Around the House | Marriage Confessions Around the House

Hello, Imaginary Friends! I feel like it has been weeks since we’ve chatted! I hope you all had a great holiday season and that your new year was merry and bright. Chris and I rang in the new year like we do every year – in bed, barely awake enough to see the ball drop. We go wild.

This year was kind of fun though because the Orlando Sentinel did a whole article on Chris building the Time Square Ball. He was all kinds of weirded out to see himself front and center in the newspaper and, of course, he went through the article with a fine-tooth comb, analyzing every word (“Why’d they have to call it MY ball? Isn’t that weird?” or “I think they made me sound more important than I really was. Should I tell them that?”). Finally, I told him to relax. It’s a great article, he was part of a great, historical project, and he gets to go on the refrigerator next to Bean’s hand print turkey from Thanksgiving. I am super proud of him. Just like I’m super proud of Bean’s turkey.

On New Year’s Day, Chris and I took down all the Christmas decorations. Normally, I hate to see Christmas go, but this year I was ready. We have gotten so many Christmas presents and goodies that we’ve been hauling around in my parent’s van that we drove for the past week on vacation. So we spent yesterday unloading everything and making room in our house for all the new things.

This led to one of my resolutions for 2012. Normally, I don’t make new years resolutions, but this year I have a few distinct things that I want to change or start, and the new year seems like the right time to begin.

Be healthier. I know everyone makes a resolution like this one and this year I’m joining the masses. I was fairly lucky after both my babies in that I lost most of my baby weight within a year. But with Gracie, I’ve seen that initial loss of baby weight creeping back up. I blame the cookies that keep spontaneously jumping into my mouth. But this resolution isn’t really about weight loss. If I wanted to just lose weight, I’d go on a diet. What this one stems from is how I feel. For the past six months, I have felt so tired and run down. I think a lot of that comes from my diet. I tend to go for the easy option 99% of the time and I usually blame that on being a working mom. But, cream of whatever isn’t the only quick option out there for dinner. Here are the changes I’m making:

1. No soda – This is a huge thing for me. I hate to admit this, but I drink Diet Dr. Pepper pretty much all day at work. Granted, it’s usually the same single can that lasts me all day, but still. Instead, I’m trying to only drink water and, occasionally, unsweetened iced tea. Because I can’t live without iced tea every now and then.

2. No sweets – I’m not cutting all sugar because my only criteria for this whole healthy thing is that I’m not running around reading labels all the time, but I’m cutting general sweets like cookies, candy, dessert, etc.

3. Some kind of activity every week day – I don’t work out, like, at all. I used to in college and some in grad school, but since having babies I’ve used that as an excuse to not work out. But I really think that is part of the reason I feel so sluggish all the time. My body is bored. So, every day after work I am going to try to do something. Either walking around the block with the kids or running for 20 minutes or so when Chris gets home or a yoga DVD…something to get me moving. I’ll share little ideas I find along the way.

4. Healthier family meals – This one comes at a good time for us because Gracie is starting to eat meals with us and she needs pretty simple, healthy, clean meals. And, really, don’t we all? So, basically, we’re all going to start eating like Gracie. I’m switching from white rice to brown rice, from regular pasta to whole grain pasta, from butter coated veggies to steamed. Simple little changes to our diet that will make all of us feel better.

5. Less meat, more veggies – I love meat, so I don’t know that I could ever actually become a vegetarian, but I have several friends who are vegetarians and the one thing they all said about becoming one is that they just felt lighter. They said that their bodies felt so sluggish digesting all the meat they used to eat and when they eliminated that from their diet, their bodies just seemed to work easier and they felt lighter. That’s exactly how I feel right now – heavy. Not in weight, but my body just feels like there are sandbags in my feet. And if cutting back on meat a bit will get rid of that feeling, then I’m willing to try. I’ll still have meat (mostly chicken and turkey) for dinner at home with the family, but I think I might try cutting it out of my lunch every day, just to see how that feels.

2012 will be the first year in three years that I am not either pregnant or birthing a child. For those three years, I let myself slip. And that’s okay. I’ve been busy creating life and then making sure that life survives and takes baths every day and doesn’t pick its nose in public. But, my kids are getting more self-sufficient and I think my grace period of using them as an excuse for not taking care of myself is over. So, this year, I’m putting myself at the top of the list. Just like it’s important that I take care of my family, it’s just as important that I take care of myself. Because in order to keep up with these lives that I’ve created, I’m going to have to be at the top of my game. These suckers around here are quick!

*****
P.S. These pictures have nothing to do with the post. They are just the only pictures I’ve taken in the past few days. And they’re cute. The End.

33 comments | posted in Around the House, Changes, health, Marriage Confessions, Understanding Katie | tags: 2012, healthy living, New Years resolutions

Hello, Imaginary Friends! I feel like I walked away in the middle of our conversation about Thanksgiving! I’m sorry I disappeared. Cold season is upon our house and I’m not even talking about the kids. I have a raging ear infection and a sinus infection. Loads of fun, let me tell you. The weird part is that I don’t really seem too sick (except for the fact that my right ear feels like it’s filled with lava…). I just feel kind of crummy and run down.

I went to the doctor today and brought Bean with me because Chris had Gracie at the pediatrician for vaccinations (have I told you lately how thankful I am for health insurance?). Bean was awesome. I forget sometimes how fun it is to hang out with just him. He’s talking in full sentences now and saying the funniest thing. When the nurse handed him four Cars 2 stickers, Bean exclaimed, “I can’t believe it!” He then announced to the nurse and the doctor that his stickers were, in fact, Band Aids. He spent the next half hour as the doctor examined my ears (“mommy’s ear are broken” is how Bean put it) putting his “Band Aids” on his legs. He’s one entertaining little dude.

Anyway, enough about my broken ears.

I wanted to finish telling you about my awesome husband and the incredibly huge projection screen he put up in our backyard for the Florida State/Florida football game on Thanksgiving weekend. We had some friends over for a football party this past Saturday and I told Chris as we were planning that I was worried about where everyone would fit. We were expecting about 20 people and it would have been hard for everyone to see the game on the television.

“Maybe we could bring our television down from our bedroom and put it on the back deck and then people could watch inside or outside?” I suggested.

“Or maybe I’ll bring home the projection screen from my office!” Chris countered.

And so, he did.

This screen was massive. When Chris said it was big, that was such an understatement. It’s like the size of a billboard.

By the time our house filled up with family and friends that night, we had the football game on in our backyard so big that our neighbors could watch it from their backyards, too! (Though, they ended up coming over to our house instead…we had more beer…)

We stayed out in our backyard until after midnight that night. It was so much fun! I already have so many plans for that projection screen. Like, for Bean’s birthday, inviting people over to swim in the pool and watch a movie! Or, having a Christmas party and playing a Christmas movie out in the backyard during the party! So many options!

Every now and then it pays to be married to someone who is so creative, artistic, and smart. Life with Chris often feels bigger and better, but this time he made it bigger and better for other people, too!

20 comments | posted in Around the House, Family, Fun Things, Husbands, Just for Fun, Marriage Confessions | tags: Family, football, football season, fun

Yesterday I did something miraculous. I baked. Actually, there was no baking required. Technically, I assembled.

The second most miraculous thing was that what I assembled was a recipe I found on Pinterest. I’ve never seen something online and then turned around and made it before. Isn’t that weird?

The third most miraculous thing I did yesterday was that my cookies ended up looking JUST LIKE this picture from Pinterest.

Three Thanksgiving miracles in one day. So, I figured maybe I should share the recipe.

This is what you’ll need:

A bag of Hershey kisses
A box of mini Nutter Butter sandwich cookies*
A bag of chocolate chips

*The recipe on Pinterest said to get the mini Nutter Butter sandwich cookies, but I couldn’t find them in my grocery store so I bought a box of Ritz sandwich cookies instead. Also, I made a mistake and accidentally bought the Ritz CHOCOLATE sandwich cookies, instead of the peanut butter ones. If I did it again (and I will), I’d use the peanut butter sandwiches instead of the chocolate ones.*

First, put a small pan on low heat. This is for melting the bottoms of your Kisses (and later chocolate chips). Set the Kiss in the pan for about 30 seconds, just enough to make the bottom kind of mushy. Don’t melt it too much, though. It gets messy. You just want it melted enough so that it sticks to the cookie.

Also, speaking from experience, I wouldn’t put more than 3 Kisses in the pan at a time. Otherwise, you can’t get them out quick enough and they melt too much.

Next, sit the Kiss on a sandwich cookie. Press down just a bit to make sure it sticks, but not enough that you mush the Kiss. Again, I speak from experience here.

Let these sit for about 15 or 20 minutes so that the chocolate firms back up again.

When the cookies and chocolate have set, you’re ready for the mini chocolate chips now. Just like with the Kisses, put three into the pan at a time. You might want to turn the heat down even more on these little guys because they melt awfully quick and then you’ll be forced to lick the melted chocolate off the bottom of a hot pan.

Or, so I’ve heard.

Then, stick those little chocolate chips on the other side of the sandwich cookies and – VOILA! – you’ve got acorns!

These are super easy (but a bit messy) and I think they are adorable for Thanksgiving. I put mine in a tin lined in wax paper and am storing it in the fridge until Thanksgiving. If I had more time, I’d run to Target and get a few Mason jars and some orange gingham ribbon. Throw those acorns into the jar and tie a big pretty bow around it. Perfect to take to a Thanksgiving host, a good friend, or your neighbor next door. In fact, I think I might whip up a few more batches of these tomorrow and give them to the kids’ daycare teachers with a note that says, “We are thankful for you!”

Happy baking…er…assembling!

*****

For those who have asked, my Pinterest user name is MarriageConfess.

18 comments | posted in Around the House, holidays, In the Kitchen, Marriage Confessions | tags: pinterest, recipes, thanksgiving

1. Thanks to everyone who voted on which “Gift of Happiness” trip Chris and I should take. We are so happy that you all chose the ADVENTURE PACKAGE!! Yay! Chris says I messed up the voting because I swayed you, but I think you all just know the perfect vacation package when you see one, right???? SO SHUT IT, CHRIS!

2. Thanksgiving is, like, next week. When did that happen??? I thought Halloween was yesterday? We are heading to my parent’s house next Wednesday to spend a few days with the fam. I’m super excited, but about 1.3 million things have to happen before we can leave. First, I have to take Gracie to the doctor on Monday and go to the DMV to get my license renewed. Then on Tuesday I have jury duty (who schedules jury duty the week of Thanksgiving?!?!). And on Wednesday morning I’m have my BFF, Emily, over for breakfast while she is in town from California. Sometime in the middle of all of that, I have to make green bean casserole and two dozen deviled eggs for Thanksgiving dinner.

3. I’m taking a field trip tomorrow to Chris’s theater. I’m super excited, but not as excited as my students. They really want to meet Chris for some reason.

4. Chris and I are in a funk/slump right now. Actually, he’s in a funk/slump right now. He doesn’t feel good, he has an ulcer in his mouth (he gets them from stress), and work has been crazy for him lately. I’m sympathetic to all those things. But it’s been going on for about a month now and, to be honest, I miss my husband, darn it. I go back and forth between being mad at him and feeling sorry for him, but lately I’ve decided that sometimes in marriage one person just has to carry the relationship for a while. Someone has to make the effort for both people when the other one isn’t able to. Chris did it for me last year and so I’ll do it for him now. Cause I love him. And cause he’s a good kisser.

5. Bean has a Christmas play at his new daycare in a few weeks. It’s supposed to be a surprise program, but a couple nights ago, Chris and I were sitting in the living room after we’d put the kids to bed and we heard Bean singing in his room, “We WISH you a merry Christmas! We WISH you a merry Christmas! We WISH you a merry Christmas and a haaaaappppppyyyyy neeeewwww yeeeeaarrrrr!!!” We silently died laughing and then sat on the stairs together for 10 minutes listening to him sing his entire Christmas program. It was one of the sweetest moments. I love being his mom.

6. I have been reading the entire Harry Potter series with a few kids from my classes this semester. It’s my first time reading them and they are just as good as everyone has always said they are. I just finished the sixth book last night and started the seventh book today. I have one class where practically every student is reading some part of the series right now and they all cheered with me when I told them today I was on the last book. It was the 4,000th time in the past year that I said a silent prayer of thanks that I’m a teacher now because kids are pretty darn awesome.

7. The fourth volume of Southern Weddings Magazine came out a few weeks ago and I am so proud that a piece of my writing is in it! The SW editorial team are just about the sweetest people you’ll ever meet and the quality of their magazine is absolutely breathtaking. If you’re getting married (or even if you just love pretty pictures of happy people and gorgeous places), pick up a copy of Southern Weddings Magazine and then let me know what you think of my article on how to include family in your planning process and, later, in your marriage.

8. If I had one wish, I’d wish for a laundry fairy who would just silently show up when the laundry needed to be done. She’d whisk it all away with a flick of her fairy dust and it would instantly be clean, smell good, and be folded back in the correct drawer or closet. If science can make those tiny toy dinosaurs that grow into huge toy dinosaurs in water, then surely they can whip up a laundry fairy in some lab somewhere…

9. I have not checked my email in a week and I know for a FACT that I have at least six important emails that are waiting for my response. I’m hoping the world doesn’t explode before Saturday because that’s when I’m scheduling time to tackle the email beast.

10. If I had a second wish after the laundry fairy wish, I’d wish for an email fairy who would read all my emails, respond to the ones who need responses, save the ones that are worth saving, and trash the ones that need to be dumped. I’d also want my email fairy to organize some email folders for me. And maybe figure out how to delete the email accounts from my phone because email on my phone just annoys me.

That is all.

Happy weekend.

24 comments | posted in Around the House, Communication, Family, holidays, Husbands, Marriage, Marriage Confessions, Southern Weddings | tags: Gift of Happiness, life, Southern Weddings Magazine