I am so blessed to be a part of a large family. I may have grown up not really knowing who I am, but I have always known I was a part of something. My mom had five brothers and sisters, and each of them had at least one child. Two grandparents, eight aunts and uncles, nine cousins and one sibling... and that's just on my mom's side.
I've come to realize that our family unit is like a season of Big Brother, without all the cameras. Alliances are constantly shifting depending on the task of the week, and - on occasion - people are evicted from the house. At the end of it, there is a realization that we love each other very much despite hating the game we are each playing.
Add a touch (OK, more than a touch) of dramatic tendencies, and we are an interesting bunch. We grew up with family being central to everything we did. Our grandparents lived a matter of blocks from us, and we spent almost as much time at their house with our cousins as we did at home. Some chose to move away, some didn't have the choice but were away nonetheless, but the rest of us were there. My cousins were more like siblings to me; ironically, my brother always introduced me as The Spawn of Satan.
As we grow older, and our numbers keep growing through marriages and births, I feel increasingly lucky that I am still close with almost everyone. There are times when the drama is stifling (especially when I'm at the center of it), but I have always felt sorry for those people with little to no family. As much as we irritate each other, we also have each other's backs. And we are provided with built-in entertainment.
Next year will bring (at least) three more births for the family, so I'm feeling a bit sentimental. I'm so grateful for all of my family and the joy they bring. I feel so blessed to be a part of a large family!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
17 days until Christmas!
Regift and craft! That's my plan... yet I haven't gotten off my patootey and started the crafting. A procrastinator by nature (because I over plan rather than a lazy streak), this means I'll be scrambling as I get closer to the big day. Luckily, my son is pretty much out of the way. He is at the age where I can shop in front of him, and he has no clue! Thank God for small favors.
That leaves the rest of them. So, I'm going to cut this post short, put on some Christmas music, get the other chores out of the way... and START! Wish me luck!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
It's Amazing What Happens When You Sleep
I've spent most of the past month (or more) existing on an average of 5 hours a sleep per night. Many of you may not think that is a big deal, but you are looking at a woman that once required a minimum of 10 hours to funciton. Then Mommyhood happened.
Ever since the infernal time change, our little Mister has been waking up not only several times through the night but at an ungodly hour to boot. It wasn't just the time change that was the problem. He tends to cut multiple teeth at a time, and he has been working on four molars (at once!) for some time now. Not to mention, we've had a lot of company, and I'm always afraid of waking someone up. You got it! That means mommy came running whenever she heard even a peep.
One thirty, three thirty and finally at six thirty for good. Six thirty in the morning is just fine for people that go to bed at decent hours, but I tend to get to sleep well after midnight. Ok, before you start throwing the blame at me, let me explain! My husband usually works the closing shift at Costco, so by the time I finish getting the munchkin fed, ready for bed and all tucked in, it is time to start making dinner for me and the hubby. If I want any time with him, after he gets home and we eat is the time to do it.
Now, another posting is the time to discuss our addiction to reality television and all the major dramas. This one is about sleep. When I was getting little to none, I was a mommy zombie. I was awake and moving, I could make barely intelligible talk-like noises, and I could get the basics done. But that was it! Anything more, and I needed to nap when Mister napped. All of you other toddler mommies know that naptime is prime "git 'er done" time, so napping when he naps sucks the entire day away. Yup, the nefarious Catch 22.
The past two nights, though, my little man has slept all the way through and allowed me a blessed eight hours. Do you know how much I've achieved in the past two days? Let's just say there was a tree that got decorated, a haircut, two dinners and a batch of cookies thrown into the usual baby-wrangling, eBay listing, picking up after three Tasmanian devils mix.
All hail sleep! Send some positive thoughts my way for tonight, would ya?!?
Ever since the infernal time change, our little Mister has been waking up not only several times through the night but at an ungodly hour to boot. It wasn't just the time change that was the problem. He tends to cut multiple teeth at a time, and he has been working on four molars (at once!) for some time now. Not to mention, we've had a lot of company, and I'm always afraid of waking someone up. You got it! That means mommy came running whenever she heard even a peep.
One thirty, three thirty and finally at six thirty for good. Six thirty in the morning is just fine for people that go to bed at decent hours, but I tend to get to sleep well after midnight. Ok, before you start throwing the blame at me, let me explain! My husband usually works the closing shift at Costco, so by the time I finish getting the munchkin fed, ready for bed and all tucked in, it is time to start making dinner for me and the hubby. If I want any time with him, after he gets home and we eat is the time to do it.
Now, another posting is the time to discuss our addiction to reality television and all the major dramas. This one is about sleep. When I was getting little to none, I was a mommy zombie. I was awake and moving, I could make barely intelligible talk-like noises, and I could get the basics done. But that was it! Anything more, and I needed to nap when Mister napped. All of you other toddler mommies know that naptime is prime "git 'er done" time, so napping when he naps sucks the entire day away. Yup, the nefarious Catch 22.
The past two nights, though, my little man has slept all the way through and allowed me a blessed eight hours. Do you know how much I've achieved in the past two days? Let's just say there was a tree that got decorated, a haircut, two dinners and a batch of cookies thrown into the usual baby-wrangling, eBay listing, picking up after three Tasmanian devils mix.
All hail sleep! Send some positive thoughts my way for tonight, would ya?!?
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Destined for greatness?
I'm destined for greatness, this I know. I don't know how or when, but I know that I'm supposed to do something more. More meaninful, more full. I also know that I'm not going to achieve greatness sitting on my behind waiting for my munchkin to wake up.
Complete exhaustion is slowing me down, so I have to find a way to combat it. "Sleep when your baby sleeps." I subscribe to this theory, but I feel like I'm sleeping and resting my life away. So, I've fired up the coffee pot and started exercising dailiy to inspire movement. Healthy eating will follow the exercise, and maybe I'll be my own self again. Right?
Finding the balance of rest is the key. Get enough rest to keep the grumpies away, but stay awake enought to actually get stuff done. Stuff other than laundry and dishes and dusting and whatever neverending household stuff needs to get done. Like websites and Etsy and eBay and getting myself out there in order to be noticed. I want to be an artist. A self-sustaining, boss of myself, really good work artist.
Baby steps. That's how I'll get there. How about you?
Complete exhaustion is slowing me down, so I have to find a way to combat it. "Sleep when your baby sleeps." I subscribe to this theory, but I feel like I'm sleeping and resting my life away. So, I've fired up the coffee pot and started exercising dailiy to inspire movement. Healthy eating will follow the exercise, and maybe I'll be my own self again. Right?
Finding the balance of rest is the key. Get enough rest to keep the grumpies away, but stay awake enought to actually get stuff done. Stuff other than laundry and dishes and dusting and whatever neverending household stuff needs to get done. Like websites and Etsy and eBay and getting myself out there in order to be noticed. I want to be an artist. A self-sustaining, boss of myself, really good work artist.
Baby steps. That's how I'll get there. How about you?
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Dinner Re-Made: The Ultimate Burger
Most of my recipes, I will admit, come from a mishmash of dishes that I've seen or tasted and liked a bit here or a bunch there. For example, I started out simply cooking Bubba Burgers when I needed a taste of America's favorite food. Don't get me wrong, Bubba Burgers are still amazing. Slap on a toasted bun and some ketchup, and you're good to go.
Our Ultimate Burger
Combine 1/2 lb of ground beef with 1/2 medium chopped onion, 1 tsp Worstechire sauce, 1 Tbsp milk, 1 large egg and 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs; salt and pepper to taste and mix well.
Place a large sheet of parchment or wax paper on the counter and use it to form the patties. This makes it easier to get them off the counter and into the pan. Create a 1/4-inch patty in the shape of the bread then create a 1/4-inch by 1/4-inch moat around the edge of the first patty. Fill the moat with the cheese of your choice, and don't be shy! Top it off with another 1/4-inch patty, pressing firmly (but gently) on the top to seal the burger. You want the meat to form back to itself without having the cheese come out the sides. Lightly pinch the edges then smooth to make sure the meat is sealed. Place the burgers in a non-stick skillet and cook on both sides until the meat is thoroughly cooked and the cheese is melted and gooey.
In the mean time, butter one side of four slices of bread then build and grill your sandwiches. When the two sandwiches are done grilling, lean them against one another like a teepee so they don't get soggy. When the burgers are almost done, put your favorite condiments on the grilled cheese sandwiches, add your burger and enjoy!
One night, I was making meatloaf, lamenting that a loaf of meat is so difficult to eat in its entirety, and it hit me that my meatloaf recipe would make the perfect burger. This was an especially epiphanous revelation because my husband does not particularly like meatloaf and virtually refuses to eat it at all. That's how my burger was born. It grew when my husband had the idea to stuff his burgers with cheese. Eureka! I never even considered that you could do that; mozzarella for him and bleu cheese for me. Mmmmm, mmmm mmmmm. Yum!
The other night, we were watching The Great Food Truck Race on The Food Network, and I watched my latest light bulb go on when they used grilled cheese sandwiches instead of buns. I could do that, too. Instead of the typical gallon of butter, I used low-calorie spread on whole wheat bread to cut down a bit on the unhealth meter. The hubby says, even with the changes, it is better than he imagined it would be when we saw the truck guys build their burgers.
Our Ultimate Burger
 |
| Our Ultimate Burger |
Place a large sheet of parchment or wax paper on the counter and use it to form the patties. This makes it easier to get them off the counter and into the pan. Create a 1/4-inch patty in the shape of the bread then create a 1/4-inch by 1/4-inch moat around the edge of the first patty. Fill the moat with the cheese of your choice, and don't be shy! Top it off with another 1/4-inch patty, pressing firmly (but gently) on the top to seal the burger. You want the meat to form back to itself without having the cheese come out the sides. Lightly pinch the edges then smooth to make sure the meat is sealed. Place the burgers in a non-stick skillet and cook on both sides until the meat is thoroughly cooked and the cheese is melted and gooey.
In the mean time, butter one side of four slices of bread then build and grill your sandwiches. When the two sandwiches are done grilling, lean them against one another like a teepee so they don't get soggy. When the burgers are almost done, put your favorite condiments on the grilled cheese sandwiches, add your burger and enjoy!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Shrugging Off My Grief and Living
OK, before you think that I'm a horrible person, realize that I'm talking about my football season widowhood. In my household, football trumps ALL. NFL, College, Madden on Xbox or South American futbol; it doesn't matter, the obsession reigns. If it's on the tv (or secondary computer screen or iPhone), then it receives 100% of my husband's attention.
Also understand that my husband's only days off are Sunday and Monday, prime football days (yes, that was by design). Sunday warrants watching all 14 games in one way or another. That leaves Monday to fit in household chores and family time, as long as it is before MNF kickoff. After 7:30? Deal's off! The closer to kickoff, the more he glances at his watch and starts shaking much like I do when I want chocolate and can't get it.
So, getting down to business, I've decided to shrug off my grief, give up on mourning, and live life with my son whether football is on or not. If the hubby wants to turn the TV off and rejoin the land of the living, he is more than welcome, but I've spent enough time with sheets over the mirrors and a black band on my arm.
Life is for the living and Little Man and I are going to live it!
Also understand that my husband's only days off are Sunday and Monday, prime football days (yes, that was by design). Sunday warrants watching all 14 games in one way or another. That leaves Monday to fit in household chores and family time, as long as it is before MNF kickoff. After 7:30? Deal's off! The closer to kickoff, the more he glances at his watch and starts shaking much like I do when I want chocolate and can't get it.
So, getting down to business, I've decided to shrug off my grief, give up on mourning, and live life with my son whether football is on or not. If the hubby wants to turn the TV off and rejoin the land of the living, he is more than welcome, but I've spent enough time with sheets over the mirrors and a black band on my arm.
Life is for the living and Little Man and I are going to live it!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
My Favorite Time of the Day
My absolute favorite time of the day is just after bathtime when I lift my son from the tub and he wraps his tiny arms tightly around my neck while laying his cheek on my shoulder. He is one year old and old enough to want more independence but still enough of a baby to be dependent on his momma.
I could care less if I get soaked from head to toe from his little self. That big hug is enough to keep me going each day. It doesn't matter how difficult he was that day, that one moment makes it ALL worth it. He is my reason.
You other moms understand!
I could care less if I get soaked from head to toe from his little self. That big hug is enough to keep me going each day. It doesn't matter how difficult he was that day, that one moment makes it ALL worth it. He is my reason.
You other moms understand!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Get Up and Go
I'm having an incredibly difficult time getting going today. I went to sleep early enough but got very little sleep. The perfect opportunity wasted by an overacting worry spot in my brain! Now, you need to understand that I worry about everything... money, motherhood, professional vocation, marriage - you name it, I worry about it.
When I told my mom about my blah mood, she reminded me that some days are just like that. The million dollar question comes when pondering how to snap out of it. Usually, two episodes of Project Runway gives me motivational inspiration enough to achieve something, anything. Come on! If these people make clothes out of recycling and party supplies, then I can list my art on Etsy or clean up the rearrange-the-living room mess I made on Wednesday! But, nada. I'm not finding it.
I would pump enough coffee into my system to kill an elephant, but caffeine on an empty stomach makes me grumpy. Since the hubby had an early shift today and gets home earlier than usual, grumpy is not an option!
So, I think a shower is in order to wash the funk off (funk as in mired down not stinky armpits), then one cup of coffee with lunch and some laundry to freshen up the sheets for possibly a better night's sleep tonight. Hopefully, the rest will just follow.
When I told my mom about my blah mood, she reminded me that some days are just like that. The million dollar question comes when pondering how to snap out of it. Usually, two episodes of Project Runway gives me motivational inspiration enough to achieve something, anything. Come on! If these people make clothes out of recycling and party supplies, then I can list my art on Etsy or clean up the rearrange-the-living room mess I made on Wednesday! But, nada. I'm not finding it.
I would pump enough coffee into my system to kill an elephant, but caffeine on an empty stomach makes me grumpy. Since the hubby had an early shift today and gets home earlier than usual, grumpy is not an option!
So, I think a shower is in order to wash the funk off (funk as in mired down not stinky armpits), then one cup of coffee with lunch and some laundry to freshen up the sheets for possibly a better night's sleep tonight. Hopefully, the rest will just follow.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Dinner Re-Made: Chicken Wings
It's a fact universally known by football fans (and their wives) worldwide, that the perfect accompaniments to some pigskin are chicken wings and beer. Monday Night Football meant that the Hubby wanted chicken wings to highlight a fantasy football win. Since we're broke, I had to improvise.
I took boneless, skinless chicken breast and injected them with some wing sauce (2 oz Louisiana Gold Hot Sauce to 1 oz butter, warmed in the microwave to combine) then let them marinate in the overflow for about 10 minutes. In the mean time, I put a large skillet to warm over medium-high heat and sprayed it liberally with Pam cooking spray. Since my husband likes it nice and spicy, I used the Hot and Spicy Shake 'N Bake to coat the marinated chicken breast then put it in the skillet to "fry." I'm a bit of a wuss, so I used the Original Shake 'N Bake for mine.
I seared it for 6-10 minutes on each side until the insides were nice and white and the outside was golden crispy. To finish the meal, I steamed some mixed veggetables and coated them with popcorn seasoning for a healthy alternative to fries. It may not have been the real deal, but my husband did say it was the next best thing.
Score one for wifey for Monday Night Football!
I took boneless, skinless chicken breast and injected them with some wing sauce (2 oz Louisiana Gold Hot Sauce to 1 oz butter, warmed in the microwave to combine) then let them marinate in the overflow for about 10 minutes. In the mean time, I put a large skillet to warm over medium-high heat and sprayed it liberally with Pam cooking spray. Since my husband likes it nice and spicy, I used the Hot and Spicy Shake 'N Bake to coat the marinated chicken breast then put it in the skillet to "fry." I'm a bit of a wuss, so I used the Original Shake 'N Bake for mine.
I seared it for 6-10 minutes on each side until the insides were nice and white and the outside was golden crispy. To finish the meal, I steamed some mixed veggetables and coated them with popcorn seasoning for a healthy alternative to fries. It may not have been the real deal, but my husband did say it was the next best thing.
Score one for wifey for Monday Night Football!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
I'm a Football Season Widow
So, it seems that the football season is officially four days old, and I'm already a season widow. My husband loves football more than most men love their momma's cooking and is playing in two Fantasy Football Leagues this year. You know what that means? Mucho self entertainment.
I will admit that there are really only so many times a person can check Facebook before you memorize other people's posts and have resorted to commenting (several times) on a friend's concern for the length of their cat's nails. There are only so many times you can beat Sudoku before you crave something more challenging. Like texting my hormonally pregnant cousin 20 minutes after her bedtime. Now, that's living on the edge!
Want to know the kicker? I used to like football well enough. OK, if I am going to be honest with you, I tolerated football. Football and I were like Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinsky before the blue dress fiasco; we could be in the same room without killing one another just for the sake of our man, but we didn't like it. Nowadays, the blue dress has been discovered and untold crimes against cigars have been uncovered. Four days a week for five months out of the year with one game on the television and another on the computer while tracking fantasy football scores on the smart phone... that's enough to drive a wife mad!
Enter this blog. This is my attempt to entertain you while maintaining my sanity. I am a wife and a mother, and I stay at home to take care of it all. (How I got to do that is another story for another time, but it's a good one.) I'll definitely jump all over the place and will probably make at least one friend or loved one angry, but hopefully I'll entertain you as well.
Well, I am going to go now. I have a quarter and a half to go before Monday Night Football ends, unless they have snuck yet another game into the lineup. That leaves just enough time to make this blog pretty before Hubby resurrects from the pigskin-induced catatonic state and we can watch our quality programming. God bless our DVR!
I will admit that there are really only so many times a person can check Facebook before you memorize other people's posts and have resorted to commenting (several times) on a friend's concern for the length of their cat's nails. There are only so many times you can beat Sudoku before you crave something more challenging. Like texting my hormonally pregnant cousin 20 minutes after her bedtime. Now, that's living on the edge!
Want to know the kicker? I used to like football well enough. OK, if I am going to be honest with you, I tolerated football. Football and I were like Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinsky before the blue dress fiasco; we could be in the same room without killing one another just for the sake of our man, but we didn't like it. Nowadays, the blue dress has been discovered and untold crimes against cigars have been uncovered. Four days a week for five months out of the year with one game on the television and another on the computer while tracking fantasy football scores on the smart phone... that's enough to drive a wife mad!
Enter this blog. This is my attempt to entertain you while maintaining my sanity. I am a wife and a mother, and I stay at home to take care of it all. (How I got to do that is another story for another time, but it's a good one.) I'll definitely jump all over the place and will probably make at least one friend or loved one angry, but hopefully I'll entertain you as well.
Well, I am going to go now. I have a quarter and a half to go before Monday Night Football ends, unless they have snuck yet another game into the lineup. That leaves just enough time to make this blog pretty before Hubby resurrects from the pigskin-induced catatonic state and we can watch our quality programming. God bless our DVR!
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