The Chronicles of a SAHM

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T17:44:00.001-06:00

Going downstate for Turkey Day... Three adults, two toddlers, one dog in a car for 5 hours...Wish us luck, and have a great holiday!

New Moon

2009-11-22T21:22:00.004-06:00

No, I am not a fan. No, I have not read any of the books. Why do I go? I suppose you can chalk it up to curiosity. It's like the third grossing movie ever...so I must go see what everyone is talking about. True to the predecessor, this one felt like a Lifetime movie of the week;/

Here are my givens:

-I get it...Edward Cullen is hot.
-I get it...Jacob/The Wolf Pack have rock star abs!
-In high school, 18 is old.
-Everyone was cast for their looks and not their acting ability.
-It rains a lot in Forks.
-Bella's Dad has no clue.

Now then...I hear a lot about "Team Edward" vs "Team Jacob"...let's break that down a bit...I know she's gonna end up with Edward (who doesn't) That said, if I was Bella, who would I choose? I hate to tell you this, but as a girl who's cold all. the. time...Jacob had me at "180 degrees right here" (wolves blood runs hot). I think I'd go for a warm live dude with rocking abs, over a cold dead guy with a really skinny body, any day of the week. (Sorry)

Seriously, what do the vampires have going for them? Hmmm...well, they wear fabulous shoes. (Was I the only one who noticed this?) I'll go ya one further, those vampires dress pretty darn well. I was digging on the head Vulture guy. His pants tapered really nice, with his Euro Johnny shoes (I am kind of a sucker for that look). Give that V'ture guy a hair cut, and tell him to stop breathing into his hands all the time, and you might have something there...

Cons on Jacob...I wasn't really feeling The Wolf Pack. They were cool as long as they stayed really big wolves, but when they turned into dudes, they were ridiculous. The whole, no shirt cut off shorts thing was way to Hulk for my taste. If you over think that...where the heck do their pants go? I gotta say, the whole theater cracked up when Bella runs her bike into the rock, starts bleeding, so Jacob whips off his shirt to dab the blood away..."Hello abs..."

It was like eating cotton candy...good for a while, then you get sick of it:P Perhaps there were just too many long emotional pauses for my taste? Perhaps cloud of dust Edward was just this side of too corny? Perhaps the whole idea of a dude who is 104 years old finding his soul-mate in an 18 year old girl, is more creepy than romantic? Pick one...it's all there.

That said...I walked away thinking two things...."I can't wait to see how the Twilight Bunnies will handle New Moon", and "Damned if I won't go see then next one...I'm such a sucker..."

I Can Build a Spaceship...

2009-11-19T13:50:00.007-06:00

I wrote my last post...completely chuckling about how miserable the kiddos looked in the pictures. It never occurred to me that the focus of the post was how creepy Husband looks under the Gaussian Blur tool:P

Then, I started thinking..."I know Photoshop."..."Not only do I know Photoshop, but I have Photoshop CS4!" (Thanks Mom...that's another post)

A friend once told me that "If you know Photoshop, you can build a spaceship!"

Well, I can build a spaceship, and the best I could come up with was Gaussian Blur? No!

Here's the deal...
I am married to a Super Hero. No wait...not this one...
This one...
Only, when we go out, he looks like this. (Num...nummy)
Seriously, it's not as exciting as that...Really, I'm just married to Clooney, and we don't like pics of him to get out because they always end up in the tabloids;)
No wait! I'm married to a vampire...yeah, that's it, and you can't take his picture...Can you take a vampires picture??? No, he can't be a vampire since we're out in the daytime...

I'm gonna have to get my story straight and get back to you;)

P.S. I still think it's hilarious how miserable my kids look in these pictures:D

Seemed Like a Good Idea

2009-11-18T17:13:00.004-06:00

Occasionally, it's good to actually take advantage of the fact that we live in the city.
This weekend Husband and I looked at each other and said..."Let's go to the Art Museum!"

Wait..."Let's make it really fun for the kiddos, and take the bus:O" (this means we weren't taking the stroller...such a rookie mistake:P)
We took the quickest tour of the museum humanly possible...and shot ourselves out of the new wing to the bridge to Millennium Park. It really is a wonderful view of the city...Husband had the brilliant idea to take a picture of the kiddos (who were in MAJOR meltdown mode) with the view of the building where we were married in the background. (See the Borg Warner sign...we got married on the deck of that building...gorgeous) Needless to say, all you have to do is look at Miss Peach's face to see how she felt about pictures:/
...and yet Mommy and Daddy persist...(That's not a smile, it's a cry.)
Well...she's done...perhaps just one with The Little Man and Daddy?*
Nope...that's not gonna work...
...and he's out as well.
Little Man...one more shot? No...OK. I think we're done here;/

*Husband's job prevents me from showing pictures of him on the blog. (thank you Gaussian Blur function)

2012

2009-11-15T19:21:00.004-06:00

So, I went to see 2012 this weekend.

Here's a little known fact about me...I love me some destruction of monuments in movie form. The Day After Tomorrow, I won't even tell you how many times I've seen this movie (no really, I'm not going to tell you...no, so don't ask) I don't know what that says about me...but like, the first time I saw the trailer for 2012...I was SO in.

First, I'm gonna come out right here and now and admit it to you...John Cusack, doesn't really do it for me:/ Having said that...I'll give him Say Anything, I'll even give him High Fidelity (who wouldn't go after him in these movies?) Heck, I'll be a super sport and give him Must Love Dogs...other than that...meh, he's just not my type. So, while I rooted for him...I was WAY more into Dennis Quaid in The Day After Tom. What can I say...John Cusack, I'm just not that into you;/

You get the vibe that I really wanted to love this movie, right? I can only give it a C (I can't even give it a C+) It's like Roland Emmerich went to some Hollywood disaster movie garage sale, and smashed it all together to make this disaster movie mush. For a while I was watching The Day After Tom., then I was watching some Independence Day...about the time we should be wrapping it up, I found myself elbow deep in The Poseidon Adventure. (For the love of God, this movie was 2 hours and 40 min. long!)

Some of the highlights...I loved me some Woody Harrelson (I swear, I had a tennis coach who was just like his character...yes, that is scary!) What else...on yeah, if you're a dog, and you're in one of these end-o-the world flicks...it's a pretty safe bet you're gonna make it;) If you're the guy dating the chick of the hero...you are so toast:( Would it have killed them to let Sasha and his little Russian hussy live? Couldn't he have just hustled out of the plane when it stopped for moment? Nope...OK.

Can we just once and for all agree that you can NOT out run an explosion? Can we? No...OK. What about agreeing that you can NOT out drive the earth as it crumbles beneath your car? No...OK. Oh, I know...you can NOT fly a plane if you run out of runway because the earth is disintegrating? No...OK. I got it...let's agree that no matter how fast you run or drive, there is NO outrunning a hundred foot wave crashing towards you? NO...sheesh!

I literally left this movie with a headache. Three of the four people I saw it with wanted to go knock on Ebert's door and punch him in the face (No, we didn't really want to punch him in the face...just metaphorically, you know, 'cause he gave it 3 1/2 stars. Really Ebert? 3 1/2 stars?!?)

I know it made a TON of money, and got some good reviews...but in this disaster movie fan's opinion...it's a pass. Wait 'til next week, and go see New Moon;)

Just a Little Whine

2009-11-12T19:52:00.004-06:00

Alright, I have been meaning to set it out there...Quick back story, you know my Halloween party, well the biggest reason I go is to hear this awesome band. Typically, I have gone with Sissy (which works out well, she knows the deal). The deal is...pace yourself, the band doesn't go on until 2am:O

This year, Sissy bailed on me at the last minute:( I hit that in stride, called up some running pals who always go, and went with them. Problem...they started partying at 7pm! (yes, they are single pals) Needless to say, nobody made it to my awesome band, and since it is not a good idea to be alone at a party at 2am...I missed my band:(

Not to worry mouse, the band has a gig at a club downtown Nov. 21. Sissy gives me the no go:( The Bro gives me the respectable maybe:( Buddy Steve gives me the I'll go if The Bro goes:( WTF!?! Why can't I get anyone to go out with me? Where are my Chicago bloggers? Can't we make this a Bloggers night out? Pardon me while I whine...I just want to see my band...

I had prepared to whine and be done with it...Then came dinner...

Me: "Miss Peach, wasn't it nice of The Little Man to let you play with his golf clubs?"

Miss Peach: (very thoughtfully) "Yes, maybe The Little Man isn't mean after all..."

Me: "Your brother isn't mean...he loves you very much. The first thing he said when he woke up from his nap was...Let's go pick up Miss Peach from school."

Little Man: "I missed you."

He missed his sister...aren't they just the sweetest things...now what was I saying???

Kooky Design House

2009-11-10T21:33:00.003-06:00

I hope I'm not boring you all with house posts:/ What can I say...The Pioneer Woman walks out her door and sees cows, I walk out my door and see buildings, buildings, and more buildings...

I moved to the city as a broke design student. Those were some of the most exciting, ridiculous, wonderful memories. In school, I was friends with a kooky girl with the same fashion design dreams as my own...Wendy.

She rented a room, in a house that had been broken up into separate units...This amazing house, had about 20 rooms that had been converted to rentals. See the top windows in the circle tower? That was Wendy's room. She had this HUGE leather couch crammed into the circle...It was the tiniest room, but it had the most amazing view of the lake, and the city...Seriously, look at how close the city is from the house...(this is prime Gold Coast) I always wondered how such a spectacular house, in such an A-list location, falls into such disrepair that it becomes rentals for students?

I would walk in the front door, and it opened into the most amazing wooded cascading staircase (think Gone With the Wind). At the same time, it was incredibly spooky. I hated to visit Wendy at night, because the common areas (entry hall, stairway, hallways) never had electricity. This house was dark, brooding, and ominous at night. Street kids would climb up on the roof in back, to drink beer and party into the wee hours. It was scary, strange and beautiful all wrapped into one...Somewhere in the 90's real estate boom, the richest fat cat bought the house. It boggles my mind that one family now lives in this enormous house! (Truth be told, I think I know who the owner is...and their kiddos are out of college...so it's just TWO people living there!) This is easily 12,000 square feet:o

I run past the house every other day, and my mind always takes me back to my kooky design friend, and all the nights I ran up the dark wooded staircase to Wendy's tiny room with the view. I so wish I had taken pictures of the interior of the house (Lord knows, I'll never get the chance now) In many ways, I'm happy for the house that has now been rehabbed to within an inch of it's existence...and yet in some ways, I miss the kooky place that housed all the artsy fartsy types with no business living in The Gold Coast...

Sinks?

2009-11-08T20:53:00.003-06:00

There is one luxury I allowed myself when I was a single girl, that I could not give up when I married. The cleaning woman.

She comes once a week, changes the bed sheets, folds the laundry and generally cleans the house. Thank goodness, because most of the time, the house looks like a bomb went off:O

I think all children have an irrational fear of the vacuum cleaner. The other day, while Grace was vacuuming, The Little Man was hiding under the covers...

Little Man: "Mommy, hide with me."

Me: (crawling under the covers)

Little Man: "Mommy, sing to me."

Me: "Oh when the Saints, oh when the Saints, oh when the Saints go marching in..." (Little Man LOVES to sing this)

Little Man: "No Mommy, it's sinks...Oh when the sinks go marching in!"

Why did I not know this;)

Slacker Mom

2009-11-05T21:22:00.002-06:00

I feel like a total slacker mom. There, I said it.

It's weird, because actually, I'm there for my kiddos every moment of the day. Before preschool, I took the kiddos to the zoo, or the museum, or the park every week. I really don't have any mom friends, so it's just us...

Cue preschool. In the city, preschool options are expensive. Not only could we not afford some of the private preschools, but I it would have been quite a feet to get in even if we could. Literally, at the last minute, we got Miss Peach into a great preschool. It isn't cheap, but it's doable.

Now, I am surrounded by all these moms who make me feel like a total slacker:( They are all worked up about homework for the preschoolers, and whether or not their 4 year old is being held back by some of the 3 year olds in the class. Ummmm...what?

I was just happy to have her in an environment where she could learn to spell her name, and socialize with other kiddos. These moms seem to be gunning for Harvard! Don't even get me started on the wardrobes...

Most days, I drop Miss Peach off in running clothes, since I go for a run after I drop her off. Slacker that I am...some days, I haven't gotten the shower in by the time I pick her up (I am not a total dirt bag, I do shower every day, just not always before I pick her up). Usually, I'm perfectly comfortable in workout gear...until now. These moms pick their kiddos up in full on make up, with hair done, knee high boots tucked into perfect fit jeans...the whole shebang.

No matter how I slice it, I can't rationalize doing my hair and makeup to pick my daughter up from preschool! Am I wrong? I mean, good Lord people...what bad Stepford Wife episode have I wandered into here?!?

Now if you'll excuse me...I have to go change out of my sweats, and into my pajamas...

Hippopost

2009-11-03T13:47:00.005-06:00

You know when I find something fun/cool, I'm gonna share it.*

Well, I've found something fun/cool...Hippopost.

I downloaded the app. for my Blackberry, but you don't have to use it on your phone. You can load pictures through you Facebook account, or from your computer.

Here's the deal...take a picture, load it to Hippopost, they send a free postcard to whomever you choose with whatever you choose to say. How fun is that!?!

This is perfect for sending kiddo pics to my Dad (who is far away, on slow Internet). It's also perfect for my Mom (who has the same Blackberry as me) to send pics of her ponies to the kiddos. C'mon, where's the downside...it's totally free!

I tested it out by sending a postcard to myself...and here it is...An advertiser tags it in the corner on the front and back...and that's that. (it did take about a week for it to arrive, and you are limited to two a day...just so you know)
Go check it out...it's fun, and free...can't beat that:)

*Hippopost in no way contacted me, or compensated me for this post. I just like it and wanted to share...is that so wrong?

Bring on the Freak Show

2009-11-01T20:58:00.006-06:00

Come my Halloween minions...enter at your own risk. Beware, it's a freak show...
I would say SNL was well represented at the party. LOVED Gilly Girl! She looked right at me and said "Sorry"...Loved it!
Followed by **** in a box! Every year someone does this costume, and every year, it makes me chuckle:D Although...you are no Justin Timberlake...Oh yeah...here's me with Marylin. I had fun, even though my hat was so HUGE, and I got real tired of folks asking me if I was at band camp:P Toy Soldier...Nutcracker...Band Camper...whatever, it's all good.I don't know what they are....but that is some hair!OK, men's costume of the night...wasn't Micheal Jackson, wasn't Wolverine, wasn't Obama...I kid you not...SO many guys went as the NWA pilots that overshot the runway by an hour and a half. I kinda chuckled...
OK, look at the gut on KISS guy...and yet...he seems to have got a chick...
I'm not a face painter...but these folks...made it work.
We girls saw this guy...and I was all "OMG...it's TOTALLY Dr. Oz!"...and they were all..."OMG...it IS totally Dr. OZ!" I ran up to take a pic...and he was so NOT Dr. Oz. He was just crabby Dr. Guy:P I still love the pic;P
I could not stop laughing at this one...Yes...cute girl on the right is a showgirl. Fun, cute...she got props. Any guesses on girl on the left? C'mon...look at her. Is it not obvious to you? Anyone...Wait. For. It....She looked right at me and said...

Marylin Monroe!

Ummmmm.....What?!? Long dark hair...Asian...lightning bolt ear rings. Oh yeah...I totally see it...NOT!
The whole night, I couldn't help thinking that somebody was watching me...and I turned around...and laughed my a** off at the money I could be saving with GIECO. So clever!

Halloween is so fun. I think this was my 6th year at the party. I hope it goes next year...I love me some Halloween:)

Tiny House

2009-10-29T19:51:00.005-05:00

There's this tiny house I walk past almost every day...It is a tiny, mouse house, in the land of the giants.
This is the house next door...You can see the roof of the tiny house next to it. We are talking four times the size:OHere is the house directly behind the tiny house. Zoning prevents them from knocking the house down, so they literally sucked the guts out of the house, leaving nothing but the facade. Then they inject uber modern house inside. I'm not sure this picture does the size justice...I'm thinking this is 6,000-ish square feet. Crazy HUGE.Now then, speaking of uber modern...This is the house across the street. I BIG puffy heart this one. I'm telling you, if I ever have 3 million dollars burning a hole in my pocket...this is my house;)"Mommy, why are you taking pictures of the houses?" "Oh Little Man, Mommy just likes all of the houses...we'll be done soon:)"There are no words for how crazy I think this house is. In the 'hood, we call these the Garagemahol's, or McMansions. They span lot lines, and have no personality other than HUGE. It's like cookie cutter fat cat houses.I have LOVED this house since the first time I saw it. (It's down the street from the tiny house) Between you and me...it was on the market for 6 million. I don't think it sold. (Does anyone have the 20% down on 6 mil.?) Needless to say, I did not buy it;/So I walk past all of the McMansions, and see the tiny house. I always wonder what it's story is? How did you manage to stand your ground in the land of the giants? I know the day will come where the green fences will be put up, the tractors will come in, and the tiny house will be nothing but a memory...Until then, every day I walk past the tiny house...I root for it:)

Shopping the Joffrey

2009-10-27T20:54:00.007-05:00

Today was one of those days when I remember why I love living in the city...

After much deliberation, I decided to go to the Joffrey Ballet costume sale without Miss Peach:( Yes, all of the shopping was for Miss Peach, but I had no idea what I was walking into, and downtown tends to overwhelm the kiddos. So...I let them play at the neighbors, while I jetted out for a quick costume shop.Look at my city! Even on a dreary day like today, it's just magic...It's full of action, and life. Everywhere you look there are people on there way to everything the city has to offer. There are so many layers to it. Anyway...that is enough of my love letter to Chicago...I hadn't been to the Joffery Ballet Tower downtown. It is SO cool! You could see the dancers through the windows as you approach. I gotta think if you are a dancer, you feel like the shizzle nit dancing in Chicago at the JT;)

Let me just say straight up...I had NO idea what I was in for at the sale. My goal was to pick up some fun play clothes for Miss Peach, and to not spend more than $100:/ It was quite an odd group of shoppers...lots of really old men and really old ladies. It crossed my mind that they were shopping for grand-kids...possibly, I don't know? There were handfuls of hoarders, putting clothes on their own racks. More than once I heard someone "These are taken!" at someone else. "Don't you dare take my tutu!" OK lady, step away from the tutus...
As you can see...I'd call the whole experience a success! I got three ballerena dresses, a cute flouncy leotard, a beaded purse, and a hat for $102. Not. To. Shabby;)
Miss Peach is beside herself. She is wearing the leotard, and sleeping with the rest of the dresses on her bed. Step off Kitty...don't even think about making a cat-bed out of all this tulle, Miss Peach is pretty serious about her ballerina dresses!

Pathetic Losers Unite!

2009-10-25T20:56:00.005-05:00

I answered the phone the other day, and it was one of Husband's oldest friends. Does every Husband have the perpetual single guy friend?

The guy who dates women much younger than he should. The guy who has spent so much time focusing on himself, that the idea of committing to another person scares the sh*t out of him. The guy who has been the perpetual player so long, that he is scared to death to be alone, and doomed to it...(wow, did I just get deep?) If I had to sum him up, I'd call him a cross between Jerry Seinfeld (the character) and David Duchovney's character on Californication:\

Anyway, he asked me what the kiddos were being for Halloween, and I said..."Well, if you read my blog, you'd know that:)" To which he said..."The day I read a blog is the day I declare myself a pathetic loser:P" OK, what does that make me, since I not only write a blog, but I design blogs for bloggers?

I shake him off, because quite frankly, I could give two sh*ts what single old guy thinks. So, I tell him what the kiddos are being for Halloween, then I ask, jokingly of course..."What are you being for Halloween?" To which he says..."I think any adult who dresses up for Halloween is a pathetic loser:P"

Well hello Mr Bitterton, so glad I was home to receive your call:\

In the spirit of pathetic losers everywhere, I am going to post my Halloween costume for my grown up party...ON. MY. BLOG!We are being toy soldiers...how fun! Yes, the skirt is short...rest assured, I'm wearing yoga shorts underneath;)Oh, I ordered this cute little had to go with. It's ridiculous...but Sissy and I both LOVED it! Bring on the party...we girls are ready! (who's the pathetic loser:P)

Babies Grow Up

2009-10-22T21:30:00.003-05:00

OMG...would you look at this! Just look at this!!! Where did this grown up girl come from?!?

This is Miss Peach's first school picture...sooooo cute.

On the way home Miss Peach drops this bomb on poor Mommy...

Miss Peach: "You know, I'm getting to the point where I don't need a Mommy anymore." (skipping down the sidewalk to smell a "pretty flower")
Me: (as my heart sinks into my stomach) "What will Mommy do if you don't need a Mommy anymore?"
Miss Peach: "Don't feel bad Mommy, that's just the way it goes. Babies grow up and become big girls and move out. It's OK though, 'cause I'll get a phone, and you can call me anytime you want:)"

So, she'll be getting a job downtown next week, and I think moving into a nice condo in the Gold Coast;)

If anyone knows how to slow her down, can you email me...ummmm, now?

The Great Debate

2009-10-20T21:48:00.006-05:00

OK, truth time...or should I say "time-out"? By now, I sometimes think I am the only dinosaur who actually goes to the blog to read, and leave comments. (I do have Google Reader, but as a designer, I enjoy checking out other folks blog skins.)

I work on the three major platforms...Blogger, Typepad, and Wordpress (mainly self hosted). Lately, I have noticed that boatloads of Blogger folks have been jumping ship to Wordpress self hosted.

This is a cycle that goes round and round in my head. "Should I jump ship too?" I have even discussed it with other bloggers. Some say..."You'll never be taken seriously until you leave Blogger." Others say..."Your blog looks great, you should totally stay on Blogger."

Straight up, when I get a client who tells me they want to switch, I always ask them..."What do you want from Wordpress, that Blogger can't give you?" Sometimes they have an answer, sometimes they don't. Either way, I'm happy to move them, and then I go through it in my head all over again..."Should I jump ship too?"

I know my answer to the question. What is the one thing I want, that Blogger won't give me...wider post on the click-through. Do you know what I mean by that? Check out Dooce. Notice when you click on a picture...she drops the sidebar down, and the post area/picture widens. In a blog traffic world, this equals higher stats, plus I think it's really cool. I like it. Drupal is the platform she is on...quite frankly, I'm a bit intimidated by it:O

To my knowledge, I have not seen any Wordpress blogs doing this. (I am sure there is a way to code it, but code guru is not my forte. I design a mean blog, but I still have a lot to learn in the coding arena.) OhMommy has this feature, she however is on a YouJoomla template. I like her template, but I wasn't wowed by any of the other YouJoomla's. Again, I was a bit intimidated by YouJoomla. I am not sure if you loose your content by making the jump?

Then, I see someone like NieNie. Who was on Oprah a week or so ago. OK, this blog is easily up there with the big dogs (I know that Pioneer Woman reads her). Not only is she on Blogger, but she still has the .blogspot in her url, and the Blogger navbar is visible. You know what, I think her blog is lovely. I watched her blog as she was on Oprah. Can I just say that Blogger handled the Oprah traffic spike seamlessly (am I safe to assume there is an Oprah traffic spike?)...'cause it did. I have seen smaller self hosted blogs crash during traffic spikes.

All of this leads me to thinking..."Who do I think I am?" I'm certainly not in the league of NieNie and Dooce. Where do I go? Am I taken less seriously because I'm still on Blogger? Oh, and don't even get me started on whether or not I will loose all my Feedburner numbers. In a bloggers' world, this number is gold. (in my imaginary world, someday I will cross the 1,000 subscriber mark *she says wringing her hands like Mr. Burns*)

So I put this to the class. What do you all think? Do you have a lesser opinion of Blogger blogs? Does it matter what platform a blog is on? I'm curious...and I need my head to stop spinning:/

Giddy as a Preschooler!

2009-10-18T20:54:00.004-05:00

OMG...Miss Peach and I are beside ourselves! I saw in the Sun Times that the Joffrey Ballet is holding their first ever costume sale. How cool is that?!? (I don't know if you know this...but my dream job has always been to be a costume designer for the ballet? Got my first BFA in fashion design.)

In a nutshell, The Joffrey Ballet is a wonderful dance troupe that has been in Chicago for 53 years. Is it ridiculous that I am just giddy about this? When I showed the article to Miss Peach, her mouth hit the floor, and she could not stop inhaling:O She took me by the hand and said "Come on Mama...let's go shopping!" (The sale isn't until the end of the month.)

I know the costumes will be too big for her (typical sizes are between a 2-4). It's dress up stuff, and I think she'll have a blast and we might find some fun stuff! Prices will range from $25-$100. I told her we could buy one, maybe two things. I mean, I'm not made of money, and this is the kind of thing that can easily get out of hand fast:/

I kinda wish I hadn't pulled the trigger on my grown up Halloween Party costume* (remember I always go to a rockin' Halloween Party?) Seriously, talk about major cool costume potential for Halloween '10. It's not too early for that...no?

*I will post pics of this years costume once I pull the whole thing together and try it on;)

Shhhhhh...

2009-10-15T21:26:00.002-05:00

I was one of the helper parents on the preschool field trip today. It was a long one:/ We went to a Pumpkin Farm (about an hour drive out of the city). What a rainy, cold, drama filled day. Poor Little Man was so scared, he couldn't even move.

Bottom line, the school was told the scary things were not out during the day. There was a witch that rivaled the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz (that is one scary broad). I know when The Little Man is begging for nap time, he has reached his limit:( My brave little soldier made it through the day, and this is what I saw when I parked the car and turned around...So...Mommy locked the car doors, reclined the driver's seat, and took a 45 minute nap. Oh. Yes. I. Did!

Step Off Nanny

2009-10-13T13:54:00.006-05:00

I am all kinds of whipped up today:P I don't now if it's because I live in the city, and we are on top of each other, so complete strangers think they can jump into my life at any time to shove their worthless two cents down my throat, or if this happens all over the place?

Miss Peach had the day off school yesterday (I find this out after loading the kiddos up and hauling them to school only to find it was closed for "Columbia Day", as Miss Peach called it.) No problem, I go for my run with two kiddos in the stroller instead of one, and then take them to the zoo to play.

Let me stop here only to say...Whoever designed the Children's Zoo obviously did NOT have kiddos. Seriously, who puts a fountain with shards of metal coming out of the bottom, low enough that kiddos can climb into it, in the middle of a child play area? Oh, add in a waterfall with a step so kiddos can stick their head right in said waterfall. The least you could do is turn the dang thing off in the winter! I was very lenient with The Little Man, until the third time he found himself knee deep in the mosaic fountain nightmare. It was a meltdown coming, and there was nothing I could do but plow through it, and head home for "lunchies".

Remember, Little Man is still wearing his shirts with one arm out of the top "like Caveman Austin". I'm OK with that, it's all about picking your battles. After hauling TLM (From here on, TLM stands for The Little Man, m'kay?) up from the fountain for the nine millionth time, I hog tied him to the ground to wrestle his coat on him. This is a battle I have to wage...he's wet, it's cold out, and he's gonna wear a coat dog gone'it!

Out of nowhere, some nanny who speaks English as a second language comes up to us, puts her finger under the collar of his shirt, and says "Dis wrong!". Completely shocked that she did that, I look up and say "I'm well aware." (Like I have no idea how a shirt works:/) Then she goes back to watching the kiddos she is being paid to watch.

I am visibly upset at dealing with TLM's melt down, but what mother isn't stressed trying to shove two kiddos into a stroller, as one is melting down? It's like repacking a parachute. I wasn't yelling, or spanking anyone, I was just methodically putting him into the stroller while he played the "my bones are jello" game. (I hate when they do that!)

Again, out of nowhere, Nanny Lady comes up and grabs TLM's feet to get him into the stroller. (At this point, I'm in complete shock!) Do not touch my son thank you very much. Then she takes his face into her hands and says "you good boy", as if to imply that I was telling him he was a bad boy? She even took his toy truck and put it together and handed it to him....I know I am not painting the correct picture here. This was not a woman helping, it was like she was elbowing me out of the way because I was doing it wrong. Needless to say, TLM was horrified/scared at the stranger lady who was touching him and pushing Mommy to the side.

The Hell lady? Who asked you?!? I did not give him the truck back because...a) I am his mother, and b) He had thrown it on the ground, and I felt he did not deserve it back until he was done with his melt down. These are my decisions to make...as his mother!

Typically, when someone gets all up in my business, I am more than happy to go nose to nose with them. (Bring it on Sister Soldier...I will totally cut you!) *OK, I will not really cut you...but it sounds good-n-tough* This time, I was so shocked, I just wanted to get out of the situation. Who does this? I would never get in the way of a Mommy dealing with her toddler in melt down mode (it wasn't even that bad of a melt down...TLM has been WAY worse, and I am completely able to handle it)

Am I the only one who has strangers weaseling their way into their business? Step off Nanny Woman, nobody asked you! Sometimes I think I have a kick me sign taped to my back:P

Three Years Old!

2009-10-11T17:25:00.004-05:00

My Little Man turned 3 years old this weekend:) What a funny little man he is. In case you are wondering why he is wearing his shirt that way...he is being caveman Austin from the Backyardigan's (Caveman's Best Friend Episode, Little Man's favorite).
Mommy had the bakery make a lovely "Rescue" Cake. Did he want it? No, all he wanted was a firetruck cookie. Would the bakery make a firetruck cookie? No. (Seriously, what bakery just says "no" to a customer?)
So, Mommy set out to make sure her Little Man had a firetruck cookie for his birthday. (I was treading in the deep water on this one, but I think it turned out OK.)

One of the best presents The Little Man got was a remote control firetruck from his Uncle. You have not seen a happier boy. Miss Peach was a bit confused...

Miss Peach: (in a whiney mcwhinerton voice) "Mommy I want to play with the firetruck!"
Me: "Miss Peach, you don't even like firetrucks, why do you want to take it away from The Little Man?"
Miss Peach: "I guess you're right, but why don't they make a remote control princess?"

________________________________________________________

I will defer this question to the lovely folks at Disney, who saw their way fit to send me a copy of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Blu Ray and DVD Pack). I really love watching the Disney Classics with the kiddos. Miss Peach has been waiting for, what she calls ever to see this movie (I believe it's been in "the vault")

Some advantages of the Blu Ray are:

Up to 6x better quality than DVD
7.1 Surround Sound
Immersive activity with games and special features
Kid proof-more scratch resistant (hallelujah!)
Plays both Blu-ray and DVD discs
Blu-ray also plays on Sony Playstation 3 players

Makes me kinda wish I had one:(

The reason I love watching these movies with her...one word, magic.This is how she looked as she watched Snow White for the first time. Can't you see it on her face? MAGIC. It's in heavy rotation at our house...Snow White, then Backyardigan's, Snow White, then Backyardigan's...It really is fun to watch the Disney Classics with the kiddos:)

Cotton Candy Goodness

2009-10-08T13:14:00.005-05:00

I know it's an iPhone world, and I just live in it. That said...I am loveity LOVING my Blackberry Curve! *smooches*

Granted, I've only had it for about a week now, but I have dived head first into app. land, and I gots to share my favorite four with ya!

1) Bolt Browser - OMG...So glad I found this. Truth be told, I wasn't really jazzed about the Blackberry default browser:( Bolt is faster, which is always a plus. More than that, it has crazy easy navigation, and the web pages are viewed as they look on your computer...Yay! It's free, so run, don't walk to install it. (I'm a frugal McDougal, so I opted for the free version)

2) UberTwitter - If you will remember, wanting Twitter on my phone is what started this whole new cell phone odyssey. UberTwitter kicks Twitterberry's a**, 'nuff said. (as always, I go for the free option)

3) Pandora - Free internet radio! What?!? OMG, I can crawl into the 80's and never come out again. There is actually a station called "80's Cheese" Don'cha love it? Currently I'm listening to I Ran by Flock of Seagulls. Someone pass the popcorn:P (Free, free, free, free)

4) Slacker Radio - As much as I'm loving Pandora, Slacker Radio is making me swoon. You gotta remember, I spend at least an hour and a half a day carting kiddos around the city in the stroller. Now, I have one ear tuned into them, and the other listening to my new best friends (free Internet radio on my B'Berry). I'm such a loser, 'cause I have a constant inner dialogue with Slacker..."Oh no you didn't just play Pressure Drop by the Clash!?!" or "Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles...are you kidding me?!?" then there is "Every Day I Write the Book...seriously, I'm gonna have a dance party right here on the sidewalk!" Most days you will find me on the 80's Alternative station, sailing away on a wave of neon 80's cotton candy goodness=P (again, free option is the path I follow)

There ya go. Anyone out there on the Blackberry train, or am I the only one? I know...someday I'll get an iPhone...someday..."Beat Surrender by The Jam...I gotta dance...!" (Smokey...give me back my phone.)

...Or She Can Rescue Me

2009-10-06T14:50:00.007-05:00

Even though Miss Peach is being Belle from Beauty and the Beast for Halloween...she is having one heck of a time in The Little Man's fireman costume. (I still can't believe it was $20 at Costco*)

*No, Costco is in no way sponsoring this post, but I wish they were...I like money and stuff:)

Paranormal Activity

2009-10-04T21:05:00.004-05:00

I am so exhausted right now, I actually have a headache from sleep deprivation. Why not go to bed Warden? Good question...

I saw a movie last night (midnight show) that does to sleep, what Jaws did to swimming. Not only did it scare the BEJEEZES out of me...but I got NO sleep last night:(

The movie, Paranormal Activity. I'm linking to the trailer, it is too gosh darn scary to embed on my blog. I'm serious...Sissy and I watched the trailer and jumped about a mile in the air. I can't believe we summoned up the nerve to actually go see it:O (If you count Sissy sitting in the theater the entire time with her eyes closed as "seeing the movie".)

I'll tell you about the movie in a minute...first, I gotta tell you how it was made (that is what I really respect about it). One guy (Oren Peli) wrote and directed it. There are only four characters. After shooting for seven days (in his own house), he edited the piece on his home computer. Total cost $15,000. Finished product...the SCARIEST movie I have ever seen (hands down, no exaggeration). I wonder what this does to the big movie houses who spend millions of dollars on big names and CGI...hmmmmmm?

Even if I told you the entire movie, I wouldn't be ruining it for you...you really have to see it to believe it. In a nutshell, a young couple living together (Katie and Micah) start noticing a presence in the house. Micah buys a video camera and tapes the bedroom as they sleep...and it all goes awry from there.

I can't explain to you the feeling in my stomach as I watched. It's like a knot of impending doom. Every evening, the camera is turned on (You experience everything as the camera, I kept watching through my jacket sleeve thinking "don't point us that direction...please, don't point us that direction!) The movie becomes an exercise in getting through the night. First night...not so bad. Second night...whew, glad that's over...and it just. keeps. escalating.

At some point Micah makes the colossal mistake of bringing a Ouija board into the house (WTF were you thinking!) and let's just say that did not work for them. The audience is forced to face the thing that goes bump in the night, right along with the characters...and does it go bump in the night:O

I'm not proud. I'll admit to you that I slept with all the lights on in the house last night. I got home and woke Husband up to tell him how awesomely scary the show was. He said "come snuggle up to me, I'll keep the demons away". Which is exactly what Micah said to Katie! Way to not help Husband:P

Wish me luck sleeping tonight...yes, all the lights are on:P

Rescue Me

2009-10-01T22:19:00.004-05:00

Dennis Leary, step aside. How cute is The Little Man's Halloween costume!?! So CUTE! (Got it at Costco for $20...Yay me) He insisted on wearing it to the park today. How could I say no to that face? Yep...he has Mommy wrapped around his finger:P

Can You Tweet Now?

2009-09-29T21:39:00.007-05:00

Why did I agree to go see Pandorum? I know I've had this crush on Dennis Quaid for like...ever. Is he still even hot...or is he just old? I don't know anymore:P Sissy calls him my boyfriend...thanks for that Sissy. (I wanted to go see The Invention of Lying...although I can't quite pin down my feelings for Ricky Gervais *I think it's a crush...don't tell Sissy*)

Not far into the movie, I reach in my pocket and check my emails on my new cell phone. I realize I should be more interested in the dude on the screen waking up from hyper-sleep to an empty spaceship...and yet, here I am checking emails...

OMG...I totally forgot to tell you about my new cell phone! Yeah...my Motorola Krazor (that I have had for 3 years) up and died on me:( I decided "gosh darn it...I'm gonna get me some Twitter on my cell phone!"

You'd think that would not be a hard call...right? Yeah it's easy, unless your Verizon store is smack dab in the heart of The Twilight Zone! (which apparently mine is)

First time I go in...I cheerfully say "I want me some Twitter on my cell phone:)" Well, they set me up with a Verizon phone. It's cute, has a little keyboard...I'm happy, 'til I get home and realize I can't see my little blog on it:( If I'm gonna go this whole web on the phone route, I am gonna need to be able to see my blog...ya know?

Second time I go in...(same day) "I'm gonna need a phone that will show my web page." No problem, she switches me out for another Verizon phone, and tells me "All I need to do is load a Twitter app. to the phone." OK...off I go. Problem is (I find this out after about an hour on the Verizon help line....) you can't load apps. onto this phone:P Thanks for nothing lady:(

Third time I go in...(next day) "I got a problem...you can't load apps on this phone." The Verizon guy (who is not the jolly guy on the commercials, you know, the one who totally has your back and cares what you think...he's not there) I get a crabby guy who shows me Twitter on my phone and sends me away like I'm the idiot (which I am not). Well, I get home to tweet...wait for it....I can send out tweets, but I can't respond to tweets. How lame is that?!?

Sooooo...I spend about another hour on the phone with the happy Verizon help line. I actually left my body and watched myself on the phone with the Verizon help guy saying "I can tweet, but I can't respond to tweets, and that is just unacceptable." (chalk that up to things you never thought you'd say:P) He then says "Oh no...you're a tweeter. I can't imagine what horrible tweets you have been sending out about us." Oddly enough...I had never even considered tweeting about my Verizon issues. (Hmmmmm...perhaps I need to take some dealing with big business via Twitter classes from Dooce?)

Let's just jump to the fifth time (yes...fifth time!) I go into the store...I actually hand the guy the bag and say "I currently don't have a contract with you, right? Can I just take my phone number, cancel my service, and go across the street to AT&T and get an Iphone." I really didn't want to do this. All I wanted was for them to sell me the cute, pink Blackberry Curve in the ad. For some odd reason, every time I had the phone in my hand, they would. not. sell. it. to. me. Only after I threatened to leave, did they sell me that phone. I really don't get it? They finally sold me the pink Blackberry Curve, and I LOVE it:)

In case your wondering...ever since I got Twitter on my phone...I have had nothing to Tweet about...figures:P

Oh...Pandorum...meh. Everybody knows that if you wake up from hyper-sleep to an empty ship, it's a pretty safe bet that there's some creepy alien mutation eating humans on the ship. Follow the dude who saves you from the human eating mutation...chances are, he's been around the block a few times and can get you where you need to go. Oh, and if you encounter a human eating alien mutation child...don't hesitate to whack it, just cause it's little. If you don't take it out...it's gonna eat you just like the big ones do...dummy! Better yet...just go back to hyper-sleep...zzzzzzzzzzzzz.