Itchy Eyes

I certainly have a love/hate relationship with early spring. Itchy eyes, puffy face, stuffy and or runny nose periodically throughout the day. Coughing and SNEEZING! Yet the sun and new earth smells are just so inviting! I can't stand the idea of wasting a day indoors when the weather is precipitation free. I actually don't mind precipitation under the right conditions. Evening snowstorms when you bundle up and go play in the snow, when you have nowhere to go the next day. Rain on hot hot hot days, when you just sit outside and wait for it to start falling.

Between Mitch and I, the kitchen got a semi-thorough cleaning. I'm talking behind the fridge, behind the stove, the sides of the stove once it was pulled out. I cleaned off the DUST and grime on top of the fridge 2 or 3 weeks ago. Still can't find the original source of the smell. Mitch thinks it is probably a dead mouse in the wall. So so so gross!

So my list making obsession is paying off. I make a menu usually two weeks at a time. Then I make a grocery list and we buy the items specifically for the menu. Sometimes we do our regular food shopping at the same time. Sometimes I like to wait till I'm hungry for that kind of shopping or we never get any good kind of snacking stuff. I'm a chips and dip, salsa, nacho cheese kind of girl. LOVE my afternoon snack items. Anyway, the menu is saving us time and probably money. Saving money on food isn't usually our driving motive, unless we've spent the last seven days dining out, which we've been known to do. But saving on the time we could spend together is. All those million little trips to the store chew up a big part of our after work evening time together. By the time one of us goes to the store, comes back, we start dinner and eat, we find we sit on the couch to catch up or just cuddle and we're asleep in less than a half hour. This makes us cranky and crazy. This seeing each other but not SEEING each other. Some real time together makes a HUGE difference in our moods and how we interact.

Anyway, I have about 15-20 good working recipes, that Mitch, Hayley and Zach have given a ten out of ten rating. I made a list of brand new recipes to try out on them. I was hoping to add at least a few more recipes to my repotoire, as I was getting bored cooking the same things over and over. Turns out, they loved all eight of the new recipes! So now, I can usually go about 20 days without repeating a meal, knowing it is nutritious and/or organic, and because all the items are all in the cupboard, meals are usually done by the time Mitch gets home from work. And I don't have to spend my days off from work running to the grocery store, roaming aisles, trying to figure out what we'll have for dinner.

A Smell...

Is coming from my kitchen area. I can't find it. Now Mitch tells me it could be a dead mouse. How effing gross is that? I am completely sickened and desperately wish I had kept Chloe (my cat).

New readers are welcomed always. It is just odd sometimes when somebody is specifically looking for something. Blame my over-reaction on past blog stalker issues. Um yeah, we all remember the debacle of 2007? I HATE censoring my thoughts on my blog and someday I will post a very uncensored response regarding that time.

Moving on...I need to get to the bottom of that smell!

What's the Date?

All I know is it's Monday. I have Mondays off, so they are typically glorious, even when the weather is off! Oh, today is the 8th. And the weather is PERFECT! Perfect for spring clean-up and laying in the sun! Once it starts getting too warm, you have to get up and jump in the pool/ocean/lake every 20-30 mins or so.

Yesterday was a wonderful day. We swung our clubs a little, picked up the grounds a little, ran to Walmart, sat in the sun, and ended our day with a sunset walk down on one of the private beaches.

This morning, I've been toying with the idea of heading to town or scarborough beach with Sierra for a walk and to read a little, while she chases the sea gulls. Then go tanning and come back here to sit in the sun. The kids both have meetings after school so I don't have to get them till 3:30ish. Maybe Mitch will get out a little early and can grab them on his way home.

All I know is, I really needed these last couple of beautiful, sunny, warm days. I've been kind of short with the people I love this past week. True, I'd been sick, and I'm never chipper when I'm sick, but things got a bit stressful and it made me cranky. Mitch and I have had a fairly drama free existence the last few months and I'm happy with status quo. I feel we've successfully settled in here in Narragansett. I truly feel this is home to me now and not like I'm living someone else's life. Anyway, it is spring and I always get a bit crazy around the time the clocks change. My anxiety just increases. It takes a few zen days at the beach to settle back into my skin.

3/6/10

It is soooooo warm out today! The best news is we'll have a whole week of this beautiful weather. I love days when you're just comfortable outside. Not too hot and certainly not cold! Laying in the sun tomorrow! YAY!!! Mitch and Zach will be doing yard work. Probably will head to the lighthouse side of town tonight to watch the sunset. LOVE my beach town!

Debating

On what I want to do with my time today. Obviously I am going tanning. I will probably just relax around the house.

My husband has not texted me yet today. Grrrrrrrr!

3/4/10

Yesterday was filled with horribleness, but it got better as the day wore on. Ultimately, all of the little crappy things seemed to happen within a quick succession of each other. It could have all been sooooo much worse and Mitch and I admitted that we've had a long stretch of GOOD blessings so we were due a crappy day.

The good news is everything worked out and we NEVER have to repeat that day again! The best news is that we are going to have a WARM spring weekend this upcoming one and hopefully some yard work will be accomplished!

Also, I had a great day in my new sneakers. I love the look of new sneakers on my feet. I feel like a grade school kid again, when EVERYONE had to have Nikes, and everyone would oooh and ahhh when someone would get a new pair.

Asics Experiment Update One

My first mile and a half in my new sneakers today. No blisters, no complaints. No tightness around any of my toes. My Nike Zooms are a bit more cushiony and definitely more lightweight, however they don't allow for lots of toe room and I even have very narrow feet. Asics scores in the fit department. I won't have a solid opinion till I put them to the true test...4 miles. If a shoe is going to give me trouble, it ALWAYS shows up before (in the case of a very bad shoe) or around mile 4.

I Hate Tuesdays

For a number of reasons. It means I go back to work on Wednesday. Boo! It means Mitch has to work late. Boo! It means Sierra has to spend seven hours alone. The only day of the week she's alone.

I DID however sit in the warm sun for about an hour. Caught up on all my reading. Cleaned and organized yesterday. My acai juice experiment is kicking in. The brand we bought is a bit pricey compared to regular juice prices, but it has concord grape, blueberry and cranberry juices. Not to mention the FIRST ingredient listed is acai puree. I'm also increasing my green tea intake. I'm up to about 30 oz per day. One or two cups of coffee and lots of water. I'm also not eating any red meat during Lent. The last two times I've had filet mignon, while delish, I've not felt good for DAYS after. I don't have trouble with hamburgers or ground beef in meals. Not sure why steaks, GOOD CUTS, are giving me so much trouble.

That's RIGHT

I have a book buying problem. New books. Used books. Old books. Library book sales. Audio books. And now even books downloaded to my Mobi Reader. I must be stopped! My husband is useless against my powers of persuasion!

Happy March!

Mitchie bought me new sneaks yesterday! I think I'm going to love them. I'm doing an Asics experiment. Typically I am a die-hard Nike fan for my jogging/exercising needs. For instance: LOVED my Reax. LOVED. Love my Nike Zooms just wish I got a size bigger. They are a narrow shoe and fit my foot like a glove, but when one runs, the foot tends to spread out and can even swell a full size in hot weather. But they are super comfy for work. Love to look at my shox but they go up too high in the back and cause listers/bleeding on the high side of my achilles tendon. Ok for work or running errands. My chuck taylors are white and I want to keep them that way. Only good for dry days. My Adidas running sneakers are a bit on the heavy side but I do wear them on the work out days that I want to give my feet a break from my other shoes.

I will keep you all posted on the Asics experiment because these shoes are not cheap! If you're going for looks, stick to the Nike or Converse genre. New Balance does NOT get my vote. I got the grey and yellow trail sneaks back when they were all the rage. Good hiking shoe, not appropriate for running and I think it was being marketed as a "trail runner". It is sturdy for hiking on sharp, rocky ground though. Never tried NB running shoes, as they are a bit geriatric for my taste!

2/26/10

So I got some pictures of my favorite "baby" of all time. My sweet Emily. Long-time blog friends will remember her from my Preschool teaching days in pics with Zach, who happened to think she was the most superest baby girl in the world and requested I have a baby just like her! Anyway, I'm not going to re-post recent pics of her on this because there are a lot of crazy people in the world and she's not my own child, therefore I am not making decisions about someone else's child. I will probably post them on FB or myspace at some point only because I KNOW everyone I've "friended" and my pages are private. Suffice it to say she is BEAUTIFUL. Still has the perfect little face! Long hair now. She's all grown up and in school and very smart!

On that note, hard to believe my sweet Bailey-boo is 10! And Samantha Dawn will 11 in July!

On another note, what the heck is wrong with some babies these days? There are quite a few that are over a year old and still not walking or talking. All of mine were walking by 10 months, as did I according to my baby book. My girls were potty trained by a year and a half. Zach was 2 before we started the process but he was easier than the girls as I recall. Anyway, Jessy and I were talking about it the other day. We just personally have seen lots of parents lugging around toddlers who SHOULD be toddling!

Christmas lights

Whats wrong with Christmas lights in February? A lot of people leave them up year round. We will be the first ones on the block to have them up next Christmas.

I will take care of the lights this weekend. I have been meaning to for 3 weeks and everytime I went to, it snowed! I love the weather here! I'm excited about the spring, Jennifer loves the summer and going to the beach. She gets so excited on nice days, it makes me happy! Man, I love her! She is perfect!

February 25, 2010

I think I am going to take my husband plant shopping this weekend. I want two more hanging ones and some kind of indoor herb garden. I hope he and Zach can tackle the front porch and lawn at some point. (Christmas lights and wreath). The next ten days look mostly mild and rainy. Mid-forties to low fifties. Typical spring like weather. It would be nice to have at least one unseasonably WARM day this next month. Nothing like a top-down day in March!

2/24/10

I feel like crap! I have a sore throat, a headache and fever. On top of that I am having my period, so I am crampy and sore and tired. Not really grouchy. Just not feeling like I'm on top of my game.

I can't wait till this day is over.

I love her!

I just wanted to tell everyone that I love Mrs Jennifer Stone! I got home from work to a beautifully clean and well smelling home. Then she tried a new recipe and it turned out perfect like her. She does so much for me and I love her for it! I just wanted everyone to know how wonderful she is, if you already didn't know. I LOVE Mrs Jennifer Stone!

2/22/10

I started off today on a grouchy foot. After spending about 2 solid hours cleaning and de-cluttering I am starting to feel a little better. I appreciate the help that Mitch, Hayley and Zach give me around here, don't get me wrong, it's just little things they either just don't see or pretend not to. Such as: dust, cobwebs, the filth on top f the fridge, dust under the couches and chairs, tabletop clutter, cupboards that could be wiped down, etc.

I figure if I can get the living room, kitchen and bath in order, than this next weekend we can maybe work together to get the bedrooms done.

I also think I may forgo my expensive boots I wanted for Valentine's and get the new coffee and end tables Mitch and I looked at last fall.

Anyhow, floors are swept, mopped and vacuumed. Counters and tables cleaned and sanatized. House dusted. The top of the fridge cleaned. Stove degreased and scrubbed. Appliances washed and/or dusted. Candles are burning. Hopefully Mitch, Hayley and Zach come home to a fresh smelling home.

2/20/10

According to my up-to-the-minute weather satellite app on my smartphone, it is currentle warmer in Narragansett than Washington,DC. Caught up on some of my shows that I miss during the week. Zach is finally coming home. My stomach is making funny noises.

I LOVE Rhode Island!

...and NYC too, but am sooooooo glad to be home here in the wonderful, beautiful Ocean State! I will gladly live without palm trees to be surrounded by pretty, young, busy, young people. I love our ocean and our beach. I love that our bodies of water are BLUE! Everything down south is a nasty brown, except for the ocean. We have beautiful birds on our lawn all year. Only a few go further south than us. Absolutely NO buzzards that's for sure! I love that we get snow a few times every couple of years with some years in Narragansett getting none. I love that our town has a beer. I don't drink it but is cool! I love our beautiful fresh good tasting aquifer that is under our town that offers the best water to drink EVER! I love that Adam Sandler's character in Coneheads says Narragansett Rhode Island. I love that Rhode Islanders vacation in their own state! I love traveling and visiting other areas but love knowing that this is the place I pick. I don't have to stay because I was born here, or because I have a ton of family here, or because of work or price (we're the 4th most expensive state to live in in the US). I am here because this is where I feel most at home.

February 9, 2009

We're expecting big snow tonight and all through tomorrow and into tomorrow evening. Kind of exciting since we don't get a lot of it around here. We will spend the day shoveling and packing for Florida. We're leaving Thursday night. Can't wait to take lots of pics. I will have to get back in the habit of posting pics on my blog. Hard to believe I've been doing this thing since 2004. CRAZY to me that I've kept up with something for so long. I'm going to print it into book form and give it to the grandkids for future Jennerations!

The Droid

Ok, I would like to start by saying I had no Idea was I was getting into with this phone. My wonderful wife told me I had to get this phone because it was the latest and greatest thing ever and then she could shut everyone up that bragged about theirs because I had one. Well, now I own the DROID, let the fun begin!

First of all, it is called a "smart phone," right there I am in unchartered waters, smart and I are not synonymous! I have faired pretty well in week one figuring this amazing little piece of technology out. It only comes with a quick start guide, which is just enough information to get you in real trouble, but not enough to get you out. The first scare, How do I answer an incoming call? Luckily it was Zach calling and after his fourth attempt (he is persistent) I figured out you slid the green button over to answer the call not repeatedly push that same button. Second scare, OMG where are all my contacts! I went to place a phone call and all of my contacts were gone. The quick start guide does not address this (big surprise), The magical DROID manages its contacts through your gmail account which I had recently setup to be mobile! Well this means that I have to organize (another word that I am not synonymous with) my contacts in gmail into groups and stuff. Once I sorted this out and got my contacts back I found a button that allowed me to stop my gmail account from "syncing" my contacts. Interesting word choice "syncing", I have a "syncing" suspicion this will not be the only challenge I face.

Moving on, I will say that today I started to rule the world with my DROID! Yes that's right I have hooked up this wonderful contraption to my sexy wife's mac and with a few minor adjustments, We have the internet! She gives me zero credit for my technological wizardry, but she is happy in the bedroom so I don't care. I would rather her be happy with the latter than my budding nerdom! She is waiting for the secret service to come crashing into our house and take her computer because I unknowingly have tapped into some secure network. I'll keep you posted on that.

I would like to finish with a little love for my wife. If you didn't know this already, she is the most beautiful, wonderful, intelligent, sexy, loving, caring person in the whole world. I can't wait to go to Florida with her in Four Days.

Please comment it gets lonely writing with no feedback. Tell me I suck if you think so. (my wife will kill you if you do)