masked man

I love this little print from Yellow Monday! He is the cutest!!

this and that

The weather has been downright gorgeous this week. Spring is on it's way and I love it! For some weird reason, this weather kick-starts me into deep cleaning mode. Move furniture around sort of cleaning mode. I can't help it. The sun comes out, the windows get cracked and I rearrange rooms every chance I get.

It's also that time of year where the girl scout cookies arrive. I had completely forgotten that I ordered five boxes from my friend's daughter several months ago. She showed up yesterday with them in hand. I put most in the freezer in hopes it would curve my eating them.

(it's not working . . . . )

My mom is in New York! She's turning into quite the world traveler these days.

I took my first Pilate's class last night and surprisingly I'm not as sore as I thought I would be. We focused a lot on core strength training which my tummy really needs so I thought I wouldn't be able to move this morning. So far, I feel good. I'm eager to do it again. (added later: okay, after 24 hours, I'm officially sore especially my abs - ouch!)

J is gearing up to coach Wonder Boy's baseball team again this year. Their first practice is tomorrow and their new team name is the PIRATES. Both are excited!

I was summoned for jury duty next week. Grrrrr! It's not like they want me to sit in on a jury if they just stopped and thought about it. I think everyone is guilty! People who commit crimes are a freakin' waste of time! I wrote in to be dismissed with Jason working and me not having child care, etc. Jason will have to take time off.

I'm waiting with crossed fingers and toes that I get dismissed.

sliding into two

Baby Love's new trick and famous last words by Wonder Boy. . . . That was never anything I said at six years old!!

Oh - P.S. the noise is the construction next door (cement truck) and Baby Love's bottom is wet from mopping up rain water from this morning.

late afternoon stroll by the lake

it's not a party until the hat arrives

I frequent Found, now home blog. I love her Pickled Hutch Picks of the Week. Her creative cards are inspiring as well. But it was her party hat etsy shop, A Rabbit in the Hat, that had me at 'hello.'

With Baby Love's Asian inspired second birthday party just around the corner, I perused her hat shop. In the background of a picture of a different hat, I saw it. I emailed inquiring and luckily she had it still, so I snapped it up. She shipped the next day!!!

It arrived yesterday and it is adorably perfect!

amen sista, amen.

This is an actual letter from an Austin woman sent to American company Proctor and Gamble regarding their feminine products. She really gets Rolling after the first paragraph. It's PC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice For best webmail-award-winning letter. Thanks for sharing Kristen - I'm still smiling!!

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20 years and I Appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa Dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in Tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how Crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and Secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from the Curse? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting Right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging Through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll Be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with Knife skills.' Isn't the human body amazing?

As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen Quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers Monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, Puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, Crying, jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough Time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the Violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill Just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken Chimps. Crazy!

The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just Crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... Which brings me to the Reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always Maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.'

Are you fu*ing kidding me?

What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think Happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a Menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit Pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M Freak girl, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you Have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your House just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a Hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you just have to slap a Moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, There will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my Maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending Bullsh*t. And that's a promise I will keep.

Always.

Best,
Wendi Aarons
Austin , TX

genius at work

discovering electricity . . . .

i think i have a sickness . . .

The party hat . . . .

The loot . . . .

Aren't these just so cute?!?


The shoes . . . .


The decorations . . . .

The party stuff . . . . .

I can't help myself. I think I have a sickness. A party theme sickness. Even for the smallest of gatherings I feel the need to pick a theme or a color scheme at the very least to plan around. Baby Love is turning two in a week and I've been wanting to do something with a little Asian flare for a while now. We invited the relatives over for lunch in Babe's honor and you guessed it, a theme was born. I found the cutest little party favors for the kids and I put the loot into take out boxes. I found these adorable shoes at Uwajimaya and for only six bucks. How great is that!!! And I'm not done yet. I'm waiting for my order from Oriental Trading Company to arrive with my paper lanterns and fortune cookies. I stopped by a bakery today wanting to get a cake decorated with a panda bear face but the best she could give me was Winnie the Pooh. So I'm off to email my very talented friend to see if she might be able to help me out. Wish me luck!!

march 14th

Who is coming out all brand new and shiny on March 14th? Horton! That's Who!! I can't begin to explain how excited I am about Dr. Seusses' Horton Hears a Who. Oprah had the cast on her show this week. Although the show was a bit of a yawn, the set design was really great and seeing clips of the movie made me giddy. I can't wait!!

Last week, I went out with my dear friend, Amanda, and I picked up this little fellow . . . .

Isn't he cute. The girls keep wanting to play with him, but I won't let them. Hee hee! On our way out, Amanda found this t-shirt. Thanks Girl!! You totally didn't have to do that, but I love it!

I hope they make a movie out of Horton Hatches an Egg which is my favorite Dr. Suess book!!!

mini mia

Let me start off saying, when I got Baby Love's hair cut, I asked for a bob. Something chin length. To even things up and help with the unruliness of her curls. (in the tub, when her hair was wet, it literally fell down to the middle of her back - pretty long, right?)

After the gal styled it, I couldn't help but think she just made my child look like Danilynn (Anna-Nicole Smith and Larry Birkhead's baby). Do you see it?
Then it dawned on my this morning, she looks more like Mia Farrow. What was supposed to be a bob with a bit of bangs, looks more like the famous pixie cut of the 70s.
Oh well, she's cute none the less. . . . .

ni hao

Baby Love is turning two on March 2nd. We decided to host a little family party in her honor becuase let's face it, we are a party in itself. Hopefully our cousins, aunt, uncle and grandparents can join us. I thought about inviting our family friends too, but the thought of a mellow, low key event sounded very good to me. However I couldn't resist making party invitations. (I am making birthday scrapbooks for each of the kids and I like to include the invite as well). Wonder Boy, The Divine Miss O, sleeping Baby Love and I went to the craft store yesterday and picked out some fun paper. Then I used the awesome die cut machine to cut out twos. Great fun! I was in heaven with all the many ideas of cool things I could cut out of paper with ease.

I decided on a "sort of" asian theme for the party with kid friendly sushi. I ordered some adorable lanterns and little umbrellas for decorations because this is me we are talking about and it's hard for me to resist doing anything up all theme like. Love it!!

I picked up some supplies for cupcakes last night - yum!!! I can't wait to taste cherry frosting with devil's food cupcakes. M'm, M'm!! But I also want to get a little cake decorated with a panda if I can find a bakery that will do it.

I ordered an adorable little purse/bunny carrier/anything basket for Baby Love's birthday present from Penelope PeaPod. It's so cute and I know she'll love it. She is all about putting things in and out of bags and carrying them around lately.

I'll be sure to post party pictures . . . .

growing up

It is hard to believe we only brought this little ball of fur home on December 1st.
And he now looks like this . . . . .


Angus went to his doctor appointment yesterday for his last round of vaccines. He is a pretty big baby or a "wussie" as one of the techs called him. The vet took him to the back room to give him his shots and take his blood because the two of us couldn't hold him well enough. So she took him back where four gals had to hold him and he cried (loudly) and struggled. Poor guy!

He is somewhat of a slow learner as he just started going down the stairs. But he is super smart in that he learned to ring a bell hanging off the door to tell us he has to go potty pretty quickly. I think it's pretty safe to say he is potty trained and hasn't had an accident in the house for about a month now. Good boy!!

However, it's super hard to get a good picture of him . . . . . he is a quick little bugger!

first hair cut

To cut or not to cut, that is the question. Baby Love has great curls and I was reluctant to go get her locks trimmed. However, that being said, I was super eager to get her hair cut into a cute little bob with bangs. (The same cut Miss O wore as a toddler because I love it so.) The problem is that her curls only looked this cute, right after getting a bath. Once slept on and living through her toddler adventures, her hair was always a mess. Tangled and stringy. So on this sunny afternoon, two weeks before her second birthday, we headed to the place Wonder Boy and Miss O got their very first hair cuts, which by the way, is the only time I've been to this place.

The car was fun but she was nervous about the whole hair cut ordeal. She sat quietly while Sindy trimmed and sprayed and combed her hair.

In the end, she is happy and cute! I used the blow dryer to straigthen out the curls. And this was the end result. Her hair will thicken up and I'm curious if her locks will stay curly.

why I'm not fond of having neighbors . . . .

love is always in the air

Happy Valentine's Day a day late. I made red velvet cupcakes with cherry frosting which by the way is my new favorite frosting. I want to make some devil's food cupcakes with cherry frosting next. M'm, M'm!! This week has been busy although there isn't anything super exciting to tell. You would think after a week of blog silence I would have something fantastic to share but "I got nottin!"

I am one of three room moms/party planners for Wonder Boy's class. I was feeling a little guilty about not making valentine's day all red, pink and sparkly for the kids. I was knee high in making 24 heart-shaped shortcake for their strawberry shortcake dessert, cutting out pictures of the kids' faces so they could make valentine's for their parents during the party, and I found strawberry drinks to wet their whistles . . . . . but I wasn't able to attend and help out in the actual party. The timing was poor and I wasn't able to find someone to take the girls for me. Actually I didn't really ask anybody because I knew the day would be busy enough without trying to find someone to pick up Miss O and getting Baby Love dropped off as well. I worked in preschool land, Miss O had dance class, WB had Tae Kwon Do after school, etc, etc, etc. I gave the girl their little bobbles and Wonder Boy recieved some very cool robots. I didn't do the day up. I didn't wear red. I didn't buy cute heart t-shirts. I didn't make red pancakes with pink cholocate milk. I didn't line the kids up and take valentine inspired photos. I didn't send out love cards. Heck, I didn't even get around to sending out Christmas cards for 2007. I sort of just threw some prizes at the kids and said "Happy Valentine's Day!", quickly followed by "put your shoes on, we gotta go." I did manage to take the kids to pick out their very own Webkinz and we had fun figuring out the whole little virtual world last night. So I felt like I redeemed myself a little bit until J came home with perfume for me. Sneaky move Mr. Man, sneaky move!

This morning I read an article titled 'The Unexpected Benefits in Lazy Parenting' in the newest issue of Wondertime. All the sudden I felt great! I love hearing or reading something and thinking to myself "yes, exactly". I live somewhere on the middle ground of total lazy parenting and over-the-top-super-mom daily. My kids watch tv. They eat candy and white bread. Their rooms are a mess and none of them sleep with a top sheet. I don't arrange playdates every week or send Wonder Boy to school with a fabulous packed lunch everyday. Half the time, no one gets their hair brushed unless you consider me running my fingers through locks of hair, brushing. However, we eat dinner together every night. We always read stories before bed. Clothes are clean, although not always folded. The kids play with each other often and I think it would be safe to say that they are each other's best friends. We seek out mini adventures together on sunny days. Making each other laugh with silly knock-knock jokes is a favorite pass time. And there is never a shortage of hugs and kisses. So even though I fell lax on the holiday of love yesterday, I think it's safe to say the kids know they are loved more than I can ever promise every day.

caucus for hillary

J and I tried to "Caucus for Hillary Clinton" today. Sadly, it was a bust. From everything we had read, the caucus started at 1pm and voting started at 1:30. We were under the impression all we had to do was walk in, sign our name, and claim to vote Democrat, pick Hillary and be on our way. I even told Wonder Boy if he was really good, he could use my camera to take pictures of us "caucusing" so I could upload a picture or two for this very post. We arrived with three kids in tow around 1:15, passed the miles of parked cars and entered the overly crowded middle school cafeteria. First we had to find our number on this 'one' map where the numbers were so tiny and you had to fight 20 people to get up close. Then you had to struggle with the crowds to find your table with your number. By the time we found our table, we couldn't get to the table because of the many people just hanging around which totally surprised me so many people were "just there". It didn't seem like people were voting and then leaving. J managed to crawl up to the table only to find out we were too late. What???? Our neighbor was there trying to explain the rules and J said it looked like the majority of the people from our table were for Obama. Disappointed and disgruntled, we left. The whole thing was totally disorganized and really confusing. I really wanted to have my voice count for a little something and feel apart of the change this country so desperately needs.

After we left, I took Wonder Boy to his Valentine party and J went home with the girls. He said the neighbor later came over to chat about the process and explain why weren't able to vote. What a mess! I am totally bummed because I really wanted to say "I caucused for Hillary!" Oh well, at least I can say I tried.

I really want Hillary Clinton to be our Democratic Presidential nominee. I want a woman to take office. I like Obama, I do, but at the end of the day he is still just a man. Every time I see him speak on TV I'm left with the same impression. It feels like a high school student body president speech. "If you vote for me, I promise to put vending machines in the hallways and more Friday night dances!!!" Not only is Hillary a woman but she's been in office before as the first lady. I think she knows exactly what she's in for with this job.

50 years young

Happy Smurfday!!! I loved these little blue peeps growing up. I watched the cartoon all the time. I think my mom still has a little mug in her house that was mine too. . . . .

random ramblings

My grandmother passed away six and half years ago. She'd had lived with her companion/common law husband, Ken, since before I was ever a glimpse in my mother's eye. All my life it had been Grandma Donna and Ken. Last week my mom informed me that he had died not totally unanticipated. The finality of his life was looming near and he had made arrangements for when it occurred. I wasn't exceptionally close with Ken however knowing of his passing is an odd feeling. It sort of feels like if you walk into a room once a year and the decor is always exactly, precisely the same. But one year you step into that said room and unexpectedly you sense something is different whether it be a plant was removed or a picture hung up or furniture moved slightly. You can't put your finger on what is different; you just know something has changed. May he rest in peace.

Preschool land has been taxing. It's felt like planning a birthday party with different themes every week and although I LOVE to plan birthday parties, especially ones with fantastic themes, doing it every week is exhausting and time consuming. I have glimpses of satisfaction from the job itself but those glimpses are often submerged in stress and high expectations. I have an overwhelming feeling of tension among a friendship because of it and I fear the crack won't be able to be repaired once this year is over. Only five more months . . . . . .

Angus the puppy doesn't look like a puppy anymore. He is truly a big dog with short legs. He is pretty smart and we have him mostly trained to ring a bell hanging off the door handle to tell us when he needs to go outside. For some reason he tells us he has to pee every 10 minutes but he will sneak off a poop in the corner. Argh!!! He and Frieda love each other now and their relationship is something to behold. I found a spot on the carpet today that at first I thought Angus had just had an accident. Upon further inspection it didn't really look like puppy pee. When we found Frieda she was a grown puppy herself and we had no clue of her background or where she came from. She had been hanging out near the country little store around the corner for a few days and no one had claimed her. I've never had her spayed but I've inquired with several vets about such operation. They've always led me to believe that she had probably had the surgery. Flash forward to weird spot on carpet this afternoon and I half wonder if she coming into heat for the very first time in her 10 year life. Angus is due to get neutered in a month or two (even though I wanted to do it sooner, the vet is following his office policy) so hopefully we won't be expecting "designer dogs" anytime in the near future.

The kids have been fighting a lot lately. It ultimately annoys me to no end but I secretly love hearing them bicker at times. It's a life I never knew. A world that fascinates me . . . . Siblings. It amazes me how horrible they can be with each other's feelings one moment and then be writing postcards and designing art for each other the next. Children are fickle and adaptable this I know. That toggle button is always being pushed. No matter how frustrated they are with each other, they are fiercely protective of one another at the same time. I love how Wonder Boy will always ask for extra stickers for his sisters at the grocery store. It never fails.

I just found this etsy pick of the day blog. What could be better? My new love of everything etsy in a blog. Fantastic!!

gettin' down

Baby Love turned 23 months yesterday. She's always had the "groove thang" but lately she's been perfecting her skill. She dances to all and any kind of music. She loves to spin around and slap the floor for extra effect too. She's a hoot!

getting ready

Wendy and I are getting ready to post our very first outfit for sale on Etsy. Wendy made the pants (which turned out super cute, notice the little bows on the cuffs - love it) and I made the top (hand made screen print with added embellishments). This outfit is a size 3T but we will have size 2T avaible soon. I'm excited!!!