Tuesday Tidbits

Last night I did something I haven't done in over a year.  I went back to Zumba.  I had every intention of sticking with Zumba throughout my pregnancy with Mr. Adorable.  I was committed, I was ready, I was excited.  And then, I was sick.  With Diva, I had morning sickness for 7 months.  I thought that was pretty bad, and that it couldn't be worse.  Well, Mr. Adorable decided to show me that it could be worse.  I was sick every.single.day. of my 36 weeks of pregnancy with him.  So, between being sick, tired, commuting, working, and caring for Diva, Zumba got dropped like a hot potato.

Right now I am off for the summer, and D is between jobs and recovering from hand surgery.  I have a bit more opportunity to get out and exercise, so I decided to suck it up and get back to something I enjoy. 

I could tell it had been a while since I had left Mr. A to go and do something for myself.  As I was heading out the door, I told D to try to hold off on nursing until I got back.  He obviously said "No problem", since nursing isn't his thing, it's mine.

I barely made it to class on time.  In fact, they had started, so I scurried into the back corner of the room.  I ended up in front of a giant fan. Score!  Just as I felt like I might die (this was my first attempt at real exercise in a loooong time), I realized we were halfway through.  I love Zumba!  I love the workout, and I love that while I am doing it, I feel hawt.  In actuality, I am just hot. And sweaty.  And not as coordinated as half of the Zumba gals.  But still, I enjoy myself, and there are plenty of forms of exercise that I can't say that about. (I only run when chased by dogs.)

Anybody there? Bueller?

Wow, I've been gone a long time. Life changed pretty dramatically after the last time I posted (over a year ago).  Diva has finished kindergarten, and is on her way to first grade.  I'm still teaching Special Education and loving it.  We've moved into a slightly bigger place. And we had this guy-

Mr. Adorable was born on December 9th, 2011.  He was four weeks early due to another fight with pre-eclampsia.  His entrance into the world took a toll on both of us, but we came out of it like champs and were home with Diva and Daddy-o a week later.  Mr.Adorable will be 7 months old tomorrow.  He's a wild man, he knows what he wants and how to get it, and he's an adventurer!  We are loving every minute of being a family of four.  If only Mr. Adorable would start sleeping through the night, life would be perfect!

I have tons to say, and haven't been coming to my place to say it, so plan on seeing me around!

Tuesday Tidbits

*Tomorrow I return to work, and Diva returns to preschool. Vacation is officially over. Hello, 5 am. Not that waking at 5 am is anything new (thanks to my early bird), but there's a big difference between being home and half awake, and making an hour long commute with a loquacious 5 year old.

* We had meatloaf muffins for dinner. I have to pimp the meatloaf muffin for a second. Once I discovered the joys of meatloaf in a muffin tin, I haven't gone back to the loaf. I love the way they cook faster (way convenient now that we get home later), I love the portion control, and if there is a way for a lump of meat to actually be kind of cute, this is it. (Sorry vegetarians, don't hate me!)

*I tried Zumba last night for the first time! I LOVED it. I can see how an addiction can easily form. The music was awesome, the instructors were fabulous, and it was so. much. fun. I think I finally found the work out that was made for me. I am committing to going at least once a week, and twice a week when D is home in time. Love me some Zumba!

Happy Tuesday, Y'all! (Now that it's almost over). It is kind of nice to think I'll be starting my work week half way through!

Is this thing on?

I completely disappeared from blog land, and I am trying to make a comeback. Or in the words of LL Cool J, "Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years." And I have. Been here for years. However, I kind of lost my knack for blogging as I dove into my new job, my new commute, and my continuing job of being the mom to one precocious, charming, and quite exhausting 5 year old. Yes, 5. I can not believe that Diva is 5. It seems surreal. We recently registered her for kindergarten, another surreal act. As I downloaded the forms, I cried. I. Am. Not. Ready.

I am loving my job. Although I've been a teacher for 10 years, there are parts to this particular job that are new to me, and I think that's a good thing. I'm learning, and I love what I do. I always thought I needed to have my own classroom to truly be happy teaching, but it just isn't so. I have found that I like that my days are varied, and that I am always on the go.

I've missed blogging, so I am going to try to give it a go, yet again. I also have a TON to catch up on with all of the blogs I read. I'm hoping to find some moments here and there to get it all in!

Hello!!

Wow, I promised to get back into blogging regularly and I failed. Things have been insanely busy here, but in an insanely awesome way!

I GOT A JOB!!!!! Yes, I had to shout it! Just when I was starting to feel lower than low, just when I was thinking I may have to go in a whole new direction, things turned around. I applied for a 4th grade special educator position, and got a call on a Thursday to interview the next day. It turns out they had interviews set up, and when they got my application they decided to add me into the interview line up. I was the last interview, at 3:00 pm on Friday the 13th. At the end of the interview, the Special Services Director (my boss), leaned toward me and said, "I just have to tell you, you have interviewed beautifully. On Monday I got the call saying I was the top candidate and they would love for me to accept the position!! I started attending professional developments that Wednesday, and kids came back the following Wednesday. It has been one wild ride! I found out later that the interview team wanted to offer me the job right then and there, but decided to do things the "right" way and check my references. I am refreshing on evaluations and paperwork, since although I've been a teacher for a while now, this is my first year as a Special Educator. So far I love my job. The school community is amazing, and it feels like a perfect fit. The only downside is that I have a commute. It's not an issue at all right now, but winter will be tough. It's so worth it to me though, this job feels meant to be. Also, for the first time since 2008, my whole family has health insurance again!!

The Diva is starting at a new preschool not far from my job on Tuesday. I just couldn't bear to have her far from me, should anything happen, or should she need me. The preschool seems fabulous, and the director/Diva's teacher is a certified teacher. It turns out that she taught 10 minutes from where I taught in FL, in the same school district. She is from VT and she and her husband moved back here the same summer we did. Also, (not that it matters but I thought it was another weird coincidence) her husband is black. There were just all of these weird parallels in our lives. She comes highly recommended by my coworkers and she is really excited about the fact that Diva is writing and starting to read. I feel like this will be a great year for Diva, as this is her final year before Kindergarten!

I wanted to share my happy news, and I hope that life settles down a teeny tiny bit, and that I will be able to blog more often. I hope all is well in your worlds!

A Different Color

Today while teaching 3rd grade summer school, I had my cell phone out on the table, as I was using it for the stopwatch for running records. A picture of Diva is displayed as my wallpaper. One of my students looked down at the picture on the phone....

Student: Is that your daughter?
Me: Yes, it is.
Student: She's a different color than you.
Me: Yes, she is.


That's as far as the conversation went. I could see the little girl trying to comprehend. I guess I could have elaborated, but it really took me by surprise. Most of the time I don't even think about the fact that Diva's skin is darker than mine. She's just my Diva. After class, I looked at the picture again, thinking to myself, "Really? Is it really that obvious that Diva is "a different color?" Of course it is obvious to the naked eye, but she's not just a "different color", she's my baby. When I look at her, I see the brightness in her eyes (that are a deep brown like D's but shaped like mine). I see the perfect combination of mine and D's nose, and I see my chin. I see D's long eyelashes and distinguished eyebrows. But most of all, I see the precious little person who I am blessed to call my daughter. I guess it's just another reminder that we all see things differently.

Meal Plan Monday

Okay, getting back into the swing of things. This week we are eating

Italian sausages and potato salad
Grilled tilapia, summer squash, and rice
Bbq chicken (in the crock pot), mashed potatoes, tossed salad
Swedish meatballs (in the crock pot) over wide egg noodles
Salsa chicken (in the crock pot)


There's a whole lot of crock potting going on here this week!

Happy Monday!

Random on a Sunday

*I am about to finish my summer school teaching stint, and when it is done, I am officically jobless. I am still trying HARD to find a position for this school year. No luck so far. It is making us take a hard look at things, and we are trying to figure out our next step.

*With my job situation up in the air, The Diva finished up at the home daycare she had been attending since we moved to Vermont. She'll be hanging with me until I find a job, and then we will find her a preschool for her to attend. I can't believe she only has one more year before kindergarten. Time just slips right by us. Sometimes I try to cradle her in my arms like I did when she was a newborn, but it's super awkward. She hasn't grown out of general cuddling yet, for which I am grateful. I don't know what I will do when she stops climbing into my lap, throwing her arms around me and laying her head on my shoulder.

*I found out yesterday that my 1st grade boyfriend was killed in a car accident. We were good friends through elementary and middle school, lived down the street from me, stole his moms earrings to give me as a gift (my mom made me return them). A lot of my younger day memories include him. I haven't seen or spoken to him in years, but my heart goes out to his family.

Friday night, we had a family date night. We did dinner at Pizzeria Uno, and went bowling. Bowling is kind of becoming our family "thing". We've gone twice. But seriously, we enjoyed ourselves both times and plan to keep bowling a part of our family fun. I am a terrible, terrible bowler. More than once, a stranger has felt the need to come over from their lane to try to help me with my lame skills. That hasn't happened since I met D, but I'm still lousy. D likes to laugh at me, and Diva actually beat me (without bumpers) the first time we went bowling as a family. I am proud to say I actually beat my darling husband and daughter on Friday night! Go me!

I am working on a grocery list, so I am hoping to get meal plan Monday up and running again. I hope all is well in your worlds, and here's to a great week ahead!

It's been awhile

Between life and a crappy computer, I haven't had time in a while to update my blog. I am hoping our computer situation will improve soon, and I will be able to squeeze some more blogging in while I keep on truckin' through this thing called life.

I am back in the job hunting jungle, and things have been looking pretty bleak. I am trying to think positively, trying to remind myself that everything happens for a reason, trying to keep my faith. All of these things are hard, when the date of your last known paycheck is fast approaching.

We've also been going through some growing pains with the Diva. At least, I'd like to think of them as growing pains, and I hope that things will improve. A lot of the time lately, I question my abilities to be a great mom, because things are just so darn challenging. The Diva is so darn challenging. I've always admired how bright The Diva is, how quick she is with a witty response, how perceptive she is. Now it seems that all of those things are working against me. She's sassy, she's bossy, and sometimes she's manipulative and downright rude. I LOVE MY DAUGHTER. I love her with more intensity than I ever thought existed. But, she is wearing me out. I keep reminding myself that her persistence and strong will are traits that will be helpful to her as an adult. However, in the here and now, I am tired. I am tired of power struggles, and I am tired of having to defend each and every one of my decisions with her. Perhaps she'll have a great career as a lawyer some day, but as her mom, sometimes I just want an easy day sometimes. I've checked several books out of the library recently, including Raising Your Spirited Child. If ever there was a spirited child, Diva fits the bill. I am reading some interesting things, but honestly I am also reading some of it thinking, "Sure, in a perfect world that would work, but I don't see it working here." Sometimes I miss those days of reading books like What to Expect the First Year. Now there was a book that seemed to outline things pretty clearly. I don't think a how to manual exists for a strong willed, extremely bright, completely exhausting 4 year old. We'll just keep playing it by ear.

Now that I've done my venting, I'd like to close with the POSITIVE things about my daughter. Because while I've just done a lot of griping, she's still my girl, and she brings me so much joy. Currently, The Diva has just started a summer dance class that she loves. Dancing and making up songs (really long songs that often change topic several times) are two of her favorite activities. She's also mastered the hula hoop and is now trying to teach her self to hula hoop with three hula hoops at a time, and to walk and hula hoop at the same time. The Diva has also become kind of obsessed with writing. She loves writing the words she knows, spelling and writing new words, and labeling her pictures. Recently one morning, she asked me how to spell Lady Gaga while we were riding in the car. That night, I found a piece of paper with Lady Gaga written all over it. I blame my teenage siblings for her even knowing who Lady Gaga is. The Diva is sensitive and loving, helpful and compassionate.She is inquisitive and a deep thinker. I am really proud to be her mom!

Dead computers, meal plans, and snow. Oh my!

Our computer decided to lay down and die, for no apparent reason (D, of course, blames me). This of course, is driving me batty. I am blogging right now from my mom's house. When I was a teenager, the parents being out of town led to plans of debauchery, now I am just happy to be able to come over and do my laundry, and use the computer.

So, because the computer failed me last week, I didn't post a meal plan. We had a pretty tasty week too. Just in case you care, or are looking for new ideas, our meals last week were: Swedish Meatballs over farfalle pasta, curry rice soup, cajun chicken quesadillas, and spanish rice casserole. We ate pizza downtown on Tuesday night, before going to see Sesame Street Live (it was great!).

This week on the menu:
Monday: Chicken alfredo and garlic toast
Tuesday- Pork chops, rice, green beans
Wednesday- Cajun catfish, cauliflower, and garlic mashed potatoes
Thursday- Chicken, broccoli and rice skillet
Friday- Tacos (per Diva's request)

Diva and I are on vacation this week, I do not have a migraine (so far), and we have no house guest, unlike our February break. I am enjoying my time with Diva, she is such an amazing (and exhausting) girl. We spent the whole day outside yesterday enjoying a beautiful sunny day. Today, it is snowing. Yes, a few short days away from May, and it is snowing big, wet, sloppy flakes. Thank goodness for the library, lunch at the mall, and our plan to bake this afternoon. Let's hope we get a little more sunshine and warm weather soon!!!

Have a marvelous week!

Diva live on tv!

Diva was live on the local morning news this morning to promote our local Relay for Life. I am one proud mama!

Meal Plan Monday

Monday- Pork chops, garlic mashed potatoes, broccoli
Tuesday-Chicken and yellow rice bowls.
Wednesday-Ribs, corn, rice
Thursday-Shepherd's Pie
Friday- Chicken breasts, green beans, rice, and gravy. (No date night after all!)

Enjoy the week!

Random on a Saturday Morning

*I have been having a busy, stressful week. It's that time of the year where I try desperately to find a classroom teaching position. I have been tweaking my resume, and writing essays until the cows come home. I keep telling myself this is my year to get back in the classroom, and then I psych myself out. I am working on dropping the psych myself out part.

* This has been the lowest maintenance hair week Diva has ever had. I got 3 whole days out of her twist out, then 3 days of ponytails on her twisted out hair. The Darcy's Botanicals curling jelly has been like a miracle in a jar, keepin her curls looking fresh.

* I talked to my mother-in-law on the phone yesterday (it was her birthday), and was reminded of how much I miss her living close by. When we lived in Florida, she was my mom away from mom. I feel blessed to have such an amazing mother-in-law!

*Today Diva has dance class (the highlight of her week), and the rest of the weekend is unplanned so far. It feels nice to not have a jam packed weekend.


Enjoy your weekend, whether it be busy or laid back!!!

Diva's Easter hair and flair

I took Diva's two strand twists out for Easter Sunday,and we were all please with the results. Diva looked precious in her polka dotted dress, but of course she had to add her own personal touch with a pair of sunglasses from her collection. She was her usually posing self all day long.

Meal Plan Monday

Here it folks:

Monday- Goulash, salad, garlic toast
Tuesday- Salsa Chicken in the crockpot (love, love, love this!)
Wednesday-Beef Stroganoff
Thursday- Bbq chicken in the crockpot, cheesy mashed potatoes, broccoli
Friday- Pork chops (marinated in something), rice, green beans

A beautiful Saturday, and two strand twists

Saturday here in Vermont was ridiculously beautiful. We're talking sunshine and 80 degree weather, a rariety in early April here. When we got out and about, it was shocking to see so many people out walking, biking, etc. You forget other people live here when everyone is hunkered down for the bitter cold winter.

I wanted Diva to have a twist out for her Easter hair style, so Saturday morning I did two strand twists all over her head. This was the first time I had done twists all over, and I must say I LOVE THIS HAIR STYLE. It took us about two hours to complete. I recently bought some new hair products, and after conditioning Diva's hair with Darcy's Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Conditioner, I detangled her hair and got to work. Detangling was super easy after using the pumpkin seed conditioner. I love this stuff! I used the DB Madagascar Vanilla Styling Creme to do Diva's twists. The styling creme is another big hit here in the Blitenotwhack househould. I'm just loving these products and can't wait to try more!

While I was twisting Diva's hair, I had an emotional moment. Diva turned her little head toward me and said, "I want to watch you do this Mommy, so that someday when I have a little girl, I will know how to do her hair just like you do mine." Ack, I get teared up just typing that. Call me a dork if you will, but something about that just really got to me. It lets me know that deep down somewhere, Diva is learning about the love and importance I place on taking good care of her hair. As a biracial woman, Diva's hair will play a large part in her self image. I strive for it to be a positive one. I love her natural hair, and I want her to love it too!!

The twists got rave reviews all day long. I wasn't sure whether to feel insulted or flattered when people assumed she got her hair done at a salon. (I went with flattered!). Stay tuned for pics of her Easter Sunday twist out. We will definitely be rocking twists again soon!!


A back view of her twists

I love the confidence in this picture

I promise you she's not sad here, just being her usual dramatic self

Super Easy Hair Style

Because I work full time, and Diva plays hard, many of the hair styles I do on her hair start with 4 parts. Once I have done the work of parting, I can use the parts as a starting point and change things up throughout the week. This hair style is done by starting with 4 braids. I then take the bottom braids and bring them up to the front of the top braids, attaching them to the top hair elastics. Then, I take the top braids, and hook them in the back. I like to use a colorful knocker, but you can really dress this hairstyle up or down depending on the accessories you use.

Diva at play

These pictures were taken by Diva's teacher. Even on a cloudy day, my girl's "cool" sunglasses are always on standby.

Hair stylin'

This hair style was a few weeks ago, but I never posted pics. I sectioned off the front of Diva's hair and did tiny braids, and put them off to the side. Then I parted down the middle (kind of badly) and did two banded ponytails. Lastly, I took four tiny braids and crossed them over the other four. Diva has so much hair that they are kind of hard to see (since Diva has such thick hair), I would make them bigger next time. I added some colorful ponytail holders and had one happy Diva.

Meal Plan Monday

Here's the run down for the week at our house. I will be once again looking for some new ideas for next week, this week I am going with old faithful, people pleasers.

Monday-Chicken stir fry
Tuesday- Meatloaf muffins, broccoli, garlic mashed potatoes
Wednesday- Pork chops, green beans, noodles
Thursday- Baked chicken breasts, rice, cauliflower
Friday-Jambalaya

Have a fabulous week!