Conflict Resolution Training: To Deal With Highly Opinionated People, Give Up Being Highly Opinionated
27 JulFather’s Day Gratefulness
17 JunAs a little girl I can remember having such profound admiration for a man. A man that no other man ever could match. He was man that was a good husband, a good father, and most importantly a best friend. I was a very lucky little girl to have had such a wonderful grandfather. My Honeybun was one in a million, he had such an infectious personality that it was hard not to experience joy in his presence. One of the many things he taught me was to look for the most in people and because of this not only was I lucky enough to have had him and the daily memory of him, I have had two other very important male role models in my life. My dad who taught me that setting goals and striving for your best will ultimately make you your personal best, and my step father who taught me to love my-self in the face of all adversity because if I don’t love myself then how could anyone else. Continue reading
Run Don’t Walk to Your Nearest Liquor Store
13 JunThose of that know and love me, know that I have been working seriously hard on getting my boys rooms redone while they are at summer camp. Both of the boys, Hayden and Collin will turn 13 and 10 this summer. Last summer they begged for their own rooms. I’m not sure why, because child #2, Collin, does not have an independent thought without his older brother. However, looking back on this Hayden probably did some sort of brain-washing tactic to get Collin to go along; isn’t that what us older siblings do? Nevertheless, I was in grad-school last summer and writing a thesis so this moving and redecorating, and whatever just gave me hives. So like any good mom would do I promised, “Next summer guys, I will give you the rooms of your dreams!” Well, here we are…NEXT SUMMER!
Monday and yesterday, I prepped and painted rooms and bathrooms for 12ish hours each day. Today I can hardly move. I was at one point tossing the idea of getting a personal trainer. Screw that…who needs Stairmaster when I got an aluminum ladder. Up and down and up and down…that had to be equvilant to some sort of really serious workout. Crap, every muscle in body hurts. That leads me to this post…tylenol, ibuprofen, aleve, it did not work. It’s time for the big guns!!! Continue reading
Getting the Last Little Bit~You Paid For It
13 JunWhile gathering things for our coming summer vacation I went through our house in search of a 3 ounce tube of hand/foot cream. I knew we had to have one. I knew we had to have plenty. I knew this because, at birth I was given the beautiful gift of my Honeybun’s hands (my grandfather). He, of Irish descent, had a rugged, ruddy complexion that was mimicked in his hands. This was coupled along with many deep creases. I too, have the same hands. The only thing feminine about them, as my hubby says, “Well at least they’re small.” I suppose that’s the silver lining. 
Nevertheless, I use hand cream like nobody’s business. Every brand cheap, expensive, free, stolen, you name it, if they make it I’ve tried it. So, I knew I had some here. Of course, there were no 3 ounce or less bottles and I DON’T want to check my luggage. What I did have, was about 6 or 7 partially used larger tubes.
Oh Sh*t What’s For Dinner
4 Jun
Earlier this evening, Collin, my youngest son comes bounding into my room for the third time in what seems like a short period. In attempt to not appear more interested in the computer than I am in him, and in a rather animated voice, I implore, “What, my dear, what can I do for you?” Knowing that I am deep in learning how to html code or whatever they call the language to make this blog stuff fancy, he says, “Mom, I really hate to disturb you, but Hayden and I are STARVING!” I look at the clock and it’s nearly 6:00 pm. While that might not seem late, to my two adolescent boys it is extremely late. My mind starts to quickly roll through the day. I know I feed them around lunch time, while running the roads?! I’m sure they ate a multitude of snacks while I wasn’t looking?! Do they actually want me to get up and FEED THEM??!!! So, like a man watching the Sunday Football before Direct TV, I rush into the kitchen to see what I can possible throw together.
Before I divulge the fastest dinner known to woman, I have to give you a little background. Prior to my days as a Pampered Chef consultant I had no idea how to cook. I know what you are thinking, poor Patrick. I knew how to cook four things his mother taught me that were his favorites, so don’t even go there. Nevertheless, I became a consultant thinking I would learn how to cook and I really did learn quite a few quick tips and tricks along the way. What it did for me, mostly, was give me confidence in the kitchen. Those days are long behind me but now, and I have no problem grabbing a few kitchen staples and throwing them together. I also want to say that my sister, Rebekah Paton, of Fox Trot Catering in NOLA, who is an outstanding professionally trained chef and whom has had the opportunity to work and train in some of the finest restaurants in our country is tremendously patient when I call and ask some rather silly questions, and always want to know exact measurements. So, having those two entities behind me has made those that now have the opportunity to eat what I cook much more fortunate than they would have been a decade or so ago. Using a basic technique of a stuffed bread braid that I learned as a Pampered Chef consultant, this evening I grabbed leftovers from my refrigerator. In 20 minutes dinner was being eaten. Of those 20 minutes for 15 the bread was in the oven so I was doing other things. NOW THAT’S EASY!!! The Kids thought it was great
INGREDIENTS
2 cups shredded cooked chicken (leftover cooked any way)
1 snack pack carrots
1 snack pack green beans
3 tablespoons cheese whiz (why do I have this in my kitchen??)
1 can refrigerated pizza dough
cup fat free shredded mozzarella
Lawry’s Poultry Seasoning
non-stick spray
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Flatten dough on a cookie sheet. 
Line all other ingredients down the center length. 
Sprinkle with Lawry’s Poultry Seasoning. 
Cut dough and wrap like in picture. 
Spray with non-stick spray. Bake for 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Place back in the oven for a minute or so until cheese on top is melted. 
Serve hot with a side salad or vegetable. Makes 4 small or 3 large servings. 
***Now, what you can take away from this is that it will work with any:
1 meat
1-3 veggies
1 cheese
1 can of dough
Cheese on top optional
Seasoning optional
Hope this saves you in a crunch, it did for me tonight!! Let me know what you throw in!!
Much Love,
Steph
Summer Vacation ~ To Stress or Not To Stress?
2 Jun
Preparing a family for summer vacation can be exciting but at the same time can conjure up stress equivalent to that felt when getting ready to take an exam. Will they let us on the plane, have I abided by all the rules and regulations, do they think I will hijack the plane with my bottle of shampoo, will I be strip searched at the airport, will my children kill each other in the airport while waiting to board the plane, will they rumble in the aisle of the plane and will the air marshals have to step in? Perhaps at this point federal prison might actually be the vacation I may be looking for!!….Hmmmm food for thought!
I digress in my exaggeration, but you get my point. While I completely understand the need for all the precautionary measures, anal, type A personality, control freak moms like me, need valium prior to heading out to the airport because even though we are perfectly prepared…and I mean perfectly (you know us, the ones that goggled everything in advance) we are still terrified about being taken down by airport security. I mean what will that cost our children in therapy in later years; not like our high-strung, nervousness has caused them any long lasting need for psychoanalysis. 
So, as I do my advance goggling, I figured I would share with my other cohorts; even those of you who are afraid to admit you are like me. Each airline has its own baggage restriction and fee schedule. If your hubby is like mine I suggest you check it out. Patrick cannot stand to pay for my overloaded baggage, I mean he loves the high heels (on me that is…probably TMI) but he figures he has paid for them once already and does not wish to continue to pay over and over again. I cannot stand the looks he gives me as they hook up my suitcase to the scale and the inevitable moving of my stuff to other luggage or low and behold he have to break out the cash. It’s like I did something wrong….I mean me…did something wrong…REALLY???
Here are links and pdf files to the 3-1-1 Policy for Carry-Ons and the policy for Prohibited Items from the TSA.
There is even a app for your iPhone, called My TSA. I was actually surprised that we could carry on some of the things that we could carry on. I was befuddled that I had to check in my big shampoo bottle or Dawn (which with kids I never travel without), seriously, a girl has to have clean hair but, but you could really hurt someone with a 4-inch metal scissors with pointed blades. Haven’t they ever been in a kindergarten class?
Nevertheless, as you are planning your summer vacay, remember that family time is the goal wherever you are and that no matter what happens at the airport, or in the car, or in the queuing lines at amusement parks ,etc. its about marking the moments together. As we all know time passes much to fast. So, enjoy the journey and laugh out loud.
Much love,
Steph
Summer Reading
31 MayIt’s summer and there is time, once again, to read for enjoyment. So much of my reading is done for information and research, during the school year, that I rarely read for entertainment. Nevertheless, early this spring, after being diagnosed with shingles, I became completely obsessed with the Hunger Games Trilogy.
My plan was to read the trilogy on summer vacation, but I could do little else during that two-week period so I read, read, read, and read. I must preface this by saying that I am not a big reader, or at least I don’t see myself as one. Most of the people I know read much more that I do. So, for me to find a series of books that I enjoy and don’t want to put down is a huge deal. Summer vacation is quickly approaching and I know that those long lazy hours must be spent with a loaded Kindle, or iPad with Kindle App, ready to entertain. My planned summer books have been read! What is a girl to do??
I have checked Goodreads for recommendations and have asked around but have not really decided. I am certainly open to suggestions!!!
Two Series that were recommended were:
by James Dashner ~ That received 3.89 on Goodreads
and
by Veronica Roth ~ That received at 4.39 on Goodreads
Both are supposed to be enjoyed by those that enjoyed the Hunger Games Trilogy. I’m not sure what’s on tap for my soon to be 7th grader’s summer reading list, but maybe one of these might be and then I can kill two birds with one stone and find some common ground. We have a couple of plane flights coming up in the next few weeks that we could share the iPod and even do an audiobook. Surely, he will be like…”Mom, REALLY…SERIOUSLY??” LOL, oh how I love to torment Hayden !!!
Any suggestions of great summer reads out there??
Much Love,
Steph
