I hate car shopping.

There.  I said it.

With a 4 year old soaking up everything I say (Seriously!  Last month I overheard her repeatedly tell another customer at a restaurant, "My mommy likes milkshakes, but they make her sick." because I had mentioned it to someone a few days prior), I try to avoid using the word "hate", and instead usually say, "can't stand".

But I am using "hate" now.

Maybe because my daughter can't read my blog.

Or maybe because I'm full of passion regarding how I feel about car shopping right now.

We drove 55 miles one way for an appointment to test drive a Prius.  We had been in communication with the dealership for days, and it finally worked out with our schedule for this afternoon.  We arranged child care because I knew there was no way we were taking a 4 year old with us to sit through the car buying process.  And off we went on our journey.

Are you familiar with the term "bait and switch"?

Let's just say it's strange that a car would be sold and yet the dealership would still confirm with us that we were still coming.  Rather than tell us with common courtesy that the car sold.

I don't know if the car actually existed even.

Regardless, I had no interest in dealing with a company like that.  And I had no problem letting them know that.

I thanked them for the complimentary water, and we were on our way.


What a waste.

I'm just ready for this day to be over.

And for us to magically just have a vehicle dropped in our laps.

Ok, not literally.

It is a battle that doesn't end.

This evening I had oatmeal for dinner.
I was in pajamas by 8.
And I saw two random cats in our backyard.

TWO!

They're coming for me...

I'm destined to become a crazy cat lady!!

But until that happens I thought I'd share a quickie recipe with ya'll.

If you know me at all, you know that cooking is NOT my thing.  NOT my gift.  NOT my jam (as the kids say nowadays).

But sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.  Cuz leftovers can only last so long.

Tonight's dinner idea started with blueberries I found in the fridge.  I decided on oatmeal with blueberries.  I've been trying to boost my protein intake the last couple weeks, so I was happy to see eggs on sale and 50% off with Target's Cartwheel deals.  Since we have a TON, I started looking for a baked oatmeal recipe in order to at least use one.

Since it was already late, I didn't want to go the traditional route of using an actual oven to bake the oatmeal, so I started looking online for a microwave baked version.  And, big surprise, I just ended up coming up with my own recipe.  Here it is:

Easy Microwave Baked Blueberry Oatmeal

1/2 cup quick oats (I added extra)
1/2 cup milk (I used fat-free lactose free, so I think anything would work)
1 egg
Cinnamon
Brown sugar
Blueberries

Mix above ingredients in a large bowl and microwave 2-4 minutes.  Bowl will be scorching hot.  Top with milk and more blueberries, and eat while in jammies surrounded by cats.

So, seriously, you know if I share a recipe with ya'll, it has GOT to be easy because when it comes to cooking, easy is all I do.  There's my guaranteed seal of approval.

And THIS tells you it was good!


Thanks for following along with me!  I'm happy to say the blog got a much needed design update this week, thanks to my amazing sister-in-law.  I'm still working on some details, but feel free to take a look around and let me know what you think!

A couple weeks ago I started noticing this annoying, persistent cough.

I didn't mention much of it, but I just had a feeling it was more than "just a cough."

I just knew.

But who wants to talk about being sick?  Who wants to hear about others being sick?

Well, I am sick of being sick!

Last week I was diagnosed with pneumonia.

I had a feeling.

Don't know why; it's not like I've ever had pneumonia before.

I did a bunch of resting this past weekend.  It was our annual Cabin Weekend Getaway with my side of the family.  At least I thought I did a bunch of resting.



I thought I was getting better.  And then I had another follow-up today.  I'm now starting my 3rd round of antibiotics.  I'm also on an inhaler, steroids, and breathing treatments.

And, to be honest, I'm getting discouraged.

Today was rough.  My coughing led to gagging, which led to dry heaving and eventual puking.  All with my daughter watching, wondering what was wrong with Mommy.  This was while I was trying to get her and myself ready to leave the house for preschool.

Oh, and then randomly, the power went out.  Ugh.  (It is SO cute though, by the way, to see how Catherine responds when this happens.  After we were all loaded up with coats, purse, backpack, laptop bag, trying to leave the house when she suddenly had to go to the bathroom.  She went into the bathroom, "Oh, the power's out in here too!"  And then when I started the mini-van, "Yea!  The power's not out in the car!")

I'm forcing myself to rest.  But, it's hard to rest when you're caring for a four year old and have to do things like leave the house and buy cereal.

My husband's been doing a ton around the house the last couple weeks.  And I'm grateful that my parents have been able to come over every now and then to help watch C-Bug.  Thankfully, husband's busy season is primarily over, and now it's a season of transition as he wraps up the school year.

Other things in transition too, including this blog.  Soon, it will get a fresh look, thanks to my amazing sister-in-law, and I couldn't be happier about it!

Keep on resting.

Cats and voting.  What do they have in common???  Good question.

A couple weeks ago I was attending a parade that turned out to be full of political candidates.  They and their people were walking along both sides of the street greeting folks, shaking hands, passing out candy, flyers, water bottles, and photos.

This man who appeared to be a bit socially awkward (or, let's give him the benefit of the doubt and say he was just focused on his task), came up directly to me, handed me a photo, and said, "My wife wants you to have this."

I recounted this story later to my friend who was also at the parade a few blocks after me on the other side of the street.  That must have been the side the political candidate was on, unlike the husband side I was on.  My friend told me that the politician came up to her, searching through a stack of photos in order to find just the right one for my friend.

After a few seconds of flipping through the photos, she gave her a picture of a barn.

My photo, on the other hand, was of a cat.

A cat.

A cat!

I'm not a cat person!

But for some reason I was destined to receive a photo of a cat that day.

And my friend wouldn't say she's a barn person!  But something about her said barn to the politician apparently!

I know nothing about that politician.  But when I was looking at the list of candidates for today's primary election, hers was the only name that stood out in her group of four candidates, so guess what.  I'll probably vote for her.

Just a little love from one cat lady to another.