by request...

Yes, it's true, I'm alive. And kicking. And blogging, apparently. 

I received a comment from a certain family member about how, in order to have a blog you must post.
Gee, unnamed family member, I've just been so busy!
But here I am, typing away. You're quite welcome. How's your morning?

I saw the last post I had, dated at the end of October and if I was not so tired, I would have giggled.

Okay.

Deep breaths, everyone.

In truth, not much is new.

I joined a gym in late November. I have recently noticed a difference between end-of-Ocotober me, and the way I look now. It's hard to tell, though. I thought about keeping pictures to show progress, but where would I keep such a thing? Yes, my tired mind just admitted that. I've been told not to weigh myself, and instead to try and notice inches. But I've been too busy to notice even that...what's a girl to do? Anyway...I had a workout buddy at first, but then she had to have surgery, so I was on my own. Somehow, I've managed to still go four times a week. It's hard, sometimes. But then, so is childbirth. So, I figure, why not. But sometimes, my only motivation is pure stubbornness, mixed with habit, and occasional uplifting comments from le Paul.

Did I just write that much about working out? Yes. Yes I did. And you read it. That's the best part.

My life has become quite routine. Work, home, put Aiden to bed, gym, home, relax. I like the stability.

I do find time to read. I finished The Hunger Games trilogy. I'm waiting not-so-patiently on the movie to come out. 

Aiden had his first birthday.
Aiden took his first steps.
He's still not walking like a normal human, we have to trick him into taking steps. But he makes momma so proud. Still teething, as ever. But that's another thing I'm proud of...I talked to someone today about their year old who only has 4 teeth. I have stopped counting Aiden's. I just know when he's teething, because it's the only time he's grumpy, ever. Unless he falls down. That makes him SO MAD.
The doctor said he's perfectly normal as far as growth goes. He had to stop there, but I know what he really wanted to say was, "Well, Aiden is perfectly normal as far as growth goes, but outside of that he towers over all over 1 year olds, to an almost shocking extent. I can't believe he's not in that World Record book, Ms. Vaughan! How on earth did you create such a child??"
Kidding.
Maybe.

Well, Okay, Unnamed Family Member.
I blogged instead of read before bed tonight.
I hope you were entertained.
I would love to go on, but I am quite tired.
Have a lovely day!
:D

Maybe lately I'm obsessed with only a few things.

Or, random.

Have been watching the World Series with the family, which has been so.much.fun. As you know by now, the Cards won. (Refuse to say that we lost...) Considering living in a state of denial and demanding a World Series Champ Tshirt anyway.

Also, I've been reading more than normal. It's going to make me smarter.

I record Everyday Italian. I'm obsessed with cooking her food. I made sausage and pepper sandwhiches. A.MAY.ZING.

Also, I'm going to experiment with a soup recipe that my whole family is skeptical about .
But they were also skeptical about my crab cakes.

I CAN'T. WAIT. TO . GET. THESE. STUPID. NAILS. OFF.
They're throwing my typing off completely.

Mom came home from the hospital today.
If I didn't see her for myself, I'd never believe how good she's doing.
In the back of my mind, I was afraid that Paul was telling me how good she was to make me feel better.
Nope! She says she's sore, but she's good. :)

I married Mike Napoli. Please refer to me as Mrs. Napoli.
Also, please make arrangements to have me a tshirt printed with his number and Mrs. Napoli somewhere.
Thanks.

I'm quite sure that Little Man is teething some more.
Other than that, I have the happiest baby in the world. :D

I will let ya know about my skeptical soup.
As soon as I get these freaking nails off.

Oh, hello.

-If I don't mind waking up early on the weekends, am I officially old? I slept in Saturday, but woke up early this morning by choice. Sort of. I mean, when I slept in yesterday the day was gone so fast...waking up early means breakfast. And coffee. And today, there was a bit of cooking on Paul's fishing show. I told him our worlds came together for that one episode.

-Ke$ha does not exclusively sing about boozing and partying and...things. She has a couple of serious songs. I just thought you should know that.

-Little Man turns 10 months old in...4 days. Official hardcore party planning time. At least I know where the smash cake is coming from. That's the hardest part. :) ((by the way, we're having the party December 10th, place tba.))

-Speaking of, does anyone have kids who have December birthdays? How do you handle that? Buy presents throughout the year and split them in half? One girl in my childbirth class said that her and her husband were going to throw their daughter "half-birthday" parties so that all their friends can come, when they're old enough for that sort of thing.

-By the way, the kid is completely mobile. He babbles up a storm, and has 8 teeth. He's pretty much a grown man.

-Have you heard the song "pray for you"? Well, you should.

-I'm officially completely tired of flaky people. I don't get a lot of time to myself, so if I'm going to spend it with someone, I don't want my time wasted. My bullshit tolerance is really low these days, but my bullshit sensor is in high gear. This is not directed toward any one person in particular, just the general population. Notice I didn't say the male population...males are not the only flaky humans.

-Have you been watching New Girl? Well....you should.

-I got new giraffe-print rainboots.

-I didn't watch ANY food network today. None. .......Are food network shows on hulu? Or netflix?

-I think that's all I have for now.

-Enjoy the rest of your day!

Just a few things.

First off, I know that you all have been on the edge of your seat, wondering if I made it through my fever blister crisis and got to eat again. I did. Little by little, my mouth healed and I was able to speak again, then eat, then eat normal, not cut into bite sized food.
Let me tell you something. I worship the ground the person who invented orajel walks on.
I hope that made sense.
The only good things coming out of that experience is knowledge of how to treat fever blisters and the 14 pounds I lost.
...I've already gained 5 back.


Glee premieres September 20th. So you'll know where I'll be.


I am totally, completely, 100% obsessed with pioneer woman.
She's had 3 episodes on the food network, (Saturday at 10:30 am) but mom and I got familiar with her around Christmas last year. She was the inspiration for my last blog title.
She's wonderful.


I made crab cakes today.
My mom halfway attempted to talk me out of it.
"Are you sure you want to do that today?"
It was quite the experience.
It was quite delish.
I'm glad I was stubborn about making them TODAY.
They were a bit of a hit! I was a happy girl.
If you want the recipe, I will share.


I am obsessed with Adele's "Someone like you.''
If I'm not humming it or singing it in my head, it's because I'm thinking about the crab cakes.


Have I mentioned I like my job?
I'm not just saying that.
I do.


I think that's all for now.

Perhaps this blog is me getting something off my chest...

I just need to say something.
I've been keeping my mouth shut quite a bit lately. For selfish reasons.
(NEVER take talking and eating solid food for granted, btw. Once it's gone, you will CRY.)

I've been thinking about respect.
Mostly respect toward one person in particular.
Or disrespect, rather. 
I'd just like to say...

LEAVE REBECCA BLACK ALONE!
(Since I can't speak, I can't make a YouTube video, you see?)
SHE MADE A VIDEO. SHE SANG A SONG.
Okay, for the record? Two videos. Two songs.
But let's think for a second.
That's no reason to bully her out of her school...
Poor Rebecca's probably like. Shooting this video.
You don't think the thought entered her head that MAYBE the song she was singing wouldn't be featured at the VMA's?
No?
It's no Tiny Dancer. That's for sure.
But you know what? If you get down to the core message of the song, it totally speaks to everyone.
Like you've never had your friends pull up at your house, and some were kicking in the front seat, and sitting in the back seat, and you had major trouble trying to make your mind up about which seat you should take??
...Okay, that's NEVER happened to me. 
.........And who doesn't do a little happy dance on Friday?
OR sing their own little song?
My mom sang us a Friday song when she'd get us up for school. I bet she still remembers it.
Rebecca Black's song was on GLEE. ...Maybe only as a joke. I don't know.

....Anyway. Glad that's off my chest.
You may return to your regularly scheduled programming.

This probably is a boring blog in which I state how sorry for myself I have become.

Hello viewers.
All 5 of you.

I come to you from my bed, in my bedroom, in my house, on Ardath Ave, in Wichita Falls, TX. USA. Earth.
Why did I feel the need to explain that?
Because I cannot speak using words. So this blog will be me oversharing.

Let me be more specific: I cannot speak using my voice. I can text, facebook, and blog; However, I can't talk. Outload. To strangers.
I physically can, yes, but it's painful.

So I went back to the doctor today after observing a white patch on the back of my throat. (Gross? Sorry...I say again that when I can't speak outloud and have only this blog to turn to, I overshare. Feel free to return to normal browsing if you feel the need.)
The doctor told me that it's a nice case of a bunch of fever blisters.
You know. From having a fever.
All weekend long.
Did I forget to post a sick blog?
Oh well. This is the gist: I had a recurring fever all weekend with no explanation. And it kept coming back, even thought I was very good about staying on top of it with Tylenol.
There. Now you know.

Last night before I went to bed my fever was still 101.2.
You probably should be writing this down.
There's a quiz after.



Anyway.


It's very painful to talk and eat.
I've lost 5 pounds since Friday.
It's not the best way to lose weight, I know, but unfortunately, it may be the only bright side to this horrible plague that has come into my life.

I should also add that I took 2 tylenol PM's and a benadryl before writing this.
Reason being that I'm trying to kick my fever blisters AND it's father Fever right in the tuckus so maybe they'll leave me alone.
Please save your intervention for some real issues that I may run into later on in life.  I'm not a pill head now.
Although if you want, you can write me a letter telling me how much you love me and how much my Tylenol PM/Benadryl post bored you and entertained all at the same time, and how I can't stay on one topic to save my life. It'll be fun to read later.

Anyway. Back to the title of my blog where I'm feeling sorry for myself and you're bored out of your mind reading this.

I digress.


Two parents of mine (who shall remain nameless) had nachos AND cheeseburgers last night.
I had some mashed potatoes.
SOME. Meaning....half a cup, maybe.
I told my mom that I probably will cry by the end of this week thinking about all the food I can't eat.
FYI: Cold tomato soup tastes the same as warm potato soup, only not warm.
It doesn't completely suck, like you might think.
In fact, I added a little straw to mine, and pretended it was a tomato smoothie.
Because...tomatoes are a fruit, right?
I can't take credit for that joke, unfortunately.

The point of all of this is,

I wanted to complain because I can't eat or talk, so I feel like I'm severely handicapped.
You know how they say that once one of your senses is put on the bench (In my case, taste) that all of your senses are heightened to make up for it?
It's completely true.

Now that it's off of my chest, I'll go back to my tomato smoothies.
With pleasure.  

Maybe there's a recipe in this blog...

This is me, blogging from my first very own laptop.

Aren’t you proud!

Well, you should be, if you’re not.

Anyway, I’ll post pictures later…I found some that didn’t make facebook, but until then, I have a recipe I’d like to share.

This salad has been my obsession for about four months now.

I finally perfected my own.

Strawberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients:
(I’m not putting measurements, because it’s completely up to you, and how many people you’re feeding! For example, you can choose to have this as your meal or as your side.)

Baby Spinach
Red Onion (diced or sliced, your preference)
Blue Cheese Crumbles
Bacon bits (Homemade is best, but if you’re too busy for such things, go ahead and buy ‘em.)

Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing
2-3 Cups of fresh or frozen strawberries
½ Cup of Olive Oil
¼ Cup of Balsamic Vinaigrette
1 ½ tbsp. sugar (I actually didn’t include this in mine and it tasted fine, so I’ll say this is optional)
½ cup water
Pinch of salt
Dash of pepper

For the dressing, just blend.

Off the record, I added a bit of lime juice-that’s not in the original recipe, but it still tasted good…

For the salad, just mix and eat.
If you desire, you can make your salad pretty by arranging a few fresh strawberries on your finished salad before you devour it.
Also, it’s pretty tasty when you add almonds or candied pecans.

If I feel up to it, I’ll post a recipe for candied pecans. It also requires little to no measuring, since when I learned I was watching, not reading.

Your mouth will thank you for it

I’d post a picture, but I ate it too fast.

Gotta get down on Friday.

As it happens, I only upload blog entries from my iPhone. 
For now. 
So, I can't upload a photo with this entry. 
Therefore, I can't show you the view I have right now. 
So, pretend that I have a picture below. 

[Huge Chocolate Lab with her face right in the camera. She's clearly hogging the bed and clearly won't lay still. ]

This is Penny. She's my mom and Paul's dog. 
Tonight I stayed at Carissa's, since both of us get to wake up and help unload the moving truck. 
I was rewarded with Penny's presence when I arrived. Mom's keeping her here for tonight. 
She was supposed to sleep in "my" room for the night. 
She didn't want to lay still on the bed. She wanted to explore outside the bedroom. 
Fine. 
So, she explored a little and came back. 
I told her I didn't want to accept her pity company. 
She looked at me blankly, then left. 
Dogs. 

Tomorrow is move day, complete with coffee and bagels for breakfast. 
What's better? 
Nothing. 


Little Man is staying at his dad's overnight. 
I'm glad Carissa needed a grocery shopping buddy. I normally don't know how to function without child. 

Anyway. 
Have a fab weekend. 

Surprise,

New Blog!
The URL is kinda like the song title the weary kind, but the weary kind was already taken and not weary. I'm hopeful.

And my blog title was chosen by Miss Mindy.

Kelli and I have been in Fort Worth for the past two days, and in two days I'm moving back in with my folks. I never thought I'd be excited about that, but I really am. My mom brings me peace, and Paul always makes me want to do what's right for myself. So I'd say that's a star environment.

More later, y'all.