TGIF right?

Got some tunes on while I tootle around online. It was bitter cold this morning when the alarm clock went off and I almost lost my arm to frostbite reaching for the snooze button lol. Two snooze cycles later I forced myself to get up. After my usual morning bathroom break, tooth brushing, checking for emails on my way to the coffee maker I check the weather for the day to dress the kids accordingly. It was 31 outside at 8 am! That's damn cold for this CA gal. I sent my morning text to the hubby like aways and he wrote back that it was 29 this morning when he left for work. I think we're both a little shaken by this cold thing going on here haha. It was 71 degrees just 3 days ago and now the high is 50.

I'm worried for my Grandma. She's in her late 60's, getting a divorce and only on her 3rd day of accepting the news that she's got cancer. She lost a son to cancer 15 years ago and had a nervous breakdown it hit her so hard. I'm afraid she doesn't have it in her to fight. She's a very special lady and she just has to come out on top somehow, she just HAS to. She's one of those people that is a good person with a huge heart and has just been dealt one shitty hand over and over. I don't know what it will do to this family to lose another person we love like this. My Mom will travel back and forth as much as she can to be there for her and I will certainly do what I can but sometimes it's not up to us. I know she's having one breast removed but we're waiting to find out if it's spread anywhere else or in her blood. No word on chemo yet.

I got my haircut yesterday. I'm still adjusting to it. I got an a-line bob which isn't much shorter than it was but there's no hair left for a lazy pony tail day and that scares me a little. Did I mention I had to take all 3 kids with me to the salon? Yah, I was terrified that I'd walk out of there with a twitch and they surprised me. I got them all a snack and a drink at the local coffee shop and myself my favorite mango iced tea they only make there (I'm convinced they invented it, don't ruin it for me) and we went inside. There's a little corner of the shop that has a tv and kid's movies so I parked them over there and didn't hear one peep for an hour and half! That's a serious miracle, especially for Little Miss I HATE to sit in the stroller AKA Ella. DH sent me a text just as we were leaving to check on the situation and he didn't believe me when I told him we were all fine and headed home. In fact, I got 2 more texts with further questioning since my answer was we're all done and fine. He though for sure I was sugarcoating it for his benefit ha ha. Now, I'm not saying they're coming every time but in a pinch I MIGHT try it again only if absolutely necessary.

Sunday my beloved husband turns 33. He's trying to overlook it but there's no way I'm skipping out on the chance to eat chocolate cake! I'm only a wee bit selfish. I've made reservations for Saturday night at a great restaurant and we've got a sitter and as of today the company of some friends. Sunday, o holy football day and his actual Birthday we're going to my Mom's for dinner but we have to go between games so he doesn't miss anything LOL. I just roll my eyes and comply. I can't deny the man football on his Birthday. I'm making him a FABULOUS chocolate cake with rich chocolate ganache and raspberry sauce. He's going to LOVE it! And, since the man refuses to spend money on himself EVER and needs new glasses, my family collectively pitched info for a gift card to his optometrist for a heafty amount so he has no excuses left. We're giving each other a joint gift for his Birthday and Valentine's Day. There's a fabulous set of vineyards out in the Santa Ynez Valley and they're having "A Wine Fantasy In February" event. We're taking a limo there and back and spending the day wine tasting and walking around, capping it off with a romantic dinner and then heading home in style! When I pitched the idea to him for a belated Birthday gift he jumped on it and agreed only if it can be my Valentine's gift as well. He's sharp as a tack that man. Kill two birds with one stone. It should be fun, romantic and an awesome day just the two of us!

Holy crap!

My Grandma found a lump in her breast a week ago. She freaked out and called my Mom who told her not to wait on getting it checked out. She went to the doctor the next morning and he sent her to the hospital for a mammogram. She went in and they actually found 2 lumps not one and one of them is rather large. She's on fish oil for her heart so they told her she had to wait a week for it to clear her system before doing the biopsy. It's been a VERY long week of worrying. She went in today at 2 pm for the biopsy and so far no news as far as I've been told. I called my Mom a while ago and she answered very abruptly and said she'd call me back and then just hung up. Not sure if she was on the phone with someone or what but I haven't heard back from her. I told myself that I would not come unglued until I had a reason to. The more I ponder the possibilities, the longer the list gets however what sticks in my mind the most is she lost a son to cancer. That weighs heavily with me. What is it going to do to my family if it's something bad? What if like my step-dad (her son) it's not fixable? I'm just not sure what to feel or what to say but I REALLY hope somehow it's an easy fix. This is not a good way to start off this year.

How do you spell relief?

S-C-H-O-O-L! That's right, school starts up again tomorrow morning! It's been a LONG and trying 3 weeks at home with my kids. While we have had lots of fun, a fabulous Holiday and two awesome weekends out of town I am SO ready to get back on track. The kids are ready too. I think they miss their friends and are tired of staring at these walls as much as I am.

I'm gearing up for a photography class that starts Jan. 22nd and my super fun trip to Vegas for a dear friend's Birthday on the 24th! I don't feel the pressure this go around to be as in shape mainly because it's cold in Vegas this time of year and I get to bundle up! Who wouldn't love to be off the hook and guilt free after coming off a two month long Holiday eating binge? I decided to bring the fixins for cocktails this time so we can have fun in our room as well as out and about. If you want a really yummy concoction try this:

3 oz. Rose's Mango Twist Mix
3 oz. Absolut New Orleans Mango Peppar vodka
3 oz. Orange juice
Shake until COLD and enjoy!

We made these last night and even my macho hubby loved it. He made quite the point to say he'd never order it out but he'd drink them any time I whip them up at home. I just rolled my eyes and laughed.

My Mother called this morning and requested my daughter Rylee (she's almost 6) and I to meet her for a GIRLS ONLY lunch and a shopping outing later. I wasn't impressed with the last minute request but who wouldn't enjoy some time out? I need to shower, dress us both and get the little one down for a nap while hubby and son stare like apes at the tv and eat potato chips while apparently do the male bonding thing over football. Did I mention I don't watch sports?? LOL

It's the little things that get my wheels spinning!

I'm sitting here mulling over a long to-do list and trying very hard to come up with some fantastic excuse to put it off. There's a big tree outside my window that always seems to look just beautiful. There's quite a breeze out today but the sun's out. The seriously overgrown branches have a sort of rhythmic sway that always catch my eye. The best time of day for window gazing is just before sunset. The sky turns all shades of red, pink and orange and is a fabulous backdrop for said tree. If it were to be in a movie I bet it could be a stand in for the Whomping Willow in Harry Potter! OK, maybe I need to get over my obsession now and get to work! I'll try and capture the exact scene later today as the sun begins to set and add it here.

Do you play office?

My main resolution of sorts for this coming year is to be better about organizing my life. I found a cool little project online called a HMB-AKA Home Management Binder. Inside a 3-ring binder you add dividers, page protectors, pens, notbeook paper, Post-It Notes and a spiral notebook. You then divide the binder into sections based on what you care to organize ie: Schedules, Meals, Cleaning, Finances, Kids Stuff etc. You then are given the task to design and or print a cover for the outside sleeve and cover pages for each subject. I have found this VERY entertaining and fun but then in dawned on me that I have to actually implement what'd inside the book once I'm done glorifying it. I sit here now and wonder if commitment should have been on my list ahead of organization? Nevertheless, I really am going to make an honest attempt at sticking to it. Stay tuned for a new post on how much better my life is thanks to my new best friend!

Cheers!