Prinea's Minti Blog http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/ Prinea's Minti Blog Copyright 2009 Minti en-uk Furture MILF Weigh-In Week Five Prinea *drumroll please* I am down 1.5 lbs since last week, for a total of 6.5 down since January 5th. Yay! I am wearing (yes, comfortably!) my belt one notch smaller than I ever have before (got the belt two years ago) and this makes me officially half a pound smaller than I can remember being in the past three (+) years! ... *drumroll please*

I am down 1.5 lbs since last week, for a total of 6.5 down since January 5th.

Yay!

I am wearing (yes, comfortably!) my belt one notch smaller than I ever have before (got the belt two years ago) and this makes me officially half a pound smaller than I can remember being in the past three (+) years! Feels good, very very good, let me tell you.

Well, until next week - Happy MILF'ing!]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190633/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190633/ Sun, 04 Feb 2007 08:44:00 -0800 Phillip Don't Fail Me Now Prinea I. Hate. Winter. The Knight insists I suffer from SAD - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder, he's obviously mistaken though. I mean, it couldn't get any clearer that what I, indeed, suffer from is "God-dammit-man-why-do-you-force-me-to-live-so-far-from-the-f'ing-equator" disorder. To be known as GDMWDYFMTLSFFTFE-D from here on out. Obviously. He's quick to remind me that we have passed the winter solstice and are furthermore on the down-hill swing of ... I. Hate. Winter.

The Knight insists I suffer from SAD, he's obviously mistaken though. I mean, it couldn't get any clearer that what I, indeed, suffer from is "God-dammit-man-why-do-you-force-me-to-live-so-far-from-the-f'ing-equator" disorder. To be known as GDMWDYFMTLSFFTFE-D from here on out. Obviously.

He's quick to remind me that we have passed the winter solstice and are furthermore on the down-hill swing of this winter stuff. I'm quick to shove snow down his pants and ask him how the down-hill swing feels now.

The other day I snapped at The Pea - more than once. I let The Princess watch too much TV. And I did nothing that even remotely resembled housework or schoolwork or finding work work. I did no work.

I. Hate. Winter.

Today, February 2nd - aka Groudnhog's Day, Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow. Which according to german folklore (I'm german - there must be some truth to this!!!) means that we can expect an early spring. Halle-freakin-lujah!

Phil better not be pulling my chain, because if he is... I do have a shot gun and I can find out where he sleeps. Damn rodent.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190631/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190631/ Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:46:00 -0800 She Sings! She Sings! Oh baby! Prinea Had you asked me before yesterday what good old Hills - http://www.hillaryclinton.com had in common with say... the likeness of William Hung - http://www.williamhung.net, I'd have probably thought you were crazy. Turns out, not so much. Well, on the bright side at least she kept the screwing - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Foley_scandal to nothing more than a song. Had you asked me before yesterday what good old Hills had in common with say... the likeness of William Hung, I'd have probably thought you were crazy. Turns out, not so much.



Well, on the bright side at least she kept the screwing to nothing more than a song. ]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190634/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190634/ Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:12:00 -0800 MILF Approved Mmmm, Mmmm, Goodness Prinea Last week as I went to put the empty box of Kashi - http://www.kashi.com Good Friends cereal in the recycling bin I noticed a recipe on the back. Tom Cruise! Why do I always notice the recipes as I am tossing out the empty box?! So on Friday when The Knight and I ditched the wee people for a night of romance ... Last week as I went to put the empty box of Kashi Good Friends cereal in the recycling bin I noticed a recipe on the back.

Tom Cruise! Why do I always notice the recipes as I am tossing out the empty box?!

So on Friday when The Knight and I ditched the wee people for a night of romance adult conversation silence and grocery shopping I made a mental note added Good Friends to my list. (You don't actually think I can remember anything without writing it down do you? )

However after searching every. freakin. where. for a box of it that actually had the recipe on the back of the box (and that was not the price of a small unattractive child sold on the black market - do NOT give me that look. We all know the cute ones bring in more money so... shhhht!) to no avail I came home empty handed, and on Saturday morning promptly sent The Knight to our local teeny tiny grocery store just in case, and wah lah home he came with cereal and recipe in hand.

Rock on Knight!

Saturday afternoon I made the muffins.

Jesus, Joseph and Mary on a cracker! (told you I was stealing it Lotta!) They're delightful!

And the best part? They are soooooooo MILF approved.

100 calories. O grams of fat. 3 grams of both protein and fiber. It's like heaven wrapped. in. fiber!

They're dense, moist, and just slightly sweet! And, I'll give you a tip - I spread just a bit of applesauce on mine instead of, say ... butter, and it's just the nice little touch of extra taste it needs! YUM-O! (shut up. I love Rach!)

Bonus: Even the kids and hubster are in love with 'em so it's a family affair! Great for breakfast, snacks, etc!

So, without further ado, the official MILF-Heaven-Muffins...

Ingredients

1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt (I omitted, they were still very yummy)
1 3/4 Cups Kashi Good Friends Cereal
3/4 Cup Skim, Rice or Soy Milk
2 Egg Whites
1/4 Cup Honey
1/4 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
1 Med. Rip Banana, Mashed
Nonstick Cooking Spray

Directions

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees (F).

In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine cereal and milk and let stand for 2-3 minutes. Add the egg whites and beat well. Stir in applesauce, banana, and honey. Add fluor mixture and mix only until dry ingredients are moistened (over-mixing will produce rubbery muffins).

Fill sprayed muffin tins.
Bake 20-25 Minutes or until lightly browned.

Makes 12 Muffins]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190618/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190618/ Mon, 29 Jan 2007 07:57:00 -0800 Future MILF-ism Week Four Prinea Four? For fuck's sake, ladies. Where has the time gone? I have mildly good news this week. I didn't gain weight. I didn't lose, either but as I posted last Friday staying steady would be the goal. And Houston, I'm happy to report we did not have a problem. Luckily for this week aunt flo has departed, there are no calorific shin digs ... Four? For fuck's sake, ladies. Where has the time gone?

I have mildly good news this week.

I didn't gain weight. I didn't lose, either but as I posted last Friday staying steady would be the goal. And Houston, I'm happy to report we did not have a problem.

Luckily for this week aunt flo has departed, there are no calorific shin digs planned for a couple more weeks and I am going grocery shopping to restock my pantry and fridge tonight!

Damn we need groceries!

And on that note, until next week my MILFs in crime.... ]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190626/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190626/ Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:32:00 -0800 White Gas??? Prinea Have you heard about the newest trend in responsible energy consumption? No it's not wind turbines. Or solar panels. Or plug-in Hybrids. Nope, none of the above. It's Terror Free Oil - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/how_to_market_a.php. Seriously. No, seriously. Wipe those laughter induced tears from your eyes and sit back up in your chair. Terror Free Oil - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/how_to_market_a.php. I kid you not. First of all this ... Have you heard about the newest trend in responsible energy consumption? No it's not wind turbines. Or solar panels. Or plug-in Hybrids. Nope, none of the above. It's Terror Free Oil.

Seriously. No, seriously. Wipe those laughter induced tears from your eyes and sit back up in your chair.

Terror Free Oil.

I kid you not.

First of all this is obviously nothing more than a marketing gimmick since even the "man in charge" has admitted there is no feasible way for them to guarantee that 100% of the gas you pump from their stations will be Canadian or US produced.

Leave It To Beaver


But, beyond that. Does no one see what a bad move this is on the racial equality front? In a country still torn down the middle and plagued with discrimination - most recently by 9/11 - is this not just more fuel for the fire (horrible pun not intended).

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for supporting domestic causes and cutting down any and all US funds that might otherwise end up in the pockets of terrorists - but honestly, this is ludicrous.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
On a side note, if anyone has inside strings on the market let them know I have some ideas for their tag line and I'd be happy to negotiate a fair price.

I'm thinking something along the lines of:

"Terror Free Gas : The Whiter Global Warming."

or

"Terror Free Gas : 100% American - Mixed Here, Just Like Most of The People"]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190628/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190628/ Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:41:00 -0800 Happy Thirty-Fourth! Prinea Today, January 22, 2007 rings in the thirty fourth anniversary of Roe v. Wade and bloggers across the blogosphere are spreading the word - reproductive rights for women are non-negotiable - It's not too late for you to join in, either. If you're pro-choice give it a whirl, all that is asked for this annual blog for choice day is ... Today, January 22, 2007 rings in the thirty fourth anniversary of Roe v. Wade and bloggers across the blogosphere are spreading the word - reproductive rights for women are non-negotiable - It's not too late for you to join in, either. If you're pro-choice give it a whirl, all that is asked for this annual blog for choice day is that you tell the world why you're pro-choice!

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

I started writing this post this morning. I sat and stared, and I thought and stared, and I typed and backspaced and typed and backspaced and finally with a good long post under my belt I decided to hit save as draft instead of publish. The reason, you ask. Quite simply it didn't feel right. It didn't sound right. It didn't read right. It wasn't me.

It wasn't me because I tried to explain why I am pro-choice in a way that really has much less to do with me than it does with technicality. Sure, I have many technical supports for my stance, but what really matters. I mean what really, really matters isn't what expert or God or statistic supports my stance but what part of me supports my stance. So here it is, summed up in one little line:

Governmental laws do not belong on the bodies of my daughters, or the body of myself, or the body of any other woman in the world.

The body is a temple, or a spiritual vehicle or at the very least a finely tuned machine, a product of millions of years of evolution and it. is. personal.

Bush v Choice. Whose corner are you in?



Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190623/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190623/ Mon, 22 Jan 2007 07:05:00 -0800 Future Milf-ism Week Three Prinea Well, I'm two days late to posting, but darn it - I'm here! I did manage to weigh in on Friday so at least that was on time, and... *drumroll please* I lost 2 pounds! It's not three, but it's better than nothing, and it's certainly not a gain so... Yeah, rock on! I'm down 5 pounds overall! Now, on to more ... Well, I'm two days late to posting, but darn it - I'm here!

I did manage to weigh in on Friday so at least that was on time, and...

*drumroll please*

I lost 2 pounds!

It's not three, but it's better than nothing, and it's certainly not a gain so...

Yeah, rock on! I'm down 5 pounds overall!

Now, on to more important topics of MILF'ing. Namely, the impending success of this coming week, I just want to say in advance that I make no promises. I will be trying as hard as I possibly can and thus far I'm feeling OK about it, but not great - definitely not great. You see, this is my 'lucky' week of the month (note sarcasm) and yesterday (Saturday) was our monthly poker shindig, add the two together and you have a fool-proof recipe for lack of loss-age. We'll just have to wait and see, I guess.

On a brighter note, a brag is in order. The Knight, being such the rock star of a hubster he is, has noticed since week one the progress this MILF'ing is helping me make, and - bless his heart - has not failed to comment about how MILF-tastic I am looking a day yet! He has even said my caboose is looking much more defined these days (please feel free to read 'defined' as: much less flabby and squished together - I sure did!) .

And as always... be sure to check out the MILF blogroll in my sidebar and give props and support where props and support are due all around. I'll be making my rounds shortly!]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190651/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190651/ Sun, 21 Jan 2007 15:55:00 -0800 Dream Green Prinea You might be a redneck an environmentalist if... When your daughter creeps into your bedroom at four in the morning, clutching her ragged pink puppy under her arm, and leans down whispering gently "Mommy? Can I lay with you?" You answer "Yeah, honey that's sustainable." and scoot over, lifting the covers for her to climb in. Obviously, I dream green - which ... You might be a redneck an environmentalist if...

When your daughter creeps into your bedroom at four in the morning, clutching her ragged pink puppy under her arm, and leans down whispering gently "Mommy? Can I lay with you?" You answer "Yeah, honey that's sustainable." and scoot over, lifting the covers for her to climb in.

Obviously, I dream green - which on the bright side ought to make up for the bathroom light aforementioned daughter insists I leave on night after night, right?

]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190656/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190656/ Thu, 18 Jan 2007 07:49:00 -0800 It Sounds Like Someone Has a Case of the Mondays Prinea At this point I no longer even remember where that saying originally came from, but there is a local radio station here that plays the clip incessantly every Monday, and as much as it annoys me it also makes me laugh. So, there you have it. A few months ago The Knight's work schedule underwent a little restructuring, he now gets ... At this point I no longer even remember where that saying originally came from, but there is a local radio station here that plays the clip incessantly every Monday, and as much as it annoys me it also makes me laugh. So, there you have it.

A few months ago The Knight's work schedule underwent a little restructuring, he now gets every third Monday off, and without fail every third weekend I end up feeling like this is just a second Sunday.

Quite ironically, Saturday my "Spring" semester of classes started - and were promptly kicked off on Sunday (the real Sunday, not the second one formerly known as Monday) by a snow-slash-ice-slash-freezing-rain storm. Hello spring semester.

Coincidentally The Princess (and every other kid in the southwestern quarter of the state) was treated to a snow day today, serving of course to exacerbate my two-Sunday'ed-weekend feeling.

And, it was because of that that I have been basically MIA for the past few days. Or, like any good country girl (or boy) would tell you, that's my story - and I'm stickin' to it.

I did manage to fit a little surfing (blog surfing, people, it's f'ing COLD!) in over my long weekend though, so here, for your reading pleasure, is my official weekend round-up of e-linkage love, www good-ness, and random thought-age - take a look:

As you may have noticed, in my side bar is a graphic for the 2007 Blog for Choice Day! Melinda over at BlogHer was kind enough to remind everyone of this event's quickly approaching date and wrote up a nice little post with all the pertinent information! If you're interested in joining in, it's simple either click over to BlogHer and follow the links from there, or click on the graphic in my sidebar and sign up there. Then, on January 22, blog about it. All they're asking is that you post one entry that day telling the world why you're pro-choice.

In other news, an Of The Princess and The Pea reader was kind enough to send me an "insider" tip late last week. Karen, mentioned that another blogger had put together a Mom-Baby Indie music mix that is available for free download. Now as a mom who has more than once gotten sick of hearing La-La-La-La, La-La-La-La Elmo's World, La-La-La-La, La-La-La-La Elmo's WORLD!, or Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring - Banana Phone, ying-yang-ying-yang-ying Yanana Phone this sounds like a heaven sent present. However, because we have a super slow connection I was unable to download it to try it out myself first (after waiting five hours for part one of the mix my computer finally, at 97% complete, timed out) so please be warned I can't actually vouch for the mix itself other than to say that it sounds like a heck of a good thing. If you do download it, drop me a line - let me know how it is.

And last but certainly not at all least, if you notice some minor template changes being performed around here, never fear, I'm just easily bored and decided it was time to change things up. As I get time I'll be tweaking things here and there. Hopefully I'll manage to do so without totally jacking anything up, if you do notice something though, please don't hesitate to drop me a comment or e-mail on the matter - I love the feedback and the help in case I don't notice it myself.




]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190665/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190665/ Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:02:00 -0800 Future MILF-ism: Week Two Prinea Well, here it is the first official did-I-lose-or-did-I-gain weigh in of the future MILFs - http://mom-o-matic.blogspot.com/2006/12/future-milfs-recap.html and I am ecstatic to announce that I was wildly successful! 3 pounds down since last Friday! 27 to go! Big Hoooooooooty Hooooooo to all my MILF-y bloggers out there! I'd also like to give a big shout out and huge thanks to Oh The Joys - ... Well, here it is the first official did-I-lose-or-did-I-gain weigh in of the future MILFs and I am ecstatic to announce that I was wildly successful!

3 pounds down since last Friday! 27 to go!


Big Hoooooooooty Hooooooo to all my MILF-y bloggers out there!

I'd also like to give a big shout out and huge thanks to Oh The Joys for the salsa with celery trick, it was a staple snack this week, awesome tip (especially since I am a salsa fiend) - thanks!!!

And on last thing before you go, please be sure to check out the Future MILF blogroll there in my sidebar, and give props and support to all those awesome ladies - I know I will be!]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190664/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190664/ Fri, 12 Jan 2007 13:18:00 -0800 Because It's Good To Go? Prinea You can get your greasy-greasy-salt fix - http://www.mcdonalds.com/ through one. You can go south of the border - http://tacobell.com/ through one. You can even fill a prescription - http://www.walgreens.com/ through one. Why then did it surprise me that you could also get, not just your soda and candy bars through one but also your keg beer? Good question. - http://oftheprincessandthepea.blogspot.com - http://oftheprincessandthepea.blogspot.com - ... You can get your greasy-greasy-salt fix through one.

You can go south of the border through one.

You can even fill a prescription through one.

Why then did it surprise me that you could also get, not just your soda and candy bars through one but also your keg beer? Good question.



Jd's
Jd's JD's

We saw this little gem of a place on our way to get groceries the other day.

JD's drive-thru party store.

I've driven by this place several times weekly for the past four months and not once did I notice it was a drive-thru party store. I, of course got entirely too much of a kick out of the ridiculousness laziness irony... well lets just say I got a kick outta the place.

Hey, where else can morbidly obese frat boys get everything they need? (drive thru, keg beer, candy, and entrance in the rear - see it's like heaven!)

P.S. please take note that it is de-lurking week, so you know what that means! Leave me a little love you lurky mclurkersons (I know you're out there. Hello!? I use statcounter!)]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190621/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190621/ Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:44:00 -0800 It's Mrs. Rogers to You, Punk! Prinea It's winter. We live in the northern midwest. It's cold (today, anyway). We, in trying to be concious about our consumption, keep our thermostat on a lower temperature than most. It's no igloo in here but we do keep it at a setting that requires us to (heaven forbid it!) put on a zip up hoodie or sweater in the ... It's winter. We live in the northern midwest. It's cold (today, anyway). We, in trying to be concious about our consumption, keep our thermostat on a lower temperature than most. It's no igloo in here but we do keep it at a setting that requires us to (heaven forbid it!) put on a zip up hoodie or sweater in the house, and even wear (oh my! The horror!) slippers.

Today after picking The Princess up from school (no accidents, thank the Lord!) I came into the house and upon getting The Pea out of her coat, boots, hat, mittens and other one freakin trillion pieces of necessary winter garb sat down in the chair near the front door. There, I took of my shoes and coat, slipped on my zip-up sweat shirt and then my slippers and glanced up. In front of me stood The Princess. She was looking at me with great interest, she seemed to drink in the sight and then she exclaimed; "Mom! You're just like Mr. Rogers!"

Gee, Thanks Princess. Thanks a bunch.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190632/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190632/ Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:52:00 -0800 I Heart SUVs, My Own Mommy Ass Moment Confession Prinea Recently both Mom-O-Matic - http://mom-o-matic.blogspot.com/2007/01/open-letter-to-dooce-asshole-parent.html and Dooce - http://www.dooce.com/archives/daily/01_02_2007.html have blogged their own mommy confessions, obviously the reading of these is the equivalent of a curse in my world because after reading both last night I was able to produce a mommy ass moment of my very own today (not that I haven't had plenty of them in the past, ... Recently both Mom-O-Matic and Dooce have blogged their own mommy confessions, obviously the reading of these is the equivalent of a curse in my world because after reading both last night I was able to produce a mommy ass moment of my very own today (not that I haven't had plenty of them in the past, but still), there is no vomit cocktail involved and (luckily) no police, but still. So, without further ado, for your reading pleasure - my mommy ass moment of the day, enjoy!

First of all, I should have been aware that something was about to go wrong, after all the day had gone off without so much as a speed bump right up until that point. That point being the point at which I went to the school this afternoon to pick up The Princess.

When I went to get her, her teachers were just getting the bus-riding kids of her class lined up at their classroom door, I walked up and stood in the doorway as always and upon seeing me one of her teachers called out to The Princess, telling her she could go. She got up, walked across the classroom and greeted both The Pea and I, but when her teachers said bye she said nothing.

The kid has this weird silent treatment phase going on right now, but she's a bit confused. She doesn't do it when she's mad at someone, she just does it whenever the mood strikes. She'll purse her lips up glance sideways and refuse to speak. Why? Why? I have no fudgin' idea, why! And, as it drives me crazy. It's beyond rude.

Anyway, so I told her to say good bye and we proceed to the car where we all got in buckled up and I pulled out into the two mile per hour traffic that congests the school parking lot every afternoon. We followed in line, as we always do and as we began to drive I addressed The Princess about this silent treatment stuff.

"Princess, I think we need to talk about something."

Only silence wafted from the back seat.

"Why didn't you say good bye to Mrs A and Mrs B when they said bye to you?"

Silence.

"Princess?"

Still silence, we're still putting along at a constant two mph. At this point I turn just freakin briefly and look at her "Princess you need to..." CRUNCH!

I whip back around to find that the SUV in front of me decided to stop at that very moment.

At the very freakin moment I turned around and BOOM, straight into their hitch I crashed (well, since we were moving so slow it wasn't so much of a crash as a.... well a tap, but still.).

o.O The thoughts that crossed my mind at that moment are probably not at all appropriate for typing here.

I saw the lady in front of me get out of her vehicle. I put the car in park and followed suit.

Here is the I heart SUVs part. Since I drive a car and she a gas guzzling hog of an SUV there was no damage to her vehicle, minimal to mine and to be honest as assi-ness as I was feeling it was the furthest thing from my mind at the moment. I think I managed a whole "Is anything hurt? No? Ok, are you worried about it? No? Great! Have a nice afternoon!" and then got my embarrassed mom ass out of there.

Maybe we could move, or home school.

I really don't want to go back there tomorrow morning. UGH!

Mom ass. Ass, ass, ass.

Why didn't I wait to talk to her, say when there was no chance of slamming a hitch through my bumper? Why, oh why? Oh yes, because then, then whatever would I blog about? Yeah. Sure. That's why.


]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190654/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190654/ Mon, 08 Jan 2007 18:22:00 -0800 The End of an Era Prinea Three weeks is no where near an era, but today as those three weeks approach their close it feels eerily similar. Three weeks of Christmas break-age are coming to an end and quite contrary to how I expected to feel I am sad. Disappointed, even. Despite all of the running through the house like a herd of elephants on crack, ... Three weeks is no where near an era, but today as those three weeks approach their close it feels eerily similar. Three weeks of Christmas break-age are coming to an end and quite contrary to how I expected to feel I am sad. Disappointed, even. Despite all of the running through the house like a herd of elephants on crack, the howling like bonafide banshees, and the "Mooooommmmmmm!!!! She's playing with my (insert toy name here)!"'s I've been subjected to as of late I have really enjoyed this break.

It's far too easy to forget what it's like, I guess. It hasn't been that long since each day was spent as these days have been; with both The Princess and The Pea at home with me, yet it feels like it's been forever. I had forgotten how much fun it could be, how fun to have The Princess here with us. Here with us as we eat lunch, and read stories, and play games. I had forgotten how shadow-like The Pea can be when her favorite big girl in the whole world is around, and how damn cute she is as she does it. I don't want to forget again.

Tomorrow The Princess returns to kindergarten. She returns to bulletin boards and four kids to a table, to skipping to lunch and name tags affixed with safety pins. She returns to gym class and library, to technology and circle time. She returns to school and The Pea and I return to days spent structured around the drop-off and pick-up of her. Most of all, though, this time around. We're going to (re)turn to a countdown to summer break. Or at least to spring break, that's only a couple of months away, I can do a couple of months.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190637/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190637/ Sun, 07 Jan 2007 09:58:00 -0800 I Can Do It! Prinea The kids are finally in bed, the hubby settled onto the sofa with my awesomely-awesome warm/cool (it's hot right now) lavender neck wrap tightly hugging away the gargantuan knot in his shoulders (the same one that I was oh so unsuccessful in massaging away), and beside me lies my weekly treat - one bar of extra fine dark chocolate, 85% ... The kids are finally in bed, the hubby settled onto the sofa with my awesomely-awesome warm/cool (it's hot right now) lavender neck wrap tightly hugging away the gargantuan knot in his shoulders (the same one that I was oh so unsuccessful in massaging away), and beside me lies my weekly treat - one bar of extra fine dark chocolate, 85% cocoa, 100% heaven. Every week I buy one bar when I get groceries and every week I savor each bite of the bar until it's gone, tonight was shopping night and I was happy to replenish my chocolate stock. And, when the customary chocolate bar made it's trip from store shelf to pantry shelf (OK, OK it never stopped at the pantry but you get the idea) in a brand new ride bag I was even happier.

This week on our baby-steps journey through 2008 at IndieMom we've dedicated ourselves to taking our own bags shopping, something I've wanted to do for a long time but have never had the guts, so while I wasn't able to do it exactly as I had planned I did follow through with the challenge as best I could and was pretty darn proud and happy when all was said and done.

Earlier this week when Julie and I discussed our options for this first challenge I admitted to her that I was ridiculously nervous about this one and she confided in me the same concerns. Neither of us live in areas where the green movement has strong roots, neither have access to a Whole Foods, a Co-op, or even a Trader Joe's. No, we're resigned to shopping at your everyday normal grocery stores. I am even a bit better off because at least I have one of those pseudo-but-better-than-nothing farm markets where I can at least get affordable fresh whole foods and some specialty items. Still, for some things I do have to venture into Target (my alternative to Wally world, even though it doesn't always work) and once in a while Kroger. Needless to say, despite neither of us being too big on caring what people think of us, the first step in doing this was nerve wracking and a bit scary, we just didn't know what reactions we would get, but today I nervously, albeit proudly, moved forward with the plan.

As I gathered up the things I needed for our family trip for groceries this afternoon I was disappointed to find that while I could have sworn I had more I only own two canvas or cloths bags. Total. Now, for a quick run for some incidentals this may have done the trick, however, we live miles, I mean miles upon miles from town and for this reason do our shopping just once per week, obviously two bags were not going to get the job done. Still I loaded them up and hoped for the best.

We stopped at Target first, most of the things on my list were large and wouldn't need a bag, but there were a few items that I would need bagged, so I meekly grabbed my two canvas totes from the floor of the back seat and tossed them to The Knight, I told him the plan and with big batting eyes half-jokingly but mostly seriously said "Honey, do you want to pay for me and ask them to use them??? PLEASE! I'm nervous!"

He rolled his eyes just a bit and smiled. "I'll put them in my pocket and we'll see how it goes."

He winked. I sighed a big sigh of relief.

We went in. We shopped. We got in the checkout line, and when we got to the counter and the cashier started to ring up our purchases The Knight pulled the bags from his pocket, but didn't say anything! Naturally the cashier started plopping our boxes of cereal in his open plastic bag. I couldn't do it. I grabbed the canvas from The Knight and murmured something about plastic, Satan and Julie and flipped the top of the bag open towards the cashier. Luckily I think he was on something and thus oblivious to our now sky-rocketing level of uncomfortable-ness. He filled the bag with everything baggable and announced our total. Relief set in when we finally exited the store, and by the time I sat the bag in the trunk after crossing the packed parking lot I was oddly excited and totally incapable of wiping the silly grin that had sneaked up on my face off it. Success.

Next we went to the farm market and there I did use their paper bags, BUT I need those as we use them to house our recycling for now. (Yes I know, excuses , excuses)

And last but not least we headed for Evil-mart, damn Target for being out of Dog Food! Our canvas bags were still full from Target and we opted not to empty them into the trunk of the car, but we had bottles to take back and after removing them from the paper bags they were in and putting them into the bottle machines we folded up the bags we'd carried them inside in and put them in our cart, picked up what we needed and headed to the checkout where I requested the cashier bag our things in those rather than the plastic bags the store offers. She huffed and proceeded to hold things over the little check writing counter and wave them in my face so I could put them in the paper bags myself but oddly enough this didn't bother me. It felt... good. I didn't care that she seemed annoyed by my request or that it may have taken slightly longer for the people behind us in line, I didn't care that they all probably thought I was out of my mind, all I cared about at that point was how DAMN good it felt to be finally taking a step out of my comfort zone and doing what I have wanted to do for so long, and for that I owe all of you, those of you reading, those of you participating, those of you hesitating and being nervous as I have been. I owe all of you, because if it weren't for the accountability, if it weren't for that little tug at my guts that I felt in line at Target that first time, when The Knight said nothing and I knew I couldn't fail me again this time because it wasn't just me, if it weren't for that I can't say if I would have taken that step tonight. I owe you for the silly grin that is still plastered across my face. Thank you!
]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190622/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190622/ Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:59:00 -0800 Feast Number Two Prinea For the second week in a row, and the second time ever I would like to present you with, my Friday Feast - http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/. Appetizer Which celebrity (or celebrities) do you think will make headlines this year? I think the question is, which ones won't make headlines this year! Soup They say that good things come in small packages? What is something little that ... For the second week in a row, and the second time ever I would like to present you with, my Friday Feast.

Appetizer
Which celebrity (or celebrities) do you think will make headlines this year?

I think the question is, which ones won't make headlines this year!

Soup
They say that good things come in small packages? What is something little that you think is great?

Chocolate, although.... I do like it in larger quantities.

Salad
Name a song that makes you want to dance.

Again I think the real question here is; what song doesn't make me want to dance?

Main Course
What is your favorite font?

It depends on what I'm using it for. I've grown fond of both Courier and Trebuchet lately though.

Dessert
If you were to write a do-it-yourself article, what would it be about?

Probably something kid or home related, I'm not sure though. ]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190663/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190663/ Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:01:00 -0800 It's a Free Country, Just Not That Free Prinea Unfortunately, in a country already torn down the middle, Congressman Ellison's photo-op - http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5894109 on the house floor today, Quran under hand, only serves to widen the rift. Conservatives of all kinds have been making noise since the day he announced his intentions, after all this is a free country, it's just not that free. What interests me most about this ... Unfortunately, in a country already torn down the middle, Congressman Ellison's photo-op on the house floor today, Quran under hand, only serves to widen the rift. Conservatives of all kinds have been making noise since the day he announced his intentions, after all this is a free country, it's just not that free.

What interests me most about this whole three-ring-circus tirade are the circles conservative politicians are running around themselves, digging a hole deeper and deeper all the time. Why this interests me, I am still unsure, it's certainly not a rarity. I suppose this particular cause has 'struck a chord' somewhere inside me.

So, shall we take a snapshot of what has been happening here? We shall!

$*%t really started to hit the fan last month with the spread of Ellison's announcement; he planned to place his hand on not a Bible during his swearing in photo-op on the house floor, but his holy text of choice, the Quran.

Conservatives (Bless their souls. WAIT! Wait. Please, only bless them if you're God (as in Jesus Christ), I'd hate to think of the e-hate-mail we'd get about blasphemy otherwise) almost immediately started firing back. Highlights of that rain-shower of ammo included but certainly weren't limited to Virginian Republican Virgil Goode's letter to constituents calling for tighter immigration laws, so more Muslims like Ellison are not elected in the future, of course. Which obviously ranked right up there with the reason he gave for not using the Quran himself; he "doesn't subscribe" to it. (Soooooo, Ellison should pose with the Bible he doesn't subscribe to why?) And last but not least was when columnist David Prager joined the fun. He chimed in with his take on things writing that Ellison should not be allowed to use the Quran “because the act undermines American civilization.” (I think he meant it exposes the true uncivilized ways of America, but I can't be sure.)

Today all this debate about whether or not it should be allowed came to a halt when Ellison did indeed pose with the Quran under hand, and not just any Quran Thomas Jefferson's own copy of it complete with "TJ" inscribed inside. Of course, while debates about whether it should happen or not may have ceased this is undoubtedly not the last we'll hear about the issue. The American Family Association has already vowed to push for laws governing the usage of holy texts in such ceremonies, if they are successful only the Bible could be used in the future.

Here's what I think; Ellison, rock on! We didn't make Bush swear to be a good president on Santa (although it may have brought about a better outcome, he probably still believes) why should any believer of a faith other than Christianity be forced to take oath (or pose for the ceremonial oath picture) with a text in which he does not identify? Is it not more important that no matter the way in which the oath is taken and commemorated it be a meaningful one to the Congress man or woman involved? After all, this is the oath by which we will expect him to live his day to day life as he serves the people of this country. One can't possibly uphold something in which they do not believe. For Ellison that's the Bible, it doesn't mean he doesn't believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as our fore fathers did, it simply means he has a support system for those beliefs that is slightly varied from that of his Christian congress-counterparts.

I fail to see the 'big deal'.


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]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190662/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190662/ Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:44:00 -0800 Baby Steps to a Better World Prinea - http://indiemom.wordpress.com/y4.html Hop on over to IndieMom - http://indiemom.wordpress.com/ for our new take-action initiative Y4 - http://indiemom.wordpress.com/y4.html! We're taking babysteps to a better world all through 2008 and we'd love to have you join us! Yourself, Your Family, Your World, Your Cause.

Hop on over to IndieMom for our new take-action initiative Y4! We're taking babysteps to a better world all through 2008 and we'd love to have you join us!]]> http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190620/ http://www.minti.com/members/prinea/blog/190620/ Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:40:00 -0800 When Will They Learn? Prinea Just three days into the year and already senseless school violence - http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/03/school.shooting/index.html?eref=rss_topstories has taken the life of one of our nation's young people. When will this nation wake up? When will people start to wonder what is happening to the youth of America? When will they realize that something is going terribly wrong? When will we realize that the well-being ... Just three days into the year and already senseless school violence has taken the life of one of our nation's young people.

When will this nation wake up? When will people start to wonder what is happening to the youth of America? When will they realize that something is going terribly wrong? When will we realize that the well-being of all hinges on the well-being of one?

The educational system is failing, the systems put in place to keep parents accountable are failing, this nation is failing and few have woken up to the tragedy. Changes must be made.

This. Is. Unacceptable.

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