Happythought(s) of Thanks

The super talented folks at Happythought print shop are at it again. There is yet another adorable, candy hued garland available for PDF download, (said in Oprah voice) for free-eeee! It's a great way to jazz up your thanksgiving dinner. String it on a mantle, over your table, or in your entry to greet your guests.

One of the reasons I love this garland is that no matter your level of "craftiness," you can do it. If your skills top out at cutting along a line and tape, you're good. If you own six different shades of orange glitter, this works for you too. You can take the design and add to it to make it personal as well. I added to mine by printing out extra pennants to have guests write what they're thankful for this year. You could also print out pictures and add them to the garland. The options are as endless as the leftovers! You can get your PDF printout at this link: http://www.printablepaperproducts.com/printable-crafts/thanks-giving-turkey

Enjoy and Happythoughts-giving! :)

Excusercise

Some of my friends will tell you I like to use funny words. Sometimes they are actual words, like wonky, caddywhompus, and noodle. Some I make up. Excusercise is my new favorite made up word.

According to my inner-dictionary, excusercise is a combo of excuse and exercise, the practice of exercising your "excuse" muscles. And example of this would be: I know I should have celery and hummus, BUT the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are OK because dark chocolate has antioxidants and nuts are protein, so in a way, they're practically health food.

In my new career of SAHM-dom, I have excusercised so much I may have actually burned calories doing it. I would have vacuumed the rugs, but the laundry needed to be done. I would have folded the clothes, but I had to unload the dishwasher so I could get rid of the piles of dishes in my sink. I would have given the dog a bath, but S got ahold of my Sharpies so I had to scrub her down. I would have gone to yoga this morning, but I didn't get enough sleep last night. You get the picture. Luckily most of the excusercise has mostly to do with housework. I will gladly give up laundry and cleaning for some quality time with S. I have caught myself once or twice turning on Yo Gabba Gabba when I should have taken her to the park to play. (BUT, I was so tired because she woke up 17 times the night before!) See how good at excusercise I am?

Please pardon me as I get on my soapbox for a moment. It seems that the world is flexing its excusercise muscles lately. I would have read a book, but I just got my US Weekly and a Kardashian is on the cover. I would have watched the news, but I have Modern Family on the DVR. I would have volunteered for the bake sale, but I needed to go to Target. I have been guilty of all of these and then some. (See the example of the peanut butter cups above.)

Because it is the week before Thanksgiving. I'm really trying to put things into perspective. I am extremely blessed that my biggest problem right now is that I want more coffee, but I already brushed my teeth, and the coffee would taste funny. Three Thanksgivings ago, we had just gotten the call about the IVF failure. It was quite possibly the worst Thanksgiving of my life. This Thanksgiving, I will be spending it with my amazing hubby and the most precious little girl. I'm thankful for the roof over our heads, the food on our table, our family and friends, and the new Muppet Movie.

I am thankful for my blessings. And I'm thankful for the setbacks. The setbacks give you the perspective. And it's with that perspective that I'm going to try to stop sweating the small stuff and excusercising my way out of the things that matter. Although, I will never stop trying to excuse my way out of laundry. So now I am going to excuse myself from writing so I can go play with S.

Have a great weekend friends!

Turn it up

Today is 11.11.11. A day that comes around every hundred years, but still feels very special to me. An added bonus is that today is the day no matter if you list the month or the day first, everyone around the world knows what day you're talking about.

It also happens to be Nigel Tufnel Day. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, add This is Spinal Tap to your Netflix que IMMEDIATELY! Because anyone can rock out at 10, Nigel's amps tapped out at 11. Because 11 is so much better than 10. As Nigel explains in the movie,"Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not 10. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at 10. You're on 10 here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on 10 on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?"

So today, I say live it up to the elevens, my friends. Turn it up today and rock it out hardcore. Have a great 11.11.11.

Muppet Takeover

I can barely contain myself thinking about the new Muppet Movie coming out on November 23. I have loved the Muppets for as long as I can remember. I still have my stuffed Kermit and Scooter (complete with a Muppet Show satin jacket) from when I was a kid. I still squee with delight whenever I see the Muppets, even Sam the Eagle.

As with any good "merchandise-tie-in-appropriate" movie, the merchandise tie-in with the Muppets is ample. It has been enough to almost make me think I need 4 colors of sparkly nail polish from the Muppet/OPI collection. I've compiled a list of some of the Muppet collabos that, in my mind, rank right up there with Puppy Bowl and Super Bowl, DST and caffeine, and sea-salt and caramel.

The above mentioned OPI collection to celebrate the Muppets is sparkle-tastic. With colors like Rainbow Connection, Warm and Fozzie, and Fresh Frog of Bel-Air your fingers will be so fabulous, even Statler and Waldorf will approve. http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2011/05/opi-holiday-2011-muppets-preview.html

Awhile back, I stumbled upon the Star Wars/Muppet figures that are so cute, S started an "action figure" collection. I love these, especially Beeker as C3PO. But I wonder if Miss Piggy/Leia is holding a hairdryer?

Just in time for gift giving season, FAO Schwartz has the Muppet Whatnot Workshop, where you can create your very own Muppet. O, if you're reading this... I want one. You know, umm.....for S. It's a little on the pricey side compared to the $8 nail polish, but for $99 you can put on your very own Muppet Show. http://www.fao.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=11534102

Music and Muppets have gone hand in hand, from the original "Manah-manah" to Weezer's video for "Keep Fishin," which is still on my YouTube favorites. The Green Album is awesome. For someone like me, who struggles to find kid-appropriate music that doesn't make me want to hurl, this is pure gold. I love Andrew Bird's cover of It's Not Easy Being Green. S's face lights up every time we get to the whistle-solo.

Lastly, with the hasty exit of Eddie Murphy as host for the Oscars, there is a major campaign to have the Muppets host the Oscars. I love it. The a facebook page had 10,000 followers within 2 days. Myself included. You can support it here: http://www.facebook.com/MuppetOscars

But why stop Muppet domination at the Oscars? There should be a total Muppet takeover. Give the guy from Muppet News Flash a half hour after Colbert on Comedy Central. NASA can work with Pigs in Space on the next space vehicle program. Let the Swedish Chef work with Jamie Oliver on making our schools menus more healthy. The possibilities are endless.

All that's left to do is "play the music, light the lights, and get excited" for Muppet takeover! See you at the theater on November 23!

"Fall"ing for Soups

Now that the temperature in Central Florida has dipped below 90 degrees, it's starting to finally feel like Fall. It has been lovely to open up the windows, pull out the pumpkin decor, and unearth my sweaters (even though they're light-weight) from the back of my closet.

Fall and Winter have always been my diet-downfall seasons, but this year, I'm determined to keep up my Spring/Summer eating routines. I've been gluten and wheat-free for a little over 3 months, and have been trying to eat from the Paleo diet as much as possible. Basically, that's meats, fruits, veggies, and nuts. It's actually not as restricting as you'd think. And I have to say I feel better than ever, with lots of energy. I've been experimenting with some recipes, and I am totally addicted to this one, so I thought I'd pass it on. It's hearty and healthy, and you can add different proteins to it to make it a more filling meal. Hope you like it too. :)

Thai Coconut Roasted Cauliflower Soup

1 Head of Cauliflower, or you can cheat, like me and buy the already cleaned and cut bag at Whole Foods.
2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive oil
32oz. pkg of College Inn Thai Coconut Curry Chicken broth
1 Leek
1/2 lime juiced
Salt, Pepper, and Crushed Red Pepper flakes to taste
Cilantro to garnish
**Protein of choice, if desired** I like really thin sliced chicken that I marinate in a little of the chicken broth and the other half of the lime juice and some red pepper flakes. I usually cook it with a little chili oil and throw it into the soup. It's good with shrimp too.

Serves 4 to 6 people

Toss the cauliflower with the olive oil and roast at 350 degrees for an hour. Make sure you cover with foil or your cauliflower will get too brown. I usually use two bags of the already cut and cleaned cauliflower.
Saute the leek with a little olive oil until they're soft.
After roasted, blend the cauliflower with a 1 1/2 cup of the chicken broth. Add more broth if you don't want your soup too thick.
Pour the blended cauliflower into a soup pan with the sauteed leeks, add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and juice of 1/2 lime. Add more broth to achieve the consistency you like. I like my soup a little thicker, so I don't use too much more than the amount needed to blend it up.
Cook your choice of protein if you like and add it to the soup.

You can customize this soup just by changing the type of broth and some of the spices, so get creative. If you make something yummy, I'd love to hear about it!

Is Being Nice to People Extinct?

What ever happened to common courtesies and customer service? Has being nice and polite to people, whether they're customers, associates, or random strangers gone the way of the dinosaur?


Recently, I have had a string of ridiculously terrible customer service incidents. And I really hope that I don't come off as one of those customers who are jackholes from the beginning, because I promise you that I always treat those who work in a service or retail capacity with the utmost respect because I walked many years in their shoes. Lately, it seems like there is a rash of people roaming around with their faces are permanently stuck in a frown-scowl and/or they are just plain rude. It's as simple as parking your cart on the side of the aisle so everyone else can get through. (I'm talking to you lady in Whole Foods who parks her cart square in the middle of the tiny aisle and then gives me a dirty look for saying 'excuse me' because I need to shop in the produce section as well.) When did smiling at people become annoying? When did being polite and nice to people go away?


As someone who has spent the majority of my work-life working in the retail and customer service world, I know that the pendulum swings both ways. There are some customers out there that will make you say, "Whuck?" And believe me, I understand that some customers can have an attitude that makes you want to lose your schmidt, but please don't take it out on the nice lady who tries to smile and say hello to you (AKA: me). I know my kid is totally over running errands and getting fussy, but I'm just needing to buy my stamps and get on with my day. The scowl and the dirty look at my two year old is really unnecessary.


In this economy, customer loyalty is important. Really, having customers at all is important. People are willing to walk across the street for better prices. So you would think that if you have a customer, trying to be helpful and pleasant would be a given. The fact that over the last few weeks, it seems like we have encountered workers who seemed to think our shopping, eating, banking, ect. at their place of business has been more of an annoyance to them than anything else.


So when I had to call my bank with an issue of a double charge on my account, I was quickly told by the person on the 800 customer service number,that I have to visit my local branch, I was then promptly disconnected before I could even say "thank you" for the information. So I load up the two year old, who is, as I mentioned before, not a fan of errand-running, drive to my local branch and proceed to fill out form after form of paperwork to have a duplicate charge removed off our account. I was advised to contact the local restaurant that posted the duplicate charge as well, and was put on hold for nearly 20 minutes before I was disconnected and had to call back. I was then waived off by the restaurant that it was a bank error and that they only have one charge. Cut to three weeks later, and I have a list of un-returned phone calls to various bank officials and the restaurant manager, a drive across town to retrieve a copy of the receipt, two letters written and to the corporate office and about 4 hours spent of my life on the phone trying to track down the right person to help me. And to top it off, I'm still trying to get the duplicate charge removed. Does it really have to be this difficult? There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however. Two associates from my local branch were very helpful and supportive during the process. Unfortunately, the corporate powers-that-be give them just enough clout to be helpful, but not enough to actually have the power to fix the problem. But it wasn't for lack of trying, and I appreciate their effort.


Energy and attitude are contagious, my friends. And unfortunately, it seems the negative seems to spread a lot faster than the positive. It takes a minor encounter, whether it's with a friend, a co-worker, or a complete stranger for energy to transfer. If you're a customer and you're ticked off, don't take it out on the person trying to help you. And if you're the worker, don't give the customer a hard time because they need help. And if you're the lady at Whole Foods, please don't hate me for needing spinach and your cart is blocking the aisle. We should challenge each other to experiment with kindness and politeness and see how many people you can rub off on. As Ghandi said, "be the change." It takes less muscles to smile than to frown. Let's all be lazy and smile. :)

Did You Just Ask That?

Some people ask inappropriate questions. People you just met, people waiting in line at the grocery store, and even people you know and love...

I was asked about six million times, "When are you having kids?" "You have been married for so long, when will you have a baby?" I would close up, work up the courage to smile and say, "When the time is right." Meanwhile, I would be dying inside wanting to scream, "We've been trying forever!! I would like the answer to that too!!!"

One of the things I remember the most about the Great Infertility Drama of 2006-2008 is the feeling of wanting to curl up in fetal position and throw a blanket over my head. I didn't want to talk about it with ANYONE. Partly because I didn't want to jinx the latest and greatest round of pills, shots, and procedures. And partly because I was ashamed, sad and hurt that we didn't have our baby.
(Thinking back, I probably should have been more open with family and friends, especially because I was a hormone-induced crazy person and not quite myself. Oh well, Bygones...)

After the last failed IVF attempt, we decided on adoption. As we spread the happy news of our decision, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I finally had an answer to my hairdresser and the lady who did my nails and to the inappropriate cashier at Publix who would always question my purchase of jars of baby food (It's for the dog, she loves it.). I noticed that as I shared our story, the entire story, people's body language changed. They too became more open and engaged. And because infertility and adoption are so much more common than people realize, they usually share a story of their own or how it's touched their lives. I realized that by being open and a little vulnerable with people, you can make a real connection. About 99% of the time it's received with love and reciprocated. I'm more aware of my body language, let my guard down and really listen to the person I speaking with. You never know when it could really make a difference to someone.

There will always be people asking inappropriate questions. And now, we have a whole new set, like "Are you her real Mom?" While a part of me wanted to answer in a robot voice, "I am a hologram, I am not real." I remembered my new mantra, dropped my guard, smiled and said, "She is my beautiful daughter from South Korea." Now most "real Mom's" are followed with genuine "How long did the process take?" or "What agency did you use?" And more often than not, it turns into a cliff-notes version of Adoption 101 for someone who knows someone or has gone through something similar themselves.

I now consider myself somewhat of an open book. I have nothing to hide. I have some friends that say it's one of their favorite things about me. And that makes me happy because it's a reminder of how far I've come from my head burying days.