It’s been awhile! I could slam you with a ton of “updates” about how AWESOME the Depeche Mode concert was or how crazy-busy we’ve been, but instead I’ll throw a freebie at you (and hit you up with the snoozefest later on) …

Every Mom needs a meal planner with good bones. I used this one for a long time because it’s just so dang CUTE! After I became a SAHM, I needed something with sections for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a shopping list. Oh, and did I mention that I write BIG? So I created my own and I’d like to share it with you, in case you’re just as persnickety with your weekly meal planning…

My Weekly Meal Planner

This baby gets posted on the fridge after all the planning and shopping gets done. That way Daddy knows what to make the kids in the event that I’m not around (hey, no excuses for feeding them crap dude!) and I know what to pull out to defrost in advance. You can download this planner as a .PDF file by CLICKING HERE. Feel free to print as many copies as you like for your personal use :)

I’ve been on organization OVERLOAD lately. I have a variety of “projects” to share (whenever I get around to it) and many more either in the works or existing as a thought in my head. It’s getting a little insane to be honest! I think of 2 new items I want to work on before I can even finish one, so “The List” is getting long. You should see the hellacious coupon binder I’m currently putting together. I’ve gone completely nutballs about couponing. Hot damn I KNOW I sound like a complete geek in this post and that last sentence just seals the deal! ;) Couponing? W(in)TF? I’m not my Mother, I’m worse than my Mother because no way is she this anal about organizing shit. It’s a curse. Srsly.

As for the updates, can this be any less painful?:

• The Depeche Mode concert last Sunday was AH-MAZING!!! I’m going to reign in the girlish enthusiasm, but I have to say that Dave Gahan still brings the sexy! DM will ALWAYS be in my Top 5 bands of all time. It was somewhat comforting to see that it was an older crowd too. All of us DM’ers have grown up! I overheard many conversations during the pre-drinkin’ about getting home “to the babysitter” on time (e.g. Grandma). We TOTALLY got our drink on that night and paid for it (as in the next day was a little rough). We danced & sang our hearts out during the concert (much to the chagrin of the bump-on-a-log chick sitting next to me) and then drank more afterwards at a downtown bar. That girl next to me must have been stoned out of her gourd or something, because it was unfathomable to me why everyone wasn’t acting as intoxicated and funlovin’ as our giddy asses were! *snort*. I’m sure if she has a blog she’ll be writing about that obnoxious chick next to her that made her move 30 times for beer/potty runs and who was seriously encroaching on her personal space. But oh well, I looked pretty damn cute with my outfit and a zebra print flower in my hair and I was FEELIN’ THE LOVE man! ;) The hotel was right near the venue, so we were able to walk. It was swanky and brand new! We splurged on some ridiculously overpriced room service at 2AM when both of us were WAY past the safe zone of operating a vehicle and a run to Jack-in-the-Box was completely out of the question. I managed to pass out cold before getting to watch the TWENTY dollar in-room movie we ordered. Dammit! I wanted me some Zac Efron too! LOL :P Good times!
• Quentin is making excellent progress with his therapies and will be transitioning to preschool very soon. (OMG! I’m going to have a preschooler who’s totally NOT potty trained yet. That’s a whole other story!). I’m SO looking forward to him starting school, both for the fact that he definitely needs the social interaction and also that it will be helpful to have one less kid for a few hours a day. He’s talking so much now and while some of what he says is still indistinguishable, he is at least trying and not clamming up. He says the cutest things too, often as clear as a bell. We try not to laugh but sometimes it’s just hilarious. Remind me to tell you about the “Chocy Daddy” story one day. Unfortunately, he has also picked up on a few choice expressions *cough* and once in a while when he’s frustrated or confused he’ll loudly say “WHAT THE F*CK?!”. Uh oh. Yeah, that’s my kid!
• Gavin is as sweet and rambunctious as ever. He is such a BUSYBODY and all up into every-freakin’-thing all day long. I just need to tape record myself saying “Gavin, NO! Get out of there!” and keep it on repeat. Gav is definitely a Momma’s Boy. He would be happiest if I could pay attention to him (and only him) all day. I’m eatin’ up all the hugs & drooly kisses. Did I mention he’s teething like crazy? He’s also starting to talk and mimic words too. Any fears we had about his development are gone. He’s doing great!

Me? I’m just trying not to lose my freakin’ mind on a day-to-day basis. The whole SAHM gig isn’t as easy as some of ya’ll may think! There are so many social, emotional, and physical aspects of it that make it even harder than working a “real” job. I’m finding myself fighting off a bit of a depression, so I’ve taken to poppin’ vitamins again. Every morning when the boys get their gummi vites and I take my B12 and Biotin, Quentin will ask me “What’s dat Momma?”. I tell him it’s “Momma’s Medicine”. Which is so true because I already think it’s helping, with the energy levels at least. Staying busy helps a lot too. I just have to find a happy-medium with not getting so obsessive with the cleaning and organizing. But I’m definitely still lovin’ not having to get up early and commute! Hellz yeah, like nobody’s business!

Besides being super busy with the MIL in town, I recently finished up a a baby shower invitation. The theme is Dr. Seuss, so here’s what I pulled together:

Please note: I’m not sharing, selling, or doing trade-out work for this invite at this time.

Dr. Seuss Baby Shower Invitation

I think it came out super cute and I’m so excited for the shower!

Other than that, just super busy cooking and hosting the MIL. Surprisingly, we’ve all had a really great time! Both of my boys are super attached to “Gamma” right now and I think there’s going to be a little meltdown when she leaves tomorrow. I’ve had fun playing hostess and partaking in a little Mommy Elixir :) It’s pretty awesome to have a third person around to help with the kids, enabling Mommy to get a lot done. We’ve been pretty active, braving Chuck E. Cheese, the community pool, jaunts to the playground, and Daddy’s birthday dinner. The kids are eatin’ it up!

One weird moment last week: ran into the bosslady the other day while coming back from lunch with my ex-co-worker buddy Jan. I had just dropped her off in front of her building when I rounded the corner and saw bosslady driving in. I said “what the hell!” and drove over to where she was parked to say “Hello!”. She seemed pretty shocked to see me, but was super friendly. I felt a little twang of nostalgia, a sense of loss for the past. But I got over it pretty quickly after driving off ;) Let’s just say I’m grateful as hell for this opportunity that I have to stay at home and not be someone’s Office Biatch anymore :) Every single day with my kids is a GIFT!

When I was originally toying with the idea of becoming a SAHM, I constructed a list of pros/cons. The list of pros was miles long, the list of cons were few, but had enough weight behind them to cause many a sleepless night. When it came to breaking the news, it wasn’t even the bosslady that I was the most nervous about. It was our childcare provider Mary.

Mary has a certain patience, caring, and passion for her job that enables the kids in her care to really flourish. She was Gavin’s sole childcare provider, but Quentin had 3 before her (that’s a whole other story). Quentin has definitely learned more under her care than with anyone else. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to match her enthusiasm, nor provide the same level of stimulus (I still worry about this!). I also loved how organized & super creative she is (she doesn’t think so, but dagnabbit she totally is!). Plus she’s cute and fun to be around (how can a person be so chipper sans alcohol!?). Often she’ll call me so unbelievably excited/happy about something that I’m secretly thinking to myself, “dang, this chick either just slammed down some serious vodka or like FIVE Red Bulls!”. But anyway, I digress…

We were both a little heartbroken when I told her that I’d be quitting my job to stay at home. However, we recently agreed (and I swear no alcohol was involved) that we may have lost the childcare relationship, but we’ve “gained a friendship”! Awww, how sweet is that? (Ok, no gagging). It’s true though, our kids still love playing together and we’ve become friends not just acquaintances. To show you how truly awesome she is, I want to share with you this UNIQUE gift she put together for me when she knew I was having a rough week with the SAHM thing (which is like every week of my life right?)…

Stay at Home Mom's Survival Kit

Not only is everything in this bucket USEFUL (and much of it is already gone), it totally lifted my spirits because each item had a label or cute tag on it with a witty description!

Here’s what was included in the bucket:

• Mr. Clean Magic Erasers – “This gets crayon off almost anything”
• DUM-DUMS (lollipops) – “A Mom’s secret weapon”
• Pink polka-dot magnetic list pad – “Lists, lists everywhere”
• Travel-sized Advil – “For all that banging, clanking, loud noise…”
• Travel-sized Tylenol PM – “For the nights you can’t sleep…”
• Pink polka-dot Pocket tissues – “Sometimes you need a good cry”
• 8-pack of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – (I forgot what this one said and we already snarfed them up, so package is gone.)
• Snacks! (Microwave popcorn, crackers, fruit bar, crystal light mix-ins) – “For when you need a snack…”
• Top Ramen – “For the days you just don’t want to cook…” (That would be EVERYDAY!)
• Pomegranate scented tea lights – “This is so you can have some Mommy time…”
• Black cherry vanilla bath crystals – (also for Mommy time)
• Two Michelob Ultras – “When all else fails… DRINK!”
• Carton of Merlot – “Sometimes you don’t have time to find a cork screw” (Amen to that sista!)
• Drink coasters (to go with the wine) – that say, “You had me at Merlot”
• Matching wine stopper
• Matching wine journal

It was all so brilliant! But I think the item I got the biggest kick out of was the wee carton of Merlot. I had no idea they made wine like that. I recall the wine in a box of the 1980’s, but a little “juice box” of wine?!? FABULOUS!!

The best part, You had me at Merlot

Thanks again Mary! LOVE IT! And tell them all to “bite it” because having a big heart is a wonderful virtue :)

Juice box for adults