Things I'm Thankful for!

I think when someone has a hard year, there are two camps people end up in.  The first camp being camp Blame!  Where you blame everyone and everything for the awful year you’ve had… because no way could it be your fault J Then there is the camp Thankful… where the hard year you’ve had puts into perspective all the things you can be thankful for. 

This past year has been one of the hardest years I’ve encountered in my adult life.  Nothing tragic happened (thankfully)… but lot of changes I’m learning to adjust to.  I’m happy to report I’m not in Camp Blame!  Whew!  So at the risk of sounding redundant…  I’m just thankful to be in Camp Thankful!  Here are just some of the things I’m thankful for...all listed in random order and certainly not a complete list:

I’m thankful for:

An amazing daughter that makes me laugh

A husband who challenges me to be a better wife

A loving family that loves unconditionally

Cupcakes – yummy!

Cookies from Cookies by Design - who knew sugar cookies could be so good

Gnocchi from Paragon

The SexY woman drink from Andina

A couple wonderful friends that push me to live (or camp) outside my comfort zone!

The same wonderful friends that willingly volunteer to take Emma (when she’s old enough) to hike/camp/and be adventurous

The world’s bestest girlfriends who I can count on all the time.

The same friends that can get together and talk for hours about everything and anything

A coffee buddy that willingly meets with Emma and I often at Sbux

Chai tea lattes from Sbux... and the awesome gold star program that gives me a free drink every 15 drinks!

A great jogging stroller

Great coworker friends that still want to be my friends even tho we don’t work together anymore

Amazing ex-supervisor that is like a 2^nd mom to me, and a wonderful faux gramma to Emma

Inlaws I enjoy spending time with

Good silly TV shows that don’t require me to think

Really good music that Emma and I can rock out to everyday

Friends that share their big special moments with me

People that are genuinely nice

Amazing cooks in the greater Portland area that cook such delicious foods

Sweet Cream Gelato from Caffé Allora

I'm sure there are SO many more things I can be thankful for... but right now, that's all I can come up with.... plus, my sweet little baby is down for the night... so i'm going to sit on the couch and enjoy the quietness....well, after I do all the dishes...

xoxo

Ada

Working from home...

I always thought working from home would be an ideal situation.  Working in my PJ’s with the TV on… or rocking out to whatever music as loud as I want J  Turns out… working from home… with a new toddler…not so great or as “easy” as I thought it would be.  Let me first clarify, Emma is not a high maintenance child, in fact, she’s been a total god-send since birth, and she really only “cries” when she has really bad diaper rash (TMI) or when she happens to fall and hurt herself (like she did 4 times today).  The problem is that now that Emma is old enough to “talk” she wants to talk to everyone and everything.  She wants to skype if you’re skyping,  she wants to talk on the phone if you’re talking to someone, she even wants to type and email when you are trying to draft an email to your boss, or a potential client.  The joys of trying to battle her off of the computer are not as easy as you’d think, I’m clearly larger and stronger (maybe not) than she is but, Her shear determination to GET ON THE COMPUTER is scary…  and the fact that she can sit on my lap and type and use the mouse as if she knows exactly what she’s doing?  Even scarier.

So, with all of that being said, my time to “work from home” is limited to the time that Emma is napping… which equates to a max of 2 hours per day… no more, and usually, much less. Those two hours in which I also have to do my chores,  shower and make myself presentable for the day.  It’s a good thing I take fast showers and am a wicked fast dishwasher.    

This is something I have learned recently about working, or rather, finally come to terms with recently.  Whether you work for a corporation and have multiple bosses, or you work from home, for one boss….every single one of them assumes you can read their mind.  Well guess what?  I can’t!  I barely know what my mind wants half the time… so HOW oh HOW would I know what you want?  I like to think that its worst for males than females, but I don’t actually have any factual data to base that assumption on.  All I know is that I’ve supported all males, 7 in total in my working life… and nearly every single one has assumed I knew exactly what they wanted without ever telling me.  Given enough time and effort, I can get there… but let’s just start out assuming I can’t read your mind and throw me bone or two. Much appreciated.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to work from home… and I think a part of me just has this lingering fear that I’m going to fail at this job since its not what I’ve known. I haven’t figured out the industry… and quite honestly, I’m a girl, so what is the likelihood that I know the colors and mascots of every college in the nation? (Please note, I’m not a girl that doesn’t like sports… I LOVE sports… its just not standard protocol for ANY FEMALE to know those things for EVERY COLLEGE, if there is a girl out there that does, props, maybe we should hire you)I may not have known a thing about finance working at my last job… but I was good at what I did and did it for so long it was like second nature.  It’s daunting to start something new…feeling like a failure is not a good feeling.  And I don’t take criticism well, I mean, I know, it will only make me better in the end, but it hurts my feelings when I hear it.  Not that my new boss (also a dear friend of mine) would probably ever yell at me or criticize me.  But I don’t want to disappoint him.  So the pressure is on. 
 

I think I’m doing okay tho… I think.  At least I haven’t been told otherwise. 

Working from home is probably still the most ideal situation for me right now… but I do miss the office environment…  I miss cubicles, haha, never thought I’d say that.  But as with all things in life, everything happens for a reason, and there is a time for everything… so right now, my time is suppose to be spent working from home…  so here I am.  Workin iT! :)  

April Showers bring...more rain... :(

Hello April, how did you get here so fast?  and why did you bring with you so much rain?  and hail... and even some snow?  Where is the sun that Spring promises?  I guess I will patiently wait until you decide its time.  As with most things in life, since I have no control over it... I will just patiently wait, while complaining and whining along the way :)

I have completely neglected blogging in months.  Please don't think its because I just plain forgot about this blog... that is not the case.  In fact, i often think about all these different things to blog about... but then somehow, the days just fly by and I never get around to blogging anything... so here we are... months from my last blog... finally blogging about something... or nothing... or anything!

I sitting in a very quiet house right now.  Emma is napping and instead of listening to Pandora stream music or the sounds of the cast of 'How I met your Mother' on TV... I've decided, today i need some quietness.  And also a VENTI sized Chai tea latte.  Why you ask?  no reason, just because i feel like i should and that i deserve it.

I started a part-time job recently.  Today i spent my morning working on paperwork... my favorite.  not really.  but this job is primarily about paperwork... so i must learn to love it.  My boss also happens to be one of my best guy friends from college.  He is a fireball of energy and has such an entrepreneurial mind that it blows me away when he comes up with a million ideas a minute.  His success is a display of his hard work and dedication to this business... I'm so proud of him... he's worked his butt off getting here... and it looks like its going to continue to grow and become bigger and bigger.  I am finally in a place in my life, where I can work for him.  How exciting.  In our younger years, we've always talked about working with each other... but when you're younger... and you have a mortgage to pay... you can't exactly quit your decent paying job for one that doesn't pay.  So, we waited... or rather, he waited and I continued plugging away at my job...  until... NOW.  I quit my job right around the time I got pregnant with Emma... I had felt like I was done putting up with the office drama and that regardless of how much hard work I put in... I'd never feel justly rewarded.  So... I quit.  Although i secretly hoped they would just lay me off... but i guess since they were/are a growing business... there was no hopes of that.  So...I gave them my one month notice (i was being generous)...  then organized a 2 day going away party... and called it good.  :)  I still visit the office often.  I loved the people that I worked with... some of them are my dearest friends... but even if you love the people... sometimes its just not worth the drama that it comes with.  So, I've spent the last year and a half being a mom.   And now that Emma is at a happy 10 months... and somewhat predictable in her schedule and routine... I can finally work for my friend. :)  yay!  

Being a stay-at-home-mom is rewarding in SO many ways.  I wouldn't trade it for anything... but I'd be lying if i didn't admit to the fact that I often long for a normal "work" day.  A day where I can schedule everything and know that it will happen... a day where i don't have to think twice about going to the bathroom, a day where I can just up and get a coffee when i feel like it... a day where I can sneak to my friend's office/cube and chat about anything or nothing.  I miss those days... I miss having an office to go to, having coworkers to chat with...  Its just not the same staying at home.  I'm not complaining... just noting the differences ... and pointing out what i miss.  I love staying home with Emma...  being able to watch her grow is an amazing gift that I don't ever want to take for granted.

I've noticed that I have no train of thought... just lots of different thoughts...  i don't go in any type of order when talking about things... i kinda just blurt.  I hope I'm more orderly in real life during a conversation... but who knows.  Maybe i do jump from one topic to the next and then back to the original?

Anyhow, its taken me like 6 hours just to finally come to an end for today... and only because I need to put emma down for a nap and get to all the dishes that are piled in my sink :)  Fun times for this mama today.

xoxo

New Recipes, new Blogs, and CakePops!!!

First off, how is it February already?  Where did January go?  I can't say I miss it much, but that month really did just fly by a little too quickly!  So what have I been busy with?  Good question, I'm not really sure.  


I can tell you what I've been busy with this past week.  CAKEPOPS!!!!  you know the brand new phenomenon that has shoved Cupcakes to the back of the confections stage!  Don't get me wrong, I still love cupcakes (Lamb's on Garden home, you've won my heart forever) .. but cakepops are FUN to make...  and easy and quite honestly don't require any real baking talent, not to say that I don't have that kind of talent...  but still, anything that is easy and can be done with boxed cake mix...  yes please!  
So anyways, cakepops...  super easy to make... in theory!!!  BUT...  its time consuming.... its lot of steps...  lots of waiting for this, waiting for that, cooling this, mixing that, rolling this, dipping that, drying this, packaging that :)  So if you don't mind that kind of busy work (which i obviously dont)... then Cakepops are your kind of fun!  I volunteered to make my sister's "school friends" each a cakepop for Valentine's day.  A hallmark holiday that I don't personally believe in... but if it gives me an excuse to make something in bulk quantity and show off my inner bakerista... then yah, i'll do it up for Vday!  my sister is in med-school so her school friends include her whole graduating class... there are about 120 of them...  but she said, just to be safe, why don't you make 130.  okay Sister!  if you say so.  So here I am, freshly or should i say FINALLY finished from making 130 cakepops. (136 to be exact, oh, actually 135 because i couldn't resist "trying" one)  I'd be lying if I didn't admit to having a slight sense of .... AWESOMENESS that I finished all of that... 3 days before my intended delivery date :)  Anyhow, now that those are done... I can rest.... but only just for a couple days... because in a couple weeks...  I have another huge order to fulfill, this time, for a sweet friend's baby shower!  Good times...


What else have I been busy with?  Well, as one of my New Year.... goals... I wanted to cook more.  Cooking for 2 is such a pain!  I dread it.  Have me cook for 6 or more people, sure, great, love it.  Have me cook for husby and I... no thanks!  But... as any good year starts, I try to stick to my "goals".... so here we are... constantly searching for new recipes for something to try to make that not only Brad will eat and enjoy (he's not picky and says everything i make is delish, LIAR) ...  but that I'll also enjoy and not feel compelled to drive out to Sonic or Taco Del Mar afterwards for some actual food that tastes good... even if it's super unhealthy, greasy, and just plain bad for you... at least it tastes good and satisfies my tastebuds :)  Anyhow, a dear friend of mine pointed me to a new blog that she's been following.  www.onceuponachef.com ... Its Wonderful!!!  I've tried 2 recipes thus far and both have turned out  SO yummy!   I made the pumpkin Pecan Crunch muffins and got compliments from my family (harsh critics)... and I made the Beef Stew last night.... YUM... Even I got seconds... and I don't even like beef. :)  I also had it for dinner tonight as well.  Yum yum yum!!!  I plan on trying out more of her other recipes soon.  But how exciting to find a blog with recipes that are not only delicious... but fairly easy to make!  


What other things to look forward to in the coming weeks?  A bend trip with a big group of friends from college.... Yay!  IT should be fun.. .assuming no drama... but any trip with a big group of friends always has some drama :)   I just hope it doesn't ruin the trip for anyone... it certainly won't be ruining my time... its a huge house, with a gourmet kitchen, a huge master bedroom (that we get to stay in)... and a hottub... nothing can ruin my mini-vacation :)  To top it off, I was in charge of food/meal planning...  any girl's dream... right???  okay, well, maybe not any girl... but this girl's!  YAY!!!  


What else?  Oh Yes!!!! FONDUE FEBRUARY!!!!  A couple good girlfriends of mine and I decided to have a once a month dinner get-together...  and this month we're having Fondue!!!  Yummy!  So far on the menu, beer cheese fondue and chocolate fondue (recipe found from that blog i was talking about) ....  we're still in search of another kind...  i'll have to scope out all the blogs I follow and see what they have to offer.  :)  We're trying to go with theming each month's meal with a food or theme that starts with the same letter as the month... so since next month is March... that means we're going to come up with something that starts with an M... i suggested mash potatoes or Meatloaf... no one responded to those suggestions... i guess its a no go?   I happen to enjoy both of those things.... :)  Maybe I'll try and persuade them.  I make a mean meatloaf!!!


Other than these things...  I've just had the normal life things go on...  watching my little baby grow into a not so little baby :)  what a treat to see how she's changing everyday.  That girl has got some serious Sass!!!!  I wonder where she gets that from?  My Husband?  haha.


Until next time...


xoxo

Holiday Craze or Holiday Laze?

I love the holidays!  I always have.  Maybe because I'm a Christmas baby, Christmas time is my favorite.  I love shopping for presents in general, but come Christmas time, I have always love love loved finding that "perfect" present for someone.  and Holiday Baking... oh how i love holiday baking.  Every year for at least the last 10 years I've made cookies boxes for Co-workers.  Boxes filled with at least 4 different types of cookies... if not more.

However, this year... I don't know what it is... maybe its having a newborn on my hands that seems to drain all my energy?  Whatever it is...  Present hunting seems more like a chore... and baking cookies... well, I can't seem to find enough time in the day to bake enough cookies.  And why can't i seem to decide on what kind of cookies to bake.  My list keeps changing and shrinking.  So, I think now, I might only do one kind of cookie...sad.  And my elaborate packaging idea...forget it! I think I might just throw them in boxes and call it good.

I hope this is just a phase... and one that passes by ... say tomorrow :)  I don't want my love of this holiday season to diminish.

Maybe a nap will help me snap out of this mindset!

xoxo

Balancing Act.

How do people with more than one child keep their sanity?  I know its possible, I've seen many stay-at-home moms maintain a regular, healthy life... but HOW DO THEY DO IT?  I absolutely adore my sweet little baby, but when she's in one of her "moods" and all she wants to do is cry cry cry... I can feel myself losing it... so I ask you then... if you've got more than one...how do you do it?  What if they both want you to hold them... at the same time?  how how how?  For the last couple of weeks, I've been watching my friend's son for a little bit in the evenings. He is one of the calmest most well-mannered one year-olds I've seen, thank goodness for that.  But even angels get tired around the 6:30ish hour.  Last night, my husband had somewhere to be at 7pm.  So around 6ish, he left the house and I was left alone... with my baby, and my friend's sweet little son.  O.M.G.  My sweet child decided it was the perfect time to NOT be sweet... and instead...  cry her hysterical cry... you know, the one where she can barely breathe because she's exhausted all her energy crying bloody murder.  anyhow, simultaneously, my friend's son wanted to be cuddled and held to... it was afterall, very close to bed time.  I attempted to hold them both. FAIL!  That doesn't work.  I can't even remember how I got the both of them to calm down (I think mom's mentally block out things to keep their sanity)... but they did.  whew!

Maybe the key is to not have the children so close together? These two are only 10 months apart?  or rather, maybe that will be the key for me!  I use to think 2 years between each child... but now... maybe like 4 years?  and maybe not that many kids afterall?  :)  Why am I even thinking about this?  My baby is only a mere 5 months old.  Am I ready to be thinking about this?  I don't think so.  I'm still trying to find balance right now.

Luckily for me... I have one of those babies that I refer to as closet monsters!  She's a complete ham out in public... cheeses it up...smiles, laughs, cackles, and bats her ridiculously long lashes and melts everyone's heart.  But at home... when it's just mommy and her (or not even at home, once we get in the car and the car door slams shut) she has these fits... these heart breaking screams/cries of death.  As if I'm hurting her... because how and why else would such a sweet little baby cry bloody murder???  Clearly something... ANYTHING must be wrong.  But nope... she just likes to do that.  At least once everyday... for an extended period of time.  Tonight it was about 45 mins ago.  And now that she has exhausted all her energy making me feel like I've failed as a mom, she is happily napping until her next feeding.  Well, Thank you Emma!  In all seriousness... I am thankful that she is a closet monster.  I feel bad for the moms that have the opposite... the ones that are little monsters when they are out, because I know, at this age... the babies don't do it on purpose... and its certainly not because we're bad moms that they act this way.  But the stares and hisses, and whispers that you get ...that is what causes moms to get frazzled and frustrated and THAT is how moms lose their sanity...  because people judge...ridicule...JUDGE.

I've completely lost my train of thought and lost track of where I was trying to go with all of this... one of the side effects of being a mom :)

I guess until I remember why or what I was trying to blog about... I better just say goodnight now, I have dishes to wash and a house to clean.

So, until next time.
Good night!
xoxo

Baking and overeating pumpkin GOBs!

I made pumpkin Gobs today!  What are Gobs you ask?  well, they are better known as whoopie pies these days!  You know, those delicious looking treats that are essentially two cookies bound together with frosting!  My friend (who is from Pennsylvania) assures me that that correct and proper name of those treats are GOBS... and NOT Whoopie Pies....  who ever calls them whoopie pies is clearly not from Pennsylvania.  Well, whatever they are called who cares... all you need to know is that they are absolutely delicious and I can't stop stuffing my face with them.

My friend normally makes these without a mixer. she HAND mixes everything!  How she does that, I'm not sure...all I know is that each time I bake, I fall more in love with my KitchenAid Mixer.  It really does make baking so much easier.  The Gobs took us no time at all to whip them up, the most time consuming part was the baking.  Now if I could only have multiple ovens...  now THAT would be a dream come true!

Anyhow, after weeks for trying to decide what cookie to contribute to a "cookie exchange" that I'm a part of this holiday season.  I think Pumpkin Gobs are the perfect item!  Now the only problem is whether or not I'll be able to make enough to deliver to the cookie exchange since I can't stop eating them.  I have literally eaten so many already today that I feel sick... yet I swear the remaining ones are calling out at me and SCREAMING at me to EAT THEM UP...  I don't know if I can resist... I very well may eat the remaining 4.... self control...self control... 

As for the triple berry pies I spoke briefly about in my last blog... well, they were DELICIOUS!  I'm still eating the last of the remaining one.  I cheated a bit tho, you see, I don't make pie crusts.  I made many attempts in my younger years at pie crusts... and I'm pretty sure they never turned out tasting good... so since Pillsbury has perfected their pie crust... and Costco sells it in a value pack...  why would I waste my time making my pie crust from scratch.  So, my pie crust had the Pillsbury pre-made pie crust as the bottom layer.  I used frozen berries (again, thank you Costco for providing a value pack of triple berries)...  took the recipe from the side of the pie crust box...  thru it all together.  And topped it all off with the crumb topping that I normally make for my triple berry crisp.  The end result?  2 ridiculously easy pies made... and some VERY satisfied pie eaters.  All in all... a success in my Semi-home-baked book!


xoxo