Seriously

Seriously, Grey’s Anatomy was back on last night! I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting all summer for the return of our favorite interns-turned-residents. And they did not disappoint!

Cristina – I love, love, love Sandra Oh. The way she can look at people like they’re a total moron is amazing. I’m glad she’s back to her regular Cristina-self with the exception of slightly missing Burke. And I’m so glad her eyebrows grew back! Next week should be great since “Mama” is coming back to retrieve the family heirloom.

Izzy – Okay, the deer storyline was silly but I can understand it at the same time. Poor Izzy did look like someone lost in a forest the whole episode, but I thought she looked especially pretty last night. Something about her hair. Anyway, this will be an interesting season for her and George.

George/Callie – Speaking of George, he was definitely having the “Bad Day of the Year.” Besides having to repeat his intern year, he had to deal with Izzy cornering him at every opportunity and Callie practically waving pregnancy tests in his face. I loved his scene with Lexi in the nursery, though. And when he showed up on Izzy’s doorstep that night? Wow. What’s going to happen next? Poor Callie. She was also having a crappy day that kept getting worse. Besides no one respecting her and Bailey treating her like a dog, her husband would hardly give her the time of day. After seeing the previews for next week, I can’t help but wonder if George will leave her and then she’ll find out she’s pregnant. Shondra Rimes would do a storyline like that.

Lexi – I really think I’m going to like her. You felt really sorry for her when she kept trying to introduce herself to Meredith, who obviously wants nothing to do with her. But I love what she did for George in the end in the locker room with the new interns. I think she’ll become George’s new “Meredith,” you know?

Alex/McSteamy/Bailey – Loved McSteamy’s “I came to Seattle to get you back” speech to McDreamy. I can’t wait to see what the year holds for him. Alex still loves Ava! I heard she’s coming back soon. What will happen with Bailey? Who knows.

And last but not least, Meredith/McDreamy – I swear, if anyone looked at me the way Patrick Dempsey can look at a woman, I’d be putty in their hands. How could you say no to that look, let alone break up with him? Meredith does have her issues, but I think McDreamy is the guy for her. I hope they can work things out someway, somehow.

Until next week!

The Search for The One

I took a late lunch and got my hair cut yesterday afternoon. Now if you know me very well, you know that I’m quite particular about my hair. I’ve had it numerous colors and finding a talented, trustworthy hair stylist is a big deal to me. We’ve lived here for over 3 years and after going through 3 different people, I think I’ve finally found “The One.” It was love at first scalp massage.

The first girl I went to was recommended to me by someone I worked with. The first time she colored my hair it came out this awful brassy, dingy color. I went back the next day and had her fix it, but that only halfway worked. Thankfully she announced she was moving, so I didn’t have to worry about breaking off the relationship.

The second girl I went to worked off of downtown. She was great, but the problem with her was she was very established and therefore, worked rather weird hours. She had a good clientle built up, so she knew they would do whatever they had to do to get see her. She only worked weekdays; no Saturdays or evenings. Since I work 8am-5pm like most people, it was a hassle to take off work half a day to get my hair done. So I classify this as “irreconcilable differences.”

The third girl was just rude. She did an okay job and it was easy to get an appointment, but Chickadee had a huge attitude problem. We just weren’t compatible.

Let me add here that all three of these people were recommended to me by people I worked with.

Then I found Leslee. I was at my wit’s end and just called up a salon that was about 5 minutes from my work, explained I didn’t have anyone’s name, so could they recommend someone? That landed me in Leslee’s chair and I’ve been happy ever since. It’s an Aveda salon/spa and the atmosphere is wonderful. So relaxing. She gives you a scalp massage when she washes your hair. Trust me, I could go see her everyday just for that. It’s so relaxing, I could forget my name. And did I mention she does a great job? I swear, this is the best haircut I’ve ever had and the color is fantastic, too, especially since I took the big step and went darker.

Here’s hoping we live happily ever after!

LA Ink

Has anyone watched this show yet? It’s a reality show on TLC about tattoo artist Kat Von D and her new shop in LA. She was originally at Miami Ink. I’m addicted! I guess because I’ve always said that if I didn’t have to have a real job and such, I would have tattoos and a pink stripe in my hair and work in a funky little restaurant in Asheville, NC. It’s the secret punk side of me. Punk, but girly at the same time. We all have those secret sides, right?

But since I do have to have a real job to pay my real bills and take care of my real child, I won’t be running to the tattoo parlor anytime soon. You can all breathe a sigh of relief now.

I do have one tattoo on my foot of a dolphin and the moon. It looks pretty sad compared to the stuff they do on this show. This is Kat Von D:

Isn’t she gorgeous?

So now you all know my secret punk aspirations. Don't think less of me!

I love me a fresh calendar

Can you feel it? That sweet smell of fall in the air? The cool breeze blowing across the yard and the first few leaves floating to the ground? Okay, I know the leaves are a stretch seeing as down here in the South, the leaves wait until December 1st to drop off the trees, but you get my point.

Since school has started for everyone by now, you’ve probably noticed all the handy-dandy calendars and organizers in the stores. I love this time of year. There are few things more exciting than buying a brand new planner and trying to imagine what all will fill the pages over the next year. Doesn’t that excite you?? I got a great coupon in the mail from OfficeMax, so I’m hoping to head over there and get my new calendar this weekend. I’m keeping my fingers crossed they have one like I got last year.

I love it that much. It even comes with stickers!

Along with my portable planner, I also keep everything organized on my Outlook calendar at work. Everything is on that calendar, down to mine and Lennon’s paydays, color-coded, with what bills get paid that week listed. I also list various sales that are starting at my favorite stores or special promotions, like Gymbucks at Gymboree. Since I’m at work most of the day, I can always glance at that calendar and know exactly what’s coming up, plus it’s helpful when I’m calling about doctor’s appointments, hair appointments, etc., since I do most of that at work or at lunch.

So this will count as my “Domestic Post” of the week, since I’ve talked about home organization and family management. Right? J Happy Calendaring, Ladies!

Pumpkin Apple Bread

I found this yummy-sounding recipe over at http://magnoliamama.blogspot.com . Enjoy!

Pumpkin Apple Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 can (16 oz) pure pumpkin puree
2-1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch dices

Cinnamon-Sugar Topping
5 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temp
1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the topping, combine the sugar, flour, butter and cinnamon and blend with your fingers to an even, crumbly texture. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 9- by 5-inch loaf pans. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and allspice into a large bowl. In another large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, sugar, eggs, and oil. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin, stirring to evenly mix, then fold in the apples. Divide the batter between the pans, smoothing the tops. Sprinkle each loaf with the cinnamon-sugar topping. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.

MOPS

No, I’m not talking about those long-handled cleaning implements in your kitchen. I’m talking about Mothers of Preschoolers. If you’re a mother, then you were the mother of a preschooler at one point in time. I’m sure whether it was last year or 20 years ago, you can remember it. The struggles, the joys, the tears – both your’s and your preschooler’s.

Last year I joined my local chapter of MOPS. Brady was just over a year old and I had just come out of a very rough 18-month period. I was laid off from my job when I was six months pregnant. Naturally, no one will hire you at that point, so I was unemployed until Brady was four months old. I got unemployment checks, but we were beyond broke. Lennon was working two jobs and that left me home alone with Brady quite often. Many weeks I might not leave the house for 3-4 days at a time. As a result, I went through a very dark period of post-partum depression. By the Grace of God, I found a job the week before my unemployment ran out. It was an uphill climb at that point. We had so many bills to pay, I had to adjust to working again and to Brady being in daycare. So many things were going on. The following summer we had to move unexpectedly and once again, our lives were up in the air. God came through again and provided a place to live, even better than where we were.

Now we hadn’t been going to church since moving to Greenville. We had visited places, but nothing stuck. I worked in an office of all men. I was really hurting for some female companionship and that’s when I heard about MOPS. So I signed up and went to my first meeting. It was like a breath of fresh air (the theme last year actually was Fresh Air). Here I was in a group of women who I had something I common with – we all had children under 5. It didn’t matter whether we worked outside the home or stayed home, whether we were divorced or married, nothing. We all had a common thread. Those meetings were so great and I met some great people as a result. Don’t get me wrong, there were some days I would go and not talk to hardly anyone. That was probably more my fault than theirs. After practically being in hiding for so long, I really had to re-learn how to get out there and meet people. I had been so close to becoming a hermit, but I was slowly dragging myself out of that pit. God knew what He was doing! You can come to MOPS and be yourself. You get to eat a meal without cutting someone else’s food or having to catch the bowl of applesauce as it’s being hurled across the room. You can listen to a speaker without having to change a diaper. You might even have a full conversation with someone. We love our children dearly, but it’s nice to have a few hours to yourself to remember who you were before you became Mommy.

The best thing about MOPS for me? It led us to the church we’re now attending. We probably never would have visited there if my MOPS leader and other women hadn’t invited me. After being away from church for so long, it felt so good to find a “home” We’ve joined a fabulous Sunday School class of couples our age, we’ve gotten involved in the children’s ministry and I’ve even joined the Beth Moore Bible Study on Sunday afternoons. I had forgotten what that family was like. To have people say they’re praying for you, to ask how you’re doing means so much.

I know some people who really aren’t interested in groups like MOPS. They have problems leaving their child with someone else or they just don’t have time. But I also know people who feel as passionately about this as I do. It’s a great, great organization for new moms, young and old. We need support. We think we can do it all and granted, some women come close. But most of us are being pulled in a thousand different directions and we need some friends who relate. So if you know a mom with a preschooler, suggest MOPS to her. It just may be the lifesaver to her that it was to me.

http://www.mops.org/

Just because he's cute!

It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween

If you’ve been in the stores lately, you’ve noticed that Halloween (and Christmas for that matter) isn’t far away. The aisles are already filled with candy, plastic pumpkin buckets, fake hands serving up a candy bowl, and all manner of make-up and fake blood. And costumes. These days, if you can dream it, you can dress like it.

Now I’m a little funny about Brady’s Halloween costumes (I know, I’m a little funny about a lot of things). Since he’s only 2, I still make the decision on his costume and where we buy it. One day soon he’ll want to be Spiderman or some other cheap-looking costume from Walmart (No offense to anyone whose child got their Spiderman costume from WM) and I’ll deal with that then. For now, thought, I get to pick.

The first year, Brady was a cow. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures online of that adorable little black and white sweat suit-type outfit with ears and a tail. The thing barely fit by actual Halloween and I almost ripped his head off trying to get it one. Good times.

Last year, he was a pirate:

We got tons of compliments on this costume and many people thought I made it myself. Old Navy, people. And they have the same one this year if you’re interested. I was really worried he would burn up because it was a very heavy costume and down here in SC, Halloween can often be sunny and 85F. Thankfully, a major cold front swept in and it was in the 50’s that night. My little matey was warm and cozy while gathering his booty.

This year I really want to do an Elvis costume. I know this is probably the last year I get to pick and seeing how we’re from Memphis, Elvis would be so much fun. Can’t you just picture the jumpsuit and the cape and the slicked back hair and gold sunglasses on a two year old? I’ve searched and searched and can only find one toddler Elvis costume. And it’s tacky. I know, you’re saying “It’s an Elvis costume. OF COURSE IT’S GOING TO BE TACKY!” But this one is tacky in a cheap way. I’m still searching, but my little Hunka Hunka Burning Love may not be stepping out in his Blue Suede Shoes this October 31st. (Don’t you love these puns?!)

I’m throwing around the idea of a cowboy. That would be so easy and he’s already got jeans and a western-style brown corduroy shirt from Old Navy. Add a few accessories and we’d be set. We’ll see. I think I put way too much thought into these things. In fact, I know I put way too much thought into these things.

Hopefully everyone is getting some cooler temperatures for the weekend. Have a good one!

Domesticity

I may not mention it too often, but I’m very domestic. I love celebrating the traditions of home and family.

I love planning menus and I actually work on my grocery list for about a week before I do my shopping. It’s organized into sections with a @ by an item when I have a coupon. A little OCD, but that’s okay. That’s just how I am. That’s not to say that every night is a three-course meal with appetizers and desserts. A lot of nights we have to be somewhere or Lennon is working, so we’ll have soup and grilled cheese or hot dogs. I do like to plan bigger, longer meals for the weekend when I have the time to devote to it. But I do try to always have a dessert or snack baked and ready. Baking is one of my biggest passions, so I always enjoy creating something special for my family.

All of my housework is on a schedule:
Monday – Dusting
Tuesday – Clean bathrooms
Wednesday – Mop and sweep
Thursday – Catch up night (includes filing, organizing, bills, etc.)
Friday – Free Night

We do at least one load of laundry every night, with bedding and odd items done on the weekends. My schedule is really important to me because I hate the thought of getting to Saturday and having to spend all day on the house. Being organized and scheduled is essential whether you’re a Stay at Home Mom or if you Work Outside the Home. Since I WOTH, I’d rather spend my weekends with my family than toiling away all day on bathrooms and yard work. Does this work for every family? No, but it works for us.

I’m trying to branch into more hobbies. I love scrap booking and card making, but I find them frustrating sometimes. At least the scrap booking. I’m an “instant gratification” kind of person and I don’t always do well working on a project that is going to span a few weeks or even months. I love the idea of sewing, but every time I’ve sat down to learn, I got bored and quit. Maybe someday when I have more time. We won’t even discuss gardening. Another thing I’d love to do, but I have quite the opposite of a green thumb. Some would even call it black.

I’m going to try to do at least one post each week about something domestic. It’s really a big part of me that I’d love to share with people, or whomever is still reading this blog!

Have a great day, friends!

Remembering Sept. 11th

First, thank you so much to everyone who has been praying for my grandfather. The soonest they could get him in to the next doctor is Sept. 18, unless there is a cancellation. Right now they’re trying to manager the pain. He is eating better, but is still in a lot of pain and very weak. Today is his birthday. Please continue to keep him and all of us in your prayers and thoughts.

Today is September 11th. Honestly, I hadn’t really thought too much about the anniversary of the tragic and terrifying events that occurred six years ago. We’ve all gotten busy. Life is hectic and sometimes it’s all we can do to make it through the day. So we forget. As more time passes, the fuzzier the memories become. But we should never forget the lives lost on that day. The heroes who gave everything to save others. The prayers that were said all over the world. How people came together during the crisis. Remember how every car had an American flag on it in the weeks and months following the attacks? Everyone was patriotic. You don’t see it as often now, but you need to.

So on this anniversary of that horrible day, say a prayer and fly your flag. Be proud to be an American.

Are you ready for some football?

In case you haven't noticed, football season is in full swing! The Patriots kick off Sunday afternoon and my boys are ready:

I hope everyone's team wins this weekend!

It's that time of year

I know, it's still in the high 80's out there, but September 1st officially declares FALL for me. What about you?