I AM NOT SUPERWOMAN!

Confessions of A Non Superwoman #33

2023-01-09T08:08:00.000-08:00

Well, helloooooo there....it is me again! It is about that time now that we have made it through the holiday hustle and bustle...or should I say barely made it through. It was touch and go there for a bit.

But alas, kids are back in school (Thank goodness) and hopefully we can get back to some type of routine. Key word: Hopefully.

Without further ado I give you some of my recent faux pas. Err. Confessions.

1. I live in Northern Idaho. First winter. And man, it was cold here right around Christmas. Snowy. Icy. You name it. I have this handy dandy ice scraper that I am supposed to keep in my purse so when there is ice on my windows, I can scrap it off. And well I left it in the car. The frozen car. Took some time to get into said frozen car to get the scraper so I used a SPATULA instead! Yup. Improvised. Hey, it worked. Until it didn't.

2. Christmas decor. Just took it down on Wednesday. Now ask me if I organized it while putting it back in the bins. BIG FAT NOPE. I will just leave it at that.

3. The kids had 2 weeks off of school. I had all these ideas of fun things we could do while they were off but ummmmm, we did pretty much nothing. Such a mom fail. However, my oldest daughter did fall and break her ankle, tore 3 ligaments and fractured her leg the Tuesday after Christmas and then had surgery last Monday so I was helping her a bit instead. That was exciting!

4. While off during the break, zero routine. Zip. Zilch. Nothing. Nada. We just flew by the seat of our pants. I **think** there were a few nights where my 15-year-old stayed up most of the night. I went to bed. Or tried to. (I don't tend to sleep much or when I do sleep it is not very sound).

5. You know that Air Fryer I blogged about a couple weeks ago. Still have not used it. I am horrible.

6. New Year's Eve was pretty quiet. I am however still finding confetti under everything and probably will be for the next year. Whose idea was that? Oh,the person that doesn't help clean it up! And is it really bad that I wish my kids were young enough that we could celebrate New Year's at 9pm with New York? Used to be in bed by 9:05pm. LOL. I know, I know. Memories made.

How were your holidays? Any New Year's Resolutions that you have already failed at? (I never make resolutions, too much pressure).

Funny Resolutions For The New Year

2023-01-08T18:09:00.003-08:00

I am a bit of a Debbie Downer when it comes to New Year's Resolutions. I never make them. Toooooo much pressure. I just can't commit. BUT, here is a list I found of some funny resolutions that I am pretty sure I have already accomplished a few of them AND it is only a week into the New Year!! Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Make the new year all about laughter and fun with these quirky New Year's resolutions.

LEAH HALLUPDATED: DEC 29, 2022

Forget your juice cleanses. Hang up your jump ropes and boxing gloves. Put that credit card down and forget about buying that expensive gym membership or personal life coach. Sure those things can be helpful and maybe lead to some lasting change and better habits if you keep your “New Year, New You” motto past January 15. But for the rest of us, who are either burnt out on resolutions altogether or have to disguise them with words like “goals” or “new hobby,” we think the new year should be fun and not bum us out as much as the last two seasons of the pandemic have. Let’s look at 2023 as an opportunity to take on a bucket list of ways to make ourselves and our families experience even more joy or at the very least, laugh a little bit (we have New Year's jokes for that!). Maybe even at ourselves for how much we want to make resolutions.

This list encompasses fun ideas and challenges to try throughout the year that may or may not exist on anyone's bucket list—but should! You'll also find tucked away here and there a few tongue-in-cheek resolutions you are guaranteed to keep—cause no doubt you're already doing them. (Happy hour wine, anyone?) Whatever way you slice it, make 2022 a year you can look back on and smile and feel less stressed about. If you're looking for even more ideas of New Year's resolutions that are actually doable, check out our Best New Year's Resolutions You'll Actually Keep.

Order every drink on the Starbucks Menu.
Flamingo a friend’s yard for their birthday or an anniversary.
Perfect your charcuterie board skills.
Write your own Instagram captions.
Stop drinking your morning coffee AFTER you brush your teeth.
Celebrate Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas, in July!
Exercise…your right to Taco Tuesday!
Host a chicken party!
Stop blaming my farts on the dog.
Wine down the day with a glass of vino…oh, wait, you’ve already perfected that resolution.
Treat your car to regular disco carwashes.
Be on a first name basis with your regular Door Dasher.
Perfect your favorite celebrity impression.
Spend a night ending each and every sip of your drink with an enthusiastic, “Ahhhhh, baby!”
See how many times you can watch your favorite series back to back, in one year, without getting bored of it.
Bring up your enneagram number any chance you can and get friends to find out their number.

Join a "buy nothing" group on Facebook and trade up to see how big of an item you can get.
Keep gum or mints in your purse and be the friend that always has them to offer after meals.
Start a meme account.
Work “Time will tell” into conversation at least once a week.
Stay in more interesting Airbnb’s (treehouses, teepees, Airstreams, etc.)
Drink your coffee while it’s hot
Got a little “junk in the truck?” Find out what’s in there…literally: see what treasures are hiding out in your car’s trunk.
Throw a penny in the mall wishing well, every time you go (and get rid of all those pennies in the process).
Host a Sunday Supper for your friends at least once a month.
Learn the "Thriller" dance by Halloween
Rearrange your kitchen…yet again.
Break your New Year’s Resolutions…and don’t feel guilty, one bit!

Have fun!

I Finally Jumped

2022-12-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

Took me long enough. For real.

I finally jumped on the Air Fryer bandwagon. I know I am probably the last person on ALL.OF.THE.EARTH. to have bought one. I have fought the urge, believe me since I don't usually follow the masses. BUT, I have been having FOMO. Like Serious FOMO. So, here I am, I finally did it and yet IT is still in the box, unopened, all alone on my counter, a few days later.

I will get to it. I promise and then you will never stop hearing me rave about it like everybody else. Right?

I bought one this past weekend at BestBuy while on sale. Bella Pro Series 8-qt. $49.99! I figured you can't beat that (or maybe you can). She sure is pretty!

Is it that awesome? Do you have one? What kind do you have? What do you make in it?

*This is not a sponsored post. The link is to the Best Buy product that I purchased directly and IS NOT an affiliate link.

Rest In Peace

2022-12-14T16:41:00.001-08:00

tWitch Boss. You were such a light to so many. If you only knew how many people adored you. Maybe you did and it still was not enough. Nobody will ever know.

May you Rest In Peace.

This makes me so sad.

I loved watching him on SYTYCD way back when and then seeing him do so many other things through the years. Watched his wife and him on TikTok occasionally with their kids, dance skits, etc.

This is just another example of you never know what people are going through....BE KIND ALWAYS.

And if you are struggling, PLEASE try your hardest to reach out to friends, family, counselor, doctor, teacher...988. You matter! You are worth it! 

Don't do something that will be permanent for a temporary setback. Everything is fixable. 

Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.

Confessions of A Non-Superwoman #32

2022-12-11T10:34:00.001-08:00

Hi! Long time, no see. I would say it has been a hot minute since I have been around these parts, but I digress, I think that is how I started my last confessional post back in September 2020. Wow!

IT.HAS.BEEN.AWHILE.

How have you been? Survive Covid, I hope. Now right into winter flu season, RSV and a recession...fun times, right? Man, can you believe these prices. Gas. Groceries. Interest rates. Which is a good segway into my confessions.

1. I sent my husband to the store the other day for groceries, trying to save a buck or two so off to Winco he went....OMG! (Sorry I CAN NOT shop at Winco myself, too many people, bagging my own groceries. No. Just. No.) Well.... that was a mistake for sure. No savings where had. He even had a list, a specific list. And....$195.03 later! Eggs, $5.08 for 18 pack. Like, what the fudge? Chickens on strike? (Looks like just good old inflation, supply chain issues that we are STILL dealing with and Bird Flu outbreak)

2. We SOLD our house and moved to another state this past summer. Yup! It was thought through, not just on a whim. BUT, it seems we sold right at the moment that the bubble burst for sellers and interest rates started climbing for buyers. SOOOOO here we are living in an apartment in a new state for at least a year. It is all good, really, we have a roof over our head, and we are in the same state as my oldest daughter which makes me do the HAPPY dance.

3. Part of the reason why I have not been around prior to our move was because quite honestly, depression was just kicking my ARS. When my dad passed away in March 2021, I had a bit of a breakdown to say the least which also turned into finding out some things about my own health. (I will probably share more on that story another time). And getting out of bed, keeping a couple kids alive, was pretty much all I could muster up the energy for. So, I apologize.

4. This year we did a fake tree. Yes, there I said it. A FAKE Christmas tree. I know I will probably lose a few friends over this. LOL. Although, I miss the smell of the pine, I do not miss the mess that comes with it. ALL.THE.PINE.NEEDLES.

Have you seen the Ikea Christmas tree meme floating around out there? LOL.

5. My youngest daughter pretty much decorated our house on her own. She brought the bins in from garage, pulled out the decorations, put together the tree, put out all of the decorations on counters, windowsill, etc....while the oldest son (who was in town for a visit), and I watched Million Dollar Listings. Yeah, not super proud BUT, what do you do. She was much more efficient than I would have ever been on that day. (In my defense, we do usually decorate and put up the tree as a family but this year we were all just not totally into it for whatever reason).

Hope your holiday season is going well, whatever you celebrate. AND real or fake tree, I will still be your friend!

Any confessions on your part? Remember this is a safe space for all. No judgement, we actually celebrate imperfections!!

Even If Mundane {For Lack Of Motivation}

2021-09-13T11:48:00.001-07:00

To Do List. Got to love'em, right? Ha! Not!

BUT I do however make them almost EVERY.SINGLE.DAY because if I don't well...complete and utter lack of motivation (Thank you depression). AND I literally put almost everything I can think of that needs to be accomplished each day on that list.

SERIOUSLY.

Even the most mundane items. Like "Throw Out Old Produce." Seems like something like that would be second nature NOT.FOR.ME. Reminders are good AND when I have a list of say 10-15 line items that include some of those easy, peasy simple tasks...I can mark those off pretty quickly AND then BAM! Productivity! Yes, it is a mind Jedi trick I play on myself. So when I am able to scratch off say only 5 line items, I feel, I feel accomplished. I feel more motivation. I feel like I have been productive...even if only the slightest bit. Try it. (and the other items, they will carry over into the next day because tomorrow is a new day).

You're welcome!

Life Hack {For Depression}

2021-09-12T07:46:00.001-07:00

If you suffer from depression, like I do...there are days, many days in the week, that I can barely function and get out of bed..but I do because well...LIFE.

With that in mind, I have learned to keep a routine. It is a pretty simple routine but routine never the less.

1) Set alarm to get up at the same time EVERY.DAY (even if you really don't need to get up nor have any place to go)

2) Get out of bed.

3) Take a shower.

4) Get dressed.

5) Do your hair, put make up on, etc

See now that wasn't that hard. I know when I do the above it helps me get out of the funk and SHOW UP...Maybe not for the whole day but it definitely helps set me up for some success in the morning hours. AND that is progress!

What life hacks do you have to help with your depression?

Photo Credit

I Am...

2021-09-10T22:24:00.004-07:00

I Am....

---a beautiful blooming lotus gracefully appearing above the murky waters.

---a phoenix rising from the red hot smoldering ashes.

--a volcano simmering ready to erupt.

--a sparrow taking flight high above the trees.

--a lion pacing side to side waiting to attack its prey.

I Am...

--beautifully broken yet wonderfully made.

Photo Credit

Monday Musings

2020-11-23T09:52:00.000-08:00

Monday Musings:

--Think about it.

--Talk about it.

--Plan for it.

--Do it.

Over or Under

2020-11-14T08:00:00.033-08:00

In light of my most recent post I have decided I need more veggies in my life but I "loathe" buying a boatload of veggies when so often we don't eat them fast enough (and they spoil) and/or don't eat them at all. Such a waste either way.

My daughter loves salad so I try to incorporate a green salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, and croutons in a lot of our dinners. Ohh and these yummy Salad Toppers. These literally make the salad for me; just sayin. Problem is that we then drench it in Ranch. Not really (lol but still probably use too much). I am trying to create a new habit of dipping my salad in the ranch rather than pouring the ranch on the salad. It makes a difference of how much I use, for sure. I learned this little trick years back when I was part of Weight Watchers. Do they still recommend that trick?

Now I just need to convince my son to eat more vegetables. He literally will only eat snap peas and cucumbers. Cucumbers are super yummy though especially fresh from the garden or farmers market. Not that I have had either recently (my failure at my garden this past spring/summer is a whole other post). And farmers markets these days are closed due to either Covid or the cold weather that is now settling in. Ughh.

Cucumbers. They really do pack a punch. They are full of water (in case you are thirsty) and loads of vitamins (Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium). Some say they are over rated, I personally think they deserve more credit.

You can also use cucumbers to cool sunburns. I may need this, this next week for where I am headed. I will share that on another blog post. You can place on your eyes to reduce puffiness. I can go on...but I won't. You get it.

Cucumbers are amazing!

Just make sure you peel them. I use a peeler that is similar to the OXO Good Grip Swivel Peeler. Check it out on Amazon. Super affordable and just in time for peeling potatoes for those famous mashed potatoes for your holiday gatherings. (I must confess there are some recent years where I use instant potatoes. I don't have time for that. The peeling. The boiling. The mashing...Sorry, just keeping it real.)

Did you know: That the "cool as a cucumber" came about because there is sometimes a 20° temperature difference between the inside of a cucumber and the actual temperature outside.

What do you think? Cucumbers. Over rated or under rated?

What is your favorite vegetable?

You might also like this post: Confessions of a Non Superwoman # 31.

Source: Fact Site

This is not a paid endorsement however if you purchase the item from my link I will receive a small commission.

It's No Wonder

2020-11-10T08:00:00.001-08:00

The Covid 19 quarantine weight gain, it is the REAL deal. But in my case probably double that...seriously. Let's call it what is is..Covid 40. It sucks. And it isn't necessarily the food I am eating but rather lack of much exercise.

Ok, so it might have a little bit to do with "some" of the food I eat because I really like to cook and I am one of those that actually like to eat the food I cook.

It is kind of funny when my daughter got engaged last Christmas (2019), we all jumped on the "we need to lose weight for the wedding" bandwagon and then Feb-Mar came with the shut down of the whole universe. And well, needless to say, we never climbed back on that wagon.

But this....this is part of the reason why.

Chicken Stuffing Casserole

Ingredients

2lbs of Chicken Tenderloin (or you can use left over chicken, Rotisserie Chicken from your local store deli, it's up to you how much time you want to spend on dinner)

2 boxes (total 12 ozs) of stuffing (preseasoned) or you can make your own

2 cans of Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

16 oz Frozen Mixed Vegetables (I prefer the ones you can steam really quick)

1/2 Cup Sour Cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. If using uncooked chicken (like I did), fire up a pan, add some olive oil and cook chicken. Once cooked, dice or shred into smaller pieces. Set aside. (if using left over cooked chicken or Rotisserie Chicken then shred or dice up, no need to cook separate)

2. (While the chicken is cooking) Pour your stuffing into a large bowl and add hot water; mix. Let it sit to absorb the water. I added about 1/2 cup hot water per 6 oz box (not as much water as the directions state since you are not fully cooking it and you don't want the stuffing to be soggy).

3. Steam vegetables as instructed on bag. Set aside.

4. In a 10 x 13 casserole dish pour in the 2 cans of condensed soup (no water), add in the 1/2 cup sour cream, add some salt and pepper. Mix. Now pour the steamed vegetables in (if in water; drain). Add the diced or shredded chicken. Mix until both the chicken and vegetables are smothered with the soup/sour cream mixture.

5. Spread the moist stuffing on top of the chicken/vegetables. (I use a spatula or fork to pack the stuffing on top so it also can absorb some of the soup/sour cream mixture while it cooks).

6. Cook in oven on 350 degrees for 20-30 mins until the top layer of the stuffing is golden brown and crispy. You should see the chicken/soup underneath the stuffing bubbling.

And so this is my problem. It is no wonder.

Enjoy!

This I Know For Sure

2020-11-02T08:00:00.007-08:00

My mom. May she rest in peace.

Growing up I didn't spend a whole lot of time with my mom for various reasons (that I will probably share in another blog post down the road). But when I did, there were definite things that I hold on to, to this day...some are heavy while others are light hearted.

Heavy

Don't rely on anyone, especially a man, for your financial well being. Make your own money.

Light

If you can't beat them, join them. (It was always in an odd context that she would use this)

Heavy

Never trust someone who says "trust me" or who opens a sentence with "to be honest"...That has always been a no brainer.

Light

Moisturize. Moisturize. Moisturize. LOL

In all seriousness, trust me, (lol). Do that last one for sure! My daughter always gets compliments on her great looking skin. And for sure genetics has something to do with mine and my daughters skin BUT I took this to heart and have washed my face and moisturized DAILY for as long as I can remember.

It makes such a world of difference. And for the longest time I would use the "expensive" stuff from the local department store. Think Clinique or Estee Lauder from Macy's...paying an arm and a leg or two for a super small bottle of moisturizer....

UNTIL a few years ago when one of my more experienced friends shared her secret of her soft, smooth, minimally, wrinkled skin. Wanna know the secret?

Something so simple and not very expensive AT ALL. You can buy it here on Amazon, Walgreens, Target, Walmart...and you don't have to use much so it lasts a long time. But use it daily after you shower or washing your face**. I am in the upper half of my 40s and I still get carded at times and people think I am my oldest daughter's sister.

Gotta love that!

**There are several types of Cerave lotion specific for your face or other body parts. They are also labeled with different skin types so please read the labels to choose the one that best fits your skin type.

You might also like this post. The "G" word.

This is not a paid endorsement however if you purchase the item from my link I will receive a small commission.

The Closest I Get

2020-10-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

What day is it anyways?

Between distant learning. Trying to keep up with the household stuff, not actually working thankfully....(I was able to take a leave of absence while kids are at home)...I am not sure how I did it before...or how I will do it again once I have to go back to work (especially if kids are still not in school). I almost feel like I am on maternity leave with the absence of crying babies and poopy diapers...but time, it just blurs together and gets away from me to the point of, shower? What's that? Clean clothes everyday, sooo overrated. Self-care is pretty much non existent at this point.

The closest I get to a facial these days is when I open up the dishwasher while it is still steam drying the dishes.

Or when I am draining the mac n cheese in the strainer. Ahh, bliss.

What was the last self care thing that you did for yourself? Do you find it hard to do? Here is an article of why self care is so important but so hard to practice.

When and How It All Began

2020-10-27T07:00:00.009-07:00

My very first post to this blog was Wednesday October 27th, 2010!

This blog is 10 years old! Happy Blogiversary to me! I can hardly believe it. Can you? And you may notice a few minor changes...what do you think?

I know I have been a bit absent the last couple years for various reasons but my goal is to start blogging again "consistently". This blog, is pretty much the only thing that is my "own" and I really need an outlet to just be, to write about whatever, whenever, to debrief, to laugh about, to cry (commiserate) and celebrate all of life's imperfections (or indiscretions) because LORD knows there are tons. I know blogging might be a bit passe now in 2020 but I'm still going to do it. I hope you continue to stop by every now and then. And drop a comment or two.

How the whole idea of this blog came to be in case you want a refresher:

Women's Retreat

I recently returned from a Women's Only weekend retreat in Lincoln City. As much as I struggled with the "mommy" guilt leading up to the weekend I am glad I went... It was definitely food for my soul and I didn't realize how much I needed it until I was there!

But man did I feel guilty right up until I got into my friends car to leave...I mean I was leaving the children (18yr,12yr,3yr & 5 months) behind for my (capable) husband to care for, for a whole weekend. So many things crossed my mind leading up to the "big" event... How would he be able to do it without me? Would they have three square meals while I was gone? Would they get baths? What about clean clothes? Don't even get me going on, "What if he forgets to change K's diaper? (often enough)"

In the end, the house didn't burn down, the kids ate, their clothes were dirty but I am sure that was because it was 6:30 pm on Sunday when I returned (ohhhh yes, we milked the weekend right up until dusk). Heck the kids, they barely even noticed I was gone; husband on the other hand....I think he might have a better appreciation for how much "I" (woman in general do EVERYDAY)....Now the house looked like a tornado hit it (that would be Hayden)...but I learned something from the retreat that I put to use the second I walked through the door....IT'S OK IF THE HOUSE IS A MESS (sometimes). Life is too short to cry over spilled milk (the cat will lick it up anyways). It is now time to sit back, relax and spend some time with my husband and kids. They missed me! They truly missed me....(maybe just a little bit).

In closing, one of the "wiser" woman at the retreat said it best, "Womans Lib, sure wasn't liberating, now was it? Now we are not only expected to work in the home but also outside the home." So often we find that we try and be everything to everyone at all times and we often fail miserably...at something. I mean really can we be good---perfect at everything? Can women *now* truly have it all?

What do you think?

You might also like all of my confessional posts.

Rock The Vote?

2020-10-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

Is that even a thing anymore?

Back in my day, it was huge! I remember back in 1992, all the music groups and actors trying to get all of us youngn's registered to vote (and of course actually getting to the polls to cast our vote).

On a side note: Polls, I haven't been to those in ages since I live in Oregon where we have been able to vote by mail, long before Covid. (Sorry got sidetracked).

Madonna, LL Cool J, Michael Jackson and heck even Dee-lite, remember them? They were all over the airwaves telling us what to do!

But alas, I had just turned 17 so it would be another long 4 years before I could vote but you bet your bottom dollar that I registered the second I could because you know Marky Mark said to.

And now how many years later, I have voted EVERY.SINGLE election because it's a civic responsibility that I take very seriously. The main reason why I choose to vote is because it allows me to participate in choosing who represents me and my beliefs. It gives me a voice! The problem though is not everyone thinks the way I do. I see it in some of my friends, family...Some have the mentality that their vote doesn't matter, it's just ONE vote. BUT it does (even more so on a local state/community level). If to many people have that same train of thought, then it is just not the ONE vote but who knows how many other votes. Think about that.

The one thing I ask though is do your research, ask questions, watch the debates, make sure whatever you are voting for (local measures) or whoever you are voting for (President, City Counsel, etc) that you are making an educated decision.

Here is a great article that I ran across about Why Voting Is Important.

Now what are you waiting for? V-O-T-E!

{Recipes} Taco Casserole

2020-10-22T09:00:00.003-07:00

Anything that resembles a taco or burrito is always a big hit at our dinner table. I made this partially on the stove and then put it in the oven to finish up. This can be made completely on the stove as a "One Pot Wonder".

Ingredients

3 lb ground beef (I bought mine at Kroger this week on sale for $7.47; that's $2.49/lb!)

15 oz can of Black Beans (.69 @ Winco; had from previous shopping trip)

2 Roma Tomatoes, diced. (.88/lb)

4 oz Preshredded Lettuce ($1.69 for 8oz bag; I only used about 1/2 of the bag)

4.5 oz Kroger Sliced Olives ($1.50 for 2.25 oz; $3.00)

8 oz Nacho and Taco Blend Shredded Cheese ($2.69)

Directions

1) Turn oven on to preheat to 400 degrees.

2) Brown hamburger on stove in a large skillet, drain.

3) Add Taco/Fajita or Burrito Seasoning* of choice and 15 oz can of Black Beans into skillet with hamburger. Continue to heat up for approximately 3-5 minutes.

4) While hamburger is browning, dice up the 2 tomatoes, set aside.

5) Once the hamburger, beans and seasoning is ready, pour into a 13x9 casserole dish.

6) Spread layer of cheese on top of hamburger.

7) Cook in oven for approximate 5 minutes to allow the cheese to fully melt.

8) Remove from oven, spread a layer of lettuce on top of cheese, spread layer of diced tomotoes and olives on top of lettuce. Add another layer of cheese, if you really like cheese like us.

9) Cook in oven for another 5 minutes.

10) Remove from oven and serve!

Add a dollop of sour cream* and/or roll into a tortilla ($2.69)

Total Dinner Cost: $18.26 (includes tortillas even though we only used 2).

Serves 8.

$2.28 per serving. (We have tons of left over so I will be using this for lunch tomorrow)

*I did not include cost of seasoning or sour cream in total dinner cost since I have a large containers of both on hand and did not purchase specifically for this dinner.

Going To The Chapel...

2020-10-21T08:00:00.011-07:00

Going to the chapel and were going to get married. Nope, not me. My oldest daughter!

After 15 years of dating they "finally" married in a rustic barn on October 10th. And her vision of a rustic wedding was "on point."

Even though we had to improvise a tad bit due to weather (it had been raining quite a bit prior to the wedding so we had to move their outdoor, on the grass next to the lake wedding under an awning next to the barn)....but it all worked out beautifully. And for several hours before and after the wedding it did not rain! We even saw a rainbow! And fireworks!

First Look

Lighting the Unity Candle

Husband & Wife

The Lake

The groom was handsome. The bride was beautiful and now to begin the next chapter of their lives (which hopefully means a few grand babies for me).

I wish these two so much love and happiness in their life together.

Coming Soon!

2020-10-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

What a whirlwind of a weekend! My oldest daughter got married this past Saturday!

Now to shift my focus....BIG changes coming soon to the blog! My 10 year blogiversary is coming up!  Can you believe it?

I hope you stick around and come visit again to see the rebranded site!

Confessions of A Non-Superwoman #31

2020-09-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a hot minute...not that I have not had anything to confess because boy have I!

1. I have been so inconsistent in writing on this blog, it is not even funny. Funny thing, is there still seems to be a bit of traffic, not sure how but ok. Keep a look out for some upcoming changes here.

2. My dishes have literally sat in the sink since Sunday night. In my defense (since for some reason I feel like I need to defend myself), we started distant learning this week, my son is camped out on our kitchen bar so time in the kitchen while he is zooming, to distracting. And then to clean the kitchen later in the afternoon/evening, what? I'm tired! LOL. So they have sat for a few days.

NOT.THE.END.OF.THE.WORLD. NOBODY.DIED.

3. AND distant learning. We are only 4 days in but if I am overwhelmed, even though I am only still supervising at the moment (no major assignments assigned just yet)..I can only imagine how the kids are feeling being stuck on these zoom calls, 3-4x a day. One thing for certain, I *loathe* zoom calls. Did you get a chance to see this "The Different Types of Students On Zoom" from a few months ago? Which one is your child?

How are you holding up? Any confessionals? Remember you are safe here! We are all imperfect and in this together.

Menu Plan Monday Sept 21, 2020

2020-09-21T09:51:00.001-07:00

Wow, it has been just a minute since I have done one of these posts. Like years....not to say that I am not meal planning because I am just not posting it here on this little ol' blog or linking it to Laura over at I'm An Organizing Junkie. So without further delay...

Monday

Taco Casserole

Tuesday

Grilled Cheese Sammich & Tomatoe Soup (I am going to use a few different types of cheese to make it extra cheesy)

Wednesday

Crockpot Chili (w/cheese and sour cream)

Thursday

Stuffed Green Peppers and Corn on The Cob

Friday

Orange Chicken & Rice

**Orange sauce made with BBQ Sauce, Orange Marmalade Jelly & Soy Sauce.

Saturday

TBA-Going out to dinner for my oldest daughter's Bachlorette Party!

What is on your menu for this week? Need some more inspiration?

Monday Musings 9/21/2020

2020-09-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

Monday Musings:

--The future depends on what you do TODAY.

--You have 86,400 seconds today to create opportunity.

--Seize the day!

20 Days But Who Is Counting?

2020-09-20T11:52:00.001-07:00

20 days! Holy moly!

I can't believe that in 20 days my oldest daughter will become a wife? How is that even possible since I am only 25? LOL.

In this time of Covid and limited stores being consistently open, inventory being scarce, etc...I never thought I would say this but thank goodness for Amazon and (mainly) all their amazing affiliates/sellers....without them this wedding may not be possible.

I have probably single handedly kept many of them in business, for sure. And I still have 20 days to go so who knows what else I will be buying with my Amazon Prime to make sure it gets here on time.

Here is my latest find. I searched all over for something "blue" and this is perfect!

This will be easy to clip into her dress, close to her heart and hopefully will be a treasured keepsake for years to come.

What was your "blue" item when you or your children married?

Legal Mumbo Jumbo: My posts may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through my links, you won't pay a single penny more but we will get a small commission which will help us continue to run this blog.

Faith Before Fear

2018-10-15T15:53:00.003-07:00

I always see and say myself: Let Your Faith Be Bigger Than Your Fear!

Easier said then done, right?

How do you let your FAITH take over so you do not live in fear of what is next?

That is a tough one that I have been pondering for a long time.

You see I have FAITH.

FAITH in what I believe.

FAITH in people.

But I seem to lack FAITH in the "PLAN" whatever that is because LORD knows but I don't

I struggle. ALL.THE.TIME

You know what will be, what is next, the future, the unknown.

I always say "Thy will be done" , "What will be will be" but who am I kidding?

Do I really BELIEVE that? Do I really practice that? I try but it is HARD to let it all rest in his hands. I know if I could I would control the outcome and believe me I have tried, really tried at times BUT...it often times backfires. There in lies the reason why I should let it go...But yet I continue to stress and worry...to my demise.

How do you let your faith be bigger than your fear?

Photo Credit

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For...

2018-05-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

DONUTS!

Yup, it was my youngest birthday this past weekend and for her birthday breakfast she wanted DONUTS...so DONUTS is what she got!

Her day continued with whatever her heart desired because it was HER day.

So we went to the park and had a picnic for the afternoon. Then she chose HER birthday dinner. Any guesses?

Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and Peas/Carrots!

Who knew? I didn't know that this has now become her favorite dinner.

And now onto her "friend" birthday party that we are having this weekend! In light of us returning from Hawaii a couple weeks ago, she decided on a Luau themed party.

I have a few tricks up my sleeve to pull this off. I will share what we did hopefully next week and post some pictures too.

Happy 8th Birthday Miss Kay!

Talk soon.

Confessions Of A Non Superwoman #30

2018-01-27T15:44:00.000-08:00

30!

I have 30 of these types of posts?? What? That is a lot of humiliation.... but I guess it is alright, better to laugh at myself than at others, right PLUS...I like to keep it real around these parts.

I am sure I can easily write 150 of these each week but I'd rather not bore you so I periodically post some of the more meaningful fails just for giggles. LOL. I figure when I eventually look back fondly on this little ol' blog of mine, I will at least see how far I have really come. Can I get an AMEN?

Talking about this little ol' blog of mine. We go way back (go here to see when it all started) even though I don't write nearly as much lately (last couple years). I have decided with the help of my, what I like to call life coach (ahh ummm counselor) that I am going to write more, I need to write more. I like to write. It is a good outlet for me, even if it is a silly post every couple days.

So bring on the humiliation....

1. Christmas (holidays) can't happen fast enough. I know, I know ba-humbug. I like the holidays, I just don't like the consumerism and all the hurrying that comes with it. So anticlimatic.

2. I love to cook but man, lately, I am a hot mess when it comes to actually cooking. The kids seem to be getting a little bit pickier as they are getting older so I feel like more often than not when I cook what I think is an awesome meal, they are like....nah, not so much. SO...I just don't cook a lot during the week right now. This to shall pass. Yes, I still feed my kids, just not a 4 course gourmet meal. (Ha! Who am I kidding, like it was ever gourmet!)

3. I wrote about this I think in my last confessions post which was last year, like 2016, that we haven't had professional Christmas pictures in a couple years and well, not this year, either. I take lots of pictures, I do, just not professional. Sorry not sorry. Have you seen some of these?

4. My paperwork at home is getting out of hand. I need an intervention. I used to be so good and organized with the yearly file boxes with a folder for each month to put all your paperwork in, warranty papers, bills, etc...and now. THIS.

Photo Credit

(Maybe I should contact this company for help Add Space To Your Life)

5. My 7 year old daughter, one morning recently, crawls into my bed, it must have been around 5:45am right before my alarm was going to go off and says..."Mom, why do dogs lick their butt?" .....

And I got nuthin especially that early! Kids, they say the darndest things at the darndest times. I had to save that one for later. Still chewing on this one. I think I will goo-goo it. Lol.

Goo-Goo, did you see the Italian lady who was gifted a Google Home for Christmas. Sooo funny.

Check it out.

Any confessions? Mom fails? Dad fails? Grandma fails? C'mon, it's safe here.

Until we meet again.