The Sweet, Simple Things

Our son who is 3 and 1/2 will be starting pre-school this fall. As a child, I absolutly loved school supplies. I loved looking at all of the folders, notebooks, markers, pencils, crayons, etc. There was nothing as great as a fresh notebook and a brand new pack of pens or crayons. Now that our son is ready to start his school adventures, I was excited when we received an informational letter from his school in late spring saying we would be receiving a second letter with the calendar and a list of school supplies. I got a little excited and filled with anticipation of school supply shopping with my little guy. I was disappointed to find out that all his "school supplies" consists of is a folder to transport papers and a complete change of clothes. A folder? That's it?!? Oh, well. What can I do. No backpack, no pencil box, no glue stick, no child safety scissors and no box of kleenex or bottle of hand sanitizer in my cart this year. At least we can go pick out "the" folder. Last night the 3 of us were on our way home and stopped by the mall so I could pick something up real quick. We decided to look around Target while we were there and since Dad was with us, we could pick out the folder. (I wouldn't have wanted his dad to miss out on this first-school-supply-buying experience). As we showed our son several different folders with several different designs, he seemed to like them all. I found a penguin, a skateboarder, and football. My husband showed him a camo and a shark one. Of course we are talking about the nice shiny glossy photo ones. Then I told my husband that lets show him the blue one. I am now talking about the 10 cent-flimsy paper- thin-and-cheep-as-can-be one. Our son loves the color blue. It is the color of his favorite train engine Thomas the Tank. We laid all 6 folders side by side and told him to choose which one he wanted to take to school. We told him to look carefully and decide which one he liked best. We waited around the corner and told him to show us which one he picked when he was done. What folder did he choose and what folder was he so proud to have? The blue one. The plain-as-day-boring-ol' blue- one. Poor Mommy. Her little boy is growing up and making his own choices.

Book Club

Tonight I went to the first book club meeting for our MOPS group. I had a really great time and we actually discussed the book. I love to read and it was fun to get out of the house for a bit. I had selected the book for this month and one of the girls who attended had not read a book in its entirety for a very long time. She offered to host our next book club get together and was laughing when I told her to pick the book out and let us know. I offered to give her some suggestions and info on about 5 books to help her get one picked out and then she could decide off of there. She was good for that. I think I will look into the suggestions that Missy @ It's almost naptime recommended in this post. I have not heard of her first two, but will definately look at them and loved her last ones, it was one of my favorites- Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin. Tonights book is one I would strongly recommend, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and is also coming out in theaters in October. So, if you have some girl friends and need some time out- read this book together and then make a date to see the movie!

Step 1

Okay, so I forgot to tell you about going to the grocery store yesterday. I was so proud of myself. I used my "green" bag and I also took 3 plastic bags to reuse to hold my meat I was purchasing. I was very happy that I did not have to get any new plastic bags from the store to bring my $27+ worth of stuff home! Yeah for me!

You know what really bugs me?

When people say they are going to update their blogs and don't! I know, I know I am talking about myself here. I do feel bad. But the thing is... no one really reads this anyways. But I do want to write a little something tonight.

How happy are hubby and I that Project Runway is back on Bravo? We love this show and love to get into bed and watch it before going to bed. It might surprise some of you that know hubby that he likes this show too, but we both really do. He is even the one that told me the new season has started again. I don't really watch any other tv, so I hadn't seen the previews for it. This is our 3 season of watching it. We missed the first episode this season, but we were able to see the rerun about 2 days later. We don't have any favorites yet, but we will let you know when we do.

Next up is my cooking skills. I must tell you that I am not a very good cook. Well, actually I should say I am not a very advanced cook. I am pretty simple. Hamburger Helper, spaghetti, tacos, Pizza Hut, you get the picture. Tonight I had to take a meal to a friend who had just had a procedure done and I asked her for an idea on what her family would like. She suggested meat loaf. Okay, I have made this before so that was not going to be a real problem. I knew I could do it but can I just tell you that I could not cook like that every day. It took me forever to put everything together and it made a huge mess in my kitchen. I also made mashed potatoes (these were really good. I can make great mashed potatoes.) green beans, and some slice and bake cookies. Pealing the potatoes, mashing them, ughhh! I don't know how people can make dinner like this every night! If it doesn't have 3 ingredients and one or two pans, I'm out!

Progress Update

I'm sure you are all wondering about how I am doing on that to-do list I posted about. Here is a little update:

1. Clean my garage and storage unit out to prepare for a garage sale. Thought about it, talked to hubby about going to storage at his mom's house to work there this Saturday.
2. Get caught up on my digital pictures on my computer. This means I need to order prints and put them in their proper albums. (chronologically, of course!) Looked at the stack of photo albums, haven't done a thing about 'em.
3. Get bank accounts organized. Our small community bank was recently purchased by a big name chain bank, and everything has changed. I need to get my accounts in order and figure out all of their new rules and policies! Had $90 in overdraft charges. Need I say more?
4. Take an absurd ammount of pop cans back in our garage. We need the space and money! Place is closed to the public until later this week, hopefully they will get back on Friday! Whoohoo!
5. Send out thank-you notes from my 30th birthday party. Added a few more to the list of ThankYous that need to be sent out, but haven't gotten to them.

I HAVE been working really hard on getting things planned and done for the upcoming MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) year and our planning retreat next weekend. BUT- I am really going to try to buckle down this weekend! I have just been so busy every night! This week we had nothing on Monday night, a MOPS fundraiser on Tuesday night, a booth at the Farmer's Market tonight on Wednesday, Thursday holds a playdate and a service project, I have 2 cakes ordered for Friday that I have to bake and decorate and then attend a birthday party that evening. BUT I WANT TO GET SOME OF MY OWN PERSONAL WORK DONE SOON!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk I don't have any pictures for tonight so click on this link for a little laugh! I have to figure out how to put youtube videos on the blog. I"m too tired to do it now!

What are you not doing that is on your to-do list?

Last night I finished the book Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner. I picked this one up at a garage sale a few weeks ago because I have previously enjoyed another title by this author. It was a cute book about 4 unexpected friends who meet at a pre-natal yoga class. 3 of them are preparing for their arrival of baby #1 and one is mourning the loss of a newborn. The story follows along as their babies and friendships grow. It describes the varying lifestyles of each woman and their home and work lives. One thing I like is that each chapter is narriated by a different woman. I like reading books that are written like this, I think it makes it fun to read. I have also read Good in Bed by the same author. I didn't love this one as much as I did the last one. Next on my list to read is a book I just received from the library. It is a new release and I was on the wait list for it. It is also by Jennifer Weiner titled Certain Girls.

I absolutly love to read. I read during nap time for the kids or before bed mainly. I also enjoy reading on car or airplane trips, and we all know how many of those I take! I can stay up way later than I like for myself reading at night. I feel so attatched to the characters and want to see what they will do or say next or how something will turn out. I do not like starting new books though! It is so boring for me to read the first few chapters as I get to know the characters or plot. I just can't wait until I get "in" to the book. What is off your bookshelf right now?

When I need a little pick me up...

There are two little sayings that I like to remember when I get to feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or down about things. One of them I have on a little sign that hangs in our living room. It says, "Remember the day's blessings, forget the day's troubles." When I get worked up about something, I try to tell myself to remember all of the good things I have in my life and all of the many things I have to be thankful for. I think this saying gives me a lot of inspiration to look on the bright side of things instead of focusing on what I don't have.

The second saying I like to tell myself when I get so frustrated and worn out with raising our 3 1/2 year old son who is ALL boy, all rambunctious boy I might add! It is, "The days are long but the years are short." Sometimes I feel so crabby after a day of telling him "get down", "stop that", "be quiet", "stop running", "quit jumping off the couch" (you get the picture). I just can't wait until bedtime when I can go peek in on his peaceful sweet face while he is sleeping. I try to remind myself that even though the days sometimes seem to drag on and on until bedtime, I will wish I had these days back when he is running out the door to be with his friends or off to college, or starting his own family. He is my sweet little boy and I love him more than anything. I love the feel of his pudgy little hand in mine and I wish I could bottle him up and keep him little. There are just some days, long days, when I want to watch him sleeping sideways with no covers in his big boy bed. Quietly.

Do you have a favorite saying?

To Do List

I have some major things that are on my to do list. These are not the type of things that I think I will get done tomorrow or anything, but things I would like to get done sooner, rather than later. They have been on my list for quite a while, so I don't even know if I will get them done this week. I was thinking that if I publicly announce that I want to get these things done, that might give me a little motavation.
Here they are:
1. Clean my garage and storage unit out to prepare for a garage sale.
2. Get caught up on my digital pictures on my computer. This means I need to order prints and put them in their proper albums. (chronologically, of course!)
3. Get bank accounts organized. Our small community bank was recently purchased by a big name chain bank, and everything has changed. I need to get my accounts in order and figure out all of their new rules and policies!
4. Take an absurd ammount of pop cans back in our garage. We need the space and money!
5. Send out thank-you notes from my 30th birthday party.

What is on your to do list?

Where did you spend America's Birthday?

Waiting for the parade to start
Clifford in her hiding spot

Happy Birthday America! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Did you enjoy a fireworks specktaculaaaar? This fourth of July the 3 of us went to a great parade in Ralston. We have gone for the past few years and got our same spot this year as we did last, so we were excited. It is now officially "our" spot. We started going to this parade a few years back with my friend Hollie and her family. We thought this would be a good tradition to start since there are no big holiday events around our area. Then my friend moved away so now it is just my family to keep up the tradition! We look forward to going each year and all have our favorite floats we look for. Each year we also usually attend a fireworks display and potluck at hubby's mom's campground at the river. This is also a lot of fun and something we look forward to, but due to all of the rain we have had, they were not able to have it this year. It was a little odd to not be going there since we have been for the past 6 or 7 years. We also watched our fireworks on IPTV on "A Capitol Celebration" since we didn't go down to the river. Following the show, we played a family game of Wii Carnival Games before putting B to bed.

Our neighbors however had their own little celebration, with about 40 or so people. They were mowing like crazy on Thursday evening, and we started to suspect there might be a party in the works. We were correct. When we woke up on Friday they had already set up their tables and festive decorations. The kids started lighting off fireworks at about 10 am. Some of the moms that were there were filling up the pool with the hose in one hand and their cigarette in the other, while also managing to yell at their kids at the same time. As we pulled in the driveway after the parade we commented on how we hope they are going to clean up all of the firework trash that was now in our yard from the countless fireworks the kids were doing. The fireworks proceeded to go off until about 1045 PM. The problem with this is our dog. Our little stray dog that adopted herself into our home in September is dramatically afraid of storms and fireworks. If it even so much as starts to rain, she begins to shake and pant. This continues all night during the thunder storm season. What do you think happened to her all day with the continuous fireworks noise? She freaked out all day. I couldn't even get her to go outside to potty. She was so scared. So where did she spend America's birthday....... in the bathtub. Her favorite spot during times like this. She finally did lay down instead of just sit there panting and shaking. The crumbs you see around her are from the goldfish that B dumbed in there for her. So.... where did you spend your 4th?

It's not easy being green...or is it?

I had a planning meeting tonight with some friends (who are hopefully reading this post tonight! ha ha) regarding a group we are involved with. On one of the sidenotes we got off on, we were discussing recycling. Both of their families are big recyclers and I was fairly quiet during the conversation, and if you know me, that is unusual. As this blog title suggests, I am quite a wealth of information. I usually have opinions about everything or everyone and share it quite frequently. We however, are not big recyclers here at our house. (gasp!) I know it is the "in" thing, the eco-friendly thing, etc. to do but I gave some reasons to them on why we don't partake in such activities here. They said there is no excuses and it is not as hard as what I was making it out to be. My main concern was that I have a daycare in my home and lots of clutter. I just don't think I have room for the bins up in my kitchen area that are needed to seperate everything. My second concern is how do I keep the little ones out of them when it is hard enough to keep them out of the trash, and cupboards, etc. They said they keep their bins in a cupboard or in their garage. I don't have a cupboard big enough or empty for that matter and our garage is downstairs so I can't be leaving the kiddos alone to run down to the garage. Before you chastise me, let me tell you that while we were having this discussion, I was able to come up with a few small ways that we do recycle here. We save all of our pop cans and bottles (confession- we save them for the 5 cent bottle return for our IVF savings account), I use both sides of my computer paper for printing, I reuse all of our plastic and paper bags from stores, and I save all of my magazines I get and take them to the library for other people to take home and enjoy. I also purchased one of those cheap bags that all of the stores are selling now to use as a reuseable bag when I go to the store. I do forget about it a lot but I have used it multiple times. What suggestions do you have to offer on some other small steps I could start with to improve my eco-friendly status? I don't have a picture for todays post, but here is a site I am going to peruse tomorrow. http://earth911.org/ What do you recycle at your house?

Product Love- Bliss-ful

One of the things I want to do on my blog here is share some of my very favorite things with you. These might be (in this case) food, or videos, stores, gadgets, etc. What is more fitting than to start with one of my favorites called Hershey's Bliss chocolates. They are fairly new and resemble the taste of Dove chocolates. There are 3 different varieties, but I have only tried the purple bag which is milk chocolate. They are so smooth and creamy when you let them melt in your mouth. If you have kids that are screaming or fighting, it really takes the edge off to slowly savor them one by one. I like to eat about 3 per setting. When I saw the first advertisement for these, I thought I have to try them. I fell in love instantly with them and carried them around in my purse. I thought they were that good. I even went to Lowes to buy some new blinds and shared two of them with the nice lady who cut them for me. I asked her if she had tried them yet, and said she simply must. Hopefully she didn't think I was a nut but I really do think she was excited to have two pieces of chocolate! Visit their site for a coupon to go get your own bag! http://www.hersheys.com/bliss/ Let me know if you love them as much as I do. What is your favorite kind of candy?