Ellie M.I.A.

Wow... I'm not even sure how long it's been since my last blog. While I'd love to entertain with tales of... well, tales of anything remotely exciting, I can't. I've simply been lost in the "black hole" that is my life. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing overly fun... just my life. While I love my life, sometimes getting lost in it isn't the best of things. I tend to cut myself off from most everything. No rhyme or reason, just something odd that I do every now and again.

One thing that I NEVER cut myself off from is my Loodle. She seems to get more amazing with each day. Her imagination almost takes me back to my own childhood. Take today for instance - Our floor was covered in dangerous "goo." We were unable to step on the carpet, at all. Luckily, I came to the rescue with some "invisible goo-shoes" that allowed us to traverse the dangerous areas. It was also quite convenient for me that in order to remove the shoes (Loodle doesn't like to wear ANY shoes for too long), I had to tickle her feet. :)

She's in preschool and LOVING it. Unfortunately, she & I have been sick this week and she's had to miss school. She has a new "friend" at school this week. I suppose I should clarify - as far as Elisa is concerned, everyone her age is her friend. So, this week a new boy started at school and she's yet to meet him. According to my Loo, she had to help him learn all kinds of "hings" at school. She gets in trouble at school from time to time as she's got a very boisterous personality. Nothing too serious... just lets me know where she get her personality. *cough- daddy- cough* I've also seen her get scolded for kissing a boy at school... haven't had the nerve to tell Daddy about THAT yet. ;)

On the subject of my sick daughter, I'm a bit sick, too. Matter of fact, we're sick for the SECOND time this January. Makes me CRAZY! I've always been sick a time or two per "cold/flu season" but this takes the cake. I imagine it's because she's in school now. Makes me feel for people like my friend Amy.

I've been reading again. Reading is one of the things that I've been losing myself in lately. One of my new obsessions is the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris - the books on which HBO's True Blood are based. As I've read all the books in the series (there are currently 10), I decided to try reading some fan fiction based on the series. In all honesty, I truly didn't think I'd like it... I've tried to read fanfics for some of my other obsessions and didn't love it. This time tho, I found some stuff that I truly enjoyed. There are some seriously talented writers out there that I truly enjoy. Perhaps I spend more time reading online than I should. Okay, I know that I do. Oh well... perhaps after a while I won't. As I've said before, I'm into my obsessions....

On that note, I'm going to try to make myself obsessed with my blog again. I've missed blogging. It often crosses my mind. However, my inevitable laziness overtakes me and I feel entirely too uncreative to post anything worthwhile. Guess I'll just have to remind myself how very cathartic it can be and get my lazy fingers on the keyboard and type away. :)

Lazy Blogger of the Month Award!

So... I know that I fully intended to blog more often than I have. I could offer up a bevy of excuses - my INSANE allergies (I've not been able to taste or smell for a month thanks to my allergies), I had a recent wisdom tooth extracted, I went on vacation.... The plain and simple truth is that I'm lazy. Thus, I think I'm entitled to an award - Lazy Blogger of the Month. :)

Wow... since my last blog Elisa is just getting smarter and sassier by the day. She's got big girl potty down to an exact science. She's taken to naming some of her toys. The most recently named are some McD's Happy Meal Toys (specifically Littlest Petshop) - she's got 2 and they're named "Pinchy" and "Pinky." They're her best buds for now. Loodle greatly enjoys singing along with movies & shows (even if she doesn't REALLY know the words). Dress up is also on her radar right now, too. Suffice it to say, I've got a girly girl on my hands.

Husby is SUPER busy now. We're in the thick of wedding season. He's also started a new diet & workout program. He's lost 9 lbs so far... and I've gained a ton of more prep time in the kitchen.

We recenty went on vay-cay to see my family in Idaho. It was quite fun & we enjoyed some family time.

I know I have tons more that I could add - but in all honesty, my head is in a cloud from all this dag-blasted allergy medicine I've taken lately. I was gonna try to go cold-turkey today, but the idea of breathing was to intoxicating. Speaking of intoxicated, my head is just swimming!

These are a few of my favorite things....

Yeah, yeah... I know I blogged already today. Buuuuut, I am home alone & catching up on SYTYCD & thought I'd blog again. You're welcome. ~;o)

As I sit here drinking some tea, watching tv & having alone time, I am reminded of some of my favorite things and thought I'd share 'em with you....

~ Sleepytime Extra Tea - it is not only delicious, but it's oh-so-relaxing.

~ Alone time - Yes, I adore my daughter & cherish every moment with her... but there's something to be said about the time she spends with Daddy. It's good for them and good for me.

~ Pajama pants - If I could live in 'em & go out in public (without seeming like a nut job), I totally would. I'm currently wearing my Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer pajama pants, in case you were wondering (you know you were...).

~ The recipes that I know I can make AWESOMELY - Not to brag, but there are some recipes that I just knock outta the park. Okay... so maybe that's bragging a little. But there is just something so great about feeding people and having them love it. Some of my best recipes include (but are not limited to) - Turkey Tacos, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Lasagna, Spaghetti Sauce, Chili... maybe there are some other things I do alright, but those are all that I can think of right now.

~ New recipes - Who knows what will be the next addition to my "awesome" list. I love to try making new things. (send me any... I'll try 'em!)

~ Food - 'nuff said.

~ Family time - Since Hubby works so hard to support our family, we don't get much time together. So, when we're able to be all together, it's great.

~ Watching my daughter learn - What more do I need to say? The feeling that I get when watching her "lightbulb moments" is a bliss that I cannot put into words.

~ Dorky moments with my husband - Our mutual dorkiness is one of the reasons we fit so well together.

I am 1,000% certain that this list could be much longer, but my alone time is done. So, perhaps I'll continue this later. Perhaps I'll do a list of my least favorite things, too. We'll see what the future holds...

Sickness, new addiction & my Loodle...

Crap. I had a bit of blog done and thru some stupid, sickness clouded key strokes, I erased the whole dag-blasted thing. Oh well... here I go again (on my own).

As is normally the case when I blog, I've plenty of other things that I should be doing instead. However, in light of my cold/head cold/severe allergies (or whatever the hell I have that has my head filled with mucus and fuzz), I'm opting to rest & blog on the couch with my daughter naps beside me. Rest makes you get better quicker, no?

I'm sick. Yes, sick. Either that or my adult onset allergies have decided to take it to the next, more vicious level. My nose is so clogged that I can only breathe thru my mouth (super attractive, if I do say so myself) & yet it's running so fast that I'm blowing it every few minutes. (Can someone say SEX-AY!?!?!?!) I am seriously considering a run to the store for tissues with lotion in 'em, but for the time being, I'll settle for applying lotion to my nose by hand between every few wipes. (Total hotness. Betcha wish I was single, huh?) Yesterday & the day before my throat hurt, but it's fine now. My only symptom really is this nose issue. So, I guess I shouldn't complain... but complaining is just one of my talents, so complain I shall.

I'm also experiencing a massive guilt surge. I babysat my Godson yesterday (and also held his 6 week old sister and hugged their mom). It is quite possible that I at least infected my Godson if I am, in fact, sick. See, he's still young enough that he puts everything that he finds in his mouth, including an accidentally dropped (and used) tissue of mine. So, if this is more than allergies, then I've infected him. Crikey. What a bad Godmother I am.

On to brighter things... like my many addictions. I recently blogged about Trader Joe's Coffee Creamer (bought more today). I'm still loving it. My new addiction will also, no doubt, result in additional future Trader Joe's purchases. Today whilst browsing the oh-so-wonderful aisles at TJ's, I found some Chicken Cheese Tamales in their freezer section. Thought I'd give 'em a try just to see how they were. Granted, I can't taste too much today (thanks, Mucus!), but I ate 'em for a late lunch and they were ah-may-zing. Great texture, great taste (on the few bites that I could taste), not a bad price ($2.49 for 2 hand wrapped tamales). As far as microwave food goes, some of the best I've ever tasted. Guess I'm gonna have to taste more of their freezer fare!

And, what is an Ellen blog without something about my Loodle? A extra-boring Ellen blog, that's what! My Loo is, as always, quite amazing. I fear that she may be getting touch of what I've got going on as she's been a bit extra clingy today. Not that I mind the extra snuggles, mind you (and I've got a LOT of 'em today). Matter of fact, she wouldn't fall asleep for her nap without me holding her. She hasn't required (or allowed) being held to fall asleep for well over a year. But she needed it today. I truly do appreciate moments like that... moments when I'm reminded of a time when she was younger and needed me so much more. Moments when she wasn't this independent, sassy little girl who could do it "every day, all by myself" (a direct Loodle quote). While I love the fact that she grows and matures so much, there will always be a part of me that longs for the days when she needed me for everything. I'm happy that she's growing up, but it is so bittersweet. I'm meeting a new girl each day, but each day I'm also saying goodbye to the daughter I already knew...

Enough of that, or else I may cry soon. And crying with my current nasal condition would be a major suckfest.

Today the weather is indeed beautiful. If I felt better, I'd totally be outside weeding... but spending too much time leaned over the garden would probably cause a pressure headache. So, instead I think I'll just enjoy having the windows opened and perhaps work on the dishes later. For dinner tonight, I'm making turkey tacos... and once again Hubby will be home for dinner! Yay! It's a nice treat, since he would have otherwise been at a networking function. Instead, I get to make a dinner I've been craving for a while. If I were smart, I'd just reheat lasagne for dinner, but as delicious as it is, I'm kinda getting tired of it. Next time, I'll make 2 eight inch pans instead of one 9x13 pan. Then I can make one, freeze one. :) Ah well, each time I cook it's a learning experience... one that I truly enjoy!

(And now I have to ask... how many folks got "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake stuck in their head after my inital paragraph? 'Cause it's still stuck in mine...)

Hello from your resident slacker...

So, when I started this blog, I had every intention of blogging at least weekly. It's been well over a month since my last post. What a slacker.

One might think that I've been super busy. Nope. Not really. I have had a fairly busy week & a half. But not a busy month. Ah well.

I am no longer the proud mom of a two year old. I'm now the proud mom of a three year old. Yikes. Three. She's even more spoiled than she was prior to her birthday thanks to very generous friends and family. However, the over-abundance of gifts hasn't stopped her from asking if she can have this & that various object for her birthday. (sigh) The kid is seriously set. Seriously.

She's doing rather well on potty training. We have only 2 diapers in our posession, but we probably won't use 'em. She spends her days (and nights) in big girl panties. On occasion, she has an accident. Doesn't make me TOO mad unless she pees on me. I know some adults who have less control than my big girl.

The State of Washington is experiencing more rain than usual (at least that's how it feels). We had sun this afternoon & I honestlty can't remember the last time we had sun. The brief sunbreak gave me a chance to get outside and pull a few weeds & lots of morning glory, as well as plant 6 petunia plants. Elisa got a chance to dig up (and kiss) some earth worms, play with her bubble machine & ride her big girl bike.

I made lasagne for dinner and as soon as I turned on the oven, the sun came out. Figures.

Hubby is entering the REALLY busy season, so it was a rare night that he was home for dinner. Kinda nice to have all three of us around the table.

I've also been doing my best to eat a bit better. I no longer drink CoffeeMate. Now I drink Trader Joe's Soy Milk Creamer it's ah-may-zing! I was a CoffeeMate addict for years, until we took a recent health food class. The next day, I read the label on my beloved creamer and discovered that I certainly wasn't doing myself any favors. So, with the help of a dear friend, I discovered my newest addition, the Trader Joe's Soy Milk Creamer. It tastes every bit as good as my former coffee addition, without the guilt! I'm also trying to make other healthier choices, but they're slow coming. At least I'm trying, right?

I'm quite certain that there has been more going on in my ultra-mundane life, but I'm not thinking of it right now. I AM thinking that I should be playing with my daughter right now, tho!

Forgot to post my most favorite recent Loodlisms!

In my haste to catch up on blogging, I forgot to post my most favorite recent Loodlisms.

Enjoy!

"You gotta be kidding me!"

"Don't be ridiculous!" (sounds like "Don't be wee-dik-wus")

"Aw, c'mon!"

(Often these are used in combination with one another)

... as well as other equally cute & sassy things. Will possibly post more today as she undoubtedly finds more funny things to say.

Edited to add the following:

She is a big fan of asking for hugs & kisses. Now, after hugs and kisses she'll say, "Gimme a high five, man!"

She. Is. Amazing.

Long overdue update ('cause I know you missed my musings so!)

It’s been forever since I blogged. I could say it’s because I’ve been so very busy doing “spring cleaning” type activities. I could also say that my exciting life has been FAR too exciting for things like blogging. Yes, I could say those things, but I’m not fond of lying. The plain and simple truth is that I’ve been lazy. Yep. Lazy. Go figure.

I have been spending a bit of time outside daily working on the patio/deck/garden. It’s getting closer and closer to being “summer ready” out there. Loodle is an AMAZING helper. She’s helped me plant several plants & is an excellent plant waterer. While saturating my plants, she tells me, “Momma, this guy really needs a drink!” or “I grow dem up!” It’s pretty adorable. She’s also developed quite the fascination with worms, which is a pretty big deal for her. Until recently, she’s been terrified of all bugs/crawly/slimy things. However, I’m sure that I’ve now got quite the earthworm graveyard out in my garden from the poor little guys being sliced in half by my daughter’s eager shovel. I’m going to have to start to keep a really sharp eye out for worms inside my house, as she wants all the worms to come inside and live with us. I’ve taken to advising her that they like the dirt & need to stay there to grow big & strong. She seems to be buying it.

I’m also planning my daughter’s THIRD BIRTHDAY PARTY. Yes, she’ll be three. I can’t even fathom where the time has gone. This year we’re going ‘simple’ and doing it here at home. And by ‘simple,’ I mean 2 different parties, one for family & one for friends/family with kids. Sure wish I had a bigger place! Ah well, it will be fun & Loodle will love the attention. She is VERY well aware that her birthday is coming up and asks me multiple times a day for something new for her birthday. Yesterday it was “Tinkerbell jammies” (I got ‘em). Before that (and still at least once daily), it was a Pillow Pet (it’s on the way). She’s sure not spoiled…

She’s also become even MORE lovey-dovey. I truly didn’t think it possible, but apparently it is. Her most recent heart-melter – she will gently touch my cheeks with her sweet little hands, stare sweetly into my eyes & then give me a kiss. It’s VERY hard not to cry when she does this. She’s also started to tell me that she’s going to marry me. I tell her that she doesn’t have to marry Mommy, ‘cause I’ll always be hers. Gosh, I sure love this girl!

In other amazing news, I’m a Godmother again! My dear friends had a beautiful baby girl recently. Mommy & daughter are doing wonderfully and daughter has already stolen the hearts of all the people she’s met. Holding her is almost like holding an uber-cute pocket of air… at least in comparison to my nearly-three-year-old daughter. We are so happy for their family & cannot wait to get to know our new Goddaughter better!

In housecleaning news, I’m always behind. In a few loads of laundry, I’ll be caught up today… until we change clothes again. I really wish we were rich enough for a maid.

Well, as it’s been so long since I was on here, I have to go ‘stalk’ my favorite blogs now. I hope to blog sooner next time…