My Musical Mood

    Right now I'm sitting in my office. It's rainy outside. It's cold outside. Normally I listen to talk radio while I'm working but today is one of those days where I just don't want to listen. I'm feeling the craving for some music.
    That got me thinking about what kind of mood I'm in. You know what I'm talking about. Once you figure out your mood you play your "go-to" music. The one that gets you in a better mood, happy mood, energetic mood, the "I'm going to clean the hell out of this house" mood, the "I'm going to kick a**" mood and my all time favorite "No really - I'm going to kick a**!!" mood. 
    So what am I jamming to right now? I have some Dave Matthews Band going. Some Dancing Nancies..., Lie in our Graves.., You and Me..., I'll toss some Phish in the mix. Yeah I said it. A little bouncing round the room action with some "All of these Dreams". 

    Want to know my kiss a** "go-to" music? Ani DiFranco. Veruca Salt. I feel like I could really go out, start a fight and kick some serious butt. I feel so empowered.

 

    What music do you listen to when you get in a mood? Do you have the "kick a**" mood music too?

Wordless Wednesday

 

My little guy watching the baby Polar bear

The Zoo Crew

    Once the weather around here breaks the 63 degree mark - most people go out to enjoy it. There is even people in short sleeves and shorts, flip flops, sun dresses - practically summer wear! I'm just happy I don't have to bundle myself and the kids in 3 layers of clothes with hats and mittens. 
    I decided that since the kids have been doing so well (with a few hiccups here and there) about packing and storing stuff, being occupied while we work on things and such I would treat them to the zoo today. We are very lucky to have a zoo membership (thanks Mum & Dad!) so we can go as often as we'd like.
    So I packed up the kids, a lunch and what not and off we went! Side story! As we drove down the road I noticed some awesomely green chairs curbside. Now I am normally not one for trash day treasure hunting but I couldn't pass loading these up! Think of the potential!! I totally see these chairs - sanded and painted and brought back to life! A kid's table to do art and crafts on so my dining table doesn't suffer from messy accidents and creative minds. I'm sure the Hubs is going to think my cheese has slid off of my cracker but COME ON! These are adorable!!! Think I can get him to make a table for them?

 

    Ok so back to the Zoo. We got there, we saw the baby polar bear and we checked out some other animals. I let the kids finally get a "Zoo Key" It's a necklace that when you insert it into a station it either sings a song or tell facts about the animal. They did a few today. I'm sure the more we visit the more they will do them. (I hope).

    For some reason the giraffes weren't out in the exhibit BUT since I parked in the "free parking" which also makes us walk half way around to the zoo entrance we got to see them chilling and munching some grub. Bear got a kick out of seeing them.

 

    Here's to the first trip of the Zoo this year! I am positive there will be plenty more. What places do you take your kiddos to?

The ol' house update

    Our house was listed, we have had quiet a bit of people interested. (Yippie!!) Agent came over Saturday and took inside pictures - we busted our behinds cleaning, packing and staging. This selling a house thing is rough. Even more so with three kiddos running/crawling around. Phew!
   Still bitter that the house we put a bid on fell through. Oh well. Can't do anything about it now but dust ourselves off and move on. Luckily the housing market here is picking up and more houses are being added daily. Now just to find another one to fall in love with.
    Selling and buying a house with a family is insanely crazy. I often regret buying our current house, knowing we wanted at least 2 kids. I recall sitting at the end of the drive way with the Hubs saying that if we bought this we would have to add on. Apparently life went too fast for us.

Mommy gets a dress - almost

    Ok so I will admit it - my clothes have been in this weird endless pregnant/nursing/non pregnant cycle. On top of that right before I got pregnant with Big Sis I switched industries. I went from the salon industry to a safety industry, so to the back of the closet went the high heels and fancy dressy clothes and out came business casual with comfy shoes. Those should really be brought back to the front and consigned or something.
    The end of the pregnant/nursing era is now coming to a close as Bear will be turning 1 in June. She is our last addition to the family. Three is enough for us. As soon as she was born all the pieces felt like they were in place and the puzzle was complete. Adios to all my maternity clothes! See ya! Go off and be fashionable on a mum-to-be. Although I think I want to keep a few things like my dark purple Old Navy hoodie I lived in after I got home when I was pregnant with Big Sis and then with Big Bro.
    Soon the nursing tops can be sent off to second hand land. And lets not forget those few "in between" pieces of clothes while the ol' body adjusted and got back on track. Going to have A LOT of clothes leaving.
    On the flip side - I'm starting to settle in on the idea that my body wont be growing anymore. I have been starting to make "investments" of traditional and modern pieces for my wardrobe. My awesome Mum took me to Kohls and bought me a black blazer, a simple teal belted dress and even a lazy day striped top (which is currently my favorite piece to toss on with some jeans)

Stripes baby!

    There are some weddings and events coming up too that I want to be able to have some nice pieces to choose from. A few weeks ago there was a dress in the JC Penney ad that caught my eye. I never went because you know.., life got in the way of that shopping trip but I found the ad (yes! I held onto it) and called to see if they still had it in stock. First JCP - they didn't have my size. Second JCP - she clarified the color and verified they had my size. I turned into mega-spaz! It's on hold right now for me to pick up tomorrow. The poor lady was probably tired as hell, it was 25 minutes to close, and as she told me which register to go to I asked her which one to go to. DUH!

Cute right? And it has pockets!!

    So here is my background story and apology for being a spaz over having the dress that I'd like and putting it on hold for me dear friendly JCP employee working on Thursday night at 8:25pm. It means more to me than you know. And here to keeping our fingers crossed that it fits and I look as smoking hot in it as the hanger does. Haha.
    Here's to the regrowth of my wardrobe! Lets not forget our fond farewells to those clothes that helped made me the Mum of three that I am today. Well the very slow, painstaking process of bidding adieu.

Wordless Wednesday

Rainbow Orzo - good to the last drop!

The day after - The easter candy conundrum

    Happy Post Easter everyone! It was a long day for us but we were surrounded by our family and that's ok in my book. My day started at 2am when I noticed our bedroom door was 3/4s shut and a glow of a light shining through. I got out of bed to find my two older kiddos sitting next to each other under a blanket watching Rise of the Guardians. I asked what they were doing and Big Sis told me they found Daddy's and Bear's baskets but that was it so they just decided to watch a movie. I told them they had at least four more hours to sleep then they could continue the hunt. Btw they were 55 minutes in the movie before I came out. Oy! They did go back to bed but woke up at 6:45 to continue the hunt and were successful!
    Easter Bunny did a good job hiding the Tweedle's baskets and even gave them 2 mini chocolate carrots and a couple jellybeans. If you haven't noticed we aren't big on candy and sweets. This is where the dilemma lies.
    I have mentioned several times to my Hubs side of the family that we are not big on sweets and that we have actually altered some products that we consume.
    I even recall the conversation I had after organic blueberry picking with my Mother in Law about macaroni and cheese. That even though some of us were raised on Kraft Mac & Cheese, production and ingredients have made some changes since we were wee folks. On many products not just that. (When I do make boxed Mac & Cheese we have Annie's Homegrown) Anyway - back to my original post topic!
    So I'll speed the story up for you since I got sidetracked. The contents of the eggs from the annual backyard Easter egg hunt had candy in - candy and coins but most candy. And my little guy was starting to get strung out as he was bit by the candy bug hardcore. I had said something about all the candy being too much but all I got back was a "Well when you're a Grandmother..."
    I can't even begin to describe how much my skin crawled when I heard that comment. I had a movie moment where I was tossing everything around me down to the ground to watch it smash all while screaming. But I kept my composure. I hate that excuse. I loathe that excuse. I actually find it rather disrespectful.
    I'm not saying that I want a candy-free holiday. I think it's ok to let my kids enjoy some extra sweet treats on holidays but this was mega overload. There are so many alternatives. I can think of grapes instead of Tootsie rolls in the eggs. Parts of a puzzle to assemble after all the eggs are gather? Even better! (Pats self on back)
    I got really upset when I watched one of them think they could trust my three year old little hell-raiser to "hold onto" three Tootsie rolls until later. Really??!! Did they really think a three year old would just hold onto candy and wait to be given the ok to eat? (About seven minutes later one of them was standing in the kitchen trying their damnest to pry the three out of his iron fisted clutch - I stood watching  secretly hoping that something might have settled in about what they did with all this darn candy and what it was doing to my little guy)
    I fear and almost have some to the realization that this will forever be an ongoing battle with them. The Hubs and I have had several talks with the kiddos about candy and sugar and what it does to our bodies. Big Sis does an awesome job making sure that any juice is watered down half way when they visit and have lunch over there.
    I feel like I have 2 recovering addicts in my house today and I am playing the role of Dr. Drew. I don't think I'm asking for a lot but perhaps to them I am. Unless it's just because it's coming from me, the daughter-in-law. As of today I have 267 days until the next anticipated candy conundrum aka Christmas. What do you think? Any helpful pointers or suggestions to help us out with this debacle?