Annoyingly Domestic

October 29, 2009

Revealing Oak Floors, SparkPeople, & Tae Kwon Do

Filed under: Family, Home Decorating, Projects, Self-Development — Steph @ 9:27 am

It’s been a while. I’ve had my head buried in…other places lately. And no, not down under. Here’s the latest…

I stumbled upon a place called SparkPeople.com, signed up, and have been sucked in. What is it? It’s Weight Watchers Online…on steroids. And it’s free. I’ve had a $15.00 a month subscription to Weight Watchers for the past four years. I used it to lose 30 pounds. Those 30 pounds were done and gone in two months…then I gained all the weight back plus some, once I stopped running and started eating crap again (lazy and fast food in your first year of marriage don’t mix and it’s not a particularly nice anniversary present for your husband). How many months out of the past four years have I made use of my subscription? Oh…about six total (and that’s pushing it!). So, I found SparkPeople and was absolutely blown away that there was this snazzy user interface and all of the same Weight Watchers tools PLUS some and all of these reports to run for charted feedback and and and…oh, and an iPhone app that works really well…and even a Facebook like community. Within hours of my signing up, I had a good handful of personal welcome messages on my page and within the first day, I discovered that people - complete strangers - were sincerely concerned for MY well-being. And I became concerned for THEIRS. And WE came to support each other. And through lots of indirect networking of blogs and “news” feeds and such, as we catch interesting blog titles or see cute usernames somewhere on the site, we navigate to other profile pages of complete strangers to offer our support to THEM. We browse through each others friends lists - but always to find that “Spark” of motivation we need - someone with similar stats or situation as us who has been successful in one way or another. We offer them OUR encouragement, letting them know what an inspiration they are - to keep on their journey. And the cycle continues. And no one is insecure because being loving and supportive IS the norm. Sounds very Kumbaya-ish, but it’s really very raw, open, and down to earth. Real men and women supporting each other in our missions.

Now, I’ve worked in social networking and make use of it on a daily basis, but SparkPeople is the first, wholly positive and nurturing social networking environment I’ve ever been in. As a woman, and one who has been fairly skeptical about men my whole life (well, since I hit puberty), I’m finding for the first time that I’m actually able to appreciate words of encouragement from the opposite sex without wondering about “the motive” behind it all. There is no motive other than to be supportive and…it’s really, really nice. Encouragement from women is wonderful, but men and women encourage each other differently. Women are long winded and emotional (yes, honey, I did just write that). Men are blunt and matter of fact. Of course, this is a gross over-generalization, yes, but typically, that’s it in my experience. My point is, I get both of that there and it’s refreshing.

On a slightly different note, being a part of SparkPeople has “sparked” me to get going physically. I have officially run my first mile without stopping - something I was never able to do previously. I’m loving high intensity interval training on the treadmill. I’ve started step aerobics (and discovered the On Demand section of our Direct TV). I’m so into all of this that for our anniversary, The Man has decided to get me a spiffy new heart rate monitor - the Polar F11. He’s already ordered it and it should be here soon - I’m stoked.

Oh, and just as an FYI, I’ve lost over 10 pounds this past month and it was EASY.

In completely other news, we discovered that our evil furballs fancied the dining room carpet more than their precious Cat Genie. Do you know what a Cat Genie is? No? Well, let me tell you…these spoiled rotten furballs (rotten to the core and plotting my demise) have a fully automatic litter box. The “litter” is plastic pellets. The litter BOX, is computerized and not only scoops the poo for them up to four times a day (programmable), but because it’s hooked up to the water line and drain in our laundry room, it washes, scrubs, sanitizes, and BLOW DRIES WITH WARM AIR their precious litter for them. Up to FOUR times a DAY! All I have to do is insert a new 60 day cleaning cartridge when it beeps at me. So, these lovely little bundles of JOY have been urinating underneath the window in our dining room. Seriously, if we ever sell this place, what would we say - water damage or cat pee? Which is better? Which is worse? So, armed with my favorite cat stain and odor remover, I pulled back the carpet to see how bad the damage was on the bottom of the carpet. Lord, it was so bad I…I don’t know. I don’t know how to begin to describe how bad it was. I won’t even post pictures, it was that bad (and yes, I took pictures because I couldn’t believe it). I started in on the cleaning, half-heartedly, and just got pissed, so to speak. After some deliberation with The Man, I grabbed my trusty pink utility razor (*girly voice* yes, it’s pretty and pink and really, really sharp!) and cut out the dining room carpet. Just cut it out! At the very worst, we would just replace the carpet. However… Goodbye carpet…hello GORGEOUS 1928 OAK FLOORS!!! That is, of course, underneath all of the plaster wall texture that I had to scrub off… Seriously? Seriously?! Come ON, people! Can’t you cover your stinkin’ floors before you retexture your walls?! Nevermind the few splotches of paint and the carpet pad adhesive around the perimeter of the room. BUT, there was no kitty pee damage. There’s no smell now that the carpet and pad are gone, and after a few more wipes down with that pee neutralizer/odor remover, the evil bastards will be let out of their room…and all will be well. Hopefully. It does appear that the floors will need some refinishing, as someone apparently got drunk and decided it would be fun to learn how to stain a floor (going across the grain, no less, and leaving a stain can ring with drips here and there…you know, just to tip us off as to what their plan was). BUT, even as is, they remind me of some of the older floors that can be found back home in Juneau. The historic bars and such. They have a lot of good character. I’m going to start my way into the living room next (and then the front part of the hallway along with the other living room).

If you’ve ever taken carpet out, you’ll know that the carpet and pad - even of a well-worn carpet - is at least 1/2″ thick if not more. It’s amazing what that 1/2″ drop to bare floor can do to a person in the pitch black of night if they’re not expecting it. As I stepped from the hallway, that measly 1/2″ drop sent my arms flailing out like a baby that feels like it’s suddenly falling. After I’d been pulling, ripping, scrubbing and scraping in that very room ALL day. Jesus, Stephanie…really, get a grip.

What else, what else…hm…it’s been nice and cold here lately and we’ve been able to make use of our fireplace again. As much as I ADORE the fireplace, it’s not so wonderful when its’ thermostat kicks it on mid step aerobics session (our TV is located on the wall above our fireplace).

The boys are in Tae Kwon Do now. I’m hoping to be able to get some pictures of them at practice tonight. So far, it’s been an eye opening experience for me in that I get to see how they behave (or rather, misbehave) around others. I’ve learned that Nic is really, really good at it and it takes almost nothing for him to pick up a movement routine. He just needs to work on using more force. My goal for him, in enrolling him in TKD was to help his self-esteem and confidence. Also, to help him learn to control his now only occasional outbursts. It is, slowly but surely, working. For Jake, I was hoping it would give him some focus, as he is convinced he’s the funniest boy on the face of this planet and everything he does is meant to illicit peals of laughter from his audience (even when that audience is in his head). Funny is good, but not when it’s infringing on his and others’ learning capabilities. I wasn’t seeing any improvement in him until I told him that I’d signed him up for the belt test this next month. The belt test is at the end of next week and I don’t think the boys are ready. I wouldn’t be overly surprised if Nic was able to pass the test, because he’s really good at the routines (just needs to work on his power), but Jake…I think that what it’s going to take for him to understand is possibly to fail this belt test to see that it’s not a joke. Of course, I don’t want him to fail - I’m his mother - but, I think there is definitely a lesson to be had in both passing and failing, and I’m just trying my best to prepare a “talk” for both situations to make these lessons, whatever they may be, the most impactful.

That’s about it, folks. I need to get crackin’ on these floors again! Pictures to come!

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September 25, 2009

Our House Plans

Filed under: Family — Steph @ 8:48 am

The Man and I finally agree on a house that we want to build. I realize that I haven’t updated with our thoughts on the future for a while. Since The Man is being medically separated from the military, we’ve made plans to move to Tennessee. We absolutely adore the town we’re looking at and need to visit some friends there to get a feel for the town in person (and make sure it really is as fantastic a place as we believe it to be!). If it all works out, we’re looking to purchase as much land as we can afford and build our home on it (I just found 183 acres for $183,000! We don’t need THAT much, but 60 acres would be perfect!). The house is large because we plan on having my parents live with us, too. At least, if/when they decide they’d like to.

Other plans include a full herb and vegetable garden along with some fruit trees. I want chickens for meat as well as eggs. I’m looking at my options for milk - still not sure if I want a cow - that’s a LOT of milk. A goat is a possibility, but The Man says (adamantly) that I’m on my own with that one. LOL

Anyway - I’m relieved to have something, finally, to add to my vision board.

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September 24, 2009

Oven Cleaning Escapades

Filed under: Home Keeping — Steph @ 10:16 am

I roast chicken, typically, at least once a week. I put the bird on a flat rack, on top of a baking sheet, and roast at 450 degrees for one hour. Perfect chicken every time with absolutely perfect skin, top and bottom. Seriously, to die for. My oven, however? Let’s just say that it’s not pretty. Chicken grease and splatters everywhere. I was roasting some almonds last week and after peering into the oven through the glass, I panicked and yanked the door open to remove my overly toasted almonds. They hadn’t even begun to toast - it was the brown coating on the glass that led me to believe I’d over roasted them. Embarrassing? Yes, after that realization! See, cleaning the oven has never been on my radar. There are some things I enjoying cleaning, some things I don’t, and some things, I’m discovering, that I’m only just now, at the ripe ol’ age of 28, realizing I need to do. Yes, I know that’s sad. I blame it on my mom. It’s all her fault. She never let me clean. I had to learn how to vacuum from my very first supervisor, working at Afterthoughts (like Clair’s) in the mall, while she watched and laughed as I went about finding the on “button” and promptly got the cord tangled in some low hanging necklaces and other jewelry on display. Oddly enough, as I got older, I discovered that I have a passion for vacuuming. I have an odd fascination with seeing dirt and grime sucked up by these nifty housekeeping machines. Fitting, I suppose, that I married an accomplished Kirby salesman (no joke). He actually hasn’t sold Kirby in years, but he does have one and he retains more carpet cleaning knowledge than any human probably should. He talks vacuum attachments and I start twitching and drooling. Oh, dear…I’m way off track… In more ways than one, apparently.

I think I remember my mother cleaning the oven using the “self-cleaning” feature on their old 1970’s oven only once (recently upgraded to a gorgeous, stainless Viking, which I covet). I don’t remember much about it except that there was much trepidation surrounding it. I was not, under any circumstances, to go into the kitchen. I’ve held a vision of a fire blast shooting out of the oven, incinerating me, ever since that day. That could be, possibly, why I’ve resigned oven cleaning to the back of my mind. What?! Clean it by hand, you say?! Oh, HELL no. I’ll just leave it at that.

So, since we recently purchased a brand spankin’ new oven with a self-cleaning feature, I figured the door locks must have come a long way over the years since my mother’s latch lock, possibly fixing that whole “fire blast” “incineration” issue. At least I hope so, because I just called our home security/fire company to warn them (she sounded slightly amused as I tried to casually explain and pretend that it was no big deal), set the oven to clean, and am now currently enjoying the oh-so-soothing smell of chicken grease cooking at over 900 degrees.

If I don’t update again, it’s because my childhood vision came true.

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September 18, 2009

The Full Plate Diet - and my own changes

Filed under: Self-Development — Steph @ 10:08 am

I fear my “observations” about myself yesterday came across a bit…desperate. Rereading them, I notice that I clearly didn’t indicate that I wasn’t feeling “lost” with myself or life, just on the brink of change. I’ve let some things slide since I’ve been here in TX and I’m feeling the impact of them. I don’t like it, so I’m going to try to change it. Simple as that - no extra emotion to it. Very practically speaking. I’ve noted what my body is telling me and I know what I need to do about it. I don’t dread these changes, but I do hope that I don’t grow tired of them again because they are, in the short and long term, much healthier ways of living. I spoke with The Man about this last night and, unbeknownst to me, he’s feeling the same way. He’s a bit more proactive than I am, so with his help, these changes aren’t going to be difficult. He’s great for motivation, too.

Some key points for me and a bit of a plan:

I need to eat my veggies. I love them, and am going to plan the menu around them from now on, aiming for 60% produce on my plate. Why I haven’t stuck to this…I have no idea. I love steamed and raw veggies. Not a huge fan of salads, but am trying to find ways to truly enjoy them instead of trying to convince myself they’re tasty (I think it’s the word “salad” LOL). I have a caesar dressing that I make which I love, and a little bit goes a long way, but I don’t want to wear that one out… Definitely looking for options here.

I need to be running again. I loved running outside, in the cold and rain of Alaska. Even when the ice was covered in rain and too slick for my Yaktrax, I could still get on my treadmill, located conveniently in front of my huge window overlooking the river in my backyard, open said window, turn on my treadmill fan, and get a similar outdoor running experience. Here, I’m stuck staring at a wall, listening to music or trying to surf the internet at the same time (which is actually possible, thanks to my Surf Shelf. I think what I need to do in order to stick with running on my treadmill is just (just?!) to find a way to make it enjoyable like it was, outdoors in Alaska. I could definitely use some ideas as I’m at a loss with that one.

I need fiber. I know this from past experience. I look at my skin and can tell that I’m holding toxins like a drug addict (no joke - pasty, bumpy, and bland looking). 40 grams a day is my goal, which after reading The Full Plate Diet (it’s not really a diet, just increasing your fiber intake). This goes hand in hand with the veggies.

I need water. Again, from past experience, I know this. I know what my body is like when it’s adequately hydrated. And my endurance with running is soooo much better. My lungs feel like they can function when I’ve had my 96 oz of water a day (FYI - 96 oz is 3 of my Nalgene bottles). This was one of my big issues I wrote about yesterday.

I need my vitamins. When I take them, I don’t feel I have to rely on caffeine to wake me up. I enjoy my homemade latte’s, but do not enjoy the feeling of relying on them so I can function in the morning. I do believe that coffee (not cows milk) is good for you in moderation, but I don’t want to have to rely on it. Anyway, I take a whole foods vitamin at night and find that it helps me wake up feeling refreshed in the morning. Virgin Coconut Oil was another key component to my health and overall feeling of well-being (and weight loss!) and I’m looking forward to incorporating that back into my diet. In fact, yesterday, I made a big peach, yogurt, and stevia smoothie with an ounce of coconut oil mixed in…it was awesome. Just enough of that fresh coconut flavor. Anyway…vitamins and coconut oil. Good stuff.

So, about The Full Plate Diet. I got word that a limited number of this pre-release book was available for free for a very short amount of time. I didn’t expect to gain any new information as I’ve been researching and preaching the benefits of a fiber rich diet for years (take your own advice, Steph…seriously!), but I applied to receive the book, was chosen, and actually have been impressed with this book! It’s held my attention, at least! It’s a quick read with lots of glossy, pretty pictures, and entirely about increasing your fiber to lose weight and live healthier. They cover quite a bit of information in a short amount of page real estate (again, most of it’s taken up by photos). They don’t stress cutting things out of your diet, but rather making sure that you’re getting all of the fiber and water that you’re supposed to in a day. Essentially, the rest will sort itself out. If you’d like to check it out, they’re now offering a free e-book at The Full Plate Diet.org.

So anyway, just to clarify, there is no sense of desperation here, just of change coming happily (I’m okay, Mom!). I’m enjoying a lot of new things in my life right now and this is just another to add to the list. This morning, I started out eating a boiled egg (obviously no fiber there, but am working out the rest of my day still) and drinking a latte. Water’s coming next and I’m about to get on the treadmill. Avoiding the leftover birthday cupcakes was surprisingly easy this morning and I’m planning a produce shopping trip for this afternoon.

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September 17, 2009

Food Preservation, Nutrition, and a Birthday

Filed under: Cooking, Family, Self-Development — Steph @ 10:18 am

I haven’t been hiding - just been busy. We had a good friend staying with us for a couple of weeks, I’ve canned my first foods, and today, we have a birthday. :)

I’m super excited about the canning. Everything I’ve made so far has turned out wonderfully. I always thought that those big jars of store bought strawberry preserves were as good as it got, and I’ve even been known to sit up in the corner of the counter in my parents kitchen with a jar, a spoon, and a glass of milk. After making strawberry jam for the first time, I will never be able to bring myself to buy another jar of ANY jam or preserves. It’s amazing that strawberries, sugar, and some pectin - nothing more - turn out to be better than commercially manufactured jam. I mean, I’m all about home cooking and creating amazing depths of flavors (like in my slow simmered spaghetti sauce I made last night!), but these companies with their taste trials and market research and all that - they should be able to produce superior results, no? Anyway, I’m stoked. So far, I’ve canned Old-fashioned raspberry jam, blueberry jam, apple butter (I’ve never had it, but found a recipe for it and am loving it on my banana bread!), pepper jelly (jalapenos and bell peppers - to die for!!!), and…uh, I think that’s it. I’m also working on some raspberry liqueur, blueberry liqueur, and a limoncello. I have plans to make some vanilla extract since we have so many vanilla beans running amok around here (seriously), and possibly some coffee liqueur. I also want to can my own chicken base (reduced stock) and tomatoes, but that will require me to “grow a pair” *ahem* to use the pressure cooker. Why is that so scary? It shouldn’t be…the pressure cookers of today are nothing like they used to be.

Having started food preservation has also kicked me into a new mode of exploration. I finally made some almond butter. I’ve wanted to for quite a long time, but it wasn’t until the boys weren’t allowed to bring peanut products (or pumpkin, unfortunately) into the school this year that I finally decided I needed to do it. I ordered some raw almonds, roasted them, and ground them up (almost killing my smaller food processor!). It’s really tasty, but I’ll post more about that later. I also finally picked up the raw cacao nibs that I’ve been dying to play with. I’m a big fan of hot chocolate in the fall and winter and think it would be a lot of fun to make my own cocoa powder with my own percentage of sugar. Nevermind all of the other chocolaty goodness to be created. FYI, cacao nibs are 100% chocolate, so if you want a nice, dark 70% chocolate for baking or consumption, you weigh out 70% cacao to 30% sugar. You’re in complete control of the sugar and I really like that.

On a different and completely bass akwards note, my main topic of research right now is raw food diets. Not for the purpose of dieting, but more because I want to feel better. I have no energy. I’m not sleeping well, I haven’t weighed myself, but I think I’m gaining weight. I feel like sleeping all day. I’m not depressed and that’s adding to my frustration because if I were depressed, that would be the root of all of this and I would know how to manage it. I’m trying to listen to what my body is telling me and these are the things I’m noticing:

100% of my diet right now consists of “comfort food.” Heavy pastas of either the red or white sauce variety are my “go to” meals of choice. Chocolate. I don’t even like chocolate that much, but one would never imagine that by the way I’m going after it right now. Coke, which I’d cut out of my diet for years, has now made a strong comeback. I’m frustrated by my desire to eat these things in excess because I know that they’re only contributing to the problem. Because I realize this, it’s easy for me to put off eating (out of frustration) until I’m really hungry (stupidly) and then, I seem to be unable to think about eating anything else. Clearly not a healthy cycle I’m in. It feels pretty gross.
Though I’m eating comfort foods, I’m craving fresh fruit. I’m craving fruit and veggies with lots of water such as watermelon and iceberg lettuce. Obviously, I’m dehydrated. Yes, I am. My water intake has dropped from about 96 oz a day to, oh…16. If I’m lucky. I also miss drinking Alaskan tap water. So cold and fresh. Here…in West Texas…we chew our tap water, which is why most of us have RO systems or at least a decent filter. And it’s not cold by any stretch of the imagination. Oh, no…it’s room temperature at best. Very odd having grown up in a far cooler location.
I’m craving the cold Pacific Northwest ocean air. I want to run in it. I want to feel saturated with it. My lungs and throat hate the desert. It doesn’t make sense to me that people would live in such a physically inhospitable place. With heat soaring above 100 degrees and humidity down below 20%, I don’t know how people survive here. I don’t want to move my body because moving means breathing and breathing means discomfort. Running inside on my treadmill is getting old and the breathing issue remains the same. Dehydration comes into play here, also, and that’s 100% my fault for not keeping up with my water intake.
The Man has some sort of allergy or something that’s causing him to have IBS type symptoms. He’s been like this, I think, the entire time I’ve known him. It worries me. I’m concerned about long-term inflammation. It’s typically worse when we eat out and sometimes, after a long stretch of only eating our own, freshly prepared foods (we don’t use packaged pantry food if we can help it), it completely disappears. I just wonder what the “key ingredient” to this is…

So, given the above observations, I’m being slowly drawn to “green smoothies” and a raw diet. Not 100%, mind you - I have no desire to cut out our love for kitchen chemistry, but I do feel that we’re grossly out of balance here. We need to stop the eating out, save for once a blue moon, and it will be much easier after tonight (birthday boy wants to go out). We have a killer juicer (Breville BJE200XL 700-Watt Compact Juice Fountain) that can handle just about everything you throw at it, so all I need now is the produce to go in it. Not sure this fits in well with my budget grocery shopping, but we’ll see… If anyone has any tips, tricks, or other suggestions, please throw them my way!

The birthday boy has decided he wants to give Texas Roadhouse another try for his birthday. Last year, he proudly said that was where he wanted to go, being fully aware of their birthday antics. For anyone who hasn’t witnessed this, the staff gather around and sing a loud chanting song while you’re on a sawhorse saddle, waving a napkin over your head like a lasso (totally mortifying, I’m sure - I refuse to step foot in the place on my birthday). Anyway, he went there and was so absolutely and completely embarrassed that I had to hold him with one hand out of the booth to at least stand up while they sang to him. The saddle was a definite no-go. His brother, on the other hand…well, let’s just say that he went at it with gusto on his birthday. GoodNESS, couldn’t even get him off the damn saddle. Anyway! So, that’s where he’s decided to go tonight for dinner. I’m still trying to decide whether we should make him a cake, buy him a cake, or let him pick a dessert from the menu. I guess I should ask him! LOL

Well, this is me, signing off. That was a whole lot of randomness crammed into one entry.

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August 26, 2009

Time Spent Couponing Pays!

Filed under: Finances, Retail Therapy — Steph @ 2:27 pm

I’m stoked. My first coupon shopping trip, I saved an even 20%. Off of a $100 grocery bill, $20 is pretty substantial! This time, I saved 37%. If I’d stuck strictly to my shopping list and avoided the deals on produce for the boys’ lunches, my total savings would have been 57%!

I picked up a chocolate Yoplait Whip for free and out of curiousity. It was surprisingly good, though I’m not sure I would spend money on them. We got four big boxes of Van De Kamp’s fish sticks and filets for free. I had a couple “buy X, get 1 free” coupons. I ended up paying only a dollar for each large box of Rice Krispies (yes…I will probably wind up making Rice Krispies Treats again). A couple of boxes of Trix cereal for free because of a Commissary coupon as well as a manufacturer coupon. There were two things that didn’t ring up at their sale price (and I didn’t have coupons for them), which concerns me, but the difference isn’t worth making a fuss over. I’ll call them to let them know, though.

I’m sold. Simple as that. I was worried about all the time I spent coupon hunting and clipping not being worth it (or the ink and paper!), but this is great. To top it off, this was all at the commissary and after reading numerous accounts of irritable checkers giving grief over coupons, I was anxious. My checker was so impressed, though, that she stated it loud and clear to my husband (hanging out, shopping with me on his lunch break - what a guy!) and added that her son needs to find someone like me. Yes, I’m blushing. LOL I also loved that as she was going through them, there were a couple that she had to comment on. ”This is a really good one!” For someone so new at this (I’m almost 30 - I can’t believe I didn’t figure this out earlier), those words were awesome.

Happy girl. Happy, happy girl.

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August 24, 2009

Summer’s Over

Filed under: Family, Self-Development — Steph @ 12:30 pm

The boys started school today. I got to go to Target alone and take my time (and time, I did take). While debating whether or not to get my nails done, I went to Hastings to get a chai tea latte and muffin for breakfast. Decided not to get my nails done, but to go to Home Depot’s garden center to see if something made me want to get my hands dirty. No such luck, though I did get some ideas for fall/winter landscaping (remember, I’m in Texas LOL). Am now thinking about running out to enroll the boys in the Tae Kwon Do lessons that will be starting here shortly. They’re definitely going to need activity since there aren’t any particularly active activities at school (unfortunately…).

Still need to drop off the boys’ immunization records and curriculum fees. The school was a mad house this morning and parents all over were wide-eyed and shaking their heads. It was so disorganized and the staff seemed ill-prepared. The school was a private, faith-based school last year and was approved for Charter status over the summer (which also means no more faith teachings, sadly). I know there will be bumps as they begin this journey, but I’m hoping the bumps are few and far between. We really loved the school last year - the staff was all wonderful, save for one condescending individual who was easily dealt with (just smile and nod, Steph, just smile and nod…). Unfortunately, that attitude seemed to be everywhere today as we were helping the boys get situated. In fact, while inquiring as to where we should take our children (no signs, only adults shouting in a large, echoing gymnasium along with what sounded like a million children), one lady told us in an incredibly inappropriate tone that we would have learned that at the open house…did we go? No? Well, the date was posted on the website…” Actually, ma’am, the date wasn’t posted on the website, I check the website weekly for updates, I did not encounter a “Meet and Greet” notice. Nor did we receive a letter, an e-mail, a phone call, or any other form of communication with this information. I don’t appreciate a raised eyebrow and a shrug as you turn away, thankyouverymuch. Being one to “pick my battles,” I did not think this warranted a fight and I would have walked away to cool off and possibly bring it up with higher-level administration. However, my far more tactful husband, pulled up the website on his iPhone and meekly asked her to please point us to the information we so clearly overlooked. She tried. About three times on that screen to find the info and couldn’t. Why? Because it’s not there. Just as fast as the apology escaped her lips, she backtracked by saying, “Well…nearly everyone attended…” That’s great, but I’d like to know how they were informed and we were not.

Let me state that it wasn’t a big deal to us at all until she treated us like we were stupid. What made it more of a big deal was that it was in front of our children. We make a point to be active in their education and we have high social standards for responsibility, accountability, and respect. We humbly asked for direction so we could assume responsibility for getting our children to the places they needed to be (an intentional lesson taught to them via observation - there is no fear necessary when trying to be responsible for oneself) and she is illustrating to them exactly how people should not treat each other by taking a tone and attitude that, yes, a child would have immediately shut down upon receiving. I’m just sad that the boys were gone by the time The Man got to illustrate to HER exactly how adults should treat each other. He was so kind and so gentle about it and I walked away feeling validated by my husband’s gentle strength instead of angry and hurt and resentful and doubting (that would have lasted the rest of the day and then whenever I encountered this woman). Well, I have to admit, I am a little doubtful after this morning, but I am hoping and praying for the best. I know that we have options and that’s a good mental place to be in.

I’m also grateful that I was able to learn a lesson by observation this morning on how I should be standing up for myself. I tend to “pick my battles” very carefully because I do realize I have a very strong and sometimes cutting personality that can sometimes make things worse if the conflicting personality is just as abrupt or less receptive than myself. I like that I am blunt, don’t mince words, and people know where I stand. I strive to do this in a matter-of-fact, void of extreme emotion, and respectful manner. However, and I’m merely being honest, it is not worth my own time to try to gain the respect of someone who clearly judged me in an instant with their own lack of respect for whatever reason (and no, I wasn’t in my pajamas or sweats - I looked respectable with hair and makeup done and jewelry). That my husband would seek to offer her some “enlightenment” after this means the world to me and he, truly, saved my day. I get inwardly bent out of shape over these things. Very anxious inside and disappointed with humanity and because of him, I’m enjoying my own little celebration day (celebration that I made it through the summer with both boys at home, locked INSIDE due to the ridiculous 100+ degree weather). Love, love, love.

This year will be good regardless of what happens with that school. Oh, and I don’t believe I’ve written about our updated plans for after military separation (which I imagine will probably be around January)! That’s a whole other entry, but I will say…Tennessee has topped Alaska in our location choices… :) More on that later! Lots new, unforeseen doors opening up and lots of excitement.

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August 18, 2009

Visit From the Tooth Fairy

Filed under: Family, Humor — Steph @ 9:45 pm

Typically, the elusive Ms. Tooth Fairy leaves money in exchange for teeth under pillows. Growing up, myself, I remember Ms. Tooth Fairy having her own money tree that grew with abundance. Miracle Grow, she must’ve given the dang thing, because I remember at least one instance in which I received a big, fat twenty dollar bill under my little princess head. I do, however, remember going through a lot of pain at the dentist office for that sucker. A molar with a root about a foot long. You think I’m kidding? It was double the length of the tooth itself. I digress…

Tonight, we discover that Ms. Tooth Fairy’s Money Tree o’ Abundance is missing. We think that Congress took it. In it’s place, she’s forced to offer an IOU.And the inside…the coupon!Think it will suffice? :) Now, if only the snaggle-toothed boy will go to sleep. His nosy brother, too. Ms. Tooth Fairy is dead tired and wishes nothing more than to flap her tiny little wings into bed.

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August 13, 2009

Rice Krispies Treats

Filed under: Cooking — Steph @ 3:39 pm

Since becoming a mother, I’ve wanted to make Rice Krispies Treats. It was something I remember my mother doing (vaguely - more of a smell memory of the butter and marshmallows melting). For whatever reason, I just never got around to it (you know, in almost seven years). Well, I finally did it!

And I will never do it again. :)

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August 12, 2009

Waiting for the Mail

Filed under: Organizing, Retail Therapy — Steph @ 10:32 am

Once again, I’m feeling slightly annoyed in an amusing way by yet another aspect of my domesticity. I’m (not so patiently) waiting for my coupon organizer to come in the mail. Yes, I’m obsessed with clipping coupons now. This will be my newest organizational acquisition. It nearly killed me to have to pull out a creased envelope from my purse. It was the creases and crumples, not the envelope. No, I’m not too good for simple envelopes, but I am above creases and crumples. OCD much? Yeah, well that’s part of the whole “Annoyingly Domestic” thing.And this is it open. It even has a cute little note pad and pen holder. I may have to put any coupon savings towards a Tiffany blue pen. ;) Am I negating the benefits of coupon savings? Nooo! Since it has six dividers, I need to figure out how to best organize my coupon booty (did I just say that? ugh). Dairy, freezer, pantry, meat, personal care, cleaning….hmm…that’s going to drive me nuts until I get it right.Reading this, one wouldn’t think that I was serious about saving money. LOL Truly, it is my goal to become one of those “I just spent $3 out of pocket for $154,333 worth of groceries” ladies, but, I have to admit, it’s a lot easier when I enjoy every aspect of what I’m doing - hence the pretty organizer (and I refuse to tote a ginormous binder with me in the store). My mother is probably laughing at me while reading this. Hi mom! Remember me sitting at the table with coupon clippings all over the place? Well, it took me over twenty years to realize that you can actually USE coupons to buy things with! Yay for me! (everyone else can just hush while you continue rolling your eyes) And besides - my first coupon shopping trip just a couple of days ago more than paid for this cute little accordion file (I saved 20%, which isn’t much to most, but it was a great start for me!).

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