organizing the have-tos and get-tos

To say I've felt overwhelmed lately is an understatement. I can't seem to keep up with things in my work life or personal life. There's so much to do, and so little time. I'm being pulled in a million directions, so Monday I sat down and churned out a to-do list.

Now, sometimes writing down everything that needs to get done makes things more overwhelming. That's definitely how I feel about things in my work life. When I attempt to write it all down to try to figure out how I'm going to tackle everything, it makes things even more overwhelming.

But for my home life, I'm hoping a little more organization will help me get more done in a short span of time, and give me a little help in balancing the have-tos and get-tos.

As most of you know, my husband owns a gym. And like most gyms, his hours cater to the working class, meaning he's open when most people are off work. The only catch to this is I don't see him until 8:30 or 9pm, meaning I'm a single mom on weeknights. By the time I pick up James Michael and get home, I have 1.5 to 2 hours with him before he goes to bed. Then another 1.5 to 2 hours before I go to bed. Writing it out makes it sound like so much time, but in the moment it all seems so fleeting.

I've written before about how it's hard being a working mom. But that's not what this post is about. This post is about making the most of the time I do have. I want to capitalize on the couple hours I have with James Michael each evening, and not worry about the load of laundry that's wrinkling or the spaghetti squash that I need to throw in the oven. I want to focus on him entirely.

In making this master to-do list, I also want to give myself a little me time, too. I want to build in time, even 15 or 20 minute blocks, for me to do things that I enjoy. Sure, I can't CrossFit five times a week like I used to, but I can shoot for a couple times a week. And obviously, I can't blog as often as I used to, but I can work in time for hobbies.

I realize I'm probably blogging about this prematurely, since it's really day 1 of implementing this plan. I know I've forgotten tasks, and not accounted for things that pop up at the last minute. And that's ok. This list addresses the big stuff, and by writing it all out makes me feel like I'm in control—even though life may beg to differ.

Hopefully I didn't get too ambitious, but I also have tried to think through what I can do to save time each week so that I can fit in more undivided attention to James Michael and more time for personal hobbies. So I'd like to start meal planning for the week. In the past, I've never been a fan of this approach, because I wanted to be inspired to cook dinner that night. But, that was back when time wasn't an issue. Even though it may take a little time to think through on the weekends, I would love to know exactly what I'm cooking for dinner that night when I come home, even if it's something as simple as fish and veggies. I also am going to try prepping meals ahead of time. Theoretically, this approach will allow for a couple nights a week to CrossFit, blog or bake.

Do any of you mama's have suggestions for how to fit it all in, especially when you've only got a few precious hours? Please let me know your secrets—I'm all ears!

On a side note, a couple weeks ago, my husband told me that no one read my blog any more because I never post recipes and instead only blog about James Michael. I didn't contest it, because it's true. Life has changed since I began blogging. Maybe I now fall into the category of a very inconsistent mom blogger. It is what it is. My life has been forever changed by JM's birth. Do I miss cooking and creating in the kitchen? Of course. I still take a crack at new recipes every week or two, but I can't seem to find the time to share them on here. Maybe that will change with my new to-do list, only time will tell. All I know is I blog about what I'm passionate about, and James Michael will always be at the top of that list :)

picture montage

September has already been a busy month. I've lived out the past two weeks with the constant thought, "I should blog about that," but then I never get around to it. So to catch up on the past two weekends, here is a steady stream of pictures.

Labor Day weekend marked the last lake trip.

 Party barge with tons of shade for James Michael!

Lovin' from great grandmother Gigi. 

 A backwards-scooting baby.

Homemade pumpkin spice latte. 

Sea Doo dude.

Baby napping in the cabin cruiser. 

Good eats.

Good friends. 

Happy baby who loves being the center of attention. 

Sweetness. 

Eat meat, repeat. 

The shirt says it all.

Last weekend, we celebrated Great Grandma's 87th birthday.

Doting grandparents. 

Cheek smushes. 

Baby got back. 

Get me off my tummy! 

Hubby's mistress: Kawasaki Vulcan 900. 

friday's letters...from james michael

Dear "Uncle" Bair, thanks so much for helping to lower my crib. Mama said she didn't sleep well a couple nights worrying about whether I would pull up and fall over the side. I told her, "Mama, don't worry about me. I'm a big boy." She then gave me what daddy calls 'the look' and said, "That's exactly why I'm worried."

Dear Hurricane Isaac, you really put a damper on my fun this week. Mama and Daddy weren't able to take me on my daily walks, and you know how restless I get when I'm stuck indoors. At least I got to go to the gym one day and see all the crazy, sweaty CrossFit people do lots of crazy things. Can't wait until I start walking and do what I want at the gym. Mama is scared to death of me having free reign, so she's talking about pinning me up in a corner so she doesn't have to worry.

Dear Aunt Ellie, I'm so excited to see you this weekend. It seems like just yesterday that you were right there when I opened my eyes after I was born. Yuck. Actually, I don't remember my birth, but mama tells me you were right there coaching her. I really love your long blond hair, and can you please wear those crazy glasses that I like to pull off your face? Also, I can't wait for you to do the Shuler dance for me again; I've heard laughter is the key to a long life.

Dear Mama, I know that sometimes it's hard for you to go to work all day and be away from me. I've got the same confidence as my daddy, and know I'm irresistable, so how could you not want to be with me all the time? But mama, I love playing with all the other little kids and I have so much fun during the day. Just know that I'm happy and healthy and well cared for.

Dear musical toys, you are a.w.e.s.o.m.e. I could play with you for hours. Oh wait, I do. Mama and daddy are very tolerant for now because they say the toys keep my attention while they do things like cleaning and cooking. The reason I love you is because you randomly start playing music in the middle of the night when everyone is sleeping and scare my mama to death.

Dear Daddy, I think you and I are going to have so much fun together as I get older--and possibly drive mama crazy. When she came to pick me up from daycare yesterday, she just laughed at me and asked me why my daddy had dressed me in a bathing suit for the day. I just smiled at her because there are so many crazy things that me and you are going to do over the years that I didn't want to scare her this early.

dream with me

Though I am typically very practical and down to earth, I still consider myself a dreamer. I like to think of how things might be one day, visualize the future without restrictions and, admittedly, idealize life while overlooking common restraints such as time and money. Yes, dreaming is therapeutic and refreshing. Sometimes, it can trick you into a state of unobliterated hopefulness. And even if it doesn't last, I firmly believe that dreaming does a body good.

So someday, in *hopefully* the not-so-distant future, when we're out of our two-bedroom condo and life is unencumbered by time, money and to-do lists, dreams will unfold to reality.

Until then, dream with me...

In my dream home, my kitchen would take up one third of the house and include a sitting area (since we spend half of our time in it)...

...and I would have a walk-in pantry the size of a bedroom that is more accomodating to fresh produce than packaged goods.

In my dream home, there would be a large, screened in back porch for relaxing and enjoy family meals...

...overlooking a large lush, grassy backyard with a garden area for me to grow select fruits and veggies.

In my dream home, the living room would feature a large, inviting sectional sofa...

...and there would just be one TV in the entire house--reserved only for the occasional movie or UGA football game.

In my dream home, there would be a ridiculously massive four-car garage...

...so that half of it could be used as a CrossFit gym so that I could work out while babies nap.

In my dream home, there would be a basement for entertaining and for sending rowdy kids downstairs to play in the winter...

...which would double as a practical destination for the diaper chute, laundry chute and trash chute.

In my dream home, there would be a cozy home library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and soft leather chairs...

...and a separate his and hers home office.

In dreams and in love
there are no impossibilities.

Credits for all these images can be found on my Dream Home pinterest board.

resurrection of the infamous dinner party

Last August, mine and James' good friend Chris Bair turned the big 3-0 without much celebration. I can't even remember what all was happening at that time last year, besides the fact that we found out the gender of our baking baby. But this year, we were determined to make it up to Chris Bair with a dinner party to celebrate his 31st.

Years ago, while we were mid-twenties and everyone was single, or at least unmarried, our good friend Haroon threw dinner parties on a regular basis. I have fond memories of waking up the morning following a dinner party to a kitchen full of leftover cornish game hen carcusses. Dinner parties started at 8pm, appetizers were served between 9 and 10pm, and it seems dinner was never ready until after midnight. But it was well worth the wait as Haroon concocted some amazingly tasty dishes.

Now that our schedule has changed due to James Michael, the timing of our dinner parties has, as well. For this party, appetizers were served until 8:30pm, and the entree started at 9pm. By 11pm, we were packing up all our cookware (because we brought half our kitchen), and by 11:30pm, we were home and James Michael was back asleep in his own crib.

Here's a rundown of food, tag-teamed by the Hobson Duo.

I created a pastrami roll appetizer. Basically, it's just pastrami, with a spread of pesto, rolled around a persian cucumber and topped with half of an heirloom tomato. Simple, and quite pretty with the yellow tomato.

My friend Sara graciously let us use her new, spacious townhome (with an amazing kitchen) in Vinings for the event. She provided some hummus and crackers to provide a less paleo appetizer option to my pastrami rolls :)

James Michael was only able to welcome a few guests who arrived on time early, as his bedtime is 7pm.

He played sous chef as daddy cooked. 

JM got to hang out with the birthday boy before bed. Don't worry, JM was removed from this precarious situation as soon as the picture was snapped!

James made the first hot course, a butternut squash-tomato soup that was very tasty and made me wish it was fall in late September instead of late August. It was served piping-hot and topped with shredded parmesean.

Because of logistics, we decided to divy up serving the Surf and Turf course, just so people could eat it while it's hot. Surf came first with James literally getting his hands dirty prepping Paula Deen's recipe of crab cakes.

During the service of the crab cakes, the party was surprised by the arrival of a pair of 5.5 week old twins! I was impressed that the mama look very well rested, and when she told me the twins were sleeping a 6 hour stretch at night, I was amazed. When I told her about James Michael's little appetite, she proceeded to quickly knock on wood lest her girls change their sleeping patterns.

Birthday boy and babies' daddy.
Ladies, if you're in the market for a guy who is great with babies, let me know. Chris Bair is in the market. Marriage first, of course, then babies. Just saying, he'll be a great daddy.

Something so sweet about big men holding little babies.
James is determined we'll have a girl next. I told him that's completely up to him, and has nothing to do with me :)

For the turf course, James whipped up two batches of shoulder tender medallions for the crowd, using his tried and true steak method. And when I say tried and true, this means that a couple years ago, James spent a month perfecting how to cook the perfect steak. This means he ate steak almost every day for 30 days. Luckily, it paid off because I'm now a believe that his steak method is better than that at restaurants.

Cooking in the castiron. Here, he is finishing the steaks in a garlic herb butter.



As the side dish to the Surf and Turf, I made one of my favorite recipes that includes Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, shallots and bacon. As luck would have it, these are the only pictures I have of my dish :)

Don't forget: if it's your party you can do what you want to.

Last up, birthday cake. I waited until after Bair took a bite and confirmed it was good to tell him it was gluten-free :) As a huge chocolate lover, I will say that it was nice to make something other than chocolate for dessert. The summery strawberry flavor was well received.

Traditional chorus of Happy Birthday, presentation of cake and blowing out of candles.

Gluten-Free Strawberry Cake
[adapted from this recipe]

Ingredients:

• 24 oz. strawberries
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/4 cup gluten-free flour (I used Bob's RedMill)
• 1/4 tsp xantham gum
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 12 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

1. Hull and slice strawberries and place in container. Toss with a 2 tsp sugar, cover and let them sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours.

 

2. Blend strawberries until they become a smooth puree and set aside.

 

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease and flour (I used gluten-free flour) two 9-inch round cake pans.

 

 

4. In small bowl, mix 3/4 cup strawberry puree, milk, eggs and vanilla with fork until well blended.

 

5. Sift flour and xantham gum together. Repeat.

 

6. In large mixing bowl, blend sifted flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

 

7. Continue beating at slow speed and add butter. Mix until texture is similar to moist crumbs.

 

8. Add wet ingredients from small bowl and beat at medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes. (If the batter is not pink enough for you, add a couple drops of red food coloring.)

 

 

9. Divide the batter evenly between pans and smooth tops.

 

10. Bake for roughly 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

 

 

11. Let cakes cool completely before icing. I don't have a precise recipe for the icing. I started out making a double batch of icing just because I didn't want to get cut short. So I blended two 8oz packages of cream cheese, 2 sticks of softened butter, large bag of confectioner's sugar and 2 tbsp of vanilla. Then I added in a little (maybe 1/3 cup?) of leftover strawberry puree. Then, of course, I had to add in more sugar to get the right consistency. So just play with it, or search for a recipe from someone who knows what they're doing :)