Thankful 2014 {and Family Pictures}

Thanksgiving came and went. It was all so quick and sudden. Most likely because we were all sick in the week leading up to the big day. The week of Thanksgiving was a blur, full of doctor appointments and trips to Whole Foods and baking. I'm still traumatized by the baking! But we made it and we survived, and at the end of the day Thursday, I laid my head down with the realization that I was indeed thankful. Thankful for my family, my parents and grandparents, my Husband and my children. Even though the last month was so incredibly hard, knowing that the next month isn't going to be any easier. For every folly, there was a blessing. I'm so incredibly blessed that I have my family, the ones that traveled far to see us, the ones who live down the street. I'm so lucky to have the friends that I do, who send texts to say, "Hang in there", "Don't work too hard", and "Thinking of you". This year has been so challenging, so demanding, so full of follies, that sometimes I'm blind to the blessings. Until I look into the eyes of the ones I love and know, they love me back, they love me anyway, they love me despite. And that is more than I could ever ask. 

Photo credit goes to the amazing Laura Hernandez. She makes us look beautiful. Thanks Laura!

Four Gifts 2014 {Read}

I guess by now you all have noticed that I was a little busy this holiday week. I'm slowing climbing my way back to the computer. Sadly with all the hustle and bustle I wasn't able to get my Four Gifts post up on Thursday. So here I am now, bringing you things that we want to read. I narrowed it down to four, since as you may know, I love books. All books. Any kind of books I can get my hands on. But that list would take weeks to blog, so here are four choices that I wouldn't mind finding under the tree. I also added books for Caitlin, age seven, and Mackenzie, age four.

For Caitlin:

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing / The Dancing Pancake / 

El Deafo / Dory Fantasmagory

For Mackenzie:

 Gaston / Once Upon an Alphabet / 

The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade / Snuggle the Baby

For Me:

 

Unspeakable / Glitter and Glue / Yes Please / Bad Feminist

I hope that each and every one of these books ends up under our tree this year. And thanks to Amazon and two day shipping they most likely will.

What books are you asking Santa to bring you this year??

An InLinkz Link-up

WTF are "Sick Days"?

It's late. I should be in bed, asleep, waiting on my four a.m. wake up call. Instead I'm here, because I couldn't go another day and leave this pretty little blog empty. The face lift looks pretty good don't you think?

I'm currently recovering from some kind of flu virus. The kind that hurts from your ears to your chest. The kind that makes you want to die every time you swallow. If I was a better person, I wouldn't complain at all. But I'm not, so here I am. I think my biggest complaint is that as a mother, I don't get sick days. Not really. Especially when one or more of your children is sick at the same time, which is totally what has happened over here. And yes, for a bit it totally sucked, and then it was kind of awesome, since we spent all day Saturday on the couch, watching Edward Cullen of all people. I was able to get a little sick time from work, but still had to log some hours Saturday night. It happens I get it, but really, a few sick days would be nice. 

Which brings me to the NyQuil commercial I saw last night. You know the one of the man, who says, "I've got to take a sick day", and then you see who he is talking to and it's his small son in a crib. Then it says something like "Dad's don't get sick days", as the camera shows the Dad peacefully sleeping. Okay, fine. Dad's need sick time too... But wait, immediately following that commercial was a DayQuil spot, of a woman asking for a sick day, then you realize she is asking her toddler aged daughter, then you see her during the day, with her daughter, and it says, "Mom's don't get sick days". I'm sorry, what? Are you telling me that Dad's get to take NyQuil and get a good night's sleep, but Mom's are designated DayQuil to make sure she puts on her big girl pants and can finish her "job", without sleep, or a nap, or even a hot meal? The Hubbs assured me that it was just a spot for cold medicine and that Moms or Dads or both can use NyQuil or DayQuil or whatever the hell they want. But I know. I see you "Ad-Man" I see you bending those gender stereotypes. I want a good night sleep, I deserve a good night's sleep... Or maybe I'm just bitter that I still don't get any sick days...

So as two of us are on the mend, and one of us is in the thick of it, we are slowly making our way towards Thanksgiving day, which is a ridiculous notion, because wasn't last Friday Halloween? I promise my next post will be less ranty, or what my bloggy friend calls, "Bitchy-Bitch".

Mostly I just wanted to write something in this pretty little space from Dream Thinker Designs.

Dead fish. Lice. Life Lately. {11.21.14}

"I couldn't make this shit up if I tried"

That is a constant lament when I talk to my bestie on the phone. How is life so much stranger than fiction? Just when you think you have it all under control... Something comes and pulls the rug out from under you. Or as in my case, pulls the possibly lice infested rug from under you and promptly instructs you to put it in the washer. On hot, with all the chemicals and detergent, and maybe some vinegar. Whatever. Let's talk about last Friday night.

Four Gifts: Wear {Slumber Party}

Today's four gifts is all about WEAR. This was an easy one for me since every year pajamas area always under the tree. Writing this post was so easy, I found all of these fabulous looks at Old Navy. Of course Old Navy isn't sponsoring this blog (insert ugly cry), but who cares. Their prices can't be beat and they always have fun and trendy items that can make any Christmas bright! I adore the pieces I found for the girls and I think I finally found something the Hubbs can't live without. Don't forget, this is a series with Alyson M, so join us, and link up! Now here is what will most likely be under our trees this year!

4 Gifts : Wear by mamma-megs on Polyvore

Old Navy Girls Hello Kitty Performance Fleece Sleep Pants - Fuchsia... / Old Navy Girls Glittery Moccasin Slippers Size 1/2 - Multi glitter / Old Navy Girls Glittery Moccasin Slippers Size 1/2 - Multi glitter / Old Navy Girls Patterned Performance Fleece Sleep Pants - Into the... / Old Navy Girls Henley Sleep Dresses - Multi fair isle / Old Navy Girls Hello Kitty Sleep Tees - Fuchsia flame neon / Old Navy Girls Hello Kitty Sleep Tees - Bright white / Old Navy Girls Text Graphic Sleep Tees - Sleep over party / Old Navy Girls Jersey Leggings - Gray plaid

What is the hardest thing about being a working mom?

For the past two weeks I have cursed "Time Hop". What is supposed to be a little app on my phone to remind me of what I was doing last year, or the year before, has turned into a gut wrenching look into my recent past. You see this time last year I was still a Stay At Home Mom. I still had things like free time and care free thoughts. There were still concepts like, "I'll get to it tomorrow", and "Don't worry, I'll take care of that this weekend". Those words are no longer in my vocabulary. Things have to get done today, or they don't get done at all. There are zero carefree thoughts, instead they have been replaced with stressed out, holy shit, thoughts. It's as if my Time Hop feed is someone else's life. Someone happier. Someone less stressed. Some other, better, more attentive mother. But just as I guilt myself into thinking I'm such a failure now at this life, I remember that it's not entirely the truth. 

How the f*ck is it November 17th?

I spent Sunday night in bed with a box of tissues. I wasn't sick, and it wasn't for very long, but I was having all of the feels. A missed form that should have gotten turned in to Caitlin's school last week, set my emotional breakdown for November in motion. Because I have an emotional breakdown every month. Because I'm a woman and that's the way of the world.

Four Gifts Week Two {Need}

It's week two of the Four Gifts link up with Alyson M. Last week I talked about our "want", this week is all about what we need. Every year we need boots. It doesn't get very cold here in Fresno until December, so we wait it out until Christmas for boots. These are just some examples of the kinds of boots my girls would go crazy for. I'll be honest with you, we buy faux Uggs every year. And this year, I'm pretty sure we are going to get them at Costco. But if we could dream... These would be our choices.

For the girls by mamma-megs on Polyvore

UGG Australia Kids and Toddlers Bailey Bow Boots / UGG Australia Kids and Toddlers Bailey Bow Boots / UGG Kids Bailey Bow Rosette (Little Kid/Big Kid) / UGG Kids Kourtney (Little Kid/Big Kid) / UGG Australia Authorised Retailer Cerise Bailey Bow Kids UGG Boot, $40

You have to F**ing Eat {Book Review}

**An advanced copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for a review on this blog. It was the only form of compensation. The opinions are my own. Aren't they always?**

Who remembers the book that changed the lives of parents everywhere, Go the F**k to Sleep? I'm pretty sure it was a hilarious parody of this children's bedtime story, and it received rave reviews from editors and parents. You can even download an audio version that is read by Samuel L. Jackson. I mean, what is not to like?

Imagine my surprise when I was approached with an advanced copy of You Have to F**king Eat?

image via Amazon

Not only is this book funny and snarky, it uses my favorite "F" word. But more than that, it will make you laugh as it hilariously illustrates the battle that is mealtime. True to life situations  that parents of toddlers and young children face. Kids that refuse to eat. Kids that eat so little, you wonder how the hell they are still standing and jumping off the couches. Kids that refuse Cherios and Cheetos and even on the odd days chocolate, but have no problem eating last nights chicken nuggets they find under the table. This book gives you the real deal on getting your kids to eat, or not eat, or giving in to crackers or pancakes at the 11th hour just so you can go to bed.

image via the Publisher

This book provides you with the nitty, gritty, what the f**k is wrong with this child confirmation that you may need the next time you sit down for dinner. It's a quick read, and the prose will make you feel like a classy member of society again. It would make the perfect gift for new parents, expecting parents, and parents of toddlers. It's a perfect stocking stuffer for that person in your life that needs a good laugh about the kinds of epic food battles they have daily with kids who refuse to eat.

Now available on Amazon, get a copy today. And grab one for your friend who's kid will only eat foods that are white. They will thank you.

What about that weekend though?

When I left work on Friday afternoon, I did so with a little more swing in my step. You see, I was walking away from the busy world of Thanksgiving decor and Christmas ornaments; and into the world of a three day weekend. What's that you say? A three day weekend? Well, that's almost unheard of in retail... Almost.

Saturday morning was spent blissfully on the couch. That was after a six thirty wake up call from my oldest who suddenly forgot it was mommy's first day to not have to wake up by alarm clock in over a month. I tried to be cool about it, but truth is I threw a fit and went and got into Mac's bed since there is a black out screen on her window. I got about an extra hour and a half. Then I got up and served a respectful breakfast of Oreos and Sweet tea and parked my ass on the couch. In a blanket. In last nights make-up, with zero intentions of moving. It was wonderful. It was bliss. I even read a book on my Kindle. 

But there was a home game and Daddy's Fraternity Alumni tailgate, and I have to be honest it wasn't on my list. All I wanted to do was to stay home and be lazy, and make a permanent dent in my couch. So I split the difference. The girls and I got decked out in our Fresno State gear and went to the tailgate for a few hours. It was nice, they were good, and right as the sun started to go down we got out of there.

On our way home we stopped at Whole Foods, and filled our baskets with too many prepared foods and expensive gluten free treats. The girls used their own mini baskets and I said yes to almost everything. Because it was that kind of day. We listened to Christmas music in the car, and I even let a person merge into my lane... I slowed down even. And it didn't go unnoticed. Caitlin remarked, "Mommy you must be really happy because you let that car do that and you didn't even yell". My reputation precedes me. 

Today I spent the day making tamales and sugar cookies with these ladies. It was wonderful in so many ways, because Sandi, my mom's best friend taught me the ways of the sugar cookie. That is a whole different post on it's own, but today was special in all the ways you would want it to be. And I'm tired and there are still dishes to be washed, and everyone had a tamale lunch and a sugar cookie dinner. I'm so tired as I type, but there is no other place I would have rather been today. Today really reinforced the idea of living in that moment. Even when you are tired. Even when you'd rather sleep. Even if you have other chores at hand. This moment, the one I had today, was the one that will make those lasting memories. 

I was even able to sneak in some cuddles with this guy. He is totally grabbing my boob in this picture, but if that ain't romance I don't know what it. I've missed these weekends. The kind where we do everything and nothing and it's all of the same importance. I miss being with my family all day, taking it slow, ignoring things like time. These kinds of weekends have become few and far between. So this is a weekend for the books. The last full one I will probably get until January. Trust me, I will be squeezing every ounce of joy out of this one.

Four Gifts 2014 {Want}

Since my blogging has been spotty at best, I felt like the only way to get me more focused on the blog was to participate in a blogging series. My friend Alyson at AlysonM has invited me to join her in a four week series for November. The idea is to simplify our Christmas lists so that we focus on four categories, Want, Need, Wear, Read. Easy enough, except that today is want, and this year we are being a tad bit extravagant...

This year we all want the same thing... Well the kids do anyway...

picture courtesy of Disneyland Park

Santa is leaving Disneyland tickets under the tree. I know, this totally defeats the simple idea of four gifts, but hear me out. Me and the Hubbs have exhausted the gift giving efforts so far. Last year Santa brought Mackenzie a play kitchen, and Caitlin a bike. This year we thought about asking Santa for more American Girl crap, or maybe more Barbies, or even mini iPads. But then what? What do we buy next year? And honestly, most of their Christmas gifts lose their shine around Valentine's Day. So this year we thought let's do something big. Let's do something that they will be excited about and make some awesome memories. So with the help of my fantastic in-laws, The Crutchfields and The Goltz' will be going to Disneyland in May.

Here is the tricky part. Do we still buy small gifts for the girls. The need, wear, and read, are going to happen anyway, but do I add in that Barbie Fashion Design Studio? Does Mackenzie need another Elsa doll? Maybe just one? My hope is that they will be so distracted and excited that they will be going to Disneyland that they will forget about all those toys they circled in the Target mailer last week. I hope...

In the meantime, I can't wait to order their t-shirts from this shop. And then I'm hoping to find some fabulous bows for their hair too. I want to wrap it all up and put it under the tree with the passes. Do any of you in bloggyland know of anyone who makes Minnie Mouse ears on headbands? If so let me know.

So one gift down, and only all the rest to go! How on earth is it November 6th? I work in retail. I should know better. I should have been shopping since July!

Join us today for this fun link up! Let us know what you want for Christmas!

An InLinkz Link-up

Making the most of enough {Halloween Recap}

In my mind it's still the middle of October. In my mind I still have a few weeks to make things like pumpkin bread and sugar cookie cutouts of bats and witches, in my mind there is still time to carve pumpkins. The reality is that next week is Veteran's Day. Then two weeks after that is Thanksgiving. And I have a feeling that I'm going to blink and it's going to be Christmas. So today, I'm going to tell you the story of how I made it work this October. How I had to pick and choose battles and activities, and admit to myself and the rest of the world that I just couldn't do it all. And there is nothing wrong with not doing it all. All is over rated. All is busy work. All sometimes sucks the fun out of enough.

With little time for anything, we spent the last weekend of October in Salinas with family. The trip was planned around our family pictures, but it was also a chance for us to get away. Finally a weekend that Mommy didn't have to work. Finally a chance to do something together that wasn't haircuts or grocery shopping. The flip side to that was, that in order for Mommy to get that time off, some sacrifices had to be made. There would be no Girl Scout Halloween Activity attended on Saturday. Mommy would have to work the Monday of the Preschool pumpkin patch trip. Instead we took a detour on the way home and stopped at the Pumpkin Junction at Casa de Fruta. I've lived in California my whole life, I've passed Casa de Fruta countless times on my way from my old home in Salinas to my new home in Fresno, and the only time I've stopped at Casa de Fruta was to get gas or go pee. That's the honest to God truth. It's also a sad truth because this place was fun. Maybe it didn't have a thousand pumpkins or hayrides or fancy Pinterest worthy gourds. But it had a place to sit, a place to play, and some pumpkins available for purchase. It was more than enough, it was plenty. 

So no, we didn't have our Halloween shirts on, or fall colors, or even our hair combed for the day. What we had were smiles. We had sugar coursing through our veins. And we had the excitement and curiosity of exploring a new place. 

We didn't have a multitude of choices, but really pumpkins are pumpkins. Mac wanted a big one, Caitlin wanted a big one and a little one, and mommy just wanted ones that weren't rotten. We found what we were looking for. Then we found more in the fruit stand. Pomegranate juice. Gatorade. Dried cranberries. Chocolate peanut butter cups as big as cupcakes. We bought a few things, snacked on a few things, and then decided to stop and have dinner. 

The stop and have dinner thing was kind of a big deal. Not because we like to starve, but after we spend the night in Salinas, we are usually in a big rush to get home. To pretend to unpack, to pretend to care about things like laundry and getting the kids to bed on time. Also, as we sat down to dinner, the World Series game had just started. The entire plan was to be home by the game. Instead we sat, we ate, we laughed, and we drew pictures on place mats and ordered things like pizza and fried chicken in a little roadside restaurant. And while it wasn't fancy, and the food was so so, it was enough. It was perfect.

After our trip to Salinas, the upcoming week was a blur. More than that it was a disaster. A chaotic mess of obligations and responsibilities. Until Thursday. Thursday was my day off. I got to take this little Missy to her Halloween party and I absolutely swooned at the cuteness of her as princess Belle. She is getting to be so grown up, and with that she has developed a sense of detail. Like the shoes and the nylons, and the we have to wear it headband that she didn't really like, but it was a must. And no I didn't make it, and I bought it well before Halloween, and yet, it was enough. Enough to see this smile. Enough to marvel at the little things that she loves.

And even in all that chaos, and even in all that mess, I still managed to pull this costume out of my ass. This is the cotton candy costume that this girl though up all by herself. It doesn't look a think like the one I saw on Pinterest, thank God, but it wasn't that easy to put together. See, when she asked if she could be cotton candy, I did my research. I went on line and looked and did the whole "Can I make it/Should I buy it" debate. But this is Caitlin, my first born. The one I always try to do my very best for, and usually fail miserably in the process. And by being the first born, she remembers that Mommy has in the past "made" her costume. No matter what she wanted to be, Mommy has always come through. But that was before Mommy got herself a job. But I knew I could do this one. Leotard, tights, polyester stuffing painted pink. Easy, right? Wrong. 

First I waited until the last possible second to make this costume. Of course I did, and found myself at Walmart the Wednesday before Halloween frantically trying to find pink spray paint. They had neon pink, they had red, they even had magenta. But no baby, bubble gum, cotton candy pink. Enter one quick Pinterest search for DIY Spray Paint. One part water, two parts acrylic paint, one spray bottle. Genius. And for some stupid reason I did not buy the poly fluff that night. I thought I had some, and wait for it... I didn't, so late Thursday I made the mistake to end all mistakes and went to Joanne's. Sure they had the fluff, but I also had to wait in line for twenty minutes behind all the other procrastinators and horrible mothers who just can't get their shit together to buy the fluff. I bought the fluff, I made the DIY spray paint, and some how, by the grace of Lawd Jesus himself, baby girl was Cotton Candy. 

I would love to tell you that Halloween was perfect. I'd love to tell you that Trick or Treating was amazing. It was, and it wasn't. It was the first cold night of the year, and about thirty minutes after we got home it rained. It rained all night and all the next day, and we didn't complain because we need the rain. I can tell you that Mac quit after the seventh house. Caitlin wanted to keep going after the twentieth. I can tell you that we didn't carve a single pumpkin or paint on it, but I can tell you that the girls drew on them with markers and pins. I can also tell you that my Mom, Saint Linda, has a Sister, Saint Jenny, who held a Halloween party at her daycare and gave the girls foam sticker faces for their pumpkins. So we have two pumpkin cats still sitting on our porch, and if I'm being honest they will stay there until well after Thanksgiving. I didn't dress up, unless you count a skull scarf and an orange Giants sweatshirt. But it was enough. Hell it was plenty. We have enough Crunch bars to get us to New Years. We have great memories of driving home from our Pumpkin Junction adventure and laughing about Daddy singing to Kids Bop. And I will have the reminder that life is rarely perfect. It rarely fits in that plan you made all those years ago when having kids was a fun idea. I'll save this Halloween for the ones to come, the ones when my kids stop dressing up and would rather hang out at the mall than go to any kind of Junction with their parents. I'll hold on to this Halloween as the one that taught me that enough is what you have: not what you plan, not what you want, not what you missed, but what you have. And I have a lot. 

Mom Confession {I'm an a**hole}

Because I believe in being completely transparent on this blog, I'm going to share with you my ugly truth for today...

I completely lost my shit tonight because my four year old peed on a fresh, out of the closet, bathroom mat. 

Yes, you read that correctly. The eff word was used, as I explained to the Hubbs what had happened. I yelled at my four year old and asked her how on earth she could pee on the floor/rug since she was four years old and over two years potty trained. I slammed doors and huffed and puffed until...

I looked at my four year old crying in the bathtub and realized I'm an asshole. 

I'd like to say I was a complete and utter asshole because I worked all weekend. I'd like to blame it on lack of sleep, or on the dinner I didn't enjoy because it was left overs and thrown together and the kids and the Hubbs had to suffice on fast food. I'd like to blame it on something. But I can't. Because I was being an asshole just because.

Just because I lost my "book" outline. The one I have been coveting and referring too, and putting off for another day. The book outline that I looked for until midnight last night, while the kids slept and I cried because for some reason this was the November I was going to write "the book". This was going to be the November I was going to conquer my fear and join NaNoWriMo. I was going to do it I tell you, until...

I misplaced the damn outline. Without the outline I'm paralyzed. I'm petrified. and I can't write a single thing for "the book". And that makes me feel like "the book" is just a pipe dream. Just another thing that is just ever so slightly out of my reach.

And since I'm being an asshole to my kids because I'm stressed out about something that's not even a real thing, I'm also being selfish.

And the world continues to turn.

But since I'm a mom, fueled by guilt, steeled my ever increasing apologies, I did what all crazy, selfish, asshole-y moms do. I apologized. I promised that I'd do better. Try harder. Be happier. My four year old doesn't really understand when mommy says she's not mad at her, that mommy is mad at the situation. My four year old has no idea that mommy has an agenda too. One that doesn't include Cheetos and Elsa dolls. My four year old only knows that sometimes her mother acts like a complete and total asshole.

You want to know what the craziest part is? Working all weekend didn't actually suck. In fact I rocked that shit this weekend. Yesterday when I was managing we banked five thousand dollars in sales. That was just in the first five hours. Today, the same thing happened. I was on top of my game. My team and I made it possible for the store to make its month. I achieved goals I didn't even know I was working towards this weekend. Which felt pretty damn good.

Until I came home and became the asshole. 

That's the scary part. The part that is so black and white. I can be a good mother. I can be a good employee. But I can't seem to do those things at the same time, on the same day, or even within the same month. Why is that? And why does that prospect scare the complete and total shit out of me? Will I ever find the happy medium? I don't even approach balance these days. I just smile and wave from the sideline hoping that "Balance" will tip it's fancy top hat at me, letting me know he's still there watching and waiting. I'll take okayest mommy, sometimes good employee, and if I have a spare moment, fly by the seat of your pants (with out the fucking outline) writer. If I could just manage to do all of those things in the same day. Even if I only did them for ten minutes at a time.

Is there a moral to my story? Yes. No. Maybe. Is it ok to be selfish and upset when we don't get our ways? Yes. I realize that even with the guilt, I've lost so much of myself in motherhood, that even when I get a foothold in something and it doesn't pan out, I'm allowed to be an asshole. But that doesn't give me a free pass to be one all the time. Do I need to practice patience like I tell my girls? Yes. Practice makes perfect, or maybe something damn close. Do I need to forgive myself? Yes. Because unlike my kids, I don't always love myself anyway. Think about that, friends, the next time you lose it with the kids. Your children will love you anyway, even if you don't love yourself. If that doesn't blow your mind, nothing will. 

Most of all I realize that mothers are notorious for doing all the things. We may not do them well, but we do them. Then we cry, we write, or we drink every ounce of wine in the house. Or we do all three. But we do them. And then we get up the next day and do them all again, with a better sense of self, with a little more patience, with a little more grace. So that the next time your kid pees on a clean rug, you don't lose yourself completely, act like an asshole, and then have to confess about it on your blog.

For Every Tuesday There is a Thursday

This week was a blur of obligations, responsibilities, and to-dos. We were so over scheduled it hurt, and when things didn't go according to plan, I was ready to throw in the towel. But like most things in motherhood, there is redemption. It comes in simple forms like, hugs and kisses, a dinner you actually cooked, a trip to Walmart that wasn't a total disaster. For me, this weeks redemption was Thursday. It was jam packed, over scheduled, and exhausting. But it was also sweet and kind, and gave us a chance to enjoy each other. Was it perfect? No way. Was it fancy? Are you kidding. But it was a little piece of heaven for all of us.

Mac had her Halloween school party. Thankfully it was my day off, so I got to go too. She chose Belle, but needed a tank top for the "itchys". I'm more in love with the shoes and the baby nylons. Yes, nylons. We had a great time at the party, but while I remembered to bring all the stuff I signed up for, I forgot the treats for the class. Let's be honest, I didn't even buy any, I just forgot the box of fruit snacks from the pantry.

Caitlin had a doctor's appointment, and since it was Doughnuts with Dad, I didn't bother packing a lunch or cooking her breakfast. I picked her up from school and promised Chick-Fil-A. I mean, who doesn't love cutting school and delicious waffle fries? The line however was crazy long. So I decided the only way to pass the time was to complain about it on Instagram. 

At our stop at Whole Foods for the essentials like Almond Milk Cold Pressed Mochas (yes, they are amazing), we found this. The employees held a pumpkin carving contest and this my friends must me Dr. Oz. Cool, right?

A happy Caity prior to the doctors appointment where she had to get a flu shot. Ugh, this kid hates shots like it's her job. I mean shots aren't fun, but she cries and cries and screams. She put on a brave face. I promised cookies from Whole Foods. All was right with the world after about fifteen minutes. Cutting school with her and sharing waffle fries was good for our souls. 

Blueberry muffins. Grain free. Sugar Free. Dairy Free. But my goodness not taste free. This is a recipe I hacked from Against All Grain. I'm still tweaking it and when it's good, I'll let you know. 

My recipe swap gift came in the mail. It was perfect. I mean, I'm a sucker for mason jars. But add in recipe cards and some hand made tags... Swoon. I love joining in on blog swaps because you meet new friends, and also... SWAG! This swap partner made me laugh! She sent me a recipe for steak. She's got faith in me! And a little happy mail was the perfect end cap to my Thursday.

So while Tuesday sucked in a major way, Thursday was a big sigh of relief. We needed that time together. To laugh at Mom singing to Madonna. To tell "punny" jokes on the way to the doctor's office (what kind of shoes do ghosts wear? BOOOOTS). I needed to have my girls and have the luxury to just be. Stroll the aisles of Whole Foods with no agenda. Sit in the car in the parking lot of Chick-Fil-A and eat lunch. To drive across town just to indulge in an almond milk mocha and buy the overpriced cookies to make up for unannounced flu shots. 

Thank God that for every disastrous Tuesday, there is an average, happy, no where on earth I'd rather be, Thursday.

PS: If I timed this just right, this post will go live Saturday Pacific time. 

So that I will have posted twice this week. 

That was one of the only goals I accomplished this week in my blog life. 

Better luck next week.