The simple life.

Good grief life seems busy, but then I remember that I have a very simple life, and my version of busy includes a couple episodes of CSI: New York every day.

It does seem like we're flying through the weeks though. I'm spending lots of time coordinating PTO fundraising efforts and helping in the kids' classrooms. Then after school Ainsley has piano and dance and Hawthorne has tennis and art. On our free days, we usually try to meet up with friends to play and catch up. Then, of course, there's homework and dinner and board games, reading, and bedtime. It's busy, but it's not complicated. I'm thankful for that.

I quit my job almost two years ago so that we could live the simple life—which to me meant I wouldn't have to rush around like a crazy woman trying to have it all. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I chose this over the perks of having two incomes. I still miss the shopping and the extra vacations! But, I love that I spent my morning photocopying fliers with a friend and brainstorming promotion strategies with my great fundraising team. And I love that I saw both of my kids during their school day, and Hawthorne got to tell me about his great reading test while he was still basking in the glow of his success. I know these are moments I wouldn't trade for the Boden dress I've been lusting for for weeks.

But I feel like I'm failing a little in this life we've carved out. I feel like as an at-home mom I should have better abs, the house should be decorated for Halloween, the backyard should be beautifully landscaped, my kids clothes shouldn't be so wrinkled, and the fall vegetables should be sprouting in the garden. "Let me get through this fundraising campaign," I tell myself, "and then I'll turn into Martha Stewart/gym rat." But I know better. Because I'm not going to change my personality! However, though the holiday decorating may be out, I'm thinking there's still hope for a landscaped back yard and a new coat of paint in the study. And I do have the reputation as the mom who brings the best Friday treats. (Strawberries with homemade whipped cream last week!) And really that's what I want—to hear "Hi Ainsley's mom, hi Hawthorne's mom," as I walk through the halls of their school and feel like I belong. And I still have four more years of that to go! Oh my gosh—only four more years!

Hawthorne and Ainsley's first day of school this year.
Looks like Florida doesn't it! That's their school, not our yard!

This is a little Martha Stewarty. Corn cakes with black bean salsa.
I'll  post the recipe soon. It's a vegetarian dish that even my dad would eat!