Election Day

Today I am SO proud to be an American. Not only was Obama elected to be the 44th President of the United States of America but I exercised my right to vote. I am so happy to live in a country that we can actually choose who leads us. What a fantastic process we have. Granted, the process has flaws and does need a lot of help... but we do have a voice.

Thank you out there to everyone that went out and voted. Now - we've got an interesting 4 years ahead of us.

In closing... even if your candidate didn't win... be content in the fact that you had a voice in this election. Be happy that we live in a country that allows a public vote. Be happy and content that you have a choice.

Now I'm off to watch the news!

Being Happy about an awful photo....

I hate having my picture taken. I have a total aversion to seeing my double chin! Most of you that know me already know this about me.... the ones that don't... yeah, I want chin-o-suction! I feel as though from the neck up I look so much heavier than I actually am! Granted - I can still lose a lot of weight and I desperately need to tone up but since I have been in high school I've always felt as though I have a double chin! The only time I didn't mind having my photos taken was around my wedding and at that point I was pretty darn underweight. I am 5'10'' and for my wedding, I weighed about 128 lbs. Once I hit a "normal healthy" weight though - my chin comes back. Anyhow... that's not what this post is about but as I searched for pictures of Kelly and I ... this is the only one I could find. Not only do we both look pretty harsh in this picture... it is a goodness awful picture of me! But we had been driving for about 8 or so hours with 2 toddlers in the backseat. Actually - this might have even been day 2 of our drive. We drove from MD to Wisconsin last summer with the 2 kids to drop her car off at her mom's house before she moved to Okinawa with her husband. Anyhow - I decided to share this picture because this is one of the last times I spent with Kelly and we had such a great time! So I need to become comfortable with showing pictures and actually being in them. Otherwise... I won't have any to look at in the future!

Last night was a little rough for me. It was the season finale of Army Wives. It's a show that Kelly introduced to me last year. It used to be one of her favorite shows. I started watching it last year with her and we watched the season finale together. This year, it was just me. I miss my best friend. She's actually more than that... she's kind of like the sister that I've never had. We're so much alike but really different at the same time. Her husband and my husband are the polar opposites (hers is pretty anal about things and mine is extremely laid back!). But she's the first real friend that I've never had a catty feeling about. Most of you know what that's like - gals can get a little funny when you get a group of them together!

Her and I have never been competitive about things and I've supported her decisions on doing certain things that I knew would be best for her... even though I wasn't happy about them! When she decided to go back to work full time it was terrible! She was my neighbor and our sons played together on a regular basis. She was like a built in playdate! It was great! So when she talked to me about going back full time - I supported her because I could tell that's what she wanted to do. She was having problems staying at home and keeping the house totally spotless (which is how her husband expected it to be when he came home!). It was too much pressure on her and the daycare situation she would use was spectacular! It was right at the workplace so she could drop in whenever she wanted. It was a great deal for her - sucked for me though! I missed my lunches with her! But she called me almost every day on the way home from work - really, now that I look back I think she called me more from work than my hubby did! Then again though, she talked back and hubby is not a big talker!

So Kelly has now been in Okinawa for a little over a year and she is actually in California right now on vacation with her husband (who is in a conference). I can't believe that I'm not flying out there!! Flights have dropped in price big time - a few weeks ago I checked it out and for me to fly out there it would have been about $700. The other day I checked and it's now about $269. Unfortunately, I don't have anywhere for Bryce to go and it's just not a reasonable time for me to travel. There's a lot I have to do here. But - she's in the states!!! It's not fair! Needless to say I am devastated.

On the flip side of this. How incredibly blessed am I that I have a friendship this great that I feel devastated that I can't hang out with her. She's thinking of coming back to the states next summer and staying around longer so Bryce and I would actually be able to hang out for awhile - so I just need the patience to wait that long! I am so incredibly lucky to have a friend like this. Heck, a few weeks ago I had such an awful stomach virus and at 10:30 pm I called her (11:30 am their time) just to complain about how awful I felt and to see if she had any advice (her hubby's a doctor). She was so sweet and while she didn't have any advice on what I was asking .... it was great to talk to her.

It's definitely a shame that I can't make it out to California right now but this contentment therapy has really helped me think of the flip side of situations. I feel so blessed by God right now that he has granted me to be in such a great friendship with her. And so I am going to proudly post one of the last pictures Kelly and I took together (actually I think I only found 2 of them and the other one I posted awhile ago!). Double chin and all..... :-)

The Washing Machine

Have you ever had a stinky washing machine? A few years ago in our townhouse we bought a new Kenmore washer and dryer - I loved having new appliances! When we moved I figured that I would just have to deal with older appliances in the new house until we could afford to get new ones. So imagine my happy surprise when the house we bought had the exact same washer and dryer that we had in our townhouse! I was thrilled!

But that happiness soon went away. The washer and dryer we have now don't ever really make the clothes smell good. Actually, every once in awhile they come out smelling a little moldy I think. I thought maybe I was leaving them in the washer to long so I bought a timer so that I remembered to take them out right away. When the wash goes in the timer gets set at 34 minutes and when it beeps I transfer the wash to the dryer. Well, it really hasn't helped that much. I just think our washer and dryer are a little stinky. Now, don't get me wrong... it's not awful... it's just not totally fresh smelling. So I figured it was about time to look into how to clean the inside of the washer to see if that would help. Here is what I ended up doing:

Step 1 - With your machine empty, run it full of hot water to the largest load setting. When the tub is full and begins to agitate, add 3 to 4 cups of distilled white vinegar to the water. Then add ½ cup of baking soda. Allow the machine to agitate for a few moments, then turn off the machine. Let the water sit for thirty minutes to one hour.

Step 2 - After allowing the vinegar/baking soda mixture to penetrate the grime in the washing machine tub, restart the machine, allowing it to complete the wash cycle. At the end of the wash cycle, as the tub begins to drain, advance the washing machine to the spin cycle. On many washing machines, this will cause the washing machine to spin as it drains, which can help to further loosen any residue. If yours doesn't do this, simply allow it to drain. Turn off the machine.

Step 3 - Wipe the inside of the washing machine tub with a wet cloth. If desired, use a cloth soaked in a solution of half hot water and half white vinegar. Be sure to wipe all inside surfaces, including the bottom and blades of the agitator and the top of the tub just under the lid. (It is sometimes helpful to use a wire toilet brush around the top rim and in hard-to-reach places.) If the washing machine has a fabric softener and/or a bleach dispenser, remove these and clean thoroughly before replacing.

(taken from How to Clean Your Top-Loading Washing Machine)

I wouldn't say the inside of the cleaner smells any better (or worse really) and I haven't really thought the laundry has smelled bad recently (really, the mildewy smell was hit or miss and not terrible - my hubby didn't smell it as much as I did) but it was probably time for the washer to be washed anyhow! I think I'm going to add this cleaning to my list of things to do - I'll probably do this process every other month or so. A little vinegar and baking soda isn't going to hurt anything! Although I still would really like to have a new front loading washer and dryer. But - for now, I need to be happy with what I have!

Thankfully, I have a functioning washer and dryer in my house and while I complain about them more than I should and grumble that they are in the basement and have to climb 2 staircases to get the clothes to their closets.... I should be extremely grateful that I don't have to put it all in the car and traipse off to the laundromat! When I was little I spent the summers at our summer shack with my parents and grandparents in Long Island. We had no washer and dryer there and every week off the laundromat we went. It was such a pain! So really, I have to stop complaining about my washer and dryer and feel blessed that I have one convenient in my home and that I have the opportunity to give them a cleaning.

So - if you've got a washer and dryer in your home - think about treating them to a "spa day" and wash them out and wipe them down. Then thank your lucky stars that they are conveniently located in your home! Heck, we're lucky we're not still carrying our clothes down the the local river with a washboard!

Closets... ugh

I love closets. I love that you can stuff things in them and close the doors. Then - the room actually does look tidied up!

What I hate about them though is that eventually they do have to be straightened up and cleaned out. Especially with a little one that is growing quite quickly. I've learned that I hate that he's growing up. For all of the obvious reasons and also - I don't know what to do with all of his clothes that he's grown out of! Plus, I have a habit of yard saleing and picking up clothes at cheapo prices that I know will fit him later. For example... my son has the tiny tiniest waist! He needs those pants with the adjustable waists. So if I find them at a yard sale... I buy them! Right now I've got a few pair in every size up to 6. He's currently growing out of 3T. I mean, you can't go wrong with those adjustable waists - especially if they're jeans! You can wear jeans all year long! So at some point he's gonna fit them! It's just finding a place for them until then.

So - this weekend I decided to clear out all of Bryce's summer stuff, move in the fall/winter stuff and re-organize his closet. So all the while... I tried to keep the "contentment therapy" challenge in mind and thought... "we're so blessed to have all of these clothes!" instead of my usual grouchy thoughts.

We really are blessed. I mean, there's tons and tons of people out there that just don't have enough clothes. It's starting to get chilly around here and there are lots of people around that don't have the option to change out summer clothes for fall/winter clothes.

Anyhow... here are some pics of what I did. I forgot to take some before pictures so they're all after pics:
Now, the closet is still not totally finished. I have to figure out his clothes - I'm not sure if a lot of the older ones still fit and I have to see if some of the newer ones have to be tailored (some of them do not have the adjustable waist!)

For the clothes that he has grown out of... well, that's another story. I would donate them but I'm not sure yet if we are going to have another. Some of you know that we've had some fertility issues and we will be starting some therapies in December so there is a possibility of having another. Therefore, I'm not quite ready to part with it yet! Those clothes are now all over the nursery (well, what was the nursery until my miscarriage). That organization is for another day though! But for now... instead of looking at organizing closets and switching out clothes as a meandering chore... thing of it as a blessing! You are blessed because you have the clothes to do so!

Contentment Therapy

I found this blog via another blog I read written by Tootsie (the link to her blog is on the right hand column). This blogger writes about "Contentment Therapy." She's trying to get other people to join her on her journey to contentment and I decided I am going to give it a go.

She wants us to blog on it daily and I am definitely going to try and do this. I've been wanting to blog on a more regular basis anyhow and this might just be the way to help me do it. Also - I had also planned on straightening up my house and I want to use this challenge to help me do so. Clutter and chaos in my house just causes me to stress. I've never really been that great at putting things away or doing things on a routine and I want to get better at it. I can't stand having things all over the place! Although really, I am the one to blame for most of that! I want to be able to do my laundry on a daily basis so it doesn't turn into a huge task. Right now I have piles upon piles in my room and I am dreading doing it!

So for November I am going to share my journey on getting my house put together with you! I'm going to try and get the many, many projects that I've wanted done ... done and also work on others around the house (and being frugal while doing so!).

We're supposed to start on November 1st but I'm going to try and start today. It should be interesting. Wish me luck!

So please go vist.... "THE 30DAY CONTENTMENT THERAPY SESSION "

Upside-Down Apple Pecan Pie

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com about 2 years ago. It has quickly become my most favorite apple pie! I love it because I am a HUGE nut fan and I love that the top of this pie is FULL of carmely nuts!

Bryce and I went apple picking a few weeks ago and came home to make our apple pie. I used Golden Delicious apples and 2 other kinds of apples. I can't remember the names of those 2 other types of apples for the life of me right now! Anyhow - here is how our pie turned out:



and here is the link to this FANTASTIC recipe! Upside-Down Apple Pecan Pie

I need to update!

Wow - I haven't blogged in awhile. Sorry to my readers out there - if there are any at all! It gets quite busy here with an active 4 year old and 2 VERY needy dogs! Although really, I should be blogging more because when I'm on the computer Zena (our 1st dog) doesn't bother me. It's when we're downstairs that she's constantly asking for something. She's my little piggy. She wants food all the time (not that I give it to her all the time but she's ALWAYS asking for it!) and if it's not food - she wants a rawhide. She asks by scratching the floor, cabinets or appliances. Oh yeah, btw... remember, I have hardwood floors. So when she scratches the floor I pretty much go nuts! It drives me crazy!! Although, she's my first "baby" and I love having her around to keep me company.

Well, it just got busy again... the painter guy just called and he's in the neighborhood. We need to get quotes on getting our house trim repainted and some it needs to be replaced (so not a fun thing to spend money on!). He needs me to walk the house with him SO since I haven't posted any pictures recently I will leave you with some pictures from Bryce's first day of preschool this year.

Here he is trying to be a bug (waffles over the eyes make a very good fly costume!). He insisted on me taking this picture!
And here is the little cutie pie before we headed off for school. He is doing much better this year and I think actually even enjoying it!Well, the doorbell has rung.... blog you later!