Bath Time.

I came across this article today on how often you bathe your kids. Since bathing is something I’m very OCD about, I felt the need to share it.

First of all, I was raised to take a shower every morning. I also have a “thing” about getting in bed at night if I’m dirty. Usually I take a bath at the end of the day to relax. At the very least, I’ll wash off my feet. I also make my husband wash off his feet, which he doesn’t really understand but grudgingly does it anyway. Why? Because I will badger him into submission if he tries to get into bed and rub his dirty feet on me.

YUCK.

I bathe my child EVERY DAY. When he was a newborn he was bathed every other day, but once he started crawling it was every day without exception. Even if he doesn’t seem dirty, we do it anyway. It’s a way to wind down the day and it’s part of our nightly routine. 

And I’m a little OCD about smells. I can smell dirty hair from several feet away. I dislike this.

I can’t IMAGINE how people who bathe 2-3 times a week live in their own filth. If you have running water, there is no excuse for being gross. I don’t care what you have going on, making time to shower should be a priority. And for heaven’s sakes, BATHE YOUR CHILDREN!!!
 

Southern Gentleman.

My goal in life is to turn this little boy into a Southern gentleman.

I’m adamant that he grow up to be well-mannered, well-spoken, and know how to effectively woo the RIGHT woman.

I’m adamant about this because I had to deal with many idiots before I met my husband.

Here is a brief run down:

1. The mama’s boy with the crazy ass family.

2. The one who said God “told” him he was supposed to marry me. (check, please!)

3. The stalker. Which was nice in the beginning … not so much after a week or so.

4. The one who seemed perfect, but couldn’t commit (this was a major disappointment).

5. The religious fanatic who made a pact not to kiss a girl before engagement.

6.  The one who had no sense of identity.

 7.  The one who thought I was fat and wanted me to stop eating carbs.

8. The one several ones who were too afraid to ask me out.

I don’t know how you raise a little boy into a self-confident man who isn’t afraid to chase a woman, but at the same time isn’t a man-whore … but I’m going to give it my best. I think that it’s the mother’s responsibility to train her sons to be mannerly, but the father needs to teach him how to be a MAN.

We’re starting by learning how to say “yes ma’am” and “no sir” and “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me.” 

Baby steps.



The Grass Is Always Greener.

What would I do without coffee??

My little boy woke me up every hour from 11:00-3:00 last night crying and calling for me. I think he might be getting sick. If I was a stay-at-home mom, the lack of sleep would be okay. I could nap. I wouldn’t have to make myself look presentable. I could sleep until everyone else in my house woke up.

But … alas. I have to go to work and function at my best.On days like today, I wish I could just stay home with my boy.

Part of what makes me a mom is the ability to fight through exhaustion, gulp down that coffee, put on my lipstick and start my Thursday.

Girls, we need to give ourselves more credit for being hardcore.

It’s For Charity.

Today, my main goal was this: to bake several batches of Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies for a bake sale that we have going on at work this week. 

Personally, I never ever buy items from bake sales if they appear homemade. You never know who made them or what is in their kitchen. But for some reason I felt the need to bake the cookies myself for this event rather than buy them from the store … even though I would never eat them if I wasn’t the one making them. 

AM I HYPOCRITICAL?! 

Back to baking.

I gathered my items. I turned the oven to 375 and watched old episodes of Jersey Shore while it heated. And judge if you must, but that show is addictive. It’s awesomely bad.

Then, our power went off (it was later restored), the Toddler was extra-difficult, I ran behind schedule, and when I finally, FINALLY was ready to begin baking for real … I ran out of vanilla.

Crisco Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
  • 3/4 stick Crisco® Baking Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
  • OR 3/4 cup Crisco® Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
  • 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 3/4 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 (6 oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 cup)
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

  1. HEAT oven to 375ºF.

  2. COMBINE shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into shortening mixture until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

  3. DROP by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. 
     
  4. BAKE 8 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies, or 11 to 13 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet on a cooling rack. Remove cookies to rack to cool completely.

  5. TIP
    * If nuts are omitted, add an additional 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips




And Just Like That …

… my stress is O-V-E-R. Well, most of it anyway. I got through my morning without

1. Cursing into the microphone
2. Mispronouncing anyone’s name or title
3. Crying
4. Falling down

And so, I consider today a success. Although I did do that annoying thing that people do that involves walking up to the microphone and then tapping it, whilst saying IS THIS ON?

Alas.

Someone asked me afterwards, “do you like public speaking?” To which I replied “hell-to-the-no.” But it got me thinking … the problem I have seems to be WORRYING about an upcoming event, not the event itself.

My dad has two phrases that he has a tendency to overuse. The first one is, “The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.” I never really got it. But now I think I do. 

The other phrase was “Mind over matter,” which I TOTALLY got from day one.

I’m the Queen of Checking Out In Odd Or Uncomfortable Situations.