Happy Holidays....a little belated

So I haven't blogged in oh...forever for a multitude of reasons. I have just been so crazy busy with the holidays, with goals and desperately attempting to keep them, fighting a bit of the blues, dealing with a corneal abrasion so I couldn't see for a few days, being busy just being the "sandwich generation" which is actually crazy hard and takes a toll on you in just about every way. I mean geez, I'm finding grays all the time now, but am trying to put off dying my hair....ok I just suck at hair maintenance in general.  And not too mention the sleepless nights trying to keep my son from going completely crazy while bringing his fever down because he was hallucinating some seriously scary ish and then vomiting in my hands during the day. 

Some of the highlights, however, include:

Taking my son ice skating for his first time. 

It's blurry because that's just how we look when we're ice skating...like The Flash

My brother was inconsiderate enough to be born almost immediately after Christmas. This year, my kids were old enough to finally brave taking to a restaurant.  My daughter's always great and well behaved but my son has this little issue where he is unable to stay still for more than 2.5 minutes.  With coloring books, tons of stickers, and some Power Ranger action figures in my arsenal, we braved Joe's Crab Shack, chosen for the noise level.  It was fun and the kids were great.  Unfortunately I couldn't find my phone while my brother was wearing a shiny, lime green bowler hat and forced to dance in front of the whole restaurant while the servers sang to him.  But I found it (in my pocket of course) before they remembered we had brought our own cake and brought it out.

My son didn't come,
but he made sure we didn't
 take a picture without him!

Ready to go to the ballet.

Going to the nutcracker with my daughter. She has gone every year for the past 3 or 4 years now. I thought we wouldn't be able to make it this year for a couple reasons.  She kept asking me but I had to tell her no. Then she got tickets from my brother for Christmas so she got to go after all! And so did I!

Well I've had write the eventful season and finally, I just want to with you a belated 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM US ALL!

Wouldn't be a family portrait without Mimi!

Cookie Turkeys

Have a Happy Turkey Day!  

These little turkeys are so cute and easy.  The "feet" are vanilla wafers, then we used two different types of cookies for the tail and body, and a piece of candy corn.  You can experiment with different types of cookies.  It's all held together simply with some icing.  

This is a good activity for the kids to do at the kitchen table while you are preparing your dinner tomorrow.  I love having the kids with me in the kitchen, but for Thanksgiving dinner, I don't really want them under foot.  This way they are close, OCCUPIED, and still feel a part of the Thanksgiving festivities!  

Have fun making and devouring your turkeys (cookie and otherwise)!

Weight Loss and The Holidays

Dun Dun Duuunnnnnnnnn...

Yes, I'm trying to get back into a weight loss/health kick.  right. during. the. holidays!

On May 1, I posted this picture that I took 2+ years ago when my son was about 3 or 4 months old.  I feel like this was about the best time in my life.  I was working out, eating healthy, I had left a toxic relationship, just had my second child, and felt like my whole like was turning around.  I was happy, felt healthy, and had tons of confidence in myself and just in general.  I knew life would be good from here on out.  Then well it just wasn't.  I've had a lot more to contend with than I could ever imagine.  I got depressed and one of the first things that went with my self-esteem was all of my healthy habits (all of the care I had for myself and my body.)  I gained 30 pounds from when I finally was at my goal weight (I'm pretty sure it's def not this picture) and started to feel horrible in just about every way.  

Well anyways, point being, on May 1, I posted this picture as my motivation to start losing weight again.  It is a reminder of the confidence I felt and how much I loved myself at one point that I really wanted to take care of myself and see myself in the mirror and on camera.  Yeah I know WTF was I thinking? 

So after posting this picture, I set a goal to lose 20 of those pounds.  I downloaded my two favorite free apps, Calorie Counter by FatSecret  and RunKeeper Free. I started running again and being cognizant of what I ate.  I lost the first 15-17 pounds so quickly.  I was feeling pretty good, then I hit a plateau...for like...months...and months.  I have been somewhat maintaining my weight.  It's been yo-yoing within about a 4 pound range.  Because I realized when I get down on myself that is the first thing to go.  So I figure it's time to BLAST past this number on the scale and get down just another 10 pounds.

Even though it is the holidays and Thanksgiving is just days away I think this is the time.  I'm finally going to do it.  Here are my ideas for how I'm going to NOT let Thanksgiving get in between me and my goal:

1) Don't skip meals.

It would seem like skipping breakfast or lunch in order to save calories to be consumed at dinner would make sense.  But it doesn't!  If you don't eat SOMETHING, you will sit down to dinner starving which we know is NEVER good for making smart food decisions.  

2) Act like a kid again.

My family has never been the kind to play football on Thanksgiving day, but with two kids, one being a very active little boy and the other a very athletic big girl, maybe it's time I start a new tradition. Getting out and running around is a great way to offset some of those calories, but it's important to remember that it doesn't mean you have a free pass to eat ANYTHING you want. It's still important to think about food choices and to consider portion sizes.

3) Dinnertime conversation has never been so important.

Everyone's heard about the benefits of eating slowly.  It allows your body time to trigger when it is full so you can stop eating before you completely gorge yourself and complain about popping the button on your pants.  It allows you to further savor and appreciate your food.  It also helps in digestion.  So really take the time to enjoy every bite you are eating, but also make sure to enjoy the family time.  How often is it that families really all sit down for a nice dinner together.  My brother doesn't even live in the same state so we don't see him very often and it will be nice to share thoughts across the dining room table.

On top of all this, I think it's important to remember that it is Halloween.  Like seriously, I've been effing up my eating for the past few weeks, even though I want to be healthy and make smart decisions, I do love dark meat and will have some of the fatty, greasy meat on my plate because I just love it, but I will make other, better decisions to offset that one.

Enjoy your turkey day!

A Little Bit About Me

I thought, starting a new blog, it would be an appropriate time to introduce myself a little bit. 

If you gathered from my Halloween post, I am a proud mother of two wonderful children.  

I probably should add they are also probably two of the silliest!

I also take care of two animals.  Neither are rightfully MY pet, but somehow I end up doing all of the poop-scooping.

This is Blue.  She is a bearded dragon. We adopted her as an adult from my son's old teacher who was going through a divorce and couldn't take all of her animals to her new place.  She is my daughter's pet.  They share the same room and she finally got my daughter to stop requesting a different pet-animal 3 times a week!

This is Trudeau.  Everyone that sees this picture thinks I got a new dog because he seems to look small.  But I haven't, this is the same 90 pound Bouvier.

Some of my Favorite Things:

TV Shows

 How am I so late on this one?  I've watched the first 7 episodes on Netflix, but that's all there is and I am craving more, more, more!!!

Obsessed since Season 1, Episode 1!  Awesome show and now it is rumored that I am obsessed with zombies...not really, but I'm obsessed with this show.

I also totally love Doctor Who, Big Bang Theory, Up All Night, and a couple other choice TV shows.

Books:

 Right now I'm reading The Duchess by Amanda Foreman.  I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'd rather read the book first anyway.  

I've never been one for history or biographies, but oddly enough one of my favorite books is also another historical biographies:  Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff.  I love smart and powerful women!

Another book that I just LOOOVED, but is a little more chick lit-y (not too much for my taste though, because I'm usually not a huge fan) is An Object of Beauty: A Novel by Steve Martin.  Yes.  THAT Steve Martin.  I was so surprised too, and I was even more surprised by the quality of his writing and the great plot of this book.

I'm also quite a fan of Malcolm Gladwell books (other books within that genre) as well as classics.

Hobbies:

Obviously I love to read.  I also love to watch talks on TED and podcasts like The Stuff You Missed In History Class.  

I fall in and out of love with cooking cyclically.  I cook not only for my kids but for my parents.  My dad will not eat anything that is vegetarian and if he does he makes it very clear that he protests such a thought.  My son also eats only a handful of items so he is never thrilled with ANYTHING regardless of what it is, unless of course it's a form of pizza.  Right now I've tightened my belt significantly for Christmas so I can't even buy all of the ingredients that I want which also makes cooking that much less pleasurable.

I've only gone rock climbing a few times myself.  I never have someone to belay me, but I have fun belaying my daughter and plan on attempting to take my son fairly soon.  And I guess I could figure out how to go bouldering and do that on my own.

I also love trying to be sporty/outdoorsy and I love introducing my children to that kind of thing even if we all have our first time together.

Fishing

Hiking (our first time)

Our first and only time thus far.  This was almost two years ago now.  I can't wait to take her back and maybe even take my son one day.  He will be going on three and there are younger skiers out there.

We also just love hanging out in the backyard or at the park.  This winter is going to be hard.  During the summer, we spent every waking minute so much time outside that I don't know if the kids will cope with being cooped up indoors.

My Next (and New Favorite) Project:

I saw this on creativehomemaking.com and an just obsessed.  I just love it.  The white carnations are cheap enough yet it is so simple and so elegant.  I think I may even make it with different colors for my Thanksgiving or perhaps Christmas table.  All I need to know is I MUST make it!!!

http://www.creativehomemaking.com/home_decorating/diy-floral-arrangements.shtml

Well, that about wraps it up.  Okay, hopefully there's a lot more to me than can fit in one blog post.  But I'm sure you have had enough of me...even I have had enough of writing about me.  And seriously who gets sick of that?!?

It was nice to meet you!  Hope the feeling is mutual!

Happy Belated Halloween

First, I must say thank you to everyone who helped me choose between my two blogs.  So it is official, I am going with this one, Diamonds n Diapers!  I like it too.  Guess that's why I chose this first.  Anyways, I owe you all a giveaway now.  Unfortunately, no matter how much I love you all, I must say that it will have to wait until I have finished Christmas shopping for my little ones.

So, even though Halloween is over, it just wouldn't be fair to me to deny myself a chance to show off my little loveys. 

I take pumpkin carving semi-seriously.  I was told a year ago that I would never be able to carve a pumpkin as well as another woman which, of course, I took personally and decided I will hone my pumpkin carving skills.  Last year, after that comment, I carved a headless horseman, a spider, and a gravestone.  This year I carved two pumpkins:

Immediately after they were carved with battery powered votives lighting them.

Yes, I know I'm no master pumpkin carver, but I said I WILL hone my skills, not I HAVE.

I should leave you to play the pumpkin guessing game, I make people do as I'm carving them to decide whether they actually look anything like I want them to, but I'll have mercy on you.

This one is supposed to be Dracula.

And here is a bat flying in front of a crescent moon.

     My children got dressed up and went to their Halloween parades.  It was cold, so I was able to actually think things through (yes, I feel the need to point this out because there are certain people who think I am incapable of such) and have them dress appropriately.  

My daughter wore a long sleeve shirt, leggings, and a wrap skirt.  So when it was time to change into her costume, all she had to do was undo the wrap skirt and put her costume on top.  She made a beautiful Abby Bominable from Monster High. 

Those unfamiliar with the show may not recognize the character, which made it quite amusing when her friend's father was trying to guess her costume.  It went from snow princess (pretty close I think) to Nicki Minaj!  HILARIOUS!  But yeah, I would never allow that.

My son was a character from another TV show - Captain Feathersword from The Wiggles.  I guess, if you are unfamiliar, he is still recognizable as a pirate.

That picture was taken before he spotted us (my daughter had a delay and was able to make it to his parade first).  After we were spotted he refused to rejoin his class, but it made a cute picture taken by my daughter:

I just LOVE that picture!

I also found a picture of him from last year and wanted to share further cute-ness:

I would love to do a Halloween through the years with both kids.  They are just so darn cute.  

My sons costumes have been:

A dinosaur
Yoda
Captain Feathersword

Let's see if I can remember all of my daughter's costumes:

A flower
Minnie Mouse
Dora

Supergirl

Cleopatra

Vampire
Abby Bominable

Oh no!  I'm missing one!!!  I think there was something between Minnie and Dora or Dora and Supergirl.  Omg!  I can't believe I can't remember!  Ahhhhhhhh!  I've failed as a mother!

And if that isn't enough, how about this random baby I saw to throw us all into total cute overload:

A lobster in a pot!  Ha!  Pure genius!

Next year, I want to dress up for Halloween too. 

 Did you or your cuties dress up this year?  What has been your favorite Halloween costume?  

Hope Everyone is Safe!

My heart goes out to everybody who has suffered and is suffering in any way due to Sandy. 

I have been keeping an eye on the news, seen pictures of the devastation and watch the death toll climb.

My neighborhood was very lucky. A few telephone poles fell, but I was only out of power for just over 12 hours. My neighbors on the other side, however, still don't have power.  And yet another house caught fire the first night the power went out because of a candle.

I carefully calculated the positions of the trees in my yard in relation to the different rooms in my house to ensure the safety of my children.  But none of my trees fell, the worst that happened was some leaves and twigs sticks littered my deck

All the action at my house was indoors for a few days,

Indoor Papier Mache Action!

but as soon as the rain stopped and the winds died down, my stir-crazy kids HAD to get out.

Wishing everyone the best.  My heart goes out to all.