Confessions...

...of a somewhat sane Mommy.

You know the days where you know what you want to say, but
Can't seem to find the words? That's my day today.

I don't think I realized just how wonderful my mom is until I became a
mother. I mean I always knew she was amazing. She has been my hero for
quite sometime, for so many reasons. I will never forget a certain daughter
yelling that she hated her. My mother quietly turned away, went to her room,
picked up her Bible a just read. I'm sure she was reading something along the lines of...
" Thou shall not murder your teenage daughter...even if she deserves it!!"

This week we started trying something new. We are all sitting at the table for dinner.
Shocking right? When the big kids were babies...The hubby and I would give the kiddos
dinner in the kitchen...in their high chairs. We would feed them, bathe them and put them to bed.
Then we would clean up and eat...together in the living room.
That has been our routine ever since. Then we started fighting meal time and bad manners.
My very wise mommy suggested eating as a family. So far it is working wonders. Mommies
Are so smart. I hope someday to be a smart as my Mommy.

Last night Shane was finishing up a little project for school. He got carried away with
the scissors. Some of the project got cut away...tragedy. I could hear how upset he was from
the other room. I knew what happened before he told me. So...I put his mind at ease. Sent him to bed.
Glued everything to a new piece of paper and cut it out. This morning I was his hero. This
afternoon...I am sure I will be his nemisis. Sometimes that's how it is...

I have been reminded daily how quickly my kiddos are growing up.
Today I had one of those moments where I saw into the future...

I was in the living room with the Itty bitty...she was busy watching a show
I asked "where's my Itty bitty?" She looked at me and smiled. Not just a
Baby smile, one of those grown up smiles that start creeping in at this age.
I could almost hear her tell me she didn't have time for my little games.
I felt my heart rip out of my chest...why do they grow up so fast?
I really did think she would stay little for a bit longer.

I hope my disjointed post didn't drive you crazy... My brain seems to be on
some type of unexpected hiatus. I would love to know how you hold on to
every precious little moments with your Littles...

What works for your family to make those difficult times of day, less difficult?

Whew!!

Whew! So glad its Wednesday! Yesterday was quite productive. I worked on about five different projects...
Finished two sewing projects and once again cooked dinner. I am starting to feel super 1940's domesticated.

Ok..maybe I should explain... Hubby went to culinary school. He loves to cook...and is a super awesome chef.
Unfortunately, our little town does not have very many cheferly opportunities. And because of this,
Hubby doesn't work in his dream job. His job is very un fun. But... Hubby usually cooks dinner for our
Little family. This time of year, his job gets even harder than usual. I thought I would be super sweet and take over the
cooking obligations. Hence my current feelings of extra domesticity.

One of the sewing projects I finished was this one.



It is, of course, pillow. I saw it here...there is a tutorial. I would just like to warn you...this pillow takes FOREVER! But it is SO worth it!
I love the finished product. LOVE! I might even make more. Like I said...it's totally worth the time!

And this is what I made for dinner...we had a spiral sliced ham for dinner on Monday...this was me using left overs!!!
Yay me!


I soaked the beans ( navy) for a couple hours in the morning...rinsed them and added fresh water, the ham hock ( I shaved off the extra hangers on of meat, and cut it into bite size pieces too) three bay leaves, A bit of thyme and rosemary. No salt! There was plenty in the ham. Then I let it gently simmer for four and a half hours. Yum! It is not often that any bean dish gets a thumbs up all around the table. Apparently we are adding it to our list of menu items! Yay for me!

I also made Artichoke and Basil Bruschetta...I found the recipe at Shutterbean...check it out. There are tasty things afoot! I am going to try the Coconut Waffles this weekend. Can't wait!

Ps...I apologize for the terrible pictures. Hubby was sweet enough to let me use his phone for pictures...not very pretty, but at least
I can show you what I was working on:)

Why I run...

Happy Tuesday!
Yesterday I showed you a lovely picture of me...all covered in mud.
It was kind a really huge deal for me. Wanna know why?
Yep....I'm about to tell you why...brace yourself!!!

So...I danced when I was little. I danced and I loved it.
I had the best teachers. I started with tap...then I quit and moved
to ballet...there was one little problem. My knees were KILLING me!
So then I quit. No good. I was sad. They just kept hurting...nothing really
helped. Doc said I would grow out of it. I didn't...I started swimming and that wasn't
too bad. But still there was no running. Because...ouch! All the time!
I just figured I wasn't made for running...it became my mantra...
"you're not a runner...you're not a runner"

I don't know what changed, but one day I decided I wasn't
going to let my body tell me what my limitations were anymore.
So I started running...on our treadmill. I think I started the year
after Shane was born. He will be eight this year. I wouldn't
even run outside...I had visions of Phoebe from friends
running through Central Park...arms waving wildly...gulp!
Last year a great group of gals asked if I would like to join them...
They ran in the wee hours of the morning...when its dark, and nobody can really see you!
I was ridiculous. Could barely make it 100 feet! I would get so frustrated.
When oh when would I be able to run a mile???
One day it finally just clicked. I'm still super slow. But I can do it! Yay!
So thats why I was so nervous about the run. I really didn't want to fail.
Also..my sweet little girl was there watching me. I think that was even more scary.
I really wanted to impress her. I know...I'm ridiculous. She though it was
so funny that I was gonna be tromping through the mud...rolling around in the mud.
Fully submerged in muddy, dirty, nastiness. She was literally dancing around the house
that morning! She used my phone to video me...and I loved seeing her there on the sidelines:)
"Mom, that was awesome!" followed by "Thank you SO much for letting me watch you!"
Yeah. It was pretty much epic. My mommy heart was full...super, super full!

On the running front...we are currently doing interval training...hopefully
I will improve my speed. (crossing fingers) Now I am stalking around
the web...looking for new runs to run. I really can't wait. Really!

And then there is the mommy aside of things...it seems that I have regained my
coolness factor in my daughter's eyes...for now.

Run, runng, ran...

So...I did it. I ran my first official run. I did pretty good...I let myself get super nervous and worked up..

So I almost puked my guts out. Then I decided to stop being a giant baby and get my butt in gear.

I have no idea how long it took me...but, whew! It exhausted me! Here's a little after picture.

I had to shower with my clothes on...I was totally caked in mud. I had mud in my ears.

Can't wait for the next one!

After my mud run...we got ready to go watch one of my very best besties graduate from

Law School. I am beyond proud of her! I took pictures...but they are stuck on my camera...

Hopefully I can share them soon!

I did really good this week...I only messed up once. I'm gonna try to stick with last weeks goals...and add

three new goals this week. Yikes! Kidding...I know I can do it:)

1. Eat breakfast. I never do. I know I need to.

2. Cut down on the sugar intake. The major culprit is my coffee. I love the fancyshmancy creamer...and I love a LOT in my coffee.

3. Double my raw veggie intake. Veggies make my body happy.

Happy Monday! Have a great week!

Grrrrrreat!

I'm sad that my yesterday's post was deleted.

I was beyond witty. Over the top eloquent.

Ok...I have no idea what I said. I know

there was talk of the gorgeous weather...

Some home improvement chatter...

We discussed the changing of a certain

wall color.

And then I told you how I was gonna

make some old lamps over in the

style of these chandeliers...

I LOVE this chandelier. LOVE. I found this picture here...and started searching and searching....till I found a seller on etsy here... But, I still think I'll make them.

Tomorrows the big run....que the nerves. Yikes!

Running...

My goodness. I'm just tired. Tired and sore.

We got back to running yesterday, after a couple weeks off.

And we did intervals. Kicked my you-know-what.

I'm doing a mud run this weekend.

My first run. Ever.

Yes...I am totally nervous.

I have this mental picture of myself

running all cattywompus with my arms

waving all over the place. Picture

Phoebe from Friends. Running through

Central Park. Yikes!

Hopefully it goes well.

After this weekend it will

be time for new shoes. Yay!

I really want to try these shoes...my sister has some. So does my brother.

Now want some of my own...

(source)

Sunny weather is project weather..

Man! What a beautiful day. I just wish rain wasn't in the forecast for the weekend. Boo!

This weather makes me dream up home improvement projects. Yes... That

sound is my Hubs screaming in terror. Don't worry babe...nothing too serious!

I have been threatening to knock down a wall...but I think I will save that

project for later. Right now the most pressing project is our "accent" wall

in the living room. We originally painted it a dark chocolaty brown. I liked

it for a while..but I feel like everything is dark in our house. Time to

lighten it up!!!! Anyway...we have tried a Mediterranean Blue. It was a giant nope!

Next up was a burnt yellowy orange. No number two. So, I decided to

paint it the same color as our dining room wall and the bottom half

of our kitchen cabinets. I can't wait. I wanna do it now! But first

I have to prime...blah!

The other pressing matter is the wall above our couch. It's huge.

And empty. I can hear it mocking me. I have some ideas...but Brad Pitt

was on tv this am...he was fly fishing. I got distracted. Sorry.

I will try to take pictures and share what we come up with.

As soon as I figure out why the PC crashed, or how to work the iPad

more efficiently. Good luck to me!

In the mean time...I am going to try to make these. But, on a smaller scale.

I have two lamps that need to be rewired and painted. We'll see how

it turns out.

I LOVE these chandeliers. LOVE. I found this picture here...and started searching and searching....till I found a seller on etsy here...