Shhh....... My Holiday Gift Shopping Finds!

I love shopping for gifts. Finding the right thing for each person. It's a passion and dare say an art of mine. Not that all my gifts are received with the same joy as they were picked out, but I try.

I'm pretty close to done with the Holiday shopping. I say Holiday because Jeff's family celebrates Chanukah and my family Christmas. This year Chanukah is early - starting on December 1st. So I had to get a move on!

I like to shop locally (and USA produced) when I can. I make a concerted effort. I buy from the toy store and book store downtown. HOWEVER some of the things I need, aren't to be found in my little village. Enter Amazon Prime. Did you know if you sign up for Amazon Prime (free two day shipping on any product that is fulfilled by Amazon) and cancel after 30 days - there is no annual fee? AND that if you're a new Mom they have Amazon Mom - free for 3 months. Let's just say Santa delivered his gifts in two days in some Amazon boxes. Done and done. All while sipping coffee at my computer. Love it!

Next up for my local peeps. Cotton Caboodle Outlet. I've long raved about this little gem of a store. 100% cotton clothing for kids and women. Most everything is under $15. I saw the same shirt that I got there for $15 at my friend's boutique for $50. FIFTY?!! So today I dropped in quickly to grab a specific shirt to go under my planned Thanksgiving ensemble - and what did I find, but some FANTASTIC fun cotton scarfs that screamed 'teacher gifts!' for $12. In regular retail stores they are $27. Mark those babies off the list!

XBox - Kinect Combo pack. 250gb (like I know what this means..)but on Amazon it was priced at $448 - hello Costco for $389! (Online looks like it was priced at $399). Yes this means I'm not getting that purse I'm drooling over - and my husband gets to skip getting 2 sweaters and a button down like every other year. Hopefully the kids will enjoy it and I'll embrace electronics. Website says they're sold out - but maybe they have more coming?! No you can't have mine!

So after you check off those lists - for me it means wrapping and shipping. I never can go wrong with my local UPS guy. I've actually had good luck in general with UPS - but the owner/manager? of my particular location is a superstar. Always SUPER nice. Most everytime I've had a coupon, or gotten a punch card discount. He doesn't get irritated when I can't remember the zip code to Brooklyn NY. And my packages always get there in one piece and on time. (Although I did have to ask him not to use peanuts...). If you're in my hood - give him a whirl! And unlike the post office, they'll tape up your boxes for you - NO extra charge!

Okay friends - do share - what are your favorite finds this season?!

The Art and Joy of the Letter

Anyone one in my near radius this past week probably knows that I just got a big box of 'memorabilia' from my parents who recently cleaned out their storage unit. Sorting through all the stuff in there has been fun and crazy - but one thing stands out. We wrote letters!

I have all kinds of letters! Letters from my friends when I was 11, my camp counselor, letters from my high school boyfriend, and my good friend and subsequent pen pal who joined the military shortly after we graduated, tiny notes asking if I could go to the movie, angry notes about why did someone do such and such during 5th period. I love it.

I forgot how much I LOVE a real letter! Love it. I love when you see your name on an envelope in the mailbox, or find a scrap of paper with a little message just for you. The tangible enjoyment of seeing a friend's handwriting cover a page in words - the time taken specifically for you.

So I'm bringing back the art of the letter. I've decided that over the next year I'm going take the time to write a real live letter when those memories or birthdays or whatever it is presents an opportunity.

Ah the joy of a letter.

What's a better way of saying 'Ball-less'?

This one's going to be lengthy so buckle in.

I had a hard time titling this -but the anger is still fresh, so I'm not at my most eloquent.

Last night after having a whirlwind two days of working on a project with my friend (thanks Jefe for holding down the fort), I went through the mail only to find that someone had 'anonymously' sent my husband a pamphlet from Alcoholics Anonymous. It read something like 'Does your loved one struggle with alcohol dependency..' and so on.

At first I was puzzled and a little dismissive, until some investigation led to the fact that AA does not send out pamphlets unprompted. Someone had to send or ask for it to be sent. WTF.

I feel like I've been kicked in the throat. Seriously. I'm taking this PERSONALLY - and have gone through those stages of grief or acceptance or what not.. but I'm not yet to the laugh about it stage.

First of, yes, it's a given that I enjoy cocktails. Initially I wanted to defend myself, but I don't feel it necessary at this point. Marriage is a partnership and my rarely imbibing husband does not feel that my enjoyment of wine and spirits warrants any AA intervention. And while I have a very loud and direct personality, he is not fooled, nor scared of me and would set me straight.

Second of all - Of course I reflected back to the past couple of weeks just to see if there was anything in there that should alarm someone to the point of anonymous mail. I see a woman who quit her fantastic job to be more available to her family. One who still works very hard at her paying job along with volunteering in her kid's schools, signing up to bring treats and teacher appreciation salads. The one who was up late cutting out the pieces for her daughter's entire class to make 'Spider Hats' with. The one who tries really hard to make her guests feel welcome, and buys their favorite breakfast items and makes sure their sheets and towels are fresh and taken care of. The one who makes meals and does dishes for her family most every night of the week. The one who folds clothes and reads bedtimes stories and talks about what happened at school. The one who tries to make date night a priority for she and her husband. Who makes time to work out so I'll still be the wife someone wants to be seen with. The one who gets a big middle finger in the form of an anonymous pamphlet in the mail. How's that for a thank you?

Yes, I'm angry and extremely hurt (and curious as to how a true alcoholic would be able to pull together all the things that I have to do on a regular day while trashed.) As my8 years clean housekeeping lady said as I headed out the door for 6 miles - 'alcoholics don't run'. She would know.

So I say this out loud to anonymous worried person. Find some balls. Find a voice. Be direct. If you have TRUE concerns for my husband or my family (albeit misdirected) find some character and address it head on like an respectable adult should do.

Tonight I'm going to enjoy a glass of wine with my husband and silently toast all my sisters in arms who work their arses off for their families - and enjoy a glass of wine at the end of that never ending work day. Cheers.

One Of Them Days

Gotta love a morning that starts off with sacrificing a pair of work out pants to catch the cat's puke so as not to christen the newly cleaned carpets. Work out pants that should have been working out at the 6:15AM core class. But weren't.

However - I have to shout out to the people who unknowingly make someone's day a little more fabulous. Case in point, as I was dropping off my car to get fixed at the body shop the receptionist asked if my hair was naturally curly. When I responded yes - she exlaimed "It's gorgeous!". Well thank you! What a way to start the day! I decided right then and there I'm going to be more conscious of saying the nice things I think. Emphasis on nice.

But I just have to make a note that when you encounter a company that makes your life easy - it is so fantastic! Collision Clinic here in my homstead checked me in - had the Enterprise rental car person WAITING to get me into the rental car that was on site. I was in and out in less than 15 minutes. It was a dream! I almost felt like when your husband comes homes with flowers and it's not an anniversary. Suspicious yet happy. I'm going to start keeping a list of fabulous companies like that. Oh wait Yelp does that. Well anyway -Collision Clinic you rock!

Offspring Offerings

Funny stuff from the kid front

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Me mumbling to myself as I throw the cat off the counter "Cats do NOT belong on the counter!"

Riley overhearing: "Or adults either. Kids are okay on the counter when they get hurt or something though."


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"Kate! You broke my feelings! You broke them and I am very sad."

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At the dinner table: "Watch, I can do the robot!" followed by a demonstration. I asked where she learned it - from her PE teacher? "No! From Choo Choo Soul"

Nostalgia Doesn't Always Fit

Nostalgia
The parentals cleaned out their storage unit - so that means I got a few boxes of 'treasures'. One of which contained my cheerleading uniforms from high school. In a fit of nostalgia and I'll admit, curiosity.. I thought for a moment 'I can wear my cheerleading uniform for my Halloween costume!'. Note to self: That was 20 years ago, pre children and you were a late bloomer. So the net result is that I will likely be running a tad harder today during my work out. And I still need a Halloween costume.


Savvy Shopper Alert
I've long known this, but it still makes me happy to buy my favorite undies (Hanky Panky) at Nordstrom Rack for half the price. Ahhh...

Happy Wednesday All!

WAHM: Job Description

As I'm nearing the one year mark of embarking on the job change - from full time in the office to a Work At Home Mom (gulp) I can't help but some days to wonder what the heck I signed up for. (Of course usually precipitated or followed by a fabulous day with my kids where I remember why I did this..) But today is not one of those days.

School has started for my youngest - and she's loving it. 1st Grade starts next week for the oldest - and I'll be loving it.

Today is the kind of day that I think Mom's should get bonus checks for. Oh wait.. we don't get paid.

7:45A - Email babysitter again to see if she can stay LONGER next week when I'm out of town, so that husband can go to soccer game. Confirm with two separate parents that they can pick up my kids from school.
8:15A - 3 y.o to pre school
8:20 - Run back to house to grab bike for 6 y.o. (so 3 y.o. didn't see it and wonder what fun we were having without her..)
9:00A - Meet friend for walk around Greenlake (yes, this IS fun..)
10:00A - Find snack for 6 y.o.
10:40 - Run to grade school to volunteer (and be super grateful for awesome friend who is at playground and offers to keep eye on 6 y.o.) (Check work email, pretend am always available at home office.)
11:40 - Find Jiffy Lube to get car's oil changed, so stupid get oil light will go away. (Check work email while at Jiffy Lube.) Thank Jiffy Lube worker for inferring I'm still in college. He knows you don't tip oil changes, right?
12:20P - Get lunch for 6.y.o. and hungry Mom
1:00P - Mow lawn so neighbors don't leave angry anonymous letters on our door. And because I am forcing my husband to go to in laws for the weekend and will not have time to mow said lawn. Feel sorry for self that have to mow lawn, but alternately grateful that I am getting some sort of work out since I pushed snooze on the alarm for spin class...
2:00P - Write blog, change laundry, find soccer shorts for 6 y.o., pack for weekend, figure out why house smells like cat poop
2:45P - Take Husbands laundry to dry cleaner
3:00P - Pick up 3 y.o.
3:20P - Clean house, sew pillow case for 3 y.o., feed children, find where cat is hiding (return work phone calls hopefully with very little background noise..)
4:45P - Take cat with gimpy paw to vet, pick up cat food
6:00P - Take 6.o. to soccer practice, and remember to bring PTA papers to hand off to Mom who lives in neighborhood
7:00P - Pick up enough pizza (and wine) for Pizza Friday with husband's brother and family
8:00P - Fight with children for an hour until they run out of excuses not to go to bed, and/or pass out
9:00P - Drink significant amounts of wine while trying to catch up on work emails and due dates, make large list of things must remember to do before leaving house at 8AM.

This will be the day my husband DOESN'T ask me what I did all day..

Gotta love it!