Making it up as I go along...

My Christmas List

2009-12-05T19:57:00.003-07:00

When my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I immediately thought of some Wild Olive Tees. I love the graphics, and they have somehow managed to select all of my favorite bible verses to feature. Now I just have to pick which ones to get first.

Wild Olive Tees

Wake me when it's spring

2009-10-06T22:07:00.005-06:00

I had a great blog planned for today, but then I had to go and get a *$^#&%&# flu shot and my head is a little fuzzy and swimming and blechy. So it will have to wait till tomorrow. Today's blog is sponsored by Paranoia, Panic, and Fear. It seems like everyone I talk to has a loved one or roommate or somebody who is very sick. And I think that 6 degrees of flu just somehow makes it seem so much worse than it probably is. I know that there is flu season every year. I know. But that irrational feeling that EVERYONE is getting sick is messing with my head a little. And my stupid pediatricians office won't give Jack a shot till November 9th. Are you kidding me?????? And this is just the plain ole flu shot, no fancy schmancy swine shot. (try saying that 3 times fast) So I will have to be sneaky and clever SuperMom and somehow get one sooner cuz that just ain't right. Sigh. I wil be so happy when this is all over, oh, in about 6 months. Crap.

Autumn in Colorado

2009-10-02T14:30:00.006-06:00

In celebration of October, my favorite month, here are some pictures I took last October in Mueller State Park. I'm hoping to make a trip back in the next week to get some more pictures. Love me some Autumn colors!

May the road rise with you

2009-10-01T16:31:00.009-06:00

I am a child of the 80's. Except that during the 80's, besides watching the Greatest American Hero and wearing neon sweatshirts, I really didn't listen to 80's music all that much. I've always been about 20 years behind on things. So during the 80's I was discovering The Beatles and The Monkees (much thanks to MTV for running their show after school). I became OBSESSED with both bands, mostly The Monkees. I even got to go see them in concert when they ran out of money and decided to tour with Herman's Hermits. Ahh, good times. So besides owning a Pet Shop Boys record and getting some cool mix tapes from my friend Michele, I wasn't terribly in tune with 80's music when it was fresh and new. Which is why I find it hilarious that my favorite station to listen to right now is XM 44 - 1st Wave - Classic Alternative. They play basically every 80's song I've ever loved. The Smiths, Depeche Mode, INXS, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, The Clash, U2, The Police, New Order, Yaz, Psychedelic Furs, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Devo, Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division, The Cure, Joe Jackson, OMD, Talk Talk, Morrissey, this list is HUGE and they are all AWESOME and listening to it makes me giddy like a little schoolgirl. With no commercials! So that part where I said I was always 20 years behind on things? Yeah, I'm nothing if not consistent.

P.S. Dear MTV,
I hardly recognize you. I remember when you were cool and actually played music videos. Do you remember what the MTV stands for? That's "Music Television." Not "Crappy Reality Show Television." Come back to us MTV. We miss you.
Love,
Children of the 80's

Things I wish had been brought to my attention YESTERDAY

2009-09-29T00:15:00.003-06:00

So I happened to catch some of Nightline tonight. I have not watched it in forever, and was surprised it was even still on the air. I thought the last time Nightline was relevant was when Reagan was in office. But their story on an up and coming website got my attention. Some Google veterans have a new site called Howcast. Sort of like a Wikipedia of how to do anything, in video form. Anyone can upload a video they have created, for consideration, to become part of the site. And there is EVERYTHING you can imagine on it. Much to my chagrin, 3 weeks after painstakingly creating a diaper cake from trial and error, lo and behold there is a video on the front page on diaper cakes. How to handle it if your parents buy you dorky clothes. How to pick out jewelry for a woman. How to make a citizen's arrest. How to turn your backyard into a beer garden. Of course, there are many practical and useful tutorials on this website. But why watch those when you can watch How to build a Starship Enterprise out of a floppy disk.

What the heck is an Etsy?

2009-09-24T20:40:00.025-06:00

I realize there are still those out there who have know idea what Etsy is or how to say it. Etsy (rhymes with Betsy) is like an Ebay for handmade items. It is a marketplace for artisans to directly sell their creations to the public for a fraction of the cost of an Ebay auction. And if you are looking for anything unusual and cool, you are sure to find something. Here are just a few of the cool listings that I happen to love.

I have an Allistair's Attic bed and selection of cat toys, and they are all beautifully made and in the coolest fabrics you will ever see.
And Jack loves to lay on the pillow too - not just for pets! Mr. Bitty likes to share.

This dress is so gorgeous and simple. I shall be sending this link to Santa.

The little throw pillows on this site are so sweet. I love the colors and simple graphics.

My plan is to collect one of these to match every possible wardrobe combination. The perfect solution to a bad hair day.

I never thought self fulfilling prophecy would be such a strong selling tool. And apparently I have a thing for cute little birdies.
I need this on my wall very soon.

Now I DO have this hanging on my wall currently. And I absolutely love it

These are an absolute must for anyone with iphones or a severe texting habit. I'm not naming names, I'm just sayin.

Jack absolutely has to have this.

Labradorite is my current favorite of the moment. I love the gray/blue color of the stone. And this little ring has such a great vintage yet modern feel to it. (and from the time I found it till this was posted, it sold :(( sigh)

I could seriously do this all day. You could get lost on this site for hours. Have fun and happy Shopping!

I admit it. This changed my life.

2009-09-23T15:19:00.004-06:00

If you ask any woman what are the 2 most painful shopping experiences, they will say 1) swimsuit shopping (shudder) and 2) jeans shopping. I went a few weeks ago for some new jeans with my mom, and I must have tried on a dozen pairs. Nothing makes you feel more like a sausage in casing then trying to squeeze your big booty into some jeans that ain't gonna happen. I'd really love to blame it on the 10 lb 11 oz bundle of gorgeousness that I carried until his due date. But let's get real. The sitting on the couch eating ice cream while watching Food Network has contributed it's fair share. And just watching Food Network alone will make you raid your fridge till you are licking out the remnants of some honey mustard.

Anyhoo, I was LITERALLY on my last trip to the dressing room, for a last ditch effort to find something that was less than hideous. And on my last sweep of Kohl's, I found these Lee jeans with something called a Comfort Waistband. (I just looked inside the waistband and that is exactly how it is written every 6 inches. In italics) If we were being brutally honest, Comfort Waistband is s nice way of saying elastic. Bordering on "mom jeans". (shudders) But I gave them a go. The fact that it is 3:30 in the afternoon and I am wearing them instead of my old navy pajamas pants is a testament to the wonder of these jeans. I mean seriously. I will NEVER go back to anything else. They stretch. They make me look almost skinny. They cuddle my booty instead of looking like I just pooped my pants. (yeah I'm talking to YOU Old Navy Jeans) Which probably means I need to go stock up on about 20 pairs because as soon as I fall in love with something, it get's discontinued. If every woman in America tried on these jeans, they would become believers. And they were even the right length! At 5'5", finding jeans that are not dragging 6" behind me on the floor all while encompassing my lady lumps is pretty much impossible. Did I mention they are under 30 bucks? I should be getting paid for such an endorsement. But I'll settle for more jeans.

Just now realizing the irony of the book title...

2009-09-22T14:03:00.003-06:00

The terrible two's have officially arrived. I actually thought they were here a few months ago, and looking back I LAUGH at how ignorant I was. How can I possibly battle this hard with such a tiny person? Every meal is an ordeal. Foods he used to love? Now he acts like I'm poisoning him. Naps? I'm torturing him. And don't even get me started on computers/cell phones/remotes. They are ALL for his person convenience and entertainment. Remind me to tell the story about him ripping a dozen keys off of my keyboard. Plus side - I now have the marketable skill of reassembling a Sony Vaio laptop key hinge, which is nothing to sneeze at I might add. But I digress. As I watch him grow and develop into this little person with such a strong sense of will, I have a hard time recognizing him. Where did that quiet, laid back little boy go? Well, he is still quiet except for the screaming. I guess the one plus to all of this is that he is not talking yet.

I do find it so charming and sweet that the one thing, besides his blanket, that gives him comfort and transfixes him for hours is a book called This Is The House That Jack Built by Simms Taback. Apparently the story has been around for hundreds of years in various forms. He loves that every page has his name on it. That boy LOVES his name. Thank God I didn't name him something weird like Maurice or Ferb, because as far as I know there are no This Is The House That Ferb and Maurice Built books. He sleeps with this book - that is how seriously he loves it. Stuffed animals he can take or leave. But he cuddles with a book. I told Michael the other day, "you do realize he is smarter than both of us, and we are in big trouble?" Oh yes, yes we are. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Motivation required

2009-09-21T15:02:00.006-06:00

Obviously I need some kind of motivation to post a blog regularly. So I've decided to give it a makeover and a purpose. My blog will now be a home for Dagny's Box, my jewelry company, and will not only feature my designs but my favorites of all sorts of stuff. Favorite jewelry, favorite toys, favorite books, favorite music...you get the idea. And I will TRY to post something every single day.

Today's post will feature my personal favorite (or should that be favourite) of all the preschool shows. Charlie & Lola makes me wish I was British so terribly much. If you have never seen it, please oh please watch the following video. So much cuteness your head will explode. And the illustrations are fantastic - makes me wish I had majored in Graphic Design.

Good grief it's May?

2009-05-07T15:19:00.004-06:00

I am terrible about keeping up here. I'd much rather read Pioneer Woman than write something of my own. Anyhoo, here are some quotes from the little minions I have had the honor to substitute teach.

"Why do you write in all capitol letters?" Answer: "Years of Drafting classes. Now be quiet."

"Am I on your list?" (list of misbehaviors for the teacher) Answer: "Wouldn't you like to know. Now be quiet."

"Is this the first time you have subbed?" Answer: "Nice try. You wish. Now be quiet."

"I can't read. I have a short attention span." Answer: I didn't have an answer to this. Just "Try your best and BE QUIET."

"Weren't you on Wife Swap?" Answer: "DF&#*($)#FHJER(W#JBJKHVKW#(#$&*#$(:??????"

These were all seventh graders. I had 15 detentions in the seventh grade. I believe this is what they call Karma.

I hope my nose doesn't stop working.

2009-03-17T18:37:00.002-06:00

Isn't it weird how smell can be the most powerful sense? I can smell a cologne at Walgreens that will take me back to the 8th grade and a boy I hopelessly liked (and I do mean hopelessly...I was fugly back then). Right now I am smelling the cool night air, which is my absolute favorite. But it is intermingled with the Migas that my husband is making. I am probably just smelling onions in olive oil, but I'm ok with that. The combination of the two is...fantastic. Like a jolt of caffeine. I love it when he cooks. It's like smelling a hug.

I'm such a slacker...

2008-09-25T18:26:00.003-06:00

Guess I'm falling asleep on the job. February? I haven't blogged since February??? Well I'll post a favorite link for now. This website is AWESOME! Wonderful gifts, and even better treats for yourself. Check it out http://www.oldtimecandy.com/index.html

And here is my favorite pic of the day:

This is so adorable.

2008-02-12T22:18:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make.

2008-01-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

I watch soap operas.

Let me explain. I've watched them off and on for years, starting in junior high maybe? Back then it was General Hospital and Days of Our Lives. My favorite memories of watching soaps were in college - they would be on in the Student Union and the resident halls, and people would be packed in watching them, yelling at the screen when people were stupid. Which was often. And now with the abundant amount of time on my hands (which will end soon hopefully), I have taken them up again. Days of Our Lives is so easy to watch. I can go - literally - 10 years between viewings, and pick up where I left off. They must be slipping the cast formaldehyde cocktails during the breaks because it's the same people, same story lines. Stefano is STILL tormenting the Brady's. It is comforting to know that some things never change. The Bold and the Beautiful is only a half hour, and has a baby named Jack, with a mother named Taylor (who is not really his mother because the eggs were switched in the lab - classic), and his TV dad is named Jack in real life. So Jack and I have to watch of course.

Soaps serve a purpose. They can make your stressed out, crazy lives seem so normal and mundane. And with my history, that's really saying something. Viva La Soaps!!

Hotter than a pepper sprout...

2007-11-05T09:58:00.001-07:00

This is proof that The Muppet Show was cooler than the other side of the pillow, and still is today. And I'm particularly fond of this musical selection. This one is for my sweet baby Jack.

Biting the bullet here...

2007-11-01T16:20:00.001-06:00

I realize that I've put off starting this blog because I thought the first one should be so perfectly eloquent and profound that it would show my depth and maturity. Then I woke up. So here is a little story of something that happened to me this week, and now we can get this ball rolling.

Right now I am preparing to move for the third time in a year (!), and the process of moving for me is about as enjoyable as a root canal. A couple of days ago I began work on the garage, which is full of loads of crap - none of which belongs in a garage. I was sitting in a chair, rummaging through some boxes, with the garage door open and the radio blaring. And I jumped when I realized that there were 3 people just standing there staring at me. Three very nicely dressed individuals. With brochures. And it dawns on me.

Jehovah's Witnesses.

I'm already not happy. It's hot. I'm sick. And now this. So I begin as tactfully as I can telling them that I am very busy and do not have time for them. The man is giving me this thoughtful, sad look. And the woman with him is smiling. They give me a brochure and I finally convince them to leave. So I go inside to tell Michael about this. And as I'm entering the house I see my shadow on the wall.

Let me go back. Earlier in my rummaging and packing of assorted craptacular items I came across some goodies I purchased in the Target dollar bin for Halloween. And I thought it would be funny to put one on my head. Except for the part where I forgot I had them on...

Devil Horns. I was wearing Devil Horns in front of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Thank God we are moving.