Day Book

Outside my window it is an overcast, cold, breezy day.  Makes me want to go back home, put on my pjs and read all day.

I am thinking about making something different for Thanksgiving but I don't think the family will let me. We already have mexican for Christmas, which they love, but Thanksgiving has remained very traditional.  Terry will fry the turkey (we are brining it this year, yes we are rebels, lol).  There will be stuffing, green bean casserole and some sort of pie.  Now don't get me wrong, they LOVE the thanksgiving meal. I always think it is just so predictable, but maybe that's why they like it so much.

I am thankful for the noise and chaos that is our family.  We are loud, messy, funny, and oftern disorganized, but we have lots of love and that is what's important.

In the kitchen is a VERY clean refridgerator.  Terry even used to drill to remove all the rails and we clean all shelfs, bins, glass, rails.........everything.  I even put non adhesive shelf liner on the shelves.  Hopefully, I will only have to wash the liner in the future. 

I am wearing my usual.  Black pants, grey turtleneck, black heels.  I DO own colors. Black, white and gray are colors.  LOL

I am wondering if this will be the first year we do not all sit down together to eat.  With the 3 girls all getting engaged recently, there are more places to visit on holidays.  One daughter is even working, grandbabies going here and there.........oh well, we will all see each other at some point and for that I am very thankful. As a result of our rapidly expanding family, this year we drew names for Christmas. We have never done that before. The kids were.........kids.........and we just bought everyone something. Now we have the 2 granddaughters who are old enough this year to really get into presents, plus a new 3 year old grandson, plus 3 future son in laws and it's just ALOT.  The kids all loved the idea.  We all agreed we could get the babies anything no matter what name you got. 

I am reading the latest Sword of Truth book by Terry Goodkind.  I finished the last book in the Mitch Rapp series by Vince Flynn and the last book in the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffrey Deaver.  I felt lost for a few days.  With Vince Flynn passing away, there won't be anymore books about Mitch Rapp so I need to start some of the books I have been putting off.

I am hoping that it warms up "just a tad" later this week.  I have a 4 day weekend, hubby is off also YAY!!, and I need to do a few things outside in the yard.  But if it stay in the 40's, the bushes will just have to stay untrimmed  LOL

I am looking forward to the next symphony in December. I finally bought a dress for the ocassion. And it's blue!!

I am learning to adjust to fewer people in the house.  While cleaning out the fridge this weekend, I realize I am still cooking like there are 6 people eating every night, which is not the case.  Nor are the people who are eating growing teenagers.  Gone are the days of cooking for 10-12 just to feed 4 teenagers.  Not sure if I am happy about this.

Around the house Terry and I are thinking of redoing the bathrooms.  The front (and guest) bathroom has been the same yelllow color for YEARS and I am sick of it.  Plus, when your husband is general manager of a granite company, you MUST have granite counter tops!!!  On the plus side, we don't pay for labor and get materials at very discounted prices. 

One of my favorite things about this time of year is the lights. Last year we didn't decorate but we are this year.  Lots of lights, and a tree, and I am going to use the christmas dishes.  Why wait?  I don't want to look back one day and regret not doing it.

The rest of my week is pretty standard. Working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.  Thursday is thanksgiving. But after that???  Not sure what the weekend holds.

Alesia

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Sun worshipping

I have never been a sun worshipper. I have always been proud to be a very white, 45 year old woman who could easily pass for 35. As I got older, I always worried about sun damage, skin cancer and wrinkles.
My husband has always told me to relax. (He tells me that alot). He assures me that going to the beach occassionally will not make me suddenly look 50.
I can usually talk him out of going, I mean we have a pool. No sharks, no jelly fish, no sand and I can go in whenever I want.
Well his work has been chaotic lately. To the point that it is all he thinks about when he gets home at 930. So when he mentioned going to the beach today, how could I tell him no??
So we went.
We drank, we got way to much sun and got sand in places that shouldn't have sand.... And it was just what we needed.


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Day book

Outside my window........Across the street from my office is a two story white house with a wrap around porch.  The lady who lives there often has company for lunch and they sit on the porch. When you go outside you can hear then talking and laughing and having a good time.  I need more friends like that.

I am thinking about when you to start the process of taking the CPA exam. Once you start you have 18 months to pass the whole thing. I am worried about running out of time, I am worried about finding time to study, I am really worried about just not passing it.

I am thankful that I get to be such a big part of my grandbabies lives.  I could not imagine only seeing them a few times a year.

In the kitchen there is........nothing.  I have no idea what to have for dinner. Seems like a reoccurring problem lately.  I used to plan out meals for the week, get all the necessary items on the weekend and didn't have to stress over it.  I can't seem to get back to that.

I am wearing dress pants, a blue print shirt and low heels.  Yes, low heels. Sigh....

I am going to have Lasik eye surgery on Friday.  I am not really nervous, deep down I think I won't be a candidate for some reason.  It's the $940 that's bothering me.  I don't normally spend that much money on myself. 

I am reading "Consent to Kill" by Vince Flynn.  I have finished the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffrey Deaver so not to finish the Mitch Rapp series.

I am looking forward to the overnight stay for the surgery. Even though it is only 1 night it will be nice to alone with my husband.

Around the house it is a disaster.  Tax season takes it toll on cleaning. There are cobwebs everywhere I look it seems like. In years past my children have helped with it but not this year. The kitchen remodel is only half done, the ice maker in the fridge went out and two of the DirecTv boxes are fried.  I think I need a week off just to clean and schedule repair men.  And you can't put everyday life on hold to take care of the extra stuff so..........sigh.

A favorite quote for today.........."Keep Calm and Snuggle Your Husband". 

A few plans for the rest of the week - Just work and more work. Then the eye surgery on Friday and back home Saturday afternoon. Spend Sunday getting ready for the week ahead.

Post your own daybook and/or read some wonderful entries at http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Yesterday my husband:

Vacuumed my car
Changed the oil
Replaced the windshield wipers
Refilled the washer fluid and
Helped clean the inside.

And I didn't even ask him to.

Thank you baby.


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How homemade laundry detergent ruined my marriage

When I started blogging I met some amazing women. I am fortunate to have a diverse online friend base.  I met my sister from another mother.
I met lots of homeschooling mothers.
I met women who inspire me, make me laugh, and make me think.
Because of them (I got to blame somebody) I am hooked on Pinterest.

Also, because of one of them, I started making homemade laundry detergent.
I LOVE making it. Everytime I make it I feel empowered. I feel domestic. I feel like goddess.  I feel................I feel I need to get out more.  LOL
It truly does save alot of money.

My (soon to be ex) husband was not thrilled.  He liked name brand EVERYTHING.  He started by pointing out the the box of Borax said to add 1 cup per load and I was using 1 cup per 5 gallons. And it doesn't suds when  you put it in the machine.

Ok, thank you for the information. I read the box, I know what says. Can we get on with life?

Apparently we could not.

He fussed about the lack of suds, he fussed about the lack of smell, he fussed about the directions of the box.

EVERY TIME I MADE IT.!!!

So I did what any loving wife would do, I bought him the store brand.  But he never stopped fussing about the homemade stuff. I mean, come on, me and girls liked it and he didn't have to use it. But he fussed anyway.  And over time I resented it. Every time I bought the store brand I wanted to hit him with it.  Yes I am very level headed. 

Needless to say, it was not just the laundry detergent but it had to start somewhere.

My life is a movie

I was watching Sex and the City movie and realized I am Carrie Bradshaw after John leaves her on their wedding day.

Numb, well almost
Barely eating.
Not living.
She dyed her hair, I cut mine.
Just going through the motions of everyday life but not really participating. I make it through most of them.

The only thing I don't have is 3 best friends to cry to. 

We always think we can withstand anything that life throws at us but, sometimes, life blindsides us and we are left dazed and confused.

I don't hold out much hope for a happy ending. 

1st chistmas

Today we had Aurora's 1st Christmas.  (My youngest grand daughter)

Her mother is off today but works tomorrow, so today was half the family, tomorrow the other half.

So family arrived with gifts, but we hadto have bananas first.  LOL

After the bananas we got down to gifts.  There were several gifts of bottles which she was vary interest in, except that they were empty.

Her parents got her a stuffed animal that talks. She loved it.

She also got a toy that she can walk behind. She hasn't quite figured it out yet.

Our tradition is homemade mexican on Christmas. Again, due to my children's work schedules, we have divided the meal into two day. Today is Chicken Tortilla Soup with homemade cheese dip and homemade salsa.

Tomorrow is Sour Cream and Chicken Enchiladas and beef Chimichangas.  (spelling?)

We are also going to start on all 8 Harry Potter movies.  (I may be going to bed early. LOL)

Speaking of cooking, my youngest twins birthday was the 22nd.  They wanted to have friends over for dinner.  Yes, don't all 17 yr olds want a dinner party for their dirthday??  So I cooked Chicken and Parmesean Basil Dumplings.  It was a hit. 

My best friend Renda (who is married to my brother, even though I am an only child) got me a cook book for Christmas. Fifty Shades of Chicken.  LOL

It's a conspiracy to get me back into cooking.