We had so much fun at the museum with Kate and the Sullivans on Sunday (yeah the 29th of March even though I'm finally finishing this up in April). After all the rainy days, we needed some time doing something away from the house. It was great fun at the Museum of Natural Science in Raleigh. I love Museums. Perhaps, it started when I was little and we lived near DC. I vaguely remember being in various buildings of the Smithsonian and every time we go, I have a twinge of familiraity. For me, we don't go enough to museums. Granted, Beca hasn't been quite old enough until recently so they haven't been fun for everyone but I would go most weekends if I could. I like reading everyhting about each exhibit and I love special exhibits. When we had a girls weekend in DC with my mom's family, they had the first lady dresses at the Smithsonian. I think everyone else was glad Stacy and I had a walkie-talkie with us otherwise we would have stayed in that exhibit for at least another hour. We just weren't ready to be done. Beca seems to really enjoy looking at things too. So there will be more museum visits in our future!
So, my 100th post. I guess I made it easy by this most every day thing for a while. But does it really mean anything? Hmmmm. I don't know the answer to that.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
things I love 34 - Sweet Tea
I love Craven Melon's line "And on the Eighth Day, God made Sweet Tea!" The best thing ever in my mind. There have been times when I have wished I could mainline it but I have come to realize that part of the wonderment of sweet tea is the fantastic coolness gushing through my mouth and down my throat. I crave it. Unfortnuately, it's an every morning thing (damn you McDonald's with your $1 sweet tea and easy access drive through!). I suppose I'll have to figure out how to give it up one day but for now, I'm sucking it down one cool, delicious sip a ta time!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
things I love 33 - Mexican food
We often have Mexican food. Probably once a week, at least. Chips and salsa has become a staple in our house. Beca's favorite is Torero's. I remember the Mexican food we used to get in New Mexico. Everything was so fresh and so good. And the grocery stores didn't have free cookies for kids. They had a free tortilla out of the big tortilla machine. I love fresh tortillas. But alas, no beautiful machines like that in grocery stores here. At least the Mexican restaurants drove out the awful chains with authentic, wonderful food. I love all the flavors together. Cilantro is a beautiful thing. And you can get really cheap or a little fancier around here now. Regardless, it's all good and all wonderful!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
things I love 32 - wrapping presents
There isn't anything today particularly reminding me of this but I do love to wrap presents. I'll keep bags forever because I just like to wrap things. I enjoy creasing paper around something and taping it down only for the recipient to be able to pull it off and find a great suprise inside. Well, hopefully. I've stopped getting so many presents for people recently. Unless it is something I know is very useful to the person. Last week we wrapped up several frames for my boss's birthday in fun Monkey paper - the monkeys had on boxers and party hats. Inside, we had framed 2 of his desk pictures and then added one of our own. It was the 3 of us who work for him - Jesse, myself, and Cynthia. And here's the picture we took for him:
His own monkeys...
And I love a pile of wrapped presents too. I take so many pictures of the presentation of Christams morning! It's great fun for me. And the odder shape the present is, the more I want to wrap it!
Friday, March 27, 2009
things i love 30 & 31 - Details & consumable gifts
Double post - and I'm technically writing this days after but I am attempting to catch up.
I love details - I like minor things to be very much in place and while I can see the big picture, I can also see the often very long list of tasks that must be accompished. Sometimes, it's overwhelming. Usually I feel like this love of details is a blessing and a curse, really. I know everything that should be done but I also know that given whatever constraints, there won't be things done. You can either have it good and fast, good and cheap, or fast and cheap. All three are not achievable - either at home or at work. So, my house tends to get good and cheap. Work always wants all three but we pretty much always end up with fast and cheap and then can't figure out why customers are aggravated! Oh well. The details are what makes things for a customer, whether it is for a machine or for a hand-crafted card!
I love consumable gifts!! I am getting to the time of year where people ask me what I want for my birthday and with world peace and a cleaner earth (being that my birthday is Earth Day I love that one) being so difficult to find, I usually don't have a good answer. This year I do. I want iTunes! I want Shutterfly pictures! I want to go shopping at Ann Taylor and/or Loft and just buy stuff that works for me! I want to get more frames for my house (Michaels or AC Moore)! I have tons of scrapbooking supplies that I am trying to use up except for the CM items that are stacked up at Carrie's (and she is soooo kind to allow me to do this). I want to be able to eat out at restaurants and go to the movies on occasion and have a babysitter all set up. Oooh, that one can be tough because I'm usually the one setting it up. But consumables are the way to go for me! I know, I know - this post is completely self-absorbed and perchance a little rude but these are the things I want for my birthday. I truly enjoy shopping and picking stuff out for myself but paying the bill is a lot more difficult these days with the paycut from work and the wonderful cost of the ongoing master bath construction project.
I love details - I like minor things to be very much in place and while I can see the big picture, I can also see the often very long list of tasks that must be accompished. Sometimes, it's overwhelming. Usually I feel like this love of details is a blessing and a curse, really. I know everything that should be done but I also know that given whatever constraints, there won't be things done. You can either have it good and fast, good and cheap, or fast and cheap. All three are not achievable - either at home or at work. So, my house tends to get good and cheap. Work always wants all three but we pretty much always end up with fast and cheap and then can't figure out why customers are aggravated! Oh well. The details are what makes things for a customer, whether it is for a machine or for a hand-crafted card!
I love consumable gifts!! I am getting to the time of year where people ask me what I want for my birthday and with world peace and a cleaner earth (being that my birthday is Earth Day I love that one) being so difficult to find, I usually don't have a good answer. This year I do. I want iTunes! I want Shutterfly pictures! I want to go shopping at Ann Taylor and/or Loft and just buy stuff that works for me! I want to get more frames for my house (Michaels or AC Moore)! I have tons of scrapbooking supplies that I am trying to use up except for the CM items that are stacked up at Carrie's (and she is soooo kind to allow me to do this). I want to be able to eat out at restaurants and go to the movies on occasion and have a babysitter all set up. Oooh, that one can be tough because I'm usually the one setting it up. But consumables are the way to go for me! I know, I know - this post is completely self-absorbed and perchance a little rude but these are the things I want for my birthday. I truly enjoy shopping and picking stuff out for myself but paying the bill is a lot more difficult these days with the paycut from work and the wonderful cost of the ongoing master bath construction project.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
things I love 29 - TEC
Ah, Teens Encounter Christ - or TEC for short. It's where I met Steve and so many of my friends. And these people were always real friends for me. At first, I didn't think it was really for me but over time it is one of the organizations that taught me that you get out of something what you put into it. I greatly enjoy watching youth realize how much God cares for them and that there are good people in the world and good things coming out of the world. Some don't get it right away. They take time and other experiences for this to sink in. Some embrace it quickly. Regardless, it has provided me with some amazing moments.
I have enjoyed being on weekends but I love working with the Board and being behind the scenes. Unfortunately, with my home life the way it is, I have to step back from this organization and allow some other adults to jump into the fray. I have really enjoyed working with my good friend Robin. We worked as youth together and have been able to bounce pieces of our position off each other. It's been a wonderful experience.
I'll always love TEC for what it gave me (especially Steve!).
I have enjoyed being on weekends but I love working with the Board and being behind the scenes. Unfortunately, with my home life the way it is, I have to step back from this organization and allow some other adults to jump into the fray. I have really enjoyed working with my good friend Robin. We worked as youth together and have been able to bounce pieces of our position off each other. It's been a wonderful experience.
I'll always love TEC for what it gave me (especially Steve!).
Sunday, March 22, 2009
things I love 25, 26, 27, & 28 - Emily, Anna, Mary & Jaclyn
Dang - I always miss Saturdays. And then I missed Monday. So while I had something else written (partially), I decided I could post it later and catch up with this one that I had meant to do for a while.
I've done one friend post and here's another - all bloggers. Their fault I started this blog thing in the first place!
I met Emily, Anna, Mary and Jaclyn all through TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). I spent as much time in Greensboro as I did in Raleigh/Cary my last year in high school and for parts of college. Part of that was to be in Emily's and Anna's (first) weddings. I had so much fun with Mary (emily's sister) at Emily's - foregoing most undergarments under the navy dress because of the temp (and I could go without a bra then). It was the 4th of July in NC - whew! And I remember spending quite a while under Emily's dress (which had been worn for several generations) trying to figure out the bustle. It was a great! And I had fun at Anna's too - making the garlands for the little girls' hair and someone actually getting mine in a french braid!! I also remember the gray day that the three of us gathered at Emily's close-to-Clayton house, ate a wonderful lentil soup, and then went and signed papers at Lowe's in front of a friend of Emily's who was a notary public for Anna to change her name after her divorce. I remember how tiny Taylor Anne (Emily's first) was for her whole first year. I've enjoyed several TEC weekends with Mary, who sat at the table over from me on my first weekend. We've always had fun together and I love her blog and how adorable her little girl is - it's so cool to me how much Emily's kids and Maddox look like they are definitely from the same family. Kind of how Beca looks a lot like my cousin. Jaclyn and I also worked several TEC weekends together and I remember meeting her and her husband when I joined the rest of their group in G'boro for a Small Group dinner. Everyone has always been so welcoming in that "family". And Jaclyn's daughter is only a few months older than Beca so we always have fun swapping little girl stories.
This is the group that every few months we try to get together. Sometimes life gets in the way but our visits, though brief are always fun and full of laughter. We've had some exciting adventures over the years - trips to JMU, Boone - and I've gotten to visit Anna in Minnesota when I extended a business trip last year. I love that they have each grown into amazing people with wonderful kids. I'm so proud of each of them for stepping out and being able to do things that I would have never dreamed of (especially Emily and her chickens, Mary and her ability to teach music, Anna and her ability to teach at an amazing college, and Jaclyn and her so cool job with the Girl Scouts!). hugs to you all!
I've done one friend post and here's another - all bloggers. Their fault I started this blog thing in the first place!
I met Emily, Anna, Mary and Jaclyn all through TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). I spent as much time in Greensboro as I did in Raleigh/Cary my last year in high school and for parts of college. Part of that was to be in Emily's and Anna's (first) weddings. I had so much fun with Mary (emily's sister) at Emily's - foregoing most undergarments under the navy dress because of the temp (and I could go without a bra then). It was the 4th of July in NC - whew! And I remember spending quite a while under Emily's dress (which had been worn for several generations) trying to figure out the bustle. It was a great! And I had fun at Anna's too - making the garlands for the little girls' hair and someone actually getting mine in a french braid!! I also remember the gray day that the three of us gathered at Emily's close-to-Clayton house, ate a wonderful lentil soup, and then went and signed papers at Lowe's in front of a friend of Emily's who was a notary public for Anna to change her name after her divorce. I remember how tiny Taylor Anne (Emily's first) was for her whole first year. I've enjoyed several TEC weekends with Mary, who sat at the table over from me on my first weekend. We've always had fun together and I love her blog and how adorable her little girl is - it's so cool to me how much Emily's kids and Maddox look like they are definitely from the same family. Kind of how Beca looks a lot like my cousin. Jaclyn and I also worked several TEC weekends together and I remember meeting her and her husband when I joined the rest of their group in G'boro for a Small Group dinner. Everyone has always been so welcoming in that "family". And Jaclyn's daughter is only a few months older than Beca so we always have fun swapping little girl stories.
This is the group that every few months we try to get together. Sometimes life gets in the way but our visits, though brief are always fun and full of laughter. We've had some exciting adventures over the years - trips to JMU, Boone - and I've gotten to visit Anna in Minnesota when I extended a business trip last year. I love that they have each grown into amazing people with wonderful kids. I'm so proud of each of them for stepping out and being able to do things that I would have never dreamed of (especially Emily and her chickens, Mary and her ability to teach music, Anna and her ability to teach at an amazing college, and Jaclyn and her so cool job with the Girl Scouts!). hugs to you all!
Friday, March 20, 2009
things I love 24 - pictures in the house
So before I get in to what I love, I have to tell a very funny story that happened to my PT. If you've heard about the dog in Apex NC that ate $400 and then deposited it, that's my Physical therapist Kelley and her dog Augie. Any news site, you can search "dog ate money" and you'll probably find it! It's so funny. And I've met Augie. They are having a crazy brush with fame - lots of interviews - news, radio, internet, etc.
OK, so I love to decorate using photos (and a few select Disney items). And today, they are all down for the plumbing project so our house does not look like our house. Beca said this to me at the top of the steps - she is not thrilled with the current project either. Without them, it looks like a bunch of walls that aren't ours. But with it, the house is much more ours. I can live with other pieces not being finished when there are smiles and beautiful scenes on the walls. Oddly, I still don't have and pictures from my wedding hung up. I do have my bouquet, which was dried and mounted in a bubble. We have a great picture of Zoe, Cinderella's castle at Christmas 2007, and a Christmas Eve sunset off Steve grandmother's dock. Eventually, I'll get the large stack of pictures I've had printed framed and add all those to the photo gallery of our house. Oh and all the ones of Beca that we have too. Actually, my blank mantle is supposed to be a picture gallery. And eventually, it will be.
OK, so I love to decorate using photos (and a few select Disney items). And today, they are all down for the plumbing project so our house does not look like our house. Beca said this to me at the top of the steps - she is not thrilled with the current project either. Without them, it looks like a bunch of walls that aren't ours. But with it, the house is much more ours. I can live with other pieces not being finished when there are smiles and beautiful scenes on the walls. Oddly, I still don't have and pictures from my wedding hung up. I do have my bouquet, which was dried and mounted in a bubble. We have a great picture of Zoe, Cinderella's castle at Christmas 2007, and a Christmas Eve sunset off Steve grandmother's dock. Eventually, I'll get the large stack of pictures I've had printed framed and add all those to the photo gallery of our house. Oh and all the ones of Beca that we have too. Actually, my blank mantle is supposed to be a picture gallery. And eventually, it will be.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
things I love 23 - my camellias and other flowers
My favorite plant day of the year is coming up in April. And I am so excited about it, as I am every year. It's the day of the plant sales at the NC State Fairgrounds! And Dad and I go every year on Friday (the first day of the sale) to pick out geraniums and maybe something else. The proceeds go towards the Raleigh Pilot Club and some of the 4H clubs. They also have a large assortment of azaleas. And sometimes, there are strawberries too! I got 3 camellia plants last year. And 2 are blooming this year! The Rose Dawn Camellia is my big one and I love the color. Here's some pictures of it. .jpg)
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And the other ones are white with a touch of pink. Only one is blooming but the other had a rough start last year and I really thought I was going to lose it - I think someone sprayed weed killer too close. But the plant has come back! Anyway, here's the whites. I thought they looked magical with the rain drops hanging from them.
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Beca was told by her teachers to wear green so she really didn't fight much this morning, except asking for a dress and when she realized she didn't have a green one (or really mostly green), she gve in to the jeans and Tinkerbell shirt. And she let me put her hair up. Wow!
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Apparently Ryan's daddy forgot about the green - at least that's what she told me. And they couldn't find Pete the Leprachaun or his gold. She said that with a very matter-of-fact tone, neither happy nor sad.
Apparently Ryan's daddy forgot about the green - at least that's what she told me. And they couldn't find Pete the Leprachaun or his gold. She said that with a very matter-of-fact tone, neither happy nor sad.
And this is how Beca was watching her "bednots and knobssticks" movie:.jpg)
things I love 21 & 22 - scrapbooking and making cards
I'm getting ahead because I am supposed to go scrapbook tomorrow night. I've already divided my pictures and gotten everything as prepared as I can. I enjoy my pictures but I love it when they are in a scrapbook of some sort. I make books at Christmas of Beca and we love to look at them throughout the next year. I may even have to go back and make 2 from the first 18 months. But then there's all the pictures that I can put together into an actual scrapbook. I love the books I've made so far. It took me a long time to get my first completed - all our wedding pictures that were taken. It's a huge book. Then I did our honeymoon album, with our building the "country home" (Pittsboro) in it as well. Then I did our babymoon cruise. After that, I wasn't ready to do Beca's baby album. I keep putting that off for our Disney trips. I have 3 trips to WDW done in 2 albums (Beca was 9 months, 22 month, and 2.5 years) and now I am working on the cruise, which will be 2 albums on its own! Then, I'll try to work on Beca's albums - I have the pictures. I have the album, paper, everything. And I love being creative with the pictures and stuff I have. So now I'm really pumped for tomorrow night.
Cards are a relatively new thing for me. It lets me make a creative something late night when hallmark isn't open. And I use lots of fun paper. It's a lot more fun to make them. And Beca loves to help me and I love to see her focus on getting the stamps just right. She really likes to help me put the whole card together too. One of these days, I'll get my act together and have everything ready to make a whole stack. But for now, i just enjoy pulling out the stuff I have and trying to see what I can come up with!
Both are creative outlets for me. And in a job where my creativity is limited, I love havnig something I can do at home that is completely creative if I want it to be! Both are also something that I can just copy ideas from something else and just slap stuff down on the paper!!
Cards are a relatively new thing for me. It lets me make a creative something late night when hallmark isn't open. And I use lots of fun paper. It's a lot more fun to make them. And Beca loves to help me and I love to see her focus on getting the stamps just right. She really likes to help me put the whole card together too. One of these days, I'll get my act together and have everything ready to make a whole stack. But for now, i just enjoy pulling out the stuff I have and trying to see what I can come up with!
Both are creative outlets for me. And in a job where my creativity is limited, I love havnig something I can do at home that is completely creative if I want it to be! Both are also something that I can just copy ideas from something else and just slap stuff down on the paper!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
things I love 20 - musicals, Broadway, plays
I love musicals, Broadway shows, plays, whatever. I think live theater is wonderful. I can't do it but I love to watch it. When we first moved to NC, my mom got tickets to see A Christmas Carol even though we didn't have a lot of money. I played flute in 6th grade, but decided to switch to chorus in 7th. I was the Prop master for "Finnian's Rainbow" when I was in 7th grade. In 8th grade, I was the assistant director for "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" - my favorite pat of that job was helping the girl that played Snoopy with her "Sopwith Camel" monologue. In high school and college, I was in chorus and attended lots of shows. We went to several in London, including "Hamlet" in the park and "Five Guys Named Moe". I like being in the audience or behind the scenes more than I'll ever like on the stage. Last summer, I got the opportunity to buy season tickets to the Broadway Series South collection. So far, a blast. We saw Rain, Chicago, and A Chorus Line. Next up is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Happy Days, and The Wizard of Oz. I know I've seen a whole variety of pllays. A Midsummer Night's Dream done with a 60s flair in high school was one of my favorites. And now, Beca enjoys the movie versions of a lot of musicals. So hopefully, she'll love to see them too - when she can sit still long enough!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
things I love 19 - birthdays
I think birthdays are actually my favorite "holiday". and not necessarily mine. I enjoy celebrating everyone else. I love cake and greetings. I love big birthdays and recounting stories about the one being celebrated. I love balloons, though not as much as Beca. Beca loves birthdays. She has encouraged Stephanie and I to have a birthday party for us in April. I think I'll bring some of Beca's Princess things that I bought for her birthday party. Don't worry - there's plenty of extras. I have some leftovers from my mom's 50th too that I made sure did not actually have "50" on everything. So a very merry un-Birthday to you all and I hope we can celebrate yours.
ooh - disclaimer time: if you do not receive something from me for a birthday or celebration, please understand that it is not intentionally mean. i just can't keep up with my house lately and I am not very good at keeping up with everything lately. Damn hormones.
ooh - disclaimer time: if you do not receive something from me for a birthday or celebration, please understand that it is not intentionally mean. i just can't keep up with my house lately and I am not very good at keeping up with everything lately. Damn hormones.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
things I love 18 - Zoe
My poodle...
Someone in my family always has a poodle. My grandmother's was originally her father's and Peggy was best for tormenting. You could really get her going. My mom had Franchelle, my aunt has Bridgette, and my cousin has Joie and Lacy. But these are all little poodles. Steve was afraid of squashing them with his size 13's. So after meeting my uncle's standard, Onyx, I told him we needed a standard poodle. We got Zoe. She was the sweetest and one of the smallest in her litter. She's just under the normal weight for a female poodle. Which is a great size for licking small children directly in the face.
Zoe just turned 6 in February. She was actually born the exact same day Steve had his appendix removed. When she first came home, she was so little we had to carry her up and down the steps. Now she takes 2 or 3 at a time. Her first night, I tried to make her sleep in a crate. She cried, Steve caved and she took up residence on the bed. Which she conveniently decided was too cramped for her sleeping style when she got bigger. She now has beds set up in various rooms of the house yet we still often find her in Beca's room sprawled across the floor. She was pretty much potty-trained when we got her and when she gets nervous, she just sits so that was really easy to teach her.
She loves her laser and to chase light. She does not like fireworks or anything that sounds like it. Her favortie activity of the day is to pounce on Steve while he is in bed and lick her in the face. I love that if we are home for more than 2 days in a row, she gets irritable with us and would like to have her house back to herself during the day.
Her dog food has changed recently and they now have these soft bits in it. She eats all the soft bits first and then implores us with a stare at the bowl and then a stare at us to refill the necessary soft stuff. We do not. We are able to free feed her (as most poodles can) which means she eats when she wants to. Beca's introduction to toddlerdom brought extra weight for Zoe. She was 40 pounds for the first 4 years of her life. Now she's usually around 42 pounds.
She has the sweetest eyes and is very expressive. She talks back when she is tired and doesn't want you to talk to her. She must have bad dreams because she wimpers and then goes to find her platypus toy. She does not destroy most of her toys, except for cheap tennis balls. She still has the little orange bear that was in her puppy kennel with her biological mother, Moxie. Real tennis balls that a human would play tennis with work much better because she cannot break them apart. Playground balls that have been left outside for a while also get eaten. Her favorite outside toy is actually a small soccer ball from Target. She doesn't really know what to do with most Frisbees except tug. She steals fabric headbands and has been given the gift of all my old scrunchies since I do not foresee a need for them ever again (why did we think those looked good?).
Zoe is a good watch dog - she alerts us if someone walks anywhere within her viewing range. Including barking at people walking on the greenway. She enjoys chasing the squirrels and birds too. Rabbits are particularly annoying and I am not looking forward to them running around again. This goes back to the standard poodle breeding. They were originally hunting dogs and the stupid haircuts were so they could be spotted in the swamps where they were busy tracking down game. They have very soft mouths so while some people think Zoe is trying to bite, she is just trying to figure out how to grab you to get you to do what she wants. Her mouth is like a hand. She really thinks she is a person and we are ok with this.
Her love of the laser and flashlights allows us to watch one of the few bonding experiences she and Beca have - Beca runs with the light and Zoe chases. Zoe also likes to watch over Beca when she sleeps. We often have to go in to check on Beca before we go to bed and if we leave the door open, Zoe will spend the whole night on Beca's floor. The funniest part is when we are woken in the middle of the night by Beca screaming that she has peed her bed and when we come to change out the sheets, Zoe stays put on the floor and waits for the light to go off. She will hide her eyes under her paws if the lights are too much.
Zoe does not always love me because I clean her eyes, ears, and teeth and brush her hair. She runs away from Steve whenever he puts on a swimsuit because that often means she is getting a bath. Zoe does not like car rides. She doesn't get sick but after her first few years of riding in the car every day to my parents house, she just does not like to be in the car. At least she lays down for the ride.
Zoe's tricks include "settle", which is lying down while rolling her hips to the side. She cannot pop up from this position easily. She can shake, high five, double high five with and without coming up with her back legs, and she can dance. "Go find your Daddy" sends her into a frensy trying to figure out where Steve is and how she is going to lick his face. It's great fun to wind her up sometimes!
She is truly a fabulous poodle!
Someone in my family always has a poodle. My grandmother's was originally her father's and Peggy was best for tormenting. You could really get her going. My mom had Franchelle, my aunt has Bridgette, and my cousin has Joie and Lacy. But these are all little poodles. Steve was afraid of squashing them with his size 13's. So after meeting my uncle's standard, Onyx, I told him we needed a standard poodle. We got Zoe. She was the sweetest and one of the smallest in her litter. She's just under the normal weight for a female poodle. Which is a great size for licking small children directly in the face.
Zoe just turned 6 in February. She was actually born the exact same day Steve had his appendix removed. When she first came home, she was so little we had to carry her up and down the steps. Now she takes 2 or 3 at a time. Her first night, I tried to make her sleep in a crate. She cried, Steve caved and she took up residence on the bed. Which she conveniently decided was too cramped for her sleeping style when she got bigger. She now has beds set up in various rooms of the house yet we still often find her in Beca's room sprawled across the floor. She was pretty much potty-trained when we got her and when she gets nervous, she just sits so that was really easy to teach her.
She loves her laser and to chase light. She does not like fireworks or anything that sounds like it. Her favortie activity of the day is to pounce on Steve while he is in bed and lick her in the face. I love that if we are home for more than 2 days in a row, she gets irritable with us and would like to have her house back to herself during the day.
Her dog food has changed recently and they now have these soft bits in it. She eats all the soft bits first and then implores us with a stare at the bowl and then a stare at us to refill the necessary soft stuff. We do not. We are able to free feed her (as most poodles can) which means she eats when she wants to. Beca's introduction to toddlerdom brought extra weight for Zoe. She was 40 pounds for the first 4 years of her life. Now she's usually around 42 pounds.
She has the sweetest eyes and is very expressive. She talks back when she is tired and doesn't want you to talk to her. She must have bad dreams because she wimpers and then goes to find her platypus toy. She does not destroy most of her toys, except for cheap tennis balls. She still has the little orange bear that was in her puppy kennel with her biological mother, Moxie. Real tennis balls that a human would play tennis with work much better because she cannot break them apart. Playground balls that have been left outside for a while also get eaten. Her favorite outside toy is actually a small soccer ball from Target. She doesn't really know what to do with most Frisbees except tug. She steals fabric headbands and has been given the gift of all my old scrunchies since I do not foresee a need for them ever again (why did we think those looked good?).
Zoe is a good watch dog - she alerts us if someone walks anywhere within her viewing range. Including barking at people walking on the greenway. She enjoys chasing the squirrels and birds too. Rabbits are particularly annoying and I am not looking forward to them running around again. This goes back to the standard poodle breeding. They were originally hunting dogs and the stupid haircuts were so they could be spotted in the swamps where they were busy tracking down game. They have very soft mouths so while some people think Zoe is trying to bite, she is just trying to figure out how to grab you to get you to do what she wants. Her mouth is like a hand. She really thinks she is a person and we are ok with this.
Her love of the laser and flashlights allows us to watch one of the few bonding experiences she and Beca have - Beca runs with the light and Zoe chases. Zoe also likes to watch over Beca when she sleeps. We often have to go in to check on Beca before we go to bed and if we leave the door open, Zoe will spend the whole night on Beca's floor. The funniest part is when we are woken in the middle of the night by Beca screaming that she has peed her bed and when we come to change out the sheets, Zoe stays put on the floor and waits for the light to go off. She will hide her eyes under her paws if the lights are too much.
Zoe does not always love me because I clean her eyes, ears, and teeth and brush her hair. She runs away from Steve whenever he puts on a swimsuit because that often means she is getting a bath. Zoe does not like car rides. She doesn't get sick but after her first few years of riding in the car every day to my parents house, she just does not like to be in the car. At least she lays down for the ride.
Zoe's tricks include "settle", which is lying down while rolling her hips to the side. She cannot pop up from this position easily. She can shake, high five, double high five with and without coming up with her back legs, and she can dance. "Go find your Daddy" sends her into a frensy trying to figure out where Steve is and how she is going to lick his face. It's great fun to wind her up sometimes!
She is truly a fabulous poodle!
what are you talking about???
Beca was telling Steve she wanted a specific movie. It took her showing him the DVD cover to figure out what she was asking for. She wanted "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" - her currenet movie obsession.
"Bedtobs and knobsticks" and she gets a little worried about the "nots". Well, the title hasn't changed but she's finally saying "Nazis". Grandpop will be so proud that she's already on the lookout for the Nazis.
"Bedtobs and knobsticks" and she gets a little worried about the "nots". Well, the title hasn't changed but she's finally saying "Nazis". Grandpop will be so proud that she's already on the lookout for the Nazis.
Friday, March 13, 2009
things I love 17 - Steve
Friday the 13th is a lucky day in our family. It was when Steve was born (and of course, Bobby too - who is ten minutes older than Steve). Steve was actually born just one day before my parents got married. So he can always get their anniversary and number of years right. And it's just one of the many connections with my family.
Steve and I met through TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). I knew his brother first because he sat right behind me on my whole first weekend. I first saw Steve during a skit. He was the dorky one in a trio of musketeers. I almsot punched him at a beach retreat when he yanked back on my rockinig chair and I had just threatened another guy with bodily harm if he had done that again. All Steve had wanted to do was talk to me about State because he was there and I was going to go there. Unfortunately, he was dating someone and I had to let him realize that he wanted to end that relationship. We spent the rest of college together, although busy semesters made it seem like we lived farther apart than we did sometimes. We literally saw each other occasional weekends during his senior project semester even though we spent the majority of our time in buildings that were across the street from each other.
Our wedding was a fairy tale. A horrible tragedy days before (9/11 was 11 days before the wedding) gave everyone a different perspective and the wedding allowed everyone to realize that it was ok to be normal again. The best part was that neither of us were nervous and I was actually uncharacteristically calm, despite others trying to get me wound up. We built a house together that we loved. We weathered a layoff and got a puppy. We had Beca and realized we needed to be together more rather than in the car. The good part about Pittsboro was that we often carpooled and the 45 minutes in the car together every morning and every evening made us talk about everything.
Steve has a big heart, big frame and big personality. I love that he can look so overbearing to some people and scare them into pouring out all their illegal alcohol but that's he's really just a big softie, especially when Beca bats her lashes at him. He's an amazing father and I've given him more responsibility than most fathers are allowed to have - but with daycare at his work, I've had to. He is very passionate about certain things but not everything. He wants to do good at work and make things right from the beginning and is willing to challenge/question as necessary. He doesn't back down and enjoys a good "I told you so" dance.
Steve loves gadgets. It's fun to see him get giddy over a nerf gun, a toy dinosaur (but that thing hated me and Zoe so it had to go to work), a new game, software, whatever. He likes to have things. He loves to try a variety of hobbies and we still have all the stuff from all of them (ham radio, shooting, legos, computers, remote control items (including the flying variety). I love that he enjoys using the gadgets to torment the dog. I love that he allows Zoe to kissee face every morning when she pounces on top of him. I also love that he enjoys having a Chewbacca costume.
Steve makes me want to try harder to truly relax and I've often let things go that I wouldn't have before. I know that's hard to believe. I love the way he has learned to love Disney - I didn't think it would happen but Beca has him hooked completely now.
I love the way he has a respect for family members that try hard in their lives to do something good, especially when it is for themselves. His mother, sister and brother are never far from his mind.
I love how he can talk through anything even though he is sometimes crippled with anxiety. He enjoys good food, good wine and good friends. He shares my love of small parties, especially over dinner.
I love that he loves me and tries very hard to let me talk through things. I love that he always wants to fix the things that are wrong.
Steve and I met through TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). I knew his brother first because he sat right behind me on my whole first weekend. I first saw Steve during a skit. He was the dorky one in a trio of musketeers. I almsot punched him at a beach retreat when he yanked back on my rockinig chair and I had just threatened another guy with bodily harm if he had done that again. All Steve had wanted to do was talk to me about State because he was there and I was going to go there. Unfortunately, he was dating someone and I had to let him realize that he wanted to end that relationship. We spent the rest of college together, although busy semesters made it seem like we lived farther apart than we did sometimes. We literally saw each other occasional weekends during his senior project semester even though we spent the majority of our time in buildings that were across the street from each other.
Our wedding was a fairy tale. A horrible tragedy days before (9/11 was 11 days before the wedding) gave everyone a different perspective and the wedding allowed everyone to realize that it was ok to be normal again. The best part was that neither of us were nervous and I was actually uncharacteristically calm, despite others trying to get me wound up. We built a house together that we loved. We weathered a layoff and got a puppy. We had Beca and realized we needed to be together more rather than in the car. The good part about Pittsboro was that we often carpooled and the 45 minutes in the car together every morning and every evening made us talk about everything.
Steve has a big heart, big frame and big personality. I love that he can look so overbearing to some people and scare them into pouring out all their illegal alcohol but that's he's really just a big softie, especially when Beca bats her lashes at him. He's an amazing father and I've given him more responsibility than most fathers are allowed to have - but with daycare at his work, I've had to. He is very passionate about certain things but not everything. He wants to do good at work and make things right from the beginning and is willing to challenge/question as necessary. He doesn't back down and enjoys a good "I told you so" dance.
Steve loves gadgets. It's fun to see him get giddy over a nerf gun, a toy dinosaur (but that thing hated me and Zoe so it had to go to work), a new game, software, whatever. He likes to have things. He loves to try a variety of hobbies and we still have all the stuff from all of them (ham radio, shooting, legos, computers, remote control items (including the flying variety). I love that he enjoys using the gadgets to torment the dog. I love that he allows Zoe to kissee face every morning when she pounces on top of him. I also love that he enjoys having a Chewbacca costume.
Steve makes me want to try harder to truly relax and I've often let things go that I wouldn't have before. I know that's hard to believe. I love the way he has learned to love Disney - I didn't think it would happen but Beca has him hooked completely now.
I love the way he has a respect for family members that try hard in their lives to do something good, especially when it is for themselves. His mother, sister and brother are never far from his mind.
I love how he can talk through anything even though he is sometimes crippled with anxiety. He enjoys good food, good wine and good friends. He shares my love of small parties, especially over dinner.
I love that he loves me and tries very hard to let me talk through things. I love that he always wants to fix the things that are wrong.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
busy busy projects
Over the weekend, we had a playground meeting of the princess pink trio (Payton, Kate, and Beca - the pink was not intentional). It was such a beautiful day to be at the park - we went to Bond Lake Park. We also met one of their teachers from their 2 year old class, Meghan, and her 3 kids. And Kate's little sister, Melissa. To let Kate's daddy have some quieter time with Melissa, Kate came with Beca back to our house - we had our bikes and the girls rode in the go bug.
It was a fun day and we spent lunch and dinner times outside! What a great weekend to start out the month of March!So, night time potty training was a disaster. We'll wait for a little while. A friend said her 5 year old still can't - apparently it has something to do with your kidneys and the pressure you get when you lay down. So, back to the pullups and complete nights of sleep for everyone.
Beca let me cut her hair yesterday - just her bangs. I think it looks good enough but I still haven't taken a picture of it. She got 2 of Oma's rice kripsy treats for sitting still.
Ah, but the real reason for this post is to vent about my house. We are still working to make this our own. The kitchen ceiling has been down since June 2008. In order to put it back up, we (and by we I mean Steve and my Dad while I entertained Beca) first fixed the air duct which had a leak in it. Additionally, we have to fix the shower in the master bathroom because it was leaking. Turns out that the lip on the pan doesn't continue to the end of the pan so when the grout got little holes in it, it started running down the lip of the pan and in between the walls. Which, with the kitchen ceiling non-existent, dripped into the kitchen. Ah, but wait. Now we have to rip out the entire shower (old pan, tiles, fixture) in order to get a new one put in. But the only way to have a new shower fixture put in is to have ALL of the polybutylene pipes in the house replaced because plumbers don't touch those pipes. And to do that, they have to rip into drywall. Which means we have to paint various rooms in the house after that all happens. I like to paint but this is painting the stairwell, bonus room, master bath, laundry room, possibly parts of the kitchen and the living room and i might as well finish the hallway upstairs with all that. The thing that makes that funny is that I will only have to paint the foyer in the house and we will have covered everything except trim. It's also installing a new shower, tub, cabinets and flooring in the master bathroom which inevitably will lead to something else (I'm convinced the toilet will do something). Then, with all that complete, we can start putting up drywall on the kitchen ceiling in order to apply the accoustic tiles to something since most of them cracked the part that is supposed to clip into each other. I don't think the ceiling will be up in time for Beca's birthday. Unless I can find a fairy godmother.
But at least my poodle no longer looks like a bear!
And my Rose Dawn camellia is starting to bloom and the flowers are such a beautiful color! I can't wait until April for the geranium and azalea sales at the Fairgrounds so I can get more!
Ah, but the real reason for this post is to vent about my house. We are still working to make this our own. The kitchen ceiling has been down since June 2008. In order to put it back up, we (and by we I mean Steve and my Dad while I entertained Beca) first fixed the air duct which had a leak in it. Additionally, we have to fix the shower in the master bathroom because it was leaking. Turns out that the lip on the pan doesn't continue to the end of the pan so when the grout got little holes in it, it started running down the lip of the pan and in between the walls. Which, with the kitchen ceiling non-existent, dripped into the kitchen. Ah, but wait. Now we have to rip out the entire shower (old pan, tiles, fixture) in order to get a new one put in. But the only way to have a new shower fixture put in is to have ALL of the polybutylene pipes in the house replaced because plumbers don't touch those pipes. And to do that, they have to rip into drywall. Which means we have to paint various rooms in the house after that all happens. I like to paint but this is painting the stairwell, bonus room, master bath, laundry room, possibly parts of the kitchen and the living room and i might as well finish the hallway upstairs with all that. The thing that makes that funny is that I will only have to paint the foyer in the house and we will have covered everything except trim. It's also installing a new shower, tub, cabinets and flooring in the master bathroom which inevitably will lead to something else (I'm convinced the toilet will do something). Then, with all that complete, we can start putting up drywall on the kitchen ceiling in order to apply the accoustic tiles to something since most of them cracked the part that is supposed to clip into each other. I don't think the ceiling will be up in time for Beca's birthday. Unless I can find a fairy godmother.
But at least my poodle no longer looks like a bear!
And my Rose Dawn camellia is starting to bloom and the flowers are such a beautiful color! I can't wait until April for the geranium and azalea sales at the Fairgrounds so I can get more!
things I love 15 & 16 - meals outside & dinner parties
The past few days were very nice and we managed to have dinner and lunch outside a couple of times. Looks like the rain and cooler temps will put a halt to that. But I love that, when we do have nice days, I have a nice place to sit out on my back deck. I love putting out a fresh tablecloth (ok, the vinyl ones but they are so cheap and I can rotate through when one gets too gross or the pattern is tiresome) and finding somehting to hold down napkins. It also lets me use some of my other dinnerware (plastic or melamine plates). Beca actually got Steve to agree to eat outside several times in the past few days. We even have dessert outside too. Yeah, we have to walk in out for every little thing but it's just such a nice thing to do. Until the pollen comes...
I love small dinner parties. Beca even thinks we are supposed to have dinner with people on a regular basis and when we don't, she's asking when we are going to someone's house or when they are coming to ours. I love having just a few people over for a meal and chatting. It's not that we can't have dinner on our own. I enjoy that too. It's just nice to catch up with people over a meal when it's a small group and not a big group.
I love that we're getting into a season where these two things can both occur more frequently!
I love small dinner parties. Beca even thinks we are supposed to have dinner with people on a regular basis and when we don't, she's asking when we are going to someone's house or when they are coming to ours. I love having just a few people over for a meal and chatting. It's not that we can't have dinner on our own. I enjoy that too. It's just nice to catch up with people over a meal when it's a small group and not a big group.
I love that we're getting into a season where these two things can both occur more frequently!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
things I love 13 & 14 - pilates & dancing
Last night I got wrapped up in two of my favorite things. First, I was at pilates. And when I came home, it was "Dancing with the Stars".
Pilates - When I lived in Asheboro, I tried Yoga. I did not like Yoga. Then while I was laid off, I started the process of understanding what was wrong wtih my body. Turns out it was a pretty long list and I was determined to fix what I could. One day I was watching Good Morning America and Rebecca Romain was on and she was talking about how she has scoliosis and how she uses pilates to keep it in check. My PT's office at the time had a studio and I asked if I could try it out. My PT thought it was a great idea. So I tried it. At first, I couldn't touch my toes or even get my back rounded enough to roll like a ball. I was horribly not flexible. But as I started moving muscles in ways they had never been moved, the muscles started liking it. Pilates is about equal and opposite actions to strengthen your core muscles. The concept is opposite what most other exercises focus on. We tend to think in terms of running for our legs and weights for our limbs. But the truth is with a strong core, good energy flows outward and you can make a big difference on your limbs too. Since 2003, I have done pilates, taking only minor breaks for work projects, having a baby, and vacations and such. I have moved to a studio in Cary that is fantastic and not far from my house. I love the flow and the stretching and that there are many different exercises formed into one hour. Last night, I worked up a sweat. I've figured out variations of the standard exercises to overcome specifics to my body. My back has come the farthest so that I've been able to move to working on my shoulders and neck. I can flat palm the floor with no trouble. I could barely grab my ankles when I started. I prefer the equipment because I can't cheat against the springs as easily.
Dancing - Before DWTS came on, I convinced Steve to take dance lessons for our wedding. He liked the idea of not just swaying on the dance floor. We picked out "A Wink and A Smile" by Harry Connick Jr. and started foxtrot lessons. It was a great success! And we haven't done it since. I loved my wedding years (attending countless weddings was fun!) because there was always some dancing - and I could usually dance with my sisters and no one cared what we looked like. Now, I like to watch ballroom dancing. Beca does too. She'll ask me to put on dancing but doesn't want to sit still through the judges comments. I didn't realize how excited I was until it came on last night. One day, I'll take dance lessons again. Until then, I must prepare for the No Doubt concert - basically can I jump up and down for 2 hours.
Pilates - When I lived in Asheboro, I tried Yoga. I did not like Yoga. Then while I was laid off, I started the process of understanding what was wrong wtih my body. Turns out it was a pretty long list and I was determined to fix what I could. One day I was watching Good Morning America and Rebecca Romain was on and she was talking about how she has scoliosis and how she uses pilates to keep it in check. My PT's office at the time had a studio and I asked if I could try it out. My PT thought it was a great idea. So I tried it. At first, I couldn't touch my toes or even get my back rounded enough to roll like a ball. I was horribly not flexible. But as I started moving muscles in ways they had never been moved, the muscles started liking it. Pilates is about equal and opposite actions to strengthen your core muscles. The concept is opposite what most other exercises focus on. We tend to think in terms of running for our legs and weights for our limbs. But the truth is with a strong core, good energy flows outward and you can make a big difference on your limbs too. Since 2003, I have done pilates, taking only minor breaks for work projects, having a baby, and vacations and such. I have moved to a studio in Cary that is fantastic and not far from my house. I love the flow and the stretching and that there are many different exercises formed into one hour. Last night, I worked up a sweat. I've figured out variations of the standard exercises to overcome specifics to my body. My back has come the farthest so that I've been able to move to working on my shoulders and neck. I can flat palm the floor with no trouble. I could barely grab my ankles when I started. I prefer the equipment because I can't cheat against the springs as easily.
Dancing - Before DWTS came on, I convinced Steve to take dance lessons for our wedding. He liked the idea of not just swaying on the dance floor. We picked out "A Wink and A Smile" by Harry Connick Jr. and started foxtrot lessons. It was a great success! And we haven't done it since. I loved my wedding years (attending countless weddings was fun!) because there was always some dancing - and I could usually dance with my sisters and no one cared what we looked like. Now, I like to watch ballroom dancing. Beca does too. She'll ask me to put on dancing but doesn't want to sit still through the judges comments. I didn't realize how excited I was until it came on last night. One day, I'll take dance lessons again. Until then, I must prepare for the No Doubt concert - basically can I jump up and down for 2 hours.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
things I love 10, 11, and 12 - my sisters, Cynthia, Stephanie, Kristin
Catch up day!! I forgot on Friday and then by the time I sat down Saturday, I had a really bad headache. So here we are on Sunday, and 3 things I love.
They are all somewhat related. There's no intention to hurt anyone's feeling by not being included. I promise I love lots of my friends, lots of "un-biological sisters" (Stephanie sent me that as flair on Facebook and I love it). It just so happens that these 3 are closest to me - and have been for a long time. In looking back, they have all been there for me in my best days (all bridesmaids, and were among the first visitors to welcome Beca) and my worst. We are all the older sister to a biological brother. There's a significantly more logical component to all of us and emotions tend to catch us off guard.
I've known Kristin the longest. My father had "adopted" her as one of his few other daughters (as compared to the large numbers of other sons from scouting) when he hired her as a co-op at SAS. I remember her coming to my high school graduation party with a big bin of shower goodies! Throughout college, I kept in touch with her and I moved in to her townhouse for my final year. She's one of the sweetest people in the world and tries to never hurt anyone's feelings. Her family is just beautiful (husband Jeff, 2 year old Aidan, and 3 month old twins Addison and Alec). We never get enough time to truly catch up on anything because we either have to go back to work or avert a challenge over a toy. But she's always there when I need someone to listen! She has been dealt an intersting lot in her life and I love to get her perspective on being a working mom.
I met Stephanie in an unfortunate series of moving rooms during my sophomore year of college. She checked me out of my first room and then the second. Then we both showed up at the Rush events for Alpha Omega Epsilon. We were fairly wary of each other initially and then figured out how much we had in common. We always wanted things to be done right. Eventually we were President and Vice President. It was a lot of fun. I was in her wedding, got to hang out with Elijah while he laid under his billie blanket so Stephanie could go shopping for her anniversary, and see her darling little Emily just after she was born! Beca plays so well with both Elijah and Emily, even though she's right in between to two of them. Stephanie tells it like it is and even though she doesn't like engineering for herself, she is very analytical anyway. She's also very creative and makes some cool clothes for her kids. Beca loves her because she makes her long nightgowns and dresses. I always get a different outlook on life since Stephanie stays at home with her kids but that usually means I get ideas too.
Cynthia and I met a year after I met Stephanie. She rushed Spring of her sophomore year. We'd have ridiculously long conversations even during rush. And there's was not a better match for a big and little sister. She took over both of the positions I had in the sorority. She has been through so much already in her life and I admire her for her strength. I was so lucky when about 2 years ago, she decided to quit driving all the way to Wilson to work and come work with me. We have still lots to talk about. She listens to every little "Beca said" story and still loves me. And I love her hair.
Well, it may not be a complete look at each of them, but it's the things I love about them.
They are all somewhat related. There's no intention to hurt anyone's feeling by not being included. I promise I love lots of my friends, lots of "un-biological sisters" (Stephanie sent me that as flair on Facebook and I love it). It just so happens that these 3 are closest to me - and have been for a long time. In looking back, they have all been there for me in my best days (all bridesmaids, and were among the first visitors to welcome Beca) and my worst. We are all the older sister to a biological brother. There's a significantly more logical component to all of us and emotions tend to catch us off guard.
I've known Kristin the longest. My father had "adopted" her as one of his few other daughters (as compared to the large numbers of other sons from scouting) when he hired her as a co-op at SAS. I remember her coming to my high school graduation party with a big bin of shower goodies! Throughout college, I kept in touch with her and I moved in to her townhouse for my final year. She's one of the sweetest people in the world and tries to never hurt anyone's feelings. Her family is just beautiful (husband Jeff, 2 year old Aidan, and 3 month old twins Addison and Alec). We never get enough time to truly catch up on anything because we either have to go back to work or avert a challenge over a toy. But she's always there when I need someone to listen! She has been dealt an intersting lot in her life and I love to get her perspective on being a working mom.
I met Stephanie in an unfortunate series of moving rooms during my sophomore year of college. She checked me out of my first room and then the second. Then we both showed up at the Rush events for Alpha Omega Epsilon. We were fairly wary of each other initially and then figured out how much we had in common. We always wanted things to be done right. Eventually we were President and Vice President. It was a lot of fun. I was in her wedding, got to hang out with Elijah while he laid under his billie blanket so Stephanie could go shopping for her anniversary, and see her darling little Emily just after she was born! Beca plays so well with both Elijah and Emily, even though she's right in between to two of them. Stephanie tells it like it is and even though she doesn't like engineering for herself, she is very analytical anyway. She's also very creative and makes some cool clothes for her kids. Beca loves her because she makes her long nightgowns and dresses. I always get a different outlook on life since Stephanie stays at home with her kids but that usually means I get ideas too.
Cynthia and I met a year after I met Stephanie. She rushed Spring of her sophomore year. We'd have ridiculously long conversations even during rush. And there's was not a better match for a big and little sister. She took over both of the positions I had in the sorority. She has been through so much already in her life and I admire her for her strength. I was so lucky when about 2 years ago, she decided to quit driving all the way to Wilson to work and come work with me. We have still lots to talk about. She listens to every little "Beca said" story and still loves me. And I love her hair.
Well, it may not be a complete look at each of them, but it's the things I love about them.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
things I love 9 - Disney!
Yeah, yeah - everyone knows it won't take me long to get to this one! And I just love Disney. From early on, I was surrounded by the wonderful world of Disney. Walt created something magical and such a force in our world that people choose to resent it. But if you really look at what Disney can invoke, its a sense of magic & wonder that we don't see everywhere. My grandparents love Disney, my parents love Disney, some of my relatives love Disney, my daughter adores it. She is completely spoiled on Disney. Disney dresses, dress-up, puzzles, games, DVD's, CD's, books, bags, luggage, shirts, pants, jackets, swimsuits, towels, and she'll be getting a new Ariel shower curtain as a "thank you for letting mommy and daddy use your shower". Do I have to, no. Do I love surrounding her with all that magic - yes! I was always sort of sad that I settled on working for the Store and never moved to WDW and worked there. But it really all started with a sheet that my Dad painted for me - I literally slept on Mickey, goofy, Donald, Pluto, Pinnochio, Snow White and Dopey. I went when I was 4 to Disney World, needed 4 adults to keep up with me and narrated the video so well for my brother that he still thinks he was there. My grandparents took just Kyle and I when we were in middle school. Steve and I spent our first dating anniversary in the parks and have enjoyed 4 amazing trips with Beca since she was born! I even used Pluto as my camp name for a few summers, learning to sign with a signature paw print. That started a lovely compilation of fun Pluto items. I love Mickey, Tinkerbell, and Sleeping Beauty too. I love to shoot the Z's with Buzz Lightyear, even though my grandmother is really the one that knows exactly where all the high point spots are. I love it so much, I convinced Steve that we had to get into the Disney Vacation Club so we could thoroughly spoil ourselves and our child for vacations! Luckily, we'll have a princess party in June for Beca's 4th birthday and a trip to a "special place" in October - shhhhh, it's a surprise for Beca!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
things I love 8 - little kids clothes
I love little kids clothes. They are soooo much fun! I love the pajamas especially! I finally have Beca's closet in order again so I've been able to look at all of her fun dresses and cool jeans (even though she claims over half of them are too scratchy). And the funniest shirts! My favorite is a pink one that says "Buy Me Stuff." Probably because I can't get away with wearing it.
It's my favorite present to buy people too! My favorite is probably stuff from Gymboree. I buy a lot of that a year ahead. And with a skinny weed of a girl right now, that proves a little challenging - dresses that are suposed to work for a 5 year old are too short. And jeans that fit in the waist 2 weeks ago had to be cinched up like crazy. But that just means more cute things later!
I also get a lot of Beca's things from the Disney store. She has a fuchsia flared bottom cord jeans and matching jacket that is so princess! And I love dressing up a princess. One day she'll let me actually do her hair too...
It's my favorite present to buy people too! My favorite is probably stuff from Gymboree. I buy a lot of that a year ahead. And with a skinny weed of a girl right now, that proves a little challenging - dresses that are suposed to work for a 5 year old are too short. And jeans that fit in the waist 2 weeks ago had to be cinched up like crazy. But that just means more cute things later!
I also get a lot of Beca's things from the Disney store. She has a fuchsia flared bottom cord jeans and matching jacket that is so princess! And I love dressing up a princess. One day she'll let me actually do her hair too...
things I love 7 - Office supplies
Oh man! I totally blanked yesterday! I took my six sigma exam and that was all I focused on. I can say certainly that I do not like taking tests and this is the reason I do not go back to school right now. I won't say it will never happen but it just does not benefit me. And exams are icky but this one was not what we were told it would be. We all felt lied to and in trying to make us feel better, the proctor of the exam said "Well, we trained 12 people this way for what it would have cost to train 2.5 at NC State". OK but that's like saying you can buy one of 2 bags of clothing at $100 for the bag. The bigger bag of clothing has more in it but it's all a size 2 and from Walmart and the smaller bag has size 12's and is from Macy's. Just because you only spent $100 doesn't mean you should pick the bag of crap that doesn't fit.
So, I forgot to write yesterday which means double posts today.
And it may seem silly but I love office supplies, especially new ones. I love a pile of pencils and pens, markers and highlighters. I love crisp, clean notepads and notebooks and post-it notes, especially super sticky ones. There's no point in spending money on the regular ones for me any more. The Super stickies are all I need to use anymore. I love erasers, even though their usage is dwindling. I cannot wait until it is time to take Beca to pick out school supplies. Just because fresh school supplies are so enchanting to me. I adore Sharpies in the weirdest ways and have a very large collection on my desk at work and at home. Fat ones, skinny ones, minis, metallics, whatever. Office/School supplies are a strange happiness for me.
Monday, March 2, 2009
things I love 6 - baking (and snow)
So I love baking but it's always my favorite thing to do when it is snowing. I've always loved to bake. The recipes that have been passed down from both of my parents families are about 2/3 desserts and baked goods. Cake has always been a favored breakfast item for my family, except Steve thinks it's weird so I do it less now than I used to.
One of my favorite bouts of baking was spent over a week in January of 2000. With the worst snowstorm of 20+ inches (I think we measured 24), my roommate, Kristin, and I, along with her dog Pepper, got into the best routine of mostly eating and watching TV, like Magnum PI and movies. Pepper got her coat put on and we literally threw her into the snow.
But since I'm sick, I probably won't be baking today. Unless you count the muffins I made for breakfast.
One of my favorite bouts of baking was spent over a week in January of 2000. With the worst snowstorm of 20+ inches (I think we measured 24), my roommate, Kristin, and I, along with her dog Pepper, got into the best routine of mostly eating and watching TV, like Magnum PI and movies. Pepper got her coat put on and we literally threw her into the snow.
But since I'm sick, I probably won't be baking today. Unless you count the muffins I made for breakfast.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
things I love 5 - linens
For some reason, I love linens. I love nice sheets, towels, tablecloths, and napkins. I am so spoiled with my Easy Care sheets from Pottery Barn. Recommendation to everyone else - don't buy nice sheets if you want to still sleep on the ones you have. We had to buy another set after the first set because it was too nice to have them. then we had to get the matching duvet covers. I love the feel of soft, smooth sheets. Beca has 4 sets of flannel sheets and at least 5 sets of regular sheets for her bed. Don't laugh, we've used up several in a week before. I think if I was allowed I'd have new pillows all the time too.
I also love big, soft plushy towels. I love to wander through bed and bath stores and departments. I love the luxury of brand new towels.
Maybe it's all just a shopping thing...
I also love big, soft plushy towels. I love to wander through bed and bath stores and departments. I love the luxury of brand new towels.
Maybe it's all just a shopping thing...
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