I need another Me

So, I got myself this nice little organizer because I knew I needed something.  If you could only have a peek into my stream of consciousness you would become dizzy I am sure.  I feel like I have so many moving parts and I need a pause button to sort them all out.  This little organizer is very handy.  Weekly, I am able to write down all of the things I need to do, it has a section to write down dinner menus, and also has a section where I can put my kids' schedules as well as my husband's.  Perfect.  Now all I have to do is remember to write in it and, more importantly, remember to LOOK AT IT!!!

It is one thing to keep track of our schedule, it is another task to try to keep track of all of my interests!  This is why I need another Me.  Me 2.0 could be quite handy.  My personality is such that when I want to learn more about something, I want to grab everything I can on the subject and devour it.  For example, when I stumbled upon Real Food: What to eat and why back in June I enrolled in two ecourses about Real Food, I grabbed a book about Milk, bought Nourishing Traditions, and couldn't read fast enough.  The same thing is true about Photoshop.  I finally installed the program and now I am at the computer every chance I get watching online tutorials trying to learn how to use it and make my photos awesome.

Unfortunately, my interests tend to interfere with life.  Realistically I can't sit and watch Photoshop tutorials all day long.  The kids wouldn't get fed, I wouldn't get fed, Thanksgiving pies won't get made, you know - important stuff.  This is why I need Me 2.0.  She can take care of making lunches and driving kids to school, and I can feed my creative side and play with the kids, and cuddle the baby, read my book, and work on some sewing projects.  I do feel like my jobs as Mom Taxi and Personal Chef take up most of my day.

I know that this stage of my life isn't forever.  Soon they will be making their own lunches and driving themselves to school.  I just need to find a better balance right now.  I know there is one out there.  Perhaps I should start with looking at my organizer every day and not sweat the small stuff.  That shouldn't be too hard, right?

Our CSA Adventure

This fall, our family decided to participate in a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).  The idea that I would be purchasing local and organic produce was very appealing to me.  Not to mention that our weekly shares would include goodies that are true to the season!  Every week it is a surprise as to what will be in our share.  Sure, from week to week we can get bored of some of the recurring items - green chilis, anyone?  For the most part, each week beholds a new surprise that gets my creative culinary juices flowing.

This week, we got this:

Apparently it is a squash very similar to a pumpkin.  B said it looks like a watermelon with barf on top.  Sounds good, right?  Since my husband would prefer to never eat squash again for the rest of his life, I decided that I would cook it and puree it for the baby.  She'll eat anything.  Now that it is roasted and cooling on my counter, I am wondering if it could pass for pumpkin in the pie I am responsible for baking next week.

I won't tell if you won't.

Best Laid Plans

My intention was to sit down and write out a great post about Real Food and why we are adapting our diet to reflect tradional foods.  But, the power went out.  Right before naptime.  My glorious hour and half window of quiet time.  Fortunately I still had the quiet time.  Unfortunately, I didn't have the computer time.

So, here I am with about fifteen minutes to put together something fun.  I am spending about ten of those minutes trying to come up with something to write about.

I could write about how my baby girl is quite possibly the happiest person on earth.  Seriously, she smiles all of the time.  She hardly fusses about anything.

I could write about how B and all of his First Grade homework make me feel like I am in school all over again.  I already paid my first grade dues.

I could write about how my kitty and her new diet (fatty wet food to help her gain weight) makes her cat box stink!  Like - What died in there?! - stink.  I am thinking her dried kitty food might just have to do.  I will just give her more of it.

I could write about how my husband is the funniest person I know.  What is even funnier is that he knows it.

I could write about how deathly afraid E is of riding his bike without training wheels.  Apparently he was doing it all on his own and he thought that Dad was hanging on.

I could write about how I used my glorious quiet time to do nothing but read my book.  I should do that more often.
Instead, I will just post all of these coulda woulda shouldas and go help B with his book report.  Sigh.

I'm a flip-flopper

Here we are, public again.  I realize that I am one of those people.  You know, the ones who can't decide whether to be public or private and switch back and forth all of the time.  Who knows if I will switch back. Since it is my space, I guess I get to decide.  My main reason for moving was the fact that I was spammed all of the time with random comments.  I am hoping that since I have gone silent as far as the internet goes, those random comments won't be returning.  I have also noticed that Blogger has made some changes regarding spamming, so that is good.


My main reason for going public again is because I just hated being private.  I know that I don't keep up as frequently as I would like with private blogs that I visit.  I knew that was happening to me, too.  This time around, my blog has been set up just as it was before, with a few added bonuses.  It is not searchable by any search engine, so you need to know the website address to find us.  I added a subscription button, so you can now subscribe in a reader OR you can subscribe by email.  Just scroll down until you find it!


This is me, making it easy for you.


It is good to be back.

My little luxury

This is me, getting a haircut...IN MY KITCHEN!!  I am so lucky.  The fabulous woman who has done my hair since I was small, comes to my home to give me a haircut.  She owned her own salon for many years and after she sold that business, she worked in another salon.  When she got tired of that scene she decided to do home visits.  Now, once a month, she rolls up with all of her supplies and gives my boys and I a trim.

I will be the first to admit that I do miss the appeal of going to a salon and walking out with a new look.  But, given the choice of finding someone to watch the kids, finding the right hour between nursing, chauffering, and napping OR having her come to me and get the boys taken care of too, I choose the latter every time.

Haircut day has been met with some resistance in the past.  I have seen full-blown freak outs over haircuts.  I believe it is because they don't want to stop playing for 5 minutes, because once they are in the chair it is all fun and games.  Now that they are older, haircut days are becoming more exciting.  B has realized that he has some creative input as to what his hair will look like.  E typically wants the same thing done.  However, he always just gets a tiny trim because longer hair looks good on him and I am not ready to say goodbye to his curls.

It is a truly happy day when Chris comes over.  We all get fresh hair cuts and I didn't have to wait in a salon or pay top dollar for a two minute child hair cut.  Please don't ever, EVER retire!

Our Saturday Ritual

The Downtown Phoenix Farmer's Market

After eating a tasty breakfast, I like to pack up the family and head downtown to the Phoenix Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings.  Ever since switching to a real food/traditional diet, eating locally, organically, and seasonally has become very important to me.  I am so thankful to have this little gem downtown.  I can find farm fresh veggies, cheeses, honey, pastured chickens, grass fed beef,  and eggs (if I didn't have my own chickens).  All of the vendors are so friendly and are happy to answer any questions.  The boys really like it when our veggie guy cuts up a piece of fruit and shares it with them.  All of the produce is so lovely and sampling is encouraged!  E has stuck his hand in the cherry tomato bin more than once to sample the bounty.

The market is always buzzing with people, eager to fill their bags with their favorite items and excited to explore the vendors who are new to the market.  When I go, I have all three kids with me so my mission is to get what I need and then get out.  However, I would like to go alone sometime soon so that I can sample the goodies at each booth and get to know my favorite vendors better.  I am glad that I force my kids to come with me to the market each weekend.  I believe there is a lot of value in knowing where our food comes from and I am pleased that my children are growing up knowing this.

Overheard

Amee: How was trick or treating?  Did you see any scary costumes?

E: Yes!  And they scared my nuts out!  But don't worry, they went back in.

Just trying to keep it real around here.

I am wondering when and where he started referring to his **ahem** as nuts.