Coffee Slut

In honor of National Coffee Day. (today) I thought I’d do a post on coffee. I’ll tell you what it means to me.

I remember the smell of it growing up as a kid. Brewing everyday.
I remember the church I grew up in brewing it for everyone at every event.
I remember the Folgers commercials. I remember crying at them, especially at Christmas, when the boy would come home to surprise his parents.
I remember my grandmothers drinking coffee. Along with my aunts. I remember how I thought how crazy they all were to drink it black. Right from the pot. At least my mom and dad added sugar and cream to make it taste better.

I loved to smell it. But I never liked the taste. It was just BITTER to me.
I loved SWEET.

I had a boyfriend in H.S. he was nice, but he often thought that breaking up for me or how he’d say “I just need a break for a few days” would destroy me. So my amazing friend we will call, Death Before Decaf, would hang out with me. Listen to my sad story, broken heart. And just listen, tell me I could do better. But he supported me, like a best friend does. And often times we’d be at Georgio’s, in front of the bowling alley. That, is where I had my first best coffee.

I’d fill it almost half way, yes HALF way with pure sugar. Then the rest with coffee. It was good, sweet, with a hint of bitter.

The coffee thing stuck, but as a treat. As I got older and started working midnights at the local casino’s coffee was still a helpful friend.

It wasn’t until I had Tink that I truly welcomed coffee daily. I dusted off the coffee pot we got as a wedding present 5 years before (we’d use it when family came over) I drank a lot of coffee now with a new born. And I went through a LOT of sugar.

It wasn’t until Buzz was about 1 year old, Blue and I decided to try the P90X work out system. Reading the new healthy diet book we had to cut back. He stopped drinking pop, cold turkey. And I took the sugar out of my coffee, cold turkey.

(see even Buzz likes his coffee! Don’t freak, just a juice!)

It’s 3 years later, he has yet to take a sip of pop, and sugar in my coffee is just TOO much sugar. I drink it black. NOTHING in it. Well maybe an ice cube.

I’m a Starbucks junkie. I’ll admit it. I LOVE their coffee, I’ve tried a few different once. The Tribute was hands down the best, most expensive (thanks to Death Before Decaf for that) I’m more of a Café Verona girl right now. The dark brew’s are my fav.

Oh and I have to tell you my dad and I have an ongoing friendly feud over coffee. For some weird reason he drinks the DD brand coffee and loves it. I get it, it’s a sissy coffee, not very strong. Good for the sissies. I do drink McD’s coffee out of desperation. It’s ok. It works, but for a strong coffee that does the job. Starbucks can not be replaced!


I used to go into the Starbucks stores and order the Raspberry Mocha. Depending on my mood and the weather it was hot, iced or Frappuccino (blended) with chips on it! LOVE.

Oh, and sweet budget breakers they put a Starbucks RIGHT down the street from me! Sadly after 11 months they closed a ton of stores, that was one of them. I was sad. No really I cried. Bastards.

A new mom friend from Tink’s preschool and I headed to Starbucks for a kid free break. She saw my order, and I said right away I knew how bad the Mocha’s were. TONS of sugar, carbs. But my treat. I do love the espresso part of them. Get the job done!
She said to try the “Americano” it’s what she gets. It’s nothing but espresso and water.
Sounds gross? It is. It’s straight bitter and strong, but throw in a shot of raspberry, or vanilla. It gets better. It is not for the weak of taste, but it’s a good time of espresso! (and cheaper then a Mocha!)

I’ve gotten my coffee fix so many other ways.

I drink it this way when I’m at a gas station…

Or this way when I’m scrapbooking all night with friends….

If I had it my way It’d be like this…

I did try a French press coffee once. HANDS down, the best way to drink coffee, OMG. It was beautiful. I need one of those… hint hint… Christmas…

And not kidding, I think this all the time. Maybe that is why I love to go to bed by 10 so I can get up early and drink my coffee…

Oh and I use my coffee pot so much that I had to get it replaced after 3 months this year. This was my beautiful red Mr. Coffee pot that my sister Frances bought me for Christmas 2011, by March it was fried. Good thing is JCP let’s you return it. No box, no receipt and lucky me, they had a red one. ALL better!

But every other day of the year besides the Mocha, and American, gas station or scrapbook ways. it’s like this. In one of my many coffee cups. Mostly Starbucks. Otherwise Disney.

 

SO Happy National Coffee Day!! Drink up however you take your coffee!!

JCat McGack

Organize. Purge. Repeat

I’ve been on this mission. See I need to explain the madness of our mess. I will confess, I am a toy hoarder. My mother was a toy hoarder. She passed down to me almost ALL of my sister and my toys.

I’m not talking a few boxes. I mean FULL sets. ALL my Barbie's, the two 3 story houses my dad built. The bunk beds for our baby dolls, Tinker Toys, MY matchbox cars, Star Wars characters, Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Bright, Light Bright, Glow Worms, Playground Kids, Precious Places (this is a town that fills a 2x8 dresser top) O’Jenny town (same as Precious Places) and those are just all the big ones I can think of off the top of my head.

I’m excited to share my awesome toys with Mia and Alex. But of coarse it doesn’t stop there. My children are only Grandchildren. Both of our parents will only see Grandchildren through Ed and myself. This leaves them to be super spoiled loved.

At first I was frustrated, and didn’t want all the spoiled toys here. It was just too much. They couldn’t enjoy them if there was SO damn many of them.

But I was sitting in the over stuffed, unorganized attic a few weeks ago and thought to myself. “What would my mom do?” She’d organize the shit out of all these toys. That’s what she’d do. So I channeled my inner mom. And went to work.

Step 1
Attic.
Funny thing is I wanted to clean out the basement toy room but to do that I had to clean out the attic, and both kids rooms first.
So I sorted. Purged. And organized the attic. A HUGE bin to the garbage, two more to donate (set on curb with free sign)
Now I’ve got the space. Next is to go to Target. Get bins. I found the Sterelite bins. 5 for $6, I have 20 of those. Also bought 5 more big storage bins. (it’s a start)

Step 2.
Bedrooms.
I caught some slack on facebook for this. Since all I kept posting was that I was cleaning my kids rooms. It was probably worded so it looked like all I do is clean their rooms, and they are mess monsters. It’s not what it was.
I was taking all the toys that were in their rooms and moving them to the attic. This was a 2 week process (with regular life in the way) moving it all to the attic. Finding space for it all. Sorting every.single.little.piece. I mean LaLaLoopsy shoes, to Polly Pocket shoes, and Barbie shoes. Every different character or themed toy has a bin. Phew. THAT was a lot of work. And the kids? Right by my side. Mia enjoyed the organizing process. And it taught her how we will be from now on.

Step 3.
Attic Again.
Now back to the attic, we are putting bins where they go. Finding a place for EVERY toy.

Step 4.
Toy Room.
YES there is a WHOLE room just for their toys to be played in. Our basement has one half finished as a toy room. Also known as a room with a t.v. and futon. Tables for toy set up. And their art desks are there.
Issue down there was simple. I trusted that if I let them have a good majority of their toys down there, that they’d put them away. Sigh… not possible. Even if I had the rule “Nothing On The Floor” it didn’t last long, and it being the basement, it was overlooked.
Our two cats life 99% of their life down there. Long story short. After the messes they’ve made on the first and second floor (destruction of a whole sectional couch due to confusion thinking it was a litter box) they should be happy they still have a home here. I can’t get rid of them. They are 8 and 9 years old. No one would take them. So I put up with them in the basement rooms.
SO. That is where I’m at now.

Step 5.
Attic. Toy Room. Repeat.
Toys from the basement toy room to the attic storage space. Scrub the basement floor. Set up all pretty.

Now for the rules.
1. Toys live in the attic.
2. You may have ONE toy in your bed room.
3. You may have ONE toy in the basement Toy Room.

It’s not as strict as it reads to be. ONE toy may be Star Wars. Well this includes ALL the Star Wars bins, so you could just throw yourself a damn good time. Or Disney Princess, well we have about 15 different houses and two boxes of people/accessories. Again, a damn good time for a kid.

This will be overall a great thing for our house hold. Wish I would have thought of this years ago. But I wasn’t there mentally. I was fighting myself, and the best I could do was just shove it all into the basement toy room and call it a day.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m washing the basement toy room floor today, in hopes to be done in that room today!

Happy Tuesday,

 

JCat McGack

Sleeping Arrangements

This is my family.

Well minus two cats, who have already been banned from this room. THIS is 5 of us. I’m the frowny stick figure at the bottom edge of this picture.

It ALL started with my husband working his LONG job at Wrigley Field. I get to go to bed, aaalllll stretched out. Enjoying this king to myself.

Of coarse before long, our beloved boxer, Sophie, needs to sleep here with me. I usually push for her to sleep in her bed on the floor in our room. But since Ed was at work, I’ll let the 60 pound baby take his spot!

Blue comes home and as always it’s us, with Sophie. Now Mr. Alex comes along lately and finds himself some property on our bed. USUALLY all sad like a lost puppy curled up at the end of the bed.

And this is rare for Miss Mia, she’s a rock star of sleeping in her own bed. But if you get up in the middle of the night. Why who would want to be left out of this party?

Not really all to sure WHEN Ed decided to sleep at an angle. All I know is I woke up with the alarm at 6:45 am with Ed’s foot on my face (lucky for him I’m a foot person. Didn’t bother me. Just confused) I sit up to find this arrangement of bodies in my bed.

First thought.

We COULD fit the two cat in here.

Second thought.

Get the camera. Edit with doodle circles. Blog about it.

So how does one deal with these bed buddies? I mean I LOVE my children, love my dog like my child, BUT I draw the line at MY bed. Anyone else have this issue? Will it ever end? Will I be hugging the edge of my bed forever? Should I move onto the Princess/Tinkerbell bedroom, and Ed to the Star Wars bedroom?

JCat McGack

We Mustache You A Question

 

Does this mustache make us look silly?

“Never take life too serious.

 You’ll never get out alive”

– Van Wilder from National Lampoon’s Van Wilder.

Happy Wednesday people!

JCat McGack

“I like paint and friends.”

I had a chat with Buzz this morning. I did my best not to cry, and hold back tears as so I don’t freak him out.

"Hey you. You know tomorrow Daddy and I take you to preschool" I said.

He says back with a mouthful of egg burrito "Yep. Mia, Sophie and Daddy leave me... But not you"
I TRY so hard to hold back the tears.

“Well tomorrow, Daddy and I get to stay with you. But, on Friday, in a few days, Daddy and I will take you and we have to leave you there, on your own” I say strongly, no tears. No tears. No tears I tell myself.

He thinks and says “Who will be with me then?”

I reply “Your teachers. Your new friends. You will play, learn your ABC’s and how to count, you will do art, and play at the playground too” I tell him ALL the positive things I can think of, hoping this won’t be a disaster. I mean his sister, Tink did A.MAZ.ING when she started school. But he’s my baby, and a momma’s boy. But I need him to be strong, independent, and smart on his own… still a momma’s boy though.

He says “OK! Because I like paint. And friends.” as he looks back to his Star Wars squinkie toys. I realize that conversation is over. And he is OK with the idea of being on his own.
I just watch him play… I think, he’s going to do JUST fine on Friday. Me? That’s another story.

My baby, that is becoming SO independent. My big boy that has his own thoughts, his own idea’s. I can’t slow him down. I can only enjoy this ride of life. Take it all in, because damn it, it’s going way to fast.

To my 4 year old, Buzz. I loves you. xoxo… and for all of you, I want to share with you OUR song. We’ve danced to since he was a baby.

Smile by Uncle Kracker

You’re better than the best
I’m lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler than the flipside of my pillow, that’s right
Completely unaware
Nothin’ can compare to where you send me
Lets me know that it’s okay, yeah it’s okay
And the moments when my good times start to fade

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh you make me smile

Even when you’re gone
Somehow you come along just like a flower
Poking through the sidewalk crack
And just like that, you steal away the rain
And just like that

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh you make me smile

Don’t know how I lived without you
‘Cause every time that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile

You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild

You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh you make me smile

(Oh you make me smile) oh you make me smile
(Oh you make me smile) oh you make me smile

Love you more then you’ll ever know,
Mommy