My New Back Seat Driver

In the last two weeks, I taught Noodle the basics of driving as it relates to traffic lights. Although I think she knew some of this prior to our recent car conversations, she now can correctly identify the proper traffic signal with the traffic light color - green means "go," red means "stop" and yellow (she likes to call it orange) means "slow down."

In the last week, she has taken every opportunity when we are in the car to tell me what to do at the traffic lights. Without knowing, the other drivers on the road probably appreciate her astute knowledge because she has caught me sitting at a green light a few times. Go Mommy! She yells from her car seat. Green means go! She says with such conviction.

When strolling along the sidewalk, she knows to look for the white pedestrian signal before safely crossing the busy street. While adjusting Bean in the stroller, I briefly missed the light change. Noodle taps my hand, Mommy, look! She points to the traffic light. White means we can walk! She was so proud of herself!

Later that morning, when we got in the car and she started to recite the traffic signals to me (for the tenth time), I started to think about how life really comes full circle. One day Noodle and Bean will probably know more than me about a lot of things. But, right now it's up to my husband and me to teach them about the world. The small things and the big stuff. It's difficult to think of the day they won't need for me to make them their meals, tie their shoes, teach them the alphabet, and even more mind-boggling, I won't know where they are every moment of the day. At some point they will drive themselves places and make their own decision on where to go and what to do. (This actually scares me tremendously.)  Some days I catch myself looking at Bean and thinking that in 3 years she will be doing all the things Noodle does. It's a daily reminder of how they grow and change just as we do as parents.

I have a while before driver's licenses are a reality for our daughters. Right now, I am enjoying and appreciating our light-hearted conversations. Although I can't stop time from passing, I am doing my best to savor these endearing and charming moments as they come...who knew the colors green, red and yellow could be so much fun?!

Sami

Product Review: Grandma's Secret Spot Remover®

After several attempts to remove dirt, grease, ink, food and grass stains out of clothes, about 2 years ago I used a product that does the job! My mom bought me a bottle of Grandma's Secret Spot Remover. This bottle performs stain-removing miracles!

Even better, it's environmentally safe, biodegradable, non-toxic, and does not contain chlorine or phosphates (per the Grandma's Secret Spot Remover Web site). This spot remover formula also offers a pleasant aroma rather than the off-putting scents of other stain removers.

I have seen this product sold in a variety of places - grocery stores, craft stores, hardware stores, fabric stores, etc. It's been priced anywhere between $3.99 - 5.99 for a 2 oz. bottle. You can also visit Grandma's Secret Spot Remover Web site to order the product.

So, stop having to wash the same shirt or pair of pants over and over again to get out that stubborn stain...a small amount of Grandma's Secret Spot Remover will do it on the first try! It's amazing!

Sami

The Coupon Conundrum

First off, I want to mention that I am an organized person. I do my best to keep on top of things. My house is pretty organized  (I do have a few "junk drawers" but who doesn't?), I am task-orientated, I try to be punctual for everything...you get my point.

However, I am awkward and unorganized when it comes to using coupons, gift cards and things of this nature. I can't tell you how many times I leave coupons at home when I have every intention of using them on a shopping trip.

Yesterday, for example, I went to Kohl's with Bean (Noodle was at preschool). I wanted to look around and see what they had for the spring season. I had received a recent discount coupon in the mail and brought it along. I spent about 40 minutes in the store. I purchased two pairs of capris and a shirt. I was super excited about the sale prices, and to top it off I had another 15% off discount to use before I paid. Whoo Hoo!

A little later in the afternoon, I called DH to touch base. I told him how the day was going and was giddy about my purchases at Kohl's. After I get through explaining the sale prices and savings, I also told him I got one pair of capris in TWO sizes smaller (much to my amazement!).  He then said, Did you use your gift card?

And just like that the air in my sail began to fade... NO! Dang it! How did I forget about that?! I was so mad at myself. On Sunday my parents gave me a $25 gift card to Kohl's for Easter, and already I forgot to use it! I seem to do this over and over again! I spent most of the afternoon ticked at myself. I thought... I could go back return everything, repurchase it and use the discount AND the gift card. No, that's just ridiculous and I don't have time! I talked myself right out of it.

You see, I do this ALL THE TIME. Back in January, I decided I was going to become more organized with coupons, discount cards and gift cards. After failing at it miserably for years, I got an expandable file to keep track of all of it.

I use the labels.

I make an effort to go through it every month, too.

And you know what is the most disgusting part of it all is? The gift card was in this file which was in my car during my visit to Kohl's. Ugh!

For some reason, I can't get my brain to focus and remember these things. I did something similar last week at the grocery store. I bought two packages of rice because I had a coupon, and thought I should use it before it expires. I didn't need both packages at this moment, but we eat rice regularly so I went ahead and bought both since it was a good savings. I didn't realize I forgot to give the cashier the coupon until I got home. What is my problem?

I actually follow a great blog that is all about coupons and savings. I visit it frequently and I am on the daily e-mail blast. I am not sure why because I am terrible at managing coupons and making a plan of where to go for the best deals. I find the blog fascinating and inspirational, I just can't execute any of it worth a darn.

Any suggestions? Is there any hope for me? I'd love to be able to stretch a dollar, but unfortunately my dollars are made out of paper and not elastic!

Sami

I Get So Emotional, Baby.... Sans Whitney Houston

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~ Elizabeth Stone

Maybe you have read this quote before or perhaps this is your first time. Either way, it's a powerful and truthful statement. 

If you aren't a mom yet or if you're a mom-to-be, consider yourself warned.

If you already have been blessed with a child or children, then you already know what it's like to navigate this emotional roller coaster everyday. 

For all the moms out there, take a moment to think of the emotions you experiences in a 24 hour time span. Most nights I blame my exhaustion on all the running around I do (the two flights of stairs in our house provide me with good exercise each day), but I think I'm also wiped from managing my waves of feelings. It takes a toll on you.

Here's an example... One day last summer Noodle got hit in the face with a toy at daycare. When I got the phone call at work, her teacher said she had a cut under her nose and it had been bleeding pretty badly. Panicked, worried and concerned, I rushed over to the center as fast as I could. I don't even remember the car ride because I was preoccupied with my flood of thoughts and emotions. When I got there, her class and teachers were in the cafeteria and Noodle just sat there quietly in a different outfit. She didn't run to meet me like she usually did. I saw that she hadn't eaten anything on her plate and she had puffy eyes. My heart dropped. Then they sent us off with a bag filled with her bloody clothes and shoes. I brought her to the doctor to be examined. Luckily there was no major concerns and it healed after a week. What a relief!

I experience great empathy when my girls aren't feeling well. My heart feels heavy because I wish you could do something more to get that stubborn fever to break (beside alternating between Tylenol and Motrin every 4-6 hours).

Then they are those wonderful and exciting moments that I will treasure forever. Like when they smiled at me for the first time, let out their first belly laughs and the day Noodle recited the entire alphabet perfectly. Gosh, those are great moments!

Oh and who could forget about the routine doctor visits, which entail vaccinations those first few years. No matter if it was my first or tenth visit, I still get overwhelmed with sadness when the nurse comes in to administer the shots. My heartaches as I look into my infant's face and see her happy smile turn into a fearful expression, and then they bellow out a terrible scream when the needle hits the skin. Oh, it's just so heartbreaking.

Some of my favorite moments are when I watch my daughters interact with one another. I love how Noodle will sit and explain things to Bean. Though Bean is too young to understand, Noodle doesn't know any different and goes to great lengths to point out things and to tell her stories. Bean just smiles and laughs. You can already tell she adores her big sister.

But, sometimes I find things to worry about. Bean might be playing around on the ground - happy and excited - and I think about "What Ifs." Like "What if she got sick with something terrible" or "What if she was kidnapped." (Ok, don't write me off just yet as psycho mom!). I think the fear turns into worry when I know I can't control everything in their world - like their health or bullying in school. 

Which brings me to the worry and concerns I will feel as my daughters get older. There's no hiding it that girls (and women) can be mean and hurtful. I dread the times when my daughters' feelings will be hurt or when they will be teased or bullied. I remember experiencing this growing up and I don't know how my mom kept it together and helped me get through it. When we talk about it now, she really opens up about it but she never let on at the time. She was strong and offered good advice. I just hope I can be like that with my girls if that time comes (I hope it never does, but I am not that naive.)

But I wouldn't change anything. After knowing all that I know about motherhood and time and emotion it requires to be a parent, I am so glad my husband and I embarked on this journey. The rewards are endless and the moments are priceless. Although, it's exhausting most days, it's well worth the effort and time because they are the most amazing little blessings roaming the Earth!

Motherhood has taught me a lot of things - mostly things about myself I never knew before. Probably the most important lesson is that loving with all your heart makes you feel complete yet vulnerable. But, in my opinion, the only way to love your child is unconditionally and with all you have. If you love them with everything you've got, then you know at the end of the each day you gave it your best shot. And that's all that really matters.

And for the worrying... and mommy guilt... I try to remind myself of this quote...

"Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere. " ~ Glenn Turner

Do you find yourself caught up in the same emotions? Please share your experiences and thoughts.

Sami

The Sugar Aftermath

I love that my daughters are spoiled by our family. It presents DH and I with challenges at times, but they are well worth it. It's just a wonderful feeling. A great sense of security, really. However, when the Easter Bunny visits a few different locations, the amount of candy starts to accumulate... quickly.

Noodle has more candy than any three year old should have. She started eating it early yesterday morning. After finding her basket, she downed a few Tootsie Rolls, then moved to Hershey Kisses, and before we knew it, she started to eat a solid chocolate bunny. It's wasn't yet 8:30 a.m. and she consumed more sugar than we would ever allow in one day.

We forced her to eat two spoonfuls of her oatmeal much to her dismay. After we cleared the breakfast table, she snuck a few more Tootsie Rolls and M&M'S.

Getting ready for church and attending Mass were good distractions, but unfortunately they were temporary. When we got home, she went right back at it. We had to police the baskets and remind her that she couldn't have anymore before Easter dinner.

She didn't eat much lunch. It was time for a nap. We did the usual naptime routine, and for about 15 minutes we thought she was sleeping. We were wrong. She wouldn't go to sleep. She looked me in the eyes and said, "Mommy, I am not sleepy at all." (This is very unusual because I don't think she has ever gone a day without a nap - even if it was a quick 30 mintue catnap.)

So by 1:30 p.m. she had consumed more candy than we could count, hadn't eaten a meal yet and refused to nap. This can't be good, I thought to myself.

My family had more candy for her when we arrived for Easter dinner. Of course, that meant more candy had to be "tried out." Noodle kept reassuring me, "Just one more, Mommy." Yeah, okay. She ate very little dinner and somehow managed to run around outside for 30 minutes and then downed a good amount of Goldfish crackers. By 6:30 p.m., when we were heading home, she had heavy eyelids and she just zoned out the window.

Then she got a burst of energy. As we headed to the bathroom to start her bath water, she insisted that it was nice outside and that she had to ride her tricycle. She fought with me in the bathroom,"You aren't listening to me!" she yelled. "I need to ride my tricycle!" I couldn't help but laugh. She was a mess and exhausted.

While I read her a few books, she could barely keep her eyes open. Less than a minute after we closed the last book, she was falling asleep.

Now, I must decide what to do with all of this candy. For those of you who may be thinking I am exaggerating, here's just a portion of our collection. It's not a good sign when you have several duplicates.

To get the full effect, sing this to "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

On the 5th Day of Easter, my true love gave to me....

5 Cartons of Peeps

4 Reese's Cups

3 Creme Eggs

2 Cotton Tubs

And a partridge in a pear tree And white Pez Easter bunny!

One word... RIDICULOUS!

Did you have a sugar-filled Easter, too?

Sami

Easter and the Sand Dollar

A few weeks ago on our weekly venture to our local public library, Noodle and I checked out Easter books. She chose a couple about Easter eggs and bunnies, and I chose one more pertinent to the holiday, The Legend of the Sand Dollar: An Inspirational Story of Hope for Easter by Chris Auer. The book is a little over Noodle's head, but I really enjoyed it and have read it several times on my own.

The book is about the symbolism between the sand dollar and Christ's life and resurrection. The main character, Kerry, learns of this legend from her cousin, Jack, while visiting the beach. At the end of the book, the author includes a poem illustrating the symbolism:

There's a pretty little legend

That I would like to tell

Of the birth and death of Jesus

Found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely,

You'll see that you find here

Four nail holes and a fifth one

Made by a Roman's spear.

On one side: the Easter lily.

Its center is the star

That appeared unto the shepherds

And led them from afar.

The Christmas poinsettia 

Etched on the other side

Reminds us of his birthday,

Our happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open,

And here you will release

The five doves awaiting

To spread good will and peace.

This simple little symbol

Christ left for you and me

To help us spread his gospel

Through all eternity.

~Author Unknown

I don't think I will ever look at a sand dollar the same way again. I thought this was a touching book that represents the life and death of Jesus Christ. This poem reminds me the reason we celebrate Easter.

Happy Easter to you and yours!

Sami

Recipe: Spinach and Tomato Pizza

DH loves when I make homemade spinach and tomato pizza. It's an easy and tasty dinner option (and vegetarian, too).

You'll need:

1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1 package of frozen spinach, drained
1 tomato and/or dried tomatoes, sliced
1 cup of feta cheese
2 cups of mozzarella cheese
1 tube of Pillsbury thin crust pizza dough

Pre-bake the pizza dough for 5 minutes at 400 degrees. Drain the spinach and pick it with a fork to loosen. In a bowl, mix the olive oil and garlic. Spread a thin layer of the oil mix on the warm dough. Leave some oil aside as you will use it later. Next, place the spinach on top of the oil mix. Then, layer it with feta cheese and tomato slices. Drizzle a little of the oil on top of the feta and tomato. Last, top it off with the mozzarella cheese. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 7 minutes. (Some ovens may require more or less time).

This is what our pizza looked like last night. It was delicious!

Hope you try it out. If you do, let me know what you think!


Sami