old vs new

Picture this if you will:

A girl, nah- a young woman. It's Friday Night. Just out of the shower, picking out a hot little dress, killer heals, tiny handbag. Doing her hair and makeup. A last minute spritz of perfume before she heads out the door to meet a few friends for cocktails before heading to the club. At the club she and her friends will wait 10, maybe 15 minutes, to get in. Where they will dance the night away, never break a sweat and stumble home around 2am. Fall into bed, maybe taking off the killer heals, maybe not. Sleep. Wakes up at 1pm on Saturday afternoon, showers, drinks coffee, and goes back to bed.

Now picture this:
A girl, nah- a woman. It's Friday Night. Hair pulled back in a ponytail, jeans, tank top, flip flops. Reading "Good Night Moon" for the 70th time, singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and tucking in her daughter. Goes downstairs, checking off homework, washing dishes, sweeping the floor. Around 10pm falling into bed, turning on "Dirty Dancing" to just remember one more time... and then passing out around midnight. 7am Saturday, she gets up, makes breakfast, gets the kids ready for the day, drags them all to the gym, where she waits in line for childcare for 32 minutes, goes into the weight room, works up a sweat in 6.7 nano seconds flat. Works her arse off to not see any difference in her body. Grabs the kids from childcare, drops one off at soccer practice, another at art class, heads to the store to get a weeks worth of grocery shopping done in 45 minutes, with a toddler in tow. Picks up the kids from their class, goes home, and puts away all the groceries. It is now, 11:00am.

When did I exchange waiting 10 minutes to get into a club for 32 minutes waiting for childcare?

*all or none of these stories are based in truth*

**but I do wait 30+ minutes for childcare at the gym. Maybe if I went to a more $$$ gym, I wouldn't have to wait so long, and that might get me to the gym more. Maybe.**

Girlie Craziness!

It's not Christmas time. It's not Thanksgiving time. It's not even Halloween time. It's Halloween costumer making time! Some moms are all homemade all the time. Other are rockin' the store bought. I swing both ways. Looks like this year, I will be going the homemade route. Normally I would cringe a little here, say a little prayer, and take some pain killer pill for the on coming headache.
But this year, this year seems to be different. I am excited to make costumes. I am researching early. I am ordering materials online. I am embellishing costumes and adding accessories already! With only girls to dress for trick or treating, it's all girlie craziness. Tulle and sparkles. Pink and purple. Ribbons and wands.
So I'll let you know, I'll post pictures. Fingers crossed this girlie craziness continues enough for me to have the motivation to finish strong. Other wise, I'll be buying costumes.

Back to School?

Tis the season! Sending the kids back to school! It's the most wonderful time of year! More teachers, more books, and not to mention new back to school supplies. I'm a sucker for new pencils and pens! The first day of school we get up a little bit earlier then necessary, cook a big breakfast and take a few pictures, I even make the kids lunches, and drive the kids to school. The whole nine yards. The kids might spend an extra few minutes picking out their clothes. Or grab a few extra looks in the mirror. Just to make sure.

The question at the end of all of this; when does the new school year euphoria end? When do I get to sleep in again? When do the kids start walking to school again? When do the kids take over the responsibility of making their own lunch again? When does the 'shiny new school year' turn into just another school year? The second day? The second week? The second month?

I wish I could remember how long the smell of the new school year lasting on me. But for the life of me, I just can't recall. I also can't seem to recall what we have done in the past years. What I do know about Back to School... it's great the kids are back at school. The house is quiet for some time during the day. I get some chores done. I get to hang our with my friends again! And there may or may not be a nap happening in the afternoon again. I also know that I am 4 days into the new school year, and already I am tired of pampering the kids in their back to school newness. It is time for them to make their own lunch again!

French Braider? Me?

I taught myself out of necessity in high school, how to french braid my own hair. I have never been able to come anywhere near close to doing a good french braid on someone else's head. Not from lack of effort. Tonight, after my little miss's bath, I was brushing her hair, just like normal, and just gave it a shot. She was letting me try, and I wasn't doing so bad. In fact- I was doing good. No better then good, enough that I would let her leave the house with that braid! I will add pictures soon. I am so proud of her, and of me! Sad slightly, that is was 10 minutes before bed- and it won't last until tomorrow morning, but maybe she and I can do it together again!

One Cup~ Two Cups

Yesterday I had a double dose of fun.

First was a scheduled play date with PJ's friends, Shae and Sullivan, and their wonderful mommy, Jo. http://twotinyterrors.blogspot.com/ It was intended as a play in the pool, play date, but oddly it was cold here in 'Sunny So. Cali' so the kidlets played inside. Dress up, dolls, princesses, etc. All while these two mommies shared a much needed cup of tea and long chat!

On my way home, I got a call from an old friend, who happened to be in town. Usually she and I chat about boys over a cup o' joe. She arrived at my home, just after I laid PJ down for her afternoon nap. No boy chatting, more family gossip, and this time- it was all over a cup of afternoon tea.

Now I thought one cup of tea a day was good. Two cups was GREAT!

If you are feeling sad or lonely: anything besides happy; this Mommy recommends a double dose of cups of tea and friends.

Peace, Love, and Drink Tea!

Blanche we will remember...

Another icon has left us today, for the great big stage in the sky. Rue McClanahan passed away this morning. I never had the privilege of meeting her. I still hope that I will someday. Rue McClanahan is best known for her portrayal of Blanche Devereaux, Golden Girls.

Golden Girls has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Very specifically the girls helped me come full circle. As I was sitting at my mother's kitchen table preparing my wedding dress I was also watching Golden Girls reruns. My mother was going thru an old box of my art work and school work from elementary school. In that box was a time line, of my favorite things in 4th grade. Listed as my fav tv show, The Golden Girls.

The Golden Girls helped many of us little girls. The ladies were our friends, our mothers, and grandmothers- when ours were unavailable. The ladies still are, thank you reruns.

The Golden Girls was the original Sex and The City.

Safe Journey...

Peace~ Ms. McClanahan~ Peace

SandBox Play Grounds

I recently read an article about the nastiest grossest things that we let our kids do. On that list was playing in playground sandboxes- listed as major gross. I think the words they used were, "playing in a used litter box". It makes sense- animals running around our urban neighborhoods- don't differentiate between wooded areas and areas where our kids play. I get it. Gross. and when I think about it EW! double gross!!

I am a frequent resident of neighborhood playgrounds. In all our playground hopping (this action has replaced bar hopping in my mommy-age) we have only found one playground with an honest to goodness sandbox. Mind you this sandbox doesn't make any sense to me... the WHOLE playground is sand, and then there in the middle of the playground is four pieces of wood thus giving the illusion of a sandbox.

This brings me to my point, and I do have one, ALL the playgrounds are each a GIANT sandbox, as all the playgrounds are sand filled. I know there are other options for ground cover at playgrounds, shredded tires & shoes (my personal favorite). My daughters love to play with their sand toys at the playground- so here it is: How do I keep my kids out of the 'used litter box' covered playground, and still let them run off their energy, work out their large muscles, develop coordination, and more importantly tire themselves out, so they and I can take a nap when we get home, and still keep them safe from the gross germs?