For a Change: Prices That Are Ridiculous (In A Good Way)

After hearing about Sam Moon from my cousin and then reading about it while stalking this blog, I had to venture over there to check things out. Mercy me! What fun, what prices! All of the accessories your little heart desires, for merely a song. Of course, at these prices, I'm skeptical about the quality. But my sweet Masey has broken more than one of my "not-so-cheap" necklaces, so hey, at least if it does get wrecked, I won't be heartbroken! Venture over there for yourself...the selection is practically endless and oh-so-fun. Here are a few of my favorite bargains.

$10.95

$13.95

$6.50

One of My Dreams In Life...

Is to attend the Ghiradelli Square Chocolate Festival. I know, I dream big.

We saw a special about this festival on the Food Network and decided that it was MADE for us! And since Chris travels to SF on business from time to time, I'm on the verge of begging him to schedule a trip around this event so that I can tag along for a little shopping and overindulging. Chris, of course, wants to enter the ice cream eating contest. I'm telling you what, Chris is one of the more impressive eaters I've ever known in real life. Who am I kidding, he's THE best; I wouldn't want to under-sell his skills. He's never lost an eating contest, including a 26-slice victory at the Pizza Hut buffet when we were in college. He also once ate 7 Krispy Kremes in 60 seconds. He technically lost that once, since he'd promised to eat the entire dozen. Anyway, if I remember correctly, there are some pretty sweet prizes for winning the ice cream contest, so it might be worth our while. Of course, he'll have to start an intensive ice cream eating training program to get ready. He's going to hate that.

Think Before You Buy

I am not as frugal as I should be (just ask my husband). But I am more frugal than I used to be, so that is something, right?! Anyway, I came across this "pocket quiz" in a magazine a while back, and thought it was totally ingenious. I've hung onto it since then and actually used it! Thought I'd pass it on, for other impulse buyers like myself...I know you're out there! :)

Finding Balance

Why does it feel like it's so difficult to find balance as a Mama? On days like today, when I get a lot of laundry done, when I actually check a few things off of my list, when I make a meal from scratch, I feel guilty, because I feel like I've neglected my kids all day. And on days when we play, go to the pool, and leave the house in wild disarray, I feel guilty because nothing has gotten done. Oh, the guilt! Is it born with the first child, and increase with each new one that comes along? I think that generally I'm more of the mindset of "leave the mess, play with the kids". I'd say that I "make an effort" to be that way, but really, it's an easy choice. I'd much rather play with my kids than clean the house. But at a certain point, things just have to be done. The laundry isn't going to wash and fold itself. Dinner has to be made. And I'm much more sane if the toys get put away at the end of the night. And I'm fine with that. I'm fine with all of that. I just wish there didn't have to be so much guilt. Surely there is a way to feel that you've struck that elusive balance where the kids are happy and satisfied, the housework (at least some of it!) is done, and dinner is on the table. I'm not trying to be superwoman...I'm just trying to cover all the bases, I guess. For now, I'll go with the law of averages. Today, the house got the most attention. So tomorrow, we play, swim, read, cuddle, etc. Of course, then I'll feel guilty that nothing got crossed off the list. And the vicious cycle begins again!

That's MY Jello!

I think these personalized Jello molds are the bee's knees! These would be a hit at my house. And they can be yours for around $15! Of course, the fact that they come from across the pond, where they call it "jelly" makes them all the more appealing, wouldn't you say? "Pass me my jelly, would you, Mr. Cottam?"

And Urchin has loads of fun things, in case you fancy some overseas shopping.

{Via Cool Mom Picks.}

Maya's Future Is In Meteorology

Today when I went to get Maya up, she was already hard at work on her 2008 Coloring Calendar. She'd colored the picture from September, 2008 quite nicely, and was hard at work filling in her weather prediction for each day of the month. So we'll start out with some rainy days, followed by sunny days. Then some snowy days! Then more sun, some wind, a "sick day" (that's the flower), more sun, more wind, then sun, then snowy weekdays and sunny weekends. Hmm. She must have gotten a memo from the school kids. Of course, school will have to cancelled during those weeks, but the weekends will be great for getting out and building snowmen. Good information to have! :)

On The Schedule Today...

A little of this...

A LOT of this...

So by tonight, I will deserve some of this...

{FANTASTIC illustrations by Sophie Dupasquier.}

I've Been Inspired To Get Organized!

I am the piles queen. Piles of stuff everywhere. I tear out articles, save ads with layouts that I like, and hang on to invitations I receive that are especially nice, etc. etc. It's all here. Somewhere. In one pile or another. I come across these things from time to time, but I could never lay my hands on something in particular I was looking for. I really need to get organized!

One of the blogs I stalk regularly, Marta Writes, is full of good stuff. Recently, I was so blown away by how very organized she is! She keeps all of her clippings and this-and-thats in very organized notebooks, grouped into one of 10 categories: christmas is coming • inspiring articles • a california lifestyle •home for the holidays • around the world {travel} •favors + gift ideas • invitations • parties + gatherings •personal art portfolio • stationery + paperie • diy crafts •dreamy home + housekeeping • fashion, beauty, health. I am totally inspired to do this! Today I bought 5 notebooks (I don't think I need all 10 categories - I need to create my own!) and tons of sheet protectors, so I'm ready to get organized! Thanks, Marta!

{Photos via Marta Writes.}

Alberto The Dancing Alligator

It's been a while since we've happened upon a book at the library and fallen in love with it...but Alberto the Dancing Alligator by Richard Waring is a terrific find! It's the story of a girl and her tango-dancing alligator friend, Alberto. When Alberto is accidentally flushed down the toilet and can't find his way back up the right toilet, the entire town is in a frenzy, searching for the hundreds, no thousands of alligators that keep popping up all over town. Since anything having to do with toilets is fascinating to Maya, this book is definitely a keeper. We highly recommend it!

HELP! There's Nothing Super About My Crafting Skills

As part of my job as the "Enrichment Leader" in my church, I plan various activities and get togethers for the women throughout the year. Mostly, it's totally up my alley. It's like throwing a party every few months - which is great, I'm a party girl! But once a year, there's an event called "Super Saturday" which is basically a pre-Christmas crafting frenzy. All sorts of different projects are going on all day long, and I always love going - I need to be tutored along in all of my crafting projects, after all! BUT this year it's up to me to come up these crafting projects. And I have no crafting skills and ZERO ideas. Well, one idea. I think if I could find someone who sews to do the handkerchief bonnets, that might be a good one. Aside from that - NO ideas. So - I'm looking to you! If you know of any good sources or you have ideas of your own, PLEASE leave me a comment. Especially if you've been to a similar event in the past - what projects were offered, which ones worked and didn't, etc. I need all the help I can get on this... :)

{Photo via Flickr.}

Family Vacation Potpourri

And now, the odds and ends of our trip. {And that, at last, finishes it off!}

Silly goose Maya!

Wheeee!

Mase's new 'do.

Grandma & her grandkids...Maya, 3 1/2, Sienna, 7 mo., Mason 17 mo.

Chris & his little sis, Megan...(both are parents now!)

Wildlife (moose?) crossed the road right in front our car. Amazing!

At the top o' the rainbow slide.

Cottam boyz!

"We Are Sure It Is A Blessing..."

If you're in Texas or you know a Texan or you read the blog of a Texan, you know that we've had an insane amount of rain this summer. LOTS of rain. And lots of us are getting sick of it. Today in church, one of my favorite guys offered a prayer that just tickled me. In it, he offered thanks for all of the rain we've been getting. "We are sure it is a blessing,", he said, "even if it has seemed...very...wet." In other words, even though we are sick of it!

I think it's a very optimistic way of looking at the weather, and on a larger sale, at life in general. Perhaps when we're going through something difficult or something happens to us or around us that is just difficult to comprehend, we need to adopt the attitude of "We are sure it is a blessing...". Even if we don't like it. Or it's hard. If we can look at it (whatever it is) as a blessing that we just don't yet understand, perhaps it will be easier to get through. And maybe, then, we'll learn something important from it.

{Photo via Flickr.}

Slippin' Slippin' Slippin' Slidin' - All the Hot Dog Day!

{That would be the lovely tune Miss Maya sings while slippin' slidin'.}

A little more sun peeked thru today. We're smart enough not to head to the pool...after all the effort to get there, thunder generally rumbles as soon as we dip our toes into the water, and it's home again we go. So instead, it was time to break out the ol' Slip 'N Slide. Always good times.

{Mase has been rollin' in the mud, apparently.}

Somebody Pass Me a Hankie

My friend Robin received the neatest gift at her baby shower today. It's a handkerchief sewn into a bonnet, packaged with the sweetest poem ever. I seriously had big tears in my eyes. Here's how to make it. And here's the poem:

I'm just a little hankie As square as can be
But with a small stitch or two A bonnet I will be.

I"ll be worn from the hospital Or on my christening day
And after that be folded Then carefully put away.

When on that future wedding day So we've always been told
The well dressed bride must always Wear something that is old.
So what could be more fitting Then to find little me
And with a few fine stitches snipped A wedding hankie be.

And if perchance it's a boy Someday he'll surely wed
Then his bride can have the hankie Once worn upon his head.

{I just love this idea! What a sweet, sentimental gift.}

From Mom's Fridge

"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

~Pablo Picasso

It's very exciting to me that from Maya's scribblings are starting to emerge real things! People! Clouds! Flowers! The letters of her name (in random order)! I know Mamas are easily impressed, I know, I know. But it's just so fun to see.

Why Don't You Take A Picture? (It'll Last Longer!)

The sun teased us by coming out for a bit today! So we took advantage and took a very sweaty walk. It sure was nice to catch a few rays for a change! As for tomorrow? 70 percent chance of rain. Sigh. Enough!

Thought For the End of a Busy Week...

"Finish every day and be done with it...you have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it...serenely, and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

{Photo via Flickr.}

Fort M&M

{That's M&M for Maya & Mason. But now that I mention it, I could go for some brightly colored chocolate treats.}

Today seemed like a good day to build a fort. Or rather, build and rebuild a fort, since Mason was much more interested in tearing down than building up. But it did occupy a little of our time, at least. What else are you going to do on a rainy afternoon?

Yet Another Use For Jello...(A Beautiful One, At That!)

I think this is such a cool idea, although I'm convinced that doing it can't be as easy as it sounds. Here's the how-to:

Combine six boxes of Jell-O powder with half the amount of water specified, chill the mix in a glass vase for half an hour, then just push flowers into the semi-firm gelatin. Design your own — in any color!

{Via Everyday With Rachael Ray.}

Maya LOVES: Uncles, Aunts & Cousins

Aunt Audrey, Uncle Adam & Maya

Uncle Adam snuggles Maya.

Checkin' out Uncle Sambo's postcards.

SMOOCH!

Aunt Megan & the Girls: Sienna & Maya

Maya LOVED Sienna!

I Got High-Fived By Dougie!

We saw one of our favorite bands, Travis, tonight. They are always a blast to see - lots of fun! They entire band is just a cool bunch of guys (and fantastic performers), but I have a little extra love in my heart for Dougie, the bassist. He's so much fun to watch. He gets down with his bass, he makes eyes at the ladies - he's just lots of fun. They made their entrance into the show "Rocky" style - complete with the theme music and cheesy robes...and they walked right by us. I was so happy to get a high-five from Dougie on his way past - woo hoo!

The show was great - so much fun! They played lots of my favorites and I, of course, sang along at the top of my lungs. They are just such an earnest bunch of boys. Their lyrics are easily accessible - they can border on cornball sometimes, but they're sincere, and sweet. It's hard to pick a favorite from the show, but I'm going to have to go with "Flowers in the Window" from the encore. Fran played acoustic guitar and the rest of the guys stood behind him, arms around one another, singing along to the chorus. To me, they just seemed like a bunch of good 'ol mates from Glasgow, hanging out, having a good time. That moment made me think that maybe it is somehow possible to stay young forever.

I, however, am not as young as I used to be. First of all, it takes a lot to get me out of the house after 8pm anymore! I won't drive any distance or stand in any inclement weather to watch a band anymore. I didn't buy a t-shirt. Not even one! (In my younger years, I never would have left a show without a tee or 2. At one particular Toad the Wet Sprocket show in my teens, I bought each and every single merchandise item they had for sale. That would be the show that I convinced my parents to roadtrip up from Nashville to Cleveland for. I have very cool parents.) I stood(fairly) calmly near the back of the venue, instead of elbowing my way to the front, fighting anyone who stood in my way. And once the show was over, I headed straight to my car instead of hanging out by the back door, waiting to get something, anything signed. I've mellowed, see! But I still love love love the music. Love it!

{Photo via Flickr.}