Dance Mom...

OK, so, have you all heard about this show called Dance Moms??  We watch it religiously in our house (yes, I let Kyra watch it and she loves it).  But, oh, the drama involved in this show is ridiculous!!  Deliciously ridiculous!!

I love drama, a good reality show and throw in some dance and I'm hooked.  I really do love to watch these girls dance...I think they are ALL phenomenal dancers.  The moms, on the other hand, give us ALL a bad name.  Before this show, we all knew who these Moms were...  let me explain them in a few key points:

1. Will do anything to advance their child with disregard to any other child
2. Will gripe about anything and everything... especially if it does not benefit their child
3. Will gossip about everyone around them...including children (ie- did you hear so and so got 'demoted' to a lower class... or that girl just got yelled at my Mrs. X... or look at that one over there, my child is so much better than that one, why are they in that class and not my precious little SugarPlum, etc...you get the point??)
4. Snoops around to see what EVERY SINGLE child is up to at their dance studio
5. Listens in on EVERY conversation going on around them to see if they can get more info...
6. Starts a gossip train
7. Hovers around the dance office in the chance they might overhear some snippet of conversation that they could use against you
8. Constantly asking for your child to take an older/more advanced class even after the teacher tells you on more than 1 occasion NO

OK...so you all know who these people are and, hey, maybe you are one??  But, I'd also like to point out that these Moms are not just in the dance world.  You know, the term Soccer Mom, right??  They started using that term around the year 1987... and while these Moms have probably been around for eons (think Mrs. Olsen on Little House), the Demographic Term finally came through...  There is an actual definition of Soccer Mom-

: a typically suburban mother who accompanies her children to their soccer games and is considered as part of a significant voting bloc or demographic group
[count] US, informal : a mother usually from the middle class who brings her children to soccer games and similar activities — often used to refer in a general way to such women as a group of people having similar interests, values, etc.

Now, I'm sure it won't take long for a definition of Dance Mom to pop up...but there isn't one yet..lol..

But, I did find a website that might be beneficial to all the 'Soccer Moms' who drive their kids to dance.. lol..
http://www.dancemom.com/

Because of this show, I really don't want to be considered a 'Dance Mom'... so keep me a Soccer Mom even though this year will definitely be a year of more dance classes over Soccer..

Because of this show, now we have a 'nice' term to call these Moms who we want to strangle (is that too harsh) and sometimes maybe just trip them as they walk by??  

Dance Moms...who knew such a nice thing could become a slang for the terror moms lying in wait at dance studios across the country??

I love that my children love to dance.  And I love when they excel at their own rates and are proud of themselves!!  And, I love that they WANT to do it (yes, even DJ loves it and would be disappointed if I took him out)  
I still owe you  my take on the recital process...but I might start crying as I'm a little weepy these days so I'll try again next week (I'm also trying to procure some old pics to include in it but can't find them..lol...)

DJ and Kyra in their first year of dance... AWWWWWWW!!!

Hope you are all having a lovely evening and enjoy your weekend!!

Self-doubt...

"If you start to doubt yourself, the real world will eat you alive"  ..a quote from Henry Rollins

This has always been one of my favorite sayings.. so much so, that I used to have it taped to my computer screen when I worked in the real world of offices and adults.  And, it really is sooooooo true.

Now, here's a little secret about ME that you might not know:  I am probably one of the most insecure person you may know.  Let's call me "The Closet Insecurity Broad"..ok??  Yes, it's true.  I second guess EVERYTHING I do.  Don't believe me, go ask hubby.  He fell for the 'Confident One' and soon realized it was really a facade for the real me.  I've come a LONG way since High School though...trust me.  In High School, I think people thought I was this bitchy, self-centered snob...but that, too, was a front.  I was really really really insecure about everything back then.

Now a days, it just creeps up on me every so often.  Don't we all doubt ourselves at some point in our lives??  Please tell me I'm not alone in this??  I don't know why I am that way...and I don't understand how others are so sure of themselves all the time (or what seems like all the time).

Going with this whole 'self-doubt' theme tonight, I am also very afraid of FAILURE.  I mean, who isn't, right??  Again, I am always second-guessing myself and what I'm doing and sometimes I just give up.  Why, because I don't want to fail.  Wow, how lame is that??  Seriously!!  I could slap myself silly sometimes!!

Did I also mention that I have a slight perfectionist  tick in me??  I try to keep this at bay, but sometimes I get really annoyed when things aren't done exactly as they should be.  I've also come A LONG way in this category.  For example, when hubby actually does the dishes for me, instead of telling him how he did it wrong (b/c it's only wrong in my head) I just fix it the next time I do them..lol.. we all have our own way of loading the dishwasher, right??  Right???

Now, become a MOM.

For the past (almost) 10 years, I have struggled to become a better person and be who I want my children to be.  And someone my children would be proud of.  And, yes, what a struggle it has been.  I question myself on a daily basis when it comes to motherhood.  It is the hardest thing in the world to do.  It also happens to be the most rewarding thing in the world.  I don't want my children to be 'un' confident about themselves.  I want them to believe in themselves and know that they are GREAT!!  I want them to go out there and try and try and try.  And if they should fail at something, I want them to know they are still Great and it's ok to fail!!  Because I know, that you cannot accomplish anything without trying.  And if they try and succeed, how Awesome is that!!  Right??

And so, I continue on this journey of life and motherhood knowing that I will make mistakes.  In friendship, I will make mistakes.  In marriage, I will make mistakes.  But, I also know that my children, true friends and hubby will keep me sane and focused to continue on and succeed!!

Conceive it.  Believe it.  Achieve it.

For Them!!

Have a great day!!  I will be attempting a new cookie design tomorrow for a great 'camp out' and a great friend's house!!

Yummy easy dinner... and a Franny Update

So, tonight we were in dinner limbo... you know those nights when some of you were eating somewhere else and the others were eating at home??  Hubby and I usually pull a steak out of the freezer for just the 2 of us and depending on what kids are eating, I feed them something quick and easy.  Franny and Max were home so I went with quesadillas... yeah, they both opened them up and scraped the cheese out and ate just that... lol...

OK, on with my meal...yes, a yummy meal that probably only cost about 8 bucks total:)  I do love a good deal on things don't you??  Well, I am notorious for scouring the meat section for those meats that have been 'marked' down.  This is how I buy those steaks, london broils, spare ribs, etc that are just a bit too expensive to justify purchasing.  Found a package of long, thin steaks (don't know the exact name of the type of meat, but they were really skinny) for about $3.50.  I also had a package of frozen spinach and cream cheese in the freezer (both bought on sale for roughly a buck each).  As a side, I used one of those Lipton Noodle packs which are about $1 when on sale... that brings my total to $6.50... now, this doesn't include the milk, butter, little bit of wine, half onion, and little bit of heavy cream... so, we can bring the total up to like 7.50 or 8.00...roughly:)

Here is the easiest, yummiest spinach thing I've ever made (creamed spinach... tasted really good on crackers too... hey, i was hungry and needed to taste test it before I rolled it into the beef)
Olive Oil
1/2 small onion, diced
Diced garlic (I have a jar in my fridge...yes, I cheat... of garlic and I used 4 pieces and diced it up)
Splash of white wine (yes, I gave up a few sips for this)
1/2 package of cream cheese
Splash of heavy cream (I always have this in my fridge...hey, I'm a baker...) but this is optional
1 package of frozen spinach- thawed and squeezed out
Parmesan cheese (I had approx. 2 Tbs left in my container so I just dumped it all in)

1. Heat olive oil in pan and sautee onions and garlic for appox. 3-5 minutes
2. Add wine
3. Add cream cheese and heavy cream is using
4. Add thawed spinach and heat until bubbly

Voila... creamed spinach... use right away on crackers or a nice Italian bread:)  Or, eat alone... Or, do as I do and spread over your beef, roll it up and secure with tooth picks.

I browned the rolls of beef (brain fart here... can't think of what it would be called) in some olive oil.  keep turning so that you brown on all sides.   Doesn't take long to cook through..keep rotation to brown evenly.

I'm not gonna tell you how to make a package of noodles...think you can all read those directions..lol

It was really good...and I will be heating up the extra spinach stuff tomorrow and eating on crackers:)

Franny Update
So, the first night was tough b/c we didn't start out on the right foot...hence, she woke in the middle of the night (2:28am) and continued to cry until 8:00 when I had to get up.  I know, some of you might think this is cruel and unusual punishment... but for my own sanity, this is a necessary evil.  My heart breaks with every cry and I do want to run in there and scoop her up.  I love sleeping with her...BUT, she doesn't fall asleep on her own, nor does she fall asleep at a normal hour...hence, she screws with my 'night' time to settle down, finish dishes, start baking and/or decorating cookies (this is a big one...really hard to get this shit done with her still awake).  And, with school starting sooner rather than later, I will need this time to get prepared for the next day (ie- lunches, sports/dance crap, snacks, check backpacks, etc)

The 2nd night was a little better.  I did manage to keep her awake all day (she did sleep until noon due to the unfortunate crying binge the night before).  Although, she did look like she was gonna fall asleep a couple times in the car... I arranged to make several stops after dropping Kyra off at dance so that she was out of her seat more often.  We read a story, sang 2 songs and I put her in the crib explaining that it was 'night night' time and she was going to sleep in her crib.  The girl immediately started crying as we entered her room and clung to me for dear life.  She than proceeded to cry for about 2 hours.  As far as I know, she did not wake up the rest of the night...apparently I sleep like the dead... but I didn't hear her so I am assuming she made it through the night.

The 3rd night...so far... I managed to keep her awake for most of the day.  She fell asleep on a car ride that lasted less than 10 minutes..  Woke her up as soon as we got home instead of letting her sleep (it was 6:00pm) like we normally do. I have to admit, it was kinda funny watching her walk b/c she was in such a dead sleep that she was out of it... Yes, I put her on the ground and made her walk inside...otherwise, she would've fallen back asleep on my shoulder before we made it in the door.  Can you say, Drunken Sailor??  lol...we followed the same routine as last night with a book and 2 songs.  I told her it was 'night night' time.  She looked at Me, looked at my bed and kept saying ' Mamma... mamma ' like she wanted to sleep with me.  Alas, I dragged my self out of the chair b/c I was seriously contemplating just letting her fall asleep with me and she started crying and freaking out right away.  But, I stayed strong, told her I loved her, pried her hands from around my neck and put her in the crib.  Crying time- 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Whew... it is getting better.  We will see what the night brings us.

Hoping you all have a great night and day...and hoping this is a thing of the past!!