Thinking of the McCartans

Sometimes things get stretched out and confused and you just don't know where to go. It is compounded when both sides are prepping, dealing and maybe even struggling. As you start a very big week please know I'm thinking of you and wishing the best of everything as you welcome your beautiful, healthy lil man into the world.

Obsessive

I find that when I'm worried or have things on my mind my obsessive personality really kicks in so lately (past 3 months) I have been on a huge exercise kick. It is really very good for you and a much better improvement over loads of wine and since it does the body good I actually look good in my bikini this year!

What I'm struggling with is tweaking my diet to go along with an increased weight training/cardio exercise routine. I'm very good at eating healthy and eating all the right things but I struggle with timing the intake of proteins and carbs right after a workout. I think mostly because when I work out hard I'm not hungry. I'm back on the protein smoothies and that seems to help because if I don't do it right I feel like a slug by the end of the day.

Not much point to this post but if you have suggestions for yummy power packed smoothies - pass 'em on!

Wrinkly Walnuts

No pictures will be included with this post and you should be thankful.

I guess its time to fully admit I wear a padded bra 24/7. I have this special one that I wear to bed that is supposed to help detox your body while you sleep (yep, I believe anything) and then of course during the day I have enough padding to protect me in a front impact car crash.

I guess the problem is I never admitted why I surround myself with so much padding. Last night my night bra was in the wash so I wore a tank top with a built in bra (you know a string of elastic and some cotton) to bed. Well I was horrified when I saw nothing.

Yep, nothing! I know nekid I have wrinkly walnuts but just seeing them stare back at me when I have clothes on (and no padding) made me quite sad. I suppose this has its perks but currently I'm unaware of them.

I will say I'm very glad I ordered a Victoria's Secret Miracle Swimsuit because apparently I will need.

Off to go look in the mirror at what little I'm left with.

I lied about the picture - feast your eyes....

Farmers Market Flowers

Finally after years of waiting we get a grocery store and a farmers market all in the same year!! WOOT, WOOT!

The farmers market isn't anything to write home about but it works because I have these beautiful peonies and some yummy fresh made salad and cheap cheese. You really have to love the midwest for the cows/cheese and farms that can grow just about everything but bananas.



I will admit that I'm bummed because none of it is organic and I try and buy only organic but how can you say no to these farmers who work so hard planting, growing and harvesting all these yummy things only to sell them for a buck!

Razor's

This is so wrong to actually publicly admit but here goes...I hardly shave and therefor have been using the same razor since we built this house (6 yrs) and needless to say its a tad bit dull. This dullness made it very hard for it to get to a certain spot in my pits (I know TMI).

Anywho, I opened a free Schick Intuition that I had shoved into the bathroom drawer. You would have thought that for as long as this thing had been hidden in my drawer that all the nasty soap would have fallen off or disintegrated. Which brings me to my point, why the heck is there soap around my razor? Who came up with this (not so) brilliant idea of covering the cutting part with soap. I mean, have you tried to get a razor with a bar of soap on the end into your pits to actually shave?

Unless I have the worlds smallest arm pits then it just ain't possible. So this so called razor is sitting in my shower uncorked with the hope that the water washes away the bar of soap so I can actually use the darn thing.

Here's a picture in case you come across one of this unnatural soap monsters.

Some Things

Normally I have a cup of Ganoderma coffee - its a decaf powder that you add water to. It's supposed to have some health benefits but I can't remember what they are right now, hopefully it isn't increased memory.

I do this because I love the coffee and if it does something, great but I'm out. I have no idea how to use the coffee pot and when I do the comments are along the lines of "this tastes like sludge" so I opted for a jar of Foldgers Crystals. I have said jar of crystals because I use it to make a mean Tiramisu and its safe to say it doesn't make a mean cup of joe.

The kids and I went on a short hike before fishing yesterday because I love hiking. I love being out in the middle of nowhere surrounded my trees, silence and just the beauty of earth. I was researching different hiking spots when I came across GeoCaching. I have always wanted to try it and I think with 2 kids that enjoy hiking it might be the perfect summer activity.

What I love even more is the location of some of the cache's literally in the little park down the road and on by the lake in our downtown. Needless to say I'm so freaking excited I can hardly stand it. I do need a new GPS because we have an ancient one that was cool before GPS's were cool. GR has been instructed to pick up the Garmin Oregon 400t because after much research last night it seems to be the best and easiest.

I haven't cooked much this week but I'm anxiously awaiting my Pampered Chef Torte Pans. I got on a hug Cheesecake kick with the Pampered Chef Spring Form pan (thanks to an High School friends blog and perfect Choc Swirl recipe).

No big plans today other than a good workout for me and soccer for P.

um, yep

I blog but only once every 3 months.

I twitter also but not very well.

I cook randomly good.

I can drink, can't really screw that up.

I throw good parties but how hard is that REALLY.

I need to be a better mom.

I run an eight min mile, seven would be better.

come back tomorrow and see if it gets any worse.

Woot, Woot

Eden Prairie Eagles are Boys 2a State Hockey Champs!!!

What a great finish to the season! It's super fun because one of my BFF's husband is a coach so it just means a tad more to see a local time win it all!

Karri & I watched the whole game and the after the game craziness last night even though we were exhausted from 2 parties during the day and she is 32 weeks pregnant!

Help Bring Jack Back!

Baby it's cold out there! Help bring Jack back in because it's down right nippy in Minnesota right now. One of my close friends has her husband sleeping outside on the football field all week to raise money for his school.

Bring Jack Back

New Pizzas

I have added 2 new pizzas to my lineup!

The yummy thick crust which is assembled similar to a Chicago Deep Dish was an instant hit. It's made with different crust that I normally use and the crust is a bit more labor intensive but well worth it. The thick crust is baked in a pizza pan on a stone in mid range heat but for much longer (about 30 min).


Last night I debuted the White Pizza, whipped a white sauce up from scratch and it was excellent and then we complimented the white pizzas with artichokes, some Parmesan cheese, maybe a little ricotta and additional veggies if needed. The white pizza uses my standard crust and is baked on a stone in high heat (550).


Notice the Market Pantry ricotta in the above pic! You can't walk into a Super Target without being attacked by Market Pantry or Archer's Farms items. At first I thought it was crazy but then after some price comparisons and taste tests I say BRING IT ON!

The sad news for my local Super Target is after April 4th I will never be back. My little town is getting its own grocery store, Fresh Season Market . I'm so stinking excited to go shopping in my PJs or without a shower and see my neighbors and everyone else I know!

Crap, I have a 5 year old!

I can't believe how ancient I feel now that I have to say I have a 5 year old! It's ridiculous and weird that turning 34 a month ago didn't phase me yet admitting my son is turning 5 today scares me.


Yes, 5 years ago today Preston George came into the world hollering and a tiny bit blue thanks to the hole in his lung. He pulled through both the hole and the massive lump he got on his head upon exit and continues to amaze me each day. He is a kind, smart, giving and wonderful boy who will grow up to be an amazing man!


I also find it horrifying that my 3 year old thinks she is 5. Not to mention she asked for makeup the other day, I don't even wear makeup how in the world would she know about this stuff? Because she is 3 going on 13!

Oops....

I made a very bad mistake tonight but I couldn't help it.

I love the rain, love it, love it, love it! I love the dark, love it, love it, love it! I could easily move to Alaska and live happily ever after.

Tonight it was lightly raining and dark so I decided to run outside. You see when ice melts and then refreezes it turns back to slippery ICE! When you try and run on slippery ice in the dark, you FALL!

I have to give myself credit, I only fell once. I only have two small injuries, a rock in my forehead and a tooth mark on my chin. I guess I'm lucky because it probably could have been worse.

What stinks is I wimped out and only ran for 45 min and then walked 15 (my plan was 60 since I ran 90 last night) but the plus is it was outside in the misty dark!

Not Enough Food and Too Much Wine

It's a very bad combination.

I had a busy day yesterday which didn't include eating anything. This is apparently a mistake when you then drink an entire bottle (and then some) of wine while making pizza's.



I felt it going south and tried to save it by finally making my pizza and enjoying it but honestly it was too little, too late. I had to be tucked into bed at 8:30. I will say that getting 10 hours of sleep was amazing, I haven't slept that much EVER!

En route to my bed I had a habit of giggling and bumping into things. I'm a proud wine drinking woman and would never waste so nothing came back up!

I do need to give a shout out to whoever is responsible for me never having a hangover. You rock and I owe big time!

Growing Up Sucks!

I used to hate birthdays, hate the idea of getting older and could barely think about my life slipping away each year. Then I figured what is the point in worrying about something so far out of my control.

I try to focus on the good things like being happy, healthy and aging well. I totally admit to being vain and if I wasn't aging well would probably be a real witch! I try to exercise, eat healthy (red wine is good for your heart)and just take care of the stuff I have.

Would I look better if I had a tummy tuck for the baby flab on my belly - HELL YES! or if I botoxed the one odd wrinkle I have on my forehead - HELL YES! or if some of the perkiness of my 20s returned to my chest - HELL YES! But instead I have decided to make the best with what I have and just be happy I have it to begin with.

I do struggle with watching my kids grow up but not because I don't want them to. I actually love their excitement at turning a year older. I love seeing them learn and grow as they figure stuff out and experience different things. I just wish I had some way to guarantee I will never forget one moment of their lives.

The picture of Maren on the trampoline at gymnastics makes me smile and realize that growing up does suck, it will sneak in and steal away my little Maren peanut and it will continue to give me wrinkles. But what can I do about it, nothing. So I'm excited to turn 34 and have a feeling next weekend will be one non stop party!

Happy Birthday Maren!

3 is apparently the age at which you learn to always make goofy faces at the camera.

Reading Minds

Sometimes I wish I could read minds, think of how easily you could avoid fights, prepare for situations or just understand someones POV. I don't read minds therefor I questions decisions I make, I really shouldn't doubt myself especially when its an obvious right choice made.

Yet I do. I think sometimes you want something so bad that when you try and interpret another person thoughts it can cause frustration because you will always doubt your decisions.

In true Jen fashion when I make a decisions about someone in my life needing to be gone then they are just gone. I don't play half way, either your on my team or your playing against me. The problem is that doesn't stop me from missing what could have been.

The Super Bowl Party was a hit but when do I throw a party that isn't a hit. Food was good, game was great and friends are always fun. I'm not sure why I appear to be the shorty in the picture because Rachael is totally shorter than me! It must be because it was her birthday!



Now that I'm done with a huge party weekend I have a ton of stuff to attack this week - taxes, work projects, meetings, errands, Maren's birthday (must bake cake) and then her actual party. I'm actually excited for her to turn 3, I'm not one of those parents who dread their kids growing up. I'm excited each day to see them learn, grown and change.

I can't wait to give her the birthday gift, I skipped the American Girl doll because she isn't into dolls much. I opted for a nicer dollhouse than her current Fisher Price one and my favorite store Pottery Barn Kids had just the answer. Stay tuned for pics of it.

For Gram

This beautiful figure was given to me by Carissa to commemorate the passing of my Grandpa who was a Vet. The figure is a woman (my Grandma) holding a wrapped flag that would have been presented after internment.



I got this shot late on Saturday night in manual with no flash (not going to look up the specifics) but it just fits. Miss you Grandpa and Gram we love you, stay strong.

Thank you to everyone who passed along their support.

I'm having some technical difficulties with my Microsoft Office, I have a trial version of 2007. Well since I never reboot my laptop I didn't realize it had expired so I need to go to Best Buy and purchase it so I can send emails again. So if you are expecting an email from me and don't have it, that is why.

Really Minnesota?

I'm actually embarrassed to post this but WOW, I'm so glad the stimulus passed the house so we can upgrade our skateboard parks here. And god knows we need a snow making machine, its freaking Minnesota the same snow is here from November through April.

I had to run on a treadmill tonight planted in front of a tv (because the ice rink was being used). Anywho, my man Hannity was mocking this so I had to come home and dig it up.

Here's the group's list of 10 Worst Economic Stimulus Requests Made by Minnesota Cities and its take on the projects:

10 – Shorewood, $300,000
Tennis court improvement and rehab -- A backhand shot from a prosperous southwestern suburb that should be vigorously returned by taxpayers.

9 -- St. Paul, $2.1 million
Western Avenue reconstruction, "including bike facilities, traffic calming elements" and "public art" -- An artful attempt to have patrons, a.k.a. taxpayers, underwrite the collaboration of St. Paul public works engineers and artists in creating fun sculptures, playful signs, "traffic calming elements" and bike facilities.

8 – Burnsville, $50,000
Greenhouse gas tracking program -- How exactly does a city-run greenhouse gas tracking program stimulate the economy?

7 -- St. Cloud, $150,000
Street sign upgrade program -- The state has mandated that street sign lettering be 150 millimeters for capital letters and 113 millimeters for lower-case letters. A case of a city government asking the federal government for funds to comply with a state government mandate to replace signs that were already pointing the right way and doing the job.

6 – Hanover, $750,000
LED streetlight conversion -- How many years’ worth of city electric bills will it take to pay off the $750,000 cost of changing the bulbs in this city with an estimated population of about 2,500?

5 -- St. Louis Park, $3.5 million
New water meters for St. Louis Park residents -- The city wants to open the federal tap to give 12,800 water customers new water meters and install remote meter-monitoring equipment.

4 – Roseville, $1.5 million
New clubhouse and maintenance shop for city golf course -- Roseville's city-run Cedarholm Golf Course, a 9-hole, par 3 course, lost more than $800,000 between 2000 and 2007 (years inclusive). Why should all taxpayers be asked to "chip in" even more money at this losing enterprise?

3 – Burnsville, $550,000
Nicollet Commons water feature rehab -- Burnsville expects taxpayers to open the federal floodgates for a $550,000 upgrade for the water fountains and sculptures in its highly touted town-square-style park.

2 – Duluth, $6 million
Spirit Mountain snowmaking and maintenance facility -- This multimillion-dollar snow job attracted national media attention to Duluth.

1-- St. Cloud, $750,000
Skateboarding Park -- Ever since a local entrepreneur closed the doors of his skate park in 2006, enthusiasts in St. Cloud have tried to raise a quarter of a million dollars to start building a huge state-of-the-art skate park "plaza." The city even agreed to carry donors' debt for four years, but donations -- to use skateboarding terminology -- continue to "grind" along well short of their goal. So the city has done a "kick turn" and asked taxpayers to foot the bill for the entire project. Taxpayers need to become familiar with another skateboard term and "grab" their wallets.

Brenda Warner Jackpot!

Not only do I have a memory like a steel trap (actually my memory sucks) but I was a good enough "googler" to find the exact stinking picture I remembered.

Here's Brenda Warner and her boa back when he won Super Bowl with the St Louis Rams (1999). She was the odd, loud, obnoxious, crazy, old looking woman in the stands always yelling and hootin.



I swear I remember her almost picking him up when he won. Anyway that boa has been burned into my retinas for 10 freaking years. I don't think she was exactly the media darling either which probably explains why we haven't seen here around much this year.

I guarantee it has nothing to do with her looks because she doesn't even look like the same person. I don't know what amount of something could give this drastic of a change. I mean I'm not saying I'm just saying.



Go Steeler's!!

Superbowl

So who do you want to win the Superbowl? Steelers or Cardinals?

I gotta go Steeler's because I remember Kurt Warner's wife (and her purple boa scarf) from the last time he won a Superbowl and I can't go there again.

Going to my happy place now......Go STEELERS!!

Perhaps I will get ambitious and put a poll up, stay tuned for that.

In the meantime let's talk game food because of course we will have a huge PAR-TAY here. I'm thinking of copying my NY Eve menu which was Mexican themed. It gives plenty of good munchie food and nothing I have to work too terribly hard to prepare (so I can be in front of the tv with the dudes watching the big game).

So I will make this killer Queso dip, sauteed pepper & onions (for Fajitas), seasoned rice and this yummy black bean dip and filler, guac and Black Bean Salsa.

This mix of stuff will create a build your own burrito, burrito bowl, quesadilla or taco bar.