Mama.Mommy.Mom.

It's The Simple Things: Life Passes In An Instagram (Week 4)

2012-01-29T18:51:00.001-05:00

A few years ago, I think I would have given anything to have the life of our oldest dog, Mitzi. Her biggest responsibility was making sure not to pee in the floor. She had someone to bathe her, someone to cut her hair, someone to give her food and water, an endless supply of toys, a playmate, a person to snuggle with and a live in companion that expected nothing more than someone to cozy up

The Nine Circles of Parenting Hell (Part 1)

2012-01-28T18:51:00.000-05:00

In the early 1300's, Durante Alighieri (Dante) wrote an epic poem detailing his travel through the Nine Circles of Hell in his soul's persuit of God. The Nine Circles of Hell include: 1) Limbo 2) Lust 3) Gluttony 4) Greed 5) Anger 6) Heresy 7) Violence 8) Fraud 9) Treachery It's a really interesting peice of literature, and if you find yourself with some spare time, it's a peice

Fantastic Finds: Get Inked

2012-01-27T20:47:00.002-05:00

In my late teens and early 20's, when most young adults are going through that rebellious or 'find myself' stage, I was already married and far more settled than most people my age. I've never lived by myself. I literally moved out of my dad's house the day I got married and moved into an apartment with my husband. Jason being 6 years my elder and me being the rip old underage of 18, about

Quick and Easy Pizza Pockets (Featuring Farm Rich Meatballs)

2012-01-22T22:07:00.000-05:00

Busy, busy, busy! I don't know about you, but that pretty much describes what my life has been like since November. And endless parade of holiday gatherings, family obligations, birthday parties and whatnot has left us exhausted and looking for something warm and comforting that doesn't come in the form of a casserole. Don't get me wrong, I love a good casserole - but even I can only handle

It's The Simple Things: Life Passes In An Instagram (Week 3)

2012-01-22T16:31:00.001-05:00

Another week has come and gone...it's hard to believe we've almost finished the first month of 2012! It really is the simple things in life that seem to amuse me through all of the complicated stuff. Sunday, we spent the afternoon at my sister's house. She made her super awesome Chicken Marsala for us. It's easily my husband's favorite meal. I think Addison's favorite part of the day was

Fantastic Finds: All We Need Is Love? I Say It's Chocolate!

2012-01-20T18:57:00.000-05:00

Ever had one of 'those' weeks? You know the one... the kind that makes you want to find a big rock to hide under? Yeah, I'm there. Ending the week with a trip to Target was a bad idea, from many angles. I may or may not have added several 'no-no's to my cart, including 2 bags of Hershey Kisses. Because chocolate makes everything better. The Kisses were a quick means to an end (that bag was

Simple Cottage (Shepherd's) Pie

2012-01-16T12:30:00.000-05:00

There's something comforting about a warm casserole, straight from the oven, on a cold January day. Though commonly referred to as Shepherd's Pie, Cottage Pie is such a simple combination of flavors and textures, but the end result is amazing! Cottage Pie originated sometime in the late 1700's and was a meat pie with a potato crust on the top. The term Shepherd's Pie actually

It's The Simple Things: Life Passes In An Instagram - Week 2

2012-01-15T20:12:00.001-05:00

The last week has been a busy one... Full of food, family and fun. We rolled back the clock a bit on a few of the things the kids enjoyed this week, and did things a little more like what I did growing up. Last Sunday we enjoyed breaking in the new fire pit (awesome Christmas gift from my mom and my sister) by roasting some marshmallows and making s'mores! Despite our children being bundled

The Best Mashed Potatoes That Never Came Out Of A Box

2012-01-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Long name, huh? Well, it's true! Once upon a time, I was not a foodie. Occasionally, I still have my non-foodie moments. I enjoy Spaghetti-O's, Chef Boyardee Mini Ravioli and chicken nuggets from time to time. Everything in moderation, right? There was a time in my life that the only mashed potatoes I would eat came from a box. Flakes...smooth, creamy, re-hydrated flakes. It was a

Fantastic Finds: Fun for the Kiddos

2012-01-13T10:49:00.000-05:00

I don't know if this is the case at your house, but Christmas is finally wearing off here. The new toys Santa brought aren't quite as shiny as they were on the 26th and a little bit of boredom is creeping in. The DSi XL that my daughter had to have... hasn't been out of the case but once in the last week. The current focus for both kids is the giant tub of Legos my sister bought for the girl.

Post-It Note Tuesday: The Mean Girls Edition

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

There's an old Waylon Jennings song called 'Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys' (1978). Mamas, I'm asking you to not let your babies grow up to be Mean Girls. And, if your babies do in fact grow up to be Mean Girls and you see it/hear about it... well, you're still their mama and you need to step up and tell them to act their age. I've been the target of the Mean Girls

It's The Simple Things: Life Passes In An Instagram - Week 1

2012-01-08T11:20:00.000-05:00

It's a new year full of new challenges and experiences! This year I'm combining two of my favorite photography projects: The Simple Things and Project 366 - Life Passes in an Instagram. Trying to keep up with posting pictures for Project 366 every day is too much for me, plus the things I'm 'Instagramming' are my simple things. Check out the uber cute piggy banks Jason's aunt Kaye had made

Fantastic Finds: Healthy Fare

2012-01-06T19:16:00.003-05:00

The post-holiday food coma has finally worn off and the scale has come back to haunt me. I've spent a good part of the last 18 months kicking off about 35 lbs, so I'm not about to let the 5 I picked up between Thanksgiving and Christmas stick around! It's time to tuck away the mixer and get back to more veggies and less baked goods. And, the gym. They've missed me there. It's no surprise

What Will You Capture in 2012?

2012-01-04T09:38:00.001-05:00

It's Wednesday, January 4th... the first hump day of 2012! Because you're awesome, I've got a little something for you... I've got a shiny, brand new Flip UltraHD 8GB Video Camera! This little jewel retails for $139.99 on Amazon and records up to 2 hours of footage, which is easily uploaded to your computer through a built in USB! It's small, fits in your pocket, and is super easy to

It's The Simple Things: Three Legged Dog

2012-01-01T14:45:00.000-05:00

"Mommy... Is this how you yoga?" Perhaps it's not perfect form, but it's the best Three Legged Dog I've ever seen.

2011 Wrap Up (and Your Food Favorites)

2011-12-31T12:26:00.000-05:00

Today is the day we bid adieu to 2011 and prepare to welcome 2012. I don't know how the end of the year effects you, but for me it's a time of reflection and planning. Several years back, I would have been looking forward to whatever bar hopping NYE festivities we had planned and I'd know that I'd be spending the first day of 2012 on the couch (or possibly the bathroom floor.) It's

Would You Do It All Again?

2011-12-26T20:44:00.003-05:00

I had a very poignant question posed to me today... Would you relive 2011? Wow, what a question! Half of me wants to scream 'No!' but the rational half says 'Of course I would!' This year certainly hasn't been roses and sunshine, but most aren't. My husband would call me 'negative', but I prefer to think of myself as realistic. I don't expect the roses and sunshine. Sure, the roses

Working My Way Out

2011-12-25T19:51:00.001-05:00

Who else feels like a post-holiday-food blob? I'm debating dinner now. Potato salad and ham again? I think I'll pass. I'm craving warm, un-sauced veggies. Fresh herbs and chicken. Salad. Salad. Salad. Grilled chicken. Salad. The thought of ham, turkey and stuffing makes me want to run away screaming into the night. And that's bad because I've never been a fan of the dark.

The Stockings Are Hung...

2011-12-24T15:30:00.000-05:00

Now all that's left to do is wait... May tomorrow morning be magical!

Coffee: The Only Reason My Kids Might See Christmas

2011-12-19T10:32:00.003-05:00

They're cute and they know it. They try to use it to their advantage. Sometimes it gives them the upper hand, but not today. Today, I'm debating if Santa will actually come to our house or not. Sure, I haven't been able to park in the garage for 3 weeks because that's where their gifts are hidden and I'm terrified of being found out, but at this point I can live without the use of the

Things You Should NOT Do When Crafting a Gingerbread House

2011-12-17T21:46:00.000-05:00

#1 - Do not wait until 7 PM to start. After a long day with the kids, one really should not attempt a gingerbread house when their patience is already shot. #2 - Do not involve the children. I am not sure why my OCD self thought doing this with the kids was a good idea. It was like two dogs fighting over a bone. #3 - Do not wait until the last minute to make sure you have the

The Man-Cold

2011-12-16T15:20:00.002-05:00

Now, I know you are all jealous of my original artwork up there, but that's all I got. JC Little I am not. And well, with Mr. Man-Cold in the house and Thing 1 and 2 out of school, I'm lucky to be posting at all. Mr. Man-Cold did make it to work today, though he says that today is the worst he's felt. He is surely dying. It started with drainage, then a sore throat and now a hacking

As Much As Things Change...

2011-12-14T11:18:00.000-05:00

... some things will always remain the same. December 2009 December 2011

Under the Sea: An Ariel Party!

2011-12-12T22:50:00.000-05:00

I am all partied out! 16 kids, one balloon/ceiling fan incident and a broken piece of furniture later, Addison's 5th birthday party was a success! First, I owe a huge Thank You to my sister for the most awesome cake ever! We had a bit of trouble finding an appropriate topper for the cake, but my sister found an Ariel toy that fit the bill. Now, this cake was far larger than what we needed,

It's the Playoffs

2011-12-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

My husband's life seems to revolve around the schedule of the NCAA and the NFL. His year starts in June, rather than January like mine. Think of it as a fiscal year verses calendar year. June, July and August are full of fantasy football gab, training camps and finally the pre-season games. September to December become a whirlwind of games, injuries and fantasy trades. Playoffs are in full