Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Nice plates and table manners: a recipe for a relaxing evening

I just realized the other day that we've never really used plastic plates for the kids. I wish I could say it was because we thought plastic was bad or that we're trying to raise our kids with good manners. However, neither of those are true. In my limited cabinet space, I've only had room for my everyday white porcelain plates. Albeit, I have about 20 place settings of it... all wedding gifts, of course.

At any rate, I never really did use that many plastic bowls or plates for the boys. When they were learning to feed themselves (and were stubborn about it), I did use plastic bowls. However, I've since lost all of those.

When I think about it, it does make life a lot easier when going out to eat or to someone else's home. I don't have to worry about my kids breaking the dishes. To be honest, I've broken more plates and bowls than they have. Yes, I am clumsy!

So, in the grand scheme of things, it turned out ok that I didn't have tons of plastic plates and bowls. If I had more than just two kids, I might be saying something else. However, this is where I am right now, and I love that my family can use nice plates every night for dinner.

We're also working on dinnertime manners. Just the other night, my Hubby sat down and told the boys that we were going to have a peaceful dinner. To me, it seemed like a tall order. Regus #2 attempted to protest, as he did not take a very good nap and was grumpy. After a few minutes of self-pitty and pouting, Regus #2 conceded.  Then, we all enjoyed a lovely, relaxing dinner. It so nice to see that manners can make the dinnertime process so much more relaxing. The boys are learning to ask for permission to leave the table. This helps in SO many areas: (1) we enjoy our entire meal together; (2) the fussing is now at a minimum; (3) it helps with clearing the table as they must put their plate in the sink; and (4) our out-to-eat adventures are not so stressful because the understand the rules.

What dinnertime habits do you have that make it a more relaxing time?

Friday, March 25, 2011

Foodie Friday: Quinoa

Let's be honest, I'm really not that adventurous when it comes to trying new things — especially when it comes to food. There, I said it! My hubby is the adventurous eater of our family.

When I first met my Hubby, I was a ranch dressing kind of girl. And by that, I mean, give me a little salad with my dressing. After some encouragement from him, I started breaking out of it. I always hated vinagrettes because I told myself I didn't like vinegar. I still don't like the smell of it, but it does some amazing things to foods! Where am I going with this, you ask.

If I must, I will go on. In October 2009, I heard about a grain called Quinoa. Supposedly, it's the most well-balance grain with tons of protein per serving. Plus, it's really easy to digest and is huge on the gluten-free scene. Well, I'm certainly not gluten-free, but it did sound interesting. And that's as far as my curiosity went. Then, over Thanksgiving, I met some of my husband's relatives that were visiting from Tennessee. I was fascinated by all the things they made from scratch. I was just starting my whole foods journey and was full of questions. His aunt made a Greek Quinoa salad. I love a good greek salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, herbs, and olive oil/lemon juice dressing... yummy!), so I gave it a try... without my Hubby's prompting. Big step for me! Oh.My.Goodness! It was outstanding. I love those foods that make you feel refreshed and not weighed down. It was so good! She suggested, as I've read elswhere online, that you need to rinse the quinoa well before cooking it. This process removes some of the bitter taste it can have.

You can find Quinoa one of several sections of your store: gluten-free section, grain section (near couscous), or with the flours. It's not the cheapest of grains, unless you find a way to buy it in bulk. If you are in the Raleigh area, I would suggest you stop by the Grain Mill of Wake Forest. They have it for the cheapest I've seen it, without having to buy it in bulk. They are small family owned shop with all sorts of whole-foods goodness. I believe you can shop online, too.



At any rate, I've had a blast finding new ways to use quinoa in my cooking. I've made the classic greek quinoa salad, a quinoa pudding (good for breakfast, too), and a crockpot recipe with chicken (I bit like a stew but very yummy).

My favorite this week has been a variation of this Quinoa Apple Raisin Almond Salad.

I love to make a batch of quinoa (1 cup uncooked = 3-4 cups cooked) and let it cool in the fridge. Throughout the week, I'll use the quinoa for a lunch serving (1/2 cup cooked) or a snack (1/4 cup cooked) and add in my ingredients and toss with a homemade dressing.

Here's my lunch from yesterday: my version of the Quinoa Apple (no Raisin) Almond Salad. This picture is before I added the dressing and mixed. To change up the recipe a bit more, I added some green onions to add a bite to the salad. I also like to add flat-leaf parsley or cilantro (didn't add it in this one, though). The green onion or herbs add a light-fresh flavor to the salad.



Ingredients (for single serving)
Salad:
1/2 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
1/4 cup crisp apple (I like to use Fuji or Pink Lady), cubed into 1/4" pieces
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1-2 Tbsp green onion, sliced

Dressing:
1/2 tsp raw honey
1-2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1-2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Pinch of salt

Directions
Combine salad ingredients into bowl. In small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients until honey is thoroughly dissolved. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Enjoy!


My measurements are still a bit general. Add more honey or olive oil/lemon juice depending on how sweet you want it. I don't like it really sweet, so I don't use that much honey. If you use regular honey, that will be more sweet than raw honey. The point is, just play with the measurements to figure out what you like best.

I have to make my salads in individual portions. Otherwise, I will eat WAY too much. Albeit, this salad is very good for you, so eating a little extra won't be an issue... but I don't trust myself.

After making this, I realized this could be considered a Vegan dish, too. I'm definitely a meat lover, but I thought I'd mention that too.

Almost forgot, I love making an asian-style quinoa salad, too. Here's the basic idea: Quinoa, fresh broccoli florets, carrots, cooled cooked chicken, green onions, and your favorite asian-style dressing. Right now, I like Annie's Shitake Mushroom dressing.

Have you had Quinoa before? Do you have a favorite recipe? I'd love to hear about it.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Dealing with oily skin: Can oil cleansing really work?

I've had oily skin since high school and have been battling crazy acne, especially during both pregnancies. There are so many products on the market that treat acne; and I think I've tried most of them. Yes, I have to admit that I love the feeling of an oil-free face. There's nothing quite like putting on a mud mask and feeling the oils being drawn out of my skin. However, this relief was so very short-lived. By morning, the oil would be back. I would be counting the days until the next time I could apply the mask again. It seemed like this was a cycle. My face was just so oily ALL during the day.

I did start using some cream cleansers, and the production of oil did seem to drop. However, the acne was still there.

I heard about oil cleansing a little over a year ago on another blog (can't remember which now), and it sounded interesting. Oil could actually balance my skin? I mean, I know that I had a ton of oil on my face; and I had a feeling that the soaps, cleansers, and acne treatments could be part of the problem.

Then, enter Stephanie's vlog on oil cleansing. I was desperate to try anything. With oil cleansing, it's not just any oil. It's castor oil and either olive oil or sunflower oil. I chose sunflower oil. Now, for the perfectionist in me, finding the right mixture was a bit daunting. Stephanie links to a few other sources that give information about proportions of castor oil to olive oil, based on skin type. For my skin, I need mostly castor oil.

It's been just under a year, and I am still loving the oil cleansing method. I am no longer stripping my skin of ALL oils. Instead, I'm only taking out the bad oils and dirt that cause acne. When I finish cleansing my skin, it feels very soft. It doesn't feel too dry or too oily.

It feels so good to put something on my skin that doesn't have crazy chemicals and is SO cost effective. The cost savings is so awesome!! I've used the same large bottle of sunflower oil (about $12 for organic) for 10 months and still have so much left. I've only gone through two small-to-medium bottle of castor oil (average of $3 each). So that's less than $20 for facial cleansing for a year!

There are times when I don't think I have time to oil cleanse every night, and I'll use a gentle cleanser. Even then, I can feel the soap stripping my skin of oil. My skin gets so dry that I need to put straight sunflower oil on it. *Gasp* I never thought I'd ever need to add oil to my skin. So cool!

My monthly visits are no longer riddled with huge acne breakouts. The only physical sign now is that I might see an extra white head start forming. All I do is massage that part of my face with my oil cleanser a little more.

All in all, the overall complexion of my skin has improved; and I've seen a dramatic decrease of oil on my face. I just found out  from Simple Mom that adding a drop or two of tea tree oil can act as an antiseptic and will help even more. I'm trying that now to see if that blocks all breakouts. So far, it has been tackling the less-frequent blemishes with a knock-out punch. I really didn't think it would make a big difference, but it has. I don't use this new version (with tea tree oil) to remove eye makeup because I'm nervous about the tea tree oil. Instead, I just use the sunflower oil to dissolve the eye makeup — which is does so effortlessly.

Here's my concoction (for my very oily skin)...
You have to understand that it is a HUGE accomplishment for me to "eyeball" any measurements. I'm loving that I'm free enough to be OK that it's not exact!!
  • Small clear cosmetic bottle (found them in the travel section of Target for under $3 for a three pack)
  • Fill just over 1/2 bottle with castor oil
  • Fill 1/4 of bottle with sunflower oil
  • Leave remaining part of bottle empty to allow for mixing
Before each use, I shake it up and pour a quarter-size amount into my hand and gently rub into my skin — focusing on my problem spots (forehead, nose, and chin). Gently steam with a hot (not scalding), wet wash cloth. I'll steam twice and wipe off excess oil. I only have to do this in the evenings.

This winter, I found that I needed to add a little more sunflower oil; so I just added it after I put my mixture into my hand. That way, I don't have to make a separate batch.

My profile picture was taken at the end of the day with most of my makeup worn off. To even be OK with taking a picture with little make up is a HUGE deal for me!! It's so nice that my skin is not full of acne.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Happy Anniversary Eve!

It has been almost 9 years since Hubby and I exchanged vows. It has been an exciting adventure so far. I hope I don't embarrass Hubby with this post, so I'll try to keep the super-mushy stuff to just a once-a-year occurrence on the blog.

Since it's been 9 years, I'd like to share 9 things (of the many) that my Hubby has taught me about love and life (in no particular order). Here it goes...
  1. It's OK to just be... I'm still not too good at this one.
  2. It's very helpful (if not crucial) to the success of one's marriage to have the same, favorite NFL team. Go Cowboys!!
  3. Being "right" is not the most important thing about a discussion.
  4. We don't need stuff NOW! There's nothing wrong with researching and saving.
  5. It's OK if something doesn't go according to plan. Just pick yourself up and try again.
  6. Breakfast really is the best meal of the day.
  7. God is big enough to handle anything.
  8. Baseball can be tolerable... only if I'm sitting next to my Hubby. 
  9. Love is most beautiful when you can love without the expectation of a response.
My Hubby has never tried to change me or my schedule-loving ways. Through example, he has given me balance. To ever have complete balance is not a realistic goal. Instead, it is an ever-changing concept. To my Hubby... Happy Anniversary Eve!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Foodie Friday: Large Roast. Many Meals.

I must start with saying how much of a blessing everyone has been so far. Starting this blog has been a journey for me, and I want to thank this amazing community of friends for your support.

Now, on to Foodie Friday... 

Just as in my post The Whole Chicken, I've really started taking another look at larger cuts of meat (larger than you will eat in one meal), whether pork or beef (or turkey). Often, these roasts are on sale for great prices, especially around holidays.

In the past, I have avoided buying these roasts because I knew there was NO way my little family would eat all that food. We can only have roast beef so many days in a row before it gets mundane. Enter freezer cooking. No, the freezer is not cooking anything (I can hear my family's jokes now). It is cooking to freeze and use later. My husband is not a fan of leftovers but this method is not actually leftovers. It's like re-purposing food, and (if you can't tell) I love to re-purpose stuff!

Make 1 roast. Serve 4 different meals. So easy!

For example, I'll buy an 8-pound pork loin roast and get at least 4 meals out of it... and the meals won't all be consumed in the same week, thankfully. When my boys get to be teenagers, they'll probably eat all of it by themselves. However, this is where I am today. Back to the topic... I found a great rub and recipe for the roast, using fresh rosemary. There is such a huge difference between fresh and dried rosemary. I must say "thank you" to my mom for letting me have her rosemary bush! The recipe does say you can use dried, so I might suggest lightly crushing the dried rosemary — so it's not so tough.

Note: This is also a great way to portion-control your meals — for dietary or monetary reasons.

 This roast is only 2.5 LBS, but I am using this as an example. No 8LB'er roasts on sale this week, ugh! Just the small ones. For the sake of this post, these are fairly small portions.

Pictured above, I have cut the roast into three different meals.

Now, the roast is packaged and ready to serve or freeze. Meal #1 (top, left) can be put in oven to keep warm until dinnertime. Meals #2 (bottom) and #3 (top, right) are ready to be frozen. I have labeled each packet with the date roasted and the next meal.

Meal #1 (to be eaten day of): Carve off 1/3 inch slices for each person and make gravy.

Also prep the meat for meals 2,3, and 4 (not pictured). Freeze in separate foil pouches and store pouches in sealed freezer bag or container. There should be 3 pouches all together. For me, it works best to label in which meal they will be use, along with today's date.

Meal #2: BBQ sandwiches. Day before, put foil pouch in refrigerator to start defrosting. On morning of, empty packet contents into crockpot along with favorite BBQ sauce. Cook on "low" setting for 6-8 hours. Just before dinner time, break apart meat with a fork to shred and serve on toasted buns. 

Meal #3: Cuban sandwiches. I've only discovered these in the past 10 years. My husband's family is part Cuban, so it's a favorite in his family. After cooking the roast, I thinly slice a portion of the roast. It can be tough to make these sandwiches because it calls for roasted pork and deli ham. I don't know about you, but I don't always have roasted pork available. I've found that it is easiest to make the large roast and save some for sandwiches later in the month. Here's my basic recipe. I don't have too many measurements, so please be kind. Around lunchtime, I just put the entire frozen foil packet into a 300-degree oven for several hours. By the time I am ready to start assembling the sandwiches, my pork roast is ready. It makes for an easy dinner.

The following is my husbands favorite way to make the Cuban Sandwich. I've found another great recipe, which looks to be very similar. 

The Cuban Sandwich
Ingredients

Equal portions of roasted pork and deli-sliced ham
Cuban bread loaf (looks a lot like french bread but has a thin, cracker-like crust)
Swiss cheese
Yellow mustard
Mayo (optional. I'm not a big fan of it in this sandwich)
Dill pickle slices
2 Tbsp butter
1 Garlic clove, thinly sliced

Directions
  1. Melt butter and garlic clove in small saucepan. Yummy... garlic.butter.
  2. Preheat sandiwch press. I don't have one, so I just use two skillets and press together. Heat one skillet on medium heat.
  3. Cut cuban bread into sections (about 3-4 sandwiches per large loaf) and slice in half lengthwise.
  4. Layer on bottom half: roasted pork, ham, swiss cheese, and dill pickles. Spread mustard along inside top of bread.
  5. Close sandwich and brush entire outside of sandwich with melted garlic butter.
  6. Place in sandwich press. Again, if using skillet, place in preheated skillet and press other skillet on top. They key is to flatten the sandwich as much as possible. For skillet cooking, flip after cooking a few minutes and press on the other side.
  7. Remove from skillet or sandwich press and cool for 2 minutes. Slice diagonally and serve warm.
Next week, I'm going to make these sandwiches but on individual kaiser rolls. When toasted in the oven, they have the same crackery crust as cuban bread. We'll see how well this works. 

Meal #4 (not pictured): This can be a similar variation to Meal #1 by using the leftover, frozen meat and gravy.

I'm sure there are many more meals you can prepare with the pork roast. The point is to think about freezing the leftovers in portioned packets for easy meal prep. Meals like this are great for the nights that I teach dance. I can have dinner in the oven for hubby and the boys and feel good about giving them a warm meal, even if I'm not there. It would also work great if you are planning to out during the afternoon. You can put the packet in the oven on a low temperature and come home to warm food in the oven.

Happy Friday!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Spring time sewing ideas

I don't know if it is the fact that I dropped off my sewing machine for a cleaning or the fresh air we've been getting this week, but I am so anxious to get started on all the sewing projects that are swirling around in my head.

Here are a few of the fabrics calling to me:



Getting back into sewing has truly been one of those "Almost on Purpose" moments. My Mom patiently taught me the basics (reading patterns, cutting out fabric, and basic sewing) when I was a teenager, but I never really enjoyed it as much as she did.

Fast forward fifteen years... I started getting back into sewing because a friend was holding beginner sewing workshops. I fell back into sewing so easily. It was relaxing. Gone were the teenage nerves and desperation for perfection. It was replaced with the thrill of the journey and the joy of creating something out of almost nothing. It is in these moments that I'm thankful that my Mom persevered through my whining to teach me to sew.

So for spring, I want to make several more tea towel aprons as gifts. These were so much fun to make for Christmas gifts. I found the red and white tea towel (pictured above) at Target for $2, and it has been beckoning me to make an apron out of it. Plus, I found some lovely neutral fabrics to make more diaper wallets for baby gifts or clutches for fun.

Here's one of the tea towel aprons I made this Christmas:



Adding sewing to my list of hobbies has been interesting with two little boys. So far, they've enjoyed watching me sew. Duh, it has lots of moving parts. I just have to give them scrap fabric to cut because they have been known to "help" me cut out a pattern... albeit, Regus #2 cutting skills are still developing. Insert deep breath here. I do most of my work at night, but I end up doing some during the day. Hence, the need to keep them "involved" but not "contributing." As I find out what works (and subsequently what doesn't), I'll pass along any tips for keeping them occupied.

Not having my sewing machine right now is probably a blessing because I have so many other things going on right now. However, I love how sewing gets my mind off the other stresses. For now, my sewing projects will have to wait.

What hobbies have you picked up that you are surprised to enjoy?

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Memory Game. An Update.

In my first blog post, I mentioned how I've used the Original Memory® Game as an educational game. This game has been through a lot in our house and continues to provide endless learning opportunities. You may or may not remember the latest idea I wanted to try: use the cards to teach categories. Well, there's a little update.


What you need

For this game, we only use one of each pair. I knew there was a reason why I kept all the cards that have lost its pair. At any rate, before calling the boys over, I set aside various categories from the cards: food, bugs, animals, things that fly, things with wheels. Plus, I add one item to each group that does not belong in the category.



How to play
  1. Set out the cards for the category, plus the card that does not belong. Start with something more simple, like "foods."
  2. Talk to your child about what items are there. Here, you can be overly obvious. You can talk about the colors, the sizes what they are. 
  3. Initially, you may have to coach them through. Ask, "Can we eat some of these?" They will likely say, "YES!!!" Then, point to each one and ask if that item can be eaten. I promise you, they will laugh when you get to the obviously wrong one. I asked, "Can you eat an airplane?" After the giggles subsided, they shook their heads, "No, Mommy. That's silly!! You can't eat airplanes." Follow up with, "Does this belong with the other foods?" You will help them say, "No."
  4. Quickly move on to the next one. This is why I suggest having all your categories ready. It keeps their attention.
The boys, specifically Regus #1, really love this. He has even chimed in on creating his own categories, as well. It's so much fun to see their little brains getting a workout. Plus, they think I'm pretty funny when I ask if you can "eat" an airplane.  See, I'm not always so serious.

I've found that the Original Memory® Game is the most versatile, as they are not movie related. I've heard that some of the movie versions are actually hard because there are only slight variations between the different pairs. That sounds cool, but I like that I can get so much more value out of the original version by sorting by color and category. I really shouldn't slam another version until I try it. Well, I guess that means I'll be on the lookout for a clearance-priced Memory® game.

What other ways do you like to teach categories?

Monday, March 7, 2011

Card games are everywhere

I love how card games provide an opportunity to promote good sportsmanship skills and healthy competition. Someone wins and someone loses. As a parent, it's my job to help my kids navigate those feelings of winning and losing — hopefully inspiring them to continue to work hard to win again the next time they play.

Earlier, I posted a kids' version of the UNO game — using regular UNO cards. Well, this has been a HUGE hit in our house. The boys love playing several rounds of this a day. Hubby (the math wiz of the house) came up with an awesome way to use the cards to teach number placement. Alas, I'll save that for another post... let the anticipation begin! At any rate, my boys (geniuses, really... I'm only slightly biased) found away to apply the concept of the UNO game (matching color and number) to the Candy Land game, which is another favorite.



What you need
  • Candy Land cards (Picture cards optional. They can be used as a "wild" card, if the children can understand that concept).
  • Space on the floor or on a table.
  • 2-4 players.
How to play
  • Deal 5 or 7 cards to each player. Have each player line up cards in front of themselves. Use 5 cards for a shorter game.
  • Place remaining cards in center and flip over the top card into the discard pile (like UNO).
  • The first player must match the number of squares or the color on the top card.
  • The next player does the same.
  • If a player can not match the number, he or she must draw a card from the center pile. If that card matches the discard pile, then he or she may play the card. If not, the play goes to the next person.
  • When a player has one card left, he or she must shout, "CANDY LAND!" This was the boys' idea. Hubby suggested that they say, "UNO;" but Regus #2 was adamant that they say, "CANDY LAND!"I love it!
  • The player that uses up all his or her cards wins! This will last longer than you might expect.
Encourage the other players to congratulate the winner. Here, it's usually High 5's all around the table. The winner should reassure the other players that they will eventually win, too.  It's so rewarding to see my boys cheering for each other. I pray that we can continue this, as they mature.


What card games do your kids like to play?

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Learning to count and learning to slow down

When I first started teaching colors, numbers, and letters to Regus #1, he was about 2 1/2 (and Regus #2 was around 6 months). Teaching concepts to a toddler and having a newborn was initially daunting for me. Then, I thought about other friends and family that had many more kids than I did, and they clearly figured out how to do teach their toddlers with a baby in tow. I don't know that I figured it out, but I just made do.

Initially, I tried teaching him about numbers and pairs and colors (the basics) at the kitchen table. If you were paying attention, you're probably laughing now... trying to get a 2 1/2 year old boy to sit still at the kitchen table is pretty hilarious. I just couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong... he just didn't care to learn. Was there something wrong with him? Was there something wrong with me? Yes, it was a downward spiral. It's laughable now, but I was distraught then. After some searching, I found a great online curriculum: Brightly Beaming Resources. This site was put together by another mom. She has shared some basic curriculum for teaching children of all ages (from babies to elementary ages). From reading over her ideas, I found that I was trying to cram in too much information each day. Instead, I starting covering a few concepts (one letter, one color, one new word) a week at a time. Plus, I ditched the table as our place of learning. Now, I was using toys, books, and household items to teach him. One of her tips is to have a "learning board" that covers everything you cover that week. I used a cork board, and it was (and still is) his favorite part. When we finished something, he was eager to post it on the board. Then, when Daddy came home, he would pull him over to his board to show what he learned that day. He was really having fun! And I was no longer pulling out my hair.

It was at this point that he was really struggling with counting. I couldn't get him to go past the number two. Uh, oh... time to get frustrated again. Not this time. The search began for something or some way to teach him.

He loves to be moving. Can I use this movement to help him?



After scouring through his toys, I found these toy screws. As you can see, I stood them up on the screw head. Next, I asked him to say a number, as he was knocking each one down: one, two, three. After demonstrating, he tried it; and he said, "One, Two, THREE!!" I think I cheered for several minutes. He did it!! Normally, I would rush to the next number. Instead, we stayed on the number 3 for a whole week. Everywhere, we found sets of 3 things and counted them. At the grocery store, let's find 3 apples. In the kitchen, let's find 3 spoons. Outside, let's find 3 pine cones. He was having a blast, and I was honored to watch him love to learn.

At 5 years old, he's now counting to 100. His favorite thing to do right now is reading the house numbers on mail boxes. If we've been to your house, he knows your house number... so funny!

I must give recognition to a friend for helping me get him to 100. We both had the 1-100 number chart, but I could never keep him focused. She suggested using a flashlight to point to each number, as he says it.

Boy + dimly lit room + flash light = A winning combination

It worked like a charm to keep him interested. Thanks, Stephanie!!

I'm learning to embrace the constant motion that defines boys. Don't push it aside or try to stop it. Use it to fuel their love to learn. They really do love to learn!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Date Night: Almost On Purpose Style

As a stay-at-home mom with two boys and a plan to get out of debt, "date nights" seem to be a little too rare these days. This Saturday, hubby and I unexpectedly found ourselves without the boys. The boys wanted to play with their cousin, and we were shoo'ed out of the house for a couple of hours. Um... what are we supposed to do now?

At first, we wanted our impromptu date night to be filled with errands that we normally can't do with the boys. That didn't seem to work, since we've been working on taking the boys with us everywhere (in an attempt to make them act civilized in public). Next, we went into "Where do you want to go?" "I don't know. You decide" mode. Clearly, we were getting nowhere... FAST!!! You'd think that in striving to be organized, I'd at least keep a running list of all the places we'd want to go in town. Nope! I'm not nearly that prepared for life. So... the flip-flopping continued. We decided we'd at least start driving somewhere.

Where did we end up? None other than Starbucks. Ah, yes... when you run out of ideas, surely there is a Starbucks nearby. Hubby recently got his Starbucks Gold card and was eager to use it. OK, coffee in tow... what now? Since we didn't know what to do, we decided to take a leisurely stroll around the shopping center. Ah... that's more like it. We just needed a chance to walk without chasing down our boys or try to find them lurking in the garment racks. It was nice. to. relax.

Next, we headed over to a department store and dared each other to try on at least one outfit that we would not normally select for ourselves. We had a blast! I even got hubby to try on a purple pinstriped shirt. He looked AWESOME! He was surprised that it looked nice. I even ended up getting a cute shirt out of the deal... sweet! It did take some coaxing on hubby's part.

We stopped by a few more stores and gawked at the 80s clothes on the racks being touted as the "latest fashions," and then decided to find something for dinner. Hmmm.... what to eat? We decided on a little Greek restaurant we've been wanting to try because we wanted something different. It was great to have a conversation with my hubby that didn't revolve around dinosaurs and light sabers. We talked about our hopes and dreams. It was wonderful. I was smiling like we were on one of our first dates. When we were first dating, we always smiled so much that our cheeks hurt. Yes, we were that cheesy couple. I'll have to save our story for another post.

After dinner, we took our time getting back to pick up our youngest son. It was a beautiful evening, and it was all unplanned. For me, that was a feat in itself. We realized that we do need to carve out small moments of time to be with one another. Normally, we only see each other after we've put the boys to bed and have crashed on the couch in front of the TV — clearly not the best place for developing great conversations. No one said a marriage was easy, but it is so worth it! I'll take a date night any way I can get it... even if it wasn't at all on purpose.