Texas Word Tangle

Somebody Needs Some Love

2012-01-28T11:09:00.002-06:00

The Underside of Joy

2012-01-24T15:55:00.002-06:00

Being a mother,
I have a really hard time reading stories
involving tragic events and children.

So, I might not have picked up this book to read on my own.

But, because I'm part of the BlogHer Book Club,
I signed up to read and review The Underside of Joy by Sere Prince Halverson.
And I really enjoyed it.

OK, perhaps "enjoyed" is not quite the right word I'm looking for.

I was swept up in the emotions and the worry.
I felt the pain and anxiety.

I thought the author took a difficult situation and really did well exploring the complexity of the emotions.

The basic storyline is about a man who died, leaving behind his newish wife and two kids from his previous marriage.And, then his first wife enters the picture, and the women began a battle over the children.It pulls at your heart strings.

There is poetry in Sere Prince Halverson's words though.
It was so beautiful to read.

Even when I cried, I appreciated the beauty of the syntax.

Here's one of my favorite descriptions of the trees on their land:

I looked to the trees. They always calmed me. The redwood grove stood like our own appointed guards; their trunks rose straight and solid from the land, their branches so large, we had seen wild turkeys perched in them.

She continues with:

Our oaks were more like wise, arthritic grandparents. If you pulled up a chair and sat awhile and listened, you usually learned something useful. The fruit trees were like our cherished aunties, wearing frilly dresses and an overabundance of perfume in the spring, then by summer, indulging us with their generosity, dropping apples and pears and apricots by the bucketfuls..."

The setting, the history, the complex emotions.
This is a book you don't just read...you experience.

I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

It takes a Village

2012-01-19T09:39:00.000-06:00

It takes a village to raise my children.

Yesterday was a perfect example of this.

We have to wake up around 5am every morning

in order to walk out the door around 6am...

to get my oldest son to the high school

for early morning training.

After school he has more training and working out,

so he can't take the bus home.

Today my grandmother, his great-grandmother, picked him up

because I work far, far away in Dallas.

My grandmother also picked up my younger son

from his after-school care at the elementary school.

And she then took them both to my mom's house,

where she and my grandmother worked to come up with a formal outfit

for my older son for a football banquet.

A football banquet that we just found out about.

That I didn't realize was a formal event or that my son needed to attend.

(yes, OK, I did forget that I'd received a letter about it a while back.)

My mom and grandmother ironed a dress shirt, picked out a tie, found a jacket that fits, ran him home to grab his nice shoes (he somehow ended up with two left footed shoes?! How does that happen?), and had him completely ready by the time I walked in the door around 6pm after my hour-commute home.

All I had to do is drive him back to the high school in time for the football banquet.

The football banquet that lasted almost 3 hours.

On a school night.

Whereas he didn't get to his homework until 10pm.

And we went to bed much too late to wake up again the next morning at 5am.

But, the importance of this entire post is that it seriously takes a village to keep up with my kids.

And I couldn't do it without the help of my mother and grandmother.

They are LIFE savers.

(Isn't he handsome?)

Do you raise your kids all on your own?

How many people does it take to raise your children?

MLK Day Sunrise

2012-01-16T13:14:00.001-06:00

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

My Sunrise Addiction

2012-01-13T12:09:00.000-06:00

I have a new addiction.

I'm obsessed with sunrises.

More specifically, I am obsessed with taking pictures of the sunrises I see every day

on my commute to work.

Obsessed I tell you.

Now, there isn't a GREAT sunrise every morning.

But on the mornings that there are...

I try to find the best vantage point, along my drive.

I might pull over on the side of the road and take one with my window rolled down.

Or I try to snap one while driving on the highway.

The one above was taken at a stoplight,

and while I tried to crop out the phone lines...

I eventually decided they actually gave the photo a nice accent.

I ended up taking about 6 photos from the same sunrise this morning, after different angles and stages.

And the final photo, when I was ALMOST to work...was the best.

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll see I tweet them as I take them.

What do subject matter do you find yourself photographing over and over?

What beauty do you find it hard to resist?

(For me it's my children, nature, my dog Annie, & sunrises!)

It's Not Easy Being Green...or Maybe It Is

2012-01-12T10:32:00.001-06:00

My younger son, Remy, turned 10 years old this week.
We celebrated with family meals, cakes, and lots of balloons and birthday fun.

His great-grandmother gave him some birthday money.
And within two days, he knew exactly what he wanted to spend it on.

Meet Sparky:

Sparky is a Fire-Bellied Frog.
(He looks like a toad with the bumpy skin, but he's a frog with a red belly).
He's slightly toxic.

Remy's school is having Science Week this week...
and that also entails having a Science Store.

With his own money and my permission, he was able to purchase Sparky at school (container and all).
Sparky eats live crickets (good grief).
So, Remy spent all of recess yesterday searching for crickets, found one and fed it to the frog.

Now my older son wants one, so Remy will get another one at school this week to take home and keep Sparky company.

Last year at this time we had rabbits.
Now we have frogs.

The animal adventures continue.

What animal adventures have you had lately? Any odd pets?

The Magic Room

2011-12-31T11:14:00.000-06:00

As young girls, we often dream about romance and our wedding day.

We buy into the Disney Dream, of princes riding up on white horses to rescue us from our ordinary lives.

But that's not usually how things turn out.

These days we have to be our own prince...

work hard to buy our own white horse and rescue ourselves.

And, I have to admit, I'd rather rescue myself than have someone else do it for me.

I just finished reading The Magic Room by Jeffrey Zaslow for the BlogHer Book Club.

It focuses on the a 7-generation Bridal store in Fowler, Michigan, stories about the family who has run it and the brides who buy their dresses there.

The stories were overwhelming.

many different brides and different issues.

But overall it touched on the hope that women have about their weddings

and the dreams parents and grandparents have for their daughters and granddaughters on their wedding day...

and how picking out the dress plays such a huge part of that.

I married my high school sweetheart at age 19, pregnant and rushed,

but my wedding was magical and wonderful.

Now I'm 34, and I've grown up.

I have two wonderful boys, and I'm separated from my husband.

I'm a bit bitter about marriage, so reading this book was emotional for me.

I found myself cynical about the love stories.

But, then there's the lining of hope that resides around the edges of this story...and I can't help but feel it.

Hope it such an important aspect in our lives. As is love.

Some of us get it wrong at first.

But that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, right?

Join our discussion about weddings, love and marriage over on BlogHer Book Club.

I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

A Reading Challenge

2011-12-29T14:45:00.000-06:00

With the New Year comes changes and resolutions...

getting back into shape,

taking on new projects,

making ourselves better people.

I'm on board with all of these! It's a good time to make changes.

And now I have a new resolution that someone recently shared with me.

And, that's the joy of taking on a reading challenges.

I'm so excited by this idea!
Here's the original novel challenge article from SassyMonkey at BlogHer that peaked my excitement.

There are so many options you can choose:

the food-lit challenge
the Jane Austen challenge
the Romance novel challenge
the short story challenge
the deepen your faith challenge
the finish that series challenge
the audio book challenge
3360 minutes reading challenge - read to your child at least 10 minutes every day

the Out Do Yourself challenge - read more books this calendar year than last year

Obviously you can combine challenges in some cases.

Or you can make up your own!
There is a list of challenges on the Novel Challenge website.

This is the first year I've made a spreadsheet

and kept track of how many books (and which ones) I read.

I think I'm at just under 100 books for 2011.

I'm trying to decide which challenges I want to take on...

but I'm leaning towards the Jane Austen one,

because I don't think I've ever read all her books...

and a Sherlock Holmes one,

because I've NEVER read Sherlock Holmes!!

Which one will you take on?

"Reading means growth. Reading is fundamental. Reading and expanding knowledge are not only important but they nearly essential to long term success in life."

The PEN Ready Project from Olympus

2011-12-28T11:21:00.000-06:00

My first camera was an Olympus 35mm that my mother gave to me when I was in high school.

I was taking a photography class my freshman year,
back when we had to load our own film
and use dark rooms and chemicals to process.

One of our first field trips was to a junkyard.
At first I was horrified by a photography assignment there...
but once you start looking at things through a camera lens,
you won't believe what you'll find.

It was magical.

Photography is still magical to me today,
almost more so now that we have digital cameras.

To show how easy it is for everyday people to take amazing pictures,

Olympus gave over 1,000 people a new Olympus PEN® E-PM1.

It's all part of The PEN Ready Project—more than 1,000 cameras, over 1,000 people, 6 cities.

To see what they shot, go to http://penready.com.

This post is sponsored by Olumpus, but my words, of course, are always my own.

Just around the corner

2011-12-23T11:37:00.004-06:00

I love this time of year.

The leaves falling, the vibrant colors.

Winter blustering in slowly.

I'm looking forward to the next few days,

where I can visit with my sister who's in town visiting,

spend more time with my boys,

enjoy quality moments my parents and grandmother.

What are you looking forward to?

The Secret to Morning Inspiration: Lego Star Wars?

2011-12-15T15:02:00.000-06:00

This is the first ten days worth of my son's Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar.
He LOVES it.

Every morning, he pops out of bed and goes to make his Star Wars Lego kit for the day.
BEST Advent Calendar EVER.

However, two days ago, he popped out of bed as usual...and grabbed some paper and wrote down a poem.

A poem.

A poem he took to school and made the equivalent of an A+ on!!

If only I could pop out of bed with such energy, fizzing thoughts and inspiration.

T-Mobile Christmas Flash Mob

2011-12-14T13:10:00.000-06:00

These holiday shoppers had NO IDEA of the holiday surprise they were about to receive.T-Mobile pulled off a great performance/flash mob.

Really touching.I'd actually go to the mall if I thought I might see this!!

This post is sponsored by T-Mobile.

She's a lover, not a fighter

2011-12-10T14:48:00.001-06:00

I laid down in front of Miss Annie to get a photo from her level.

She may not be able to speak to us, but she says a lot with her eyes.

She lets us know when she urgently needs to go outside to the bathroom.

Or if she's hungry.

Or if she's just begging for people food from our plates.

Or if she just needs love.

She's such a sweetie. A lover, not a fighter.

Teenage Psychological Warfare

2011-12-09T13:54:00.001-06:00

If you have a teenager in your life, then you know how they use psychological warfare in their combat exercises.

My 14-year-old has had two surgeries this fall. One for his appendix and the other for a knee injury from football. This has led to him believing that we should all wait on him...and serve him...and bring him everything he desires.

Granted, for a short period, post-op, he needed this extra catering to his every whim...but that period is over.

And now, when I ask him to feed the dog, he tells me his knee is hurting.
When I ask him to take his dishes to the kitchen...his knee is hurting.
When I ask him to clean up his room...his knee is hurting.

But, it doesn't hurt when he plays basketball.
Or when he hops up to grab his phone.

I'm sensing a theme.

Oh, also, his latest response when I actually refuse to do something for him?

"Mama, can you pick up a steak tonight? I need meat."
"Donny, I'm not going to pick up pizza for dinner tonight."
"You don't love me anymore."

That, my friends, is teenage psychological warfare.

Have you experience this widely contagious phenomenon plaguing our nation's teenagers?

Lake of Dreams

2011-12-06T15:32:00.001-06:00

What would you do if you discovered that your family history had an unknown story?

One that changed much of what you believed about your family?

Would you explore it, or would you let it be?

In Kim Edwards' Lake of Dreams, the main character,

searches to answer a family mystery

while also trying to decide what to do with her life.

The author uses nature effortlessly in all her settings,

and the history is rich with details.

The family secret drives Lake of Dreams,

a puzzle that goes back generations

and intertwines with the 1910 appearance of Halley’s comet,

the suffragist movement in upstate New York,

and the burgeoning early 20th-century industry in the Finger Lakes region.

I loved the symbolism built into the earthquakes in Japan and the study of water.

The glass making and the lock picking.

There were so many wonderful aspects to this book, that I read it so quickly...

but for some reason was left with a sense of dissatisfaction when it was complete.

I'm not sure why.

But, I'd recommend it as a good read.

This book made me want to go sit down with my grandmother and listen to her memories.

To get them down and preserve them for future generations.

I never make the time to do that, and I really want to!

Join in on our discussion about Lake of Dreams over on BlogHer Book Club!

Once Upon A Family

2011-11-30T19:21:00.001-06:00

Today I attended a blogger luncheon hosted by Once Upon A Family

Who are they? Their website said that they are a company that makes products that to add joy, closeness and meaning to every family's story.

And it's true. I had a chance to check out some of their stuff, and I was impressed!

They had holiday themed items, like a Santa Pillow, to help celebrate traditions.

To treasure the passing on of life's lessons, they had things like value lessons box

And, they had products like the love notes box to help build and maintain loving relationships.

They fed us lunch. Yum!

They sent us home with goody bags that had the Santa Pillow, a box of holiday cards and a box of conversation starter cards that I can't wait to open!

If you have a minute or need some great gift ideas, check out the Once Upon a Family online store.

Which one of their products could you see yourself using?

I was not paid to write this post about Once Upon a Family. They did treat me to lunch and gave me some swag, but all opinions here are definitely my own.

Math Wizard

2011-11-29T21:53:00.003-06:00

Tonight was Math Night at the elementary school.

And, so, even though I'd been up since 5am, driven two hours in commute to and from work and worked a full day, I made sure we went to Math Night.

Math is a noble creature.

It deserves its own night of celebration.

I used to like math.

I was even kind of good at it.

My boys, they both love math.

And at Math Night you get to play games, earn star stickers and collect a prize and a bag of popcorn at the end.

Here's Remy playing a few math games tonight.

And he even got his older brother to play a few games.

And then, a genuine, Math Wizard snuck up on them.

Unfortuneately, the popcorn burned and set off all the extremely loud fire alarm and flashing lights, causing our well-trained children to file outside immediately...

We rocked Math Night.

Duct Taped Weaponry

2011-11-28T21:23:00.000-06:00

I think the shiny silver and gold duct tape was originally

to keep the gun from falling apart...

and then progressed into a fashion statement.

Frustrations

2011-11-27T22:01:00.000-06:00

My broken vacuum cleaner apparently uses belts that are NOT easy to find. Anywhere.
The high school off-season football program may take up more time than actual football did.
This means getting my son to the high school before 6:30am every morning because no bus will get him there in time.
This also means he may not be able to take the bus after school due to weight lifting.
And I'm trying to figure out how to get him home if he can't take the bus.
Which makes me angry that their dad doesn't live close enough to help with the daily parenting.

Christmas is now less than a month away, and I have no idea how I'm going to afford it.
Life is so complicated.

But, I'm thankful for the roof over my head,
the food on my table,
the car that transports me,
my job that supports me,
my family who loves me,
and my amazing children.

Thank you for listening. I just needed to vent.

Thankful

2011-11-26T21:21:00.000-06:00

I took my dog on a walk this morning and admired the changing colors on our trees.
This is my favorite time of year.

This Thanksgiving weekend has been a very calm and relaxing holiday.
With my older son recovering from knee surgery...and my younger son out of town with his father...
it's been quiet and restful.

I've had time to make pancake breakfasts for my older son and his friends.
I've been able to walk the dog in the morning.
I've been able to lie on the couch and read all day.

It's been wonderful, calm & restful, and for that I'm very thankful.

Sea Change

2011-11-25T16:29:00.000-06:00

People write for so many different reasons.

I write to express my creativity and have fun.
I write to tell a story.
I write for therapy.

I just finished reading a novel called Sea Change by Jeremy Page for BlogHer Book Club.
It's about a man who experiences a terrible tragedy and then spends five years on a boat, writing an alternate ending to his life.

He literally journals how he thought his life would continue on as if the tragedy had never occurred.

It was fascinating...and sad.
I can't imagine his mental state to carry on like that.
To live in almost complete isolation on his boat.
And to live in a made up world most of the time.

But, it was an intriguing read, and the writing was beautiful.
It's not a book I would have picked up to read on my own, that's part of what I love about the BlogHer Book Club...it's discovering writing gems that I might never have found on my own.

Join in on our discussion about Sea Change over at BlogHer Books!

I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

Not the Usual Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T22:51:00.000-06:00

This Thanksgiving has been a little different.
My son and my mother had surgery two days ago, so they're both recouperating.

We ended up ordering Thanksgiving meal, instead of cooking, to make things easier this year.

And while, the meal was good, it wasn't the same.
The process of cooking, the usual smells, the coming together in preparation....

that was all missing.

But, I'm thankful.

Thankful my mom and son are healing so well.
Thankful we were able to make the holiday a little easier this year.
I'm thankful I was able to spend time with my family.

And at the end of the meal, we played a rousing game of Blokus.
4 generations of family.

I'm thankful for that and so much more.

An Impressive Display of Holiday Cheer

2011-11-23T21:02:00.000-06:00

I saw this in my grocery store today.

A snowman made out of Coca-Cola 12 packs!

Impressive and creative!!

Seen any cool holiday decorations yet?

And, yes, I'm one of those people who prefers you not put out Christmas decorations

until Thanksgiving is over.

Knee Surgery & Chicken and Dumplings

2011-11-22T19:31:00.000-06:00

The day started with my 14-year-old having knee surgery

due to a lateral meniscus tear from playing football.

They shaved his knee and then let me initial it...

you know, to be sure I had their permission.

(OK, not really, it's to verify they are operating on the correct knee.)

Then the surgeon showed up and wrote "YES" in big letters on the same knee...

and wrote "NOT" on the other knee.

He knew what he was doing.

And the surgery went well.

And now my son is home.

My grandmother has dropped off his favorite meal.

She made him chicken and dumplings.

And all is right with the world again.

The Eve of Tomorrow

2011-11-21T22:50:00.000-06:00

Tonight there is rain, thunder and lightning.
Tonight I crawl into bed, tired, eyes itchy, head hurting.
Tonight my mind races, hoping I have done everything in preparation for tomorrow.

Phones are charging.
Game devices are charging.
Kindle is charging.
Books are packed.
Laptop in its case, so I can work remotely.

Because tomorrow, first thing, I have two family members scheduled for surgery.
And that, my friends, makes for a long and stressful day.

The surgeries aren't too serious or life threatening, but they aren't a walk in the park either.
And so as I climb into bed, into darkness with thunder in the background, I can't help but worry.
And hope we're all prepared.

Reason #32 Why I Love the Weekend

2011-11-20T20:02:00.000-06:00

It's a chance to take Annie in the car with me to run errands.

(She LOVES the car!)

Reason #23 Why I love the Weekend

2011-11-19T22:46:00.000-06:00

I have time to make my boys pancakes.

What do you have time to do on the weekends?

A Zombie Apocalypse Drill

2011-11-18T15:20:00.000-06:00

My son's high school had a Zombie Apocalypse Drill yesterday.

They used the Theater Department as the Zombies and the victims.

The used the EMT Department (high schoolers training to be EMTs) to assess the victims

and they used the Criminal Justice Department to arrest and do some crime scene investigation.

That's a creative learning drill!!

The Worrying Never Ends

2011-11-17T21:23:00.000-06:00

When you become a parent, you become skilled at the Art of Worrying.

You worry whether you're eating the right things

caring for the baby growing inside you.

You worry the baby is getting enough to eat

and worry why he's crying when he's a newborn.

You worry he's growing and progressing at a normal rate

as he becomes a toddler.

You worry he will adjust to school, that he'll make friends and do well.

The worrying never ends.

You worry about new things every year.

My first born son is just months away from turning 15 years old...

and my new worry?

Driving.

He'll start learning to drive.

Heaven help me.

The worrying never ends.

What are you current worries?

Portal to Another Dimension?

2011-11-16T22:24:00.000-06:00

On my drive home from work, I looked up in the cloudy sky and saw this:

You see it, right? The circle in the sky? mid-photo?

It must be a portal to another dimension, right?

Or have I been watching too much sci-fi lately?

No, it MUST be a portal.

Seen anything strange lately?

Things You Shouldn't Do in a Meeting

2011-11-15T12:58:00.000-06:00

I've sat through a lot of meetings/presentations during my time.

Enough that I feel qualified to tell you

what you should and shouldn't do in a meeting.

Things you shouldn't do in a formal meeting:

Chew gum
suck on your pen
do your nails
have side conversations with other people
***Play with your phone***
Play with your hair
Wiggle in your chair.

It's all about respect.

Someone is taking the time to share info with you,

you need to respect them and give them your full attention.

You SHOULD:

Make eye contact with the speaker
Sit up straight
Always have a pen and paper
Take notes

What's the most outrageous thing you've seen people do in a meeting?

Any suggestions to add to my list?

6 Random Things That Are Driving Me Crazy

2011-11-14T22:20:00.000-06:00

Sometimes the little stuff adds up. I've been feeling a little grouchy and irritated lately.

The motor in my side mirror won't shut off...so when my car is on, there is this awful noise coming from my side mirror that won't STOP! (But at least my car gets me to work and home reliably every day!)
Every time I turn around, my boys are throwing a football. It's a non-stop, 24/7 game of catch. (at least they are active and athletic)
The weather keeps jumping around from 80 degrees and summer-like to almost freezing. Back and forth and back and forth. Just turn cold already!! (Thank goodness we don't have super harsh winters)
My closet looks like a tornado hit it, and I can't seem to make the time to organize it. (At least I have clothes to wear)
My ex ends up spending every weekend on my couch. (At least he wants to spend time with his boys!)
I can't complain about things without feeling totally guilty for complaining. (I always have to look for the glass half full)

What about you? Anything driving you nuts?
What do you feel guilty about complaining about?

Sunday Night Haiku - Treasured Time

2011-11-13T21:38:00.000-06:00

Laughs with my two boys

Sleeping in and books in bed

Treasured time at home

My Nothing

2011-11-12T22:29:00.000-06:00

(from NASA.gov)

I'm sitting here trying to think of something to write...
and I've got nothing.

A
Big
Fat
Empty
Nothing.

That's the funk I've been in lately.

Sometimes I think there's a black hole inside of me, sucking every bit of confidence and creativity and desire...

Here's the definition of a Black Hole from NASA:

A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light can not get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.

Because no light can get out, people can't see black holes. They are invisible. Space telescopes with special tools can help find black holes. The special tools can see how stars that are very close to black holes act differently than other stars.

Every now and then this black hole shows up in my life.
It's hard to fight the gravity pulling me into it.
But I will.
I always do.

Why am I even trying to write anything?
Because I committed myself to NaBloWriMo,
to write a blog post every day in November.

So, do I sit down and just write something, anything, to fill the space and mark off a day?
Do I do it because I set a goal for myself and I need to achieve it?

Will writing this count?
What does it count for?
What does it mean?

That's the kind of mood I'm in tonight.

It's a nothing-kind-of-mood.

What goals do you set for yourself and how hard to you stick to them?
Do you ever end up in a Nothing Mood?

American Hero Dog Awards

2011-11-11T20:50:00.000-06:00

Tonight I discovered the best award show ever on TV,
The American Hero Dog Awards!

So, I called Annie into the bedroom. She's my Hero Dog.

And had her watch the show with me.

It was so touching and amazing.
Dogs that are involved in military operations, therapy programs and search and rescue....

Seriously the best awards show EVER.

Thank you, American Humane Association, the Hallmark Channel and Cesar Cuisine for such a moving event!

My grandmother is more hip than I am

2011-11-10T21:28:00.000-06:00

Photographic evidence. She keeps up with fashion trends way better than I do.

My grandmother lived in Baton Rouge for all my life...until the last couple of years. She moved to the same town I live in now, and I get to have her in my life and my boys life on a much more regular basis.

And that warms my heart.

la Madeleine Country French Cafe

2011-11-09T20:22:00.001-06:00

30 years ago, in Dallas, TX, a Frenchman named Patrick Esquerre decided to open a country cafe to celebrate his love of fresh food with the help of his mother, Monique.

Today, they operate over 60 locations around the country, and I had the opportunity to visit their newly re-designed bakery-cafe inside of NorthPark Center in Dallas.

I need to let you in on a little secret...I was already a big fan of la Madeleine BEFORE today, but now I'm even more so after touring their new cafe, meeting the founder, Patrick Esquerre, and the CEO, Phil Costner, and tasting some fresh pastries.

During our tour, I discovered that they set up their pastry station at the entrance to the cafe, so that customers can see their deliciousness being made right there! I also learned they bake their own bread on location every day! Talk about FRESH! (It smelled heavenly in there)

We were also given the opportunity to try some of their amazing pastries, and I considered it my duty to taste-test everything for the general public. You know, to guarantee their freshness and all that.

They passed. Trust me. They PASSED. DELICIOUS!!

We had an opportunity to speak with the founder, and he was just delightful. Hearing his story, his mission behind the restaurant, was inspiring. He shared a story that he and his baker shared an apartment in the beginning, and they took turns sleeping and baking. One slept, the other baked. And vice versa.

It's great to see how modern and gourmet the restaurant experience is now with their new modular kitchen and digital menu display yet it still retains that warm, quaint, country French cafe atmosphere.

Did you know they are also up on all the current social media too? I found them on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube...and they have their own BLOG!

Thanks, la Madeleine, for letting me see your new digs, talking to your peeps and the swag I got to take home.

(my goodies!)

Tales from the School Bus

2011-11-08T21:30:00.000-06:00

My 9 yr old takes the school bus to school, and he came home the other day with an interesting story.
He told me that he'd gotten on the school bus the other morning, and that the bus driver was asking the kids where he was supposed to go next.

He didn't know the route. (He wasn't the usual driver)

My son said he never pays attention to the direction they take...so he couldn't help the driver, but luckily some girl was able to help the driver. My son said it was stressful worrying about whether he was going to make it to school on time or get lost.

Seems like they'd give those drivers maps? A route written down on paper? GPS?!

My older son, who's 14 years old also takes the bus. He told me that there have been a couple of fights break out on the bus before, and so I immediately asked him how he handled that situation. What did he do when a fight broke out? What did other kids do?

He told me that he just watched. Like the other kids.

It sounds like the bus is a daily adventure!!

Football Haiku

2011-11-07T21:10:00.000-06:00

The helmets are off

The crowds have finished cheering

Farewell til next year

He's giving me gray hair!

2011-11-06T16:57:00.000-06:00

My 14-year-old son has had:

6 broken bones,
several sprains,
and
less than a month ago he had a bad appendix
and now...

It's his knee.

He had a MRI yesterday, and we'll find out tomorrow what's going on.

I'm really hoping he doesn't need surgery!!

(and I'm not even going to mention that in 3 months he can get a learner's permit and start driving! Oh, vey!!)

A Masked Labradoodle

2011-11-05T11:25:00.000-05:00

Tazi, the Labradoodle. Halloween 2011

Insurmountable?

2011-11-04T15:49:00.000-05:00

I feel like a tiny spec at the bottom of this mountain.
And I need to be to the top of this mountain in less than 30 days.

And I don't have a lot of expience mountain climbing.
OK, I've NEVER climbed a montain.

I've hiked.
I've climbed hills.
But never a mountain.

What on earth am I talking about?
(I love analogies & symbolism)

I've joined National BlogWritingMonth (NaBloWriMo)
and
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)

The blogging part I can handle.
The novel part...feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Every time I sit down to write, I get a little out...and then I think it's so horrible I restart.
I think I've restarted three times.
I can't committ to a story line.
What's wrong with me?!

In order to complete 50,000 words by November 30th, I need to write an average of 1.667 words a day. And right now, as of Day 4...I'm way behind.

If I can get caught up this weekend, it may be hopeless.

Are you participating in any kind of writing challenge?
If you're not a writer, what's your poison? What kind of challenges would you participate in?

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore

2011-11-03T15:38:00.001-05:00

When I was a child, I was in several plays and musicals in our local theater company.

I was Gretl in The Sound of Music.

I was an orphan in Annie.

And I loved it!
(I was also a superhero, but that's another story!)

However, I wasn't forced into theater,

I did it for fun...

unlike Theodora,

a true historical figure

from the Roman Empire

in the 6th Century.

Theodora started out having to dance, act and entertain as a child so that she wouldn't go hungry.

She was also forced into becoming a whore

& was a famous acrobat and comedian by the age of 15.

This woman did not have an easy life,

and eventually ended up being crowned Empress

when she was 27 years old.

How can you resist a story like that?

I couldn't.

I had to read it.

And apparently HBO was impressed as well

because they are turning it into a mini-series!!

And join our conversation about it over on BlogHer Books

where we chat with the author, Stella Duffy and hold discussions.

"Theodora isn't a novel that you'll rush through, hurriedly skimming and turning each page. It's a novel you ease yourself into and then slowly enjoy, preferably with a side of good bread, even better cheese and great red wine."

I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

Perspective

2011-11-02T12:17:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, when I came home from work and was rushing to turn right back around and get my 9 yr old to football practice, my older son, (who recently recovered from appendicitis) made an appearance and asked me, "Mama, how was work today?"

I was in a hurry and said something along the lines of "It was fine" or "OK."

And then he said, "Did you win?"

This question might seem odd to some, but coming from my competitive, sports-minded son, it made sense.

It's all about perspective, folks.

Did you approach your day with this attitude?
Did you win today?

A Comedic Halloween

2011-11-01T13:08:00.000-05:00

This was not a scary Halloween.

It was a last-minute scramble to make costumes without spending money.

Here's my rocker/wolfman/IhaveNoIdeaWhatTheHeckHeIs

And then my younger son, went around like this:

and he told the people who gave him candy, "Bless you, my child."

What were you for Halloween?
Do you give out candy?

Do you send Holiday Cards? It's a Shutterfly Giveaway!

2011-10-28T11:52:00.000-05:00

I know some people who take the holiday family photos regligiously every year, color-coordinated, ordered, signed, stamped and addressed right after Thanksgiving...

And others who send online cards. Or no cards at all.

There's a lot of in between.

I love sending Christmas cards...but as I mentioned in the Do's & Don'ts of Holiday Cards, I haven't been able to afford them the last couple of years. But, when I have, I've always used Shutterfly. And Shutterfly has an amazing variety of cards.

If you're more of a Feliz Navidad:

Or a Happy Hanukkah:

Or a traditional Merry Christmas:

Or a more generic Happy Holidays:

Or a Happy New Year:

Do you send cards? Do you want to?
I'm giving away a promo code for 25 free cards...to three different readers!

Leave me a comment below for your first entry, and let me know which card is your favorite from Shutterfly's Christmas Cards or other Holiday Cards.
For an extra entry you can tweet or mention this on Facebook.

I'll choose three winners by next Friday, November 4th!!

Are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here: http://goo.gl/DDw7Q

The Do's & Don't of Christmas Cards

2011-10-25T21:15:00.001-05:00

I love sending and receiving Christmas cards.

Here's one of our old cards:

Holiday cards are an excellent opportunity to see old friends and how their families have grown, to see the new babies and growing kids. It gives me a warm feeling to hear from family and friends...and to send them some love in return. However, there are some definitely Do's & Don'ts when preparing your holiday cards.

Do display modesty. Don't boast that your toddler has created an algorithm to rival Google's.
Do include highlights of your year. Family update letters are usually a blast to read and catch up on everyone's antics. Don't share major news that might be depressing.
Don't use the cards as a chance to push your political or relgious agenda on others. But it is OK to send a religious card.
Do send out cards early or late, it doesn't matter the timing...as long as it's not BEFORE Thanksgiving.
Do use the opportunity to be creative! Include photos. Don't spend a fortune on your cards...it's tacky and offensive during these economic times.

And in my opinion, you can't go wrong using Shutterfly for your holiday photos. I've been using them every single year to make mine, and I haven't been disappointed once. I've also made photo calendars each year of my children to send to grandparents, had photos put on coffee mugs for special gifts and even had photos put on special boxes and made into canvass paintings. If I had my way, I'd make every gift a Shutterfly gift, because I love turning photo memories into gifts.

Here's another one of our old Christmas cards made from Shutterfly:

They have so many adorable and inspiring designs...and you can add one photo or multiple photos and add your own message. And, I've always received them timely and in excellent condition.

Sadly, since separating from my husband and being a full-time working mom, I haven't been able to afford Christmas cards the last two years. But, this year, I'm so excited because Shutterfly has offered me a chance to make free cards AND offer 3 of my readers an opportunity to win 25 free cards from Shutterfly!

I can't wait to get started on this year's cards! My first step will be dragging the boys and the dog outdoors and giving my mom the camera to take our photo. It might be easy and quick...it might be long and torturous. but no matter what, I'm making memories and traditions with my children for years to come.

Are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here: http://goo.gl/DDw7Q”

Have you received some bad Christmas Cards?
Are photo cards your favorite?

Love at First Bark

2011-10-22T11:49:00.001-05:00

This is Annie.

Four years ago, we adopted Annie from the DFW Lab Rescue organization.

She was an older dog (not a puppy), with an unknown past,

but she'd obviously had training, she sat on command, shook hands,

walked well on a leash, and was house-broken.

She's the best decision we've ever made!

Don't underestimate the power of a pet in your life!

I grew up on a ranch around tons of animals,

and when we adopted Annie,

it was finally my chance to share a love of animals with my boys.

And love Annie they do.

I was excited when I had a chance to read and review Love at First Bark

by Julie Klam for BlogHer Book Club and Penguin Books.

The author shares a few of her rescue stories and bits about her life.

It's a quick, easy read, especially if you like dogs, and I enjoyed it.

But, I'll admit, no matter how huge a dog lover I am...

I don't understand the passion and energy some people put into animal rescues.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE animals,

but I've never felt the need to do so much for them on the same level as the author.

However, when you decide to get a pet, please adopt!
There are so many animals out there who need homes.
Rescued animals have lived a harder life and need love.
Donate, adopt, foster.

I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

The things I want to do to Mason Jars

2011-10-19T15:52:00.001-05:00

I've always had a thing for jars.
Call it what you will...a lust, a fetish, an unhealthy fascination...
(Remember when I shared my mom's fetish?)

This is the first time I've admitted it, said it out loud.

I LOVE glass jars.
And I want to do things to them.

Things like this

(glow paint in a jar, it's genius!)

and this

(A photo in olive oil!)

And this.

(hanging jars!)

I could keep showing you example after example after example of what I want to do to jars.

(flowers in jars!)

I can't stop. Help me.

(so many jar ideas!)

What about you? Have you done things to jars?
Do you want to do things to jars?

I'd rather fly the plane than jump out of it

2011-10-14T14:37:00.000-05:00

I'd rather be behind the camera lense than in front of it.
I'd rather write the play than be a star in it.
I'd rather report on an event than be in.

Does that make me anti-social?
Shy?

Signs I might be anti-social:
I'm always "unavailable" to chat on Facebook.
I rarely answer my phone
I'd rather be reading a book than shopping

I guess that cinches it.
I'm anti-social.

Although, Wikipedia says this: In common English vernacular; anti-social is often used to describe those perceived to be excessively introverted, an incorrect though increasingly common usage. The correct term for an introverted person who is "not social" would be asocial; asocial means "avoidance of society" while antisocial means "hostile toward society".

OK, maybe I'm more asocial...

What are YOU?

GasX does not cure Appendicitis

2011-10-13T09:32:00.000-05:00

My 14 year-old son was home sick for two days last week with a virus, when he developed pain in his abdomen that wouldn't go away.

He thought it was gas.

However, after 6 hours of pain and no relief from GasX (they have these neat little thin strips that you dissolve on your tongue), we moved to Plan B: The Emergency Room

Turns out he had appendicitis, and less than 12 hours later...surgery to remove it.

The lesson I have learned from all of this?
GasX does NOT cure Appendicitis.

Have you had your appendix out?
(I still have mine. Is it a ticking time bomb?)

How to be an American Housewife

2011-10-07T17:34:00.000-05:00

Confession: I was embarrassed to be seen hauling this book around.

However, my only chances to read this week were during my son's football practice

and at the hospital while my other son had an emergency appendectomy.

(it's been a crazy week!)

I didn't want people to think I needed advice being an American housewife.

I know that's silly.

Let's face it, every housewife has different challenges

but some definitely have more than most,

and this book showcases two very different "housewife" experiences.

The story is told from the perspective of two women, a mother and daughter.

The mother, Shoko, was a Japanese war bride

who moved to the USA with her American husband.

She chronicles her experience as a housewife in America.

The other part of the story is told from her daughter's perspective,

her grown up daughter, Sue, who was born and raised in the U.S.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the insight into Japanese culture.

And insight into how a Japanese woman was treated in the U.S.

following World War II.

There are secrets and betrayals.

Family intricacies.

Romance and love.

What really brought the story full circle for me,

was when the daughter returned to Japan on her mother's request.

That was my favorite part.

Join in on the How to be an American Housewife discussion!

I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

Tweets that made me smile

2011-10-05T16:21:00.000-05:00

Texas Monthly Magazine tweeting about birds on the capitol building in Austin.
Just made me smile.

I'm not a birder.
Are you?

Have you seen anything on Twitter lately that made you smile?

If you want to follow me on Twitter, if you want to follow Texas Monthly.

Mystery Science Project

2011-10-03T16:29:00.000-05:00

my 9th grader had to turn in a science project last week.

Wanna guess what it is?

Lunch Wars

2011-10-01T17:48:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading Lunch Wars by Amy Kalafa for BlogHer Book Club.
It's not a sweet, feel-good kind of book.
It's a get-up-and-do-something, make-a-difference-in-your-children's-lives kind of book.

Ultimately, it's about educating ourselves, making all parents aware, and then doing something about it. And, by IT, I mean, NUTRITION. Specifically, nutrition in our schools.

Reading this book made me want to dwelve deeper into my children's school lunch program.
I have one son in elementary school and one in high school.
And both boys tend to bring their own lunches to school, although they will occasionally go through the line and buy something in the cafeteria.

Our school district seems very upfront about school nutrition.
They post the menus on the district website and send them home each month with the kids.
On the website you can find out the nutrient info for each item on the menu.

So all school districts do this?
I'm not sure.

Here's Monday's meal at the elementary school:

Meatball Sub
Chicken Nuggets
Wheat Dinner Roll
Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Egg Chef Salad
Wheat Dinner Roll
Cheesy Broccoli
WG Soft Bake Pretzel Rod
Fresh Tomato
Fresh Cucumber
Sliced Peaches w/Juice
Fresh Grapes
Orange Juice 100%
Butter Sugar Cookie
1% White Milk
MILK, Skim, Chocolate
Skim Milk
Ketchup Packet PC
Mustard Packet PC
Mayonaise Packet PC
ItalianDressingPacket PC
Ranch DressingPacket PC
Margarine

And here are the nutrients:

ELEMENTARY-Lunch

Monday, Sep 26, 2011

Recipes	Calories	Cholesterol mg	Sodium mg	Dietary Fiber g	Iron mg	Calcium mg	Vitamin A IU	Vitamin C mg	Protein g	Carbohydrate g	Total Fat g	Saturated Fat g
Meatball Sub	335	37	976	3.40	4.06	264.82	281	3.00	21.86	34.19	12.18	4.92
Chicken Nuggets	180	20	450	2.00	1.80	40.00	0	0.00	13.00	14.00	8.00	1.50
Wheat Dinner Roll	120	0	200	2.00	1.08	10.00	0	0.00	4.00	22.00	1.50	0.50
Ham and Cheese Sandwich	250	33	1025	2.00	2.49	75.00	150	0.00	15.28	29.43	7.28	3.43
Egg Chef Salad	130	75	195	0.89	1.19	242.57	2306	18.68	10.04	2.58	9.08	5.18
Wheat Dinner Roll	120	0	200	2.00	1.08	10.00	0	0.00	4.00	22.00	1.50	0.50
Cheesy Broccoli	61	9	252	1.91	0.47	128.34	774	25.58	4.55	4.70	3.08	2.16
WG Soft Bake Pretzel Rod	70	0	65	1.00	0.72	0.00	0	0.00	2.00	14.00	0.50	0.00
Fresh Tomato	16	0	5	1.09	0.24	9.07	756	11.52	0.80	3.56	0.18	0.03
Fresh Cucumber	6	0	1	0.19	0.11	6.24	41	1.09	0.25	1.42	0.04	0.01
Sliced Peaches w/Juice	37	0	7	0.00	0.00	0.00	220	0.88	0.00	8.79	0.00	0.00
Fresh Grapes	38	0	1	0.51	0.16	7.92	57	2.26	0.36	9.71	0.20	0.06
Orange Juice 100%	50	0	15	0.00	0.00	0.00	0	42.00	1.00	13.00	0.00	0.00
Butter Sugar Cookie	160	10	140	1.00	1.08	0.00	100	0.00	2.00	29.00	5.00	1.50
1% White Milk	102	12	107	0.00	0.07	305.00	478	0.00	8.22	12.18	2.37	1.54
MILK, Skim, Chocolate	130	5	200	0.00	0.36	300.00	500	1.20	8.00	24.00	0.00	0.00
Skim Milk	83	5	103	0.00	0.07	299.07	500	0.00	8.26	12.16	0.20	0.14
Ketchup Packet PC	11	0	85	0.13	0.03	1.35	42	0.59	0.10	2.61	0.02	0.00
Mustard Packet PC	4	0	75	0.21	0.06	2.62	2	0.01	0.16	0.46	0.19	0.01
Mayonaise Packet PC	78	4	67	0.00	0.02	0.89	6	0.05	0.12	0.19	8.64	1.31
ItalianDressingPacket PC	28	0	130	0.09	0.02	1.21	40	0.14	0.03	0.51	3.00	0.45
Ranch DressingPacket PC	63	4	95	0.02	0.03	2.71	7	0.03	0.12	0.51	7.08	1.05
Margarine	30	0	30	0.00	0.00	0.00	300	0.00	0.00	0.00	3.00	1.00

(Sorry, my formatting cut off the protein, carbs, total fat & saturated fat amounts, but they are there!)

Authors like Amy Kalafa should be applauded for not only taking the time to see what the problem is and offering solutions...but also for bringing it to our attention. Let's face it, as parents, we don't always have time to make sure every aspect of our children's lives are the best they can possibly be. Sometimes we need the extra help. The extra info. The nudge to make a change and make a difference. It takes a village people, and we're all in this together.

This was a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

C is for Cozy...and Cat.

2011-09-24T10:49:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I think about what animal I'd like to be if I had to come back as an animal in my next life.
Everyone ponders this, right? Right?!

Initially I was thinking I'd be a dog, because they seem to have so much fun and interact so well with humans. But, then, I thought, cats really seem to have a more luxurious existence. They come around when they feel like interacting, but otherwise they are aloof and they sleep a lot...and do whatever the hell they want.

It's a tough decision.

This is my mom's cat pictured above. Kachi. King Kachi.
I've mentioned him before (and how he's a Mexican Lucha Libre wrestler in disguise!)

He's totally pampered...but definitely let's us know if he can see the bottom of his food bowl.

What animal would you choose to be if you had to?

A dolphin to swim the oceans free?
A pampered cat?
An eagle to fly the sky?

Unassuming but Harmful

2011-09-23T16:21:00.000-05:00

I rarely wear white, so I rarely wear these shoes.
They were a gently-used hand-me-down,
from the Shoe Fairy.

I wore them this week.
They hurt.
I have blisters.
Never again.

Faithful Place

2011-09-09T08:45:00.000-05:00

Faithful Place is an Intriguing Irish Mystery.

Read my Faithful Place review over at BlogHer Books!

Slow Love

2011-09-08T13:33:00.000-05:00

Slow Love is a book written by a magazine editor, Dominique Browning, who loses her job suddenly and begins a "quest" of sorts to find happiness.

Does she find it? I'm not so sure but she does spend a lot of time re-discovering and evaluating her life...and her relationships.

The main love interest in her life is not a very desirable character, which provided a lot of frustration for me, as a reader.

It's hard to see the main character that you're trying to connect with make bad decisions. And, I had a hard time connecting with her, despite being a working, divorced mom myself.

Dominique's story made me ponder what I'd do with myself if I lost my job suddenly.
Unlike Dominique, I wouldn't be able to not work for any amount of time, so I'd be consumed by finding a means of income...but, let's say for a moment that I have the money to not work for a while.

I'd like to think I'd take the time to grow and do things that I've always wanted to do.
Some of these things coincide with what the author did:

Gardening - I've never spent much time gardening, but there's something so elementally appealing about it, that I must start one.
Piano - I played as a child but wish I'd kept up with it.
Writing - I love writing and have written on and off all my life.
Cooking - I feel like I never have the time and energy to really explore cooking and I'd love to take some classes or buy a cookbook and attempt every recipe.
Canoeing - I canoed at camp and in the summer...but it's been years.

What would you do if you suddenly lost your job?

What have you always wanted to make time to do but haven't?

Google Me This

2011-09-07T13:59:00.000-05:00

Every now and then I go to SiteMeter and see what terms people have searched for that have led them to my blog. Two years ago, I wrote this post, Poor Misguided Fools, about the search terms that led people to my blog then.

The most recent search terms that have led to the most visits are:

Bottle Tree - I still haven't built a bottle tree but I really want to!

Science - I think most of the visits are through Google Images for this one.

Hogwarts Castle - Yep, we visited The World of Harry Potter a year ago when it first opened.

Letter to End Friendship - This was a letter I wrote about my husband.

And then some just plain weird ones:

Alien Chicken
Uterus Cake
Barbie Elvis
League of Pessimissim
Red Grass
Sexy Hobbits
Alien Escape Plans

What are some of the strangest things you've Googled?
Do you have a blog and what search terms lead people to it?

The Power of a Pet

2011-09-03T11:57:00.001-05:00

This is Miss Annie, our wonderful family pet.
We adopted her from DFW Lab Rescue four years ago.

She's sweet, well trained, loving and such an important part of our family.
Everyone needs a pet in their life, because the joy they create is exponential.

If you don't have a pet, here are 5 reasons why you should:

1. Good for your Health. Seriously. Apparently they can lower your blood pressure and help relieve your stress. Anyone who has ever spent some time petting an animal knows the feeling. They are sensitive to your moods too. Miss Annie climbed in bed with me this morning because she knew I was feeling sad about my boys leaving town for a few days.

2. Teaches Responsibility. Animals take patience and a lot of work. If you have kids, this is a big plus, because they learn to feed the pet daily, clean up after them when they do their business in the yard and have to walk them or play with them. My kids take turns feeding Annie, and they have to pick up her poop in the backyard weekly.

3. Protection. I heard it again and again that some of the best protection you can have for your home is a dog. Plus, if you live alone, there is the added bonus of not being so lonely... Annie is such a people-pleaser though...she loves everyone, so she's not a huge protection...although she's big and might intimidate some.

4. Exercise. Whether you walk your dog daily or play with it in the yard, you get exercise and the pet gets exercise. It's a win-win situation! Annie loves to play fetch with a tennis ball. She also loves to swim.

5. Clean Up. Dropped a bowl of macaroni on the floor? Dogs will clean that up for you. Tired of leftovers? Dogs will help you out there too. Yes, I know, people food isn't something you should feed your pet regularly, but now and then won't hurt, right? Annie took a chicken nugget out of the hand of a toddler the other day...I was horrified! She's usually much more polite about sneaking food.

Seriously. Pets will improve your life...but don't buy impulsively! Do your research! Figure out which pet will work best in your life...and even which breed will fit your lifestyle. But, adopting Annie was one of the best decisions I've ever made. And my boys agree!!

Stress Dreams

2011-08-26T13:26:00.000-05:00

I occasionally have stress dreams.

They usually involve water or tornadoes or snakes.

No Bueno.

However, last night I had a stress dream that went different than usual.

I was in a precarious raft in an awkward position with only one paddle....

in a dangerous lake.

It was scary.

I was drifting to the more dangerous areas...

but, I was able to row with my one paddle and stay in the safer areas.

It clearly wasn't easy,

but I felt like I had some control over the situation.

I think that's a good sign, don't you?

Do you have stress dreams?

What are yours like?

Good Morning, Texas

2011-08-16T08:29:00.000-05:00

This morning, as I pulled out of the driveway, I had to stop and snap a quick photo with my iPhone of the sunrise.

And then I put it through Instagram and shared it on Facebook and Twitter.

How do you take quick snapshots?
Do you use your phone?
Do you have photo editing software?
Where do you share?

I had to force myself to read The Kid

2011-08-05T09:58:00.000-05:00

This was a tough one to read.

Read my book review of Sapphire's The Kid over at BlogHer Book Club.

Sneaky

2011-08-03T14:08:00.000-05:00

So, shall we take bets?

Do you think there's money in this box...or not money?

The Joy of Bouncy Balls

2011-07-29T10:04:00.000-05:00

No matter how old they get, this remains the best part of visiting the Pediatrician's office.

Do your kids get goodies at the doctor's office?

Treasured Moments with my Boys

2011-07-28T15:11:00.000-05:00

As a full-time working parent with a daily commute, the moments I have to spend with my children are fewer and farther between these days. After having been a stay-at-home mom in their early childhood, it's not easy to see them less and know that I'm missing out on time with them.

I have an amazing support network right now with my mom and my grandmother helping out this summer, but that doesn't soften the blow that full-time working struck a couple of years ago.

That being said, the time I do spend with my boys is precious and wonderful, and here are some of our best moments over the last few weeks:

Swimming. On the weekends and sometimes at night after work during the week. We all enjoy the physical activity and interaction. My boys never head to the pool without a ball to toss back and forth. They have a serious ball addiction
Chess. My 14-year-old son and I have been playing non-stop chess through an app for the iPhone called Chess with Friends. I think we've played about six games in the last week. We're sharpening our minds and connecting on a different level. I love it!
Baseball Games. My 9-year-old son has been playing summer baseball, and I love the evening games once or twice a week, even though the heat is killer right now. Not only is it a blast to watch him play, but it's excellent family bonding time for us, their grandparents and even great-grandparent. We even bring Annie to most the games so she can get out and have fun. Every child within a mile attaches themselves to her.
America's Got Talent. I've really enjoyed watching this show with my boys each week. We discuss talent, and what we liked or didn't like about certain acts or the judge's behavior. It's great bonding and conversation!

I don't take the moments for granted. I cherish them and look for more. Every moment that I'm away from my boys, I'm working to make money to improve their lives or set a good example. I'm not perfect, I have a lot of flaws, but of one thing there is NO doubt. I love my boys.

Karen White's tangled family mystery in post-Katrina New Orleans

2011-07-26T14:34:00.000-05:00

Another wonderful summer read I discovered through BlogHer Book Club!

Read my review!

Annie & her ball

2011-07-23T09:08:00.000-05:00

I haven't joined the Camera Critters meme in a while!

But, here's my Annie...happily tired after playing fetch at the baseball fields

while my younger son has baseball practice.

Authenticity with a side of Sybolism

2011-07-15T15:28:00.000-05:00

A book review where I finally get to read and review one of my favorite authors, Sarah Dessen!

I can't believe we picked Squash

2011-07-07T16:35:00.000-05:00

Even though I'm not much of a cook, I entered the Knorr Recipe Contest for a chance to win a trip to BlogHer 2011.

The main reason I don't cook much these days is because I'm working full time and commuting quite a ways, which leaves very little time for cooking.
BUT, I really enjoy cooking, when I have the time and energy.

So, for this contest, I decided I'd take a different angle and present a cooking team made up of me (the blogger) and my grandmother (the cook).

I let her choose the recipe (I don't like squash but this was amazin!), and we went to work:

First we went to the grocery store and bought our ingredients, including:

butternut squash:

And garlic:

Then we assembled all the incredients back in my grandmother's kitchen:

Cooking with my grandmother is fun, because she shares stories and teaches me things about cooking I didn't know...and she cracks me up.

She doesn't close cabinets or drawers as she cooks. I go behind her shutting everything.

Now, our special ingredient was Knorr's Homestyle Stock.

See recipe below for cooking details...but needless to say, we ended up with some delicious Butternut Squash Soup! It was pretty easy and ended up being super tasty!

Ingredients:

1 lrg. Butternut Squash (3 lbs)
1/2 lb Italian sausage
1 lrg. onion, chopped
6 cloves minced garlic
1 TBSP sage
1 tsp marjoram
6 cups of chicken stock
1-2 TBSP olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup of cream
2 TBSP butter

Cook the squash first:
You can do this in the microwave or a conventional oven.

Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds.
Then place two squash halves face down on plate with 2 TBSP on water on the plate and microwave for 15 minutes or so, until it sticks tender with a fork.

In the conventional oven, cover the two squash halves with foil and cook at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes.

Scoop out the cooked flash and set aside. Discard peel.

Start the soup:

Put 1-2 TBSP of olive oil in a 3 quart saucepan (to keep from sticking).
Remove sausage from casing and mash into saucepan, cook until golden brown. (about 4 min)
Add 1/2 TBSP butter.
Add chopped onion to sausage and cook until onion is wilted and has started to carmelize. (about 6 min)

Add 6 cloves of minced garlis, 1 TBSP sage, 1 tsp of marjoram and cook about 1 min.
Then add cooked squash and the 6 cups of chicken stock.
Stir and bring to a boil.
Then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 min.

Next, blend soup in a food processor or blender.
Then return soup to saucepan and add lemon juice, cream, butter & dash of seasoning.
Adjust seasonings as needed.

Overall cook time: 1 hour
Feeds: 6-8 people

***Knorr Homestyle Stock used to make chicken stock. Each tub makes 3 1/2 cups of broth, can be diluted with almost any liquid, from water to fruit juice. Uses carefully selected ingredients, including herms and vegetables, slowly simmered to perfection.

Last Day for a $100 Gift Card Giveaway

2011-06-30T12:20:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Gatorade and BlogHer, I'm giving away a $100 gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods.

What kinds of things can you buy with that gift card?

1. Sports equipment
2. Swim wear
3. Camping, hiking and fishing gear
4. Shoes
5. Exercise equipment
6. Apparel

To enter for a chance to win, comment on this Gatorade Giveaway post!

A Discovery of Witches

2011-06-23T16:32:00.000-05:00

Have you read a Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness?

I did...and I compared it to the Twilight series. But there are big differences!

Check out my review over on BlogHer's Book Club!

Pottermore - More from the world of Harry Potter!

2011-06-23T11:39:00.000-05:00

J.K. Rowling announces a new Harry Potter experience!

Pottermore.

Getting to Happy

2011-06-22T13:02:00.000-05:00

I don't have a fairy godmother waiting in the wings to make my life end perfectly.

And neither do the women in this sequel to "Waiting to Exhale."

Check out my review of Terry McMillan's "Getting to Happy."

We're Not in Kansas Anymore (or Texas)

2011-06-13T11:24:00.000-05:00

Do you pack for your kids?
Or do they do their own packing?

One of my sisters prints out checklists for her kids to do their own packing.

We experienced turbulence and lines and hot planes...

But, we ultimately made all our connections and made it to our final destination...

Three guesses as to where we are?

A $100 Gift Card Giveaway

2011-06-08T09:25:00.001-05:00

BlogHer & Gatorade have paired up to give away

a $100 Dick's Sporting Goods gift card.

Leave a comment on my Gatorade Giveaway post,

and you might be the lucky winner!

7 Signs You Might Have a Crooked Boss

2011-06-07T23:09:00.000-05:00

7. Customers start complaining non-stop and demanding money back
6. The receptionist starts fielding collection calls
5. Customers showing up to demand money back
4. Customers showing up to demand money back with police officers
3. Paychecks writter from different bank account each pay period
2. Payckecks bounce...repeatedly
1. Boss goes into hiding and then leaves the state...and lawsuits pop up

If any of this sounds familiar to you, I'd start looking for a new job!

Disclaimer: This has nothing to do with my current employment and was written purely for fictional and entertainment purposes.

A Jane Austen Education

2011-06-06T18:00:00.000-05:00

I recently read and wrote a book review on

A Jane Austen Education, by William for BlogHer Book Club.

Have you ever met a guy who has read ALL of Jane Austen's works?

This guy has...and he learned a lot of life lessons from her writing.

Have you read all of Jane Austen's books?

I haven't, but I plan on doing so this summer...she's the Godmother of Chick Lit, you know.

A Fitting Tale

2011-06-03T16:02:00.000-05:00

In this photo, my 14 yr old son is mowing,

wearing shorts that he bought with his own money.

Money he earned mowing.

Fitting, yes?

Do you have your children do chores?

Do you pay them?

Preposperous Potty

2011-06-02T15:03:00.001-05:00

My mother snapped this photo in an office building bathroom in Dallas yesterday.

In case you can't read that sign above the toilet, here's a closer look:

Yes, there's a weight limit on the toilet!

Have you ever seen this before?

Wonder how they enforce it?!

(hidden cameras? scale in the floor with alarms attached?)

There's a New Machine in My Life

2011-05-27T11:54:00.000-05:00

Our relationship started a week ago...and we've been seeing each other daily.

Every day this week I've woken up a little earlier than usual,

just so I could throw on my tennis shoes and workout clothes...

and go walk on it before I do anything else.

It's an interesting way to wake up!

But, I'm determined to keep it up.

My relationship with exercise has ups and downs...sometimes ups outnumber the downs.

Do you have a relationship with exercise?

4 Benefits to Little League Baseball Season

2011-05-25T13:22:00.000-05:00

My 9 year old is in the home stretch of baseball season.

And, I thought I'd share how much I love baseball season.

4. The time spent outdoors.

I love spending time outside,

and since I work inside and commute long hours, this is an excellent mandatory outdoor time.

You know, fresher air, vitamin D, all that jazz.

I love it.

3. Annie.

This dog needs her outside time too.

And kids flock to her during the games and during the long practices.

We take her on long walks around the field and let her fetch tennis balls.

She soaks up the sun, the attention and love her outside time at the ballpark.

2. Family Time on the bleachers.

I love that these baseball games are an opportunity for my whole family to get together and visit and support my son in his game.

We make jokes, we cheer on Remy, and we catch up and keep up with each other's life.

1. I get to see my 9 year old HAPPY!

This kid LOVES baseball.

He has a blast, plays well and concentrates on the game.

As a parent, there's no great joy than seeing your child do well and have a great time in the process!

What sports do your kids play?

What do you like about little league sports?

Lady GaGa like you've never heard her before

2011-05-20T07:09:00.000-05:00

You haven't truly lived until you've heard a middle school band play Lady GaGa.

They rocked it.

How a Prius led me to believe in World Peace

2011-05-19T16:45:00.002-05:00

I drive a big ole ghetto SUV

And yesterday morning, during my commute to work in the heavy metroplex traffic...

a Prius driver let me enter traffic in front of her.

This, my dear friends, gives me hope for Peace Among Everyone.

Do you believe in the possibility of world peace?
Have you seen any random acts of kindness lately?

Chinese Colloquialisms & Sweat-Shop Stories

2011-05-17T10:16:00.001-05:00

I wrote a book review recently for the BlogHer Book Club.

It was one of those books that puts life into perspective

as you follow a young, immigrant girl’s introduction to America

and the not-so-simple task of fitting in and pursuing her dreams.

Since joining the BlogHer Book Club,

I’ve been receiving free books in the mail from Penguin,

and I’m having a blast reading and reviewing them.

It’s so much fun to read a book and discuss it with others.

And, even cooler?

Having the author chime in!

Jean Kwok, the author of Girl in Translation is reading the reviews and leaving messages of her own.

I wish I’d read Jean Kwok’s Girl In Translation when I was 12!

Any Direction Your Choose

2011-05-14T08:46:00.000-05:00

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

~Theodor Seuss Geisel

She doesn't understand personal space

2011-05-13T12:58:00.000-05:00

and she's never appreciated a closed, bathroom door.

I've got a fever & the only prescription is...More Cowbell!

2011-05-06T09:42:00.000-05:00

Last night my 14-yr-old had his acting debut through the middle school drama program
called Skits & Skittles in the cafetorium.

The advanced drama students directed their own skits,
and Donny's friend was a director who recruited him to try out.

Donny ended up in the part of Will Farrell from the SNL skit "More Cowbell."

With the price of submission, we received a program, a bag of skittles and voting tokens.

I had no idea my son could dance...well, you need to watch it.

It's five minutes long and not the best video quality...but it's funny.

And after the program, each set of actors from the skit ran around with a box trying to get votes.

Their box was a cow...with a bell.

apropos

Have you seen this skit before on SNL?

It's hilarious.

The boys did a good job with their version.

And my son...well, you'll have to see those dance moves for yourself.

The Homework Hand

2011-05-04T13:24:00.000-05:00

One way I know my 14 yr old son has homework...

Famous People Who Journal; Why you should keep a journal

2011-05-03T06:13:00.034-05:00

For as long as I can remember I have journaled.
I have a wooden trunk in storage full of diaries and journals.

Some of it I can barely stand to read, it's so silly and trivial.
I wish I could go back and have a talk with my pre-teen and teenage self...
but that's a story for another time.

Why should you keep a journal?

It becomes a keepsake as you age.

It reduces stress.

Great way to bust writer's block

It's a good way to make time for yourself.

It helps keep you organized.

It's a great place to set goals.

It's a safe place to get out frustrations or bookmark a special moment.

My favorite type of journal?
Colorful, exotic covers with blank pages and NO lines.

Throughout the ages, others have kept diaries and journals.
Here are some of the famous characters who've also chronicled their thoughts and feelings and daily events...

Lewis & Clark

Charles Darwin

Anne Frank

Tennessee Williams

Charlotte Bronte

Virginia Wolf

President George Washington

President John Quincy Adams

President Thomas Jefferson

President Harry S. Truman

Eva Braun

Have you read any great diaries or journals written by famous people?
Do you journal regularly?

Interview with a Texas Escapee

2011-05-02T06:47:00.029-05:00

I've always lived in Texas (minus one month in a convent in Spain...)

My little sister, The Bug, currently lives in California.

So, I thought it'd be fun to interview her on some of her Texas/California observations.

List 4 Things you miss most about Texas.

1. Breakfast tacos

2. Good iced tea

3. Warm summer nights

4. Sass Dressing

(can't help but notice that I mostly miss food)

If you could fly in for one weekend, what Texas city would you visit?

Always Austin - if I could add in a side trip to the Hill Country, I would.

Do Californians comment on your accent?

Not really. I am sometimes given a hard time for all my "y'alls"

What's are some of the biggest differences between California and Texas?

California is packed full of beautiful places, opportunities, fresh produce, weekend getaways, crowded grocery stores and aggressive drivers.

Texas is delightfully slow-paced, rich on experience and the people are much warmer.

What are some of the biggest stereotypes Californians have about Texas and/or Texans?

Not sure.

How often do you wear your cowboy boots in California?

A lot, actually. Living in California had made me extra proud of my Texas heritage and my rockin' cowboy boots. I created reasons to wear them.

Are you worried about "The Big One" hitting?

Not really. Maybe I should.

If you couldn't live in Texas or California, where else would you like to live?

Outside the U.S. .....Europe or New Zealand.

What about you?

Do you have any Texas or California sterotypes?

Where would you to choose to live if you could live anywhere?

Reason #23 Why I love being in BlogHer's Book Club

2011-05-01T12:46:00.001-05:00

Thank you, BlogHer Book Club.

These books arrived in the mail this week.

I can't wait to read them!

By the way, my Caleb's Crossing book review is up on BlogHer's site now.

I'd like to be locked in overnight with 499 others: Why the NYPL should have picked me to Make the Future with them

2011-04-30T11:45:00.000-05:00

The New York Public Library is going to host a massive, smartphone-based scavenger hunt that will officially kick off May 20 with an invitation-only, all-night lock-in in New York City. Only 500 people will be chosen to participate in the all night Find the Future at NYPL event.

One hundred historical objects hidden throughout the library with bar codes must be found, photographed and a challenge met with each one.

It's rumured that these are some of the items:
Charles Dickens' letter opener made out of his dead cat's taxidermy paw
the Declaration of Independence

The goal of this game?
To write a collection of 100 ways to make history and change the future, inspired by 100 of the most intriguing works of the past.

I should have been chosen. And here's why:

1. I found the contest on my birthday & entered...and found out that was the final day to enter. It's fate.

2. I'm a voracious reader with a huge appreciation for the library system, history and literature.

3. I have an iPhone, I love scavenger hunts, and I know my way around social media.

4. I'd blog about it. I'm goofy and entertaining to read...sometimes...

5. I love mysteries.

But, alas, the decisions have been made, and I didn't make the cut.

It's too bad, NYPL.
We could have been good together.

Six Strong Reasons Why You Should Never Quit Medicine Cold Turkey

2011-04-28T23:41:00.000-05:00

I made a stupid decision to quit some medication cold turkey,

without weaning off slowly or talking to my doctor.

And I regret it.

For a solid week now I've experienced the following:

1. Night sweats

2. Constant vertigo

3. Diarrhea

4. Light sensitivity

5. Excessive thirst

6. Cold fingers and toes

Consider this my Public Service Announcement:

Don't be stupid and do what I did.