Renovating Our Trenches: New Tile!

Instead of going to Myrtle Beach this year, we sadly decided to be fiscally responsible (I can barely even type that with a straight face...) and do some much-needed renovations around the ole' homestead.  Doesn't it seem like when one thing breaks, then a string of things break all at once???

Yeah, that.

We had been putting off some home improvement repairs for years and years and years.   It was time.  (May 2012 marked 11! years in this house.)

So we created a spreadsheet.  Wrote down all the home improvements we needed to do.  Figured out the best way to add to our debt borrow some money and then got started.

First:  (This seems stupid but was oh so needed)  A new garage fridge.  The freezer had stopped working completely and the refrigerator part was barely keeping the beers soda and water cold.  Hubby bought a new one on super-clearance at Sears and all was well with the beers world again.

[Aside:  Does everyone have 2 fridges like us?  Are we normal or is it weird to absolutely need 2?]

Second:  New entryway tile.  Our old entryway was shiny white tile with missing grout and loose tiles.  Hideous.  Our new tile?  Soooo much better!

Third:  While we were doing tile, we figured we may as well replace the linoleum in our downstairs half bathroom.  The old linoleum flooring was miscolored, cheap-looking and definitely pee-soaked. So tah-dah....new tile in the bathroom as well!

And finally, we are doing some more yard landscaping:  irrigation system, side-yard landscaping and removal of some trees, and a built-in firepit.  And house-painting.  With a new BIG DECK! currently in process:

So while not going to Myrtle Beach this year was pretty sad, I'm excited to finally be GSD!

(GSD = gettin' shit done)

You in 6 Words

Although I didn't attend the Writing session at Bloggy Boot Camp Philadelphia, I heard and read a lot online about crafting your 6-word bio.

Here's some of what I have come up with.   (This was fun to do!)

*  Boston paralegal boymom needing more caffeine.

*  Life with 3 sports-loving sons.

*  Mother of 3 boys.  Send wine.

*  I used to have a mind. 

*  Working mom life with unflushed toilets.

*  My bathrooms always smell like pee.

*  Football.  Basketball.  Baseball.  Life with boys.

But I think this one is my favorite and pretty much sums me up completely:

*  Motherhood.  Boys.  Sports.  Home.  Work.  Running.

What would YOUR 6-word bio be?

Half Marathon Training

So...yeah.  I honestly had NO IDEA that the half marathon I'm running is NEXT WEEKEND.  That whole  "turn the page of the calendar to the next month" totally threw me off, apparently.

June 3.

Yup, next weekend.

I feel *somewhat* prepared.  I did a 10-miler on Mother's Day.  I did an 8-miler this week.  And I attempted a 12-miler that ended up being an epic fail of only 6 miles.

(It was totally mental.  I just STOPPED RUNNING.)

So I feel like I need to do at least do one more long run, hopefully this weekend.  And then I will take it easy next week with a few 3 or 4 mile short runs.

And then wake up next Sunday at the ass crack o'dawn and run 13.1 miles with these two lovelies:

This will be my third (!)  half marathon, but I actually feel like a newbie all over again, since my first was back in 2007 and my second one was in 2010. 

It will be my Sis's fourth half.  It will be my friend Kristy's (on left) FIRST.

I'm excited.  Nervous.  And hoping I am mentally strong enough to plow through.

9 more days...

Bloggy Boot Camp Philly - A Recap from A to Z (Part Two)

(Part One of my Bloggy Boot Camp Recap.)

New York/New Jersey.  Driving through either one of these states with bumper-to-bumper traffic just blows.  The end.

Heather was seemingly unaffected.

Options.  One of the things I love MOST about Bloggy Boot Camp is the giving, and the taking away (muwaah ha ha ha), of options.  The afternoon sessions were by choice.  Attendees could choose either the "Business of Blogging" or the "Writing Side of Blogging."  But the morning sessions were held in one big ballroom.  And what else wasn't optional?  The seating.  Yes, this is the biggest (and in my opinion, the best) component of Bloggy Boot Camp.  ASSIGNED TABLE SEATING.  After each speaker, you move on to the next table you were assigned, giving you a chance to mingle and meet new people all morning.  Genius.

Philly cheesesteak (or lack thereof).  Hi my name is Sarah and I went to Philly and didn't even eat a cheesesteak.  Blasphemy, I know!

Questions.  I really enjoyed how each session at the conference flowed naturally and how the questions being asked at the end of each session were organic and pertinent.  There's nothing more annoying than having one person dominate a Q&A session and not leave enough time for others to speak. I was happy that this didn't happen.

Red Bull.  Can you even believe that Heather had never tried (sugar free) Red Bull before this weekend?  I MADE her try it.  And now?  She's hooked. 

Swag.  There are pros (free stuff!) and cons (mine! mine! mine! more! more! more! sharp elbows!) to swag bags at conferences.  The SITS gals do it juuuuust right, like Goldilocks.  And yes, I was up helping until midnight the night before, stuffing swag bags with sponsoriffic goodness.

Tiffany.  Tiffany and I met many moons ago when we were both selected to be faculty members for a company's blogging campaign.  We instantly hit it off in the hotel bar and have been friends ever since.  She's one of those gals who I may not talk to every week, or every month, but when we do get to see each other (usually at Bloggy Boot Camp!) it's very comfortable and easy.  I love having that kind of friendship.

Understanding. It's hard to not get overwhelmed at a conference with all the things you SHOULD be doing...and yet you're not.  You need to take a step back.  Understand yourself.  Understand your blog. Understand your blogging goals and what you expect to accomplish.  It's definitely easy to get swept up in the mania of all the things you could possibly do, but you need to ultimately remember YOU.

Value.  Let's face it, conferences are expensive.  Conference ticket, transportation, hotel, meals, etc. etc.  Bloggy Boot Camp is one of the best deals going.  Traveling to a city near you, for one day, $99.  Ask any attendee and I bet you they tell you that it was WELL WORTH IT!

Waterpik.   Another sponsor, Waterpik gave each attendee a brand new shower head!  I'm so excited for the 5 minute installation that is on Hubby's to-do list this weekend.

eXcitement.  It's easy to hid behind the security of a computer and never come out.  Blog conferences challenge me in more ways than just helping me come up with ways to take my blog to the next level (which is good in theory, but something I have never actually done what with working full time, 3 kids, sports, running, blah blah blah).  There's just something so exciting about meeting someone you "know" on the computer in real life.  Getting to hug them.  Being pleasantly surprised when their computer persona matches their real-life persona.  (Sometimes this doesn't happen and it's very very sad to have your bubble burst.  I have stopped reading many a blog after meeting someone in real life who doesn't "match" their writing.)

Young bloggers.  And by young, I don't necessarily mean age-wise.  I just sometimes feel so OLD at blog conferences.  I mean, I've been around since blogging was the only thing.  No Facebook.  No Twitter.  No Pinterest.  No nothing!  You just wrote a blog and read other blogs and comment on each others' blogs.  Ahhh, the good old days.  So it's refreshing to be able to help all the youngsters who are just getting started. *pushing up my bifocals* *waving my cane in the air*

Zzzzz.  Conferences are tiring.  You have to be *on* most of the time.  Smiling, laughing, mingling, chatting.  This is faaaarrrrr from my general nature of snarkiness and sarcasm.  But I love Bloggy Boot Camp and Tiffany and Fran.  And I would attend, again and again, in a heartbeat!

Bloggy Boot Camp Philly - A Recap from A to Z (Part One)

This weekend, Heather and I set off on a road trip to Philadelphia to experience Bloggy Boot Camp!  (My third one, her first one.)

Instead of writing about all the fun stuff you missed  the details of this conference, I thought I'd break it down for you, Sesame Street style.

Apprehension.  When it comes to blog conferences, I get this big-time.  But at Bloggy Boot Camp?  I have none.  Probably because I'm a veteran now.

Bed.  As in sleep number bed at the Raddisson Hotel.  Ahhhh....heaven!

Cousins.  I was so excited to be able to meet up with my lovely, young and fun cousins, Katie and Meghan, while in Philadelphia.  There was a LOT of laughter.

Danielle.  I am so thankful that I got to sit next to Danielle at lunch.  I had a total misconception about FitFluential and its ambassador program.  Yes, I am a runner, but no, I am not a hard-core marathon-runner who devotes my entire blog to the subject.  I am a full-time working mom with 3 children who enjoys running for my physical and mental health when I am able to squeeze in the time!  So I am so happy to know that FitFluential is actually looking for moms like me! 

Erica.  I think Erica and I first met at the inaugural Bloggy Boot Camp in Baltimore and then again in Boston.  I love this girl.  She and Tina threw a great cocktail party on Friday night to welcome us to Philly!

Fran is one of the SITS girls and is an absolute doll!  Always smiling, cool under pressure, and so cute.  Love.

George Washington Bridge.  Yeah, we were instructed (by both husbands) to not go that way from Boston to Philly.  But we did.  And got stuck on this bridge for over an hour.  Blech.

Heather.  Heather was an awesome co-pilot, supplying me with food and conversation the entire road trip.  And as a roommate, she didn't even complain when I snored or farted.  Which I'm sure I did. 

Informative.  My goal when I attend a blog conference is to try to not be overwhelmed by information overload.  I think Bloggy Boot Camp does a great job in emphasizing that you certainly don't have to do it all.  Pick something you learned, even if it's just one thing, and apply it.

Jill.  Whenever Jill and I get together, we laugh.  We snark.  We complain.  We confirm the fact that yes indeed, we are old blog friends.  And she?  Has a huDge heart.  Please consider donating what you can to Scary Mommy Nation to help feed children this summer.

King's Hawaiian.  The lunch sponsor at this Bloggy Boot Camp, their bread pudding recipe was uh-may-zing.  I needed a moment.

Lost.  While traveling with a fellow female companion, it was so nice to not have the MALE FREAK OUT MOMENT when we realized we were heading in the wrong direction.  Both of us shrugged our shoulders, calmly figured it out, and moved on.  *girl power fist bump*

Mirassou.  This wine company is one of Bloggy Boot Camp's sponsors.  (Who doesn't love a conference with a WINE SPONSOR?)  And this weekend at Bloggy Boot Camp?  I learned that MOSCATO is a white, not a red!  Who knew?!

To be continued....

The Last First Tooth

For the first two years of each of my boyz' lives, any time there was crankiness, drooling or pretty much any type of unexplained behavior, I blamed it on the TEETHING. Just waiting for those little suckers to cut through to put my child out of his misery.

And now I'm on the other end. Just waiting for those little suckers to fall out to put my constantly-tooth-wiggling child out of his misery.

Yesterday we hit a milestone.  My very last baby lost his very first tooth.

After months and months and months of jealousy (of his older brothers), it finally happened to him!

And he couldn't have been more excited to put that teeny tiny thing under his pillow to await the riches of the Tooth Fairy.

And well, Hubby she sure came through last night.  To the tune of $10!  (Only for the first one.  Average price in our Trenches is whatever cash we can scrounge up last minute $2.)

And the postscript to all this? I received a text from Hubby this morning. Seems tooth #2 was ready to jump ship as well.

Looks like the Tooth Fairy will be making a return visit tonight!  (But no way in hell is she paying out another $10.)

I can't wait to get home to see his toothless bottom grin!

Fun with COOL WHIP!

I fully admit that I am not a good cook.  When it comes to making dinner, I can follow a recipe, sure, but I am not very original.  It's pretty much stick-to-the-basics in my Trenches...if I'm the one in charge.  My husband, on the other hand, is a phenomenal cook.  The man can grill or fry or bake anything.  He makes pasta sauce from scratch and while he may follow a recipe, he always improvises and adapts and makes it taste better.

But the one thing I know I CAN do?  Is make a mean dessert.  I enjoy desserts (as my hips and ass will attest) and I love getting complimented when I whip up something tasty...and easy!  Because who has time to slave over a stove?  Certainly not this girl.

So what's your everyday dessert solution?  The one you make that everyone requests and loves, and most importantly, is quick and easy?

For me, it's a no-brainer.  TRIFLE.

Mmmm....trifle.  I love the fact that my entire family gets excited about this dessert.  Hubby requests it instead of cake on his birthday, and when we have family gatherings with my side of the family, I am always instructed to BRING THE TRIFLE.

Please tell me you've heard of trifle before?  All you need is the following:

 A chocolate cake mix (so eggs and vegetable oil too), chocolate pudding, heath bar morsels, and a big tub of COOL WHIP whipped topping.

Cook the cake mix in a 13x9 pan according to package directions and let cool.

 Find a willing volunteer to lick the beaters.

I bought a trifle bowl for pretty cheap.  You can use a regular ole bowl, but for appearance sake, it just looks prettier in one of these.  

Line the bottom of your (trifle) bowl with cut up cubes of cake.

Next layer:  pudding

Next layer:  COOL WHIP

Next layer:  Heath bar crunch

Repeat until you run out of room.

Refrigerate the finished product for as long as you like before serving.  I usually give it 2-3 hours so it has time to set, meaning the pudding and COOL WHIP sink in to make the cake all spongy and yummy and delicioso.

 Is your mouth watering?

The good thing is that there are many variations to this dessert, which makes it EVEN MORE adaptable and easy to make in a pinch.

For example, instead of chocolate cake, you could use angel food cake, layering it with either vanilla or chocolate pudding, COOL WHIP, and then cut-up strawberries.

For a festive Fourth of July dessert, you could add blueberries AND strawberries to the angel food, pudding and COOL WHIP.

The possibilities are endless!


*****
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My Mother's Day 2012

This year was the first year since uh...I don't even know (how bad is that?!)...that I got to spend Mother's Day with my Mom.

And it was glorious.

After a long day of sunburn baseball on Saturday, we clambered into the car to trek to Connecticut to my Sis's to spend the night with her family and my parents who were visiting from New York.
 

Mother's Day morn arrived bright and sunny to my Sis's Connecticut shoreline home.  I was awakened not only by my Niece's dog, but also by my 3 boyz, eager to bestow gifts upon me.

Actually, I take that back.  They were much more interested in the dog.

But I did manage to score a Kindle gift card, a gift certificate for a massage (holla!) and some lovely gifts, including a homemade jewelry cup from Baby and a "Top 10" list from Middle as to why I'm the BEST MOTHER EVER.  A list that included, among other things, that "She sometimes lets us watch PG-13 movies" and "She takes us out to dinner a lot."

Awesome.

And then it was time to get serious.

A Mother's Day 10-mile run.

For realz.

(My Sis and I are crazy running a half marathon on June 3.  Gulp.)

Sis had mapped a great 5-mile out, 5-mile back route.  It was fairly hilly, but a fantastic quiet country road.  I felt decent, but definitely hit the wall at Mile 9.  I was hot, my legs were sluggish, and the last mile seemed like it was ALL UPHILL.  I had no momentum or desire left.

Running is soooo mental.

But we did it!

And then spent the afternoon sitting outside in lounge chairs, drinking beers, and watching the kids play soccer.

Best Mother's Day ever.