That's what she told us last night about an hour after putting her down. All day she'd been spunky and spritely, I was happy to know that she wasn't feeling sick like she had a few days ago. She felt so great that she didn't even nap. But then she woke up screaming, complaining of pain.

"Mommy, I don't feel well. I need to go to the doctor."

I just held her and sang to her. (Sidenote: I'm loving her proper use of grammar! ) We put some ear drops in her ears to help alleviate the pain and gave her some of the Hyland's Belladonna and Ferrum Phosphate. Again, she slept for another few hours. Then came the time that Don and I had wound down to go to bed, close to 2AM *seriously*. We had both checked on her and she was fine. Right as we were FINALLY settled in bed, because this pregnant woman needs about six pillows positioned in just the right way to be comfortable, we heard a tiny voice coming from the other room. I nodded my head, gave Don the look and we agreed to let her sleep with us. The coughing would continue and it was best if we could monitor it in our bed. We piled on the pillows for her since we know she has an ear infection. From previous experience, the more upright they can be, the better they will feel, so she was leaning on a mound of pillows. At this point, I couldn't quit chit-chatting about mindless things. I was nervous and anxious for Mari and those two don't mix well if I'm trying to sleep. Poor Don. And then she shot up asking for a towel and the vomiting began. Serious sickness, that both Don and I were amazed and horrified. I ran to the bathroom and grabbed another towel because that one was being filled quickly. Where did it all come from because she'd hardly eaten all day. At first I thought it was a stomach bug, but after further investigation (yes, I looked, whatever!) I realized it was mostly mucus. And then I felt worse for her. While Don cleaned up (such a great dad!), Mari and I took a warm bath and I took the opportunity to do some skin-to-skin with her because well, that's what my instinct told me to do. Within moments she was passed out. This was all good until the water got too cold. Out we went and tried to go to bed. It was now nearing 3 and I was still jibber-jabbering because I feared she'd start hovering over the bed with her head spinning around. Fortunately, Don calmed me down and her too and we were all asleep.

Until 8:30 rolled around and she was up again. Although, this time, the tiny whiny voice was requesting breakfast, so that gave me hope! I whipped up some scrambled eggs whipped with cream cheese and turkey bacon. I served everyone up some juice and then she didn't want to eat. He had a half a bite of egg, even less of bacon, and a sip or two of apple juice. As she sat there in a lethargic state, Don and I were trying to come up with a plan of action for church. Right as we were ready to execute, Mari executed a plan of her own all over herself, Daddy, and the comforter. And just as he cleaned up, she got sick again. Again, where did it all come from???? Mucus making machine, I tell you. I nodded at Don and we cleaned up and prepped to go to Acute Kids for a check-up. As I learned from Christmas, if you can't keep the fluids down, you need to go to the doc before dehydration kicks in. Off we went and like every visit, the staff was super friendly, the doctor amazing, the nurses are even better, and the wait time is less than waiting in a line at Wal-mart. I love going to them. I wish there was an Acute Adults! Anyway, I got off track.

The doctor checked her ears and sure enough, she told us they were both bad. And then she did something that no other doctor had done before. She asked us if we wanted to see it for ourselves. Both Don and I jumped at the chance. He saw one ear and I saw the other. The one I saw was bright red, with a couple of tiny blisters, and a bit of pus. My heart fell to the floor. It is moments like that where I feel completely and utterly helpless. I knew what she had. I knew what we needed to do, but I don't have the authority to write a prescription. Here's the rub with antibiotics: We don't like them. I know, I know, sometimes we're crunchy like that. But we have good reason to not like them.

Here's the story: Mari's very first ear infection at 9 months old was treated with Augmentin. Her pedi totally skipped the basic pink stuff and hit it hard. We were warned it might be a bit tough on her tummy. That was an understatement. This experience showed us the marvelous wonders of cloth diapering and yeast infections. Blech. Next go round, less than a couple of months later, her pedi treated it with Amoxicillin with Augmentin. Same effect, and this time, she had rash and a complete and total "out of it" state. A month passed and we had to hit up the doc again. This time the nurse practitioner advised us about probiotics, the nature of antibiotics, and how the ear infections Mari had been getting very well could have been viral, but there was no way to tell. When I described her symptoms from taking the medication, she told us that Mari had experienced an allergic reaction. You can imagine my surprise when her pedi called a couple of days later advising us to put tubes in her ears. That is when we switched pediatricians. Immediately, that pedi acknowledged the Augmentin allergy and suggested other ways for us to not only treat ear infections, but to prevent them too. Fast forward a couple of years, and in November, we did an antibiotic test run with Omnicef. This is when we discovered that she has a full blown Penicillin allergy (just like her grandfather) after her entire body was covered in a rash and again she had another yeast infection, despite the probiotics we had given her. There you have it, our aversion to antibiotics because they cause more problems than actually fixing them.

We are trying something new. Another antibiotic that doesn't have any penicillin, but apparently it tastes awful. We were advised to totally skip the flavoring and just mix it with chocolate syrup. Instead of getting Hershey's (because it is loaded with HFCS and a bajillion other things we can't pronounce), we are trying out this Ah!laska, which tastes just like chocolate syrup did when I was a kid (even though it is $3 more than the Hershey's yikes!). Also, these Yum-Yum dophilus tables are like Sweet Tarts. I don't like them, but Mari loves them! A great way for her to get her probiotics and only $11.99 at Whole Foods. The great thing about antibiotics is that it will protect her from the Strep that is going around at her school, as well as any other bacterial infection that she has been exposed to.

We are both quite fatigued, both emotionally and physically, so coffee was in order. I enjoyed a caramel macchiato, which that particular drink was probably in the top 5 best coffee drinks I've ever had. It made me so happy and oddly less anxious. Don enjoyed a fabulous French Press coffee experience. I was more alert, and Don was smiling. And Mari, well, she was sleeping.

Poor thing. When we got home, she was up and we loaded her up with the meds and gave her a homemade apple popsicle to enjoy. Plans for today have been delayed a bit, but as long as she's feeling much better, I don't really care. She takes priority first.

For those of you interested, here are some other homeopathic things we tried before the doc. This is just information we found online and/or has been recommended by our Nurse Practitioner or Osteopath. It is by no means supposed to replace or substitute your medical practitioner's opinion.

• Hyland's Kids Kit
• Warm compress on the ear, especially like a rice sock
• Ear ache drops
• Drinking water to keep the fluid/mucus not as thick
• Popsicles are effective too
• Breastmilk when she was nursing
• Light soothing massage
• Sleeping or sitting upright to help with drainage

Letter for Mari

Hello Sugarbean,

This week has wreaked havoc on our bodies. We've both been very sick, which has made us both a thousand kinds of emotional. In the past few weeks, you haven't enjoyed being dropped off at your escuela. You've actually made me very aware of it each morning as I dress you how much you despise going to your school. Since you've been sick, we've been hanging out at home, sleeping in, watching movies, and generally piddling around trying to heal. It's been glorious, but far from productive, which is ok because sometimes we just need to rest. Now that we are feeling better, it is time to get back into our routine. It is Friday morning, so we get up just a tad bit earlier and you will fit and fuss until I tell you it is Friday and that means we go and get a donut. Actually, I buy a warm kolache for you and give you two donut holes to eat. You get happy on the way there, shouting praises and exclamations for a pink donut. (yet, the few times I've given you a pink donut, you don't really want to eat them, just look at them.) I relish these moments. Us driving in the car, you happily singing a made up tune in the back, and me, getting to be your mom and drive you around to share in life's tiny indulgences.

And then we'll get to your school where you will no doubt, be upset that I'll leave you at school. Which, was exactly what happened when I dropped you off. Even worse because your favorite morning teacher wasn't there to give you hugs and hold you when I leave. The disruption in the routine bothers me too. And there you sat, crying with your "happies" smiling back at you on the plate and you didn't want to have anything to do with them. You wanted Mama. I heard you crying for me. I heard you quiet down to listen as my heels walked away. My heart broke in a billion pieces like it has done for the past three years. I peeked in the window before getting in my car and I could tell you were softly crying as your body quivered in sadness. You were still staring at the door, willing me to come back for you. I nearly did. But I choked back tears and told myself what I'd just told you. "Now is the time to be brave." I sulked to the car and made my commute in. I nibbled on my donut hole and I knew if someone had shot video, I'd surely be featured on Crying, while eating. I don't know if it is the pregnancy hormones or what, but today was more difficult than not. I just want you to know that it is hard for Mommy too.

I love you very much and the things you have learned at school have been wonderful. You have amazing teachers and good friends. Each day when I get home, I am engulfed with a bear hug from you while you happily exclaim, "Mommy, you're back!" To which my heart melts and you will proceed to tell me about your day while you help me put away my shoes before running off to continue your imaginative play. You are so independent and happy.

As we get closer to Tesla's arrival, I know you will make an amazing big sister. You are more patient than I sometimes give you credit. You are extremely compassionate and empathetic. You are so smart and love to share any knowledge that you have recently attained. You are extremely creative! *swoon* We can't forget just how funny you are! That little laugh of yours is so infectious. I just know that you and Tesla will have a wonderful time growing up together.

I love you dearly, even when I'm being mean. Never forget that!

Love always,

Mommy.

HDMR; Tangled

TANGLED
Today's HDMR is brought to you by a cold that doesn't want to quit. All week, the Sugarbean has had a perpetual runny nose and last night starting at 1:30, the coughs came around and they were these deep rooted coughs that I knew were painful. This went on until 6AM. It made for a long night and day. When she emerged from her sleep cocoon, I was spent and needed mindless thought. We opted to go to the early show, knowing that it wouldn't be full and we probably wouldn't expose anyone else. She was wrapped up tightly in her comfy clothes, plus she had her favorite blanket, it was almost like we were at our couch at home. Sure enough, we were the only ones there for the first part of the film.

I'd wanted to take her to see this for a while. I have always like Rapunzel and even when I was a kid, I had really long hair. There was a time that I didn't want to cut it! Anyway, the movie is a spin on the classic tale on Rapunzel. What I really enjoyed about this film is that they really tried to highlight dreaming, regardless of where you come from. Also, Rapunzel was a very strong character in her own right. There's a point where she's gleefully happy, then blubberingly sad the next moment. That's real life highs and lows for a gal. I loved her sidekick Pascal too! He was not only cute, but a wonderful best friend too! I did not like Mother Gothel. There is sinister and then there is downright mean and malicious. That's the point of the character, but there were really high levels of deviousness that I wasn't sure how I felt about Mari seeing that. Weird, I know. Tthe colors were bright, the songs were beautiful, and most of the storyline was good. I do wish they would have spent more time developing the male lead's story. But the ancillary supporting characters were fantastic! I loved Max the horse and I know I already said it, but that Pascal is adorable. :)

Overall, I really liked this movie and when it comes out on DVD, I intend to purchase it. It captivated Mari, even though she was sick and she kept talking about it for 15 minutes until she passed out for a 4 hour nap. This was ok to watch with our family and no where nearly as frightening as Enchanted. Check it out for yourself! Thumbs up!

Review: Three Designing Women

I'm a writer. I type more often than I actually use a pen, but surprisingly, I use a pen quite often. For that reason, my hands tend to look like the above. Various shades of ink cover my fingers and yes, sometimes even my clothes. It's been like that for as long as I've been writing. I'm sad that I no longer have that callous on my finger. I like to think that it is because the writing utensils are getting more comfortable. In any case, when we sent out our Christmas cards this year, I resolved to not have to spend all that time writing out our return address. Ever since I was married, I have wanted a custom stamp or embosser. I hadn't really thought much about it until it comes time to do a mass mailing. I've used the printed labels, especially the free ones I received in the mail from various charities. This year, I couldn't remember where I put those labels.

About a month before the holidays I finally made my first Zulily purchase. Zulily is a discount e-tailer that sells different goods each day that are targeted to moms & children. One day, they had a discount opportunity for Three Designing Women.I've seen their products on some of my favorite stationary sites: Tiny Prints, Paper Source, and Layla Grace.

I was ecstatic! I ordered my own customized stamp, model CS3238 and in two weeks it arrived. It was easy to put together and I wanted to immediately write a letter just so I could use my new stamp. It came with a black stamp, but now I want to buy a green or purple ink to use too!

Anyway, if you do any correspondence through snail mail, I totally recommend getting a customized stamp or embosser and even more I would recommend you get one from Three Designing Women! I can't believe I waited for more than 6 years to get one!

**I was not compensated for this review. I just think this is a nifty product and wanted to share my thoughts.**

Weather in Texas: Snow with a Chance of Ice

We buckled down and got ready for the Arctic Blast that would hit our area. Neither of us like to run the heater on very high, but Saturday night around 9:30, I asked Don to crank up the heat and break out our space heaters. He did one better and started a fire. Mari was eager for the snow to fall and accumulate because she loves playing in it. I remember liking the snow as a child and then within 15 minutes being tired of it. This kiddo could be out playing in it for hours. She is definitely her father's daughter.

Anyway, I had a marathon of a day, completing 8 loads of laundry. Isn't that just the way things go? You make a new goal and you start off with a bang! While my laundry is completed and most of Mari's, I still have a ways to go in terms of catching up, more specifically, laundering all of the towels and bedding, but we'll get there.

Meanwhile, Don was busy packing up the office and moving it to the den. Our office was a catch all of sorts. It was his office, spare bedroom, and storage for random things that somehow got lost over the years. He spent all day Saturday and Sunday sorting, cleaning, throwing away, recycling, and boxing up. And we're still not done! Actually, he may very well be close to done, but there's a giant pile of mess that is mine that I have to go through and choose what stays or what goes. It is going to be tough! The last time we changed office rooms, our garage was rendered a permanent storage spot instead of a garage to park the vehicle. I guarantee you I was missing the garage when I was thwacking the snow off the car.

Lucky for me, the remote start had melted any ice that had accumulated, so all I had to do was get rid of the snow. Anyway, our street didn't even begin to look like the snow day we had last year, but the ice was bad enough that school was delayed or even canceled!

Back to the office. I'm going to share the plan with you for two reasons. One, to keep me accountable for my part in this and two, because I'm so excited!!! Our den is a nice sized room with decent natural light. It was one of the first rooms that underwent a make-over. We'd ripped up the carpet, stained the concrete, repainted, and repainted bookshelves. It was very nice. (And when I say we, I mean Don and his mom and I picked out swatches of paint.) It will now act as office/craft room/spare bedroom. Hence the reason for purging and clearing out. I'm very excited to see how it will all come together. I've been scouring the internets for ideas and I think I have found some shelving and organizing solutions that will fit our needs. The old office will become Mari's new room, which we will have to paint and change out the lights. Mari's room will become Tesla's room. Whew, such changes!

I'll be sure to take photos and update our progress. In the meantime, for all of you who have a craft space, I would love it if you would snap a photo of it and show me how you have organized everything. Thanks!

Book Review: Cinch! by Cynthia Sass

When I was selected by the One2One Network to review Cinch! by Cynthia Sass, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. Reason being, I've never read a diet book and I think I may have really only participated in one diet in my life (which I failed miserably after the first day). But I was open to it, even more so because she packed quite a credential-filled resume punch!

I'm an athlete. If I ever wanted to lost weight, I just got my booty to the gym and worked out until I would burn mad calories. It wasn't until I met Don that I realized I had poor eating habits and was very limited in my diet, in terms of flavors I would actually be willing to try. I was a beef and carbs kind of girl. Steak? Yes! Eggs? Yes! Potatoes? Yes! White bread? Yes! Sushi? NO! Fresh Spinach or Broccoli? NO! Rum & Coke? Yes! Wine? NO! Upon meeting him, I drastically changed my eating habits primarily because I wanted to spend time with him. Heck, one of our first dates was him making me a breakfast burrito to eat: egg whites, fresh spinach, whole wheat tortilla. At the time, a breakfast burrito was a flour tortilla, scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, and cheese. He was unaware how poor my diet was until we actually moved in together. It was in saving money for our wedding that we saw the most benefit of healthy eating. We had very limited outings where we went to a restaurant, our meals were cooked at home, many with fresh ingredients that we had purchased on our trip to the Farmer's Market. I specifically attribute this as the very reason I shed 25-30 pounds before our wedding day (yes, stress had something to do with it, but that wasn't until the final week leading up to it). When I was pregnant with Mari, again, I became very conscious of what I ate. I ate an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, including Palak Paneer because I couldn't get enough Indian food. Yes, I gained weight, but within 9 months, I was not only down to pre-pregnancy weight, but my wedding weight (thank you marathon!), which I attribute to diet & exercise.

And then I hit a plateau.

I stopped running with regularity. I stopped paying attention to all of the things I should be doing. I was blessed to have gotten pregnant, but really, it wasn't until this book that I realized just how much I had checked out. Cupcakes were a regular part of my diet. I didn't bat an eye at the thought of drinking a Ginger Ale or a Sprite. Don't even get me started on carbs! Ugh...But reading this book, I realized that I had gotten off track. We were eating out waay too often and I was over indulging in everything that I said I didn't like. But the more of it I had, the more of it I seemed to want. Scary how artificial sugars and sweeteners do that to you. First off, I need to state that I didn't follow this book to lose weight. I'm pregnant and in no way should I be attempting a drastic change like weight loss. Instead, I used this book as a guideline of healthier eating, not just for myself, but for my family as well.

Immediately upon reading this book, I found myself nodding my head in agreement with Cynthia. I'm not a certified nutritionist by any means, but I do have some core beliefs when it comes to foods and I was ashamed to admit that I had turned my back on those beliefs in the past few months. She doesn't ask you to eliminate carbs, eat only protein, or any gimmicks whatsoever. What she does ask you to do is shift your perspective and consider alternatives. You can have chocolate, but go for the dark chocolate full of anti-oxidants instead of the milk chocolate full of calories and sugar. She actually insists on indulging in dark chocolate once a day. I used to dislike dark chocolate, but like wine, I have learned that it is pretty good, especially the types that have a hint of other flavors. Thank you Dude Sweet Chocolate for an ample supply of variety! Instead of loading up on three meals a day, she asks that you eat four balanced foods that include a produce, lean protein, whole grain, plant-based fat, and SASS.

What is SASS you say? SASS is one of the simplest ways of adding a flavor punch to your foods, which opened my eyes to new cuisines when I changed my eating with Don. SASS stands for slimming and satiating seasonings. They include: vinegar, citrus juice/zest, hot peppers, tea, herbs & spices. I didn't grow up eating a whole lot of salt. I did grow up eating garlic and little did I know how much I enjoyed it until I started cooking with it. Fresh garlic was the best! In her book she writes:

Slash Calories without sacrificing flavor

A tablespoon of aged balsamic vinegar has a mere 15 calories, one ounce of lime juice 8 calories, a cup of brewed tea just 2 calories, a whole jalapeno 4 calories; and herbs and spices such as mint and turmeric contain zero calories. In contrast, one tablespoon of butter, one tablespoon of mayo, two tablespoons of ketchup, and one-quarter cup of Ranch dressing-condiment amounts that you could easily include in a single day if not a single meal-add up to a whopping 500 calories. A surplus of 500 calories a day is enough to pack fifty extra pounds on your frame over one year. Using the five SASS seasonings in place of sauces, condiments, and dressings immediately cuts several hundred calories from your meals while helping trigger your body's "I'm full" mechanism.

Incredible how small changes can mean big results in the long term. And I can attest to those changes. Once I started to incorporate different flavors into my meals, I didn't eat as much and I was genuinely more satisfied after my meals. Not to mention our sex life spiced up once we spiced up the kitchen. (Sorry family if you are reading this, but it is true!)

Also, two more things that appealed to me about this book. It is vegan friendly and I can easily prepare these foods for my entire family, which includes our nearly 3 year old daughter. I firmly believe that because I ate such a varied diet while pregnant and breastfeeding, she, in turn, has not been a familiar picky eater. She refused cereal. Couldn't stand eating it. We gave up and attempted avocado. She gobbled that up. Soon after, she was eating guacamole, salsa, and chutney. We would dine with friends who didn't have children and they were impressed that they didn't have to prepare a separate kid-friendly meal for her. Heck, they were even more impressed that she had a serious desire to eat spicy salsa! As she's gotten older, she has since pulled back the intensity of spicy foods, but she really enjoys a wide variety of foods. I like that this is vegan friendly because when we have vegetarian friends who are over, I don't have to drastically alter a meal I have prepared or ask that they bring their own meal. It works for all of us.

The final thing about the book that I found appealing were the beverages. While she does not allow for ANY alcohol until you reach your goal weight it doesn't matter to me right now because I'm not drinking. Heck, I won't drink a full glass of wine until at least a while after Tesla is into her feeding routine. Regardless, you are allowed to drink 1 coffee and lots of fresh brewed tea. My boss has recently gotten on a fresh brewed tea kick and I have seen the benefits of it from when he insisted I sip on a cup when I was feeling particularly under the weather. It was a lime-green tea and was so absolutely divine and amazing, I instantly felt better after that one glass. Our neighbors have invited us over once a week for a chat over green tea in the afternoon. Not only is the conversation good for the soul, but the fresh brewed tea is to die for. None of which is sweetened with any sweetener. Just fresh tea. That's a big deal coming from a gal who prefers at least 3 packets of sugar to make some down home goodness, sweet tea. She also ask that you COMPLETELY eliminate all sodas, both regular and diet She says:. A higher intake of added sugar is tied to nearly every chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, even Alzheimer's. One can of sweetened soda a day can turn into fifteen pounds of body fat a year! But I drink diet soda, so that's better. Um...no! Statistically, the human risk of obesity actually increases with each daily serving of diet soda, even more than it does for regular soda drinkers! One study found that for people who drank one to two cans of diet soda a day, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was 54.5 percent, compared to 32.8 percent for people drinking the same amount of sugar-sweetened soda. Pay attention to that statistic, "for sugar-sweetened soda." I think she means specifically artificially sweetened sodas, which diet sodas are, and our regular sodas that are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup or corn sugar, not Mexican Coke, which is sweetened with cane sugar. Any artificial sweeteners are bad for our bodies because they were not built to process it. I'm especially aware of high fructose corn syrup because it is in EVERYTHING! I have to check labels to be sure that I'm not pumping Mari with it because more often than not, it is in the foods she eats and the drinks she drinks, but that is a separate post all together. Needless to say, cut out the artificial stuff and stick with natural and organic when possible. In the summertime, I'm especially excited to try out her Zesty Cinnamon Basil Berry Tea. I'll put the recipe at the end.

In any case, this book is written with someone like me in mind and for those of you who are new to the whole dieting and changing of lifestyle with meals. It is easy to read, easy to follow, and a great jump start to a whole new lifestyle. She is very honest with how much organic costs and realizes that it is a deterrent for some people with fixed incomes.She always recommends organic, but has done research on which organic items really make a difference as opposed to non-organic. (organic eggs, soybeans, tofu) More often than not, you can get away with using frozen fruits and veggies too! This is especially helpful when those fruits and veggies aren't in season. (Speaking of which, she is constantly citing resources on the web for even more information and she even has real world scenarios of what to choose when you dine out. Chipotle choice for the win!)

I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for a change in your foods. Check it out today and you can order your own copy at Amazon, Borders, or Barnes & Noble. Definitely make the investment for a healthy new you!

**As a member of the One2One Network, I was asked to review this book. As such, I am eligible to receive one of five $50 gift cards for my participation, but in no was was that an influence in my review. The opinions in the review are my own.**

NYG: Update 1

Remember when I mentioned my New Year Goals (NYG) a few days ago? Well, the week is nearly up and I need to report how I've done. Going forward, these may or may not be a separate post, but for now, here you go:

This week, I have MADE banana bread and pineapple delight. The pineapple delight was a totally new recipe. The banana bread recipe was modified to add more bananas. The recipe I typically use only calls for 2 very ripe bananas. I used 6. While it was ever so much more moist, it was almost like eating a banana! I also made a mess in the kitchen. LOL

As far as eating healthier, aside from the desserts that I have made, we have incorporated family dinner as part of our routine. Thus far, we've made rosemary grapefruit halibut with Gigi's recipe for wedged sweet potatoes, and steamed rice. Halibut was NOT on sale, so this meal cost us roughly $15 total.

Next was chicken, broccoli, and rice in the cast iron skillet. Don impressed me with his skills on this one. The chicken was juicy and flavorful and the whole thing was more savory than I originally thought it would be. I do believe he is now a better cook than I am. I'm going to have to up my game. We bought the chicken on sale and Don found a great deal on the broccoli crowns. We also had some chicken stock we needed to use up, but soon, hopefully, we will be making our own stock. This meal cost us about $7 total.

The first dinner had two full servings of fruits & veggies, not to mention the halibut (since we steamed it) was low fat! The chicken and rice dish was made with fresh broccoli, not frozen. We have an abundance of white rice that we need to use up, otherwise, this meal would have been made with brown rice.

The new thing I'm trying this month is swimming. Yeah, I've been swimming since I was 3 or 4, but I was never good at lap swimming. This month, I'm going to actually try lap swimming, like totally putting my face in the water and everything. This weekend I'm going to buy some goggles too! Whoa, watch out! I tried to do a down and back without stopping, and doing my best to keep as much of my face wet (quite a feat!). I made it in a less than impressive 1:30. Later, I ran 10 laps in the pool and my running average speed is 1:00 a lap. LOL! I say I have some serious stamina and speed issues to develop. Since I'm doing a sprint triathlon in September, I need to be able to do a 300 meter swim. That's 6 continuous laps in the pool. That seems like a marathon to me, but you have to start somewhere, right?

With that swim workout and my warm-up walk, I have burned 275 calories this week. I still have another swimming workout remaining and we are eyeballing a 5K for Saturday morning. Obviously I would mostly walk and Don would run.

Oh and the laundry...blech...still haven't done my 1 load. Maybe I'll do it tonight. Ok, ok, I WILL do it tonight!

In other news, Mari is almost back to her routine. Hooray! But she has still picked up that nasty temper tantrum habit of flailing about. We're gonna have to nip that one in the bud. I'm trying to be as patient as I can with her and get her to calm down and use her words. Just asking her to breathe has worked in the past, but she's been doing this growling thing while staring at me from the top of her eyes saying, "I don't want to take a deep breaaaath!!" Seriously, this kid is primed and ready to be the lead singer for an 80s metal band.

Also, for those of you with kids in school, another AMAZING gift to give a teacher (lock this away in the back of your memory of nifty tips) is a jump drive. This week, a certain special teacher's computer completely crashed. The IT person's solution was to reimage the machine without any attempt at restoring the data. This, of course, infuriated me because I know there was probably a way to retrieve nearly 4 years of data that would be lost. Before any objection could be made, the machine had been reimaged and a booming, yet silent expletive could be heard from miles away. The solution from the tech person was that backups should be made regularly on the 250 MB space provided by the district. There is no reason you should ever need more than that amount, right? ha ha ha...so funny! When inquired about what to do if you need more space, the solution was simple: jump drive, but the district won't provide one for you. You need to provide it for yourself. Am I the only person who seems to think this isn't necessarily the best plan? Hmmm...anyway, I'm in search to buy some jump drives that can easily backup whatever the educator (and maybe even the team they are on) will need with ample space, fortified with security, and a lanyard or clip so the drive isn't easily lost. I'm done ranting, but seriously, this irked me. How can we expect our teachers to do their job if they are ill equipped, especially with a tiny piece of technology that doesn't really cost a lot of money? Then again, maybe that is their reasoning, since it doesn't cost much money, what is the big deal if they have to buy their own? What are your thoughts?

HDMR: Salt, Flipped, The Kids are All Right, Going the Distance, & The Other Guys

Well, I haven't done a hump day movie review in quite some time, but that isn't to say we haven't been watching movies, because we have! :) I just haven't been writing about them.

Without further adieu....

SALT

This movie is action packed from the get-go. Once I resigned myself to this being an action flick and nothing more, then I enjoyed it a whole lot more. First off, I like Angelina. I don't like Angelina as a runner. It was painful to me watching her run in this show. Seriously, I have a crazy run, but in this show, where she's a bonafide BAMF, kicking all sorts of tail and such, why oh why couldn't she be a better runner? Another thing, there was a scene where she's balancing on the edge of a building, climbing from window sill to window sill and you later learn there's a dog in her backpack. REALLY? I don't know about you, but I have only carried one creature in a sack that wasn't moving around and yelping, throwing me off balance, let alone, trying to quietly escape, exhibiting world class rock climbing move while barefoot, and in a skirt. Again, don't take it too seriously!  Was it fun to watch and entertaining? Yes. Is it everything you expect from an action packed blockbuster? Yes. I don't intend to own the movie, but it was fun watching and trying to figure out her motivation. Don pegged it early, but I was in disbelief. :D Anyway, it is worth the rental, so enjoy!

FLIPPED

I rented this movie just because it was from the same director of When Harry Met Sally... and Stand By Me. First off, you need to know that I was attempting to watch this on Christmas day when I was in the sick trenches. I didn't watch it in one sitting. It took a few times to watch it and I missed about 15 minutes in the middle, and honestly I don't remember the end. From what I remember watching, though, I liked it. I liked how the story was told from each perspective. It started off a bit slow for my liking, but it was cute. It is a story about your first love and how one moment, you are crushing on someone, but then once you forget about them, they story is flipped and they are crushing on you. Isn't that the way those first loves tend to go? :)  It is a charming tale and if it happens to be on a Sunday afternoon movie matinee, then I would recommend it. Or if you are having your own movie matinee marathon using a video streaming device, then go for it! 

The Kids are All Right

There is some serious wit going on in this movie. It features Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, and Mia Wasikowska (Alice from Alice in Wonderland). The brother implores his older sister to seek out their sperm donor father shortly after her 18th birthday. The kids are raised by two women (obviously lesbian), who are in a serious committed and married relationship in California. Mark Ruffalo plays an adorable guy, albeit, a bit too laid back for his own good. This movie further perpetuated a false reality of how everyone in California is incredibly gorgeous, with the exception of Annette Bening, who is incredibly beautiful, but for whatever reason, she appeared to be more aged than her partner. I loved how real this movie felt. At times it was raw and heart wrenching, which is why I have a difficult time seeing it nominated as a comedy. They were times where it was funny, but there were many more times where I felt extremely uncomfortable. The two mothers are in a very real relationship, with very real marital problems. Then, the cherry on top is when they take their daughter to college and drop her off. I honestly found myself crying more in this movie than I was laughing. Blame it on the hormones. Was it funny? yes. Was it entertaining? Yes! Was I totally jealous over their kitchen in their home? Heck yes!  I can see why this film has been nominated for awards. I would recommend it for sure! Best of all, when I was pent up in my room sick and recovering, I got to see this on Amazon Video on Demand for free! I had purchased some music from them and they gave me a credit. Talk about awesome. Even if it wasn't free, I would still recommend you watch it!

Going the Distance

This is another freebie courtesy of Amazon on Demand. Seriously, if you are stuck in bed and you don't have a TV in your room (like us) and Netflix streaming doesn't have the movies you want to immediately see streaming on their site, then use them. It is super, duper easy! Anyway, what was I saying, oh yeah, Going the Distance starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. First off, how adorable are these two together. It was totally no surprise to me that their chemistry carried off the screen because it was quite evident on the screen. Yes, it is a classic RomCom, but there were plenty of hilarious parts too. I think I enjoyed the lines of the supporting actors more than the actors. Big kudos go to Christina Applegate who played the over-the-top OCD sister. Wow, she played it so well!! The gist of the story: Boy and girl meet in NYC, but the gal only has 6 weeks until she moves across the country back home to San Francisco. When they initially got together, they were just going to keep it fun and light, but as we all know, best intentions screw things up and well, you end up caring more than you thought you would. There were some very real moments of struggle especially when it comes to long distance relationships. Anyway, it is a lovable tale and I was glad that I didn't have to pay full price for it. When this shows on TBS, definitely watch it, but should you shell out the $5 at Blockbuster? Nah, you can wait. Maybe spend the $1 at Redbox or use your free code there, but still. Grab some chocolate and settle in for some laughs with a dash of tears and enjoy the ride.

The Other Guys

First off, holy moly...Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Derek Jeter!?!?! With that said, I had no idea what this movie was about. Well, I knew it was a cop movie that played up the not as good cops. That's it. What I didn't expect it to be was a movie full of awesome one-liner quotes and random hilarity! Seriously, this movie is totally something to watch when you are feeling silly, need to feel silly, or some pick me up...if you like that kind of humor. I just kept thinking to myself, are you for real? Is that really happening? Does Mark Wahlberg really take himself that seriously? And wow, he really is a good actor because he is playing a guy who is insecure and over-the-top macho, who takes himself and his role way too seriously, and no one gives him any credit, but you know he isn't really like that in real life. Funny. Breakdown: Will and Mark are the kinds of cops that aren't really a part of the A-Team, heck, they wouldn't make the B or C team either. Will Ferrell's character is really great at auditing financial records and is meticulous about crimes that really aren't as big of a deal as murder. Mark Wahlberg's character would like to be a super cop, and is pretty good, but because of an earlier mishap in his career, he's been downgraded to partner up with Will Ferrell, who by the way, is married to Eva Mendes. This is a funny movie and I totally would recommend it. Heck, I'm even considering a purchase because we enjoyed it that much.

New Year, New Goals

Everyone is out there hunkering down and knee deep in their New Year resolutions. I don't have any resolutions for the new year, per se. I figure if there is something that needs changing, I shouldn't wait for the new year, I need to just do it. With that, the new year is a good opportunity to make goals. I usually set forth some goals for the new year and mid-way through it (right around my birthday, actually), I do a mental check to see where I am with those goals. I will share some of my goals with you here.

Make Something New Each Week This could very well turn out to backfire on me, but I think it is a doable and reasonable goal. I'm not talking about sewing something new or anything crafty like that. It could be making a new meal, making a homemade card, making a mess...whatever the case, as long as it is something new, even if it is born from something old, it is new. My mother and grandmother were always very resourceful. I take certain things for granted, so if I utilize more resourcefulness, not only will I save money, but I won't add to the already expanding clutter and mess that has accumulated during our marriage.

Try Something New & Different Once a Month I got this idea from my friend. It was so simple and easy to adhere to. Think about it. 12 days out of the year is all you have to commit to. Depending on the new thing, it may not even be 12 full days. I'm going to try a different food dish, heck, experience a whole new ethnic cuisine. Maybe try a new crafting technique or a different workout from the norm. Whatever it is, it will be something new and different for me. AND if at all possible, I want Mari to experience it with me.

Eat Healthier I discovered that for whatever reason, mid-way through the year last year, I totally checked out in the kitchen department. Heck, I checked out in a lot of aspects of my life, but that one (along with the next goal) was most noticeable. I like cooking. I like baking. I like being in the kitchen. I like preparing foods with my husband. I like planning meals and going to the grocery store. I like eating together at the dining room table. All of that fell by the wayside when, like I said, I checked out. Not any more. I've rediscovered my old Martha Stewart Everyday Foods magazines. I also received an amazing cookbook for Christmas that I have tagged recipes I want to try. More importantly, I was selected to review cinch!, the new book by Cynthia Sass as part of a One2One Network promotion. So far from what I've read, I love the meals and the plan. Since I am pregnant, I won't be able to fully participate in the book, but my family will definitely benefit from it and will help us all adopt healthy eating habits. (More on that review later.)

One Load of Laundry Each Week I loathe doing laundry. I know I have written about this before. I don't understand it. But you know what. It stops now. I have actually put a bag next to the wash of clothes that I fully intend to donate. I know this will help when I say I want to clean out my closet, but never do. Seriously, all it takes is just having a simple bag when I do the laundry. This will also prove useful when I do Mari's laundry. She recently went through another growth spurt, so I need to sort her clothes and get rid of anything she's outgrown (or store it for Tesla). One load of laundry a week is totally reasonable and one that I know that I can accomplish. Some of you out there are laughing because you probably do one load of laundry a day. We do a load of dishes every day, but laundry is another subject. I've had this bad habit since I started doing my laundry back in high school. It is ok for me to grow up and change that nasty habit.

400 Calories a Week My cardiotrainer on my phone tracks calories burned. For the past two weeks it has been at 0. That means I haven't been tracking when I've been walking or I haven't been walking. This WILL change. For the sake of my tiny one growing inside, I need to be exercising more. I'm a week shy of the third trimester and it is time to get it. 400 calories a week is TINY compared to the monster 1200 calorie workouts I used to do in one session (which I will get back to someday), but it is definitely a start.

Ok, so what about you guys? Any goals or resolutions? How are you incorporating them into your family, with your kids, into your routines?

Bedtime Routine Gone Wonky

It is no secret that I have one precocious toddler. She is extremely opinionated, smart, and spirited. She's also very friendly, kind, giving, and tender. I welled up with tears yesterday when she was skipping along holding her daddy's hand pointing out all of the things she saw. That is something etched into memory and one of those moments where I'll hold forever. That's how I will remember toddler Mari. Brightly colored clothes, long, curly, and wild hair, a giant smile on her face, and her tiny body vibrating with energy, she is either jumping, skipping, dancing, or doing all of them.

Anyway, here lately, we've been having an issue with our bedtime routine. I think it has something to do with the holidays and being thrown off track. Regardless, we've all been suffering. Since it is the first full day back to the grind for us all, we were apprehensive the night before to her reaction. Similar to how it has been for the past several days, she's thrown a disastrous temper tantrum and Don and I are completely beside ourselves. At first, we thought she would pass out in her fit of rage. That has only happened once. The other times, she's stayed awake until long after we've gone to bed. We have relented and have allowed her to sleep with us. I don't mind now that we have a larger bed. It is actually nice having the whole family together. However, it would be nice to wake up and be held by my husband. :) Any tips or advice? For the record, we've never had a bedtime issue like this before. Not for this long. I figured we probably just need time to get into a routine.

Also, for those of you interested, I wanted to showcase some hits & misses with the gifts we received this year. I will do that in a separate post, complete with graphics.