Work Hard - Play Hard - Sleep Less

I don't think it's a secret that after having children one sleeps less. And one sleeps a bit lighter. The most subtle noise jolts me out of my sleep. My dreams have become more vivid and my coffee intake has increased. I found myself atmy coffee shoppe this morning discovering I had 'earned' a free cup of coffee. I normally get the delicious Illy drip coffee but since it was 'free' I decided on the gigundo mocha latte. Needless to say, I ended up drinking half of it cold on my way home from work today. The thought of it was divine, but I actually like the drip coffee with honey and half n half, instead of the mocha choco latte non fat milk half foam.....blah blah blah...coffee.

I was also amazed to see in the cooler a "frosting shot" with a small neon plastic spoon. Is this what the world has come to.....whipped crack in a small portion with a neon spoon? I wondered who ordered such nonsense. Not me. I figured if I ate that alleged "treat" that early in the am I was bound to crash by about 11am. Not attractive.

I was also on this horrible sleep kick of sleeping from midnight to about 5am. It finally caught up to me over the weekend and I spent most of my Sunday napping as if I was still intoxicated from the night before. I was not drunk. I was not hungover. I was exhausted. From what you ask? From being a full time working mother, who has an obsessive compulsive disorder when it comes to cleaning, cooking homemade meals every night and sometimes for breakfast too and from making sure two little people and a very needy husband are given enough attention that they don't automatically start whining when they see me.....WHEW!!!

Good grief Charlie Brown. I remember when the title of tonight's blog was the complete opposite. Work lightly, Play Hard and Sleep till 3pm.

Turning 30 - Diamonds or Stainless Steel Pots and Pans

Good evening fellow readers!!

I had a moment recently of wanting to acquire a diamond ring that isn't really in our budget. Let's call it a 'brat' moment shall we. Sigh. I have decided against the silly purchase and have found that I have made a much wiser choice. The Cuisinart Multi Clad Pro Stainless Steel 12 piece cookware set. It is a cook's dream. Preferably for someone who wishes they were a professional but merely has the marvelous tools to be a professional, not the education or skill. I have a love of cooking, sometimes it's so fierce, it's all I think about. Sometimes I am consumed with planning elaborate meals. Maybe that's why our children are such good eaters. What little kid eats brie on a sesame breadstick? Mine do.

I have already thought of the delicious treats I will make in my new cookware. Osso bucco and seared flank with caramelized red onions and apples. Omelets for the morning time and apple pancakes for the heck of it!!!

It's moments like these when you realize a diamond doesn't define who you are, now matter how caught up in one you get, it's just a ring for you to enjoy. But cookware has longevity and memories for our little family. And hopefully one day our children will remember these meals and so will I.

A Subscription Down Memory Lane

I subscribed to Martha Stewart Living a long time ago. had her mags neatly stacked in chronological order, for about 5 years straight. Every fabulous cocktail party or holiday dinner I served was somehow tied into one of her fabulous issues.

After I had children I stopped a lot of my magazine subscriptions. I recently started picking them back up again. After I had Logan I subscribed to Cookie Mag (Fabulous mag for mamas and their families). It's a great read too. It never forgets the Mothers and always focuses on the right ideas for your family.

I often obsess about the style section. I "accidentally" purchased a few dresses featured in this section. It reminds you to not forget how fabulous you can be...even with minis in the picture.

Back to Martha. I received my first issue of Martha tonight. After the children went to bed I sat down and read it. And found myself in love...again....years/issues later....jail time and all....she was still one of the most fabulous/creative women ever.

I adore Martha, so much that it's bizarre. I think she is an amazing woman, with great, fresh ideas for everything. I read it from front to back and then back again. My mind was racing of the million different ideas I could create from that one 1/2 inch thick issue.

I recall my years of Martha and surprsingly how often I took the issues out and constantly did projects in them. Page after page of clever idea. And I took the time to meticulously recreate her ideas. I still have some and love them.

I am elated I rejoined the MS club, she is a club worth belonging too no matter what kind of Mother you are!!!!

Wedding Bells are Ringing

Tis the season for engaged couples. Recently some couples I know have gotten engaged. How fantastic!!! Dresses at Kleinfeld's, ivory feathered shoes from Manolo Blahnik, Crystal hair pinnings from antique shops, La Perla and more....

With the thought of marriage soon comes the thought of children. Some have addressed it immediately while others have kept it in the back of their minds.

One asked, "does this event change anything?"

Having children changes EVERYTHING.

My husband puts it in a very loving manner (something he does not do often) when you love someone so much you want to have children with that person, because those children become an extension of your heartfelt love and affection towards each other. Awww.... (ick factor - but sincerely true and sweet).

I recently posted on a buy/sell ad at my workplace a listing for some Burberry clothing that our daughter wore. One of the male employees e-mailed me the following: "Burberry for a 6 month old? Expensve lil suckers huh?"

Chuckle, chuckle. (single man friend with girlfriend) when one decides to deck out their child, Burberry happens to have an outrageous children's clothing line...one any Burberry loving adult would be envious of....myself included....but when they are that small and adorable it's worth every penny.....

So I say to you engaged (childless) friends, enjoy your precious time together as 2 carefree adults. Because once the minis arrive, nothing will ever be the same....

The Not So Fabulous Tantrum

My apologies readers for some of the more Not so Fabulous moments. Our son has been rather difficult lately. We seem to be in the "OMG did you see that? OMG did you hear that?" phase of his life.

I have determined that our son is not a morning person. Or not a pleasant person in the morning, immediately after waking up from a nap or being put down to bed too early in the evening. Doesn't this sound like an all day affair of unpleasantness? LOL!!

Lately he has been throwing himself on the floor and moving around like a snake in a jungle. Often times, between movements he "hisses" and snarls. He also breathes heavily through his nose and whines. It is extremely unattractive. Sometimes I watch him in awe. I am amazed that his body moves into the positions that it does, and best of all that he is totally cognizant of the furniture he is surrounded by. He never inflicts any pain upon himself only to the unsuspecting passerby and observer who is no doubt horrified by what they are witnessing.

What might be more humorous or horrifying is when his younger sister catches him during one of his tantrums. The way she stares at him is enthralling. As if she were in a trance, she often moves closer to the boy throwing the tantrum as if to get an up close and personal view of this circus. One time I think it bothered her so much(mostly the noises and screaming) that she walked right up to him and bonked him on the head with one of his own toys. He was mortified. Then we had to scold her for hitting him and they were both crying. Ugh. He stopped crying and asked "What's wrong with sister? Why is she crying? She's so loud. She's bothering me" I am sure if 'sister' (as he likes to call her) could talk she would yell at him "Me? You have the audacity to be annoyed with me? Look who's screaming like a banshee, jumping around like a Mexican Jumping Bean like a raving lunatic."

Maybe that would teach him. Maybe then he would stop. Hmmm...