I’m on an amazing new diet… it’s called “having a sore throat”. Sure, the side effects are painful but it’s really effective in cutting down the amount of food I eat.
Archive for March, 2008
I love being able to work from home in my pajamas…
This isn’t going to come as a shock to anyone… boys are totally different creatures. They may tolerate playing ‘Polly Pockets’ with their sisters as long as they get to drive the cars but deep down inside they’re dreaming of dumping Polly and drag racing to the nearest race track!!
My parents arrived safely - just a bit late. There was some nasty weather they had to fly through in their tiny little plane. Who knew they’d get a free carnival ride too?
The house they’re staying in is an old Victorian. The owner split it into a duplex and he lives in the upstairs. He’s an art collector and has a huge collection of art and sculptures. My favorite ones are from various tribes in Africa. The downstairs - where my parents are - is still pretty traditional in style. Last summer he had the backyard scuplted to reflect a Japanese garden. It’s so beautiful! He gave us a tour of the upstairs and it is MODERN. Neon lights…. Marilyn Monroe art deco rugs…. skeletons…. huge tribal masks…. security mirrors as art pieces…. Just not what you expect when the house is a Victorian!
We haven’t done a whole lot with my parents yet. We did hit up a few junk shops looking for treasure. And lots of grocery shopping. I think we’ve gone to the grocery store every. single. day. I’d rather go once and then enjoy my week but they seem to enjoy the little trips every day. To each their own I suppose.
Hope you all have a Happy Easter!
My parents are due to arrive tomorrow afternoon. (note the plural there… it’s my dad’s first trip out) I’ve been busy cleaning and preparing for their visit. I found them a person that was willing to swap houses for the week so they will not be staying at my house. I think that’s better for everyone all the way around.
The kids’ excitement has turned into whining. I can’t wait to share that love with my parents. Of course by then the cranky whining will be over and it will turn into pleading whining. “Pleeeeeeease can I have gum?” or “Pleeeeeeease can we have a sleepover?” <—- that one will come from my parents too!!
I’m excited to see them and show them the various home projects we’ve done. Since my dad has never been here it will be fun to show him around town too. And, of course, they’re both excited to visit our church. It’s going to be a busy week and a half.
Yesterday the hubby and I were out and about running errands. And I didn’t have my camera with me. I’m learning that I should just always have my camera on hand.
Why would I need my camera while running errands? Because it’s not everyday you see a Minivan Hearse. Seriously. It was a Dodge Caravan - complete with dual sliding doors. The back had the traditional black capping with the swirly design that all hearses seem to have. (Why?? I don’t know.) I tried to google a generic picture to post but I can’t even find one.
I’m wondering what’s next…. a Hummer Hearse??
*Updated* Savings, savings, savings
Published March 11, 2008 Frugality , ramblings 2 CommentsTags: coupons, frugal, groceries, savings
It’s check in time! I signed up for The Grocery Game a little over a week ago and have had two shopping trips. Let’s see if the cost of TGG is worth it…
*** Updated to include Krogers and CVS savings!!
A few years ago my hubby and I bought a new office chair at Ikea. Nothing fancy, just a black fabric office chair. A week after we brought it home our daughter spilled glitter lotion on the seat of the chair. It was never the same after that.
I recently was inspired by a post on this blog to do something about that chair.
It’s rainy and grey today. I love the rain - the sounds, the smells. It always puts me in a mellow, reflective mood. Today I received several emails from friends and a note in the mail from a dear friend. What a spot of sunshine on a dreary day!
(WARNING: Whining ahead.) I miss you my friends! I don’t want to be back in Arizona but I want to be back with you. My friend cup is on Empty. Boo.
Lately I feel like my groove is off. Have you had days (weeks) like that? I think it’s because my hubby is working days now. It’s thrown the whole family for a loop and I’m still dizzy. And I think I’m depressed. That’s hard for me to admit because I feel like somehow that makes me ungrateful for God’s blessings or that I’m spiteful of His will in my life or that I should always be content. And I’m not any of those. I know, I know… “there is a season for everything” and “this too shall pass” and “that sucks and I’m sorry it’s happening to you”. Yeah, well. Boo.
There’s a part of me that can stretch above this funk and glimpse a bit of the bigger picture. I know how much I’ve grown because of this move and it’s made me a better person - a better reflection of the Maker. I know that this discontentedness (is that a word?) and uneasiness is causing me to look inward and see things that need to change.
Huh. Refiner’s fire… Amazing what revelations are made when you think (type) aloud. I feel that I am in the refiner’s fire right now. It’s not comfortable or fun but it’s necesary in order to burn off the impurities. That knowledge gives me hope and peace. I know my Maker’s eyes are on me and I know that I will become more pure when it’s over. I need to go mull this over - preferably with some coffee and chocolate and a view of the falling rain.
[Note: I was half tempted to delete this entry and re-type it in a more cohesive manner. I decided to leave it as a testimony to my thought process and God's revelation in my life.]
We have a plastic blue tub in the hallway that’s half full of clothes that the kids have outgrown. Every time we do a load of laundry I find another pair of pants or a t-shirt to add to the tub. The other day we were getting ready to go out and Beans started to put on her dragon coat. I love this coat. It’s curly green fabric with purple scales running up the back up to the front of the hood. She loves this coat too. It’s her favorite one. Recently I’ve been dropping hints that maybe it’s too small… the sleeves are 3/4 sleeves now. She didn’t care except this last time. She started to put it on and declared it was too small - it’s for babies. She went and dropped it in the tub.
And there was this little pang in my heart.
Today my husband asked me if I’d looked in the tub recently. There, on top, were Beans’s two favorite baby blankets. He said she’d brought them out to the couch and when she discovered she couldn’t curl up entirely under them she declared they were too small - they’re for babies - and dropped them in the tub.
And there was a huge pang in my heart!
I’m not ready for this. I picture the scene in the Robin Williams Peter Pan movie when one of the lost boys is trying to find Pan in Robin’s face by stretching and squishing his face until finally he says, “Oh there you are Pan.” Except that I’m looking in my little girl’s face trying to find my baby. Don’t get me wrong, I love the little girl she has become but I’m not ready to say goodbye to my little baby. I know, I know. I should’ve seen it coming. It happened with Chickie… it happened with the Boy… I knew it would happen - that it was happening with Beans but something about seeing her favorite things in the give-away tub… That last little bit, the small bit hanging on by the thinnest of threads, is gone.
Somebody better tell me that the best years are yet to come! Right?
