First Annual Family Christmas Pajama Challenge!

CHRISTMAS PAJAMA CHALLENGE

Thought we'd have a little fun this year.........and since my bestie and I can be very competitive...... we're going to have a family Christmas Pajama challenge!

Here are the specifics:

1.  All kids pajamas MUST be completely homemade.
2.  Adult pajamas MUST have at least 1 piece made of the same fabric, but may include store-bought clothing to complete the ensemble.
3.  You must provide a family photo of everyone in their pajamas.
4.  Deadline is Dec. 1.
5.  You MUST have fun with this!
6.  Comment below to let us know you're in!

7. Voting will take place from Dec 2nd through 9th.

Will you take the challenge???

Fairly Successful Eggs

So, we followed directions......mostly.......and did OK..........mostly.  We determined that the onion peels are way better for this project, that mommy should have used the entire head of cabbage and that carrots (and a pinch of saffron) are only good if you want beige eggs.  Here are the pics in all their glory!

collected stuff from outside with cool shapes, wrapped them up in old pantyhose.  Wait, who am I kidding?!  Never-worn pantyhose.......who wears that anymore?

Placed them in the pots with their vegetation.

 

30 minutes of boiling and 3 hours (yes, 3) of sitting and....ta da!

Here are all of them in the carton so you can see there is some color to the beige ones.

So, Charlie, challenge accepted and accomplished!

Easter Eggs......"the old way?"

We are celebrating in a rather non-traditional way this year.......instead of Easter (i know it was like 2 weeks ago), we are celebrating the Spring Equinox (also forever ago, i know).  Calender's syncing up, though, right?  I'm going to try and decorate some eggs using leaves and flowers as pressed stencils and use foods in boiling water to color them.  A video of how to do it was posted to my Facebook feed and I got dared.  My kids are excited about it.  Anyone ever do this?  Tips?  Stories?

Dandelions

Anyone else ever think that dandelions were daisies when they were little?  Anyone else ever get a super excited when the field behind your school was covered in them at recess?  I noticed the dandelions around the path on my way into work today.  It's freaking cold at the moment here and it was the first time I noticed that dandelions fold themselves up like other flowers.  Not sure I ever noticed that before.  Usually, you see the yellow flowers one day and the next white puff balls (only the second best thing to a field full of the smiling weeds).



Did you know: (from; Organic Facts)

The health benefits of dandelion include relief from liver disorders, diabetes, urinary disorders, acne, jaundice, cancer and anemia. It also helps in maintaining bone health, skin care and is a benefit to weight loss programs. These and other health benefits are currently being studied for complete validation by a number of international institutions.

Despite the health benefits of dandelions, they are traditionally more popular as ornamental flowering plants than as medicine, because the flowers of dandelions look brilliant and are frequently seen in gardens and parks. There are many varieties of dandelion, but the common dandelion is scientifically known asTaraxacum Officinale. In terms of history, the plant is believed to have evolved about 30 million years ago in Eurasia.

Dandelion, which literally translates into “lion’s tooth” in French, is rich in vitamin-A, C, iron and calcium and detoxifiers which explains its common inclusion in medicines

That's one feisty little weed, almost literally old as dirt and is actually good for you. And to think, i sat down to start this blog about Dust, Debris, and Defiance........and decided to not throw my problems on the screen.  Dandelions.  I actually feel better now.

Cuts

My boys got their hair cut.  Not a big deal, right?  Wrong.  They wanted very different cuts than we've ever done before.  It's nerve racking.  They looked through a ton of photos online before deciding on anything, but they went for it.  My older one's is much more drastic and, I have to admit, I was skeptical about how it would turn out.  No need to worry, Mama.  He looks fantastic!  Very short on the sides and asymmetrical on top, with a blue streak.  Yes, blue.  He looks so freaking adorable!  Definitely going to be trouble, that one, when it comes to dating.  yikes.  The younger son took a more conservative look.  short on the sides and spike-able on top.......although, by the end of the day it's totally flat and just looks.......normal.  Bittersweet to watch them grow and decide things!

Boyfriends and Bul-go-gi

So....I'd like to say today I went out on a date with the hubby, but alas, I'm already failing at the challenge.  Too much to do on Saturday.......and I missed my B!  So, here goes.  Nice, sweet, but short.  We saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2........awesome!  Best lessons to come of it........always have someone you can rely on to pull your neck flab back for you (and you for them) and.......before I was a Mommy, I was a girlfriend.  I was a freaking great girlfriend too!  I've slacked off a bit.....a lot.....kids do that to you.....if it wasn't true, it wouldn't be a constant source of material for writers of all genres.  I'm going to attempt to remember to do something romantic at least once a week.  Here's to my boyfriend!!!

..oh...and after the movie went to Dad's Deli (if you're ever in Stafford, it's next to Wal-mart) and got a Bul-go-gi sandwich.  It was super good!

Adulting and Acceptance

Welcome to my 5th attempt at the A-Z Blogger Challenge!  I honestly have no idea what direction I’m going to take you in this year.  It's 6:45 at night and I have only a vague idea of what I’m writing about tonight.  

 Simple Definition of adult: 

·         : fully grown and developed

·         : mature and sensible : not childish

·         : of or intended for adults

There have been several memes cropping up in the last year or so (at least flowing across my Facebook feed) about the definition of being an adult or re-establishing the word as a verb. I will admit, these seem to be more popular with certain generations than others.....primarily those of us in our late 20's/early 30's....as we chase our little ones around, figure out bills, buy houses, take notice of our health (I mean REALLY notice) for the first time...........you know.....all those ADULT things!  

Some of my favorites:

                            

      

*side note - you ever notice there is a progression of memes as one changes generations?  I guess my next step is those involving who's got more wrinkles, sagging..umm...parts, retirement, etc.

Anyway, it turns out, I’ve pretty much always been ready to be an adult.....well.......until I recently got sidelined......put in time out......forced to stop.  "What?!" You say.  Yep, had been having headaches for a while.......chalked it up to getting older, changes in my body after my last child, weather......

Went to the doctor, visit #1: "well, you may have some infection, here's some amoxicillin" (like I’m 4yrs old).  3 days later, I felt even worse.  Took some Motrin, went on with life.

Doctor’s visit #2 (1 month later): got an x-ray of my neck, got a BS diagnosis and sent to the orthopedist, who said I was having muscle spasms and gave me flexural.  Like a working mother of 3 has the luxury of taking something to knock her on her a$$?  Whatever.

Doctor's visit #3 (2 weeks later): I walked in with my chest hurting in addition to headaches.  I figured I had finally developed a full-blown case of pneumonia.  Anticipating my Z-pack......and then there's nothing showing up.....chest x-ray, negative.  EKG, negative.  Blood pressure, excellent (win!).........pulse. Mm....elevated.  "We need you to go to the ER".............umm...stop, wait, what?

ER:  EKG, Blood work (like a vampire was on duty), cat-scan.........boom.........2 clots.  Excuse me?  "This was caused by your birth control, so here's your gown, you're staying here."  but...but...but....there's karate....and dinner.....and and and.........

*side note - I was on BC for ovarian cysts......so goody

Luckily, I have the best support system ever.  Hubby and Mom to the rescue!  Only had to stay in the hospital one night.  Got 2 shots of Lovenox and then a prescription for Xeralto.  And, off I went.....

Got hooked up with a real PCP (instead of the oh-so-convenient Patient First)......here we go.  Did I mention I was stilling intending to go on a 3-day backpacking trip with my hubby and boys?  Oh yes.  Nothing is stopping this Mama!  Do you know how many people are on blood thinners???  A FREAKING LOT!  and they don't stop their lives!  

1 week later........back in the hospital because I overdid it while my lungs are still healing.  Only stayed half a day this time and determined that my clots have totally resolved and just about everything else is tip-top shape........I just have to slow down........let my lungs heal.....wtf.  That’s right, I, super-mom, have to take a temporary break from my usual.  Let me tell you, this sucks.  

Apparently, being an Adult, also means you face Adult problems and sometimes you have to accept that you can't always be the Adult you intended for yourself to be.  So, I’m on time-out.  I still go to work, yes, but I’m taking it slower.  I'm still mothering my children, but trying to let up a little more and not stress so much.......and, well, we rescheduled the backpacking trip.  Sigh.

So, while I'm being Adult and accepting my temporary limitations.....I would love to hear your stories of PE (Pulmonary Embolism).  How long was it until you felt like you could go full throttle again?