Margaret, 9 months new

I've been thinking lately about how much has happened in the past year.  One of the biggest things was the arrival of my niece, Margaret (MKK).  I can't believe it's been 9 months since she came into this world  and it's hard to imagine life without her.

I went for a walk today to rid myself of the Hump Day blues and made a mental list of the things about my darling MKK that I love.

Margaret:

is a tummy sleeper and hikes up a leg just like her Tia (me)

loves bath time (especially with her pink rubber ducky)

has amazing yoga moves

gets very excited to eat sweet peas, zucchini, sweet potatoes, bananas, icing, broccoli, ice and pretty much everything else

Did I mention that she loves to eat?

has the most perfect eyelashes ever

has the best expressions....ever

loves to snuggle

loves those strawberries!

has the cutest tushie ever!

I love my little MKK!

Ranch dressing recipe, as requested

So, in case you haven't been on Facebook, you don't know the story about the ranch dressing. I found this recipe on Pinterest (the credit for the recipe is given at the end of this post) and thought, Hey, why eat preservative-laden dressing when I can make this pretty easily? So, I print off the recipe and go for it. BUT....my family tends to eat a lot and I'm really just accustomed to doubling recipes, so I automatically doubled it. Anyway, after mixing it up, I found an old glass milk jar and figured it would have plenty of room for the amount I made (it didn't look like too much in the mixing bowl). Well, it filled that liter jar right up to the tippy top! So, we now have a liter of fresh ranch dressing (well, less than that after tonight's dinner, haha!).

Note: I like to add ingredients to easy, tweakable recipes like this...you can add fresh chopped dill, chipotles in adobo sauce, bacon bits, etc to make different flavored ranch dressings.

Easy Ranch Dressing

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¾ cup sour cream
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1½ Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp chopped parsley
• 2 tsp chopped chives
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• ½ chopped scallion
• 1 tsp mustard

Whisk ingredients together and chill for 30 minutes before serving.

See? Easy! Note that it doesn't taste right if you serve right away....the flavors need to meld for that 30 minutes....if you're adding in stuff, that will probably need to sit for a bit in the fridge as well. Enjoy!!

(recipe taken from http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/saladdressings/r/Ranch-Dressing.htm)

Resolutions

Could I GET more cliche? I mean, everyone makes resolutions and then they are forgotten by the second week in January. But, I've had plenty of down time to think about what in my life I'd like to change and while the list is long, I'm only going to focus on a few things.

1) I'm going to focus on being more presentable when leaving the house. For those who know me well, I'm a t-shirt and yoga pants type of girl. Or, during the summer, t-shirt and gym shorts. I know, I know....I'm 29, but in all fairness, I've spent the last year in classes and babysitting. So, I usually come home at the end of the day with at least one child's snot or tears or something on my clothes. Plus it was crazy hot this summer and I didn't feel like getting all gussied up to go to class only to be soaked in sweat (great mental picture, eh?) by the time I got there. But, I digress. I started TODAY. I've been ill for several days now but pulled it together to meet a friend for pho. And, I put on real clothes and real shoes, people. The who shebang. I even wore a necklace. So, I've started, literally, with style.

2) I'm going to focus on being more active. No, I'm not resolving to lose 100 lbs. or run a marathon. Because that's just not going to happen. No matter what. Not. Happening. So, my more realistic resolution is to start by doing 3 hours of focused exercise a week. That might be dancing to Ke$ha with Paige and Kiley. That might be taking a walk with Miss Margaret. That might be me actually getting to the gym (insert *gasp* here) and doing some hardcore stuff, like the elliptical or something. Whatever form it takes, I will try and get in that 3 hours/week of exercise.

3) I'm going to make more time for friends. Let's face it, I'm a homebody. I love nothing more than to put on my moose pants and a sweatshirt and read or watch a movie. But, it's bad when I'm 29 and notorious for NEVER GOING OUT with my friends. I think I went out once this whole year. That's ridiculous. So, here's to more GNOs and chiminea nights.

4) I will get a big girl haircut. Hmmm...not sure how this one is going to pan out, but I need to look more professional and less......like a bum. Regular haircuts (regular being more than once a year), a style, etc...this is something that should have happened a long time ago, I realize that, but what better time than now, as I approach my 30's with zest and enthusiasm? I will NOT tell the stylist to "just take a little off the ends" or "make sure I can still get it in a ponytail". Oh no...this girl will have a big girl haircut.

5) I will be more organized. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA......by this I mean that I will have my sister-in-love come over regularly to make me organize my stuff. But, it's a good thought ;)

I definitely have more I want to work on, but I feel that these are obtainable and realistic goals. And, here I am, putting it out on the internets, so if any of you see me in Target wearing a ponytail, yoga pants, old t-shirt and flipflops, please direct me back to this post.

Planning

I might bemoan my busy life, but in part, I think it helps keep me sane. There is something comforting and familiar about looking at my planner and seeing it full of names and times to be places. Being one of those people who needs external motivation, perhaps this is how I get things done. 8am-drive to school, 11am-class, 12:12pm-lunch with A, 2pm-class, 4pm-pick up E kids at tutoring, etc etc etc. It's different every day and I am honestly with a different group of kids every day but it keeps things interesting. Am I a little bit crazy? Mmhmm. Is it fun? Pretty much, on most days. I homeschool the C kids, do laundry with the B kids, drive around the D kids....I mean, I'm big sister to practically every child I know. I like it.

Which is why looking at January + is scaring the heck outta me. There's nothing there. Not one notation or plan or date filled or anything. I will be student teaching in January and I have no clue where that will be. I know I'll be busy and hectic January-May but the fact that I have no control over where or how that will happen? Terrifying.

I'd like to order some motivation, please.

I have this assignment. It's due tonight by 11:59pm. It's not hard. In fact, it's actually pretty easy and yet I just can't seem to get it done. My brain literally does not want to do it. It really should've taken me about an hour to complete it and yet here I am, 4 hours later, still procrastinating.

Why is it that some people can just do things? They have something they have to do so they do it. Me? Nah, I'll find at least 3 reasons why it can be done tomorrow or why something else is more important. I mean, I folded 3 loads of laundry for my brother today JUST to not do this assignment. This very easy, not hard, shouldn't-take-a-long-time assignment. Gah. How do I flip this switch in my mind?

On a happier note (and still procrastinating), I feel like I resolved some stuff today. See, I'm an angst-er. As in, I overanalyze everything to death, especially interpersonal relationships. What did So-and-so mean when she said ______? Was she trying to hint that _______? Or maybe she was feeling ________ and so she __________. I mean, it gets exhausting. So, when I can finally put something to bed, so to speak, it's like a physical relief. An unburdening, if you will. And I feel good. Relieved. Unburdened. Nice.

So, now I'm going to finish this blasted (easy) assignment, once and for all. Just get it over with. I mean, it's easy, right? Why am I still here? Still procrastinating?

Gah.

Blurgh

Thursdays are NOT my favorite anymore. They used to be...they used to consist of awesome TV shows that I actually had time to watch (Grey's Anatomy, anyone?!) and reminded me that I was super-close to the weekend.

Not anymore.

I don't watch TV unless it's on Hulu and I'm at school for approximately 12 hours. Boo. That means I have to pack lunch AND dinner (if I don't want to pony up for both meals, which can get expensive, yo) and I don't get home until after dark. Yes, I know being uncomfortable (or just plain scared) of the dark is childish, but I hate walking around downtown after dark.

Anyway, today a friend and I were talking in the library and I mentioned how I've been feeling kinda down lately. Just a general feeling of blah-ness that pervades everything. I don't really want to do anything but sleep and I grind my teeth when forced to do anything BUT sleep. So, not only am I full of the blah's, my teeth are being systematically ruined.

I need to get out of this funk. Like, now. I know several things that would make it better (at least temporarily):

- relaxing beachside in a tropical location

- no homework

- a long playdate with my lovely niece

- a great bottle of wine (Black Puma, holla)

- a massage

- a real date (I mean, it's been awhile since I've been on a real date, people...)

Anyway, I'm sure this too shall pass, but until then, if you hear my teeth grinding or some subtle, under-the-breath cursing...it's me.

W.O.W.

A few things I just feel I MUST share....

1) I loathe jeggings. I don't care if you like them. If you look like Gisele and can pull them off, all the more power to you. But, there are very few people who look like Gisele. I loathe jeggings.

2) I love Anne Riley. I truly think she's brilliant and pretty much trust her when she says "Go read this book" because she's usually right. She's throwing major props toward Beth Revis for ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (which is brilliant) and DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth (which is brilliant) and I'm right there with her. I even bought DIVERGENT....like, to own....on my bookshelf. Wow, so good. And Anne is a great writer as well, so I love reading her stuff too. In fact, DIVERGENT is on my shelf, very cozy and sweet-like next to THE CLEARING. I'm sure she'd like that.

3) I might just have the coolest dad in the world. He eats my food. He teaches me valuable skills. He is in love with his new granddaughter (little Magpie) and takes Me-maw to the gym. Best. Dad. Ever.

4) I need to clean and organize my room and my car.

5) It's been a hard week but I've seen how wonderful and supportive my friends and family are. Props to you all, dear ones.

Ok.....I think that's it for now. My angsty week is over and I've had a relaxing, chill day. I didn't really get anything done, but I'm a happy girl for now. Peace out.