Quickly Read Me

1. Right now I am cracking out on whole wheat Ritz and Nutella. I already went over my calories at lunch because work catered Panera. AKA bad news for my diet. Alas, I am hungry and this snack seemed appetizing.

2. René and I just purchased our dishes for the new house. I've been dreaming of Fiesta ware for hmmmm a long time. So René alerted me to a giant sale and SHAZAM!...we have dishes being delivered next week. I had way too much fun in the 10 minutes it took to place the order because my husband said multi-color was fine. This is highly unusual because my boo does not like mismatched things. Which is fine, but he let me go crazy on this one because we both think the tons of different colors thing with Fiesta ware is neat! Nice job René and Kohls.

3. As of today there are 2 weeks until René gets here to help me pack up and drive with us down to Texas. TWO WEEKS. Honestly I can't believe how fast time is flying by. Usually when we want to see each other time just drags ridiculously. Now that I have so much to do, so many people to see, tons to get done, time is not being kind to me. Time is going by really fast.

4. I've been doing my family tree on Ancestry.com. This is addicting and tons of fun and maybe a little nerdy. So far, I am super French (this explains the minor obsession with Paris..maybe my roots are calling?), a little English, a lot German, and maybe some Scottish thrown in there. Lots of names on my maternal grandfather's side are Hebrew in origin, which is really interesting!

4. My darling daughter told me last night she appreciated all I did for her and then obviously she wanted to make me cry because she left me a note on my lunch this morning that said "Have a great day at work Mommy!" I love that kid. She really is such a great girl...how did I manage to create such awesomeness??

Road Trip/I Have the Hiccups/Pie

Currently, I have the hiccups. Why? I don't get it. Every time I hiccup a weird popping noise happens in my ear. Weird. Also I remember being pregnant and Madison hiccuping in my belly. That is something I doubt you can describe to anyone who hasn't had children yet. Its incredibly odd. ANYWAY! I want to talk about my road trip to Texas which is happening in like 20 some days. That's bananas. We are doing it in 2 days, that's it. Rene has to get back to work, so we cant dilly dally. The road trip is all my planning, its my deal, its my ideas, all that jazz. So Maryland to Texas=1,479 miles which= 24 hrs of driving. And that my friends is with OUT stops. I have a child and a dog in the car so there will be stops. Oh yes, there will be stops. I doubt I'll be on my diet on this trip...considering my running theme is....FIND THE BEST PIE EVER! Also, quirky fast food sounds good too. North Carolina has a chain called Bojangles and its pretty darn good, I wonder how far those extend to?
I've started researching pie (which makes me hungry) and these are the times I wish I had a bigger following because I'd love some suggestions. We are heading through Maryland, D.C., Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and finally Texas. We plan to stop in Nashville, Tennessee for the night and do our second leg of the trip bright and early the next morning.
So far I found two places in Arkansas, two in Tennessee, and one in Dallas, which isn't too far from where I am headed...maybe some "congrats you made it pie". In no particular road trip order...I give SOME places I'd like to stop and have a slice!





Ed and Kay's Restaurant in Benton, Arkansas
Apparently known for award winning pies, awesome coffee, and sweet waitresses. Word is they serve a killer lunch too...I am all about it. They serve PCP too. Pineapple, Coconut, Pecan Pie...duh.

PCP

Family Pie Shop in DelValls Bluff, Arkansas
This is not a restaurant...this is Mary Thomas's home kitchen and apparently Bill Clinton loves him some of this pie too. We'll have to call ahead and make sure shes making pie that day...I hope she is!

Arnold's Country Kitchen Nashville, Tennessee

I know this one was on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives...so I guess it has to be good? It looks like a shack...but I guess this is a running theme with really awesome places to eat. Spend more money on the food than the decor!































Rowe's Family Restaurant Staunton, Virginia


Mrs. Rowe's has been around since 1947 and rated on Trip Advisor has having some pretty darn good food and if you don't stop... you're missing out.








I still haven't found a good site for weird roadside attractions. I'm working on that too. THIS is just a pie post. Amazing right? That's how much we love pie "ya'll" haha oh man I don't think Ill ever be able to say ya'll without feeling like a phony. I am one! OH and coffee. We will be getting coffee with our pie. Exciting!

Panic and Optimism

I have successfully turned my brain off lately. It's amazing for someone like me. It's a bad idea too. This blog post is not an example of that...haha.
I started getting panicky a couple days ago. I'm not exaggerating...I was panicking on the inside thinking about how Delaware will not be my home anymore. Moving to Texas isn't like my typical visit and I come back home. Its for good, its permanent and that my friends, made me feel overwhelmed. I'm being honest here, I don't think that's wrong. I am crazy excited but I know its normal to be scared too. I have to let myself think though. Turning my brain off is only going to lead me to break down one day soon and break down HARD. So I'm thinking some therapy would be a good start. No shame in therapy for me, I've used it several times in my life, especially when I'm going through something.
Research makes me feel way better or way worse depending on what I find. I like to comfort myself knowing I'm not alone. I look for blogs, stories, articles, etc where people have been through what I'm going through and feel better. Currently this month is so jam packed with final visits, final play dates, final excursions, packing, and organizing. I think I've decided "goodbye" is way too final for me. I can't do it. I really don't want to burst into tears every time I know I won't see someone for a while, maybe for a long while. Currently, I'm tearing up. See? I'm a mess.
Goodbye is final and forever. I prefer see you later, or call me tomorrow, or something like that. Technology doesn't replace hugs and random trips...but I know it helps. I know some of my relationships will change...but I know a lot of them won't too. Letting go is almost impossible for me, but I cant micromanage every single person in my life. I'll do my part to keep in touch with the people I love, but I can't force anyone to do the same. Being in control of an out of control (in some ways) situation, isn't always possible. Well, there's my weekly "Omg I'm moving cross country" vent/blog post.


Next time...on an adventurous note, I'll map out our road trip!! Fun!

See! Similarities make me feel better! One of these is totally wrong...or maybe not.

Food follow up

Food is the devil. I am stressed and I am stress eating. You don't know what that is? Its when you say to yourself, I deserve this, I'm doing a lot...so I'm going to eat whatever I want! Bad idea.
I am really trying hard, I lost a few more pounds, but I have been trying to stay off the scale too. That really shouldn't be the focus.

I made a few awesome simple low calorie things! All you really have to do is make sure you're not going over a serving size...that's where you get in trouble! Too much of a good thing, is not good :)

Whole wheat waffles with peanut butter and bananas.
This is filling and delicious and breakfast really should be your biggest meal. I like to eat less as the day goes on, gives my non working out body time to burn it off.

Artichoke and spinach (or any flavor...currently we have chipotle and garlic in the fridge too) hummus with mini pita pockets
Enough said...hummus is delicious and these pita pockets are 40 calories each!

















Black bean salad
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup rinsed black beans
red onion, red bell pepper, scallions
single serving cup of mandarin oranges in water...no sugar added!
a dash of vinegar to taste

Bod Mod

Weight loss! Everyone's favorite topic. I'm not exactly sure how but from January 2011-July 2011 I lost around 15-20 lbs. I was planning a wedding, stressing, etc. I started eating less, trying to eat a bit better, and I did some Jillian Michaels work out DVD's. Since then I've sort of just  tapered off. I haven't lost any more weight. I did go from a size 8 to a 6 and most of the time a 4 nowadays. I definitely take a look at old pictures and notice a difference. I love that my weight loss was reflected in my wedding photos, I am happy with my body in those pictures that will forever be looked at! Here's my "dilemma"...I want to lose 15 lbs. I'm at a healthy weight right now, and 15 more lbs I'll still be at a healthy weight. I use www.myfitnesspal.com and I decided since its February 1, its a fantastic time to really kick it up a notch. So here we go, 1,200 calories a day, no "cheating". It doesn't work for me. And no, I'm not on a diet...I just need to get back on track and eat healthy and if I lose weight in the process, yay me! In a week I'll share my meal plan if it gets me anywhere and someone else can use it. AND it will hold me accountable :) P.S. I HATE working out...so I'm not going to. Haha how do you like that?
Join me!

Direction

Hi! My posts tend to ramble...of course they do! I ramble in real life, why not in blog life.
Well I need some direction. I'd love to think of some weekly features, and I'm really hoping once my life is a bit more organized after the move, I can work on this more.
I have a few followers...so does anyone have any ideas for me?
I love clothes, food, kids, music, movies, etc.
I really am not crafty, there won't be any DIY here. My craftiness was used all on my wedding. I think that's all I possessed.
I am a beginner blogger, so I'm trying to find my niche. Hopefully I'll have some people along for my ride who don't get dizzy! :)

Anxious, fun, and all over the place

I should probably be working right now, I am off the clock...but its end of month and I can work extra. No overtime, but I can get off early on Friday! Whoo! I could also be pricing things for my upcoming yard sale. Alas, I'm take a blog break!

Pinterest is making me anxious. It makes me feel guilty for not being as fashionable as possible. I mean who has 100 pairs of shoes, each pair for a different outfit? Who has all of the scarves in the world, the perfect one for each outfit? I am pretty close. I do love scarves. Anyway, it really does help with ideas, but it also makes me feel really vain and materialistic and want to have it all. I did do an outfit picture this week, but the lighting in my house is awful, its the worst! I'll try to remedy this, or else bring it back when I move. 

Haystacks! Made these with Madison :)

Pinterest brings the happy too. I made a few recipes, got some great ideas for the kids, learned the epic top knot for my hair, and how to tie my scarves 15 different ways. 15! I think I'm a little too ambitious on some things, but others...I can do it! 

Other things I am obsessing over, (probably just to stop thinking about stressful things) dresses! Oh man. DorothyPerkins.com, ASOS...I can't stop looking. I've decided I can do cute pretty well, and I have a lot of cute dresses. I have nothing even remotely sexy. And sorry to whoever cringed at that, but lets face it...I am married and getting ready to live full time with my husband! I want to go on a date! In a sexy dress! 

One more daydream...wanting to go to the Jazz Fest in New Orleans this April. If you haven't seen the lineup, you should go look. To name a few that are totally bias to my tastes...THE BOSS! Trombone Shorty, Dr. John, Tom Petty, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bonnie Raitt, Bon Iver, Foo Fighters, Kermit Ruffins, John Boutté, Sharon Jones, Rebirth, MMJ, Al Green, John Mayer!! Ok, I cant even list everyone I would be so insanely excited to see...just go look. I'll be honest, watching the HBO show Tremé has educated me immensely on the New Orleans Jazz scene. I got to see Trombone Shorty live in Fort Worth a few years ago and it was seriously amazing. So if anyone has $300 and a hotel room for my husband and I to go, let me know. If only I had a super successful blog that would pay me to go so I could write about it....Life ideas! P.S....If you havent seen Tremé, watch it! The third season starts in April, it wouldn't be hard to catch up! 

Also...venting time. I'm not sure why it is people want to view my house at the worst times. Here's some tips to anyone wanting to buy a house. Try not to wake people up on their only days off, typically being Saturday and Sunday. At least schedule a showing after 10am. Don't call on a Saturday morning when it's snowed all night and expect to see someone's house in an hour. A lot of people don't, but I go to church on Sunday morning. Please don't assume I don't go to church and make your appointment during church hours. Leave things the way you found them...in particular my attic door being CLOSED. One last thing, don't be late. If your appointment is from 1-2pm, don't come at 2pm...I really think people forget they are making an appointment to view someones home and also coming into their home whenever they please. I get it, I'm trying to sell my house...but not at the cost of my sanity. Ok I'm done! 

The Wedding Channel also wished me a happy 6 month anniversary today and then directed me to their pregnancy and baby website. Whoa Wedding Channel....maybe slow down a notch. Regardless...Happy 6 months to us!

Totally random, but how much do you love my husband's fortune cookie from a few weeks ago? 

I'll end on that note!