So, its midnight. What are you doing? Sleeping? Yeah, that would be the normal activity and even the desired activity for most. Me? Well, thanks for asking. I have been watching my son on the video monitor. I heard him stirring about in his crib so I push the button and the image of him in his bed magically pops on the screen. He is sitting up in his crib putting his blanket over his head, I mean completely covering his head, and then lying back down. Up, cover head, lie down. Repeat times 20 minutes. Every time I see the blanket covering his face my feet hit the floor to run to his room to remove it. But then he would be up again, then back down. So he and I are doing this weird dance in tandem, yet in separate rooms. He's up, blanket is covering his head then he's back down with the blanket over his face. I am lying down, see his head covered, pop up, feet are on the floor and then he's back up so I lie down. Because we all know, well all parents anyway,that if you get caught in your child's room the game is over. You can almost hear the Nintendo game go bloop bloop bloop, wah wah. Yes, that is my best imitation and yes the original Nintendo was the last time I played a video game. Who cares if you think I am dating myself admitting that. If you have read any previous blogs (which of course I hope you have and I love you dearly for) I have told you how old I am. The fact that I played super mario brothers should come as no breaking news.
So hear I am telling you all of this at midnight from the warm confines of my all time favorite place. Wait for it........ my bed. Ahhhhh, love it! Yes, I downloaded the blogger app for my phone and I am glad that I did. I may be crazy enough to blog at midnight but I am not crazy enough to get out of bed to do it. When inspiration strikes you just gotta roll with it. I'm just happy that I can entertain all of you from wherever I may be. Wherever I go, you go. Haha
Now that I am up I may as well start planning breakfast. Or maybe just go back to sleep and figure it out at a more human and reasonable hour. Yawn, sleep wins every time.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
In the midnight hour
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Something to Talk About
Today I thought I would freestyle a little bit. Have a conversation with my readers. Albeit a one sided conversation but let's be honest, I am sure we have all suffered through our fair share of those. So, what's one more right? At least this one will be entertaining. For me anyway.
So, what's new? I really should be cleaning my house, but I got a good idea for my blog so here I am. I cannot squelch my creativity. When an idea hits you, ya just gotta roll with it. And hope you can get it done fast enough so you can take a shower before Jeff's morning nap is done. Taking a shower with Jeff awake and I am alone is not an easy task to accomplish. It's not that he makes a mess or puts himself in dangerous situations. Rather, he stands outside the shower screaming and crying until I am done. That is the longest 5 minutes of my life(good thing I am short and there is not a lot to wash). It doesn't matter if I talk or sing his favorite silly songs. Until he can see me, it's pure hell.
So, back to the cleaning. We have a guest coming to stay with us for a couple days. A business associate of David's. He is a really nice guy. It's not that I mind having him come over, but I can get a little freaky when people come to visit. I am a stay at home mom. The key words of that phrase being stay at home, therefore my home should be immaculate(insert laughter here). The most important word of that phrase is mom. So, immaculate and home together in one sentence is an oxymoron. I keep the house tidy and clean for my standards. Everyone has their own level of cleanliness they like to maintain. Anyway, I digress so I am trying to get the house "guest clean" which is different than my everyday clean. The funny thing is I bet he won't even notice or care. That's just how guys are. But to me it is important that the house be presentable. That is one of my jobs being at home. Of course it was also one of my jobs when I worked at the hospital too. Hmmmm. And yet I still sit here chatting with you.
I was driving yesterday and was behind a pretty beat up car with 2 girls in it. My first observation was that the driver's side mirror was gone and that was probably illegal to drive like that. But then I was distracted by seeing the 2 of them "car dancing". You know when you groove in the car to an awesome song? It immediately made me nostalgic for my younger years when my friends and I would do that. Then it just made me nostalgic for being young and carefree. Then it made me think of a funny story of the crazy things you did when you were young. I'll give you a reader's digest synopsis of the intro to the story. I went to college in Manchester, NH. My junior year my bff Tiff lived off campus in an apartment with a couple of roommates. It was the summer, maybe a few weeks before school started and Tiff was at the apartment already. Her roommate invited us to go see her swim team performance thing in Swampscott, MA. I lived in R.I. with my parents. Hey, no judging---I was in college--just home for the summer. Anyway, I drove from R.I. to NH to pick Tiff up to then drive to MA. What the heck kind of crazy ass trip was that? We listened to Alanis while riding in the big blue Oldsmobile, the blue bomber we called it, and it was one of the best trips of my life. We got lost, horribly lost, but had so much fun. That is probably something I would never do today. That is way too much driving. Who does these crazy things? Umm, kids do. Because to them it's about the adventure not the destination. We lose some of that as we get older.
Another funny story is I was driving with a friend of mine the summer in between high school and the first year of college. We were in my parents Oldsmobile Delta 88. My parents loved their oldsmobiles. Anyway, it was summer and the windows were down, the music was blaring and we were car dancing as if we were in a club. Oblivious to the world around us when we came to a red light. Still dancing, singing and laughing when something caught my eye. I look over and there is my oldest brother driving the rescue for the fire department. He looks over at me, gives me a little smile and just shakes his head. That made us laugh even harder. You could just see it in his face. He was thinking you crazy kids. And that is the part of youth that is wasted on the young. Not to sound like an old lady, but it's the truth( not that I am an old lady). That fearlessness and adventure dwindles as you get older. There are a million and one excuses as to why, responsibilities, not enough time to be silly, and the one that is the most sad is that we forget. We forget how to be carefree.
Well, my carefree time is almost up. I need to shower so I don't scare the other shoppers at Stop-n-Shop when Jeff and I go out to do our shopping for our guest. Not only do I have to clean the house, but I need to feed him too! Jeez, these men.
Been nice chatting. Talk to you soon :)
So, what's new? I really should be cleaning my house, but I got a good idea for my blog so here I am. I cannot squelch my creativity. When an idea hits you, ya just gotta roll with it. And hope you can get it done fast enough so you can take a shower before Jeff's morning nap is done. Taking a shower with Jeff awake and I am alone is not an easy task to accomplish. It's not that he makes a mess or puts himself in dangerous situations. Rather, he stands outside the shower screaming and crying until I am done. That is the longest 5 minutes of my life(good thing I am short and there is not a lot to wash). It doesn't matter if I talk or sing his favorite silly songs. Until he can see me, it's pure hell.
So, back to the cleaning. We have a guest coming to stay with us for a couple days. A business associate of David's. He is a really nice guy. It's not that I mind having him come over, but I can get a little freaky when people come to visit. I am a stay at home mom. The key words of that phrase being stay at home, therefore my home should be immaculate(insert laughter here). The most important word of that phrase is mom. So, immaculate and home together in one sentence is an oxymoron. I keep the house tidy and clean for my standards. Everyone has their own level of cleanliness they like to maintain. Anyway, I digress so I am trying to get the house "guest clean" which is different than my everyday clean. The funny thing is I bet he won't even notice or care. That's just how guys are. But to me it is important that the house be presentable. That is one of my jobs being at home. Of course it was also one of my jobs when I worked at the hospital too. Hmmmm. And yet I still sit here chatting with you.
I was driving yesterday and was behind a pretty beat up car with 2 girls in it. My first observation was that the driver's side mirror was gone and that was probably illegal to drive like that. But then I was distracted by seeing the 2 of them "car dancing". You know when you groove in the car to an awesome song? It immediately made me nostalgic for my younger years when my friends and I would do that. Then it just made me nostalgic for being young and carefree. Then it made me think of a funny story of the crazy things you did when you were young. I'll give you a reader's digest synopsis of the intro to the story. I went to college in Manchester, NH. My junior year my bff Tiff lived off campus in an apartment with a couple of roommates. It was the summer, maybe a few weeks before school started and Tiff was at the apartment already. Her roommate invited us to go see her swim team performance thing in Swampscott, MA. I lived in R.I. with my parents. Hey, no judging---I was in college--just home for the summer. Anyway, I drove from R.I. to NH to pick Tiff up to then drive to MA. What the heck kind of crazy ass trip was that? We listened to Alanis while riding in the big blue Oldsmobile, the blue bomber we called it, and it was one of the best trips of my life. We got lost, horribly lost, but had so much fun. That is probably something I would never do today. That is way too much driving. Who does these crazy things? Umm, kids do. Because to them it's about the adventure not the destination. We lose some of that as we get older.
Another funny story is I was driving with a friend of mine the summer in between high school and the first year of college. We were in my parents Oldsmobile Delta 88. My parents loved their oldsmobiles. Anyway, it was summer and the windows were down, the music was blaring and we were car dancing as if we were in a club. Oblivious to the world around us when we came to a red light. Still dancing, singing and laughing when something caught my eye. I look over and there is my oldest brother driving the rescue for the fire department. He looks over at me, gives me a little smile and just shakes his head. That made us laugh even harder. You could just see it in his face. He was thinking you crazy kids. And that is the part of youth that is wasted on the young. Not to sound like an old lady, but it's the truth( not that I am an old lady). That fearlessness and adventure dwindles as you get older. There are a million and one excuses as to why, responsibilities, not enough time to be silly, and the one that is the most sad is that we forget. We forget how to be carefree.
Well, my carefree time is almost up. I need to shower so I don't scare the other shoppers at Stop-n-Shop when Jeff and I go out to do our shopping for our guest. Not only do I have to clean the house, but I need to feed him too! Jeez, these men.
Been nice chatting. Talk to you soon :)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Bargain Shopper
Don't you just love a bargain? You can thank me later for getting that jingle stuck in your head. Seriously though, I hate paying full price and I will avoid it at all costs. This was ingrained in me by my mother. The queen of all bargain shoppers. I only hope to be as good as her someday. As an example of her awesomeness-- she called me the other day because she had bought my son a whole bunch of pants for $1 a piece. I kid you not!! That is how good she is folks.
So, as a bargain shopper I tend to shop at places that offer bargains. Makes sense right? I frequently shop at Marshalls. Their shoe department is lovely :). Especially now that they have re-designed it to be like a real shoe store. You know, with the a display shoe on the top shelf and a row of boxes neatly stacked underneath. It's pure heaven. But at times it can be so infuriating. The display shoe is there, the boxes neatly stacked are there, but there is only one shoe in the box. Where is the other shoe? In Marshalls it could be ANYWHERE. I have spent more time than I care to admit looking for the rogue shoe. Because it is of course in my size and the other half of the pair that I wish to purchase. I experienced this just today. I was in Marshalls yesterday and tried on a pair of shoes. They were super cute and comfortable. So, a no-brainer to purchase right? Well, then my alter ego known as "Do you really need that" pops up and tells me that I really don't need the nude sling back pumps. So, I leave without them. Only to get home and realize they match the new dress I got perfectly. I have to go back and get them. It's as important as breathing. I return to Marshalls( a different one than yesterday) and experience the rogue shoe scenario. I was triumphant in my search, just in case you were breathless anticipating the outcome of the story. The shoes are mine!
As much as I love a bargain, most times I do not have the patience to sift and sort through racks. That I did not get from my mother. I swear that is one of her favorite activities. It drove me nuts as a kid. A simple errand with her could morph into an afternoon. Most times when I shop I have a specific idea of what I am looking for and need. Searching through racks of mismatched items with hangers that tell you one size while the actual clothing tells you another is not fun for me. I was like this before I had Jeff. It's only gotten worse since. I prefer to shop the sale racks at my favorite stores. That is so much more conducive to my method of shopping. What is even better is online shopping.
There is my little slice of heaven. Not only can you find what you need, it is all neatly categorized for you. Quick in and quick out. The selection is incredible too. I mean I walked into Marshalls today and there were three racks in the front of the store of girls Easter dresses. I expected to see at least one rack of little suits for boys. There was NOTHING there. Tucked in the back of the store near the 2 rows of boys shoes there was 1 teeny tiny rack of boys suits. You don't see that online. There is equal web space for both boys and girls. That's a huge pet peeve for me. Little boys can look good too, not just little girls. I like to dress Jeff up in dapper clothes and have him look so darn handsome I could cry. Little boys are cute too!
Anyway, the online sales are phenomenal. The two big questions I get are 1) how do you know what size to get? and 2) don't you mind paying shipping? Size is an easy one. I don't take chances. I buy from stores that I know what size I am and Jeff is easy too. If he is outgrowing one size, just get the next one up. As for shipping most stores waive that fee if you spend enough, and if you have to pay shipping the amount you saved is worth it. I mean if you can save 50% off the already reduced prices, is paying $5 for shipping that big of a deal? Ummmm, no. Besides getting packages delivered to your house is fun. It's like getting presents.
Yes, you do not get the instant gratification of walking out of the store with your bags with online shopping. But if I can save myself the hassle of dealing with other shoppers not to mention the attitude of the cashiers and waiting in lines, online shopping wins every single time.
So, as a bargain shopper I tend to shop at places that offer bargains. Makes sense right? I frequently shop at Marshalls. Their shoe department is lovely :). Especially now that they have re-designed it to be like a real shoe store. You know, with the a display shoe on the top shelf and a row of boxes neatly stacked underneath. It's pure heaven. But at times it can be so infuriating. The display shoe is there, the boxes neatly stacked are there, but there is only one shoe in the box. Where is the other shoe? In Marshalls it could be ANYWHERE. I have spent more time than I care to admit looking for the rogue shoe. Because it is of course in my size and the other half of the pair that I wish to purchase. I experienced this just today. I was in Marshalls yesterday and tried on a pair of shoes. They were super cute and comfortable. So, a no-brainer to purchase right? Well, then my alter ego known as "Do you really need that" pops up and tells me that I really don't need the nude sling back pumps. So, I leave without them. Only to get home and realize they match the new dress I got perfectly. I have to go back and get them. It's as important as breathing. I return to Marshalls( a different one than yesterday) and experience the rogue shoe scenario. I was triumphant in my search, just in case you were breathless anticipating the outcome of the story. The shoes are mine!
As much as I love a bargain, most times I do not have the patience to sift and sort through racks. That I did not get from my mother. I swear that is one of her favorite activities. It drove me nuts as a kid. A simple errand with her could morph into an afternoon. Most times when I shop I have a specific idea of what I am looking for and need. Searching through racks of mismatched items with hangers that tell you one size while the actual clothing tells you another is not fun for me. I was like this before I had Jeff. It's only gotten worse since. I prefer to shop the sale racks at my favorite stores. That is so much more conducive to my method of shopping. What is even better is online shopping.
There is my little slice of heaven. Not only can you find what you need, it is all neatly categorized for you. Quick in and quick out. The selection is incredible too. I mean I walked into Marshalls today and there were three racks in the front of the store of girls Easter dresses. I expected to see at least one rack of little suits for boys. There was NOTHING there. Tucked in the back of the store near the 2 rows of boys shoes there was 1 teeny tiny rack of boys suits. You don't see that online. There is equal web space for both boys and girls. That's a huge pet peeve for me. Little boys can look good too, not just little girls. I like to dress Jeff up in dapper clothes and have him look so darn handsome I could cry. Little boys are cute too!
Anyway, the online sales are phenomenal. The two big questions I get are 1) how do you know what size to get? and 2) don't you mind paying shipping? Size is an easy one. I don't take chances. I buy from stores that I know what size I am and Jeff is easy too. If he is outgrowing one size, just get the next one up. As for shipping most stores waive that fee if you spend enough, and if you have to pay shipping the amount you saved is worth it. I mean if you can save 50% off the already reduced prices, is paying $5 for shipping that big of a deal? Ummmm, no. Besides getting packages delivered to your house is fun. It's like getting presents.
Yes, you do not get the instant gratification of walking out of the store with your bags with online shopping. But if I can save myself the hassle of dealing with other shoppers not to mention the attitude of the cashiers and waiting in lines, online shopping wins every single time.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Can't Get Enough
So, food is a necessity in life. I think the statistic is that a human can live without food for two weeks. Another fun fact is that one would die of starvation before they lost all their cellulite. If you are one of the lucky people in the world without cellulite then you shouldn't be reading my blog. Just kidding--I'm not a hater and I don't discriminate. But I may talk about you behind your back. Haha
Anyway, I love to eat. And that is probably the understatement of the century. I think about food and what I am going to cook from the minute I wake up. Some of the planning has to be around my son and making food that we will all eat. I refuse to be the mom that doubles as a short order cook. But mostly I am just thinking about what appeals to me that day. If I get a thought in my head, my husband knows that we will be eating it soon. And probably every week until either I get sick of it or he begs me to stop making it. That also goes for restaurants. If I want to go out to eat, chances are it is to a specific place for a specific dish.
If you asked me what my favorite food is, I would most likely tell you Italian. I do really enjoy Italian food. I also enjoy cooking italian dishes, although there is not one lick of Italian blood running through my veins. I think I am pretty good cook too. What's that saying? No one has died yet? But I did get myself hospitalized a year and a half ago after food poisoning. How embarrassing is that? To have to tell the doctors and nurses that you poisoned yourself? To be fair it was not my actual cooking, but one of the ingredients in the food. It took me a long time to eat spaghetti and meatballs again.
I think my all time favorite would have to be a category of food not an actual food item. I LOVE breakfast foods. My taste buds are pleased with a wide range of foods. From the simple things like a muffin or cinnamon roll to more labor intensive fare like french toast, pancakes, and waffles. I do eat eggs too. Sometimes there is nothing better than an egg sandwich or an omelette. But since I didn't start eating eggs until I was 27, the sweet breakfast treats win out. Before I started eating eggs my biggest gripe was that restaurants didn't have a big enough section for us non-egg eaters. I actually thought about opening my own restaurant called, "No Eggs At All". I thought it was pretty clever. But then I ventured over to the dark side and my egg-free restaurant dreams were shattered. There is something so spectacular about cinnamon, butter and syrup that when combined take me to a place of nirvana(and not the band). Just this morning I texted my friend a picture of my breakfast. I had made french toast using his family's portugese sweet bread(who knew the portugese and the french were such good friends?) I thought he needed to see the yummy goodness I was about to consume with relish. Relish being delight not the sweet pickle kind.
So, you would think that I love going out to eat for breakfast. Au contraire my friends. I am, brace yourself for this revelation, a breakfast snob! The audible gasps from my 6 followers are astounding. Yes, it is true. I like the breakfast I make better than anywhere I have gone. With the exception of my father's crepes. For you non-french, live under a rock kind of people, they are thin french style pancakes. I am at present 35 years of age and if I happen to sleep at my parent's house I will ask my dad to make me crepes for breakfast. And like the awesome dad that he is, he makes them every time. I will proceed to sit and gorge myself on them until I want to get sick. Usually from a sugar overdose. Why you ask? The answer is simple. There is only one way to eat them. And that is with brown sugar. Lots of brown sugar. So much sugar that you feel its grittiness between your teeth. I can't get enough! Don't even get me started on breakfast for dinner! How great is it that you can eat those delicious foods twice in one day?
I think my love of breakfast foods to be directly correlated with my love of dessert. I would eat dessert before my meal if it were socially acceptable. My mother always says that my father and I have a sweet tooth that is bigger than we are. So, I guess I can blame him for this vice of mine. I actually stop eating my meal to save room for dessert. Yes it is true. And to be honest some breakfast foods are just glorified desserts. Which in my book is absolutely fine. I mean there's eggs and milk in most of them. It's just like eating scrambled eggs, only better. Yes folks, I can and will justify and rationalize it. You just try and stop me :)
Anyway, I love to eat. And that is probably the understatement of the century. I think about food and what I am going to cook from the minute I wake up. Some of the planning has to be around my son and making food that we will all eat. I refuse to be the mom that doubles as a short order cook. But mostly I am just thinking about what appeals to me that day. If I get a thought in my head, my husband knows that we will be eating it soon. And probably every week until either I get sick of it or he begs me to stop making it. That also goes for restaurants. If I want to go out to eat, chances are it is to a specific place for a specific dish.
If you asked me what my favorite food is, I would most likely tell you Italian. I do really enjoy Italian food. I also enjoy cooking italian dishes, although there is not one lick of Italian blood running through my veins. I think I am pretty good cook too. What's that saying? No one has died yet? But I did get myself hospitalized a year and a half ago after food poisoning. How embarrassing is that? To have to tell the doctors and nurses that you poisoned yourself? To be fair it was not my actual cooking, but one of the ingredients in the food. It took me a long time to eat spaghetti and meatballs again.
I think my all time favorite would have to be a category of food not an actual food item. I LOVE breakfast foods. My taste buds are pleased with a wide range of foods. From the simple things like a muffin or cinnamon roll to more labor intensive fare like french toast, pancakes, and waffles. I do eat eggs too. Sometimes there is nothing better than an egg sandwich or an omelette. But since I didn't start eating eggs until I was 27, the sweet breakfast treats win out. Before I started eating eggs my biggest gripe was that restaurants didn't have a big enough section for us non-egg eaters. I actually thought about opening my own restaurant called, "No Eggs At All". I thought it was pretty clever. But then I ventured over to the dark side and my egg-free restaurant dreams were shattered. There is something so spectacular about cinnamon, butter and syrup that when combined take me to a place of nirvana(and not the band). Just this morning I texted my friend a picture of my breakfast. I had made french toast using his family's portugese sweet bread(who knew the portugese and the french were such good friends?) I thought he needed to see the yummy goodness I was about to consume with relish. Relish being delight not the sweet pickle kind.
So, you would think that I love going out to eat for breakfast. Au contraire my friends. I am, brace yourself for this revelation, a breakfast snob! The audible gasps from my 6 followers are astounding. Yes, it is true. I like the breakfast I make better than anywhere I have gone. With the exception of my father's crepes. For you non-french, live under a rock kind of people, they are thin french style pancakes. I am at present 35 years of age and if I happen to sleep at my parent's house I will ask my dad to make me crepes for breakfast. And like the awesome dad that he is, he makes them every time. I will proceed to sit and gorge myself on them until I want to get sick. Usually from a sugar overdose. Why you ask? The answer is simple. There is only one way to eat them. And that is with brown sugar. Lots of brown sugar. So much sugar that you feel its grittiness between your teeth. I can't get enough! Don't even get me started on breakfast for dinner! How great is it that you can eat those delicious foods twice in one day?
I think my love of breakfast foods to be directly correlated with my love of dessert. I would eat dessert before my meal if it were socially acceptable. My mother always says that my father and I have a sweet tooth that is bigger than we are. So, I guess I can blame him for this vice of mine. I actually stop eating my meal to save room for dessert. Yes it is true. And to be honest some breakfast foods are just glorified desserts. Which in my book is absolutely fine. I mean there's eggs and milk in most of them. It's just like eating scrambled eggs, only better. Yes folks, I can and will justify and rationalize it. You just try and stop me :)
Monday, March 21, 2011
Insight Into My Kind of Crazy
I have been struggling with a blog topic today. I have started a new blog twice and deleted it both times, feeling that it was somehow lacking. Lacking in what exactly? I don't know, pizzazz, humor, the fabulousness you have come to know as me?
The question is how do I make the blog witty and humorous when in fact I am not feeling neither witty nor humorous? The answer is obviously to stay true to myself and blog in the mood of the day. I mean a multi-faceted blog must be better than a one dimensional one, right? But then I think that everyone likes funny, and are probably reading my blog to get a much needed dose of humor in their day. But forced humor will come across as fake, and everyone can see fake from a mile away. There my friends is just a small glimpse into the craziness known as my brain. I can take a simple topic and twist and contort it into something unrecognizable. Not an attribute of mine that I am proud of. That is definitely on the list of "things to work on" in the list of self help.
I saw a clip today of Eva Longoria talking about life after her divorce. And her words of wisdom were to "participate in life". Do we really need a celebrity post multi-million dollar settlement to talk about participating in life? I mean this is the same person who threw herself 3 different birthday parties. The key words in that sentence were threw herself! Honestly? With all the craziness that the world has seen lately, why is she even news worthy?
So, this may not be my Mona Lisa of blogs. But it is me. I am not one dimensional, you can ask my husband about the craziness that is my mind at times. But don't because then he might get some smart idea about blogging, and that would mean I would be struggling to come up with topics for 2 blogs. Haha.
To quote the wise Popeye "I am what I am". And honestly I wouldn't change a thing. And if you believe that I got a bridge I could sell ya real cheap. There are a few things I would not necessarily change but tweak a little bit. And if we are all honest I bet we could all say the same thing. I mean we are all works in progress. Progress requires forward movement and the ability to adapt. I am progressing, so therefore adapting. Whether I want to or not. Life goes on with or without you. So, join the party.
The question is how do I make the blog witty and humorous when in fact I am not feeling neither witty nor humorous? The answer is obviously to stay true to myself and blog in the mood of the day. I mean a multi-faceted blog must be better than a one dimensional one, right? But then I think that everyone likes funny, and are probably reading my blog to get a much needed dose of humor in their day. But forced humor will come across as fake, and everyone can see fake from a mile away. There my friends is just a small glimpse into the craziness known as my brain. I can take a simple topic and twist and contort it into something unrecognizable. Not an attribute of mine that I am proud of. That is definitely on the list of "things to work on" in the list of self help.
I saw a clip today of Eva Longoria talking about life after her divorce. And her words of wisdom were to "participate in life". Do we really need a celebrity post multi-million dollar settlement to talk about participating in life? I mean this is the same person who threw herself 3 different birthday parties. The key words in that sentence were threw herself! Honestly? With all the craziness that the world has seen lately, why is she even news worthy?
So, this may not be my Mona Lisa of blogs. But it is me. I am not one dimensional, you can ask my husband about the craziness that is my mind at times. But don't because then he might get some smart idea about blogging, and that would mean I would be struggling to come up with topics for 2 blogs. Haha.
To quote the wise Popeye "I am what I am". And honestly I wouldn't change a thing. And if you believe that I got a bridge I could sell ya real cheap. There are a few things I would not necessarily change but tweak a little bit. And if we are all honest I bet we could all say the same thing. I mean we are all works in progress. Progress requires forward movement and the ability to adapt. I am progressing, so therefore adapting. Whether I want to or not. Life goes on with or without you. So, join the party.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Channeling My Inner Imelda
Anyone who knows me, or should I say anyone who knows me well, knows that I love shoes. This goes back as far as I can remember. I was hooked on jelly shoes as a kid. Had to have multiple pairs in an assortment of colors(of course)--lucky for me they were cheap so my mom obliged me this vice. Next infatuation was the Dr Scholl's clog. You know the one with the single strap over your foot that closed with a buckle and had a wood bottom? Mine were navy blue, and I loved them. That is of course until I put them on, strode out my side door and proceeded to slide down the cement steps into my driveway. I will spare you the gory details of what my feet looked like after this spill. What I will tell you is that we left for our annual camping trip the next day, and I had to wear socks the whole time because my feet were bandaged and couldn't get dirty. Yeah--all the time. Even while swimming! Great time was had that trip(note the heavy sarcasm). Who was the weird kid in a bathing suit and socks? Uh, that would be me. One of my favorite pairs as a kid was a burgundy peep-toe, sling back wedge that I got at a yard sale for 50 cents. To me it was destiny. They were my size, I had 50 cents in my pocket and no one else had bought them yet. I was probably the only kid in 6th grade wearing old-lady shoes, but I loved them. They made me feel fancy. Now I shudder at the fact that I bought shoes at a YARD SALE and wore them without even cleaning them first!! And that's a big selling point for me with shoes. How do I feel in them? I believe this is directly tied to my thought process that shoes always fit. It doesn't matter what I weigh, my shoes don't get tight or mock me for eating that cannoli. They just fit. They support me when my jeans fail.
So, I heard on Regis and Kelly the other day( please keep the judgment out of your voice when reading this sentence) and Regis was saying that the average woman owns 40 pairs of shoes but wears only 4 on a regular basis. Well, if I have ever not fit into the "average woman" mold it is now. There are definitely ways that I do fit into the category average. I'd say my looks are average--I mean you don't see this mug gracing the covers of any magazines, doesn't help that I am vertically challenged and not super model material. But that's neither here nor there. Okay enough with the self-deprecating humor. Unless of course it is drawing out feelings of empathy in you. In that case I could write a whole blog on that topic alone. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I honestly don't know how many pairs of shoes I have, but I probably have 40 pairs of flip flops for crying out loud. I most certainly wear more than 4 pairs consistently!
As a side note completely unrelated I have to laugh whenever I use an exclamation point. It reminds me of that Seinfeld episode with Elaine and the exclamation point. It makes me stop and evaluate whether or not I am using it correctly. Of course this blog is completely subjective so the placement of exclamation points are at my own discretion.
Now that I got that flight of ideas out of the way. I love shoes. Just thinking about shoe shopping brings a smile to my face. Of course, shoe shopping with a toddler should be considered an Olympic sport. How many women do you know can balance on one leg while trying a shoe on the other foot all the while entertaining their toddler in the stroller? Bet if you know someone that can do that they are a mom.
Not only do I love shoes, I am meticulous about keeping them looking new. I actually keep them in the boxes. A fact many people find odd, but if not for my quirks who would I be? Haha.
At this stage in my life I will spend a fair amount on a pair of shoes for two reasons. 1- my foot hasn't grown since I was 12 so I will wear them for a long time(hopefully), 2- cheap shoes hurt my feet. I have come to the conclusion that shoes have to fit well and be comfortable for me to spend the money. It's not all about looking good. It is a little sad that it has taken me a good 20 years of shoe shopping to figure this basic fact out but hey, better late than never. So, I may not be Imelda Marcos, although our names have been used in association a few times(usually by my mother). Chances are the next time you see me, if you ask "Are those shoes new?" you will probably hear me say yes. Unless of course my husband is nearby and I will tell you that I have had them for years(wink wink).
So, I heard on Regis and Kelly the other day( please keep the judgment out of your voice when reading this sentence) and Regis was saying that the average woman owns 40 pairs of shoes but wears only 4 on a regular basis. Well, if I have ever not fit into the "average woman" mold it is now. There are definitely ways that I do fit into the category average. I'd say my looks are average--I mean you don't see this mug gracing the covers of any magazines, doesn't help that I am vertically challenged and not super model material. But that's neither here nor there. Okay enough with the self-deprecating humor. Unless of course it is drawing out feelings of empathy in you. In that case I could write a whole blog on that topic alone. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I honestly don't know how many pairs of shoes I have, but I probably have 40 pairs of flip flops for crying out loud. I most certainly wear more than 4 pairs consistently!
As a side note completely unrelated I have to laugh whenever I use an exclamation point. It reminds me of that Seinfeld episode with Elaine and the exclamation point. It makes me stop and evaluate whether or not I am using it correctly. Of course this blog is completely subjective so the placement of exclamation points are at my own discretion.
Now that I got that flight of ideas out of the way. I love shoes. Just thinking about shoe shopping brings a smile to my face. Of course, shoe shopping with a toddler should be considered an Olympic sport. How many women do you know can balance on one leg while trying a shoe on the other foot all the while entertaining their toddler in the stroller? Bet if you know someone that can do that they are a mom.
Not only do I love shoes, I am meticulous about keeping them looking new. I actually keep them in the boxes. A fact many people find odd, but if not for my quirks who would I be? Haha.
At this stage in my life I will spend a fair amount on a pair of shoes for two reasons. 1- my foot hasn't grown since I was 12 so I will wear them for a long time(hopefully), 2- cheap shoes hurt my feet. I have come to the conclusion that shoes have to fit well and be comfortable for me to spend the money. It's not all about looking good. It is a little sad that it has taken me a good 20 years of shoe shopping to figure this basic fact out but hey, better late than never. So, I may not be Imelda Marcos, although our names have been used in association a few times(usually by my mother). Chances are the next time you see me, if you ask "Are those shoes new?" you will probably hear me say yes. Unless of course my husband is nearby and I will tell you that I have had them for years(wink wink).
Friday, March 18, 2011
Conspicuous Consumer
So, I took my son Jeff out for a walk in the gale force winds today. What a workout that was! I didn't know that the 65 degree temperature was going to be accompanied by 65 mile per hour winds. Okay, maybe I exaggerate slightly but that is what it felt like. Jeff had a good time as always and didn't seem to mind the wind at all. Of course he wasn't the one pushing a 24 pound toddler in a 20 pound stroller into said wind. So, need less to say I was famished when we returned home and what better post-walk snack is there than an english muffin pizza. Actually, I hadn't had lunch yet so it wasn't really a snack. Don't want you thinking I eat pizza for a snack! Haha. Anyway, I bet you're wondering what this lovely story has to do with the title of the blog. Patience, I am getting there and it will all make sense.
So, back to the english muffin pizza. I have such a strong childhood affiliation with this particular food. My siblings and I had a great-aunt who was widowed at a young age and never had children of her own. Naturally she adored us--I mean who wouldn't? As a special treat if we had a day off from school one of us would get to spend the day with her. This was fantastic! She would order groceries when we got there(she didn't drive) and they would be delivered in an hour or two(this was way before peapod and cool to us kids who had to schlep to the grocery store with our mom). Clearly our lunch would be english muffin pizzas. Enough about food and here's the segway into the actual topic of the blog.
Now as kids we all would watch tv and see a commercial and beg our parents for whatever it is we just saw. I apologize if I offend anyone by generalizing all of us kids. If you weren't one of these kids, then you knew one and the story still makes sense. The commercials were designed to entice us and boy did they do it well. I can remember asking for the new Barbie, or the new Doritoes, or the cool new whatever it may have been. The point is I was sucked in by that advertising and truly felt like I would die if I didn't get it. Hence the beginning of my life as a conspicuous consumer.
Fast forward to adult hood and here I am still getting sucked in by advertising. One would think I would have outgrown this behavior. You are reading the blog of a girl who purchased Hip Hop Abs off an infomercial for crying out loud! Shaun T told me I would look amazing if I followed "his proven system". I mean look at him, he must be right! I HAD to have it. A few days into the videos of his "proven system" and I felt robbed. It was a farce of a workout. I mean did I really think I could get rock hard abs by bending at the waist in time to hip hop music? Apparently so, the dvd set sits in my entertainment center.
My biggest gripe is when I am disappointed by the coveted item that I just purchased. Whether it be a food item, health and beauty item, clothing or what have you. Nothing is worse than having your bubble of anticipation blown to smithereens. Especially if you delayed the gratification of getting it. My husband believes it all boils down to me being upset that people don't do what they say they are going to. In part he is right. A lot of the frustration in my life comes from when people don't treat me the way that I treat them. Again this is probably another throwback from my childhood. From a time when things seemed simple and there was a direct cause and effect way of life. This also goes for the products that I purchase. They promised me X. I held up my end of the bargain by buying their product. When I don't get X from said product it is a sad, disappointing day.
To this day if I am watching tv with my husband and see a commercial that makes me go hmm, I will comment on it. He will reply with "Well, that will be in the house next week". Sometimes he is right. Sometimes I wait 2 weeks or until I have a coupon just to prove him wrong.
So, back to the english muffin pizza. I have such a strong childhood affiliation with this particular food. My siblings and I had a great-aunt who was widowed at a young age and never had children of her own. Naturally she adored us--I mean who wouldn't? As a special treat if we had a day off from school one of us would get to spend the day with her. This was fantastic! She would order groceries when we got there(she didn't drive) and they would be delivered in an hour or two(this was way before peapod and cool to us kids who had to schlep to the grocery store with our mom). Clearly our lunch would be english muffin pizzas. Enough about food and here's the segway into the actual topic of the blog.
Now as kids we all would watch tv and see a commercial and beg our parents for whatever it is we just saw. I apologize if I offend anyone by generalizing all of us kids. If you weren't one of these kids, then you knew one and the story still makes sense. The commercials were designed to entice us and boy did they do it well. I can remember asking for the new Barbie, or the new Doritoes, or the cool new whatever it may have been. The point is I was sucked in by that advertising and truly felt like I would die if I didn't get it. Hence the beginning of my life as a conspicuous consumer.
Fast forward to adult hood and here I am still getting sucked in by advertising. One would think I would have outgrown this behavior. You are reading the blog of a girl who purchased Hip Hop Abs off an infomercial for crying out loud! Shaun T told me I would look amazing if I followed "his proven system". I mean look at him, he must be right! I HAD to have it. A few days into the videos of his "proven system" and I felt robbed. It was a farce of a workout. I mean did I really think I could get rock hard abs by bending at the waist in time to hip hop music? Apparently so, the dvd set sits in my entertainment center.
My biggest gripe is when I am disappointed by the coveted item that I just purchased. Whether it be a food item, health and beauty item, clothing or what have you. Nothing is worse than having your bubble of anticipation blown to smithereens. Especially if you delayed the gratification of getting it. My husband believes it all boils down to me being upset that people don't do what they say they are going to. In part he is right. A lot of the frustration in my life comes from when people don't treat me the way that I treat them. Again this is probably another throwback from my childhood. From a time when things seemed simple and there was a direct cause and effect way of life. This also goes for the products that I purchase. They promised me X. I held up my end of the bargain by buying their product. When I don't get X from said product it is a sad, disappointing day.
To this day if I am watching tv with my husband and see a commercial that makes me go hmm, I will comment on it. He will reply with "Well, that will be in the house next week". Sometimes he is right. Sometimes I wait 2 weeks or until I have a coupon just to prove him wrong.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Valleys of Relationships
So, why is it that we get complacent in our relationships? Why can't the "honeymoon phase" last longer than a honeymoon? It's so frustrating, and a cause for many a disagreement I am sure. Of course the obsessively absorbed stage can't last forever either because let's face it, nothing would get done. But there has to be a happy medium in between manic and complacent. If I could find it, or knew where to get the answer I could make millions happy. We all know that relationships like life take work. And all the "experts" say that communication is the key to success. But seriously--even these "experts" must have days where they have been busting their butt, and their spouse/significant other/better half (whatever you call it) comes home and has had an equally butt busting day. Do you really feel like talking? Or does every word out of their mouth just serve to infuriate you? Because you are tired and frustrated and feel taken for granted. How do the "experts" deal with that. And while I am talking about experts, how does one become an expert? Is there a degree in relationship expertise that is being offered at our local colleges that we know nothing about? Because I would sign up for that. And before anyone gets any ideas about my life of course I am speaking in the hypothetical when using specific examples.
But it's not just spousal relationships. Friendships take a similar turn. You talk, text or get together often when you are in the "getting to know each other" phase. But soon those days of talking and getting together start happening less and less frequently. There's always the excuse that "we are so busy". But in most cases we have the same lives that we did in the beginning of the friendship. Why was it so convenient to get together then? Was it because we didn't know each other that well and didn't want to disappoint? So now that we do know each other its okay to disappoint each other? Seems to me like that logic is backwards. If we don't really know each other that well, why are we worried about hurting each others feelings? It must be because some level of understanding occurs with familiarity. We understand that we are busy, tired, insert the appropriate excuse here.
This logic also applies to our relationships with ourselves. Why is it we become complacent with exercise once we reach our goal weight? Or we are complacent with even starting an exercise routine because we are comfortable with being "this way". Same thing with diets. We watch what we eat and avoid all the yummy things in life to what? Get to our "goal weight" and what we do? Reward ourselves with Food!!! How insane is that? Its the search for the happy medium between manic and complacent. Know what I mean?
They say an object in motion will stay in motion. But aren't relationships a moving thing? So, then why do they so often get stuck? Or worse, seem to be on a perpetual roller coaster? I don't know about you, but I HATE roller coasters. The feeling of my stomach in my throat accompanied by palpitations is not something I would pay for. But yet, that is kind of how you feel when you fall in love isn't it? Sick but excited at the same time?
The peaks are what everyone strives to maintain, and the valleys are the place you can't wait to get out of. Why can't there be a flat plane? Of course a flat plane of peaks. Why the peaks and valleys at all? Good question to ponder.........
But it's not just spousal relationships. Friendships take a similar turn. You talk, text or get together often when you are in the "getting to know each other" phase. But soon those days of talking and getting together start happening less and less frequently. There's always the excuse that "we are so busy". But in most cases we have the same lives that we did in the beginning of the friendship. Why was it so convenient to get together then? Was it because we didn't know each other that well and didn't want to disappoint? So now that we do know each other its okay to disappoint each other? Seems to me like that logic is backwards. If we don't really know each other that well, why are we worried about hurting each others feelings? It must be because some level of understanding occurs with familiarity. We understand that we are busy, tired, insert the appropriate excuse here.
This logic also applies to our relationships with ourselves. Why is it we become complacent with exercise once we reach our goal weight? Or we are complacent with even starting an exercise routine because we are comfortable with being "this way". Same thing with diets. We watch what we eat and avoid all the yummy things in life to what? Get to our "goal weight" and what we do? Reward ourselves with Food!!! How insane is that? Its the search for the happy medium between manic and complacent. Know what I mean?
They say an object in motion will stay in motion. But aren't relationships a moving thing? So, then why do they so often get stuck? Or worse, seem to be on a perpetual roller coaster? I don't know about you, but I HATE roller coasters. The feeling of my stomach in my throat accompanied by palpitations is not something I would pay for. But yet, that is kind of how you feel when you fall in love isn't it? Sick but excited at the same time?
The peaks are what everyone strives to maintain, and the valleys are the place you can't wait to get out of. Why can't there be a flat plane? Of course a flat plane of peaks. Why the peaks and valleys at all? Good question to ponder.........
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
A Day in The Life
Ok, so it's almost 7:30 at night and I decide to try my hand at blogging. What soothing background music have I chosen to help in this process you ask? That would be the hum of the dishwasher accompanied by the squeals of my toddler and last but not least my husband attempting to correct some behavior of said toddler. As is customary with me, I am forging into unchartered territory a whole 30 mins before bath and bedtime. Great time to start blogging right? Well if not now then when I ask.
So, I really don't know what I want to say. People ask what is the message you want to send? Really, I am just hoping that someone will read this and decide to follow my blog. Seriously, I would like tons of people to read and follow it. I'm not shallow. Just looking for validation from friends and possibly complete strangers. What better compliment is there than to have a following of complete strangers that find your words humorous? I mean if they are strangers then there is no "friend pressure" to like it or pretend for the sake of preserving your friendship. That's validation folks!
So, my first blog will be short and sweet. Kind of like me :) Of course the level of sweetness is prone to change. But whose isn't if we are being honest. Status quo, although it might be nice can be boring. The ups and downs of life keep it real. Here's hoping there are more ups than downs. I guess that all depends on who you are and who you have chosen to spend your time with. As much as we are in control of our own destiny we are also affected by the company we keep.
Ok, my little man is singing old mcdonald had a farm. Actually he is only singing the e-i-e-i-o part but its too cute to hear and not join him. I am off to join the hubby and adorable toddler.
This might not be a view into a whole day in the life but its an excerpt from my evening.
Talk to ya soon.
So, I really don't know what I want to say. People ask what is the message you want to send? Really, I am just hoping that someone will read this and decide to follow my blog. Seriously, I would like tons of people to read and follow it. I'm not shallow. Just looking for validation from friends and possibly complete strangers. What better compliment is there than to have a following of complete strangers that find your words humorous? I mean if they are strangers then there is no "friend pressure" to like it or pretend for the sake of preserving your friendship. That's validation folks!
So, my first blog will be short and sweet. Kind of like me :) Of course the level of sweetness is prone to change. But whose isn't if we are being honest. Status quo, although it might be nice can be boring. The ups and downs of life keep it real. Here's hoping there are more ups than downs. I guess that all depends on who you are and who you have chosen to spend your time with. As much as we are in control of our own destiny we are also affected by the company we keep.
Ok, my little man is singing old mcdonald had a farm. Actually he is only singing the e-i-e-i-o part but its too cute to hear and not join him. I am off to join the hubby and adorable toddler.
This might not be a view into a whole day in the life but its an excerpt from my evening.
Talk to ya soon.
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