Ramblings from the Not-So-Typical Stay at Home Mom

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The Example
2008-09-12 11:20:00
When I was in the 4th grade, I became the "example". The teacher I has was a wretched woman who always took one student and made them the example. Everything I did was wrong, even if the kid next to me did the same thing. Needless to say, it sucked and I hated it. It made me act out more and gave the teacher a reason to make me the example. I realized a few days ago that my Sweet Pie is the example of her preschool class. The situation is MUCH different though. Her teacher is fair to all the kids (all 5 of them in the class) and is a really wonderful person. Sweet Pie just gives tons of reasons to be the example.If you haven't read a lot of my older posts, Sweet Pie is very stubborn and it's her way or no way at all. This behavior just doesn't fly at school. I just haven't done my job in preparing her for this. At home it was always "you want to play blocks? Okay lets go do that". So it was what she wanted to do. At school the teacher wants to do what the teacher wants to do and...

First Day of Preschool
2008-09-03 05:41:00
Today was Sweet Pie's first day of preschool. She was so excited to go today. We had lunch at the Chinese place up the street before heading to the school. When we got there we were greeted by Miss Maria. Sweet Pie hung up her coat and bag and placed her name tag over the cubbie she chose for the day. Then she was off. She ran off to play with some of the other little girls in the class without looking back. I walked over to her and kissed her little cheek and told her that I would come later and pick her up. She looked up at me with those big brown eyes of hers and said "I love you Mommy" before returning to launch cars off the end of a table.It was so sweet. I teared up a little, took a few more pictures and made my way home.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blo gger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQPZ 4C&feed=1

Too Small?
2008-08-31 08:28:00
I dressed Little Man in one of my favorite outfits for the day and noticed that it might be getting a little snug. As we played on the bed the snaps at the crotch slowly started coming undone with each and every baby kick of his little chubby legs. I think it's a bit too small, don't you?and of course Sweet Pie had to get in on the picture.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_ blogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QB QPZ4C&feed=1
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It's a Daddy Party
2008-08-21 04:23:00
We have been home sick this last two weeks or so. A sinus infection has found it's way to my family and we just can't seem to get rid of it. We even took Little Man to Urgent Care because he had such a bad time with it. Because of this we didn't leave the house and we are beyond cabin fever at this point. For a change of pace we decided to celebrate. We don't have any birthdays, or major holidays coming up. We haven't had any major achievements either. But, who said you had to have a reason to celebrate? Besides, I vowed on my 1001 in 101 list to have a kid centered event at least once a month. So we threw a "Daddy Party ". I know it seems like that would be centered around hubby, but really it was just for Sweet Pie.Sweet Pie and I spent a good portion of the day coloring pictures and putting stickers on pictures to hang up on the dining room wall. Even Little Man "helped" out by grabbing at the papers and adding his drooly touch. We also painted her nails for a "...

The Fear of Biscuits
2008-08-13 19:51:00
A fellow blogger, and 101 in 1001 participant, Cafe Chick asked me about #19 on my list. #19. Get over my fear of opening the biscuitsThis is really on the list as something for Hubby as it drives him crazy that I won't open them.Have you ever seen these?They are pre-cut pieces of biscuit dough that come in a pressurized can and be found in the refrigerated section at the grocery store. Hubby would love to have rolls or biscuits with every single meal if he could, and many nights we do. Seeing as I am a bit lazy, we don't always go homemade with our bread. Most of the time dinner rolls are made from flour and love, but some nights I allow that cute little Pillsbury dude to do it for me. Have you ever opened one of these bad boys? They pop. Sort of like a cheapie Colorado firework that you pull the string and it pops as confetti flies out. Only with the biscuits, you peel the paper and you never know when it is going to pop. It just surprises you, and it startles the heck out of me...
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My Little Gymnast
2008-08-12 10:24:00
A few months ago I enrolled Sweet Pie (formally known as Little Bear) in a gymnastics class that was meant for kids her age. They get to learn about the equipment, practice very basic movement, and it's a lot of fun. I took a ton of pictures of her first session, but the camera we had was on it's way to camera heaven and the pictures came out TERRIBLE.I got a new camera for my birthday and brought it along to her second session. Her coach was so sweet to her and we basically had cheap private lessons as she was the only one enrolled who showed up to class.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_bl ogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQP Z4C&feed=1
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101 in 1001
2008-08-09 01:48:00
It has been two months since my last post. I have been in a bit of one of those hectic spirals that life can sometimes bring. I haven't been handling it well either. Some things get too much focus and others not enough. Somethings start out with a bang and then fizzle slowly until it is forgotten and moved on from. Other things start out slow and never really reach where it needs to be. I need focus. I need to remember that life is not about waiting out the storm, it is about learning to dance in the rain.Then I found 101 in 1001. I found it very randomly through a friend on Ravelry of all places. It looked interesting and when I learned that a master list was involved, I was in. I love lists. I love crossing things off lists and feeling that sense of accomplishment. So here it is. My list of 101 things to do in 1001 days.The Mission:Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.The Criteria:Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either ...

First Giggles
2008-06-15 01:16:00
The last few weeks have been filled with late night feedings, stinky diapers, and a few smiles and giggles (and very little blogging...). Little Man gave us his first little smile about a week ago and just a few days ago we got to see the big toothless grin with the cute little head turn and coo. Melts a momma's heart I tell you. He has a bit of a cold right now that the rest of the family has as well and has trouble breathing when he sleeps sometimes. Because of that I have kept him in his glider with me on the couch. Last night I put him in the bassinet but he ended up in the bed with us. I was awake and watching him sleep and he was making little gassy smiles. Then he started making big smiles and a few little noises. I giggled at him and he then made the cutest little giggle sound. His first giggle. It was in his sleep, but I heard it. I love baby giggles.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_ blogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QB QPZ4C&feed=1

More than you have ever wanted to know about my breasts
2008-05-21 21:49:00
I have been rather obsessive about breastfeeding with my son. After all the issues I had with Little Bear and not being able to breastfeed, I became almost manic about the whole thing. I have been reading, googling, talking to lactation consultants, and asking my mommy friends a billion questions about their girls and babies. When Little Man was first born, we didn't get skin to skin time because of the very rapid delivery and the cord being around his neck twice. But the nurse said not to worry because he was sucking away at her finger and she said that he had a very strong suck and a bit of a bite. He latched on very easily and I was very excited.Later that night I noticed lots of pain when feeding him and then I saw blood. The LC said that my equipment was too large for his small mouth and that I should pump for a while and try to latch him on later. This was disappointing to say the least but I kept up the pumping and would try to get some skin to skin time with him everyday an...
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Long Time, No Blog
2008-05-16 22:02:00
I haven't been around in a while, but I have a really good excuse. Want to see?Isn't he beautiful? We are so in love with him. 7lbs 15oz and 20" long and both black and blond hair.My water broke just before 1 am on Friday morning and he was born just before 4 am the same morning. The labor and delivery was very rapid and rather traumatic for us both. And for poor hubby who was watching the whole thing. Even with the cord wrapped around his neck twice, he came out with a nice, healthy cry and is doing very well. We just need to keep an eye out for GBS symptoms (I didn't get the antibiotic due to the rapid labor and the lack of rooms at the hospital) and watch the cephlahematoma on his head. He has already gained back the 3% of his birth weight he lost at the hospital and then some. He is eating really well although he can't latch onto the breast right now. I am pumping and we will try again soon. Everything is going really well even though Hubby is back at work already. He is jus...
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Nothing New, so I'll share a funny
2008-05-07 08:11:00
I heard this on the radio the other day and I can't believe I had forgotten about it.Enjoy!http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml _blogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4Q BQPZ4C&feed=1
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Where does Creativity go?
2008-04-28 00:04:00
When I sit down to make a birthday card I make sure that all the papers, stickers, inks, and whatever supplies I need all match. I then take time to make sure that all the edges are straight, everything is centered, and all the ink is even. I am very careful to make that card look the absolute best that I can.When Little Bear sits down to make a birthday card, she makes sure that she has a large variety of crayons, mis-matched paper, coloring books, and stickers. She throws caution to the wind and starts coloring, pasting, and sticking whatever she feels like onto her paper. She doesn't care that she has Christmas trees and Halloween stickers on her birthday card. She doesn't care that her crayon stroke went off the page or that Hello Kitty is slightly covering the cut out of a turtle Littlest Pet Shop. She cares not to stay within lines. I give you one guess as to which card is kept and treasured for much longer.Where does this child like creativity go? Why do we loose it as adul...
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Still here, alive and being kicked.
2008-04-24 21:28:00
I am still here and still pregnant. The only thing that has really been on my mind lately is my belly, my contractions, and all the other beautiful things about being pregnant. Including but not limited to: heartburn, kicks to the bladder, aching back pains, and swollen feet. I just don't want to be the blogger that has no life outside of the pregnancy. Even if that is the case right now, I don't want my readers to have to deal with that. I will come up with something worth while to say here pretty soon. I promise.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_ blogger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QB QPZ4C&feed=1
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A Convo at my House
2008-04-09 01:29:00
It is a well known fact that there are few mature conversations at my house. Most conversations are either about poop and other bodily functions or they are delivered in a manner that resembles toddlers fighting over the last toy truck. We have become accustomed to this.This conversations was of the immature bodily function type. Little Bear and I decided that today we were going to make Hubby a special dinner. He really has been great about helping out around the house. As much as a man with an almost 34 week pregnant wife and demanding toddler can. We went to the store and picked out ingredients for his favorite boring Iowa chili (which I have spiced up a bit), onion rings, and a chocolate cake to be frosted with his mother's recipe for frosting which tastes like Crisco due to the large amount of Crisco in it. It is well known that this is not my favorite icing and I cheat and use butter flavored Crisco in order attempts to mask the taste of shortening. So as I am cooking Hubby i...
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And the legacy dies
2008-04-06 21:05:00
I was a bad kid. I never went to class, started fights, back talked the teacher, and the word homework was not in my vocabulary. The teachers and staff at my high school still shudder when they hear my name. I was awful. My brother then attended the same school 6 years later and unfortunately the last name still made an impact. He caught a lot of gruff from teachers that expected him to be just like I was. Luckily he was able to quickly prove that he was not anything like me. He liked homework, he was quiet in class, and he was in lots of school activities. Even with the school loving saint in between us, I still worried for my younger sister. It has been years since my feet have graced the halls of Columbine High School. My sister is 14 years younger than I so at least a decade separates our 4 year stints in that school. Most of the teachers I had have either retired or have left the school after the tragic shootings in 1999. I would say that her chances of avoiding any gruff from ...
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Apparently my rear end is broken
2008-03-30 18:34:00
I have not bought myself any maternity pajama pants or lounge pants. I got two pair of pajama pants in a larger size for Christmas, but I refuse to buy maternity sweat pants. I don't know why, I just can't do it.The other day, like most days at home, I was wearing a pair of pre-pregnancy sweat/lounge pants that fit below my belly...well sort of fit below my belly. I bent down to investigate which family member left their dirty socks on the floor (it was me, whoops) and Little Bear came up behind me and said, "Mommy butt. Ya, Mommy butt broken." Whoops. I have since retired those pants and am wearing the larger sized pants now.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blog ger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQPZ4 C&feed=1
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I am very thankful
2008-03-28 05:55:00
A friend mine was due to deliver her baby boy just three weeks after Little Man is expected to arrive. Sadly, she lost the baby last week. There was no heartbeat. This reverberated through my head as I sat there at my 32 week appointment today listening to the heartbeat of my little boy. Little Bear stood there listening with a hand over her ear and told me "I hear baby brother." I almost broke down right then and there. I cannot even begin to imagine the heartache and pain that my friend and her family are suffering.A mutual friend gave me the news last week and through her I offered my friend and her husband my condolences and offered any help that I might be able to give. It breaks my heart to know that I cannot help my friend grieve right now. I cannot sit there and hold her until her tears dry because the sight of me and my swollen belly would hurt her so much.I am so very thankful. I am thankful for my swollen hands and feet. I am thankful for the uncomfortable contractions an...

Gray and White
2008-03-19 21:50:00
I make fun of Hubby all the time for getting old because I am such a loving and caring wife like that. He's only 28 so he's not even nearing old, but the occasional gray hair or "dirty old man" joke finds it's way into our daily lives. I had just found a gray hair and lovingly plucked it from his head to show him. So the "old" thing was on the brain.We were in Little Bear's room playing with blocks when she decided to start telling us the colors of everything. This is one of her new favorite games and I like it so much better than the "what's that?" game. She grabbed her hair and told us her "hair is red". So we asked her what color mommy's hair was and she told us "mommy's hair is black". I asked her what color daddy's hair was and without missing a step she pointed to his head and said "white".I swear I almost peed myself. I think she was pointing at where the top of his head meets the forehead which is getting a little bit wider these days, which is funny enough on it's ...
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Pineapple Upside Down Cake
2008-03-07 23:40:00
Pineapple Upside Down Cake is by far one of my most favorite desserts. I love to bake it all upside down like and I love to eat it. It is one of the few really good memories I have of my mother in childhood. Well, at all really. It was very rare that we would make it because my dad absolutely hated the stuff, but when we made I was a happy little girl. So you can see why it was such a shock to me that Miss Turtle had NEVER made a Pineapple Upside Down Cake. It shocked me even more to find out that she had no idea what one was!! Her father's family all reside in the South and have all come from the South. My family also hails from a very redneck area of the South. I had truly failed in my duties as a mother if my first born had no idea what a Pineapple Upside Down Cake was.This needed to be rectified and immediately. We found an Usborne book at the library that a recipe in it. It wasn't the recipe that I know and love, but it would do in a pinch. It ended up tasting like poo with s...
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Dust in the Wind
2008-03-07 00:19:00
This blog is dying. I am trying to keep up on it but with the "bliss" of pregnancy, a few minor complications, and a lot of topsy turvy things going on at home, it has taken it's place on the back burner.None of it is really anything worth talking about, or I am just not ready to talk about it yet. It's not like the world is falling apart or anything, I just need to sort out my feelings and be okay with my choices first.In other news, I have been sewing up a storm and have completed many projects the last few weeks. This baby is going to have so many blankies and outfits. I even made some cute little tees and diaper covers for those first few days at home with the belly button care. Little Bear also has almost half of her summer wardrobe now. She has been taught well. We walk into the fabric store and she will see something she likes and tell me "Mommy make dress". She recently had a Care Bear dress made for her and now she won't wear it. Doh! Miss Turtle also has a ton...
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Random Thought of the Day
2008-02-28 02:14:00
Well, actually yesterday, but it should still apply to today. Everyday for that matter.If you order a sandwich and a water cup at McDonald's and then fill your water only cup with Coke, you really have no ground to stand on when you decide to complain to the manager about your sandwich.True Story. Some people out there amaze me. They feel so entitled I guess. Eh, they amuse me and hopefully my blog readers too.http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blog ger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQPZ4 C&feed=1
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Letting go of the reins ~ a tale in potty training
2008-02-25 18:07:00
Control has always been an issue for me. Or I should say that loosing my control has always been as issue for me. Even as a child my need to have control over something drove my mother crazy and does to this day. In true "you get what you gave" tradition of the mother/child relationship, my girls have a need for control. I am trying to step back and let them have control over certain things. It makes my day easier in the end (usually) and gives them something to feel pride in. With Little Bear I am trying to step back and follow her lead. Today we are potty training.We have been trying on and off and each time she has decided that she is not ready. In fear of pushing her too hard and causing a rebellion towards the potty (which I can see happening with her all too easy) we just let it go and let her tell us.Whenever we get her undressed for the shower or a bath we point to her little pink potty and ask if she needs to go. Sometimes she will sit on it for a minute and think it is fun...
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Tired Tired Mommy
2008-02-18 20:15:00
I keep telling people that I don't remember being this tired during my pregnancies with either of my girls. But then again, with Miss Turtle I was very young and energy was limitless. When I was pregnant with Little Bear, I wasn't chasing toddlers around and acting as a chauffer/maid to a really messy 9 year old. So that is why I am so tired!I have been nothing but exhausted for the last few weeks and I don't see it getting better any time soon. I am told the 3rd trimester will be better, but I somehow do not really believe that at the moment.I am almost 27 weeks and counting down to 40. Well 41 since my midwife told me that they could be kind and induce at 41 weeks this time rather than 42. My babies like to come late. I will be around more once I can keep my eyes open without the tears of yawning clouding them. :Dhttp://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blogge r.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQPZ4C& feed=1
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One of those Moments
2008-02-12 15:53:00
There are always those moments that remind you exactly why you love your significant other so much. It's not like you don't remember or that you don't love them everyday, because you do, it's just those little moments that catch you and you flash back to why you got together in the first place.I love those moments and had one myself the other day.Hubby and I took Little Bear with us to Target to look at some wire shelves for the new craft closet and pick up a few random groceries. When we reached the check out lane, I did my usual quick visual sweep of the "impulse buy" rack. I spotted a Littlest Pet Shop turtle toy and instantly placed a disposable camera in front of it. I told Hubby what I had done (using a lot of spelled words and acronyms) and he replied, "Well, it has been a few days since she has found her turtle." I smiled a little and said, "It's only $3."I handed it to him and watched his entire face light up. He started talking to Little Bear and hid the toy tur...
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A Child's Guide to the Stomach Virus
2008-02-07 21:13:00
1. Always make sure that you get sick sometime after parental bedtime but before sunrise.2. Be sure that you miss the toilet at lesat once.3. Insist that you feel better and then repeat the vomitting a few hours later.4. Always eat something red or another bright color the night before you begin vomitting.5. Be sure to breath on everyone around you so that everyone gets to share your joy.Can you tell that we have been dealing with a stomach bug?http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blog ger.php?inventory_key=7FK6WL5FBEDW4QBQPZ4 C&feed=1
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Photographic Evidence
2008-02-05 05:38:00
Little Bear always fought me when it came to anything girly. She refused to wear bracelets or hair bows and she was not a fan of anything with ruffles on it. Then one day she started asking me for pink clothes. She wanted everything pink (or with kitties or kitty spots) and I happily pulled out her pink frilly clothing. I thought that this was great. Then one day she found a Hello Kitty bracelet that I made for her a while back and she demanded that it get put on her wrist immediately. Again, I a=happily followed orders. So with these two new revelations in the world of Little Bear, I decided to try the whole hair bow and pigtails thing again. Up until this point she flat out refused to have her done. No bows, no ties, and would run from the brush. After her bath one morning I pulled out her favorite striped polo shirt that has a picture of Rocket from Little Einsteins embroidered on it. We put her shirt and jeans on and I carefully asked if she would like to wear the bow...
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Suppressing Creativity
2008-02-01 23:43:00
Quick side note: Things have been all sorts of pear shaped in my world lately and I haven't had much to post about other than random bitching. Nothing is wrong and we are all fine.With Hubby's recent night shift hours, he has Friday off and usually only sleeps until about 11 or noon and does something fun with us. Today we took Little Bear to the Children's Museum. She LOVES it there! It is so much fun to watch her run around and engage in different activities. I am a firm believer in letting children express their own creativity. Even if that means they want to put a Christmas Tree on their Halloween drawing in the middle of July. We were sitting in the art studio area helping Little Bear glue some foam hearts to a piece of pink construction paper. Behind us there was a mother with her two girls and the mother told them they were going to make Valentine's Day cards. Then proceeded to tell the littlest girl "Ellie" that she should stop using the black paper since it wa...
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When life spins out of control, grab a basket of socks
2008-01-26 20:25:00
Last night I had a melt down. Part of it was the fact that I have some crazy hormones pulsing through my body and that other part is the fact that so many areas of my life have been out of my control lately. Mainly the whole situation with the car and the snowball avalanche that created. Nothing I could do about any of it and it just got to me. I will admit that in a lot of ways I am a bit of a control freak. I like things to be done the "right way" and I like to be able to say "I want to do this" and be able to do it right then. So when I get that nesting bug up my butt I want to clear out the office and get everything situated to start moving in the baby stuff. What expectant momma isn't excited for new crib bedding and fun blankies? So last night I was trying to move things around in the office so that Hubby could load it into the car and get it moved over to storage today. Everything I touched created a snowball. I would move a bag of gift wrap and I would end up with quilt bat...
More About: Life , Basket , Control , Out Of Control , Spins

It's been an intersting week
2008-01-25 17:21:00
I just got my car back from the shop on Weds. Unfortunately, the thing that it was doing when we took it in is STILL HAPPENING!! Two thousand dollars and three weeks and the damn car is still stalling out when I start it. The work order from Firestone says right at the very top in all capital letters that this is what the car is doing and this is what the PAYING customer who has been loyal for 22 freaking years wants fixed.Ya. Not too happy about that one. Hubby started the overnight shifts this week as well. I must have some crazy selective hearing because I thought he said three weeks was the duration. I was very positive and told myself that just three weeks is no biggie and we can deal with that. Um...no...It's three months. Little Bear throws a huge tantrum every single morning for at least 2-3 hours because Daddy is home and not lavishing his attention on her. Would it be wrong to kick him out and make him sleep elsewhere until the night work was over?On top of that, I had to...
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Rock Star Momma
2008-01-20 22:36:00
Last week I got to take a trip to the library all by myself. I love the library. People are supposed to be quiet, I can look at tons of things that interest me, and I can take home a bag full of stuff without putting a dent in the old credit card. It is a wonderful place.So I am browsing the aisles of the "New Books" section when I come across a bright blue and pink book called "Rock Star Momma . The Hip Guide to Looking Gorgeous Through All Nine Months and Beyond." I thought it looked pretty cool so I picked it up and added to my growing pile of books. I usually flip through some pages but a very impatient woman was all but whining and doing the potty dance behind me to get a book about photography above my head. A nice excuse me would have sufficed. Oh well.Fast Forward to today when I finally have a moment to myself to lie my lazy as son the bed and read for a bit. I was so excited to learn new facial scrubs from oatmeal to treat myself and feeling like a Rock star. I was going to...