Things a Mom "SHOULD know!?

My dear sweet mother has been going through parenting magazines clipping out articles and making a scrapbook for me... isn't that sweet?! I'm not sure if I should take that as a hint, as I am a horrible mother, or that these writers have better ideas. Either way... I was going through it today and I came across an article called "39 Things Every Mom Should Know." Hmmm.... Should know!? Or should learn to know?!

I am a mom. I was not born with some of this knowledge. So I will assume that I am supposed to LEARN to know them... I will not expound on all 39, just a few of them.

#5: If the kids are awake, bite the bullet and be awake yourself. You'll waste so many hours trying futilely to extend early-morning snoozes that it's not worth it. If you are sick, pregnant, or it's the middle of the night, ignore this advice.

I am just going to IGNORE this advice altogether.

#24: Use duvet covers on your comforters and forget about a top sheet.

Ummm.... OK?

#12: Know this: that stain won't come out. And it's OK. (the sooner you accept this, the better)

#2: Don't make birthday parties a huge deal.

WTH!? Umm... yes, make them a big deal! It was the day they were born! Just don't invite a bunch of roudy kids!

I pray every day....

that I will not put my children up for sale on Ebay or leave them at the store where they are throwing the fit.

For instance. I was at Target today, and being the WONDERFUL mom I am (not) thought that I would be nice and let them sit in the "limo" cart. You know what I'm talking about... the one where there is the cart, and then the four foot extra seat part where the children sit and it is about as long as a limo?! Yeah... so that lasted about five minutes before the princess started beating the crap out of her brother. And then they had to switch places, and then fought over the buckles and then switched places again?! ARG. It was then I contemplated to just leave them there and let them duke it out while I shopped in peace. BUT, I didn't. I should have. Because not ten minutes later, the boy was on the ground crying (in the middle of the exit doors) because of who knows why, while the Princess has run away to the entrance trying to go through those doors. That is when I was telling myself that I couldn't just leave. I had to stay there and take them home with me... first off, beause the Princess knows my phone number so they would hunt me down, and I really would feel bad for the people that took my kids home. :)

Nevertheless, I went home (with kids in tote) and we survived another day.... BARELY, but we did.

---Niece

I am only going to brag about these garlic potatoes because A. it isn't my recipe, and B. I didn't screw it up. I made them last night for a family dinner with the in-laws, and even my mother-in-law who I think at times wonders about my domestic abilities said, " Wow, you have really learned how to cook!" I tried not to take offense to that and instead relished the moment of actually producing something that wasn't previously frozen or in a box and they were absolutely scrumptious! The key is to cook them for 50 -60 minutes (even though the recipe suggests 30 minutes) and uncover the foil the last ten minutes. Also, I added some oil and mixed the potatoes around in the dish before I cooked them.
Oh, and I omitted the lemon juice.
Enjoy!
Aunt

Monday's Meal

Lasagna
(crock pot)

1 lb. cooked ground beef, seasoned (garlic powder, chopped onion, italian seasoning S&P)
1 jar of spaghetti sauce (whatever flavor you like)
box of OVEN READY lasagna noodles
Cottage cheese
Mozzarella cheese

-Spray crockpot with cooking spray so lasagna doesn't stic
-Mix meat and spaghetti sauce together
-Put a little meat sauce on bottom of crock pot
-Put noodles side by side next (you might have to break a couple of them to fit)
-Add more meat sauce on top of them
-Scoop some cottage cheese (however much you prefer) on top of meat sauce
-Add mozzarella cheese (also however much you prefer)
-Add noodles and repeat layers!

-Turn crock pot on low for roughly four hours!

*****Side dishes: Garlic bread (out of a box) and a salad

Is he your Daddy too?!

The husband is a business owner. A boss. A leader. A dad to two kids. That's right. TWO. Not three... so why do I feel like I am his third child?! Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?

I am not irresponsible. Nor flighty. The bills are paid on time, I shower on occasion (by myself nonetheless!) and can even put my shoes on the correct feet. So why when he talks to me, does he talk a little slower and in a higher voice!? I pay for my blonde hair, so I am not dumb! Here is a prime example.

I am not one to get embarrassed. The other night (on my birthday!) I was completely humiliated by "the dad". Story:

I have to go exchange a skirt for a different size that he bought me for my bday (thanks hunny).
The husband and kids are in the car.
There are two skirts on mannequins.
I go to the back (after him telling me exactly where the skirt is) and look for the size.
Don't find it and start walking back to the front.
I hear. "*name* did you find the size?"
Me: "No, it wasn't back there"
Him: Did you look on the mannequins?
Me: Not yet. I didn't want to undress them if I didn't have to.
Him: Why not? Oh look. Here is your size. (as he is undressing them)
Me: Ok.
Him: Let's get going. Why didn't you check these first?
Me: Because I didn't want to undress them.
Him: I'm going back in the car. Hurry.
Me: Thanks Dad!

Seriously. Maybe he just wanted to undress the "models" I was so embarrassed. And like I said, I don't get embarrassed easily. I was also informed on how to subtract 50 from 30 (the answer is 20 if you didn't know), where the closest gas station is to my location, and everything else under the sun. Don't get me wrong. I love my Dad... I mean husband. But that's who I want to live with. Not my dad.

"GLOW-rious!!!!"

People always stop me on the street and ask me how I get my 'youthful' glow.
Ok, I am kidding, never been asked that.
But, maybe next time you see me you will notice.
I received a 1oz sample of this creme by Clarins, as a sample from an order I placed through Sephora about 6 months ago. I have used just a little dab of this (above the cheekbones) almost every day and today I sadly squeezed the last drop and therefore the last day of my 'glow' until I can get another tube. I was a little disappointed that the price is a whopping $45.00, but I will be ordering it soon!
You can check out the details and reviews here-- so
if you are looking for a 'dewy glow' and a great moisturizer...

One of those days....

It has been one of those days. It started with:


Plus the FIVE loads of clean laundry that I had to fold (but you can't see it under my feet) BTW, does anyone else stick loads of laundry back in the dryer over and over again so they don't have to fold them?! Or is that just me?

Plus all the other normal crap of life and I resort to this:



And then I am this again:



Gut and all.

The end.