So, my doorbell rings this afternoon and I buzz the UPS guy in. Most of the packages that I've ordered from QVC were schedule to arrive today and I was really excited to see my purchases. He arrives at my door with 3 boxes and notifies me that there's a 4th package downstairs. "Can you get that?" He asks. "That way I don't have to come back up the stairs." He goes on and says, "It's just a rug."
Oh, just a rug. Just the 5x7 wool rug I ordered? Don't worry Mr. UPS - MAN, no need to strain yourself by walking up the stairs with ALL of my packages. Let ME get that for YOU. Sounds great! Just need to grab my coat and shoes. The kids will be fine if I leave them alone. They're 5 and 2. They're perfectly capable of minding themselves. You know what, next time why don't you just ring the bell and wait outside. Or better yet, just wait inside your truck and beep. I'll come out, hop on the truck and load the dolly myself. Don't want to cause you any trouble.
So I say to him, "Yes, sure, my husband will get it."
Showing posts with label As My (hilariously witty and anxiety-ridden) Mind Turns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label As My (hilariously witty and anxiety-ridden) Mind Turns. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Time to Make the Doughnuts
"Make sure you look pretty today Mommy," were Ava's words to me yesterday morning while getting ready to take her to school. What she meant was that in addition to a "pretty outfit," she wanted me to put my make-up on. I look pretty without make-up you see, but WAY, WAY prettier with it on. It was important to Ava that we all look our best, even Luke, because yesterday was a big day.
Yesterday was a big day, because her teacher invited me and Luke to come into the classroom to bake doughnuts with the kids. Each week Ava's Kindergarten class studies a letter of the alphabet and as part of their study, cook something that corresponds with the letter of the week. Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious Doughnuts were on the menu for yesterday and they truly were delicious.
I originally didn't have doughnut pans but after a trial run Tuesday morning, I realized that without them, our mini-doughnuts, were truly mini-muffins. I figured the kids were too smart for me to be able to pass mini-muffins off as Munchkins, so doughnut pans were a must. There was no way I was going to be the mommy who came in to make the doughnuts, but really made muffins.
Myneurosis intense drive so as not to embarrass myself or my daughter, resulted in a credit card purchase of $18.64 for two mini-doughnut pans from Amazon.com and an additional $19.97 to ship them overnight. Yep, that's exactly how my anxiety-ridden mind rolls. I can't help it, I just like things to be right.
My cute little doughnut pans arrived on schedule and with the help of two other moms, and an adorable bunch of kids, I am happy to report that the baked doughnut making process was a complete success!
I will post the recipe and pictures once Ava and I make a batch at home for ourselves.
Yesterday was a big day, because her teacher invited me and Luke to come into the classroom to bake doughnuts with the kids. Each week Ava's Kindergarten class studies a letter of the alphabet and as part of their study, cook something that corresponds with the letter of the week. Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious Doughnuts were on the menu for yesterday and they truly were delicious.
I originally didn't have doughnut pans but after a trial run Tuesday morning, I realized that without them, our mini-doughnuts, were truly mini-muffins. I figured the kids were too smart for me to be able to pass mini-muffins off as Munchkins, so doughnut pans were a must. There was no way I was going to be the mommy who came in to make the doughnuts, but really made muffins.
My
My cute little doughnut pans arrived on schedule and with the help of two other moms, and an adorable bunch of kids, I am happy to report that the baked doughnut making process was a complete success!
I will post the recipe and pictures once Ava and I make a batch at home for ourselves.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Crazy Misunderstood
I just got back home from a nice, relaxing and much needed massage. I've done a number on my back. I think the combination of kickboxing, lifting Luke who is 35 lbs, carrying him up and down stairs, and pushing him in the stroller along with Ava attached via Buggy Board all around town, has really taken its toll.
I called for an appointment yesterday afternoon and got in for 9am this morning. I thought for a moment that it was going to stink to have to get up early and get out of the house to go but then realized how absolutely ridiculous that was. Yeah, God forbid I wake up a little early to go lay down for a 90 minute massage. That sooooooooooooooo hard! At least I can make fun of myself and get when I'm being ridiculous.
My massage therapist asked about the kids and I was telling her how Ava was off to Kindergarten in September. She asked how I felt about it expecting me to be sad but I'm really not. It's interesting because I hated the thought of putting her in pre-k. I was not ready to let her go at 3 years old. Kids are still so little then. They even still look like babies.
It was in the Fall of 2007 that we interviewed at her pre-school. Ava was only 2 at the time but would be entering their preschool program the following September at the age of three, if she, we, were accepted. I was pregnant with Luke at the time. Isabel had just been delivered a few months earlier and I was feeling so sad and scared wondering if Luke would actually come out alive. I had little interest in Ava being anywhere away from me, and here we were interviewing to send my baby girl away. May sound absolutely ridiculous and overly dramatic to you, but that's how it felt for me.
We found out that she was accepted into the schools 3 morning program on March 3rd of 2008. I remember because it was Stephen's Birthday. Two months later, Luke arrived via C-Section at 35 weeks, via emergency c-section due to complications with clotting. I realized that if I had not been at the Dr's office that day, that he would have died too and that and his short stint in the NICU due to the fact that he was having trouble breathing, had both me and Stephen completely unnerved. We had been through a lot in a one year span. Luke was actually meant to be delivered via c-section on June 19th, which was Isabel's delivery date.
We were both very afraid that Luke might have suffered some sort of brain damage due to the lack of oxygen at birth and once we were home we noticed that his breathing still didn't sound right. He was making really strange sounds. In order for me to get any sleep, my mom and sister went out and bought me one of those crib monitors for peace of mind. I knew that if he stopped breathing, an alarm would sound.
We see now that he's a strong, healthy little boy, who is smart as a whip! We didn't know what to expect then though because when he was in the NICU the Dr. kept finding these little things wrong with him. He ran a fever and was deficient in Vitamin C. It was one thing after the other. He even bares a scar on the top of his head which was caused by the IV the nurse had to put there for him to get the medications and vitamins he needed because it was the biggest vein she could find. She put it in wrong though and it dripped and caused the scarring.
School started in September and there I was with my little 3 year old girl and 4 month old son feeling shaken but at that point, no one knew what had happened to us and what we were going through.
I knew first hand that bad things did happen and that they happened to me.
I remember being completely freaked out the day we were told that the school would be taking the kids on a walking trip to the Hudson River and I was like, seriously? You're taking a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds to the River?! I envisioned one of them falling in, and by one of them, I mean Ava.
I'm pleased to report that no one fell in and all was smooth until the notice of lice in school came out 2 weeks before school was over. Once again, I'm thinking, if anyone's kid's gonna get it, it's gonna be my kid. I envisioned her coming home with it and passing it along to both me and Luke. Stephen was lucky, he's bald! There would be lice in the pillows and lice in the rugs. Yikes!
She didn't get lice though. Thankfully. After the school year was over though, I heard that one of the teachers said that some of the moms were crazy and actually called the school to see if there was lice in the classroom because God forbid their little darlings (or something to that affect) get lice.
I don't remember exactly because I was so overcome by the embarrassment at how I was being perceived.
As one of the "crazy" moms who called, was me.
I called for an appointment yesterday afternoon and got in for 9am this morning. I thought for a moment that it was going to stink to have to get up early and get out of the house to go but then realized how absolutely ridiculous that was. Yeah, God forbid I wake up a little early to go lay down for a 90 minute massage. That sooooooooooooooo hard! At least I can make fun of myself and get when I'm being ridiculous.
My massage therapist asked about the kids and I was telling her how Ava was off to Kindergarten in September. She asked how I felt about it expecting me to be sad but I'm really not. It's interesting because I hated the thought of putting her in pre-k. I was not ready to let her go at 3 years old. Kids are still so little then. They even still look like babies.
It was in the Fall of 2007 that we interviewed at her pre-school. Ava was only 2 at the time but would be entering their preschool program the following September at the age of three, if she, we, were accepted. I was pregnant with Luke at the time. Isabel had just been delivered a few months earlier and I was feeling so sad and scared wondering if Luke would actually come out alive. I had little interest in Ava being anywhere away from me, and here we were interviewing to send my baby girl away. May sound absolutely ridiculous and overly dramatic to you, but that's how it felt for me.
We found out that she was accepted into the schools 3 morning program on March 3rd of 2008. I remember because it was Stephen's Birthday. Two months later, Luke arrived via C-Section at 35 weeks, via emergency c-section due to complications with clotting. I realized that if I had not been at the Dr's office that day, that he would have died too and that and his short stint in the NICU due to the fact that he was having trouble breathing, had both me and Stephen completely unnerved. We had been through a lot in a one year span. Luke was actually meant to be delivered via c-section on June 19th, which was Isabel's delivery date.
We were both very afraid that Luke might have suffered some sort of brain damage due to the lack of oxygen at birth and once we were home we noticed that his breathing still didn't sound right. He was making really strange sounds. In order for me to get any sleep, my mom and sister went out and bought me one of those crib monitors for peace of mind. I knew that if he stopped breathing, an alarm would sound.
We see now that he's a strong, healthy little boy, who is smart as a whip! We didn't know what to expect then though because when he was in the NICU the Dr. kept finding these little things wrong with him. He ran a fever and was deficient in Vitamin C. It was one thing after the other. He even bares a scar on the top of his head which was caused by the IV the nurse had to put there for him to get the medications and vitamins he needed because it was the biggest vein she could find. She put it in wrong though and it dripped and caused the scarring.
School started in September and there I was with my little 3 year old girl and 4 month old son feeling shaken but at that point, no one knew what had happened to us and what we were going through.
I knew first hand that bad things did happen and that they happened to me.
I remember being completely freaked out the day we were told that the school would be taking the kids on a walking trip to the Hudson River and I was like, seriously? You're taking a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds to the River?! I envisioned one of them falling in, and by one of them, I mean Ava.
I'm pleased to report that no one fell in and all was smooth until the notice of lice in school came out 2 weeks before school was over. Once again, I'm thinking, if anyone's kid's gonna get it, it's gonna be my kid. I envisioned her coming home with it and passing it along to both me and Luke. Stephen was lucky, he's bald! There would be lice in the pillows and lice in the rugs. Yikes!
She didn't get lice though. Thankfully. After the school year was over though, I heard that one of the teachers said that some of the moms were crazy and actually called the school to see if there was lice in the classroom because God forbid their little darlings (or something to that affect) get lice.
I don't remember exactly because I was so overcome by the embarrassment at how I was being perceived.
As one of the "crazy" moms who called, was me.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
On Breastfeeding and Pediatric Dentistry
I'm still breastfeeding Luke. Very few times a day but nonetheless, I know it's time to pull the plug. He's a willfull kid and is not taking the reduction of feedings lying down. He points and yells and clasps his hands together begging "cheese!" (his version of please). After listening closer I think he may actually be saying tease!!! But, that's neither here nor there. I have to say that he looks really cute when he does that so I want to give in but I have to be strong because I have what seems to be a pinched nerve and need to get him off the breast so I can take the medication I need to.
Part of me wants to forget the meds so I don't have to stop breastfeeding him, but in the end, I know once we're done, I'll be relieved. The only thing that's pulling on my heartstrings is the fact that he's probably the last baby for me so I don't want to cut the nursing short. Although, it's been 2 years and I'm tired. I didn't nurse Ava this long. I only nursed her to about 19 months when our Pediatric Dentist told me to stop immediately because Ava had 5 cavitites and needed a cap! That's what happens when bad genetics and nursing to sleep combine with some kids.
Speaking of Ava and teeth. On one of the last days of school, she and this little boy collided on the playground. She smashed into his head with her teeth. I was told by the teacher that the little boy had a goose egg and Ava's mouth was bleeding. When I picked her up from school that day, I noticed that one of her teeth had broken as well. I wondered if the other kid walked away with it in his head but figured it was on the playground somewhere and would eventually be mistaken as a unique white rock by one of the other kids and they would take it home and add it to their collection. Kids do love rocks. Which is fine I guess, as long as they're not putting them in their mouths or sticking them up their noses.
I have to say that it was a very clean break. Very straight. Cosmetically she was fine and an official soft-serve ice cream test after dance class that night, proved that there was no nerve damage. I spoke to her dentist on the phone and she said that considering her age, there was really nothing to do as long as she wasn't in pain, as she'll start losing her teeth within a couple years anyhow. Now we've noticed though that her front tooth, not the one that broke, the one next to it, is turning gray. Some day it's grayer than others, which I cannot explain but was talking to a mommy friend yesterday who told me the same thing happened to her son. She said that eventually, her sons tooth turned white again. We'll see. Oh, by the way, in case this helps anyone, our pediatric dentist said that if Ava's tooth was loose (which it wasn't) we should put her on a soft food only diet for 2 weeks. She said this would allow the tooth to strengthen and would then re-attach. Pretty cool, huh?
Part of me wants to forget the meds so I don't have to stop breastfeeding him, but in the end, I know once we're done, I'll be relieved. The only thing that's pulling on my heartstrings is the fact that he's probably the last baby for me so I don't want to cut the nursing short. Although, it's been 2 years and I'm tired. I didn't nurse Ava this long. I only nursed her to about 19 months when our Pediatric Dentist told me to stop immediately because Ava had 5 cavitites and needed a cap! That's what happens when bad genetics and nursing to sleep combine with some kids.
Speaking of Ava and teeth. On one of the last days of school, she and this little boy collided on the playground. She smashed into his head with her teeth. I was told by the teacher that the little boy had a goose egg and Ava's mouth was bleeding. When I picked her up from school that day, I noticed that one of her teeth had broken as well. I wondered if the other kid walked away with it in his head but figured it was on the playground somewhere and would eventually be mistaken as a unique white rock by one of the other kids and they would take it home and add it to their collection. Kids do love rocks. Which is fine I guess, as long as they're not putting them in their mouths or sticking them up their noses.
I have to say that it was a very clean break. Very straight. Cosmetically she was fine and an official soft-serve ice cream test after dance class that night, proved that there was no nerve damage. I spoke to her dentist on the phone and she said that considering her age, there was really nothing to do as long as she wasn't in pain, as she'll start losing her teeth within a couple years anyhow. Now we've noticed though that her front tooth, not the one that broke, the one next to it, is turning gray. Some day it's grayer than others, which I cannot explain but was talking to a mommy friend yesterday who told me the same thing happened to her son. She said that eventually, her sons tooth turned white again. We'll see. Oh, by the way, in case this helps anyone, our pediatric dentist said that if Ava's tooth was loose (which it wasn't) we should put her on a soft food only diet for 2 weeks. She said this would allow the tooth to strengthen and would then re-attach. Pretty cool, huh?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
I'll Have What She's Having?
I was reading my friend Sally's "Monday Mama Muse" on her blog last night and came across her most recent and amazing post about rediscovering yourself. I can't even believe the timing of it because this is a topic that I have been doing a lot of soul searching about lately. What do I like? Not, what does my mother, sister, friend, or the media tell me to like. What do I like? For a while it seemed I didn't even know. I was looking to the people around me to tell me what was good, what I should like.
As Sally so wisely observed and wrote in her post, kids know who they are. Kids know what they like.
I knew exactly who I was as a kid. I knew what I liked and I went with it. I truly didn't care what anyone thought of me. Then one day that changed. I'm supposing it occurred somewhere around the teenage years. At some point I think we all start to conform to the people around us a little, seeking out approval in order to fit in.
I've seen it happen to me as an adult after my daughter was born. I looked around and saw that I was a lone Graco in a sea of Bugaboo's. Thankfully my insecurities didn't push me into a $1,000 stroller purchase, but it sure did cross my mind. Not because I needed or wanted one, but because everyone else seemed to have one.
Anyhow, it didn't take long before my daughter outgrew the Graco and I became a Maclaren. When my son arrived, I was a second-hand Jane. I am now a Maclaren plus Buggy Board attachment.
I've been asking myself a lot of questions lately, both big and small to rediscover who I am.
Do I prefer to drink my coffee from a dainty china cup or a big sturdy mug? A big sturdy mug. Then why is my hutch full of paper thin china?
Is it the City or Suburbs?
Milk in my coffee or cream?
Are Ugg boots the greatest, or simply Ugg-ly?
Are you going to discover what it is YOU really want, or are you going to be a "I'll have what she's having" kind of girl?
The road to self discovery is a long one indeed.
What are the questions that you ask yourself?
As Sally so wisely observed and wrote in her post, kids know who they are. Kids know what they like.
I knew exactly who I was as a kid. I knew what I liked and I went with it. I truly didn't care what anyone thought of me. Then one day that changed. I'm supposing it occurred somewhere around the teenage years. At some point I think we all start to conform to the people around us a little, seeking out approval in order to fit in.
I've seen it happen to me as an adult after my daughter was born. I looked around and saw that I was a lone Graco in a sea of Bugaboo's. Thankfully my insecurities didn't push me into a $1,000 stroller purchase, but it sure did cross my mind. Not because I needed or wanted one, but because everyone else seemed to have one.
Anyhow, it didn't take long before my daughter outgrew the Graco and I became a Maclaren. When my son arrived, I was a second-hand Jane. I am now a Maclaren plus Buggy Board attachment.
I've been asking myself a lot of questions lately, both big and small to rediscover who I am.
Do I prefer to drink my coffee from a dainty china cup or a big sturdy mug? A big sturdy mug. Then why is my hutch full of paper thin china?
Is it the City or Suburbs?
Milk in my coffee or cream?
Are Ugg boots the greatest, or simply Ugg-ly?
Are you going to discover what it is YOU really want, or are you going to be a "I'll have what she's having" kind of girl?
The road to self discovery is a long one indeed.
What are the questions that you ask yourself?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Liquid Crack
I went to my Weight Watchers meeting last night and was disappointed to see that I was only down 1 1/2 lbs for the week. Normally, I'd be psyched, but I went to kickboxing 4 times last week!!! This was the week it was ALL supposed to melt off! I was envisioning a 3-4 lb weight loss. I imagined myself up at the scale and the receptionist saying, "WOW! Anne Marie!!! You did REALLY well this week!!! How DID you do it?" I would smile and tell her all about my kickboxing efforts. I would proudly go on and on about how I pushed myself to finally break through the plateau I've been experiencing since the Summer.
Not so much.
Was it the Cadbury mini eggs that did it? Was it the cake from Carlo's I sampled at the Birthday party we went to Saturday afternoon? It couldn't be, I only took a few bites and I didn't go over my points for the week, with either of those delectable treats.
What could it have been then?
I found out this morning, in my grocer's dairy case, as I reached for the LIQUID CRACK I've been drinking all week. Liquid crack, most cleverly and deceptively, disguised as Hazlenut International Delight coffee creamer. I've been drinking it in my coffee. I've been pouring it into my tea.
Mmmmmmmmmmm. This stuff is DEEEEEEEEE-licious!
I picked up that creamer this morning and took a little gander at its nutritional label....
Oh no! What's this? 45 calories and 2 grams of fat a tablespoon! In ONE tablespoon? How much of this stuff have I been drinking? I don't think it's just been a tablespoon. Maybe 2? Could it have been 3? 3 tablespoons of this stuff in each cup of coffee and/or tea that I drink in a day? How much coffee and tea HAVE I been drinking? I've been drinking A LOT. Has it been 4 cups? Gosh, have I been drinking 5 cups of coffee a day? That's 3 points per cup! That's 12 - 15, unaccounted for, points per day!!!!!!!!!!!! That's 84-105 extra points this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you know that I am so hooked on this stuff that it took all of my self control just to put it back on the shelf?!!!
I'll just have a little. Yeah, it'll be ok, just a little. I'll only allow myself to put it in one cup of coffee a day. I'll even measure it out. Just one tablespoon a day. Well, I mean, one really isn't enough. Just two. Just two tablespoons a day.....It's ok, it's only a little.
Not so much.
Was it the Cadbury mini eggs that did it? Was it the cake from Carlo's I sampled at the Birthday party we went to Saturday afternoon? It couldn't be, I only took a few bites and I didn't go over my points for the week, with either of those delectable treats.
What could it have been then?
I found out this morning, in my grocer's dairy case, as I reached for the LIQUID CRACK I've been drinking all week. Liquid crack, most cleverly and deceptively, disguised as Hazlenut International Delight coffee creamer. I've been drinking it in my coffee. I've been pouring it into my tea.
Mmmmmmmmmmm. This stuff is DEEEEEEEEE-licious!
I picked up that creamer this morning and took a little gander at its nutritional label....
Oh no! What's this? 45 calories and 2 grams of fat a tablespoon! In ONE tablespoon? How much of this stuff have I been drinking? I don't think it's just been a tablespoon. Maybe 2? Could it have been 3? 3 tablespoons of this stuff in each cup of coffee and/or tea that I drink in a day? How much coffee and tea HAVE I been drinking? I've been drinking A LOT. Has it been 4 cups? Gosh, have I been drinking 5 cups of coffee a day? That's 3 points per cup! That's 12 - 15, unaccounted for, points per day!!!!!!!!!!!! That's 84-105 extra points this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you know that I am so hooked on this stuff that it took all of my self control just to put it back on the shelf?!!!
I'll just have a little. Yeah, it'll be ok, just a little. I'll only allow myself to put it in one cup of coffee a day. I'll even measure it out. Just one tablespoon a day. Well, I mean, one really isn't enough. Just two. Just two tablespoons a day.....It's ok, it's only a little.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Happy Anniversary!
Stephen and I are going out to dinner tonight to celebrate our 6th Wedding Anniversary. I went to the salon today to get all dolled up for our big night out. I love going out with "pretty hair" fresh from the salon.
In fact, I planned my holiday hair appointments well in advance on days that I knew we would be going out to dinner. What adork, highly organized and intentional person I am, right?
I hired a babysitter for the kids so they didn't have to come with me.
Naturally, Stephen had a field day teasing me about hiring someone to babysit so I could go to the salon.
AS if! Ok, technically, yes that is exactly what I did, but in my defense I did not expect that he would be working today and I scheduled all of my holiday hair appointments well in advance, on Saturdays, because he's normally home.
I actually learned that taking both kids to the salon with me was a horrible idea. The hard way.
The last time I went, I brought both kids with me. Talk about being in a daze, it didn't even occur to me, until we stepped inside the salon, that it was a really bad idea.
My daughter was fine but expecting a one year old little boy to sit through mommy's single process and haircut was just, let's call it, silly.
My son is a really good boy so it wasn't that I had to worry about him running around the salon or anything like that. It's just that he was naturally unhappy about having to sit still on my lap for a couple hours. A couple hours, seriously, where had I misplaced my brain?
At one point, while my head was under the ionizer, my son tried to escape my lap. I shimmied down, so as not to hit my head on the big hard plastic globe over my head, and caught my son in a vice grip between my legs to reign him back.
Visions of Suzanne Somers and the Thigh Master came to mind.
Anyhow, I had him! I then carefully shimmied back up, in attempt to put my head back underneath the ionizer AND... SMACK! went my head on the front of the ionizer.
I miscalculated.
I was so embarrassed.
Today, it was just nice to get my hair done in peace, and it was really nice to be able to pick out presents for my husband on my walk back home all by myself; a gift card at our local music store and Baba Booey cupcake from Crumbs, his favorite.
I even had time to pick out a thoughtful Anniversary card for him without any distractions.
I was even sure to ask the ladies behind the counter at the card shop if I could borrow their pen and fill it out there.
As I signed the card, I went on about how the kids were at home, and how it was best that I just fill the card out there, because naturally, the kids would need me as soon as I walked through the door... I didn't want to be distracted and not have the card filled out when Stephen got home.
Then, after yammering on and on, I realized I had just signed his card with not only my first, but our last name too. As if there would be any confusion.
I felt like an idiot, but I had just spent $4.00 on his card, and I was not about to spend another $4.00, springing for another card.
I can't stand the greeting card industry. I'd prefer someone just give me the four bucks... I'd rather fork the 4 bucks over to the gift recipient...or perhaps, add $4.00 to the amount I have in mind to spend on the actual gift... Heck, I'll even kick in another buck and bring it up to an additional $5.00 on the gift itself... It's a guilt inducing industry, that pesky greeting card industry, isn't it?... Can't give a gift without a card...
You know what? I'm gonna start MAKING cards for people.... Just like my daughter does.
In fact, I planned my holiday hair appointments well in advance on days that I knew we would be going out to dinner. What a
I hired a babysitter for the kids so they didn't have to come with me.
Naturally, Stephen had a field day teasing me about hiring someone to babysit so I could go to the salon.
AS if! Ok, technically, yes that is exactly what I did, but in my defense I did not expect that he would be working today and I scheduled all of my holiday hair appointments well in advance, on Saturdays, because he's normally home.
I actually learned that taking both kids to the salon with me was a horrible idea. The hard way.
The last time I went, I brought both kids with me. Talk about being in a daze, it didn't even occur to me, until we stepped inside the salon, that it was a really bad idea.
My daughter was fine but expecting a one year old little boy to sit through mommy's single process and haircut was just, let's call it, silly.
My son is a really good boy so it wasn't that I had to worry about him running around the salon or anything like that. It's just that he was naturally unhappy about having to sit still on my lap for a couple hours. A couple hours, seriously, where had I misplaced my brain?
At one point, while my head was under the ionizer, my son tried to escape my lap. I shimmied down, so as not to hit my head on the big hard plastic globe over my head, and caught my son in a vice grip between my legs to reign him back.
Visions of Suzanne Somers and the Thigh Master came to mind.
Anyhow, I had him! I then carefully shimmied back up, in attempt to put my head back underneath the ionizer AND... SMACK! went my head on the front of the ionizer.
I miscalculated.
I was so embarrassed.
Today, it was just nice to get my hair done in peace, and it was really nice to be able to pick out presents for my husband on my walk back home all by myself; a gift card at our local music store and Baba Booey cupcake from Crumbs, his favorite.
I even had time to pick out a thoughtful Anniversary card for him without any distractions.
I was even sure to ask the ladies behind the counter at the card shop if I could borrow their pen and fill it out there.
As I signed the card, I went on about how the kids were at home, and how it was best that I just fill the card out there, because naturally, the kids would need me as soon as I walked through the door... I didn't want to be distracted and not have the card filled out when Stephen got home.
Then, after yammering on and on, I realized I had just signed his card with not only my first, but our last name too. As if there would be any confusion.
I felt like an idiot, but I had just spent $4.00 on his card, and I was not about to spend another $4.00, springing for another card.
I can't stand the greeting card industry. I'd prefer someone just give me the four bucks... I'd rather fork the 4 bucks over to the gift recipient...or perhaps, add $4.00 to the amount I have in mind to spend on the actual gift... Heck, I'll even kick in another buck and bring it up to an additional $5.00 on the gift itself... It's a guilt inducing industry, that pesky greeting card industry, isn't it?... Can't give a gift without a card...
You know what? I'm gonna start MAKING cards for people.... Just like my daughter does.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Until We Meat, I mean, Meet Again
We went to Sam's Club yesterday to do our big monthly grocery shop. I can see that we're going to end up saving a lot of money in the end, even though our first few months of membership ended up being just as costly as our pre-Sam's Club grocery days.
It's just as expensive at first because we've spent more than we normally would on things like Saran Wrap and aluminum foil, but these bulk items are going to last a really long time, and the upfront spending will be worth it. I can see it!
We can't go wrong with the produce, dairy and meats. That's for sure. Nothing is in too large a quantity that anything goes to waste, and we spend the same amount of money or less on items we enjoy, yet get more.
What's not to love, right?
Well...I do get a little frustrated once we reach the juice aisle. At this point, we've filled our carts with non-perishable items, and they're getting heavier and harder to steer. I love grocery shopping but it is at this point, that I begin to welcome the fact that I can see the meat department up ahead. Only meat, produce, dairy and frozen foods sections left to go!
However, it is always at this time, when my cart is getting a little heavy and harder to navigate through the store, that my daughter has to pee. It always happens in the juice aisle. Which, naturally, is at the exact opposite end of the store from the bathrooms.
I figured it had to be subliminal. My daughter agreed but didn't know she was agreeing.
She overheard me talking to Stephen and not knowing what subliminal meant, tried to clear things up for me again, and said...
"Mommy, I think I always have to pee when we get to the juice aisle because I'm thinking of juice".
Yes honey, I get it, makes total sense to me. No one knows my girl better than me.
So, my husband and I leave the juice aisle, and trek to the bathrooms, with our heavy carts and both kids in tow.
We walk past the meat department...
Goodbye succulent pork chops. Don't worry, we'll "meat" again...
then the produce section...
I'll see you in a bit, You big tub of Mixed Greens you! ....
then dairy...
Don't worry, I'll be back for you Butter... and for your little friend Cream Cheese too...
and finally, frozen goods...
I didn't forget about you either, Sweet Peas...
Don't worry any of you big, bulky hunks of deliciousness. I didn't forget about any of you.
We'llmeat meet again.
It's just as expensive at first because we've spent more than we normally would on things like Saran Wrap and aluminum foil, but these bulk items are going to last a really long time, and the upfront spending will be worth it. I can see it!
We can't go wrong with the produce, dairy and meats. That's for sure. Nothing is in too large a quantity that anything goes to waste, and we spend the same amount of money or less on items we enjoy, yet get more.
What's not to love, right?
Well...I do get a little frustrated once we reach the juice aisle. At this point, we've filled our carts with non-perishable items, and they're getting heavier and harder to steer. I love grocery shopping but it is at this point, that I begin to welcome the fact that I can see the meat department up ahead. Only meat, produce, dairy and frozen foods sections left to go!
However, it is always at this time, when my cart is getting a little heavy and harder to navigate through the store, that my daughter has to pee. It always happens in the juice aisle. Which, naturally, is at the exact opposite end of the store from the bathrooms.
I figured it had to be subliminal. My daughter agreed but didn't know she was agreeing.
She overheard me talking to Stephen and not knowing what subliminal meant, tried to clear things up for me again, and said...
"Mommy, I think I always have to pee when we get to the juice aisle because I'm thinking of juice".
Yes honey, I get it, makes total sense to me. No one knows my girl better than me.
So, my husband and I leave the juice aisle, and trek to the bathrooms, with our heavy carts and both kids in tow.
We walk past the meat department...
Goodbye succulent pork chops. Don't worry, we'll "meat" again...
then the produce section...
I'll see you in a bit, You big tub of Mixed Greens you! ....
then dairy...
Don't worry, I'll be back for you Butter... and for your little friend Cream Cheese too...
and finally, frozen goods...
I didn't forget about you either, Sweet Peas...
Don't worry any of you big, bulky hunks of deliciousness. I didn't forget about any of you.
We'll
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Children's Health - One Chalazion, two Chalazion
What's a Chalazion? That's what I wanted to know.
A Chalazion is a lump on the eyelid, caused by an obstruction of an oil gland. It resembles a sty but technically, is not. I know this because one has come to dwell on MY little girls eyelid. It's been there for about five weeks now.
Her pediatrician sent us to a specialist in Manhattan to get it checked out. We were all certain that her poor little eye-lid was going to be lanced and drained and Stephen and I were sick about it.
So, in an attempt to calm my nerves, I thought, well, what's the worst that could happen?
And then I pictured it.
I envisioned my daughter seated in a chair in a tiny room. Across from her, is the Pediatric Ophthalmologist, holding a little scalpel in hand. I pictured the Doctor gingerly moving the scalpel up to my little girls eyelid...
What?!!!!!!!!...OH NO!!!!...The telephone starts to ring, which startles the Doctor and alas, instead of lancing my cute little girls eyelid, the Doctor lances her actual eyeball instead!
She could be blinded in her left eye forever!
Yeah...this wasn't helping.
Thankfully though, after seeing my daughter, the specialist determined that a hospitalization to lance and drain a 4 year olds eyelid should be the last resort and therefore recommended that we continue with warm compresses for 10 minutes, 3 times a day. She noted that it will probably take months for the Chalazion to go away.
We needed some guidance as to what to use as a warm compress. I had been wetting washcloths with hot water, yet the cloths stayed warm for less than a minute. The process of wetting and re-wetting the clothes was frustrating, as well as ineffective.
The specialist offered a couple of great suggestions and I'm going to pass them along to you...
The potato retains its heat for the time needed and I am happy to report that her eye looks a lot better. We're not out of the woods yet, but I am hopeful that this works and there won't be any hospitalizations in our near future.
Have any of you experienced anything like this? If so, I would love for you to share your story with me.
A Chalazion is a lump on the eyelid, caused by an obstruction of an oil gland. It resembles a sty but technically, is not. I know this because one has come to dwell on MY little girls eyelid. It's been there for about five weeks now.
Her pediatrician sent us to a specialist in Manhattan to get it checked out. We were all certain that her poor little eye-lid was going to be lanced and drained and Stephen and I were sick about it.
So, in an attempt to calm my nerves, I thought, well, what's the worst that could happen?
And then I pictured it.
I envisioned my daughter seated in a chair in a tiny room. Across from her, is the Pediatric Ophthalmologist, holding a little scalpel in hand. I pictured the Doctor gingerly moving the scalpel up to my little girls eyelid...
What?!!!!!!!!...OH NO!!!!...The telephone starts to ring, which startles the Doctor and alas, instead of lancing my cute little girls eyelid, the Doctor lances her actual eyeball instead!
She could be blinded in her left eye forever!
Yeah...this wasn't helping.
Thankfully though, after seeing my daughter, the specialist determined that a hospitalization to lance and drain a 4 year olds eyelid should be the last resort and therefore recommended that we continue with warm compresses for 10 minutes, 3 times a day. She noted that it will probably take months for the Chalazion to go away.
We needed some guidance as to what to use as a warm compress. I had been wetting washcloths with hot water, yet the cloths stayed warm for less than a minute. The process of wetting and re-wetting the clothes was frustrating, as well as ineffective.
The specialist offered a couple of great suggestions and I'm going to pass them along to you...
She suggested we take a small potato, place it in a sock and then microwave it. We've found that microwaving it for 50 seconds has done the trick! She also said microwaving a sock full of rice works well too. I opted for the potato because it seemed the least messy of the two.
Note...check the temperature to make sure it's not too hot for your little one, and then place potato/rice filled sock, directly on your child's eye. This will work for both Chalazions and Sty's.
Note...check the temperature to make sure it's not too hot for your little one, and then place potato/rice filled sock, directly on your child's eye. This will work for both Chalazions and Sty's.
The potato retains its heat for the time needed and I am happy to report that her eye looks a lot better. We're not out of the woods yet, but I am hopeful that this works and there won't be any hospitalizations in our near future.
Have any of you experienced anything like this? If so, I would love for you to share your story with me.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Curb Your Enthusiasm
One of my friends was teasing me the other day, telling me that she wants me to write about corduroys because she loves them and says she wants me to bring them back! This cracked me up.
I'm also a fan of the corduroy pant... so I figured... heck, why not? I thought, hmmm what's so great about corduroys? How can I sing its comfie praises? How can we bring corduroy back? Well, not exactly back, as I noticed many pairs in fashionable colors at Ann Taylor Loft the other day.
Hmmm... Larry David, of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld fame, wears corduroys... and I have BIG love for him....SO....
Haiku to YOU, Larry David!
"Oh! Larry David.
Put on your corduroy pants.
Autumn brings a breeze."
I'm also a fan of the corduroy pant... so I figured... heck, why not? I thought, hmmm what's so great about corduroys? How can I sing its comfie praises? How can we bring corduroy back? Well, not exactly back, as I noticed many pairs in fashionable colors at Ann Taylor Loft the other day.
Hmmm... Larry David, of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld fame, wears corduroys... and I have BIG love for him....SO....
Haiku to YOU, Larry David!
"Oh! Larry David.
Put on your corduroy pants.
Autumn brings a breeze."
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Party of One
I woke up this morning feeling awful. My hands were swollen and tingling from all of the sodium I had consumed the night before. We had taken the kids out to dinner to celebrate our daughters first week back at school. There is a meatball pizza at one of the Italian restaurants in town that both kids just love, so we chose that restaurant to celebrate in. I go to Weight Watchers and follow their points system and made wise choices during the day so I could enjoy dinner. I chose the scungilli salad as an appetizer and the linguini with clam sauce as my entree. I had stayed within my daily points allotment and was feeling good.
We got home from our "night out" by 6:30 and I was feeling a little down that our big night out was over already. Stephen had plans to hang out with his cousin and my sister was out with a friend, so it was just going to be me and the kids. My son fell asleep right away and my daughter was asleep by 8:30. I started feeling really lonely, so I decided to go into the kitchen to look for a snack.
I looked in the fridge and saw the turkey pepperoni I had bought the day before. I had been craving pepperoni pizza and figured I'd buy the turkey pepperoni, to get the taste I'd been wanting. I wasn't sure if I should go for it though, because although it is a point friendly choice, it's jam-packed with sodium; 640mg per serving to be exact. That's a lot of sodium and I retain water easily.
I couldn't resist. So, I took a couple of pieces and thought, "Wow! This is great, I'm going to have a few more."... "Hmmm, how many slices are in a serving? Ooh, there's 17, right, I'll count out 17."... "Mmm, that was good!" "I bet this pepperoni would taste really good as a sandwich, I'll grab one of my sandwich thins and put it on that."... "Mmm, that was so good. I could really go for another."... "No, I'm not making another pepperoni sandwich. That would be piggy."... "I'll just grab a couple more slices."... "These pepperoni slices are really thin, I wonder how they'll taste if I stack them?".... "They taste really good, I'll just have one more stack."
Party of ONE.
Serving size...SIX.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Taking the plunge and the anxiety that goes along with it
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No, this is not about my wedding day, when Pachebel's Canon in D started to play and it was time for me to walk down the aisle and I completely started to panic. It's not about how I was standing there in front of Stephen and the priest and everyone else in the church scared to death. It's not about the rapid breathing and the scare I put Stephen through, thinking I was going to faint, or worse, sprint! It's not about our priest standing there with both hands up, palms facing me, slowly easing them up and down in an attempt to get me to calm down. This is another story.
This is about how yesterday I announced on my FB that I had started Stay At Home Mommy Daze. I had been thinking about what I wanted to blog about for a while and finally mustered up the courage to go ahead and start my blog. The days went on and I wrote and re-wrote and fixed up my blog page as best as I could. I e-mailed my Mommy Blogging friends with lots of questions, picking their very smart brains, in hopes of making this blog the best that I could.
Then, the realization set in that it is was not enough to start the blog, the time had come to actually tell people that I had it. Yikes! I knew it was going to take a lot more courage than I had at the moment so I went into the kitchen to summon the help of my good friend, Pinot Grigio, and he nudged me along.
I did it! And friends read and responded with great support and well wishes and I was so happy. I felt so good. I read through the comments. They can't wait to read more! They can't wait to read more every day! Every day! Every day. EVERY DAY?!!!! What did I get myself in to? What if I can't pull it off? What if I fail? What was I thinking?!!!! So, I panicked through The Biggest Loser, I panicked through Jay Leno, then Chelsea Lately, then the repeat of Top-Chef. I shut the TV off and lied in bed panicking until about 3am. Yes, that's exactly how I roll.
So I've decided to set small attainable, not so scary goals for myself and I will update my blog at least once a week. Small, manageable goals to ease my ever so active, thought juggling, sleep depriving mind.
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