21-Day Challenge

I officially gained 20 pounds in the last 12 months. This seems like a good way to get back on track. Join me!


http://www.yogajournal.com/21daychallenge/

Christmas Snuggles

The best thing, by far, better than all of the Christmas miracles seen through the eyes of my children, better than demanding a defintion of the "true spirit of Christmas" from each child prior to opening presents, better than Quincy shouting out "LOVE!" before she opened every single present, better than getting down on the floor and playing, actually playing with my monkeys, better than serving food to the less fortunate on Christmas day, better than creating massive Lego structures with my son...has been the new daily Christmas vacation ritual of my daughter crawling into bed with me every morning and whispering into my ear "mommy, i'm like glue to you" and no matter how ready I am to get up and start my day, after hearing those precious words, I have snuggled right back into the fluff of down and enjoyed my glue.

I fell in LOVE!!

This past weekend was one of pure joy. I read my horoscope, I drank coffee, I read a book, I played with my children, I stayed in my pj's for all but 5 hours of the weekend. We drank hot cocoa with marshmallows, my kitchen was full of heavenly scents of roasting garlic and vegetables from my homemade soup. My mom paid us a visit and we made sugar filled cookies. I fell in love.

I have been so busy with school and the daily routine of life, that extra moments of stress free time to sit down and play with my children have been few and far in-between. This weekend, however, I made a point of putting down my book, setting aside my agenda and just listened. I listened to their complicated conversations about rules to a new game, to their giggles. I took time to snuggle and play with each one of my monkeys individually, and let me tell you what! I fell in LOVE with my most beautiful monkeys! I realized how they have rolled with my crazy schedule, and yet have been so understanding and supportive of me. In fact, my son has gone so far as to announce my grades to everyone he comes into contact with. (Thank goodness I did well.)

I realized how I am most fortunate that we are healthy, full of energy and together. And even though my life presents many incredibly difficult challenges, I am so very grateful to be right here, right now.

My Christmas wish for you is a free moment that can be filled with the giggle of your monkeys.

Peace :)

Brain Comparisons

This is my brain while actively involved in school

This is my brain on break

Finals Finale

"MOOOOOMMMM!  We are literally out of food."

...the family refrigerator during finals week...

"Whatchyou talkin' bout?! I see milk, eggs and ....something green..."

All I Want for Christmas

Dear Santa,

I have always thought of myself as a reasonable person, I really don't need much to be happy. However, a few items have recently made themselves apparent as a need in my life, and...if you could be so kind...please, may I have...?


1. A Cabana Boy (bedside coffee delivery service, of course)
2. 2 Toilets (there are 3 bums in this household, and sometimes the back up leads to disastrous results)
3. A sound proof room (for me to hide in)

That's all.

Merry Christmas, safe travels!

OH! How could I forget! The children would like a picture of you and Rudolph by our Christmas Tree.  Sooo....ummmm...ya...think that should do it.

That Which is Easy

That which is initially easy, is difficult in the end. That which is initially hard, is easy in the end.

This same philosophy can also be applied to devouring chocolate.

My Kind of People

I saw this on Ellen DeGeneres' site. Had to share.

Definition of simplified. 

Hohohohohohohohoho!!!

Amazing Film!!

My cousin, Adam Maurer, and his film company, Chataqua Films, has produced a most amazing documentary regarding an equally amazing school in Atlanta, GA. Check it out, see what they are doing. 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ctqfilms/a-place-in-the-world

Please consider helping them achieve their goal.

Right. Good to Remember.

An excerpt from the book Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese....

"Your job is to preserve your-self, not to descend into their hole. It's a relief when you arrive at this place... because then you are free, you know you owe them nothing."

GEEK!

I have, in one form or another, been exposed to photos like this one for the better part of  my life. While I have seen these pictures, I never actually looked at them. Now that I am looking and connecting to the human body, I am so freakin' turned on by learning!

My professor thought I was trying to get on her good side when I shared this exciting emotion with her...hahahah! When did I become such a geek?!

Last Week

Over the next week, I need to study for 4 tests, write a paper, and a poem and do a presentation.

my snuggle partners

Breathe....ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod....

Finals week. Traditionally the only time my house will truly get cleaned and Mount Laundry will be done away with...mmmm...maybe I shouldn't go that far.

A total Kramer

A couple of months ago, my daughter lost a tooth. It just so happened, that her tooth fell out on a Friday night when my parents were out of town and my kiddos and I were about to go meet our friends for our local version of Friday Night Lights.

No big deal, right? Wrong.

My son, her brother, a veteran tooth looser and unbelievable memory keeper, remembered a year gone by when he was in a similar situation and asked the Tooth Fairy for a toy, not money. That time, I had back up though. I called up my mother in law who graciously helped out and SURPRISE! the next morning, the "Tooth Fairy" delivered just what he had asked for.

Flash forward 3 years. Quincy proudly announces to all who can hear her at the football game, that she finally lost her tooth and the Tooth Fairy will be delivering her specially requested item later that evening. Above the roar of the crowd and the laughter of my friends, I mouth over her head, "HELP! What do I do?"  Brilliant as my friends are, they suggested leaving a note from the Tooth Fairy with an I.O.U. So, I did. All was well, everyone was happy. The lore was still alive in our household.

As I headed out the door, on my way to class, Quincy showed me her tooth. It was precariously perched at a 90 degree angle, and most definitely on it's way out. Casually, I asked if she had pre-ordered with the Tooth Fairy, ya know, just to make sure everything is in stock. Thankfully no, she hadn't. So, she and Turner sat down, wrote a note....Barbie please...No problem! I can sneak out of class early, stop by Walmart, pick up a Barbie, I am heroine once again...er...the Tooth Fairy is heroine, once again.

Skipping into the store, smiling to myself thinking I am so crafty....crap. No wallet. NOOOOOOOO!!!!! I ran back to my car. I looked high, I looked low and holy smokes! I found $10 of change in my car! (Yet another reason to be thankful for the recent holiday extravaganza travels and no Easy Pass.) I can still be a heroine!! Umm, er...the Tooth Fairy...that is.

Jeremy, a 6'5" crossed eyed "intellectual" was my cashier. I apologized for my payment in coins, gave a brief explanation of "Oh..ha ha...the story behind this..ha ha..." Do you know? The GALL of this man? He didn't believe that my Susan B. Anthony coin was real! Here I am, moments away from realizing my true (sorry, the Tooth Fairy's true) heroine-ism and Jeremy holds my children's belief of the Tooth Fairy and every other made-up-gift-giving-fake-object/person that is out there based on whether I have given, or have not given him a fake Susan B. Anthony coin? Is that even a possibility?! Can he possibly understand how the hopes and dreams of my children are being held in those mammoth Jolly Green Giant hands of his?

.....and then....he drops those massive hands, looks up at me with those (now adorable) crossed-eyes...opens his mouth and I feel a sense of faith, of hope, of...could it be...renewal? I hold my breath as he starts to speak....

"Really, don't feel bad. I had a guy come in here and buy $40.79 worth of tube socks. All in quarters, with 4 pennies of course. A total Kramer. Except without the slippery shoes."

DUDE! Gimme my Barbie! I've got a date with the freakin' Tooth Fairy!

Suddenly I have a craving

 12/3/11... That is DECEMBER 3, 2011

As I watch the kids run around in their summer clothes, in December, I realize...I suddenly have a craving to go skiing!

Epic Mini Van

Turner designed a dream car for me...
"So mom, I want to design a high-tech mini van. This mini-van would have vending machines in the back of the seat, that you could use fake money with....no...that had fingerprint identification buttons and when you put your finger on the button, a list pops up that says all of the foods that you are allowed to have and when it delivers the food, $5 comes out too. But, you know how the seat belts tighten on you now? These seat belts would be big enough to go around the world, but this one has a brain in it so that it would know when an accident is about to happen and keep you safe. Then, it would have a seat that could fold down, and you could sleep while you were driving, and the car would know where to go. BUT it would be powered by the sun, and have a way of storing the energy so it would never have to stop. On the roof there would be solar panels that would make the car solar...."

"Sounds great, T!"

"My next idea? Gravity Optional Homes..."

Euphoric Calm

Euphoric calm...it's one of the ways I can describe how I feel after a session with Michael Winer. I call him an energy healer, but he is soooooo much more than that. I am not sure there are words to appropriately describe what it is that he does. Except to say that after a healing session with Michael I always feel vindicated, enthusiastic, focused and at peace.

Some fog was cleared out of my system, my channels were aligned and the road in front of me...MY road was dusted off making it is easier to see which way to move....and HOLY SMOKES, watch out! I had such an amazing day! Giggles and knowledge and positive interactions. I changed ME.

Positive attracts positive, wisdom attracts wisdom, enthusiasm attracts enthusiasm. Becoming stronger within myself, becoming me...it brings light into every interaction of my day.

So as I fell asleep last night and as I started my day today I did so with the anticipatory excitement of a kid in a candy shop with all of my Christmas money...I am PUMPED about my most certain future, and I OWN a sense of calm that is allowing me the STRENGTH of persistence.

I wish this on everyone. :)

Peace.

OWN it!

The book, Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese has been sitting on my bedside table for months. I have longed to find time to do some pleasure reading, but text books have always been the priority. Finally the chance came to me via a presentation needed for my Eng. Lit. class. The whole book has been amazing. During one emotional part of the book, I found myself crying, balling like a baby (and yes, I was at the library. As if people didn't think I was weird enough!) I really like the message that is being shared during this one part and am passing it along to you.

"It was a tale well know to children all over Africa. Abu Kassem, a miserly Baghdad merchant, had held on to his battered much repaired pair of slippers even though they were objects of derision. At last, even he couldn't stomach the sight of them. But his every attempt to get rid of his slippers ended in disaster: when he tossed them out of his window they landed on the head of a pregnant woman who miscarried, and Abu Kassem was thrown in jail; when he dropped them in the canal, the slippers choked off the main drain and caused flooding, and off Abu Kassem went to jail...

One night when Tawfig finished, (retelling this story) another prisoner, a quiet dignified old man, said, 'Abu Kassem might as well build a special room for his slippers. Why try to lose them? He'll never escape.' The old man was right. The slippers in the story mean that everything you see and do and touch, every seed you sow, or don't sow, becomes part of your destiny...

The key to your happiness is to own your slippers, own who you are, own how you look, own your family, own the talents you have, and own the ones you don't. If you keep saying your slippers aren't yours, then you'll die bitter, always feeling you were promised more. Not only our actions, but also our omissions, become our destiny."

Things that make you go hmmm. :)

Peace.

Burger King and Other Important News

Tuesday night is Family Game Night in my household. The favorites are Twister and Hide N Seek. Perhaps the following comment from Turner stemmed from a slight jealousy towards my reigning champion status at Twister...

"Mom, your butt is really big."
To which I replied..."Mmmhmmm. In Twister this works to my benefit."

In other important news...

Today Burger King announced that due to grass root restaurants (like in-and-out burger) as well as pressure from mom and pop places, they had to change their french fries for the first time since 1998. They have made them bigger, reduced sodium and "added a substance" in order for the fries to stay crispier. I am curious to know what "substance" qualifies as on the FDA's "Edible Food" list.

Still in other important news...

Kirstie Alley is still making money off her weight loss. No, I mean weight gain. Or is it weight loss. No wait! I mean loss...oh hell, I don't remember which it is was. I still liked her best when she was doing coke and hitting on a toupe wearing man.

Kate Gosselin denies having a face lift. Really. Demi hasn't had any work done either.

Hugh Jackman sweats off 3 lbs a night dancing...I think that's all I need to say...

And finally... There was a study done somewhere that discovered if a man sits for at least 4 hours with a WiFi transmitter on top of his lap, or with his laptop on top of his lap, or near a WiFi transmitter, all of his available sperm will be dead. Finally. Birth control for a man that doesn't involve latex.
http://www.blogger.com/goog_1618229003

20 Minutes

I found myself with 20 unscheduled minutes yesterday. What was so disturbing to me was that I didn't know what to do with  myself! Should it happen again, I have made a list so that I won't stand in an empty kitchen with a vacant look on my face not knowing which direction to move in.

...in no particular order...

1. Twist and Detox yoga routine.
2. Read for pleasure.
3. Eat an entire package of Oreo Cookies.
4. Power nap!!!
5. Giggle until my stomach hurts.
6. Dream about....lovely things.
7. Fold and put away Mount Laundry.
8. Study more.
9. Play one mad round of hide and seek with kiddos.
10. Run (away.) HAH!
11. Plan the week's menu.
12. Clean the house.
13. Clean the car.
14. Jump up and down.
15. 300 sit ups.
16. 20 pushups. (Pitiful, yes. Sad upper body strength.)
17. Fix that underwire issue that has been bothering me the whole bloody day!
18. Breathe.
19. Talk to friends.
20. Write.

You? What would you do?

Sounds of Thanksgiving

Pack. Load up. Buckle up. Are we there yet? 3 more hours. I have to pee. Snuggles with mommy or chocolate cake? Chocolate cake! Where's the Kooken?! Are we there yet? 2 more hours. Pass the Kooken! I really have to pee. Unbuckle. Buckle. In case of accident, at least you are warm. Unbuckle.  Unpack.  I need to study. It's hard to tell the difference between the shell and the nut. Why don't you kids go outside. Look how creative I was! Is that a skateboard? Yup. Really? It's only 6:15 AM! Screw the nursing, you need to write! She has done it! I am so proud of her! I really need to sit down and study. Pack. Load up. Buckle up. Are we there yet? 532 Polka Dots. I think the whole world should be made out of candy. Then you can eat your arm and it will grow back. I love you, Mommy. I love you too, Bug. How in the WORLD can you be hungry right now? Are we there yet? 22 Kangaroos. Unbuckle. Unpack. If only I could channel my inner boy. One step at a time. Pack. Load up. Buckle up. Silence.... Unbuckle. Unpack. If there is an unlimited number of prime numbers, aren't there also an unlimited number of twin prime numbers? How'd it go? Brought my A game. Sorry we are leaving you all alone. Must. Sleep. How can I be hungry? Pack. Load up. Buckle up. Have you ever dropped anything you really like out of the car window? One full hour of children's giggles. How much longer? 8 minutes less than the last time you asked. Wait. Rewind. Did you throw something out the window? No. Just teasing you, Mom. Perfect, Guns and Roses singing "Patience" on the radio. How long have we been in the car? 20 minutes. 20 minutes?! It's been like an hour already! I'm bored. Read. Unbuckle. Unpack. Home. All of the coffee in the world put into one cup could not keep me awake and allow me to study right now. Feeling grateful. Absolutely perfect holiday.

Happy Day of Thanks

For the first time in 3 years, I am lucky enough to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas with my kiddos. Never one to tackle any opportunity quietly, I have decided this year I will pass along what I believe to be the "true" meaning of this holiday season...Family. Friends. Kindness. Love. (ie: F*ck the gifts.)

Having said that...not sure what this says about me ... but as I lovingly prepared my contribution for today's dinner, I lost the food. So focused at chopping and going through my mental list of the To-Do's before we take off and celebrate, I somehow misplaced all of the veggies I just cut. I looked in the frig, the cooler thinking maybe I was so efficient that I packed them already. I even went so far as to check the car. All to no avail.  Totally confused and starting to think this is absolutely ridiculous, I checked the cupboard.

Yes. This is my cupboard. Yes. I found the vegetables here. In the cupboard.

So let me start off this holiday season by saying I am THANKFUL for finding the food.

Peace, love and giggles to you all.
Christa

Bold Moves

1. Picked up a few hours at my favorite local coffee shop.

2. After T announced he would only play basketball if I coached...I agreed.  Hahahahah! HELP! I wonder if there is a "Basketball for Dummies" book? I was a skier. Never good with the whole eye-hand coordination thing. This should be interesting.

3. Motivated to take on and conquer Mount Laundry. 

However, it IS snowing outside...