Bleh.

Yep, I got it. The stomach flu. :( How naive to think I would be the only one who wouldn't. So I spent two hours on my mom's bathroom floor trying to sleep through the nausea. I cannot remember the last time I felt this sick (including the night not so long ago that I overdrank). I think I feel better today though. Only got "sick" once (at my mom's) and now I'm just dealing with the all over achiness and headache that follows.

I sincerely hope that nobody out there in blogland gets this!

On Sunday, before I got sick, I went out with a friend. We saw Catch and Release (not very good, I'd pass) and also went to one of my favorite consignment stores. I fell in love with a couple of rings there. One is Peridot, which is my kids birthstone, but it's set in yellow gold. I rarely wear yellow gold anymore. Who here prefers yellow to white? I know white gold is more popular, and *I* think it sets off the color of the gemstone better (than yellow gold). What do you think? Will yellow gold make a comeback?

Last thought for the weekend:

EDITED TO ADD ~

my family has the stomach flu this weekend. :( I'm the only one who hasn't. *crosses fingers*
Monday's update will have to wait.



I want to live my next life backwards:

You start out dead and get that out of the way.
Then you wake up in an old age home feeling better every day.
Then you get kicked out for being too healthy.
Enjoy your retirement and collect your pension.
Then when you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day.
You work 40 years until you're too young to work.
You get ready for college: drink alcohol, party, and you're generally promiscuous.
Then you go to primary school, you become a kid, you play, and you have no responsibilities.
Then you become a baby, and then...
You spend your last 9 months floating peacefully in luxury, in spa-like conditions - central heating, room service on tap, and then...

You finish off as an orgasm.

Is there a God? (and a small eBay rant)

And if so, why would he create something like this? I've struggled with the idea that sharks were really created by Him. Flowers, I get. Puppies? Absolutely. Babies and rainbows are a gift from him, I know. But sharks? Why? What service do they provide? And please don't bother citing facts about how good they are for the ecosystem. That is irrelevant. These new sharks are ugly and scary. That is really all that should be noted.

And besides the link (that most of you have probably seen on the News) I will add a pic or two of my most horrific shark images. The bottom pic looks like a Megalodon (which *may* still be alive, you never know!).


link to disgustinghorrifyingmonstershark

Oh, and for the ebay thing. I am so pissed at a seller right now. I bought some new lip balm and when it arrived, I opened it to find it was expired (smelled old and waxy). I have written to the seller 4 times, starting with a *very* nice note saying that I will still leave positive feedback, but would like some help addressing the problem. I have not heard back and after looking into their feedback, I noticed that if anyone leaves *them* a negative, they will leave *you* a negative, regardless of whether you paid promptly or not. So not fair! It's like blackmail! Do I take the negative hit and leave them a negative, or let it go? I'm pissed! I have 100% positive feedback right now. I can't believe they're allowed to withhold feedback after the the one part of the transaction is done. /rant]

What comes off first?

I noticed some blogs talking about routines, like how you dress or shower, so it made me wonder; what's the first thing you take off, when you get home?

Before I take off my coat or shoes, I start with jewelry. I have no idea why. Everything, my earrings, my necklace and rings, all come off immediately. I put lotion on a lot, so that might be part of it. And I hate sleeping with earrings, so everything comes off. I usually leave my coat on all day. I get too damn cold otherwise. My bra comes off second, followed by shoes. What do you remove first?

Oh, and this test was fun...I thought it was neat that I got the actual city I live in!

Your Inner Californian

You Belong in Sacramento

You're a little too down to earth to be considered a true Californian... But you still too weird to fit in anywhere else! With it's diversity and cultural opportunities, Sacramento is just enough California for you.

Where Does Your Inner Californian Belong?

Monday Randoms

1. Watching my son play basketball is fun! Seeing Nutzy rave about her son's games always made me wish I was more into watching sports. Finally, my own son plays on his school basketball team and so far he's had two games. They were so exciting! I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed watching and cheering. The only down side is that one team always loses. :(
So far, his team has won both games. *yay*!

2. My nephew has embedded himself into my heart. Before he was born, I was skeptical about getting too close. I'm nervous about my brother owning two pitts, mainly because I am not confident he has treated them really well. I was so afraid (and still am) that something bad would happen. Anyhow, the kid, now almost 6 months old, just makes my heart swell. His smile, his eyes, his good nature....*sigh* Plus, he's actually cute! (I know, I know, all kids are cute)

3. My camera turned up! Yay! It ended up being in the tote bag I took with me to the baby shower where I last used it. *smacks forehead*

4. Writing lists really help. *waves to Boo* So far I have accomplished 8 of the 12 items on my to do list. :) Who knew?

5. My daughter's feet are officially bigger than mine. Heh. I hope it means she will be taller than me. It was weird buying boots for her and realizing we can't share shoes anymore. :( On the plus side, she can't borrow my shoes anymore! :)

Do you have any randoms today??

Have you hugged your bra today??

American Idol Rant

(regarding Darwin/Meesha)





Yes, her hair was dry. And her voice was horrific. I think it (her speaking voice) was like Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, only drug out at a slower pace. Her lipstick was hideous. Her confidence mind boggling. But she WASN't WEARING A BRA!!! Why? Why why why??? I couldn't take my eyes off of them. Her mother's looked better! She was dancing with no bra! Where were the nipples, btw? Wouldn't the excitement of being there have well, *excited* her?

*sigh* I actually had a whole other thing to blog about but this is all I can think about tonight.

So here's your question: When is it ok to not wear a bra? Is there a size limit? Age? Place? Type of clothing? Have you ever done it?

my confession; I've done it. It's been a LONG time, but I have done it. *hangs head* I gave it up after I realized that how it looked while standing motionless in front of the mirror, is not the same as it looks while you are moving. That was years ago. I've grown to love my bras and what they can do. I do think it can be pulled off and look kinda sexy, but it depends on a LOT! Oh, and not by me.

Back from the trip...

I'm back! I survived the cold. :) Mom, kids and I all got to the party a little late, after everyone was seated for dinner. It was very intimidating (to me) to walk in like that. Not only was everyone sitting, but they were *very* dressed up! We were told "formal" but I kinda thought "hicksville formal" and went in a black pant suit. I *did* wear my new tall high-heeled boots though. :) Anyhow, it was pretty boring, truth be told. I was surprised that the husband (guest of honor) was 91 years old and completely lucid and clear. So is his wife. It was remarkable! Everyone should be so lucky. I met some neat people while there, including an old woman who reminded me of the old lady from The Wedding Singer. You know, the one who sang rap and danced (if my memory serves me correctly)? Anyhow, she was adorable, and telling me she wished there were men there to dance with because she likes to salsa. She wore some boots that made mine look pathetic, lol!

On the way there, I noticed lots of icicles in the canyon. They were just hanging off the rocks. There were also parts of the river that were actually frozen! I'd never seen that before! I took some pics I'll share.

I managed to get to the crystal mine again this time, and took a woman who lives in Alaska that was in town for the anniversary party. She found a large one and was very excited. After that, the kids and I went into the meadow and played around the frozen pond (too chicken to play *on* it, lol!). We tried to break the ice but it was pretty thick.

All in all, it was a fun trip. The kids had fun, and we got to see relatives. Can't complain about that.

Quick question; what is the difference (in your opinion) between being friendly and flirting? There is one guy who visits at the same time we do, and usually stays at my uncle's house as well. His wife complains that he is too flirtatious. I can see what she means, because he is very affectionate (putting an arm around your shoulder, patting you as he walks by, etc.) and he also uses your name a LOT. It can come across as flirting if you don't know him. It made for an interesting conversation between his wife and him. What do you think? What is the difference?

Ok, so blogger won't let me add the pics here, so I added them to my slideshow to the right. I think you can click on the magnifying glass icon, to see them bigger. Not sure though.

Have a great weekend!

I'm going to be gone this weekend, from Friday night until late Sunday. I'll be going with my mom to the mountains (about 3 hours north of me) to attend a 70th anniversary party. Hard to imagine being married for 70 years, eh? I've known the couple my whole life, as they are the parents of my uncle (by marriage).

Anyways, I'm nervous about going because it's supposed to be really cold, and the thought of hitting ice in the canyon scares the carp out of me. I'll also be taking the kids. The low temp will be 17 degrees. I might not make it back. Just tonight as I drove to my parents house it was around 34 degrees and I could barely drive because I was shivering so bad! I hate being cold. *pout*

The good thing about this weekend is that it is buying me a weekend to myself in February sometime. DH will enjoy the house to himself while we are gone, so he agreed to do the same for me next month. Yay!

How should I spend my childless - DHless weekend next month??

New shoes, a movie review and more!

And when I say "new shoes", I mean several pair!
*big smile* I've needed some new regular boots for a while now. I always wore Skechers boots and they were comfortable to me. When the last pair finally wore out, I had a hard time finding a new pair that offered both comfort and heighth (an important factor for us petite girls)! After searching everywhere, and seeing tons of *cute* boots that didn't fit the description I needed, I finally found these, online:




My search for the perfect boot (above) led me to these boots (below). These are boots I found at the Shoe Pavilion (great store) for only $40. For dressier occasions, or short term wearing, I bought these because, well, I thought they were cute! They are a bitch to zip up, so I leave them zipped and just slip my foot in. Not easy, but I like that they don't bunch up around the ankle(the ones pictured are brown instead of black, but otherwise identical).





Next, is my thrift store find. These are made by Chinese Laundry and were brand new. I paid $4 for them. *big grin* They are not super sexy, but they give me heighth and are comfortable. And? They were only $4!! :D

Lastly, these are some that I forgot I had, but kinda resemble the previous pair. I really prefer the look of these ones to the other ones, but the problem is they make a slapping noise as I walk. *grrr* Is there anything I can do to combat the noise?



Ok, for the movie review...I went to see "The Children of Men" with Clive Owen *swoon* and I must say, it was dark and violent. I loved the premise, and it was definitely thought provoking, but it was also very violent. *sigh* Guess I'm just too much of a baby to take it. I'm glad I saw it, but some images will be hard to shake. And I don't want to give anything away, but I wish it had ended a little differently.

Update on the lip balm crisis ~ I got some more on Ebay! 10 more tubes for $20! That leaves me with about 18 for now. I *did* buy the Blistex Silk and Shine and really like it, but to me, nothing compares to my vanilla lip balm from B&BW. I'm feeling really relieved that I have more for now.

Oh, one more thing! I need to know what the consensus is for wearing high boots (like my new ones) with skirts. Does the skirt have to be long? Can I wear them with a knee length skirt, or is that trashy looking?

in addition to the last post...

...here's a couple pics I've never shared before, of the kids.






<--can you tell who's pissed off? And who looks guilty?

Back to school

::Warning::

This is a long and personal post (meaning it is not very interesting to anyone but me) so feel free to skip it. And I mean that sincerely.

The kids are finally going back to school. Even though the two week break flew by quickly, I very much enjoyed the time with the kids. I don't write about them an awful lot here, maybe because I treasure my space here as being more "adult" but still, I'm feeling inclined to share a bit about my kids. Humor me, please.

Here's a confession: I don't typically adore kids. I love my nieces and nephews unconditionally, but other than them, have not found myself enamored by kids. Babies are adorable, yes. Young children I find cute to look at, and I think they are fun to be around for a while. Kids that reach the pre-teen age are usually highly obnoxious, in my experience. My own included.

Having confessed this though, I must also add that even though I'm not crazy about babysitting and hanging out with children long term, I do really, genuinely enjoy getting to know kids. Once they can talk, I will spend time visiting with them, asking questions, telling stories, etc., perhaps because I know I won't be there when it's bedtime and they are screaming, or when they are throwing fits about one thing or another. Short term, children are loads of fun. I know many on the blogs have children, and I hope so much I have not offended anyone. I happen to be fiercely protective of children, and I am decidedly judgmental towards anyone (parents or otherwise) who I think mistreat them (emotionally or mentally, as well as physically). Kids are my soft spot, while at the same time, something I feel as though I've already been through, and am glad to have certain parts over with. Ack, I sound like an awful person I guess.

I might not have ever decided to *have* children, had things not happened "naturally" there. The funny thing was, when I found out I was pregnant, even though I knew I was not ready to be a mother, and even though I knew the consequences would be great (long story there) I immediately went into a maternal mode. I wanted to *not* be pregnant, more than anything in the world, and yet there I was, making healthier choices in my diet, and protecting the baby inside, that I was horrified to have. It was something I accepted quickly, and knew I had no choice but to embrace. If I could go back in time and do it over? I would in a heartbeat.

Having twins was probably the only way I would have had two, so I'm grateful it worked out that way, lol!

Toddlerhood was difficult for me. Being a consistent parent was immeasurably important to me, and it was a LOT of work. I had to learn to choose my battles wisely, as trying to teach them that my "yes" meant "yes", and my "no" meant "no", was a never ending job. I'm sure all the parents can relate to this. It was exhausting, but the payoff was priceless. I had good kids. Respectful and well behaved.

As they got older, the distinct personalities that I already *knew*, were becoming more evident. And they were able to communicate! That was so exciting. To listen to them convey their thoughts, and communicate with each other was the best gift I could have ever gotten. I remember just listening to them talk outside their bedroom door, and sometimes laughing hysterically (and silently) at them try to work through their disagreements, or play "pretend" with the toys...it was delightful.

Sending them to Kindergarten was terrifying. I had sheltered them and protected them for so long, and sending them out into the world (lol) was unimaginable to me. The only way to combat the fear was to volunteer constantly. *grin* I fell in love with some of the kids. I've loved watching them all grow and change together. I kept volunteering, basically until the teachers stopped wanting the help. Now they are in 6th grade, and I hate not knowing all the classmates as well as I once did. I still try to do all the field trips, though.

Which brings me to the present;


The twins turned 11 last summer. My son is what my dad calls "squirrely". I have a bond with him that I can't describe. Maybe all mothers and sons have a special bond? I guess the term "momma's boy" comes from somewhere, lol. He has always been super affectionate with me. When he was 4 or 5, he went through a particularly charming stage where he would kiss my hand and call me "my lady". He was often overshadowed by his precocious sister. He had a quieter nature, but was more vocal about his emotions. Now, as an 11 year old, he is absolutely obnoxious, lol! He is silly and loud, and girl crazy! He doesn't care that he makes a fool of himself with silly songs or dances. He knows my family (parents or brothers) are laughing at him, and that's why he acts so amusing (for lack of a better word). I'm not sure they (my family) realize that he is so aware of the way he *looks* when he does these things, which is why my dad calls him squirrely (to me in private, not to DS). I admire that he lacks the self-consciousness that afflicts so many others. I also fear that he may not censor himself in front of his peers, and will later feel silly. I guess it's all a learning experience. For now, I just love his odd little sense of humor and "squirrelyness".

I love that at 11, he still wants me to tuck him in every night (even though his sister has been putting herself to bed on her own for a couple years now) and I love that he hugs me in public, and kisses me all the time. I love his need to say and hear the words "love you, sweet dreams, goodnight" every. single. night., whether he is sleeping over somewhere else, or regardless of who tucks him in (DH does too sometimes). I dread the day he "matures" to the point that these things become embarrassing, or unnecessary. He is doing well in school, though he is happy at being "mediocre" even when capable of doing better. We struggle to get him to try harder than he feels he has to.

Then there is my daughter. Her and I are not as physically close as my son and I. She just doesn't naturally want to cuddle and be affectionate, as he does. We've been spending alot of "mother - daughter" time together lately, and I've noticed her starting to touch me more, in thoughtless ways (not just to give a hug for something, but just wanting to be closer, with contact). I'm eating it up, and encouraging it. She is in GATE at school, and very smart. School comes easily for her, but admitting her feelings on things has been harder. She's getting better at it. When she was around 4 or 5, she was great at it. I remember she used to bug the carp out of DS all the time by asking him "Michael, how do you feel about this" or "what are you thinking, Michael?" He used to roll his eyes and smile. It was fun to see the stereotypical female and male qualities in them, coming out. Odd how it changes as they get older.

Now, she is so unlike her brother. She's very aware of herself, and doesn't like bringing attention to herself. Very shy and quiet. She is also very considerate of other people, which is one of my favorite qualities (in people, in general). We have to watch ourselves around her, because she is *always* listening, and picks up on things quickly. No use in speaking in "code" around her. She always knows, lol! I have a feeling she won't be giving me a hard time as a teenager. She is a lot like I was, and being good is important to her. She's not impulsive, like her brother. Now that she's 11, she is starting to show signs of puberty (gah, I hate that word!) and she's acting more emotional than she used to. I am so lucky to have a boy *and* a girl. Both are unique relationships, and I could not have known until I had them.

(the end)

Wow, that all came out so quickly and I didn't mean for it to be so long. It was all just thoughts that had been going through my mind lately, and it felt good to get them down. If you read it, thanks! I don't typically share this type of stuff here. I'm more comfortable talking about smut, oddly enough, lol!

P.S. I bought the Blistex Silk & Shine and am not sure yet. I didn't like that the lid is the length of the whole tube...and the balm itself was kinda wobbly (not packed in tightly) but I suppose I can get used to it. It feels nice and I like the smell. I also bought the Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Guava and Champagne. Their not great for constant use (too much color, like lipstick) but so far, not bad. Thanks ladies!!

Evolution of an Addict

When I was younger (teens, I believe) I started using Chapstick. I don't even remember why. I doubt it was chapped lips. Maybe I liked the slight glossiness? Anyways, after using that for a while, I started experimenting with Lipsmackers. They were good and tasty, but didn't have the longevity of Chapstick. Now, I think most people are aware that Chapstick is addictive. We've even discussed it in this blog, as I recall.

Anyways, after alternating between Chapstick and Lipsmackers, I eventually found NYC Lip Smoothie (strawberry flavored). It was heaven sent. Not only did it last, but it left a pinkish shine on my lips. And it tasted wonderful! I bought it constantly. Much to my dismay, after too short a time, it was discontinued. I have no idea why. I wrote to the company, and they offered no explanation. It was disheartening. I don't even remembered what I used after that. I started compulsively buying lip balms everywhere I went, in search for the replacement. I even bought the lip balm at Jamba Juice! I'm not sure how long ago it was, but I eventually came across the Vanilla Sugar lip balm from Bath & Body. At first, I wasn't in love with it. At least not when comparing it with the NYC lip gloss. But the sweet taste and smooth texture won me over, and I had a new favorite. I bought in bulk each time I went in. It smells like warm roasted marshmallows, to me. Quite a few months ago, I realized I was running low (maybe had 4 or 5 left) and I went to the store to get more. I'm sure you can guess what happened next. It wasn't there!

I was upset, obviously. I immediately came home and got online. To my delight, it was all over eBay! I bought a dozen that day, and I think I paid maybe $20 for it. Tonight, I decided that I should buy some more, since it can't last forever, and to my shock, there was hardly any left on eBay. Not only that, but they are selling approximately for $5 per lip balm! Nothing in bulk, either. There were groups of two or three, max.

Now, I am faced with a dilemma. Do I buy everything they have, at a ridiculous price, or do I start a search for something new, since I'll eventually need to anyways? I know how dramatic this all seems, I really do. But the addiction is very real, and I have no idea what to do next. Chapstick just doesn't really cut it for me, though in desperate times, it'll do. Lipsmackers are pretty much out.

Here's my question: What happens if I try to quit? Will my lips ever go back to not needing it? It's like hand lotion. I crave the feel of it, all the time. If I don't buy a replacement, will I turn to lipstick? And how practical is that? And lip glosses on wands with little sponges? Too sticky.

Does anyone have any advice? I'm open to suggestions for new things to try, but here are my guidelines:

Can't be too expensive, as I use it a lot.
Can't be applied with the finger. That grosses me out.
Has to be small enough to fit into my pocket.
Preferably a twist up kind of balm, (as opposed to a roll on, or wand) similar to chapstick.
Preferably shiny, but not too much actual color, because I hate getting color on my water bottle.

Spider Watch

I am on high alert for a close encounter with a spider. Why? I have no idea. I guess I just feel "due" for one. I think one may live somewhere very close to me, like in the living room. Wherever I am, I have that "being watched" feeling, and I am constantly checking everything around me. Every little black spot is suspect. I can't stop looking around. Ack!

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I'm looking forward to both American Idol and Beauty and the Geek. DH thinks I'm an idiot for watching these shows. Any other idiots out there? *waits*

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I have a question for everyone; what are your eating arrangements? Do you eat at the table, or in the living room? Do you read while you eat? I have to be honest, if I'm not talking to someone, I cannot eat without also reading something. Can't do it. And I'll read anything, if nothing better is available. Eating by itself bores me to death. I've read it's really bad to do that though. What do you think? What is your / your family's eating style? (*snort* I wonder if I read it was bad to do that *while* I was eating?)