Low Down

Right, so we've been busy. As you have been. It's the holidays, anything less would be weird. On top of being busy, we have had *snooze* dial-up *snooze*. You might as well have attached a blog post to a carrier pigeon and sent it on it's way.

Sigh of relief.....we now have a wireless "hot spot" in the house and my life is so much "faster". The problem with all of this is that we have had really important things happen since I last posted.

In an attempt to get caught up...I will just do a little, late 2009 "round up" so to speak...

• this beautiful daughter just turned 4

• this beautiful daughter will soon be 2

• this house was bought

• two weeks later, we had a housewarming party, here

• spent and celebrated Thanksgiving in North Carolina with our Cuban family(insert wonderful pictures of family, home cooked food, conversations, laughing and warmth with parents, sister, cousins, aunt and uncle and my abuela!!!!!)
  

• spent and celebrated our Christmas in Panama City Beach, Flahrida with our Canadian family(insert windy and cold beachy pictures of family, food, conversations, laughing and warmth with nan-nan, grandad, uncles, aunts and sweet sweet cousins!!!)

• we drove to said destination (11 hrs) with both girls. saylor riding rear facing too. having fun yet? Athena- "Momma, why (insert everything here), what (insert everything here), where(insert everything here), when (insert everything here)" and say the entire thing over 500 times. Then you would get a feel for the drive over. Rinse and repeat for the trip back.

• we drove back from said destination (11 hrs) with both girls. saylor riding rear facing too. still having fun? Michael has the audacity to ask me, whilst IN THE CAR, if we should take a road trip to Orlando to go to Disneyworld in early 2010. Are you having an embolism, babe? That is like asking a woman IN LABOR when she is going to have her next kid.

I probably think about blogging once a day but just could not get my shite together. I look forward to being able to post again and much more frequently.

Soooo, Happy New Year and remember to stick to your new year's resolution



......mine will be blogging, part deux.

Sweet 16

I have been so silly busy these days. I know I sort of alluded to it in the previous post, but really, been busy.

How busy have you been??????

Sooooo busy that I am dove tailing erin's blog post about the two girls I heart. How do you like that for la. zee.?

Not just any ol' person's blog.....but the coolest, etsy shop owner in all the land. She is actually cooler than all of the cool stuff in her etsy store....and blog....and tweeter...

she does live in Pittsburg though.......

oh well, it doesn't matter..... ;)

Go and check out her blog, her post and more importantly her art!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG

I am alive. All is well. Thanks for the search party everyone, but I am just BUSY. I miss y'all though. I miss being the blogger and bloggee. There are plenty of awesome blogs that I have not read in a long time.

In a nutshell....

Found a house
Bought a house
Got a part time job
Left other part time job
Got sick
Got better
Enrolled Athena in Tap
Enrolled Saylor in music class
Lost my mojo
Will find it soon, *crossing fingers*
Needing halloween costumes for girls
Using last year's costumes for girls
Buying furniture for new home
Decorating new home
Watching Dexter on Netflix
Spending money on etsy
life
life
life

So, I just wanted to check in and say that I will be back soon. I have had many thoughts and want to share but it will have to wait :(

Oh and best news of all (being utterly sarcastic) is that our new house does not have dsl, or cable, or FIOS. It only has...are you ready.......

Omunky see Omunky do

As all of you know, this blog is about hearting two girls, hearting motherhood, hearting randomness(gosh, I really love this stuff) and hearting new, fun, and familial businesses.

My blog, my fodder, right? Soooooo, I wanted to let you all on a little secret. There is a new start up business in town(well, NY to be exact)named OMUNKY and it is an online apparel store that embraces the new environmentally friendly world with awesome looking clothes made from Eco-friendly material such as recycled-cotton! All of us know how great organic/recycled cotton feels on our skin. OMUNKY chooses to provide the world Eco-friendly gear not because it is popular, but because it is the right thing to do.

The designs (and earthy colors) are the cutest (and very unique), with a nose picking (or Rodin inspired) monkey as it's logo, and a side kick Hippo. Let's not forget my favorite, the hitchhiking gorilla....don't we all feel like this sometimes? There are also a couple of belts that are pretty hip. All in all, OMUNKY has the comfort, cost, custom designs and consciousness that we are all wanting.

So, as any good blog entry where I mention a new biz, there is a *perk* for the readers of said blog.

IF YOU ENTER THE CODE WORD "TWOGIRLS" AT CHECKOUT YOU WILL RECEIVE A 15% OFF discount!!!! This deal is a limited time only and will expire on Thursday the 15th of October.

Is OMUNKY On Facebook? Yep. www.facebook.com and search OMUNKY or click directly from his website

Is OMUNKY Twitter friendly you ask? yep.... www.twittwer.com/omunky

Got his own blog??? yep..... www.omunky.blogspot.com



Have fun and let me know what you think :)

'Sis different now

Today started like any other day. Athena yelling from her room saying "I gotta go pottyyyyyyyy" and Saylor hearing her sister's voice from her own room and then saying "doown....dowwn". Athena had asked me to let her go into saylor's room to get her up. As I was rubbing my eyes and peeing on the toilet, I mutter "fine". She opens the door and saylor is smiling and then laughing while athena grabs toys for her that have fallen out of her crib for her. Saylor is then picked up by me and put on the floor.

The girls "hugged" and went running out of the room. And yes, it is barely 7am at this point (for those of you keeping track).

*********this is where is all changed*******************************

Athena and Saylor went into Athena's room and closed the door. They were relatively quiet and played in there, for 30 minutes together. This may sound like nothing to some of you, but to those of you that were impressed with this, you know why. I heard Athena reading a book to her, then I heard the railroad track being built, then the maracas and drums were being played and then some animated toys were turned on.

All of this was going on and the girls remained happy and without getting hurt.

I was able to 1. make and drink coffee, 2. have a breakfast bar, 3.check email, and 4. write this blog post. Of course I keep anticipating that someone is going to run out of the room in tears or blood, but I am still writing.

I came to the realization that my daughters may be becoming the bffs that we hoped they would become. It also brought to light that I may not be their sole entertainer! So this is why I found this to be so fantastic this morning as I had my brekkie and blogged.

Of course, now that I have actually written this out for the universe to read, they are going to come out of their room running screaming like banshees.

It's gone from this.....



to sometimes being this.....

Peep Show and Tell

So, now that Athena is 3years old, she is in school, Montessori school, there are certain things that are expected of her. One of these wonderful activities, that she will need to actively participate in is Show and Tell.

I asked the teacher about it and she said "she can bring in anything she wants, but it cannot be a toy". Ok, great. There are some parameters, but, nothing too daunting.

Please listen in to our conversation about what to bring in.......

Me- Babe, it's your turn for show and tell on friday. What do you want to bring in?

Athena- Bring in? To tell about?

Me- Yes, what do you want to bring in to your classroom to tell your friends about?

Athena- My train set. The one with the bridge.

Me- oh, sorry, love, it can't be a toy.

Athena- No, not a toy, my train set.

Me- Well, your train set is a toy, because you can play with it. So, what do you want to take in to school from your room?

Athena- My hippopotamus, Gloria.

Me- Well, that's a toy too.

Athena-I don't play with it, I sleep with it.

Me- ok, this is sorta hard to understand huh? Ok, what can you take in to your classroom that you don't play with, but would like to show your friends?

Athena- Ummmm. The "something I didn't understand"

Me- The what?

Athena- The "something I didn't understand"

Me- The outkast cd? What? we don't even have the outkast cd. what?

Athena- Momma! the owl cast!

Me- The owl cast, owl, cast? Omgosh....The Owl cast?

Athena- Yes.

Me- Ummmmm. ok.


This, my friends is what my daughter wants to take into "show and tell" on friday.........

Yes, my belly cast.

I will have to turn off my cell phone and have Michael pick her up from school.

I soooooo wish she could take her train set.

1st day of school's Power Lunch

Me -hey, athena, what did you have for lunch today?

Athena- nothing.

Me- what did you eat today for lunch? (you know that special rephrasing for 3 year olds)

athena-french fries.

me-french fries and what?

abba-that's it.

me-that's it???????

athena-and chocolate milk.

me- oh good *rolling my eyes in the driver's seat*. french fries and chocolate milk. Listen, tomorrow, can you choose the other milk?

athena- the other milk?

me- yeah.

athena- ok. I don't like strawberry milk.

me- fucking el *in my head*.

me- athena, please choose the white milk.

athena-yes, white milk. with french fries.

*sigh*

Blowing Barbie

Ok, well, 35 is well on it's way. Here I am *wishing* that I was a better blogger.

Oooops, shouldn't have told you that. Damn.

Back from Bloggy staycation and "More Consistent Blogger" coming to a theater near you.

Eyebrow Seamstress

First off, I am sorry that 1.) my posts have been so scant and 2.) that they will again be about hair .

I have recently discovered (funny, how this is an ancient technique, yet, I just realized where to get it done) eyebrow threading. It is incredible.

If any of you actually know know me, you know that I have thick and bushy eyebrows that are maintained and manicured by waxing and tweezing. Tedious, and painful. I discovered threading at the mall of all places, a kiosk in fact. A pretty little east Indian lady was sitting there, threading another lady's eyebrows. It was fascinating. She looked like a slow, human sewing machine. Both her hands and her mouth were used to pluck these hairs. I was intrigued. I hovered over the other lady (who had her eyes closed so she was unaware) and wanted it done on my eyebrows.

I sat in the chair ready for it and realized early on that I was going to be doing this from now on. Not only is the pain less than tweezing, but also better than the brusk act of waxing. When she was done with my brows, she asked (politely) if I like (the mess we call) my upper lip done too, I said "yes, please". It was precision personified. She dealt with each hair, but pulled it in a manner that somehow didn't really hurt. When I looked at the mirror she handed me, I was throughly impressed and very happy with the results. It had dawned on me that I hadn't asked her the price yet. I mean, whatever it was I would have to pay it now, but I asked her anyhow. Do you know that it was cheaper than my waxing salon???????? $10 for brows and $5 for upper lip.

Anyhow, I am sold and I thought I'd share.

Here is an example of what I speak of.

Epi(scream like a banshee)Lady

I was in bed and having a slight bout of insomnia and the thought of the epilady comes to my mind. I didn't want it there but it was there and it lingered around for a while.

I was remembering how badly I wanted this little machine. It was the bees knees back in middle school and I had it on every "wish" list I could muster.

One Christmas, I finally receive the epilady and thought it was so cool.

I was so cool.

I mean come on, I had the power of an electric hair removal system in my hand. It looked smart, it was ergonomically designed to feel smart and the commercial was awesome. I was so stoked, I pulled up my pajama pant bottom and looked at my hairy leg. I was so excited to (in a circular motion) to remove my unwanted hair.

*******This thing was barbaric.*******

I did not know about wine and percocet at age 12, but, I think you truly would need this when using. The pain (to me) was enormous. For those of you who don't remember (or have blocked out of your memory), this thing had a coil like this...

and it would rotate around and "catch" the hairs and pluck them out for you. It was like a tweezer on a treadmill (not sure how that would work, but you get where I'm going). You went too slow you would be in agonizing pain, you went too fast you would just graze over your hair. Moving the rotating spring across the skin caused the hairs to be "caught up" in the spring and pulled out the hair. Ugh, I cringe just remembering that thing.

I used it for a good 34 seconds and promptly put it back in the box and swore I would try again. I had to. It was an epilady folks. I knew I needed to use after bath or shower, pull skin taught, start slowly, go in direction of hair growth (did this even matter), and use moisterizing cream.

I never touched the thing again.

I was terrified.

That thing sat in it's box with all of it's bells and whistles forever. I have no clue what ever happened to that epilady, I just know that I hope some of you remember this and can share your experiences with me.

You do remember right?

I need to go to sleep.

Two Thousand Word Thursday (on a friday)

1.



2.

Sorry, I couldn't get to the computer yesterday to play TWT on time :(

Comment on what you think the subjects are thinking or saying.
You can do both, either or neither.

I love thursdays....er....fridays two.

FB etiquette

There has to be some rules, somewhere. I swear, I feel so old and not "with it" when I am on facebook. The funny part is that everyone else is as old as me and probably less with it, kwim (know what I mean...for those of you less cool).

It is a place where you want to be you but realize that most of these people don't really know you because you have befriended half of North America. You have to censor your comments, remarks and pictures b/c there are ALL SORTS OF people on here. So when you are commenting on your "friend's" pictures and you really want to drop the f bomb (because it really is the right expletive) you don't b/c you don't know if this person has their mother, father, children, co workers, bosses, children, teachers, babysitters, in laws, etc etc etc on their friend list. This personal and professional site is a tough dance for me.

Now the actual procedure of "Friending" is where I get super frazzled. Let me walk you through it. I get a friend request from someone. There is no message attached to the request. I either 1. just know who you are because you went to school with me, 2. are a friend of a friend that I went to school with, 3. realize that I have met this person ONCE, or 4. have no clue who you are. I have a hard time with each of these. First off, would it kill any of you to put a little message on the friend request? I mean a short "great to see you on here" or "met you at the playground last tuesday" or "used to work with you ten years ago...I sat down the hall in a whole other department....but I want to be your friend on facebook". You know, something like that.

Secondly, why do you want to be my friend anyway? We didn't really care for each other in high school or college, why would it be different now? Or, I don't even know who you are. All of this promiscuous friending can lead to weirdness later. And if you are desperately trying to get to a "number" of friends to feel good about yourself or to feel popular, you are truly jacked up.

When I DO befriend you, you never write me, or comment on my pictures, or my status. What is the point here folks? Are you an acquaintance, lurker or snooper? This should be coined so. I would be ok with this b/c at least I would know what to expect from our "friendship".

All of the requests for pokes, games and trees and hugs. I don't get them, I don't play them. I don't really care what kind of cleaning detergent you are, ice cream flavor, which song you are, or what drink you are. Aren't all of you supposed to be working? I am a sahm, I am expected to be on the computer all of the time. These things make me laugh and I also laugh at the typos (grammatical and spelling) involved by the authors of the quiz.

All in all, I do happen to LOVE facebook. Most of it anyhow. I have just always pondered these questions and have wondered if any of you have too and what you have done about it. Are you "accept" happy or "ignore" happy.

Anyhow, as always, I have found a video on you tube to illustrate my point (or lack thereof).

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

It's thursday again!!!! Wow does time ever fly by when you get old.
Thousand Word Thursday- Caption picture and what you think subjects are saying/thinking.

Thank you for your support (in a bartles and james way)

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

Thursday already? Yikes, this week has flown by!

Ok, so it's TWT and I have gone old school. This is Athena with her old bff Aidan. *sniff*

Comment on what you think the subjects are thinking/saying.

Happy Thursday (and holiday friday)!!!!!

Wanna be a mommy or daddy? Try this.

I got this as an email forward and was laughing my arse off...

MESS TEST
Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Place a fish stick
behind the couch and leave it there all summer.

TOY TEST
Obtain a 55-gallon box of LEGOs (or you may substitute roofing
tacks). Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a
blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream
because this would wake a child at night.

GROCERY STORE TEST
Borrow one or two small animals (goats are best) and take them
with you as you shop. Always keep them in sight and pay for
anything they eat or damage.

DRESSING TEST
Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff into a small net
bag making sure that all the arms stay inside.

FEEDING TEST
Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend
from the ceiling with a cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to
insert spoonfuls of soggy cereal into the mouth of the jug, while
pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the contents of the jug on
the floor.

NIGHT TEST
Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 8-12
pounds of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 3:00 p.m. begin
to waltz and hum with the bag until 9:00 p.m. Lay down your bag
and set your alarm for 10:00 p.m. Get up, pick up your bag, and
sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more
and sing these too until 4:00 a. m. Set alarm for 5:00 a.m. Get
up and make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful.

INGENUITY TEST
Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and pot of paint,
turn it into an alligator. Now take a toilet paper tube and turn
it into an attractive Christmas candle. Use only scotch tape and
a piece of foil. Last, take a milk carton, a Ping-Pong ball, and
an empty box of Cocoa Puffs. Make an exact replica of the Eiffel
Tower.

AUTOMOBILE TEST
Forget the BMW and buy a station wagon. Buy a chocolate ice cream
cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there. Get a
dime. Stick it into the cd player. Take a family size
package of chocolate chip cookies. Mash them into the back seat.
Run a garden rake along both sides of the car. There, perfect.

PHYSICAL TEST (Women)
Obtain a large bean bag chair and attach it to the front of your
clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. Now remove 10 of the beans.

PHYSICAL TEST (Men)
Go to the nearest drug store. Set your wallet on the counter. Ask
the clerk to help himself. Now proceed to the nearest food store.
Go to the head office and arrange for your paycheck to be
directly deposited to the store. Purchase a newspaper. Go home
and read it quietly for the last time.

FINAL ASSIGNMENT
Find a couple who already have a small child. Lecture them on how
they can improve their discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet
training and child's table manners. Suggest many ways they can
improve. Emphasize to them that they should never allow their
children to run wild. Enjoy this experience. It will be the last
time you will have all the answers

Take 2

Well, you all remember my post baby body break up right? Well.....we didn't completely break it off like I said I had. I was ashamed to admit it but the constant emails, texts, flowers (cookie bouquets of course) and all out reconciliation attempts finally got to me. We got back to together.

But, I am here to say that we have broken up for good this time. For reals. She has moved on to someone who really appreciates her and needs her (someone who doesn't know what a drag she really is yet). Someone else, not me.

What am I doing to remind myself that what we had together was just an illusion, a mirage, a downright downer you ask?????.........roller derby boot camp of course.

Yes, tonight I begin exercising with the Machete Betties. 2 hours of hard hitting fun. I will learn basic skating skills and derby skills such as falls, stops, and contact. I am in for a raucous good time, I just know it. I will need skates, pads (elbow, knee, and wrist), and a helmet. Doesn't that just scream fun?

Anyhow, I am going to try it out and try to get in shape with these gals.

Don't they look sweet?

If I don't make it back to the blog, you know what happened.

Yoo-hoo???....it's *still* a Beach

I am from Miami, my children, are not. We live *near* Galveston Beach, Texas.
This is not like a beach from Miami (please, don't be mad at me Texans).
I am not dogging the beach, or trying not to anyway.
Anyhow, it doesn't matter, look at them....they don't seem to care that they are swimming in yoo-hoo.

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

TWT game- Leave a comment with what you think the subjects are saying/thinking.

Happy Thursday.....sorry I was so late today :(

It's in the jeans

My daughter eats and loves pizza, the same way I do. It is my favorite food, actually it is my comfort food (as Carolina and I were discussing the other day). It is my "go to " food when I am happy, sad, angry, pms'ing, menstruating, ovulating....You get it.

I am convinced that in the first picture she is saying "why did I get this plate, I won't be needing it"






Doesn't she just look like she is enjoying this piece of pizza immensely? Yep, my daughter alright.

What is your comfort/go-to food?

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

I lied, I guess I haven't jumped back on the blogging horse just yet. Argh. I want to and will. In the meantime, here is this week's twt. Thanks Cindy for request. She is a long time listener, first time caller.

Caption the picture with what you think the subjects are thinking or saying or both.

Happy Thursday!!!!

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

Thursday's TWT game :)
Caption the picture and what you think the subjects are thinking or saying.

PS....these are girls I heart too.

Big Love

We have HBO's show Big Love on our Netflix queue. We have been getting it now and have watched all of season 1, we are about to begin season 2. Fascinated (even though it is a show I believe loosely based on real life, I also believe creators did a lot of research on it)about the idea, practice, or divine calling which is polygamy (the practice or condition of having more than one spouse, esp. wife, at one time).

There are moments in the show, when I am like...."yes, totally into polygamy" and other times when I am like "Oh Hell, No".

Yes times-

*other people cooking for me
*other people taking care of my kids
*having time alone every three nights (read a book, or chat with friends...new, friends. sister wife friends)
*great looking family photos
*always someone to talk to and vent to
*I could be first wife
*great blog fodder

Hell, No times-

*sharing husband, I guess this is the really big no
*fighting with other women who are as smart and as "womanly" as you
*dealing with other people's pms other than mine
*cooking for many other people
*taking care of other sister wives' kids
*if I were second or third wife
*having to consult 10 people for anything we do
*having to lie to everyone we meet and not being able to have anyone over to visit because we have a plural marriage and household.

So as you can see, luckily, we don't live in Utah, and are not Mormons. I would have said "no way jose" before seeing the actual show, and now, I will just say "No, thanks".

There are also times when Michael says Yes! and No!!!! to the idea of polygamy. We can all imagine what his list would look like.

You take the good, you take the bad, you take 'em both and there you have.....polygamy, polygamy.

Clown Bear Escentuals

You see the commercials, you see them at the cosmetic counter, you see them at target, you see them on your friends......so you give it a try.

Am I the only one who does not know how to actually wear mineral makeup? I find that no matter how minuscule the amount that I manage to pick up with my brush, I end up looking like Mimi from The Drew Carey Show. Not only is it difficult to put on for me but it leaves a hell of a mess on the counter, sink and my clothes. I like the concept and I appreciate how concentrated the product is, but, let's face it, operator error.

So what does a girl in the 2000s do to get educated about a subject? Class? Yes, you in the back? Exactly, get a Youtube tutorial.




Ahhhh, I should swirl it in.

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

Let me know what you think the subjects are saying/thinking in this picture.

Have fun, I do :)

Happy Thursday www!!!!

Blogging Hiatus

Sorry for the reprieve, but, between busy holiday weekends, my j.o.b., and lack of bloggy mojo, I have been away. I hope all of you are great (we are doing awesomely). I will begin to catch up with my bloggy friends soon and catch y'all up on the BAMS and the girls I heart.

I also want to say that the winner of the super cutey shoes(using random.org and applying the "credits" to each of you accordingly) is ........................

BECCA at Deatons in Hong Kong

Go visit her and tell her how happy you are that she won these great little shoes ;) These shoes will potentially be walking all over hong kong and the coolness that is that city!

Bec, I will be contacting you with the Bugaloo contact information.

Now, back to your regularlly scheduled blogging......

Bugaloo Giveaway 4 U

i heart 2 girls was approached to do product review by the cutest. shoe company. ever.

Bugaloo.

I haven't done a product review on purpose (since mami skincare)even though I have been approached before. I wanted to make sure I would be able to love it and scream it from the rooftops. I happen to think that these shoes are really really cute, well made, fashionable, affordable and did I mention CUTE!

This review will be straight from the horse's (or pony's rather) mouth.....

These shoes are cute, comfortable, and they do not slip off of me. I have yet to lose one. They hold steadfast to my fat little feet, yet, come off easily with precise movements from my mom.


They are easy, cute (notice the details?), and cost way less then R......z. Shame on those people for charging so much for their shoes. These are also leather, with the characters being just as cute (if not cuter), but for much less. So many styles and colors schemes to choose from too.

Here I am feeling them out. Yep, leather, and sturdy.

I walked around and they really felt nice on the soles of my feet and with my size WW pillowy foot, it was nice to not have any straps or buckles digging into me. Did I mention the inside of the shoe is lined? (nodding) lined.

Now, if that wasn't enough to make you all go out and buy them, I want to tell you what Bugaloo does with 5% of each purchase. It is donated to the International Justice Mission, an agency that secures justice for victims of child slavery.

Oh and I forgot to mention that if you buy three pairs you get FREE SHIPPING! Even internationally.

Soooo, you get the gist right? We love the shoes. And you now want a pair, right?

Welllllllllllllllllllll, I can hook you up!

Bugaloo is giving away one pair of shoes for one of my readers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yep, you read right.....you can win a freeeeee pair!

Here is how...........

So what we are going to do is 1. the website viewing. Come back and tell me which adorable shoe was your favorite and what size you will be needing that in. That move will get you ONE entry. If you are already a follower or become one, you get TWO entries and if you blog about my contest on your blog, then you'll get a whopping FIVE entries.

I will be using random.org and choosing a winner in one week and a day. Tuesday, May 26th.

Have fun and good luck :)

The website is www.bugalookids.com

Massage, Mani/Pedi and an MRI

You read right. M. R. I. Magnetic Resonance Imaging. I had one this morning. Not for anything too scandalous, just to figure out the vertigo I have been feeling as of late. (the above picture is not of me, even though, I did need to go get my facial hair waxed).

It. was. fabulous. I know I sound psychotic, but, I have not been this relaxed in a long time. After the prep, it was all smooth sailing.

I removed my nose ring, earrings, and ring ring. I was covered with a nice cozy and soft blanket and I had to lay completely still on this sliding table thingee. My forehead was strapped down and was instructed to "not move, or breathe too deeply". If I moved, they would have to start again. I was told the first one would be for 25 minutes and then they would pull me out of the machine and inject me with gadolinium (a contrast material to help see the issues better) and then put me back in for ten. I was then handed ear plugs to help keep the noises that whirr around you lowly. Finally, I was handed this button to press if I completely wigged out.

I asked all of the pertinent questions 1. "well when you say move do you mean like move move?" he answered, "if you need to move, you can move your big toe, slightly", 2."can I blink?" he answered "softly", 3."What if I need to cough?" he answered "swallow gently", 4."an itch?" he answered "tough titties" (he really didn't), he said I would have to "weigh out the consequences of scratching", 5."how long is this going to be again?" 25 for the first one, injection then 10", 6. "will it hurt?" he said "no". Then he asked "ahem, can we get started"?

Strapped in, arms crossed (with panic bulb in them), feeling cozy, we started. I immediately closed my eyes and started to hear all sorts of noises. They were like humming, knocking and low vibrations. Can you say "sleepy time". I was being shushed to sleep. I knew I didn't want to sleep b/c of the fear of snoring or twitching or moving but I also knew I could be alert and waiting b/c the 25 minutes would drag on. So I hovered in the weirdest, most relaxing little place. I let my mind float around and I ran through all sorts of lists and situations and scenarios. I watched my breathing but allowed myself to go from thought to thought. It was quiet, cool, I was still. It was so relaxing. After becoming a mother, these moments are so few and far between. Listen to how relaxed I was that he peers in to the machine and says to me, "I will be pulling you out now but DO NOT MOVE. I will inject you and place you back in". I didn't answer him or nod or really anything. I was pulled out, vein was found, needle put in, eyes tightened a smidgen, and I was placed right back into the vessel. 10 more minutes and voila, done. I was so relaxed. He said I did great and the pictures were "great and very clear". I was happy to hear. And relaxed.

So, next mothers day, ask for the mani/pedi/MRI special. If you're like me, you'll be happy you did.

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

We've gone old school at TWT.
Comment on what you think these subjects are thinking/saying.
Happiest Thursday and sorry for my absence :)

Cinco de Mayo

How did we celebrate cinco de mayo this year you ask? Well, with cupcakes of course. Some people do tequila, some do margaritas, some do mariachi. We, did cupcakes.

It is Athena Blaze's official half birthday!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, Sassafras turned 3 and half.

So, what does a newly branded 3.5 year old get to do that day?

Yep, have cupcakes with pals at 3:30pm.

Happy Half Birthday Boober!

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

Sorry for forgetting yesterday and thank you for reminding me!!!!! How could I forget one of my favorite activities throughout the week. When I started TWT in August of last year, I never thought it would get to be so much fun. You all are hilarious, and always have me chuckling, laughing or guffawing. You girls are creative, and each of you see something different. Anyhow, I digress.

It's always hard to find a picture b/c I am snapping all of the time. This week's was taken by Sarah, a friend of mine :)

You know what to do ;) Happy Thursday!!!!!

Chocolatier's Profiling, 6 hrs a week

Working smack dab in the middle of the mall, you see and hear, a lot. Not only with the customers that actually come up to the store but also the ones just fluttering about. Never having worked in retail really, and certainly never having worked in "food", this has been oh so entertaining for me. I am infinitely amused by people, and their behaviors, reactions and interactions with others. So, of course, I am selling chocolate but also analyzing the crap out of them. How is the saying.......You can take the therapist out of the therapizing, but you can't take the therapizing out of the therapist. Yeah, I just made that up.

Mentally, I have broken up my customers into some categories.

I have customers that come allofthetime. These are what I like to call my "frequent fatties". Most of these are well, robust, and of a sturdy weight. They are great. They look at the chocolate case with complete abandon and borderline lust. Listen, it's chocolate and I get it (I do!) but really, with these folks, you almost don't want to interrupt. These folks eat the chocolate almost before you are done ringing them up and they eat it fast. They complain a bit about the price and how little they get for it. Sometimes, I think to myself that they should be buying a hershey's king size bar and be done with it. Sorry, my blog, my thoughts ;)

People that ask me specifics about the nutritional values of the truffles and chocolate. Making me read calories, fat, and sugars. Breaking down the serving size, saturated fat etc, I call these "the buzzkillers". Taking all the fun out of it. It's chocolate, not jenny craig or wholefoods.

Coming only to ask "do you have samples today" and then not buying anything. Those are my "pretenders". Even though, I too, have done this and will continue to once I leave this job. It's still funny. They pretend to be interested and even comment on this or that, but they walk away....slowly....lingering at the chocolate case pretending to think about it. Nope, I'm on to you.

And then my favorite, we will call them "the connoisseur". This is the customer that asks how they are made, what percentage of dark chocolate is in them, what style of ganache, what is our new pieces, how one piece differs from another. I love having these convos with these folks. It is fun and we both are engaged.

The "storytellers" are the ones that have lived in Europe (germany, belgium, sweden) and have a story about the chocolate "over there" and how much better it is and how they used to love walking through towns and buying fresh choclate etc. These are fun to listen to.

Then we have the "lady's choice" customers. These are people who ask me my favorite and leave it up to me to choose for them. Even though this is fun, choosing chocolate for someone is really not easy. I know what I love but it might not be what you love. The difference bewteen Dark, Milk and White chocolate is immense (I know, I am being dramatic but it's true) so it is really nerveracking for me to do this.

Finally (for today anyhow) there is the "BTDT (been there done that)" customers. These are customers that come with another person. This other person has never been to Godiva and the btdt person is their "guide". Stuff they say is "this is their signature chocolate", "you'll love this one", "they do this one really well", "this one is my favorite", "you just have to try it to really see", "this isn't like other chocoalte you've ever had", etc. etc. etc. Fun, but obnoxious.

Anyhow, I will keep an eye out (of course I will) for new profiles of our chocolate customers. I hope no one from corporate gets wind of my talking smack about the peeps that come to the store. I haven't given anyone my blog (not that they are even one bit interested) at work, so I think we're safe.

This concludes this installment of Chocolatier's Profiling...back to your regularly scheduled blogging.

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

What are these subjects saying/thinking? Welcome to Thousand Word Thursday, TWT

Happy Thursday and Happy Commenting ;)

My IRL Conversations (while children are awake)

Me talking....to Karen(names changed to protect the innocent) and the girls

"Hey, nice to see you Karen...what's going on"?

"Keep it down Athena, remember momma said to be quiet while she talks to Karen".

"Yeah, good to see you again. How is Kaitlyn"?

Athena says...."excuse me momma. excuse me momma. excuse me momma. Can we go in there?"

No, we can't go in there Athena. "waa, waa" Saylor, hold on baby, I will find your bottle in this purse.

"So, what's up Karen"?

Yes, we can go in there Athena. Listen, did you say hi to Kaitlyn? Say hi. Thank you.

"Oh Karen, Kaitlyn looks so big. How is she"?

Saylor is toddling around, aimlessly and I am nodding and trying to maintain eye contact with said friend as I walk backwards with my knees bent toward the baby. When I finally catch her, I attempt to carry her and her 25 lbs of love and realize that she is lunging off of me.

"Did you want to sit down somewhere so we can chat"?

Saylor is snotty so I pull out the boogie wipes to give her a wipe and then athena wants a "drink".

"So, how are you Karen"?

Athena wants to play with whatever Kaitlyn has and tells on her saying that she doesn't want to share. Karen intervenes rapidly talking to Kaitlyn about sharing and the need to let other children play with her stuff...yadda yadda.

"they love that toy don't they? It's a favorite around our house too"

"hey, so, fill me in on your life, friend"

by this time 30 minutes have gone by, athena needs to go potty, saylor is whiney and wanting to run into oncoming traffic, they don't want the snack that I packed for them (that they loved yesterday), and the other mom is going through the exact. same. thing. on her end.

We look at each other and *sigh*. We talk about getting together without the children so that we can have a continuous, non-fragmented conversation, and so that we can actually find out HOW THE OTHER IS.

This is the secret to Moms Nights Out. It is really to finish the 37 conversations that we start at the playground, playdates, zoo, museum, etc..

Godiva Giveaway

because really? what's the point of working there if I can't hook bloggy sistahs up? I have decided that I will be sending out a surprise to the winner. Just know, it will be chocolate and it will be Godiva. Really a win/win if you ask me.

Now, I have decided that I want this to be interactive this time. I want to ask you all some questions (that the answers can be found in the blog somewhere). They won't be hard but it will be fun. At least for me :)


What is the cost of most of my favorite things?

Am I pregnant?

If so, how far along?

What color hair did I have and for how long?

How many children do I have?

Gender?

Their names?

Following me?

If not, get thee to the "follow" button stat.

Then random.org can do the rest.

And this old school rewind is just for S & G's.

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

Happy Thursday.....Happy Commenting.......Happy TWT ;)

What a bright Ikea

Well, as you know, I have a couple of rug rats running around here. I am always looking for creative things to do with them that are easy, free, and fun. I have a mental list of things 'round town that we put into the circuit o' fun throughout the week. Zoo, Museum, McDonald's Play zone, Playdates etc. All of these things are fun and Freeeeeeeeee. Love me some free.

Well, add a new one to the mix. Ikea. Yes, the swedish-particle-board-hard-to-assemble- mecca, Ikea. It has a a playground called Smaland. Cute right? Well, you have to be potty trained...check, between 37-54 inches tall....check, and agree to pick up your child in one hour....check (can we negotiate on this one? I can't really navigate my way through the window less labyrinth that quickly). You are given a buzzer like the one at large chain restaurants and are *buzzed* when their time is up. Best of all is that it is....say it together now....Fa. reeeeee.

Athena loves it. She jumps into the ball pit (yes, she is deloused and disinfected upon leaving), colors, swings and watches whatever movie they have playing at the time. We usually have lunch there (cheap, cheap brekkie!!!!) and then she goes to Smaland. Saylor and I are left to see what is up in the land of the umlaut. It is a fun couple of hours. We all dig it.

What are some ideas for fun, and freeeeeeeee for toddlers and preschoolers?????

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

Every Thursday I will post a picture up on my blog and let you all comment on what you think the subjects are saying/thinking. This is TWT.

Happy Thursday!

Really? You're 15 months already? *sniff*

My gosh. Time really flies when you're having fun.

Pictures taken by The Shannon

Thousand Word Thursday (TWT)

You know what to do.

If not...

Game. Every Thursday I will post a picture up on my blah blah blahg and let you all comment on what you think the subjects are saying/thinking.

Silent Ode to Baby Legs

Well sort of......





Every single time I put these on Saylor, I sing this song. Every single time.

She wears them a lot.













www.babylegs.com