Give Thanks!

Thankful for so many blessings big and small......

Thankful that I did not hire a professional photographer to do our Christmas cards this year. The girls were in rare form. Geese kept  flying overhead. Weebok is yelling, "Goose" every two seconds.

They make us laugh, they make us smile, they make us cry, they make us dance to  the Jonas Brothers and watch whiny Caillou on PBS.

                                                                  We are thankful.


Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

Happy Thanksgiving!
Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl

The Life of a Candlemaker

About 6 years ago, I began pouring candles. Soy candles to be exact. Soy because I like the motto: Friends Don't Let Friends Burn Paraffin, right? I was first introduced to soy candles at an arts and craft fair. I loved the fact that the wax used to make them came from soybeans that some American farmer was harvesting. As I went on to research, I found out the many health benefits of soy. From that moment on I was sold. Since I am an adventurous soul, I began reading articles on the art of candle making and decided to pour a few candles. I was shocked when I lit my first candle and there was fire and a nice scent. I thought for some reason they probably would not work. Kind of like the time I tried to make greeting cards with my new found calligraphy pen. I had all the equipment but no skill. Let me emphasis no skill. My pen kept leaking and I went around for weeks with a permanently tatooed right thumb.
After a few trials and errors, I began giving soy candles away as gifts and testing out new products on my poor friends and family. Over the years, I have consistently made candles for people closest to me and their friends. It has kept me fairly busy in spurts. Recently,I decided to bump it up a notch and start focusing a little more on the business/hobby. I attended my second craft fair this past weekend. It went.....well......well actually....see for yourself.
 Nike Girl woke up at pre-dawn excited to go and participate in the craft fair. Against my better mommy judgment I said yes, she could go. She helps me pour and label the candles so I wanted to keep her involved. I absolutely love that she helps. Weebok was fast asleep when we left for the adventure or else she would have wanted to tag along , too.
It was a very organized event . Only complaint was that the booths were set up within 6 inches of each other so it was a tight squeeze. So tight in fact, Nike Girl got stuck in between our booth and the booth next to us. Unfortunately,  the booth was manned by a rather cranky lady peddling her merchandise. Nike Girl knocked over an entire rack of earrings within 5 minutes of our arrival. Then 2 minutes after that I tripped on the corner of her table and knocked over a stained glass frame which did not break. Thank goodness. At this point I was offering the cranky lady free products straight from my table to her hands so she would not make Nike Girl and myself cry. 15 minutes after that I had lit a sample candle on our booth table. Nike Girl bent down to get her artwork bag and somehow managed to light her hair on fire. A customer who ended up not buying any products started clapping her hands in Nike Girls hair to swat it out. I  turned around and saw the event unfold and stood in shock ,I believe. Nike Girl was okay but it sure did stink for awhile. Not good for business.
The rest of the day went smoothly until 30 minutes before closing. A lady was smelling one of my candles, Pine Forest , to be exact, when all of the sudden she just passed out and fell like a wet noodle. I went into professional PT mode momentarily and made sure she was okay. She was but had to be rolled away in a wheelchair while I chased behind trying to give her the merchandise she had bought and paid for. Kind of tacky on my part, but she paid for it. Again, not good for business. Even more ironic, was the sign that stated behind my booth that a portion of my company's proceeds goes toward Free Wheelchair Mission.
So there you have it, the life of a candle maker. It sounds uneventful, feels uneventful as I sit in my basement at the wee hours of the morning pouring candles, but actually it has proven to be quite the opposite this past week. I have three more shows lined up before Christmas. It will be hard to top this past weekend, I hope.

Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl

Running Report: Running in a cold north wind wakes you up in the morning. Just an observation. I dread the treadmill months but realize that there are more days than not of running outside. Looking forward to a spring marathon.

Best Question of the Week

"Mommy, are Crunch Berries considered one of my fruit servings?" As any good mother would answer, "Sure, why not."  A novel idea since I think Crunch Berries make the best cereal milk to drink at the end.
Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl

The Turducken Thanksgiving

     Here in the states, all household cooks are fully aware that Thanksgiving is fast approaching. I am preparing a list of items to make for the feast. The magazines are full of recipes that look so delicious and fancy. It is hard to narrow down the menu. Well, sort of.... my culinary skills are a limiting factor. But I refuse to have the same broccoli and cheese dish, same green bean with french onion topping dish, or a canned pumpkin pie. This year Converse and I have agreed that we want to contribute something different to the menu. We however, disagree on our contribution choices.


For starters, I have issues with eating turkeys or chickens actually. On the farm, we use to raise both. The chickens had names until the coyotes got them. My sister's pet chicken even jumped onto the axle of our farm truck, without us knowing, and rode to my great aunt and uncles house 3 miles away, no joke. I even had a pet turkey that use to lay out in the sun with me under the sprinkler in the summertime. He was so ugly but fairly smart. So I have a weird emotional attachment to seemingly unresponsive birds. Eating them is difficult for me. ( Trying to understand life on the farm is probably equally difficult for you, as I think back it is a little disturbing, I will give you that. )

Converse actually wants to "fry" the bird. Last time he fried the bird was like 10 years ago. I became intensely ill with a stomach virus within a few hours of eating it. The entire holiday was spent in my parents guest bathroom. Needless to say, I put it on my list of done that and never doin' it again post it notes. But he insist. He enjoys lowering the poor Tom into a vat of emergency room hot grease and leave it to brown or blacken. I have decided to let him win, I mean I have compromised. I told him I would find an alternative to turkey.
 
This is where it gets more interesting. I am minding my own business at home last week when the doorbell rings. The Fedex delivery truck speeds away after leaving a rather large package on the doorstep. I rush in thinking it was a surprise Converse must have ordered for the holidays. I open it up anticipating anything but the large piece of  frozen raw meat I found. The label said  8 lb. Turducken. I proceed to do one of those move the object out a little further to see it more clearly. Yea, it reads Turducken. Hmmm....not sure so I google it.

Surprise surprise. Seems like it is all the rage! A turducken is defined as a dish consisting of a de-boned chicken stuffed into a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed into a de-boned turkey.Good grief Charlie Brown that is a lot of bird!  When I said alternative to turkey I was thinking spinach enchilada or even a bowl of Cracklin Oat Bran (two of my favorite foods). This turducken is going to be an experience. The reviews are amazing so why not, I suppose.Actually, why, is my  honest response. I think I will have to pass on the bird. I saw an ad that Cracklin' Oat Bran is buy one get one half off this week. Sounds great! That will be my contribution. Problem solved. Got Milk?

Peace.
The New Balance Girl

Running Report: Been working on increasing my speed a bit on the ol' treadmill and the pavement. I have started doing the 30 Day Shred again. Love that workout. Hope to do a long run outside soon! I need to run in the fresh air for a couple hours. It does my soul good. Plus, I can decide what side dishes I want to go with my cereal. Peace.

Fall Fun

Nike Girl pretending she is a stunt woman in a Hollywood movie.

Weebook wishin' Mama had bought mittens not gloves.

Sisters

 

 

Calling a lawn service to help us out. 

                                                        
Don't you just love Autumn?
Peace.
The " New Balance" Girl

The Chain Reaction

Yesterday at work I was sitting in the warm therapy pool with one of my little kids when I notice a swim lesson was taking place in the big pool a few feet away. I am minding my own business when I hear this horrific sound. A little guy taking swim lessons had started upchucking on the pool deck. The sight horrified me but I keep my professional demeanor. Translation, I did not gag. Not two seconds later, another little kid started upchucking. It was a chain reaction. The instructor helped the two kids to a trash can as I watched four other kids, around the age of 5, that were still sitting on the pool deck start laughing and reenacting the entire event. It was a site! Glad it all happened before lunch.
Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl

Top Ten List : Why I am not Mother of the Year

10. Forgot to send coat to school with child the first morning we had a hard freeze after being out sick the day before.
9. Warm nutritious weekday breakfast consist of Fruity Pebbles in a baggie.
8.  Let the Hermit Crabs out to exercise on the warm stone patio and then got side tracked and remembered them two hours later...not a good ending.
7. Left sippy cup full of milk in car I am pretty sure sometime this summer based on the smell.
6. Bought small children a trampoline then proceeded to jump on it acting a fool and managed to trip over small children and cause them to bump heads.
5. Dressed baby for church , arrived at church, and forgot socks and shoes.
4. Made mac and cheese for three nights in a row and seriously thought about it the fourth night.
3. Washed new white shirt with new red sweats.
2. Ate the last twix bar in the Halloween candy bag.
1. Put my own jogging pants on inside out , took child to school and walked into the classroom, chatted with a few people, and didn't notice my new style until noon.

Goin' to bed people for a good night's sleep. I will be tryin' to bat a better average tomorrow.
Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl

Running Report: I love to run this time of year. Crisp mornings, clear blue skies, leaves falling. So peaceful. I continue to run 3 days a week and one long run. I thought I had picked a race but due to some conflicts I shall pick another. So right now I am running for fun with no pressure. I like that a lot!

Boo 2010

Weebok, is that you? The duck outfit threw us off for a second, but we know it is you. Please stop moving the candy away from the front door proclaiming , "It is Mine!"

The first kid I did not give sweets to until she was 5 or something insane. Second child, see for yourself. It is all about keepin' the peace. New trick this week, every time Weebok is scared she puts her fingers in her ears so no one can see her I suppose.

Jack-o Lantern grin....ready for the pumpkin to be filled. 

Fun Times on Boo night.
Peace.

Recession Burrito vs. Depression Burrito

In today's economic times, you have to find some humor. I recently read an article online that joked about the differences between a a recession and a depression. A recession can be defined as when your neighbor loses his job.A depression is when you lose your job. The article went on to state that there really is not a universal definition of either. If you ask 1000 different economists to differentiate between the terms recession and depression, you most likely will get 1000 different answers.

Today I came up with my own definitions to help economists agree upon the differences.

Just this morning, I ordered a breakfast burrito with sausage. I  bit into the burrito to find only sausage. No egg or cheese. This is a Recession Burrito.

For 5 minutes the waitress and I could not come to an agreement as to why I was returning my order.  I gave up.I left without a burrito and ate a week old opened granola bar from my car console.
This is a  Depression Burrito.

Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl

Running Report: Took the day off from running as I was in the pool most of the day. Will start back tomorrow after I make myself a breakfast burrito at home.

Miss Merry Sunshine

There is nothing like the feeling of anticipating a fun activity. Birthdays are  good examples that come to mind. I am not much of a planner on daily routines. This has gotten me into some pickles in the past. I am however, a planner when it comes to parties. Every year I plan out a themed party for the girls. I pay attention to details from menu to decorations to games. I even do this for Converse. I love parties. I have a vision to how it should all pan out and want to create the perfect memory.
Needless to say, every year, someone always ends up crying because of things out of my party planning control. Like, the pinata breaks before everyone has a chance to swing at it,  the toy called for C batteries not D,  the red icing stains on a new tutu that was just put on, or someone pukes. It is only after the post party exhaustion subsides can I fondly look back and enjoy the not so perfect moments and laugh.

This weekend is another example of my preconceived vision. Nike Girl had a sleepover at her BFF's so it was just Converse, Weebok and myself to enjoy the evening. Weebok had an early nap so an early bedtime was to be expected. Converse marinated steaks all day to throw on the grill. Yum! So I dropped Nike Girl off at the sleepover and returned home to enjoy an evening I created in my head as relaxation and bliss.
This is what I got: 
As I entered the house through the garage, I smelled smoke. The steaks had caught on fire on the outside grill and flames were flying. Converse was moving in action with spray bottle as his only defense. Result, blackened steak. Medium rare is over rated. At dinner, I snuck the pug dog a piece, ok, maybe two pieces, ok three..it was three pieces. Weebok went to bed only one hour later than expected. We then started the much anticipated movie. The movie that was so slow and boring I fell asleep and so did Converse. We woke up on the couch at midnight with enough energy to make it to bed. Sleeping continued.....sort of.....
1:00am: Dog barking, I let her outside.
2:00am: Dog barking, Converse let her outside. He mumbled, "What is wrong with her?"
2:30am: Dog barking to go out again. I let her outside.
3:00am. Converse is on call, phone rings in this most annoying siren tone. 
3:30am: Dog barking to go out again. Finally admitted to Converse she might of had a bite or two of his blackened steak. He mumbles something under his breath that I am sure was quite nice and then lets her out.
4:00am: Weebok awake.
5:00am: I wake up to the dog barking again while still sitting with Weebok on my lap in her big comfy chair in her room. Neck pain. I let the dog out.
6:00am:  All asleep! Relaxation and bliss finally.
7:00am: Alarm goes off to go run 15 miles. HA! Laughter fills the air! 
7:45am: Converse asleep, Pug asleep, Weebok asleep,  I go run.

Obviously, I wish I wouldn't have given the pug steak. Oops. But I also sometimes wish I weren't a dreamer. But I am. I always develop a vision as to how an activity will turn out. A little Miss Merry Sunshine. The problem usually lies in this expectation because as you know rarely do things turn out exactly as you plan no matter how big or small the activity. The bottom line is perfection does not exist. I need to just chill and enjoy the ride. The bumps are what make the memories even more memorable.

Peace.
The New Balance Girl

Running Report: Yes, I ran. It hurt. I have nothing else to say about that,  thank you very much. I think I am going to go make some Snickerdoodles. That sounds good.Gorgeous weather. It is not hard being Miss Merry Sunshine today! I have no expectations for today except that I will make sure the pug dog is not eating leftover steak.