Article: "How to bitch about having a kid"

The only real point of my blog post today is to share this article because I thought it was a hilarious depiction of how not to sound like an asshole while bitching about your child.  I mean lets be honest, every parent has been there one time or another, some weeks, months, or years more than others and its ok and normal to feel this way.  So enjoy.

On a side note, if anyone needs to find me this weekend expect that I will be at home watching football and cooking insane amounts of food while listening to music because thats how I roll during college football season. 

Just another week

Just another week in the life.  I did complete a couple of projects this week although most of my week was spent catching up on sleep and a couple of TV shows I missed via my Olympic hang over.  But it dawned on me today, the first day of school for kids in this district and also a decided at the last minute vacation day for myself that fall was right around the corner. The day started a little bit cooler than recent temperatures, even though it really didn't stay that way.  And I couldn't help despite my laziness most of the day today but be happy and excited.  Fall has easily become my favorite time of year.  Cooler weather, nothing but football to do all day on a Saturday, cooking all the fall foods I love in between games, having friends over or going to friends' houses because every Saturday is a reason to celebrate, I mean, whats not to love?  Anyways, as excited as I was about the impending Summer Olympics this year, I am equally as excited for fall...well, lets be honest, fall football.

Okay, so my projects this week consisted of a printable monogram gift for my boss's birthday that was just printed on good paper from "For Chic Sake" that I absolutely fell in love with and will probably end up doing at least one for myself.

The other project I finished for myself is using a towel rack with curtain rings (spray painted black) for my necklaces.  I had them on hooks in my closet which was functional but there were too many on one hook and this just looks prettier.  

Lastly, I wanted to follow up with a couple other projects I had started but not finished.  One was a button monogram for myself hanging on my closet door and the other was the magnetic board for my makeup that is now completed.  They have both been done for a couple weeks just keep forgetting to update.  

Oreo Cheesecakes and wedding gifts

Wow, what a week last week!  It seemed like every day we had something going on or I was working on some project (one of them too 4 days by itself to complete).  Not to mention with the closing ceremonies of the Olympics this weekend, the past two weeks have been pretty well dedicated to catching up on the day's action when I'm not at work (recorded all of NBC's coverage).  All while trying to keep up with my favorite almost 3 year old and going into work on Saturday.  My first and most important project of the week was working on wedding gifts for Luke and Sherri (fabulous to see them).  Since I am slightly obsessed with Pintrest, I decided on wedding invitation ornaments (invitation of morbidly shredded with a paper shredder and stuffed into a clear glass ornament or in this case 2 and tied with a pretty ribbon instead of clear fishing wire) and wedding date number picture (photo's are taken of the wedding date throughout town and put into a 3 hole frame)...

Thanks to Scott for the 24 picture of a house in Madison photo shopped

Thought I did a good job on the wrapping.  :-)

Warning:  Next segment is NOT gluten free...

Then, my BIG project of the week was a gauntlet challenge by Harley of remaking the new Oreo Dream Cheesecake as made by the Cheesecake Factory for Oreo's 100th birthday.  And since this just came out a few weeks beforehand there were no copycat (semi-homemade) recipes yet.  After reading the reviews on what all the layers consisted of I devised what I thought was a plan.  I also decided to tackle each of the layers separately due to my limited time at night to complete this and so the layers that needed to set could.  Night one consisted of layer one, the chocolate cake bottom (used a regular cake mix, put 1/2 in 9 inch round, made cupcakes later out of the remainder) and layer 2 (cheesecake layer with whole Oreo's inside, used this recipe minus strawberry topping and graham cracker crust).  Now obviously since I was making it at night the second layer was where I had to stop so it could set overnight.  Day 2 consisted of making layer 3 Oreo Mousse (using white chocolate pudding instead of regular chocolate) and spreading it on the cheesecake layer still in the spring form pan.  Its about this time I realize the mousse layer is going to be too thin to spread the topping (chocolate icing) on top so I decide to freeze the mousse/cheesecake layer to make is solid.  Day 3 consisted of putting all the layers together and icing the cheesecake all around with chocolate icing which was challenging at best due somewhat sliding around the mousse layer...

Day 4 was doing chocolate covered Oreo's with a dollop of vanilla icing on top and Oreo's with vanilla icing on top with a chocolate chip then a few hours later lining them around the cake, putting crushed Oreo's in the middle, and sticking chocolate chips around the sides which was somewhat of my own touch on top but looked great...

...for about 30 minutes until the topping which was too heavy for the mousse layer and the icing started sliding down the sides.  Oh well...still tasted good and looked about as close as you can get...

I then got a great surprise for all my hard work and that is the real thing Harley brought back from Nashville...

Cosmetically it looks way better.  If anyone has any suggestions on how to make the mousse layer thicker feel free to let me know.  I think that will solve my problem.  Otherwise, its a keeper...

And I thought my 20s were cool...

My 20s were the time of my life, drinking, partying, staying up late, being carefree.  There is no one to tell you what to do anymore and its nice to be able to let your hair down, make adult decisions after having someone tell you what to do all your life.  Or so I thought...

Now I am only about three months into my 30s but already I feel like its a totally different era for me.  Now, I can't deny the fact that I'm sure my life changing event that happened earlier this year has factored into the way I feel but I feel more at ease with myself than I have ever felt.  Now don't get me wrong, I can still let my hair down and party with the best of them but its less of a priority of who I am now and fewer and farther in between.  I'm sure a lot of that has to do with not really having all the free time that I used to have and being physically exhausted when I do as well.  But I also plan my weekends now based on what activities Max and I are going to do making what (if any) alone time I get an after thought.  He and I are a team and if you get one, you get the other (especially since I'm starting to wonder if there is still an umbilical cord attached somewhere).  And although he is a total hand full at times (example: pulling his pants down and going pee in front of 50 people or so at a river function this weekend.  Sorry people, hes newly potty trained), he is more and more fun and funny every day and is a large source of love and entertainment for me.  Lets be honest, my life would be boring and dull without him. 

Another thing I have noticed about being 30 and other people who are 30 is that they really don't give a shit about what everyone thinks about them anymore.  What you see is what you get.  Now, don't get me wrong, I felt this way before (mainly in my mid and late 20s) but it seems to be more universal and intensified.  Just saying people...don't ask me my opinion if you don't want an honest one because I'm not going to sugar coat it anymore.  And I think in general people in their 30s are better at communicating to you how they feel and valuing your honest feelings over not giving their true feelings because it may not be what you want to hear.  I can think of a few occasions where I have asked a friend recently "Am I being stupid over this (issue)?" Friend: "Yes."  Me: "Okay.  I will stop.", and then I move on without even dwelling or thinking twice about it.     

I feel like you spend so much of your 20s still trying to figure out who you are and what you are doing here and what you like and what you don't.  All of your life experiences mold you into who you are but I think you have a better sense of who that person is by the time you turn 30 and fewer mis-steps.  I did a lot of stupid shit in my teens and twenties that have given me that life experience into knowing what I do and don't want to do in the future.  I definitely believe you can learn more from your mis-steps, than your successful endeavors.   It feels like the more you get to really know and understand yourself, the easier and more fun life gets.  Although I know a lot of people who say things like "I wish I could be young and carefree again and not have to worry about some of my adult problems", seeing my toddler, life can still be challenging and frustrating when you are an adolescent.  Then of course teenage years are just pure hell, trying to assert your independence, being defiant, getting in trouble, being socially awkward, and always worrying about what your peers think.  And your 20s although much better than your teens, you are still trying to find yourself and with a fairly new sense of independence, it can be very challenging and mistakes come easy.  I actually find it ironic now, I cried and/or had a panic attack every year on my birthday in my 20s knowing I was getting older and closer to that 30 mark and this year on my 30th, I threw a party, I didn't shed a tear, didn't panic about anything including getting the party ready, just was nice, tranquil, and relaxing. 

So for whoever came up with the adage "life beings at ___(insert age, hear it with all sorts of different ones)", I really feel like my life, having a clearing understanding of myself, re-begins at 30.

Nothing but love for the gays

I'm not going to talk about the Chick-Fil-A debacle (maybe just one little comment that ties in later) here because frankly myself and many Americans are just tired of hearing it no matter what side you are on.  However, it does bring up some very important topics that I have been meaning to talk about for some time and have even had the title to this blog post saved for about 3 weeks trying to think of exactly how I want to put this together. 


I'm lucky enough to have some amazing people close to me who are gay who have made an impact on my life.  Whether it be emotional or monetary help when needed at various tough times in my life, tying a pretty ribbon around bouquets at our wedding (even though we are divorced, still a memorable moment), or "book club" meetings where I have laughed until my sides hurt, these people I feel are an integral part of who and where I am today.  So much so in fact, I feel sorry for the people who don't have people like them in their lives.  I am also lucky enough to have seen one of those people grow up from adolescence to better understand their struggles in being who they are.  I still remember the discussion my brother and I had on his bed when he told me although I don't remember exactly what age I was (high school-ish).  I remember being surprised although looking back that was pretty naive of me.  I mean, he was your typical boy growing up (and I was your typical tom boy) but there were some things that I could have picked up on.  I also remember immediately knowing despite my ignorance and youth that it didn't matter to me; He was still who he was and I still loved him just as well.  I actually felt closer to him for him having the confidence to talk to me about it since he was not "out". 


Living with my gay brother and reflecting back at how he was during his entire upbringing made me realize he didn't just wake up the morning he told me he was gay and decide he was going to be gay, he was all along and knew much much earlier before he decided to tell me.  And so did my mom.  And he is lucky enough to have a support system who loves him for who he is whereas some of the other gay people I know do not.  Whether it be a father who thinks he is less of a man because his son is gay or a mother who thinks its a sin in the eyes of the Christian church, your parenting skills do not reflect whether or not your son or daughter is gay.  Obviously, they are going to have an easier time coming out to a parent who is more accepting but I can't imagine what a parent is thinking loving their own child, own flesh and blood, any less because of their sexual preference (actually don't even like the word "preference" here).  And also to quote Melissa from her Facebook today who is a devout Christian "I am super (frequently used Melissa word) sad that my fellow Jesus lovers think its ok to stand up for so much hate.  Jesus loved EVERYONE...don't forget that."  Now I am very religiously ignorant so I may be wrong but I thought we also were not supposed to judge anyone, that was to be left up to God.  So for the Christians in support of Chick-Fil-A in the debate, aren't you sinning by grouping all of these people together in judgement for their "sin"?  Although I think its used as a cover in some people's cases, I understand freedom of speech and recognize that as a valid argument and it being an extreme importance in our culture but what happened to our consciousness of other's people's feelings too?  Can you imagine growing up in constant fear of judgement for being who you are?


Furthermore, how would you like someone dictating what rights we have based on any difference from what is considered normal?  Nope, you can't get a drivers license because you have black hair or you cannot vote if you are under 130lbs.  Which brings me into the ultimate topic of gay marriage.  Marriage is defined as "(also called matrimony or wedlock) a social union or legal contract between people called spouses that creates kinship. The definition of marriage varies according to different cultures, but is usually an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged. Such a union is often formalized via a wedding ceremony."  Of course then it goes onto to specify cultural beliefs.  I personally see straight marriage as a cultural belief along with arranged marriages.  We are also taking away the humans rights in arranged marriage yet this is okay in America?  I'm not sure how this makes any sense.  I know a gay couple who got married in and live in another state who have been together (and married) for eight years or so and are still going strong (and the best looking gay couple I have ever seen).  And here I am a straight divorced person.  Those pretty boys put me to shame!  It just makes no sense to me how we want to all be equals...but only if you aren't gay.  They still put their pants on one leg at a time, they work normal jobs, pay taxes, live in houses, drive cars, etc, etc. 


I feel sad that we have reverted back to the 60's (in some cases before then) as far as equal human rights go.  I just hope in the near future we realize how gay people are just like everyone else in this country and deserve to be treated so.  No one deserves to get their feelings hurt or be ashamed of who they are.