First vegan success

Remember my first attempt with a vegan recipe last week? It was a total success! Yum, yum, yum. I made five no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies and every single family member liked them. Hubby, who gave me a really strange look when I told him I tried a vegan recipe, ended up eating the last one! Wow! So I will be scrolling around Angela's blog in search of a new recipe to try this week! Healthy and delicious...love it!!!!!!!

All work and no play

It's Friday night and I am totally pooped... for the first time since babygirl's birth I have just completed a 35-hour workweek. Now I am trying really, really hard not to complain because I do realize that the average person does this every week for about 40 years but I must admit that I can't even see straight after sitting in front of my screen for so long.
When I first started working from home, my goal was to work 15 hours a week. A few months ago, I was aiming for 20 hours a week. Needless to say, 20 hours a week will now seem like a vacation! Isnt't that cool though?
Of course, part of the reason I was so busy this week is that I am still playing catch-up for the weeks spent on the couch. Another part of it is the fact that I know the girls are just two weeks away from summer vacation which means I am just two weeks away from managing constant conflict between morning skating and gymnastics lessons while trying to get some work done somehow, somewhere...
Finally, contracts are flooding in because I am damn good at what I do (if I do say so myself) and that's mostly because I love it soooo much!
So bring it on I say! I can be all work and no play...at least until school's out!

Another promise

Okay, so now that I am almost myself, I am in a treat myself right kind of mood. What I mean is that I want to be as healthy and strong as can be, physically and mentally.
Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am a Diet Cola girl. Nothing extreme... but unfortunately a definite regular. I have tried to quit cold turkey and it's just not going to happen. I have never touched a joint or even a cigarette in my life but I do love my cola! Cutting it out of my life entirely just doesn't seem feasible at this time but, I am willing to commit to at least reducing my intake... small steps right? I guess the fact that I am ashamed the girls know my favorite drink is cola might be motivation enough... after all, how much longer can I prevent them from drinking it if I myself am downing a glass at every meal (except breakfast of course, come on, I am not that addicted to the stuff!)
Beyond limiting cola, I would like to try vegan recipes, at least one per week. Another small promise/goal/resolution... whatever you want to call it.
I have no idea how I found Angela's blog entitled Oh she glows (See my blog list)...but she is one inspiring gal! I shall select one of her recipes per week, and for starters, I found No-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies which supposedly make chocolate cravings vanish while being good for you... Oh how I hope these fulfill their promise!!! I'll let you know!

I love my couch but...

Oh yeah, now I can really feel myself slowly but surely bouncing back... I have to say, I love my life! I appreciate the little things like grocery shopping, cleaning, and laundry. The fact that I can actually do them and finally keep babygirl's drawer full of clean underwear again are a good sign!
Let's face it, when mom is out of order, the whole house is out of order! There are two ways of interpreting that: one can get frustrated (which if you ask me is a viable option) or one can feel important, useful, irreplaceable... OK, I may be pushing things a little too far with irreplaceable but you know what I mean right?
Sadly, while I was flat on my back worrying about the dust bunnies rolling on the floor, I realized that the girls don't really understand how mom can be forced to physically pause. It seems that they expect me to do everything even when it is physically impossible and their increasing frustration level as the days and weeks went by proved just that. I guess it's up to me to stop doing everything for them. It's at least worth a try. From now on, new house rules. Mom is mom, not a servant. I am determined to teach the girls (especially biggirl) a thing or two when it comes to taking care of themselves even if I hope I will never, ever, be forced to spend another day on my couch again!

I haven't forgotten my promise

I have been longing to write for the past 3 weeks but, for the first time ever I have been spending more time lying on my back than up and about. After countless doctor visits, we're blaming it on vertebral pain due to bad posture (I am sitting nice and straight in front of my screen, feet flat on the floor today!) I have put my trust in physical therapy and am feeling a little better but I am so not myself yet!
The best way to interpret the last couple of weeks is to consider them a wake-up call. The blame has bounced back and forth between stress, my husband's travels, my argumentative daughters, and my hectic schedule... Being the mature, responsible adult that I am (and since I have had a lot of time to think about it), I have realized that I am the only one with the power to change the situation. Let's face it, my husband is always going to travel for work, my daughters are going to continue to compete and argue about everything (at least for a few more years anyways), and my schedule will always be full (because I like it that way). Soooo...that leaves me with one last variable: my stress level.
I have been trying breathing exercises and have finally started walking again (which is my alltime fav thing to do, especially with my dog). Plus, I plan to buy a yoga DVD next time I go shopping. I might even try it with the girls, who knows, it might help them too! Let's face it, I will never be a "no worries" kind of girl, but maybe, just maybe, I can learn to relax a little more. Yet another goal I have set for myself with you as my witnesses!

Rain, rain, go away!

Okay, I'm trying to be positive about this rainy week but I must admit it is getting the best of me. This was the view outside my window today and, unless they are very wrong, it will be the view tomorrow, and the day after that too. Not a pleasant sight!
Luckily, it stopped pouring long enough for us to go for a brief walk with Zoey, our highly energetic Boston Terrier puppy. We even spotted a few bright yellow daffodils!
I am always impressed by how everything comes back to life in springtime. It never ceases to amaze me. It may be part of the reason why I love walking so much. What better way to notice the grass turning green and each new flower sprouting out of the ground? Now if the rain would just stop already!!! I really, really want to go for a long power walk tomorrow since the girls will be back in school... and trust me, so does Zoey!

Was this Easter Bunny's last visit?

It's a tradition my mother loved when I was little that I take very seriously. The night before Easter I hide tiny little chocolate eggs (all the ones I haven't eaten to fulfill my chocolate cravings that is)throughout the house. Come Easter morning, I almost stop breathing when I hear the girls get up... I love listening to babygirl's little feet race across the floor, going from room to room to evaluate the Easter Bunny's generosity. Biggirl follows her pointing out each overlooked treat, having every bit as much fun as her younger counterpart!
It's one of my favorite motherhood perks. Biggirl wanted to help me hide them this year. I refused, worried it would be too obvious that she knew where they were come morning. Anyways, as my husband pointed out to her, that role is mine all mine, I just enjoy it soooo much! I think I will continue even when she figures out that the Easter Bunny and mom are much closer than she ever imagined!