crafts and more...

I've been feeling the itch - I think it's being cooped up in the house. While I love this time of year, it can be a bit cumbersome getting three kids ready to go out the door. Generally speaking my kids are pretty self-sufficient. Jon and Drew can get themselves bundled up, into the car and strapped in. Penny can get her own coat on and most shoes, but she can't strap herself yet (she's in a booster- don't report me to CPS I know she isn't three yet, but her hot pink booster was just what a girl needed a couple of months ago). So I can't blame them entirely, but it certainly takes a bit longer to pull things together than say, getting myself out the door.

Where am I going with this... okay getting out. So I've also put myself on a spending freeze and running unnecessary errands. We've got some economic goals so I'm trying not to buy what I call piddly-shit items that add up. Being my mother's child, if I am going to be successful at that, it means I hit the grocery and that's about it. Otherwise I can find infinite possibility almost anywhere. Yesterday I took a solo sojourn to Super Target, with the idea that I could also get some groceries - I love Target. I mean it's like Meijer and Walmart, except much cooler. That being said, I don't think I can ever leave their premises without spending $100 and a good portion of that going to the one spot. I think it's been three months since I've been there for that very reason.

I did get a few non-grocery items, but they were birthday and valentine cards, along with valentines for the kids to give out. I treated myself to a new diffuser for my stairwell to the basement and a candle for the kitchen. I also got a new valentine t - (Leslie, it has a super cool squirrel on it!!! I could have died and almost called you immediately!) I also treated myself to two new nail polishes - which is fairly scandalous because I almost never buy cosmetics, but I liked them and I wanted them, so I bought them. See my problem?

Anyway - so since I've been trying to not shop (online shopping makes this a challenge) and go out and as a result I'm getting a bit stir crazy. I'm not like some of my friends that need to leave the house everyday - I can go days without leaving and be fine with that -as long as I'm busy. That being said while I may not have Albert Einstein's intelligence, the inside of my head feels like the way he looked. Crazy. Two nights ago I had to get up twice in the middle of the night because I came up with six different quirky sayings you could print on onesies for baby boys and girls. Ridiculous!

I also ironed this week, which if you ask my husband, never happens. I rely on the dry cleaning gods to take care of his many shirts. But trying to be a bit more conservative, I thought I'd give it a whirl. I've done it in the past, but I don't like to iron so it is painful for me. I can't say this habit is going to stay, but for this week, we're set.

I mistakenly clicked on a link from a friends (Betsy) facebook post and found an amazingly creative lady - so this week we promptly worked on this craft and it is happily hanging in my kitchen window. I ruined my pampered chef cheese grater - but I never used it anyway - so now it has a crafty purpose and I see grandparent gifts in the future.

I have a chair in the basement that needs to be refinished and recovered, I just need to get some foam and tear into it, I can't wait until it's done, I love the fabric for it and I've been waiting (not sure why) for about three years now and I've decided it's finally time.

I also have two different fabrics that I've been holding onto in my craft closet to make things for Penny. She's in an "all things twirly" phase. If she can twirl and the skirt flies out - then its a go. She put a perfectly adorable tunic on and leggings earlier this week and twirled after we popped the top on and she looked at me with her little hands on her little hips and said, "I no like this!" and promptly pulled it off and tried to go in the dirty laundry to pull out her hand-me-down hanna anderson from Merdi (thanks again Les!). We found a clean and a little bit too big sample dress I bought from Matilda Jane two years ago and it twirled just perfect, so for the day we were in the clear. We'll be staying in our pajamas more now until I can get these twirly skirts done. I'm thinking I may need to splurge on one of those ridiculous tule skirts because I'm guessing it would become a prize possession in a small girls wardrobe.

a girl needs to move (modeling a pp2 dress)

I am working on a painting for a previous client, but it is an emotional piece and I work on it, step back and take a night off - so that I can really get it right. I'm excited for when it is finished because I think it is going to be beautiful, but it is hard to not get caught up into why I am painting it in the first place and that it breaks my heart.

Finally I am feeling the house/decorate/purge/building itch. I see Ryan's eyes glaze over when I talk about painting the kitchen, getting new windows, adding a skylight and finishing the workout room. Not that he doesn't want to do those things, but it means more work for him, more money and I suppose my psychotic squirrel-like-flitting from project to project is probably a bit overwhelming. I promise once I can open my windows again, fresh oxygen will rejuvenate my brain, that or our spring break trip to Florida in April. One or the other will help, I hope.

So see today is much lighter and I've only had one cup of coffee so far - I guess I better sign off and get going on all my projects - before I lose my steam.

Thanks!

time heals, sort of

I don't intend this post to be a woe is me depressing sort. If you know me, that isn't my style - or at least I don't try to be! It is hard though when discussing loss and pain to not sound miserable so bear with me!

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of my mom's passing. It is hard for me not to think about the days events, how they went down, what mom was like, etc. When I think of all that, I am grateful for two years - time doesn't heal necessarily, but the raw edges smooth out a bit and the details get a bit fuzzier in some areas.

I miss mom for a number of reasons. First off, I miss her because she and I could have a bitch session like no other. I could trust her implicitly and know that if I needed to get something off my chest, she wouldn't try to fix it, she wouldn't pass judgement and with her years older experience had some clarity or comparison to offer. Secondly I miss shopping with her -mom could shop with the best of them and had exquisite taste - she spoiled me, my kids, my family and friends. She had such a giving heart - to a fault almost. If I had to choose a final one it would be I miss her for my kids. Jon has a memory of an elephant, he remembers details of things he did with mom when he was two. He is so much like her, in so many ways that it's like having a little boy version of her around. They were truly kindred spirits, and for that I am grateful because her legacy lives on vividly in him. Drew remembers things as well, although his time with her was much shorter. That being said my mom adored her Drewski - they had a bond, an understanding. Where Jon and her were outwordly similar, Drew and her share different connections, habits. I do wish she were here to have time with Drew as a little boy and not a toddler, I think they'd be great friends. Finally my pickles, this one in particular is the hardest for me. My mom adored dolls, dresses and although she wasn't a particularly girlie girl, she loved girly things. My daughter can wrestle with the best of them, but her love for her dolls, twirly dresses and pink is borders on the ridiculous. I know that mom would have taken great delight in seeing her granddaughter twirl and sing and push her pink stroller around with yet another naked baby in it. I also know my mother would be in debt up to her ears because of all the adorable things that are offered to clothe a girl. Not to mention the knee deep toys we'd have at this point. I am grateful that mom and Penny shared 11 months together, but for me I truly wish there had been more.

So today is another day, a small milestone. It's not a day I celebrate, but I certainly don't hole up in the house in the fetal position crying. I do what I do best and it's holding my kids and my wonderful husband close, enjoying them and soaking in all my blessings. I met up with an old friend this past weekend, we hadn't seen each other in about 14 years. It was wonderful and it seemed like little time had passed. We are the same girls, just older and it was a wonderful visit. She lost her mom when we were in college - she was 18 or 19 at the time. When I think about her loss, I can empathize with her pain, but I realize I was blessed with more time and for that I am eternally grateful, but equally as heartbroken for her. We all lose at some point, and when you love someone it is always too early and you never had enough time.

Thanks!

08-08-08?

I was contacted by one of Ryan's co-workers, Courtney. Courtney is a delightful group, who recently got married and spends her "free"time in a Christian singing group. ( I quote that because I believe she spends most of her time that isn't in the office singing) Courtney asked if I could do a painting to memorialize their wedding date, colors and flowers. I was happy to oblige and created the following little 8 x 8 gem:

Her flowers with light green hydrangea's with dark purple, white and tangerine iris', her girls wore tangerine dresses and it was the perfect color combo for a summer wedding. Sometimes I wish I could get married again, if for no other reason to plan out another wedding. Curious why I put a question mark in my title? Well I'll tell you, I'm 2/2 so far this year - Courtney sent me an email with the specifics and details - which included the date. I sent the painting and packaging to work with Ryan to give to Courtney - she loved it, but well, uh, the date was wrong. She got married on 08-08-09. I called Ryan towards the end of the day, because I hadn't heard from him and I was concerned she was displeased. So he answered and told me the problem - I freaked, I could have sworn she told me 08-08-08. Good thing I'm an organized gal - I located the email and I was right - she sent me the wrong date. I find this hilarious for two reasons first - this is my second painting this year that I had to modify the date and second she got married less than six months ago - it just made me chuckle. So Ryan brought it home, I fixed it up and it now displays the appropriate date. It was really no problem to fix it at all - you'd be surprised how easy you can make corrections. In any event - thank you Courtney - I really enjoyed doing you little painting - I wish you love and happiness in all the days of your marriage!

Fortunately my next painting does not include a date - so at least I have that going for me! Thanks!

I've done something right

Okay - so I've been watching, as most of you have, the devastation in Haiti. The whole situation breaks my heart, but when they show the children, well, I don't think I've cried this much since my mother's death or when I was in my third trimester of pregnancy. Watching a mother finding out that her eight year old has to have her lower leg amputated, falling apart, then the child crying because the mom is crying, it killed me and it haunts me as a parent and human. I've thought - could I adopt one of these precious orphans and handle another child? What I wouldn't give to be able to give a consoling hug. So instead I do what I can right now, I grab my kids and squish them until they say, "enough!" Now that we have the TV in the kitchen, I've found myself watching more news throughout the day. So while preparing dinner, I had NBC on and Jon was at the kitchen. I screen some things from my children, but I'm a bit of realist and try not to hide too much. Of course there was a segment about Haiti and donating. Jon, who really has a heart of gold, tells me - "mom we need to donate, do you see those people they don't have food or water or even a house." I agree and tell him we'll do it after dinner.

We're kind of suckers in this house for donations - it's kind of embarrassing when I fill out our taxes at the end of the year. Not because of the amount because I wish we could do more and never think we do enough, but we run the gamut from cancer societies, Indiana police funds, Best Friends, Salvation Army - you name it we donate to it. I can't say no, once in a while, but not usually. At Christmas time we adopt a family at our school and buy presents for them - I bring the kids along to help so they understand what exactly we're doing. I also have them donate to the red buckets - which is an immediate, visual, tangible type of donation.

So today, Jon said, "Mom, we haven't donated! We need to do it now." So we did and I asked him how much we should donate and he came up with a reasonable amount and we donated. And he was happy. He said, "see now they can have water and food." And that was that. I know it isn't as simple as all that, but I am comforted that my son of 7 and 3/4 years old found such an urgency and sense of satisfaction in giving. In this moment, I think I might be doing this mom thing right.

If you haven't donated and think you might like to here are some opportunities:

WZPL & Hoosiers Helping Haitians

Salvation Army

Save the Children

Embrace your children, be grateful for your life and everything that is in it, it can change in an instant. Thanks!

"i don't do fish"

I'm always looking for new things to cook, new ways to get healthy choices into my little ones (and husband's) tummy. Sometimes it's easy and they surprise me. Sometimes it's a total flub and it makes me recall the time my mom (I was probably 10) slaved over the stove for hours to make beef stroganoff from scratch. She was so proud and she put the serving bowl on the table and in unison, my dad, myself and my brother all turned our noses up and said, "we aren't eating THAT!" She was devastated and we were floored that she would serve us something so gross. Since that time I LOVE beef stroganoff, too bad it if not prepared properly it is terrible for you - but I will never forget the phone call I made to her about five years ago and said hey mom, "I'm making beef stroganoff, can I substitute this instead of that?" Fortunately my mom was never a grudge holder, so she helped me out- had it been me, I probably would have hung up on myself for having the audacity to call at all, even if it had been nearly 20 years. (I'm Italian after all)

Sometimes I am surprised and hit the ball out of the park - like with my girlfriend Jill's vegan minestrone soup recipe - it has squash, onions, leeks, all sorts of garden goodies. I wasn't sure if the kids would eat it, but my kids are big soup eaters so they downed it. I think I may have mentioned that they love my meatloaf, where I get pureed veggies and ground turkey together and make a healthier alternative to the 1950's version. Last night we had turkey sloppy joes with finely diced yellow peppers and onions and instead of ketchup we just used tomato paste, water and a bit of brown sugar and for a salty alternative we added some cumin - which gave it a mexican spin - which I am happy to say I prefer now as do my kids. It was yummy. My kids also like those little canned white potatoes - we just slice them, cook them in a little olive oil and then I sprinkle course sea salt and lots of pepper over the top ( my kids LOVE pepper - which is good, but weird - I wonder if they're deficient in something?). The kids eat them like they're never going to see them again- which is awesome, but I'd like some leftovers for dad's lunch!

So this week - we cracked into the wonderful Christmas present we got from one of our old neighbors. They sent steaks, fish, chicken, etc. through Omaha Steaks. We had the crab stuffed sole -which I am sure was terrible for me -but it was fantastic and I turned a blind eye to the fat and calorie content. I decided to make fish sticks for the kids and we had double baked potatoes. The potatoes went off without a hitch, but once I placed the platter of fish sticks on the table Drew's comment was, "um mom, I don't do fish." Now this is a blatant lie because he's eaten salmon and mahi mahi - but this is coming from the kid that calls most meat "chicken" regardless of whether it's beef, chicken or pork. I laughed and made him have one. We always have to have a "no thank you" portion. Ah well you can't win them all. We'll keep trying. I'd love to hear your family fav's - I'm always trying to add to my repertoire!

Jon eating an onion, this kid LOVES onions, grilled, raw, white, yellow or red, he loves them - it's gross (but don't tell him!)

Penny lives on dairy - she will never need to worry about strong bones.

Drew could not be reached for comment.

Thanks!

I should have married a dentist.

I mean no disrespect to my wonderful husband Ryan, he is remarkable and I wouldn't trade him for anything. He can do a lot of things, but teeth aren't one of them. This was the week of dental visits. It started with my oral surgery on Tuesday morning. To be quite honest I was terribly nervous. I've never been put under and I've never taken anything stronger than Tylenol. I am not a fan of pain, but I am even less a fan of taking medicine. I do what I need to do, but I suppose I am a bit of a naturalist. Your body does what it needs to do for damage control - so I just wasn't sure what to expect when it came to teeth removal. Let me give you a bit a background. I am tremendously vain about my teeth. I love the fact that they are straight and white and I've had zero orthodontal intervention. I have only one cavity and that was when I was pregnant with Penny, so I chalk it up as a fluke. My dentist for years has gently suggested that I have my wisdom teeth removed. Not because there was a problem, but because there was potential for problems and why wait until then? Well I should say at this point that I am also a don't fix what isn't broken type of gal too. So I waited and waited and then decided this would be the year. I tried to have it done last summer, but we hadn't belonged to our insurance carrier long enough to have surgery, so I had to wait, until now.

I arrived early Tuesday, met the oral surgeon that would be removing all four of my wisdom teeth. He had come highly recommended not only from my dentist, but from our friend Chad who is our children's dentist and our other friend who is an ENT surgeon. I knew this fella would be good - so I wasn't worried. Going under was fairly unremarkable - it stung like the dickens when I first got stuck, but after that, well I don't remember anything. He could have dressed me up like a chicken and paraded me up and down Keystone for all I know, but what I do know is that I am missing four teeth. Fortunately they are the correct teeth - and I am fairly certain I never wore a costume. I know that I went to recovery, I know I came home and I am told that I took medicine and tried to to talk, but since my mouth was completely numb it came out a bit like Dick Clark's New Years Eve cheer the first year after his stroke. (I mean no disrespect - I feel for him, you really think you sound normal, you do) Eventually the numbness wore off of my upper jaw and that my friends is really interested trying to talk with only the upper half of your mouth - slightly more clear, but really not so much. As the day wore on I was back to normal. I've been good since then, tired, really, really tired. I think it has to do with the steady diet of oatmeal and yogurt. I've embarked on bean soup today and some soft bread - but I am paranoid about getting food in my sockets, plus this is a great way to kick start a diet, let me tell you. I think it's also attributed to the fact that I had to pull myself together and take Penny and Jon to the dentist on Wednesday afternoon, but more of that later.

I am looking forward to my Tylenol PM tonight and a good nights sleep to finally shake off this exhaustion that I have been carrying since my dad left on Wednesday when I was put back on active mom duty. I try to keep myself pulled together, but yesterday was an all day pajama day, it just smacked me like a 2 x 4. I was told by a former (just kidding) friend that they hoped I felt better than I looked. I laughed and then took a shower and changed into fresh pajamas, hoping that would help. I asked Ryan and he said, "Babe, when you are tired, really, really tired, you look it. I was nervous to leave you in the morning." Ugh. Not being a fan of the rode hard put away wet look, I am making a conscious effort to maintain my hygiene and appearance. So far so good. I smell good, look as good as I can look and I am wearing "outdoor" clothes. It's a start.

So I have often joked that I would like to get a dentist chair in my house to use as my time out chair. It's weird, my children seem to become paralyzed upon sitting in this type of chair, like it has a sedative effect. I've tested the theory and it isn't the reclined position - they aren't as cooperative at the doctors laying down and it isn't the fact that it moves up and down - we've experienced our fair share of horrible hair cuts. It is the "dentist chair" the one-two punch of recline and up and down. But it's more than that, they crawl in, all of them, at the age of two and sit right down, get their teeth cleaned, rinsed, flossed, polished and fluoride treated. Not a tear, scream, yelp or plea. They just do it. Honest to God when I am feeling down about myself as a mother I wish I could take them to the dentist just to stroke my ego a bit. I'll admit it, I feel good about it, I know I have no control and have done nothing to make them be this way, but I stand there proud with my two year old, as their mouth is wide open taking it like a champ and the nine year old next to us is screaming. Yes, I judge and yes, I am happy it isn't me. Even when Jon has had cavities filled (I think we're on our 5th) he takes it in stride. He hates it, but he loves our dentist and in turn he knows our dentist loves him. He might flinch or drop a tear, but he's never had to be held down or talked off the ledge. The poor fella does everything right, he just gets those damn cavities in between teeth - we're all praying - dentist included- that when his big teeth come in this is just a memory. Fortunately Drew and Penny seem to be a-okay at this point. We shall see. I'm only slightly kidding about getting a dentist chair for my house.

So I sit here, healing, tired and no longer hungry for real food, thankful that it is Friday. I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend - except the part where I sell nachos at the Colts game and can't eat them. I wasn't planning on working the Colts game (Booth 121, Blue Cantina!), but I can't say "No" and well I get paid (in the form of swimming dues) and get to enjoy the excitement of a play off game - I can't complain too much about that. I hope all of you have a wonderful, relaxing and long (for the lucky ones) three day weekend. Take care, thanks and Go Horse!

fun with kids who read

This weekend Jon had an away swim meet. It was in Crawfordsville, far enough away to make it a day event, not far enough to get a hotel. So we decided as a family that I would take Jon both days so Ryan could do some much needed work around here, as well as spend some time with our other two. Swim meets are awful for younger siblings - their long, hot and boring (unless your kids is swimming). So we don't like to subject them to it very often, because it is painful to entertain them for the five hours as you sit in the overcrowded stands. When you are by yourself with an able-bodied child, it's actually a get away. I just needed two seats, which is way easier to find than five. I could read, I started and finished the book, The Color Purple and best of all, I was able to relax and not worry about entertaining anyone. So needless to say I was happy to be the one doing the driving and the swim meet this weekend.

On our way to Crawfordsville, Jon and I needed to go to the bathroom, so we stopped at a small gas station right outside of town. They had a small unisex bathroom so we went in together. Jon was thinking about doing some business, so I thought I'd come in for back up, plus my mug of coffee kicked in and needed out. So we're standing there, Jon going to the bathroom and me trying not to touch anything and then Jon started to read. I noticed when we came in a dispenser over the toilet and figured it was for pads and tampons. Then he said, "ul-tra th-in" "six different kinds of please-sure" - "mom, what are con-" Okay - as I grabbed him I covered his ears, no, then I covered his eyes and said, "don't you need to poop?" and spun him around and plopped him on the toilet. He said, "no mom, I don't" " mom, what are those things for?"

Well now shit, I don't want to have the condom talk with my 7 year old in the middle of a crappy bathroom in a gas station in Crawfordsville. I mean really, this wasn't even a truck stop. Do they get so many requests or sell out on the racks so much that they needed to install a dispenser? It makes me wonder about Crawfordsville. Ugh, okay here it goes:

Me -" No, Jon those are things for men."

Jon- "do I need them?"

me- "no, they are for big men."

Jon- "so does dad need them?"

me- "no, daddy doesn't need them."

Jon- "why are they selling them here?"

me- "it's like those machines that sell pads or tampons when women need them"

Jon- "so do you need some?"

Me"NO!"

Jon- "so what are con-"

Me- "damn it Jon wash your hands and lets go we're going to be late to the swim meet!"

Jon- "we're going to be late?? well lets go mom!"

And we were done. If there is one thing I can count on is that my son is fairly neurotic so if I tell him we're going to be late or miss something, he will switch gears immediately. Good heavens, seriously if you are driving to Crawfordsville and your child that is of reading age needs to go to the bathroom do NOT, I repeat DO NOT stop at the Circle K on 47. Pee on the road, pee in the bushes, but for the love of all things holy don't go in the bathroom or you too will have to have a version of the condom talk with your child. It isn't something I recommend.

Thanks!

On a lighter note, Jon did great at the swim meet and PR'd in three of his four events and managed to finish the 25 breast stroke without dying. It was a good, good weekend.

the world is her snow cone

My kids love the snow, all of them. Those first few flakes of the season bring the begging of "pleeaaazzzeee can we go outside." Now if you are parent you realize that generally bundling your child takes longer than the outdoor playing itself. There is no doubt that after 15 minutes they will come running to the door red-cheeked and covered in snow, whining about coming in because their so cold. My children, despite their love of snow, fall victim to this every time - unless I am outside with them. I've made no secret that I love winter, the snow and the cold, I like fall better, but winter is still one of my favorites. So I don't mind so much going out to shovel and play. Today the driveway was covered with at least 3-4 inches of snow - of course it seemed like more, but I am told that's all there was. When we get big snow falls during the day like this, I like to shovel the driveway so Ryan doesn't have to when he comes home. When mom goes out, so does the rest of the house. So I bundled up the kids and we headed outside. On to my point - and you know I have one. Penny has an unnatural love for ice and snow. She prefers cups of chopped ice to an actual cup of water. When the snow started to fall, Penny can't enter the van without grabbing a handful and eating it to our destination. Today we went outside and Penny was as happy as a pig in a pile of you know what. She just walked around with her eyes wide and her hands full of snow. It was too cute not to share, so I will.

Showing her bounty.

I hope everyone is warm and safe and enjoying this beautiful snowfall! Thanks!

Ft. Flipper

Okay - so the title of this blog probably makes no sense, but it is the theme of my latest painting. Before Christmas, my dearest and oldest friend Jen asked me if I would do a painting for her to give to her brother as a present. I was touched and nervous - Jen is pretty particular and I knew that she had something cooked up in her head and it was going to be no small task to get that out and on to paper. We sat down and we discussed the painting for over an hour, details, location, font, etc. She wanted a vintage resort poster look, her brother loves to fly fish, so that would be our focus for the painting. Her brother's in-laws have a cottage in Maine and that is where he proposed to his fiancee. The final touch was to give this gem a name - apparently Jay's pet name from his wife is "Flipper, " I'm not sure why, it isn't my job to ask - in their home they have a basement or what is fondly referred to as the "man-cave." Jen thought it would be fun to label the painting "Ft. Flipper" since it would go in the basement in his space.

I was excited to do this painting because it made me work with a bit more realism, I used Mt. Battie as my reference (which worked out well because that is where Jay proposed - I love when things work out that way!) and then started looking up fly lines, baskets, the type of trout that would be in a stream in Camden, Maine, etc. I am really pleased with how this turned out and best of all Jen was too. I present to you - Ft. Flipper:

I decided to line the painting with an irregular border and the bottom edge would be a copy of a fly rod and reel. A funny side note, the painting has since been altered. When Jay received this he liked it, but after awhile he had to ask Jen what the significance of 2007 was. She said it was the year you got married and bought your house. He laughed and said, "No, it was 2008." Oops! Well at least I'm just the painter and didn't stand up in the wedding like Jen did! Ha! All is well though and we are now Est. in 2008!

This actual fly basket was in an auction on the Orvis website for $1,500!!!

I learned that Brown Trout frequent the fresh water streams of the Northeast.

Thanks again Jen for trusting me with this project - I had A LOT of fun doing it and creating it with you. I hope Flipper enjoys it for years to come in his man-cave. Thanks again - stay safe and watch out for all that damn snow we're suppose to get tonight. My kids are praying for a two hour delay...

it's the not so little things...

I am blessed, truly I am. I have a husband who can make my children's and my dreams become realities. We really take for granted how talented he is and capable. The kids had requested a TV on our kitchen, I seconded the motion because I was tired of the kids eating in the toy room and making a crumbly mess. I am really tired of yelling at Jon to finish eating breakfast because he still has to brush his teeth and I can see the bus coming. All of this could be eliminated if we could have a TV complete with cable in our kitchen. Let me preface this by saying that I am not a big TV person. I'm not. If it weren't for our blessed DVR I would never watch TV because I undoubtedly will not be in front of the TV when a show I enjoy is on. Now I can record them, but even so I only watch a couple of shows so even if I had no TV I would survive (I would miss my Joel terribly though). What we have is a large TV in the "TV room" -this is Ryan's entertainment space that he has wanted for eons. We have my old Zenith that my parents bought for me when I graduated college in the kids "Toy room" so that Ryan and I wouldn't be subjected to Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon when a Colts game was on. A TV in the kids room isn't a necessity, but the damn thing won't die and I'm not a fan of throwing a perfectly good albeit beast of a TV away. When my mom passed she left us with her adorable 15" flat screen that she had in her room. It's a cute little deal and has been stowed away in the storage area for later use - the plan was to hang it in the kitchen. All we had to do was get an overpriced mount for the wall and Ryan would work his voodoo - handy man magic and get cable into this part of the house.

Putting the TV in the kitchen was one of those projects that was suppose to get done over the holidays since Ryan took some time off. Being a man of his word, the TV is up and running. Of course there were a few obstacles, like the fact that mom's TV wouldn't fit our new mount or any mount for that matter because it has a permanently attached base that can be attached to a wall, but wouldn't swivel - which is what I needed for the kitchen so I can be inspired by the Food Network or like last nights episode of the Kardashians while making chex mix. What to do, what to do?

So Sunday I hit a mothering wall - after two weeks solid of the kids with no break except for one coffee date with a dear friend for 2 hours, I needed out, in a big way. So I looked at my husband with those eyes and said nothing - this is what he translated my look into - " You want me to call Andrea (our neighbor home from college) to watch the kids so you and I can go to the store and buy a TV for the kitchen right?" This is one of the benefits of sharing a brain when you are married, we can have full conversations without saying anything. He was absolutely correct - he just missed the part where I needed to go to Pier One and buy some faux lemons for my hurricane in the kitchen, but we've only been married 10 years - we'll get there.

So we called and she came and we left and we bought and we came home and I was refreshed. Fortunately for us the stores were still having great deals on TV's. So we brought home a darling little 19" TV for our kitchen and Ryan got the whole thing up and running in less time than it took to go out and buy it. I am spoiled, very, very spoiled to be married to such a handy fella. Needless to say the kids are in love and I have much more company than I did before in the kitchen - which is A-Okay with me. Here are my little darlings getting ready for breakfast this morning (Drew is absent because he was the only one with school and had already been picked up).

Exploring with Dora in the morning

Who's one of the cutest bed head kids around?

Penny really enjoying her adventure with Dora - accompanied by her beloved "lamby" and sitting on "soft" her blanky. It only gets better with a sippy of 2%.

My sincere hope is that this spring I can paint this wretched kitchen and it will be the color of Cumin (see small square painted on wall next to TV and remote) with white trim - we shall see. If I can't renovate, maybe I can at least put a little makeup on the lady and make her presentable. As a side note, my daughter is sitting next to me saying "I so pretty, I so pretty" perhaps I compliment her too much? Ah - I didn't think so! Thanks!

First on the Resolution Agenda: Cleaning Out

Tired of hearing about me organize and purge? Then don't read on, I'm talking about it again. I got the wonderful opportunity to meet up with a couple of girlfriends after Christmas -part of my "girls" that I often road trip with and do my girl get-aways along side. We met up to eat and then go for a showing of New Moon. (I promise this isn't going to talk at all about New Moon) I remarked that my dad and I stayed up and watched an episode of Hoarders, on A & E and we were horrified by the conditions people would allow themselves to live in. That the majority of these individuals, although they may seem normal to meet them, clearly had mental issues that were causing this destructive and often dangerous behavior. I remarked that while watching, I just couldn't wrap my arms around how you get to the point where you are on a show like hoarders. Watching things like that show and Clean Sweep, make me want to go home and refine my purging and organizing. My girlfriends laughed and said I should create "Hoarders of Indiana" and single handedly organize one person at a time. While that seems pretty awesome- and I am flattered - for right now I'm just purging my kitchen.

I was amazed that within two hours I got it all ship shape - I make no secret that I hate my kitchen, it's ugly, the cabinets are warped, the drawers don't always work and the only redeeming thing in it is my refrigerator and the fact that my stove (not my fav) is new. One day I'll have that new kitchen, with the gleaming counter tops and cork flooring, but until then I deal with my sweet 80's kitchen. Living in this kitchen has been a good exercise I think because it has taught me to live within a small cabinet space. I have condensed my kitchen down to what I actually need and use, verses holding on to utensils, plates and cookware that rarely, if ever sees the light of day.

I also took some time to go through my recipes - I was the recipient of my grandmothers and my mothers recipes. Some I remember, some I couldn't read and some I wouldn't make if I had a gun to my head and a knife to my throat. I cleaned out those and condensed so that they fit in the containers I have. I also found a few of duplicates of my grandmother's favorite recipes in her handwriting -I am sending those to my cousin - who is also a fabulous cook, to have - I think I might frame mine - especially my Yia yia's banana nut bread - she made it every single week. You never left her house with out a loaf of banana nut bread out of the freezer - it was her signature. The recipe I have is so loved and stained, I couldn't possibly banish it to the recipe box - so I will matte it and hang it where I can see it and enjoy it every day.

So yesterday was a refinement of my current possessions - we are getting to a point where we no longer need children's silverware. My kids are capable of using the big people stuff. We are getting close (although not there yet) to not needing the plastic kid dishes or at least all of them. Same thing with cups - we're down to a few sippys for morning milk for Penny, but other than that we can all wield a cup. It makes me happy, but a little sad that we are moving into that next phase. I will say that once those items are no more I will free up yet another part of a cabinet. My goal ultimately is to have open shelves for my plates and cups - the quintessential organized space in my opinion.

Next up is my dining room, there isn't much there, but I need to go through the linens, the napkins, the place mats I don't use, serving pieces, etc. I've hosted a few holidays now, so I know what I use and what I don't. It's won't be a big project because I've done this in the past. But like a well-visit to the Doctor, I'm just doing a check up.

I think that is where most people probably struggle the most. They work so hard to clean out and to organize and then they leave it and live. I mean you're done right? Sure you are, but unfortunately we accumulate "stuff" through out the year - pictures from or of our kids, drawings, bills, paperwork, a gift, a great bargain, a hand-me-down, etc. before you know it you're back where you started - but you're organized, right? Contrary to what you might think, I'm not OCD, I don't follow people around with a dust broom and I don't compulsively give things away for fear of hoarding, but every year once or twice I get the urge to go over what I have and clean out. I figure once my kids are older, this won't happen as frequently because they won't be going through these "phases" - like needing plastic plates and silverware or toys or giving me 10 drawings a day because they love me. At some point I will have pared down to my perfect place and my cleaning out will be an annual spring thing. One of the reasons I really like to do my cleaning out now is that I'm taking Christmas down and cleaning anyway, so why not do a really, really good job? One day this will be it, it makes me excited and a bit bittersweet at the same time.

I've got quite a bit to blog about so stay tuned - I may even talk about more organizing and purging! (Aren't you excited?) I have a painting to post, two more that I am starting and I am getting my large ass in gear and will be hitting the workouts hard. I discovered pictures of myself after I had Jon, when we were renovating our last kitchen. I was disgusted at the difference. Although I need to consider the fact that it was 6 years ago, I've had two more kids, cared and lost mom and had a husband that has had jobs that have taken him away for periods of time - this all just irritates me and I've hit my breaking point. So I will be chronicling that journey as well. We've also switched web hosts, so I'll be redoing my website, recreating my blog through Wordpress and more. So stay tuned - we've got lots going on at the Page household and for Penny Pickles. Thanks again for reading and take care!