Some Highlights (and Lowlights)

We have had an unusually busy last few days, but I do feel like there were some blog-worthy moments.

- We went to the Godby vs. Pace football game the other night. Tommy's really into football games, and he loves everything about them. He's a little confused though. While we were in the car he asked, "Are the football players going to sit on the bench and watch the band play?" Dean was only slightly devastated.

- I discovered a new milkshake/smoothie. I was reading Lynn and Sarah's blog and I came across this odd thing called a Green Monster. The description was enough to either make you want to vomit or get the recipe and find out more. I decided to follow the link she gave to the Green Monster website. You should definitely check it out. The basic Green Monster is flax seed, raw spinach, bananas, and almond milk. You can add in other stuff as well (blueberries, canteloupe, etc.). I drink them for breakfast and amazingly, you don't taste spinach at all. Not one bit. You may get some in your teeth though.

- I also tried a new wrap at our neighborhood cafe, Tuscan Sun. If you live anywhere near Killearn Lakes, you need to go there. And get the grilled chicken, walnut, and apple wrap with spring mix and cranberries and balsamic vinaigrette. Yum!

- We went to Maclay Gardens on Friday to go swimming in the lake with our friends. Tommy had a blast and there were 5 other toddlers about his age with us. Loads of fun. PS, I don't particularly care to swim in lakes (unless I'm skiing behind a boat or something like that) so I just waded up to my calves. And watched for gators.

On a downside, while we were there, one of the little boys got a wasp in his bathing suit and the darned thing stung him 4 times! He screamed and cried, but after a little while and a dose of benedryl, he was playing again as though nothing had happened. You gotta love the resilience of toddlers!

Wonder Mop??

Hi. My name is Krissie and I'm a Libman Wonder Mop user. I had it for about a year before I realized you could change out mop head (I didn't mop much). So after getting it gunked up by cleaning behind the refrigerator, I decided to get a new mop head. I excitedly attached my new mop head and vowed in my heart to wash it in a hot water cycle with bleach a couple times a month. No germs here!

Well about 3 months after I got the new head, I decided to take it off and wash it. I pulled and pulled, twisted and turned, and nothing happened. So I just shrugged and continued to mop with it. I was beginning to thing maybe this Wonder Mop isn't all it's cracked up to be.

So today, I'm mopping... with my dirty mop head, mind you... and snap! The mop cracks in half. I'd like to think it's because I've been working out more. However, I suspect that's not the case.

Torn

Yes, just like Natalie Imbruglia, I'm don't quite know what to do. As I type this I'm watching the FSU vs. Miami game and stuffing my face with Lite Butter popcorn (gotta watch the figure, you know). This should be a no-brainer. I graduated from Florida State, I've done the chop many a time, and been to lots of home and away games for the Seminoles.

But it's not that easy. Dean's a huge Miami fan and he gets really into it. There's a lot of sentimental value in the Canes for him, besides the fact that he just loves them, regardless. So that's my dilemma. If FSU wins, I'll be really happy, but not as happy as Dean would be if Miami won. But if Miami loses, Dean will be in a slight state of depression for a bit, which is considerably more upset than I would be if FSU loses. Tommy has chosen to root for the Canes. But he's asleep and doesn't even know there's a game on. I was raised a Canes fan and chose the Seminoles when I came here. But there's always been a soft spot in my heart for that silly looking stork... I mean ibis.

So I really don't know who I want to win. My mother-in-law will get on me for that last statement, but I want there to be peace and happiness in the Inserra house.

I guess I can just say, "Go Team"?

Happy Football Season

It's that time of year again... school has started, the stores are beginning to put back to school items on clearance and they're making room for fall decorations. The weather is cooler in the mornings and at night (though still 90 in the day), and I'm getting a hankerin' to eat some acorn squash. Yes, fall is upon us. I suddenly want to smell cinnamon and pumpkins all day long and I have an intense desire to bake something I probably shouldn't eat.

But perhaps the most exciting part of the fall is football season. I know, it's all in how you look at it. Football and I have a love-hate relationship. I do enjoy the game, it's my favorite sport to watch. I have my teams that I cheer for and those I boo (I hate Kentucky... there, I said it). I love tailgates and the atmosphere that is a football game, whether it's high school or college (I'm not really into pro). And going to away games is always fun.

I do have some beef with football though. First of all, if a game is almost 4 hours long, it's just too long. And the whole 2 minute warning thing... that totally means 15-20 minutes. On a side note, when I was little and I would want my dad to come outside while he was watching a game, he would tell me he'd come as soon as it was over, and there were less than two minutes left. It didn't take me long to figure out that football time is not real time (it's ok Dad, you still came and played and I had lots of fun). And do we really need to watch it from the time Game Day starts (which I enjoy very much) to the time the West Coast game is over? Really?

Oh well, football season, here we come. And I'm truly excited about it. But to all you football widows out there (I'm not one), January is just around the corner.

My Morning Out

This week Tommy started Mother's Morning Out, which is a childcare co-op at a local church here in town. He goes two mornings a week and I pay a very small fee and agree to stay and work it twice every six weeks. Not a bad deal at all. So he's going Tuesdays and Thursdays. And that means I get to go to the gym. And go to Target. Or Kohls. Or Publix. Or the mall. Or just sit at home and stare. Do crosswords if I'd like.

Today I made my first dangerous yard tool purchase by buying a pair of hedgeclippers. And then I attacked the hedges in front of Tommy's window. They're not perfect but much better than they were. Yep. It was awesome.

And even more awesome is that Tommy just asked me for carrots as a snack. Yes, friends, it's a good day!

Mind Your Manners

Tommy to a two-year-old boy today while playing with the Thomas train set at the bookstore:

"Excuse me, sir. Can I play with this?"

After finding out his name was Ty, he rephrased the question:

"Miss Ty, can I play with this train please?"

He's a little confused with the sir and ma'am, mr. and miss thing. But at least he was polite.

Natural Flavors?

If you've read this blog or you know me at all, you might know that I attempt to eat healthy. By healthy, I don't necessarily mean low fat, low calorie, low taste. A lot of times I will buy a full fat item (cream soups, or crackers for example) and just make sure we don't eat the whole box at once. I've learned to be a label reader. And my rule is that if I can't read the whole label while standing there in the aisle at the grocery store without needing to stop for a lunch break (some of those labels are long!), then I can't buy it.

If you have been reading this for a while, you may also know that I'm really into couponing. I get giddy on Saturday nights because I can't wait to see which coupons will be in the paper. I'm also really pumped on Wednesday nights because on Thursday Publix switches their sales and I am so excited to see the items that will be BOGO (that's buy one get one... as in free... for you non-couponers). Yes, I'm a nerd. I know.

So today Ritz crackers were BOGO and I had a coupon for a free box of the new Ritz Crackerfuls with the purchase of Ritz crackers so I decided to get them. Since they were free and all. Well, when I got home and read the label, it practically said "to be continued..." at the end. Oh well. So then I kept reading the box and it advertised the crackers as having "Natural Flavors with Natural Flavors". What the heck does that mean? There was nothing natural in there!

But I bet they do taste good.