Abby: Can we call my friend Allison and see if she can come over.
Me: Right now?
Abby: No, but I know she can't come on Sunday.
Me: Why not?
Abby: Because Adeline is going to Heaven.
Me: OH NO, she's not going there tomorrow!
Abby: Oh, that's right, she's going to be appetized.
Me: No, she's going to be baptized!
Oh dear...
And apparently this Mommy didn't do the best job explaining baptism in 7 year old speak.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Well, at least...
Abby was cleaning her room and in need of some sort of container to keep her desk supplies in. We each used to have plastic cubbies that I had written our names in for organization, so I gave her one that was now empty. It was Evan's and still had his name on it. Abby took a look at it and said quite of matter of factly:
"This one used to be Evan's. Well at least it doesn't smell like cat pee...."
"This one used to be Evan's. Well at least it doesn't smell like cat pee...."
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Chicken Pesto
People always have a hard time believing me when I say that doing the South Beach diet isn't actually that bad because the food is really tasty. So I thought I'd share some proof.
My favorite South Beach recipe:
My favorite South Beach recipe:
Baked Pesto Chicken (Phase 1)
Description
Store-bought pesto and reduced-fat mozzarella cheese are all it takes to turn tender chicken breasts into an incredibly easy-to-make dish that will likely become a new family favorite.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup pesto (from a jar)
2 ounces shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (1/2 cup)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Heat oven to 375°F. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Spread 1/4 cup of the pesto in a 9" by 13" baking dish. Lay chicken breasts over pesto in an even layer and spread with remaining pesto.
Cover baking dish with foil and bake chicken until cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Uncover and top with cheese. Bake until cheese is melted, 5 more minutes. Serve hot.
Nutritional information
Per serving:
390 calories
20 g fat (5 g sat)
2 g carbohydrate
46 g protein
0 g dietary fiber
450 mg sodium
Saturday, February 20, 2010
My new friend
Awhile ago, my sister bought me my first Momiji doll from on my favorite stores, Moxie in DeKalb. (By the way, if you are in DeKalb you must check out Moxie). After that first Momiji doll, I was hooked and have decided to collect them. So today, I brought home this guy:
>
He's the "I Don't Care Bear". Abby said "He doesn't eat jelly, he eats blood!" LOL.
>He's the "I Don't Care Bear". Abby said "He doesn't eat jelly, he eats blood!" LOL.
In which I answer a lot of questions...
What is your favorite Kool-Aid flavor?
Cherry
Do you have a wireless keyboard and mouse?
No, I use a laptop so the keyboard and mouse are integrated.
Last sporting event you watched on TV or in person?
Men's figure skating
Who makes the best fudge?
I do.
Do you like it when toothpaste bubbles in your mouth?
No because then I worry about swallowing it.
Do you believe that the world is gonna end at 2012?
No
How many songs are on your iPod or MP3 Player?
Not sure how many songs. It's got as many as its memory will allow.
Have you ever made your own survey?
Yes, for scholarly purposes.
Can you swear inside your house?
I sure can.
Do you save Bed Bath and Beyond coupons?
Only if I plan on using them.
Have you ever had a pet goldfish?
Yes. A few of them, but they are no longer with us.
When did you last eat waffles?
Last week. It was a wholegrain waffle and it was quite tasty.
What is the most overrated thing in your opinion?
Cats.
Do you have a video Skype account?
Yes.
What color is your bed comforter?
Green, hot pink, orange, yellow and blue.
Does being in love make you gain weight?
I think so.
Dumbest person you know? and why?
I don't know many dumb people.
Do your parents have home videos of you as a kid?
I don't think so. I don't think we had a video recorder then. Just regular photos.
How old is your oldest cousin?
In his 70's I believe
If you HAD to get a tattoo, where and what would it be?
On my shoulder.
Do you think Obama has tried drugs?
I really don't know.
What color is your bra or boxers?
Not wearing any...in my jammies.
What is your favorite radio station?
NPR
What ethnicity was your last ex?
Caucasian. Most of them have been, actually.
What brand is your refrigerator?
Without looking, I'm going to guess it's Whirlpool.
How many people do you know that are pregnant?
2
Do you have a picture with your middle finger up?
No. I don't stick my middle finger up. I prefer to use my sassiness as a means to show my dislike.
When is the last time you went to a birthday party?
Last Sunday.
What is the best thing to happen to you this year so far?
Starting to fix my various problems.
How long have you lived in the house you live in?
It will be 5 years in April. We closed March 31st, but it took awhile to be fully moved in.
Do you read a newspaper daily?
No, but I check CNN and the BBC near daily.
Anything your really afraid of?
Plenty of things.
Do you read tabloids?
Not unless you count glancing at them while in line at the checkout.
Have you ever had a really bad haircut?
Yes
Do you like your peanut butter crunchy or creamy?
Creamy.
What is the scariest movie you've ever seen?
The Exorcist
Have you ever ridden a skateboard?
As a kid
Do you drink enough water on a daily basis?
In various forms, probably.
Would you burn the American flag for a million dollars?
I could really use that million dollars...
The main thing you cant leave your house without?
My keys and my phone
Do you think the economy is improving yet?
In some ways, but not others.
When was the last time you read a book?
yesterday
Where did you get that shirt you're wearing?
Relay for Life
Do you play pranks on April Fools Day?
I have a few times.
Cherry
Do you have a wireless keyboard and mouse?
No, I use a laptop so the keyboard and mouse are integrated.
Last sporting event you watched on TV or in person?
Men's figure skating
Who makes the best fudge?
I do.
Do you like it when toothpaste bubbles in your mouth?
No because then I worry about swallowing it.
Do you believe that the world is gonna end at 2012?
No
How many songs are on your iPod or MP3 Player?
Not sure how many songs. It's got as many as its memory will allow.
Have you ever made your own survey?
Yes, for scholarly purposes.
Can you swear inside your house?
I sure can.
Do you save Bed Bath and Beyond coupons?
Only if I plan on using them.
Have you ever had a pet goldfish?
Yes. A few of them, but they are no longer with us.
When did you last eat waffles?
Last week. It was a wholegrain waffle and it was quite tasty.
What is the most overrated thing in your opinion?
Cats.
Do you have a video Skype account?
Yes.
What color is your bed comforter?
Green, hot pink, orange, yellow and blue.
Does being in love make you gain weight?
I think so.
Dumbest person you know? and why?
I don't know many dumb people.
Do your parents have home videos of you as a kid?
I don't think so. I don't think we had a video recorder then. Just regular photos.
How old is your oldest cousin?
In his 70's I believe
If you HAD to get a tattoo, where and what would it be?
On my shoulder.
Do you think Obama has tried drugs?
I really don't know.
What color is your bra or boxers?
Not wearing any...in my jammies.
What is your favorite radio station?
NPR
What ethnicity was your last ex?
Caucasian. Most of them have been, actually.
What brand is your refrigerator?
Without looking, I'm going to guess it's Whirlpool.
How many people do you know that are pregnant?
2
Do you have a picture with your middle finger up?
No. I don't stick my middle finger up. I prefer to use my sassiness as a means to show my dislike.
When is the last time you went to a birthday party?
Last Sunday.
What is the best thing to happen to you this year so far?
Starting to fix my various problems.
How long have you lived in the house you live in?
It will be 5 years in April. We closed March 31st, but it took awhile to be fully moved in.
Do you read a newspaper daily?
No, but I check CNN and the BBC near daily.
Anything your really afraid of?
Plenty of things.
Do you read tabloids?
Not unless you count glancing at them while in line at the checkout.
Have you ever had a really bad haircut?
Yes
Do you like your peanut butter crunchy or creamy?
Creamy.
What is the scariest movie you've ever seen?
The Exorcist
Have you ever ridden a skateboard?
As a kid
Do you drink enough water on a daily basis?
In various forms, probably.
Would you burn the American flag for a million dollars?
I could really use that million dollars...
The main thing you cant leave your house without?
My keys and my phone
Do you think the economy is improving yet?
In some ways, but not others.
When was the last time you read a book?
yesterday
Where did you get that shirt you're wearing?
Relay for Life
Do you play pranks on April Fools Day?
I have a few times.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Unbelievable
Woke up very early this morning to a text message from NIU that there was a shooting and campus was on lockdown. I could NOT believe it. Again? I have been telling myself for the past 2 years that this would not happen again.
Yes it was an isolated incident stemming from an argument. BUT, it was 2 STUDENTS involved. UNDERGRADS! And one of them had a GUN. Guns do not belong on campus. Should we really have to invest in Kevlar to go to school?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Lots of balls in the air right now
The reason I named this blog "Juggling it all" is because I feel like I'm always juggling different roles and responsibilities in my life. It's never just one thing and it's never calm. And right now is no exception...so here's an update of sorts.
I am working on making and dealing with big changes in my life. The biggest thing is dealing with losing my Dad. Up until recently I have been in shock and survival mode. With time and therapy, I feel like I'm able to start grieving. It's been rough. I find that I cry a lot. And I find that I don't feel sure who I can talk to anymore. It seems that there's a timeframe of how long it's acceptable to other people to talk about crisis or tragedy in your life. Although I do have a couple of people I can talk to, I feel like with most people the window of acceptability for talking about my loss has closed. I struggle with my sadness, the sense of emptiness and trying to make sense of a life without one of the most important people to me. My therapist says I can still have a relationship with my Dad even though he's gone. I'm not sure that entirely makes sense to me, but I'm trying to understand how that will work.
I am also making some big health changes. I'm not going to pretty this up...we all know I'm fat. I have a lot of weight to lose. My weight is something I have struggled with my whole life. I did have a block of time in my life where I was truly happy with my weight until my thyroid decided to screw that up for me. I've been on the South Beach diet for a few weeks now and have lost 10.5 pounds. (Yes I have to mention that 1/2 pound because to me...every ounce counts) I haven't been perfect on the diet, because let's face it changing your eating habits completely is a struggle. Especially if like me, you are an emotional eater. Even harder when you have a lot of emotions you'd like to eat.
On top of eating better, I am dealing with the effects of being this size. I have been afraid for a long time of having a diabetes test. I finally sucked it up and had a full physical. I am super thankful that I do not have diabetes but I realize that if I don't make changes I will have it someday. I do have high blood pressure which I am now taking medicine for. That is disappointing to me, but at least I'm getting it under control. The biggest change is that I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. This involves using a cpap machine every night when I sleep. It forces air down my airway which sort of props open my airway so I don't stop breathing. During my sleep study, I stopped breathing 90 times in an hour. Kinda bad. I am struggling to get used to my cpap and working out some kinks with it, but I am very much looking forward to getting some real sleep.
Another big change is that I'm about to graduate. Eeek, out into the real world. Sort of. I had always planned to go to graduate school immediately following my Bachelor's degree. But after the way last semester turned out for me, that's not going to work out as planned. I am probably going to have to take a semester off instead unless I win the Lotto or the Publisher's Clearing House shows up at my door with balloons and a big check. I don't have time to get into a graduate program and Uncle Sam will only loan me my tuition money if I'm I get into a graduate program during the semester I'm an "at-large" student. And so, I wait. It's weird for me to think of taking a semester off. I've not electively done so since 1998 when I had to quit school to work full time. I've consistently been in school since 2003.
I am working on making and dealing with big changes in my life. The biggest thing is dealing with losing my Dad. Up until recently I have been in shock and survival mode. With time and therapy, I feel like I'm able to start grieving. It's been rough. I find that I cry a lot. And I find that I don't feel sure who I can talk to anymore. It seems that there's a timeframe of how long it's acceptable to other people to talk about crisis or tragedy in your life. Although I do have a couple of people I can talk to, I feel like with most people the window of acceptability for talking about my loss has closed. I struggle with my sadness, the sense of emptiness and trying to make sense of a life without one of the most important people to me. My therapist says I can still have a relationship with my Dad even though he's gone. I'm not sure that entirely makes sense to me, but I'm trying to understand how that will work.
I am also making some big health changes. I'm not going to pretty this up...we all know I'm fat. I have a lot of weight to lose. My weight is something I have struggled with my whole life. I did have a block of time in my life where I was truly happy with my weight until my thyroid decided to screw that up for me. I've been on the South Beach diet for a few weeks now and have lost 10.5 pounds. (Yes I have to mention that 1/2 pound because to me...every ounce counts) I haven't been perfect on the diet, because let's face it changing your eating habits completely is a struggle. Especially if like me, you are an emotional eater. Even harder when you have a lot of emotions you'd like to eat.
On top of eating better, I am dealing with the effects of being this size. I have been afraid for a long time of having a diabetes test. I finally sucked it up and had a full physical. I am super thankful that I do not have diabetes but I realize that if I don't make changes I will have it someday. I do have high blood pressure which I am now taking medicine for. That is disappointing to me, but at least I'm getting it under control. The biggest change is that I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. This involves using a cpap machine every night when I sleep. It forces air down my airway which sort of props open my airway so I don't stop breathing. During my sleep study, I stopped breathing 90 times in an hour. Kinda bad. I am struggling to get used to my cpap and working out some kinks with it, but I am very much looking forward to getting some real sleep.
Another big change is that I'm about to graduate. Eeek, out into the real world. Sort of. I had always planned to go to graduate school immediately following my Bachelor's degree. But after the way last semester turned out for me, that's not going to work out as planned. I am probably going to have to take a semester off instead unless I win the Lotto or the Publisher's Clearing House shows up at my door with balloons and a big check. I don't have time to get into a graduate program and Uncle Sam will only loan me my tuition money if I'm I get into a graduate program during the semester I'm an "at-large" student. And so, I wait. It's weird for me to think of taking a semester off. I've not electively done so since 1998 when I had to quit school to work full time. I've consistently been in school since 2003.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
7 Things
A - List 7 habits/quirks/facts
B - Tag 7 people to do the same
C - Don't tag the person who tagged you, or tag "Whoever wants to do it"
1. I am working on becoming fluent in french and then I will start learning another language. I'd like to learn as many as possible.
2. I am really scared of taking a semester off of my education and I will likely have to in the fall. I haven't taken time off for cancer or any crisis that's happened in my life.
3. I pretty much only watch HGTV because of 2 reasons: Home improvement makes me feel close to my Dad. There's no chance of upsetting medical type of things on that channel.
4. I don't believe in hell. There is enough hell in this world already.
5. I was raised Lutheran, but as an adult I feel that Universalist Unitarian more closely describes my beliefs. In my opinion, there are many paths to spirtuality and I respect them all. I also like to think of religion as being a buffet of beliefs where you can get what you need from different disciplines.
6. I don't understand why Farmville is so popular or has so much staying power.
7. If I could be a fictional character, I would totally be Elle Woods from Legally Blonde.
I'm not tagging anyone. Fill 'er out if you'd like to.
B - Tag 7 people to do the same
C - Don't tag the person who tagged you, or tag "Whoever wants to do it"
1. I am working on becoming fluent in french and then I will start learning another language. I'd like to learn as many as possible.
2. I am really scared of taking a semester off of my education and I will likely have to in the fall. I haven't taken time off for cancer or any crisis that's happened in my life.
3. I pretty much only watch HGTV because of 2 reasons: Home improvement makes me feel close to my Dad. There's no chance of upsetting medical type of things on that channel.
4. I don't believe in hell. There is enough hell in this world already.
5. I was raised Lutheran, but as an adult I feel that Universalist Unitarian more closely describes my beliefs. In my opinion, there are many paths to spirtuality and I respect them all. I also like to think of religion as being a buffet of beliefs where you can get what you need from different disciplines.
6. I don't understand why Farmville is so popular or has so much staying power.
7. If I could be a fictional character, I would totally be Elle Woods from Legally Blonde.
I'm not tagging anyone. Fill 'er out if you'd like to.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Cool giveaway at Blonde in A Blog
My friend Julianna over at Blonde in a Blog is doing a cool giveaway for Kangaroodles for a $50 gift certificate. I am loving the Customized Soft Photo Book. I think this would be a great gift.
Check out this cool giveaway over on A Blonde Walks into a Blog.
Check out this cool giveaway over on A Blonde Walks into a Blog.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
I'm still here
I'm still here, just haven't had much to say lately. I'm busy with school, the kids and dealing with making some big changes in my life.
On the kid front: Abby is in an aircast for about another week and then will hopefully start physical therapy. Evan is working hard to improve his grades. It's not always fun to do homework, but it's so important to take that time.
I got a cpap machine yesterday to start treating my severe sleep apnea. It's a lot of getting used to, but I don't have much of a choice. I'm on blood pressure medicine now which I hope is a temporary thing. I am also on week 3 of the south beach diet and so far have lost 9.5 pounds. I lost a lot the first week, but it's slow going now. Hopefully as my sleep apnea gets under control, I will have more energy and be able to start working out. I miss having energy to do that.
This is my last semester at NIU as an undergrad, so I am looking into my options for my post-graduate life. It's a little daunting.
Big changes in the works!
On the kid front: Abby is in an aircast for about another week and then will hopefully start physical therapy. Evan is working hard to improve his grades. It's not always fun to do homework, but it's so important to take that time.
I got a cpap machine yesterday to start treating my severe sleep apnea. It's a lot of getting used to, but I don't have much of a choice. I'm on blood pressure medicine now which I hope is a temporary thing. I am also on week 3 of the south beach diet and so far have lost 9.5 pounds. I lost a lot the first week, but it's slow going now. Hopefully as my sleep apnea gets under control, I will have more energy and be able to start working out. I miss having energy to do that.
This is my last semester at NIU as an undergrad, so I am looking into my options for my post-graduate life. It's a little daunting.
Big changes in the works!
Monday, February 1, 2010
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