Have you ever noticed?

Ok, it’s not Wednesday, so I can’t be Wondering on Wednesday anymore… but I’m wondering just the same….

Wondering about hair of all things.

I’m not one of those every-six-week haircut kinda gals. I’m a little more low-maintenance (with my hair, anyway) than that. I usually determine when it’s time for a haircut by the level of frustration I have with managing my hair times the number of days I just want to put it up in a giant clip and forget that it is there.

When that happens, I break down and call my hairdresser for an appointment.

But what I find fascinating is the fact that the very day you are scheduled for your hair appointment will be the exact same day that your hair decides to be absolutely, gloriously, stunning. Every curl will be in place, it will shine like the golden sun, and you will feel supermodel-ish when you view your luxurious hair in the mirror.

And why is that?

Does our hair sense when we’re about to subject it to the butchery of a hairdresser’s shears?

(well, wait, I hope your hairdresser doesn’t butcher your hair… bad choice of words, there… moving along)

How does your hair know? Is it sentient?

Is it thinking “Oh, gosh, guys, we gotta pull it together here. She’s getting ready to cut us off!”

And, of course, if you decide (like I’ve done before) that it’s not really that bad and you call and cancel your hair appointment…

(because you have been lulled into a false sense of security by that conniving hair on your head)

Of course, if you do that, you know what is going to happen.

You’re going to wake up the next day with Hair from Hell that won’t be tamed.

Of course!

Wondering on Wednesday ~ What makes you happy?

I was thinking about how happy I’ve been lately. Granted, there’s been some stress in my life, but even with that, I just have this overall feeling of contentment. Life is good. I’m blessed with a job that I love and can do from home, a schedule that allows me to focus on my kids when I need to and juggle other responsibilities. I have a husband who loves me and supports me in all my crazy ideas and two not-so-little girls that I adore (and who like me most of the time, too).

On top of all that, there are the little things that make me happy.

Here are a few little things that have made me happy lately:

Werther’s Original Sugar Free Caramel Coffee candies
These are sooo good. You can’t tell they are sugar free and they give a great coffee and caramel flavor. Very rich tasting. I feel like I’m getting away with something when I eat one of these.
My Droid
How did I ever survive without this thing? Seriously. I take it EVERYWHERE
(even the bathroom, but that is probably TMI, isn’t it?)
It’s like having a laptop in your pocket. I can find out anything I want to know anytime, anywhere. Directions, updates from my friends on Facebook, emails from work, movie times, restaurants, etc. I’m so addicted, the darn thing should probably have a name (like Beatrice Nook does)
My Knitting

After stepping away from the hot yarn for the summer, I’m so enjoying getting back into my knitting. I find such peace as I’m sitting at the dance studio waiting for the girls to finish up classes and knitting my little heart out. I guess I’m a kinesthetic person, because the physical act of knitting is like a balm to my soul. It just really calms me and focuses me. I have started knitting in the evenings for about 30 minutes before the bedtime rush. It has been really interesting to do that – I find I’m a lot more patient and calm for the monkeys’ bedtime when I do that.
Beatrice Nook
I love being able to read anything whenever/wherever I want. I also love the fact that I have the Nook software on my Droid so I can read even if I forget Beatrice (the horror!) and find myself with a few extra moments somewhere.
(this one may sound crazy to you) Arm & Hammer Plus OxiClean Detergent
Maybe crazy sounding, but I am loving this stuff. It gets out all kinds of stains and it has the best scent! I don't even think I need a dryer sheet when I’m finished with the washing. The clothes are fresh, clean, and soft when I’m folding them. Love it.

So, today, I’m wondering…

What makes you happy?

Enter a comment below
and tell me your five things that make you happy today.

What I’m Reading Right Now

Carrying a book around is a rather bulky endeavor – especially when it’s a hardback book of 600+ pages. So, my most recent book is languishing on my nightstand because I refuse to lug it everywhere I go. It will probably take me a while to finish reading it, but that is OK. I have Beatrice, my nook.

I started reading a new book on there this weekend – The Girl Who Chased the Moon, by Sarah Addison Allen. Now, I don’t know if you have ever read any of her books before, but they are yummy confections for the mind. I swear, I feel like I should gain five pounds just by reading. She has a way with words, with painting pictures in your mind – but she does such a great job of evoking not only the images, but the sounds and smells of the environment she creates for you.

Here is an example:

There was a teenager on the balcony. She was just standing there, as still as snow, staring into the woods behind Vance’s house. She was willow-branch thin, had a cap of yellow hair, and a sad sort of vulnerability was wafting from her, making the night smell like maple syrup.

I love the imagery there!

Or this (love it)

“Some men you know are Southern before they ever say a word,” Julia said as she and Emily watched Sawyer’s progress, helpless, almost as if they couldn’t look away. “They remind you of something good – picnics or carrying sparklers around at night. Southern men will hold doors open for you, they’ll hold you after you yell at them, and they’ll hold on to their pride no matter what.”

She has written a few other books that I just gobbled up as soon as they were released: Garden Spells was the first, and The Sugar Queen the second. LOVE them. All of her books weave in some magic and mystery that seems altogether plausible, even normal, in the stories.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is no exception in this regard.

In the book, a young seventeen year old, Emily, arrives in Mullaby after her mother’s death. She is to live with her maternal grandfather, Vance Shelby who is a real-life giant. Emily realizes soon enough that there are lots of things about Mullaby that are not like other towns. From her home, where the wallpaper in her bedroom changes with her moods, to the lights she sees in the woods at night, things are just a little bit different.

Emily befriends Julia Winterson who is the current owner of a local barbecue restaurant and baker extraordinaire. Julia’s cakes have become well-known throughout Mullaby and although she is only biding her time before she leaves town and sells her late father’s restaurant, she feels the pull of the town of Mullaby, (and it’s magic) too.

I’m not very far into the book, but I am mesmerized. I can’t wait to finish and yet I am trying so hard to read slowly because I don’t want the book to end. That’s usually how it is with Allen’s books for me. They are like your favorite dessert – you can’t wait to gobble it up and relish the goodness and yet you want to savor every single mouthful.

Need a book to read? Go get one of Sarah Addison Allen’s. They’re so worth it.

Menu Plan Monday ~ 30 August

Happy Monday, everyone!

This week will be an interesting one for us. SuperMan is going on a new work schedule and won’t be home until after 7 each night (boo!) which means that the girls and I will be on our own for supper most nights. This will be a challenge for me. What to cook that the girls will enjoy/eat and will still be appetizing for SuperMan when he gets home…

Here’s what I have planned for the week:

Twice-baked potatoes with a salad
Chicken Parmesan
This will be a new one to try on the kids. I don’t know if they will like it or not.
Steaks cooked on the grill with fresh veggies and buttered potatoes
This is usually a SuperMan-cooked dinner. It will be interesting to see how I do cooking steaks.
Pizza Braid
I saw this recipe last week when I was perusing other Menu Plan Monday posts. Have to try it.
Sloppy Joes with homemade french fries & fresh fruit
Kid-friendly & fast – good for one of those nights we have dance classes.
Chicken Pomodoro
I have had this on my list for two weeks and haven’t made it yet. Maybe this week?

What are you cooking this week?

Join us over at orgjunkie.com and share your menu plan!

I love Fridays

I love Fridays.

I think a lot of people love Fridays – it’s the end of the work week (for most of us) and we can start to unwind and relax a little.

Fridays are special to me for many reasons:

It means the girls are going to be home with me for two whole days.
(I miss them while they’re at school!)
It usually means I get a little break at work – Fridays never seem to be too busy.
It sometimes means I can sneak in a little scrapbooking or crafting
(after daydreaming about it all week)
It usually means a break from housework (I try to do it during the week)
It usually means there’s some type of project to work on with SuperMan

But the number one reason I love Fridays?

SuperMan is off of work.

Which means:

The girls wake up happy because Daddy is home.
I get to stay in my PJs and he takes the kids to school.
He brings me breakfast from my favorite biscuit joint.
I get to spend time with him during the day – without little people distractions.
He picks the girls up from school.
Sometimes he takes us out to dinner. (Yay! No cooking for me!)
He helps me with projects around the house.

It all adds up to feeling like I have a 3-day weekend. Every single week. How cool is that?

Fridays are awesome.

Losing Innocence

Image via Wikipedia

We had lots of drama and trauma this morning. All before 7:30 in the morning.

Driving to school these days, Big Girl sits in the front seat. She is very proud of the fact that she is now big enough to legally sit there and likes to be “in charge” of the radio and environmental controls wherever we go.

This morning, however, I was wishing she was still in the back seat.

We were driving down a stretch of road that, for our rural area, is fairly busy in the mornings with commuters and mommies headed to school carpool lines. There was a car in front of us and we were cruising along when out of nowhere a raccoon dashed out of the tall grass on the side of the road and in front of the car in front of us.

I quickly told Big Girl “don’t look, don’t look,” but I think it was too late.

The poor raccoon was rolled under the car as the driver was traveling too fast to stop and to swerve to avoid the creature would’ve surely meant a wreck.

It was the first time she’s ever seen anything like that. Understandably, she was very traumatized. (hysterical is a more accurate description, actually)

My poor baby.

How do you explain to a child those split-second decisions you make where you choose the safety of yourself and, most likely, the children riding in the car with you, over saving a creature’s life? She is such an animal fanatic that all she could think about was the poor animal dying and that the person had not even swerved or slowed down.

As a driver (and a mom) I can only imagine what went through that driver’s mind in the milliseconds before they hit the raccoon.

I hate that she had to see that. I hate that a little bit her innocence was taken away today.

I know it’s part of life. I know that she is going to see things and experience things that I will want to shield her from – and that seeing a raccoon get hit by a car is probably one of the milder things. (although I hope and pray not)

Big Girl is also dealing with some new realities this year at school. Fourth grade involves a lot more responsibilities (and less hand-holding) than last year – they actually change classes! And, she is dealing with the realization that some friends are not “forever friends” but more friends of a season – and that it’s ok that people move on to find other friends.

I hate knowing that I can’t wrap that protective bubble around my babies anymore. I want to keep them safe in the cocoon of mommy’s protection and shield them from anything negative or harmful. Unfortunately, life is not that way. Kids grow up, expand their horizons and experience new things – not all of them good.

Watching her deal with these things is hard. I want to swoop in and fix everything – make it all better and sunshine and roses for her. But, I know I can’t. I know she has to work through some of this on her own.

And I know that my job now is to be there to support and guide her as she learns how to deal with these things – as a big girl, not a little one.

But I still wish I could pull her into my lap and keep her there, safe, forever.

Knit one…

I’ve gotten back into my knitting again. I guess it is finally not so hot that the thought of holding yarn in my lap isn’t making me want to break out into sweat. I think it is also because I’m finding myself sitting at the dance studio three afternoons a week. And, it’s too noisy to read, so knitting is perfect. I can relax, knit a few rows, and not pay attention to all the maniac kids who are waiting for their siblings to finish their dance classes.

I knit a few washcloths to get myself back into the groove:

And now I’m moving on to more ambitious projects.

IMG_20100823_103752

I’m making this one – although the center will not be the same yarn, the one I have is similar. I love the laciness combined with the fuzzy softness at the end. The fuzzy yarn is giving me a fit right now, but I’m going to master it.

Next, I’ll make this scarf:

But mine is going to be a deep purple. Same sequined yarn (purple) at the ends, but a darker alpaca/bamboo purple yarn in the middle. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

And, then? I think maybe I’ll get real crazy and try to make a shawl. Something to keep myself warm in church.

I know. I like to live dangerously.

Menu Plan Monday ~ 23 Aug

Got lots going on this week.

So glad I have planned out my menus. We have dance classes on Monday/Wednesday and Friday this week, plus curriculum night/PTO on Wednesday night and a knitting session for me on Thursday evening.

Without the plan, I think we would devolve into eating a lot of junk and fast food. This way, I know my family is getting healthy food and I can control fat, protein, and portion sizes. Not to mention we have great leftovers for lunches.

As you can see we’re back into the chicken routine. I’ve been finding chicken thighs on sale at the grocery and substituting them for the breasts in menus where I can. They are juicier than breasts and easier for my tummy to digest. The rest of the family doesn't seem to mind, either.

Here’s what I have planned for the week:

Shepherd’s Pie
“Rotisserie” chicken in the crock pot
Pasta Pomodoro w/ Chicken
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
Grilled Shrimp with Grits (maybe – if I can find some good shrimp at the store)
Rotel Chicken Pasta Bake

I’ve included links to all the recipes since so many of you have asked me for them. Most are mine, a few other folks’. All are posted on AllRecipes.com so it should be easy for you to access and print.

Join us over at Menu Plan Monday on orgjunkie’s blog – you can get some great ideas for your own dinners and share what you’ve got planned as well! There are some great recipes over there – I was picking up a few ideas myself this morning that may show up in my own menus in the next few weeks.

What’s for Dinner?

Here’s one of my favorite go-to recipes for the nights that SuperMan is working late and it’s just me and the girls for dinner.

Sesame Chicken Bites

Yum.

My girls love them just like they are straight out of the oven. No sauces, ketchup or anything needed.

I make them with two gallon sized zip top bags.

I use one for the mayo base coat mixture. The second is used to hold the breading coating. Easy cleanup and easy prep. Love that.

I use flash-frozen chicken tenders and cut them into bite-sized pieces. This makes the dinner such a snap to make!

Here’s the recipe. I think it would also be great to serve at a cocktail party with a little honey mixed with horseradish for a dipping sauce.

Sesame Chicken Bites

1 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup (apprx) sesame seeds
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp dry mustard
2 tsp Houston House Seasoning
3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (Cut in bite-sized pieces)
(you can also use chicken tenders cut into pieces)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a large gallon zip top bag, mix the bread crumbs and sesame seeds. Add a dash of Houston House Seasoning
In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, mustard & house seasoning. Pour into a second gallon zip bag.
Drop chicken pieces into the mayo bag and toss to coat. I usually let the pieces sit in the bag in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes.
Drop the mayo-coated chicken into the bread crumb/sesame seed mixture and toss to coat.
Place chicken nuggets on sheet pan that has been sprayed with oil.
Bake at 425 for approximately 15-20 minutes (or until chicken is done and coating is lightly browned)

I serve them with homemade french fries, a little fruit and sometimes some yogurt. Quick and easy – and healthy!

You can print the recipe here.

What do monkeys eat for breakfast?

Have you ever wondered what monkeys eat for breakfast?

I don’t mean the monkeys you’ll find at the zoo.

I mean the monkeys you’ll find if you visit my house!

Curious?

Well, most, days, the monkeys have exciting things like Carnation Instant Breakfast served with side of toast or pop tarts.

But on Fridays, we mix things up a bit. SuperMan is off on Fridays, so I have a little more time in the mornings. Less rush-rush-rush and more nurture-the-family time.

So, I make things like this

Yep, you guessed it!

Monkey Bread!

The kids were not sure they were going to like it – Little Bit was afraid there were monkeys in the bread. Big Girl said it didn’t sound good.

But they LOVED it.

And SuperMan (after telling me I was ruining his diet) ate some, too.

Even Mr. Droopy-Pants had a taste.

And I sent them all away for the day, full of sugar and carbs and bouncing off the walls.

I’m sure their teachers appreciated it.

I’m such a good mom.

If you’d like to indulge in a little sugary goodness one morning, here’s the recipe. I am most definitely not a morning person and this wasn’t painful to make, even though it was five-stinkin’-thirty in the morning. I’ll do it again for sure. It was worth the effort.

Monkey Bread

It’s what monkeys eat for breakfast!

2 packages Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
1 cup sugar (I used 1/4 c Splenda 1/2 c sugar)
2 tbs ground cinnamon (I just dump a bunch in)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup, packed, brown sugar (I used 1/2 c Splenda/brown sugar blend)
1 tsp vanilla

OPTIONAL:
1/2 c chopped walnuts
1/2 c raisins
(the monkeys at my house don’t like raisins or walnuts)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease 9 or 10 inch tube/Bundt pan.
Note: if you use a tube pan with a removable bottom, put a cookie sheet on the oven rack below it to catch any drips of the caramel sauce that may seep through and be careful when you dump the bread from the pan.
In a gallon zip lock bag, mix the sugar & cinnamon.
Cut the biscuits into quarters and drop them into the cinnamon/sugar mixture.
(I cut mine into sixths because the Grands are such big biscuits)
Shake to coat and then drop the coated biscuit pieces into the tube pan.
Continue until all biscuits are coated and placed in the pan.
If you are using nuts/raisins, don’t forget to sprinkle them in as you are adding the biscuits to the pan.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together.
Add the vanilla.
Let it simmer for about a minute.
Pour over the biscuits.
Bake at 350 for 35 – 40 minutes.
When you take the bread out of the pan, let is sit for a few minutes to allow the caramel to set.
Turn out onto a large plate and let your hungry monkeys pull it apart (carefully) and enjoy!

Print the recipe here

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