Am I Green with Envy!?!?!

OK, when I think green, I for some reason think of being green with envy. Not really sure why. Well lately I have been thinking of a whole new green, small steps toward a green household. I think since having kids, I have been a little more aware of the environment. I ALWAYS fill our recycling bin (comparable to an over sized garbage can). Actually, I over stuff it. I have 2 garbage cans in my kitchen, one for trash and one for recyclables. I am even a garbage picker (at home only) and pick out recyclables and put them in the proper can.


My newest interest is green clean. Why? Well this weekend my dh was cleaning the tub (puh-lease, he got rid of the cleaning ladies he WILL help!!) And he mixed CLR and bleach. I never said he was a chemical engineer. Anywhoo, the fumes were over whelming, to say the least. We had all the upstairs windows open, but the fumes were so bad. I did a little research and there seems to be a whole lotta power in vinegar and baking soda. Even Tea Tree Oil has disinfecing effects, where do you buy that?!?! Red has such sensitive skin and all those chemicals we have in our home, is it really necessary? My 20 month old nephew was over this weekend and he opened the cabinet under the sink (this is where I keep all my cleaning stuff), granted we were all standing there, but I couldn't help to think how toxic all that stuff was and what if?!?!


After all this research I did on my newest obsession, I figured I would go directly to the earth loving source, my Vegan brother. He does not wear leather. He orders pizza with no cheese. He listens to Moby. He did eat some Swedish Chocolate Cake (granted he used more restrain then me and shared a sliver 1/116th of an inch piece with his girlfriend). I think I'll be a talkin bout that cake for days!! Anywhoo, while he was over yesterday I brought it up. Thinking I'd bring a tear to his eye to let him know I was considering going green, I asked him if he cleaned green. He was like Hell No!! I tried some of those green products and they didn't work. You had to use a whole lotta elbow grease. We got some 409 and bleach. How cute, 409 & bleach. I then told him I was thinking of making my own products at home using vinegar, etc. He did listen to me ramble bout my research, I AM going to let him know how well it works for me.



When I do it. After I recover from my cake-induced coma and decide to clean, which I hate to do. But when I do decide to clean, it will be better for me, my family, and the environment.
Plus, if I can make a tree-huggin Vegan even greener, I will feel like I have accomplished something, I love a challenge...

Happy Easter... at least at my house!!

We celebrated Easter again today. Red was sick last week so today was our rescheduled Easter. Funny how we were able to put off the holiday, we often do that at Christmas. So we can see both sides of the family and enjoy our own Christamas' we have it the weekend before or after. It is always so much fun, but for some reason we don't get together all that often, but we always have sooo much fun when we do. I think thats a new goal of mine, more family time. All the aunts & uncles and our kids.
Anywhoo, someone brought a log cake from a Swedish bakery. OMG!! Thats going to do nothing for my weight loss plans But it was soooooo good. I mean so so so so so so good. They had the nerve to leave the leftovers. Part of me heard angels singing. Another part of me wanted to chuck it out the back door. Guess which route I took? (wiping chocolate from my chin). I guess I'll have some explaining to do come Tuesday for my Healthy You Challenge I really got a double whammy, cause I celebrated Easter 2 weekends in a row. AGHHHHH!!!

Found a chicken nugget.....

OK, my clean house lasted for like a day (and thats a stretch). I had a meltdown yesterday, Red dumped all her toys out of the perfectly matched baskets that I spent hours organizing. Little people here, pollys in that basket, strawberry shortcake stuff in another... now scattered all over her floor. I went numb. Thank goodness its still cold and yucky outside, I can still yell without the neighbors thinking I have lost it completely (actually, I lost it a long, long, time ago).


Now I am on to Blue's room. I thought he was my neat one. I was wrong. He has a nine cube storage thingy with a basket for each cube. Each cube was jammed with toys that he could barely slide them open. Broken toys, cars missing wheels, excavators missing their scoop, crayons, colored pencils, dinosaurs missing legs, headless firemen, etc. Here are some random things I found in his room...

~His sisters princess dress up shoes (2 pairs, hmmmm?!?!)

~My portable Soduko game

~Random puzzle pieces

~Magnets from the fridger

~A chicken nugget (I have NO idea why we don't have bugs. Thankful, yet puzzled)

~6 sippy cups shoved in his bedside table drawer

~A bag of rocks (paper bag, random rocks)

~A package of elastic thread (I have been looking for this!!)

Is this a pack rat in the making?!?!?! Well I filled 2 garbage bags of broken toys and random Mickey D's junk (non food items). He was digging through the bags as I filled them. He was so worried about the toys that have not seen daylight in MONTHS!! The sad part is that I am not even done yet...I still have to do his TV stand (YIKES!!).

Is This For A Fat Person?!?!?

Ok, my kids are 3 & 5. Very observant ages.Very. Observant. There is a little boy down the block who is, well, ummmm, to be nice I'll call him fluffy. Very fluffy. Not very active, doesn't run much, has a hard time doing activities that come SOOO easy for the other boys. My son made a comment to me that he was fat. So after the obligatory mom lecture (and fear he'd say the same about me) I though I had him, he seemed to understand we are all different, we should not hurt feelings, yada yada yada.




Anywho, I had just gotten back from the store and had bought a shirt for myself. I was in my room and holding it up to get a better look at it when Blue walked in. He looked at the shirt and said That shirt is for a fat person, its like this wide and outstretched his arms. Ok, it is for a fat person, ME. Funny thing is that although I know my kids know what fat is, they hear it at school, at the babysitters, on TV, in the neighborhood, they never used it towards me. Its just the observations they make and what I know it means. Heck, I'm no fool. I am really not sure who I think I am fooling sometimes. Its little moments like this from the most innocent perspective that puts it all into light. They are not being mean, or critical. They are simply pointing out the reality as they see it. As it really is. AS I NEED TO BE TOLD.




Now if my husband had made the same observation about my new shirt, he would have gotten a chubby beat down!!




I think I did good this week. I am down 1.5 pounds. I was not as active as I wanted to be. You'd think with the kids on spring break, it would be a little nicer outside. I did snack less and overall eat less. I enjoyed all the positive comments last week, it really helped. I enjoyed reading many of your blogs and learning of your successes!! Truly inspirational.

I'm a Spring Cleanin'

Ok, I never got my house clean for Easter, poor little Red had the flu and spent the couple days leading up to Easter sick & sleeping. Poor angel, it breaks my heart when she is sick!! Thank goodness she felt better Easter day, but still had to cancel family coming over, I'd hate people to get sick at my house. All is good though because dinner is rescheduled for another day and it will be MUCH less hectic.

Easter was so much fun. Blue woke up and 8 and came RUNNING into our room. Dh left a piece of carrot in his room with an Easter egg, he said he heard the bunny hopping up the stairs. Red said the bunny kissed her. Once they saw all the eggs all over down stairs, they went nuts. They didn't know which way to turn. I didn't by much candy this year, they didn't even notice. DH was mad, but he's not the one that ends up eating it lol. They only got candy that I don't like, I still managed to steal a piece or two though.

I woke up this morning well rested & full of energy, hmmmmm how long will this last?!?!?! I have cleaned the ovens, vacuumed all the floors,washed the floors, dusted, cleaned the cabinets, did some windows (hell, lets not get crazy), & even washed & folded a load of laundry (ok, it was only 2 blankets, but they are STILL folded). I am not even sure where this motivaton came from, but I am not going to fight it. BATHROOMS, HERE I COME!!!!

Easter Cleaning

Ok, I am seriously wondering if I need to clean my house before Easter. I mean really?!?!? Cause I was thinking the toys, clothes, books, & puzzles would make for a better Easter egg hunt, I mean of course they'll find the eggs if the house is clean. I mean who wouldn't be able to find them?!?! Think of all the great hiding places: in shoes, under socks, in one of the empty cups on the cofee table. The possibilities are endless.



Anywhoo, I am not sure what I am going to do to get my house ready by Sunday. I am hoping the pixies will come down and wave their wands and POOF a clean & organized house. Ok, I threw organized in there... that will never happen. I so badly need a live-in. Or a wife....



I am hoping it will be a beautiful Easter Sunday, we had a nice stretch of weather there, I mean I really had hope that the worst was behind us. It looks like at will be in the 40's, or at least that's what I hear as I have done no actual research myself.

I want to be a LOSER again

Ok, its time. Well actually its been time for quite some time. I came across a blog and was like, hmmmmmm, I think I need to do this. Its called The Healthy You Challenge Well the angels were a singin when I checked it out. I was always chunky, at least in my opinion. Looking back at old pictures, I looked healthy. Real healthy. I was actually a huge loser in the past, I have already lost 100 lbs (yikes, thats more then BOTH my kids weigh). Well anywhoo, 2 children later here I am heavier then ever. Not sure what my plan is yet, but I do have goals:

1. No more fast food.... Goodbye Spicy Chicken Combo, I'll miss you the most
2. No more snacks after 8pm
3. Start walking, i have a treadmill so no awful weather excuses.
4. Drink LOTS of water, this I beleive what helped so much before
5. I will start healthier snack, lots of fruits and veggies
6. Get healthy


These can change as I need. I just want to be healthy, I will never be stick thin, I am ok with that. I have noticed Red has inherited my eating habits, that girl is hungry ALL the time, I mean ALLLLL the time. She doen't even want snacks, she asks for more MEALS!! Mac & cheese, turkey dogs, chicken nuggets, fun fruits, etc. One hour after breakfast she'll be looking for lunch!! I do give her healthy choices, she cas 4-5 healthy things to pick from when she is hungry (which throws her over the edge when I offer them!!) Blue is a great eater, meat, veggies, fruit. He actually rarely asks to eat. I am obcessed with what they eat and them having a healthy body image. Then it hit me, I know duh, they will never get it unless I demonstrate to them how to do it.

OK, I am off to work now.... thank goodness its raining.

Happy St Paddy's Day

I think St Paddy's day is by far one of my favorite holidays!! I grew up on the South Side of Chicago and the Parade was THE party of the year. I mean green hair, green faces, Irish music, corned beef wherever you turned, and green beer!! All the people you haven't seen since grammar school, high school, or since the last parade. One of the things I miss most about living in Chicago is all the Irish hoopla. I live in the burbs now, most people out here know St Paddy's Day is in March, but not sure which day.... That always kills me for some reason. I always act like they are kidding and compare it to Christmas.





I actually took Blue to the parade last year. What a different perspective you have with maturity, a 4 year old (now 5), and being sober. Was I one of those girls tinking in the alley.... IN BROAD DAYLIGHT?!?!? I'm gonna say no for the record, but I am sure there are some folks who have been scared or blinded by the whitenss of my ass.... I pray nothing materializes on the internet.





As kids, it was all things green, the greener the better. I think I even had a bright green SOUTH SIDE IRISH jacket, as if the reddish hair didn't tell ya. My mom LOVED being Irish. She had it all... Thick brogue, could do anything with a potatoe, Irish humor, drove a green car, and wore green eyeshadow all year long. Do you know how hard it was to find green eyeshadow in the grunge era?!?! Do you know how uncool I felt at Walgreens with my black pants, Nirvana Tee, flannel shirt, and Doc Martins buying green Wet & Wild Eyeshadow?!?!





She passed away 11 years ago and was buried on St Paddy's Day, she would have not had it any other way. Boy I miss her.... I miss the way she got excited, her humor, things she would say. I just miss HER. Its funny how life went on, I graduated college, got married, had kids.... All with her watching down

Stupid Pan-i-Cakes

No, I did not botch breakfast (at least today!!).

Blue came running downstairs today all in a dither. He was M.A.D!! He said he was playing with Red and she said "stupid pan-i-cake" Well, caught off gaurd dh & I could not contain ourselves and started laughing, I know so bad!! I asked why would she call him that, he said she didn't she just said it. Translation, I know I am not suppose to tattle, so I will act like it hurt my feelings, then Red will get in trouble and stop playing with my trains, then all will be good in the hood!!!

That is Red though, she just says the most random things, things that catch you off guard and crack you up. She says Chicken Nugget as if its a common phrase. She calls her friends Chicken Nugget, she calls me Chicken nugget at times, she sings about chicken nuggets. Chicken Nuggets has even worked itw way into the alphabet.... ABCDEFCHICKENHUGGETLMNOQRSTUVYZ.... We are working on that, its new. Sometimes I'll catch her in her room playing so nicely singing Chicken Nugget over and over again. Sometimes she'll get so excited, she'll just yell out CHICKEN NUGGET!! Funny thing is that its not a staple of our diet.

Easter Egg Frenzy

Today we took the kiddies to an Easter Egg hunt at our park. We waited about 20 minutes in 30 degree weather (heck, it was just in the 50's!!), then the kids were set free on a field of plastic heaven. The kiddies were in 2 different age categories, so I took red and dh took blue.



Well let me tell ya, when that whistle blew, it was pure pandemonium. Kids and parents running every which way, Little Red picking up any egg she could find. She got lucky for a bit when the boy in front of her would pick them up and throw them over his basket back on the ground. She was so quick to grab them up. It was so funny I couldn't even help the poor boy. One little boy couldn't get any eggs, every time he went to grab one, some older & faster child would swoop in and grab it. Red walked over to him on her own and gave him some of her eggs. I was so proud of her, cause she definitely has her moments.



When I caught up with the boys, Blue was so excited. His basket was almost full. He could barely get his words out but kept telling me "I ran so fast!!" He ran all the way home (across the park) and could not wait to investigate his stash. I think his favorite was a pirates patch that he puts over his nose and pretends he is a dog, funny thing is that it really looks like a dogs nose!!



What a great day!! I think we'll have to have an Easter Egg hunt at our house on Easter. Now who is gonna fill al those eggs?!?!?

Where is that sunscreen???

Summer is here!!! Well, almost, for us Midwesterners anyway. It was in the 50's yesterday, or so I heard.... I spent the day in a busy ER nursing drunks back to health & dodging their puke. I think they put Boone's Farm and Wild Irish Rose on sale at the liquor store to celebrate the arrival of spring, or maybe a St Paddy's Day special, I am really not sure. We all have our way of welcoming warmer weather. Anywhoo, it was in the 50's again today and I am OFFFFFFF all weekend!!!!! HOLLA!!! The kiddies were able to play outside all day. Red had so much she tinked her pants, why stop to pee? Kids were in our yard, running, climbing, yelling & screaming. I think I missed all the kids outside the most. I love hearing their laughter in the wind.



These are the days that make all that cold , dreary Chicago weather seem like it was so long ago (ok it was a week ago, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel). The spring air just invigorates my soul, with each refreshing deep breath. I feel like I can do anything, I even cleaned out the junk drawer (baby steps lol). My tulips are starting to poke their little noses out of the ground. Pretty soon they will be in full bloom, buds on the tree's, greener grass, and all the things I LOVE about spring.

Sugar & Spice.....

When people comment on Reds hair, she takes her fingers, stretches her eyes open and tells them "beautiful blue eyes too", just in case they didn't notice. Yesterday an old man at the mall gave her a quarter cause she was so darn cute. It is so funny to me cause she has developed quite the mean streak as well. As cute and sweet as she can be, she can be soooooo mean. I am hoping it is just a phase she is going through. The other day we were at the card shop and I was letting her buy a little stuffed bunny. The mom behind us commented that it was cute and decided to buy one for her little girl who was about the same age as Red. Well, Red flipped out!! She scrunched up those beautiful eyes and put a hand on her hip, pointed to the girl and yelled to me, "I don't want her to get a bunny!!" She then took her bunny, threw it down and said, "I don't want that bunny!!" I have never heard that tone before, she went from 3 to 15 in like a nano second.





I wanted to die of humiliation!! 'Cause now the store was uber quite (a pin dropping would have been deafining, I could hear peoples heads turning our way). I simply took Reds hand, made her apologize, left the stinkin' bunny, paid for my other things and left. She is a control freak. It is her way or no way. We had a long talk about making friends and being nice. Did it fall on deaf ears? I guess time will tell. I am SURE we will be having that talk again. And again. And again.

I have been obsessing lately about my house. It has been driving me insane. Absolutely nuts. I hate that it is not the clean, organized haven I always dreamed I would live in. Ok, its clean... just a mess!! The bathrooms are wiped down, its all the other stuff that becomes overwhelmingly cluttered. The laundry gets washed, dried, even folded, it seems I never have time to put it away (not to mention I despise putting clothes away). I have entrusted my dh to matching socks, therefore they have been collecting in a laundry basket in the laundry room. The other day Blue asked me if he could have socks in his room again!! He is too cute, like socks in your dresser (where they are suppose to be) is a privilege. I love him, he asked so nicely!!

Its a total battle of the upstairs and downstairs. One is usually neat, the other a montrosity. It seems while I am cleaning the family room, Red is upstairs dumping and spreading her Polly Pockets (who on earth though to make toys that small?!?!?!) If I am cleaning the bathroom, my dh is making a snack in the kitchen that requires the use of half the utensils and containers we own.

I have had cleaning ladies, they never worked out for various reasons. We actually stop using our last ones about a month ago. I tried Fly Lady, could not handle the mass emails. Heck if I am gonna sit on my 'puter all day the last thing I want to think about is housework lol.

And doesn't it all figure that when your house is at its worst...... DING DONG!!!!!! Panic sets in as I pray they don't want to come in!!!!

Funny How Things Change....

Since having kids its funny how our priorities change. Not just the obvious stuff that effects our children, but its the stuff that makes our daily lives just that much easier. For example, when Walgreens remodeled and added a drive thru pharmacy?!?! You mean now I don't have to drag my sick kids all the way into Walgreens, wait in line, buy useless crap while waiting for my Rx, put them back in the car, etc. Now I can just drop it off and not even get out of the car. Yes, I live in small town USA.

Well, my latest source of excitement is our new Walmart. I am actually embarrassed to admit this. I have been watching it grow since they broke ground in September. It all started as an open corn field. Next a big whole, the metal studs, the completion of the outer shell, then up went the sign, I had chills!! This is not your average Walmart, completely loaded with a grocery store, drive thru pharmacy and huge garden center. As typical in our small town, it has been packed to the gills for the 3 days it has been open. I have yet to cross the threshold yet, I need to wait til the hoopla dies down & go at 3am so I can walk the over sized isles by myself listening to the angels sing "ahhAHHHHAHHHHHHH!!!!"

Funny thing is, 5 years ago in my pre-children days, I would have cared less what was going on at any store that carried milk, clothes, diapers, and paint. I was too cool for that. I had too many other things to worry about, like which bar to go to tonight. Now I barely even drink lol.

Hmmmmmm......

Ok, so here I go. My first blog!! Well, this is a long time coming and really don't know what I am doing, but I guess that comes with time. I have 2 beautiful children, a little blue eyed boy and a red head little girl. Most of my days are devoted to their care and needs. I am married to a wonderful man for 10 years.



I work part time outside the home as an er nurse in a busy urban ER. Most days I love it, some days I hate it. Probably the same with most jobs lol. To balance that part of my life, I love to craft!! I am what I call an obsessive crafter, I buy IT ALLLLL only to realize its not for me. Would I have ever realized I hate scrapbooking if I did not buy the sizzix, 100 dies, 1000's of brads, 50 crazy scissors (my kids have taken these over), & numerous papers and stickers?? I am afraid not. Don't get me started on how I was going to make all my dd's clothes. I do make hairbows and have seemed to found my niche, I actually have made a little business out of it. I have done a few craft shows and even sell them in a few stores. Kinda like therapy for me, ya know?