Exhaustion and Excitement

I am not going to lie.
Returning to work after a 2.5 month long vacation is overwhelming. It is a complete change in lifestyle! Same for starting vacation.
You start with everything on a timed schedule. You have to get up, get ready, go to work, work schedule, get ready to go home, go home, fix dinner, take care of kid, shower, go to bed. The end. Begin again.
Once summer starts, you shock your body into a null schedule.  It is sleep till whenever, eat when you want, do what you want, stay up late if you like, go to bed whenever. Nap in the day if you can.
Then WHAM! Back to the schedule you shocked your body out of.
No wonder I couldn't find time for anything. It's still pretty difficult!

And it is no surprise I got sick - a sick that I am still trying to break free from. Sadly, nothing really works to kick it out of my system. I have to wait it out. I think it is mostly due to having asthma.

I am still exhausted. I just want to fall down on the couch at the end of the day. I just go and go and go. No breaks, except for lunch. At least this makes my day end a bit quicker. I feel like I have enough time to wind down and take care of a lot of business before I think about going home.

My classes are smaller this year. I have less troublesome students (knock on wood). I have fresh ideas. I always love the start of a new year. I have a lot of excitement.

That's all I've got for now.

Tiny Dancer, I have one.

My heart is breaking a little bit every day.
I realize every once in a while how quickly time is flying by.
My sweet little tiny baby is growing so fast. I barely remember just how small she was. I can hardly remember her speech developing. I rely on videos and photos that we have taken to preserve those memories and refresh or remember what I can.

It just amazes me just how much she has changed over these few years.
Do I wish I could turn back time? No.
Do I want to do this all over again with another? Eh, not right now. Not anytime soon. Probably never. I know now what I can and cannot handle.

I just wish I could slow it down and savor it. I guess this is me savoring it.

I am extremely proud of my little baby girl.

She had apparently been asking about classes where the boys she stays with take while husband and I are at work. Does this even make sense. Our babysitter sits two boys and Ivy. The boys take various classes at a big business. Ivy had been asking about taking classes.

I took her this past Monday and signed her up for a combo tap & ballet class. She was extremely excited. I got her shoes and tights that night as well. A couple days later, we got her leotard and a skirt.

Today, she had her first class. She loved it so much, she asked to take another class immediately. It was amazing to see her in her class thanks to see-through mirrors. She was totally cute. I am excited that she has finally started dance classes and that she likes it so far. I hope she stays interested and continues for a long time.

I vow I will never be one of those stage/dance moms. I'll keep her in dance as long as she wants it. She can explore any of her interests. I will be excited, no matter what. Oh yes, I do plan on saving those shoes and dance clothes. Shadow-box style!

This is just the first.

Neil Hilborn - "OCD" (Rustbelt 2013)

Blog Vacation.

I'm taking a small break from blogging until:

1.) I feel better, because I am dealing with sinus junk.

2.) I have content. It has been busy since returning to work.

3.) I figure out a good time to sit and blog.

If I cook something up, it may be something random and not on a theme day.

See ya soon!

Color Mania!

(Photos from the event were posted earlier.)

Way back in May, my girlfriends were talking about running a 5K similar to The Color Run, called Color Mania. They invited me join them and I looked into the date. I needed to be in the Houston area on August 10. We normally take a second summer visit in August and Ryan and I decided that would be a good time to go. I went ahead and purchased my ticket.

The Friday before, two of the girls and I headed to Houston for the evening to pick up our race packets and check into our hotel. We drove, literally, across the city a couple of times because nothing is ever convenient in Texas. We had dinner at Papasitos, picked up some extra things from Walmart and crashed for the night.

We woke up early, ate a little breakfast, got dressed and headed to the location for the 5K. It was planned to be at Reliant stadium, but changed at the last minute to a BMX/dirtbike dirt track. Okay... Once we got out of the car, it was hot, humid, sticky, and gross! There were markedly fewer people participating in this run than The Color Run.

Once we started walking, we knew it was going to be rough. I'd expected an experience much like TCR - an easy walk on flat concrete. Since it was a dirt track, there were tons of walking climbs, small hills and odd turns. Some of those hills were difficult to get over because the dirt was loose. About a third of the way in, I felt nauseous because of the heat and humidity. I knew I should have brought my own cold water.

Two of the girls were walking faster, but Robin walked with me. She's my hang-back buddy. She walked with me on the beach looking for shells and glass while a couple of other girls walked ahead of us. Anyway, we had our own fun! At one point, we emerged from the part of the track that was in a wooded area (thank goodness!) and were told we were too clean and totally got bombarded with paint.

Two thirds of the way in, one of the girls had to stop early. Robin and I pulled through and finished with a huge amount of paint coving our entire bodies. We finished with a bit of a jog - and our cheer squad named Amanda. There had been one paint throwing party that went without a hitch. However, our wave decided they wanted to open their paint and play with it before the run started and we didn't have much of a paint party. Just a dance session just before it started raining. My girls and I saved our packets and had our own paint war. Then it POURED. Jess and I played in the rain a bit but we had to walk back to the car in the downpour. We could barely see with the paint running down our faces into our eyes.

This run was amazing!
I really loved having friends there to share the fun with me.
I've signed up for two more. November's Color Run in Dallas and December's Run or Dye in Arlington.

Throwback Thursday

This photo is nearly 20 years old.

We used to camp at/on the beach for a weekend regularly.

Wordless Wednesday: Back to Work

Two Things Tuesday 8/20

1. Thrifting
My latest obsession. Ryan and I were going to go to a local, large flea market in Arlington before we drove down for our August family visit. Spur of the moment decision, we left earlier and skipped the flea market. We went this past Sunday instead with Ivy in tow. This was probably not the day to do. It was just multiples of one junk shop over and over selling the exact same things. "YOLO" t-shirts, cheap sunglasses, bras and panties 5 for $9!, fans, umbrellas, bubbles on a necklace and packaged junk toys. Noooooooot the cool, mixmash of finds! that you would expect at a decent flea market.

2. Collection!

Top left stack is Fire King. Everything else is Pyrex. These are not being displayed yet. 

This lovely set matches the Fire King baking dish. Pattern is called Alpine Swiss or something. It isnt labeled as FK. 

Menu Plan Monday: Back to Work! August 18-24

We are back to work! Bring on the coffee!

This summer was so busy, it feels like only one week has gone by. I really am not ready because I wanted to do so many more things than I did. Like paint more furniture and paint some walls. 

I am really pleased with myself, though, for my blogging schedule and sticking with it. I think it still needs a bit of tweaking. I might leave Friday as a whatever-I-want-to-write-about day.

Since we are back to work, it's back to major meal planning. Especially with Ivy going back to her sitter.

Menu Plan Monday!

Sunday - Chicken fettuccine alfredo 

Monday - Leftovers

Tuesday - Breakfast Hash

Wednesday - Hamburgers

Thursday - Salisbury steak

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Nachos or chicken sandwiches

Breakfast Hash is another Pinterest Recipe but this is the actual link.

• 4 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 8 ounces bacon or turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) evaporated milk
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten or 1/4 cup egg substitute
• 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 8-inch-square baking dish.

LAYER 1/2 potatoes, 1/2 onion, 1/2 bacon and 1/2 cheese in prepared baking dish; repeat layers. Combine evaporated milk, egg and seasoned salt in small bowl. Pour evenly over potato mixture; cover.

BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes. Uncover; bake for an additional 5 minutes. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

* I am omitting the onion and just using onion powder

Head over to OrgJunkie.com for more menu plans!

The End

Today is The Last Day of Summer. And I am not ready for it to be over. It went way too fast this year. I vow that next year, we will take it slowly.

So many things still left to do.

Today, we are holding true to our end of summer tradition. We are taking Ivy to the drive through safari. She loves seeing and feeding the animals in the park. 

I am planning some posts and I hope I can keep my word to myself... To write them!

I recently did another paint 5k so I am going to write about my experience.

I am planning a post on how to prepare for a paint run.

I am also having a wonderful internal and external struggle. I am not quite sure how or if I even want to write about it. 

I want to work on my house! And my furniture! Where did you go, summer!?

Wordless Wednesday: Color Mania 5K Houston August 10, 2013

Image Source: Mac Lamar

Image Source: Mac Lamar

Image Source: Bohemian Life Photography

Image Source: Bohemian Life Photography

Two Things Tuesday

1. Special people. 

Today is my husband's birthday. I plan on taking him to a movie. I'm not sure what else he would like to do but I want to make sure he has a good day just like he did for me. 

Joy, a big virtual hug to you! 

2. Busy Weekend! 

Friday was a pretty busy day. I went through my husband's grandmother's garage for glassware. Especially Pyrex and Fire King - which I found out is just as collectable. I was able to find some interesting things! I will post pictures of those later. 

Then, my mom went with me to some more flea markets and helped me find a huge amount of Pyrex. She spotted everything before I did. I think we will be making this a new tradition. She said she liked going and finding with me. 

Here is what we found!

Another rectangular refrigerator dish with lid. The bowl was a very cheap find at Goodwill for 99 cents! And the divided dish? Wow! I limited myself to the pattern I have, Crazy Daisy. It was difficult to hold myself back. So much Pyrex! So much want! 

After lunch with Mom, I left for Houston with my girlfriends. We stayed the night in Houston because we participated in the Color Mania 5k on Saturday. 

Sunday was family lunch day at my sweet Aunt Wanda's. I adore and cherish this new tradition. It is a weekly meal but I am only able to go when we are in town. There is always yummy food!

Currently Reading (another book already): Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

Amy and Rogers's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

I thoroughly enjoyed my first Matson read that I quickly obtained other books. This one, also a surprise summer read. The plot takes place just as summer begins and has the characters winding through America via a classic road trip. I'm jealous. I have never taken a road trip. Well, unless you count from Texas to North Carolina to a church youth 'camp' in 1994 - there were no stops along the way and the drive was awful.

Back to the book.

"Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself." - Via the synopsis on Good Reads.

My two cents so far...

There seems to be mentioned a perky, more upbeat Amy! that we have yet to meet. Kindle says I'm 32% of the way it. I doubt I will meet this Amy! character.

Mom planned the trip. Amy! would have followed the plans. Amy is channeling her more rebellious brother by not following the designated route.

I like that there are music mixes thrown in. I could join Amy and Roger on their journey, not only via pages of a book but also by song!

There was a quick passage that I wanted to quote that reminded me of another book but I couldn't find it. Oh well, the story continues.

Throw Back Thursday: Pyrex

About 10 years ago, my parents had some pretty cool neighbors. They all hung out together and I may have babysat for them once. One day, they came into financial trouble and had to move back home closer to family. Ryan and I moved in together just before getting married when this happened to Roger and Bev. They put everything out on their lawn for a yard sale but told me I could have anything I wanted. 

Photo source: Etsy

I picked up this exact set of Crazy Daisy Pyrex Cinderella mixing bowls. The smallest bowl in this set got broken a few years ago.

I was never really aware just how popular and awesome Pyrex is until recently. I mean, look at this cute collection!

Photo credit: Lark&Lola, through Flickr, through Pinterest

Any time we go to thrift stores or flea markets (which is kind of rare) I now look for Pyrex. Guess what we did today? We went to a flea market. I found a couple of antiques that would be cool to have, like Fenton milk glass. I went through the whole place looking for something bright yellow to put in the half-bath downstairs. I got to the last room in the very back and I found Pyrex!

A 1.5 cup and 1.5 pint refrigerator dishes with lids! And they match my mixing bowls! These were my first flea market Pyrex finds. I have found similar companies (Fire King) and they did have some plain Pyrex mixing bowls in yellow and aqua blue but I just couldn't buy them. But once I saw the refrigerator dishes, I snagged them right up! I'm starting my collection!

Fire King certainly is cute but I don't know much about the company. Worth looking into though!

Wordless Wednesday: An Hour at the Beach

Wordless Wednesday Link Roundup

Currently Reading: Moonglass

I am currently reading Moonglass by Jessi Kirby.

"I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love--a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing--not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death--stays buried forever."

I decided to read this book because it was advertised in the back of the book that I just read, Second Chance Summer. I am reading it on my kindle so I'm not sure if it is the digitized version of to book or if the actual book looks like this... The dialog is written in paragraphs. I get so confused who is speaking. In the written English language, you break lines between each person's dialog. This is driving me bonkers! Other 'grammar' mistakes are definitely the work of the digital format. I can get over that.

The story, so far, is well written. I can get behind the character and I am already sucked deeply in the world of beach life. I had no idea this would be a summer-to-end-of-summer novel. Imagine my surprise because my summer is starting to wind down. There is also a theme of beach glass showing up in the story. The main character is a collector, her mom was a collector, a recently introduced character is a collector, and I am a collector. 

A true review forthcoming.

Two Things Tuesday 8/6

1. I got my hair cut today. I wish my hair was thick so that I can wear it long. But that isn't the case. My hair is thin and i realize it should be kept shorter. Out of necessity, I keep it just short enough to still be able to pull it up into a ponytail. Last year, I had the same person cut my hair the exact same way. I was able to wear it very wavy. It was totally cute.

Before and after. 

2. Yesterday we took Ivy to the Downtown Aquarium in Houston. She had a lot of fun, even though it was pretty steamy outside. 

She really was in a great mood here - just hot and tired. 

A Stupid Story About a Dang Brush

We are on vacation visiting family again for the next two weeks. Hopefully there will be nothing to extend our vacation another week. We will be returning to the world of work. Yikes. I am so not ready for that! I just got myself depressed. In lieu of a menu plan because we don't really plan on cooking, I'm giving you a ridiculous story. Hey, at least I mention food?

I was probably seven - I know this because we were living in the "white house" (appropriately named because the house was *I shudder* white) across from my elementary school. I was given a blue or purple or dark magenta Dollar Store basket and there was a brush and comb in it.

That is my first memory of The Brush. It was one of those awesome items that you earned from the cereal boxes in the 80s. You know, you bought so many boxes of said cereal, sent in UPC codes, and the order form and you got awesome stuff in the mail! This was a set from Rice Crispies. Snap, Crackle, and Pop were on the handles of both the comb and The Brush.

 Those crazy characters were always up to no good, making sure my cereal made noises and spoke to me. Oh the horror!

The 80s was when it was happening! You could get a lot of awesome things in the mail because you ate cereal religiously. Bowls, toys, cups, spoons, brushes. And the prizes in the boxes themselves were pretty cool too! Christmas ornaments, miniature dolls, plastic spoons, just to name a few that I remember .

I also had an equally awesome Dig'em The Frog cereal spoon. I wish I still had that spoon. Just sayin'.

Through the years, the screen printed characters wore off of the set and the comb was lost. I held on to The Brush though. It is the perfect shape. The black bristles stand at the perfect angle and the perfect curve for my scalp and are not too sharp nor are they too dull. When I brush my hair, the bristles massage and scratch my head to the point of pleasurable chills. It smooths my fine, and oddly wiry, straight hair to the perfect sheen. Oh yes, The Brush also helps my hair to shine. The white grip is a simple pinch for your index finger and thumb and weighs as it should. It is not a heavy brush, nor is it one of those airy brushes with holes between the bristles. There is no ergonomic, rubber grip handle. It is simply the perfect, sturdy, brush.

Horribly, I know the date so well. The date I last used it, and the date it went missing. June 6th, I used The Brush in the morning, as per my usual routine. I set it aside, not packing it for our upcoming vacation to visit family the following day. I planned to use it the next morning because you don't want to mess with a girl and her routine.

The morning of June 7th, we were finishing packing and getting ready to go. I went to start my routine and noticed an absence of white. I tore a lot of things apart trying to find The Brush. I looked in the bags, I looked on my dresser and vanity. I looked in the closet and living room. I looked in Ivy's room and relentlessly questioned her. I knew she picked it up and played with it and put it somewhere, which is a normal thing for her but she denied knowing where The Brush was and that she hadn't played with it.

After being scolded for worrying "over a brush", we finished packing and left for our vacation. I spent every day just throwing my hair into haphazard ponytails, topknots and buns. I looked frazzled. I just could not smooth my hair perfectly. I am a tragic blend of type-a personality with a twist of subtle OCD and a healthy dose of perfectionism.

Three weeks of vacation without The Brush was aggravating! I have tried several times to substitute The Brush so I could have a spare for just in case, but nothing has ever replicated it. New brushes with similar black plastic bristles are too stiff and are pointed at odd angles and don't curve against my head. The bristles are also too new and sharp and hurt my scalp. Expensive, natural, boar bristle brushes are too soft to penetrate my thin hair to drag so hypnotically across my scalp - they are just too soft! Paddle brushes and round brushes are great of detangling my hair, however are not suitable for finishing and smoothing my hair as they tend to separate my hair into clusters and cannot "grab" my hair to pull it into the slick, smooth finish that I agonize over on a somewhat daily basis. I have only lost The Brush once before. I went to visit family for an event and ended up leaving it behind. My mother-in-law promptly shipped The Brush back to me.

Once we returned home from our vacation, it was time to start packing everything for the move into our house. One room at a time, one box, one bag at a time and The Brush never showed up. One day, I was packing up our bedroom closet. All the clothes that were hanging had been brought to the house and we were working on the items on the closet floor. I moved our fire safe box and there it was! The Brush was wedged between the wall and the fire safe. I just wonder how it got there, IVY.

Don't ever come between a girl and her oldest, most trusted beauty tool.

________________

For some actual Menu Plan Monday menus, head on over to OrgJunkie.com!

Week in Review

I never can get it straight. What days am I including in my WIR posts? For some reason, I know to write it on Friday. But is it Thursday through Friday? Or what? I don't know. I guess this is something I need to make an effort to solidify.

This week was a work related conference. I am really disappointed this year. There were very few relevant topics for me. It mostly focuses on the high school level. And there were only two sessions I felt pulled to attend because they were technology related. Apparently, I am more advanced than I thought because I learned nothing new. I even taught some of the other attendees a few things. I found myself bored and leaving earlier than I had intended. 

(37stories up)

This whole week without Ivy around did not make us more productive. I was at the conference. We planned on staying home until Saturday, but Ryan decided he wanted to leave today. No complaints here! We are currently on our second family visit vacation of the summer. 

It was amazing surprising her! She didn't know to expect us and when she saw us, she ran and jumped into our arms. I sure have missed her!