Day 170 -Go To Lake Front Festival Of The Arts

Today I went to an art festival on the lake front. The festival is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Museum. Every year artists from all over the country come to Milwaukee to display their art. It is an event that I look forward to every year, and this year was no exception.

It was an absolutely beautiful day for the event. The sun was shining, it was warm and breezy. The lake was picturesque with sailboats in the distance. Just one of the million reasons why I love living in a city that is on Lake Michigan.

This year I tried something new, I attended the event with a friend and not my family. While I love doing these things with the family, the children are not nearly as appreciative of art as I am. They get very bored and tend to complain, making it very hard for me to have fun and browse the way I would like to. My husband likes the event, but since he was out of town all week, he willingly spent the day with the kids. I was very grateful to him for spending the day with them. I love my children dearly, but one week alone with them proved to test my nerves!

I had a successful day at the fair, I found the perfect fathers day gift for my own dad. I enjoyed a glass of white wine on the patio of the museum and found some spicy Bloody Mary mix for my husband to enjoy on Father's Day. I also found ice cube trays of "the scream" face. Drinks on ice will never be the same in this house again.

Day 169 - Ride My Bike

Yesterday my daughter got a new bike. It got me thinking, I have a really nice bike that I used to ride a lot. I no longer ride it because clearly I am a lazy person. Tomorrow, I am going to have my husband pull that bike down from the garage ceiling so that I can start riding again. It is great exercise and a fun way for the family to spend some time together. Even if I only ride it a few times this summer, it is more than I would have if my daughter never would have gotten that new bike. Thanks Hannah for reminding me that exercise can be fun!

Day 168 - Use A Pedometer

I am going to start using the pedometer that I have on my iPhone. My goal will be 10,000 steps a day, which is what fitness experts say is the perfect target. I walk a lot, but it seems like no matter how much walking I do during the day, I never get enough walking in.

So, starting tomorrow, I am going to start using the pedometer. Time to start monitoring my steps and attempting to reach a very attainable goal, if I just focus on it. Wow! I sure do have a lot of things that I continue to try to change in my life. Wonder if I will ever achieve the near perfection that I am always trying to reach? I doubt, I have never been a person who needs perfection, but it sure is fun to try.

Day 167 - Walk Away

Yesterday, when I got home from work I walked into yet another fight between my oldest children. I guess my son called my daughter a dumb ass before I got home and she wanted a swift and severe punishment for this so called indiscretion. Now, I didn't think this was so bad. I can think of worse things to call your sibling, and I am sure that they have called each other these names when not in my presence. I just had the terrible misfortune of walking through the door when dumb ass was thrown at her.

My presence seemed to be an invite to try to pull me into this fight. Alec said he felt that I should be punishing Hannah for what she did to be called a dumb ass. Hannah felt that Alec should be punished for calling her a dumb ass. My only thought was I am a dumb ass for being pulled into yet another stupid fight. So, before I started yelling, I turned around and walked out the front door. I walked up and down the street a few times and then went home. When I got back Alec was in the basement, Hannah was cooking dinner and the fight was forgotten. Clearly, I am the problem. I learned a valuable lesson a little late in the parenting game. Stay out of it and walk away.

Day 166 - I Am No Longer Afraid To Be Home Alone!

Since I was a teenager I have been afraid to be home alone. When I was a senior in high school my parents would leave me home alone occasionally (no gasps please, I was 18 at the time). I would stay awake until the sun was rising and then go to sleep. I was somehow convinced that something would happen to me if I fell asleep.

When I went to college, I always had a roommate. First my dorm room mate, than a friend, finally I moved in with my boyfriend who I eventually married. I was never alone at night. If Eric left, I found a friend to stay with. That is how truly terrified I was.

When we married and he had to start occasionally traveling, I found myself terrified again. Often staying up all night, until I could see the sun rising before going to sleep. That method led to some very tired days at work. I will never forget the first time he left me alone, I was standing in the kitchen and saw the words RED RUM written on the screen. Eric thought he was being funny before departing, it nearly scared me to death. As the years have gone by, my fear was as strong as ever. I even talked my mom into visiting for a few days several years ago when Eric was out of town, the fear of being alone was overwhelming.

For the last several years, Eric travels a few times a year. Suddenly, I am no longer afraid. I like to think that it is because I am a braver person. I don't think that is the case. I think it has to do with the fact that I have older children now. I have a 13 year old son who teeters between being a child and a young adult. Having him here makes me feel safer, more secure. Good news for me, because I no longer dread being in the house without Eric. Bad news because he will be leaving in several years and I will be on my own again. No need to dwell on the future though, for this week, I have no fear of being home without my husband.

Day 165 - Eat At Home More Often

Lately, we have been eating out too much. It is taking a huge bite out of our wallets while making our butts bigger. We all know that eating out too much is not good for you. It has been so much easier to just grab a quick bite to eat at a restaurant while on the go.

Last week I talked about the fact that I want to plan meals at home that are balanced at better for us. I think it is time for me to put that plan into action. Summer is the perfect time to eat balanced meals that are cooked at home. Here is a list of our favorites from summers past.

1. Cold Pasta Pesto Salad

2. Black Bean and Rice Salad

3. Grilled Chicken and Grilled Vegetables

4. Hamburgers and Potato Salad

5. Brats and Baked Beans

6. Grilled Pork Chops and Baked Potatoes

7. Grilled Steaks

8. Orzo Salad

9. Sandwiches and Fruit Salad

10. Fish and Grilled Asparagus

A lot of the salads that we eat I make the night before and let them sit in the refrigerator for easy preparation at dinner time. I usually have a loaf of bread and fruit salad as a side dish. It makes for easy prep. and easy clean up if I use paper plates.

Day 164 - Play With The Dogs

We have 2 beautiful dogs. A Golden Retriever and a Black Lab, they are wild and rambunctious. They bring us great happiness and joy. We love our dogs. Thankfully, we have an Invisible Fence that makes it easy for them to get a lot of exercise and fresh air.

Since we are a busy family, we tend to let the open yard with the fence keep them busy and give them their needed exercise. However, we need to start playing with them a little bit more. Give them a little more playtime and attention. Today, I was watching my kids play with the dogs, and they all looked so happy. Something about seeing my kids playing with these so called perfect family dogs made me yet again realize how incredibly lucky I am to have so much in my life. Every kid deserves to have a dumb, loving dog for happiness and responsibility.