2013

Here We Go Again

Am I the only one that finds the irony in the vast change in commercials on tv, radio, etc from right before Christmas to the days after Christmas?

For weeks/months, leading up to the holidays we are bombarded with ads and messages about food, gifts, indulgences, etc. Its overwhelming, discouraging, and frustrating. And then... BAM, the holidays are over, all the pomp and circumstance is washed off and we are slapped at with lose weight, resolve to do this, resolve to don't do this.

We live in a society of extremes. And I, for one, am going to use this realization to change. Not just for the new year, not just because we flipped the calendar and write 13 now instead of 12. But because everything needs to be in moderation at all times, not one extreme to the next just because of what holiday is around the corner, what celebration is next. Because this is what I need.

So my goal for myself starting in 2013 is to moderate myself. The things I say, the things I do, the things I eat, the way I feel.

Thursdays Thoughts and Thanks

Thursday Thanks

• I am thankful for family and friends that light-heartedly tease me about my tendency to injure myself simply walking.
• I am thankful for a very good friend that makes the best out of spending the day holding a booth at a craft fair that got very little traffic.
• I am thankful for the doctor's that have helped us discover that E's health issues are caused by enlarged adenoids and tonsils. He will be having surgery on Dec 6th. 
• I am thankful that my husband is very involved in our sons' Boy/Cub Scout Groups. He is a wonderful, kind, patient Akela that they are all very lucky to have.
• I am thankful for the doctor's that took care of my mom when she was fighting pneumonia.
• I am thankful for Sleepytime Tea. It is a great way to wind down every night before bed.

Random Thursday Thoughts

• Some people never outgrow the need to be catty and rude.
• I never get tired of seeing Colorado sunrises and sunsets.
• I have a strange fascination with car wrecks., fires, etc.
• People that talk a lot are trying to make themselves sound important and smart. The truely smart people are those who listen and learn. That being said, I need to talk less.
• Children are the only ones that need to count to ten and calm down, in fact, I need to learn to do that more often.
• I want to make a point of making the holidays special this year. Not the stressed out, frantic, grouchy season that we spend time with people out of obligation. Rather, I want to spend the time with the people that mean the most to us. And I want to spend that time doing things we all enjoy, shopping with my husband (he likes to shop for the kids),wrapping presents with the boys,baking with my Mom and Sisters, movie marathons with my inlaws, watching football with my dad, playing cards with friends, And I want to not feel guilty taking a full day to sit on the couch and watch holiday movies on the Hallmark Channel in my pajamas and slippers.
• I have a great life.

Menu for the Week

• Saturday - Burritos w/ black beans and cheese
• Sunday - Homemade pizzas
• Monday - Chicken, red sauce, rice
• Tuesday - Sandwiches
• Wednesday - Leftovers,salad, soup, whatever you want (gotta make room in the fridge)
• Thursday - TURKEY, TURKEY AND MORE TURKEY
• Friday - LEFTOVERS.... YUM

Thursday Thoughts , Thursday Thanks & Weekly Menu

We are back for another exciting edition of

 Random Thursday Thoughts:

• It really aggravates me when people don't RSVP to an event. Even if you have to be a "maybe" it is better than not responding at all. SO RUDE.
• Sometimes I feel really alone in this world, and then I open up to others and realize everyone has crazy lives in one way or another.
• I am getting old, I am tired earlier in the evenings, I don't really have a desire to go out and about and socialize, I'd much rather stay at home with my family and just hang out.
• Thanksgiving is in 21 days, and Christmas is only 45 days. Every year I say I am going to get started shopping earlier, and every year it gets put off for one reason or another. I need to get on the ball.
• Some people are completely oblivious to anyone but themselves. Chewing with your mouth open and talking on the phone while eating are bad ideas, period. They are REALLY bad ideas when you are a customer service representative. And its a HORRIBLE idea when you do all of the above and sit near me. GAG.
• Apparently I am in a crabby mood because I am feeling whiny, see above.

Thursday Thanks

In the spirit of the holiday season, and to avoid being overcome with a case of the Grinches, I decided to start adding a feature to my Thursday Posts. Each week I will list a few of the things in my life I am grateful for.

• My humorous husband.
• My hilarious son, E.
• My quiet but brilliant son, A.
• Milk Duds
• A running partner that doesn't get irritated when I have to walk 1/2 way through our runs some mornings because I am still not quite a good runner.
• A house to call our own

Weekly Menu

Saturday:  Ham & Potato Soup

Sunday:  Grilled Chicken, Potatoes & Veggie

Monday:  Breakfast Burritos

Tuesday:  Crockpot Chili

Wednesday:  Quesadillas 

Thursday:  Chicken, Red Sauce, Rice

Friday:  Leftovers/Sandwiches/Fend for yourself

Random Thursday Thoughts & Next Week's Menu

Random Thursday Thoughts

• As much as my boys fight they really do love each other. A is at outdoor ed this week and E has mentioned every single day how much he misses his brother.
• A child's laughter has to be the most magical sound on earth. Last night we were joking about how I am the only normal person in the entire family. E asked what was "weird" about everyone else. I listed off silly things my sisters did in our childhood. E got the giggles and it was just fantastic.
• Letting A go to outdoor ed, and other functions away from home, is not as hard as I had imagined. I take comfort in knowing that we raised him to have a level head and be comfortable enough in his own self to not be fretful to leave us.
• I REALLY, really, REALLY, want to take photographs as a profession. Even a side job. I love playing with the camera, learning how to use it, finding a good angle, the perfect shot. I like nature shots and children. Kids have no sense of self-conscious. They are just full of joy and happiness. Even the innocence of a pout or sadness is beautiful.
• I truly love the state of Colorado. Our weather is magnificent. On Monday we had a record high of 80 and we got 8 inches of snow yesterday.
• The older I get the more I realize that every single person that comes into your life does so for a reason. The ones that really annoy you, irritate you, make you mad, you can learn how NOT to behave. Those that are amazing and caring and loving can teach you what attributes you should strive to possess.
• A puppy's first snow storm should be captured on film. I wish I would have had the forethought to grab the camera when I let Dyson out into the snow yesterday. He barked at every snowflake and tried with all of his might to not let his paws touch the snow. He is precious.

This Week's Menu

Saturday: Halloween Monster Mash Party

Sunday:  Chicken Alfredo

Monday: Mummy Dogs with Bloody Sauce

Tuesday:   Haystacks

Wednesday:  BBQ Pork Bowls

Thursday: Chicken Jalapeno

Friday:  Stronganoff

Thursday Thoughts

First off, thanks to my sis for inspiring me to start a Thursday Thoughts Post. Here goes:

• I need $14M, STAT. Dennis Quaid's amazing ranch in Montana is for sale and I NEED to buy it and move there.
• I love the show "Parenthood". So much, in fact, that I kinda want to be a Braverman. I love my family, don't get me wrong, I just love that family too. I want to merge their family with my family and have a giant, happy, VeikBravermanSallee family sandwich.
• Fall is the best season of all except for one tiny (literally) problem: SPIDERS!  I killed two in my bedroom this morning. ICK!
• I love my husband for many, many, many reasons. Lately he has really charmed me with his dry sense of humor. We have tons of inside jokes and even just a look will make me laugh.
• Other drivers make me crazy. Just because you see a law enforcement officer on the side of the road does NOT mean that you need to slow down, in the left lane, to 5 miles an hour below the speed limit. If you are so paranoid that you find it necessary to slow down this much, at least get in a different lane and let us normal people continue on with our cruise control set.
• I can't believe how much homework our 2nd & 6th graders have. I can't even imagine what high school is going to be like.