Nothing like your child yelling at the top of their lungs, "Mom, your zipper is down!" 

As I was trying to adjust myself I realized it wasn't the zipper on my shorts. Apparently my backpack was unzipped. 

Glad I could provide the humor for everyone around me. 

Mental note:  payback to that child when I'm old. 

Attack of the Condiment Packets

Somehow we get extra condiment packets when we order Chinese food.  I save them thinking we might have a need for them (Trick or Treats for Halloween, maybe?) so I store them in the refrigerator.   I think they end up multiplying because when I go to clean out the refrigerator, there are millions and millions of these condiment packets throughout the refrigerator.

The next time we order Chinese food, there are more packets, so we don't use the packets we have on hand.  Of course there are too many to use, so, again, the extras go into the refrigerator.

Does this happen to anyone else?

Maybe I have solved the question, "What's for dinner?"

Avocado Jalapeño Hummus

I tried a small sample of this hummus at Costco and was determined to make it on my own.  I used a fresh jalapeño from my garden.  I left the seeds in so it gave it a little kick.  The avocado makes it real creamy.

I made the hummus using my Vitamix.  I just threw everything in and turned it on for a few minutes.

I know this hummus was a hit.  The kids liked it.  In fact I don't think it lasted very long.   Good thing we have jalapeños growing in the garden.

Here's the recipe:

Avocado Jalapeño Hummus

3  Tbsp of olive oil

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup sesame seeds

2 Tbsp lime juice

1 jalapeño, stem chopped off

1 avocado

1 can 15oz garbanzo beans, drained, rinsed

1 garlic clove, peeled

cilantro

I put the ingredients into the Vitamix (in order) and turned on the machine.  Blended for about 45 seconds (or until smooth).  If you don't have a Vitamix, you can use a food processor.

*I don't add salt when I cook. Feel free to add salt if needed. 

I have a few more hummus recipes that I want to try.  If they work out, I'll share them with you.

Enjoy!

Monthly Random Acts of Kindness - August

Here I am again with an update on my goal for the year.  My monthly Random Acts of Kindness.

As I said in my January post, it's pretty easy to reach a goal of one random act of kindness a month.  Especially if you look at all of the little things that you do.  This is a summary of some of the kind things that I have done this month.

Helped break up fight between two boys at pool at top of slides*
Gave away some produce from my garden
let people ahead of me in line
Greeting people on the paths during my walks

*The mom actually thanked me.  Turns out the boys were brothers.  I was just trying to prevent one of them from falling and cracking his head open.

How did your list for Random Acts of Kindness look this month?

Looking for ideas for Random Acts of Kindness?  Check out this post here.

Social Media - Putting it all out there

I noticed the growing trend of putting your entire life on social media.

--------wait....isn't that what this blog is..?  Me?  Talking about my scary life and everyone can read about it?

Yes.  Blogs are part of this, but, I will expand on blogs next time.
And, I (hope) I don't bore you with stories of my life?  I'm hoping you can relate to the story (or just laugh about all of the scary things that happen to me).

Well, what I'm referring to is the everyday life.  The every minute of every day of your life.  Every.  Single.  Detail.

I'm sure you've seen it, especially if you are on any type of social media.

"Woke up at 6am to the birds chirping."
"Eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast and watching TV"
"Just checking in at ________ Restaurant."
"Watching a baseball game."
"Watching reality TV."
"Watching paint dry."

Oh, and my favorite:

"Doing a load of laundry."

And, don't forget the pictures.

"Just had surgery" followed by a picture of a swollen body area that is all sorts of colors and covered in stitches and dried blood.

Or,

"Twisted my ankle" goes along with a picture of a swollen foot turning purple/green/blue/black and that is in desperate need of a pedicure.

To those people I would like to say, spare us the photos.  We believe you when you say that your surgery went bad and you are developing a weird infection around the incision.  Trust me.  I don't need to see it to believe it!

I won't say much about the loving tributes.  Especially the ones that make it sound like the other person will actually read it.  Never mind that they are celebrating their first birthday, they might have their own Face book page and will read it before they, um....... take a nap?

It's fun to see updates of what people are doing.  I know there are a few people I'm interested in seeing (some) of their daily activities.  (Note the "some" details)

So, the rest of you?  Try to keep it to a minimum.  We don't want to know about your bathroom trips, shower schedule or see the photo of your hang nail.

Thanks.

The Top Ten Reasons I can't find another job

I have a job, but would like to have one where I could be home when my children are home.

I love my job.  I love the new toys we get in and I love showing them to customers.  It's a fun job.

The problem?

The hours.  I have to find someone to watch Bella while I'm at work.  With school back in session and the kids in more activities, it's getting difficult to pull this off, so....I have decided to try and look for another job.  One that has me work while Bella is in school and be home when she gets home.  Yea, the perfect Mom job.

The problem?

Finding time to fill out applications for jobs.

Which leads me to my:

Top Ten Reasons I Can't Find Another Job

10.  I'm currently at my job and do not have access to a computer to fill out an application.

9.  I'm off work but have to run the billion errands that need to be done today.

8.  I'm at work again.

7.  I'm busy shuffling kids around from activity to activity.

6.  The kids are home and in need of my driving skills.

5.  I'm at work again.

4.  The school called to come pick up my child because he/she is sick.  They need to be taken to the doctor.

3.  The kids are home and in need of picking my brain until I am brain dead.

2.  I'm at work again.

and the number one reason I can't find another job....


1.  Kids.

Car Comfort

It's interesting how in car commercials they show a family driving on the expressway in a nice car.  The family is all smiles.  The car is packed like they are going on vacation.  Everyone is happy and comfortable sitting in the car.  There is plenty of room around them while sitting inside the car.  They get to their destination, open the trunk to get their luggage out and there is all of this space back there.  When they get out of the car after the long drive, they don't have to stretch their legs or back.  They don't have leg or butt cramps.

I bring this up because we just got back from a road trip.  There were four of us in the car.  We packed light.  The trunk was full.  We even had items inside the car with us.  Sitting in the back seat was just OK.  I had a hard time getting comfortable (could be that I can't stand being in the car on long trips).  I felt like I was folded inside the back seat.  OK, that might be because my husband is REAL tall and requires A LOT of leg room, so the driver seat is so far back it is in the back seat.  (Bella has to sit behind him).  And my growing teenager needed leg room so his seat was back, also.  My right knee may never be the same.

We didn't have that whole happy thing going on.  When we got out of the car, we all had to unfold our bodies and stretch a little.

Who are the car companies fooling?

Does anyone else have this problem on family road trips?

Maybe I just need a specially designed car for TALL people.