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Thursday Ten: The Acoustics Are Best In the Bathroom Edition

September 16, 2010 by 4 Comments

1. I sing in the shower. I sing LOUDLY in the shower. I’m not a fabulous singer. I’m passable. And I only do it when no one is home (see: singer, not a fabulous). But the acoustics in most bathrooms are pretty freaking amazing and it all but dares you to belt something out. My repertoire varies from the ridiculous (Christmas carols in May) to mainstream pop music, but I can’t help it.

2. Since we’re talking music, lately, I’m listening to Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are” – which I hadn’t really heard until I saw it on someone’s blog yesterday. Clearly, I live under a rock because it’s on iTunes’ Top 10 most downloaded singles — not sure how I avoided it so far – must be because our local radio station is busy playing Ke$ha’s “Take It Off” on repeat. I also downloaded “The Story” from Brandi Carlile – because it reminds me of my friends – and I needed a nice reminder of my girlfriends.

3. And continuing along the music vein (BECAUSE WHY NOT)… In guitar class, we’re working on open seventh chords. They are ugly and discordant and I hate them. And I have yet to find a song to learn with these stupid chords that I dig. I think we might have found one – we may start learning Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” next week.

4. The girls are doing well in school so far. Pumpkin brought home her first homework on Tuesday. The Princess? She’s bored. I hope her teacher gets busy challenging her soon or we’re going to lose enthusiasm quickly.

5. With the start of school begins the flood of notices getting sent from school for variances organizations and groups and school related activities. They are ALL in Comic Sans. PEOPLE: DO NOT DO THIS. Just because it’s child related, doesn’t mean the use of Comic Sans is appropriate. Yes. I’m a font-snob.

6. I don’t know why I had no idea before we got our pup that puppies have baby teeth and grown up teeth. Our pup is teething. He lost several teeth last week and new ones are already starting to peek through. Thank DOG there’s not a puppy tooth fairy.

7. Dealing with issues with my stepson the past week has reminded me that perhaps my coping mechanisms are less than stellar (Eating your feelings will eventually catch up with you). How do you deal with stressful times?

8. I’m SO loving my Kindle already. I didn’t think I’d love it quite this much – but frankly? It’s pretty handy. Will I ditch “the real thing”? No. I really love paper books — and I don’t see that changing – but the Kindle is easy, so portable, and the screen really does mimic words on a page.

9. PROJECT RUNWAY NIGHT. Buh-bye Casanova. I couldn’t believe he was the one to go last week and that wretched Ivy gets another week. We’re getting to the point where the cast is narrowed down enough that I start developing opinions besides just really hating Gretchen.

10. One month from today is my birthday. I will be almost old enough to run for the Presidency of the United States. Don’t worry. I won’t. I wouldn’t mind getting older if I had an unlimited wrinkle cream fund. Alas, I don’t… so I just keep reapplying that sunscreen.

Filed Under: Books and Stuff, Mom Shtuff, music, Thursday Ten Tagged With: , , ,

Thursday Ten: And a Hush Fell Over the House Edition

September 9, 2010 by 6 Comments

1. School’s in session and my house is…quiet? It’s a really odd and yet my productivity has gone up… by a lot. Makes it a little easier to compartmentalize work time and family time. And yeah, the girls are digging being at school and hanging with friends – so it’s just win-win all around.

2. While the pup is starting to really “get it” as far as knowing commands and being a good little puppy-dude, I cannot cannot cannot keep him from jumping on the couch! I say, “Down”  and he jumps off. I praise him and make a big deal and then… right back up he goes. Suggestions?

3. After a brisk walk this morning, my head was POUNDING. I downloaded the free Zyrtec AllergyCast app for my iPhone (no, Zyrtec didn’t sponsor this. I can’t take Zyrtec, it makes me fall asleep – doesn’t matter when I take it, I’m groggy for the full duration). Looks like west Michigan is rating an 8 out of 10 for yucky allergies today. BOO RAGWEED! BOO! Popped an OTC allergy med and some ibuprofen and I feel much better.

4. It’s Project Runway night. I have to say, after last week’s challenge, I was pretty neutral on all the designers (except Gretchen. I just don’t dig her. Sorry). I think the bridesmaid dress challenge was pretty interesting, actually – but ew, the fabrics. I guess I’ve been lucky I’ve never been forced to wear such a hideous bridesmaid gown… though truthfully, without MAJOR revision, there’s probably very few dresses you really will “wear again”.

5. This fall weather we’ve been having has been making me crave cool weather comfort foods. This morning I was en route to an appointment and my brain was making a virtual laundry list of the foods I was looking forward to eating now that summer’s nearly gone… Yummm ropa vieja with rice. That’s what I’m craving most of all. What are your favorite cool weather foods? What are you looking forward to most?

6. I have an appointment to get my hair trimmed this afternoon. I love getting my hair cut – mainly because it never looks as good as it does when I leave the salon. I love to have someone blow out my hair – it gets pin straight. I can’t do that! After a summer of ponytails and humidity, I could use a little hair refresh.

7. I’m still in love with my Sharpie pen. I should point out that the folks at Sharpie didn’t bribe me, give me stuff, pay me or contact me in anyway to make me say nice stuff about their pen. But, hey, Sharpie folks? Call me. I’m here for you. I will totally say more nice stuff if you give me some of these pens – because these pens make my sloppy handwriting look positively lovely and THAT’S HOW I KNOW THEY ARE MAGIC.

8. It’s football season. The only football I watch is Michigan football (GO BLUE) – and they had a phenomenal start to their season last Saturday against UConn. Who are you rooting for?

9. Yesterday, in the midst of a bad morning I practice a philosophy my mother instilled in me at a young age: “When the going gets tough, the tough get shopping.” Actually, I’m not much of a shopper, but I do tend to like to buy things when I’m down. It doesn’t take much – I don’t go Maserati shopping after a bad day – but there’s nothing like a new book and a cup of coffee when you’re feeling glum. I wish it wasn’t so – I think it’s a silly coping mechanism – but it’s a mood lift for about $15, so… I suppose it’s better than a crack habit.

10. My Kindle* arrived!! I have downloaded my first e-book, but I’ve yet to start reading. I think I made this week a little too crazy for myself and spare time is something that I don’t have much of. Unfortunately. I can’t wait to try it and let y’all know how it is.

*affiliate link

Filed Under: Books and Stuff, Eats, Mom Shtuff, Thursday Ten Tagged With: , , , , ,

Thursday Ten: Am I A Mother or a Cabbie Edition

July 22, 2010 by 1 Comment

1. With The Princess pretty much occupied with gymnastics and gymnastics practices, we figured it might be a good time to re-enroll Pumpkin in swimming classes. This means running one kid to one class, killing a bit of time before running the other kid to the other class. I hang out at the pool during lessons – and it’s painfully warm by the pool. Get done with swimming to kill a smidge more time before picking up the second kid. Far too much time in my car and it shows – it’s filthy. And when I opened the door this morning, it smelled like yesterday’s cheeseburgers. Not sure which kid left her Happy Meal in there, but… ew.

2. Before heading to swim lessons today, I picked up a copy of US Weekly at the grocery store. I know, I know – it’s hardly rocket surgery, but it’s too hard to read “real” books by the pool because the noise makes it hard for me to focus (Also: bleacher butt pain). I’d rather flip through a magazine. Well… speaking of “rocket surgery” – I forgot to bag said trashy magazine. Fail. Total and complete fail (I ended up reading an issue of Wired. I’d rather have read the trash).

3. Last week, I won a necklace from Studio Jewel, and it arrived yesterday. It’s gorgeous. You’ll want to check Lisa’s stuff out – I think it’s fabulous. I’m eye-ing these stacking rings next. I love silver jewelry.

4. New music, new music. Well, I’ve been listening to some acoustic Jason Mraz (nah, it’s not new, but I finally picked up a few downloads because I love), and Chris Mann’s newest EP, several mixes of a cover of George Michael’s “I Want Your Sex” and a song called “Phone Phone”.  All good stuff, and worthy of a listen.

5. Yeah, I  am giving even further serious thought to picking up an e-reader. I jokingly said something a few weeks ago and now they are ON MY BRAIN. I still love books – can’t replace the paper and the smell and the whole sensory experience of reading an ACTUAL book. However? Shelf space is limited, and unless a book is really rotten, I don’t get rid of books. So, Kindle versus Nook is the question, I suppose.

6. We finally signed up for Netflix. I realize, everyone else in the planet has already been using Netflix for the last eighty years, but yeah. Anyway. The Princess is IN LOVE with it though: “Hey mom! Did you know that Cake Boss is on streaming Netflix?” Our queue is filled with multiple episodes of Cake Boss.

7. I expressed last week that I was iffy on the “200 Situp” app – it was being glitchy then. Since I wrote about it in last week’s Thursday Ten, I’ve gotten it to work. It’s still a tiny bit on the glitchy side – but the program is a good one. If you aren’t ready to invest in the app, I believe they have a website as well.

8. ONE MORE WEEK until the new season of PROJECT RUNWAY starts on Lifetime. But, y’know… who’s counting?

9. I’m tremendously conflicted about the “Beezus and Ramona” movie. In a sense, I kind of feel my childhood is getting squashed all over – Selena Gomez as Beezus? That’s not really how I pictured her. I pictured Beezus as kind of plain jane, pales in comparison next to her whacky little sister. The previews seem to focus more on Beezus than Ramona, and seriously? I don’t think so. Will you go see this movie?

10. I need a photo project. This crazy schedule of mine has made me so much less likely to pick up my camera. I don’t know what to take pictures of. I feel like taking pictures but feel like there are only so many pictures of my steering wheel I could take. Shall we do a photo project?

Filed Under: Books and Stuff, Mom Shtuff, music, Photography, Thursday Ten Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday Ten: Developing Theories About Yogurt Edition

June 24, 2010 by 4 Comments

1. So you know my love for Greek yogurt and honey, right? It’s kind of MY THING. Fage 0% drizzled with honey has been my go-to snack for months and suddenly? It makes my stomach feel like it’s being jabbed with a hot stick. Now, I’m not a girl who has ever been even the teesniest bit lactose intolerant – so I thought maybe it was bad honey. So I tried with new honey. And then I thought it was the yogurt itself. So I bought more. And NOW, now I’m developing all these crazy yogurt theories and I’m making myself crazy.

2. I have to keep eating yogurt because it’s one of my healthiest favorite snacks. Beats the hell out of my love for chips. I am more than halfway through my hot-air balloon size bag of PopChips. I cannot be stopped.

3. Thunderstorms again yesterday morning and evening. I’m getting a little tired of this stormy summer weather. Fortunately, after the storms that ripped through Michigan Monday evening, I went to Target and stocked up on glowsticks. I find them easier and more fun than candles when the power goes out.

4. I finally started reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo this week. I am not even halfway through, but I already picked up the second book in the Millenium series to start reading immediately after I finish this one.  And though I have never wanted a Kindle, this book has 600+ pages and kind of makes me wish I was reading this on an e-reader of some sort. {Yes, those are affiliate links. Why? So I can save up to buy a Kindle}

5. World Cup Soccer – ARE YOU WATCHING? Me? No, not so much. But: Go USA!

6. There was an earthquake in Canada and instantly Twitter and Facebook blew up with people in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio who say they felt it. Really? I’m thinking if the quake epicentered in Canada was 5.5, that it would be maybe mere tremors at the most at such a great distance from the epicenter. But maybe I’m just bitter because I didn’t feel it? Maybe my childhood in California has made it so my brain doesn’t register tremors? Anyway. I’ve talked about weather related issues twice in this post, so I expect that next I’ll have my AARP card and I’ll be putting my teeth in a glass before I go to bed at night.

7. I have renewed my summer addiction to Edy’s Lime Fruit Bars. If you live on the west side of the country, these are marked with the Dreyer’s brand name. Here, they’re Edy’s. And I love them. Just a smidge sour, kind of sweet. Pictures of fruit on the box so I can fool myself that they are healthy. No, they didn’t sponsor this or give me anything (but if they wanna send me free popsicles, I’ll take them. Hey Edy’s, call me. *wink*). And while I’m on the Dreyers/Edys love train – the Whole Fruit Lemon Sorbet was the cure to my morning sickness during both of my pregnancies.  That and Hot Tamales candy. And breadsticks from Papa John’s. And no, I really didn’t have the much morning sickness I just liked to eat. Don’t look at me like that.

8. I’m working on another Taylor Swift song on guitar for my kids. So far it seems that if you can play one, you can play them all. But The Princess and Pumpkin are happy, so, go me. Taylor Swift aside, I had a great lesson the other day with lots of praise about my progress from my guitar teacher, and that’s kind of exciting for me. I’ve got a long way to go — but I’ve come a long way – so I’m pretty excited about it.

9. My kids don’t want to see Toy Story 3. I may have to go see it without them.

10. I slept on my arm last night. I woke up this morning with that horrible “can’t feel my arm” feeling and actually had to LOOK AROUND to try to figure out WHERE my arm was because it had no feeling whatsoever. Then there was that fun moment of trying to move my sleeping arm with my other arm to get it out of the way so I could get up. Bodies are weird.

Filed Under: Books and Stuff, Eats, Mom Shtuff, music, Things I Love Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,