[Gurlee]Girrl Friday

TGIF!!! This week has crawled by.  I guess having a sick boy on my hands all week has taken its toll on me. It’s been 7 days and he’s still running a temperature of over 102!  I’m ready for the weekend!

This week I picked two new colors in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

I love I Am Strong – it’s the perfect pink in my opinion.  As far as Be Brave, it’s cute, but I just am not a huge fan.  Have you tried any of the new colors released in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness?

Now on to some Friday randomness:

• I took Colton to the doctor’s on Wednesday afternoon.  They tested him for strep and it came back negative.  She said it’s a virus running its course.  Could take up to 10 days!! Holy cow.  He’s already missed a week of school – I can’t imagine him missing next week too! 
• Miss Ash has been working diligently all week on her Unit 2 IXL Math.  The teacher’s note stated “your child should spend 30 to 60 minutes per WEEK working on their IXL.”  Ashley spends 1-1/2 hours per DAY working on one worksheet.  There are 22 in this unit.  She has a long road in front of her.
• Yesterday for dinner I made the kids’ and me Crescent Wrapped Hot Dogs with Cheese.  This was the first time I made them, and Ashley loved them.  Colton, who is a bread monster, hated the crescent wrap.  He asked me to remove it! I swear, he just hated it because it was “new” to him.  Eating one made me feel like I was 10 years old again. (we also had grapes and applesauce to “healthify” this meal")

 

• Miss Ash has had long hair for quite a few years now.  She begs me to braid it all the time.  It’s another huge thing I’m a failure at – braiding!  I’ve never been able to do “fancy” braids.  I’ve watched videos, read books, etc., I just suck at it.  She had my girlfriend braid it for her a few weeks back and loved it.  I read another “how to” and decided to give it a try.  It didn’t come out THAT bad.  She kept it in!  That’s progress for us – she normally removes any braid I’ve attempted before leaving the house.

• Where are my Walking Dead fans at?  Sunday is the day.  Can. Not. Wait.

• I’ve been looking for a case for my iPhone 5 and haven’t had any success.  The one I’ve been watching has finally become available.  It’s perfect – except it’s a silicone case. I hate silicone cases.  Anyone know of some cute, hard-shell ones?

With that, I’m off to enjoy my weekend!  Hope everyone has a great one too!

Diet Pop for Kids?

Last week I took both kids to get their annual physicals. Ashley needed her 11 year old shots – which surprisingly went well – compared to last month when she literally screamed and jumped off the table right before they stuck her!

During the “questions” part of the physical, the conversation went a little like this:

Doctor: Colton, do you eat breakfast?

Colton: Yes

Doctor: What do you eat?

Colton: I eat Pop Tarts or pumpkin pie (which only happened once!!!) or donuts.

I must have turned five shades of red, avoided eye contact with the doctor and felt like the worst mother in the world. In reality, yeah, he does occasionally eat Pop Tarts, and he gets a special donut on Sunday mornings, but typically he eats an apple, or grapes and in the summer he’ll eat melon. Of course he failed to mention that during the discussion.

Doctor: Colton, that’s not a very healthy way to start your day. Maybe you should try eating some fruit or yogurt.

Colton: Uhmmm, I don’t know.

Doctor: What do you eat for dinner?

Colton: Hot Dogs, Spaghetti, Chicken Sandwiches, Pizza and ummmm….

Doctor: What about vegetables, do you eat any kinds of vegetables?

Colton: Carrots, tomatoes, apples, oranges

Doctor: Oh good, you actually eat some good things, not just junk.

Hey a-hole doctor, I’m sitting right here. The boy is not overweight and his teeth are not rotting, so he’s obviously not just eating junk. But yeah – overall – he is a picky eater and would live on junk if I let him.

Doctor: Ashley, what about you? Do you eat breakfast?

Ashley: No

Me: Ashley – yes you do! I make you eat something every day – lately you been eating grapes or an apple.

Doctor: What about oatmeal? Or yogurt?

Ashley: No, that’s gross.

Doctor: Have you ever tried it?

Ashley: Kind of, when I was little, but I didn’t like it.

Me: Ashley – yes you did. You used to eat yogurt and oatmeal and you liked it!

Ashley: Really? I don’t remember.

Doctor: Well both of you need to do me a favor. Did you know that you have to try something 15 times before you can say you don’t like it?

Kids: No way.

Doctor: So for now on, when mom puts something on your plates, you have to at least try it, and you have to try it 15 times. Okay?

Ashley: Ok

Colton: I don’t know.

Doctor: Just “try” it.

Colton: Ok

Doctor: What do you drink?

Ashley: Chocolate milk and pop

Colton: OJ and pop

Doctor: Diet?

Me: No way.

Doctor: Why not diet mom?

Me: Because they are kids, and kids shouldn’t drink diet pop. The artificial sweeteners are bad for them.

Doctor: But sugar isn’t? What’s worse for them mom, artificial sweeteners or being obese?

Me: Well, they aren’t obese, but I didn’t know it was safe to give it to them.

Doctor: Yeah, I would never let me kids drink regular pop. They should be drinking water, but if that doesn’t fly, you should give them diet pop or Crystal Light.

Me: Wow, okay.

Leaving that office I felt like the worse mom ever. Not only do my kids have the worst eating habits, I am contributing to their problem by allowing them to drink one glass of pop a day. I truly only let them have one glass, but obviously one glass is too much.

Now am I the only moron mom out there that thought diet pop wasn’t for kids? I mean, Ashley has a friend who always drinks diet pop, and I always think WTF is wrong with her parents? LOL

Fast forward a week. Colton has now “tried” meatloaf (and he still hates it), salmon (he spit it out), has drank more water, still wants Pop Tarts for breakfast and continues to eat pumpkin pie (which grandma bought him – but not for breakfast – just dessert), still asks for pop.

Ashley has “tried” salmon (hates it), continued to eat grapes for breakfast, ate two pieces of meatloaf (it’s her favorite) and steals my Sobe zero calorie waters in lieu of pop.

So I guess it’s progress.  Little by little.

I still have a hard time convincing myself they can have diet pop. Hoping someone can enlighten me. Am I crazy? What is your stance on pop?  Diet pop to kids a go or a no?

Lately

• I’ve been dealing with a sick boy at home.  High fever and headache.  His temp was normal this morning, but grandma just informed me its back up to 102!.  The ONLY good thing about him being sick, is he liked lots of cuddle time with me! 

• In between cuddling Colton, I have been doing hours and hours of IXL math practice with Ash.  Apparently Ashley “forgot” she had 14 units to complete, so we had to cram them into 2 days.  Not fun. Not fun at all.
• I’ve discovered an awesome new reality show on TLC called Breaking Amish.  It may or may not be fake – but it certainly sucked me into a 5-hour marathon!  I love Rebekah and Abe. 

• After a good night of bowling, and a few wine spritzers, we enjoyed another game night of Mexican Dominoes and Tripoley.  Let’s just say I wasn’t a big winner.

• Took my Colton to get a hair cut – he of course requested a mohawk again.  I wouldn’t let him get the sides shaved bald, but I did let him keep the middle longer – not just “faux hawk”.  He likes it – especially when I put the blue gel in it. He certainly is his momma’s kid.

• I made new amazing dip this weekend (which I found on Pinterest) – Pumpkin Fluff.  Super easy to make.

You need:

1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

In a large bowl, mix together instant vanilla pudding mix, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Fold in the thawed frozen whipped topping. Chill in the refrigerator until serving.

I didn’t take pictures – but I served it with apple slices and Nilla Wafers.  It was a huge hit.

What have you been up to lately?

[Gurlee]Girrl Friday

These week was another “dark” week and it may be my favorite “dark” of all.  It looks brown, black and has a hint of red to it. 

Now on to some Friday randomness:

• Today feels like fall.  It’s looked like fall for awhile – but today it has that crispness in the air – so I was more than happy to pull out a sweater, jeggings and boots.  I feel so cozy.  I’m also loving this sweater from Princess Vera Wang – the neon yellow reeled me in.

• I’m always a little torn during this time of year – during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  For one, I think it’s awesome to bring awareness and to raise money to eliminate this horrible disease, as I hope and pray every single day that my daughter (or sister, or friend or anyone) never has to deal with what I had too, but seeing pink ribbons everywhere makes me think about my cancer, and then the fear pops up, and I start “Google-ing” statistics and I drive myself crazy.  However, in just two short months, I will be celebrating my 3-year cancer-versary.  So suck on that cancer.

• Speaking of Breast Cancer Awareness – I saw these polishes in the paper and I  must find them!

• What is it with companies using 80’s icons in their advertising lately?  Like maybe in 1988 I’d have wanted my man to smell like Jon Bon Jovi, but today – ummmm not so much.  And Don Johnson? The 24-year old mail guy at work didn’t even know who he was – even after I said Sonny Crocket from Miami Vice – still nothing.  Wouldn’t 20somthings be the “hangover cures” target audience? 

• I was super excited to get my new iPhone 5 and had dreams of filling it to capacity with my music collection.  Guess how many songs have been transferred over since I got it a couple weeks ago?  ZERO    Hopefully this weekend I can work on that.
• I am super excited that I won a blog re-design from Crystal’s giveaway.  I haven’t been able to decide exactly what I want, but I’m going to work on that too this weekend.  I’m thinking of a pink/black/grey color palate.  Any recommendations?
• Who doesn’t love jewelry?  If you do, Brittany is hosting a Stella & Dot online trunk show.  You can check it out here.  There are so many awesome pieces – how can I choose?
• Mallory has rocked my socks off with her “Detroit Tigers” inspired eye make-up!! Looking good! And her nails – check those out too!  GO TIGERS!!!
 

 
• I’ve been reading a lot of books lately, and I’m really loving the current one – Reason to Breathe.  It’s about a girl living with her uncle and aunt and is being physically abused by the aunt.  Parts have been hard to read (the abuse), but it’s been an eye opener.  As you can see, I’m almost done with it – so any recommendations for my next read?

With that – I hope everyone has a fantastic, safe weekend!!

Stop to Smell the Roses

The other day as I was pulling into my driveway, Ashley yelled “hey mom look at your yellow rose!”. 

And to my surprise:

One single, beautiful yellow rose.  I literally stopped and smelled the rose.  Who knew roses grew in fall? 

Football, Dominos & Tombstones

My weekend was full of good times. 

I have successfully caught up on this season’s Sons of Anarchy. Can’t say I’m happy about this last episode, but I guess I’m not surprised.  Also watched a ton more of Homeland and am looking forward to watching the first episode of Season 2 this week.  In case you aren’t watching – those are two of the best shows on TV. 

Also caught up on this season’s Parenthood.  I normally cry during every episode, but I foresee me being a complete and utter mess from here on out.  Obviously Christina being diagnosed with breast cancer (coincidently during Breast Cancer Awareness month?) hits me way too close for comfort.  I use TV as a way to “escape” my reality, and even after only seeing the “preview” I was thinking about my own battle.  I guess I’d like to see how the family copes with a new baby, Haddie being away at school and the crazy amount of time and energy needed to care for Max, it’s going to get rough.  This show has rocked just about every storyline, so I hope they do not disappoint with this. I may or may not have had a huge pity party after watching it too.  It’s still hard to deal with the emotions I feel about my battle and the chance of a reoccurrence.  I deal with it the best I can, and most days I’m able to suppress the fear.  Seeing all the “pink ribbons” everywhere - October is a rough month for me for sure.

I wasn’t just sitting in front of the TV all weekend (although it appears so).  I did accomplish some things outside too.  Remember last week the kids wanted to decorate for Halloween – and we only accomplished inside?  Well we started outside. It’s not done, but they are content for now.

Also learned a new game this weekend.  It is called Mexican Train Dominoes.  Since I never played regular dominoes I can’t say if it’s any different, but we all had so much fun – especially when you get to push the train button.  We danced and danced our way through the game.  I should have video taped that.

Jenny Jenny did cut my hair.  I couldn’t talk her into coloring it yet though.  She is going to have me go to the salon for that, since I was going to drastically change my color.  Well, after a few days of thinking, I might just be leaving it alone.  I have looked back at some pics of me with darker hair and it makes me remember how much I hate me with dark hair.  So, thank you Jenny Jenny for telling me no.

Sunday brought us another great game played by the boys of our Demolition team.  Colton scored another touchdown! I am so proud of him and how much better he is this year.  He might be small, but the boy is fast! 

I may or may not have eaten really bad this weekend too.  But it’s Monday, and I’m working on turning that around.  Wish me luck.

Did you do anything exciting this weekend?  Have you started decorating for Halloween?  I ‘m looking for some costume ideas for me, so shoot any idea my way.

[Gurlee]Girrl Friday

Dear 2012:  Wow – it’s the last Friday of September!!! Cripes time flies.  I’m not sad that the air is a little crisper around these parts, it actually makes me happy to be wearing my hoodies every day.

Dear Candy Corn:  Not only have I been eating you in all your various forms like as an Oreo, M&M’s and in your true form – Brach’s Autumn Mix, you have inspired my polish choice this week!

Dear Mandy Moore & Jennie Garth: It’s time for a change, and both of your hairdos are crazy awesome, but somehow, I doubt I’ll look as good as the two of you.

Dear Homeland:  I wasn’t quite sure if I was going to like you, even after you cleaned up at the Emmy’s and all.  But, I just watched Episode 6 and I’m hooked.  Can’t wait to see this storyline unfold.

Dear Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake from Costco:  Get in my belly.  Now.  Thank you.

And with that sweetness, I am off!  Have a great weekend!