Things I Can't Say

Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom

10 Things to Smile About

For the month of March:

1. Celebrating 11 years of marriage with this guy:
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2. Finding the perfect pair of jeans for spring (Lucky Brand Boyfriend Cut- a sale at the outlets, so it’s like two smiles in one).

3. Getting to facetime with my cutie niece. She babbles and babbles away and I’m convinced she’s telling a whole story that ends with “I want to go visit Auntie Shell.”

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4. Having an awesome IEP meeting for my middle son, who is now either on grade level or above in all subjects.

5. Finally figuring out the recipe for the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie that was my ultimate comfort food way back in college. Living over 600 miles away from the nearest restaurant that serves it has left me with a major craving, but after many failed(but still yummy) tries over the years, I FINALLY GOT IT!

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6. My 5y/o saying things like this: “I love you more than Dad.” (pause while I figure out what the heck I’m supposed to say to that, but then he continues…) “I love you more than Dad loves you.”

7. Spring soccer. It keeps us insanely busy and I might suck as a soccer mom, but I love that my boys love to play and that Hubs coaches them.

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8. My third grader having to start working on fourth grade math because he’s mastered all the third grade objectives.

9. Our movie theater having 10am showings, which means I can get out of a movie in time to pick up my preschooler and not have to worry about getting a babysitter just to be able to see a movie.

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10. Every episode of How I Met Your Mother, leading up to the series finale next week(which might make me cry, but rewatching the series from the beginning was a smile).

Linking up with Emmy Mom for 10 Things to Smile About.

What made you smile in March?

Comments

  1. You had a pretty awesome March!

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie is my favorite. I should probably never learn how to make it, or I won’t be able to stop making it. 

    Early morning movies are so nice. It is awesome to be able to sneak away without having to hire a babysitter. I want to know what you thought of Divergent. 

    • To be honest, the pie is sort of a pain to make. It takes a while. So, it’s not something I can quickly throw together… which is probably a good thing!

      Did you see Divergent yet? I did like it but I think that if someone didn’t read the book first, they really wouldn’t have a clue what is going on.

      • I haven’t seen it yet, but I did read the book. It just doesn’t make sense to me why they go to all the trouble and expense of making a movie, and then don’t include enough of the right pieces of the story to have it make sense. Crazy.

  2. I am so far behind on HIMYM, I really need to catch up I can’t believe the finale is next week, that is crazy. And you need to share that chocolate peanut butter pie recipe. 

    • I’ve been rewatching the old seasons plus the new ones. I think I will sob next week!
      I think I will share the pie recipe- it’s more of a special occasion thing because it is time-consuming to make it.

    • I had to hit the backspace key a lot when I wrote this- b/c I kept adding in the negative, too. I like joining in with Emmy so I can take a moment to reflect just on the good.

    • It cracks me up. He’s been saying it a lot lately- I tell Hubs that he better step it up!

    • It is amazing. It’s a good thing it’s time consuming to make or I’d make a new one every week.

  7. OMG< Shell, I love all of your things. Especially that you get to sneak away and enjoy a movie every now and then. How was Divergent? Don't laugh–went to see the Muppets over the weekend with the BF (die hard Muppet fan and new movie DID NOT disappoint). 

    Also, that peanut butter pie needs to get in my mouth immediately. And how cute is your niece? Not to mention, that ADORABLE photo of you and the hubs!!! Congrats on 11 beautiful years together 🙂 At some point, I'd love to know your secret. Seriously. 🙂 XOXO

    • My boys want to see Muppets- probably going to go next weekend. I liked Divergent but thought it wouldn’t make that much sense to someone who hadn’t read it.
      Thank you- you know my “secret”- just keeping working at it and not give up when there are hard times.

  8. Happy Anniversary!!   So are you going to share the recipe??   How did you like Divergent?  I think I will have to check to see if our theater has an early show like that  So so happy for your son doing so well in school, truly something to be so happy about.

    Thank you so much for linking up! 

    • I think I will share the recipe- it’s more of a special occasion recipe(compared to the easy recipes I share), but it’s worth it!
      I liked Divergent but I think if someone saw it without reading the book, they wouldn’t get it.
      Thanks for the link up! It’s fun to focus on the good for once!

  10. I think it’s awesome your movie theater has 10am movies!  Every mom should be able to take a “timeout” before picking up the kids from school…what a great idea!

    • They usually only have them when a “big” movie is coming out, but I’ll take it! It’s so convenient.

  11. Ooh that pie looks awesome! It’s so great that your local theater has 10 a.m. movies, too. I’d love to visit a theater for an adult movie one morning. 

    • It’s so convenient! They don’t have them everyday, just when a much-anticipated movie is coming out.

  13. Always fun to show things to smile about. I have to get back to you on some of my things this week, well maybe mine was watching the kids all have fun together sliding outback in the snow yesterday. Also just watching my son, who was recently dx’d autistic, just enjoy life for the first time! Anyways… great post, loved reading what you smile about!

    • I’m so over this snow! It makes me smile to hear about your son. One of my boys is on the spectrum and it seems like his triumphs are that much sweeter for it.

  14. So many awesome things! Happy Anniversary! And I am months away from having a whole morning alone. I can only imagine going to a movie by myself without needing a sitter or anything! I’m not counting down or anything. 😉 And Yay for soccer. I’m not a soccer Mom either, but I’m looking forward to watching my girls play this spring. 

    • Come fall, all of mine will be in school full day. Not that I’m counting, either. 😉

  16. I love the early rise shows they are usually cheaper.  I haven’t ever thought of going during the week.  What a concept. haha.  Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby.  And yes, good IEP’s always leave a mom walking away feeling good.  

    • Usually, the earliest showing is around 1, which means I’d have a preschooler with me and it would be pushing it to get the other two in time. But a 10am show was perfect. IEP’s have made me cry in the past, so it’s so nice to have a good one!

  17. Number Four makes me so so happy – having read about his journey for a while now. How wonderful.
    Really. For ALLLL of you.

    And as a side note, I don’t think I ever told you I made that recipe you shared here with the apples, sweet potatoes and sausage…

    Actually, I’ve made it multiple times now (even for my in-laws!) and it’s a huge hit.
    Since it’s a little sweet and savory, my kids say it tastes a little like a Monte Cristo sandwich so we’ve decided to call it the Monte Cri-stew.

    I know. Totally off topic. But it makes  me smile and I wanted you to know!

    • Thanks, Julie. He’s made amazing progress. It’s a totally different world from where we were a few years ago.
      I’m so glad you like that recipe- it’s so super simple, so I end up making it a lot! That’s a perfect name for it!

  19. Oh, I’d dropped off my HIMYM watching, but I’m excited to get caught up on last season and then the final season!

    • I love that pie. I would eat it every day if I could- which would be a very bad thing! I’m so ready for the warm weather.

  23. I love these posts! My kids are just hitting a stage, they are 18 months and 3 years, where they imagine and play together and it is the cutest thing ever!

  24. I must say that catching a morning movie before the kids get out of school is like taking a mini vacation.  I haven’t done it in a while but I think I’ll check movie times for tomorrow.  And facetime with your niece is priceless.

    • Our theater usually only does showings that early on the day an anticipated movie is coming out, but I love when they do!

    • Thanks- can’t believe it’s been 11 years! I live 600 miles from my niece, so facetime has been wonderful.

    • I’m sort of kicking myself for not buying 4 pairs of those jeans! We’ve had some hard IEP meetings, so having a good one feels amazing.

    • It’s definitely worth the effort for the pie. Though it’s not really all that hard, it’s just time consuming.

  30. That is a great list of things to be thankful for, and hurrah for peanut butter pie.  That does look delicious. 

  31. Sounds like your March is wrapping up well – I have a Yay! and a Nah! for soccer season – lol. It keeps me wayy busy and my crockpot and Subway get extremely busy during those months!
    The peanut butter pie looks delicious, and I am jealous you get to go to a movie by YOURSELF …maybe one day! 

  33. Happy anniversary! I need to find a movie theater that has early showings like that and sneak off to the movies one day I’m home from work. I don’t think I’ve seen a movie rated higher than 6 in six years in a theater!

  36. Love that you rewatched HIMYM. That pie looks amazing. Your niece is adorable! Those are all awesome things to smile about!

  39. Girl. Rachel’s Peanut Butter Pie. My ALL time favorite. My Grandma still loves in GC so you better believe I get the most massive piece possible each time I go to town!

    • We go back about once a year so I get a piece then. But I’m so happy to finally have the recipe!

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    Thanks for the post.