I have so much to say, and as always, I am going to dive right back in. I have taken a few hiatuses (is that even a word?) over the last 7 years and I make no excuses. This blog has always been, and will remain unplanned, unscheduled and unapologetically me.
I have some serious qualms about the next 4 months (not that I am counting down to Granny Camp or anything). The boys are about to start 2 different sports in 2 different cities and I haven't worked full time through a spring season before. It's always a bit of a circus to get everyone where they need to be when they need to be there, but this year in particular is going to be even more so.
In the end, I know it will all work itself out, it always does. But this year, I am putting my foot down. I refuse to put myself last, again. I will not be the mom dragging arse everyday because I stayed up too late, ate gummy bears for lunch and put everyone's needs before my own. This year, I am making myself a priority, and if that means asking for more help, so be it. If it means that everyone has to be more patient and chip in more, then that's what will happen. The boys are getting older, and they are certainly less demanding of my every moment. I need to grant them more independence and with that, more responsibility.
Working from home is wonderful. I have a 20 step commute to my home office and I frequently work in my pajamas. I pick the children up from school and I sure as hell get to meet my girlfriends for lunch on occasion. Ok, like a lot.
But it's still "new" to me. This fall, the boys didn't play any sports (don't ask...it was a shiot show and the details of that decision would bore you to tears) and this winter, basketball and Lego Robotics were both at school, with minimal effort required from me.
It's going to be a test of what I am made of. How much I can stick to my guns and not ignore my needs. Every spring, I run myself so ragged I end up getting so sick that I need reinforcements and the ER. I won't do that this year.
I won't. Watch me.
But I will need someone(s) and something(s) to keep me accountable. I had a great conversation today with a friend and we talked through some of the things I want to keep on track. I also gave a new gym a test run. Yeah, yeah, go ahead and call me out on the erratic (at best) nature of my physical whatnot. In any case, I decided that the 20-something college girls at the local gym would motivate me and keep me accountable.
Be careful what you wish for. There is no one quite as able to keep you accountable and honest as the person I worked out next to tonight.
My priest.
January 23, 2013
Accountable
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013
7
Snarky Remarks and Love Notes
December 18, 2012
Sugar and Sass
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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
8
Snarky Remarks and Love Notes
November 29, 2012
Tis the {Clemson} Season
Outside the boys' bathroom at the top of the stairs...right next to a basket of laundry that has been giving me the side eye. It's one step up from a Charlie Brown tree, but the orange and purple makes up for all of that.
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Thursday, November 29, 2012
3
Snarky Remarks and Love Notes
November 26, 2012
Thanksgiving Week Recap
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Monday, November 26, 2012
11
Snarky Remarks and Love Notes
November 19, 2012
Road Trippin'
The boys had a backpack that I don't think was ever unpacked as we spent the entire drive either watching movies (Little Rascals, Looney Tunes and Disney everything ever produced) and seat dancing. In the event that you were wondering, you can ABSOLUTELY choreograph dances with a seat belt and one hand (mostly) on the steering wheel. If you screw up the lyrics to anything by Skynyrd, Ice, Ice Baby or Call Me Maybe, I will repeat the song and give you a second chance. Then I will just laugh at you for another 10 miles.
We laughed so hard on that trip. I had the boys undivided attention, well mostly. Except for the hour and half during the Anime movie. I am a dork, admittedly, but that level of dorkdom is too much even for me. So I let them have that to themselves while I indulged in some Beach Music and some Scritti Politti. We decided that our Musical Palette needs it own zip code it's so wide.
We made a few stops, for necessaries (read: non fat lattes and petrol in Tennessee) and had lunch in Kentucky and dinner in Indiana.
Around 8:30p I started getting a little antsy. My left arm gets sore when I drive that long. Something to think about: wearing a ponytail when driving on a road trip SEEMS like a good idea. Natch, it is not. You can't lean your head back and eventually that ponytail is going to make you stabby. Ergo you have 2 choices, wear it down (which I did until 8:30p) or sport pigtails. Check and check.
(I am not ashamed to admit I and took a selfie in the Starbucks ladies' room sporting some sweats on this trip, purple ones at that, and trainers with fluorescent yellow laces.)
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Monday, November 19, 2012
5
Snarky Remarks and Love Notes
November 15, 2012
Winner!
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Thursday, November 15, 2012
0
Snarky Remarks and Love Notes
November 14, 2012
Cupcakes and Coffee
My girlfriends drop their children off at school, and pull up to my casa. No cookie exchange, no white elephant gift. I don't want them to do anything, no work, no stress. Then we sit around for the majority of the day and drink coffee and make fancy hot chocolates from the bar. Freebase on sugar and icing and generally just take a few hours off duty.
Of course, there are always a couple of special guests, because at least one of my girlfriends is bound to have had a baby, but otherwise there are no children. We all ooh and ahh over the latest peanut, vacillating between wanting to hold her and thanking the Good Lord that our children are older and we slept all night.
There is not much discussion of being SO INCREDIBLY BUSY and of CHRISTMAS TRYING TO KILL US, because we are all in it together. We all know how hard it is, but this day, we tend to focus on each other. The elements of those friendships that transcend the busyness of the season. Giggling and much discussion of what (if any) ridiculous gifts the men in our lives will manage to have picked out. Some mention of putting on our winter weight, but then vehement insistence to one another that, YOU LOOK AMAZING and JUST EAT ANOTHER CUPCAKE PRETTY GIRL!
It's one of my favorite things. No stress, no work. I don't do the baking, I order everything and just sass it up with my magic. Before we realize it, it's time to run afternoon carpool and everyone scoots out with promises not to go so long without seeing each other.
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Wednesday, November 14, 2012
4
Snarky Remarks and Love Notes
November 12, 2012
Clemson Homecoming
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Monday, November 12, 2012
5
Snarky Remarks and Love Notes
November 7, 2012
Isn't She Lovely? A Giveaway...
Last night I fell asleep before 10p and woke up to 63 text messages from myriad girlfriends about what's really important in life. What we are all wearing to the Clemson Homecoming game on Saturday obviously! One has to be sure about what one is wearing. Lots of factors to consider; weather, distance required to walk from car to other tailgates to TigerTown (some boots are not made for walking) and most importantly, does your jewelry accurately reflect your love of your team? One can't be showing up in some randomly thrown together whatnot (ewww), particularly for Homecoming.
I don't particularly love to shop, it can be stressful and overwhelming for me, especially when I am shopping for something specific (read: something I have invented in my head that may or may not actually exist). So when I find something I love, I get it. I am traditional and super modest in the way that I dress, and I am a huge fan of fun jewelry. I think jewelry is the perfect way to change what you already have in your closet.
Lucky for you, I am able to give this away this stunning bracelet from international jewelry artist Andrea Barnett!
"Andrea creates stylish classic jewelry for those of us who are stylish classic women. Choosing native materials, all Andrea Barnett's jewelry is made in America. This bracelet of etched stone with vermeil stations features a red bronze medal. These religious medals are the best selling items in Andrea's collections. Jewelry featuring the religious medals come in a variety of styles - necklaces, earrings and bracelets. All is handmade in America, and fabulous."
To enter, do any or all of the following and leave me a SEPARATE comment for each entry.
1. Visit the website and report back on your favorite piece.
2. "Like" their page on Facebook.
3. Tell me what you'd wear this bracelet with or who you would give it to for Christmas.
4. Wish my Tigers the best of luck on Saturday!
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Wednesday, November 07, 2012
49
Snarky Remarks and Love Notes
November 5, 2012
Loyalty
It has been said that your greatest strength can also be your greatest weakness. In my case, one of my greatest strengths is loyalty.
To my school, to my family, to my friends.
My friends will be the first to tell you that I am loyal to a fault. I am the first one to pipe up in defense of one of them, without even hearing both sides of the story. If you are my friend, I am on your team. When someone is hateful or unkind to one of my friends, I mentally place that person in the "NOPE" column. It takes a long time for me to forgive someone who has crossed my friend. May the Lord grant you the grace of fast feet if you cross my children, because that is a story that will not end well. (insert: Mama Bear sideways glance, raised eyebrow and shout-y voice.)
This is so true that I recently had a friend say to me, "No, Jenn, I am cool with her now. You can be too." It's not that I can't make my own decisions, it's that if I call you my friend, I value your judgement. Ergo, you hate 'em? I hate 'em. See how that works? I want to pick up the phone and call those people and say, "You were mean to my friend. That's the same as being mean to me."
On Sunday morning, my children were acting like a couple of fools. Being generally pokey about getting ready for Mass, whining about clothes and basically not being very helpful. I gave them the two minute warning and came downstairs. Neither of them had shoes on and Jack had spiked up his hair in the most ridiculous way (the higher the hair, the closer to God?). I was displeased to say the least. I am fairly sure they ate Halloween candy for breakfast, (which I am supportive of IF YOU HIDE THE EVIDENCE).
I got in the car and Ryan dumped my 24 oz Tervis of Diet Dr. Pepper on my leg (because he was being lazy and absentminded), on the console and in his brother's bag. I flipped my proverbial shiot.
I pulled out the driveway and for the next 12 minutes I screamed at them. I was so angry, and mostly at Ryan. I took him on a 6 mile Catholic guilt trip that homeboy had not packed a bag for. I was furious. I started bringing up things that had happened weeks ago and in typical Mom fashion, told him he was not appreciative of everything I do for him. I chicken pecked and started to cry. I couldn't get my emotions in check and JUST KEPT YELLING.
Admittedly, the little punk needed a come to Jesus. He has been pulling attitude since summer break and is generally acting like a preteen. Moody and disinterested. (Albeit he has straight As and is generally obedient, but let's not get sidetracked.) He spends a lot of time with his head in a book or a DS and I have to beg him to participate in family activities outside.
Regardless, he needed to be set straight. Damn, if I didn't set him stick straight. He apologized, crying and wiping his nose by the time we pulled into 9a Mass.
The boys got out of the car and I hissed, "You better toe the line today, gentlemen!" as we walked into Mass. Jack turned around and glared at me, tears streaming down his little face.
I took him off to the side and asked him what he was so upset about, he hadn't even gotten in trouble.
He looked at me with his shoulders square and his eyes wet and said,
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Monday, November 05, 2012
9
Snarky Remarks and Love Notes































