February 8, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

• water, coffee, wheat toast with butter, jelly & yogurt with fruit and water

Lunch…

• tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwich, coffee with cream & water

Comfort food for my scratchy throat!

In Between…

• Water

Dinner…

The boys went out for a Boy Scouts meeting so…

The girls had Chinese!

• egg rolls, lo mein w/veggies and fortune cookies, a glass of wine and giggling over using chop sticks!  We definitely need more practice!
• water to sip on before bed – I’m hitting the hay early tonight!

Today’s Goals:

I actually stayed home from work today (hard to believe) with a scratchy sore throat and have had moments where my voice cuts out on me.  Lovely…just lovely!  The weather keeps flipping between warm and then cold and then warm and plays havoc on my sinuses.  Despite that, I did manage to get a few things done.  I sat and rested…sort of.   

At home…

• The usual school day for us here – tests for David in Science and Vocab/Spelling, writing assignments, study Latin, etc.  Sarah was helping David study his Latin.  I would post pictures but she did not want me to.  The pictures she drew to help him conjugate was hilarious!
• Pull out pork chops from freezer for dinner (tomorrow night).
• Worked on this blog and another – changing links, deleting ones no longer working, etc., keeping the links relative to the blog itself.  All the Home & Garden, In the Kitchen, Cat’s Recipes are now over at the Making It Home blog.  I added a post for the 52 Weeks blog.  Stuff that I could do while “resting”! 
• Cleaned out my purse – I had one too many receipts hanging out in there.

At work (while at home)…

• checked on work emails, sent out a few, etc.

Today’s Outfit:

No picture – It was a mascara and lipstick day.  All the tricks I needed to feel a bit better about the day.  I hate being sick and try like the dickens to get up and do something with myself!  I wore my off-white cable knit sweater, levi’s jeans, black ballet flats, beaded necklace and green stone drop earrings.

Conclusions:

One of the best hair moisturizers I have ever used…

~Real mayonnaise~

A little handful of this massaged and combed through your hair, wrap up in a warm towel for 20 minutes, wash out and viola!  You have soft, silky and very shiny hair!  To warm your towel, place in the dryer before you get started and while you are waiting for the towel to heat up, collect the items you will need to enjoy your 20 minutes of “me” time – water with lemon or hot water with lemon, a magazine/book to read, light a candle, music to listen to, nail polish (after you rinse your hair out of course), etc.  Make the time whatever you want it to be.

Once a month, usually around the time of my friendly visitor, I try to pamper myself and do some much needed maintenance (eyebrows, nails, etc.).  It is a good time to do it and at such time when I don’t feel 100%, a lil’ TLC does wonders for the psyche. 

While my hair is wrapped up, I will clean up my eyebrows (there is a great article in Real Simple (Feb 2010) on how to shape and maintain your eyebrows) as well as give myself a mini manicure/pedicure.

This is just one of things little things we can do to help boost our outlook and confidence and it only takes 20 minutes!  ;O

xo Cat

February 5, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

• water, wheat toast with butter and jelly, coffee and more water.

Lunch…

I brought lunch into work and made fettucini alfredo and cheesecake for everyone.

In Between…

• Nothing

Dinner…

• pizza, chips and a glass of red wine
• water to sip on before bed

Goals:

At home…

• Catch up and put things in order kinda morning – tomorrow I will do a major cleaning.

At work…

• Emails & working at the Front Desk. 

Today’s Outfit:

Black (sleeveless) dress (thrift $2.99)

Denim jacket

Black scarf with white and red

Red mules

Silver hoop earrings, silver charm bracelet, silver/gold watch

and a spritz of fragrance.

Conclusion:

I think I am going to love this dress and not just because of the price (which is pretty cool) but due to the fact that I will be able to wear this in so many different ways.  I will have fun playing around with the different combinations.  This would be one dress I would take with me on a trip – you could literally throw it into a bag and then shake it out and go – dress it up or down.  On a weekend getaway, I could get by with just this dress and just add a few accessories (Belts, scarves, cardigan or alone).  Yep!  Lovin’ this thrifty lil’ purchase! 

xo

February 4, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

• water, wheat toast with butter and honey, coffee, navel orange and more water

Lunch…

• BBQ chicken, salad and water

In Between…

• Too busy but I did sip on water here and there

Dinner…

Sarah wanted to take us out to dinner.  We picked Daddy up from work and off we went!

• chicken sandwich, fries, co’ cola , and an apple pie
• water
• a glass of wine (when I got home)
• water to sip on before bed

Goals:

At home…

• Run a load of towels
• General tidy (especially before leaving the house)
• Make cheesecake (to bring into the office for Friday)
• Take spaghetti noodles and homemade Alfredo sauce (to the office for Friday) – I need to remember to make some salad!
• Picked up a glass jar with gold wrapped chocolates for the “Guess For The Gold” prize

At work…

• Finish up a list of items for the winter reading program (I know y’all are sick of hearing about this)
• Schedule visit for March program
• Sarah helped with making a race track for the Children’s and Teen’s reading – it turned out so cute!
• Made boxes for Teen’s and Adult’s – we are having a weekly drawing for every book read – you get a ticket!
• Made a few forms for the WRP
• Work on library’s blog

The children and I headed over to the library later on in the afternoon.  David likes to get on the computer and Sarah and I took advantage of the library being closed…

Cute, cute, cute shoes honey!

Today’s Outfit:

Day off from work today so dressing casually…

Black shirt (Target sale years ago)

Black belted sweater ($14.00 on sale – local store)

London Jeans (thrift)

Black heeled boots (JCP)

Silver hoop earrings, silver rope necklace, silver charm bracelet, silver/gold watch

and a spritz of my signature perfume! 

Conclusion:

I was able to get so much accomplished today at home and at work too!  I really needed this day.  The next 2 weeks will be busy and then after that, things will calm down considerably and for that, I am so very glad!  I have learned about setting up a program and should we decide to do a reading program for the summer, I think I will start several months early!!!    But there has been this great sense of accomplishment through it all.  Something that is hard to see sometimes as a stay-at-home mom.  You don’t always get that pat on the back or have someone telling you that you did a great job.  I remember that being the biggest thing I fought when my kids were younger – feeling as if what I did really mattered.  It does! 

So where am I going with this?  Hang with me for a sec!   

Today, while Sarah was up on the ladder sticking things up on the wall, we were discussing some of the past jobs I had and how every thing I learned from those jobs have helped me with working at the library.  Who knew I would be working as a librarian?!  Only God!  Even the things I did with my children are being used to help other children at the library.  I love that!  And so it will be with Sarah.  As she continues to learn on the job, she will use all of it later in life whether it be at home or in a work place. 

The key is loving where you are at at this point and time.  Take it all in and learn what you can!  Everything you do  & experience in life can be used to help others later on 

xo Cat

P.S.  Marta…I have not heard from you in awhile.  I just wanted you to know I’m still thinking about you and hope all is well!!!

February 3, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

• water (a great way to start the day off), wheat toast with butter and hone, yogurt with fruit, coffee and then more water

Lunch…

• roast beef sandwich w/jack & pepper cheese on wheat bread, salad, chips, Pepsi and water

In Between…

• 2 chocolate bites, coffee and water

Dinner…

• crackers, BBQ chicken, salad, bread with butter, and a glass of red wine.
• Water to sip on before bed

Goals:

At home…

• Spritzing!
• Pulling ground beef out of the freezer for dinner tomorrow night – I love love love burgers!

At work…

• Wrap  2 boxes for raffle tickets – I used brown packing paper and crinkled it up to look like leather and wrapped the boxes in that.  I still have a few finishing touches to add.

That was pretty much it.  Most of the day was spent up front which becomes the priority for most days.    There is always tomorrow!  

 Today’s Outfit:

Black v-neck t-shirt (Target a purchase many moons ago)

Red suede (lined) shirt w/black emroidery (thrift)

Black pencil skirt (Target)

Black mules

Black drop earrings, silver chain necklace, silver charm bracelet & silver/gold watch and…

a spritz of my signature perfume! 

Winter Coat:  Black suede with faux fur collars and cuffs (thrift – I think I paid $5.00 for this one) with black gloves

Conclusion:

I brought in my French Coffee Press into work today for a co-worker to try out - he has been thinking of purchasing one.  There is such a difference in the flavor of coffee.  I think this is mainly because you are using boiling water and helps bring out the flavor.  It works well with ground coffee but if you can, try it with freshly ground coffee beans…ohhh man…huge difference!

xo Cat

February 2, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

• water, wheat toast with butter and honey, coffee, yogurt with fruit and more water

Lunch…

• 3 hard boiled eggs with salad, grapes and water

In Between…

• coffee with a cheese danish <–so needed!  and water

Dinner…

• pizza and coffee with friends (at the library)
• salad, apple with cheese and a glass of wine (at home)

Goals:

At home…

• General tidy, lunch preparations – the normal stuff one must do. 
• Family calendar - I do this at the beginning of every month and include new events/dates on the calendar we have on the fridge.

At work…

• Winter Reading Program – sign up sheets for the kick-off , work on flyer, create adult & children’s reading log, set date with Kentucky Derby Museum, try to get volunteers for the weekly crafts we will have for the little ones.
• Youth Book Club

Today’s Outfit:

A thrifty day today…

White v-neck t-shirt

Zippered denim jacket (thrift)

Multi-colored (tans, browns, off white, etc.) belt (thrift)

Tan skirt (thrift)

Black ballet flats

Beaded necklaces intertwined, silver and green stone drop earrings, silver charm bracelet, silver/gold watch and…

a spritz of my signature perfume! 

Conclusion:

Going to work (at the library) is not like anything I remember going to work years ago was.  It really is not work.  Here in this community and in the place that I am in, it is like a meeting place where all your friends get together.  There is work involved but it sure does not seem like it.  You want to do things for your friends.  Provide a place to hang out.  Just whatever you can do to help them – you want to do it.

Granted, not everyone that comes into the library are personal friends of mine but they are very much a part of this community and you can’t help but care for them.  When there is a birth, we celebrate a new life.  When there is an illness, we know about it.  And when there is a death in the family, we are all affected and tends to hit us harder because it is so close and personal.  We see these people almost on a daily basis.  You get to know them, love and care for who they are.

Tonight, as I sat around the table with a group of moms (youth book club) and one dad, I couldn’t help but think how much these people mean to me and what a difference they have made in my life here.

xo Cat

February 1, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

• Water, coffee, yogurt with fruit, wheat toast with colby cheese, orange juice and water

Lunch…

• Rigatoni w/cream sauce, chicken, carrots and broccoli, salad, water

In Between…

• coffee with 1 chocolate bite

Dinner…

• steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, breading, glass of red wine, coffee with cream and a navel orange
• water to sip on before bed

Goals:

At home…

• Snow day for the kids and why not?!  There are several inches of snow on the ground and fun to be had! 
• General tidy
• Laundry
• Phone calls to be made for coop

At work…

• A list as long as my arm that still needs to be addressed – calls for programs, make directional signs (display) and trying to squeeze them in somewhere.  I spent most of the afternoon at the front desk which made it all the more interesting! 

Today’s Outfit:

Red turtle neck sweater

Dark blue embroidered sweater (thrift)

Off-white (lined) slacks (thrift)

Red mules

Gold/diamond solitaire drop earrings, necklace and silver/gold watch

and a spritz of my signature perfume!

Conclusion:

One of the displays I’ve been working on at the library…

The kick-off is coming along.  I have a magician set up for the children’s program and for the adults, a well known dog trainer with her dog.  All this with a Kentucky Derby themed menu:

Secratariat Soup, Man of War Burgers & Kentucky Derby Pie!

We are not having any fun planning this thing are we?! 

There is still so much left to do.  I’m trying to knock off at least one thing at a time but it feels like I’m walking through mud sometimes.  I won’t have much time next week with a trip out of town and coop classes and I’m feeling it.  Normally,  I would of had all of this done to allow room for last minute changes.  This just has not been the case and trying to work through it the best I can. 

I am learning that it’s okay to go southern speed but then again, I’m still learning! 

xo Cat

January 29, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

• water (I always start my day off with this), wheat toast with butter and honey, orange juice, yogurt with fruit and granola (mixed in), coffee and more water.

I love adding that bit of granola to my yogurt.  I mix it in really well to allow the granola to soften up a bit.  It adds

Lunch…

• stir fry (rice, peas, carrots, mushrooms, etc.), bread w/butter, salad and water

In Between…

• coffee with one Dove chocolate bite, apple and water throughout the afternoon

Dinner…

• chicken casserole (it was like a mix between chicken Tetrazzini & chicken pot pie - Blaine made it!), salad, glass of red wine and coffee w/cream
• Water to sip up before bed

Goals:

At home…

• General tidy, load of laundry and dishes

Today was a no school day and a much-needed rest day for the children.  They did work on their history reports

At work…

• Reading program – calls, calls and more calls

Due to the weather (or impending weather) we had a very slow day which allowed me to get so much done!  Thank You God!  I needed that time to get some things done.  There is still so much to do yet but I feel better about what I was able to get accomplished today.

Today’s Outfit:

Black turtle-neck sweater

Black and tan long skirt (thrift)

Black low heeled boots

Black, brown, green and tan necklace with other silver jewelry

and a spritz of perfume.

Conclusion:

At the library,we decided to do a horse/racing/western theme for our winter reading program.  So far, I have a hitching post with a saddle, bridle, blanket and ropes on the post.  I am waiting for the hay bales to come in to add to the display.  I am going to add some cowboy boots with horse or western type books spilling out of them along with a few other little displays here and there.  I will try and take pictures.

On my list to do:

• “wanted” posters
• reading logs
• flyers
• banners
• prizes – adults and children
• weekly activities for the children
• race track painted on the window front
• directional post to be made
• and more!

All this before February 20th!  No stress whatsoever!  But you know what?  I love it!

January 28, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

• water, wheat toast with colby cheese, coffee and water
• 2 cups of coffee at coop with great conversations! 

Lunch…

• hamburger with cheese, fries, co’ cola (just a few sips) and water

In Between…

• handful of teddy bear honey graham cookies and coffee

Dinner…

• roast beef sandwich with colby/jack cheese, salad, a glass of wine, coffee with cream
• water to sip on before bed

Goals:

Today it was about the homeschooling cooperative, shopping and making two pans of lasagna – 1 for Saturday and 1 to take to the office.

I did manage to pick up a few things for the library  and the reading program while out and about as well as a lil’ Valentines surprise for my kids.  I love picking up lil’ things for them especially my oldest two who are never too old to get a surprise from momma! 

Today’s Outfit:

I forgot to take a picture today – too busy.  Knowing that I would be taking my Astronomy class out for our science experiment, I dressed appropriately (see below).

Black short sleeved t-shirt (picked up at Lynn’s Paradise Cafe – Louisville, KY) with long sleeved shirt underneath, Levis Jeans, Avia Running shoes, silver jewelry and a spritz of perfume! 

Conclusion:

I love coop day!  It is a full day but a fun one.  On the way home, the kids talk 100 mph about their classes and all that what went on – it’s great!

        

We really have a wonderful group and the children and I look forward to meeting up with them every chance we get!  Even though I didn’t get a chance to take the kids out for their experiment (the sun did not cooperate) but I did get a chance to sit on the floor and play ball with the cutest munchkin. 

xo Cat

January 27, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

• water, wheat toast w/butter and honey, yogurt with fruit and granola, orange juice, coffee (of course!) and more water

Lunch…

• peanut butter with bananas and honey sandwich with water

In Between…

• apple, water and only a few sips of coffee – another busy one!

Dinner…

• beef tenderloin, salad, rolls, peach cobbler, coffee w/cream and water
• And a glass of water to sip on before bed

Goals:

At home…

• Call museum for upcoming field trip for coop group
• Print off children’s papers and tests
• Gather items needed for coop group tomorrow, review notes for classes, etc.

At work…

• Phone calls for reading program!!!  I must I must I must get this squeezed in here somewhere! 
• List out order items for children’s program in March – the 1st week of this month we are doing a theme on Dr. Seuss.
• Make list of items needed for giveaways (WRP) <- move on to next days list!
• Made phones calls but seem to get nowheresville – ugh!

I need to find a really durable briefcase of some sort to carry my papers back and forth so that they don’t get ruined.  I have been looking but finding what I like is not easy.  It is almost like shopping for a purse – I’m picky about the shape and compartments.

I’m trying not to stress out over the clock ticking away.  The next 3 weeks are packed full.  Trying to breathe through it and take one task at a time.  This has been difficult to do.  To stop long enough to write an email is almost impossible!  I think I need a snow day!!! 

Today’s Outfit:

Black v-neck shirt

Turquoise scarf with multi-colored (lined) blazer (thrift)

Black (lined) slacks (thrift)

Black mules

Silver and turquoise jewelry

and a spritz of perfume.

Conclusion:

A group of us were talking about breakfast not too long ago and what we eat and why – interesting to hear what everyone does.

Breakfast for me, is just that…break (ing) the fast.  I can’t eat a big breakfast and certainly not first thing after getting up.  My David, on the other hand, needs to eat almost immediately.

If you have ever gone on a fast before, you know that you can’t break it with a big meal first thing.  Your stomach, after being empty for a period of time, does not handle a big overload right off the bat or it may make you sick.  You gently ease off the fast by introducing simple and easily digestable foods and in small amounts.  Maybe that is why I eat what I do for breakfast.  It is simple and easy on my system.  Any more than that and I feel sluggish and very sleepy.  It is just enough to jump start my metabolism, get my day going and something that will ”stick” with me until lunch time – cheese, butter, whole milk, yogurt – basically a “fat” to keep me satiated and used in moderation (of course).  Just my thoughts on breakfast I suppose.

xo Cat

January 26, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

• water, wheat toast w/Colby cheese, orange juice, coffee and water

Lunch…

• kids meal (chicken nuggets (4 piece) meal
• water

I actually brought a salad to eat but had to leave the library for an errand and by the time I was done, I was getting really hungry!  We had a staff member leave work early with the flu.  Poor guy was so pale.  I hung out up front most of time and with talk of a big snow coming up, the library was busy.  I’m glad I picked up something simple to eat.

In Between…

• apple and water

Dinner…

• quesadilla w/ground beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream, salsa, cheesecake slice and coffee
• water

Goals:

At home and at work…

At this point and time, I am thankful to just keep things in some type of order. 

• Latin pre-test for the kids
• Finishing history reports (Sarah – Alchemy & David – Knights) and review
• Laundry (towels)
• Spritzing
• Big day coming up in February for the libraries and trying to read up on the event and be prepared along with the reading program…I’m starting to get nervous about getting everything completed and.. in a way that I will be okay with.

Today’s Outfit:

No picture – still learning the photo options on this computer.  I may need to download a different program on this computer.  I do miss my iPhoto on my Apple.

Knowing that I would have to do some running around, I kept my outfit simple.  White t-shirt under blue denim shirt, dark blue blazer, levi’s jeans, black boots (under the jeans), silver jewelry and a spritz of perfume!

Conclusion:

One of my co-workers said to me,  “I’m glad to see you are human!  You are eating a happy meal!” 

The chicken nuggets  just sounded good to me especially after J- left early with a queasy stomach.  I don’t know, it just made me queasy thinking about him being queasy and well, you know how that can sometimes get you thinking on it too much?!   

Thank you Ladies for the comments about Sarah’s birthday.  It is hard to believe I have children the ages I do - 24 (almost 25), 18, 15 and 13.  Where did the time go? 

xo Cat