From the monthly archives:

March 2010

Morning Routines

by Mary Anne on March 8, 2010

There are several times that are quiet around here. Morning is not one of them.

(Click to play video…be sure to watch to the end for hilarious out-takes from Mr. C and Miss G!)

BLISS TV Morning Routines from Blissful Media Group on Vimeo.

If I get up early enough, say around 5:30 or so, I can get a good :30 minutes of quiet time in to check my news, read some email and have a blessedly quiet cup of coffee before chaos takes over the minute the children are fully awake and running amock in the house. The activity can easily be broken down into three rounds….

Round 1: Good Morning Sunshine!

My son gets up easily enough. He usually requires a hug before sitting down to breakfast and patiently awaits the attack that is no doubt coming from his little sister who does not share his cheery disposition in the morning. The “argument du jour” will generally start within 10 minutes of her arrival at the breakfast table and will only end after they have fully driven both their father and myself crazy. Oh, and no one will eat the same thing which means my husband and I are running around playing short order cook to two very ungrateful customers who don’t even leave a tip, just a few dishes behind, to thank us.

Round 2: Lights, Camera, Action!

By now it’s off to get dressed which presents another set of unique problems. Mr. C has hair that truly has a life of its own. Overnight, it somehow arranges itself into a style that requires industrial strength product to hold down and even then he sometimes still leaves the house looking like he has a horn sticking out of his head. Also, he is slightly color blind. If you were ever wondering how many times one child can put together a brown on brown outfit in one week, the answer is slightly over one million.

Miss G on the other hand is quite the fashionista. She can mix and match like nobody’s business. Sadly, the weather plays a big part in our mornings here because if it is freezing cold, she prefers t-shirts with spaghetti straps and shorts. However, if it is hot, nothing is going to make her feel fancier than that wool coat with the faux fur trim at the neck and wrists.

Round 3: Let’s Get This Show On The Road!

Usually at this point we are a few minutes to egress. The countdown has started to bus arrival time and The Man gives minute by minute updates on exactly how long the children have to get out the door. Right about now, two things usually happen. First, socks are lost. Sure they were in the drawer last night but now the only socks that are there are the ones that are “yucky and don’t fit right” that surely we cannot expect them to place their precious toes in. Those kids you see at school with the shoes but no socks? Yeah, one of those is usually mine.

Next up, someone will remember they had homework that didn’t get done or a form that needed to be signed and returned. The realization that they have no idea where these items are will set in a few seconds later and a search team will be deployed to find the missing papers, which have been found in locations and exotic as the fish tank and once, the freezer.

Eventually we do get them out the door and onto a day of higher education and we collapse by the door after they leave, covered in spilled coffee and chocolate milk with nothing but each other to keep us vertical. Mission accomplished!

As part of my “simplify life” motto for the year, I’m looking for ways to ease this process but I haven’t gotten there yet. Tell me about your morning routine…surely I’m not alone here. And if you are actually are that perfectly organized June Cleaver type I strive to be, let me know how you do it…any and all tips to make this routine easier are much appreciated!

This article about making mornings easier is part of the Kraft Bagel-fuls “Break up with your Breakfast Routine” sweepstakes. Visit BlissfullyDomestic.com for all the fabulous details.

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The Kitchen Pass List

by Mary Anne on March 2, 2010

A few days ago, The Man and I went to go see Shutter Island. I’d like to tell you it was because I was genuinely interested in the plot but really it was because I read somewhere that one of my fantasy boyfriends on the kitchen pass list, Leonardo DiCaprio was in EVERY SINGLE SCENE. 218 minutes of Leo sounded like bliss to me.

Boy was I wrong. Take it from me, if you must see this movie, make it a Blockbuster night and fortify yourself with copious amounts of wine….you’re gonna need it.

Wait, where was I?

Oh yes, the kitchen pass list. The list that The Man would turn a blind eye on in the unlikely event I was ever to bump into one of these beautiful men, have him fall madly in love with me for no more than a few nights and sweep me off my feet into his private jet to take in the Opera in San Francisco, all the while decorating my neck with Harry Winston jewels and allowing me to shop on his credit card on Rodeo Drive. (You say run on sentence? I say clear and concise summation of entire Pretty Woman plot line. Pfft.)

Anyway. Let’s take it from the bottom up (heh heh) shall we?

Number Five: Bradley Cooper.

Admittedly his stock was much higher right after The Hangover came out but then he started dating Renee Zellweger (Sorry people, I’m just not seeing it…). He remains on the list though because I can totally picture myself riding in a convertible with him, leaning over to slowly pull of his aviator glasses and gazing into his blue eyes as he….. Wait. This is not that kind of blog.

Number Four:   Leonardo DeCaprio

Leo used to occupy the number two position but had to be punished for the above referenced 218 minutes of my life that I will never get back.   Those blue eyes, that curly hair…I can tell you with absolute certainty I would go down with him.   People, I’m talking about on The Titanic.   Get your minds out of the gutter.   Geez.

Number Three: Robert Pattinson

The only thing keeping this teenage vampire from being number one on my kitchen pass list is the fact that when he is not in “Edward” mode, he really looks like he needs a good scrubbing in the bathtub.   Wait….I just had an idea.

Number Two:   Hugh Grant

This is a tricky one. Not only because my adorable Scottish friend Ally from The Reluctant Subrubanite is real life friends with him, but also because it’s possible that I might have been “over served” at the Ritz Carlton Reynold’s Plantation  outside Atlanta while in a rather small bar area with him. It’s also entirely possible that I might have, maybe loudly , slurred something rather insulting at him. Possibly. Or not. Still, he has great hair and blue eyes and that accent?   OH. YES.

Number One:  Harry Connick, Jr.

Not only does he have the requisite wavy, thick hair and blue eyes, I already have photographic proof that he is my new boyfriend.   I mean sure, I stood there for about one minute but still…Kismet I tell you.   Nevermind that security had to drag me off and he is actually married to a Victoria’s Secret supermodel.   Details, details.    The main thing is that I get to use this picture as many times as possible in my blog.   Because I can.

So tell me dear readers, who is on your kitchen pass list?   I want juicy details and reminders of anyone I’ve left out.

I’m counting on you for some good comment reading so bring it on!

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