I Stand Corrected

My older son rediscovered his collection of rocks. One has an eerie resemblance to the red rock formation seen in pictures of Mars. He reminded me of when he first found this rock as a four year old. I can't remember where I was but as we were walking he stooped down and said, "Look momma, a space rock!"

Looking back I was so cynical. "That's not a space rock". He proceeded to say, "Yes it is, I found it on Earth and earth is in space. It is a space rock."

(I stand corrected).

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9 Secrets for Couples

Look what I found today. Just perfect for this site. I found it on the Yahoo page.

The 9 Secrets of Happy Couples

I'm going to email my husband this post and highlight #7 as I have been asking for a simple love letter for over 3 years! Everything else, I can say we meet the standard. And me? There's nothing I need to work on from this list. Is there ever, when we need to work on ourselves ; )

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Anniversary Date

It was so nice to finally go out for our 13th Wedding Anniversary. A new environment means all the world in dating. It's so good for your psyche. You almost feel like a new person when you have school aged children and date night is nearby or decorating the house to look as though you are in a theater or restaurant. My husband was creative at one time in having a projector, project DVD movies on the wall. I still love that. (It works too with in-home kids birthday parties as well).

We got dresses and dined fancy and went for entertainment. We had a blast. You have to be careful though as talk about the children or past uncomfortable events can seep into the conversation. A little is okay but of course too much can damper the mood. By all means change the subject. We as parents always say, "What did we speak about or eat before they came along?" You definitely have to be creative.

I used to give hubby a difficult time and continually questioned him as to why we don't go out anymore. Don't make my same mistake. This is just the "season" you are in. Dates are rare and that's okay. It comes with the territory of being responsible parents. Even the definition has changed and can include family outings as a time to be together in your double role of Spouse/Parent. It's also fun to swap Saturday nights out, with one of the children for alone time. And if you have more than one child, switch.

When you do get alone time have no expectations. I find that can ruin a good date. Make the date fun and real. Share something they don't know about you, no matter how small. They can never really know everything about you. Just stay away from former dating relationships unless you have that report with your spouse. Be the perfect lady and you'll find he will be the perfect gentleman and visa versa. Most importantly, remember to be each other's fantasy during the date, immediately after (hint, hint) and long after the date has ended.

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And I love myself!

Happy Valentine's Day. I heard something on the radio yesterday regarding men and women's perspective of Valentine's Day. One male caller stated the thing that "urks" him about Valentine's Day is that it is all about what the men get the women.

In my opinion he is right. Look at the commercials on television. I don't think I have ever seen so much emphasis on what the woman is getting the man. Bless their hearts. They seem to luck out. So let's do it up for them. This Valentine go the extra mile. Lord knows we all need encouragement.

Make sure to focus on loving yourself as well. Interesting thought for Valentine's Day, huh? I got the idea from my younger son, who at bedtimes says, "I love Mommy and Daddy, and (his brother) and I love myself!" Isn't that the best? While you encourage someone else, be sure to show yourself some extra love.

Below are some current love songs and main stream of Pop music. Enjoy.

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Creative Cooking

I have been known as a teenager to cook for my siblings while my mother was working as a nutritionist for a major hospital in New York. From then my training began in being creative and making the mundane into extraordinary and a very little into a feast.

I've failed a few times but picked back up my wooden spoon and kept trying, turning water into sugar water and food coloring (most of the times there was no lemons). In college my roommates always made me cook. One is still a very good friend who still goes around telling everyone, "I remember when there was three items in the refrigerator and she would return from cooking with a five course meal and I would say, where did you get that? There was nothing there when I looked".

My secret? Cook with what you have, literally. I made this tonight:

Simple, yes but deliciouso. I was tired of red sauce so I made my own white sauce. I also added the things my family loves such as small pieces of carrots, sausage, onion, and egg whites. I forgot to add fresh corn. Now the secret really is in the sauce. So what I had in my fridge was:

-Sour cream and onion dip
-Blue cheese salad dressing
-Add powdered onion and/or powdered garlic
-Water for stretching the sauce
-Milk for stretching the sauce and simmering
-Parmesan cheese (optional)
(I have no measurements except to use according to your own taste).

Tips: It's important to put salt in the water for boiling pasta. It will improve the taste of the dish. Cook or saute' most of the ingredients separately and put together and simmer in a little milk depending on how moist you want it. Cook pasta close to done then add everything else to simmer with a cover. (No soggy pasta). Top with Parmesan cheese.

As I get other off the wall ideas, I'll let you know.

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I Hope You Dance-Lee Ann Womack

This is what I hope for you this new year of 2012; a classic by Lee Ann Womack. When things get tough and confusing, when things seem to have no meaning and you feel no one is supporting you, when you don't want to try anymore and you feel misunderstood, when something unexpected happens and you think you're close to the edge, when you have tried your hardest and you think you have no more strength, when your hope is fading and you feel you are just coasting through life-Dance.

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My Highlights of 2011

Highlights of 2011

1) I was jobless in the beginning of January after moving to Virginia 6 months prior.

2) My husband and I started the year rocky to the point of what felt like Emotional death.

3) My kids were thriving in their new school and kept me having well needed laughs.

4) I was still jobless and decided......I now have time to do what I have always wanted to do and start my own Foundation.

5) I worked out for three consecutive months.

6) I saved up enough money to visit my family in New York with my children.

7) My husband initiated and asked the head of his company if I could go along with him to Myrtle Beach, on his work project for the week. It was a second honeymoon and a MUCH needed vacation for us and I had some alone time on the beach.

8) The children made a plan for how they wanted to spend their summer and my husband and I were able to check off 3/4 ths of their summer plans that were accomplished.

9) I cried almost everyday from not working.

10) My Foundation was approved and registered with the State of Virginia.

11) I fasted and prayed for 30 days of liquids only. It ended on a Saturday.

12) That following Wednesday (three days later) I received a phone call for a job offer in my field for Counseling/Therapy.

13) I had a Blog Party in celebration of my blog (LEA) for its two year anniversary.

14) We all went to New York to visit my family for Thanksgiving.

15) I love my work.

16) I celebrated my 2nd anniversary Blog Party for my humanitarian giving blog/foundation.

17) We celebrated Christmas with my husband's family in Virginia.

18) For Christmas my husband and I made an agreement to buy our kids and family/close friends gifts. Our gifts will come in the new year (when there are greater deals :) Until then, I gave him "Married Coupons" and I requested a "Love Letter", of which I received this week. Long time in coming but it was beautiful and at least I got it, right?

19) I still love my job.

*Lesson's learned last year: Cry when you need to cry; when things do not work out as planned, create another plan; be creative with the things you love to do most; do some humanitarian giving; spend time with you family, no matter what, because you need to be around them; Sometimes when things get rocky in your relationship, one of you has to make a drastic move towards positivity; stay spiritual, it's positive energy; remember in good times and bad to try to be consistent on meeting the needs of your children, they are covertly helping you as well; lastly, don't give up on your spouse.

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