creative use of new school supplies

Well somebody was having fun when I wasn't looking... there is seriously about 30 post-it notes and a half a bottle of glue piled between them on this table. My only saving grace was that it is the kids' table, not one of our wooden end tables or dining room table and we had wax paper on there from a recent painting project. At least, the cleanup was easy. Whew, dodged a bullet on that one!

hip hop style

This is what happens when you let your kids watch YouTube with you...
I found Zoe and Parker upstairs "doing hip hop" (their words) complete with dancing and beat boxing and Parker's "costume." I could not stop laughing.

new calendar

I am still a project/task-master/get 'r done maniac. I swear this is the most I have ever felt to "nest" in my life. Most of my projects have been boring, nothing too exciting to share but I am feeling good getting things marked off my "to do" list. If being pregnant didn't have so many other annoying side effects, I'd want to be pregnant forever. I am loving this urge to work, not loving the extreme exhaustion though. Anyway, I wanted to share a little tip to help you get organized for back to school. We received the list of important dates for the whole year and I was starting to write them on our calendar. Then I was trying to figure out where I would keep that paper of dates so I could fill out my new calendar when I got one for 2009. So I decided to just go get a new calendar and fill it out early. Ha! The joke was on me. There were no calendars, anywhere. And I mean I checked every store you can imagine and the only ones I could find were those huge desk ones at the office store. I was about to give up when I was browsing through Michaels Craft store and lo and behold, calendars for 2009 and get this, they only cost $1! Now, this doesn't sound very exciting to you I am sure, but I am telling you I was on a mission. I bought this totally cute M&M one and filled out with all our important dates for next year: school events, birthdays, anniversaries, home maintenance dates for me to do, etc. I just love having it done. I feel like it will save me some time this holiday season when I usually update a new calendar. I hung it up behind my 2008 calendar in case I need to add to it. If you decide to undertake this little task, save yourself the trouble and go to Michaels first, all the other stores selling school supplies are so not prepared for your organizing efforts.

CD recommendation

I got the best CD yesterday! It is called "Colorblind" by Robert Randolph and the Family Band. In this age of downloading I-tunes and MP3 players, I think I am one of the last few people who actually goes to the store and gets the real CD. After tearing open those annoying plastic cases, I can't wait to blast my new favorite song and read all the liner notes. I have always been a huge music fan. My mom and I were as poor as can be with a teeny weeny b&w TV for years and years we were slow to get cable and a bigger TV but we always had music. I had my own record player and (actual vinyl) albums when I was 4 years old. Later came cassette tapes, my first one was Madonna, "Like a Virgin," how funny? I lived across the street from a record store in college and I used to fantasize about working there, although I think I am too dorky to do so. I have a big CD collection and as much as I like paring down and being organized it is one of the things I can't seem to purge through, yet. I couldn't wait to get this CD. I heard them sing a couple years ago on David Letterman (love him!) and I didn't think much about them until I heard them again on the Discovery Channel commercials. Their song, "Ain't Nothin' Wrong With That" is so rockin' I would rewind the tv just to hear it again. The kids and I have watched it a bunch of times on YouTube and the band's website. They love it too. So yesterday, I was at the mall and I saw the record store and what can I say? I just had to go pick it up, kind of like some women just "have" to get that new outfit... You can check out their website, I guarantee you'll be dancin' in your chair! http://www.robertrandolph.net/index2.html I would say this is a combo of early Red Hot Chili Peppers/Lenny Kravitz/funk/rock... you just gotta listen! Oh and it is kind of bittersweet because Dave Matthews and his saxophone player (who just passed away last week) are featured on a couple tracks. most of my CDs, I told you I was crazed...

time is flying

I just finished reading in my newspaper that Prince, Madonna, and Michael Jackson are all 50 as of this summer! (MJ will be on Friday) OMG, when did this happen? Does that mean I am getting older too? Man, did that time go fast or what? These were some of my favorite musicians when I was a young girl. They were icons to me. I had posters of them plastered to my walls. I had lace fingerless gloves and mesh shirts to go with my black tights under my mini skirts (when they were in style the first time!). How can these people be 50? When I was a teenager, 50 seemed so old and far away. Madonna seemed like she'd always be that cool 25 year old trendsetter. Well she still is kickin' it. And Prince, well, he is the only short guy that I have ever described as "sexy." Now, Michael Jackson is another story, but his 80's fame is still memorable to me and I rank "Thriller" as one of the best albums ever. Hearing that these stars have turned 50 is a good reminder to me to savor every day because it goes by so quickly!





my favorite songs by:


Madonna: Dress You Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEO7CNByPC4



Prince: Delirious (and Little Red Corvette of course! to be blasting from my 'vette someday)
(can't find this one, Prince is probably not letting You Tube show his stuff, that diva!)

Michael Jackson: Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_hz2am90Hk

love, love, love

"Real love stories never have endings."
Richard Bach
American Author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull

I promise I won't keep sharing these quotes from Inspiration Peak, but how 'bout this one? Someone there at I.P. must have a direct link to my brain. I was enjoying some quality alone time with Parker this morning since he got up way early. We were snuggling and cuddling (which he rarely does, he is just to darn busy for that!) and I said, "I have to put you down to get you some juice." He said, "no mommy, hold me." Guess what? I did. And I am so happy because of it. I couldn't help thinking, someday he'll be big and won't want me to hug him. And then I thought about how I used to hear how strong a mother's love can be, not that I ever had any doubt about that, I was just reaffirmed of it this morning. So while my quote today probably refers to that romantic kind of love between adults, the more I thought about it, the more I thought of all the things I love and how I can't imagine not loving them.

friend quote

Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery,
by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief.
Joseph Addison, 1672-1719
British Essayist, Poet, Statesman

I got this quote today from Inspiration Peak.com and I just love it, especially after being with my playgroup mommies and kids, what would I do without my weekly dose of sharing time with these ladies? As we get ready to go back to school, I find myself feeling sad knowing that I won't get to see them every week. I am so thankful to have them all in my life. All the weird twists and turns of life brought us all together somehow and I have been forever changed. Thanks girlies for the fun times. Let's keep them goin'...

a quick project

I have been on this frenzy to finish all the home improvement projects that I have had on my to-do list for a while. They are mostly small projects (believe me I have some big ones in mind too, but no funds or husband help to back them up...) that don't take a long time but I have been procrastinating for a while. Now that my preggo nesting has kicked in gear, I can't work fast enough. This is my latest completed project. I bought this lamp for $2 at a thrift store. It was that ugly tarnished green brass color, no shade, and filthy. It is heavy as sin, probably real brass, but I don't really care for brass too much. I really just liked the shape. I cleaned it up, gave it a fresh coat of black paint, bought a new shade and voila! A new lamp resting on my bedside table! I love to read at night and I had just a teeny lamp there before. This one is much better and the shade matches the chandelier shades we already have in there. I hope to find another one to put on Paul's side, even though he isn't much of a reader. I think it will look more balanced. This is an easy project (I've done this a couple times with hand me down lamps) and I highly recommend it. A quick fix that really does make a lot of difference. Just remember to check the lamp before you buy it! I made the thrift store employees find me a light bulb and an electric outlet so I could make sure it worked before I bought it. I know my husband could rewire a lamp but like I said, I am on a deadline here, I can't be waiting around for him to get the urge to do some electric work!

waiting for an inspiration

This is a really bad picture, terrible lighting, but I think it kind of shows what I want. I got these cardstock papers at Archivers (using my freebie coupon) and I just love them. They are chocolate brown, robin's egg blue and true red, actually I don't know if that is their "official" names. I have had them sitting on my desk for about two weeks just waiting for a project to come to mind that is worthy enough of their prettiness. So far nothing has surfaced but I know it will soon. I just love this color combination I can't wait to see what comes from these papers. I'll keep you posted...

early bird shopping

There aren't too many things that will get me out of bed at 5 am and on the road but heading to a good antique flea market will wake me up before my alarm. Sunday I was able to go to my beloved Kentucky with my gal pal, Vicki for a morning of wheeling and dealing. We try to go a few times every summer but this is the first time we have gone this year. Here is the blue sign welcoming me to my favorite state... don't tell my mom, I was driving and taking pictures at the same time! I ate at that revolving hotel restaurant in high school for homecoming or something, just FYI... I didn't have anything specific I was searching for, this time, I always have a mental list of things I would like to buy given the right price. I desperately want one of these wooden duck decoys (don't ask me how I have come to love our feathered friends, I used to be deathly afraid of all animals with feathers!) but they are soooo... expensive. I keep looking and I know I will find the one I want sometime.
I thought this goose was so cute (can you believe another bird item?!). It reminded me of the one my grandma had and used to dress up for every season. Not a true antique, but fun.
I always wanted a knight in shining armor! I wanted to get that drum for Parker, I asked the man to hold it for me for a while, then I had some sweet tea (in the south, you get the good stuff!) to boost my sugar (I was getting a little tired!) and I came to my senses. What was I thinking?! I told the man that I changed my mind, I am so glad now.
Here is what I bought...
Don't you just love it! I have wanted a deacon's bench for years. I think since forever. I look at them all the time and I have yet to find one that I felt was the right one for the right price. Well this cutie was already painted and it only cost $50! Woo hoo! I love it and I plan on making a cushion for it soon. And the best of all, my hubby likes it too. Sometimes I come home from these things with "project pieces" and he gets a little crabby. The best part of flea marketing (there are so many reasons) is all the funny and nice people you meet. I come home refreshed and smiley and just plain happy, and also a tiny bit exhausted. I can't wait to go to another one soon. Oh, and how do you like our new paint color? It's called "drawbridge", whatever, I call it "brown."

book recommendation

Have you read this book? If you haven't, you should. I just finished it last night and it is the kind of thing that makes you think you can actually change the world. I am still crying and when I think about it, I want to read it again. I checked it out from the library but this is one I would buy and keep.

nesting

Let the "nesting" begin... I have been a cleaning maniac and checking-things-off-my-to-do-list maniac (unfortunately it is so long, not sure if it will ever be done). It has to be that pregnancy nesting, but I am a homebody anyway so I feel like I am always doing house stuff. We painted our family room this weekend and it looks so good (I think!), now I have to make the window treatments. We hung drapes in our bedroom (I've had them for about two months, still in the packages!). I am making valences for our bathroom, almost done. I have started to clean out our coat closet/black hole (I actually do this every year before school starts, it amazes me the things that find their way in that place.) I have boxes loaded in my van for Goodwill and books ready to take to Half Price Books. I cleaned my scrapbooking area (!) and have sorted all my old fabric to tackle all my sewing wish list projects. I am loving all this energy and I am trying to get as much done as I can, I know it is short-lived and once peewee is born, I won't have time. I'm a little in mourning about that because I love to be a task master and get things done. I just get a thrill checking off items on my (many) lists!

a helpful hint I just discovered while cleaning out my fridge:
You can put your shelves from the refrigerator door in the dishwasher and they come out clean as a whistle! No more milk spots, dried jelly blobs, or sticky syrup streaks, unless of course you are more Martha than me and you clean up spills immediately! I put all kinds of things in the dishwasher actually, but this was a first time and I love how good they turned out. I have never tried the big shelves from the fridge, only because, well, they are too big!

I got tagged

I got tagged by my friend Kristi (who I miss so much since she has moved away) so here goes:

20 years ago: 1988
I was probably getting a home perm and some pink lip gloss for school as well as an Esprit outfit and tote bag. I was probably expertly pegging my jeans (like Katie Holmes is now!!!) and eating some Chef Boyardee. I was getting ready to enter high school as a freshman and I was facing a huge disappointment. I didn't make the cheerleading squad. I did the roundoff/backhandspring combo thinking I was a shoo-in. Well, the girls who made it, could do a roundoff/backhandspring/back-tuck combo. I was totally devastated. I tried out for the dance team and color guard and made that and thankfully so. I think it helped me stay out of a lot of trouble. All those extra practices and performances and trips to all over (even Disney!) kept me busy and away from bad things. I made new friends (at band camp- hee hee!) and it helped me later at UK make their squad as well.

10 years ago: 1998
I was a kindergarten teacher, workout queen, partying-with-my-gal-pals maniac. I took a cruise with my best friends and still look at it as one of the best times of my life. I was enjoying my little apartment and taking classes towards a Masters degree. I was probably making lesson plans and prepping things for my 60 students to arrive in my classroom. I hadn't met my husband yet (strange to imagine) but I was dating and having lots of fun. I think this is when I was at my healthiest ever, I worked out for about two hours a day! I still wish for that time to take care of myself.

5 years ago: 2003
I was a married, stay-at-home mom to my sweetie pie Zoe. We were thinking of building a new house (where we are now) and my husband was getting ready to start his new job as head principal of the biggest high school in Ohio. I was a lonely woman looking for other mommy friends. I was trying to find a way to adjust to no scheduled work time and learning how to manage my home.

3 years ago: 2005
I was a big bellied preggo. I was hot and miserable waiting for my second baby to be born (Parker). We were in our new home and Zoe was beginning gymnastics. I found the MOMS club and was so happy to have some moms to meet with to share my mommy life. We were counting the days until our baby would be born...

This year: 2008
I am a big bellied preggo again! I have a while to go so I not so hot and miserable this time. My husband is still a dedicated principalling dude. Me and the kids, well we are busy, busy, busy. We have been scheduling all kinds of things like doctor appointments and getting school supplies, as Zoe will be going to kindergarten (!). I am looking forward to a few months of time alone with Parker. We are going to do lots of fun things (even if it kills me) like storytime at the library, a mom and me class and playtime at home.

Yesterday: Monday
I did laundry, cleaned a couple windows, went to Target, played outside for hours with the kids, finally put Parker's first year scrapbook album together (after his original one came apart completely), cleaned out my fridge door, read the US weekly blog and some other blogs, watched a taped show I like (The Secret Life of the American Teenager-my gal Molly Ringwald stars!), and made chocolate chip raisin oatmeal cookies.

Tomorrow: Wednesday
I think we are going to drop off stuff to Goodwill and probably play outside some more.

Next year: 2009
I will have another new baby (in August he/she will be about 9 months old) and Parker will be starting preschool :( , Zoe will be getting ready for first grade, my hubby will be getting ready for another new school year. I will be as busy as I am now I imagine. Hopefully, we'll all be happy, healthy, and excited about a new school year.

There you go Kristi! Thanks for the memories!

hindsight

This morning as I toasted a bagel for me, a bagel for Zoe, and a Pillsbury Strudel for Parker I couldn't help but wish for that giant six slotted toaster that we do not have. Toasting sure does take a long time when your kids are hungry and grumpy. I distinctly remember when my husband and I registered for our wedding and the toaster was the only appliance we needed (OK, so we asked for a bread maker too, and I have used it twice in our marriage, hey, I'm not the only one guilty of that!) and we saw the wide variety of toasters available. I remember us discussing which one we needed. Both of us agreed that the giant one was just too big and it would take up too much room in our then tiny-kitchen, so we settled for the regular, basic two-slotter. I can remember actually unwrapping that toaster at one of my bridal showers and I was so excited, I couldn't wait to make toast in it. All these years later, we still have it and we use it almost daily. It never fails, every time I use it I think, oh why didn't we request the giant one? I guess this is a true example of hindsight is 20/20. Maybe Santa will bring us a new Cadillac version of the family toaster this year?

a little helpful hint:
I have been using the bags our newspapers come in to clean up doggie doo for a while. I just keep a grocery bag of them in the garage by the door we use to go outside and so they are handy. It bugs me that the newspapers come in them everyday (I think they should be reserved for rainy days only) but this makes me feel like I am recycling them. They are easy to turn inside out and tie up. They are good for walks too, because they tie to our leash or stroller handle easily.Note: my dog is little so his stuff is little too, not sure if this is a good tip for mastiff owners.

thanks babe

Don't ya just love this? Me too. My hubby helped me get this lovely piece of artwork. I am always asking him, "can't you pull some strings and get ____ for me? you're the principal of the biggest high school in Ohio for goodness sake!" Usually, he is just too busy to help me out with my wild ideas, like I said, in charge of the biggest high school in the state, doesn't give him a lot of free time. Anyway, we went to the spring production of "Phantom of the Opera" (our school was only one of four in the country who got permission from the Phantom people to put it on this year, only because we have an outstanding arts department, yeah us!). The art students had transformed the auditorium to look like a real Paris opera house and they had these huge banners hanging from the ceiling with these awesome paintings. Just a side note, I've seen Phantom about 8 times, no joke, on Broadway and everything so I was kind of fading in and out, not because the kids weren't doing a good job but because I could probably sing it with them off-key of course! So I noticed these banners, again, I said, "honey, I love those birds, get the kids to make me one." Hubby said, "huh, oh, ok, yeah they're cool." I just knew I wouldn't get one. I kept looking at them through the whole show. About a month later, my honey walks in and says, "I have a surprise for you." He had gotten the lovely Megan to paint me a birdy picture and I was so excited. I just love it and I love looking at it all the time. We have it in our family room right now, unframed for now, but I hope to get it framed sometime soon. We gave Megan enough money to cover the cost of her supplies (it is a big canvas) and a little more, I felt she deserved it. I think she just might be famous some time. I know art is totally personal as to whether or not you like it, but I truly think this is a cool piece. Thanks to my sweetie pie who listened to my request.

another movie recommendation

I recommended seeing "Swing Vote" and I still stand by that one, it was a good one. Now for one I do not think you should see... "Borat." I know it is an older one, I actually checked it out from the library after several people told my husband he would like it. We watched it and P.U.! I can't believe anyone would recommend this movie to a friend (or foe for that matter). My husband likes to be silly and in his younger days he was quite a comedian but in no way did he relate to this movie. Very crude and just plain yucky. Anyway, don't waste your time, pick something else if you are as sick of summer t.v. as we are.

driving

Here is me in the car driving with the kids:
windows up (so no one can hear the screaming), AC blaring (I am sweating due to stress of course)
snacks: pretzels, juice, fruit snacks
music: something they pick (Zoe prefers Hannah Montana, Parker chooses Kiss)
my comments: "Stop hitting each other, no you can't hear your song again, I can't turn around and see your drawing I am driving, no we can't get McDonalds, no we aren't there yet."
my state of mind: dazed and confused

Here is me driving in the car without kids:
windows down, wind blowing
snacks: something chocolatey (m&ms)and a Dr. Pepper of course
music: Dave Matthews, Michael Buble, Sting, Beastie Boys, the Cure, George Michael, Bob and Tom in the morning, anything I want
my comments: only song lyrics, profanity towards any ding-bat driver
my state of mind: happiness, bliss, freedom!

movie recommendation

Go see "Swing Vote". The new Kevin Costner movie is so good. I love that it was released now just as our own presidential candidates are beginning their mud slinging and commentators are beginning to dissect each one's campaign. It made me laugh (out loud), cry, get mad, think, ponder, wonder, and most of all it was just plain enjoyable. I haven't liked Kevin this much since "Field of Dreams." The girl who plays his daughter is such a great character (sorry can't remember her name, I think it is Madeline Carroll) and she nailed her performance. There are so many other famous actors (and people playing themselves) it made it fun to see them in one movie. Now, it is a movie so it gets a little over-the-top but the message is clear. I give it a big thumbs up.

here is the trailer on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWodSDYgfXA

busy

I'm here and swamped with laundry and housework. All this summer fun is starting to get to me. I realize how much I truly crave schedules, routines, and my daily duties when it is all gone due to swimming, cookouts, and all the other fun stuff of summer time. Be back soon...

free vitamins

You know how they say nothing is free anymore? Well, I discovered that my grocery store (meijer) gives free prenatal vitamins so I asked for the list and at my doctor's appointment last night my doc gladly wrote me a prescription. I have never used the prescription vitamins, usually just the ones you buy with the other vitamins but I always think that every little bit helps. So I bring them home and I am reading the side effects/warnings, etc. and it says, "may change the color of stools and/or urine." Now, hmm, are these free vitamins worth alien poos and pees? I don't know. I'll have to wait and see what... develops! Hee hee! Anyway, if you know a preggo lady, you might want to have her check out these freebies, it will be time to buy infant stuff soon and these extra savings might be worth it.