I wish I could be every woman

The perfect wife, the perfect mama and the perfect career woman. Oh yes, and the perfect sister, relative, and friend. Alas, that is impossible. But one of the things (one of the MANY things but I'm a realistic person) I want to be better about is cooking more for my family. By cooking I mean easy recipes or uncomplicated slow cooker recipes.
I have found some awesome bloggers on the internet who buy ingredients for the meals at the beginning of each week and share these menus on their blog. Love that. Why? Because most of them are busy women so they don't choose meals that take a lot of time but they are tasty and somewhat healthy. Sweet.
I don't promise to share what I'm cooking each week because, again, I'm realistic. But this is what I  planned this week:

http://www.campbellkitchen.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?recipeId=50684 (I liked this OK. I might make it again but it wasn't a favorite.)
Thai Lettuce Wraps:

http://www.colleenandkeith.com/2011/09/thai-beef-cabbage-cups.html (Her recipes are usually straight forward and very tasty! I just subbed the cabbage for lettuce because I like that better. I've made this many times and it IS a favorite. Thanks, Colleen!)

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/12/crockpot-lobster-bisque.html (I've made this before and liked it. The lobster tails make this a pricey meal but it's good every once in a while. And super easy! This is a treat for this weekend.)
At work, we're having a potluck and I think I'm making this tonight:

http://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/detail.php?docid=19363 (They really are the best blueberry muffins I've ever had. Yum!)

OR I'll make this:

(Sorry, no online recipe. Got it from a friend!)

I also made taco salads earlier at the beginning of the week. That was super easy - ground turkey meat with taco seasoning, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, low-fat sour cream and sliced avacados. I'm not a fan of tomatoes but that would have been good with it.

Anyway, as I mentioned, these kind of posts will be far and few between but I thought I'd share:)

Time for a change

Decided to change it up a bit. I debated paying for a personalized blogger template because I love the blogs that have photos of the writer in the header. I even got a quote. But it was a little pricey and I think The Man would find it frivolous. Plus I'm not blogging for income so I'd feel a little guilty making a somewhat big purchase just for my personal viewing pleasure. I haven't completely ruled it out but this will do for now.
I dug around and this is what I came up with. Wish I had taken a screen shot of my blog's old appearance just so I could remember but what's done is done.
I think I also needed to reinvigorate this blog to reignite my interest in writing so hopefully this does the trick. Blogs have certainly captured my interest again because I've found great hair and makeup tutorials along with really good recipes. And by really good I mean super easy and, often times, calling for the use of a slow cooker:)
Here's to seven more years of journaling my life - my family and friends, my mishaps, my dreams, my crazy situations and all the memories I don't want to forget.

A remarkable photo I had to share

Please read my prior post so you know where I was and in what weather. Then check this out:

One of my FB friends wrote that this looked like one of those mayhem commercials by All State Insurance.
Thank goodness no one was hurt. Kind of a miracle considering how crowded this part of San Francisco is with both drivers and pedestrians. After this tree fell, a portion of Columbus was closed for hours. What's also freaky is I drove down this street moments before when the tree was still up and there was no indication that this was going to happen! I was looking for parking and was jealous of all those people that managed to find such good street parking.
And all I could think when we left the taped off area surrounded by police, when we were done ogling and taking photos, was that this poor Camry owner left his/her car feeling pret-ty lucky to score such awesome parking in North Beach. Dang.

PS: I am all about parking garages in the city and absolutely love them. Its worth saving me the time trying to find street parking if it's a highly congested area. Not to mistake garages for the random, unpaved parking lots. Why? The garage I parked in on North Beach was $9 for 3 hours! Random lot we passed was charging $25 flat fee. It's not always the case but I find garages a lot less and you park it yourself so no valet! Lots park cars like they're puzzle pieces and you often have to wait while they find keys and move all the cars blocking yours.

You know you are a tired Mama when ...

You love San Francisco but you love it a little less when it looks like this:

Who am I kidding? I was somewhat dreading this night even before I knew it was raining like crazy.
A dear friend from college is visiting and wanted to get together. She sent out an evite way back when to ensure we would all save the date. It's for a dinner in the city. At 8:00 PM.
This means me going from the Peninsula, where I work, to the East Bay, would be ridiculous. And The Man, while very sweet and caring, felt a little jipped when this event came around because he had been spending several weekends taking care of The Bun while I was sick. And then last weekend, we ended up spending it with my parents because my Dad is in a rehab center recovering  from knee replacement surgery. And The Man has a right to feel jipped. He hasn't had any time for himself.
Oh, and did I mention last Friday was a friend's birthday dinner? I wanted and had to go!
This is my dilemma. I go out a lot less now that I'm a Mama. Way back in my early 20s, I went out almost every weekend. That lasted two years. Typically, especially when I was in a relationship w/ my now hubby, I went out maybe twice a month with friends on the weekends and the occasion happy hour during the work week. I had hula class and practice 2x/ week. But it wasn't a big deal since I'm much more of a homebody than anything else. Then I had a baby. I've drastically reduced my gallivanting (including hobbies!) because I've got a baby to raise.
But even though I rarely go out, it's still more than The Man. Because he is a homebody and somewhat of a loner.  I'm not complaining! I love spending time with him and am glad I don't have to compete with friends. It's awesome! He is so generous and loving.
What I struggle with is that I like to be fair. I'm all about 50/50. And it's just not 50/50 because I go out with friends. I'm way more social. I like routine. So I go to yoga once a week. I go out 2x/month with friends. Do the math, this is a drop in the bucket. But, again, it is 100% more than what The Man does.
Friends tell me to stop feeling guilty. They say that it's not my fault or his fault that this can't be 50/50. It's all about preference. But I do feel guilty because he's incredibly generous and loving and I want him to have what I have. But he doesn't really want it. We tried designating a day and time for him so that, while he doesn't like group fitness classes, he could go biking or running. Or just futz somewhere outside of the house.
But it somehow didn't work out. I think because he wasn't beholden to someone else's schedule, like an instructor or a buddy, it wasn't easy for him to keep a scheduled appointment. Even though it was his schedules free time!
Anyway, this weekend is supposed to be his weekend. And I think what was the problem in the past was that he wanted to stay home but if The Bun and I were home, there was no way he could ignore us. Or hole up in a room. So I'm doing my best to take The Bun out of the house and be out for most of the day on Saturday and Sunday. He can hopefully feel like he's getting back some of his time and relax in his own home. He deserves it and I want to give this to him.
In the meantime, I'm now packing up at work and heading out. In the rain. To go to this aromatic joint:

Heaven help me. I adore my friend and know that I need to be a good friend and celebrate with her. No excuses! She came all the way out from Texas and asked for just one night for us to hang out! But I am dreading going to North Beach in this downpour. Blech.*

*And this is how I know I'm not the party gal I used to be. I loved going to San Francisco, rain or shine. Now I would much rather be home in my jammies come bedtime!

Lets start the day with an uplifting story, shall we?

My Sister shared this story on FaceBook and I had to put this up on my blog. While it is a few years old, Patrick and his dad's story is so inspirational. The love and sacrifice his father, mother, and I'm sure the rest of his family, is beautiful. In addition to being inspired, it also gives me perspective. As I get older, I truly do appreciate my life and my blessings more and more. And stories like Patrick also help me remember to be thankful and to wonder, when I face challenges, are they really that difficult? Is it really that bad? And how can I conduct myself in a manner which will only better myself and the others around me?

I know life can really stink sometimes. And I don't belittle anyone's challenges and adversities. Quite honestly, when I hear the news, I'm disgusted, disappointed and afraid of the world in which my baby is growing up. But with beautiful people in the world like Patrick and his dad, their stories reinstate the faith I have that most people are genuinely GOOD.

Futzing around with technology

This is how I decompress. I futz on the internet. Prior to FaceBook, MySpace and Friendster, I had blogs to peruse. And, of course, there are gossip sites, shopping sites, travel sites, and, really, I could find hours upon hours of things to look at and piss away my time. And now there's even more to look at! Uh, hello Pinterest?
When The Bun was an infant, it was OK for me to be on my smart phone or laptop. In fact, it was a great way to pass the time when I was breast feeding or pumping. Or when she was napping But a little over a year ago, The Man called me out. Rightfully so. He said he made it a point to not be on his iPod Touch or iPad when spending time with The Bun and he thought I should do the same. This ensured we had quality time with her. I fully agreed. I made it a point to not be on my laptop. But man, does that smart phone make it easy for me to slip up!
Here's the thing. I'll hear an email alert. Or, when checking the time, I'll see a notification on my FB app. Or one of my other apps. Or I'll receive a text message. Or, and I also trick myself into doing this, I'll take a photo, upload it to FB and then want to read the comments. Full addict confession: One thing leads to another and there I am, browsing the internet or scrolling down my FaceBook page.
I feel so guilty! There isn't much time to have QUALITY time with the Bun. I mean, we already have the TV distracting her, we're both working parents so our weekdays are cut short. So on the weekends, what is my bloody excuse?
In addition to putting it out there that I need to lose those last 5 lbs (I have been hovering between 5 and 7 pounds for months and have been too ashamed to post it on FB), I shall also declare on my blog that I will be stricter with myself and limit my iPhone futzing time to the bare minimum when The Bun is around. I mean, as soon as she goes to bed, The Man and I are already jumping on our electronic devices! Why can't I show some restraint when she's around? She deserves a Mama who is giving her full & undivided attention. Well, that's a lot to ask since we don't live in a bubble but how about a Mama who is focused on her and not the internet?
 I already don't talk on the phone unless it's neccessary. I will allow myself to answer texts and important emails. I just need to make sure that I don't get lured by my apps' notification features. I can do this!
(And, dammit, I can lose those last 5 lbs! For crap's sake, I am below pre-baby weight and wedding weight. I would just like to be at the weight I was when I met The Man. It's a reasonable goal since I've weighed less than that when we were dating. I just know that my goal weight is attainable. If I can just get TO IT.)

Crap, we're losing an hour

Sleep is a valuable commodity in our household. We take it VERY seriously.
So much so that we put The Bun to bed at 6 PM this evening to prep for the time change.
Mmm-hmmm, seriously.
Lately, she has been grumpy when I wake her up around 7:30 AM. (and she is positively upset on those days when I have to wake her up earlier.) That's about 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep for her. Yet I'm usually waking her up rather than her already awake, waiting for her day to start. This makes her grumpy.
It's taken me weeks to figure this out but I think The Bun needs more sleep. Serious. Because, on the weekends, we let her sleep in an hour or two more and she is a lot happier in the morning.
So we decided to bump her bedtime up a half hour. We will do this tomorrow night.
With the time change, heaven help us. Shouldn't be a big deal but, as I mentioned, sleep is like gold in our home. Nay, like platinum! But a Happy Bun makes for a happier morning so I think, in the end, it's going to better for us.

Latest obsession: Makeup. How old am I, anyway?!

I'm acting like a school girl. Lately I've been fixated on makeup. Specifically, eye makeup. I've even started a little section on this blog to link to other blogs that talk about fashion and makeup.
I know exactly when it started. It was mid-February and I was really upset that my favorite mascara was discontinued. [If you could give two craps about makeup, you'll want to skip this paragraph. Or this whole entry, for that matter.] I didn't wear much makeup - foundation (Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals & Mineral Veil), blush, and mascara. The two I never leave home without is my foundation and mascara. So having my Clinique Waterproof Mascara discontinued rocked my world.
"You've got to be kidding me," you say. I wish. My eyelashes are fickle son-of-a-biscuits. Not only are they straight but they actually point downward. So I curl them. The thing is, most mascaras are too wet and straighten out the curl and I'm stuck with straight lashes. I found that I needed waterproof because it was usually tacky but the only one that really kept the curl was Clinique Waterproof Mascara.
When I learned it had been discontinued, I lamented in a FaceBook status update. That's when I got all sorts of suggestions. Having been disappointed by many drugstore mascaras in the past (and drugstores having poor return policies), I decided to buy the Lancome Hypnose. For $26. Which was nearly double what I paid for my old mascara. And THAT'S when I became obsessed with eye makeup. Drugstore makeup. Why? Because, while I make a decent living, the following (but not limited to) deplete my income: day care, necessities for a 2 year old, property taxes, minivan payments, care for 2 pups, groceries, utility bills, and more. Sadly, I'm not even the bread winner. The Man pays a little bit more in our household bills. I can't invest in nor am I interested in high-falutin' makeup. Thus my fascination with drugstore makeup. Especially after all the online research I've done which resulted in me finding fashion editors, writers and bloggers stating that there are many high quality drugstore makeup products on the market now. Right on, right on.
In the past month, I have bought four types of eyeliner, BB Cream, eye primer,three brushes, two lip glosses and concealer. The only reason I haven't bought mascara, what started this all, is because I am determined to use my $26 mascara until it is all done. Then I'll try drugstore mascara!
 My internet searches in finding the best rated drugstore eye makeup also led me to "how to" videos on YouTube. I've always wanted to wear eyeliner but was intimidated so I hardly ever wore it. And, if I did, I would painstakingly put it in only to have people tell me later that they never knew I was wearing any. I wore brown so that it was subtle. Evidently, it was extremely subtle.
For the past week, I've worn what I think is much more dramatic eyeliner every day and, although I'm not content with how it looks just yet, I figured I should keep practicing until it's perfect.
Obsessed, I tell you.
It sounds silly to get all worked up from having my mascara discontinued. But I think there's a bigger picture. See, I completely identified with one of the bloggers I now follow (she's #14) who described herself as, "A new mommy working on getting her sexy back." My baby is two years old. Which is about how long it took for me to get to prebaby weight. And, frankly, I hadn't felt sexy in a very long time. Probably three years. Because I wasn't one of the fortunate women who felt sexy while pregnant. Three years is a long time to not feel the least bit attractive. A friend said it may also have to do with breastfeeding. She said that it was really hard for her to feel sexy while she was bfeeding because she felt like a cow. Reflecting, I think it was probably the weight, the working boobs and lack of sleep that lent to my feelings of unattractiveness.
But now I care. I don't feel like I have to put on makeup, rather, it makes me feel better and I like that I'm finally trying to master something I was uncomfortable with. Sounds so silly but I had always been intimidated by eyeliner and I'm excited that I finally figured out which products I like (if you're curious, it's Prestige pencil eyeliner and Wet n Wild creme eyeliner) and I think that I will eventually perfect an eyeliner technique very soon.
I'm telling you. Like a schoolgirl, for crap's sake. But I don't care. I like it. It's an inexpensive way for me to feel more attractive. Meow.