Random Tuesday Thoughts

There is actually good progress being made in my office! I wasn't going to post it, and just see if hubby noticed, but I'm way too impressed with myself so far. I couldn't fall asleep last night thinking about how nicely it's shaping up.

This morning was Maggie's first gymnastics class! We loved it! They do activities in circuits, and the teacher shows everyone first, then wanders around and helps everyone with different stuff. It's a perfect set-up since everyone has to be spotting their own child all the time anyway. I super loved the floor! The whole thing absorbs every step you take - it feel so nice!

It is definitely/finally snowing here. Maggie and I had to get to class by 9:30, so we headed out of here around 9. It was already snowing out, but it only looked like a dusting. Yikes! Even after stopping before turning my silly car wanted to go sideways around every corner. Don't get me wrong - I love my car - but rear-wheel drive doesn't really cut it in this junk.
After class we went to the store to get diapers and toilet paper and other things I want if we're staying in for a few days. When we made it home at 11:45, I shoveled the driveway. Did you read that, honey? The driveway was cleared at least once during this storm.

And on that note, the mail came later on and I think there's supposed to be a movie from Netflix. I'll watch it tonight, if I brave the snow to go get the mail!

The snow reminds me of one other thing - brush off your cars, people!!! Seriously, I'm on a reasonably busy road. The number of cars I'm seeing drive by with just what their windshield wipers have cleared off the front windshield? You can't see where you're going! Pet peeve everytime it snows. I had to brush off my car twice today. You can do it too.

Thanks for the heads up from Freaky Frugalite!

Maggie Cuteness...

Before I forget, here's a couple conversations with Maggie lately.

First off, last Friday we stopped by my old office to meet a friend for lunch. We stopped to visit with another woman I worked with named Lara. Lara is pregnant and was absolutely taken with cute lil Maggie. She came around the counter to show Maggie the toy box and converse with her.

Lara: You're so pretty!
Maggie: Look at my pretty eyes (as she opens her eyes wider).

Yup, I've held off on teaching her modesty. Who ever heard of a two-year-old with too much confidence??

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Saturday night after dinner, while hubby was doing the dishes and I was working on laundry, Maggie called out to me down the hall.

Maggie: Mommy! I'm pooping!
Me: Would you like to sit on the potty and poop?
Maggie: No, I'm playing with my dollhouse.
Me: Are you still pooping?
Maggie: [GRUNT] Nope.

Knowing is supposed to be half the battle, right?

Are You Ready to Celebrate - Disney on Ice Style?

Are the ‘blahs’ of winter getting to you and your little ones yet? I’ve got just the remedy! There’s a Disney on Ice show coming to the Detroit area February 24 - 28!

You can check out ‘Disney on Ice: Let’s Celebrate’ for just $44 for four tickets – use the code MOM when purchasing tickets online, by phone or at the Palace box office (not valid on VIP or rinkside seats). Tickets are on sale now!

The show description reads: It’s one colossal party on ice, with all your favorite Disney friends! Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as they celebrate a Very Merry Unbirthday Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter; a Royal Valentine’s Day Ball with the Disney Princesses, including Cinderella, Ariel and Tiana; a Hawaiian luau with Lilo & Stitch; a winter wonderland with Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story; a Halloween haunt with the Disney Villains and more in a magical medley of holidays, celebrations and festivals from around the globe.

In exchange for passing along the discount information about this show, I’m receiving four tickets. Hope to see you there!

Uphill Both Ways in the Snow!

I was talking with a woman a couple nights ago with whom I ended up having several things in common. We were both in direct sales, and we had both started out with a college education in retail merchandising and marketing. It was funny talking about the 'good old days.' When we had started working in our chosen fields, it was mostly about customer service. I told her about the internet retailer I used to work for, and how we actually tracked every bit of traffic coming into our site. We needed to know what worked and what didn't, and it was a few years before all of the seo optimization software that later became available. We needed to figure out for ourselves what worked and what didn't. Pioneers in the field, essentially. The conversation finally ended in laughter. Neither of us is old enough to have stories about riding a dinosaur to school or walking barefoot, uphill, both ways in the snow. It was reminding us of how old we used to think grown-ups were. Now we've become the grown-ups. Scary!

52 to Fabulous! - Pick a Wall

Well, my assignment this week for 52 to Fabulous was to pick one wall at a time and make it, well, fabulous! I'm making it my goal to go for one wall period, never mind 'at a time.' Here's the wall I see when I walk into my office. It is immediately to my left as I sit facing the computer. The adorable table would make a great staging area for using it and my limited desk space (since my desk is more of a 'computer' desk than a traditional desk with a work surface). Looking at it now, especially in a picture that the whole world could see, is a bit embarrassing.

Another goal that folds right into making this wall fabulous is that this is the spot that would be perfect for my personal altar or vision board. The vision board is one of the assignments I've missed on 52 to Fabulous, but I chose not to make it up right away because I want something I can display and be proud of, and right now I don't have a place to do that! We've talked about personal altars in my Cakes for the Queen of Heaven class. So no one is confused and thinks I'm practicing ritual sacrifice in my office, here's a brief description of a wiccan altar from Wikipedia:

The items brought to the altar may be a random assortment of personally significant items or a particular set with ritual significance. Traditionally, altar items may include but are not limited to: candles of significant colors, cups or bowls or cauldrons, small statues of gods and goddesses, a ritual knife which in most traditions must never be defiled by being used to cause damage, a wand, a bowl of salt, a bell, and possibly some crystals. The altar is usually covered in some sort of cloth. Some traditions separate the items on the altar into the four Greek classical elements, of earth, air, fire and water

Think of it as a collection of special things. On our altar at class we have pictures of important women to us, symbols of power, and goddess figures. I love the idea of it and think it would work well as a small part of my office (which is the most 'me' place in the house).

So my goal for the near future is to come up with an 'after picture to follow-up with this. Wish me luck!

Easy Fix?

I am working up the nerve to post a picture of one of the walls of my office. You've heard before that it's...well...a bit cluttered. Still functional for me, but probably not for anyone else. I wish there was an easy fix, like hemorrhoid treatment cream fixing under-eye circles? A dusting stick that would push everything into manageable piles. Or even just make it disappear. Boy, wouldn't those be in demand. For now, I'm hoping the picture will shame me into just getting it picked up once and for all.

A Few Giveaways!

What could be more summertime than Popsicles?? Head on over to Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife for your chance to WIN Popsicles (don't worry, they'll keep in the freezer til it warms up enough to enjoy them ;) ).

Like gum? Like art? Check out the artistic Dentyne gum (you'll have to go look to see what I'm talking about!) over at Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife.

How about truffles? Stop by MamaBuzz where Fancy Lady Gourmet Truffles is giving away custom cake truffles (and a 10% discount if you can't wait to win!).

Feel like getting organized (don't I always?)? Frugal with a Flourish is giving away a set of baskets with pretty little liners. Hurry on this one - it's done on February 7!

Wow! Over at Jaebumfangirl, she's giving away a Coach wallet she's never used! Whew! Don't see that very often. There's lots of entries already, and she's keeping it open until the end of February (good thing it's a short month!). The extra entries are for tweeting instead of blogging - if you're into twitter and don't want the wallet, I'd take it off your hands ;)

I'd be remiss if I didn't use this time to also give a huge shout out to Mama Kennedy, who finds most of these giveaways for me! Be sure and check out her blog regularly :)

Why Do I Do This?

So someone started a Facebook group remembering people who have graduated (or would have graduated) from my high school, who died. While it isn't quite as bad as it may sound, it certainly isn't cheerful. It isn't just my graduating class, and some of them graduated long before me, but some graduated with me, or after me. Reading about people dying makes me feel sad, and old. It should be a few years before I need to find the best joint supplement, but reading the wall posts make me think I could be gone by the end of the week.

Is there a group like this for all high schools, or are we morbidly unique?

Friday Fill Ins

Thanks to Mama Jodi for reminding me about Friday Fill-Ins! What will your answers be?

1. I know I'm lucky to have such a well-behaved girl.
2. Months with 31 days are the longest month.
3. You can't help but smile back at cute kids.
4. I'm ready to rule; bring it on!
5. Where have you looked for work that you love?
6. Grocery shopping money is now available.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to seeing hubby before he leaves on another work trip next week, tomorrow my plans include chillin and bloggin and Sunday, I want to use my coupon for a free meal at Logans!

Bills, bills, bills

It always kind of bums me out when I go with a post title like this one and it auto-fills...meaning I've already used it. Not that paying bills bothers me that much, but sometimes the monotony of my life isn't exactly uplifting. Each month it's mortgage, car insurance, utilities and medical bills (lately...). At least I talked the powers that be into holding off on the student loan for another six months.

You know, because I need a degree to be hanging out with Maggie all day. She is definitely smart, but any manipulating she gets away with isn't because of something she's learned in college that I haven't. It's her darn cuteness.

People say that my college degree makes it so I can tell Maggie how important it is to continue her education. I suppose I can say that, but I don't entirely agree with it. I feel it's very important to be doing something you love. There are jobs that people love and make a living wage at that don't require a college degree. Yes, I know there are more opportunities available with my degree, but the jobs I've loved best haven't used my degree - like being a mom :)

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. Story time again! I've been trying to go to more story times offered by different groups. This morning is Kindermusik's free story time at a local coffee shop. Yay!
2. I booked a Sashay Jewelry party for February 17. I'll also have new Dove Chocolate stuff to sample that day. Who's in?
3. I am SO ready for spring. But before it's too nice, I would like to go check out more ski hills with hubby for his blog...Maybe this weekend...
4. I'm really bothered by the appearance of my hands lately. Besides still having lame stubby nails, my poor skin looks old, and my hands look more wrinkley :(
5. Maggie's word of the day yesterday was "Palaeobatrachus." Yeah. It was the dinosaur featured on Dinosaur Train, and she repeated that mouthful of a name with the paleontologist guy. (And you won't believe how long it just took me to look up the name so I'd spell it right...)
   
6. Don't let me forget to bring the salty snack to my Cakes class on Sunday...
7. I did my regular thing last night. Because I worked (a chocolate open house) over dinner time, I just never got around to eating. Now? I'm very hungry.
8. I haven't done any more toward my 52 to Fabulous projects, other than thinking (and feeling guilty that I haven't done any more. I hate when that happens).
9. I still have the stuff to make these really yummy peanut butter dessert bars. That may be on the agenda very soon....
10. As a friend asked me earlier this week, what did people do before those plastic storage containers? I got two new ones for different types of Maggie's toys last week, and I could use a bunch more. Always.
    

This Month's 'Holiday'

No, I'm not talking about Presidents' Day. I mean Valentine's Day! Do you have big plans? We probably won't do much more than go out for dinner sometime that weekend, and we'll probably bring Maggie with us :) Our wedding anniversary is even that week, but really - we get to celebrate with each other pretty regularly, right?

Right now, I'm shivering and tired. If I had to plan a V-Day dream date right now, it would probably involve a nice warm jacuzzi tub (somewhere they hopefully clean the spa filter), something warm and yummy for my tummy, probably some champagne (just because I'm a sucker for champagne) and snuggling up with my hubby in a super soft bed with the piles of soft, heavy covers (anything beyond that wouldn't make my site very family-friendly, now would it?).

If you could just decide what you want to do for February's big holiday, what would it be?

Wordless Wednesday