Jewelery giveaway

Before Mother's Day this year I was poking around greedily online at lots of "mommy" jewelery -- the kind where you have your kids' names engraved on it, yaknow? I couldn't quite find the perfect thing.

But today, I did find the perfect thing! Because it's Free! Musings of a Housewife is hosting a giveaway with the gorgeous and talented folks at Suede at Heart. All I can say is WOW.

I WANT!

You would look totally hot in that necklace. Go! Enter! (Thanks for the tip, Nicole!)

Today: Levity and frivolity

I think it was at Mandy's that the question "Who's in your top five?" was asked several months ago. (I can't find it in her archives, but trust me, there was a conversation.) I had a hard time with it because I'm so (OLD and therefore) behind in the mainest of mainstream pop culture, I guess... everyone was saying "David Cook" was on their top five. Y'all, he's so CURRENT! So NOW! So YOUNG! I'm pretty sure he doesn't fit my definition of hawt, but you go ahead, enjoy.

Anyway, I have been stewing about this question since then, feeling that I NEED to have an updated list! This is patently ridiculous, but who can explain the wanderings of the mind or the cultural impact of a TV show like Friends? Seems like I remember in college, my list included Hugh Grant and Tom Cruise, so.... you can see why I need to re-configure.

I know who's on my husband's List, of course: Angelina Jolie, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Alba, and Liz Phair -- all very worthy participants and he has my heartfelt blessing. It's only fair that my own top five are a Known Entity as well. So without further adieu: Hottiehottiehotties.

(Oh wait, more adieu, actually: When I told my dear, innocent friend Katherine about this mental conundrum, she said, "Oh, hee (gasp), I wouldn't really want to DO THAT with them, you know... just maybe have dinner." HA! SHE TOOK IT LITERALLY! Isn't that cute? So anyway, just for grins, let me say that I really don't want a pass to "DO THAT" with these people. A nice (steamy) kiss would be enough for me, really. And maybe dinner, just to make it honest.)

Number One: KEVIN BACON

Okay, so he isn't really current or now. He should have been on my list in college, actually, but I don't know... he's kinda a sidelines player in the Hot industry... I was embarrassed to admit I like-liked him. However, I'm all grown up now and couldn't care less -- he is IT. You had me at "Footloose." (this whole exercise is really embarrassing me now, 5 paragrahps in! forgive me)

Number Two: HARRY CONNICK JR

He's made some poor hair choices in the past, but he can sing to me anytime. It was good for me that they were showing his Lincoln MKZ commercial on TV a few months ago. Who ordered the crawfish?

Number Three: MATTHEW FOX

Mostly when he's broody, not so much with the goofy smile. Aaaaand now I'll have to endure endless teasing when watching the next season of "Lost" with DH. (I actually think he resembles DH a little bit. Def my type: brown hair, tall, slender face...)


Number Four: MIKE ROWE

Alright, stop laughing. It's his WIT and CHARM, people. Well, AND he's not too bad looking, even covered in sh*t! He was a classical musician, so he gets bonus points for that, and I just love when he gives that little sideways glance at the camera when he's talking to one of his Dirty Jobs subjects. That look says, "Can you believe this yahoo just said that out loud?" And yet, he manages to be kind to the yahoo and make him/her feel important? LOVE.

Number Five: ...

My husband should be gratified to know that after MONTHS of wondering about this, searching celebrity photos online, writing down names on a blog-ideas post-it, like this: Aidan Quinn? Johnny Depp? ....I SIMPLY CANNOT think of a 5th for my Top Five. So there's less chance I'll be unfaithful than for many husbands in America, I guess. Lucky DH! Hee hee. I never could tell my girlfriends in elementary school who I "liked" without getting giggly and embarrassed. That's what this feels like.

Error

Yesterday afternoon I made an error at work, and it really got me going in circles in my brain, about the various levels of mediocrity in all aspects of my life. I was fretting over everything, giving myself, if not "FAIL" in all categories, then at least C MINUS:

• Work is completed to the best of my ability but not with a full-on, study and achieve, become a leader, professional success, real go-getter mentality. C-
• Stupid additional freelance business I keep talking about isn't happening. Even the gig I interviewed for hasn't come through. they probably didn't like me. I had no business cards, no good set rates, no answers to their (stupid) questions - FAIL
• Kids - I feel like I'm in a fog with them half the time; I do okay but there's lots of TV, not enough educational fun, my 4-year-old's been to the library with me exactly once, when he was 2 - C-
• I often go to bed without washing my face and I'm 34 now and it's starting to show with uneven complexion and crap - FAIL
• I make great dinners... out of a box or a bag. My best friends are Lipton/Knorr and Kraft - C-
• Can't keep the house clean to save my life.
• Don't have the right clothes, right professional briefcase, right shoes
• Church, ohhhhh church. The tending of my childrens' souls... FAIL...

It went on like this in my head for a full hour. I turned off the radio on my commute so I could fully hear these mean voices in my head, telling me how craptastic my effort -- not my life, mind you, I know I have a good life -- but my level of effort has become. It was harsh.

When I got home I let it all out and shed 3 or 4 tears into DH's collar. He is so good to have around -- he's not your typical man that shuns emotions like sadness. He understands. I'm lucky, there. I felt better after getting it out, talking it through, and I feel better this morning.

Updatery

Weekend
Well, the weekend weather was beautiful here -- in the mid '80s or less, with a breeze! How did we get so lucky, in August? That's kind-of unheard of in Georgia. But there it was, so we took advantage of it. Saturday, we ate lunch outside, not at a posh sidewalk cafe... not even on a picnic blanket on the grass... we went to SONIC, baby. :) Nothing better than Coney Dogs (why do they call them Coney dogs?) and Cherry Limeade on red metal tables.

Sunday we upped the bar and went to the park for our fresh air. AJ climbed enthusiastically on the playground equipment (even went down the BIG CURVY slide), and then we all got schooled by the greedy, mean ducks. We only had 3 bread ends to give them so they charged at us intimidatingly to show how hungry they were. Yikes. ...What else? Oh, we played outside in our very own yard, too! Hide-n-seek, basketball, football with daddy, and KT baby is big enough for our swing! I will have to get some photos because I LOVE a baby in a swing, don't you?

Memories
Today I'm working in my dining room instead of the usual kitchen. I'm enjoying the scent of, again, nothing chic like a candle by Illuminations or a bowl of exotic potpourri, but a Febreeze plug-in "Noticeable." ha! It is the same scent that I bought just after KT was born, though. Her pack-n-play was positioned right in front of the outlet where it was plugged, so the scent is strongly associated with her newborn infanthood. Which I can't believe is A MEMORY already. She'll be 6 months old Friday. She has tried squash, sweet potatoes, pears, carrots, peas, and green beans. I'm saving bananas for the last, amazing dish. I can't wait to see her reaction to them. (AJ about went out of his mind whenever I'd serve him bananas.) She is almost able to sit up on her own.

Diet update
I'm down 7 pounds, somehow! Woo hoo! My joints have been aching lately, though, so it's yoga and stretching today, as much as I can manage. And I made some taco dip (forgot the guacamole layer, duh) but I guess I'll only eat a tablespoon or two. That is so hard.

Entertainment
Did everyone watch the Olympics all weekend? I got teary, no surprise, during the opening ceremonies. AJ did not get it. He wanted to "go see" the fireworks in person, and remained otherwise uninterested. Of course, gymnastics last night: That one Chinese girl looked about five years old!! Crazy. Poor American team took a beating on the uneven bars, didn't they? I was uncomfortable when the camera guy hovered over their little team cheer-up session after the competition was over for the night. I admired them for not smacking him and telling him to STEP BACK. It was a private team moment, sheesh! BUT NO, all of AMERICA needs to hear your pep-talk, little girls. So we can sit in our armchairs back at home and go, "DAMN!" when you miss a tiny step. (Husband and I chastised ourselves for that.)

Just for Sis: A couple of lists

Reasons why I'm bummed that Jilly Beans is moving to Denmark on Thursday:

1. No more spur-of-the-moment counting backwards three hours to figure out what time it is at her house. Now I will have to count forward 6.
2. We liked Seattle! Now we will have no claim to it whatsoever. We can't drop it casually into conversation to make ourselves sound all West Coast hip and in the know. Poor us.
3. On a serious note, she and HB may not get to come home for holidays and vacations as much.
4. On a silly note, I won't get to keep any more random pairs of her socks that get left in my laundry basket.
5. I don't speak Danish (I just eat them. Ba-dum-chhhhh).
6. 
   

Reasons why it's GREAT that Jilly Beans is moving to Denmark on Thursday:

1. Living abroad is exciting! And I'm thrilled she'll get to experience that.
2. We might like Denmark! Birthplace of The Little Mermaid and home to the world's happiest people -- what's not to like?
   
3. Perhaps they have cool kids' clothing boutiques over there so that Jilly's niece and nephew can aspire to be European hip and in the know. Hee.
   
4. Care packages direct from me to her. Nestle chocolate chips? Jif Peanut Butter? CHECK.
   
5. Five Weeks Mandatory Vacation. So maybe we WILL see her and HB once in a while, after all.
   

Held og lykke, Jilly! I am so proud and happy for you! Have an adventure. Post lots of pictures and I'll see you on Skype!

Happy new year

I did have fun shopping for Amber's Pay It Forward prize. I hope she will like it. I never did see that movie, but when I was shipping the package I was thinking all sorts of good karma over it, sending my best friendship and kindness and peace vibes through the wonder of the postal service (well, FedEx actually). I liked the idea of that.

That was Friday. Our weekend was quiet and good. Until today, I've felt like we're still in recovery from June and July. But now we're all cleaned up (the house, I mean), all the birthday presents have found homes, and we're about to cross the threshold into full-on August, which means Pre-K! Same school, but it still promises to be a new experience for AJ. I hope he'll like it. We have an open house at the school next week, to meet and greet. Supplies lists are posted at the stores. I'm excited to now start counting years from August to August. It's like revisiting my own childhood, in a way. I hope the weather hurries up and complies. It is too hot. Il fait trop chaud.

Heritage

Trotty-trot, trot,
To Boston-town,
You go up, and
I go down.

If you get there
Before I do,
Tell them I
Am Coming, Tooooooooooo!



*My granny used this rhyme to entertain me and my cousins all the time.

I may have lost my head

You know how I'm always complaining about having all kinds of stuff to do and not enough time to do it? Well, I maybe haven't complained here real recently about my to-do list, because I am STILL trying not to make those kinds of lists, but if I WERE to make one, it would look like this, today:

- load of laundry
- iron 2 new blouses I got because I left them in the bag too long and the dryer won't get the wrinkles out, for some reason, GAH
- get professional photos sent to DH's Nanny and Aunt, STAT
- get Pay It Forward prize in the mail, STAT (I think tomorrow, Amber, in case you're reading!)
- buy yet ANOTHER birthday present for another friend of AJ's
- order prints from Snapfish from June and July
- finish labeling photo albums (you can see what slips... photography tasks!)
- help DEAR HUSBAND clean a little bit by dusting, doing bathrooms, and kitchen counters
- sing at Saturday vigil Mass this weekend
- start planning next Disney trip
- oh yeah, My Job...

Something like that! So it doesn't seem that I should be taking on something new, does it? NO, IT DOESN'T if you're a rational and somewhat lazy person like I actually am.

However. Today I have a meeting with the Parish School of Religion (PSR) coordinator because I think I'm volunteering to be a P3 and P4 assistant on Sunday mornings. If they'll take me.

Heh.

I feel like this is a good thing to do for several reasons. First of all, apparently it's time to enroll AJ in PSR! Who knew?! And if I hope to get him there every weekend (SIGH), it would probably be good for me to ALSO be committed to it. Second: My kid likes me, I have to say. And I like being with him, too. Yeah, it'd be good for him to be in a classroom with other adults that aren't me, but he does that already, 5 days a week. I hate to take away our time together on the weekends and replace it with yet more school for him. Third: I would like to know what's going on in the Sunday School class, and just how they teach kids catechism nowadays. Maybe I'll learn a thing or two. Maybe even be spiritually inspired by the little cherubs. (Don't laugh.) And finally, I DO want to get to know some other parents at church/school. It seems like a good idea and provides a non-threatening environment with planned activities, rather than me having to sign us up for a Small Church Community, which is modern Catholic code for "dinner and Bible Study (ack!) with complete strangers."

I've said this before

Quick, a blog post! At work I have one of the brand-new shiny iMacs with a 20- or 24-inch screen, and directly behind me sits my manager, facing my back. At any given time I feel like he's totally watching my SUPER REFLECTIVE screen since it is larger than my head by about triple. Anyway, he stepped out for a meeting so I can goof off for a minute. How dumb, right? I am a salaried employee with very little to do today AND I work in the Web 2.0 field for crying out loud. I don't need an excuse to visit Blogger. And yet, I feel like I do. Me and guilt, I swear.

So I think I've come to a point where I put KT baby in daycare five days a week instead of three. I was weepy about it yesterday but I know it's got to happen. I have come to dread Mondays and Thursdays, knowing that they're going to be filled, every second, with either Mom duties or job duties, and never being able to attend fully to either one. It's easier when they're tiny, but even now, with her at 6 months, I feel like she needs me to entertain her more than I really can. (And then I think, Wait. Did our mothers and grandmothers, in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, entertain us all the time? No. They used their playpens, too, in order that they get their other work done... so I needn't feel bad for plopping her on a blanket for 20 minutes with some toys... and yet I do feel bad. Like I said... guilt and me, we're likethis.) ANYWAY it's dumb to have to convince myself again that it's OKAY to put kids in daycare, since I thought I waged that battle with my heart three and a half years ago, and since I love our school... but there ya go. I love her, and I simply don't want to leave her. It's certainly easier this time around, but I thought it'd be MORE easier. Heh. I do know that I feel better on days when she goes and I can concentrate fully on one thing. So I guess we'll start that next week.

[Right when she's starting to feel some separation anxiety in the mornings, too. BUMMER.]

However, if you think I'm giving up my work-from-home days in this economy with gas prices as they are, you're crazy. That means working at my home with neither of my not-yet-school-age kids there with me, and naturally THAT fills me with more guilt, but on the other hand, it HELPS me be a better wife and mother to have that time to get laundry done while waiting for files to download, or time to do a workout video during lunch sometimes.

< / same story, different day >

Guess what? KT ate pureed squash last night with her rice cereal. FUN, baby food! She's getting pretty good at swallowing the stuff and I'm excited about introducing Flavor to her. I'm going to do it right this time, vegetables first, then fruits, so maybe she won't disdain the veggies like her stubborn brother did/does.

But oh, how CUTE that stubborn brother is. Yesterday after school/work we were sitting on the couch, me, KT, and him, and he leaned into us girls and looked at KT and said, "Oh, Mommy, I love her." I think he surprised himself by letting that out, but it was about the sweetest thing I'd ever heard and my heart pretty much burst with goodness.

My age in random memories

This idea occurred to me several months ago - to write one or two random scenes from every year I've been alive. Might get long; I am OLD! I'll start with age five, because memories are unreliable before then.


When I was 5… I went to Kindergarten with Sister Wendelina as my teacher, and I had a crush (seriously? Age 5!) on Derek Z.

When I was 6… my hair was the longest it would ever be, just below my shoulders, and so I put it up in a half-ponytail for our Mexican dance “performance.” We wore long red, white, and green skirts that were pretty and flow-y and I loved mine.

When I was 7… I received a green pen from a teacher (Sister Anne Mary) that, for some reason, I treasured. It was just a pen.

When I was 8… I went to my first baby shower. My teacher was pregnant (this is all about my teachers so far!) and my Mom was the co-teacher in the class, so they invited me, too. I felt so grown up. I also got my ears pierced at 8.

When I was 9… I went skiing with my friend and her family in Pueblo, Colorado. It was the first and last time I’ve been skiing.

When I was 10… I went to my first boy-girl dances – one was a summer “luau” by the pool, at the country club. I don’t think I got to dance with the one boy I had my eye on.

When I was 11… My friends and I went TP-ing other friends’ houses, and nearly got caught one night. We hid under a window that turned out to be open. Our friend peeked his (yes, a boy! we were wild and brave!) head out and said, “Hi, guys.”

When I was 12… My friends had an unexpected going-away party for me at Teresa’s house since we unexpectedly moved from Texas to Florida. I was surprised and touched by the gesture. (Shortly thereafter, I was the new girl.)

When I was 13… I was the only one to wear her hair short. I thought there were no interesting boys in my class. I took pre-Algebra, and passed notes back and forth with my friend, Tracy L. in a tiny journal. We were catty in most of the notes.

When I was 14… I had a locker next to a boy named Alfie (crush!) and met my best friend who would become my cousin-in-law!

When I was 15… I was kissed by a boy.

When I was 16… Someone threw me a surprise birthday party and it meant the world to me.

When I was 17… I was in a pageant ("scholarship competition") and I went to a lot of baseball games.

When I was 18… I wrote letters to my Mom, and treasured the ones she wrote back to me on pretty printer-paper. (Days before email and cell phones!)

When I was 19… I auditioned for the University Concert Choir, which changed my life in many ways.

When I was 20… I spent 7 weeks in France, rooming with an odd girl from my hometown, flirting with another boy in our group, and writing letters to my serious boyfriend back home.

When I was 21… Ooh, I had a terribly dumb internship at a newspaper. Ugh. Newspaper work did NOT suit me.

When I was 22… I began working full-time at the SAME PLACE I WORK NOW.

When I was 23… I wanted to "see other people" while the boyfriend and I were long-distance-relationshipping, but instead he just flat broke up with me. I was SO relieved. It only took a couple days to get over him, although we had dated 4 years.

When I was 24… These 2 years are kind-of fuzzy. I think I went out quite a bit. I also became really involved at a church I loved.

When I was 25… I considered moving home to Pensacola.

When I was 26… I attended a company picnic, where I met the future Mr. el-e-e. :) I was in love by the third date, I think.

When I was 27… We married. Still the happiest day of my life.

When I was 28… I revisited my youth and participated in a musical: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It was not as much fun as when I was a teen.

When I was 29… I ate right and exercised, and lost 10 pounds. I also discovered "Web 2.0" and message boards and Internet communities.

When I was 30… I became a mother.

When I was 31… I took a one-year-old cross-country on an airplane.

When I was 32… I lived much the same life as I do now, going to work, getting less done at home, and treasuring the lazy weekends that occur once in a while!

When I was 33… I began a pretty uncomfortable pregnancy, and played a lot of Sorry and CandyLand.

When I was 34… I remembered what it's like to want pretty, frilly pink things in my closets.


I'm older than I've ever been! ...and now I'm even older!