Wordless Wednesday

Don't judge a book..or a hair salon

So I decided to get a hair cut. This is something I was thinking about for a while, but was too chicken to do anything about it. You see, I've had long, long hair for a very long, long time. Cutting my hair shorter was something that really scared me. For some reason, I always equated long hair with youth. I know most of you don't agree, but that's how it felt to me. But seriously, when you wake up everyday and put it in a pony, praying that someone doesn't come to the door seeing you look that way, it's time for a change. It was at the point where either it looked really pretty (after spending an hour on it) or really, really ratty. There was no in between. You get the point.

So I see an ad for a local place, and I just LOVE the cut that they have featured in the ad. Oh my goodness...this is what I want! I ended up calling them and they had a 4 pm opening. Kiss Darrin goodbye...tell him to kiss the hair goodbye...and off I go.

I pull up, and I was very happy to see a "save Pine Island Elementary" sign in their window...Yay for supporting local business! I walked in, and behind the counter, was a woman, maybe around 50 or so. I told her my name, and she said "What are you thinking about for your hair?" Pulled out the picture in the ad and she says "Well, I ain't the owner. I'm Lori. Lemme see that. Hmmmmm....looks great, you goin' that short?" and I said a very strong voice, "No....No...not THAT short." Upon sensing my fear she very kindly says "Nah...don't worry, we won't be hackin' too much off"

Oh my. Ok, she just said "hackin"...and I think this is the woman who will be cutting my hair. ACK!!!!

"Let's get ya washed"

We chatted a bit, and as we're chatting she's cutting, and cutting, and cutting. Now you all know I'm freaking, but she knows that too! So she keeps chatting about how she's a volunteer on the ambulance corps. ect. And she is very, very nice. But I am here, stuck in this chair, with a woman I thought was the receptionist, she looks like my description of myself when I don't want to answer the door, she is cutting my hair away, and there isn't a thing I can do about it!!!!

But then.....

She's finished. And out comes the hairdryer, and out comes the boars hair round brush, and she's blowing it out.

AND I LOVE IT!

It is so great. Really. I was so pleasantly surprised. All I could do is smile from ear to ear. She said "Come on Anne, shake it around! Put your hands through it" And I did.

Really, I was practically jumping up and down like a little girl watching Justin Bieber. I said a big "Thank You" gave her a big tip, and a big hug, and was off to home to show my family.

And they, also, love it.

Oh yeah, the youth thing I was writing about in the beginning of this post? Saw someone at the library who was Zack's soccer coach last spring. When I went up to her to say Hi, she said "Oh..sorry I didn't recognize you...you look like a teenager!"

Ratty hair no more.

Warwick parents fight back | recordonline.com

Warwick parents fight back recordonline.com

Wordless Wednesday

Meatless Monday

Sometimes it's hard being the only vegetarian in a house full of carnivores. That's why I love the invention of "Meatless Monday" This wasn't a term that I invented. In fact, it was first introduced to me by the kids school last year. They have decided that on Mondays, they would serve something sans meat, and have a lovely salad bar to go with whatever they served. The salad bar was provided by our own local farms, making it all the more tasty. So, I decided that Mondays would be meatless in our home too. Mind you, there are other nights that I actually eat what everyone else is eating, because we don't have meat every day. But at least this way, everyone knows that Monday is definately going to me meatless.


I will now share the recipe for tonights dinner, and I hope to do this every Monday as well.

VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH PASTA


1 15 oz can garbanzo beans, drained
1 15 oz can red kidney beans, drained
2 141/2 oz can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 large onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup red pepper diced
2 minced cloves garlic
2-3 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp oregano
wagon wheel pasta (I made the whole box, had some leftovers)

In slow cooker, combine beans, undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, onion, sweet pepper, garlic, chili powder, oregano.

cover and cook on low 4 hours, or high for 2 hours.
Cook pasta and drain, combine with slow cooker contents.

That's it! This was so simple to do. I just love my slow cooker, I can prepare this while Nathan is napping, and I don't have to worry about cooking while holding him on my left hip. (I bet he'll be a chef someday)

My thought bubble says "yummy"

Saturday

Yesterday we went to a friends birthday party. They held it at the local ice skating rink. I got to be a mean mommy and a cool mommy all in one day. Amelia was very aggravated with me that I made her wear a helmet while skating. *Insert I-Know-What's-Best-For-You speech here* She tried to convince me twice to let her take it off, that's until I gave her "the" eye. That's where the mean mommy title came from.
The cool mommy title comes from Nathan, who got to have soda **gasp** because I rushed out the door without a sippy cup, and soda was all that was offered.

Here's Steven and Zack out on the ice.

And since Nathan is too young to skate, here's what we did.

I am long past the stares of people wondering why I let the above happen. Or maybe I'm just too tired to worry about it.

Soon enough, big brother comes to the rescue!

You may have noticed there were no pictures of Amelia. Oh well, she escaped injury-free, except for maybe her ego. I could have given her the whole "you'll see when you have kids someday" speech, but I let it go. Sometimes, mean mommy is what I have to be!

Proud mommy moment...

Need I say more?

Oh no...more snow!

Anyone that knows me knows I hate the snow. Really. Being cooped up with four kids because it's way too cold to spend too much time outside is just terrible. Especially when school has been cancelled, what, like 8 times so far? They get on each others nerves, and then on mine. Even when they go outside, they find SOMETHING to fight about! Please oh please Spring, come soon!

I long for the days of playing in the yard, scooping dirt with diggers, planning the garden, ect.

Those things are really hard to imagine though when I can't even see my outdoor furniture or grill. They're under there somewhere, I know.

Darrin couldn't go to work yesterday because of the weather, and today he had to get pulled out of our driveway by a tow truck because he was stuck. ACK!

Ok, enough of this complaining. I may just have to go read my friend Lori's blog for some sanity. She posted some beautiful pictures of Spring flowers.



I will now leave you with this: The definition of cabin fever, as demonstrated by my children, below.