candesintx

Hi, I’m Lil’Miss Suzy Homemaker, or so I’ve been told lately.  To what do I owe this title to you ask?  Perhaps you know if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter but I’ve been busy in the kitchen.

It all started with a rather LARGE bag of ping-pong sized Key Limes my husband brought home one night.  Why did he buy these I have no idea and nor did I ask but now I am wondering. Hmmm?  I digress.

Todd tells me I need to do something with those limes because they are going to go bad real soon and why not make a key lime pie.  (His scheme all along) SURE!  I’ve never done it but it can’t be THAT hard, right??  Wrong. 

Who would have thought ping-pong sized limes would take me 30 minutes to squeeze just one cup of precious juice?  Who, I ask WHO?  I credit my naiveté for pushing onward and tackling Emeril’s recipe.

So yeah, I used the whole bag but 2 flippin’ limes, TWO, to get 1 cup of juice.  My fingers actually pruned up from all the squeezing.  The rest of the recipe was a breeze. 

Now I understand why the dessert costs so much.  The pie came out awesome!  BOY was it tart but oh so delicious.

Besides trying my hand at Key Lime Pie I decided to try out making jam.  There was this great sell on blackberries so heck, why not?  I found a “no cook” packet from Ball, purchased some freezer containers and headed home. 

I got the boys involved, which by the way made the process loooooonger but I’m making memories, right?  Let’s hope they DO remember.  Did I take pictures? No, may be next time.  I have no time to scrapbook these days. *sniff*

My latest Suzy moment was baking two loaves of banana bread.  It would have been three but it really is important to add ALL of the flour the recipe calls for.  (How did I miss that?)

When you look in the oven and see your BREAD boiling and bubbling ya know something isn’t right.  Thankfully I had plenty of banana’s overly ripe.  I put them out of their misery.

Oh, the day before yesterday, I made a chocolate chip crust, cream cheese, cherry-pie filling concoction simply because I had all the ingredients AND tonight I made Feta stuffed hamburgers with a spring salad that included red onions, mescaline and arugula fresh from our garden.

Tomorrow is another day and I may be making pumpkin bread, which is normally reserved for Thanksgiving and Christmas but I have a can of pumpkin puree that needs to be used.

Take THAT Miss Suzy!  I’m spent.  Good night all.  I hope your Easter was fun and blessed!

PS – I have more coupons and small samples of Revitalift to giveaway.  Stay tuned.

I have now been a SAHM for one whole month.  I have never been so busy in my life.  I wonder how I even managed to have a full time job and a house.  I can say the honeymoon stage wore off after week two when I was craving adult conversation and a place where people don't call me, "mommy."

I don't miss work but I miss the ladies I was friends with.  Not to worry though, we still talk on IM and our first lunch date is next week barring any health issues.  I'm looking forward to it.

I do miss my talk radio guys Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.  *sigh* I'm trying to have some semblance of a routine - ha routine -  I "try" to do some laundry on Monday's and may be some cardio exercise (which I missed doing today).  On Sunday's I've decided not to do much work on my household chores.  Not much of a routine but that's as far as I've come.

1.  Did anyone tell me I'd be forever cleaning my kitchen?? It's like I am NEVER finished.  Never! 
2.  As much time as the boys and I spend together in one week they STILL want Mommy. 
3.  I wish I knew how this play group stuff worked.  I finally joined a group, a big one,          
     and they keep very active.  So active that many play dates fill up and we can't go.  At least we can     go  to the age specified group. 

Speaking of play dates... Our first play date was at Live Oak Park just 5 minutes from our house.  The day was foggy and the equipment wet and slippery and a bit cool. 

The boys had a blast and I got to meet some of the moms.  I really surprised myself.  I didn't find a wall to hold up (ok I was at a park but you know what I mean.)  I stepped up and introduced myself.    There are lots of interesting ladies.

It's late and I need my rest.  Stay tuned more to come.

January 22, 2009

Slowly I feel the honeymoon stage of getting my feet wet as a SAHM is coming to a close.

May be it was at the moment Tucker said, “Mom, I want my friends from school to come to my house.”  My heart sank.  He’s bored. 

Now I HAVE to connect with a play date group.  I’ve heard so many things about play groups and many were not so flattering. 

I’ve heard of click-ish groups.  There were groups that snub you if you can’t meet 100% of the times they do.  I’m 40 years old, who has time for high school antics?

I did a quick search from some links my friends had passed on.  I felt like I was entering the dating scene.  I am looking for the right fit.

There were a couple of groups that I would have to fill out applications for.  No big deal. One group had 51 or so members.  Another had reached its max of 60! Really, 60? There were some groups that only went up to 3years old.  I have a 4 year old.

So, I have to put myself out there.  Married White Female seeking companionship… for my kids.

I need to polish up my profile, meet up with some of these groups and test the waters.

This is SO not me.  My kids are stretching me beyond my comfort zone.  Love ya boys!

I'm naturally shy.  I'm a Christian with a bit of an edge.  Some may say I should dress my age but what does THAT look like?  I wear jeans w/ graphic tees sometimes w/ ponytails.  SOMEBODY tell me when I get to the point where I can't pull off that look any more. 

So what should I wear? I should be myself but take the nose piercing off and cover the tattoos, right?  Okay, okay, I don't have a piercing OR a tattoo BUT I'd like 'em.

I'm nervous... anxious.  I'd rather NOT do this but it's for the children. 

tick tick TOCK!

So that’s it.  I am no longer part of the American full time workforce.  12:30pm I walked out of the office building into the next chapter of my life.  I liken the experience to climbing out to the edge of the high dive, standing on the edge ready to jump into the unknowing abyss just hoping the water below will absorb the enormous crash of water I’m about to make.  Or will that water be unforgiving and slap me with a silly red hue that shouts I landed wrong?

Dear God, catch me because, ready or not, here. I. Come.

I suppose I’m in shock.  Familiar emotions hang in the air like the cabin fever of being on maternity leave in the cold wet November, unable to leave the house with my newborn… a first time mom. 

I’ve been waiting for this day all year, since the moment I was thrown into a sales position at my job.  A square peg being forced into a round hole.  It just wasn’t the perfect fit for me.

I’m looking forward to organizing my home.  I feel the pressure from stacks of papers and receipts on our desk, or the mounting laundry begging to be washed.  There are meals to plan, rooms to clean and boys to teach. 

I imagine it will take me some time to get my groove on.  I have big dreams with sobering thoughts that I won’t get everything I want to get done. 

I dream of actually gardening during the week rather than waiting for the right week end.  I will have the boys to contend with and make sure they are safe and not messing with the pond.

I will have plenty to keep me busy here at home.  I still work part time for my church and I will do after-school care for my neighbor starting January 5^th.  My “former” boss wants to contract me to do their trade shows.  So, I’ll be making money and still feel like I’m contributing to our finances.

I hope I don’t fail anyone as a mother.  I hope I don’t disappoint my family.  I felt so in control at work; organized but when I’m home I feel stupid and incompetent at times, especially when Todd asks me "Do you have a plan?"

   
Wondering what 2009 holds for us...

Had a busy week end but fun.  I made a birthday cake for my sister's 43rd birthday.  She wanted a pumpkin shaped cake and I had the grand idea of putting two bundt cakes together (again).  It didn't work out last year and I ended up buying a store cake. 

This year I thought I'd try it again but when it came to crunch time I chickened out and went with 2ea) 9 inch cakes stacked and decorated like a pumpkin.  I don't know what it is but my chocolate cakes are too moist and tear when I try to apply a crumb coat.  FRUSTRATING to say the least.

The sides were crumbie but the top was almost flawless so I was happy with that.  Most of all my sister was happy and that's what counts!

The cake:   

Here's Tucker and his cousins preparing for a small hay ride on Granpa's lawn tractor.  Tucker HAS to have his ride whenever we go and visit mom.

Here's a photo of Carsen.  He kept getting Mom's broom or mop or even both at one time.  My boys like to clean.  I should take advantage of it now.  IT's more likely I won't get this cooperation when they get older.

  He's getting bigger.  He's 30 lbs at 19 months old and Tucker is 33 lbs at almost 4 years old.  I LOVE my boys. Carsen is saying a lot more now.  He can say please and thank you and it sounds sooo cute.  Of course he can say "mine" and every drink is called "Joos."

My schedule is ever so full with my daytime job, taking care of the boys and my house and then my Sunday job at the church nursery.  I feel like I'm running on empty and I have no time to refuel.  Saturday really is my down time but I'm usually catching up on housework.  Then Sunday it's back to work until 1pm.

It's crazy right now and a bit stressful.  I dream about escaping.  HECK I dream about going to the grocery store by myself or taking a walk by myself as ME TIME.  Sad, I know but I'd do it just to have it, you know?  Sometimes I take my lunch hour to window shop but then I worry that I should have stayed at work so I could work on my nursery schedule or issues. ACCCKKKK!!!

Things that comfort me...  My Blackberry Sage tea from The Republic of Tea.  It's a bit expensive but oh so good.  Yeah, I left it at my mom's house. (sigh)  Rain storms comfort me too with soft rolling thunder.  For some reason I feel closer to God during that time.  I wish it were raining today.

C'est la vie.  I push on and fill myself with obsurd amounts of carbs (chocolate chip cookies anyone?).  Soon, very soon I can slow down to tend to the roses and brew the coffee.  Time to make my lunch and work!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!

.

40 never looked so fun!  I will NEVER forget the party to kick off my 40's.  I truly had a blast.  It was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. 

Todd was really great at keeping the plans a secret and from what I'm told it was months of planning.  It wasn't until the night before my party that he had to let me in on some of the secrets.  My best friend of 27 years was going to be a surprise guest at my party.  I was going to spend the whole day with her too.  Unfortunately hurricane Ike was blocking the path and would put their whole family in harm’s way. Curse you Ike! 

The next secret revealed was the outfit I would be wearing for the party.  My great friends and shop owners of Bless Your Heart, Rachel Dranselka and Katy Brockman, provided my Salwar.  It was a gorgeous Burgundy and gold Salwar Kameez.  They also provided shimmery gold earrings and a matching scarf/shawl to wear.  Needless to say I was blown away.  In addition to that the sister's gave me a gift certificate to their shop.  They're the BEST!

From the morning of my party Todd had my whole day planned.  He was going to take the boys to Papa and Nana's that morning and Donna, my good friend, would be in charge of keeping me out of the house.  

11AM      -  Early lunch 
1:30 PM  - William's Edge to get my hair colored and clipped
4:30 PM -  Pedicures
6:30 PM -  Get dressed
7:00 PM -  Party time 

When Donna and I walked up to my house (where the party was being held) we could smell the burning incense.  The mood was being set.  I was greeted by friends and immediately was treated to a rosewater hand washing ceremony.