Skinny Housewife: Spinach Gratin

 A non-traditional Thanksgiving side, but one that has been met with glee every time I"ve served it.  I found this recipe years ago (think 2014) and took it as a dish to a friendsgiving.  I'm going to share the original recipe, but if you're familiar with me you know I've changed it.  

Makeover Spinach Gratin

Now the original recipe calls for swiss.  I love swiss, but my best friend hates it.  She gets a pass as it is LITERALLY the only cheese she doesn't like.  Since she was going to be at the original event, I chose to use gruyere as suggested in the recipe.  Delicious.  Since that original making though, I've made it a handful more times, and those times I've used asiago.  Also, delicious.  Maybe this year I'll try it with the swiss!  My non-biological daughter and her hubby joined us last year, and when I saw them again a couple weeks ago they mentioned the spinach from thanksgiving, no joke.  I promised it will be served again this year!

Enjoy!

5 words I'd use to describe myself

 1.  Loving 

2.  Loyal

3.  Forgiving

4.  Empathetic

5.  Petty

What are your 5?  Share them in the comments or on social media somewhere!  

November Crystal of the Month: Citrine

 I'm going to start this series off with what I think is my personal favorite stone.  It's hard to choose, that's why it's worded that way.  Citrine. 

I carry crystals on my physical person every single day.  They change often based on my needs/desires for that particular day.  When I meditate in the morning, I think about how I'm feeling on all fronts.  Physically.  Emotionally. Mentally.  And decide what I might need for the day.

I've carried citrine probably 90% of the time for the last year.  So let me tell you about this stone, and why it's so high on my list.  

First let's talk about what it is and what it looks like.  It's quartz, and in it's natural form is quite rare.  It has a yellow/orange color. 

Second, let's talk about why I started using it personally.  I've been focused for the last year-ish on prosperity, success and abundance.  I try to use the principles of Feng Shui and citrine is the stone of abundance and you should keep it in the left rear corner of your home to welcome in prosperity.  That back left corner is the prosperity corner.  Done.  There is a piece in the left rear corner of my home, you can believe.  I gave one to a work-kid and that is the direction I told her to go with it as well.  Bring in the prosperity and abundance.  If you have a business, I suggest you place a citrine there, in your register, or near your computer if that's what you're using to make the moolah. 

Third, it helps with the sacral and solar plexus chakras.  If you these chakras are out of balance or blocked you may experience lots of physical symptoms, and carrying citrine or wearing it in jewelry may be helpful to you.  

Lastly, let's discuss the overall qualities of this stone.  I'm going to do this in list form, since there are quite a few and I don't want these posts to be so lengthy that you don't read them..

1. Positivity
2. Emotional balance
3. Digestion
4. Endurance
5. Joy
6. Enhances contration
7. Promotes Self Esteem
8. Calms fears

After reading, is there any question why this is my favorite?  I have been working on abuncance and prosperity sure, but I also need work (continually ongoing struggles) with emotional balance.  My ulcer/digestive issues as of late point to a solar plexus chakra misalignment or blockage.  For years my morning meditation/prayer is that I radiate joy, enough so that others can feel it and take some of it with them for their own.  

Citrine just speaks to my soul. 

New Series: Crystal of the Month

 This is going to be a new series.  The idea spawned from my list of what's in my bag, which included a protective stone, and some quartz.

I collect crystals, I have books, and I've done a lot of reading and research into the properties of stones.  

My work kids originally called them "my rocks" and then it developed into asking me daily what rocks I had, and wanting to know what that particular rock did or why I was carrying that one.  Eventually, a few of my work kids would ask me to bring them a rock to help them with whatever they had going on in their own life and they would carry the rocks around for the day.  Some of them have begun collecting them, as a result of feeling like they really did help them.  You can think it's hogwash if you like, I'm not offended by others' lack of belief or trust, but I believe and I've seen them help me personally and others I love.  

I make moon water twice a month, and aside from drinking it, I also use it to cleanse and energize my crystals.  I have selenite to charge them as well.  I believe they need to be cleansed because they absorb energy, and that energy needs to be released in order for them to continue to be effective.  

Different things work for different issues.  This is obviously just ONE path I use.  I recently was diagnosed with an ulcer.  I obviously saw a doctor, but I also believe that one of the stones I'm wearing around my neck has helped me feel better so quickly.  I'm taking my medicine, I'm eating differently, I'm abstaining from alcohol, but I'm also wearing bloodstone and moonstone.  At the very least, what could it hurt right?  

So starting tomorrow, I'm going to be doing a monthly series where there will be a blog post about a stone that I choose (or if you want to participate, comment, and I'll do a stone of YOUR choosing.)  Listing the stone's properties, and uses.  

I hope you'll enjoy these posts, I love talking about crystals and looking at crystals and reading about crystals so it's a passionate hobby of mine.  

What's in my bag?

 Last May, I saw a random facebook ad for a Kate Spade Tote and I fell in love.  It made no logical sense.  I don't even carry a purse.  It cost over $100.  I didn't need it.  But I loved it.  I kept thinking about it.  I made a facebook post listing all the reasons I should NOT buy the bag.  People in my life wanted to see pictures, and they oooh'd and aahhhh'd and encouraged me to TREAT MYSELF.  

And I did.  And I love it.  And I carry it more than I've ever carried a purse.  I don't carry it IN, except at work, but it goes from my house to my car on the daily.  My favorite color is blue, and it's a royal blue, it's really well made and it was worth every penny.

Ok, ok, now to the "what's in it" part of the post.  Let me grab it, and let's get into it, shall we...

Top of the bag is candy currently.  I found several new candies at work yesterday, and bought them all for the trying.  Snowball and Sugar Cookie varieties of M&M's, Sugar Cookie Hershey Bars, and a Birthday Cake cookie.  

A wallet, and a FABULOUS Coach wristlet that Two bought me for my birthday in June.  The wallet has cards that I don't use as often but still need to have available, and the wristlet has the cards I use most frequently for easily grabbing it out of the bag and taking it in the store.  I love that it is a wristlet and I don't have to worry about holding it or putting it down somewhere and forgetting it.  Highly recommend a wristlet if you aren't a purse carrier.

A small composition book (slightly bigger than my hand) that I use for affirmations, and manifestations.  

8 medications.  I was diagnosed with an ulcer 10 days ago, and so there's a lot of meds going on currenlty.  Normally I carry 4 medications with me at all times.  Benadryl because I get spontaneous horrendous hives.  Migraine meds.  Dramamine.  Tylenonl.

Hand sanitizer.  Duh.

Lotion.  

A Clif bar (Coconut Chocolate Chip-my fav!)

A Larabar (Coconut Creme Pie-my fav!  see a theme?)

3 hair tie/pony tail holder, whatever you call the things you use to pull your hair up with.  I try to keep an extra in there for work kids.

A bobby pin in case my hair wants to get unruly.

The Four Agreements.  This is a book I highly recommend.  I often will read a few pages of it when I have a few minutes to just remind me of how to keep myself on the right track.

2 tampons.

2 lip balms.  One standard chapstick and one Carmex.  Dependant on need and level of cold outside.

Tide pen.  Necessity!

Another random notebook just for anything I might want to write down.  

Black Tourmaline.  Protective stone against negative energy and helps spiritually grounding.  This stone also has a lot of other wonderful properties that you can look up, or maybe I'll start doing a stone of the month post and talk about some of my favorites...  wait, back to the list.

Some random pieces of quartz I found on a hike back in September.

5 ink pens and a sharpie.  

Ways to win my heart!

 This is a fun subject, and I had to reflect a little bit on the people I love most and why they have won my heart.

Make me laugh has to be the number one.

Show me your loyalty.  I consider myself to be fiercely loyal, and I find it a very lovely quality when I see it in others.

Take care of me. I am "everybody's mama" and as such, I take care of everyone I love and value.  Therefore, if I notice you doing small things to take care of me, love it!

Be a hugger.  :)  

Give me your time.

Buy me presents.  My work kids will often leave me a bag of M&Ms, or a Red Bull in my drawer at work, and I don't think they have any idea how much it means to me.  It's not because they spent their money on me, it's because they thought about me when I wasn't there and left me something to let me know.

What earns someone a spot in your heart?

Favorite Quote

 Truly, this is a toss up for me.  I would say I have two.  The first is one that changed my life, and the second is from a book and it just sums up ME.  

The first:  Children would rather be from a broken home than live in one. 

Uttered by Dr. Phil on my tv when One and Two were very young and I was miserable with their father.  It felt like he was speaking to me about the damage I was doing by staying in a place that wasn't serving any of us any longer.  And it played over and over in my head for months after until I finally had the courage to end that relationship.  lt changed all of our lives.  And 20ish years later, it is still one of my favorite quotes and I share it with people who tell me they are staying in situations "for the children."  Maybe it has spoken to someone else the same way it did me.  

The second:   I don't cause a commotion, I am one.

Spoken by Elphaba in Wicked. Two is obsessed with Elphaba, and I took her to see the Broadway South performance of the play when it was close to us.  When Elphaba spoke this line on stage, I was like "WOAHHHHHH" and it felt like she was talking to me.  I have the quote tattooed on my back even, so it's a permanent favorite.  

Feel free to share YOUR favorite quote(s) in the comments with me!

Changes are a coming

 In my 30 days of Blogging attempt, I posted about where I see myself in 10 years.  That post was largely about my job, and how I loved my job and wanted to continue with this company for many years.  

Well, that was my hope.  And, for the record, I do still love my job.  However, I don't love the schedule that my job requires.  It leaves 4/5 days of my work week with no life other than work.  I barely see my kids, and I'm too mentally drained after working that far into the night to be capable of doing much of anything.  As a result, I miss my kids, and my house is falling apart.  I just can't keep up with the housework.  My boys are quickly growing up (Three will be 15 in 3 months, and Four is 12 1/2!) and I don't want to feel like I'm giving up these last years with them.

So I quit my job.  To be fair, I asked for a schedule change and was denied.  This is the schedule I signed up for, so it is what it is.  I just hate it more than I could have possibly imagined I would. I agreed to work 4 more weeks when I put in my notice, and I've completed the first of those.  I lose a little bit of my soul every time I go there at this point, BUT I'm trying to stay focused on these coming paychecks getting me through Christmas.  Paying my rent a little in advance so I don't have to worry for those first couple of months.  And spending time with all my work kids (who I will miss, but am hopeful that the ones I'm closest to and I will see each other after this time.)

I'm going to miss a lot of the people (my team, and my customers) but I am feeling really confident about where life is going to take me from here.  I have no net, no parachute, but I'm jumping anyway.  Truthfully, I don't even feel afraid. And if you know me in real life, you know that I spent the first 40 years of my life making most of my choices based in fear so it's quite the 180!  Other people in my life are scared for me, and maybe at some point I'll hit fear, but right now I feel very at peace with the choice and confident that whatever is meant for me will show up.  Trusting the universe in ways that I have never been able to before.  

So if you know of a legit job that you think would fit me, let's hear it.  

30 Days of Blogging: I failed.

 So 3 months ago, I started a blog challenge where you blogged every day for 30 days.  I did 7 posts, and not even in 7 days, it was 16.  *eye roll*  

I often say I'm going to give more time to this, as it really does serve me and make me feel better to write about things.  But I pretty consistently fall off the wagon.  

This is a self-care issue.  I know that this makes me feel better, I know that it is a good outlet for me, and yet...I don't prioritize it as I should.  I'm going to once again PROCLAIM that I'm going to prioritize this in my life.  I may not be great at it for the next month, because I'm going through some things that I will blog about tomorrow.  After that though, freedom to do as I please will arrive and I'm making some big moves to really prioritize ME.  

Bear with me, change is in progress and these next few months are gonna be one hell of a ride!

30 Days of Blogging: Day 7

 Reveal what your zodiac sign is and if it's a good fit. <side eye>

I'm a gemini. 

The 7 key traits are Gemini:

Adaptable

Outgoing

Intelligent

Indecisive

Impulsive

Unreliable

Nosy

I don't feel like I am unreliable, at all.  But the rest of that?  Probably pretty dead on.  I can be indecisive, but I'm actively working on being less impulsive.  

Gemini's are notoriously 2 faced and I don't do that.  I tell people all the time, I'm the kind of friend who will stab you in the forehead.  Meaning, I'm not going to talk behind your back.  I will tell you exactly how I feel.  Gemini's are also known grudge holders.  And, I'm NOTORIOUSLY too forgiving.  

30 Days of Blogging: Day 6

 Day 6 is 10 interesting facts about me that most people don't know.  Hmm we will see how "interesting" they are...

1.  I've completed 6 Spartan races.  If you aren't familiar, may I suggest the google.  They are intense obstacle course races.

2. I'm a licensed fitness instructor.

3.  I'm a HUGE believer in astrology, because have you read your birthchart or did it READ you?

4.  I'm a fan of all genres of music.  Yes, all.

5.  I have seen Matt Nathanson in concert 6 times, and met him once. I have pictures to prove it.

6.  I throw myself completely into whatever the moment is.  This can be a terrible thing, as well.

7.  I have children's sized feet.  A 4 Y.

8.  I am highly allergic to cats, and just generally don't like them.  They freak me out a little.  But 18 months ago we got a cat.  And next Thursday we are getting another.  

9.  I have a piece of art that I painted in every room in my house.

10.  I love trashy tv.  

30 Days of Blogging: Day 5

 I've been married twice.  And the biggest defeat I've felt is when my second marriage didn't work.  I was the problem, I've always maintained that truth.  I was the issue, I broke it.  He was willing to fix it, and I just didn't have it in me to do so.  I felt defeat.  I felt failure.  Both like I've never felt before. 

It's been 4 years since I decided to leave that marriage.  I've had quite the comeback to myself in that time.  Initially, I felt like I was drowning, or coming apart altogether.  It's hard to describe adequately in words.  After some time though, I've found me.  I like her again.  I'm authentic to who I am, and with everyone in my life at this point.  

Overall, I guess it wasn't a total loss.  My boys seem well adjusted, we only live a couple miles from their dad and they spend equal time at both homes.  I've tried my best to only say lovely things about their father, which truthfully is easy because he's a very good man who has taken care of them, their sisters and me for years. 

30 Days of Blogging: Day 4

 Day 4 is to discuss my religious beliefs.  

This is tricky to describe for me.  It's not really a religion. It's spirituality and lifestyle.  I'm a sage burning, crystal using, moon water making, essential oil blending, candle working kinda girl.  

Seriously, I carry crystals in my pocket on the daily.  I have several on my nightstand.  And even more in a case in my closet since I rotate them out based on the needs of myself, my friends, and my family.  

I don't really subscribe to any religion, just love of the universe and the belief that it will take superb and exact care of me.  I meditate daily, which by my definition is prayer.  It starts with gratitude and ends with asking the universe to speak to me and through me, to give me so much joy and peace that I can give it away to others throughout the day as they need.  

30 Days of Blogging: Day 3

 Day 3 is about my experiences with drugs and alcohol.

WELL...truthfully, I didn't have any experiences at all until about 35.  True story.  In the last 10 years though, Ive drank my fair share.  I've given myself alcohol poisoning twice.  Twice, cause I'm an idiot.   

Drugs is really not my thing...so no experience there.  

Overall, I have a lot of really great times while drinking.  Mostly in moderation.  The alcohol poisoning incidents were brought on by heartache truthfully.  Drowning the sorrows, and what not.  I've found better coping mechanisms since then.  :)

30 Days of Blogging: Day 2

 Day 2 is late, because the last two days at work have been busy busy busy and by the time I get home, I just want to not do much.  

But Day 2 is where do I see myself in 10 years?  I do hope to still be with my current company.  I work for a great company (IMO) that really cares about its employees and customers.  I'm currently an assistant manager, and just finished up a week-long training for that position that has me really motivated.  When I took this position, I knew it was temporary for me.  I have other goals.  This is a step on that path.  However, I really love this position, and I'm super happy with where I am. There are some others in my store that want my job, and that makes me happy as well!  When I move up, I hope someone who has as much passion for it as I do takes my spot.  

I originally wanted to move to our QA department, which is our internal store inspector.  My original schooling was to gain a degree in QA for pharmaceutical manufacturing, it was interrupted by having babies.  But this career move makes sense, it's something I've been interested in for my whole adult life.

During my recent training though, I have been giving serious thought to being store manager, and maybe district beyond that.  I feel like I'm a strong leader, and I really enjoy working with my team (and the team I was put with for this training as well.) 

For the 10-year track, I hope I can experience a few more positions within my current company.  

30 Days of Blogging: Day 1

 I know I'm starting a 30 day "challenge" on the 15th of the month and some of your minds are BLOWN.  Heck, I'm kinda blown away myself for doing it.  But I'm going to just jump in.  So day 1 is July 15th and I'm going to do my best to carve out a few minutes every day to blog whatever subject this list I found suggests (or an off-shoot of their subject.)

Today's subject:  Explain my current relationship.

Ooof.  Lets just JUMP all in huh guys?  Oy vei.  

Here goes nothing.  My current relationship is MUCH MUCH to the dismay of many many people in my life.  I know this should be the most gigantic red flag of all time, I know I know.  It's been ongoing, and a roller coaster doesn't even really cover it.  Some terrible things have happened.  Some of those things are things most people would never forgive.  Here I am anyway.  

Four years ago, in the throws of complete despair (mistake 1, probably) I got on a dating app.  I just wanted a distraction, actually, and to get laid.  We really hit it off, and what was supposed to be breakfast last 6 hours and at the end of those 6 hours we still didn't really want to leave each other.  This freaked us both out and we barely spoke for the next several weeks.  Then we decided to sleep together.  IDK.  For months, I thought we were just FWB.  I liked him, but he was very hot and cold.  We didn't date, we hooked up and he left.  He never slept here.  It worked for me, because after I was still hung up on the last heartbreak.  4 months in he made the statement that he could see himself married to me, and I BUSTED out laughing.   He laughed too, but then wanted to know what was so funny.  I said (direct quote here) I don't think you had any idea what you were about to say, you just opened your mouth and some feelings fell out!  He agreed with that assessment.  

We both really messed it up from there, but a lot of my friends and family would say he has messed up way more than me.  I'm just not the score keeping type, and I'm far too forgiving for my own good.  We've broken up and gotten back together more times than either of us could count.  There has been a lot of heartache for me, but something keeps bringing me back to him.  

I'm going into this time around with a relaxed attitude which is HARD for me.  HARD.  FOR.  ME.  I'm letting go of expectation, and with the attitude of if it works great, if not fine.  I'm done being upset about it.  

Maybe this is the time, maybe it's not...we will see!  And now, we can all see together.  

2021 Travel Goals

After I got fully vaccinated back in April, I set a goal for myself to travel more in 2021 than I ever have in my life.  Truly.  I wanted to do more, even if it was day trips or a single overnight.  

So far, I have been successful!  

The ocean is just under 2 hours from me and since late April I've visited 6 times and have plans to go again end of the week.  I live right around 2 hours from one of my favorite spots, Hanging Rock State Park, as well.  I've visited there less...but that's because it's summer and I'm taking advantage of the beach.  I have visited Hanging Rock twice this year though.  I just spent two nights in Winston-Salem, which is a city that I had never visited before (aside from a dance competition once where I didn't do any exploring.)  We visited some murals downtown, went over to Mt Airy, and visited the waterfalls in Hanging Rock State Park while we were there.  We visited Beech Mountain for Easter and had such a good time that we are planning a family trip back there in September to include my parents.  

I made one really big trip and I did it completely alone.  I've flown alone before, but always to meet someone or a group.  And I have always been met at the airport by someone I know.  This trip wasn't that.  I flew alone.  Picked up my rental car to travel the area alone.  Checked into my hotel alone.  I went on tours alone.  I stayed in the hotel alone.  I swam alone. I hiked alone.  And it was the most magnificent life-changing trip ever.  This trip was across the country,  NC--->AZ.  I have never seen the Grand Canyon and just decided to go.  I had taken some time off for a purpose that didn't work out, so 10 days before the trip I booked it.  I wanted to do something and go somewhere brand new to me.  I will never regret doing that for myself. 

I booked a Grand Canyon tour, and I would highly recommend it.  My tour guide was wonderful, I can't even speak enough good words about him.  He and I were alone on the bus for the last leg since I was the last one to be dropped off and he told me that he could tell that I "got it" on a level that not everyone does and that made the experience even more rewarding for him as well.  And I did get it.  I tell you I sat at a south rim overlook and cried at the sheer overwhelming beauty and vastness!

I feel like my joy and peace radiates from my face in this picture.  I visited Buddah Beach and the red rocks of Sedona while there as well, purchased crystals, and learned a lot of history as well.  I don't know that I can top this trip, but here's to trying!

Birthday Projects: Project 5

 My aunt passed away 5 years ago, and she gifted me a headboard.  Like my new end table, it is an old and solidly constructed piece of furniture.  I decided to give it a new style, again, so it would feel more like me. 

Here is the before, just your basic wooden headboard.  

I sanded it, and painted it navy blue, and then did a little distressing.  

I know I took a photo of just the headboard before I put the bed back together but I have lost that picture on my phone somehow, so here you get the gist of it PLUS you get to see the beautiful tapestry that my work kid selected for this space.  

Birthday Projects: Project 4 and 6

 Two quick and easy projects, things I already had been using just updated to "fit" me better.  

I have this mirror on my dining room wall, and my kitchen/dining area doesn't really have a theme but I have a couple inspiration pieces in there that are multi-colored (red, gold, purple, mostly.)  One of them is an art piece that I myself painted.  The mirror was just basic white, and I wanted it to go better with the vibe of the room.  

Quick and easy update, just painted the frame purple to match the vibrant feel of the room.  

And project 6 is my money jar.  I have a basic mason jar that sits on one of the nightstands in my room that I toss my change in.  Purple is the color of abundance, and royalty so it felt appropriate to paint the jar purple (and then I distressed it a little.) 

Birthday Projects: Project 3

 I love to be outside, but like writing it seems to take a back burner in my life.  45 is the year of getting my priorities in line.  I don't have a porch at this house, something that when I buy or build will be a necessity.  There is however a little patio out back, basic small cement patio.  I had purchased 4 chairs just before moving into this house for the back deck at my before house, and they made the move with me.  They just stayed stacked up in the corner of the patio.  Seriously, I think I used them twice.  In nearly 5 years.  

This is what the area looked like.  I unstacked the chairs for the purpose of the picture, but they were all stacked where that far back left one is in the photo.  And those are the broken down weathered bunky boards from the boys bunk beds that have been sitting there for nearly 5 years as well.  Complete with a vine growing up it.  

I looked into what I could do to these chairs, as I'm not just rolling in the dough ya know?  But I also knew I didn't want that faded red to be the asthetic of my new area.  I found on pinterest a brand suggestion for spray paint to redo outside items and was intrigued.  I found a color I liked, and then I found an accent color I liked.  I bought a small metal table from Dollar General.  While researching Project 7, I found the idea for using an old crib mattress spring as a plant holder and loved that idea too, that's the bright pink item standing in the corner behind the seating.  Outdoor rug from Target. 

Other additions are a snake plant and a cactus.  As well as a citronella candle because mosquitos should be the state bird here.  I hadn't purchased the plants for the holder back there when I took this picture, but they are climbing green and purple plants that I'm very excited about.  I also added a double shepherd's hook to hold a flower basket and a bird/squirrel feeder.  

I am so pleased with the area now, and I spend a good amount of time out there now which was the goal.

Birthday Projects: Project 2

My living room has these two wonderful chairs that are part of a living room set that was gifted to me by a member of my Old Lady Gang (the senior fitness class that I used to teach, I refer to them as my OLG) when I moved into this house.  They are so comfy, we all really love this furniture.  But, I needed an end table between them.  I recently purchased new night stands for my bedroom, as before I only had one.  That one night stand was the night stand my mother bought me when I was 15 years old.  It's 30 years old, and has been moved 5 times, and well loved.  It has a lot of history for me though, and it's the first piece of furniture that was ever mine.  I decided I wanted to keep it in use, and I'd refurbish it to make it work for that room.  

It was just basic white, but it is solidly constructed.  I sanded and cleaned.  I decided I didn't want the big bottom drawer in there, and would be removing it and replacing it with a bin to hold throw blankets most likely, but definitely a bin in that spot.  

This is essentially what the front looked like.  Don't ask me why the picture is so close up.  Idk.  I cut that little drawer guide out with a hacksaw to make room for my bin.  And, then the cat decided--oh yeah we have a cat now--she really liked climbing in and out of that spot.  So, I took a different direction with that space.  But when that cat moves out (she's Two's cat, so when Two leaves she will also) I'm putting my bin in there y'all.  I swear.  

Navy and Cloudless, plus a special ordered agate slice in various shades of blue for the drawer pull.  And a pillow.  Who am I?  I don't even LIKE cats.  *facepalm*  That gorgeous stained glass butterfly is courtesy of The Bestie as well (my friends have been really supportive of my emotional state and I get random presents, which is so sweet and makes me feel very loved.)  That vase is also a gift hand crafted by The Bestie's awesome daddy. 

Lazy Housewife: Frito-Pie

 I saw a FB post without a recipe it was just a picture of this baked Frito wonderland.  

I figured it would be easy enough to figure out a recipe on my own, but also know that if you google "Frito Pie" there are a plethora of recipes for you that will be much more precise than what I'm about to type.

I make two pans of this every time I make it, well now I make three because I shared with my parents once and from then on I make a pan for their house every time I make it for our house.  The reason I was making two to begin with you may wonder?  Well, I love the Chili Cheese Fritos.  But they are not vegan.  Regular Fritos are, however.  

I make the Beefless Ground (really, that's what it's called) in the same skillet I have browned onion in.  Add a little water and some taco seasoning mix.  

I use the Goya brand yellow rice with peppers (also vegan) and cook it just like the box says.  You'll also want one can of seasoned black beans. 

I buy vegan shredded cheese, I'm not real sure what the brand is that my kids prefer honestly, but go with what you like.  

A layer of Fritos, a layer of beans, a layer of rice, a layer of cheese, crushed up Fritos.  Bake until cheese is bubbly-if you are using regular dairy cheese, vegan cheese doesn't do that so you'll just bake until it's warmed.  

For my personal pan, I use chili cheese Fritos and regular diary cheese because preferences.  A big hit with everyone.  Girls.  Boys.  Parents.  

Birthday Projects Project 1

 At the beginning of June, I turned 45.  For the last 5 years, I have taken a week's vacation to honor my own birthday.  I'm known for celebrating for the WHOLE month, and that first week of vacation kicks it off right.  I've never done anything huge with the time, I just relax, spend time with my closest people, and love on myself.  This year, I decided I was going to dedicate this time off to work on projects for my house.  We've lived in this house for 4 1/2 years, and I've not really done much in the way of decorating it because...it's not MY house.  It's a rental.  Something has finally shifted in me though, and I wanted this space for as long as we are in it to feel like OURS.  Mine.  US.  

Project 1

I have a large blank space over my bed.  I wanted to put something there, and I bought a plain wooden sign from Michael's.  Two ordered me stencils for the project as a Christmas gift, and shortly after Christmas, I bought the paint colors I wanted for the sign.  And then it sat.  Until June 7th.  SMDH.  I knew what I wanted the sign to say, much to the CRINGE of my tween/teen boys.  It's lyrics from a song that have just always stuck with me.  

Once completed though, it didn't feel right above the bed.  It looked too big for the space-something I should have considered a little more carefully when I bought the sign, but a smaller sign wouldn't have worked for the lyrics either...anyway, the opposite wall in my bedroom was also completely bare, so that's where it landed and I LOVE it there.  

One of my work kids has been loving on me extra this year for my birthday, as I'm going through a period of emotional growth/turmoil (they go hand in hand.)  She picked out a most perfect tapestry that is now home to the barren space above my bed.  Pictures of that come with a different project, so stay tuned.  

Back Burner

 For some reason, even though I feel a "pull" to write, I allow this blog to be put on my back burner.  To celebrate my 45th birthday, I've been doing a bunch of home projects (blog posts to come!)  One of those projects is to create a "work corner" in my bedroom.  A comfy chair, a "table," notebooks, pens, journals, and my laptop.  I've commandeered a chair from The Bestie, just need to de-cat it and reupholster.  But it's a big comfy chair and I'm excited to have it.  I purchased a "table" from Amazon.  

It's small enough that it doesn't take up much space, I can tuck the bottom under the chair to pull it to me when I need to type or write on it, it's got a little pocket there where I can store my laptop.  AND the one I purchased was "returned for damage" so I got a steal.  It's a little scraped up on the end, but so am I so it seemed fitting for my workspace.  

I've been journaling, and ordered myself a couple basic notebooks from Target, and I have a wicker basket that will sit next to the chair as well to hold my things.  Also for this space I bought a Himalayan salt lamp that emits a lovely soft glow, which just helps my personal energy when I'm working.  

All this to say:  more posts are coming.  I don't know what the content of this blog will be going forward.  Most likely it's going to take on my own personality, which is ALL OVER THE MF PLACE.  It'll be life, cooking, exercising, health, parenting, adulting, aging, traveling...all of it as it happens.  

Organization

 I'm seriously trying to get my life fully on track for 2021.  I feel like I came a long way in 2020, despite all the things that were going on in the world.  I'm back to a more normal shift (although, it's not entirely NORMAL) and I just need to adjust my cleaning and planning schedule a smidge to be able to keep up.  

I still love Flylady.net and Pinterest.  I pull a lot of organizational ideas from Pinterest on the regular.  I'm just going to throw my ideas out here on the blog...if you have ideas or a site, please share in the comments as I'm always looking to tweak and change things so that I can make my life simpler and keep my house running smoothly and being tidy.  

Here's the plan, and I'm not going to do ALL of them myself sometimes it'll be the kids that do it:

Everyday chores--

Make the bed (this is a habit I used to do, everyday, but I've really gotten out of it!)

Sweep

Make sure the sink is empty before I go to bed

Counters are cleared

Laundry (Monday-sheets, Tuesday-towels, Saturday-work clothes, Sunday-other)

Clean off coffee table (this is hot spot in my home, everything just seems to congregate there)

Weekly--

Toilets

Clean shower 

Dust 

Vacuum (this is done a few times a week actually because we have a cat,) 

Mop floors 

Clean out fridge 

Clean out the burners on the stove

Monthly--

Scrub backsplash and hood

Vacuum baseboards

Clean window sills

Clean the garbage cans

I also have some bigger projects I'm working through.  My closet has become a pit...and I'm working on it with the Flylady method of 15 minutes at a time because it's so bad it feels overwhelming.  I'm also working on some decor projects since I've lived in this house for 4 years now and I've really not made it feel like home. I painted a tray for the coffee table yesterday, and I'm making a sign for above my bed, and lastly I'm converting the crib that Three and Four slept in as babies to a bench for the entryway.  I'm planning to make this house feel like I want my forever house to feel.  

Skinny Housewife: 21 Day Challenge

 I need a kick start to get back on the workout train.  I need quick workouts.  Less than 30 minutes, because I will also need to shower and get myself together before work.  I have a bunch of HITT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout options saved over on Pinterest, because I bore pretty easily.  I also have a couple other fitness trainers that I follow that I love.  

Blogilates on IG, Blogilates.com, and I just realized (because of this challenge) that she has an app!  Today was the start of a 21 day challenge that she's doing.  The app, and the challenge are free.  There is a printable free calendar available too.  It's 21 minutes, for 21 days.  It takes 21 days to ingrain a habit, so I'm hoping this is the kick start I need.  If you decide to do this challenge, please leave me a comment so I can check in with you!

After this 21 day kickoff, I will probably do one of the older Bikini Body Mommy challenges available on YouTube.  I've done them before, but haven't done one in years!  The workouts are short and simple, but HARD and effective.  These usually run 90 days.

The center I teach at was closed because of COVID for most of the year.  I did get 2 months where I was allowed to teach one class a week, outside and socially distanced.  Due to my new promotion though, teaching again when the center reopens doesn't work with my schedule.  I have requested to do a once a month dance party for them because I LOVE teaching and dancing and the center I work for and my students.  Hopefully, that will come to fruition when the world finds it's new normal.  That has gotten me out of the habit of working out, because with that job I HAD to work out.  Either I was teaching, or practicing or learning something new, or creating new choreography so there was always moving.  

On the two days a week I'm off, I plan to do more intense stuff--I'd like to get back to running which I had to give up because I battled Plantar Fascilitis for a BIG chunk of the year.  And I'd like to dance along with my four favorite dance fitness instructors on YouTube.  Those people are:  Dance Fitness with Jessica, Club Fitz, Bernadette Barber, and Turn Up With Tanci  

Intermittent Fasting: Still at it

 I posted a blog back at the end of April, about giving IF a try.  I was unable to work out like I used to because of the pandemic canceling all my classes, and the gym being closed.  I also read a lot about how it just overall made people feel better and increased healthy sleep patterns.  Those benefits were things I definitely needed when I was on third shift, but now that I am back out of the land of the zombies I have found that I'm still reaping those benefits.  There are a ton of other health benefits to IF, and I would encourage you to do your own research as I don't feel like any one plan is right for everyone.  I will say that I have lost probably a couple pounds, but I've definitely lost inches around my waist which is the area I most wanted to shrink if I could choose.  

My original fasting went like this: 

Dinner around 2pm.

Bed around 4pm. This is the time when my eating window closed for the day.

Wake around 9pm.

Work til 8am.  I would end my eating window between 6 and 8.  Giving me a 14-16 hour fasting time.  When I told people that they usually would gasp and say "I could never" but I promise you, yes you could.  My body adjusted very quickly, and as long as I made sure to eat enough during my window, and drinking enough water I didn't find it very difficult.  

When I switched back to day shift, I had a hard time adjusting my windows and put it on hold for about a month.  But, I really started to feel YUCKY.  Exhausted allllll the time, no matter how much I slept, or how well I slept.  I realized my body didn't like this state of being, and I needed to figure out how to work my window around my current schedule.

Now, my eating window opens between 11-1, just depends on the day and how busy I am with work.  My goal is always 11, because that gives me a 14 hr fast, but sometimes I get pushed later because I'm just busy at 11 and don't get the chance to eat until closer to 1.  My eating window closes at 9pm.  There are health benefits to longer fasts, but for me personally, 14-16 hours is enough.  I've done a couple 18-hour fasts, just because of not being able to eat when I wanted but that's as long as I've gone.  I didn't feel awful, to be clear, it's just not for me. 

Since returning to the IF lifestyle, I've noticed a significant boost in my energy levels again.  I'm drinking enough water again.  Drinking water is a habit I struggle with, but I'm not sure why exactly.  I don't mind water, but unless I'm in a fast, it's not going to be my drink of choice.  So not only was I giving myself too much sugar, and too much caffeine and calories, I was depriving myself of hydtration.  Because I'm not that bright sometimes.  This is probably the number one benefit of IF for me personally, I'll drink plenty of water and I'm SURE this is part of the higher energy levels.  Hydration and exhaustion go hand in hand and are often an overlooked correlation.  IF gives me the discipline to drink all the water.  You do what works.  

Life Update

 The last life update was back in February, when I pulled Three from school and had moved to 3rd shift.  Then the pandemic hit, and Four was also home from school permanently.  I never slept.  I was one of those people who just couldn't sleep during the day.  I tried, but my body's natural rhythm just never changed and my body was always on some "It's daytime...be awake" while my brain was on some "No, we have to be up when it's night, shut up and sleep NOW."  It was an everyday battle, and truthfully I never got more than a nap unless it was my night off.  So I was sleeping 2-3 nights a week and napping the other 4-5 days.  Good times I tell ya.  

School has been going beautifully for Three though, so that was a silver lining.  He began eating again, and has not really gained a lot of weight (he was severely under weight and the pediatrician was concerned about impending puberty) but he has shot up in height!  Both of his grandfathers were tall and lean, so I'm much less concerned about his growth.  He's taller than me currently, and his 14th birthday is in less than 2 weeks.  

School has not been going as beautifully for Four.  He's totally virtual as his health is always a problem due to a compromised immune system and severe asthma.  The virtual model just doesn't work well for him.  He does it everyday but he's bored out of his mind and his grades aren't great.  He's depressed, from not seeing people and there is no real end in sight.  

I got a second promotion at work (so 2020 wasn't so bad for me.)  This brought me back to a day shift!  I'm so excited, and I love my job.  I enjoyed my job before, don't get me wrong, I just couldn't take being on overnights any longer.  I'm looking for one more job change (still within the company I currently work for) in 2022. Just working my way around.  

Two just turned 21 last week, and that just feels INSANE to me.  She's currently working full time as well, and her brothers are having a difficult time adjusting to her not being home.  It's so sweet for me to watch though, as one of my MAIN parenting goals was strong connection between my kids despite the age gap.  Them all being sad about the lack of time together, while it stinks, it does prove that I was successful.  All four of them still really love being together.  Here's a photo approved by everyone for social media of all of us together the day after our Thanksgiving (which wasn't on Thursday this year lol) when we put up the Christmas Tree.  We assembled a gingerbread village, and listened to Christmas music and made my mama heart so happy.