My Baby You'll Be

This is my first baby, Ozzy.  Long before I had biological babies, Ozzy stole my heart with those soulful eyes and just-love-me-into-a-cuddle-coma attitude.  It didn't hurt that at the shelter, he peed on my husband to solidify the bond that he belonged to us.

At the time, we weren't looking for another dog, just a hamburger at the Wendy's next door to the shelter.  Isn't that how it always happens, though?  You can't actively look for love, it will find you when you least expect it.  Especially if you order the cheeseburger combo with a side or adoptable adorable.

Yes, my first baby weighed in at about 7 pounds and 15 inches long, with the shelter given name of Little Man, but we knew that had to change.  On the car ride home, my husband and I debated the name game, and you know how that goes.  He loves Barney, you hate it.  You love Fitz and he threatens to crash the car.  So we turned on the radio while we brainstormed.  "I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy traaaainn...."  We both started bobbing our heads.  There's nothing a little Ozzman can't fix.  Wait a minute!  Yup, loved the name.  And his name was Ozzy and he was perfect.

You know how you're not supposed to pick favorites?  Well, I did and so did Ozzy.  I couldn't go anywhere without a little Ozzy shadow and even if he was all cuddled up with my husband on the couch, as soon as I sat down, he'd bolt over and cuddle into me.  We were soul mates.  In fact, we were so attached at the hip, that he was, unfortunately, standing under me when my water broke as I was getting out of the bathtub (pregnant with my first daughter).  Oh memories.

Over Twelve years, two moves and two kiddos later, Ozzy grew old, grey and content.  We found out in December that Ozzy had kidney stones and a herniated bladder (an injury he likely incurred when he took on a raccoon several years ago.  PS, Raccoon 1 - Ozzy 0).  The corrective surgery would have been about $4K, but due to his age (guesstimated about 14 years) and his grade 4 heart murmur and collapsing trachea, he wasn't a great candidate for surgery.  Even if he survived the surgery, he would likely have had heart failure.

Naturally, I was devastated by this news.  We held out hope that with a diet change and healing thoughts, Ozzy might turnaround.  And he did, for about two weeks.  Long enough to "snuzzle" (my daughter's word) a little longer, and for my kiddos to come to terms with the inevitable loss.  Three days before Christmas, my baby died and I've been in limbo ever since.

I've researched stages of grief, and I've checked off anger (sorry Family) and guilt.  I had the

hardest time telling people that my dog died, when really, I felt like I had killed him by taking him in to the vet and letting her do it.  This was all magnified by the fact that I was holding him the entire time (Husband and girls went to get burgers.  I now see the irony).  I felt it only right that I be the one with him, given that he was mine and I was his.  I've now entered the annoyingly persistent phase of depression and honestly, have a hard time believing there's an end to it.  Like reading the Twilight books, but for real.

I didn't write this with the intent to throw a pity party or hear another "I'm so sorry for your loss," but more because I've come to realize that this level of grief is something I'm completely unfamiliar with and I hope that writing this down will somehow be therapeutic.  I've lost loves in the past (most notably my grandfather a couple of years ago) but this sense of loss is so overwhelming that it makes me feel guilty I didn't struggle like this previously.  I had no idea it could hurt this much.  I'm turning into a weeping recluse who feels pajamas are a valid wardrobe choice and, on most days, showering is too high maintenance.  Especially since staying in has the awesome appeal of avoiding other people.  To those who know, you've been here, I'm truly sorry, I get it.  To those who don't, I hope you never have to.

There are many people who would say, "He was just a dog" and to them I would say, "I'm sorry you have never experienced unconditional love in the truest sense of those words."  To which they may respond, "Yes, I have.  I have children."  And to that I would reply, "Exactly.  Then you do understand."

"Sorry We're Full" Happy Thanksgiving!!

Since most of us will be spending time with family and turkey tomorrow, I thought I would post a fun Thanksgiving sketch today to help set the mood. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend and don't forget to save room for pie!

PS- I'm "salad" in case you didn't catch it. ;o)

Free-me Music

Since I've discovered a TON of great free music on Amazon, I have been addicted to finding and snagging some new tunes to add to my iPod. I literally spend hours scouring the latest new artists to find that diamond in the rough. I realize that musical taste is completely subjective, but you might find something you like in this list of songs or peruse online to find someone else who inspires you. All I know is, these artists are worth a listen and what a great way to be ahead of the musical curve. Just think, when your friends say, "Omigosh, you have to listen to this great new artist!!" you can say, "Oh yeah, I've had them on my iPod for months. They're pretty good." :o)

Happy Monday!!

1. Ludicrous by Frankmusik (download if you like Enrique Iglesias)
2. Halfway by The Silent Game (if you like Garbage and/or Radiohead)
3. Vessel by Zola Jesus (if you like Florence and the Machine and/or Massive Attack)
4. Long Walk Back by The Rifles (if you like an updated Beatles)
5. Tangled Up In Love by The Rifles (if you like Jimmy Eat World ala Lucky Denver Mint)
   
6. Keep You by Class Actress (if you like synth-pop)
7. Fascinated by Ivy (if you like 80's new wave, alt-pop)
8. Still Alive by Three Mile Pilot (if you like moody with a beat)
9. Old Black by Earth (if you like Pink Floyd)
   
10. Why Even Try (Feat. Sara Quin) by Theophilus London (80's hip hop, easy groove)
11. Amor Fati by Washed Out (if you like Erasure or Thompson Twins, 80's synth pop)
12. Little War by K Serå (if you like a ballad style Fall Out Boy)
    
13. Cassie (Won't You Be My Doll) by Part Time (if you like 80's pop, Bananarama)
14. Next To Me by Civil Twilight (if you like Coldplay or U2)
15. God's Not Dead (Like A Lion) by Newsboys (if you like Jars of Clay)

Enjoy!!

Have a Happy. Period.

I admit it. I don't have regular television and thus, only see the commercials on Hulu or in my magazines. As I was flipping through one of my fave mags the other day, I came across an ad that made me think, "What the hell?!" There were so many thoughts going through my head, that I just had to share them.

I realize this ad has been out for a while, but since this is the first time I've seen it, I'm weighing in.
Neon colored tampons and patterned pads, are you serious, Kotex?! First of all, you know what this stuff is for right? And second, who the hell is going to see it? I'm sure every teenage girl is dying to compare tampon colors during polite conversation. "Gee Morganthenia, what color are you wearing today?"

I love that Kotex is advertising this as, "new colors and designs to banish boredom." Really? Boredom? I don't know about you, but when I'm writhing in pain, the last thing I'm feeling is bored, let alone bemoaning my boring white tampon. "OMG, this would be so much better if I had a freakin' blue colored tampon!! Curse you Tampax for your lack of vision!!!"

Am I the only one wondering who the hell thought up this genius idea? Since absurd is the new tampon, I have a couple of ideas too. Might I suggest a glow-in-the-dark tampon? How fun would that be to tell someone, "You wouldn't know this to look at me, but I'm totally glowing on the inside." Or days-of-the-week labeled tampons. "Damn it, I'm all out of Tuesday tampons, I hope no one notices I'm wearing a Friday." Or my personal fave, fortune cookie tampons! Look forward to your period while you look to your future and maybe include lucky lotto numbers too. Have a truly "happy period" with inspirational sayings like, "You will have a bloody good day" and "You will experience relief, in about 5-7 days" or my new favorite, "Congratulations, you're not pregnant!!" Now I'm just waiting for a phone call from the Kotex product development team.

PS, don't even get me started on the new Summer's Eve ad "Power to the V."

Land of the Free... and the MP3

Did you know that there are a TON of free tunes available from Amazon for your listening pleasure? Ninety-five percent of the offerings are new and upcoming artists, which is kind of fun, because then you can say, "Yeah, I was a fan before they were famous." Some of the songs are fabulous, others are so-so and many I regret having bothered listening to the sample. That's 30 seconds my poor assailed ears will never forgive me for.

So, I have scoured literally hundreds of free MP3's on Amazon and found these hidden gems. I realize that our tastes will differ, but if you happen to like any of my choices, you may be inspired to go on an MP3 Scavenger Hunt of your own. And PS, I was searching for new tunes to add to my workout list on my iPod, so these first few songs are in order from warm-up to cool down for a 1 hour workout. It's a mix of alternative, rock and pop. Enjoy and Happy 4th of July!

1. Morning Thought by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2. Coyote by The Lonely Forest
3. Always Spring by I'm From Barcelona **
   
4. Alive by Avalon
5. When It Won't Save You by Conditions
6. Up Up Up by Givers
7. Chapters by Kyoto Drive
8. The Last Ride by Soldout
9. Gimme Sympathy by Metric
10. Eliza by Viper Creek Club
11. Quake by Balance and Composure
12. The End of Progression by Conditions
13. Hannah by Freelance Whales
14. God and Girl by Red Goodbye
15. Second Bird of Paradise by The Rosebuds
16. Forever My Father by Go Radio

Other New Favorites

1. Wolf & I by Oh Land ** (for The Twilight Fan)
   
2. Traveling by Brian Olive
   
3. Rebound (Remastered) by Sebadoh
4. Endless Summer by Still Corners
5. Built to Last by Redlight King (Inspiring Rock Fan)
   
6. Hunt Hunt Hunt by There for Tomorrow (Fall Out Boy Fan)
   
7. Please Ask for Help by Telekinesis (for The Cure Fan)
   

Sometimes a song is just so fabulous that not long after it's available for free, Amazon starts charging for it. I just downloaded all of these songs in the last week, but in providing the links, I have found a couple that are no longer free, but still worth checking out. They're marked with a **. Oh the pains of popularity. So hurry and snag the ones you like because they might not be free tomorrow!

It's On!!

Okay, so I know you've heard it before, but this time, it's going to happen! It has to. I'm on a deadline!

I have struuuuuuggled with losing weight for the last two years and since finding out last August that I'm gluten intolerant (though I'm inclined to think Celiac due to the other health issues I've had) my body is finally on board with losing weight too. Woot! I never thought we'd agree.

So, I've been going to the gym 4-5 times a week taking Zumba, spinning and weight classes. Why the sudden motivation? Well, Jim and I finally set the date and we're going to Puerto Vallarta for our 10-year anniversary in August. I've never been to Mexico and so we're both really excited. We're staying in a 5 start all inclusive resort and planning to do a couple of excursions while we're there. I'm really excited for the Outdoor Adventure and Dolphin Experience.

Anyway, on top of eating really well and working out at the gym, I was reading Fitness magazine the other day and they did a write up on great 90 day workout plans. Of course, most people have heard of P90X but most of us can't afford it. As a budget buy, Fitness recommended trying out the Supreme 90 Day System, which is similar to P90X. Not willing to just take their word for it, I looked it up on Amazon for reviews. I was impressed. Ten people gave it 5 stars and one person gave it 4 stars, and that's as low as it went. For $20, I figured it was worth checking out.

So, I stopped by Target the other day and picked up my own dvd set. Granted, I don't have 90 days, only 60, but hey, every little bit helps right? I'll let you know how I like it in case you're interested in trying it out. I'll keep you posted. Afterall, my super cute new bikini needs to be seen and not covered up with a parka.

My Interview with a Stanley Cup Winner

The Stanley Cup winners have been announced and while I wasn't rooting for either team in particular (well, maybe the Canucks a little, but only so I wouldn't have to listen to Hubs bitch about his team losing), I am happy for one player: Andrew Ference.

Andrew plays defense for the Boston Bruins and is a former Winter Hawk (our local team). Back in high school, I was introduced to the game of hockey and loved it. I had a writing assignment to do for my English class, and we were asked to pick any topic and interview someone about it and my friend Kara Neary jokingly said I should interview a Winter Hawk. We laughed it off, but I kept dwelling on it and really wanted to do it. In all honesty, I chose Andrew because he was a rookie, a good player and the same age as me. And let's face it, he's pretty damn cute. Even back then.

I was surprised to get a call from him saying he'd be willing to meet with me. So I wrote up some questions, grabbed a friend to video tape it and met him on the bleachers at Sunset High School. Wow, so cute. Very gracious and fun to interview. I have no idea what ever happened to the video, which kind of sucks; I'm sure it was taped over by my parents, but I have the transcript of the interview. Here are some of the highlights...

Q: How long have you been playing?
A: Since I was three. I lived on an acreage and we had a rink out by the farms, so I started there.

Q: Did you always want to play hockey?
A: (Shakes head yes) Always have played hockey. There's never been anything bad about it.

Q: What's it like being a local celebrity? (Andrew laughs) You don't consider yourself a celebrity?
A: No, I don't think I'd put it that way, it's just normal. We're just leading a normal life except for playing hockey. There's not too much difference from a normal life.

Q: What's the weirdest thing you ever had to autograph?
A: (Thinking) Let's see... probably a leg, a leg or a dollar bill. You get lots of dollar bills to sign, but a leg was weird. She had the whole teams' autographs all over her leg. (Laughs) You kind of think, 'whoa!'

Q: How does your mom feel about you fighting?
A: (Laughing) She doesn't like it. She hates it when I fight, but she knows why I do it. She knows that because I'm smaller I need to demand more respect. So she understands why I do, but she rather me not. I've never fought in front of her because she'd get all mad. When she's at a game, I won't fight.

Q: How many teeth have you lost?
A: None. My dad's a dentist. No, I haven't lost any. I've lucked out so far.

Q: What are your other interests?
A: Other interests? Um... there's gotta be something. I don't know. Hockey's a big interest. It takes up all my time. Other than that... let's see, I used to snowboard. I did that for seven years, up until this year. There's nowhere to snowboard here. During the summer I play rugby and lacrosse. So everything's kind of sports related.

Q: Do you want to continue with hockey or eventually do something else?
A: I'll go with hockey as far as it takes me. I'd like to go pro. There's so much money and so much involved in hockey. If you can play it and live off it, then that could be your life. Yeah, it'd be perfect.

Q: Did you ever think you'd make it this far?
A: Yeah. It's been the plan.

Q: What advice would you give someone who's striving for a dream?
A: Don't let people tell you that you can't do it. Lots of people told me that I couldn't play hockey because I'm small. Listen to yourself instead of others. Control your own destiny.

And there you have it. Who knew I would be interviewing a Stanley Cup winner at 16? Pretty cool huh?

The Good, The Bad and The WTF?

Because random is fun...

The Good...
So, I've been taking my film acting class for 3 weeks now and lovin' it. I have a great teacher and I'm "finding my motivation." We did monologues last week (I hate monologues), but it went well and yesterday we started scene work, which I prefer. It's so much easier to play off of somebody than to prattle on about yourself (um, unless you're blogging). Every week we are filmed, which is a little hard to watch at the end of class. Whenever my teacher asks how I felt about my performance, all I can think of is "Double chin, double chin, double chin." Ugh. I hit the gym today and did four miles on the treadmill before I had to leave to meet Peri's bus.
In any event, I've been getting great feedback on my scenes which makes me feel that I'm not wasting my time and that maybe there's something to this.

The Bad...
All right, I just have to come out and say it, drivers of German made cars are BAD! I don't know why it is, but 9 out of 10 German car drivers are road Nazis. The irony might be amusing if it weren't so damn annoying. This conclusion is based on years of driving and observation. Seriously, the next time someone cuts you off, tailgates, weaves, speeds, etc, check out the make of the car. Maybe it's just around here but when someone does something rude, inconsiderate or just plain dumb, it's always a Beemer or a VW.
If you happen to be one of these car owners, consider that I might be talking about you. If you're adamant that I couldn't possibly be referring to you, you're a fabulous driver, then maybe I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and you can consider yourself the 1 in 10 that knows how to drive. But I'll be watching you, so don't ride my ass or cut me off because you're only proving me right. :oP

and The WTF...
I'm always checking my online Netflix for new releases or suggestions based on previously watched movies/shows. Imagine my wtf moment when I found this suggestion based on my kids having recently watched the movie Muppets from Space...

"New Suggestions, because you enjoyed Muppets From Space, we recommend you watch Crazy Sexy Cancer! Check it out: Just weeks after being diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of cancer, 31-year-old actress Kris Carr turned the camera on herself as she embarked on the fight of her life. The result is this moving and funny inspirational documentary. In need of experimental treatment, Carr travels the country seeking experts on alternative medicine and, along the way, meets other cancer-stricken women driven to survive. "

I'm not quite sure what the connection is there, but I'll be sure to pass along your recommendation to my kids. But seriously, Netflix, it's like you don't even know me at all.

That's My Lolita

As a frequent Hulu watcher, I've seen my fair share of 30 second commercials, and every once in a while, one will catch my attention. Though, there is no actor dialogue, I know exactly what message Tide was trying to convey.

Original Commercial Dialogue:

Father: Hmm, there's my daughter's hooch skirt which leaves little to the imagination. It would make the perfect oil rag.

Daughter: Argh! This is so frustrating! I need to be to work in an hour! I have to wear my hooch skirt which leaves little to the imagination. OMG, did I forget to wash it after my last john? Mom, look! Is that... or was it...?

Mother: Oh don't worry dear, we'll have it clean before your shift. New Tide with Acti-Lift takes care of protein stains and grease monkey fathers. Mwahahaha.

(Rinse, spin, dry)

Daughter: Look Mama, I'm a whore! Thank you for saving my assets.

Mother: That's my Lolita. I put some condoms in your back pocket, just to be safe.

Daughter: Gee, thanks Mom. Better luck next time, Dad. If you'd grow a pair, maybe you'd make me quit my skeezy job or at least realize that being passive aggressive about my wardrobe is so lame. Well, I'm off to work my corner yo!

End Scene.

Anyone else stocking up on Tide? Yeah I know, me too! One should never show up to work a street corner in an already stained mini. Who wants to buy used goods? Thank you, Tide, for allowing me to continue hooking in style.

Are You There Readers? It's Me, Holly

Alright, I admit it, I'm a horrible blogger and I'm okay with that. The way I see it, if I wrote every single day, you'd get tired of me and I'd run out of things to say. At least this way, I have time to reflect and you don't end up reading about the red sock that found its way into the whites or that I'm having a fat day... again. No, this way definitely works out better for us all. So what could I have possibly been reflecting on for the last six freakin' months!? Must be earth shattering!!

Earth shattering, no, revealing, maybe. I don't have many deep thoughts. Mostly because my memory is so bad that I'll forget the reason I was contemplating before I even get to the good part. I miss my memory. In any event, one of the last times I blogged was on The Mama Dramalogues and I wrote about how I wanted to finally get back into acting and start doing something just for me.

Well, I applied three times to one agent and once to my old agent, and alas, no call backs. Part of me is a little bummed, but a bigger part of me is just relieved. Yes, I am absolutely terrified of success. Which is weird, because most people are afraid of failing. I'm confident I can succeed, but success... now that scares the shit out of me.

Rather than take the agent rejection in a comfy fetal position, I'm enrolling in some film acting classes, something I've never done before. Most of my experience is in community theatre with only one industrial film under my belt. But you know what? I only had 4 auditions with my previous agent; I landed the first one, was first runner up for the second and didn't make the cut for the other two. Not a terrible track record, so I should probably give it another go.

It's been years since I've even done theatre, so I thought taking this acting class would be a great way to update my resume and give me some formal training. Our first class is this Sunday, and while I keep trying to talk myself out of going (there's that fear again), I'm going to suck it up and go. I'll keep you posted! And not just six months from now.

The Spanish Inquisition

"No one expects the
Spanish Inquisition!"

Tee hee, just had to throw that one in there. :o)
"How do you say 'thank you' in French? What is 'you're welcome' in German? How do you say 'happy' in Spanish?" My 6-year-old is very curious about other languages and loves to learn new words. "Wow, mom, 'hellifino' means three different things. Amazing!" Let's just say, it's a good thing I'm not teaching her.

Learning a new language was never my forte'. I took a class in 9th grade and then French in 10th, but I ended up dropping the French class after two weeks. Mostly because half the class was repeating it from flunking the previous term and frankly, the teacher scared me.

I love that Peri wants to learn new languages, and being so young, it'll be easier for her to pick them up. Spanish seems to be the most interesting to her. She has a couple of friends in her class, that wait at the bus stop with her, who come from a bilingual household. Every morning, the two girls wait at the bus stop with their mom/aunt, grandfather and their dog, Cosita. As soon as Peri learned the dogs' name, she couldn't stop saying it. She loves the way it sounds. Whenever she sees the girls she always exclaims, "Hola! Hola, girls! Hola means hello in Spanish."

The other day, we were all waiting at the bus stop and Peri was petting Cosita and repeating her name over and over. Then she stopped, looked at Jasmine's mom and said, "Does Cosita bark in Spanish?" We all laughed and I just thought it was so cute. I guess you never know. After all, Cosita understands Spanish, so I guess she could bark in Spanish.

In any case, as soon as a class is offered, I think I'll enroll Peri. Perhaps she can teach me a new language. I mean, if a dog can understand Spanish, there's hope for me yet.

Mama Drama Mondays!

As the smoke machine fog begins to dissipate and the jack-o-lantern smiles start to wane as they slowly turn into pies, there is a collective sigh of relief and a somewhat anti-climatic feeling. It's over, we survived... and we'll do it all again next year.

When I think of all the preparation that goes into holidays in general, it's a little overwhelming. And during this time of year, as soon as you've finished one, it's immediately on to the next. Which is why I think it's especially important to celebrate... YOU! Remember you? I say it's high time for some me time because it's going to be in short supply for the next couple of months.

In attempting to plan my weekly girls night out, I've heard a lot of reasons why some of my girlfriends couldn't make it. I'm guessing that a lot of you have the same reasons and while they may be completely legit, I'm telling you, YOU are more important than that last batch of laundry and the cleaning can wait until tomorrow. And really, how will little Timmy ever learn to manage his time if you're finishing his science project? Don't deprive him of a valuable life lesson. He earned that C, let him own it.

Perhaps you're just downright tired, and I hear ya there! I also know that when I have a night out to look forward to, it doesn't matter what else is going on, I can't wait to go have some me time! It's like dessert, there's always room.

So, now that you know you are more important and deserve some time with your friends, I thought I'd give some tips for some of the other common reasons you might be missing out.

"Sorry, I'm broke!"
Broke schmoke, who said you even had to leave the house? Put the kiddos to bed and invite the ladies over. Keep in mind that the idea isn't to throw some rockin' party, but to enjoy the company of friends.

1. Potluck and a movie - pizza, snacks, drinks, popcorn and even the movie. Make a list and let your friends pick what they'd like to bring. Or theme the food around the movie. Watch Avatar and eat nothing but blue food or Fried Green Tomatoes with well, fried green tomatoes and baby back ribs ("secret's in the sauce.") Get creative.
2. Soup Kitchen - I read about this a couple of weeks ago in our local paper. Now that the weather has gotten colder and we'll all be a little busier, how about hosting a soup exchange. Everyone brings 6 containers of soup (make sure they're labeled) and trades with everyone else. The best part? With the exception of cream soups, soup freezes beautifully and you have ready made meals for you and the family.
3. Game on ladies! - throw some chips and dips on the table and break out the Monopoly. Invite your friends to bring their favorite games, choose a couple and have fun. I've personally done this one at someone else's house and it was a blast. The sillier the game, the more fun.
4. Come on and get crafty - put on a movie or some music and everyone can bring a project their working on or someone can teach their craft to the group. Either way, crafting with friends is way more fun that crafting solo.
   

"I don't know, what do you want to do?"
We could play this game for a few rounds, but let's save ourselves the time and assign a date. If you have a few friends interested in a ladies night, rotate the planning duties every week (or however often you'd like to get together). In addition to the ideas above, and the traditional dinner and a movie out, don't miss out on these gems:

1. The classic mani/pedi - seriously, what's more fun that being pampered and spending time with your friends? Plus, newly painted toes are just cute.
2. Mini Golf - an oldie but a goodie.
3. Museums - Yeah, sometimes these are just more fun without the kids. You don't have to scream at anyone to stop running or don't touch that $2,500 painting.
4. Happy Hour - whether you drink or not, it's not called Happy Hour for nothing. Cheap eats and good times.
5. Shopping - this is definitely way more fun without the kids.
6. Karaoke! - what's an off-key note among friends; they'll still love ya.
7. Community Service - You don't even have to wear the orange jumpsuits. Find a cause you and your friends support then sign up as a group to volunteer.
8. Take a Class - If you have a parks and recreation, they're bound to offer classes for adults. And if you and your friends sign up for one, the weekly night out is already planned for you.
   

"I'd love to go, but I don't have a ride."
With friends scattered all over, there's bound to be one of us along your route. We'll pick you up and we might even take you home afterward. :o)

And there you have it. No excuses ladies, Me Time is now! You'll thank me later.







PS, I posted a pic of the girls' costumes on the Facebook Fan page, in case you wanted to check out my cute little Veruca Salt and Oompa Loompa. :o)

Mama Drama Mondays: Sew Frustrating

It was decided. Back in April or May, I can't remember which. Peri knew what she was going to be for Halloween. I thought for sure she'd want to revert to her Alice in Wonderland costume for the second year in a row, but to my surprise (and likely due to the movie being watched daily) she announced, "I'm going to be Veruca for Halloween!" We're talking about the original Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory from the 70's. (Pssst, she's the bratty, I want it now, child, in case it's been a while).

Ever since we started watching the movie, Peri has been acting out all of Verucas' lines and even singing and dancing to her song, then pretending to fall down the garbage chute. Yup, Veruca's her favorite and she just had to be her for Halloween. I wasn't worried about her changing her mind, that is one thing I can always count on with Peri. Stubborn girl. :oP Knowing this much in advance, I took to Ebay to see what I could find. While I could have spent $60 on a custom made costume, that was a bit out of my price range, and instead, I made an offer on a red velour Christmas dress for $5 and called it good. I knew some modifications would need to be made, but hey, there's a first time for everything.

Anyone that knows me, knows that my sewing machine and I are not on a first name basis. We have a mutual respect for each other, but we don't tend to work well together. So I was resigned to the fact that any modifications would need to be done by hand. I'm happy to say, that after a few hours, I finished Peri's costume and it turned out pretty cute.

Since I try to have my kids sorta match, I originally thought of making Ryah into a giant blueberry so she could go as Violet but thought it would be a little awkward for a 3 year old to walk around in. Now if you ask her what she's going to be for Halloween, she says," I'm gonna be a Oompa Loompa." You should hear her say it, it's so cute. It was such a great idea, in theory, until I realized that costume would need to be made from scratch. :oP

After many many many hours of sewing by hand (and a little help from my friend Mandi and her sewing machine - seriously, she cut about 5 hours of my time in just 15 minutes) the Oompa Loompa costume is done. Woo hoo!

I love Halloween, and all the traditions; pumpkin carving, decorations, candy corn cookies... but I won't be adding "making costumes" to the list. I can say I've done it, conquered it, but won't be going there again. Well, not unless my sewing machine and I can come to some sort of agreement, like, sew for me and I won't melt you down into scrap metal to be used in some hideous yard art project. Now there's a thought...

PS. I'll post pics of the girls on the Mama Drama Facebook Fan Page next week.

Happy Halloween!!!!









Originally written for The Mama Dramalogues

Hey! I'm hosting a giveaway over at The Mama Dramalogues! Win a super cute set of Falling for You hair bows. Don't miss out! Contest ends 10/25 and multiple entries welcome. Click on the Mama Drama link or the image above.

Ooooo Scary... Read it Again!

Since the first hint of pumpkins, goulies and witches hit the stores weeks ago, my girls have been begging me to break out the Halloween goodness. I have a hard time doing anything before October 1st, so now that we're officially past that, I could no longer procrastinate and Jim and I were forced to venture under the house and dust off the Halloween bin.

After a fun filled evening of spooky inspirational music and candy corn treats, we've put everything out and the girls are super excited. I dug out all the Halloween/scary movies (Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, Corpse Bride, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown) and pulled all the Halloween books from the shelf so we have a month of spooky reads. Yup, we're all set!

Alyssa's book post got me thinking about all the Halloween books we like to read around here. They've become even more special since we only read them this time of year. So I thought I'd share our faves and hopefully, you'll share yours because we're always looking for more! Plus, it's early enough in the month, that there's still time to check them out!


Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman

This is probably my favorite one. The girls and I just read it tonight. It's about a witch who grows a pumpkin so large, she can't manage to pull it off the vine and she's got quite the hankering for pumpkin pie!
Lots of fun to read and cute repetition for the kiddos.

I give it 5 out of 5 pumpkins

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

The story of a witch out for a nice leisurely flight. She meets some friends along the way, each one hoping that there's "room on the broom" so they can come too. Super fun rhyming tale (I love cute rhyming stories) and there's definitely room on the broom so don't miss out!

I give it 4.5 out of 5 pumpkins

In the Haunted House by Eve Bunting

Not a whole lot of story to this one, but the girls love it, so I have to include it in the list. Cute story about a little girl and her dad who venture into a haunted house, but who's the one who's really scared? Like I said, not the most fun to read, but the kids enjoy it.

I give it 3 out of 5 pumpkins

Spooky Hour by Tony Mitton

Another fun rhyming tale as the "midnight spooks" countdown to their Halloween party. Cute story with lots of different ghoulies and fun to say sound words like "clickety clack."

I give it 4 out of 5 pumpkins

Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long

Technically not a Halloween book, but with the pirates, I'm sneaking it in here. I was reluctant to read this originally, but found out that it's a really cute story and it's made even better if you use your best piratey voice when you read it. Argh, matey, don't pass this one up!

I give it 5 out of 5 pumpkins



Happy spooktacular reading! :o)







Written for The Mama Dramalogues.

Boo!

Is it taunting you too?

Thought I'd change it up a bit and succumb to the dark side; just in time for Halloween. Thank you Millstream Cottage for providing these super cool scrap page elements! You're so talented.

What's new with you? I hope you're peachy keen. What's new with me? Well, in my quest for becoming the much hotter, thinner version of myself, I've recently turned to a Naturopath for help. I wouldn't consider myself "granola" by any stretch of the imagination, but I definitely lean more towards a natural way of doing things rather than pharmacuticals. After all, I have a feeling some of them might be to blame for my current woes. So, I figured it was worth a shot.

After meeting with my Naturopath, and ordering up some bloodwork, she informed me that she wanted me to cut out milk and gluten. Cold turkey for the gluten. Yikes! What would I ever do without my beloved carbs?!! We suspect that I may have a gluten allergy (I've had a hunch for a long time), and we'll see if bloodwork confirms that, but for now, no wheat products for this chica. I have to admit that after being gluten free for a couple of weeks, I do notice a difference. On the one hand, my cravings and gluteny goodies, hope that it's all in my head, but we're resigned to the fact that this may be where we part ways.

Have you gone gluten free? Please feel free to share your tips and tricks and any gluten free brands you love. I've tried a couple of gluten free bread products and haven't been impressed yet. I had no idea those evil little gluten bits were in so many things! I now know that there is such a thing as gluten free fries at Red Robin. You have to order them without their "special seasoning," which contains gluten. Who knew? I think this may all be a weight loss trick because there aren't as many edible food options out there now, so I'm definitely eating less. :oP

I'm going back Monday for a follow-up appointment and to go over my test results. Hopefully we can get a routine going and be on the fast track to the more fabulous me! Wish me luck.

Have a great weekend!

Mama Drama Mondays: The Kindergarten 15

It's hard to say "no" to a face like that.

This is the year I finally have a kindergartner. She's almost as excited about it as I am. Almost. I'm pretty darned exited about it. Especially since her younger sister started preschool and I have 4 whole hours to myself each week! I know the mind boggles with what to do with all that "free time."

There have been a few hiccups with the new routines; the bus drops Peri off at 11:25 and Ryah's preschool is over at 11:30, so I've had to find work arounds for being in two places at once. Fortunately, I have great friends that help me out. But for the most part, things have been running smoothly and we've all adjusted. Imagine my surprise when I got a phone message the other day, from Peri's kindergarten teacher...

"Hi Holly, this is Amber X, Peri's teacher, and I just wanted you to know that Peri has been eating breakfast in the cafeteria in the mornings. I only just found out today and when I talked to her about it, she said it was her second breakfast and she was able to tell me what she'd already eaten at home. I thought "Oh no" and I'd better check with you about that. Sorry I didn't catch it sooner, but she's been charging her breakfasts. I'll send her account balance home with her next week."

I didn't know whether to laugh or groan. I mean, it's pretty funny that a 5-year-old can just walk in there, get breakfast and have it added to her non existent account. But I was also a little annoyed that I was footing the bill for such an obvious oversight on the school's part. After I called her teacher back, to let her know that Peri should not be eating at school and that I would pay the balance next week, I was baffled as to how that could even happen. I remember as a kid that you either had to pay cash for your school food or have a prepaid card from your parents, there was no "tab."

So, for the last two weeks, Peri has been running up a cafeteria bill, unbeknownst to me and her teachers. I know she did it because it was there and she saw other kids eating and thought it was okay. But I wonder how long it would have gone on? Maybe until her next well check up visit, when the nurse would inform me that Peri had managed to gain 15 lbs since her last visit and that it's a little excessive. Or those brand new school clothes start fitting a lot snugger than they should.

In any case, there is now such a thing as the Kindergarten 15 and you heard it here first. This will be one of those things I tease her about in the future and we'll just laugh it off, but for now, I have to go pay the bill. Then again, today is her birthday (Happy 6th Birthday Periwinkle!); perhaps we'll just write it off as a gift and not add it to her tab. :oP

Wonderland Party Recap

It's been almost a year since our trip down the rabbit hole, but with the CSI theme being parties this week, I thought I would compile some of the best bits to share again. This party was a blast to plan and I'm looking forward to doing an unbirthday one. Enjoy!

The invitations to Wonderland...

Greetings from Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum. Online images on cardstock and foam wood sign from the dollar tree, cut up, and sharpied.
Used online image and cut out the middle for the knob. Both sides of the door.
Wonderland Tea Party

Thrift store finds! Perfect table decor.
Made using card stock, online images and birdcage from thrift store.
Made using regular playing cards, card stock and heart topiary from thrift store.
Played Pin the Grin on the Cheshire Cat. Printed online image and cut out smiles. Homemade shortbread cookies with pink "Eat Me" icing. Also had heart shaped pink cupcakes with "Eat Me" icing. And of course tea!

Tea bag favors made with white paper sacks, string, card stock and "Drink me" sticker labels on the tags. Filled with mini tea sets and goodies.
Everyone posing for "I'm a Little Teapot"

I wrote several posts regarding planning and tips for the party (it wouldn't all fit into one). You can view them here, here and party photos here. Have a great day!