Tidbits of Talk

Tidbits of Talk

Hi Friends and Family! Happy Friday! Another week has gone by. Seriously, this school year is flying by. Before you know it we will be signing up for summer camps and getting spring planting plans going. Hint hint dad…

 ~ Let’s talk about the age of the three. It is plain MADDENING. I mean really MADDENING. The highs, the lows, the screaming, the crying and oh the whining that comes along with being three. I may need to tap out for this year and come back when this phase has passed because it is for the birds.

~ Parent Teacher Conferences. 5 minutes each. I have over 100 kids on my roster this year. My mouth is dry from talking. Some five minutes sessions seem like 500 and others seem like 5 seconds. They are over and that is what matters.

~We are going to the circus on Saturday. We are going with just Brady. He deserves it and I think it is going to rock his world! Stay tuned.

~ I had a lunch date with my husband this week. How refreshing.  How nice to talk to him with no distractions besides ESPN on the TV.  How nice to just have some time with him even if it was only an hour. It’s true…I love him more now than I did a year ago.

~ I think I am pretty physically fit. I am by no means in great shape but I can hold my own. Until this week when I went to yoga sculpt. Have you tried it? I love it. It combines traditional yoga poses with sculpting moves using weights. Think Warrior 2 and lateral raises at the same time.  It is tough, sweaty, one hour and an awesome workout.  I usually do fine but today on two occasions, I found myself resorting to “resting” in child’s pose while these 40 something women in all their lululemon gear just kept going. Was it a tad embarrassing?  Yes,  but it is darn good motivation to get back at it and get stronger, leaner and healthier. 

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 21}

Tidbits of Talk

Happy Friday Friends! I am back with Tidbits of Talk because it is probably my favorite post of the week and I feel like I have so much to say and haven’t been doing it lately.   We are headed to TWO weddings this weekend and then are essentially off for three weeks of vacation. Lots of pool, beach and other adventure time coming our way so I am sure I will have plenty to share on this blog and pictures overload.

~ I got a message from a college friend on Fb letting me know she reads this little blog and asking my advice about something. For me that was all I need to keep writing for a while. We were friends in college, lost touch, and yet 10 years later I find myself reconnecting with her as we discuss motherhood instead of what bar to start drinking at on a Saturday night.

~I am obsessed with Coke right now. Not Diet Coke. Real sugary coke. From McDonald's. It is $1.10 with tax.   Someone stop me please. This is going nowhere good. I am staying up later, sleeping worse and the calories and sugar can’t be good for me. I drink very little pop but right now it is my daily obsession.

~I took Brady to the beach on Tuesday. I was trying to figure out how to get sunscreen on my back. I asked him to spray his on me since he knows how to do it and loves to make is spray.  I figured some of it would end up on my back. Nope. Nada. Zilch. Zero. So, I have one bright red back to show for it.

~I have been selling stuff like crazy on Craigslist. I am on a tear right now and my husband is pleased because we are getting rid of things from our house.  I would love to do something fun with the cash but I am thinking it will go to buying Cate’s nanny a nice double stroller if we are in the city or to buy  Brady a strider bike. Any recommendations for a double stroller? Hard to justify $600 when Brady is not totally interested in riding in one daily. 

~I took Brady to Trader Joe’s this week. Weird place. I still just don’t get the obsession some people have about it but he loved being able to push his own cart and put things in it. The employees were great but I am still not sold on the food. I couldn’t find much that I thought my family would eat so I am not sure I can work it in to my groceries.

~One minute my mama tells me my flowers are “too wet” and now I am pretty sure they are dead. The summer heat is making me look incompetent in the gardening arena.  I am terrified to even try to grow basil at this point. What gives? I have never had issues keeping flowers alive like this before.

~Cate is so close to crawling. Watch out everything. I fear for Brady and his toys the most.

~Cate has all these crazy teeth and she is getting more. So many more that must be so painful that she is biting her own wrist leaving bite marks and bruises to show for it. Breaks my mama heart…

~ We spent some unplanned and planned time with one of Brady’s oldest friends and his mama yesterday. It’s weird. She and I are both so busy with our lives, jobs, families etc…yet yesterday I was reminded quickly why I see her as such a good friend, enjoy any time I spend with her and look forward to our kids growing up together.

Happy weekend! The pride parade is in town here which means traffic jams and people everywhere! See you next week!

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 19}

Happy Friday friends! It is a new month (probably one of my favorite months) which means my favorite girl gets a month older. Glad that I am back in the swing of blogging and I anticipate with summer on the horizon I will find time to write even more frequently.

~Why do four day work weeks seem like six day work weeks? Seriously, I loved having an extra day off but these weeks always seem to go by too fast, I try to accomplish too much and it leaves me feeling like I did not get it all done.

~Wedding season is in full swing this weekend for us. This week is special because the girl getting married happens to be someone I treasure my friendship with probably more than she knows. She has taught me that it is not about how often you talk, but that you do talk and when you do you make the most of it. All I want is to see her happy and this weekend she will have her dream wedding and I can’t wait to celebrate with her. I am wearing this dress… weird but it is WAY shorter on me than in the picture.

~ I have been gathering a list of things I want to do this summer with Brady.  He and I’s bucket list so to speak.  I am counting the days down until we can actually go do some of them. 

~I rocked a pair of white jeans from J.Crew last week and I loved them so much I have them on again today. I think white jeans can be scary because they are not flattering but I love how fresh they make an outfit look and have a feeling I will be wearing them a ton this summer.

~ Game of Thrones. Okay, so my husband was right. It is awesome and a time suck and I am addicted. I only watch one episode a night as of now because it is about all I can handle but seriously who knew history could be so cool.

~ I know I am jinxing us but last Sunday on a whim we stopped lying with Brady until he fell asleep.  All week Glenn and I have been reading to him, tucking him in once at the most twice and he has been falling asleep on his own. Amazing how much time I have gotten back each night…

~I NEED some inspiration for Cate’s 9 month pictures next weekend. I have this vision but cannot seem to work it out so for now I have no clue what she is wearing… maybe it will be a naked baby shoot.

~Okay I am committing to the Instagram June Photo Challenge. It really shouldn’t be that hard to take one picture a day but I FAILED in May. Want to join me? 

Happy June! And Happy Weekend! 

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 18}

Ack…I am late getting this up and missed last week but I have a lot of good excuses  reasons so I will just get on with it since I can't tell you most of them and you probably don't care. 

~ Brady is in an AWFUL phase right now that Glenn and I hope goes away quickly. He is throwing everything. I mean everything, things and tantrums.  And everything is a battle. And if you have read this blog for any amount of time you know he is stubborn like his parents. He fixates on things and refuses to let them go. Right now it is brushing his teeth. God love my husband who engages patiently in this battle each night but it is bad enough, big enough and loud enough to make me want to crawl in a hole until he is past it. Up to this point he has been an easy kid so I guess it is about time for him to test us. 

~Cate on the other hand is just a total snuggle bug lately. She doesn’t realize she is doing it, but if you are lucky enough to be the one that gets to pick her up out of her crib after her nap, she will hug you…full on hugging. She will bury her head in your shoulder, pinch your skin and hang on for dear life. I melt each time. But with that being said, she is stuck to me like glue. If I am in the room, she wants me to hold her. If I leave the room she cries. She is fine with Glenn but I feel sorry for my mama who is watching her today because Cate seems to have some attachment issues... 

~I am jealous all of my teacher friends in Bloomington-Normal who are already out of school for summer vacation. I am in until June 8^th and have meetings the next week. Sigh…

~ I am on this Craigslist kick. We have been selling some things on there and I just love how simple and easy it is to post items, collect the cash and declutter our house. We have a lot more to put on there and I am not trying to sell our entire house but what is better than having a virtual garage sale? 

~I wish when I got married someone would have told me not to register for stupid shit. Who really needs 8 margarita glasses? Or the Kitchen Aid Mixer I have never used? Or even the three huge colanders that sit on a shelf?  I am seriously kicking myself for getting all of these things instead of a second set of bedding or a really nice steam mop or just nothing at all. 

~ I am looking forward to soaking up some sunshine this weekend and spending time with friends and family.  It’s Memorial Day weekend right? The weatherman is telling me it is going to be 97 on Sunday. That is a tad hot for even me to be honest.  Maybe we should take the kids to the beach?

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 16}

Tidbits of Talk

Okay, so another week of me not blogging.  I want to and then I don’t.  I am just trying to be a mama right now and a wife.  Those two things are my priority right now…even if I am not always the best at either.  But, the delicate balance of being something to everyone gets hard.  And at the end of every night I look at my computer and I just don’t even open it because I find myself grading, lesson planning, or trying to get ready for the next day or just not thinking for a few minutes.  Lots of things going on in my head and life but I never get them written for you all to read about. Anyways, I digress…

~Brady officially is 2.5.  I posted about it last week but this weekend we are taking his pictures and I am just so excited because he is at a great age. I got the nicest note from a friend’s mom on facebook about the post I wrote about last week about him 2.5 and I can tell you that this blog is what I want it to be right now. A place for memories, a place to share my thoughts and connect with others who have had an impact on me in my lifetime. 

My first attempt at PicMonkey. Not to bad right? 

~ This little thing above turned 8 months old earlier this week. How did it happen? I don’t honestly know. She tests us daily. I have a huge post coming about her but for now I will tell you that there is nothing cuter than a baby in a romper. God, I love a baby in a romper. You will see her in one every day this summer. And, no I don’t know why her hair is so crazy. I will take any tips on how to do girl hair. 

~ I had a skype date with this lady Sunday night. She humored my unshowered Sunday self and it was so good to chat with her. Whoever says internet friends aren’t real friends are crazy.  No awkwardness, no nerves, just me, her and a cup of tea for both of us.  Just what I needed…

~ The weather is one of two things that continually perplex me about Chicago. It has been as warm as 87 and as cold as 40 this week. Seriously, what the heck?  We have had our heat and A/C on this week.  Even more is that we had these UNBELIEVABLE storms all week.  And again last night. The hail was huge, the wind whipping, and the rain was coming down in sheets. And of course, my car was on the street...so I ran out to move my car in the garage and go soaked. Someone actually told me today that you get less wet if you walk instead of run in the rain. Is that true? 

~ I am thinking that I may attempt to do some planting this weekend. I am itching to get flowers in the ground and to see the pops of color in our yard.

Happy Friday friends! We have pictures, a trip to the zoo, and maybe an art festival and street festival calling us this weekend. Sounds like a perfect May weekend if you ask me. 

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 15}

Tidbits of Talk   

Friday, Friday. I can’t believe it is already Friday.  I think I say this every week.   I kept thinking this week would go by slow since we were testing two days at school but it didn’t.  So, it’s Friday. And another edition of tidbits of talk is ready to go… at least I think so.

~Work is crazy right now. It is hiring season and firing season and the end of the school year which means the kids are crazy, I am crazy and no matter how hard I work, I can’t get it all done.  Yet, oddly when I do things like type this I realize I have more done than I thought.

~ Brady and I caught the plague last week. Literally, the plague I tell you. We were on the couch together home from school sick and we are still working on feeling better. We still have yucky noses, wet coughs, and struggling with fatigue but I am optimistic we are on the mend.

"I will smile all day at the doctor when I am not the one being poked and prodded"

~ I didn’t tell you but I rented a house for a week this summer at this place. People, I am telling you that I am already counting the days down. I must find a bathing suit, a mommy suit but a cute one. I am dreaming about sitting on the screened porch at night drinking a cold beer with my husband, sipping tea in the morning with my mama and driving our golf cart to the pool and pulling our wagon to the beach each morning.

~Cool story about the quality of customer service at J.Crew. I went in there on a Thursday to return some Crewcuts stuff and shop a bit for myself.  I have a woman there, Susan Small who I work with….like she sends me emails when new stuff comes in or the store is opening early etc… She was there on Wednesday but really busy. I ended up buying a pair of white jeans, four t-shirts that were on sale and a sweater.  I was in a HUGE hurry, paid, and left. After returning to work, I realized I had forgotten to take my teacher discount of 15% (did you know about this).  I was pretty bummed since I spent $200.  That is $30 off.  So, the next day, Friday, I called spoke the person who answered the phone who told me to bring my receipt in and they would adjust it.  I got home from work and was checking the mail. There was an envelope from J.Crew. Curious what it was, I opened it to find a note from Susan along with a receipt and gift card. It read, “Sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye. We are marking everything you bought down an additional 30% this weekend.  Looked at your transaction and applied additional 30% markdown and saw you did not take 15% for teacher’s discount so applied that as well. Thanks for shopping at J.Crew”.  That is why I love this store.

~ Gas and I do not really go together. If you ask my husband, it is one of the top five annoyances provided by me in his life. I hate to get gas and always feel like I don’t have time because I am usually just in time for everything. So, more times than not, it is on empty or daringly close. Yesterday was the closest call I have had in a while. I had one line left when I picked up Cate from her nanny and took her to the pediatrician for her flu booster. Do you see the side eye below? She's a smart one I tell you. 

"I see what is in your hand and it doesn't make me happy"

When we left there, I had no lines left. I went home and did not stop because both kids were screaming and we had been in the office for almost an hour. I left the house to go get my haircut and got ½ way there when the gas light went from yellow to red. Red...never seen that before.  I wondered if I could go get my haircut and then get gas but my conscience kicked in (aka what the heck would I do if I actually ran out and how long would Glenn remind me of it) so I stopped and got gas, was late for my haircut and then got a parking ticket thanks to the awful meter maids in Chicago. Sweet. 

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 14}

Friday has gotten here quicker than I would have like it to but it is here and I am ready for the weekend. I am ready to have very little planned, for the rain to pound on our windows, so we can snuggle under blankets watching Lightning McQueen not worrying if we have to get somewhere.

~ We have five showings this weekend. We have hit 30+ showings. I am tired of trying to keep our house clean. I am tired of trying to keep Brady from being a 2.5 year old and not letting him get toys out. I am tired of having my kids in the car and making the lap around the block while some stranger looks at my house and decides it is not for them. In some ways I feel dirty… all these strangers in my house looking at my pictures, examining my decorating or lack thereof and deciding that our home is not good enough for them.

~My SIL, Laura, found out she is having a baby girl. She is due right around Cate’s 1^st birthday. I am already excited for Cate to have a cousin close to her in age and the same gender. I just know that they will have a special relationship.

~ I feel out of balance right now. I feel like there are so many things I would like to be doing and yet I can’t manage to get anything done or focus on one thing. My mind races 1,000,000 miles a minute. I am counting down until summer and I am committed to making a plan for each week that includes things to do with my kids, me things and family things that I just need to deal with.

~Speaking of time, I am obsessed with the Shades of Gray Trilogy. Have you read it? Oh my god. Sometimes, I hide my ipad if I am reading public places because the content is so inappropriate. The sex scenes are crazy but the plot is thick and I am hooked.

~So right now everything is all mommy all the time. And, yes I am grateful that I am the chosen one for bedtime, baths and teeth right now because for a long time I was not. However, I am spent and frustrated. My husband is willing and capable of helping but Brady just won’t let him do. So after doing it all with Cate, I get to do it with Brady and then there is no time left for me. And no time for Glenn and I because bottles still need to be made, bags packed and I usually have emails to reply to and papers to grade. Most people reading would say that Glenn should take over with Cate. Easier said than done because that is the only time I get with her and I need it.

~ Have you seen these two You Tube videos. If this is where we are headed, I am excited and scared for what the future holds.

Project Glass

A Day Made of Glass

Happy Weekend Friends!

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 13}

Happy Friday! Gosh, this little meme of mine has gone by the wayside the past few weeks (4 to be exact}because life has just gotten in the way. But, it’s back and I am ready to chat if anyone is reading.

~ This week has been good. It’s simple. Our household, in my opinion, is just in a good place. Maybe it’s because I have seen my parents last weekend and will see them tomorrow. Or maybe it’s because I made it to the gym three of the past six days. Or maybe it’s because my husband and I are just in a rhythm when it comes to our daily lives. Regardless, this week was good.

~ For the first spring since I started teaching, I have not been on a softball diamond this spring. I miss it. I really miss it. I miss getting dirty. I miss watching that kid who works so hard crank a ball over the fence. I miss talking to the other coaches about who should play where. But, my family is my priority. And right now and my littles need their mama at night and I need them. I can’t imagine not seeing them before they go to bed. I am hoping next spring to come back part-time just to fill my need to coach but still be home with my kids.

~ Instagram came to the Android. This is huge. Huge news people. I have watched in envy as iphone users have filled my twitter stream and facebook news feed with pictures and now I am in the club. My user name is kristifischer. Find me. I have not had a chance to play with it but I am hoping this weekend I will have my chance.

~ I find myself wanting to create an anonymous blog where NOTHING is sacred and can’t be written about. I am struggling in this space to find the voice I want to be while making sure I don’t cross lines, upset others and stay true to who I am and what I believe in.

Happy Easter! The Easter Bunny will be visiting our house and I can’t wait.

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 9}

Happy Sunny Friday! I skipped last Friday because life just got in the way. Seriously, in a good way and a bad way. I will write more about it next week but let's just say this week has been good..

~I had dinner and drinks with two of best friends in the world and their husbands last Saturday night. Seriously, even though we had to leave to relieve our babysitter at 11, being with them for just a few short hours is good for my soul.

~My sister in law started a new job this week at Starbucks. No, she is not a barista. She is actually designing the interiors of my favorite coffee shop in the world. How awesome is that?

~I watched Brady play at birthday party last Sunday and realized how independent he is becoming. He took off running the minute we got to Jump Zone (aka Germ Zone). He made sure he kept me in eye sight but for the most part he spent a lot of time with his “friends”. Does this mean he is growing up?

~Are you on Draw Something? Holy cow is it addicting. Seriously addicting. My user name is KristiFischer

~March has been wild and it is not even half over. Birthday parties, a baby shower, a bridal shower, two weddings, a rehearsal dinner, and a St. Patrick’s Day party. Whew…it’s a lot. But you know what? We are a better family busy. And the other plus in all of this? We will see my parents 4 week in a row. #Winning

~ Have you had Lean Cuisine Steamer meals? They are so good. And healthy. And easy to make. That makes life a bit easier.

The weather is supposed to be amazing and I am looking forward to weekend filled with family, fun and sunshine! Happy Friday Friends.

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 7}

Tidbits of Talk

So this is late but with really good reason. This week has been full of suck. But I have made a promise to myself that I will find a good for every bad in this post.

~Cate has RSV. My poor girl is really really sick and there is nothing we can do to help her. We take her to the pediatrician, they stick a tube up her nose and use a motor powered suction to get the snot out of her. Every time she coughs, Glenn and I both feel our hearts break.

~I have gotten to spend some real quality time with my girl this week and my boy. Two sick kids is not a lot of fun, but there has been lots of cuddling, requests for hugs and time on the couch. It has been hard to miss work, but home is where I needed to be this week.

~Our house has had a lot of showings. I am just hoping that one buyer comes through and says that this is their house and we can move.

~Every time we have a showing we have to clean. I find myself wanting to purge, pinning my "dream" stuff and hopeful for our next house that becomes our home.

~I needed a cup of Starbucks bad this morning. I couldn’t figure out how to do it with one FAST 2.5 year old, a baby in a carrier, both sick, no double stroller and snow on the ground. So, I went to Target purely for Starbucks and came home with a $32 Mack Truck from Cars2. Sucker.

~I took two showers today. I did one just to steam Cate's nose. Two showers in one day is a luxury with two kids. Two showers uninterrupted, minus the baby in the chair in the bathroom, amazing.

This is all I have… I am tired, hungry, need to pump and bed is calling my name. Cate will be calling mine sooner than I would like.

Happy Friday! Man, am I glad this week is over.