Mom to the Screaming Masses

2011 - A Year in Review

This is, without a doubt, my very favorite post to write every year. It takes me hours and hours. I love to have this blog to look back on my life and remember the things that have happened to me - the good, the bad, and the very,very ugly - and there have certainly been some of each. It's tough to pick 3-5 of the best for each month, but it's a great reminder for me that, occasionally, I do write something worth reading.

So, here we go. I'll be back in the January 1 vicinity with something new. Before you start, you might want to get a drink - you'll be here a while. Do you remember any of these?

In January I decided that I wasn't going to have a New year's Resolution - but Riley did. I debuted the "Kinda, Sorta Weekly Reader" in which I chronicle the books I read, when I remember to do so. I vowed to make a change. I bought what turned out to be my favorite dress of 2011. I went to Blissdom where Heather took a great photo of me.

Quickly, Quickly

Kids: home. Always with the home. Riley started with the asthma flare on the 23rd, and we treated it with ever increasing amounts of albuterol via nebulizer until the 27th, including adding two different controller medications - and now she's on steroids. So known in our family as the CRAZY MAKERS. It's been swell with her, that's for sure. My kids sure do talk a lot. And eat a lot. And the dishwasher is running at least twice a day.

Movies: Mission Impossible whatever subtitle. It was pretty good, but really long. My girls rented Footloose and although they THOUGHT they got the new version - the universe smiled on me and we had the old, Kevin Baconful version of awesomeness.

Food: SO much of it in mah bellay. Tonight I made delicious crescent rolls - and ended up with FIFTY. We are, thankfully, now down to a manageable 29. I also made lemon chicken, potatoes au gratin with massive amounts of miscellaneous cheeses (including some delicious Gouda that my mom gave me) and faux chik-fil-a for the kids.We do tend to eat pretty well around here.

Working out: I've only taken two classes since my graduation. The school has been closed since the 23rd, but one instructor opened the school yesterday and today for open mat. And I went to both. And I be sore. But I am going tomorrow as well. Each day is two hours of whatever you want, including pad rounds, bag work, and lots and lots of PT.

What's new with you?

 

Wedding Dress Memories

I'm a participant in the Blogher Book Club's discussion of The Magic Room by Jeffrey Zaslow. I have been compensated for this review, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are all mine.

Despite telling myself it doesn't matter, over the course of time, I still find myself feeling like I missed out when I got married.

We had a very short engagement time - 16 days. Don't ask me why, because I really have no earthly idea. It just seemed like a good idea at the time. We were definitely in love and couldn't imagine not being together, so why wait for a long, drawn out engagement? (He wanted me to say that he was a good catch, but that makes me sound as if I was out hunting for a groom and grabbed whatever I thought was the best choice. Which is not what happened. I wasn't looking to get married. Wasn't searching for someone to "rescue" me. But I fell in love with a good guy.)

In the back of my mind, I thought I had always wanted a long, white fluffy wedding dress, the ubiquitous "bride" dress, but getting married in the living room of the Justice of the Peace with two weeks notice meant that that type of dress was much too fancy and wasn't going to happen.

And so I looked through the JCPenney's catalog for bride dresses, found the one that fit my budget - less than $100 - and ordered it. Three days later, I went and picked it up. Tried it on in the fitting room, under the worst lighting possible, and was done with the dress decision.There was no "Magic Room". No one went with me. My mom and sisters had no input, and I really didn't have time - or money - to find a more elaborate dress. This one would have to do.

It wasn't white. It was ivory, with a satiny sheath and a lacy dress overlay. High neck, long sleeves - perfectly pretty, perfectly acceptable - and perfectly bridely - but so not the dress I'd love to pass down to my daughters.

It sits in my closet. Why? I don't know. Maybe from a misguided thought that if you get rid of the dress, the marriage will follow. Which is, in retrospect, probably one of the silliest thoughts I've ever expressed. I'm not a superstitious or sentimental person, but I can't bring myself to donate it.

Maybe one day I'll find a use for it. It's a perfectly pretty dress. Just not a standard, typical, fluffy white marshamallow of a dress. The wearing of the standard wedding dress doesn't "make" the marriage - as if, by wearing that typical bride dress, one can assure herself of marital success. I have a love of the vintage, and while looking through anniversary announcements for couples married 50, 60 or even 70 years, I'm struck, over and over, by the simple wedding attire that they sported. Few were married in fluffy dresses. Most wore simple, practical and yet pretty outfits that they could wear again. 

I enjoyed reading the varied stories of brides to be, searching for "the" dress, the one that they were convinced could make their wedding dreams come true. I look forward to sharing these memories with my own daughters - I just hope, when the time comes, I can convince them that the super fancy dress doesn't make the marriage. It might make the wedding, but the husband and wife make the marriage.

We Only Had $1

This year has been a teeny bit better financially, in much the same way that one might prefer to have, say, ants in their kitchen instead of mice. There's still an overwhelmingly insane amount of juggling, selecting, scrimping and going without. No one goes hungry, no one goes without - but people have had to learn a bit of patience.

You can't get what you want when you want it, is my constant refrain.

When it came time to shop for Christmas, I debuted my "Want, Need, Wear, Read" mantra to my kids and the hubby and I agreed to avoid gifting to each other. There were times, during the past month, when I looked at the list of people to buy for and culled, trying desperately not to feel guilty. I made a lot of stuff at home and hoped that people wouldn't feel like I'd "cheaped" out. I tried, really, really tried, to give gifts that were personal and thoughtful, even if they weren't expensive.

I spent six days making cookies, breads, bath salts, foot soaks, hot cocoa balls, marshmallows, and sugar scrubs for gifts. I boxed and bagged and when that internal, infernal voice whispered, cheapskate! - I pulled an Archie Bunker and told myself to STIFLE.

The four younger kids had the ability to shop at the Santa Bazaar at school, which is a wonderful godsend for us. There are many, many inexpensive items marked well below retail and there's always a section for .25, .50 and $1.

One year one of my kids bragged that with her $10, she bought for the entire family, picked up a couple things for herself, and even bought raffle tickets.

That was the year we all got .25 parachute men. It was a very SPECIAL year.

Merry Christmas from My House to Yours

The Anonymous Christmas Letter

My kids crack me up. They are so funny. So, so funny.

Emma came to me last week in a flurry of great excitement. She was holding two folded papers.

"Mommy! I found this letter in our tv room! I don't know who it's from! It's ANONYMOUS! You should read it, right now!"

She was jumping up and down, practically vibrating with excitement.

The first part of the letter:

I looked over at her. she smiled innocently and handed over part #2, as she said, "I wonder who it's from? Maybe SANTA??"

Note to self: Teach children the meaning of the word ANONYMOUS.

I suppose there's no point in crying over this…

17 and 8

Today is a very special day in our house.

Allegra turned 17.

Riley turned 8.

In years past, I've discussed their birth stores, written letters to them and told funny stories about them. I've talked behaviors and character traits - but this year, I want to wish them both a VERY Happy Birthday by sharing a funny thing that happened this week.

I was talking to a woman that I really don't know well, and I mentioned that both of my girls had birthdays on the 22nd. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "That's neat. They must be twins!"

No, I shared. There are nine years between them.

"Yes, but I was wondering, are they twins?"

Ba-da-BUM. Happy birthday, girls. Mommy loves you both, even when she's so tired she can't think straight.

Enter to win a wonderful baking book here

Enter to win an awesome game here

What I've Been Reading - The Lame-O "I Forgot to Update" List

So I forget to update this list and then panic and have to add a whole bunch. Sorry. I typically remember when I've read something very good and want to tell you about it.

Side note: I'm panicked and flipping out about the upcoming holiday and I know that, no matter what - it's not going to get done. I'm bracing myself to be ok with it - as if I really have a choice. I'm not done shopping, haven't even begun to wrap, and I'm still several baked goods to the negative. My laundry needs to be done and groceries need to be bought and the kitchen is a tip - and, hey, I've just described YOUR life, haven't I?? We are all in the same boat.

Moving on. My most recent reads, and my thoughts and impressions, for what it's worth. Some of these books would make VERY good gifts!

As Seen on Pinterest - The Christmas Version

Many, many thanks for your kind words on my Black Belt graduation. It doesn't even seem real that I did it, and I was so busy with the kids backstage - I was in charge of the 13 kids, getting them in groups on onstage and such - that I had zero time to think about what I was doing. Which, in retrospect, was a very good thing indeed. I did make one mistake and the instructor holding pads for me made one, so we called it even and laughed about it. It took me 5 years to get to this point, and it's really weird to think the goal has been reached.

It's no secret that I'm a Pinterest addict.

I love me some Pinterest. Whenever I'm bored, or out of stuff to do,(oh, hahahaha - me so funny!)  I browse the Pinterest boards. I do see a lot of stuff there that I enjoy, and it occurred to me to blog them, so you all could maybe see some things from Pinterest that, you know, actually worked. I don't know about you, but I DESPISE looking at something, trying it out, and then realizing that it just didn't work. I pin lots of inspirational stuff - and lots of sarcasm too, let's be honest - but here are some of my recent As Seen on Pinterest attempts and the results.

• Peppermint Marshmallows -I made these with my kids - well, I let the girls coat them in sugar, anyway - and they are delicious, especially on hot cocoa. I stacked ten in a Mason jar for tons of presents.
• Truffle Hot Chocolate Balls -these things are stupid good. I've taken to making one in the morning and brewing super strong coffee and mixing the two for the best.mocha.EVER. Paired with the above marshmallows, they are Christmas gifts this year.
• Brisket Tacos - dinner tonight - I sampled a piece (I cooked it yesterday and put it in the fridge to marry the flavors a bit more) and this was slap your mama delicious.
• Chicken Rollups - The only thing I'd do differently is double the sauce - I used 2 cans of crescent rolls and it was a bit dry. But the flavor was awesome. 
• Ring - I have NOT bought this ring yet, but I love it so, so much. It's on my radar as soon as I have the extra funds. LOVE.
• Yarn Crochet Headband - On it's way to me. I'm not a hat gal, although I do have one I like - but this, I think I can do.
• Balsamic Pork Tenderloin - I'm not a pork fan, but delicious.
• Christmas Gift Tags - on most of my presents under the tree RIGHT NOW.
• RACKing - I've been doing this. It's a ton of fun and makes other people ridiculously happy, 'Nuff said. :)
• Linen Dress - Caveat: I have not bought this, but I crave it. Heavily. My only problem is that, typically, a dress of this design doesn't fit me correctly, as I need extra room from the neckline to the top of the waist - that's what big boobs will do to you. Doesn't stop me from panting after it, though. 
• Benefit Play Sticks - BEST.MAKEUP.EVER. That is all.