A Complex Coffee Problem

We have a complex problem in our house and I'm looking for a better solution.  Here are the facts:

I only drink decaf coffee.

My husband only drinks caffeine laden coffee.

I like lattes, cappuccinos and drip coffee.

My husband only likes drip coffee.

Still with me?  

We used to have a double carafe drip coffee pot, where we could each make our own drip coffee.  It didn't satisfy my need for lattes and cappuccinos.  We got rid of the double, replaced it with a single drip maker and a Nespresso machine with milk frother.  I now had lattes and cappuccinos, but no drip coffee when my husband made leaded coffee for himself practically every day.

I came across a great deal on a small Keurig machine ($99, then 30% off and a $20 rebate, for a $50 total price).  The Keurig could be the solution for me when I want drip coffee the same time my husband wants his leaded coffee.  

This is what we currently have sitting on our kitchen counter.  Count 'em, 4 coffee making items.  There has to be a better solution?  

Yes, those are 1980's gray formica countertops, jealous?

I Was Late for Work - I Had to Dress a Chicken

It didn't help that I hit the snooze bar more than I should have, but there was an important task that needed to be attended to.  I was late for work, because I had to dress a chicken.  Does your dressed chicken look this good?

We still can't find one of the chicken feet.

No Words

I'm at a loss for words.  This makes my heart swell.  I can't believe how grown up she looks.  This was her first Daddy/Daughter dance and she had a blast.

I was sad I wasn't allowed to go, but we had fun shopping for her dress.

I'm going to sit back and look at this picture for the next few hours.

I Miss the Things That Annoyed Me the Most

Murphy has been gone for 2 months.  There are days where I think of him and smile and there are days when I come across a picture of him and shed a few tears.  He was our dog and became such an everyday part of our lives.

Murphy had a few habits that would test my patience. Here are some of my favorites:

1.) Whenever I would get ice from the freezer, Murphy would come running.  Sometimes as I was rushing to get out of the house, grabbing a handful of ice for him and tossing it on the floor would annoy me.  I didn't have the time for it and he was always under my feet, jockeying for the quickest route to the ice when I'd put it down.  Lately, when I get ice and I don't hear him running my way, trying to trip me, I feel a twinge of sadness.

2.) Some might say I am the lightest sleeper in the whole entire world.  Even on the nights when I wear ear plugs, I can hear a faint whimper from one of my kids.  Super sonic mom ears.  I digress...  Murphy slept in our room on a dog bed in the corner.  A handful of times throughout the night he would wake me as he moved around on his bed, moving from his bed to the floor, etc.  Some nights, when I knew I wouldn't get that much sleep, I would get terribly annoyed by being woken up by him.  Now our room is eerily quiet, a very uneasy quiet.  Sometimes when I wake during the night for no reason, I have trouble falling back to sleep because it's way too quiet.

3.) Murphy had a habit of eating the smallest of toys the kids would leave on the ground.  I would tell them continuously that if there was a small toy they treasured, they needed to make sure it wasn't left on the ground.  There would be days where I would pry his mouth open and fish toys out of his slimy saliva filled mouth at least 10 times.  Now, when I see small toys on the ground, my instinct is to tell the kids to pick them up because Murphy will eat them.  I no longer need to give them that reminder.

The memories associated with the habits of that darn dog that used to annoy me, now make me smile.  I sure miss that dog!

My Working Mom Accomplishments

Over the past few weeks, I have been discussing what it's like to juggle all aspects of my working mom life.  It's definitely a humorous conversation at times.  I now reflect back on some of my major accomplishments as a working mom over the past couple of years...

1.) Getting to my desk, relatively on time.  Some days, this is my biggest accomplishment.

2.) Getting through the day with the snot on my pants going unnoticed as my darling little one decided to rub her runny nose on my pants as I was walking out the door.

3.) Disguising the fact, that during a meeting with a C-level executive, I only slept 4 hours the night before.  Not because I spent all night working on the presentation, but because my daughter had pneumonia and I slept in her room.  I woke up every time she moved/coughed/rolled over.

4.) Getting my daughters to school dressed in pajamas on Pajama Day.

5.) Rushing out of the office to pick up my kids, after the last meeting of the day runs late and arriving at the very last minute before having to pay more.  And not getting a speeding ticket in the process.

6.) Having enough food in the house to scrape together a packed lunch for them.  The mere act of packing lunches day after day is quite an accomplishment.

7.) Hoping the fact that I forgot to turn in the sign up sheet for the school play somehow remains under the radar screen.

8.) Getting both kids to school, on time, without having to talk about Mommy's behavior and that I could have handled myself better that morning.  I run out of patience after asking them to put their shoes on after the 10th or 11th or 40th time.

9.) Remembering to sign permission slips and turn them in no later than 5 days past the due date.

10.) Getting myself in bed and asleep before 10:30pm (a rarity these days).

11.) Occasionally getting dinner on the table for Steve and I during the week.  Even if dinner consists of cereal and M&M's.

What are some of your biggest accomplishments as a working Mom?

Top 10 Traits of a Great Boss

A while ago I posted Top 10 Traits of a Bad Boss.  This is the second installment, covering the 10 Traits of a Great Boss.  This list is complied from all the things that make a great boss based on my nearly 20 years of working in Corporate America.

1.) Being clear about expectations.  Let people know what you expect of them and when.  Leave nothing open to interpretation or to the imagination.  

2.) Being honest.  Being honest in performance reviews and at all coaching opportunities is very important, even when the discussion is hard.  Talk to your staff they way you would want someone to talk to you in those situations.  Think back to times when you wished someone would have been honest with you. 

3.) Providing clear and relevant communication.  When you ask someone on your team to do something, explain the context.  When an employee feels like the work they do is contributing to a bigger effort, they feel more vested in the outcome.  

4.) Rewarding a job well done.  Even if it's a simple thank you, reward people for a job well done.  If your company permits, take your team to lunch or let them leave early on a Friday, especially if you've just worked them to the bone to meet a deadline.  

5.) Understanding what motivates people.  For some people it's money or title, for some people it's recognition for a job well done.  Play to what motivates your employees.  

6.) Listening to your employees.  I am sometimes quick to jump to conclusions on how things should be done, but I always listen if my team thinks there is a better way.  Be open to changing course and accepting feedback from your employees.

7.) Allowing your employees flexibility when needed.  This cannot apply to all jobs, but when family emergencies or other situations arise, give your employees the flexibility to deal with it.  I've worked for people who cut me some slack to deal with issues outside of work and in return I was actually a better employee in the long run for it.

8.) Be willing to pitch in.  On occasion the work load for your team may be overwhelming.  Roll up your sleeves and offer to help with some of the things you'd rather not have to do.  It shows them it's a team effort and everyone is there to help.

9.) Give feedback more frequently than an annual review.  There are opportunities on a regular basis where you can give feedback.  Give honest feedback in a very respectful manner.  Performance discussions should never be a surprise to an employee.

10.) Operate with integrity.  Play by the rules, drink the company kool-aid, stand up for your people and do the right thing.  Lead by example and not empty words, adhere to company policies and guidelines.  Be the type of boss people want to work for.

Great Fall Dessert Recipe - Caramel White Chocolate Apple Bars

I work full time so it's difficult to volunteer as much as I would in my daughter's classroom.  At the beginning of the school year I signed up for a couple of the volunteer efforts that play to my strengths.  I get to help the school in some way, a way that is fun for me.

A few weeks ago it was teacher appreciation.  My awesome neighbor and another mom head up that effort. This time around I made a fall inspired dessert that the teachers/staff could eat easily.  I scoured for a recipe that I thought would be good and then I doctored it up.

I decided to make Betty Crocker's Caramel Apple Bars.  I wanted something without nuts and something seasonal.  Rumor has it, they were liked.

(picture from Betty Crocker)

Here are the changes I made, easy ones:

1.) Added 1/2 - 3/4 cup of Ghirardelli white chocolate chips to the 2 cups of reserved oat mixture before adding that as the top layer of the bars before cooking.

2.) Increased the amount of caramels from 1 14 oz bag to 1-1/2 bags, 21 oz total.  You can never have too much caramel.

It's an easy recipe with the most difficult part being peeling and chopping the apples.  If you try the recipe, let me know what you think.