Cellphone drama

I had a minor gadget emergency the other day. I define this as an emergency because the emergency was that my cellphone kept turning itself off randomly and refusing to reignite in any way shape or form until it was ready. Really? Not an emergency, but in this day and age being without your cellphone feels like an emergency, especially when no one can get a hold of you without it. So after three days of being ready to run to the AT&T store and then having the damn thing magically heal itself, I had had enough. My phone is only a little over a year old and hadn't suffered any big trauma (everyone drops their phones, right?)...to my knowledge anyway, I suppose with phone loving little ones running around you never truly know...so I was not happy.
Cellphone salespeople have taken on a certain type in my mind, pretty much the same type as the used car salesman and the carnies. Anyone who shouts at me and tries to sell me something as I'm walking through the state fair with my three children, trying to hold three hands, juggling huge stuffed animals and a leaky lemonade immediately goes on my bad list.
And don't get me started on the nail file and hand lotion toting salespeople at the mall....they are on the list too!
Anyway, back to my phone.....I just knew, before I even called, that I was going to be told that my phone was worthless, no longer under warranty, and that I was going to have to buy a new one. Knowing that I was not yet eligible for a "free" phone, as my contract isn't up yet, I was internally screaming. Upon investigation, it appeared that the "moisture sensor" inside the battery compartment shined a brilliant shade of white, which immediately told me two things:
1. my phone had no water damage (despite the fact that I spilt coke on it the other day) and
2. it doesn't seem to be a warranty problem, but I guess I could send it in. Me without my phone for, at the very least, a week and a half....not good!
Lovely. I threw my phone down, ignored it, and pondering over the fact that I would lose all connection with the world for a few days....I decided I should send it in and guess what?
my phone began to work!

Ice Cream Man...bring it!

I suppose I should have more sympathy for the poor guy...I'm know he means well and the poor guy has to work in this awful Texas heat but he always has new ways of pissing me off. The last couple of weeks were like clockwork that stupid truck has come around the street blaring it's clown music, enticing the kids. In come the kids running, turning my wallet inside out, and screaming for money to go buy some ice cream (did I mention my freezer is always full of ice cream during the summer?). I spent $10 (on 3 kids) the last time he came around!!! The $2 frozen juice can't be much better than the ice cream that I bought, I buy Breyers and bomb pops for crying out loud. I do realize this is a passage of childhood, and that I'm potentially depriving my kids by NOT handing them money and letting them run in the street after the ice cream truck. It drives me crazy when I am outside trying to enjoy the nice weather and jump at the very sound of music I hear in a distance, hoping my kids won't hear it.
Okay, I am not sooo bad, I do let my kids ice cream from him....sometimes but what bothers me is when he creeps around the corner and I shake my head NO!, and he still comes down our street! Very Irritating!!!!

Life's a B

I've always believed that, "What goes around, comes around" and when all is said we should take accountability for our actions. With that in mind, I try hard to act with kindness...always.
I know that I am not perfect, and just laugh at the thought of trying to be. I have mistakes, who hasn't? But I always do the right thing and I am never intentionally mean. I know I am a good person. And for the most part, the people in my life are the same. But there are those, the self-centered few, that are just down right nasty. You know, the ones that don't seem to understand what it's like to give and take. Where do you think your pedestal is honey? cuz I don't see it!
Sooooo, where is the karma already??? Don't get me wrong, I don't wish anyone harm, just payback to bite them in the a*%? Do these people EVER get tired of the drama? Grow up already. enough is enough!

Beach Bum at Heart

I find myself overly excited over our next trip back home to Florida. I will be very happy to see the family, go fishing, and be back in the land of the beach bums and luau's, where the people are friendly, flip-flops are acceptable anywhere at anytime, and at night you can actually see shooting stars.
I love the memories from home, where I lived five minutes from the ocean and cruises were a spur of the moment outing. Okay, I've gone on 3 cruises but I loved it, and I can't wait to take the kids on thier first cruise.

here are some of the things I love the most.
~ If I'm at or on the ocean, I have no reason to worry about getting that laundry done or those dishes washed and there is nothing better than that feeling! I just relax.
~The food. I love to try different restaurants along the beach and fresh seafood is delicious!
~The beach at night. Michael & I loved taking walks on the beach at night, we went there on our first date and it is also where he proposed!
~The ocean is completely calming. It reminds me that I am just a small piece of this huge puzzle called life. I walk a little slower and I take a little more time to enjoy the small things, and I have a complete attitude change after being around the ocean. I feel rejuvenated and I have a spring to my step.

I could go on and on but I will stop here and get packing!!!

I'm a Middle of The Road Type of Mom

I took a quiz on Facebook. It was called "What Kind of Mom Are You?". I didn't take it becasue I needed to know, I just wanted to see if my answers revealed what I thought. The quiz is set up to find out if you're a laid back, uptight or middle of the road type mom.

The Results: I am a Middle of The Road Type of Gal

'You're really the most ideal kind of mom to have- You're not too strict, you're not too loose. The kids know how to have fun at a playdate, and you're not ripping out your hair worrying all of the time about airborn germs and fingerprints. You keep your kids clean and well maintained yet they have fun getting dirty too. You keep your house picked up, but you don't have a home air purifier system and sanitizing wipes stashed in every nook and cranny. Your kids play well with others because they have manners but they're also relaxed enough to make friends. Good for you!'

whew! That's good to know.

Tassels to the Left

Today was a big day. My little man graduated from preschool. I know it must seem so incredibly lame to be tearing up over this and to be thinking so much about the closure of his time in preschool, where circle time and peeing in the potty sometime seem to be the biggest challenges. But, really, those weren't the true challenges. It is amazing to see how much he has grown in the past five years, even little Ethan got choked up when he had to say goodbye to all his friends and his awesome teachers. And I have grown a lot as a parent too. So I get emotional - very quickly - when I make scrapbook pages. And when I think about them going to Elementary School in the Fall.So next year? He will be heading to kindergarten at public school, where he will....well, I don't REALLY know...sit at tables and come home with homework? For kindergarten? At least he will get to still GO OUT AND PLAY and will continue to love school and learning. It is hard to go from a place you love to the unknown. This morning, I told Ethan that today was his last day of preschool and he said “I’m a big boy now and I’m going to the big school”. I said, with tears in my eyes, “Yes, you get to go to kindergarten next Fall and that will be so much fun and I'm very proud of you."So as I walked down the green hallway to Ethan’s class I fought back the tears and visited his class one last time. All Ethan’s friends were having lunch, their last lunch together as a class and I got very emotional. I gave the teachers their gifts and thanked them for such a great year. I left the classroom and headed for the auditorium, took my seat and just waited. When I saw my little man in his graduation cap and a big smile, I felt happy, sad, and excited all at the same time.
So as we say goodbye to preschool with tears in our eyes, we are happy for the years to come....homework, field trips, and new friends!!!

Is Summer Here Yet???

Let's Go Swimin' NOW!
Yes, it's that time of the month year again, when thoughts turn to sunshine, vacations and lazy afternoons spent outside by the pool with a good book and some lemonade. Where the best part of the day is when the kiddos are laughing and running and have pink sun kissed noses! I just love that!
Ahhh, that's right - summer is almost upon us and I can't wait!
As many of you know, 2009 has gone down around here about as smoothly as pea gravel pancakes and we're ready to say goodbye to Spring, no matter how many flushes it takes.

Blog Fog

What's wrong with me? Why can't I keep up with my blog?
Between being a mom, a wife, working in the evenings, and keeping up with the trials of everyday life and work, why have I got nothing to blog about?!
I am a married, thirty-something, mother of three, and lead a very interesting life (at least I think so) because I enjoy reality tv, obsessing, reading, writing, making people laugh, and I work in Labor & Delivery for crying out loud.....so where are my words and thoughts??
aghhhh!
Okay there, I have vented and I've got nothing left.
Whine, whine, whine. Sigh, sigh, sigh.

A Decade of Joy

A special little lady in my life turns 10 years old today and I can’t believe how fast the years have passed. She is growing up so fast and I feel like time is getting away, there is still so much I would like to teach her.I want to tell her lots of things. How proud I am of her. How special she is. How she has blossomed into a beautiful and elegant young woman. I want to explain to her that it's tough being 10. That other girls can sometimes be cruel, that she needs to keep her head up and walk proud and respect herself, and have enough confidence and wisdom to respect the choices she makes. I want to tell her that it's OK to make mistakes. That we learn from mistakes. That mistakes can make us better people. And if we live life afraid of being wrong, or making a mistake, that we never grow.




I want to tell her about how hard it's been being a working mother and juggling schedules, but because it's been worth every single second, I won't. I want to tell her all about how in life, there are always choices, and that it is these choices that define us, that build our character, that make us who we are.I want to tell her what a great big siter she is, how she is the first one who called me 'mom' and how much she means to me, and how much I love her…so I will...everyday.

And, as a very special birthday present today, I will be her friend. We will laugh, play, and have a sleepover…..in my room!!! Time goes by way to fast to let these moments pass without taking advantage.

Happy 10th Birthday Sydney, WE LOVE YOU!

What Not to Wear

We all know that I am fashionably challenged but add "neglect my personal appearance" to the list of things I said I would never EVER do as a mom.
Part of the reason for this neglect is, I entered the fashion vacuum also known as motherhood, about 10 years ago. But I must admit there is another reason, a BIG reason, for my lack of personal presentation lately.
I like to be comfortable. Really comfortable. Really, really, comfortable.
And in order to maintain my comfort, I must sacrifice looking put together and stylish. Why? Well, my rules for comfort are as follows:
1. Shoes = flip flops.
Flats worn without socks make my feet clammy. Heels? Uh no, heels are so not comfortable. In fact, any shoe with a sole hard enough to make the clack-clack sound when I walk is not going to cut it. I am the girl who thinks a pair of black sandals can pass for dress shoes because, helllooooo, they're black. And don't talk to me about the Uggs people. It is about to heat here in Texas and I am not going to drop $200+ on a pair of boots with the fur.
2. Pants = jeans, khaki, or yoga pants.
And to be totally honest, jeans and khaki's aren't really all that comfortable to me.... I just feel like a major shlumpadinka leaving the house in my yoga pants.
No big deal so far, right? A girl can still look cute and put together in some jeans and trendy sandals, right? Well, I agree, but it seems like my biggest road block is the shirt...
3. Shirt = t-shirt. Well, it doesn't have to be a t-shirt, but it has to be made out of t-shirt material. As much as I have tried, and as much as my Goodwill give away pile will attest to, I just can't do any shirt that is not some form of or variation on the t-shirt. Synthetic fabric? although I look cute and it is comfy, I rip it off and throw on a t-shirt as soon as I get home. Woven fabric? Nope. No matter how "stretchy" it is, I feel like I am wearing a straight jacket. So most cute blouses are out for me. Silk and silk-like flimsy rayon-y flowy things? Ugh, I feel like I am constantly smoothing and adjusting and sucking in and straightening.
Do I have some kind of disorder?
Anyway, I am sick of wearing jeans and a t-shirt day in and day out, over and over and over and over again. I would like to look a little ... uhm.... nicer?
So hallelujah, I was so happy to go shopping and find some really nice tops. Tops that look like they could fall in the category of blouse (for lack of a better word... hey, I told you I was fashionably challenged, but whatever.), but they are made out of t-shirt material! (Well, one actually is nothing but a glorified long sleeve t-shirt. Hey, old habits die hard.) They are cut like blouses but they feel like t-shirts! AND, they are long enough to cover my plumber's crack. AND they are shaped in such a way that they hide my 'love' handles. AND now I can go to play dates and book club meetings without feeling like a shmuck, overdressed, or (gasp) uncomfortable.
WOW! What more could a girl ask for?
A few tops do not a makeover, uhm, make... but, hey, it's a start.
Now, if someone can just convince Mr. Blahnik to design a pair of flip-flops....

My Friend JOE

Today I blog about my favorite beverage. COFFEE. It could be because I am sitting holding a steaming cup as I type this. For those of you who don't know, I love coffee. It has seen me through many mornings of parenting, many night shifts, many breakfasts with family, and many conversations with my friends. It has helped me to clear my head of many things, like lack of sleep, homework assignments, and many long road trips. In the afternoon around nap time it is a pick me up to press on throughout the remainder of the day. I figure everyone has a vice. I choose coffee. My husband can't believe how the stuff actually relaxes me. But it does, so me and coffee in all forms are best friends.
All this to say I have had the pleasure of researching and determining who has the best "cup of joe". The results may surprise you. I have sampled Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Star Bucks, Pete's coffee (Market Street), & ground coffee purchased from grocery stores. So here are my results. Dunkin Donuts Light & Sweet coffee is consistently the best!!!! But since there are no Dunkin Donuts real close to me I don;t have it all the time. Star Bucks is strongest in the coffee specialty drinks, ie. My White Chocolate Mocha Latte, etc. I can't drink the coffee specialty drinks too often. I am trying to watch my figure and some of those can have 400 calories in one cup. YIKES! So I decided to try regular coffee at each of these fine establishments. StarBucks regular coffee consistently tastes burned, as McDonald's and Pete's does too. Homemade coffe is good and I can give it a twist with the type of creamer I happen to choose (my fave is Coconut Creme), but it can also change day to day. Dunkin Donuts is consistently not burned, not too strong and is hot. Cold coffee unless iced should not be tolerated. : )
I am not just a mom with a vice, I am a scientist, LOL. Now, I will leave you to enjoy my JOE!

Happy Mother's Day

I enjoy the simple things. This Mother's Day was free of all expectations so there was nothing to get disappointed about and was grateful to just let it 'unfold'....without trying to make people do something I want, letting them be who they are without taking it on personally, it's a great concept of mine..... and it's giving me a lot of peace. so yeah, the day didn't 'look' like that preconceived notion that mainstream society gets wound up in, breakfast in bed, gifts, being showered in praise and gratitude for the "good job" I do, lalalalala... (not that there's anything 'wrong' with those things) but because I was free of expectations and resulting guilt, resentment and disappointment at not looking the way it was 'supposed' to look, it was full of peace, awe and gratitude (mine) for this opportunity to raise children and live the life that I do. Being a mom is the most amazing job in the entire world. I did talk to my mom, ofcourse, she is the person that shaped me into who I am, is there when I need her, and has a heart of gold.
mamas, hope your Mother's Day was pleasant. Mine was pretty much like any ordinary Sunday.....I slept in late, lounged in my pj's most of the day, spent the afternoon lounging by the pool, and got lots of hugs, kisses, and smiles.

Makin' a list.....

I have a list....you know THE LIST....the ones that are always getting longer & longer....
The List of things TO-DO....
The GROCERY List...
The PARTY List...
The WHAT I NEED TO PACK List...
I've been thinking this week about the CRAZINESS of Life...sometimes it goes smoothly, sometimes it hits all the bumps in the road....
sometimes it's filled with GREAT things...sometimes the worst things....
Rush, Hurry, Cram, Speed, Get-it-done....Go, Go, Go! These are all the words that seem to show up on my list. And, I can't help but think I'm making the WRONG list....I'm truly thinking my List needs to be more like this....
Take time to do something "just because" today
Compliment & Encourage a Friend
Call someone you're missing and catch up with them
Send an email to a far away friend
Realize all the beauty around me
Smile, Laugh, and be filled with JOY
Say the words I LOVE YOU to everyone that I Love!
Be Thankful for everything (even a bad hair day)
Have FUN....it's okay to act six again...to sing at the top of my lungs to the radio, to dance to the beat in my heart, and to dream