

     I spent my entire life battling sinusitis, bronchitis and allergies.  They have come and gone. I've been on and off of meds and antibiotics.  My sister has as well.   I was recently bragging that my allergies seemed to have left and headed for some other poor victim but this year is kicking mine and my kids' butts.  We have all been knocked out by one thing or the other and we aren't breathing so well.  When my sister would inquire about each illness she would report back with a "go and get some grapefruit seed extract!".  Mmmmm hmmmm.  One of these days I will.  Then another cold or round with infections and antibiotics and she updated me that after decades of getting ill and spending money on doctor appts and meds she has turned to GSE and hasn't been back to the doctor since.  "Ok....I promise I will try" is always my response.  It's been what seems like forever and after this last bout with hundreds spent on doctor visits and medicines and missed days of school and work...I HAVE HAD IT.   I have spent the last week juicing each and every day(thanks to Mary).  I have also traded in foods that I believe are making it worse(thanks to Leigh Ann).  And today...I FINALLY...bought my little bottle of grapefruit seed extract.  After some research it seems to fix anything.  It is amazing for the body for all sorts of reasons and goes beyond just those uses.  Turns out you can use it to wash your produce, clean your cutting board and even clear up skin issues.  It's magic in a bottle.  I texted my sister, Victoria, that I indeed had finally gone to the health food store to buy some.  She was thrilled to say the least.  Today I squirted it into my juice in the hopes that a super duper dose of healthy will enable me to breathe today.
      These changes are good for me.  They help me to be better.  I feel different.  I am proud of making some good decisions.  But they do not define me.  For every cupcake there might be a dinner of lettuce and fresh veggies to make up for it...but I still have the cupcake.  For every walk...there is a morning of lazy video games.  There might be a tall glass of cucumber, beet, carrot juice...but there is also an occasional pint of Blue Moon somewhere.  For every GSE remedy their is a blizzard from DQ to wash it down.  It's moderation.  It's knowing when to be smart and knowing when to not feel frustrated that you are being held back in life.  I don't want to pigeonhole myself into a lifestyle that defines me...I want to define my lifestyle.  It means some days I'll be a health nut and others I will celebrate whatever it is I want.  I know vegetarians that still serve meat for holidays and health freaks who still celebrate with a piece of cake for someone's big day...I admire them.  They don't judge others based on decisions that they are making...they simply live their own way...and occasionally are awesome enough to pass tips along that might help.  They don't preach nor make you feel badly.  But I've also known people who looked down their noses at the rest of us eating crap when they were doing "the right thing".  It is a judgement none of us should give or feel the victim of.  I have also know the judgmental health freaks who lied to steal a bag of candy.  We decide what choices we want and respect others to make them for themselves.  My particular strategy is one of balance and kindness and education.  Nobody is perfect all of the time but we have moments when we shine and moments when we are quiet.  We should be fine with all of it.  I applaud the people who run in marathons and I also applaud the people who eat a vegetable that they loathe because they are being a damn good role model for their child.  We each have challenges...we each fight our own battles...we each have victories.  Some have medals.  Some have health benefits.  Some teach lessons.  They are all successes to those that are living them and to you all... I say, "Way to Go!!!".  I am proud of all of your good decisions and love you even when you aren't making them...

Scooter Lady T Shirt

     Our town has some characters.  We have all given them many nicknames.  We text each other with sightings as if we are playing some odd little scavenger hunt.  There are many.  But there is one that stands out...well...she doesn't really stand ever...she rides. 
     "Scooter Lady" is no joke.  She rides about on her three-wheeled scooter for hours.  She is everywhere.  She glides down roads, slaloms up hills and scoots in places I'm afraid to even walk....and she sings while she does it.  She also rocks some awesome outfits and a big head of blond curls.  She is the rock star of exercise.  My little circle of friends have a thing.  We spot her and we text each other.  If we see her while driving the whole car screams out, "Scooter Lady!".  She is such a staple that I start to worry if she hasn't been spotted in a bit.
     The other day Jenne was quick to send me a link.   Seems a group had decided to use her image on a T Shirt as a fundraiser.  Brilliant.  Simply brilliant.  Before I even had the chance to tell Leigh Ann...she was already commenting that she wanted one as well.  We zipped over to ESU after work to pick up our very own hot pink shirts.  This summer we will celebrate the lady of the scooter in a whole new way.
The shirt says it all....

    "They See Me Rollin'..."

Play at ESU

     It was supposed to be one play...but they switched it out for something different. 
My review is....."Ummmmmm, uhhhhhhhhh, yep, alrighty then!". 

Almond Milk

     While standing near the dairy case a man was so kind as to tell me which was his favorite.  He pointed out the sugar free from the regular and even went so far as to hand me a coupon.  I had been pondering my relationship with dairy since Leigh Ann talked about it at work.  It all lined up. 
     This morning I had a bowl of cereal with a banana sliced up and almond milk.  It was pretty tasty.  I will be testing it with some other things to see if it is a keeper!

Deodorant Day with Daughter

     Emily was nine and I thought I had years before I had to deal with the stuff that happens as little girls shift to bigger ones.  Then she turned ten.  Instantly, there are all sorts of new issues.  Some good. Some frustrating.  Some simple.  I strive to be easy to talk to.  I work hard to keep vital lines of communication open.  I figure if I make it the norm now...it will stay that way.  A mom can hope, can't she?  So when she mentioned feeling not so fresh after gym and karate I thought I should oblige.  I didn't get to it...but the Easter bunny found it his responsibility to make sure she had a sparkly new girly deodorant in her basket this year amidst the candy and Barbie. 
     She has spent the last four days in bed or on the couch with a fever that spiked to 103°.  I thought this morning was a perfect opportunity for her to take a nice shower and bust out the brand new stick of deodorant.  It was a little moment that makes you realize how truly fast it all goes.  (I was just changing diapers a few minutes ago.)  She came home excited that she felt better, had caught up on all of her missed work, had a great gym class and played outside...and that she didn't feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about anything else.  Good scents and good sense prevailed!!!

Thor

     I have to be honest.  I wasn't feeling so hot all weekend.  I blame allergies since my kids can't seem to breathe either.  We are all itchy and sleepy and so full of congestion it's ridiculous.  What does this have to do with Thor?  Well, I agreed to watch it because I thought I could nap through it.  It was an evil plot to seem agreeable and simply doze off into sleepyland.  But then it wasn't so bad...and then it had some cool special effects...and then I needed to see how it ended.  I watched the whole dang movie.  Between the planetarium show on Black Holes and Natalie Portman's character talking about Worm Holes I am beginning to wonder if Thor is really out there...and if he should ever visit if he could remember his hammer and forget his shirt.  ;)

Healthy Juicing with Mary

     Mary and I enjoy our food and drink.  We plan meals like they were events.  When I hear a visit might be happening my first question is always about food requests.  This time she mentioned no drinking and no junk food.  My response was a giggle. 
     But Mary is persuasive and I'll take any help I can get in pushing health food on the ones I love.  Out came the juicer.  This same juicer was my Dad's baby for quite some time.  Through high school and college I was handed glasses of juice.  I would drink them enthusiastically and knew that their healthy benefits were abundant.  Friends and family were also handed glasses when visiting and many still remember.  It felt good to get it back out of the pantry.  It felt great to run to the store for a supply of fresh fruits and veggies.  It felt terrific to hear how delicious it was from my little ones.  We got a little adventurous and mixed up some combos that were yummy as well.  Heck, we even read through books to research what fixes what ailments.  I'm hoping she sticks with it and I'm grateful that she reminded me about something that I had forgotten. 
     (I am writing this a few days later and I have to tell you that I have juiced for 3 days straight...here's to keeping it up!!!!) 

ESU Planetarium

     I loved much about ESU.  I was slightly irritated that they waited until I left to spruce up the joint.  Now there are gorgeous landscaped areas, beautiful new dormitories, fitness centers and buildings that simply did not exist.  The old biology building was replaced by an architectural delight that included a new planetarium.  It's been there for a bit and though my daughter was lucky enough to have field trips (within walking distance of her old school) there... I have never been.  Sandi discovered some free tickets to a show they were having.  Sandi even ordered them for me since I was on my way to work when she made this discovery.  We watched three movies that taught us about everything from the Spring sky stars to Black Holes.  Space makes my head hurt.  I can't fathom its vast mysteries and learning about Black Holes made it hurt even more but it was worth it to watch two little boys mystified by what was out there...beyond the darkness.

Thanks Sandi for always thinking of me and constantly trying to find cool new things for us to do together!!!

Super Meeting @ MudWorks

     Thursday is meeting day at work.  Sure, we have them almost weekly but this one was different.  This one was more energy and excitement around one little table than I have felt in a long time.  We all had ideas and they bounced around the table and grew bigger and brighter with each person that pondered them.
     MudWorks will be offering really cool new "Once and Done Projects" that are all of the fun of creating something but none of the tedious parts of the process.  There will be all sorts of new sales and special themed deals.  Fun events are coming as well as fund raising events.  New products, new designs, new shows and something for everyone!!!  Sound a bit like I am advertising?  Yep, that might just be the case but we have lots to be excited about and I am passing it on....
    

Google Recipe Search

     I have used many sites to gather ideas for new recipes but have never used the handy tool that Google offers.  With a few simple clicks you can stress the importance of an ingredient or request that one not be needed.  I dug through cabinets and played a little made up version of a cooking competition.   What do I need to use up?  What is available?  What would be good?  I came up with oatmeal cookies since I seemed to have an abundance of raisins, oats and brown sugar.  I punched in what I wanted to use and what ingredients would not work for me and Google came back with Martha. Guess I could've grabbed one of my many Martha publications for the recipe but it worked.  They were the most delicious oatmeal cookies ever and I with my little chef next to me making them was as awesome as eating them!

Inspiring Videos

    It just seemed to be in the air today...a series of clips from many different sources.  I like to share the good ones so I posted a bunch on my wall.  Maybe we should all take some lessons from the kid who made an arcade with nothing but cardboard and some imagination.  Maybe we could all grow from Abraham Hicks telling us how to feel good now.  Maybe we just need a giggle.  Whatever the reason...open up when the world tells you to listen...you never know what you might learn!!!

Potterpalooza

     There are some moments I have waited for for years when it comes to the kids.  I cherish each stage and I stay in the moment but tucked in the back of my mind are little notes of things I look forward to.  Things like traveling to places that they learn about in school and introducing them to things as they are mature enough to appreciate them. 
     It was time for Harry Potter.  We spent weeks reading aloud chapter by chapter.  We set up the Netflix delivery to be right on time for the Easter Break.  We planned the afternoon that would finish up the book and leave us the two and a half hours necessary to watch the movie without heavy eyelids.  We might have even played a little Lego Harry Potter on the Xbox somewhere in between.  It was a fun day and the kids are now Potter fans.  They are excited about the next adventure and I am thrilled to have reached a new milestone in mommyhood. 

Feaster at the Gecsek House

       Thanksgiving was such a hit this year that it only seemed natural to all find our way to the same table again...only this time it was in Bethlehem at the Gecsek House.  The neighborhood, house and company were all beautiful.  We were greeted by baskets full of goodies and sweet flowers.  Everything from the expansive cheese spread to the amazing dinner was delicious.  The table was full of gratefulness, love and laughter!  The kids had their usual wonderful time with each other.   Nothing makes me happier than the sweetness shared between cousins.     
      Holidays are very different from how they always were.  Traditions have been altered and new ones have developed.  I am grateful for time with family for any occasion but it is extra sweet when "family" is an extension of the people we are appreciative of.  Sometimes we are lucky enough to have special family members and sometimes we are smart enough to create the family we want...one with supportive kindness, open arms and hearts bigger than the feasts.  Thank you to the Gecsek family for extending an invitation to some extended family members...it was truly a joyous day!

Pinball Hall of Fame Video Game

     It's everything you LOVED about pinball without the dirty quarter fingers, cigarette smoke and essence of Tab in the air.  A great new take on an old classic! (Also,  a bit of a new addiction for Emily and I.)

Forza

     I will now take a video game about racing and somehow make it bigger because that seems to be my deal lately.  I still remember the first games.  The lines and blips on a screen.  The excitement was unbelievable.  Restaurants were graded on their arcade and bars were acceptable as long as they had a pinball game or something else to keep me occupied.  When I was young we lived out of a hotel for a bit while my Dad worked on some fancy shmancy building in North Carolina.  It sounds bad but it wasn't.  I had a big fat bed and they had a gorgeous pool that I would spend my days in.  Meals were at the adjoining restaurant and I would head for the table video game that devoured quarters.  Video games were just coming to this world back in the 70's and the transformation has been humungous.  I played games through high school and college as a form of stress release.  They take you away from real life for a few minutes as you are too busy to concentrate on anything else or you will get blown up, eaten, fall into some hole or even die.
     I took a break for a few years with just an occasional trip to D&B for a little fun time.  Then the Wii came out and my kids were older and it all lined up.  Rockband was a wonderful addition as well.  The problem is as an adult now I am having greater and greater difficulty allowing myself to "play games" while there is so much real life to be living.  My children are showing me once again that sometimes playing games...especially as a group...can be living.  I have always loved board games and family game night so maybe it is ok if it's just on the tv through a system every once and a while.  I have been opening my closed off little mind to learning more.  I check out the gaming magazine if I have a moment just to check on the games that are good.  Forza keeps getting props for being incredible and what kid wouldn't love a game about racing gorgeous cars?  So while at the video game place yesterday I noticed the old one was in my budget...a used copy sat there for under $3.  Guess what?  It still takes your mind off of real life for a little while especially while going 121 mph in the hopes of not crashing your car.  The kid who rocked good grades and worked hard with jobs and sports and life found time to play video games as a stress release...maybe this adult should take a page out of her own old life.  Now I just have to figure out how to play it without my hands cramping up because I am squeezing the life out of the controller!

Mall, Karate, Mall, Karate

     My daughter has been hoarding her gift cards like a squirrel stocks up nuts.  Today was the first day just the two of us could get to the mall and hit Justice.  We don't really get to shop ever so it was a real treat.  We found great bargains and some really cute stuff and quite a few outfits later and some redeemed gift cards and I only had to fork over $5.  Then we headed to a private lesson of karate.  Master Nam wanted some special one on one time with them.  These lessons are precious.  The regular lesson was at 5:15 so with just an hour to kill we headed back to the mall.  This time we hit the accessory place where she picked out some more deals and used some more cards.  Not a penny was spent here.  Then, yep, you guessed it...back to karate for a packed house full lesson full of spars and victories! I think it's safe to say they will sleep well.   If they don't I sure know I will!!!

A Little Help with Racism

     When your children are little the challenges seem daunting.  There are challenges with breastfeeding and growth charts.  There are RSV illnesses that make you spend the night outside an oxygen bubble containing your little baby.  There is true panic and fear that they will be healthy.  Then they get older and those moments change.  You worry they will fall.  You hope they don't find choking hazards.  Then they get even older.  You hold your breath as they learn to ride bikes, swim for the first time and head off to first days of school.  You hope that they learn well and will develop on time. It is in these moments you realize that other stuff....well....that was the easy part.  Now the adventure begins.  Now conversations are about being picked on, hurt feelings, mean kids, new fears and night terrors.  Awkward moments are spent explaining new bodies and growing up and the damn birds and darn bees.  It gets trickier.  More sensitive.  Plus, now as you speak...as you pass along your ideals about this world...they listen.  Hard.  So you have to be careful to send the right messages.  You have to speak up for things and take stands.  You have to teach honesty, integrity and courage.  Each day there seems to be a lesson...whether tiny or huge... that you can teach.  Within the pillars of ideology we must also explain what is wrong...what is unjust...what is unfair.  Seeds get planted while children are seedlings themselves...and one must be careful of what kind of tree is growing.
     I don't preach by any means but that doesn't mean I don't cover the hard stuff.  I make some things so matter-of-fact that they never need to be an issue.  I embrace diversity in all aspects of life and as I show an attitude of acceptance I can only hope it becomes as normal as breathing to them as it is to me.  I saw the movie, The Help, in the theater a while back.  I loved it.  I didn't find it patronizing or preachy though some have disagreed.  What I was sure of though was that it would be a wonderful way to show a little girl what things were like without simply trying to explain it.  The cinema as well as literature can be a wonderful medium for education.  Tonight we were able to stay up late because school is on break for the next few days.  We lined up our next Netflix delivery to be able to watch this movie.  She loved it.  Her big brain and huge spirit already understand the lesson that was being taught. 
     I didn't realize today was a very special day in history and find it quite amazing that the topic of today's life lesson tied in so appropriately.  Those are the moments...when things line up...that I know I am on the right path.  She will have questions tomorrow and I will answer as best I can.  She is smart and kind and compassionate and will want to know the why and how of this world.  The questions are a sign that the trunk is getting strong.  Her character are the limbs as they grow out toward the sunlight...full and vast and able to withstand the winds as well as sway in the breezes. 
      
     "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education. "
Martin Luther King, Jr

Chip, Cabbage and Clarkson

     The day pretty much sucked from dawn until now.  It's 10:32 pm.  I am frustrated and angry...hurt and confused. Last night I was prompted by my motivational Oprah moments to take that energy and put it toward something positive.  Easy for them to say as they sit on the stage of Radio City on television....but I gave it my best shot.  I needed something that got me going...I went with a little song by Kelly Clarkson that is slowly but surely becoming my new anthem.  That music led me to a website where I finally filled out the intensive and detailed CHIP application in the hopes of getting some health benefits for the kids and even myself should the health benny gods choose to be so generous.  I have more work ahead of me, more paperwork to deal with and an appointment or two wedged somewhere in between jobs and life.  While that processed it was time to make dinner.  A bit ago you might recall (should you be a faithful blog post reader) that I created natural food dyes for a job interview lesson.  The red cabbage waves to me each time I open the fridge door.  "Hey, whatcha gonna do with me?".  It nags at me.  I hate wasting food even if it IS just a goofy inexpensive cabbage.  It bothers me so much so that I found a recipe to use it up.  So tonight with the turkey tacos and Spanish rice we had a lovely new side dish.  Shredded cabbage, grated carrots, fresh lime and orange juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and chopped cilantro made a refreshing slaw on the side. 
     So I will now try to get some rest with the scent of cilantro on my fingers, figures running through my mind and a little song that will continue to push me through these moments of pressure.  I will also have a little personal chuckle at perhaps one of the funniest titles I have used thus far about a combination of things never before put together in the history of man.  ;)

Taking Notes with Tony and Oprah

     Last week I watched a show dedicated to moving forward.  We are held back by our stories.  Our past shapes our beliefs, fuels our fears and blocks us from true happiness.  Fear stops us.  I have been doing a new thing each day to slowly create the habit of accepting the challenges and letting go of the fear.  I am hundreds of days in...but I have decades to deprogram.  Tonight, I look to the inspirations of life coach, Tony Robbins.

     These are some crucial points I will focus on in my journey of moving forward and conquering fear:
 --courage is a muscle you can develop
--courage is feeling the fear and doing it anyway
--divorce your story...it's like a relationship that doesn't serve you
--affirmation does not work for creating a change over fears...you need to be challenged so you     must be careful about who you have a sisterhood with
--if you are going to succeed in anything you need the right strategy, the right story, a quality state
--you change your state when you have to face something you are fearing...change your body, focus  on something you want to be, say what you need to hear
--your life is either a warning or an example to others...you have to decide which one you want to be
--you can switch the fear to power by giving the same amount of energy from one to the other
--so many of the fears that we put out are because we don't want to step out in to the unknown and fear gives us the excuse to stay

They featured a woman who was lost.  She was a mother but knew that motherhood was not all she had to offer.  She had lost her business and was now focusing on one role.  She had become what everyone else needed.  They went on to talk about how most mothers get lost here.  There are six human needs: certainty, uncertainty/variety, significance, love/connection, growth and contribution.
Certainty is removed with fear.  We need variety because we can get bored if we are certain of all outcomes.  We say we like surprises...but we like surprises we want.  The ones we don't want are called problems.  The love and significance that we crave are usually tied up in our childhood and the approval we were always seeking or the avoidance of becoming a failure.   It holds us back from growth.  Where she had focused  her attention and shifted her energy she WAS successful.  If she wants to be successful in other areas all she has to do is invest and believe.

--the fastest way to get out of our comfort zone is to be around people NOT in our comfort zone

--DIVORCE the old story and CREATE the new story....and let it evolve.  When the old story creeps back in you have to be able to dance with fear and find the courage. 

Hunger Games Name Generator

     I received a text from my friend a bit ago telling me our Hunger Games names.   It turns out if you log on to NY Magazine you can enter your name and sex and it will generate a name for you.  Sure it might be random but it's still pretty entertaining. 
     So if the book club should ever actually read this book, pick a date and manage to somehow get together they better be prepared to call me Nitya Allardyce, Parry Ivory or Grey Wellwood!

Alton's Baked French Toast

     I looked forward to Saturday all week.  Saturday meant a break from: getting up early, prepping for work, writing notes to forgetful Dads, packing lunches, showers, feeding animals, etc...all before 8am.  Then the work day.  Then the rush back to get kids.  Then the nightly routine which is ten times more exhausting than the morning one.  I love my life and value my babies but on this particular week I was counting down to the weekend.  It meant sleeping a bit past 6am.  It meant a snugglefest with my girl while catching up on Fashion Star and cooking shows.  It was a day of pajamas and Scrabble and too much coffee.  (I even read a magazine...shhhh...don't tell!)
     The kick off to this cherished Saturday of ease was baked french toast done perfectly.  Warm, fluffy goodness oozing with maple syrup.  Puddles ready for sausages.  The table was full of smiles and this old girl found the recharge that she needed!