Worth the Work

I have a daughter who has been dreaming about her birthday since January. She tells everyone that her birthday is coming, even when it was still a month away. Well, yesterday she had her party and she loved every minute. A pink party. For my oldest girl. Who loves princesses and pink. She wanted all her friends there and would tell me who she wanted to come. And she requested pink cupcakes. Although it was 100 degrees outside, we still had fun. So thats what I was doing all week, prepping for the pinkest party for my Darby girl.

My sweet Luke, definitely makes parties more fun. But it was a good thing he was excellent today during singing time at church, since he threw 3 party favors (that I had made! hence Friday's post) on the side of the house also known as dirty pit with dead leaves and bugs. Yuck. Other than that he was great and told me the party wasn't too pink for him. Special side note that I got Jason to wear a pink shirt via Target...very out of his comfort zone. Bravo Jason...way to support Darby!

Miss Baylie sat herself in this chair to relax and chopped on her pink cupcake.

Darby and some of her gal pals.

Darby who will be 3 this weekend when we are going to AZ. We made beaded bracelets which were a hit . There were a few green and yellow beads for the few boys.



I was going to do strictly pink food, but it got too hairy, and had to make my sister's dip. It is delicious. And hummus is a must for me. Jason is very proud of the pink rice krispies he made.

And her party is finished. So much fun. So happy. I love my girly girl. I love this age that is so sweet and innocent and not spoiled. She just played and had fun at her first birthday (at 3 years old) party. Happy Birthday Darby. We love you!

TODAY WAS NOT MY FAVORITE DAY

It had its nice moments....like the picnic outside in the shaded backyard...much relief from the 100 degree weather. And the lunchables that made the picnic soo easy.

and I made lots of homemade playdough...

and nobody bled today, which is becoming a regular occurence...oh wait, I just forgot Luke fell off the slide...

and the girls were great (or I was more creative and patient) during Luke's practice...

and I didn't cook dinner and picked up Subway instead...thats enough reason for a party...

BUT generally, today was not my favorite day. Like probably one of my least favorite.

It could be because of the state of my house. Or the fact that the day is not over and I have 20 things left to do. Or that I just froze under the pressure this morning and had a good cry. For like an hour. And watched some TV to numb the brain, while just wondering where to begin in the chaos of my house. Or that I have misplaced my camera...again.

But I just read this good quote, and while I try and not to be church lady, how I fit into this large world is a huge part of me. Which might make me sound pretty dorky. But I embrace it. So I hope it cheers you up too.

"It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or
rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our solicitation can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer."

(Richard G. Scott, "Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer," Ensign, May 2007, 8)

I love Walmart

Just because I needed to remind myself what Walmart was like I drove out to Woodland Hills late late tonite which is like my go-to city at the moment. My little nook of LA is really good if you want to find a Kosher deli or Baklava , but doesn't have a Walmart.

The trip was sooo worth it. So cheap. Has everything. Way better than Target. I can buy knitting needles, a $5 pink shirt, snacks, sippy cup and house paint (not that I needed it) . I bought fabric there and saved myself a trip to the garment district with crazy (but cute) children. Pink satin and pink see-through sparkling material ...getting ready for Darby's birthday. And I saw they have a big canning section, bigger than anywhere else I have seen. They even had a water bath canner for $18. That is cheap. Now if only it was a super-Walmart.

And by the way I am back on track, thanks for the pep talk. No sweets today. I feel great even with a skipped workout. (Well I needed a shower, but other than that... )And I get what you are saying Heather about moderation, but can a cocaine addict have just a little coke? nope. Not that I really not any drug addicts, or I don't think I do. Hmmm...now I wonder. And cookies are my crack. Truly.

Off the Wagon

Okay, so I killed my 'diet' today...okay so for the past few days. Not really a diet, but a needed permanent break from my normal diet of chocolate and cookies.

It all started at Costco on Friday. My kids were begging for treats. Cause they are used to me making them everyday. No joke, homemade cookies every day. or close to that. So they are probably shaking from the sugar drought as well. (No lectures please, cause they have currently consumed more veggies than I did as a child. Drenched in ranch of course, but they still go down) And we saw the box of Ghirardelli brownies. So I thought, sure why not? And we cooked one package that day.

I would just like to dare you to not eat a brownie when you have cooked them in your house. Especially when they are the best kind ever. And slightly gooey.

My next excuse is that while we were at costco we sampled some gourmet caramel popcorn with milk/white chocolate stripes on it. So we bought some of that...and polished off one bag today. Me and the kids. Like a party.

And then I got a new visiting teacher this month and she gave me a package for mothers day, which was so heavy I thought it was a candle, but when I got home, no it was a candy container with my favorite Hershey's nugget with almonds and toffee. And out of her kindness I had to eat ten of them. And five more as I thought about this potential post. Because they are my favorite and I love them. And I forgot how chocolate is wonderful.

(Special side note on the brillant inspired idea of visiting teaching from the Mormons. In a nutshell, every member of the congregation is assigned a few members of the congregation that they are asked to visit monthly and help out and then report back each month how its going...we bring treats, or a plant, share a spiritual thought and just chat and check up. Sometimes we bring meals if the person is needing it or throw a baby shower, whatever. for more information on this genius idea go see lds. org or call your local 19 year old missionaries to explain it to you..is that a plug or what? And you say we don't believe in Jesus people, what is more Christian than that?...okay, off my soapbox....if you read this earlier, like an hour ago, this has been revised, cause who wants to hear me babble more?)

But all garbage eating aside, I feel terrible. Its not worth it. Not really. Fleeting moments of pure bliss times an hour more of exercise or salad eating. So tomorrow its back to the grind. Back to the puny two hour goals...cause I was diving into that tasty popcorn by 9:32 a.m. I was cocky, and thought I could sample the nectar and keep it under control. I was wrong. But even though I'm a quitter... I am also a re-starter, so here goes round 2. And my running buddy is out of town, so I haven't been going as far, but have been listening to some tunes.

Does anyone want to pick up my remaining chocolate? Because I'm not sure its safe at my house. No joke.