Monday Moments

I think that every weekend we all play this little game of "ready or not here I come" with Monday. Last night Abby had a rough night and didn't go to sleep until about 3 hours later than her normal bedtime. As a parent of an incredibly fantastic child, I realized just how lucky we are. When you have a newborn you very quickly adjust to life with irregular sleep patterns, and then once you have a more regular nighttime sleep pattern it is incredible just how quickly I am used to that again.
As you may know from previous posts my husband, Kyle, is going to culinary school. Because of this I have been fantasising over all of the kitchen gadgets and fun recipes and thought it would only be appropriate to share some of the finds with you. This is, of course, much more fun of a kitchen concentration than looking into my kitchen that desperately needs to be cleaned. That project can wait until later!
Best investment:
Kitchen Aid stand mixer - this little beauty is from a special line for the Susan G. Koman foundation, and it is a fabulous addition to any kitchen. There are attachments to grind meat, make pasta dough, juice veggies and fruits, and so much more!

This next one speaks to a personal love of mine...GARLIC! The Garlic Rocker crushes garlic without becoming impossible to clean after.

If you have kids, you should at least know how to make cupcakes from the boxed brands. Occasionally I find myself glued to Cupcake Wars...and if you didn't know I am a secret cupcake-a-holic indulging in the excuse of having a child to order them! I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of silicone baking cups, but here are some fun footed buddies!

If you have kids, and bake cupcakes, or know anything about shifting sleep schedules then you probably would appreciate the next product as well! Kyle and I went to Rome for about a week last year around this time. We went with family, four other women, and I was almost 20 weeks pregnant. He is one BRAVE man let's just say that. Needless to say, there is an incredible amount of decadent food and amazing wine to be enjoyed in Rome. I ate plenty of the food, but could not partake in the wine. While Kyle and I had dabbled in red wines before our trip, he came home with a love for it and pairing it with food. Here's a little something that comes highly recommended for all of us who can't take the hours to let something properly decant from Wine Weaver

I've never personally tried the above product, but it came recommended on a blog I've read a few times written by a sommelier, so he must have a pretty good base of judgement! We use one of the kinds you can "plug into" the top of the bottle...great stocking stuffer from last Christmas, but this looks pretty cool!

It's probably time to move onto the kitchen because Abby finally went down for a nap about 30 minutes ago and I think I started trying to write this entry about 2 hours ago. Oh well! I hope you all have enjoyed my Monday moment, and the Culinary Chic segment!
Until Next Time

Dabble

Oh yes...it's Monday...

I think I am going to adopt a new practice for Mondays. I need a "fun" way of saying a pro and con list...but essentially that's what it will be. Normally coming out of the weekend you're happy about something, and of course upset that you're coming out of the weekend. I think that if you can find just ONE thing to make you happy about your Monday then we can avoid the phrase "Someone has a case of the Mondays". Today my something to be happy about is that Monday is OVER and I have a fabulous glass of wine in my hand.
My New Year's resolution was perseverance, and here we are at the end of Quarter one and I feel like I'm on the stairsteppper of perseverance more than ever before. I just keep climbing and climbing and everyone at the gym moves on to another machine while I just keep on stepping.
I wish this virtual life gym of mine would automatically lead to toned legs, abs, and a nice ass to boot (hah!), but right now I am less worried about how my dedication could make my body look (because let's face it, I'm not hitting the gym on a regular basis), and I'm more concerned with how my Monday experiences can be turned into life lessons to pass onto my daughter.
Every day I see more free will open up from her and while she is proving to be a VERY decisive child it is mixed with sweet moments of reaching for me to pick her up, and throwing herself backwards while chucking her Nuk across the floor. She is after all my daughter, strong willed. I hope she grows up to be a person who isn't afraid of telling you exactly what she wants. If you fear honesty, who can you look to if you don't end up with what you want? At least if you voice your desires you have a chance of them coming to you; if you stay silent, you have no one to blame but yourself.

OK, so this post is a tad "deep" and not so much "fun Chic Moment Mommy"....but this Chic Mommy needed to have a moment.
Moment over, moving to Mexican food....wish the wine was a margarita. THEN it'd be a great Monday Moment!! Maybe that's the answer...Monday Moments....hmmmm

Until Next Time

Dabble

Sanity...it's crazy-making

The past few weeks have involved a never ending roller coaster of events, emotions, tasks, and trying to somehow come out alive on the other side. The worst part about all of it? I can't talk about it yet....
Inside, I'm a writer. This is my outlet, and I think that Kyle loves that I have it, because there are only so many times he can listen to me vent, or talk out my strategy to "take on the big guys". But the nature about this entire situation is protected by a looming necessity for confidentiality, and if I even started to talk about why I could be making things even harder for myself.
What I can say is that everything will be ok, life will go on, and at the end of it all, I will be a more valuable business person from the experience we're having.
What I hate about this....it makes me feel like I'm a bad mother. I cannot physically do everything during the day and night that I need to do, and do everything that Abby needs me, as her mom, to do. Yes, I accept help, and I have a super nanny, and Abby is completely well taken care of. For me personally, it's not enough. When we started trying to have a baby I knew it would be a challenge to balance everything, but I knew that we had the most amazing support system to make sure that we are all ok.
I grew up with working parents, and I know that I need to work (at least part-time) so I have something else to do. I never wanted to be in a position where I was there for the morning and bedtime...and nothing more.
Once this is all over, I'll be happy to take at least a day or two to spend with just my little girl.
Some mommy and Abby time....and maybe a glass of celebratory wine.

Until Next Time.....

Dabble