playing mom

ive spent a lot of time playing mom in my young life so far. from babysitting to nannying to taking kids for a week or more at a time and being a full-time "mommy"...i really think ive seen it all! ive potty-trained, transitioned to spoon-feeding, taken kids off the pacifier, transitioned from the crib, first words, breast-fed...wait...too far. ANYWAY, for the past week and a half, ive been doing the mommy thing. ive been doing overnights with a family that i work for on the weekends because one of the parents is out of town. basically, my job is to do the whole bedtime routine at night and then the morning routine and off to school in the morning. i have to admit even though its a lot of work, i really do like it and i get a lot of warm fuzzies along the way. because if you think about it, those are the best times with kids...when they are all post-bath clean and sleepy and you get good night snuggles and kisses. and then when they are all post-dream groggy and you get their first morning hugs and smiles. its before the whining and the crying and the nose-running begins! haha seriously though, its when they are the cutest :) BUT ive learned over time...and this week did not disappoint...even in those sweet times...its not all adorable! women seriously lose ALL sense of privacy when they have kids. ive been walked in on in the bathroom more times than i can count. ive had my food and drinks taken over by wandering hands. my clothes spilled on. phone conversations interrupted. kids are crazy man! over the past two days..ive really felt the mommy! yesterday i was woken out of sleep to a little one crawling into my bed with me.....i sleep in a twin bed at their house...so lets just say, things are tight. it was pretty cute at first though, i must say...so i didnt protest. i just scootched over...or was actually shoved over by lots of elbows and feet. seriously in our hour or so sleeping together that morning, i got an elbow to the ear, a hand in my eye, feet and knees to my legs, and i was literally smashed up against the wall. so. cute. haha! seriously though--how and why do people sleep with their kids?? its awful! then this morning i woke up and hopped in the shower. my bedroom door was closed as was my bathroom door (which is inside the bedroom). so you think with a two door buffer id be safe from intruders...but no. as i turned off the shower and flung back the curtain i noticed that the bathroom door was open and there was a little blonde with two big blue eyes staring directly at me from my bed. AH! NO PRIVACY! not even with two closed doors was i safe from the little babies. i flung the shower curtain closed and grabbed my towel, quickly dried off and hopped out of the shower. i was greeted with a sleepy smile and a "did i surprise you??" she clearly thought nothing of it! haha, gotta love kids!

oh well..the i love yous, the snuggles, and the smiles make it all worth it!!

happy weekend!!
xoxo

men are from mars, women are from venus

a truer statement was never said than men are from mars and women are from venus. there is just a distinct difference between men and women that is so great that it really cannot be denied. there is fundamental disconnect between the two sexes and its really a wonder i am irritated each and every time it comes up (no matter how hard i try). an example of this happened to me tonight. i had a nice little night planned out. my boyfriend and i were cooking dinner together (which means i cooked and he watched)! we made a vegan pasta that was AMAZING...second time making it..i must post the recipe bc it was seriously so good (and super easy). anyway...as we were finishing up the meal and chatting...i scraped some remaining avocado (the star ingredient) and a tiny noodle onto my knife and then onto my fork and into my mouth. thats when it happened. the fundamental disconnect. as i put the fork in my mouth he goes..."did you get it all?" now, i knew he was kidding and i tried to ignore it and not be bothered. i tried to move on and casually keep talking. but then he goes, "are you sure you got it all? do you want some more??" as steam streamed steadily from my ears (if any women out there do not understand why i was not happy with these comments...we need to talk.)...i again tried to ignore his comment and take the literal meaning...after all, i know he doesnt mean it, i know he isnt intentionally calling me fat...so i go, "nope, im good." and i keep going with the previous conversation. but he again...determined to make me understand his joke, that he for some reason thinks im missing, not choosing to ignore...goes, "you know, because you were scraping every tiny bit onto your fork..." im like..."YEP. got it. thanks! i mean...what is that kind of comment supposed to do?? other than to make me feel bad!? or to make me feel fat!?" then i got up and took my plate to the kitchen. i left him sitting at the table totally confused and totally bewildered...wondering why in the world i was upset. hahah! TOTAL DISCONNECT. he immediately lept to his feet uttering apologies...clearly totally surprised that my feelings were somehow hurt by what he said. i tried to explain to him why that comment hurt my feelings...even though i dont think im fat and i dont think he was really calling me fat or a pig or that he cares how much im eating...BUT regardless of any of that...it still hurt my feelings and made me feel sad. he had two things to say: 1. im so so sorry, i didnt mean it and 2. i dont understand women. hahah with the sincere look of regret in his eyes, i had to laugh and just have to say again: men are from mars and women are from venus. done and done. i dont think we will ever fully understand each other...

good night!
xoxo

starbucks

ive said it once and ill say it again..i have a starbucks problem. i dont deny it. am i ashamed of it?? of course. do i wish it were different? not really. haha! anyway, today i hit a new low...i emailed starbucks to inform them that the free drink i am owed has not yet arrived in the mail. wow. but seriously...i want my free drink. i earned it. how, you might ask...wellll let me tell you! i have a starbucks GOLD card..very elite, i know youre jealous...anyway, every 15 stars (you get a star for each drink purchased) you get a free drink. clearly that takes no time at all, especially after my starbucks birthday madness...so i looked online the other day and saw that i was close to a free drink. BUT thats the second time ive seen that...so i was like, what the heck..wheres my free drink. i always find it embarrassing to ask for free things or to complain when you have not received a free thing...so i have been putting it off. but yesterday when i stopped to get a mid-afternoon latte..i thought: no more! im asking! so i asked the lady and she said that i will receive a free drink coupon in the mail. wellllllll i have received no such coupon. so after some investigative work on my starbucks account page i saw that i got a free drink coupon issued to me on april 11th and to allow 2-3 weeks for it to arrive...well today is may 11th and i have NO CARD! what the?? so what did i do?? emailed starbucks, of course...god, i was actually slightly embarrassed (in front of only myself) writing the email demanding to know where my free drink was! haha what the heck is my problem?? whatever...i want the free drink im owed for being the most loyal starbucks customer ever! haha! ill keep ya posted on what happens.......OR ill come to my senses and take a step and calm it down with my starbucks obsession...

PS as i was looking for a picture to accompany this post, i came upon this article, which shows me that there are people out there who are crazier than i am...if you do read the article, while i understand where they are coming from, i dont necessarily agree bc i get free soy now, which is about what i saved when using the old card...so im still ok with the change haha just in case you wanted to know :)
xoxo

i have a problem

i dont know if its because i move around a lot or because i am getting premature alzheimers, but i seem to be having a litttttle problem remembering my zip code. yes im serious and no im not five years old. seriously though, if it happened just once or maybe twice at the most, i probably wouldnt think anything of it. but this has happened one too many times recently! i know it seems weird to even think about your zip code...but there are certain stressful situations where it comes up and i will inevitably give the totally wrong zip code each and every time. its a serious issue and im starting to worry just the slightest bit :) btw this does not include writing a letter or writing my address on some form or something...that, thank goodness, i can still do. its other more speedy, more urgent situations with which i have difficulty. for example, when you are at a store (ie nordstrom --happened just last week) and you are checking out and they suddenly ask you for your zip...putting you on the spot..the whole line waiting behind you...you start to sweat and panic...start mumbling some random numbers that you seriously believe to be your zip only to realize you are giving a totally incorrect number but unable to correct yourself because what kind of a weirdo doesnt know their zip code and all the while wondering if there is any way they could find out that you are mumbling a false code and call you out on it right then and there. WHEW. im getting stressed just thinking about it. there have literally been several times over the past year that i have given completely wrong zip codes and have had secret feelings of panic each time ive been asked at a register. the other place where i often get my zip code incorrect is at the gas station. i know this sounds strange, but where i live there are certain areas that ask for your zip code when you put in your credit card to make sure you didnt steal the card or something..your zip has to match what the bank has on record for you or you are unable to use your card. with that kind of pressure, i almost always put in the wrong zip. the frustration and embarrassment (in front of only yourself--thats the worst kind) that follows is pretty intense. i have actually had to leave a gas station and go to one nearby that doesnt ask for it...how awkward. i have also had to go inside to talk to the register person explaining my situation with my head held in shame. anyway, to be honest, i am a bit concerned about my zip code recall problem. it is true that i move around a lot...buuuuut i have lived at my current location for almost a year...and i did the gas station one today and had to use my moms credit card instead bc my card was then denied with the wrong zip entered...so it was embarrassing on many levels--not only was my card denied, but then i had to tell my mom of my little issue. yikes.

any thoughts?? am i losing my mind? do i just have a horrible memory for numbers?? is it just one of my many weird problems? ahh...the next time you are asked for your zip code, think of me and wish me luck on my next stressful zip code situation.....

xoxo

B&Bs

over the weekend i went on a little mini vacay to virginia. along the way we stayed at 2 bed and breakfasts! they are SO nice SO cute and SOO fun! why would anyone stay in a big impersonal hotel over a lovely b&b?? they are priced similarly in many cases and they have so much more character! we stayed in two that were very different, but both equally cute. the first was in Charlottesville and was more of a modern-style b&b! when we walked in, the lady gave us our keys, offered us a bev, and showed us around...there was a really cute screened-in porch stocked with little snacks, water, and tea, they had a happy hour each day with wine and cheese, and (this is why i say modern) a giant flat-screened tv and dvd player in each room! hah! so funny..but really nice to snuggle up with a movie and some wine in an adorable room after a long day of sightseeing! the next one we stayed at was a more traditional b&b! it was located in Harpers Ferry and was much smaller and much more quaint. there were no tvs here! when you walked in it smelled like baking and sure enough in the cozy living room there were fresh baked cookies, tea, drinks, and chocolate! so cute! it was also stocked with tons of board games! so here, we cuddled up with a game of scrabble and wine (obvi) and stayed up late fighting over which words were legit and which were made-up (willy is a word..right?? like willy-nilly...right??). anyway...the best part of both places: the breakfast! how much fun is it to wake up to the smells and sounds of cooking in the morning??! and then to walk downstairs to a beautifully set table and get served fresh home-made treats! it was so nice! im telling you...b&bs are the way to go!! they really made our trip!!

ah well...back to reality!

xoxo

Roly Bags

what the heck is it with all the roly bags?? kids cant carry their backpacks anymore?? people cant carry a briefcase?? we are seriously getting more and more lazy! i mean, i get a rolling suitcase that weighs 50+ pounds...clearly we dont want to be lugging those all around...but a backpack?? hello...its called a backpack for a reason! whats next?? purses that roll? wallets?? i dont like the way this is going. you better believe my kids will be carrying their backpack and i will be carrying my purse and/or briefcase in hand until im old and grey!

yep, thats it :) have a good one!

xoxo

dry mouth

hello all! sorry ive been MIA.......oh yah and a quick update: I DID NOT EAT THE JAMON!!! those spaniards tried to make me eat it a few times...and to be honest, it was a little tempting...but i resisted the urge and stayed away from that big old leg of meat! hah! ALSO in other news...when i came home from spain, i became a VEGAN! its been two weeks and i feel great..ill keep ya posted on how that goes!

OK now for the real post...dry mouth. this morning i went to a weekly presentation that we have at our work...once a week someone from the department gets up and does a little lesson on whatever it is thats going on in their specialty...either an update on some topic, some research, or a case that they are working on...anyway...sometimes they are really interesting talks and sometimes i nearly fall asleep! today was a pretty interesting one and the guy was a really good speaker. the audience was actively listening and people seemed to really be enjoying it. i was too, that is until i noticed the speakers severe case of: DRY MOUTH. like, he really really needed a drink of water...bad. i mean, i know we've all been there. you are getting up to give some presentation or to have a serious talk with someone and you find yourself getting a little nervous...palms start sweating...hearts racing...mouth starts to get a little dry. but before you know it, youre starting and theres nothing you can do about it. try as you might to lick your lips...swallow...clear your throat...everyone can hear it in the microphone as you try in vein to wet your mouth and your mouth just keeps making that weird noise that it makes when its really dry. you just keep talking, pretending like everythings fine, that you are not cursing yourself out for forgetting your water bottle. and the more you try to lick your lips or swallow or pry your lips from the top of your teeth where they are now stuck just to wrap your lips around your bone dry teeth...the more dry your mouth seems to get. you know what i mean, right?? this guys dry mouth was seriously making me uncomfortable and making me want some water! i really wanted to help him out with a drink or toss him up a mint! haha! but sadly i just had to sit and watch him suffer. the good news was that once people started participating a little more..i think his nerves calmed a little and he was able, once again, to make saliva....things looked up from there. moral of the story...in stressful situations, dont forget your water bottle.

happy spring!
xoxo