Back...by popular demand

Kind of. My friend Amy e-mailed to say she missed the blog. Only then did I realize another month had passed without a post. I am constantly blogging in my head. Too bad I didn't get it on here, y'all have missed some great stuff!

Indulge me a little while I catch you up with all the latest Southern Fried Family happenings.

I traveled out of state alone with the boys for the first time the 4th of July. My Baby's Daddy had some previous work commitments that kept him from being able to attend a great holiday weekend at my aunt's house on the lake. The road trip was pretty smooth, but being the only parent on hand with Fat Baby loose on an open body of water...not so much fun. I did get some great photos & memories...which I've been scrapbooking in my head. (I've accomplished a lot in my head, if not in real life!)

My Baby's Daddy & I enjoyed mindless appointment television by watching The Bachelorette this season. As long as creepy, stalker Jeremy didn't win I was okay with any other choice she made in the final three. I was relieved when she sent Graham home, too. She was so trying to make him be something he wasn't just because he was smokin' hot-a-licious. Eye candy does not a relationship make. I was rooting for Jason, but I'm okay with Jesse, especially since they did a little something with his hair.

In light of the recent sucky economy, I've been really paying attention to our spending and wasteful or unnecessary habits this summer. I sacrificed monthly pedicures in the name of economizing, and My Baby's Daddy gave up our lawn treatment service. I know I watch way too much Jon & Kate Plus 8, but I think that anything that works for a family of 10 could also benefit my family of 5. She feeds her family organic foods as much as possible, and takes a little time & effort to not just give them cheap crap.

One thing that really makes things easier for me is planning menus. I found a template on this website for simple menu planning. It makes shopping more efficient & helps my week flow more smoothly. I write any scheduled events on that day's grid (baseball 6:00 p.m., picnic lunch at pool, etc.) So I can look over the week & see that dinner should be easy & early on Tuesday, and I need to have sandwich ingredients on hand for Monday and Wednesday. Since I usually work on Tuesdays, I try to plan a dinner with left-overs Monday night to take for lunch. I've also been concentrating on using the perishable items I purchase each week. I actually made banana bread on Sunday rather than letting some fruit go bad & throwing it away.

I really feel good about making things fresh for my family instead of buying the quickest (and almost always less healthy) alternatives. It did occur to me in thinking about this lifestyle make-over....Kate is kind of forced to be at home all the darn time. Not the Southern Fried boys & me...if we get the house clean, we've gotta hit the door before somebody (or two somebodies) trashes it again. We like to get out & do things together. It's very do-able to participate in lots of fun activities with only two boys. If it took half the day to load my brood of kids in the car, I'd probably find more fun things to do with them at home. (They'd probably get more hot breakfasts & home-made treats, too....Monkey Munch anyone?)

Finally, we just celebrated The President's 8th birthday. We hosted a sleep-over with 6 boys. It was great! Even though my outdoor activities were rained out, they still had a blast. There was a karaoke talent show, movies, and lots of video games. I had the cutest red & white striped popcorn boxes for movie time...and the biggest hit of the evening was the make-your-own trail mix. I labeled red plastic cups with each boy's name & they could fill it with their choice of cereal, marshmallows, goldfish, raisins, gummy worms, milk duds, m&ms, etc. We all had so much fun. After a pancake breakfast, all the boys were picked up by 10:00 a.m.

On his actual birthday, The Pres wanted to make a new Build-a-Bear for his gift from us. So, we did that & had lunch at a Japanese steakhouse (also his choice). We were seated with a couple of older ladies who were less than thrilled to be sharing our festivities. One of them said, "Cute kids." Just like that. That was the extent of their enthusiasm. Even after Fat Baby walked in & said, "Excuse me wadies....it's the President's birthday!" How could they resist?

What is up with me?

So, we are leaving for the beach tomorrow afternoon and I don't have a single thing packed. Sure, I've got my planny mcplan-plan categorized list all together like nobody's business...but it's now time to actually do something. I was even in the house all alone(!) last night (cue crickets) and all I did was pull out the boys' big overnight duffel bag. Tomorrow morning, I will go do all our grocery shopping (yes, I do have my list already done) before we leave, so we can go straight to the condo & unload.

Before Pop came to be a permanent part of our home, I always used the guest room as a "staging area" before a trip. Then, I could put stuff in there on the bed and close the door. When I returned it would still be there just as I left it. Now he lives there & I don't think he would appreciate sleeping under 40 pounds of our crap.

The kids are always in & out of my office, and there's really no place to put things where they wouldn't go in and plunder through it.

So, I'm sitting here at way-to-early a.m., unable to sleep but also unable to really do anything.

Oh, and I get to clean out the van of chaos & have the oil changed today. Joy. It's already about four thousand degrees outside, and have I mentioned I'm not motivated?

In case you're wondering if I've been abducted by aliens...I am so excited and have great things planned for this trip. Homemade pancakes for breakfast! Glow stick bracelets & necklaces for the kids to wear on the beach at night! And the coolest travel games from Target. (They're in the coolest vintage tins--magnetic tic-tac-toe & license plate scavenger hunt). I'm putting together a bag of entertaining items for restaurant waits, too. Ideas?

I know I will get it all done. And it will be fabulous. If you need me I'll be on the beach with a trashy book.

Celebrating My Neuroses...

Hi. Remember me? I used to write a blog here. If anyone is still checking in on my sorry ass, please be patient with me as it's the end of the school year and my calendar is double & triple-booked most days. Where did April go, anyway?

One reason I've been scarce is that we had a big blow-out bash for my friend who's moving in the next few weeks. It was last night & we managed to keep it a surprise. The party was great fun with friends who have also been neglected due to my crazy-ass schedule lately. We partied old-school, complete with a lot of booze, a band, and My Baby's Daddy upchucking after we got home at 1:15 a.m. He smelled like a damn brewery and I went to sleep in the bottom bunk in the boys' room. Good times.

I am now officially on the countdown to my annual girls' beach trip. Since it is less than two weeks away, today has been list-making day. Nothing makes me happier than a good list. Besides my list of what to pack, and what to do before I go, there is the Snack List. Some years we bring homemade snacks, and others we just buy everything when we get to the beach. But since fuel is forty bajillion dollars a gallon, we decided it would help our budget to bring some stuff from home. I tend to think of myself as The Queen of Snacks, and take my title quite seriously. I'm thinking of taking a couple of old favorites and debuting something new. Any ideas?

I also plan to take pre-made labels with everyone's name on them to stick on the ziplock bags when I (being a food snob, control freak, and born entertainer) make everyone's sandwich to enjoy on the beach. In years past, we've had to label them with a pen or some other crude and inferior method. People will either envy me or think I am a neurotic control freak. Whatever. If they want their damn sandwich, they'll sing my praises like a bunch of canaries. Don'tcha think?

Five Things

Oh, I do so love me a good meme. And it's Sunday afternoon....and I was in the middle of a tedious and never-ending home organization project with My Baby's Daddy when he had to leave to go show a house. So, why shouldn't I take this opportunity to slack off while he's gone? Amy tagged me for this somewhere in between the stomach virus and catching up on the laundry, so I'm making time for it now.



Five things on my to-do list today...
1. Finish organizing my bedroom and closet. I must sleep in a non-chaotic environment. Tonight. This has been going on way too long.
2. Cook dinner. I have a pork tenderloin marinating a la a recipe from my BFF. Sounds yummy.
3. Keep the boys from killing each other. Or at least wear earplugs so I don't have to hear it.
4. Take Fat Baby to the potty every 30 minutes. Day Two in Big Boy Underpants. He has only had one major accident & a couple of "dribbles." Thank. You. Jesus.
5. Make tomorrow's to-do list. I am such a list-maker. Tomorrow's list will be much more fun than today's, what with everybody in school and all. It includes a trip to Victoria's Secret for bras, a trip to the fabric store, and other things that nobody else in my house cares about. Well...My Baby's Daddy does enjoy the VS thing...


Five snacks I enjoy...
1. Buffalo Chicken dip...if you're sweet, I'll post the recipe
2. Fiber One bars
3. Movie popcorn (Target's snack bar popcorn, a very close second)
4. Chocolate dipped strawberries
5. Pistachios

Five things I would do if I were a billionaire ...
1. Build my dream home
2. Help others
3. Travel
4. Hire help
5. Have my own talk show


Five bad habits...
1. Passive aggressive
2. Control freak
3. Can have a potty mouth
4. Become withdrawn when overwhelmed/stressed out/pissed off/ anxious
5. Compulsive eating



Five places I have lived ...
1. Fort Payne, AL
2. Millbrook, AL
3. Jacksonville, AL
4. Charleston, SC
5. Troy, AL




Five jobs I've had...
1. Burger King (drive thru operator)--me & polyester...not so much
2. Wal-Mart Jewelry Department--me & the dregs of humanity....not so much
3. Preschool Teacher/ Director--me & other people's kids...not so much
4. Volunteer Coordinator--left to be a SAHM, loved it
5. Grant Writer--perfect job for me! flexible, able to be with kids, work from home


I tag: Pink in a Sea of Blue, So Tired, Worker Mommy, and you...and you...

Purging

So, just one short week ago I could not move my head without tossing my cookies. I had a raging intestinal virus that was. not. pretty. The good news is that it helped out the WW weigh in last week & I've lost almost 25 pounds since January. I guess that's one reason there hasn't been an original and entertaining post around here in a while.

Upon my recovery, I resumed the tedious and much too labor-intense process of tackling the Spring 2008 Official To-Do List. It involves much organizing, decorating, and just plain old throwing crap away.

While I was recently away at a scrapbook week-end, My Baby's Daddy treated himself to a new bigass television, which he plopped on a new TV stand (very tasteful...which was a surprise. I never knew if he really had bad taste or was just cheap. I guess just cheap...although the stand wasn't. But it's to hold the new tv, so you know, no expense spared. Whatever. If he's going to freelance on furniture without approval, it better damn well be something I like. But I digress.) I am glad to see that he does have some taste deep down. I mean, I know he married me & all...I do love the new tv cabinet, so all's well.

Anyway, we now find ourselves with this big armoire that housed our old (normal sized) television. I have moved it into my our office, and it is being converted into a lovely home for scrapbooking supplies, gift wrap, stationery, and other essentials of life. It, and the room from which I blog, will soon be completely fabulous. For the first time, evah. Look for the quality and frequency of posts to improve. I've stolen found many great ideas on several of my new favorite blogs for inspiration.

So, I have plenty of projects to keep me busy until summer. At which time, I will be holding down a chair by the pool, occasionally glancing up from a good book to make sure both my children are above water. My Route 44 Diet Coke with Lime from Sonic may or may not will be topped off with Malibu coconut rum.

Edited to add: Please go to nbc.com and vote for Roger for the Biggest Loser finale! I will follow up with an in-depth Biggest Loser post, and tell you why I want to show Roger the love! (I love Mark, too--by the way!)

Scattered, Smothered, and Covered...

Stuff I've been doing:

• Cramming as much fun into the last days of summer as I possibly can...




• Coordinating schedules and hauling The President to all his essential summer activities like wrestling camp, swimming lessons, and Bruster's for milkshakes




• Having my (extremely high energy) nephew visit for a week




• Doctor's visits with Pop




• Extreme Makeover: Boys' Bedroom Edition (This is a post unto itself...)




• Dreading the start of school




• Family time (but not as much as I'd like...)




• Trying new recipes...my Creamy Tomato Basil soup is fab-u-lous




• Thinking about taking a fall mini-vacation




• Flat-ironing my hair for a new look




• Hoping to get to the bookstore soon for some new reading material




• Watching The Singing Bee with my sweetie, Joey Fatone...we love this show, and you can't stop yourself from singing along!


• Also watching Scott Baio is 45 and Single. If you are a child of the 80s...you have to see it just for the reality show/train wreck/Chachi/Charles in Charge mindless entertainment! Again, we're hooked!

Stuff I need to do:

• Shop for school supplies
• Finish converting the room formerly occupied by Fat Baby into an office
• Make myself doctor's appointments (annual gyn, therapy, dentist...)
• Get a pedicure
• Sign Fat Baby up for a preschool program
• Chill out

So, what's new with you?

All you ever wanted to know about me, and then some!

1. I am 35 years old, and it rocks! I know enough to keep me out of serious trouble, but I'm still young enough to have a good time.


2. I have been a working (outside the home) mom and a working (stay at home) mom. They are both hard for different reasons.


3. Right now I am a stay at home mom who does a little freelance work.


4. I love armchair psychology!


5. I don't leave the house in the summer without my toenails done.


6. I love love love diet coke with lime from the Sonic! (It's even better with a big shot of Malibu rum...)


7. I lost over 100 pounds after I had my second child.


8. It wasn't all baby weight, by far!


9. I did it all without surgery, only through diet and exercise.


10. My baby did weigh over 9 pounds.


11. I had a C-section.


12. Twice.


13. I would do it again.


14. The c-section was not nearly as bad as having my tonsils out at age 28.


15. People tell me I'm funny.



16. Now I can't think of anything funny to say.


17. I have naturally curly hair.



18. It was precious when I was a toddler...now, not so much.




19. I would rather read a book than just about anything else.




20. I love to cook. I once had a 90-ish volunteer at the non-profit agency where I worked say, "You can tell she's a good cook by looking at her!"




21. I thought it was funny.




22. I plan to say whatever I want to when I am an old lady.




23. I used to want to escape my roots because of the grossly inaccurate stereotype that Southerners are stupid.




24. I found out stupid people are everywhere, and being Southern is cool.




25. My dad & I butted heads constantly when I was growing up.




26. I turned out to be a whole lot like him...




27. I met my best friend when we were 13 years old.




28. We only lived in the same town for one year, but we've remained a major part of each other's lives through writing, phone calls, and visits.




29. I love unlimited long distance.




30. I have expensive taste and a cheap husband.




31. I am not an excessive spender, and I pride myself on not being unnecessarily frivolous.




32. My husband & I complement each other very well.




33. We've been happily married for almost 12 years.




34. If I stay on anti-depressants & he stays on ADD medication, we'll probably remain happily married.




35. I put together a family cookbook & surprised everyone with copies for Christmas one year. It was the best gift I ever gave, and their responses were amazing.







36. I'm working on Volume 2 of the cookbook right now.




37. The day I brought Fat Baby home from the hospital, something inside me changed like a light switch flipping; and I haven't been the same since.




38. Post partum depression really should not last three years.




39. I have experienced major life changes in the last three years--becoming full-time, stay home mom, husband changed jobs, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, and recently some devastating family losses...I'm sure these have contributed to my anxiety and depression.




40. Recently, The President told me, "You're not joyful anymore, Mom....when I was three you were joyful all the time." He didn't know how true that was.
41. I guess it's time for me to write my "depression post."




42. I try to keep a positive attitude & keep moving forward. I always say, "it's harder to hit a moving target!"




43. I'd rather be funny than sad.




44. I'm very outgoing and social, but I have to have my "down time."




45. I am very content just to hang out at home with my kids.




46. I also enjoy taking them out to lunch or on an outing by ourselves...sometimes when you introduce more mommies/ more children it is more trouble than it's worth!




47. Right now I'm listening to Hannah Montana sing, "The Best of Both Worlds" on the mp3 player...thank you, Mr. President!







48. I was born on Friday the 13th.







49. At 2:22 a.m.







50. I usually have good luck on Friday the 13th.







51. But I'm not especially superstitious.







52. I am a Christian.







53. I was raised Baptist, but I'm in recovery.







54. I've decided that I'm a much better Methodist than Baptist.







55. My motto is "God knows what I'm thinking, so I might as well say it!"







56. I don't like confrontation.







57. #56 does not apply to My Baby's Daddy....I feel so safe with him that I will confront up one side and down the other--just ask him!







58. But I don't say or do things in anger to purposely hurt him. I believe that once it's out there, it can never be taken back.







59. I also try to treat my children with the respect I want them to show me.







60. With most other people, I tend to just internalize my feelings. I would say I'm passive aggressive.







61. I probably need to be in therapy.







62. When do I have time for therapy?







63. I am very self-aware.







64. This list is getting to serious for me...I'm going to think of some fun stuff now!







65. Once for a costume party in college, my roommate duct taped my boobs together. Gave me fabulous cleavage, but hurt like a sonofabitch coming off.







66. I was glad to be highly intoxicated when the duct tape came off.







67. My roommates were nearly evicted after my 21st birthday party. It was awesome!







68. My Baby's Daddy was out of town for the party, but sent me a dozen roses...and we hadn't even been out on a date yet.







69. The guy I had been going out with got me a card & probably hooked up with another girl after my birthday party.







70. I effortlessly, unintentionally collect (mostly) worthless knowledge...tv theme songs, trivial facts, phone numbers and addresses.







71. Then I walk into a room & forget what I'm supposed to be doing.







72. My Baby's Daddy & I love our "appointment television." Some shows we've been hooked on include: Friends, Grey's Anatomy, 48 Hours Mystery, American Idol, Desperate Housewives (it's gone way downhill since the 1st season), Seinfeld, Big Brother (pregnant with The President during the first season--watched it every night with a big bowl of ice cream perched on my tummy!) and Dateline. The DVR is a member of the family!




73. I have some very particular, neurotic rules about food.





74. I don't like for my food to touch. I especially can't stand the juice from one thing running into another.





75. Combining sweet & salty things (like ice cream with potato chips) is a definite violation of the laws of food. Don't even get me started on the people who dip fries into a Wendy's frosty....ick.





76. Chocolate and mint is also a violation...Mint should be used as a breath freshener, not as a side dish to perfectly good chocolate!





77. I just rubbed my contact out...that reminds me--I just got contacts for the first time ever.





78. I wore glasses for 13 years before getting contacts.





79. I wore braces for two years when I was 13-15. They were the big "railroad track" kind.





80. I had an extremely severe overbite.





81. Now I have a nice grill.





82. I've never had a cavity.





83. I've never tried an illegal drug.





84. I've never been skinny-dipping...but I want to try it.





85. I've tried plenty of other things.



86. When I go to the movies, I must arrive early (before the previews start), sit in the center of the theater 3/4 of the way up, and remain seated for the whole show if at all possible.

87. When watching movies or tv shows at home, I must also see the entire show. I can not start a movie in the middle, and it drives me crazy when My Baby's Daddy does it. If I miss the first few words of dialogue, I will rewind.

88. I think it's perfectly fine to be neurotic, as long as you celebrate your neuroses.

89. I am a typical first-born child, with perfectionist and over-achieving tendencies.

90. I am a total planner, and list-making maniac.

91. I hate it when my well-organized, long-standing plan is suddenly thwarted.

92. Having two kids, a husband with severe ADD & a parent with early onset Alzheimer's Disease has taught me to learn to be more flexible.

93. I've also learned that blessings often come the hard way.

94. The lists have enabled me to keep some degree of sanity with four people depending on me. They are all thankful for my organizational tendencies.

95. I'm glad to be the only girl in the household....because I have more than enough hormones to go around.

96. I have one kid headed for the White House & one headed for the Big House.

97. I am headed for the Nut House.

98. Or maybe I'll just stay around here & keep blogging about it.

99. I hope you keep reading...and commenting. I think I should get 100 comments on my 100 things, don'tcha think?

100. I can't believe that I'm finally finished with this list!


(And a bonus, because this is actually my 101st post....)
101. I've been working on this here & there for over a week...well, actually I started a 100 things list when I began the blog, but never did it. So, I pulled up the old list and added about 98 things to it. I am so ready to get back to writing the daily news...thanks for reading!

Help a sister out

It's been a while, but I haven't forgotten the random and rule-free tag from Jennifer at Playgroups Are No Place For Children. Before I ask y'all for a favor, it's time for me to finally respond. Here are ten things that make me happy:

1. Summertime! I love having a tan, hanging out by the pool with the boys, living in swimsuits, shorts & baseball caps, sleeping in, long, sunny days, grilling and chilling, vacations, and birthday parties.

2. Spending time with my family. I haven't posted since Memorial Day, but we had a blast camping (in an RV, thankyouverymuch--do I seem like a roughing it/tent camping kind of girl...ummmm, no) kayaking and tubing, grilling out, enjoying s'mores over the campfire, and making memories with Pop, my sister, and her two kiddos.

3. My DVR!!!!! It makes managing my television obsessions easy and efficient. I just started watching "Jon and Kate Plus 8" on Discovery Health. This couple has two six year olds, and SIX TWO YEAR-OLDS!!!! Fascinating. I could post all day about it. The mom is a bey-otch (wouldn't I be too, with five more Fat Babies running around here)...and totally treats her sweet husband like the ninth child. She yells at him in public & corrects him on camera. I can't wait to see more!

4. My faith. Shouldn't this have been #1 on the list? All I can say is God knows how my mind works, so He understands that it's bedtime & I'm just blowing off some steam. He knows that he is first in my heart, if not first on this list. My faith has carried me through a very tough year, and I've had to grow and learn to handle things that I never imagined. I know I will come through stronger on the other side.

5. My boys. They crack me up, they snuggle me, they give the best hugs and kisses, and they are gosh-darn adorable. Being a mom totally rocks! I even taught my parrot, Fat Baby, to say, "Mommy Wocks!" With these two, happy doesn't even begin to cover it.

6. Blogging. This blogging thing just opened up a whole new world to me. I've made some very cool friends from all over, and I've been able to open up and just be me. It's a great outlet, a source of support, and so much fun.

7. My Baby's Daddy. He's my best friend, my biggest fan, and he really understands me. We have the same sense of humor, and that's the tone of our family. We laugh a lot, we don't sweat the small stuff, and we really are happy most of the time.

8. Zoloft. Literally.

9. Getting a pedicure. If My Baby's Daddy is reading this, I'm hoping he'll volunteer to watch the boys Friday evening so I can get one before we leave for the beach. I read somewhere that women really want to have lots of vacation sex if their toenails are freshly done...

10. Reading a good book. I love love love to read--I'm always working on something. Now, this is where you come in. Please comment with your favorite beach book. We're leaving on Saturday, and I want to have lots of good reading material on hand. A trip to the book store is definitely on the agenda for Friday.

In case you're wondering...yes, I do have multiple lists for our trip. Yes, I do have a "staging area" where I'm organizing & packing away, and yes, in keeping with the theme of this meme, it makes me happy happy happy!

Mama's off the clock...

...or I will be very soon--the Girls' Beach Trip starts in 8 hours and 32 minutes (not that I'm counting down or anything!) Of course, I've been in list-making heaven in preparation for this drunken stupor....um, uh.. I mean, time of bonding with my best girls!

Swimsuits---check!
Pedicure---check! (complete with blingy little rhinestone daisies on my big toes)
Notes for My Baby's Daddy--check!
Pop taken care of---check!
Get cash at the ATM--damn, missed one!
Mimosa ingredients on the counter next to my boys' lunchboxes--check! (the Mimosas are for me, not them)

Hopefully, I'll return at the end of the week-end, relaxed, refreshed, golden tan, and ready to roll again...and with lots of stories to share! This is our 4th annual beach trip---I was hugely pregnant with Fat Baby on the first. My girlfriends hauled my big ass down to the beach on the golf cart & treated me like a queen the entire time. That being said, it's soooooo much more fun to be un-pregnant on the girls' beach trip! Out of all the trips, this will be the first that MBD has kept the boys home with him the entire time & not shipped them up to my mom's...I did leave an emergency babysitter number for him, just in case....in case what?!?! Hell, it's four freakin' days with YOUR. OWN. KIDS! If he went out of town, would I send the boys away or hire a sitter? Ummmmmmm.....no! And I am with them all the darn time. Moms and Dads are just wired so differently. He is a great dad, and they will all be fine. And yes, I did leave two pages of notes. And yes, I did set out pre-approved outfits to last the whole time I am gone...with additional alternate wardrobe changes. As I admit all this, I am reminded of just how much I really need this trip. I feel responsible for so much and so many. I am a control freak. I thrive on a plan and a routine. And sometimes I just need to let it all go for a few days & soak up the sun, read a trashy magazine or a good book, and have some drinks and laughs with my buddies. Sometimes I need to just let my kids wear whatever the hell they want to...and not worry about them being perfectly matched or seasonally appropriate. I need to let My Baby's Daddy figure out what to pack the boys for lunch on his own...and if he gets it "wrong" know that it's only one meal out of their whole life. But that's just not me!

This weekend, I will enjoy the part of me who is carefree & has no imminent responsibilities. I will not think about the extra calories I consume, or about the pile of laundry that will await me at home. This girl won't be worried about schedules, doctor's appointments, or homework.

I will call home, but just because I love them & want to hear their voices. Not because I need to remind them of "one more thing." I will bring home surprises. I will be covered in kisses. I will not want to leave them again....until next year!