Exhausted

When people describe their busy toddler boys it sounds exactly like Boston. Except add on the drag-it-out, so-loud-you-think-you'll-go-deaf drama and crying of a girl. I'm sure I'm just wussy. I know there are far worse children out there. I am grateful for the sweet, loving side of her, but man oh man, can she wear me out! It's just a phase, right? She'll settle down. My girls will start playing better together. Boston will stop crying in the night. Right? Right?

I use to go to the store almost everyday with both girls. It didn't bother me. I liked to buy stuff fresh for dinner that night, and it was like my hobby. Now I dread it. I will not do it unless it is do or die. Thank goodness for the drive-thru dairy! It is my new favorite thing. I feel like milk is the only thing we can't get by without. Ya, I have to get the kids in the car, but seriously you just drive up and roll down the window. And they're really friendly!

When I'm exhausted like this, all I can think about is sweets. I would love to eat a huge bowl of ice cream. BUT, since I am trying to drop a few pounds, I tried an alternative so that I can curb my appetite without ruining my weight loss. Frozen banana ice cream! It was actually really good! You just take 1 frozen banana, and put it in your food processor until it's creamy. I added 10 frozen chocolate chips (yes, I counted them) and it was perfect. Give it a try, and let me know how you like it!

Laundry

I hate laundry.
I love clothes.
But, I hate laundry.
Who doesn't?
I cannot stay on top of it. 
Well...actually I should say, I cannot stay motivated to stay on top of it.
I am one lucky girl. Braden folds all of the clothes 99% of the time.
I am not so lucky in that I don't have my own washer/dryer and have to cart my laundry down to the laundry room.
And pay for it.
I use to only do laundry once a week for this reason. Resulting in a day of doing 6-8 loads. (The washers are tiny). 
Like I said, Braden folds.  
But the putting away is really what gets me.
I hate it. I mean, really hate it. 
I think even more than unloading the dishwasher. Which I guess, is the same type of thing.
Now I try and do it twice a week. Although it's not so time consuming, taking up the majority of a day, I still cannot seem to get them all put away before I'm needing to do another couple of loads. 
Suggestions? 
How can I make it seem like less of a "chore"?

The Flu

I've had conversations with several people in the last few months regarding "the flu". It has come to my realization that there are a lot of confused people out there...So I'm taking the liberty of sharing the correct information with all of you :)

True or False: The "flu shot" protects you against the "stomach flu"?

FALSE. The flu shot protects against influenza, which is NOT the same thing as the stomach flu (gastroenteritis).

• The Flu aka Influenza:
• This is what you get the "flu shot" for.

Influenza (flu), is a viral infection that mimics a cold except that it starts forcefully with symptoms of fatigue, fever, and respiratory congestion. While more than 100 different virus types can cause a common cold, only influenza virus types A, B, and C cause flu. More severe cases of influenza can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as pneumonia.

In addition, while antibiotics can treat a bacterial infection, antibiotics cannot treat influenza because flu is caused by a virus.

The flu shot is a weaker version of the actual flu virus. That is why you should NOT get the flu shot if you are at all sick. Getting the flu shot will allow your body to build up it's own immune system to the viruses.

• The Stomach Flu aka Gastroenteritis:
• The "flu shot" does NOT protect you from this. This is entirely different.

Gastroenteritis is an infection caused by a variety of viruses, including rotaviruses and noroviruses. Although it is often called the stomach flu, it is not caused by influenza viruses. 

Symptoms of gastroenteritis or stomach flu include abdominal cramps, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You may also have fever, headache, and swollen lymph glands, depending on the type of bug that causes it.

In severe cases of gastroenteritis, loss of bodily fluid can result in dehydration, a life-threatening condition that needs medical attention. Signs of dehydration include sunken eyes, light-headedness, increased thirst, dry or sticky mucous membranes in the mouth, lack of normal elasticity of the skin, decreased urine output, and decreased tears.

You can avoid dehydration by continuing to drink fluids and gradually eating a bland diet such as the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and dry toast). A bland diet is easily digested and is unlikely to irritate your sensitive gastrointestinal system.


References:
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/stomach-flu-not-influenza
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flu-shot/AN01778
http://coldflu.about.com/od/flumisconceptions/f/stomachflu.htm

I'm So Lucky! : Day 12

THEY'RE so lucky I didn't key their car.

I parked in the back of the parking lot, with 5 open spots to either spot of me, and some jack comes and parks like this next to me. Seriously? Really? (This picture doesn't do it justice. They weren't even pulled all the way in, so their mirror was right where my door would open. So annoying)

I had to push their mirror in so that I could barely, and I mean barely, squeeze into my car... (I mean van :)

Don't worry I left a note that said, "Try not parking like an idiot next time!"

Parking like "that" a.k.a. like a moron, is one of my biggest pet peeves. Seriously take the extra 5 seconds to correct your poor parking job, or maybe just learn how to park in the first place!

Dumbest Invention Ever

There needs to be a law that says if you're not going to blow it into a pile to sweep it up, or you'll be fined $20,000.

Every Tuesday afternoon there is crap all over my car because they "blew" out our carport....... Onto the ally where I'll drive through it and blow it back into my carport. Genius.

I'm driving down PCH (twice, this has happened now) and there is a man blowing the the crap out of the gutters onto the road with cars going 50mph. A. Nobody wants crap pelting their car. B. Seriously? Where do you think the crap is getting blown back to with cars flying by. C. Don't I pay taxes for street sweeping?

What's the point of blowing your crap onto your neighbors yard when they're going to blow it right back the next day. At least coordinate with the neighbors so that the crap gets blown over to the next street or something!

ARGH!

PS. Damn Dom Quinto.  Wiki it.