It wasn't until I was surrounded by fellow bloggers again this past weekend that I realized I probably should've thrown up a post like this, to give new folks an idea of what a whackadoo nice person I am. Ahem. So, instead, I'm sharing now. With anyone who cares to read. Perhaps maybe, even if you've been reading or have known me a while, maybe you'll find out something new about me, and find we have a lot something in common? Yeah?
So.. here goes nothin'....
While I'm a pretty happy-go-lucky kind-of person, sometimes, I can be shy. Especially in environments such as blog conferences, when I'm surrounded by many unfamiliar faces.
I'm pretty mellow, laid back, unless you hurt someone I love. Then the gloves come off, and New York attitude gets brought to the surface. With some of the curse-words, too. Ahem.
I used to be a nail-biter. I'm pretty proud my nails are long and strong, now. But, sometimes, I can't leave the cuticles alone. It's a hard habit to break completely, I guess.
Even though I lost a lot of weight, I still don't feel like I'm thin. I think it has a lot to do with my head not being "right" or something. Poor self-esteem issues all that time are still plaguing me, it seems.
Even though I desperately crave some alone, breastfeeding-free time from time-to-time, I always feel guilty when I do, the second I leave. And pretty much beat myself up until I'm back with my kids, doing "my thing" again.
My family and I probably watch too much TV and play too many video games. But I figure, if we love it so, and enjoy doing it together, is it really that wrong? Especially if we enjoy playing outside just as much? You know?
I love wearing yoga pants. I used to say I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind-of gal, and I am. But I love wearing yoga pants more.
I only want handmade stuff for Christmas. I already showed my husband a few pieces from Studio Jewel, Gussy and AlloraHandmade that I'd like.
Except, if my husband wanted to get me a much-needed Kitchen Aid 6qt. mixer, I wouldn't return it. Ahem.
I want to grow up to look like MizFit. True Story.
So, now it's YOUR turn. Tell me something about yourself. Or more than one something. Tell me all of it! Blog it. Tweet it. Or just leave a comment. I would love to know you better.
(Also, I reserve the right to add stuff here as I think of more and find out more about you, too.)
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September 30, 2010
A Little (More) About Me
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Baby Dude's Birthday in Pictures
We made way to the airport after that, but were stuck, delayed for hours. I received a text from my husband, "Omg it's the frankenstein of birthday cakes...epic fail."
(I don't think so. I think it's adorable. A Mickey Mouse Clubhouse carrot cake with cream-cheese icing, all naturally made, dyed with fruits and spices.)
Regardless of being celebrated a whole day later than expected, and arriving well after midnight after being in the airport for 13+ hours of his birthday, it's so wonderful to be home again, hugging a newly two-year-old and celebrating with my family.
TWO! {Sniffle}
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September 24, 2010
The Rain
"Break Free from the Rain..."
The nurse checking my children's blood pressure kept singing that, repeatedly, in an operatic tone. I wasn't sure what the song was, who sung it, or what other words there were, but I didn't want her to stop.
There was something so mesmerizing about it. Her words permeated the small room from her middle-aged lips, as she bent her crooked back over my children to test their temperature, heart rate, and weight.
"Break Free from the Rain..."
I'm packing to leave for TypeA Mom conference, and I keep singing this song to myself in my head. This is my chance to break free from the rain that is everyday monotony of being a stay-at-home mother and be a big-girl for a while. Yet, it's all I ever want, to be at home, nestled up with my baby rain-makers, and I feel this terrible mom-guilt for leaving, even if only for three-and-a-half days.
I know I will enjoy myself, I know I will be among many friends, and share many laughs, but the rain is what I long for, the rain is what I love to play in and with, daily. Despite it saturating me to a point of pouring rain from my eyes at times, or feeling stir-crazy or inundated with To-Do's and Mommy-Do's, I live to wake up each day for the rain, because I love playing in the sun-filled rain, splashing around in all of it's wondrous glory. Everyone needs to play in the rain every once in a while, and I play in mine often.
Taking a break from it, while needed, still feels difficult, uncomfortable, and selfish.
"Break Free from the Rain..."
Being a grown-up is about making hard choices sometimes. About doing things you don't want to do, but because you have to do. And I know I will thank myself for the break come Monday night when I'm in my family's arms again, renewed, refreshed, ready to be rained upon with their love and smothered by their wet kisses. But for now, I'm gonna focus on not causing more rain trickling from my wet eyes.
And pack. And board. And fly. And miss. And laugh. And long for. And return home. To my beloved rain.
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September 20, 2010
My Shiny, Almost-New Eyeglasses
It occurred to me that I never showed you my fancy-schmancy new eyeglasses, did I? (Um, new as of a month ago. Damn, do I ever suck at promised updates sometimes. Sheesh!)
It's been a while since I've had new prescription glasses. Um, too long, actually. The last time I had new ones was before my oldest son was born.
Yikes.
I was pretty fearful in getting new glasses to be honest. I'm a contacts-wearer and have been for some time. But anyone who wears contacts knows, you need to have glasses just in case. And for me, that 'just in case' happened while I was away on vacation when I thought I had pink eye (turns out it was really an eye-ulcer). I was desperate to find a eye place while away, but despite my repeated attempts, no one would treat me AND give me a prescription for glasses after so many years, despite how badly I needed these. (Your eyes have to be healthy because your prescription changes when your eyes are unhealthy.) Upon coming home, I was seen and treated, and my eye doctor pitied me and wrote me a script (despite her better judgement, she knew it was rough only seeing clearly through one eye. Plus, the headaches were awful).
I was afraid of going back to glasses 100% until I was healed. I already had headaches from going "one-eye" (one contact in, one out), but I didn't have a choice. Let's not forget, back then I didn't have eleventy-billion kids pawing at me like I do now. I was afraid of them becoming broken, or messed with. Not to mention, living in this area, where there isn't a ton available to us, I was afraid of what was on-hand and available to me in this super-small town. With having to go out of town to get important things a lot of the time, I began searching for price and style for glasses online, too. Searching online is safer, too. 'Cuz you can actually see what you're looking at.
(I will neither confirm, nor deny, that there may have been a person you know searching for glasses in a eyeglass store who had to be steered back over to the WOMAN'S section because the aforementioned person was trying on MEN'S glasses accidentally. Because she couldn't SEE. Ahem.)
At last! There they were. The perfect ones. I settled on this cutesy retro pair I truly, truly love.
What do you think? I kind-of love them. It's been over a month wearing them, too. I have to go back to the doctor's this week to see if I get the "all-clear" to wear contacts again. In the meantime? I'm rockin' the old-school, retro-punk glasses, man. And I think I'm gonna be wearing 'em often. Whatcha think?
(By the way, speaking of promising updates and not posting them, um, that's my new haircut, too. Y'know, the one I promised pictures of three weeks ago? Whoops!)
(P.S. If you're in the market for a new pair yourself, my sponsor, GlassesUSA.com, is offering my readers 10% off their next purchase using the coupon code "mommy10" at check-out! Cool, huh?)
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September 19, 2010
September 17, 2010
The Toddler Picasso
My sweet Baby Dude found a wayward marker, and began coloring the back of an envelope he pulled off my desk. He sat happily scrawling while I continued writing or chatting or whatever it was I was doing at the time.
I hadn't noticed he had gotten up and disappeared. It was a good couple of minutes before I heard "Oh, no!"
I knew immediately.
He colored the wall next to him (you can see the envelope in the right corner)
He then stood and colored around the corner, too.
Deciding that wasn't enough, he found the hall closet and decided it was in need of a little sprucing.
He colored our freshly painted front door, too.
He did one heck of a number on the glass door as well.
I turned to face him, and it appears he made for a tasty canvas as well.
I thought it was over. I thought that was all. But my daughter, then noticed, there was one more place. And it was shocking.
Me.
That's my left elbow. He drew on me, too. And I had no freakin' idea. {smacks head}
Adventures in Markers. With Toddlers. You need eleventy-thousand pairs of eyes to be a parent, man.
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September 16, 2010
Cooking Up Holiday Fun with the Constructive Playthings Classic Wood Kitchen Set Review and Giveaway
Alright friends. Sit up straight in your chairs, now. You're gonna have a chance to win one of these, just as soon as I stop oohing over the cuteness that is this Classic Wood Kitchen Set by Constructive Playthings. It's so sweet, my teeth hurt just looking at it. True story.
My husband, however, doesn't have the same admiration for this play kitchen as I do, mainly because he was the
Anyway, what can I say about this kitchen. You know I love playing chef with my kids already. This kitchen is ideal for us, it's made of wood, and considerably smaller than our other one, thankfully, so that'll help us save valuable room space and backaches when we move next. (And for those of you who are military, you understand where we're coming from with the constant moves.)
I really love it. I'm fearful because it's pristine white and I wonder how much longer it'll remain white (ha!) but otherwise, the kids are playing with it everyday, creating for me lovely concoctions of pretend-steak and milkshakes and whatever their hearts and minds come up with. So.Much.Fun.
Win it!
Yes, friends. It is that time - helping you get some holiday shopping done by offering you a kickass toy! Woohoo! You know you are DYING to win this adorable kitchen for someone you love, aren't you?
To enter:
- Visit Constructive Playthings and take a look around. Come back here and tell us what items you might consider great gifts for the holidays. Remember that by clicking this link or button below, you receive a 15% discount off your entire order.
- Follow Constructive Playthings on Facebook (1 entry)
- Follow Constructive Playthings on Twitter (1 entry)
- Subscribe and/or follow my blog, and/or follow me on Twitter. I'm CrazyAdventures (1 entry for each, and if you already do for any of them already, it counts!**)
- Share this post via blog, email, Facebook, Stumble, Kirtsy, Digg this post! (1 entry each 'share'. Be sure to comment each time!)
- Tweet this post on Twitter, come back and post that you did (1 entry per tweet - unlimited entries available!)
- Or, keep the holiday toy choices comin'! (1 entry per comment)
Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Contest ends Wednesday, October 6th, at 9pm CST.
Good luck, and happy playing!
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September 13, 2010
Old-School Me Circa 1980s-1990s (Cue the Blushing)
In just over a week I'll be attending the Type-A Mom Conference in which I, Lisa Douglas, will be the deejay for the 80's-90's Flashback party Sunday night. I'm scouring the internet for the FUNNEST, most OUTRAGEOUS throwback costume I can find, complete with crimping iron and bangle bracelets. I go ALL out, people.
Until I go and suggest to Kelby "Hey, why don't we create a Flickr group chock-full of old pictures to play on-screen in a slideshow?"
I originally imagined people Googling pictures from back then, from their favorite movies, comics, advertising, and adding them to the group. But Kelby took it one step further and made it into pure-awesomesauce by asking people to contribute THEIR OWN PICTURES from CHILDHOOD back then. As in, those embarrassing pics of you rocking the 80's hair-band look? And Madonna's Like A Virgin look? The ones you hide from ever seeing the light of day?
Yeah. Those.
And so, for hilarity's sake and because I'm feeling brave today, I dusted mine off from being buried in the backyard {cough} and added mine to the Flickr group. And since they're already on the internet, here they are.
(Ohmygosh, am I really sharing these?)
September 11, 2010
Remembering Nine Years Ago
Seeing them raise the flag, then lower it to half-mast this morning felt like a sucker-punch to the gut. It winded me. I held back hot tears tucked behind my eyes as my lip quivered and my knees shook beneath me. But this was not the usual, my child is playing soccer for the first time, and it's her first ever opening ceremony tears of a proud mother. This was the, how the hell can we celebrate youth sports today, of all days, don't you know what to day is? tears from a former New Yorker.
I just wanted to sit and weep and hold my children close.
Instead, we roasted to a crisp under an unusually hot late summer sun, sweat pouring out of me, making up for the tears I held back, because those tears came pouring out of every pore I have, and my tears were shed all over my clothing and into the grass beneath me as I reluctantly watched three back-to-back soccer games this morning.
I promised I would never forget.
The sky was as blue as I'd ever seen it today, clouds like marshmallow, much like that morning as I crossed the Hudson Bridge in NY. I was in a toll booth paying my toll when the first plane hit.
"Defense!" I heard other parents calling out, getting lost in the excitement of their children's games today.
I felt like I was a parental shell of myself - there and present, but not emotionally there. How could I be? I watched as my husband got riled up while kids flailed dangly limbs in the heat. I could do nothing but sit and sweat and stifle my emotions silently while reaching out to him, my hand on his drenched shoulder, so grateful to have him home, stateside, here. Safe.
My mother told me when I walked into her home that morning, seeing it in the distance on the small TV set behind her. Her eyes were swollen and heavy. I could feel the pain emanating from her, even though I didn't understand. She could have said it in a foreign language, and my reaction still would have been the same. Shock. I sat on a preschool table, fixated on the television, witnessing the worst thing I've ever seen unfold before my eyes on national television.
"Go, go, go!" Families called out to their children.
Yet "Stop, stop, stop," was all I really heard and wanted to happen.
Stop pretending it didn't happen, people. Stop the terrorists from doing this again. Stop the needless deaths. Stop dressing my husband and his friends in their military-best to sending them to war overseas to not bring them all home safe. Stop all of it!
Instead, I just cradled each of my heat-stricken children today, whispering much love into their sweaty ears, clutching onto their innocence, silently praying they never have to feel the depths of pain like this ever in their lifetimes.
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September 10, 2010
Eat Clean with Asian Noodle Bowls and Nakano Rice Vinegar
Do you like Asian food?
We eat something Asian-inspired at least once a week here, preparing anything from stir fry, to wontons, and much more. (Can you tell we love it?) Our newest favorite dish combines chicken strips with soba noodles, soy sauce, peanuts and Nakano Rice Vinegar to make a lovely meal. This recipe originally comes from the Eat Clean Diet - a diet that focuses on eating only foods nature intended, eating more often using lean proteins, complex carbs and healthy fats that help super-charge your body and shed excess weight without really trying. I'm definitely all for healthy, great-tasting meals, and this one definitely delivers.
We chose to use Nakano Rice Vinegar because it's gluten-free, naturally-brewed, low-fat, preservative-free and quite tasty. You know we're sticklers for all-natural foods for our family, and Nakano delivers a unique flavor when added to this dish (and others). Use it wherever you'd normally use regular vinegar - stir it into sauces, splash on vegetables, make a dressing or use as a salad dressing. It's definitely something we feel is worth having handy in our cupboard.
Asian Noodle Bowls
(as adapted from Eat Clean Diet, but doubled for our family's size. If you don't have a big family like us, and don't want a lot of leftovers, you may consider halving this recipe. Just sayin')
- 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips (can use precooked frozen chicken breasts, thawed)
- 4 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
- 2 clove pressed/minced garlic
- 4 Tbsp Nakano Rice vinegar
- 4 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 8 cups low-sodium organic chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 package or 16 oz dry soba noodles or Asian noodles
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 4 cups broccoli spears
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced sweet red pepper
- 2 small carrots, peeled and grated
- 8 green onions, thinly sliced on the diagonal
- 8 generous handfuls spinach
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts (optional)
- Combine chicken, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, Nakano Rice Vinegar and toasted sesame oil in a saucepan and heat mixture until warmed on medium heat.
- Add broth and bring to a boil; continue to boil until chicken is no longer pink - about 10 minutes.
- Add noodles, peas, broccoli and red pepper and cook until broccoli turns bright green and is tender-crisp. Reduce heat and add carrot and green onion.
- Turn the heat off and cover until ready to serve.
- When serving, divide spinach leaves among four bowls at the bottom of each bowl (like a salad). Spoon noodles and broth into each bowl, making sure to divide ingredients as evenly as possible. Garnish generously with peanuts (if using).
Win it!
Would you like a Nakano Seasoned Rice Vinegar gift pack, complete with a $25 gift card, a full bottle of Nakano Seasoned Rice Vinegar, and a recipe booklet with coupons?
To enter:
- Visit the Nakano website then come back and tell me, what's your favorite 'Splash' tip they offer?
- "Like" Nakano on Facebook (1 entry)
- Subscribe and/or follow my blog, and/or follow me on Twitter. I'm CrazyAdventures (1 entry for each, and if you already do for any of them already, it counts!**)
- Share this post via blog, email, Facebook, Stumble, Kirtsy, Digg this post! (1 entry each 'share'. Be sure to comment each time!)
- Tweet this post on Twitter, come back and post that you did (1 entry per tweet - unlimited entries available!)
*Nakano and Foodmix compensated me to try this vinegar and sent me a bottle, but I already have it, use it and love it so. All experiences and opinions are, of course, my own, as always. Duh.
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September 9, 2010
Establishing a Family Routine - Très Important
Back to school means back to business. It means tightening up the ship around here, taking care of responsibilities, and back to a semblance of normalcy. While I love the sleeping-in and lazy, undisturbed and irresponsible days summer can bring, it's when school is back in session that I feel our family is back in harmony again. Why, you ask?
Routines.
While I don't have a fondness for getting up at the butt-crack of dawn, having that morning routine in which school needs to be prepared for, with the entire family up at ohdarkthirty, blurry-eyed, coffee slurping and breakfasts pushed about the plate in a mono-syllabic, cavemanesque, I-just-woke-up-leave-me-the-heck-alone kind-of way, it has me all warm and fuzzy inside. It's that early time in which the oldest four kids go off to school, the younger two stay home to play with mommy, the naptimes occur at regularly scheduled times mid-day, and everyone knows what to expect at all times, because it's already planned out and practically performs itself. All is calm, collected, and functionally on-time every day from August to June. All because of school.
All because of our routine because of school.
Sure, there are soccer and football practices for five. different. children. And games. And other extra-curricular activities peppered amongst the little-to-no free time we have because of school. But this MACH-10, hair-on-fire, routinely preparation from day-to-day is good for my soul, good for my babies, good for my entire family to see them operationally magnificent, taking care of what they need to take care of in a timely manner, falling to sleep at night, dead-tired, after a long but full day.
I know you'll think I'm crazy for saying this, but sometimes? Time off? It makes me lose my marbles. We lose this schedule, this routine, and all gets haywire and out-of-whack. Our family almost becomes unmanageable. Vacation sometimes is more work than actual work is, because we fight to get back to "normal" and back to schedule when we get back.
But this? Right now? This one-month into school and fall starting to settle in? And the air getting cooler and sports starting to really get going? And games and practices at an all-time high? This? Is wonderful.
Do you have routines for your family, too? Do you also feel that sometimes time off is sometimes too hard to deal with? What do you do to help combat the crazy that comes with time off?
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September 7, 2010
My New Goal - Run My First Marathon in 2011
It has my heart in my throat thinking about it; the excitement pulsating through my veins at the thought of breathlessly crossing the finish line, accomplishing that humongous task, falling to my knees, weak and proud. Invigorated yet exhausted.
To begin this marathon journey, I've begun training. I thought after losing weight and being in good physical condition, that it wouldn't be difficult, but oh friends, it is. This past month I wasn't steadfast in working out, and in a lot of ways it's like starting from square-one all over again.
It hasn't been easy. I'm sore everywhere from pushing myself. I'm building myself back up. I feel so much like I did when I started my weight loss journey. The same aches. The same muscle-pain.
But the feeling of euphoria, before the aches set in, the warmness of my skin and flesh. It's become cooler here, I can feel fall's breath exhaling over us, I can smell autumn in the air. It tickles me as I run and feel the pavement hitting my feet beneath me.
I am ready.
Friends, have you ever run a marathon? If yes, what do you suggest for a first-timer? If not, have you ever wanted to?
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September 3, 2010
Kids and Boogers - What the Heck!?
My toddler is the sniffly, coughing one in the house now. Ugh.
Just as I thought we were all safe and finally getting over the Back To School Bronchitis Game™, she woke up with her eyes swollen, and boogers a-plenty. And upon this realization, I began pondering..
How on earth do teeny tiny toddlers with teeny tiny sinuses produce THAT.MUCH.SNOT!?!?
Can someone please explain this one to me? Because, HOLY CRAP! She could wallpaper an entire house with what she's drooling out of her nose at present. For realz. Like, an entire box of tissues GONE. We just single-handed (or should I say, "nosedly") killed a tree blowing her nose.
And you just watch, her boogers are going to re-infect the entire house with this. Wait for it....
{smacks forehead}
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September 1, 2010
My Toddler Plays Soccer Now. OH, MY HEART!
She came down from upstairs, calling to me. "Wook, mom! Wook!"
She swirled her skort around for me, as she jumped and hopped in excitement over wearing actual official soccer cleats and shin-guards. My heart sped up, swelled and died all at once. She's three-and-a-half and yet still a baby. And she wore this smile of pride alongside her jean skort and new cleats like one I've never seen.
Her first soccer practice. And her favoritest person is her coach (daddy).
And, as if that isn't the awesomest thing ever, she practices right before her second-favoritest person ever (her brother), so he's there for her practice, and she's there for his. Anywhere he is, she is, and she likes it that way.
Perfection for her. Heartbreaking reality that time waits for no mom for me.
Oh, my heart.
