Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I LOVE Free Shipping

I do a lot of Internet shopping. I never have time to get to an actual mall or store so the Internet is my savior. With all that shopping, shipping can get expensive. Ahhh...the joys of Amazon Prime. I LOVE it. I pay $79 a year, and get FREE TWO-DAY shipping on LOTS of stuff. Amazon groceries, books, cds, movies, etc etc etc! I use it for EVERYTHING. And if I need it asap, $3.99 for overnight shipping. It has bailed me out so many times when I am late with a birthday or other gift - boom $3.99 it is there. I just love it! It's what works for me!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

To Be So Loved

So given my recent travels (2 girls weekends, an overnight business trip, several work dinners) this month, Big Man has been really clingy lately. Who can blame him? I'm pretty cool to be with! LOL Anyway, it usually drives me crazy, but I am trying to be more zen and just grateful for the snuggles and love he shows me. This morning was no exception.

I got him up - had to wake him, so that was fun - and got him dressed. He was not in the greatest mood. He was clinging to me all morning - except when he stopped to fight with daddy and try and get the bagel and cream cheese he was making for K to bring to school. So, I leave the house with K to walk over to the school. Big Man is screaming and rolling on the ground. I tell him I will be right back and we walk out. Of course, K forgot her backpack and we had to go back in. She gets it and leaves, but doesn't shut the door. Big Man comes out and stands on the porch crying as we walk away.

She and I are talking about it, and how we need to help Big Man learn more words so he won't get so upset in general. About a block and a half away, we both turn when we hear his cry plain as day. Big Man has come down off the porch, walked down our walkway, and is now headed down the sidewalk towards us. Crying and reaching his arms out. It was so pathetic. Daddy was soon on his heels and grabbed him up.

Minutes later when they picked me up in the van from the school, Big Man was all smiles. He was even fine when I dropped him off at daycare. But today, I carry the vision of him sobbing on the streets, arms outstretched, screaming mama! Such love.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Big Money Bake Sale

All of last week, our daycare had a bake sale to raise money for improvements to the center. The daycare is in a federal building so there are lots of hungry workers there to try and hit up.

I spent many nights baking cookies. The funniest part was dealing with Big Man. He LOVES chocolate. My girls have no interest in chocolate (are they really mine??!!), but Big Man is a HUGE fan. He can hear you unwrapping a hershey kiss from anywhere in the house. He will come running with an open mouth and a panting breathe. It totally cracks me up.

Anyway, I was baking and DH was helping sell, and they made over $1000!!!! For a four-day bake sale. I am seriously in the wrong business. I need to quit today and start a business running those carts that go around inside office buildings selling breakfast and lunch foods. Seriously, I would make a killing. If they can sell some cookies and brownies at a dollar each and raise over one THOUSAND dollars in four days, I would be making 6 figures in a heartbeat with my lunch cart.

I seriously would love to do this. I assume the health department issues combined with the security issues in many DC buildings make this infeasible. I can't image why else nobody is doing this. If you saw the line at the Starbucks in my building every morning you know this would work. And after seeing this bake sale, I'm sure of it. hmmm...

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Scrapbooking Is My Life

Or not. I had a FABULOUS time at Scrapbowl this weekend. It was so fun. It was great spending so much time with my girlfriend, and I got lots of scrapbooking done. It was a crazy place - over 600 scrapbookers, a bunch of vendors, and classes. Although I have to say the thing that cracked me up the most was how seriously people took the scrapbooking. The keynote address was given by a woman who has written a bunch of best-selling scrapbooking books, and she is really talented. She also takes this hobby REALLY seriously. Basically her message was that if we change the way we scrapbook - it will change our life. Really??!! I don't think so. It will just change the way I scrapbook. My life is a whole other matter. At least for me, scrapbooking is a fun hobby that I enjoy. It lets me be creative, and at the same time preserve some family memories and use some great photos. But it isn't life altering. I preferred the message from the amazing Donna Downey, who taught one of the classes I took. She said she doesn't always journal, because, frankly she is just not that deep. She has cute pictures of her kids and she likes to put them in a pretty book. That is exactly how I feel about it. Sometimes I have a funny story to tell, or a touching moment - and that, I journal. But otherwise, its just about the photos. Anyway, it was a great time and I totally want to go back next year. I even got two (15-minute) massages out of the deal! Here is a cute book that Donna Downey taught us how to make - called My Kind of Beautiful.

Friday, February 15, 2008

A Scrapbooking I'll Go!

Yayy. I am off for SCRAPBOWL with my best friend from high school. I am SOOO excited. I am taking two classes, but the rest of the time I will just be scrappin'. I think I enjoy it so much because I am a crafty person. But I don't have much time for many crafts what with the job and three kids and all. So with scrapbooking, I feel like I am preserving family memories - but get to let my creative side out as well. Whatever it is - I love it and can't wait!!! Maybe I will even post a layout or two when I get back.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

DOLBA is FOUND!

So K has this disgusting blue plush dolly that she has had since she was 3 months old. It started off nice and soft and cute (see picture right, the day she got her). After being dragged around and adored for 5 1/2 years, the thing is simply nasty. Luckily it is washable, and we wash it often. But it is still gross. There is hardly any stuffing anymore (I think it disintegrated), and what there is is clumped in weird places. It has parts that are just dirtied to a dull brown, and it is just disgusting. She looks like an old rag. But K LOVES her.

Funny story - when K was about 3, she left Dolba at daycare over the weekend. By the time we realized on Friday night, it was too late - the doors were locked. Me, being the resourceful mommy I am, had purchased several extra Dolbas when we realized how much K was attached to them. So we handed her one of the extra Dolbas. She took it and went about as if nothing had happened. About 4 days later (after DH had grabbed the original back from daycare and hidden her), K found the old Dolba in DH's closet. She casually picks her up and says - THIS is Dolba. I said, well, what is that you have in your hand? She says, "Soft Dolba". She had known all along that we gave her a decoy and never said anything. "Soft Dolba" was simply too plush to have been the real thing. (Guess I should have run over her with the car a few times like the lady in that commercial with the teddybear.) It was too funny. After that she gave Soft Dolba to her sister, and would only be satisfied with the real thing.

While I was on my girls’ weekend, K lost her. She lost her Sunday morning, and bedtime Sunday night was not fun without Dolba. She doesn't take her to school or anything, but she has to have her at night. We were crazed - we looked all over the house and called everyone and everywhere they had been to try and find her, to no avail. We ripped apart their bedroom - under mattresses, throughout the closet, in their dressers - nothing. Went through the whole house over and over, checked in the laundry and in the trash, through the car. I was actually a bit sad the disgusting thing was gone - knowing how much she was loved.

Dolba was gone for almost a full two weeks! K did pretty well, but was a little more moody than usual. Then, this morning, in a fit of angst, K ran and hid behind one of our curtains - and poof - there was Dolba! What a relief.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Best Popcorn Ever

Seriously if you like popcorn, this is an awesome recipe. It is awesome and easy. I love popcorn, and have been having the microwave kind for years now, but I have never been fully satisfied with it. I often have lots unpopped, and could live without the chemical taste. Now with all the hoopla about the chemicals in it, I have been looking for other options. I bought a cool bowl that you use to pop it in the microwave with just the popcorn kernels and/or oil. But again, not full poppage. So..turns out the old fashioned way is the best. This does use some oil- but not alot. that said, if you melt about 2 tbl butter in the pan after popping, then pout over the popcorn - it is AWESOME! I wouldn't use the butter everyday, but the popcorn is great. Only 3-4 kernels didn't pop and it just tasted so good. And I was using generic brand popcorn kernels from the supermarket. I know some people swear by special kernels, but these were great. Enjoy!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Chesapeake Tuesday

Doesn't really have the ring of Super Tuesday, does it? But nonetheless, we are voting today here in DC, VA, & MD. Last night we got 5 political calls - all from Republicans - 3 Huckabee and 2 McCain. Now my husband is registered independent, but I have been a Democrat since I was 18. The funniest one was the message from a "neighbor" calling to remind me that Huckabee is the only candidate who really supports our Second Amendment Rights. I wish I had been able to speak with her - Lady, I OPPOSE the current interpretation of the 2nd Amendment!! I am HUGELY in favor of gun control - as in, I'd abolish them all. Knowing he is in favor of gun rights certainly wouldn't make me vote for him. I would think that would be an iffy topic for most people in the area where I live. Surprised they would lead off with that.

Ah well. Brought K with me to the polls this morning. I was trying to explain how it is an historic election, where we are voting on either a woman or an African American - neither of whom has ever been President before. She told me she would vote for the girl. I asked her why, and she said that since a girl hadn't been President before, she should be. I said that we'd never had an African American President either and she said but he is a boy, and we already have a boy President.

I wish it were that easy. Before heading to the polls, I was excited to vote for Obama. But hearing her, I felt pangs of regret. On the surface I would love for her to see a woman President(course she didn't even know we never had one before I started this conversation -- and frankly, was torn about telling her then, less she feel there are things she can't do), but for me, it’s just not this woman. I asked if she had any girls in her class that she didn't like. She said no. I asked if she could think of any girls at all that she didn't like, she said no. So, I just told her that Mommy didn't particularly like this girl, and didn't want to vote for her just because she was a girl. She seemed to accept that, but still wanted me to pick the girl.

I have to say there was a part of me that wanted to as well.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Book Review: The Kommandant's Girl

small disclaimer: I knew the author about 20 years ago. We were sorority sisters in college. I haven't spoken to her since 1990, but picked up the book because a friend recognized her name.

This book is FANTASTIC! I couldn't put it down. I read it in 2 days -- which given how much time I get to read, really says something! The story is of a young Jewish girl, newly married, during the Nazi occupation of Poland. How she escapes facing the death camps is just a great story that keeps you wanting more. It even makes you think about choices and emotions - and what people will/can do in extreme circumstances. I've already pre-ordered her next book, not due out until May 1. I highly recommend The Kommandant's Girl.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Happy Blog-iversary to Me!

So this is the 1st anniversary of my blog. I am not sure why I started in on February 8, 2007. I hadn't really read many blogs at all, wasn't sure what I'd have to say (still not), or how/why I would use this in my life. But I have grown to really enjoy the blogging community. There are so many great ones out there (only a fraction listed in my blogroll). I have found such great advice on parenting, working moms, cooking, crafting, etc. It is truly amazing and I think, one of the best parts of the Internet. I'm not a Hillary Fan - but it really does take a village to make it in this world - and aside from my great friends and family, blogs are a big part of my village. Thanks to you all, and lets keep communicating and sharing!

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Movie Review - My Date with Drew

Very cute flick. It’s a documentary about one guy's attempt to get a date with Drew Barrymore. It was shot all with one camera, and it’s easy to get involved with the story. Imagine using your 12 degrees of separation to meet a celebrity. The DVD also includes a short documentary on how they got their film distributed like a major motion picture. I highly recommend.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Most Relaxing Day

So I was away with my girlfriends this weekend. On Saturday we had nearly the perfect day. We woke up, had a delicious breakfast - tropical french toast (courtesey of Dinner Done), and decided we would not get out of our jammies all day. It was heaven. We read books, played cards (I taught them Canasta - which I LOVE), watched a movie, ate chocolate and junk foods, drank wine and blender drinks, it was perfect!!! We even went out and visited a local gift store we love (before the drinking, of course) IN OUR JAMMIES! It was so great. I read a bunch of magazines and several books without interruption. How lovely! We came back early on Sunday to make it to a superbowl party. It was a perfectly relaxing weekend. How often do us busy moms get that??? I am so lucky to have such great friends, and a great husband who lets me get away with it. Especially since i have another weekend away in 2 weeks for ScrapBowl!

Friday, February 1, 2008

Off for a Girls' Weekend

I am heading off with a few of my bestest friends for a girls weekend. As we will be in the wilds of West Virginia, I will have to miss Weekend Bloghopping again! Hope you all have fun. We plan lots of eating/drinking/lounging and card playing. Yay!

Oh yeah, And go Patriots! I don't actually care about football, but if I have to pick a team...