In other news...

It's official.  The cat's outta the bag.  No more secrets.

Gulp.

I couldn't even push the button to confirm.  I had to have Papa Bear do it.  I was sick to my stomach.

2.4 mile swim.
112 mile bike.
26.2 mile run.

I still don't know if I'm capable of finishing this thing in the required 17 hour limit.

I AM TERRIFIED.

But I'm (slowly) learning to harness the fear and use it as a powerful motivational tool.  When that tiny voice creeps in the back of my head, I've discovered there is also now a louder, stronger voice that tells her to QUIET DOWN (maybe not quite as politely...).

It's progress.  Slow.  But progress.

5/18/2013

I WILL CONQUER THE FEAR

Deck the Halls and such...

It's November 29th and, apparently, I'm the GrinchBear that stole Christmas.  Because I refuse to take down my Thanksgiving decorations.  "Thanksgiving decorations?" you ask?  Why, yes Cyberbears.  Let me introduce you to Harvest R. Turkey:

YOU WOULD KEEP HIM UP AS LONG AS YOU COULD TOO, RIGHT?  He is the HIGHLIGHT of my cubs' November.  Seriously, what cub wouldn't love a 9 foot inflatable turkey?

We decided this year that Harvest R. was lonely.  So, we added another friend.  Cyberbears, meet Tom T. Turkey:

I know, right?  Is he not the cutest thing you've ever seen?  It's a regular farm around here (funny farm, that is).

(My decorator once mentioned that my affinity for roosters might be bordering on a problem.  Apparently my "problem" does not discriminate)

All this to say, we have been given the delightful gift of an additional week to prepare ourselves for the Christmas decorating frenzy and it seems that I'm surrounded by nothing but overachievers.  Don't they know they are WASTING A PERFECTLY GOOD WEEK?

Sigh.

Thus, Harvest R. and Tom T. are staying up until after dinner tomorrow night when I have
relented to the pressuredecreed it time to deck the Four Bears Halls.

Someone has to be the slacker, right?

On another Christmas-y note...

Not to be outdone in the crafty area (snicker, snicker, snicker), I decided to help Sugar Bear with a "make at home" Christmas  Ornament she received at church last night.

Y'all.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to Hell for the words I thought in my head whilst "helping" her.  It was a project made in a country where they have teensy, tinsy, nimble little fingers.  This is the finished product:

Poor Joseph looks like he put on his headgear after a long bender, and Mary, despite the smile on her face, is hanging tough through what look to be some pretty wicked hemmies.  And whoever swaddled Jesus (my money's on Joseph) felt that Jesus wasn't ready to SEE the world just yet.  And the best part?  Sugar Bear and I ended up with glue ALL OVER US.

Sigh.

Jesus really is the best gift, but after this craft I think an itty bitty glue gun ranks right up there.

I've just now guaranteed nothing but coal in my stocking for Christmas.

Assuming I actually hang it up before December 24th.

He can't help it!

Brother Bear recently did some "personality testing" at school.  Papa Bear and I were shocked by how accurate the personality testing was.  It is just amazing to me that the "core" of who we are can be set at a mere nine years old.

Part of the take home from this was a bullet point list of the characteristics for their personality.  Again, we were taken aback by the accuracy of this list.

For example.  One bullet point said:

• Can be messy

Do they have cameras in my house?  Exhibit A, CyberBears:

AND THAT IS AFTER HE MADE UP HIS BED, CYBERBEARS.

Sigh.

I used to be a bit skeptical about Personality Testing.

Not so much now.

Oh, and this part of his "personality"?  Gonna send me to the crazy house.  Fast.

Measuring Stick

I'm letting you in on a little secret....I've written about the "key" to my parenting success.  Read more here.

I don't share important secrets like this often.  So...you are welcome.

Branching out

Well.

I would have never thought I'd be sitting here today typing this post.  But...here I am!  Today, I (nervously) announce that I have a new title to my resume:  columnist.  I have joined the team of a local online publication and couldn't be more
nervousexcited about it.

The team I'm working with is amazing.  The path I followed to get here was divinely suggested by a dear friend who has a keen knack for connecting the perfect puzzle pieces.  Everything worked out so simply and organically.  Despite my anxiety (need I say, FEAR), it was such an easy decision to make.

The column is titled "Imperfect Parenting."  I hope to share the thoughts, feelings, and challenges I have in my parenting journey.  I hope it is fun, entertaining, and maybe even enlightening.  But, I'll settle for fun and entertaining.

I hope you join me on this journey.  Read my introductory column here.

Job Security

During a dinner time discussion last night Sugar Bear said, "Mama Bear had to go to college so she could get a good job."  (Seems the little cub was listening to a recent conversation in the Swagger Wagon with Brother Bear!)

On a whim, I asked her what Mama Bear does.  Her response:

• folding clothes with me (her favoritest chore!)
• teaching kids spanish (uh..hmmm...Mama Bear no hable espanol!)
• baking dinner
• baking breastiss (breakfast)
• eating (cub knows her Mama Bear)
• teaching
• helping (when asked who and how Mama Bear helps) she said, "Helping me!  With lots of things!)

I decided to then ask her what Papa Bear does at work.  Her response:

• Help the people.  (How?) By doing stuff.
• Goes on rocket for a little bit (really?  cool!)
• Clean the windows
• Managing.  That means if some people are hurt, he checks to see if they are fine.

I love my job.  I really do.

One-woman band

Although I have no musical experience whatsoever, I recently had an experience where I found myself a one-woman band of clanging and banging cymbals.  To read more about my experience and what I learned, click here.

Happy Weekend!

Time to VOTE!

Alrighty.

Suggestions are in for the naming contest for our newest addition.  Now it's time to VOTE!  I've added a poll on the upper right hand side.  It's a simple click, and no hanging chads.

Remember, vote early and vote often.

Four!

Four years ago, all my wishes came true when you joined our den.  And then, as quickly as you could blow out that candle, Sugar Bear, we woke you up this morning to tell you YOU WERE FINALLY FOUR.

I joke that during the entire year of your threes,  I would comfort myself each night with the thought that we were one day closer to four.  And now, here we are.  I love four.  It's my favorite age.  I just can't believe you are already here!

My goodness, how your personality has grown this year.  You love to talk and sometimes resort to extreme volume in order to be heard in this talkative den.  You know what you want and have no problem making it clear.  Recently, you've learned to express your displeasure with your Brother Bear by balling up your fists and screaming at the TOP of your lungs.  I can't help it, but sometimes I giggle a little before I redirect you.

Your passion for princesses and glamour is only surpassed by your love of fashion.  On a recent trip to a department store, I was taken aback by your confident fashion sense.  You love to sparkle and shine.  Little do you know, you don't need fashion to make that happen.

You still live life with an exclamation point at the end of every sentence.  I pray that inner joy, that lovely spark, never leaves.

I constantly worry that, as the second child, you get my parenting "leftovers."  Instead of spending hours at the library, we spend hours running errands and carting around friends.  With you, I've been more free range.  I've let you make more messes.  I'm not sure I'm doing it right this time around either.  Just know that, while my parenting may be different, my love for you is never leftovers.

Welcome to four Sugar Bear.  It's going to be a great year.
---------

Today on Facebook, I've written a little about my thoughts and preparations for Sugar Bear's birthday today.  Click here to read more.

Welcome addition

CyberBears, I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of the Four Bear Family:

Isn't she purty?

After months of searching Craig's List and every other nook and cranny, I have procured a new-to-me bicycle to replace my sad, pitiful, eight hundred pound excuse of a bike.  (Any question as to what my goal is should now confidently be answered!)

She's a beauty, and a very welcome addition to the family.  But since we'll be spending a significant amount of time together, I feel she needs a name.  Papa Bear is partial to "Mama Bear Needs To Get A Job To Fund This Hobby" but I'm leaning towards "Little Grizzly."  I thought it would be fun, however, to let you guys help.  So...

In the comments section, offer your suggestions.  All are welcome (PG, please).  Multiple entries per person are allowed.  On Friday, I'll have a poll of all the choices and we'll have a good old vote to choose her name. Winner gets...bragging rights (hey, I just bought a "new" bike folks).

On that note, I thought I'd update you on my "progress."  I'm 25 weeks into an over 52 week process.  There have been lots of ups and downs.  Times when I've been able to see the finish line in my head and know I can do this, and times when I've wanted to just lie down and give up.  I'm learning things about myself and challenging myself in ways I never thought possible.  I'm learning more about the awesome teamwork in my marriage, basic mechanics (it's an Allen wrench, not an Axel wrench), prioritizing (I have a blog?), fatigue, and flexibility (both physical and mental) than I ever thought possible.

I still grapple (almost daily) with feelings of fear as it relates to this process.  But, that was the point of this exercise, and I'm trying to embrace it.  Some days are better than others.

To date, I'm glad I decided to do this.  And I KNOW I couldn't do it without the support I've received from each of you.

Keep it coming.

Running with Endurance

When I told y'all I love the Olympics - I wasn't kidding.  I am now suffering the effects of Acute Olympics Withrdawl (AOW).  The shakes are gone, but the night sweats still persist peaking at about 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time.

The first step is admitting you have a problem, right?

Sigh.

I can't think of a better way to recover from the Olympics than to relive them by writing about one of my favorite Olympic moments.  I'm weaning myself slowly, Cyberbears.  In the meantime, you can click here to read what I have to say.

Only five hundred and thirty eight more days (give or take) until the next Olympics.

Not that I'm keeping track or anything....

Spelling it out

A rousing game of Scrabble with Papa Bear got me to thinking about words.  Today on Facebook, I'm expounding on words and what they can do.  Click here to read more.

(Oh.  And if anyone is interested, I WON.)

When the cubs are away, the bears will....

EAT.  Okay, and play too.  And workout out.  Oh, and watch some Olympics. And play Scrabble. And Rummikub.  Oooh, yeah!  And nap too.  And, and, read books that don't rhyme.

But did I mention the eating?

If you can't tell already, Papa Bear and I are on vacation.  Glorious, glorious, cub free vacation.  Not that I don't love my cubs and all, but, WOO HOO!  No whining!  No crying!  No fighting!  And, most importantly:

NO COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FOOD I COOK.

I may have mentioned this once or three hundred and forty two times, but the cubs complaining about the dinner I cook?  DRIVES. ME. CRAZY.

Because, I love to cook.  I love to try new recipes.  I'm not crafty at all, but making food?  It's my art.  Those of you who scrapbook (I would rather stick needles in my eyes than scrapbook) - food - food is my scrapbooking.  And think I've mentioned (perhaps, just maybe) that I love to eat.

So cooking for picky kiddos (and subsequently eating said food) has become an exercise in boring.  I know, there are many of you who say, "have them try new foods! Make them eat the food they refuse for breakfast the next day! don't give up!"  Uh huh.  Sure.  That all sounds great and wonderful in your perfect little world.  But, um, I prefer not to go absolutely OUT OF MY MIND every night at dinner thankyouverymuch.

So, alas, one of my singular goals for vacation was to cook and eat "grown up food" without anyone complaining.

Sigh.  It's the little things, right?

I thought I'd share the recipes and review with my loyalest CyberBears.  Because I love you that much.

I'll have another post with more recipes.  But for now, enjoy! (Please excuse my pictures.  I took totally lazy phone pictures.  Because, while I love food, I'm clearly no food blogger.)

Sausage Pockets - I saw this recipe on "The Chew" and thought it was cool.  It's terribly easy with even easier clean-up.  I wanted something easy for our first day because we would be coming off of 2 long days of driving and I didn't want to do anything difficult (especially because I would be doing some prep-work for the week's breakfasts, lunches and dessert that day as well).  This was really yummy.  Papa Bear and I each added our own tastes, which was nice.  I LOVED how the brats turned out.  Charred a little (like I like) but super juicy.  This would be GREAT for a party.  Set up all the ingredients and let everyone select their items, wrap 'em up, grill, then throw away the pockets when done.

Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins - While I wanted to cook and enjoy yummy food, I'm also practical.  I didn't want to spend the WHOLE vacation cooking.  So the day we arrived, I made a large part of the breakfasts and lunches (and the whole dessert) for the week.  That way, I got the benefit of yummy food each day, but not the work!  I've been making these muffins for a few years.  They never fail and are DEE-LISH!  They turned out a little moist this time for some reason (thus, they don't look as yummy in the picture).  I'm assuming it's because of the altitude and moisture where we are.  Still taste great, though.  Just whip up some eggs (and the not pictured bowl of fruits-my-cubs-won't-touch) and, voila, breakfast.  (Oh, and I know that's a lot of breakfast.  I'm still doing two-a-day workouts while on vacation, so I need the fuel.)

Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwiches - Yum.  This was the other dish I made the day we arrived.  It serves ten, so I made a batch and put in the fridge.  When it's lunch, all I have to do is toast some bread and then add my sides (the blueberries counteract the potato chips, so it was a totally healthy lunch!).  I loved this.  Thinking I might start making a batch of this on the weekends at home so I have some ready-made lunches.  Papa Bear thought the red peppers overpowered the chicken salad and chose not to put them on going forward.  The recipe called for focaccia bread, which I'm sure would make it even better.  I couldn't find it at the local store, so I made do with honey whole wheat bread.

Salmon with Brown Sugar and Mustard Glaze - Okay.  This recipe just proves to me that Bobby Flay is pure awesome.  Yum.  So very delicious, and so very easy.  I just wish there had been more (I halved the recipe).  Papa Bear and I both wolfed it down!  Will definitely make this again.  Mmm, mmm, good.  Served with easy sides of spinach and couscous.

Roasted Pepper and Goat Cheese Pasta - This dish had a lot of steps.  And I was tired.  Thus, it's possible I might have set off the smoke alarm.  So, while I liked the dish, I would likely plan it a little differently (make the sauce earlier in the day).  Nonetheless, it was super yummy!  I grilled up a chicken breast and added it to Papa Bear's plate as he needed some additional protein fuel.  I ate it without the chicken.  The sauce had a nice kick and the goat cheese...yum.  I'm not afraid to admit that I went back for seconds.  Served with my Mama Bear's famous salad on the side.

Good thing we're working out a lot on this vacation too(even though most recipes are from Cooking Light), right?

Mmmmmmm.... stay tuned for a few more meals and....dessert.  Glorious, glorious dessert.

Olympic Moments

I was unable to post this last Thursday due to technology issues while traveling.  Am posting now for your pleasure.  On Facebook, I discussed the moments in life I find truly Olympic.  Click here to read more.

Lightning in a bottle

When's the last time you chased a lightning bug? (aka, firefly) (aaka, Lampyridae, you are welcome,  Big Sister Bear)  Today on Facebook, I'm thinking about a great summer pastime.  Click here to read more.

Summer

Need

I say

S'more?

C'mon.  I couldn't resist!

DNA

A conversation overheard during our drive:

Brother Bear:  Mama Bear, I need to know where the "drive around us" button is located.

Mama Bear:  The "drive around us" button?  What do you mean?

Brother Bear:  You know, the button you push so that it makes the lights blink and other cars know to driver around us?

Mama Bear:  Oh!  Yes!  You mean the "hazard lights."  The button is right here (pointing to hazard light button on Swagger Wagon).  Why do you need to know where that button is?

Brother Bear:  Well, in case something happens to you while you are driving and I have to jump in the front seat and take over driving, I'll know what button to push so that the other cars will know to go around us while I get the car safely stopped.

...

CyberBears, there are times in life when you see a trait in your cub and you are proud and comforted to know that they share your DNA.  Other times...not so much.

To do...

• Sleep in (well, relatively "in" since I have young cubs).  CHECK.
• Drink a cup of coffee while overlooking the river.  CHECK.
• Play in the river, "ride the rapids," and find interesting rocks with the cubs.  CHECK.
• Enjoy a leisurely lunch with my Mama and Papa Bear.  CHECK.
• Cuddle up in the porch swing with the intent to read, knowing full well I'm going to be lulled into the loveliness I call a "Porch Swing Coma" instead.  CHECK.
• Sit in the rocking chair on the porch listening to the sound of my cubs collecting sticks for the fire pit (they are very helpful when they know s'mores are the end result).  CHECK.
• Forget to brush my hair.  CHECK.

Ahhh, summer vacation.  Thank you for taking my summer to do list full of empty busyness and making it chock full of important nothingness.

Holding my breath!

We love our swim teacher.  She is part swim teacher, part magician.  I don't know how she does it, but she does.  Today was Sugar Bear's last day of classes, so she got to "show off" for Mama Bear.  I took video (because, I'm THAT kinda Mama Bear).

Before you watch this, let me remind you that Sugar Bear is 3.75 years old.  Let me also remind you that Brother Bear practically levitated over the water, barely getting wet (and CERTAINLY not getting his FACE wet) until he was...oh...5 or so.  (So you know where my brain is while watching her)



Am I the only one that tried to take a breath for her while they were watching this?

I'm not trying to point out any stellar swimming or anything.  It's probably not that impressive.  There are certainly cubs younger who can swim way better.  But you gotta remember what my expectations were going in...  So, are you the least bit surprised when I tell you that it took EVERY BIT OF RESTRAINT I had not to drop my phone and jump in that pool fully clothed to rescue her?

Sigh.  I lost a solid year off of my life today.  Rest assured, this cub does NOT keep me young.

Every one's a winner!

My super bloggin' cousin bear (and, most loyalest Cyber Bear) recently had a post about the new model for elementary school field days.  She asked her readers to give their thoughts on the subject.  In retrospect, I opined too much....I might have possibly scooted my soap box over to her blog comments for a good, hearty rant. (My apologies cousin bear!)

If I had seen this first, I would have just posted it instead.  Because this video below needs no words.  The triumph here says everything I ever wanted to say about elementary school field days (warning - kleenex alert):


He may never come across a finish line first, He may never stand on a winner's podium. But in my mind, he's a winner.

Generosity

Have you experienced generosity?  Our church has been discussion generosity over the last month.  I'm sharing my thoughts about when I've experienced generosity today on Facebook.  Click here to read more.

I sure hope you have a place like we do to both give and receive.

Those Little Lights of Mine

Ahhh, parenting.  It's so simple, isn't it?  (Please note use of sarcasm font)  Today on Facebook, I'm talking about lessons I'm learning as I parent my little lights.  Click here to read more.

Words With Sugar Bear

Brother Bear has alway been our elocutionist.  As a wee little cub he rarely - if ever - mispronounced words (Ok.  There was the SUPER DUPER mispronunciation of "construction" for two very long years...but other than that...).  If he didn't know how to pronounce something, he either chose another word or learned how to pronounce it correctly.

Sugar Bear, on the other hand, never ceases to amaze us with her unique use of words.  She's not afraid to barrel into a word she wants to use.  Mispronounced or not.  Gotta love that cub's hair-on-fire tenacity.

Some of them are so cute they make me giggle out loud.  I'm afraid I'm going to forget them, so I'm writing them down now for posterity.  And, hopefully, it will give you a giggle or two as well.

• breastiss - the first meal of the day especially when taken in the morning.  ("Mama Bear, what's for breastiss?")
• pampakes - a flat cake made of thin batter and cooked (as on a griddle) on both sides.  ("When I wake up in the morning, I want pampakes for breastiss!")
• ihlarious - marked by or causing hilarity: extremely funny.  ("Brother Bear, you are ihlarious!")
• banano - a personal music device.  ("I want to listen to music on Brother Bear's banano")
• hippomapotomus - a very large herbivorous 4-toed chiefly aquatic artiodactyl mammal of sub-Saharan Africa with an extremely large head and mouth, bare and very thick grayish skin, and short legs. ("Why don't they have hippomapotomus at the zoo?")
• callapiller - the elongated wormlike larva of a butterfly or moth.  ("I want to read The Very Hungry Callapiller!)
• yogrit - a fermented slightly acid often flavored semisolid food made of milk and milk solids to which cultures of 2 bacteria have been added.  ("I want some yogrit for dessert!")

Just a few that I can remember at the moment.  Enjoy....

I believe in miracles!

Do you believe in miracles? Today on Facebook, I'm talking about miracles. Click here to read more.

Friday randoms

Hello, CyberBears! Just popping in here quickly to let go of some random thoughts that have been bouncing around in my brain/frustrating me/worrying me/harassing me this week.

You are welcome.

Have a great Friday!

• Chin hairs. The bastion of adulthood/woman-ness they surprisingly forgot to tell us about during that "class" in fifth grade.
• So, you know that "authentication code" section you have to do on the internets? You know, the ones with the scrambled words...to prove you aren't a robot? Yeah. I'm pretty sure those folks are in cahoots with the eyeglasses industry. It takes me at least two tries. Maybe more. (Note to self: never make fun of your elder {and wiser} Sister Bear when she gets reading glasses. Because, um, that might possibly bite you in the fuzzy behind sooner than you ever anticipated.)
• I caught a portion of a story on NPR the other day, and it was just enough to scare the be-jeepers outta me. Seems it's possible that the Earth's magnetic poles/fields are due for a switch. They say nothing big will change - only the compass will point South instead of north. I say that my compass pointing north one day and south the next day...BIG DEAL. I'm more than a little obsessed with checking compasses now. Oh, and for those of you that weren't already worried about this, the last time this occurred was a wee 740,000 years ago. So, HOW IN THE WORLD do we know nothing bad's going to happen if all the folks that were around when it happened are now fossils??? Are my cubs going to grow up saying "True South" versus "True North?" These are the things that keep me awake at night.
• I've always been a big fan of NPR's show, "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" Love it. But now that I've stepped up my technological game to 2009 levels and learned how to download a Podcast, I love it even more. Nothing, and I do mean nothing makes an hour long torture session on the skinny seat of pain bike ride more entertaining than an episode of "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" Love.
• I witnessed some seriously savvy Mom-ing today. I was at Sugar Bear's ballet class and they were asking mom's to sign up for the role of "Backstage Mom" for their upcoming recital. Every Mama Bear in the room immediately went digging for a pen in their purse. Guess who was the only Mama Bear with a pen? Yep. Bravo, other Mama Bears. Bravo. Note to self: stop carrying a pen in my purse.
• My favorite restaurant in the world has upped their game. Yes they have. Chick Fila is now serving a "Banana Pudding Milkshake" see:

Mmmm......

I restrained myself. Today. But, rest assured CyberBears, my willpower will eventually fail me. And it will be divine.

Taking the Road Less Traveled

Today on Facebook, I'm talking about taking the road less traveled. Click here to read more.

Fearing to Fear

Today on Facebook, I'm trying to sort out when to fear and when not to. If you have an easy answer, please let me know. Because, I'm still struggling. Click here to read more.

How you doing?

So, Mama Bear, how's that whole "conquering fear" thing going?

Good. Good. Why do you ask?

Oh, no reason. No reason at all...

What?!?!?!?

Yes, that's me and my cubs wearing our helmets crowded in the guest bathroom riding out the storms in our area yesterday. And, yes, I do have earbuds in listening to the local weatherman's live reports of the storm. That is, until the cubs commandeered my laptop because the iPad battery died.

Thanks to all of you who checked in on us. We are safe. Papa Bear had a pretty adventurous day at the airport, Brother Bear spent 1.5 hours in "duck and cover" in the school hallway, and Sugar Bear spent some "special time" in the music room at school singing songs. Meanwhile, I went into full panic mode because all of my loved ones were with someone else and I couldn't do a durn thing about it.

I'm working on it, CyberBears. I really am. But, I'm definitely a work in progress...

If you have a moment, pray for those in our community affected by the tornadoes. They need it.

At least it isn't genetic...

(My apologies for the interference. We were at the literal tippy, tippiety top of a mountain and the wind was breathtaking.)

Yep. That's my cub. Taking approximately 25 years off my life as he catapults himself down a mountain at breakneck speed. (rest assured, no cubs were injured in the filming of this video. And, he did stop without killing himself - or anyone else).

At times, I'd like to give him some of my fear. Just a smidgen.

Because, at this rate, I'm going to be 63 by the end of the week.

No one said this would be easy...

All in all, last week was a crummy week. Papa Bear was out of town on business, my purse was stolen, I locked my keys in the car the next day, someone mistook me as being SEVEN YEARS older than I actually am...you know...just your regular, run of the mill crummy week. Crummy.

This week, I have still been struggling with my frustrations from last week, plus feeling a wee bit vulnerable after publicly "announcing" my fears and my journey to overcome them. Being open and honest also means you lay yourself open and vulnerable. And I'll be straight up honest with you right now: being vulnerable is not a comfortable feeling for me.

So, on Thursday of this week, I had to endure a "test." It really wasn't a test, just a necessary part of the process for my long-term goal over a year from now. (Side bar: many of you have figured out my goal - in theory. A few of you have figured it out - exactly. The last few of you are still living in la-la land waiting for me to announce a pregnancy. I'll let you keep your guesses, or keep living in la-la land. Because I cannot yet speak the words.) Although it wasn't a real test, the word "test" was involved.

And it messed with my brain.

Because this "test" was like the amuse bouche of the all you can eat buffet ahead of me. And I was done, finished, kaput after just one bite of the amuse bouche. All I could think about the entire time was how horrible I felt, and how the goal I set for myself was impossible, unreachable, and - most importantly - just plain stupid. Oh, and that now I've let all my friends and family know I've set this stupid, unattainable goal too. Nice.

Now, in theory, I passed the test. But in my head, I walked away feeling a level of defeat, frustration, and FEAR than I cannot even communicate.

A part of me wanted to quit. Just walk away. Tell myself I could never do this, could never measure up. And for a moment, I listened.

And then another part of me spoke up and said, "no one ever said this would be easy." And CyberBears, I'm learning early on, this is not easy.

But here's the thing: that's why I'm taking this on. I picked a goal that, honestly, I have no earthly idea whether I can achieve. It's quite possible that this just might be an epic failure. And it terrifies me.

The root of why I'm so terrified is what I'm hoping to figure out during this process. And, I'm certainly not sure where this process is going to take me.

Until then, I'm going have to force myself to settle into this discomfort. And take my MamaBear's very sage advice: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

I can also hang on to you CyberBears who I am confident are carrying me forward when I am frozen with fear. How am I so confident? Because every day, I look at this:

a small reminder card a CyberBear found and sent me in the mail, which I've taped on the blinds over my kitchen sink. I look at it multiple times a day and remind myself of God's promise in this verse - that he is with me on this journey, and he will not abandon me in this process (or, ever for that matter!).

Or this:

A card from another CyberBear who shares not only my brain, but my sense of humor.

Or this:

(the front of another card sent by a CyberBear)

Because, if all else fails, I'll just channel Elvis.

(Have I mentioned how great you CyberBears are? MWWAH! {that's me giving y'all a big ol' sloppy CyberKiss!} You guys ROCK!)

So, for now, I'm walking forward on blind faith. Not yet confident that this is truly something I can do. But I do know that, no matter what, it's exactly where I'm supposed to be.

"...Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

(Robert Frost, Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood)

Jumping on Faith

This past weekend, I started my journey to break free from fear, and today, I'm writing about it on Facebook. Click here to read more about it.

BEFORE

The sign may say one thing...but my body language is saying something completely different! So thankful for the ever faithful support of JoBear. Even if she wouldn't let me turn around.

AFTER

TERRA FIRMA baby, TERRA FIRMA.

As a special treat for my CyberBears (because, I truly love you guys) I have video of this event. I'm warning you now, if you are watching this at work or around dogs with sensitive ears, TURN DOWN THE VOLUME BUTTON. All I can say is that I didn't even realize that noise was coming out of my body. THAT is how scared I was.

I repeat. Turn down the volume. You have been warned.

Oh. And don't be afraid to laugh when you watched this. I sure did.

I have a feeling I'm going to be doing a lot of laughing over the next year.

And that might just be a good thing.

Hit me with your best shot!

Remember this post? Yeah....me too. A mere 6 months ago, someone broke into my car and stole my purse while I was at the gym working out.

Today, while I was working out at the gym, someone broke into my padlocked locker and stole my purse.

First things first: Yes, I checked the lock and it WAS LOCKED. I'm kinda anal about it since someone stole my purse six months ago.

The first time I felt violated but embarrassed because I had forgotten my purse in the car. This time? Violated and frightened. Because my purse not only had my identification, but the keys to my car and MY HOUSE.

Does anyone else see the humor in this happening less than 24 hours after announcing my personal challenge to tackle my fears?

So, I decided not to let fear be my guide (Cautious and smart, yes. Fearful, no.) I had a policeman check my house before I returned.

Then.

Then I let ANGER be my guide. I pulled up my big girl panties and decided to face this HEAD ON like a FREIGHT TRAIN.

Hey thief! If you are reading this. YES, YOU. GAME ON. GAME FREAKING ON!

I called the credit card companies and got all the information I need to give to the detective in hopes of securing video surveillance of the thieves in action. I then thought I would throw a shot in the dark and see if the "find my phone" app on my phone would possibly help.

And guess what?

That nifty little app worked. Guess where the blinking beacon said my phone was located?

AT THE STINKING GYM.

I marched (emphasis on march) myself back up to the gym with my computer. I showed them the map, explained that it was clear my phone was still in the vicinity, and then told them I wasn't leaving until we found it.

I then asked (okay, told) them to continuously press the "ping phone" button until I found it. And they did.

For two hours straight.

I checked the entire parking lot. The drainage gullies. I put on gloves and checked every dumpster in the parking lot and EVERY. SINGLE. TRASH CAN in the gym.

Before we go any further, I think it's important that I give you these 2 important pieces of information:

1. people at the gym use way, way, WAY too many paper towels. I believe this gym alone deforested a small country in South America. And they were ALL nasty.

2. I shall never eat at a local neighborhood hot spot again. Blech.

I even went in the nearby drugstore to check. The conversation with the employee went something like this:

MB: Hi. My purse was stolen and my phone locater says it is somewhere in this vicinity. Has anyone turned in a phone?

EMPLOYEE BEAR: Nope.

MB: Okay. Well, I'm pinging the phone right now. Have you heared any beeping? Or anything like it?

EMPLOYEE BEAR: Nope. But to be honest with you, I hear beeping and other noises pretty much all the time.

MB: .....

(Note to self: have prescriptions transferred after replacing driver's license)

After all that, I returned to the gym, positive that the phone was STILL THERE. I just knew it. I took another stab at the trash cans. At which point, one of the gym janitors decided to help me out. He asked me if I checked the lockers. I told him I had checked the locker room trash cans. He asked if I had checked EVERY SINGLE locker. I told him I hadn't. Why would it still be in the LOCKERS? So, nearing defeat, I decided to try his idea. I returned to the locker room and began opening and shutting every. single. locker.

Guess what?

I found my purse.

And my keys.

And my phone - still beeping and displaying the message: THIS PHONE IS STOLEN PROPERTY. RETURN TO GYM IMMEDIATELY OR RISK PROSECUTION. (I meant it when I said "GAME ON.")

But not my wallet.

Seems the thieves were interested in only my easy cash and credit cards and nothing else. They busted my lock, snagged my wallet and threw the rest in another locker about ten lockers away.

So, I guess I can rest a little more safely tonight.

But that little thief?

Better sleep with one eye open.

Because, I AM NOT AFRAID.

********************************

Now, I have a question for you, CyberBears. The operations manager at the gym said she "wants to compensate me" for my troubles. That "I shouldn't have dealt with this twice." So, she is going to "talk to corporate" about this and "see what they can do."

I told her thank you, and that I would discuss it with her later. My chief concern at the moment was getting my purse. But I was also afraid that if I accepted any offer right there, I would be required to sign papers releasing them from liability...which I wasn't ready to do (and, am still not sure I'm ready to do).

So..CyberBears. What should I do? Dump the gym? (my beloved trainer works there. I'm not sure I can imagine going forward with my training without his support). Accept an offer of a few free months and be happy? Get a lawyer?

Seriously. I need proper advice. I don't want to bilk anyone. However, I do want the folks at this place to get a clue about the serious problem they have going on right under their noses. Leave your thoughts in the comments section. Feel free to keep 'em anonymous.

Unless of course, you are the thief. In that case, I'd like your name and address, please. Quid pro quo.

Oh. And my only iPhone complaint? That "lost phone ping" needs to be MUCH MUCH louder. MeMaw spent too much time today with her head hovered over trash cans trying to hear her new fangled phone. But I guess I can't complain since their app found my stuff.

Clear as mud?

Y'all.

Have I mentioned how much I love you CyberBears? Come a lil' closer to the screen. Closer. Lil' more....now {SQUEEEEEZZZZZZZE!!!!!} (That's me giving you all a big ol' CyberHug.)

You guys are so fun. And so sweet. And so supportive.

Thank you.

However, what you AREN'T is familiar with the game of Clue. I thought I gave you 3 pretty big clues (2 pictures, 1 written). However, it seems I need to do some clarifying (without, of course, revealing too much). So, to clarify:

1. Despite what many of you would LOVE to see, it's not another cub. Seriously. I love my 2 cubs to death. But another cub? VERY, VERY, VERY AFRAID. And, surprisingly enough, I don't feel the need to overcome that one.

2. Permanent body art will NOT be a part of this.

One more hint (For a total of 5..because, if you are good at the game of clue, you just caught another clue mere seconds ago). And that's all. After that, I'm not discussing it, confirming it, or denying it. Because, I might just throw up all over you. And that would just be rude.

So. Final Clue:

A small sampling of the mere REJECTS:

GAH.

Did I mention, GAH? BLACH? EEEEEK?

I really mean it when I say that all my hopes and dreams almost died RIGHT THEN AND THERE in that horrifically lit room o' torture.

Okay. That is all. We shall never speak of this again.

Ever.

I'm not afraid!

It's time to come clean: I was afraid to write this post.

Really. I put a deadline on this. Then I pushed it. And pushed it again. All because I was afraid. Which, I think is such a perfect example of why I've decided to embark on a journey of sorts.

But first, let me fill you in a little more...

Years ago, during a High School discipleship weekend, I discovered a verse that I just loved. So, I claimed it for myself. The verse is:

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. II Timothy 1:7

For some reason, this verse spoke to me in a way I had never experienced before. It was my mantra for surviving high school and life as a Christian. I was not afraid! God gave me power, love, and self-discipline! With that, I could conquer anything, right?

Well, it's been a while since high school and I sit here now in front of this computer and admit to you today: I am a Mama Bear enslaved by fear.

Now, it's not like these fears are keeping me from leaving the den or anything. They just seem to pervade every part of my life and I think they've eaten away at the Mama/Woman Bear I think God created and intended me to be.

I don't know how it happened. I figure it crept up on me slowly and then finally overwhelmed me. It seems so crazy though. I'm a confident Mama Bear! You wouldn't think on first meeting that I'm so controlled by fear. Yet, I am.

But I've finally decided to do something about it.

I recently celebrated a birthday and in less than 365 days I'll reach another one. A milestone one. I could be afraid. But I won't be. Instead, I've decided spend then next year on a voyage of self discovery, attempting to take back control, and - hopefully - free myself from the fear that has controlled me for too long.

Want to join me?

There will be "little" challenges throughout the year. But I've also set a big goal for myself. It deals with a fear that hangs over me like a rain cloud every single day. This big goal will take over a year of preparation. And it terrifies me.

Truly.

I'm not going to let you know what it is just yet. Just know that I had to overcome a real fear just to even let you CyberBears know I'd set the goal. But I will give you a few hints. It involved a visit here:

and maybe to a place that does this:

(Trust me. The first place was waaaaaaaay more painful than the second! And it almost derailed the whole thing.)

But now I'm going public. I'm forcing myself to admit this out loud (so to speak) to make myself follow through.

I hope you follow me along this journey. I don't know where it's going to take me. But I'm ready to break these chains, reclaim II Timothy 1:7, and see what happens. And, who knows, maybe I've struck a cord with you too? Maybe you need to start a similar journey. I would love some other weary travelers to join me along the way.

And, in the words of the famous poet, Eminem,

I'm not afraid, to take a stand

Everybody, come take my hand

We'll walk this road together, through the storm

Whatever weather, cold or warm

Just let'n you know, you're not alone

Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road.

(Is it grounds for instant damnation if you quote Scripture and Eminem in the same blog post? I sure hope not...)

Here's to a year of breaking free from fear.

Let the journey begin.......

Friday Randoms

I'm writing this post as I desperately try to get ready to head out of town for a Women's Retreat and concurrently parent my cubs. Nothing like multi-tasking to make a Mama Bear feel competent (sarcasm font, please!).

I don't normally post on the weekends. However, I'm working on something that...well...is a big deal for me. I've been scheming this for a while now. But the pieces are falling into place, and my personal deadline to make it public has already passed. So...I'm forcing myself to commit to this. But I need a few quiet minutes away from my precious (but time sucking) cubs in order to process my thoughts and write them up. Insert perfectly timed Women's Retreat!! Yeah! So, assuming that the retreat location has Wifi and assuming I can actually figure out said Wifi (both BIG ifs) I'm going to post this weekend. If not, I'll have the post on Monday.

I'm saying this more to FORCE myself into going public with my plan rather than torture you into hitting refresh all weekend. Nothing like a blog to keep one honest...

Until then, a few randoms for you:

• My Brother Bear and I were texting back and forth yesterday about this restaurant I saw. He had some pretty snazzy ideas about it that left us both hungry.

What do you think Cyberbears? Culinary Genius or Culinary Disaster??

• This:

has been sitting neatly packed in our bedroom ready to go since Thursday. He doesn't leave until Sunday night!!! Me? I packed my hospital bag for both my deliveries while in active labor and am currently franticly writing my "talk" at the Women's Retreat (whilst blogging and parenting said cubs). Tomorrow. Yet another reason why he and I are truly made for each other.

• I've decided to try my hand at becoming a morning bear. I'm five days in and, surprisingly, I haven't died yet. Only one morning was an epic failure. My wake-up times have been (M-F): 6:30, 6:15, 6:15, 6:00 and (insert trumpet sound) 5:45!! My bedtime however, is embarrassingly early now. Just call me MeMaw as I went to SLEEP at 9:30 p.m. last night (I was in bed even earlier). Next on my list? Conquering the world, waking up at 5:15 a.m., and figuring out something to do in the mornings other than drink a cup of coffee and wander aimlessly around the house in my jammies. (Baby Steps, right?)

Okay. That's it for today.

Be looking for more from me soon....

First Aid kit

Do you remember the Band Aid ad where the little kids sang, "I am stuck on Band Aid Brand 'cuz Band Aid's stuck on me?" Sugar Bear is totally stuck on Band Aids. They are pretty cool, 'ya know...

Today I'm talking about Band Aids and healing. Click here to read more.

Sacrifice

Sugar Bear (after seeing the following leftover piece of King Cake): Mama Bear! Der's one more piece of King's pie left. And I will have it.

The piece she actually received:
*********************

After discussing Mardi Gras and Lent with Brother Bear, he began the process of deciding what he would give up for Lent. The list (in order):

• Wii (After realizing it would be forty LONG days without the Wii, he promptly turned this down)
• Sleeping with Lovie (blanket), Wolfie (stuffed wolf), and Shatto (stuffed cow) (After realizing he was breaking his Mama Bear's heart, he chose against this)
• Homework (After realizing that wasn't the sacrifice he deemed it to be, he moved on)
• Playing with Legos (After realizing he would be bereft without his precious legos, he kept thinking)

And the winner?

Sugary drinks. While he doesn't really get a lot of sugary drinks in our house (thus, it's not a huge sacrifice), we embrace and support his desire to participate in the process.

*********************

Here's to walking the path to the Cross and remembering the sacrifice together with each of you. May the path fill you with the hope, peace and grace that is Jesus Christ.

Conversations

Mama Bear: Sugar Bear, it's raining and very cold outside. Please choose something to wear that is appropriate for the cold and the rain.

Sugar Bear:

Mama Bear: .....

--------------------------

Mama Bear: You look beautiful Sugar Bear!

Sugar Bear: NO, MAMA! I LOOK GAWWWJUSSS.

Mama Bear: .....

Mommy Dearest

Lest you think it's all, "NO MORE WIRE HANGERS" around here, I thought I'd post a reality check:

See? I am no domestic goddess. Other than a working laundry system and some pre-made PB&Js, I'm pretty much a mess (although, please note the folded laundry in the basket on the couch).

Just keeping it real.

Taking Sides

Have you ever been faced with taking sides? Sure you have! Everyone has! Today on Facebook, I'm discussing the old adage, "there are two sides to every story." Click here to read more.

Sandwich Love

Back for the second (and final) installment of All Things Domestic? I'm hoping the build up didn't ruin it for you.

First and foremost, I did not come up with this idea myself. I'll give credit where credit is due. My friend Emily told me about it and as soon as she did, I realized it would make a huge difference for me.

But first, the front story: I have a classic bell curve when it comes to my productivity each day. I start out veeeeery slowly about 6:40 a.m. (exactly 20 minutes later than I plan. Every. Single. Day.) I am in NO WAY a morning bear. Well, actually, I am a bear in the mornings. Literally. I can't form sentences until about 7:00 a.m., and critical thinking skills don't set in until about 7:40 a.m. (which, incidentally, coincides exactly with the time that I have to start hustling Brother Bear out of the door). If I could change one thing about myself? I'd want to be a morning person. Really, I'd love to be one of those early-rising-productive-before-the-sun-rises kind of Mama Bears. But, alas. I'm not.

By about 9:45-10:00 in the morning, my productivity picks up. By 11:00 a.m. I'm kicking backside and taking names. By 1:00 p.m., most things are accomplished and I can slow down a bit, and by 3:00 p.m., I'm hit by the great train of cub pick up, homework, activities, play dates and dinner prep. By the time dinner is on the table at 6:00 - 6:30 p.m., My critical thinking skills are again at an all time low. By 8:30 p.m., I'm mush-for-brains, and by 10:30 p.m. I'm asleep with a book my Kindle in my hand (when, oh WHEN, did I become a Memaw? Next up, glasses on a chain and a "patio dress").

My productivity curve flies directly in the face of my desire to be efficient with my cubs' lunch prep. One would think making a cub's (or multiple cub's lunches) would be simple. Yes, if I were making it at 11:00 a.m. But here's an idea of what lunch prep looks like at the times I've tried it:

Lunch prep the night before (somewhere between 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.) - Get peanut butter out of pantry. Walk to beverage fridge and get juice. Realize I need lunch box to make lunch. Retrieve lunch box. Go to pantry to get peanut butter. Realize that it's sitting on counter. Get bread from fridge. Return to fridge for jelly. Get distracted by question from Papa Bear. Go to pantry to get peanut butter. Curse my memory. Spread peanut butter on bread. Return peanut butter to pantry. Get yogurt from freezer. Realize I forgot to put jelly on bread. Spread jelly on bread. Spend 5 minutes figuring out which fruit, chips, dessert combination I served in previous day's lunch. Create a non-used-the-day-before combination. Write semi-witty/loving note (or, picture for Sugar Bear). Zip up bags, put in fridge (Or, worse, accidentally leave on counter overnight). Total time elapsed: +/- 20 minutes.

Lunch prep the morning of (somewhere between 6:40 a.m. - 7:40 a.m.) - Stand in kitchen looking around in a futile attempt to locate pantry. Pour cup of coffee. Stare at empty lunch box and try to remember what it was I was supposed to be doing. Guzzle coffee. Retrieve bread from fridge. Stare at bread willing it to miraculously jump out of bag and dance itself into a sandwich. Pour another cup of coffee. Go back to bed. Total time elapsed: +/- 1 hour.

You can see why, when my friend offered me a simple tip to help increase my lunch making productivity, I was ALL IN.

Here's her MAGIC TIP.

Seriously. I tried it this weekend. Saturday while Papa Bear and the kids were playing, I slapped together 10 sandwiches, wrapped 'em up and stuck 'em in the freezer. The night before, I threw in the juice, chips, dessert, fruit, yogurt and then grabbed a sandwich and threw it in too. Total time elapsed: +/- 3 minutes.

I can't say scientifically WHY it increased my lunch making efficiency so much. BUT I KNOW IT DID.

So very simple! For those of you with nut allergy issues, you'll see the alternate tip my bearfriend suggests. I think you could also change it to a ham or turkey sandwich (without the cheese? I hear it doesn't freeze well...never tried it). My kids ONLY eat PB&J. Sigh.

So there you go. You are welcome.

That now completes my lengthy series on domesticity. We shall return to our regularly scheduled programing after this brief message from our sponsors: Jiffy Peanut Butter & Ginko Supplements (ha ha ha. You know that's a joke, right? No one sponsors this bloggy.)

Rockin' your world

If you are back today for my second (last) domestic tip, my apologies. You will not get it today. My bearfriend who taught me the tip is featuring it on her blog tomorrow, and I refuse to steal her thunder. So....never fear. Your lunch world will be rocked. But you'll have to wait until tomorrow. I'll link up to her blog and tell you my personal thoughts about it too.

Until then, I hate to promise a post and not deliver. I saw this yesterday and was TOTALLY freaked out by it. I felt it was my obligation to freak y'all out too. This, too will rock your world. Trust me.

Click here.

Enjoy. Or, run screaming from the computer. Whichever you choose.

Laundry Love

I am not a domestic goddess. I am not crafty. I can cook, but not bake. I pay someone to clean my house. Instead of meeting Papa Bear at the door in full make up with a mixed drink in my hand, I'm unshowered, wearing workout clothes, and desperately clutching my OWN glass of wine (I strictly follow the "put your OWN oxygen mask on first" philosophy). This is one of the many reasons this blog has never been a place to come for all tips domestic.

However, today that changes. This post is a direct result of a Facebook dialogue between friends. Apparently, my laundry system has changed one of my friend's life (who said Facebook was all bad?). There has been a request for further explanation of my system. Thus, this post.

For those of you who hate laundry, I hope this post makes you hate it a wee bit less. For those of you who already have your own system, yawn and move on! I've never claimed to be an expert at anything domestic...

My laundry "system" was born out of my extreme distaste for Laundry Day. Oh...you know what I'm talking about. The day you assign to getting the family laundry done. The day you move eight different loads from the washer, to the dryer, and then to your couch....where you intend to fold them, really, you do. But the sheer mass of clothing overwhelms you. So you either leave them there on the couch picking out what you need from the pile, or you move them to baskets where they wrinkle to the point that you are forced to re wash them or, gasp, iron.

This is what I did. Or, attempted to do. What ended up happening was I'd stay up until midnight trying to fold everything or I'd leave it in a wrinkled mess. Either way, I found myself grumpy and constantly feeling like laundry was taking me over.

So I decided to change things up. No more Laundry Day. Now it's Laundry Days. Literally. Every day. Wait...don't click away just yet!! Stick with me. I promise it's BETTER not worse!

Indeed, now I do Laundry basically every day. But, instead of doing ALL the Laundry in ONE day, I do SOME LAUNDRY every day. It's the whole "How do you eat an elephant?" mentality. One bite at a time.

I looked at my family's laundry loads, and then broke it down by days. This is what I came up with (might be TOTALLY different for your household):

Monday - Bear Cubs

Tuesday - Mama & Papa Bear

Wednesday - Workout Clothes & Delicates

Thursday - catch up day

Friday - Sheets & Towels (full confession: the cleaning lady does these)

Saturday - cleaning rags & towels

Sunday - Workout Clothes

The only "rule" I imposed on myself was this: each day's load had to be washed, folded, and put away by the end of the day. Sounds daunting at first, but when it's one little basket worth of laundry (instead of eight heaping baskets), it is really TOTALLY manageable!

So, for example, on Monday morning, I throw the cub's laundry in the wash, and then the dryer. If I have time during the day, I'll fold it. If not, as soon as Papa Bear starts bathing the kids, I sit down and fold the clothes. And, most days, I follow through on my rule of putting the laundry away. I'll admit, if I get behind on anything, it's the putting the clothes away part. But, at least the clothes are folded...right?

Again, I've found this method keeps me from spending a whole day washing and folding and getting behind. But, I've also found that it helps in other ways too. Most importantly, I'm not instantly behind when surprise events like, say, barfing cubs pop up. Because of the system, the machines aren't tied up, and I can throw in a quick load of dirty sheets one day and not get behind.

There are few other things that I do to stay on top of laundry as well. However, they might cross the line from organized into OCD. Those of you that know me know....that's a very fine line for me... But here's what they are:

• Stain fighting: each bedroom (plus the laundry room) has a stain fighter spray (you could just as easily use a stick). Any clothes that are stained get sprayed when the come off of the cub's/bear's body before they go into the hamper. That way, I don't forget to treat (remembering to treat is NOT my strong suit) and this gives time to treat the stain before washing.
• Pre-sorting: Papa Bear and I invested in one of those 3 bin laundry hampers. Instead of dropping all our clothes in one hamper, and then me having to sort the clothes later, we sort them into their loads (lights, darks, delicates) as we take the clothes off. This saves not only time, but my sanity, as I'm not great at sorting either.
• Spreadsheet: Okay. This is where it crosses the line from organized to OCD. The first step is admitting the problem, right? And y'all know how I like a good spreadsheet! Basically, I have the entire laundry schedule printed out on a spreadsheet and taped on the cabinet above the washer. I have the day of the week, the load scheduled for such day, and the directions (what cycle, how much detergent, dryer cycle...etc). My idea behind this was, should I ever become incapacitated, the laundry would still get done. And when I became un-incapacitated, I wouldn't have 18 loads of laundry to do. A Mama Bear can dream, can't she? It's basically just become fodder for OCD jokes. And I'm okay with that.

So, that's my system. Do you like it? Do you have a better system? Questions? Would love to hear what you think.

Be looking for another tip tomorrow. It is one I was taught recently that has changed our lives in another way. I'll I'm going to say is: be prepared to have your lunch world rocked.