And I want to start a blog that follows Rachel Ray's 30 Minute Meals.
The premise: start cooking her recipes and then as soon as 30 minutes is up, BAM! Put that food on a plate and let's see how much got done.
I will probably save time by saying EVOO and probably lose time by trying to pile 1400 spices, condiments, and kitchen tools in my arms at once instead of making two trips.
I can't tell you how many time I have shouted at my TV with the same passion as my husband watching Monday Night Football, "JUST TAKE TWO TRIPS! TAKE...TWO...TRIIIIPS!!!" ::faint from anger/confusion::
That show should be called, "Middle Aged Women Who Sounds Like an 80 Year Old Smoker Who Piles Too Many Things in Her Troll Arms."
That has a nice ring to it, right?
I actually love her cook books, I've made tons of very sucessful meals at her suggestion, but never in 30 minutes.
The moral of this story is not to let me watch movies based on bloggers' true stories because I will want to make money, money, money blogging random things but won't be able to follow through because I am tired, tired, tired.
Yumm-o,
KelStar
1.18.2010
1.11.2010
Quarter of a Century
That's how old I'll be this week. Twenty-freaking-five.
I'm not depressed about getting older, age ain't nothin' but a number, but I am a little freaked out that I have no real desire to celebrate. That's weird, right?
I am planning on going to Epcot with Jared becuase I get my birthday off at work and my birthday day also is date night, so I am VERY, VERY, VERY excited to hang out with Jared all day like we did back in the day, and we are planning on going to Kobe's for dinner, which should be deicious, and then I'm meeting up with my friends so they can all sit around and tell me how with each passing birthday they love me more and more and I'll sit there modestly accepting their praise...but still. I just feel so lackluster this year I don't know what to make of it.
You know what it is? It just hit me as I was typing: A whole day with Jared sounds like bliss...but I am going to miss the kids.
See? LAME! LAME! LAME!! I would be without the kids anyway on date night as we do them on Friday nights. I go straight home from work and Jared and start our evening from there, so I see them bright and early the next morning.
Maybe I can have it both ways, it's my birthday, am I right? Yeah. Of course I am. I rock on my birthday.
I can keep the kids late in the morning bc we don't all have to get up so I can go to work, and I can have a nice, leisurely breakfast with them, and then we can go to the park and play around and run and jump and hug and swing, and then I can bring them to my mom's house after I've had my fun with them :)
Ahhhh, blogging IS theraputic and useful!
And now, I am really looking forward to all of my favorite things packed into one day! Kids, Jared, Disney, sushi, friends and family.
Looks like I'm going to get to have my birthday cake and eat it too :)
Sigining off,
Kelasauras Sen
(get it...cause I'm a dinosaur bc I'm old, and Sen means old in latin... Ugh. Nevermind.)
I'm not depressed about getting older, age ain't nothin' but a number, but I am a little freaked out that I have no real desire to celebrate. That's weird, right?
I am planning on going to Epcot with Jared becuase I get my birthday off at work and my birthday day also is date night, so I am VERY, VERY, VERY excited to hang out with Jared all day like we did back in the day, and we are planning on going to Kobe's for dinner, which should be deicious, and then I'm meeting up with my friends so they can all sit around and tell me how with each passing birthday they love me more and more and I'll sit there modestly accepting their praise...but still. I just feel so lackluster this year I don't know what to make of it.
You know what it is? It just hit me as I was typing: A whole day with Jared sounds like bliss...but I am going to miss the kids.
See? LAME! LAME! LAME!! I would be without the kids anyway on date night as we do them on Friday nights. I go straight home from work and Jared and start our evening from there, so I see them bright and early the next morning.
Maybe I can have it both ways, it's my birthday, am I right? Yeah. Of course I am. I rock on my birthday.
I can keep the kids late in the morning bc we don't all have to get up so I can go to work, and I can have a nice, leisurely breakfast with them, and then we can go to the park and play around and run and jump and hug and swing, and then I can bring them to my mom's house after I've had my fun with them :)
Ahhhh, blogging IS theraputic and useful!
And now, I am really looking forward to all of my favorite things packed into one day! Kids, Jared, Disney, sushi, friends and family.
Looks like I'm going to get to have my birthday cake and eat it too :)
Sigining off,
Kelasauras Sen
(get it...cause I'm a dinosaur bc I'm old, and Sen means old in latin... Ugh. Nevermind.)
1.09.2010
After months of dragging Dylan all around Florida for assessments, tests, intakes, and evaluations, we finally have been assigned a speech therapist that will come to my mom's house (where the kids stay while I slave away at my full time job) twice a week to help Dylan beat the boss level in verbal communication.
The best part is that WE LOVE THE THERAPIST. She didn't ignore Dylan, or seem disinterested in him as a person, or vomit up factoids about his disorder, but came in, talked with Dylan and sat on the floor with him while she showed him how to use a couple of toys and even let Lylli join in the fun.
Even more importantly, Dylan clearly liked her. He sat his bear butt right next to her and watched her show him what to do.
I stayed up Wednesday terrified that they wouldn't approve his therapy. I was completely scared to death they would tell me that we would get a therapist when he turned three, but instead of my worst fears being confirmed, God sent us this angel. I know this is insane sounding, but I already know that she is going to be a vital force in helping Dylan. My mom and I agreed that she just seem to radiate good vibes - I wanted to hug her as soon as she walked in. I hope I'm making her Christmas cookies next year thanking her for all of her hard work with Dylan!
The day after we met our speech therapist, I got a call that they had also approved him for early intervention therapy once a week, also at my mother's house. I calmly took the phone call and told my service coorindator how much I appreciated these therapy sessions and how I excited I was to move forward, hung up the phone, and squeeled in my office like a little kid! I laughed, I cried, I whispered, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you," to God and called Jared barely able to contain my excitement.
Therapy. Finally. :)
I have a couple of appointments that I have to take care of before he turns three, and I'm already annoyed by that, but at least I have the stuff that matters out of the way.
It's exhausting to be a parent. Sheesh :)
Today Jared made his delicious signature blueberry pancakes again. They were so good I honestly swooned when I took the first bite. Seriously one of the best things I've ever eaten.
We spent the rest of the morning fantasizing about owning a pancake shop where we serve nothing but these bomb pancakes. All we do is pancakes. Best pancakes ever. And coffee. (of course.)
Who knows, one day we may own a pancake shop where I serve gourmet coffee and we sponser community events and we open at 4am the day after Thanksgiving and give free yummy coffee to all of the early shoppers thus cementing ourselve's as a family owned landmark in the greater Brandon area.
Yeah...we talked about it for a while :) There would also be wi-fi and and I would read children books to a group of kids twice a week.
Ahhh, maybe one day. For now, I'll take us both having steady, good jobs in this beautiful economic climate and free speech/intervention therapy courtesy of the United States government.
I'm going to drink my bottled water and toast the internet readers to fantasy pancake shops and real world angels in the form of therapist. ::Clink!::
-Kel
The best part is that WE LOVE THE THERAPIST. She didn't ignore Dylan, or seem disinterested in him as a person, or vomit up factoids about his disorder, but came in, talked with Dylan and sat on the floor with him while she showed him how to use a couple of toys and even let Lylli join in the fun.
Even more importantly, Dylan clearly liked her. He sat his bear butt right next to her and watched her show him what to do.
I stayed up Wednesday terrified that they wouldn't approve his therapy. I was completely scared to death they would tell me that we would get a therapist when he turned three, but instead of my worst fears being confirmed, God sent us this angel. I know this is insane sounding, but I already know that she is going to be a vital force in helping Dylan. My mom and I agreed that she just seem to radiate good vibes - I wanted to hug her as soon as she walked in. I hope I'm making her Christmas cookies next year thanking her for all of her hard work with Dylan!
The day after we met our speech therapist, I got a call that they had also approved him for early intervention therapy once a week, also at my mother's house. I calmly took the phone call and told my service coorindator how much I appreciated these therapy sessions and how I excited I was to move forward, hung up the phone, and squeeled in my office like a little kid! I laughed, I cried, I whispered, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you," to God and called Jared barely able to contain my excitement.
Therapy. Finally. :)
I have a couple of appointments that I have to take care of before he turns three, and I'm already annoyed by that, but at least I have the stuff that matters out of the way.
It's exhausting to be a parent. Sheesh :)
Today Jared made his delicious signature blueberry pancakes again. They were so good I honestly swooned when I took the first bite. Seriously one of the best things I've ever eaten.
We spent the rest of the morning fantasizing about owning a pancake shop where we serve nothing but these bomb pancakes. All we do is pancakes. Best pancakes ever. And coffee. (of course.)
Who knows, one day we may own a pancake shop where I serve gourmet coffee and we sponser community events and we open at 4am the day after Thanksgiving and give free yummy coffee to all of the early shoppers thus cementing ourselve's as a family owned landmark in the greater Brandon area.
Yeah...we talked about it for a while :) There would also be wi-fi and and I would read children books to a group of kids twice a week.
Ahhh, maybe one day. For now, I'll take us both having steady, good jobs in this beautiful economic climate and free speech/intervention therapy courtesy of the United States government.
I'm going to drink my bottled water and toast the internet readers to fantasy pancake shops and real world angels in the form of therapist. ::Clink!::
-Kel
1.05.2010
Resolutions. I've been keeping them.
Starting with my blog, yo.
Tonight's successes include coloring with both kids at the same time with no one choking on Crayola products, and making the time to update my blog of these successess.
Baby steps.
The big news in our life this week is that Dylan starts his speech/early intervention therapy on Thursday. I am thrilled to have finally Rambo'd our way through all of the red tape to actually get a therapist, and I can't wait to give Dylan more of the tools that will help him grow, but I really don't know what to expect which makes me a little nervous.
His therapist seemed great on the phone and I have heard really good things, so here's hoping she and Dylan are a good team.
In unrelated news, Lylli said "guitar!" today while Jared jammed for both of them and danced her little uncoordinated heart out.
We also had this exchange after I drew a picture of what I thought was a perfectly decent looking puppy:
Me: Look Lyl! What did Mommy draw?
Lylli: (dryly, not a hint of interest) Picture.
Me: That's right! And what is the picture of?
Lylli: (clearly disgusted) A baby?
Me: That's not a baby! What did Mommy draw?
Lylli: (Withdrawn. Dissapointed with her mother's artistic ability.) A puppy. (Long pause. Deep sigh.) A puppy,
Me: Well...I thought it was a pretty good puppy.
Lylli: (Stares in the distance as she places stickers over the puppy's face.)
Me: I'm just goingto clean up now....
When you can't impress a one year old, it's time to admit that you suck at drawing puppies.
I thought my flowers were pretty good though! Better than what her barely capable little hands were drawing. And she had the audicity to call what she drew "circles?" She only mastered HOLDING the crayon about a month ago! Who is she to judge my work!?
Pompous child.
Off to bed to snuggle up in this chilly weather!
-Kel
Tonight's successes include coloring with both kids at the same time with no one choking on Crayola products, and making the time to update my blog of these successess.
Baby steps.
The big news in our life this week is that Dylan starts his speech/early intervention therapy on Thursday. I am thrilled to have finally Rambo'd our way through all of the red tape to actually get a therapist, and I can't wait to give Dylan more of the tools that will help him grow, but I really don't know what to expect which makes me a little nervous.
His therapist seemed great on the phone and I have heard really good things, so here's hoping she and Dylan are a good team.
In unrelated news, Lylli said "guitar!" today while Jared jammed for both of them and danced her little uncoordinated heart out.
We also had this exchange after I drew a picture of what I thought was a perfectly decent looking puppy:
Me: Look Lyl! What did Mommy draw?
Lylli: (dryly, not a hint of interest) Picture.
Me: That's right! And what is the picture of?
Lylli: (clearly disgusted) A baby?
Me: That's not a baby! What did Mommy draw?
Lylli: (Withdrawn. Dissapointed with her mother's artistic ability.) A puppy. (Long pause. Deep sigh.) A puppy,
Me: Well...I thought it was a pretty good puppy.
Lylli: (Stares in the distance as she places stickers over the puppy's face.)
Me: I'm just goingto clean up now....
When you can't impress a one year old, it's time to admit that you suck at drawing puppies.
I thought my flowers were pretty good though! Better than what her barely capable little hands were drawing. And she had the audicity to call what she drew "circles?" She only mastered HOLDING the crayon about a month ago! Who is she to judge my work!?
Pompous child.
Off to bed to snuggle up in this chilly weather!
-Kel
1.03.2010
How long until people stop saying, O-10, you think?
This new year has already been the easiest transition into a new year that I have ever experienced. No new baby, no new medical diagnosis, no new job....no new ANYTHING, just a steady ascent into happiness which is something I desperately needed.
I happily realized that I did a bang up job with my resolutions from last year, except for getting my 6 pack back and getting that 10K in savings, however, we now at least HAVE an active savings account which often stands at higher than the minimum balance of 5 bucks. I consider this a success! We's in a recession, yo!
As for my abs, I look awesome if I lie down flat. I'll work on getting my prebaby body back fo' sho', but I think I can use the, "I had two babies!" excuse forever and always. Thanks, kids!
My resolutions this year are very achievable, and since the chaos has slowed from all-out-insanity to mildly crazy, I have time to really dedicate this year to improving the whole world. I'm grand like that.
Here we go:
Get that 10K in savings. Mama wants to buy a house.
Ignore Jared's food requests and go through my cookbooks and make healthy things that the kids and I will eat. Jared always comes around in the end, he just doesn't know he likes certain things. He thought he hated coffee and sushi when we first got married. So stupid. I'm tired of making that boy shrimp and pasta!
Dedicate time daily to this blog. I can't raise awareness about advocacy at all if I don't take the time to, you know, advocate.
Keep a prayer journal. I was going to do this online, but I think for my prayer life I want to get old school with it. This is something I did when I was younger, and I really enjoyed that. I subscribed to email devotionals to jump start this, and all in all, I want to spend more time growing in God. It makes me a happier more balanced rockstar.
Spend more time doing charity work now that the kids' schedule allows me free time. I am so freaking blessed it's ridiculous. I've done a pretty good job of starting this earlier this year, but I need to keep up with it and not be complacent.
Start my etsy shop. For real. I'm like....10 months over due on that.
Take my boss's advice and stop taking work so personally. I am so emotionally invested it's out of control. I need to step back and just let work be work.
And as always -
Be a better wife.
Be a better mother.
Be a better daughter.
Be a better sister.
So far, this new year has had a very nice start despite the fact that everytime I talk about a tranision from 2009 to 2010 I say, "from 0-nine to 0-ten " I gotta stop that....
Seriously, 10K in savings peeps.
Happy New Year!!
-KelStar
I happily realized that I did a bang up job with my resolutions from last year, except for getting my 6 pack back and getting that 10K in savings, however, we now at least HAVE an active savings account which often stands at higher than the minimum balance of 5 bucks. I consider this a success! We's in a recession, yo!
As for my abs, I look awesome if I lie down flat. I'll work on getting my prebaby body back fo' sho', but I think I can use the, "I had two babies!" excuse forever and always. Thanks, kids!
My resolutions this year are very achievable, and since the chaos has slowed from all-out-insanity to mildly crazy, I have time to really dedicate this year to improving the whole world. I'm grand like that.
Here we go:
Get that 10K in savings. Mama wants to buy a house.
Ignore Jared's food requests and go through my cookbooks and make healthy things that the kids and I will eat. Jared always comes around in the end, he just doesn't know he likes certain things. He thought he hated coffee and sushi when we first got married. So stupid. I'm tired of making that boy shrimp and pasta!
Dedicate time daily to this blog. I can't raise awareness about advocacy at all if I don't take the time to, you know, advocate.
Keep a prayer journal. I was going to do this online, but I think for my prayer life I want to get old school with it. This is something I did when I was younger, and I really enjoyed that. I subscribed to email devotionals to jump start this, and all in all, I want to spend more time growing in God. It makes me a happier more balanced rockstar.
Spend more time doing charity work now that the kids' schedule allows me free time. I am so freaking blessed it's ridiculous. I've done a pretty good job of starting this earlier this year, but I need to keep up with it and not be complacent.
Start my etsy shop. For real. I'm like....10 months over due on that.
Take my boss's advice and stop taking work so personally. I am so emotionally invested it's out of control. I need to step back and just let work be work.
And as always -
Be a better wife.
Be a better mother.
Be a better daughter.
Be a better sister.
So far, this new year has had a very nice start despite the fact that everytime I talk about a tranision from 2009 to 2010 I say, "from 0-nine to 0-ten " I gotta stop that....
Seriously, 10K in savings peeps.
Happy New Year!!
-KelStar
11.25.2009
Being Thankful. It's Cool.
I've decided to stop complaining, which is unfortunate, beause it's actually one of my biggest talents.
I've decided that I have no right to say anything but positive things about my life and the direction that it's heading.
I'm blogging from my work, which pays the bills, listening to Borderline by Madonna and devouring a buffalo chicken burger and Diet Mountain Dew. I have fierce hair, an even fiercer husband, and really...I just have no right to not be rainbows and sunshine.
I think I'm finally at a place where I can acklowledge when I am stressed or annoyed, but I'm understanding every day how good I have it and how easy my life is most of the time.
Work or Dylan are the two biggest stresses in my life. Work becuase...it's work and I'm expected to be a rockstar full of sunshine who never messes up and keeps her emotions in check, and Dylan becuase he's my Boo Boo Butt and I want to give him all the help he needs to have a happy life, despite his ASD.
I have found a way to relax at work - we just moved offices, so I am much further away from the hustle and bustle of the office and the constant interuptions, and I can play my music louder than a whisper and not offend anyone with my love of Prince at 7am.
God has really blessed me for no reason, I certianly haven't done anything to have all the wonderful things that I have, and I need to be more deliberately thankful for the one million reasons that I smile.
Thansgiving I will probably be too busy with...well, Thanksgiving, to write a post, so this counts. The older I get, the higher this holiday ranks on the Kelli Top Ten of Good Things. I love a holiday dedicated to reflecting on our blessings and the older the kids get, the more I see how fast life happens.
To my husband who fixes me, has proven himself the most hilarious person alive, and who makes me breakfast every weekend, to my Dylan who makes hope tangible and humor heartfelt, my Lylli for teaching me new tricks, my mom for giving me an example too good to match, my dad for always knowing what to do, (with leftovers or with life,) my youngest brother for making me rethink what's cool, my middle brother for always knowing what to say to make me laugh at innappropriate things, my inlaws for having my children's best intertest in their hearts, and my friends, who truly, truly are the family that I chose - a most sincere thank you.
This lucky lady's out, much love to all you this holiday season!
-Kel
I've decided that I have no right to say anything but positive things about my life and the direction that it's heading.
I'm blogging from my work, which pays the bills, listening to Borderline by Madonna and devouring a buffalo chicken burger and Diet Mountain Dew. I have fierce hair, an even fiercer husband, and really...I just have no right to not be rainbows and sunshine.
I think I'm finally at a place where I can acklowledge when I am stressed or annoyed, but I'm understanding every day how good I have it and how easy my life is most of the time.
Work or Dylan are the two biggest stresses in my life. Work becuase...it's work and I'm expected to be a rockstar full of sunshine who never messes up and keeps her emotions in check, and Dylan becuase he's my Boo Boo Butt and I want to give him all the help he needs to have a happy life, despite his ASD.
I have found a way to relax at work - we just moved offices, so I am much further away from the hustle and bustle of the office and the constant interuptions, and I can play my music louder than a whisper and not offend anyone with my love of Prince at 7am.
God has really blessed me for no reason, I certianly haven't done anything to have all the wonderful things that I have, and I need to be more deliberately thankful for the one million reasons that I smile.
Thansgiving I will probably be too busy with...well, Thanksgiving, to write a post, so this counts. The older I get, the higher this holiday ranks on the Kelli Top Ten of Good Things. I love a holiday dedicated to reflecting on our blessings and the older the kids get, the more I see how fast life happens.
To my husband who fixes me, has proven himself the most hilarious person alive, and who makes me breakfast every weekend, to my Dylan who makes hope tangible and humor heartfelt, my Lylli for teaching me new tricks, my mom for giving me an example too good to match, my dad for always knowing what to do, (with leftovers or with life,) my youngest brother for making me rethink what's cool, my middle brother for always knowing what to say to make me laugh at innappropriate things, my inlaws for having my children's best intertest in their hearts, and my friends, who truly, truly are the family that I chose - a most sincere thank you.
This lucky lady's out, much love to all you this holiday season!
-Kel
11.03.2009
The Crusades
Dylan - He's lovely and beatiful and talented and charming and clever and sweet and sneaky and trouble and funny.
I want to raise awareness that children who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder can be all of those things.
I see autism being marketed in this package in which my sweet angel does not fit. When I tell strangers that Dylan has austim, they either look at me in pity and wonder how I keep it together raising a special needs child, or wonder if he can solve a rubic's cube in 10 seconds.
I try and make an impact on these people one at a time by sharing what a blessing it is to be this little monster's mommy, in the hope that they will know that autistic children are not monsters with vacant stares and hateful hearts.
My child is a brilliant smile with observant bright eyes and the best hugs kisses you have ever had.
I don't know when it became poplular to make autism the new worst fear for parents, but I'm doing what I can to change minds about this.
Are there those cases? Absolutely. But to have parents hear a diagnosis and think their child will never love them and never enjoy life... that's disgusting.
I want to be that supportive figure for other parents that I didn't have when Dylan's neurologist looked at me and matter of factly told me that he was PDD. I want parents to know that we are lucky to have these differently wired children. Every success with our child means so much more than every success any other parent of a typical child can experience.
Our autistic kids make us better people who are capable of feeling so much more pride, so much more...everything. We have to work so hard for that first word and for that first real connection. It's worth it.
So, I am going to need to become even more informed with all the resources that are available to me to be the beacon of hope that Dylan needs to me to be. Dylan deserves a world that doesn't pity him or fear him, but that respects him and accepts him.
I'm not going to let my Bear down. Every mother out there knows that feeling. You cannot/will not let your baby down.
While I'm crusading, I should probably start a Lylli Tolerance League or something, my mom would sign the petition immediately :) If we're being honest here, I need pity and sympathy for raising THAT kid.
Working on making a difference for my sweet and sour babies,
*Kel
I want to raise awareness that children who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder can be all of those things.
I see autism being marketed in this package in which my sweet angel does not fit. When I tell strangers that Dylan has austim, they either look at me in pity and wonder how I keep it together raising a special needs child, or wonder if he can solve a rubic's cube in 10 seconds.
I try and make an impact on these people one at a time by sharing what a blessing it is to be this little monster's mommy, in the hope that they will know that autistic children are not monsters with vacant stares and hateful hearts.
My child is a brilliant smile with observant bright eyes and the best hugs kisses you have ever had.
I don't know when it became poplular to make autism the new worst fear for parents, but I'm doing what I can to change minds about this.
Are there those cases? Absolutely. But to have parents hear a diagnosis and think their child will never love them and never enjoy life... that's disgusting.
I want to be that supportive figure for other parents that I didn't have when Dylan's neurologist looked at me and matter of factly told me that he was PDD. I want parents to know that we are lucky to have these differently wired children. Every success with our child means so much more than every success any other parent of a typical child can experience.
Our autistic kids make us better people who are capable of feeling so much more pride, so much more...everything. We have to work so hard for that first word and for that first real connection. It's worth it.
So, I am going to need to become even more informed with all the resources that are available to me to be the beacon of hope that Dylan needs to me to be. Dylan deserves a world that doesn't pity him or fear him, but that respects him and accepts him.
I'm not going to let my Bear down. Every mother out there knows that feeling. You cannot/will not let your baby down.
While I'm crusading, I should probably start a Lylli Tolerance League or something, my mom would sign the petition immediately :) If we're being honest here, I need pity and sympathy for raising THAT kid.
Working on making a difference for my sweet and sour babies,
*Kel
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