Monday Doings

What I should be doing:

• cleaning the house
• wrapping presents
• cleaning the dirty dirty house
• working out
• making breakfast so my kids don't eat cold cereal
• cleaning my filthy house
• laundry
• renewing my drivers license (cause it expired...whoops)
• finishing my shopping
• oh and uh cleaning the house

What I am actually doing:

• wasting time on the internet
• drinking coffee

So...how is your Monday going so far?

It’s As Essential As Air

I breathe music. I live and die music.
Jack Johnson makes my heart swoon. Led Zeppelin sends me way back. Kings of Leon writes and wails my life story. Nirvana still makes me feel rebellious. Jason Mraz makes me weak in the knees. STP gets my heart going. Not to mention Sublime, The Beatles, Soundgarden. I get lost in the lyrics of The Lumineers. I begrudgingly kind of love John Mayer. Silverchair and RHCP and Heart. Coldplay, oh my. Audioslave, The Weeks, Edward Sharpe.

My list would never end. Music shapes our days.

This makes me do nothing but smile. My heart is light. My love is big. Music makes it all go round.

Enough music? Never!
But, here are some interesting things also.
It’s okay to stop worrying about being judged.
Penelope gives her view on homeschoolers and college.
We are just itching to try this out. Our art knows no boundaries.
Homemade natural deodorant that works? I’m going to give it a shot.
Have you visited Mudpuddles to Meteors yet? Great resources for homeschooling Science.
I like her view on unschooling and why she trusts her kids.


Funny Cash quote- “Hey Mom! Did you know Boss is the color of the UPS truck?”
Boss is a German Shepherd.

Assigned Reading

Starting tomorrow we are taking a three week Winter break from school. Tomorrow is a surprise trip with Grandma and once we return on Saturday it will be all fun and games. Every present is wrapped, most of the stockings are hung, the tree is totally trimmed. The days leading up to Christmas will be all about baking and relaxing and just enjoying each others company.

The days following Christmas, well who knows what kind of messes the children will get into. But me? I have some reading to catch up on. There is no doubt in my mind I can devour this stack in those three glorious weeks. Maybe a bit of Winter knitting thrown in for good measure? Those top two are my journals. Can one ever have enough journals? I'm still working on reading Nurturing the Soul of Your Family and it requires taking notes and journaling exercises. It's proving to be a more difficult read emotionally than I thought.

Earth Child by Sheehan & Waidner - This was gifted to me last year by my best gal pal and I absolutely love it. It will be our main source for Science projects this Spring and Summer and I want to get a head start by marking some stuff and maybe finding a few easy things to do with the small homeschool group I'm working on starting.

nom nom paleo FOOD FOR HUMANS by Michelle Tam & Henry Fong - I've read nom nom's blog for a long time and was so excited by her first cookbook. I preordered it in the Fall and just received it. I'm planning a full on Paleo/Primal detox starting January 1 so this will come in handy.

Magical Child by Joseph Chilton Pearce - loaned to me, looks like a very good read.

Nurturing the Soul of Your Family by Renee Peterson Trudeau - I've been reading on this one and am really enjoying it despite the fact that it is making me take a good hard look at myself and I don't necessarily like what I see.

Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv - I have wanted to read this for a while now and it was on my friend's bookshelf so I nabbed it!

Even Cowgirls Get The Blues by Tom Robbins - This will be a fun and raunchy re-read for me. It's been quite a while since I read it but I figured I would need a bit of mindless entertainment in my stack.

Happy New Year

2012?  Meh.

Not too many good things to say about this past year. I gained weight, slacked on my exercise, drank way too much, a very very loved one passed away. There are many more negatives than that...those were just the ones that way heavy on my mind.

Although...
We completed (well almost) a pretty big remodel that added some much needed space to our house. Went on a sweet summer family vacation. Decided to homeschool our lovely children starting in 2013.

2013?

Resolutions....I always make them. Today as I am cleaning and scrubbing and readying myself for a life of nonstop kids 24/7, I am writing them down. Then as the clock strikes 2013 I will post them for you....for myself. But who am I kidding cause you know I am going to have to autopost. I will be in bed by then.

Eat Less Sugar.
Drink Less Wine.
Drink More Water.
Move More.
Play More.
Watch My Kids.
Watch My Mouth.
Watch My Mouth In Front Of My Kids.
Find Some Peace.
Pick My Battles.
Let Only Positive Things Pass My Lips.
Go Camping.
Hike Weekly.
Practice Yoga.
Practice Yoga With The Kids.
Write More.
Think More.
Talk Less.
Declutter.
Don't Buy Things I Don't Need.
Unplug.
Sing More.
Kiss My Husband Every Day.

Whew. Looks like a lot of work but its really all little things. And little things add up.

May all the little things in your life add up to a fantastic New Year. Welcome Twenty Thirteen!

Friday Brain Dump

You don't mind a list today do you? I thought not.

• Yesterday was my eldest son's birthday. Normally I do a post all about him. But I was sad, because he was at his father's house and not with me. I miss him terribly, but yesterday I was really bummed out.
• Will someone please please please give me permission to cut Sugarbaby's hair? It is unruly. It takes an hour to comb out after a bath. She either needs a personal stylist or a haircut.
• I was wheat & sugar free for 9 days and then I caved. Oh man....I wish I hadn't. I felt like dying. The gastrointestinal distress was that bad.
• I may have agreed to run a half-marathon in October. Not even sure if I will have time for training, but I got a free entry for sponsoring it.
• Sleep deprivation? Yes. Yes I have it.
• I missed yoga this week and I am not a happy camper.

Birthday card from home.

24 Hours To Do With What You Want

It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth, and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.  -- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross


So what will you do today?

Hug your children tighter. Play with them even though you don't feel like it. Kiss your husband and smile even though he left his socks on the floor. Throw on your favorite jeans and shake your booty in the mirror cause you can. Step outside and marvel at the absolute natural beauty of the earth. Drink a full fat latte' without guilt.  Bake something and let your kids help, and I mean really help, then smile while you clean up the inevitable mess. Just this once do today what you say you will do tomorrow.

Because life is just one big old beautiful mess and we can spend our whole of it cleaning and scrubbing out the problems but that is just exhausting. Let's enjoy it instead.

Seriously. Stick a crown on your dog's head and take a picture. Why not?

Brain Dump

• Okay, the other night I watched a movie that is totally out of my regular genre. I had heard about Fireproof but hadn't any intention of watching it, until Netflix insisted that I would like it. So I watched it, and let me just say it touched something in me. That's all. If you are married, I recommend it.

• McDonalds, you are starting to tick me off. I go to McD's for my sugar free non-fat vanilla latte because its cheap and usually good. I know I bitch and moan an awful lot about our lack of a Starbucks but in all honestly we do have two coffee shops and the option of McCafe. I am really fond of one of the little coffee houses but the prices are just a little too steep for my daily fix. So McCafe it is. After my run yesterday I had to visit the eye doctor. I ran in McD's first, and I mean I literally went inside because the drive thru line was horrendous. So I order my sugar free non-fat vanilla latte and wait. Order up. It's iced. Excuse me. I wanted a hot latte. Ok. No problem says the lady. Two seconds later she hands me a cup of black coffee. Argh. 5 minutes later I finally have in my hand what I actually ordered 15 minutes before.

• Today is my last peaceful day before the boys are home from school. FOR 5 DAYS STRAIGHT. Pray for me. And send coffee. And tranquilizers.

• Two words. Oyster stuffing. Divine.

• Sugarbaby has taken to talking constantly, although not a word of it is decipherable. It's complete and total gibberish. I'm glad she is taking that dang paci out of her mouth and trying to communicate, but 5:45am is not exactly the best time to be holding a conversation with your doll. I get to hear every bit of it over the baby monitor.

• And holla! I have located a treadmill. SUM's granny lives next door and she has one that I can use whenever I want. I'm so excited and thankful for not having to join the gym or run outdoors when it is below freezing.

It's Been A Good Day

Things that made me smile today:

• The boys willingness and eagerness to go to school.
• Walking three miles with J and feeling the burn.
• A nice brunch with my husband.
• A catnap in the afternoon before school ended.
• The boys smiling and excitedly telling me about their day.
• My calorie intake (I rocked my diet today)
• A new Netflix movie for the boys and quiet time for me.

Hey Look It's Not Another BlogHer Post!

BlogHer09 is all over the internetz. And why shouldn't it be. I'm dying to go. Someday. I mean what sounds cooler than 1500+ female bloggers thrown together for a giant conference filled with parties, swag, and booze? Nothing I tell ya. Nothing.

But I'm not there. Instead I'm sitting on my couch, eating a Fudgepop (it's low fat Mother!), wishing I was in Chicago.

Nevermind my whining though. There are no less than forty-eleven million posts about women wishing they were at BlogHer this year. I'll try not to add to that.

You might have noticed posting has been a little light. Yeah, about that... I think my blog is depressed. I think my blog needs a Xanax. Or a counseling session. Honestly its just not doing it for me. I can't think of anything to write about. I could tell you all about my days but I don't even find my life very interesting so why should you? I could do picture posts day after day, but my camera is broke. It needs to visit Bedford's but Bedford's isn't open on Sundays which is the only day I happen to ever be near a Bedford's. A broken DSLR is a sad sad thing. It just sits there in its camera case mocking me. STOP MOCKING ME NIKON!

So for lack of anything else to share let's go through a few milestones that have been reached in the SugarBritches household.

• Sugarbaby no longer needs a bottle. She gets put to bed with a sippy cup of water every night and has no problems. Score one for mommy. I'm pretty much on the winning side of things with this kid.
• I already mentioned that Cashman puts his pants on before exiting the bathroom, but now he's added wiping his own butt to the routine. Yay for a clean booty!
• I've had no less than 8 people tell me I've lost weight and man that feels good. It feels so good I've become even more hardcore about the eating. I've resorted to an almost all liquid diet. Coffee, water, Diet Coke, wine, beer, and Slim Fast. I do still eat, people. Don't get all freaked out, I just told food we need to take a break for a while. See other people. Work on ourselves before we continue our relationship. Mainly food needs to be nicer to me and I need to not be so dependent on it. I'll tell you how that goes when I start speaking to food again.
• The Monster is almost done with his summer vacations stays with his Dad. And his birthday is only a few weeks away. And I managed to convince him to forgo an actual birthday party this year. Instead of 20 screaming 6 year olds we'll have an entire birthday day. Picnic at the river, bowling and dinner in the evening. Presents all day!

Okay. That's all I've got. Leave me a comment. Tell me I look skinny. Counsel my blog on its depression problem. Throw me a bone folks. Just make sure it doesn't have any meat left on it.

In Case You Were Curious...

Things I have officially decided today:

• Happy Feet is the dumbest movie ever made. I've made a pact with myself to throw it away when the kids are asleep.
• When 3 people in a town of 400 die in one night under suspicious circumstances, it might be time to move.
• Sugarbaby is smarter than I am.
• I can't wait for school to start.
• That glasses do not make me look like a hot secretary, contrary to what the husband says.
• Galway Girl just might be the best song ever.
• Cigarettes are the devil.
• Wine is good.
• I can't wait for school to start.
• That Sugarbaby's potty training begins next week.
• I need to increase my wine consumption while decreasing my food consumption.
• That Facebook and Twitter are melting my brain.
• I may need an appointment with a dermatologist.
• That buying health insurance comes before buying badass Steve Madden boots.
• I can't wait for school to start.

Links to Keep You Busy

Eye Candy
Awkward Family Photos (the second page is the best) (thanks Corrie!)
Gorgeous Modest Dresses
What my kids do when I relinquish the computer

I'm Grumpy

I'm blaming it on everything and everyone but me.

1. The rain. That just won't stop. Stop already!
2. I have PMS. Nuff said.
3. The incompetence of a certain school secretary who shall remain nameless.
4. I'm poor. 5 people, one income. Click the ads please people!
5. Debt. Mine all mine. It keeps appearing out of nowhere.
6. Washington County DMV. They must hate me.
7. People who are nearly 30 yet act like they are 16. Not the hubby. He doesn't make this list.
8. The un-mopped kitchen floor.
9. Did I mention it's raining?
10. My diet. I've failed on it too much this week to even call it a diet. More like eat whatever you want.

I feel better now.

How about you? What's bugging you today?

To Do:

Finish this post. Change a diaper. Miss my Monster. Help a friend. Hurt a friend. Lose a friend. Kiss Sugarbaby. Vacuum the rug. Hug a tree. Finish this post. Turn off the TV. Kiss Cashman. Think about the Monster. Flush the toilet. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Listen to John Lennon. Slice a lemon. Love one man the rest of my life. Be responsible for my own actions. Wash a plate. Channel surf. Grow up. Make the bed. Get gas. Cry. Color a picture with Cashman. Take the blame. Practice yoga. Boil water. Finish this post. Go for a drive. Mop the floor. Shop. Look at the stars. Alter reality. Feed Sugarbaby. Call my mom. Shower. Peel a banana. Kiss my husband. Wonder about the Monster. Paint a room. Write a sentence. Take a picture. Watch life. Finish this post. Crack a joke. Move furniture. Feed fish. Paint nails. Cook dinner. Balance checkbook. Make coffee. Call Lindsay. Close door. Fold a blanket. Laugh. Change batteries. Change sheets. Water plants. Leave tip. Be nice. Sweep porch. Make love. Make snack. Discipline children. Forget about it. Stop worrying. Wish. Read. Pray. Finish this post. Wash truck. Light candle. Mend pants. Shred cheese. Firewood. Be silent. Cry, again. Stay out of it. Hold Sugarbaby. Listen to Cashman. Miss Monster. Hug husband. Love them all. Finish this post.

All In A Day's Work

So far today I have:

• changed two stinky Sugarbaby diapers
• rescued a Lego man from the toilet (an unflushed toilet, ugh!)
• swept and mopped all the hard floors in my house (which is nearly all of them)
• cracked myself out on caffeine
• located Cashman's underpants 3 times
• sopped up water leaking from the water heater (which may or may not be installed properly)
• rushed trash to end of drive just in time for pick-up
• oh and the usual laundry, dishes, etc., etc.

Still to do today:

• bathe Cashman
• pack for the Monster
• clean truck
• pack sustenance for 4 hour trip
• visit Supergrandma
• various town chores
• deliver the Monster to his Dad for his weekend visit (4 hours round trip, did I mention that?)

Productivity at a level 3 out of 5

Accomplished today:

• Picked up dog from groomer, he looks naked, the neighborhood dogs are laughing.
• Called lawn guy. Couldn't find Cashman in the yard earlier, decided its time for a trim.
• Took the kiddos swimming. Worked on my killer burn tan.
• Composed several posts in my head. Lost them immediately.
• Made cream cheese fudge brownies. Not needed, but wanted badly.
• Caught up on e-mails I've been neglecting. People think I'm ignoring them, but I hate to tell them I'm not cool enough to ignore someone, just scatterbrained enough to forget.