So, what's the holidays without FOOD? Yes, my friends- that is right- I am thinking about FOOD!

My sister asked me last night what was on the lineup for dinner, so I thought I'd share what is on my shopping list for the Easter weekend.

Easter Dinner
ham
yummy potatoes
asparagus
deviled eggs
vege tray
rolls
angel lush with pineapple
lemon meringue pie


Small confession:
Over the years I've tried. My how I've tried. But as hard as I try, I just DON'T love to cook. I've bought cool cookbooks and taken classes. I even had a tv installed in my kitchen with the hope of some alluring program to entice me. But no. All efforts are futile. I just don't love it. I do it because I must.

I have come to learn something about myself... I don't love food or the cooking aspect of food. I actually hate the chaos and the mess and I especially detest the sink full of dishes when all is said and done. What I do like is the artistic outlet it lends me. When I was young (before married days) I worked at a deli where I prepared different sorts of salads and fruit platters. I thoroughly enjoyed creating beautiful arrangements that were pleasing to the eye. Not sure about the taste because I never much cared.

So, in my quest to function in this capacity I have tried to find SIMPLE recipes and shortcuts to make my life easier and less stressful, because that is how I feel in a kitchen. I'm all about CHEATING! (I actually bought the rice crispy treats already made for our chocolate dipped bunny pops.)

Easter dinner is no exception. We always buy the pre-cooked, honey glazed ham (not the real stuff with all the swirls of fat- EWW!). Heat and Serve. We buy our pie from Kathy's pies the day before. Everything else on the lineup is very simple and can be done ahead of time with little effort or time spent in the kitchen.

I thought I'd share two of my favorite Easter recipes.

The first one comes from the kitchen of my friend, Vicki Garbett. I snagged it almost 8 years ago now and make it only twice a year (because it truly is YUMMY- as in, you have to plan to burn some extra calories at the gym afterwards). It is only served at Easter and Christmas at our house.



The other one was a find a few years ago and is light and perfect for a spring dessert. Plus it's lowfat and still delicious. Win win.



These are not my fanciest recipe cards, but both are available to print. Just save as a picture and then print on cardstock or photo paper. (Fomatted for 4x6 card.)

Click here to find other recipe cards.

Oh, and just so you know- I am totally buying the angel food cake already made. It cuts much better, takes less time, and tastes just as good. Why not?

What are you having for dinner?

After several consecutive days of less than pleasant behavior we have devised our very own household COMMANDMENTS, to be adjusted as parents see fit. (In no specific order.)

1. No whining.
2. No tattling.
3. No whining and tattling at the same time.
4. No head wagging while whining or tattling.
5. No crying wolf.
6. No leaving clothes or wet towels on the bathroom floor.
7. No after dinner science experiments with food.
8. No saying “eww” at mealtime.
9. No snacking 15 minutes before dinner, even when starving.
10. No disputing the commandments.

Have you ever really thought about why it is that we have an oversized, giant eared, bunny as the easter mascot? Seriously? Don’t judge.

There are just some things you do- almost like getting dressed. You don’t think much about it. You put one foot in and then the other. You just do it. Well, Easter is one of those things for me. I always dye eggs with the children. I always place giant chocolate bunnies in their baskets. There are certain things you just do, as if you are on auto pilot- because that’s what you’ve always done.

I have never really questioned it. I just went through the motions because that’s what my parents did and what their parents did and maybe even their parents. Who knows how long this tradition has been carried on.

How is it that I have lived nearly three decades and don’t know why the bunny is a symbol of easter? Was I asleep that day in class? Was it just never really talked about? Did I just never care? How can one spend 37 years celebrating a holiday with a huge bunny and not know why?

I guess my mind has been awakened as if a switch was literally flipped this year… and I have to know-

Where did the bunny come from?

For as long as I can remember my family has always celebrated Easter as a reflection of Jesus Christ- a well known story, especially in the Christian community… Christ stepped out of his tomb on the third day and ascended to heaven. Most people, even the non church going folks, are familiar with the story, so I’ll stop there.

But why bunnies?

My google search was a bit intimidating and ranged from “rabbit on the moon” to vernal mysteries to the connection between easter and east, the direction the sun rises. There are many different theories out there, everyone seems to have their own ideas about the origination and wants to put in their two cents. I’m not going to elaborate on them. I could write a book and most are just too strange.

My research eventually led me to the story of the “hare: ancient fertile symbol”, associated with spring- first introduced in Europe. The goddess of fertility was Eostre, which is where the term Easter originated. So, it is in fact the hare and not the rabbit that is the symbol for Easter.

Maybe I shouldn’t disclose my ignorance, but I always thought the rabbit and the hare were one and the same. Evidently not, but they are in the same family… connecting the dots and closing the mystery of the symbolic bunny.

So there ya have it- hippity hop hop and hares- symbolizing spring and new beginnings, as in watching the earth come to life again after being dormant for a season or watching a chick hatch, whatever you think of when you think of spring- because as I’m learning symbols are open to your own interpretation.

Coloring eggs has never been one of my favorite holiday traditions over the years, as I anxiously watch my children's unsteady hands attempt to dip eggs in DYE (you know, the stuff that is permanent) and then use a flimsy dipper to move them to their final resting place.

Time to make some new traditions and mix it up.

{Old Tradition}


{New Tradition}


Why the heck not? They look easy and delicious; a fun find sure to be a hit!

Found this at http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/. (Button to the right.) Three amazingly crafty sisters sharing their talents with us not so gifted in the creative department.


Deviled eggs? No problem.

Who needs to color eggs, or boil at all for that matter, when you can get these bad boys for almost the same price?



Spoiled? Lazy? Who cares.

And it seems to this mom that my kids prefer the candy filled eggs to the real ones anyways. And no more finding stinky, rotten eggs 3 months later.

Done.

Week 12 {365}

Did you know...
that even in these woods (in March in Iowa) baren of any vegetation one can contract a pretty decent case of poison ivy? And that using said woods as a bathroom only makes it spread to private boy parts?


Did you know...
that if you search long and hard enough you might just unveil a beautiful bumper from the woods? And with a little elbow grease it could be turned into a spectacular bathroom for your fort? (There is no end to a child's imagination.)


Did you know...
that making a fool out of yourself for just a short while makes you a best friend for a day? (And yes, I used my son's elbow and knee pads- I'm not that big of a fool.)


Did you know...
that you should just relax? ... because when you least expect it you realize that you have a child after your own heart after all.


Did you know...
that children will actually fight and argue over who gets to shred the paper next? Who knew it would be such a coveted pastime?


Did you know...
that there is no activity a child will pass on if it involves messes, particularly the kind that are hard to wash out?


Did you know...
that these are the pants that inspired the comment, "I'm sorry I was staring, but I was just checkin' out your butt" from the girl in line behind me (at Panchero's)?




Did you know?
that even in a week of planned nothingness unexpected twists and turns find you?

You had better brace yourself...surprises are lying in wait! (I love it!!)

Every now and again you come across something that is just too good to keep all to yourself. I was doing a google search the other night and I accidentally dumbed into this blog.

If you want to spruce up your blog, but don't know a thing about computer language...

If you want to learn more about taking great photos, but don't know where to start...

If you've been looking for super cute fonts or don't know how to download them...

If you love to scrapbook or use photoshop...

Or garden or decorate or sew or get new recipes...


This blog is for you.

http://www.kevinandamanda.com/

(I have the button for her free fonts on the sidebar. Just click on it to get some amazing free fonts.)

Click http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsnew/tutorials/blog-buttons.html to pick up any of her buttons available.

I read the blurb about Amanda and I can't say enough good things about her. She is truly an inspiration. She taught herself how to design web pages and blog and take great photos- no formal training. It seems to me that the computer world has a language all their own that I for one am not privy to or could ever teach myself. But she did. That's something to talk about.

She also has an adorable home and impeccable taste in fashion.

Her tutorials are detailed, step by step, yet simple and easy to follow. She is great about responding promptly even with the thousands of followers.

She is the Martha Stewart of the 21st century.

Take a minute and check out her blog. You won't regret it!!

As luck would have it the very same day I slacked on my wifely duties hubby comes home from work and announces that he has a coupon and wants to go to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Score.

(I hadn't exactly thought much of dinner and it was going to be something thrown together and less than stellar.)

After snacking on peanuts for 20 minutes we were served a basket of yummy rolls. You know, the ones with the cinnamon butter. Then came an appetizer. By the time the waitress took our order I was nearly stuffed, so I opted for a salad, against my husband's recommendation. Ok, so maybe you should get what that restaurant is best known for, i.e. steakhouse=steak, italian=pasta, pancake house=pancakes (it's sorta our secret understanding after some not so great restaurant food flops), but I wasn't all that hungry. A salad sounded perfect and light.

Drum roll please...

My mouth dropped and my eyes about bulged out of my head as I took a gander at the heaping amount of food placed before me. I only wanted a salad and this... this was a mountain of food. It could easily feed me for days, if only it saved well or I did left overs.

After just a few bites... my stomach was rebelling and it was time to quit. I was about to burst at the seams.

I boxed up the remains, knowing full well it will probably not be appetizing enough tomorrow as left overs, only because there was so much left. (See below- taken with iphone.)














This has really got me thinking... WHAT has happened in our country? WHY are the portions so huge? And better yet WHEN did this happen?

And I'm not just saying this because I have a stomach the size of a peanut, for any of you who know me and may be thinking this. It can't be healthy for anyone!

Almost every single time we do a drive through they ask if we want to SUPER-SIZE our meal. The kicker is it's just pennies more. (Wishing so much I would have watched that movie now.)

Even the regular sized sodas come in HUGE containers. Maybe I have been more keen to this insight merely because my husband's Acura MDX is dated pre-large containers and the fast food sodas never fit right. Super annoying at best.

Did you know that in 1916 when coke first came out it was 1/2 the size it is today? (More here.)

And in 1955 McDonald's had only one size of hamburger. Quarter pounders, double quarter pounders, and big macs weren't even options.

Even snacks in vending machines and grocery stores seem to be swelling in size. According to the CDC the recommended serving sizes are almost impossible to find now.

There was a documentary on tv last night depicting the last supper and the ever changing renditions of the painting over the last 1000 years. Their study conducted at Cornell University showed that the portion sizes had increased over the last millenium from 23% to 69%. (Read more here.) So, even the famous Last Supper has been super-sized.

Restaurants seem to be in competiton with each other, the bigger the better. Wendy's now has a baconator, while Hardees has developed the "monument to decadence". Seriously.

And let us not forget McDonald's World Cup Burger that was available in 2006 for 6 weeks that was 40% larger than the big mac at an additional 667 calories, or 9 fun size snicker bars. (msnbc.com)

FOOD CHALLENGES of all kinds seem to be the growing trend; contests for the sole purpose of watching people eat until they think they are going to burst or regurgitate. Man vs. Food comes to mind, as it is one of hubby's favorite programs to watch.

I may sound a bit like the grim reaper... and sorry Adam Richman, but if you continue at this rate you will have a very short-lived life. (I actually predicted Chris Farley's death just days before he died.) Morbid, I know.

According to data from the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization, Americans have the highest per capita daily consumption in the world, eating 3,770 calories a day, more than a Canadian at 3,590 calories or an Indian at 2,440.

The other disturbing finding based on personal experience is that in my quest to eat healthy not only are the better for you foods harder to find, but they are much more expensive than the pre-packaged or fast food options. Is it any wonder why Americans eat unhealthy?

Am I alone in my wonder and amazement of this phenomenon?

I'm not really sure I've answered any of my questions or that there are answers to these questions, but I for one am going to pay better attention.

My eyes have been opened and I'm not sure I like what I see.

(Visualize an Al Bundy type photo here. I didn't have anything great, but promise to pull my camera out of hibernation soon.)

Besides the obvious annoyances: farting, belching, loud boystrous shouting at meaningless, trivial sporting events and such, leaving piles of clothes strewn about the house, having obnoxious pet names for everything (i.e. Wal-Mart= Wally World, coupons=tampons, handicap=handicrap, etc), hogging the remote, and oh of course, sleeping through oh-say, ANYTHING...

I have a few new ones.

Today I have been accused of being too old to blog. It's for people a decade younger who grew up with computers and can have followers who understand the blog realm.

I was also accused of having a speech impediment because MEN only hear what they want and don't really listen, and of course need some lame excuse when they realize the obvious... they are screwed because they weren't listening.

Oh, and let us not forget the plea to never have garlic again because according to him the smell was eminating from my pores.

So, in light of these recent blunt remarks I've decided to blog more, talk more often and more annoyingly, and yes folks... eat garlic. What are some great foods with garlic? Hmmm...

It seems only fair. Don't ya think? All is fair in love and war. Am I wrong?

But oh, then they have to go and do something super sweet like help you paint an annoying bathroom with like a million obstacles just when you were at your wit's end. And finish up the last of the trim that was out of your 60+ inch reach on tippy toes. Ok, I'm a bit phobic of ladders, but not important here. Focus.

They are curious creatures. Whoever thought that we could ever work together long term was a pot smokin' crazy!

But at the end of the day, even when you can't stand them and nothing about them makes sense, ya can't help but love 'em- quirks and all... (Well, at least most days.)

So, the past few months I have been experiencing my own personal hell.

It would appear to be a happy picture from the outside... but what can't be seen is the inner battle going on inside of me. I have been questioning every decision I've made up to this point in my life; deep soul searching kind of stuff. And although I still have much to figure out, I'm doing better. I am going to try really hard to focus on the beautiful things in my life because they are abundant.

It seems when I ended my 2009 Project 365 and started on my Project Alicia journey that I lost many of my followers. I would ask you to please stick with me while I work through my inner demons. I need support and friendship now more than ever.

I will still be posting photos occasionally and my weekly P365 pics. And the occasional recipe. I got some good ones from Martha this week.

So, please grab this button and come back and visit every now and again.



Copy and paste this code into a sidebar widget (HTML/Java Script):
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So, I have grown in more ways than one tonight. I wasn't even sure what a blog button was a few months ago. I actually googled it and found a great tutorial. If you are interested click here.

It's hard to believe how far technology has come.

"In 1980, many telephones were attached to walls, facts were found in books, and people had to browse shelves in a record store if they wanted to buy the latest music. " (You can read the whole article here.) We've come a LONG way, baby.

We can now send messages half way around the world in seconds, have information available 24-7 at our fingertips, and make blog buttons. Who knew?

I wanted to do a post about the evolution of hair because let’s face it, if you were a product of the 70s… you probably have a photo or two from the 80s or early 90s that you wish you could burn or deny the existence of. Hair was something of an obnoxious art form, manipulated and teased for hours with cans upon cans of hairspray. The bigger the better. It’s a wonder we lived through all the fumes. I often wonder what I was thinking. I guess I was merely conforming to the popular, accepted hair trend for that decade, as were you.



But as I dug deep through old photos I realized that, although there were many different hairstyles over the years, some a little more extreme than others… it is but an outward manifestation of inward change. In my opinion it is symbolic of the evolution of who we are as people. Some years were filled with loud, larger than life hair, others dull and lifeless, taking the backseat to other more important life events.

Because each and every day we live we are evolving. We are going through a metamorphosis of sorts as we muddle our way through, attempting to grow as we learn from our mistakes and overcome challenges. As I looked through photos the changes within me were evident as I reflected on the memories… different jobs, marriage, the birth of my children, accomplishments and let downs, joys and hardships…

All of these life experiences, both good and bad, have led me to where I am today… they have helped cultivate me into the person I am. Although there are some things that at times I would like to have done differently, there is no going back. I can only move forward hopefully improving and moving in a better direction as I try to become the best version of myself.

Oh, and if hair could talk… boy would it have a few things to say.

Here's a stroll down memory lane.

There are obviously several years worth of gaps, but you get the idea. If you would like to see more you can go to http://s359.photobucket.com/albums/oo34/iowalish/Through%20the%20Years/?albumview=slideshow.

military days

Today I read a blog that really affected me.

http://soldierslady.blogspot.com/2010/03/ill-fly-home-to-you.html

My nephew is currently serving in Afghanistan and has a unit of 40 some men under him. Last week 2 of them died.

Maybe that is what made his wife write about the possibilibity of losing a loved one. She put a link to a blog of a recently widowed wife. I clicked on the link and saw a picture of her pregnant belly as her marine husband kissed it, possibly for the last time. He is now about to be laid in his final resting place. Not the sort of thing a 23 year old brand new mom expects to have happen. Heart wrenching stuff.

http://alittlepinkinaworldofcamo.blogspot.com/

Many of you don’t know that my husband also served in the military for the first 6 years we were married. It is not a time I look back on with fond memories.

It was not during time of war, but he went out on nuclear submarines for more than half of his time enlisted in the Navy… not exactly the picture of calm that makes you sleep well at night, as there are many things that can go awry on a nuclear submarine. If you’ve ever watched any of those submarine movies you know what I mean. He never really talked about most of it, as almost all of it was confidential- from the depth that they actually dropped to the missions they carried out.

It was a lonely, difficult time for me. He typically was deployed for 3 months at a time, but there were several patrols that he got short cycled to different boats right after porting and was sent right back out. There was one year he served 3 consecutive patrols.

It was a different time back them too. Believe it or not, we didn’t have cell phones and land line phones were 10 cents a minute and that was if you somehow managed to finagle that amazing rate.

Haldan rarely ported and if he did I had no idea of when it was going to be, so the times we connected were rare. There was no emails or texting or IMing… we were lucky if we got to talk one time on the phone during a patrol. That one phone call would generally run us hundreds of dollars that we didn’t have, as service men were not paid nearly as well back then.

We did get family grams. I believe it was 8 per patrol. You could write 50 words including your name and his. There could be nothing emotional, intimate, disturbing, coded, or confusing. It went through an interesting cycle, sort of like what I equate the morris code. It exchanged hands so many times that by the time the message was received by Haldan it rarely was my original message. There were several times my messages were returned. One was when I used the term TMJ. My jaw had popped out during my finals and I thought it would fit better than temporomandibular joint disorder. They considered it "code" even after I told them what it was. I don't know if he ever got that family gram.

When he would leave they would take away food rations because he was being fed on the boat. Who cares about the family left behind. The food they dished out came in crates that read, “Refused by the state penal code of California”- not the ideal for exemplary dining. He allowed me to have dinner with him only once. Then it all became very clear. Needless to say, I lost some weight during that time period.

There were 2 patrols that really stick out in my mind, as both had emergency returns to our home port. One was when there was a fire in the engine room and another was when someone died on the boat. I received a phone call on a calling tree. It was vague and all I could do was wait by the phone and pray that all was well.

This fear that I felt does not begin to compare to what some of the wives go through today as their men serve on the front lines…

I cannot possibly begin to understand all that they carry.

To Mrs. Jonathan D. Porto and any other families that have suffered a tremendous loss:

Although there is nothing I can do or say that will make it better, I wanted you to know that my heart goes out to you in your time of loss.

Week 11 {365} continued

I posted late last night and forgot to add this. Oops. Nothing too exciting to report, which is probably a good thing. Mostly same old same old.

I did want to say Happy Spring... and I'm glad I waited. Yesterday I was a little angry waking up to snow and all and could think of nothing but nasty things to say about it, but it has since all melted and it feels wonderful outside. We might just have a great spring break after all. I'll take 50s and sunny any day. My kids have no idea what's in store for them... they think they are going to play all week. (Insert evil laugh now.) Ok, I'm mostly kidding. But we will do some work against their wishes. It's rough being a kid.

I also wanted to mention a few random thoughts by my kids before I forget them because they do say the darndest things. You know how it goes. They say something that catches you totally off guard and you think you'll never forget it and a couple days later- gone. So, this is for documentation sake to let my mind off the hook.

Pokey (age 8 1/2)

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just daydreaming about kissing." (after not responding to my prompts)

"You know I've already kissed a boy." (discussing above thought)

"I'm good at eating." (while discussing things we're good at)

"Oh no, you did not just say that" (with as much attitude as an 8 yr old can muster & a head wiggle to boot)

"You guys have been divorced before?" (when discussing 11th wedding anniversary)

Little Man (age 10 1/2)

"I came out of your butt." (referring to childbirth?)

"You guys are gangers and should have penalty points." (referring to negotiating pigs)

"I have many enemies." (reason given for pricing binoculars)


I haven't heard any of your spring break plans yet. I was thinking about doing a day trip with the kids somewhere- possibly Omaha Zoo, but it appears it may actually be colder there next week. What are you doing? Any grand ideas no more than 4-5 hours from Cedar Rapids, IA?

Week 11 {365} Mug Shots

Today I realized I haven't taken many photos lately. It's been a bit of an introspective week for me. I've been digging deep for old photos which has in turn kept my mind very busy. (That project to come later.) There is just so much of my life I don't remember- a bit troublesome for me. My mother assures me that she read to me and I had a very normal childhood. It's amazing how fast it goes by and how quicky we change without even realizing it. So, today I decided to snap a few "mug shots" to etch this day forever in our minds. Definitely not one of my finer hair days, but it was a spur of the moment sort of thing. In less than five minutes we captured a few moments of who we are now... today- on this lazy Saturday afternoon March 20, 2010. Because tomorrow it could change.



















"Life is only travelled ONCE; Today’s MOMENT becomes Tomorrow’s MEMORY. Enjoy every moment, good or bad, because the GIFT of LIFE is LIFE itself…."

Negotiating Pigs and a Non Irish Recipe

I thought this day would never ever come. I've laid low and had to bite my tongue on numerous occasions, but I never loved those guinea pigs to put it nicely. Well, yesterday Haldan decided they smelled bad. Don't know what finally cued him in, but glad to have him on board. It was just a matter of convincing the children, particularly Little Man. I had a great plan, but Haldan spilled the beans early and so Little Man was in tears before we even had dinner. (Which is why he's eating solo in the video.) I tried to console him, but nothing I said or did made it better until... we mentioned money. We knew he probably would have to give them away because others in the paper are going for free. So, we actually offered to buy them from him. Ok, so maybe not the best parenting strategy, but we're desperate and know our kid well. Money talks. The problem was that he started the negotiations at $100. It took about 8 minutes, but we finally settled on $41. Not the most exciting video, but documented nonetheless.

We had a paper plate/Black Bean Salsa night. It could be an appetizer, but I consider it filling enough for a dinner. And although the video appeared that Little Man didn't like it, both children actually did eat it and like it. They call it "Grandma's salsa" because my mom has made it several times that they remember. It actually comes from the kitchen of my sister, Shawna LeSueur. Delish! Perfect with the scoops tortilla chips, but you could opt for baked as a healthier alternative. I halved it since Haldan is on a diet, but he actually did eat some.

The recipe was sized to a 4x6 card, so you can save it and print it out. Enjoy.

I just have to say that I'm really not a lover of St Patrick's Day. Not prejudiced, just not Irish, don't love the color green, or irish cuisine for that matter. Pokey did insist on a green shirt for picture day though. "I have to wear green" was the first thing uttered from her mouth before she was even up and coherent. I did manage to find something sorta green for her and she was a semi-happy camper. Oh, and I almost got in an accident downtown attempting to get to work today. There was a parade about to start and a bunch of very impatient people. Geez. Blasted holiday.

Btw, this post was supposed to come last night, but the blogger video upload wan't cooporating and I fell asleep before it was done. Trying youtube today. Hope it works.

Life's Ironies

Just when you think you have it all figured out, life goes and throws ya some curveballs. Based on several recent life experiences I've come to the conlusion that maybe life is just meant to be ironic. Or maybe someone is up there toying with us for their own amusement.

In no particular order, some of these said experiences include: pants at Buckle, garlic and poppyseed pretzel bites, middle school for Little Man, new vitamins, renewed weight gain/cooking strategy, sister's surprise gift, pictures on St Patrick's Day, and school concerts.

{pants at Buckle}

The pants at Buckle, ironically, turns out to be the lengthiest story. See, pants are not an easy thing for me to find. Being a 24S has it's disadvantages. Say what you will, good or bad, but you should try finding some before you think too many bad thoughts.

I actually consider myself a pretty thrifty person. I love consigning and actually get a high from finding an amazing article of clothing or piece of furniture for a fraction of the price it would cost elsewhere. It's almost like a fun challenge to see how far a dollar will stretch. I love it. Having said that, there are just some things that cannot be found second hand... 24S pants is one of them.

So, I broke down and bought a pair of pants at Buckle last fall. If you aren't familiar with Buckle you must know that a pair of pants from Buckle can be anywhere from $90-$150. This pair was $98, but only came in long. They offer free alterations, so it was a done deal. When I got them back I was less than excited about the results. I don't know much about sewing, as it's never been one of my strong suits, but I do know a crappy job when I see it. This was a crappy job. They somehow managed to cut them and leave a giant chunk of fabric on the bottom. It was bulky and didn't allow the pants to lay right. I wore them a couple times, but was frustrated both times. After several months of them staying in the bottom of my drawer I decided it was just ridiculous that a $98 pair of pants was being passed over. I thought about taking them to my regular seamstress, but then realized it was going to be costly to fix it. Then it dawned on me that I should just take them back to Buckle. If this were anything else I was not satisfied with I wouldn't think twice about returning it, so why not this?

The Buckle assured me that they could send it back to their seamstress and have the extra material cut off, no problem, but that I should request that up front next time. Seems odd, especially considering I've had pants done in the past that turned out fine, but whatever.

A week later I returned to pick them up only to find that there was a hole in the pants near the hem line. Upon further inspection I found a patch in the back and several stitches, perhaps in an attempt to hide it. I was annoyed. The sales associates agreed that it looked bad, but the manager tried to convince me that they could cut more off and that it would mask the mistake. This seemed to me a ludicrous idea, as I had already had them altered to the perfect length and cutting them more would only make them too short. I was determined and eventually the manager offered a new pair. They searched, but could not find another like it in the store. So, she ordered the exact pair online to be picked up in about a week from then.

I went in yesterday to pick them up and was prepared to be measured and have them sent to be cut, but when I tried them on they didn't fit. There was over 2 inches of gap in the back and there was no way I was going to accept them. I asked again to speak to a manager. By now you could be thinking I'm sounding bitchy, but remember... I spent $98 for these pants (and I never lost my cool). After talking with the manager about other options it was concluded that not all pants are alike, even the same size and make, and that I could pick out anything else in the store. These pants were dark and a little dressier and I was determined to find something similar. First attempt was a success. So, I ended up with a new pair that actually fit and didn't even have to be altered. Score. So, I do have to say that although the Buckle's jeans are outrageously overpriced, they are determined to ensure customer satisfaction at any cost. I might have even ended up with a better pair of pants. I guess the irony lies in the outcome.



(Maybe not the best photo of the jeans, but here they are in all their glory. Oh, and the shirt was a thrift find. Thanks, Ren. Always pays to shop with sisters.)

{garlic & poppyseed pretzel bites}

While at the mall I picked up a small container of garlic & poppyseed pretzel bites. It's not really like me to pick up a snack or enjoy it, but both occurred. Then this morning as I was laying in bed my husband told me that I couldn't ever have garlic again. I guess the smell was no longer on my breath, but coming out of my pores. Seriously? I find a snack I like and it's prohibited?

{middle school for Little Man}

So, after fighting this tooth and nail, dead set that Roosevelt is the worst scenario, Haldan and I had an appointment with the vice principle at Roosevelt to discuss our concerns and talk about programs available for a gifted child. The vice principle was very accomodating and talked about multiple solutions for a child such as Little Man. It is the only school that has one set time schedule for all grades, which would allow for him to move to a different class if needed. She also talked about special classes they had just started for advanced students and the reasons why the numbers were low statistically. Turns out they are the only school that offers a learning language program for children who don't speak English. The school as a whole seemed very together and the faculty were all very friendly and welcoming. The vice principle also discussed her personal mission to help Little Man fit in, facilitating friendships and taking a special interest in his career. She was even willing to meet him for lunch at Madison to get to know him better.

As an added twist doctor something or other from the Cedar Rapids Community Schools finally called me and asked me to give her a brief synopsis of Little Man's story and is currently looking into it and will get back to us. Now we are not sure what to think.

{new vitamins}

I have recently started new vitamins to help with my energy level. I have been more tired and less motivated than normal. I miss my old self. So, I decided to bite the bullet and go back to the GNC woman's wellness pack. A bit costly, but worth it if it helps. Ironically I have been more tired than normal. Last night I was ready for bed at 8:30PM and if you know me at all you know that night is usually my awake time. I can't decide if it's ironic or just a mere coincidence. I'm going to give it another week before I formulate my conclusion.

{renewed weight gain/cooking strategy}

Just about the time I decide I want to work on my cooking skills and gain 10 pounds my husband announces that he wants to lose 20 pounds by May 1st and won't be participating in my dinners for a while. Makes the motivation to cook a little more challenging. I'm not sure my children will have the same appreciation for my finer meals and I'm thinking their criticism might not be the best thing to encourage me. Figures.

{sister's surprise gift}

It was another rough day. Just as I was beginning to feel defeated... out of the blue I received a surprise gift in the mail and it isn't even my birthday. I saw a bracelet while shopping with my sister that I adored, but didn't purchase it because I had just spent tons of money on summer clothes for Pokey. My sister sent me that same bracelet with a note that read, "I hope you find the beautiful things in your life. Saw this and thought of you." Thank you, Rena. You are a wonderful sister and example to me. Love you.



{pictures on St Patrick's Day}

Not sure what to say here, the title sorta says it all. I guess I'm not sure who decided this, but tomorrow is picture day for the kiddos. Not sure if green is the way to go. Green? Really?

{school concerts}

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine my stiff, rigid kid would do this...


(popping out of box for song "Simple Gifts")

or this...




You can watch my crazy son here. I guess he wanted to do this (or was doing this) with all of the songs, so the teacher gave him free reign on the last one (to rev up the energy or something like that?)... a must see!

To top off the night I got a cheesecake as a reward for the children doing such a nice job. What I thought was a lovely idea literally brought Little Man to tears, as it was not the treat he had hoped for. Who saw that one coming?

So, there ya have it... multiple examples of life's ironies- within a matter of days.

And maybe, just maybe we aren't supposed to EVER have it all figured out. Maybe life is more about enjoying the unexpected outcomes and surprises that are thrown our way. Or a secret plot to make us laugh more. Whatever it is, it sure keeps life interesting.