The Latta Family

 At Christmas, I received an unexpected gift card from Alexa's Girl Scout Troop that am the current leader of (uh-oh, I think I just ended that sentence with a preposition.  Oh well.  I write like I speak- and I apparently don't speak with accurate grammar).  First, I was so thrilled that they thought to do something so kind.  I definitely don't feel like I deserved their generosity.  Second, I was thrilled because I had plans to buy a really good quality pillow.  Whew- y'all do I know how to live it up?!!!!  I was willing to spend at least $50.  I wanted a GOOD pillow.  I did a bunch of Amazon searching and reading reviews, and internet searching. I wanted a cooling pillow- because my head sweats a lot (TMI?!). I wanted a firm pillow, and I was pretty interested in memory foam.  I was thinking that if I had memory foam- it wouldn't lose it's shape quickly.   Initially I really liked the pillow, but then I didn't love it.  It was too firm and full and flat. 

 Doug and Alexa have birthdays coming up.  They are within days of each other.  It always makes it a little tricky, because food is my love language.  That's how I feel loved, and how I make sure my family feels loved.  Food is, unfortunately, NOT their love language.   If it's Andrew's birthday- he expects to be taken out to breakfast and dinner.  If it's my birthday, I want to go to my mom's house so she can cook me my favorite meal.  If it's Alexa's birthday, you ask, "Alexa, what would you like for your birthday meal?!"  Last year she chose pancakes.  This year she has chosen hot dogs.  There are not words to describe how my soul is crushed.  How can you make hot dogs with ketchup amazing and special?!  You cannot.  Don't try.  She actually doesn't want special and amazing.  She wants a hot dog, on a bun, with some ketchup.  She will most likely not finish the hot dog.  She doesn't want it grilled, she doesn't want the bun toast

 While there are some things that I'm like, "Eh- whatever." (Alexa's tendency towards eating like 5 foods) there are other things that I'm super controlling over and will shove one of my family members violently out of the way if they even try to do anything with whatever I'm being controlling over.  One thing I'm super passionate about is, bagging my groceries.  Hah.  Y'all probably thought I was gonna say something really meaningful.  I mean- if my example of things I don't fight over- is Alexa's limited food choices (which is kind of a big deal) then surely the things I would be passionate about- would be something of vital importance.  I don't know what to tell you.  I'm a mixed up kind of gal.  Anyway- I am particular about the way groceries are bagged.  In fact, I never let employees bag for me.   Today, I took Alexa with me to pick up a few things at the grocery store, and then I made the ultimate sacrifice and let her scan the i

 Since I am trying to use this platform as a way to maintain memories, I am posting about my yard because this year it is on point.  I love so many parts of it this year.   This is a new spot this year- and clearly is well protected since there is "fencing" around it.  In March we fenced in part of the backyard for our dogs, and I thought a great idea would be to have a raised bed back there.  I have put in some glorious herbs from my mother's garden (lemon balm, dill, and I forget the other one.  Doh!).  Then I bought some parsley (struggling), and basil (which is doing fantastic!!!).  I have a couple of small pepper plants, and a GINORMOUS cherry tomato bush that is producing copious amounts of tomatoes- which is fine. by. me.  My two favorite ways to eat them are: on toast with an over easy egg and a strong cheese like sharp cheddar or fresh parmesan.  The other way I love to eat them is in a fresh corn, avocado, tomato salad.  You know I love a variety of textures- an

 Well- clearly I am a terrible blogger.  I haven't posted a blog since February 28. That's 3 months.  Yikes.  Is our life super exciting?  Not really- but busy.  Back in August, when we were just starting the school year, and neither of my kids had activities, I remember thinking- "When they get back to our normal week with 5 days of stuff happening, I'm going to be in for a real shock!" It happened so gradually, it wasn't actually a shock.   While the school year began in the most bizarre way possible- it ended in a very normal way.  At the beginning of the year, Doug taught upstairs, Andrew "went to school" in his room, Alexa "went to school" in the living room, and I taught from my bedroom.  I kind of liked us all being together.  I liked being able to walk through and see what Alexa was learning about.   Gradually- we all were released, until April 12- we were all in school for 5 days a week.  There was still a prom, and end of year cel

 This is turning out to be a terrible blogging year.  There are 2 reasons for this:  1. I am in graduate school, working full time, and still parenting children and dogs.  2. I find my children are at an age that I feel slightly uncomfortable talking about them on the blog.  I am friends with many of their teachers, friends' parents, and some of their friends on social media, so if I talk about parenting struggles on the blog it feels like a violation of my kids' privacy.    If I'm not talking about parenting . . . what do I have to talk about?   Speaking of that train of thought . . . Doug and I find we're entering a new phase of parenting.  Andrew is 16 and has a pretty cool friend group. This summer it has dawned on me . . . he's not around all that much.  While it used to be something special for Alexa to be "an only child," it's fairly standard for her now.  It's a weird parenting stage transitioning from how to entertain and compromise with 2

 This may surprise you to find out that I do love healthy food- because I talk about my love for all things chocolate and sweets a lot- but I do!!!  One of my favorite things is salad, because it checks all of my boxes: has vegetables, so I can feel wholesome and virtuous; variety of textures; filling and sustaining, but doesn't leave you feeling stuffed and uncomfortable; easy to fix.   Years ago, I discovered mason jar salads  years ago.  I fix them pretty regularly for lunch (and apparently a long time ago- I used to fix them for Doug too , now I do not.) They are literally my favorite lunch because- a) salad and b) super duper prepped for the week!  I fix 4 on a Sunday night, and my lunch is prepped for the week.  That is a glorious thing.   Currently my favorite salad is this:  That is some snack peppers cut up, and my favorite Southwestern Kale/Cabbage salad from Aldi .   ]Topped with some shredded chicken breast, and then baby spinach on top of that. And now tomorrow morning

 I have a complaint.  It's a trite, silly complaint- especially in light of what's happening in the world, but alas the complaint is still there.   At the beginning of the pandemic, I did all the things many of you probably did: discovered TikTok, found new people to follow on Instagram, started subscribing to channels on YouTube.  I really improved my knowledge in useful areas like my skin care routine and hair styling process.  (See?  It's trite, superficial fluff on tonight's blog).   Now I won't lie- my skin care routine has had its benefits.  I do feel like the quality of skin looks better.  You know what helps it even more than my favorite moisturizer?  Drinking water.  Yep.  It's true.  Two weeks ago I was super dehydrated and my face looked rough.  I've been drinking water like a champ- and I feel like it's so much less puffy and grey.  I am pretty sure my dark rings under my eyes are much less pronounced when I am properly hydrated.  Such a simp

 Y'all I am literally the worst blogger.  I keep thinking I might give it up- but that makes me sad.  I like this little blog.  I wish I was more consistent.  Here's what's been happening:  1. We go to school.  Alexa goes 4 days a week.  Andrew goes 2 days a week.  Doug and I go 4 days a week.  I love seeing the students.  Last week I had an epiphany while one of my classes was reading The Canterbury Tales.   I realized one of the tales was the inspiration for a Harry Potter side story.  I shared this with the class- and one of the students and I geeked out over our love for HP.  I will not tell you tales of how hard this school year is- you watch the news/have children/talk to people.  It's all true.  This year is hard, but interacting with kids is what makes it tolerable.  I don't know how people who do full remote maintain their motivation and enthusiasm. 2. Alexa is going through a phase in which she's even more accident prone than usual- and y'all . . .

Instagram is setting a very unrealistic set of expectations for me.  Not in body image ways. I don't really get impacted by that very often.  Home project ways.  I follow a lot of home decor/DIY influencers.  It seems like they do a project in a day or two and their house is right back to being amazing.  They don't really show the setbacks.   I decided to paint the main living areas of our house over break.  So I have painted: the entryway, the dining room, the laundry room, the hallway, and the living/kitchen.  Well . . . almost.  The kitchen area is not done.  It took me a month to settle on a color.  I needed it to match with an accent wall behind the tv in our living area.  According to Pinterest and the patches of paint I painted all over the house- it was going to be perfection!   I decided on a nice greige and fully committed to it as I purchased 5 gallons to start with. Good thing I really really like the color.  5 gallons would have been a total waste of money.   Once