Five Things I Just Don't Get (part two)

1. Boyfriend clothes. 

Not your boy friend's (or husbands as the case may be) clothes.  Those are comfy and cozy and safe and smell good (usually).

Boyfriend clothes.

Basically men's clothes have taken over the woman's section of many stores.

There is a whole slew of jeans with no room for hips, thighs or bottoms hanging on the racks.  There are endless amounts of straight cut button down shirts, Mr. Roger's style cardigans and  t-shirts with collars and breast pockets, all of which do not allow for muffin tops, breasts or arm flubbers.   Why?

2. The word vacuum.

Really, what is WITH those two u's?

3. Why kids don't like to keep socks on their feet.

Do they take them off just because they can?  Is it just to keep us busy?  Are they actually uncomfortable and by taking them off 187 893 789 475 times a day they are trying to tell us something? And why must they take one off in one spot and the other somewhere else?  Do they not like matching socks?  Because what results is a laundry hamper full of left socks and no right sock (or right socks and no left socks). Why?

4. Jersey Shore

Really, are they serious?  Is this scripted?  I only watched eight minutes and that was more than enough.  Do people really act that way?  And are there people that really feel it is something worth broadcasting on television?  And people WATCH this?  I shudder to think that some people probable even chose to act as they do.  Oh heaven's, I worry about society some times.

5. Hair Bands

It isn't really hair bands themselves I don't get.  Just the fact that they won't stay on my head, no matter what I do.  But if you are a soccer player running around the field butting balls and getting sweaty, it will stay on your head no problem.  Doesn't make any sense what so ever. WHY???????  What has my head done WRONG?????

Confused,
Marina

 

Something I'm thinking of trying

I've been feeling kind of frazzled these days.

Well, I guess not really frazzled, more tired than anything.  And because of this I've been looking for things to do in the evening.  Things that calm my mind.  I already have the Christmas book for my babies on the go, but that sometimes gets me more upset than calm because I can't get my vision for the picture down on the page properly.

Really, half the time I just end up all angry and annoyed.  I'm way too much of a perfectionist and it is way too late in the evening for me to be expecting perfection from myself.  Not exactly the calming effect I was looking for.

So yesterday I felt crafty and came up with this:



Using a reindeer pattern from a Better Homes and Gardens Christmas magazine, I created a handmade Christmas card.

Now please know that I put this together in under 20 minutes so it is very far from perfect.  The edges are frayed (haven't quite figured out how to use my craft knife properly), the glue isn't even dry yet and the card is too big, but it was pretty brainless and fun to do.  It did have the calming effect I was looking for.

I'd like to try and make all my Christmas cards this year.  I was going to try it last year, but laughed myself silly when I realized I had an almost three year old and a newborn at home.  I'm ambitious, not crazy.

I think I have a chance at making them this year.

I think I can do it.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

I think I can make at least enough for my immediate family. (See, I'm already lowing my standards.  I know what I can handle.)

I'll keep you posted!

Marina

Siesta

This is what my monkey man is doing right now.
 

He was dressed this morning, but asked to put his pajamas back on.  I should have know something was up. 


And my little lady, she's doing it too.
 

Sorry about the "Silence of the Lambs" type picture. I had to take it through her monitor because the last time I tried to take a picture while she was sleeping, I work her up.  And then she was a big crank for the rest of the day.  So I spared us all the misery.

And this?  This is what my husband is doing.

 Obviously I missed the memo circulating through my family about the afternoon naps that were planned.

But I'm really enjoying the quiet.

Shhhhhh

Marina

All You Need Is Love

I got feedback today asking me if I really actually like staying at home, or if I was just trying to make it seem like I do, putting on a brave face. And how do I know if I like it when I haven't worked out of the house in four years.

I will answer that here.

I am a firm believer in you have to love what you do. Whether you are a teacher, a real estate agent, a lawyer or a plumber, I really feel that in order to be fulfilled with what you do, you need to love it.

I love staying home with my kids, I love caring for my family, and I really do love keeping our home. That last one is new. I used to hate it. And I was always honest about the fact.

And I will be honest again, I don't love housework. I still hate it. There is nothing nice about toilets, kitty litter, dishes or dust bunnies.

What I love is the fact that I am creating a space for my family that is positive, calm and free of dust tumbleweed.

So no, I don't like housework, but I have developed an indifference to it. No point is griping about something I can't change.

I really do love what I do. I know there are some people that cannot feel fulfilled staying at home with the kids and taking care of the family, but I can truly and honestly say that I feel totally fulfilled.

And I do have work outside of the house as well. Three times a month I have to leave my home and supervise students who are out on field placement through our local college. These outings only prove to me even more that I love being at home with my family.

And who wouldn't want to see this every day!

Taking the Plunge

There is something new in our home.

It came in this fancy box

It has many buttons. More than I know what to do with. Most of which I feel are there just to mock me.

Isn't it pretty?

I think it's laughing at me.

Someone called me this afternoon.

It took me until ring 652 to realize it was my phone. And then they were gone.

Wait...

...

...

Did you hear that?

...

...

Laughter.

I'm putting it back in the box until I'm more equipped to deal with this.


If you don't hear from me soon, please send help.


Marina

Quick Thanksgiving

I know it is early to be talking about Thanksgiving already, especially for my U.S. readers (remember, our Thanksgiving is in October), but my little man has been listening to Christmas music since April, so bear with me.

I have four popular Canadian magazines sitting in front of me.

All are October issues and all have Thanksgiving as their main topic on the cover.

All discuss the length it takes to cook Thanksgiving dinner.

All talk about how no one has the time to cook meals like these anymore.

All give short cut, fast and easy recipes for food that supposedly tastes the same as traditional turkey day feasts, but in a fraction of the time.

And all of these magazine leave me feeling that the general population is losing touch with the joy of creating a meal for your family.

Of putting food together to create a blend of flavours, textures, and scents that can only be created through time and patience.

Now I totally understand the rush of a meal during the week. I stay at home with my kids and I still feel a rush to get dinner on the table for 5pm. I can only imagine how parents feel when they work until 5, don't get home until 6 and then have to figure out what to make for dinner, create it, serve it, clean up after and then start on other family things.

It must feel totally overwhelming.

But Thanksgiving is a holiday.

A day where you should have time to relax.

A day where you have time to put the turkey in the oven at lunch, surround it with yummy root vegetables, season with herbs and spices and allow it to fill your home with the most delectable aroma.

I can almost smell it now...

What gets me is roasting is so much easier than the quick recipes they put in these magazines. What other total meal do you prepare for 20 minutes and then leave it in the oven to cook for over two hours? Two hours that you aren't needed in the kitchen.

I know that during the week, quick meals for many are a necessity.

But Thanksgiving?

I encourage you to slow down the pace of life for one day. Just one. And take the time to really enjoy cooking a meal for your family. And while it is cooking in the oven, take that time to enjoy the company of one another.

And that smell. MMMMM. Enjoy the smell.

Enjoy it all.

Cheers!

Marina

The Beginning of a New Year

The beginning of school always feels like a new year to me. The start of something really good. I haven't been in school for many moons now, and my little man doesn't start until next year, but I still get that giddy nervous feeling.

And an almost uncontrollable urge to by truck loads of new school supplies. Nothing brings me more happiness than a new box of pencils and a clean eraser. Ahhhhh... bliss.

So, I have decided that this is going to be the start of my new year. My resolutions will happen now, because in all honesty, I'm in a much better state of mind now than at the end of the calendar year.

For one, I haven't just spent a month eating. And I'm not over tired from all the socializing. And it isn't the dead of winter and dark all the time.

So really, a much better mind set.

So, I have two simple resolutions for the new year.

1. Start cooking properly again, with real food, and the oven.

With the heat of the summer, and the old house we live in, the heat from the oven would melt us to the floor, so I have been cooking a lot of pasta, stir fries, omelets, pita pizzas in the toaster oven, BBQs and salads. I am so sick of all of these foods. And it is funny because during the typical year, these are special treats that I pull out when I don't know what to cook, and I really really enjoy them. But the thought of turning my oven on in my full sun teensy weensy kitchen, and have the heat travel the length of the first floor, ugh, I start to sweat just thinking about it.

When did they stop building summer kitchens? Probably back when Laura Ingalls was running down hills... If I ever get to create my own dream house, I'm building a summer kitchen. Ah yes, future plans.

Anyway, so I bought all the food needed to start cooking today. I made a yummy roast beef in the oven, surrounded by carrots, potatoes and parsnips. And then I felt like it was fall. And then I opened the window. And then I melted. But it was a really good roast.

2. Get my butt off the couch. Or floor. Or off where ever it has landed.

I hate the heat. And I hate sweating. Put the two together and I'm probably the only person who actually gains weight in the summer and loses weight during the rest of the seasons. Nothing at all feels right about exercising in the summer. And I have lots of stuff to do inside with the air conditioning. A treadmill, a bike, ten thousand DVDs, but still. The sweating. The hotness. I hate it.

This is not to say that I don't sweat during the other months. I do, but I cool off so much quicker, and I can breathe. I can't inhale in this oppressive heat, indoors or out.

So those are my resolutions. Here's hoping they last longer than the week they normally last in January!

Marina

The randomness of today.

Today I can't seem to stay focused on anything. At. All.

So I thought I'd post some random things, in celebration of today's randomness.

1. My car started making a weird noise today. I think it is because I parked it beside a newer model. It has self esteem issues. I'm sure if I ignore it, it'll go away. It better go away before the weekend though because my husband will hear it and we'll have to have the "I'm not taking the car in to the mechanic" discussion for the 1000th time in our relationship. I just don't think I have the energy for that.

2. I have just finished a perfectly portioned bowl of home mixed nuts with extra cashews. It is taking every fiber of my being not to go back and finish the bag.

3. I returned a DVD to Walmart today. It was the same location that it was purchase, had never been opened, with a price tag that said Walmart on it and the receipt. The girl tries to ring it through as a refund and tells me that Walmart doesn't carry this DVD. Huh?

4. The heat outside it totally oppressive. In the wise words of a very good friend's son "It is hot like dragon's breath out there". I'm so over summer. Bring on the snow!

5. Alexander has discovered a retro eighties compilation CD and has been listening to it all day. Only problem is he only likes four songs. So for the last 8 hours I have been listening to Bust a Move, 99 Balloons, 500 Miles and Home for a Rest (which it totally inappropriate, but he likes to jump around like a crazy person and there is no better song).

Excuse me. I need to go bust a move.

Marina