Saturday, December 29, 2012

What was that?

One of the most hilarious things about having a 2 year old is how he takes every thing I say out of context. Last night he wanted a candy cane that my step son left in the kitchen. I don't normally like for Baby C to eat that much sugar but I could tell it was going to turn into a battle of wills. I broke off a small piece and he promptly began to make his Klingon face while he began to chew it.

I told him "suck on it" hoping that all the sugar wouldn't remain in his teeth. I don't know if he didn't understand what I was saying or if he was just choosing to ignore me, but he kept chewing and gave me his "you're crazy, lady" stare.

Fast forward to dinner time. We were eating meatloaf. The kid normally can't get enough of any sort of meat product so I was shocked when he protested and didn't want to eat. He looked straight at me and said "suck on it".

That was the last thing in the world I was expecting to hear. Now when your kid says something outrageous I know you are NOT supposed to laugh. But after the 3rd time of him yelling "suck on it", my husband and I burst into laughter.

I guess I'll have to watch my phrasing in the future.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

The good, bad and ugly of discount wine sites

I love shopping and the only thing I love more than shopping is getting a good deal. I thought I'd share some of my most and least favorite sites.

1) wineshopper.com - I love this site! They are affiliated with wine.com so I'm sure they have enough volume to warrant free shipping on orders over $100. They have lots of specials and daily emails to those who subscribe, so it's easy to make sure you get all the juicy discounts.

2) lot18.com -the one thing about ordering random wine online is that I hate ordering really expensive random wine online that sucks. I really have a hard time cooking with expensive wine that was a great big bummer. I haven't ordered from this site, but my brother in law has and he loves it. None of their sale emails have moved me enough to actually place an order. Might be worth a shot.

3) woot.com has a wine section that's sort of hit or miss. I got an awesome deal on a case of Summerland wine, but sometimes the wine looks like it's one step up from yellow tale. Still... It's a good site to check every now and then for a good deal.

4) invino.com-I have sort of a long story about this website. Here's the short version. I found a 3 pack that looked interesting and was about $30 bucks off retail. That same day I happened to find a coupon on Totsy.com for $50 bucks worth of wine for $25. So, I jumped on it. Turns out, that for that particular coupon, only several wines were the option...  and the 3 pack I was looking at was not included. The wines looked... well, just ok. I went for it an bought 2 wines that totaled $50. Then I noticed the $10 buck shipping. Sigh... I hate paying for shipping. The wines were mediocre. There was one cab that was very heavy and ended up giving me a hangover (with a glass and a half). I don't know that I'll be shopping there again.

These are just a few of the wines discounters that I have shopped at. Anyone else have any amazing wine discount sites they would like to share?

Reinventing me

I had an "ah ha" moment the other day. (I hate that phrase. It sounds like I was an idiot before but now I'm a genius.) My son had to have a surgery right before Christmas and it got me thinking about my own mortality and life in general.

I was in the grocery store and thought to myself ... What if today was my last day on earth? Could I say that I lived life to the fullest and did my best each day?

The thought has stayed with me. I want to lose that pesky 15 pounds. I want to fulfill my dream of having my own company, I want to be more happy than sad, mad or otherwise each day. So here we go... new year, new opportunity. I can hardly wait to see what the future holds.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Surprising weekend

This weekend I had a meltdown. A big one. I lost my Mom almost 7 years ago. She wasn't only my Mom... she was my best bud. A lot of people don't even like their parents, I, however adored my mother.

Holidays stir up the weirdest emotions in me. I thought that maybe time would bring some closure, some perspective, some healing. The reality is that some days, time hasn't healed a thing. I'm still motherless, I still miss her and I'm still dealing with ... well, how to deal, really.

Fast forward to Thursday, Turkey Day. I'd been thinking about my mother all day... what would we have been doing.... what would we be cooking... how would my life be different on that day if she weren't dead. It's a slippery slope because no matter how hard you think of where your life would have been, it isn't there. She's still dead, I'm I'm still sad.

I was doing just fine until my Dad mentioned something about her in passing. And I felt it coming, like a wave clobbering me and holding me under, I started to sob. Not just a trail of a tear or sniffle. I'm talking about uncontrollable sobbing that comes with an ugly looking cry face. Yes, I was hysterical.

What's even more surprising about the sobbing was that someone came over to where I was eating dinner (or should I say "sobbing in my dinner), someone I don't know terribly well, and gave me something I haven't experienced in a while... compassion.

Not sympathy, not pity, not that sad pouty lip with your head cocked to the side but pure compassion for the fact that I was having a hard time. She told me to feel whatever I'm feeling that moment. As I understood it: not to apologize for what I was going through that very moment.

I haven't experienced compassion in a while. I've gotten so used to people pitying my situation or telling me it'll be alright that I'd forgotten what it was like to heard that it's ok to be sad, or mad, or hysterical over Thanksgiving dinner because my Mom isn't here to share it with me.

And for that... I'm thankful.


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Guns and Yoga

I'm busy. I'm a working Mom running around with her hair on fire every day. That being said, I try to multi task. I do the dishes after dinner while my son watches Thomas the train. My kitchen is clean, he's  happy watching his buddy Thomas the Train... everyone's happy.

It occurred to me tonight that maybe I multi-task too much. I was doing yoga, getting centered while watching Sons of Anarchy, when I suddenly realized that maybe doing one thing at a time might be a good thing. Maybe watch Sons of Anarchy first and then get centered?

Friday, November 9, 2012

We're not all Ken and Barbie


The other day I was talking with a co-worker about how I'm trying to lose those wretched 10 pounds and my husband is working on his tummy. The guy looked at me, shrugged, and said "well, we're not all Ken and Barbie". Amen, brother, we AREN'T all Barbie and Ken. 

It was one of those ah-hah moments!

Yea, I may watch the Real Housewives for entertainment but I'm certainly not one of them. I have a full time job and would rather spend time watching Thomas the Train with my son than work out. Those are the times that I cherish. I may still have those 10 pounds that I struggle with, but I have fulfilling relationship and a husband that I love more than my luggage. 

I'm embracing my newfound confidence and pride with a glass of Malbec. Cheers and goodnight!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Sharing and caring day


My husband called me this morning, which generally means something is lost or he’s having a hard morning. I get into the office before him so my husband handles drop offs and I handle pick up. I could tell right away he was annoyed. Our son was just moved to the pre-school class at daycare and this is his first full week.

Apparently, when my husband dropped him off this morning, we didn’t have something to share for “caring and sharing day” (no joke). I would like to point out that my son is 2… he turned 2, 2 months ago. We’re lucky if he comes home with socks on and she wants him to bring something for caring and sharing day?

My thoughts are (in no particular order):
1)      I barely have time to get my tush out the door in the morning much less remember to bring a quasi-special item that he can bring to caring and sharing day, but not something SO special that if it’s lost it will result in tears, whining and loss of sleep.
2)      When did pre-school become some important? He’s 2, honestly he’s not going to remember caring and sharing day.
3)      What if we don’t feel like sharing?

After my husband told me that preschool teacher informed him that he really should read the bumblebee manual, detailing sharing and caring day, my blood pressure really got up. I did something I probably should have done. I called the school and asked the teacher if there was a problem. The last thing I wanted to do was cause trouble, but seriously... caring and sharing day is something that requires giving my husband shit? We can't leave Elmo at home and do without the meltdowns after some other kid brings home his Elmo accidentally? And my son is 2, how much can he share, really?

Why is it that I'm paying over $1k a month in daycare and still have to worry about sharing day? Can't I just drop off my son knowing that he's going to a nice clean environment where he'll be taken care of? Sheesh... And bah humbug (I'm getting ready for Christmas early this year).

Friday, November 2, 2012

You know you're at your limit when you consider fruit punch to be a good mixer

My son is sick... and ornery.

We're working a full week of an ear infection. We started with the drops last Friday. Tuesday the cough started. Wednesday we took him to the doctor and got him started on antibiotics. Last night he slept like crap, which means that I slept like crap.

Yesterday when I picked him up from daycare he looked like he was getting worse. Then I looked around the room; 3 other kids had running noses. Sigh... I decided that as much as it would be a chore, I had to keep him home today. I was working from home anyway and decided I just had to make it work.

So, I have worked it all day. Work work, and crabby son work. I'm all worked out and it's only 4PM. At about 3:00 I was at my limit. It was at that time that I started looking in my fridge to see what would be a good mixer for vodka. Sobe water... nah. Apple juice... uh, no. I'm no mixologist and just can't turn vodka and mots into an apple drop. That's when I saw the fruit punch and wondered if how nasty that would be. So I tried it. Uh... it was nasty.

Thank GOD I found a lemon palagrino in the fridge. Salvation! Now only 4 hour until bedtime.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Somewhere between old lady and hoochie

The other day I noticed that most of my shoes were scuffed, worn and could use a facelift. I went to Macy's, Nordstom, DSW and Zappos.com. I noticed something. I want a 2 inch heel with a comfortable shoe because by the time I pick up my son, get home and make dinner, my feet are killing me.

I was looking at the selection of shoes and realized I'm in between 2 categories: hoochie 4 inch stilettos and old lady orthopedics. I'm honestly one step away from Mom jeans (shudder).

I was so shocked at the realization that I quickly purchased some cute 3 inches wedges that I will probably regret buying after wearing them to work just once.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Mother's group


Recently I got some advice form a mother of 4. Join a ladies group. She said no one else will understand you or your life like someone who’s going through the same thing. I went online and found a few mom groups in the area. I joined a few, just to cover my bases. One group that I’ve found has a lot of super nice Mom’s. They all seem to be fun and outgoing… just the kind of friends I need.

I got an invitation from one of the groups. It was labeled as a “family event” and that we should feel free to bring our kids. Here’s the weird part. It was at a dinner/happy hour –esque thing at a restaurant at a local hotel. What made it weirder was that they put in the invite that since we’re going to have our kids with us that we should “drink responsibly” and only drink non-alcoholic drinks. Milk-a-whaaaa? (see: Ameratrade commercial regarding the Milk-a-holic Lyndsay.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3NJhgSZmoM

Now, I agree that you should be responsible around your kids. You shouldn’t be boozing it up in front of them, especially if you’re driving. But, what’s really wrong with me having a class of chard with my meal? When people make comments like this I wonder if they have issue themselves with drinking. The devious part of me wants to write back and ask what the happy hour specials are.

Monday, October 8, 2012

How not to be

I'll admit when I read this title.


"Mom who glued kid's hands to wall faces life term"


Having a 2 year old is a test in patience.... I totally get it. The glass of Cab in front of me is witness to that. I stopped laughing when I read the woman had also been beating her kid. What the heck?

I don't get mothers that don't want to protect and love and smother their babies with love and affection. I would walk through fire for my baby. Hell, I would even walk through fire for my step-son, and I didn't even give birth to him. 

I've been thinking a lot about what it's like to be a Mom, and those Mom's that are bad at it. When I became a mom (and that includes being a Step-Mom) my life changed forever. And I really have a hard time with women who don't put their kids first or 2nd or even if the top 5 of their lives. 

Being a Mom is hard, so I laughed at this headline. The sad reality is that there was a Mom out there who lost it so bad that she didn't care if she hurt her 2 year old little girl. I think there's a special hell for people like that. 





Thursday, October 4, 2012

It's natural, right?

I've heard it's natural for kids to like being naked. What I didn't expect was how I found my son naked.

The night before last we had a "blankie" incident. My son has become attached to his blankie. He was never attached to things like a pacifier before, but he seems to want to drag that damn blankie everywhere.

The night before last the blankie was nowhere to be found. Turns out that the blankie was in my husband's car and he was still at work. Baby C had to cold turkey it without the blankie. It was rough getting him to bed.

Last night he went right to be and I didn't see any sort of activity on the monitor. My husband and I were getting ready for bed and went to check on the baby. There he was, buck naked in his bed with his diaper thrown in front of his crib.

Never a dull moment.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Like a bad country song


Remember those sad old country songs? Where their wife leaves them and their dog dies?

My dog’s sick. She has friggin’ dog cancer. I know everyone dies, shit I’m older than 5, I understand the realities of life. Everyone’s going to go at some point in time.  But, my DOG? My friggin’ DOG? She can’t just get hit by a car? She has to have some slow painful sort of dog cancer. What the hell, people!

Needless to say, the dog has been getting all the leftovers and dog jerky she can eat (which is a lot) and gets all the pets can sit still for.  

Monday, October 1, 2012

You know you're sleep deprived when...

This morning I was walking around the upstairs of our house thinking that the house was sort of stuffy. Fall weather has started and we're not keeping our windows open at night any more. I opened the windows, hoping that would help. I walked into one of the rooms and there was a very distinct pee smell. When we originally moved into the house we had the carpets cleaned, first thing to help with the pet odor coming from the house. I used air freshener, odor absorbing crystals, fabreeze, etc... and the house was finally starting to sleep good. I was thinking this morning that maybe that pet smell was coming back, like maybe it was still lingering in the carpet.

I used some fabreeze around the house. The next time I was upstairs I still smelled that awful pee smell. It was mostly in one particular room. Then I looked down. I was standing right in front of a trash can filled with dirty diapers.... DUH!

Friday, September 28, 2012

The wine never tasted so good

I joke that the wine never tasted so good since I became a Mom, but in certain ways it's true. I'm a Mom and a Step-Mom and here's the reality of that scenario: it's hard. Really hard. And some days a glass of wine at the end of the day, while watching my new obsession - Army Wives, really does help.

I'm a bit of a wine snob, too and thought... wine... motherhood... wine.... motherhood... and here I am with this blog.