Author: Amy Mueller
• Friday, September 05th, 2008

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Author: Amy Mueller
• Friday, August 29th, 2008

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t Stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so Important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,
The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

*This was originally an email forward but really, I couldn’t say it any better myself.

Thanks, mom.   : )   Sorry if I ever peed on you.

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Author: Amy Mueller
• Sunday, August 17th, 2008

The audience was captivated by their soothing melodies and perfectly harmonized vocals. Dan Littleton and Liz Mitchell did not disappoint. For my first time seeing Ida, I was really impressed. For the majority of the show, you could literally hear a pin drop. That’s how attentive the audience was by these two.

They performed a lot of old stuff, most of which I didn’t know but was intrigued by, nonetheless. For only starting their set around midnight last night, I was wide-eyed and ready to go. Sure, I could probably attribute some of my energy to the double-strength cup of coffee I had on the way into the city but mostly, I was anxious to see the band.

They played as a three-piece; Liz and Dan, with violinist and band member, Jean Cook. They had funny stage antics and I got a chuckle when I heard Liz say to Dan, “We have to hurry up, the babysitter is waiting”. They have their daughter, Storey, out on tour with them.

img_3780 Ida at Schubas

Liz Mitchell

img_3806 Ida at Schubas

Dan Littleton

img_3808 Ida at Schubas

Jean Cook

“Don’t Wreck It” from last night’s show at Schubas in Chicago:

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Author: Amy Mueller
• Friday, August 15th, 2008

I don’t generally get crunk in the kitchen but when I do, I’m good. I’m real good. Sometimes I just crave a hearty salad. I’m not really into wimpy salads, unless it’s just to whet my appetite before a juicy filet mignon. So, a favorite type of salad of mine is a chopped salad. Just chop everything up, throw it in the bowl and dig in. Makes for a nice summer snack, anytime of day.

Start with some nice, green lettuce. Of course, you can use different lettuce but I’m using green for this salad.

img_5947 Amys festive chopped salad

Then, grab a variety of vegetables from the produce aisle.

img_5953 Amys festive chopped salad

I use cucumber, tomato, red pepper and carrots. Radishes are a nice option, too. I just like a light, fresh salad, so I opt for these veggies.

Chop all those suckers up into tiny pieces and toss them on top of your chopped greens. Use a clear bowl, especially if you’re hosting a party or presenting the salad as a dish at a cookout. I use a clear bowl at home because I love the way the salad looks. It’s like art, people. Don’t you appreciate anything?

Your finished masterpiece should look something like this:

img_5955 Amys festive chopped salad

LE YUM. I’ve topped my salad with some Feta cheese crumbles. Of course, you should top yours with whatever suits your fancy. You could use any type of dressing for your salad, but honestly, a little dash of salt and pepper and it’s tasty as is. If I had to recommend a dressing, I’d go with a balsamic vinaigrette or maybe even a very light, honey mustard and poppy seed dressing.

img_5946 Amys festive chopped salad

Almost forgot to mention, you can do all this while your toddler is on the couch, spacing out to some cartoons on t.v. Score!