Sunday Night Feeling

Ahhhhh!!! I wait all week for this feeling. I lovingly refer to it as my "Sunday night feeling."

As a working Mom, having a clean house is not always a reality. There are always chores to be done. ALWAYS. I enjoy having a clean house, but it is definitely not my number one priority. I know I won't to look back on Ro's young life and think of how clean my house was!

However, looking around my clean house on Sunday nights gives me a feeling of peace. I feel so accomplished. I know the next day, the house will just begin the journey to clutter town. This does not hinder my journey to the Sunday night feeling. I clean hard and go to sleep in my simple home with every little thing in its own place.

Salmon Supper

In addition to being green, I also enjoy cooking. I like to experiment with new recipes, as well as relying on old favorites.

I love to cook healthy and satisfying meals for my man. It makes both of us happy! Of course, not every meal I cook would be featured in Cooking Light.

I generally opt for simple but delicious meals. Tonight was not exception. We had salmon (wild caught, of course) and roasted garlic brown rice. I didn't hear a single complaint from Voltron!

Not a huge gourmet meal, but I am satisfied.

Wordless Wednesday

A Night Out In Nashville

Voltron and I had an awesome first night out since baby! Our team lost, but the timewe spent together made up for that!

Here are a few pictures.

Our view from the 22nd floor:

A picture of us:

Downtown Nashville:

And a couple shots of the rink before the game:

Between being sick last week and having a little too much adult fun this weekend, I have neglected this blog a bit. I really hope to work on that!

Firsts

As a Mommy, firsts are abundant. First in utero kick, first night home, first fever, first words...you get the picture. Some firsts are joyful, some stressful.

Tonight, Voltron and I will have our first night away from Ro. I have very mixed emotions about it. On one hand, I am very excited to go to the Nashville Predators hockey game tonight. I find hockey very exciting live. It's rough and tough and the fights are the best part! I am also excited about letting loose and having some adult beverages. But I will miss my baby terribly!

I'm sure the fun will overcome the anxiety in the end.

The Eco-Friendly Family: Cloth Diaper Revolution

The Eco-Friendly Family: Cloth Diaper Revolution

Please take a moment to read this post. I understand that not everyone is into cloth diapering, but it is something I am very passionate about. The only regret I have is that I didn't start sooner!

30 Day Shred

Oh, Jillian Michaels, you are a beast. Seriously, this workout is REAL!

I have been doing the 30 Day Shred for around three weeks now. I can definitely see a difference in my body. However, I still have a way to go before I meet my goal (like 25ish pounds). I feel confident in my ability to reach this goal. My plan is to do the workout M-F, taking Saturday and Sunday off. I don't know if I can stand her man-face seven days a week.

The way the video works is by combing three circuits that consist of three minutes of strength training, two minutes of cardio, and one minute of abs. By then end, I am always sweaty! There are three levels, and I am not afraid to admit that I have stayed on the first level so far!

I highly recommend this twenty minute workout. It's fast and effective. I can find a million reasons not to go to the gym, but I find it hard to make excuses not to do a twenty minute video in my own living room.

Sunday Funday

I normally work my second job on Sundays. I work at a Mongolian stirfry restaurant on the weekends. It's a locally owned business, one of a kind. I really love it for that and many other reasons. There is something so comforting and exciting about the way people come in and out. It is so different than my "day job" where I sit in an office, always surrounded by the same people. Do not misunderstand. I work for an after school program and am very passionate about that. But, working in a restaurant, where the people flow in and out, as if there are scene changes in a play, there is a certain je ne sais quoi.

We give out fortune cookies, which amuses me to no end. I have something in mind for the fortunes on this blog, but I won't spoil the surprise. Let's say it will be a regular thing, and it's a very unique idea.

This weekend I worked Saturday and Sunday. Those weekends can be very tiring, but, honestly, I fare much better when I am busy. I am definitely an all or none kind of girl. If I get up and do one chore, I do them all. I do miss Ro a ton when I work a lot, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do for her family. I think to myself sometimes that maybe one day I will no longer work at the restaurant. Honestly, I just can't see myself not working there! I think it gives my sense of humor a workout!

I'll give you an example:

I am always super cheesy when I get a table. A woman and her teenage daughter came in yesterday, which happened to be the first sunny and spring-like day in what seems like a hundred years.

Me: "Hey guys! You doing ok? Enjoying the sunshine?"
Mom: "Oh, yes, it's just gorgeous out there. Much better than the snow we had earlier this week."
Teenage Daughter: *rolls eyes as she removes sunglasses* "No, I hate the sun. It's way too bright. These are the darkest glasses I could find. They make it like night. But I wish they were darker."
Mom: "Don't worry about her. She's just a freak."

As I seat them, I notice she has on a black shirt with a heart, inscribed with the ever famous "Team Edward." Ah, now I get it. She's a vampire. Or just in love with one. I meant to stop back by the table and make some type of reference "(Oh, you don't like the sun, you prefer blood?" or "Does your skin sparkle in the sun?") but never really made the effort. They left, and I got one last laugh. As I bussed the table, I noticed teenage daughter's fortune: "You will bring sunshine into someone's life."

The Journey Begins

This blog is a project I have been dreaming up for quite sometime now. I want to start by telling a little about myself. This a blog that centers on me, my life, my views, my beliefs. This blog is not meant to pass judgment on anyone, nor invite judgement into my life.

I consider myself a Humanist. I live in TN and was raised Christian. The majority of people around me are Christian, often making it difficult to express myself. I am a big believer in the separation of church and state.

In June 2009, I gave birth to the most perfect baby boy that has ever existed. I had no clue what I was doing. Twenty months later (to the day!), I still do not profess to know everything. However, I do know more than than I did then. I strive to learn something new everyday, whether it be on a global or personal level.

I still breastfeed my son. I do not know when we will stop. I am a firm believer in child led weaning, as long as the Mommy and baby are both happy. I understand that many people do not share this view. I also know that I am Ro's only Mommy, so it does not really matter to me that many others have opposing views.

I am a lover of the Earth and natural things. I try to do my part, but I am by no means perfect. I am not 100% green. I do: recycle, cloth diaper, use CFLs, use cloth napkins, and make my own soap. I rather enjoy my newfound freedom from chemicals in soaps/shampoos/cosmetics.

I find much of my inspiration in Kurt Vonnegut. I find humor in hipsters. I like to watch way too many silly television shows. I am a random assortment of silly and serious.

I hope each of you will find something you enjoy here. I'll be in touch.

"New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth. The more truth we have to work with, the richer we become."
Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions