Notes on a Tuesday
1. Gigi asked to play my guitar the other day, and while I had a million reasons to say no, I had one very good reason to say yes—it’s impossible to play the guitar and the recorder at the same time.
2. We went to IKEA this weekend to replace our coffee table (aka Lulu’s $14.99 boogie board). They raised the price to $19.99, which means I couldn’t afford to get the knockoff Crocs that Lulu so badly wanted me to buy. For myself. In bright green.
3. The IKEA clogs are still better looking and about $76 cheaper than the Vibrams I’m contemplating. But I wouldn’t want to sprint in them.
4. We looked at a new couch and chair while we were there, mostly because our current furniture looks like it got in a fight with an amorous tiger. But I refused to spend even a penny on half-rate Swedish furniture until Pea Kitty leaves this Earth and returns to the dark, dark place from whence she came.
5. My decision was confirmed when we woke up the next morning to find the contents of Pea Kitty’s digestive tract on our chair. You may not want to sit there when you come over.
6. Lulu’s ability to read is interfering with my ability to lie. She hates all things coconut and so when we served up some of this delicious ice cream for dessert, she carefully, yet mistakenly read the carton, “M…m…mm….maybe with coconut milk.” Pea Daddy said, “Yup, maybe with coconut milk. Maybe not!”
She ate two scoops.
7. My gym reorganized all their weight equipment recently, which means I spent fifteen minutes of my workout yesterday looking for the leg press machine and another ten minutes griping with the other elderly people at the gym about how much we hate change and love prunes. Best workout ever.
8. I’ve gotten rid of a lot of things in my life in the last few weeks and it has opened up my world. I’m online less and living more. I’m letting go of obligations and saying “yes” to volunteering. I’m still not running, I’m taking long walks. I’m eliminating the negative and making more room for the positive. I highly recommend it. That being said, anyone want a cat?
9. Gigi had the day off of school yesterday and the rain was back, meaning I got to do really awesome things like listen to some original guitar compositions while puting together impossibly hard jigsaw puzzles on super cheap coffee tables. Top that.
10. We’re having ice cream for dessert again.
Maybe with coconut milk. Maybe not!
I’ll take maybe WITH coconut milk please….. and your PeaKitty looks just like my Pontuc…. who so like your kitty leaves little “deposits” on the furniture, floor and on my bedding…. sigh….
and I’m with you on wanting those Vibrams….. maybe some will fall off a truck nearby….
But would you wear them in public?
Well since I like in the ‘shires my “public” may be different than yours….. our nearest neighbor is 15 mins away and the town is so small here that pjs are standard attire for hitting the store or the school. So I’ve always been looked at differently for my fashion choices….
Why are PJ pants the norm at most stores? That’s what yoga pants are for!
Exactly!!
#6 was my favorite! And I can’t wait to see you in Vibrams. DO IT!
(P.S., Trader Joe’s is coming to my neck of the woods by the end of summer. Did you just hear me say “WOOT!” ?)
I can’t even spell stuff around her incognito anymore! And don’t even ask what happened at “Dick’s Kitchen” this weekend as they were reading the signs, the menus, EVERYTHING.
I am so excited for you about TJs. It may be the most exciting thing to happen to you this summer. Or at least #2.
I’ll take some ice cream too please, and coconut milk! And PeaKitty is adorable, so innocent looking.
She’s all yours! I’ve got a couch all picked out…
You go girl! Love this post! (except for, you know, the kitty barf part….)
Thanks!
So glad life is treating you well! I don’t know how this is possible but I have never been to an Ikea before. I’ve heard they’re awesome though!
They are indescribable. You lose all track of time and the outside world. I kind of want to live in one for 24 hours.
Good for you Sarah! You’re getting those perspectives in line and it makes me smile! Vibrams ALL THE WAY!!! You really will love them – even at my age I love them…….you didn’t fool me talking about old people and prunes – oh to be young again haha!!
xoxo
You have them too?! Janetha just Tweeted about her new pair. You guys have convinced me–if foxy ladies like you can pull them off, just maybe I have a chance!
Oh Pea Kitty, how can you not love that face? Our cats are trashing our place! The carpet is a mess at the top of the stairs. We love our animals, but dang, that is just not right.
I agree with letting in the positive. That’s probably why I’m not focused on the missing patches of carpet…
That’s what rugs are for! Or lazy cats. Want one?
I love these posts about life at your house!
Thanks. I could write about book about life at our house
You should!
Get the vibrams!!! I PROMISE you won’t regret it!!!
Thanks, I’m moving in that direction!
Love that you’re living your life and making changes as need be, rolling with the ebbs and flows of life and the powers that be and doing what works for you. Amen sista!
As for the coconut milk TJs find…see, I try not to “browse” in that store. I go in with my objective and then try to get out asap. Because if I poke around, I find my cart full of every dip, spread, condiment, sauce, coffee, etc known to man…so that’s a new-to-me-product. Yay!
I put everything new in my cart and then talk myself out of it whilst filling it with essentials and then put it back.
That’s how I shop, there, too! And same with Costco, which I just did today. As I start rolling the cart toward the checkout, I do a survey…”now, what can I live without?” and start parting with things. Glad TJs is getting the coconut ice cream now, it is so expensive anywhere else!!
Have you ever tried the soy cherry chocolate chip ice cream at Trader Joe’s? I know you’re not doing soy lately but the texture and creaminess of that one is incredible!
Yup, we used to buy that kind. The texture on this one is pretty similar!
My hubby’s and my friend at work both have the vibrams and really like them. Personally, I’m a little afraid of trying them. I like protection as I’m pounding the pavement. I can’t wait for you to try them out and tell us what you think.
I’ll be your guinea pig, for sure!
OOoops! That should say “hubby”. I only have one.
I laughed so hard… “Maybe not!” Glad you are out living and online less. I am finding myself in the same boat, maybe it’s the warmer weather, but I sure am enjoying unplugging and living life outside lately. I am telling you, get the Vibrams. You will not regret it and they are well worth the price. I recommend the Komodos! Also, why the heck did they go change your equipment around?! That would drive me bonkers. At least you got to bond. Love you!
They are trying to make the weight room upstairs more Olympic style lifts (which is mostly what I do), I guess to give it a Crossfit feel? So then when I want to use the few machines I do (leg press & extensions), I have to go downstairs in the back corner behind the cardio equipment. Kinda weird. But I feel kind of like a tough mother as I’m loading the big plates on the squat bar upstairs with the big boys! And now I’ll do it in really fugly shoes.
Oh! Well that is a good thing, because they are making you go downstairs.. and you can run down them. And run back up
They are helping you get a better workout. MAN I wish I could work out with you. Some day.
Yes, indeed. I was just complaining to Katie U. today about how I wish I was going to BLEND to hang with you two.
Yeah, you not being there is the PITS. We want you there sooo badly. We could swap Olympic lifting moves because I’m recently obsessed. Well, recently like the last two years. I think I need some vibrims, too. Let’s get matching ones.
I’ll take the ice cream with the maybe not coconut milk please. =)
Ha ha ha! That’d be the homemade kind from the ice cream maker. Which we did have tonight
Awesome. We need furniture, our dog ate our couch and the kids have torn the other part away from the back. I am excited for when we save up enough to get a new one- Ikea has some nice mid level ones that I wouldn’t mind having until the kids are graduated from college and won’t destroy couches.
Hahaha, my love and I are still laughing over the re-organized gym/prune incident. So happy to hear you are letting things go, it changes everything, does it not?!
Yes. Yes. Yes. When you let go, so little matters, but it matters so much.
Well said. When we let go of that which does not matter, we make more room for that which does.
Truth.
And really we only hold onto all that other stuff, in order to distract ourselves from what matters. Which is silly.
I like number 8. Living life is easy to say but hard to do… We just find ourselves so caught up in our daily routines that we forget to stop for a moment and just feel thankful for being alive. Also yay to rainy day puzzles! Best activity ever!
Secret: I don’t like puzzles at ALL. But doing things you don’t necessarily like for the sake of others is another way to appreciate being alive.
Mmmm I am totally intrigued by coconut ice cream. I have had it before, and yet I am still intrigued.
I am glad that you are out in the world enjoying your life. Feeling fulfilled in life is a blessing.
The “maybe with coconut milk, maybe not” thing is totally cracking me up. That is absolutely something my parents would have said to me when I was a kid.
We were just so grateful she read “maybe with” instead of “made with.” It was pretty cute the way Pea Daddy pulled it off.
I love that coconut ice cream. I have some chocolate in the freezer. I haven’t tried the strawberry yet. You know I would gladly take Pea Kitty off your hands. Kitty needs a new friend.
I can only imagine how Stuft Kitty would look at PK and say, “Who IS this hairy beast?!”
1. Must go to Traders to see if they have to coconut ice cream!
2. I have been online less pretty much to only read your blog and couple of others and shop on Joss & Main and do the standard research and work. Have more time to read now:) It is freeing:)
3. Fell in love with my Boyfriend’s sisters baby that is only a few days old and decided I need one of these.
4. Ship your cat down South to me I think my cat and yours are from the same Mother and at least they would be up set that they are not getting enough attention together;)
Good night MamaPea and thank you for another fun and mood changing post:)
Shara
Thanks Shara, have a great day! (and a baby?!?)
I know I have to get married first;) Been together eights years probably should get off the pot and do it. I just realized everybody I know has kids and Ben and I just looked at each other at the Hospital when I was holding his sisters Baby and said “man we are behind”:)
It will happen when the time is right!
I know as always you are right:) But the clock is ticking!:) 35 in July, YIKES, not for the age but for the eggs, ahahhaha:) Fresh eggs are better then old eggs;)
I do that when my gym changes things too
And yes, I always find the older members particularly happy to complain with me. Which makes me think I am old before my time, and goodness knows how I’ll cope with change when I’m 60. It isn’t a good thought.
That ice cream looks amazing
If Lulu gives up on it, I’ll have her share!
I’m kind of excited to be 60. They seem like a happy crowd.
I wish I could have some ice cream maybe with coconut milk. I would tell my husband maybe not. I like discussing the pros of sitting at the front of the room with older folks as we cannot see from the back. Here is to happy thoughts!
If you want to trick the hubby, get the chocolate. It doesn’t taste like coconut at all!
That coconut milk ice cream is fantastic! I live about an hour from a TJ’s and I never can buy the ice cream beacuse it always melts by the time I get home.
That’s why you eat it in the car on the way home.
Your posts are such a great start to my morning:)! Thank you!
You are quite welcome, Amy! Have a great day.
Ok, the new profile pic on the side is ADORABLE!!! I love it! How sweet, I also loved the words below it!
YES to getting rid of negative, life is too short to have any of that in it! Positive is the way to be, I know you are but I know negativity brews around us all!
Happy Wednesday! Lots of love to you and the family! <3
You too, sweetie. Glad you had such a fun birthday trip!
If I lived closer to you, I would adopt Pea Kitty from you.
She would fit right in with my gang. I’ve given up on the idea of ever replacing the carpet. Heh…can’t wait till mine all hit their senior years together! I’ve already got one who drools a little. ha ha!
Your gym story is funny!!! I used to go to the gym when it opened at 5am and it was me and all the old peeps. It was cool though because we would wave at each other on the treadmill, wave from the weight machines….ha ha ha! I miss those old days!
Totally agree with the getting rid of negativity, getting outside vs. online more…makes life so much more enjoyable! Have a beautiful day and awesome rest of the week.
(oh, and, ROCK ON GIGI!!!! woo hoo!!!)
Yup, I have to get to the gym early to be home before Pea D has to go to work, and while there are a few buff guys in the weight room, mostly it’s just me and the older crowd. Which is just fine by me.
I hope you have a great week too, Christine. Life is sweet and so are you.
Thank you – you made my day.
I only read 3 blogs daily now. Less HLB’s, more healthy LIVING!
You said it, girl.
Yes to more living! That’s what I’m trying to do as well and nice save, Pea Daddy!
Well, I hope you are enjoying life!
Never ever been to Ikea or seen what they sale. I know shocking right!
glad you’ve gotten rid of the negative I felt for you reading all the mean stuff on the cute Peeps post. like my 6 yr old said did their moms not teach them if you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all
We have Pee Puppy
she is getting better thank goodness for non carpet floors. 
Have a great wednesday!
Oh, I hope you are enjoying that puppy! Thanks for the love <3
Ahahaha #1 legitimately made me laugh outloud.
I have a pint of that strawberry Trader Joe’s coconut milk “ice cream” sitting in my freezer waiting to be opened! Hopefully her devouring of two scoops is an indication of how delicious it is!
The girls preferred the chocolate (it did taste less coconutty) but I really liked the strawberry. It tasted like real strawberries (not fake, icky too sweet stuff). Enjoy!
Nice! Thanks for letting me know
My daughter (8) saw the photo of Pea Kitty this morning as I was reading this post and she asked me to leave it up so that she could look at him. (He looks much like our cat Sammy who passed away last fall). She was oohing and ahing over him and I told her that his name is “pea Kitty”, at least on this blog, but that he’s a lot of trouble and apparently pukes on a lot of stuff. Her response? “Well then I guess his name should be Pea-U Kitty, huh?”
I had to share!
Thanks for the great blog!
Super cute! I’m so sorry you lost your Sammy. In all truth, I do care about Pea Kitty. Or should I say, Pea-U Kitty?
Love #6. It’s so fun (ha!) when kids are learning to read. When my oldest was in that stage, we attended a crafts show on the boardwalk. Suddenly, she started laughing. What’s so funny? “Mom, this sign says, “Put on your big girl panties and deal with it!” That’s when you realize that underwear is always funny, but being able to read headlines on tabloids at the grocery store is not.
Oh man, no kidding. That’s hilarious about the big girl panties sign. I need one of those I think.
Hope Pea Kitty is feeling back to par!
loved this post. especially #8 !!
That’s my favorite too! <3
So glad to read No. 8. I’ve been praying for you. I hope that doesn’t sound weird, but I feel like I know you as I converse with you as much as some of my friends, so there you have it. Just happy you’re happy!
Also, I have always liked TJ’s soy ice cream, but try not to eat much soy, so I never buy it. The “maybe” coconut milk may be the answer!
Re: Pea Kitty, I could tell you about what I’m going through with my cat right now that would make you hug Pea Kitty and take it all back. We’ll just say my second full-time job is as a feline caregiver/vet technician.
Thanks for your prayers, Beth. I guess someone must have been listening. I consider you a friend too, so the feeling is mutual.
I am so sorry about your cat. I certainly love Pea Kitty in my own special way. I can’t hug her because she would claw my face off, but I’ll her a loving look from across the room right now. And I’ll put you in my prayers as well!
I’m a long-time reader though I’ve never commented — but I had to say that Pea Daddy’s response to Lulu’s “maybe coconut” had me giggling through the rest of the post. Your family just exudes wit
We have a lot of fun around her. Thanks, Sara, for saying hello and for reading!
You make my world better and I wish we were best friends.
Awww, thanks so much.
#8!!
YES!
I’ll take Pea Kitty if you’ll take my dog. Deal?
I wish we had an Ikea around here (or a TJ’s, for that matter). I seriously need a $20 coffee table. Glad to hear you’re attuning with the important things in life!
Lulu would be all over that deal!
Our dumb cat pees on the stairs when he has a bladder infection (which is like once a month) and it makes me so angry I scream and cry and lock him in the basement. Seriously. He’s down there, now. I’m feeling kind of guilty so I may go visit him in a minute – HOWEVER, if you find someone who wants Pea Kitty, ask them if they want another cat to go along. Free of charge.
Not that I am a cat expert by any means, but have you asked your vet about your cat’s diet? I’ve read a lot about the impact of the type of food on male cat’s bladders. (I realize how totally bizarre that last sentence is.)
No, it’s not bizarre. We almost lost my Frankie to a bladder infection. He showed no signs the night before and when we woke up, he was in his bathroom crying from the pain. The vet told us (after emergency surgery to repair his bladder) to change our food and he’s been perfect every since. He said if he ever starts peeing in other places, it’s a sign something is wrong. It’s actually common in male cats due to their plumbing and the fact that cats are carnivores. Their systems are primed for protein, not grain and corn. I’m absolutely astounded at the idea of punishing a sick cat.
Can I just ask what was wrong with my comment that didn’t get approved?
I just didn’t think including links to Katie’s blog talking about her actions in the past was necessary. If you want to email Katie directly or contact her over there, that’d probably be a better route. I understand you were upset, but I didn’t like the way this was all going down. I’m sorry.
Wow, Katie… Maybe you should bring your “dumb cat” to the vet instead of punishing him for daring to get sick. Some people really should not be entrusted with caring for animals, and you are clearly one of them. My heart breaks for your cat, sitting alone in the basement in pain from his bladder infection.
Wow, Katie, I’m kind of shocked by the cruelness of your response. I’m sure cleaning up pee once a month is frustrating, but your cat’s not dumb, he’s sick and in pain. It’s not his fault. Take him to the vet. And for his sake, I do hope he finds a better home!
What a horribly cruel thing to say (and do), Katie. That cat is sick and if you don’t have the time, money, or compassion to treat him properly and make him comfortable, then please, for his sake and yours, give him to someone who does. That is no way to treat an animal. Imagine if someone locked you in the basement every time you were sick.
I find this so disturbing.
Please, by all means, find your cat another home. I’m sure he would be much happier there. And please, stop punishing your cat for being sick. It’s not his fault. Ever.
This is heartbreaking. Please take your cat to the vet to get the care he needs, and by all means, find him a proper home. If I could adopt him, I would. Every animal deserves to be treated with compassion.
Katie, please do your poor cat a favor and give it to a home and a family that will treat it well. When my cat was sick, we took her to the vet immediately and remedied the situation ($200 vet bill and $90 medicine, which sucks but was well worth it) because we love and care for her. If your cat is sick, he doesn’t need to be reprimanded, he needs care and love. If that is how you treat a sick cat (which, in my opinion, is quite cruel), then maybe you aren’t meant to be a pet owner. Seriously.
Some people don’t deserve to own pets. You, my dear, are a prime example.
Wow, this makes me so sad. I could not unsubscribe from your blog fast enough after I saw this. I hope you’ll have a change of heart on how you treat your cat. I know you’d never treat your dog like that.
Guys, I get where you are coming from on your comments, but I’ve already deleted a few that crossed the line with name-calling and personal attacks against Katie/myself. Let’s be civil to each other, please!
I think people are being civil, especially since what Katie described amounts to animal abuse. Locking your sick cat in the basement because it peed on the stairs is abuse. It really really upset me when I read that.
Like I said, Jennie, I had to delete a few that weren’t civil. But I respect what you are saying.
Guys, I’m so sorry to have upset you. A lot of my comment was tongue in cheek. We did take him to the vet, changed his food, and he does better for a while, but always gets sick. The vet says he is just predisposed. As for the basement thing – the vet suggested it. We have a very nice finished basement, and that is where his litterbox lives. We visit him every day and make sure he has food and water. I can only clean up so much cat pee around the house, and while he has bladder infections, that seems to be the best option for us. He truly is a well-loved cat and when he’s not sick, he’s a very big part of our family. He even sits on our kitchen table to keep my daughter company while she snacks in the afternoons. Sorry to have portrayed this problem in such a negative light.
I will have to look for the ice cream maybe made with coconut milk…sounds delicious.
I need to find that coconut milk ice cream at TJ’s!! I’ve been really craving ice cream lately, especially now that the weather is turning warmer.
Mmmmmmm…..TJs makes coconut milk ice cream now?! WOW
Also I absolutely love everything about this post, especially #8. I’m in the process of moving and its great that I’m leaving with LESS than I moved in with. Its fantastic and I’m making lots of people very happy with my Freecycled stuff. Its win-win!
I, too, am trying to give away my cat due to digestive “presents”. I need to have that coconut dessert asap. If only there were a TJ’s near me. Excuse me while I count the days till I move to Boston!!!!
I only recently discovered coconut milk ice cream and it’s so addictive – maybe it was better when I didn’t know about it.
The So Delicious PB & Chocolate one is really hard to put back in the freezer!
TJ’s has coconut milk ice-cream?!? I usually head straight for their pb cup caramel ice-cream and never even look at the other flavors. Must start paying closer attention!
I love this post!! And we love that ice cream too, one of the best chocolate ice creams ever!! ( and the best thing is it being made with coconut milk, so my son can enjoy it too!!)
Ana
Maybe with coconut milk. Maybe not.
Aaargh the recorder! Every night I hope and pray that my little girl doesn’t take up the recorder. Preferably doesn’t even find out it exists. And I’ll have your cat. He can throw up all night and yowl at closed doors all day with my cat. It’ll be great.
Hold the phone, you play the guitar? Awesome…I always wanted to play and my parents made me take piano instead. Now I wish I could play both!
I love the trader joe’s coconut ice cream!!!!!! have you seen the new maple sugar that they have? We just bought some but havn’t used it yet!
I picked it up and then put it back…let me know if you try it!
oh my gosh GREAT post! Your relationship with Pea Kitty makes me laugh. We have two that I sometimes want to put up for adoption as well, as they are doing to our carpet what yours is doing to your couch! Thanks for the laughs!
You are welcome. Have a good night, Robyn.
“…another ten minutes griping with the other elderly people at the gym about how much we hate change and love prunes.” My favorite line from this post.
~Rebecca
I am such a Trader Joe foodie and never saw those coconut milk ice creams before, I am addicted to their dark chocolate cherry chunk soy ice cream! I will definitely need to get my hands on those
Thanks for sharing!
LOLLL
waiting for my 3 cats to go to the dark side to change leather couchs…me too…..
Mama pea i have a very quick YUMM sauce question i was hoping you could answer! I’d like to add some heat to the sauce and want to know what pepper will complement the flavors best? Black pepper, cayenne pepper, red chili flakes, or something you know better than me?! Thank you so so much.
I’d say jalapeño or red pepper flakes!
I am SO grateful for your immediate response! Should i add the flakes to the food processor?
Sure!
“m…m…maybe with coconut milk” was the highlight of this post.
Maybe, maybe not! Too much…
Made me laugh out loud…
I hear ya on the couch thing. We adopted another dog and unbeknownst to us she had incontinence. She’s peed on the couch twice (thankfully it’s all solved with meds now). The other day the dogs were wrestling and they broke the bottom of the coffee table. All of this furniture is just under a year old. Don’t tell my parents; it was a wedding gift.