Parent/Teacher Conference Week Hangover

Posted on November 5, 2012 by the2beths

I am not a person who functions well when my schedule is changed. The week of parent/teacher conferences is always a tough one for me, and so is the week of the time change. These two things happened in one week. I am exhausted this week, and have hundreds and hundreds of papers to grade to catch up from last week. It is overwhelming. And in overwhelming circumstances, I often shut down.
That’s what I did this Saturday.
I had so much laundry, grading, exercising, calorie counting to do, that I did NONE of it. The only thing I managed to do was go to the grocery store and spend too much money.

And tonight, I had to do a presentation at my school’s PTO meeting, and I was super nervous about that. But, it went well. And now, I am ready to have my regular week. I will catch up on grading a little at a time. And I will eventually finish the laundry. And I stayed in my calorie count today. And, tomorrow I will go for a walk, or do some sort of exercise.

That reminds me – tomorrow I need to follow up on my October Goals post, and write a November Goals post. Although, I didn’t do too hot on my October goals. ha ha.

Well, this is a post about nothing so far. Awesome.

I just wanted to mention two things.
First, I love my husband, because he went to an orchard today to get apple cider to make a caramel apple hard cider *he is a home brewer*, and he got me these…

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And when I went to the grocery store on Saturday, they had my favorite dressing. 45 calories for 2 tbsp, and it’s delicious.

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My husband made a delicious dinner tonight while I was at the PTO meeting – grilled boneless pork chops, acorn squash, and salad. And I followed it up with my favorite dessert as of late – the york peppermint patty ice cream bar.

I have finished the day with 40 calories to spare. WOO HOO!
That’s better than this weekend, when I probably went thousands over my goal at my mother-in-law’s brunch. The food was DIVINE.

Okay. I should stop blabbering now.
I can’t wait until tomorrow is over – Ohio is a swing state, so the ads have been over the top and hateful. I will be glad when it the election is over, and then the residual 3-4 days before people stop b*tching about who was elected.

Have a good Monday evening!!

Beth WA

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Lazy Saturday

Posted on November 3, 2012 by the2beths

Last night my niece – the love of my life – stayed over night with me. She is seven. And she is awesome.
We got up this morning, and I made her a smoothie. It was the first thing she asked for when we got up. I think it’s one of the reasons she likes to stay here. She hates milk, but ate a smoothie that was 1 cup of milk, and 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt, and frozen mangoes, with vanilla weight watchers protein smoothie mix and a little cinnamon and vanilla extract. She drank all of it.

Now, we are just having a leisurely day. I have tons to do, but I am embracing all of these moments with her since they will be moving out of state *to Texas* in a few months.

Here she is watching disney channel…she didn’t know I was taking this picture.

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I am hoping to make it to the grocery store tonight.
But, first, I’ll probably have to change out of these pajama pants. (unlike a lot of people in my town, right Beth FS?)

I kind of wanted to try a new recipe….It was one of my October goals, but I did kind of crappy with my October goals. More on that later…

Have a good Saturday night.
Beth WA

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Butternut Squash Epic Fail

Posted on November 1, 2012 by the2beths

I love root vegetables… all kinds of potatoes, acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash…the list goes on and on.
So, tonight, I was super pumped to make the butternut squash I had gotten earlier this week.
I was excited to top it with with some butter, cinnamon, and Splenda brown sugar. So, I followed a recipe for guidance as far as temperature, and time in the oven.
Well, I am not going to link the recipe because it was an epic fail. I cut the squash in half, took the seeds out, and cooked at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. I also put a little salt, pepper, cinnamon and butter on the squash.

It did not evenly cook the squash. It was not enough time to cook the squash. And it was a huge mess. I had to cut it up, and microwave it to finish it off. Cutting it up when it is 400 degrees is no easy feat.
But, it was delicious once the mess was over!

Well, I don’t have any pictures, and I am barely awake following parent/teacher conferences last night, so I am just relaxing about to read some blogs on my google reader. I still have tons of magazines to read. ha ha…..

Have a good Thursday night!!
and tomorrow is TGIF.
I am taking my niece and godson to see the movie, Wreck It-Ralph tomorrow after school. They are two of the most tender hearted children I know. My niece is in first grade, my godson is in 2nd grade. I am looking forward to spending the afternoon with two of my favorite people on this earth!

Beth WA

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The Kind of Mom I want to Be

Posted on October 30, 2012 by the2beths

In the throes of infertility, I mostly focus on getting pregnant, and staying pregnant, and the minutia of it all. Taking daily temperature, taking medicine, counting calories, and charting ovulation.

It’s hard to look beyond that point for fear that it will never happen.

However, once in a while, I allow myself to day dream about a day when I am a mom.
And as hard as we are trying, and as badly as we want it…that thought often overwhelms and terrifies me.
It’s so much pressure. There are so many things to think about.
Self esteem, making friends, surviving school, playing sports, not playing sports…

But, then, there are other times when I think to myself… “I got this.”
I think that being a mom is something I can do.
I find I approach the prospect of motherhood like I approach my teaching. I like to borrow, or some may say steal, ideas from other good role models. And I have so many. My friends are all such great moms. Really great moms.

I will see things here and there, and think,
“I want to be like that when I have kids.”
Or
“I want to do that, when I have kids.”

I wanted to write about one of my favorite things I see in my school parking lot. It is at the end of the day, when I am doing the dreaded parking lot duty, making sure all of the kids make it to their cars safely. I teach 5th and 6th grade, so this duty isn’t actually too bad.

During this time, there is one particular family I love to watch.
As the kids from this family walk to their mini van, their mom’s whole face lights up with joy.
Her mouth smiles, her eyes light up, and her whole face just looks happy.
Every single day.
And then, if you look at the kids faces’, they mirror her expression. They are just as excited to be reunited with her at the end of the day.
It is pure joy.
And I love it.
Every single time I see this event, I think to myself.

Now, THAT is the kind of mom that I want to be.

Beth WA

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Halloween Party Weekend

Posted on October 28, 2012 by the2beths

So, I started having a Halloween Party the first year we moved into our house, and I’ve continued the tradition each year. In my mind I wanted it to be the “go to” event for my friends, our one big night out for the year. But, it usually ends up just being a small group, and everybody is usually really tired because I have it the night of trick or treat. So, I am thinking, maybe I need to change the night. Also, this year, child care was an issue for a lot of people. I think I definitely need to change the date. I gave a lot of notice, so I don’t think that was the issue. Or maybe it’s just not a fun party and I should rethink an annual party.

However, after reflecting on it, I was really appreciative to have a small intimate group this year. It was a bit of a bitter sweet day for me. It was the day we were going to reveal to our friends that we were pregnant. I would’ve been 12 weeks pregnant by this weekend. I was going to dress up as an oven with a bun in it. I am thankful I was surrounded by my closest friends, my dear cousin, and my brother and sister in law. I felt comfortable and safe, and loved by them. And it put me in a place of gratitude, rather than sad-itude. Also, now that I think about it, with the small showing, the announcement may have been a bit anti-climactic, and not at all like I pictured it.

I got really into prepping for the party, and made some Halloween Treats. This is very unlike me, so I was proud of myself. Usually, I would see these, think they were a great idea, but never make them.

I made cupcakes that looked like owls and mummies.

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Nailed it!

I made a batch of beer margaritas (beer+limeade concentrate+vodka) and put gummy worms all around it…

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My husband dressed up as a keg, and I dressed up as a witch. I even work fake purple eyelashes.

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Beth FS and Mr. FS dressed up as cowboy and cowgirl. Beth FS hates dressing up, so I am always appreciative when she appeases me for the party.

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My brother and sister in law were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
HA HA HAHA . I wish I would’ve gotten a picture of the feet that came with his costume. They were huge with 3 huge toes.

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So, we laughed a lot, watched Notre Dame win!, ate a LOT, drank some, and I stayed up way too late chatting with my cousin. I also ate like crap all day, eating party leftovers. I feel so gross.
Now, I have a BUSY week.
We have parent/teacher conferences Monday and Wednesday from 3:30-8:00. Ugh. It’s the only thing that I vocally complain about to my boss – because we don’t have a day off this week because of conferences. They give us the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off for conferences, which is weird because every school that I know has a day off for conferences AND the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off. Conferences just wear me out emotionally. I am so nervous for them, and it requires a lot of preparation and information.
But, I will survive, of course. And next thing I know it will be Christmas break.

I hope everybody has a great start to the week!!!
Beth WA

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Hoarding. Magazine Edition.

Posted on October 26, 2012 by the2beths

I love magazines. I mean, I really love them. I subscribe to over a dozen of them.
I’ll be honest.
I have a problem with magazines.
I cut out recipes, exercise ideas, etc, and then keep those stacks for months until I put them in the organized binder I have. Then, that binder just sits around, while I hardly ever make the recipes from those magazines.
Then, I started to read blogs. And now I bookmark blogs, email blog links to my email, star blogs in google reader, and do screen shots of some recipes. And guess what… I never make those recipes, or do those crafts or house decorating, or exercises, either.

I had a ritual with the magazines. Saturday mornings, I would get my coffee, and sit on the couch catching up on DVR and read my magazines that had piled up in the foyer all week. I would get through them, then move on to Google Reader and read my blogs. But, now, I am backlogged. I subscribe to so many blogs, and so many magazines, I think I am in a permanent state of stacks of stuff to read. This, is in addition, to the list of books I want to read, and am reading.

Check out my magazine load right now…

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And my google reader backlog:

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The thing is..this backlog doesn’t make me nervous, it comforts me. And THAT makes me nervous. That is the mind set of a hoarder.
I have to constantly fight hoarding tendencies.
My husband said I have a problem being overly sensitive to being a hoarder, but that show scares the crap out of me.

So, tonight, my goal is to get through some of the magazines. (I get rid of them immediately after reading them.) And, to make a dent in my google reader.
My goal should be to start cleaning for my Halloween Party tomorrow, or make a menu for the party, or walk on the treadmill.
But, after this crazy week at school capped off with a Halloween party at school that lasted a long time, I am spent.

I hope you are all enjoying your Friday night.
Anybody else fight hoarding issues??
Beth WA

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A little sumpin’ sweet.

Posted on October 24, 2012 by the2beths

After dinner, I like to have a little something sweet. I’ve come a long way. Because, after dinner, I used to want a LOT of something sweet. I keep dove chocolate bliss in the fridge and peppermint patties in the freezer. The fact that I am able to do this is a huge step in my relationship with food. I am able to have just a little bit after dinner, and be satisfied. *on most days.* I still have my slip ups.

But, my favorite thing to have is Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate with Caramel and Sea Salt. I am not even a dark chocolate lover. My palate is not that sophisticated AT ALL when it comes to chocolate. I saw a blogger describe cheap chocolate as super sweet milk chocolate junk, and in my mind I was thinking, yummm! my favorite kind. Ha ha ha.

These chocolate pieces are about 70 calories and they satisfy that something sweet that I crave after a meal.

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In unrelated news, I am still in a depression over this news. How dare Justin Timberlake get married!?!?!?
Doesn’t he know he is supposed to reunite with Britney Spears????!!!!!

If I were Jewish, I might have to sit Shiva over this news.

Mostly I have been in denial.
I skip over all wedding related articles.
I am not even kidding.

Blerg.

Well, we made it to Wednesday. Yay.

I am looking forward to the weekend. My husband and I are having our 3rd annual Halloween party. It looks like it is going to be a small one this year, but it should be fun.

I always have all of these grand plans to make all this cutesy Halloween treats, but then I end up freaking out trying to get the house clean, I end up throwing chips and salsa and random dips out, and hoping Beth FS brings one of her delicious appetizers or desserts. HA HA HA

Have a good evening…does anybody have any ideas for Halloween Party foods?

Beth WA

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Sometimes, it’s all I can do…

Posted on October 23, 2012 by the2beths

I recently bought a “5 year, one line journal,” that I saw somewhere online, and thought it was awesome. I’m not going to lie, I bought it with the hope in my mind that I will be able to chronicle a healthy pregnancy. This journal is cool because it only has space for a few lines to write about the day. The other cool thing is that each page has only one date on it. So when I started it on October 17th, 2012, I flipped to the part of the book that was October 17th and wrote my few lines about the day. Then, next year, on October 17th, my entry will be right below that one.
I think this will be cool for many reasons. One of them is that I can see if there are patterns in my emotions, motivations, and general mood. Also, it will be fun to look back and see where I was the year before on the very same day. The book is really cute, too. It’s blue, with gold embossing on the edge of the pages. (I think that is what it is called.) And it is small. I would take a picture and post it, but it is all the way upstairs, and I am downstairs. ha ha.
Maybe tomorrow.

Anyway, the reason I am talking about this journal is because I was filling out my entry from yesterday. And it made me laugh. Because the only thing I could think to write that I considered an accomplishment is that I counted and stayed in my calorie count on Fitness Pal. I didn’t do any dishes, I cooked a crappy dinner, I didn’t exercise, I didn’t do much work, I took a nap after school, then just sat around. And as I was reflecting on this and writing in my journal, I thought about my struggle with food addiction.
And I realized that sometimes, counting calories, and staying within my limits, and not binging is all I can do.

There will be more days where this will be all I can do.

And that’s ok.

Have a good night,
Beth WA

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A Run + Huevos Rancheros Spaghetti

Posted on October 22, 2012 by the2beths

I had great plans to come home from work and bake these drumsticks while I went for a run. They had been marinating in buttermilk and garlic all day in the fridge.  When I got home from work, they were still frozen.  Wah wah wah.

Instead, I asked Mr. FS if he could handle this recipe for Huevos Rancheros Spaghetti that i had found in Oprah magazine.  He’s not really a recipe guy.  Don’t get me wrong, he makes a mean chicken nugget or box of Kraft mac and cheese.  But he was game and he started by the pasta while I went on my run, and I fried up the eggs when I got home.  Huevos Rancheros is my favorite Mexican restaurant dish, and I thought this recipe sounded delicious.  It was. This picture is gross.  The meal was not.

I was glad to get out and enjoy the unseasonably warm weather.  I really love to run, but I have been struggling lately to get myself out the door, particularly since it is so cold and so dark in the morning.  And if I don’t do it in the morning, it is near impossible to motivate myself to go in the evening after a tiring day of work, and with a tiring night of dinner, homework, baths, etc. ahead.   But seeing my sister and her husband run 26.2 miles yesterday made me suck it up and go run 3 miles tonight. And I’m glad I did.

Now, I’m off to half watch the debate, half read funny celebrity tweets about the debate.

– Beth FS

 

 

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Ready for the week.

Posted on October 21, 2012 by the2beths

It’s Sunday night, and the house is semi-clean, laundry is almost finished, grades are finished for report cards, awards are assigned for our awards ceremony on Wednesday, meal plan is finished, and I feel good about the week.
I had a good weekend, spent time with friends and family, and spent time at home chilling out. I didn’t stay in my calorie count at all, and I didn’t exercise, yet. But, it was still a good weekend. I need to make sure I get back on the wagon tomorrow, and get some walking in as well. I don’t want to be too disappointed come Wednesday morning, when I weigh in.

Today, I cleaned out my pantry and freezer. It was long overdue. I had a garbage bag and a half full of expired items. So, for lunch, I made some of the stuff I found that I had forgotten about. I kind of threw this stuff together, and it turned out DELICIOUS.

I made wild rice in beef broth with raisins added in.

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Then, I roasted acorn squash and sweet potato, using coconut oil, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes.

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On the stove top, I used the frozen, already cooked, chicken cubes, and warmed them with some black beans.

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Then, I put it all together and dropped a little Sweet baby Ray’s bbq sauce on top. I think it would’ve also been good with apple sauce on it as well. But, I love everything with applesauce on it.

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Then, I ate 1/3 of it, and split the rest in two containers for lunch Monday and Tuesday.
It was low in calories, satisfying, and filling. I think it might’ve been good to add roasted pecans to it as well.

I had lots of grading to do, so when my mom invited us over for dinner, I had to decline. But, my husband went over and brought me home a plate. It was SO delicious. I love autumn dinners. I love roasted veggies.
It was a pork chop, roasted broccoli, fingerling potatoes, and cauliflower. Also, acorn squash. I added cinnamon applesauce to the mix. And my mom makes this delicious sauce to put on the vegetables. (Mom, can you write the recipe in the comments.)

Here is a picture of my plate:

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This school year is flying by! I can’t believe we are starting the second quarter tomorrow. And the second quarter will be over before Christmas break!!!!! CRAZINESS.

Well, off to change the laundry.
Have a good Monday, everybody.

xoxo,
Beth WA

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