You know that feeling...?

You know that feeling you get when your little one has been out of sight and VERY quiet for a little while.  That thought of "what are they doing" and the initial heart-thumping feeling.  Well, Thing 2 has been giving me that feeling quite a bit lately.  And NO, for the child-police out there, I do not leave her alone.  She's merely in the next room, doing something, VERY, VERY quietly and discreetly.  For instance, just in the matter of these past two days I found this:

                                            this:

                               and this:

Yes, Thing 2 has grown and she thinks she can do it all just fine on her own.

An explanation to the pics above. 

#1:  Apparently she grew hungry for some sweets, and failing to ask for a treat, she then took it upon herself to try and gnaw the package open.

#2:  When supposed to be taking a nap, I found her secretly reading.  Which is a good thing though, so I shouldn't be complaining.

and #3:  It's so funny, because I constantly find her with markers that Thing 1 has left behind.  And this one was NOT washable.

I love my sweet, sweet girl.  And she can do NOTHING to ever change that love I feel for her.



How Do They Do That?!

Okay, so I know Busta Rhymes is silly crazy with his version, but this girl kills it!  In case you haven't seen it yet, this is Karmin doing her thing with Look At Me Now.

Lily Allen

Just wanted to post a little sumpin' sumpin'.  In case you haven't heard of this girl, she's worth taking a listen to.  Not only does she have a great sense of style, but she is quite the little songbird.  With a delicate voice, she not only delivers a sweet melodical sound, but also a sassy, edgy, and sometimes abrasive song.  Her British accent works beautifully in her favor, and as clever as she is with her lyrics, she by far surpasses her fellow poptarts and puts the majority of them to shame.  I have been a huge fan of hers for quite some time and I must say, Lily Allen is a true gift.

Take a listen...

http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/--218608956



(Oh, and by the way, try not to let Elton John's appearance ruin the moment.  There's a story as to why she has him in her video.  Just close your eyes and listen.)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Everyone sing now!

"When the dog bites! When the bee stings! When I'm feeling sad...I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feeeeeeeel sooooo bad!"

Awwww, come on.  You know you love the Sound of Music as much as I do!

I find myself singing this song in my head quite often.  I think it's stuck there for good considering the numerous occassions that I have sat as a child in my grandparent's home watching the lovely film on my summer vacations.  Nevertheless, it made me think.  Really, what are my favorite things?

Here goes (in no particular order other than the first):

• My favorite thing of all time with no comparison and no replacement, is, of course, my family.  The Lord gave me my husband and my children and they are my most valuable possession.  Without them, my soul would be lost.

• Walnut Brownies.
• Essie nail polish.  They come in a variety of oh-so-pretty colors that I can't help but purchase one (or two) whenever I have the chance.

• Celebrity gossip.  I know, it's pathetic.  But I have followed the life of celebrities since I was in the 5th grade and by now I have reached the point of no return.  I can't help it.  I love it so much.  Filth at it's Finest.
• Shoes.  My pure and utter obsession.  I can't get enough of them.  I am pretty compulsive about shoe shopping, especially when I find a fabulous pair at a bargain price.  Like these ones.  How fun are they?!  Love 'em!

• I love a good house party.
• A real record player.  My dad used to have an oldschool one when I grew up.  Sony, I believe.  The kind with the sort of plastic box like cover that would close up on the turntable and you could adjust the treble and bass.  Now that I look back, I wish I would have been able to keep the darn thing.  I just love the thumping sound that the needle makes when it hits the record and the skipping sound that it makes at the end.  So great.
• Food.  All kinds.  You name it and for the most part, I'll eat it.  I am a meat and potatoes kind of girl so fork it over. 
• Music.  Music.  Music.  Can't live without it.  Who can?!  I have a wide range of music that I love.  I am literally a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll.  My first band that I loved and still love is Depeche Mode and something from today...Arcade Fire, Interpol and Adele.  Two of my faves - Sublime and Crowded House.  Thing One and Thing Two are picking up the wonderful trait from both myself and the Mr..  Thankfully, he shares the love of music with me.  Music is my medicine.  Guilty pleasures:  Kid Rock and Britney Spears.  Shhhh, don't tell anyone! ;)

• Victorian style homes nestled in a countryside setting.  This is my dream to live simple and peaceful on my little piece of land with my little family running alongside side each other in flannel shirts along the lakeside then taking a break with some homemade sun tea swinging on our porch behind the white picket fence....

• the sound of rain when I am all bundled up and cozy in my bed.
• Traveling.  The sights and sounds of a new place never cease to amaze me.  Destinations I would like to encounter before I kick the bucket:  Fiji, Tokyo, Paris.
• visiting my Grandma.
• Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods.  The guy who's on a quest to find and eat, literally, the most bizarre foods.  The Mr. and I always talk about how great it would be to hang out with the dude.
• I love the sweet smell of St. Croix.
• My flying kitty.

• My home.  No doubt about it.  I love coming home and the people inside of it.  Period.
• My friends.  I'm not one of those people who has to know hundreds of people to feel loved.  Ahem, Facebook.  I truly believe in quality vs. quantity in all aspects of life.  And the quality of friends that I have is very important to me.  I love my friends dearly.  They know who they are.  Here's a pic of two of the handful that I consider the best.

• My family.  Did I say that already?  I mentioned my core, but I also love my immediate and extended.  As disfunctional as I sometimes think we are, I have to remind myself, that in no way are we as far off as others I've seen out there!
• Spending time with my girls.  Seriously, we are hooked to the hip.  They are my little sidekicks that do everything with their momma!
• I love to dance!  Though it's been a while, I love to get all dolled up with my friends and go out dancing! 
• Coloring.
• Blades of grass tickling my feet.  Better yet, sand between my toes at the beach.
• Las Vegas.  Everytime I go I have a blast!  The energy the city exudes is amazing!
• Movies.  A good romance (the Notebook), a slap-on-the-knee great comedy (the Hangover), period pieces (Marie Antoinette, the Duchess), scare-the-crap-out-of-you horror (Poltergeist, Blair Witch), scenic (Last of the Mohicans, Legends of the Fall), rom-com (Serendipity), and the list goes on and on and on. 
• the '80s.  I am a child of the '80s.  Need I say more.  If you missed it, you're missing out.
• the style of the '70s.  Actually the style of such fashionistas like Nicole Richie, Kate Hudson and Rachel Bilson.  Those girls know how to rock the look.
• I love being pregnant.  I enjoyed every single day in day out moment of it.  And, of course, the final outcome.  Those newborn babies!!!  How precious are these two?!

• Taking family drives.  Sometimes, actually a lot of times, we just hop in the car and go.  My girls especially love what we call "night drive".  They love the sight of lights coloring up the darkness of the roads and the sky.  We don't often get to do it, considering it's almost bedtime by the time we go.  Which may be the reason why we love it so much.
• Good dinner, good friends, and some good conversation.
• Being in a stadium no matter what the event.  Everyone together celebrating the same thing.  Who doesn't love a good wave.
• Shopping.  In other words, Retail Therapy.  Hey!  I'm a girl.  That's what we're supposed to do! ;)
• A nice, long, soothing massage.  I am all over it!  In fact, I need one right now!
• Autumn.  I am a sweater-weather type of gal.  I love to bundle up and keep nice and cozy.  The colors of the season.  Leaves falling from the trees.  The start of brisk weather.
• Camping.  Tent camping, that is.  Yeah, that's right.  Let me rough it up for a night or so.  I can deal with the dirt.  While we're at it, off-roading too.  I love the thrill of it!
• The smell of  laundry right out of the dryer and the sweet smell of fresh cut grass.
• The laughter of my husband and children.  Those three can laugh at themselves, much less at each other!  They are soooo funny and their laughter is so contagious, that I can't help but laugh right along with them.

Well, there it is.  The things that keep me happy.  It doesn't take a lot when you actually look at it, now does it.  Though these things may seem mundane to some, they are mine.  And my favorites.  The things that actually keep me going in life.  What are yours?


 "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - F.B.

Sneaky Girl

"Baby, why's your tongue black?"

"It's lollipop, momma."

the Mr.

There aren't that many things that really gross me out.  Actually, it takes a lot to make me sick to my stomach.  But there are a few things that the Mr. does around the house that make me cringe.  It's a short list, but a list it be.  Here goes:
      
1.  Rips nails off of himself and leaves them for me to find.

        (on one occasion, I found a nail in Thing 2's mouth when she was just about a year old)

2.  Drinks from the carton.

            (I know, I know.  I've heard it a thousand times.  Most men do it, right?  I kiss you so it's okay, right? 

            Wrong buddy.  Especially when I catch you when you think you're alone.)

3.  Rolls up boogies and flicks them on the floor.

           (He claims that it was just and itch.  Uh, huh. Riiigggghhttt.)

4.  Toots in the car with the windows rolled up.

           (All the while, sitting there, giggling, and waving the stench in my direction with his hand.)

and number

5.  Leaving his dirty socks on the bathroom vanity.

          (can we say, YU-UCK!)

After numerous times of attempting to explain to him why this is so gross, he never fails to surprise me by repeating this action over, and over, and over, and over....

                             

Skinnygirl, take me away!

While I am not a fan of Bethenny Frankel (Real Housewives, right?), I am a fan of margaritas.  And skinny.

Whilst on a quick run to the grocery store to pick up some goods for dinner, I happen to eye this "skinny" little bottle strategically placed by the checkout line at my nearby Albertson's Grocery Store.  Standing tall and pretty among it's conglomerates, I couldn't help but notice.  What creative marketing, I thought.  This skinny silhouette of a girl in a red top and black pencil skirt with a yummy margarita in one hand and shaker in the other, was calling out my name.  "Aaaannnnggggeeeelllllaaaa."  "You know you want to take me home." At least that what I thought I heard her say.  Thus, I did.  And, I forgot to mention that she was on sale from $16.99 down to $13.99.  I know, I know.  A bit steep, but worth a try.

Fast forward a few hours, I decided now was the time for action.  No more screaming, no more crying.  I was just in need of that "Calgon, take me away..." moment.  You know, when your head just needs the rest from the noise within.  Yes, within.  The noise from the outside has suddenly taken over and ever so gently, crept up within.  Nearly driving you mad.  That's where I was today, and needless to say, Skinnygirl helped me through it.  So for next time, I say, "Skinnygirl, take me away...!"

 

Boy, does time fly or what?!

Where or where has all the time gone?  From going about the daily grind to getting a somewhat good night sleep, it has apparently, just, slipped away.  Yep.  Gone.  Disappeared.  Bye-Bye.  For it was just yesterday, or so I thought, that my darling Thing 2 had graced our family with her warm little body and contagious smile.  Just yesterday that my Thing 1 was so reluctant at first to even hold her.  It took her almost and hour, and sure enough, they bonded.  Just like that.  Thing 1 and Thing 2 as I fondly refer to them by.  Sisters and best friends.  They drive each other mad with their constant love.
 
  

Some like it HOT!

Let's just say, sometimes when I multi-task, I can forget about things.  The everyday things that are seemingly insignificant.  Forgetting to put the finished wash in the dryer, forgetting where the heck I put my keys, forgetting to put something in the mail...you catch my drift.  Anyhoo, this morning, after I quickly drew a sudden craving of hard boiled eggs and set aside a proud 18 of them to get ready to take their hot bath, I managed to do it again.  I forgot about them.  After I carefully dunked my eggs into the rolling boil of water and set my timer that I painstakingly stretch my ear out to listen for, I went off to do my morning ritual.  Sitting at the computer with my morning cup o' joe, checking out my daily news/tabloid pages (yes, I am a HUGE celebrity gossip fan!) and catching up on emails with my lovely girls sitting quietly enjoying their morning snack and television (hey!  2 hours a day limit right?! ), I suddenly hear a loud popping noise.  Not the sort of popcorn-popping noise, but a LOUD noise.  LOUD like a bunch of books being slammed on the floor loud.  I asked "thing 1" what "thing 2" was doing upstairs.  Only to recieve a quick quip of "nothing, she's right here, momma."  I decidely run upstairs, and for those who know me, running and me don't mix.  And to my surprise, I had found my precious eggs popped and shattered into mass produced chunks all over the stovetop and floor.  (I will spare you the details of my duck-and-cover attempt with a broomstick to move the pot over and turn off the heat.)  So now, am I not only left with a mess to clean up, but also an empty stomach yearning and craving for my hard-boiled eggs that I was so happily looking forward to.  Yep.  I did it again.