Feeling so many feelings....

this week with the start of school. My boy started 4th grade this week. This is such a weird and bizarro phenomenon for me because I have so many memories from that time in my life. We moved when I was in 4th grade and I did so kicking and screaming the whole way. I was 9 years old, I already had a bunch of friends, and I was absolutely convinced that my Father was moving us to the "armpit of America". I was NOT impressed with the idea of New Jersey. I'm embarrassed to say that now because I am a proud Jersey girl, even if I didn't start out here. Anyway, I had to eventually concede to the moving thing and figured I may as well do it my way. One of my first memories in my new school was the teacher asking me "what do you think is better about New Jersey than Long Island". I stood up, proudly, toting a mullet, an very strong Long Island accent, more than a few extra pounds, and said "the boys here are a lot cuter". Well, that's one way to get noticed. They boys all screamed, one in particular got up and HID under his desk, the girls were appalled, the teacher had no idea she was going to cause a small riot all by asking a simple question. My love of shock value started a long time ago I guess. It's a jungle out there, so here's to hoping we are raising kids that have a good mix of confidence, survival skills, a little love for shock value (just not too much). 

What's to drink....

Oh, now we're in trouble. I usually have a knack for finding wines that I have to actually contemplate buying and spending the money for them. This one, not so much. I've found a no-brainer. This French beaut comes highly rated and is, wait for it, $10.99. This never fucking happens to me. So basically, at that price, the bottle is asking you to drink it. At this rate, I'll be able to save money and actually get myself to the Loire Valley in France. Can you picture me sitting in a field of lavender, drinking wine straight from the bottle, with a loaf of bread and a giant wheel of brie. My own little version of heaven. Cheers!

La Forcine Sauvignon Blanc

What's to eat....

The only Greek I knew before last week was two not-so-nice words. One is "shut-up" and the other is so bad I'm not even really sure of it's actual meaning, BUT, now I know something other than Greek profanities. I'm so worldly. This was easy and delicious. Give it a try and απολαμβάνω (this could be Greek for "enjoy" or it could Greek for "eat shit", one can never be sure).

Tzatiki Sauce

http://www.food.com/recipe/tzatziki-sauce-greek-cucumber-yogurt-sauce-304166

Working on my "Love Warrior"....

I am OBSESSED with this book. If you aren't already following Glennon Doyle Melton and Momastery, please do yourself a favor and start. She just released this, her second book, a couple of days ago and I. AM. ALL. IN. This lady is right up my alley, she is a sharer of all the things, and I (also a sharer) am blown away by the candidness of this book. Regardless of the details, it really is all about human connection, right? Putting it out there, and knowing there are others that feel the same. That we're not alone when we say for instance, I'm neurotic, rigid, anxious, I talk too much, my marriage is HARD work, my kids drive me insane but I love them so much it hurts, I STILL struggle with body image shit, I'm a control-freak, and I let myself feel too much, a lot of the time, I mean, just as a general example. Isn't there something empowering about admitting the imperfections so as to not be seen as weak but as flawed person who is ALSO full of love, laughter, and hopefully the grace to get up after falling down, over, and over, and over again. Yes, this is what I want to be. For my me and my kids. So they know that no one is without fear or flaw but that the key is to be kind to yourself and others, knowing we are all in the same boat, even if the details are different. And it helps if you can learn to laugh at yourself. Yes. That helps, a lot. 

Can anyone tell I'm absolutely bat shit hormonal? I need to go weep.

Wishing you ALL of the Good Stuff. 

XO

Tara

P.S. I don't know what in the fuck went on with the wonky paragraph formatting above but in the spirit of admitting I'm not perfect, I'm not fixing it.