Random thoughts by Anna @annasday - Tumblr Blog

What's for dinner?

These are 3 words I've grown to hate over the last few months. Not because I don't have a plan, but because my children are very forgetful and ask several times during meal preparation. I'm especially excited about what's for dinner this week since a lot of my prep time was done on Saturday. How have I gone this long without realizing I can cook an entire huge package of chicken and then use it in recipes throughout the week? For dinner this week, we are having: chipotle chicken sweet potato skins with chopped kale, bbq chicken pizza with veg, chicken salad sandwiches with fruit, Vietnamese beef shaken bowls (new recipe), grilled salmon with zucchini and rice, Cobb salad with yeast rolls. I prefer to make enough food just for dinner to prevent leftovers, unless it's something the hubby or I really like. Each week I store my dinner list and reuse throughout the month for ideas. It's worked out pretty great so far. What're you having for dinner?

npr

With its final seven episodes kicking off on Sunday, AMC’s Mad Men is coming to a close after almost eight years. It’s hard to overstate the phenomenal, uncommon level of cultural saturation it’s achieved. Ask someone who doesn’t watch it what Mad Men is about, and they’ll mention the clothes (divine), the decor (sleek), and of course — always — the drinks.

The show not only introduced us to the impossibly suave, lantern-jawed Don Draper, it also introduced a new generation of TV viewers to old-fashioned cocktails like Manhattans and martinis, gimlets and sidecars.

Drinking With ‘Mad Men’: Cocktail Culture And The Myth Of Don Draper

Photo credit: Michael Yarish/AMC

annasday

I'm in denial of this being the final season. 😢

Rant of the day

I really hate it when the hubs is out of town. I hate it even more when it's on a ballet night and I have to carry 2 little beings into the dance studio for sis to be picked up. Never fails that class runs late every time I get her.

I spy...

- folded laundry that needs putting away -baby in shirt sleeves -shining sun -dog on the couch -sink of dishes -an explosion of a room to a 7 yr old girl Yep, I'm sure I'll spy it again tomorrow!

Cha-ching...

Man sports gear is expensive! S is doing her first year of softball and we had to get cleats, glove, helmet, shorts and balls. Of course little bro had to get a glove too. I hope she really likes softball, it'll make the pain of forking over all that dough a little less painful. #webuyusedstuff #girlsrule #playlikeagirl

I want a break, not because I'm bored or restless or craving some fun, (although I am probably feeling those things a lot of the time.) I want a break because I put absolutely everything I have into staying at home with my kids. From the moment I open my eyes in the morning, there isn't a single second of my day where I'm not engaged and on call. There isn't a single moment where I am alone with my thoughts, where I'm not being touched and needed and where demands aren't being made of me. Not a single moment. Not when I'm brushing my teeth or showering or trying to find something clean to wear. Not even in the bathroom. As stay-at-home parents, we understand that going to work all day isn't fun, and it isn't easy. We get that we're lucky to spend our days with our children. We've had responsibilities and stresses outside of motherhood, and we understand that life is challenging for you, and for everyone. We know that commuting to and from work and sitting in a cubical all day is not how you would choose to spend your time, if you had a choice. We know that going to work is not a personal break where you can unwind and put your feet up. We totally get that, and we love you and appreciate you for all you do to keep our families safe and cared for. We would be better at saying thank you if we had even a single ounce of energy or sanity left over at the end of the day. We love you. We do. And, thank you. We still need a break, though. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amanda-king/stay-at-home-parent_b_2558642.html

I've been on both sides of the line as a working mom and a stay at home mom and the SAHM is definitely the harder of the two, for me. When I worked, I atleast interacted with adults that didn't demand as much attention as my 2 year old did.

Each job has it's own ups and downs and I wouldn't trade my time (good or bad) that I have now with my kids as a SAHM. I just wish that our society didn't pin the 'Working Mom' against the 'SAHM.' Every family has to make their own decision as to what is right for them. Not everyone can make it work to stay at home. For us, we had to give a lot of things up for me to do this, but it was the right decision for our family.

I do need a break sometimes and I would totally be fine sitting in my car in my dark garage without anyone bothering me. Going out with my other mommy friends is fun, but even running to the grocery store by myself is a treat!

The Piston Cup...

My husband has a baseball trophy from his little league years on his dresser. Today, my son walks into my room and asks to hold it. I can't figure out what he's wanting to hold because he's only referring to the trophy as 'it.' After asking him what it is he wants to hold several times, he says, "Can I please hold Daddy's Piston Cup?" For those that don't know, the Piston Cup is the trophy Lightening McQueen wins in Cars the movie. I think my heart instantly melted, seriously! Several hours later, right before bedtime, B is saying his goodnights and calls his Daddy 'Daddy Holiday' just like McQueen's father figure 'Dic Holiday' in the movie. How much sweetness does my little boy contain? Too much for me to handle that's for sure!

We were out and about scouting out some fun backdrops for future photo sessions and we came upon a baby skink. It was beautiful and FAST! It hid under the kids' shoes and eventually climbed into B's boot. I didn't believe him but then B said something was in his boot tickling him. I took his boot off and low and behold, that skink was in there. Now, I did not put my hand in the boot because I didn't want to freak out in front of the kids if it climbed on me. Instead, I tamped the boot on the ground until it came out. The skink was trying to get back into the boot and hide as I tried to get it back on B. we quickly walked away once the boot was on. Good times friends!

One of my dream jobs would be to work for This Old House. I'm pretty handy, I redid my kitchen cabinets, installed board & batten in my bathroom. I can replace simple light fixtures and can do lots of other handy tasks. I've been watching TOH since I was 4. That's 31 years of enjoying TOH on PBS. I'll take a small job, wiping down grout, sanding cabinets, whatever. There needs to be a female presence on the show aside from the designers that make things look pretty. What do you say TOH, do I have a shot?

#This Old House #TOH #female presence #girl power

This is how the hubby does dinner...

with the kids. My son has been such a slow poke at dinner. It is painful to sit with B at the table for close to an hour as he slowly eats his cold dinner. Between the potty breaks, dropped silverware and falling out of his chair, my hubby finally had it one night. The answer? Two of my husband's belts. My first thought was 'oh my gosh, Daddy has finally lost it.' I thought B was going to get smacked with the belts at the dinner table! For shame on me to think that lowly of the hubby. Instead, Daddy seatbelted B into his chair by taking one belt across B's chest and the chair and fastening it. An hour later, S comes running into my room telling me to come to the dining room. Apparently, B fell asleep while buckled into his makeshift high chair whilst eating his dinner. Sorry that I missed the whole event, but B did finish all of his dinner a little over an hour after it being served. See, we really are just real folks trying to be good parents at all costs. Now the kids beg to be belted in for dinner time! We started setting the timer and low and behold, B is much faster eating his dinner. Thank goodness!

I'm in love with THIS summer...

Having been a parent for the past six years, the years have gradually gotten easier. This summer has been a joy as far as things I've been able to do with the kids. I almost feel like I'm at a sweet spot of ease with my 3.5yr old and 6 yr old. Both kids play with their friends in an engaging way, they love going to the beach and playing in the surf, I can take them out in public and not worry about tantrums or bad manners. It's wonderful. At dinner tonight, we were talking about all the great things they can do this summer vs last summer. As a mom, it almost brought me to tears, my kids are growing up right before my eyes! B said he could swim without his swimmies, ride his bike, use the potty like a big boy. S said she could swim to the bottom of the pool, cook her own scrambled eggs, and read chapter books. Now, not everyday is peachy keen. Somedays I want to scream my lungs out, but I don't. It's not picture perfect and if you stopped by unexpectedly, you'd be greeted with a sink full of dishes, laundry waiting to be washed and toys scattered from the front door throughout the house. It's a privilege to be their Mommy and I'm so glad I get to be by their sides as they learn and go through all these 'big kid' things.

I had the kids to myself ALL DAY yesterday. The hubs was working very late last night. This heat wave is putting a damper on all our outdoor fun. We made a trip to the store for art supplies and played inside until the late afternoon. We gave the sprinkler a try at 4 pm and then walked to the pool. We love our neighborhood pool. It's nice and clean with friendly neighbor folks. Yesterday the water felt like it was 90 degrees, not enjoyable at all. I think the rest of the week calls for lots of AC and prescription strength deodorant, right?

After a few hours at the pool this afternoon, the kids wanted to veg out in front of the tube with a movie. Instead, the hubs and I wanted them to a)play with their toys b)read a book or c)draw a picture. They wanted to do none of those things so to get them out of our hair I turned it to PBS and they had Otello's opera from The Met playing. To my surprise, both kids sat and watched for a good while. I was surprised at how much they enjoyed it. They're pretty cool kids I guess.

Give a kid $2...

So my Mom gives the kids each $2. Of course the kids want to spend it immediately (because that's a lot of cash in their eyes). I had to make a trip to Target anyway and here's what they buy: my girl gets some clearanced Squinkies (which are .48 more than she has) and my boy picks 2 hot wheels cars at .97/ea and then changes his mind after passing the party section. Guess what he picks? A package of BALLOONS at $1.54. That boy loves to party AND he has money to save. His purchase totally made my day and again made me proud to be his Mommy.

I love Cary Grant movies. The stories are entertaining and I love the style of that era. Oh how I wish things were as spectacular in style as they were back then. Some days I just dream of bring dressed to the nines in a fancy outfit complete with a hat, gloves and wondrous hair. To my left would bet dashing and debonair husband decked out in his suit complete with a coordinating hat. It just seems that nowadays things are TOO relaxed. There was a time when folks dressed up to go on a plane and now we lounge in our yoga pants and flip flops. I too love to be a schlump, but I love to get gussied up too. Perhaps an idea for a grown up party one day!

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Slovenian photographer Matej Peljhan uses his imagination to bring joy to Luka, a boy with muscular dystrophy in his touching series called “The Little Prince.”

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