Wittie Cooper wRItes again (and again)

So I've been dieting for a few months now. And by dieting, I mean NOT letting myself have a donut with breakfast, a cookie with lunch, and a nice round double dish of ice cream after dinner.  Oh and all the snacks in between. I remember talking to my sister (who was getting ready for her wedding by working out a bunch and watching her calories) and telling her I thought I was ready to finally get serious about getting back in shape, myself. "Download a meal tracker, that's what I did," she said.  "It really helps when you can actually see what you're eating all day and helps to keep you accountable." I had never tried something like that.  I worried I would get lazy with it or get frustrated when I was trying to add my meals.  But I also knew that once I got over those humps, I might be able to stick with it. So after reading some reviews I decided to try MyFitnessPal.  I had some success with it, but mostly I liked the recipes it supplied.  It did, howe...

They say you can learn by example.  Just sitting back and watching how someone does the thing you're trying to learn is a completely acceptable form of education. I like to treat parenting the same way. Now, don't get me wrong, I know the basics.   Don't touch a hot stove.  Don't run with scissors.  Don't go swimming unless you've waited at least half an hour since you last ate (that one never seemed very intuitive to me.  What constitutes eating?  Does a snack count?  And what about fluids?  Surely a cold fizzy Coke or beer sitting in your gut spells disaster too?) So, I have a modicum of common sense.  But when it comes to situational redirections, I tend to get flustered.  It never used to matter since I always had my kids in daycare.  But now that Joey is getting older and more interested in making friends, I get to see how he interacts with other people's kids.  And what I'm finding is that I'm probably way too overbe...

My friend asked me what I noticed was most different about living in Rhode Island as opposed to living in Florida. Well, actually, no, no one asked me that because I haven't really made any friends here yet.  But if I did, I bet they would ask me that.  And for the sake of this post, let's just say they have. So anyway, I was chatting with my imaginary friend Imogene Nary and she said, "Hey, what do you notice is the most different about living in Rhode Island as opposed to living in Florida?" "Well, Imogene, I'll tell you, there are quite a few things*..." 1.)  Sticks are sticks (and not snakes,) logs are logs (and not alligators) This is something that is always tripping me up.  Though I am sure there are snakes here in Rhode Island, I have yet to see one, as opposed to Florida where you often saw some slithering through your garden or cutting across your driveway.  When I would go running outside I would often feel the need to slow down every time I s...

I don't know about you but I am the worst at knowing what to do with myself when people come to my house to repair, replace or build something.  I never know if I'm best to remain distant so they can get on with their job or if I should be chatty and hang around (as if I will be able to swoop in to help if they need someone to hold a gas line or pass them the right kind of screwdriver, thus securing myself two things: a new trade and - just maybe - a new friend).  I know it has something to do with me, my constant need to be liked, and yet my total fear of judgment from other people. Typically these interactions only go on for an hour or two so by the time you've either come off as a cold bitch or helpful Harriet, it doesn't matter.  They're passing you a paper to sign and they're on their way to their next job, never to be seen by you again. However, this is not the case when you are having your basement redone.   Yes, I can hear your thought bubbles now as you...

  I have this tradition with myself that I've managed to keep going for a few years now and this year it almost didn't happen.  Not because of a lack of money (although that really should've been the reason) or lack of time (hello Unemployment!) but for the simple reason that I didn't look hard enough.   Now, this may seem a little uncharacteristic of me, being a person who self-identifies as frugal, but every year for my birthday and Christmas I like to buy myself a little piece of jewelry.  Nothing outrageously expensive but something that is special.  Something that I can look at years later and remember why I bought it and where I was in my life.  Also, since now I have a daughter, I like the idea of her one-day fishing through a box of my jewelry and laying claim to a piece because it will always remind her of me.  This year, with the total upheaval of life, i.e. having a second baby, leaving my job and friends and family in Florida, starting...