Remember To Take Care of Yourself

I had a different post slated for today but in light of Wednesday's horrific events in our nation's capital, I decided, at the last minute, to shift gears. When something as monumental and as disturbing as the insurrection on the Capitol building occurs, it's easy to succumb to feelings of terror and horror. As soon as I saw a friend post about protestors storming the Capitol, I immediately turned on the TV (something I haven't done in months). For the next two hours, I sat mesmerized in front of the TV. I couldn't focus on anything else. Then I began to obsessively check social media for updates.

After a few hours, I was emotionally overcome and overwhelmed. I needed to step back and step away. I turned off the TV, got in my car, and ran a few errands that were planned for earlier in the afternoon but obviously never happened. It was good to take a break from the noise. But more importantly, it reminded me how important it is to take time to take care of yourself.

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What Does Your Dream Home Look Like?

photo via

Since being quarantined almost 4 weeks ago, I've been spending a lot more time (WAY too much) on Pinterest. Obviously, I've been looking for recipes ideas (aren't we all?). I've also been basking in all the pretty pictures, whether they are travel pics, food pics, fashion pics, or insightful quotes. But the type of pictures I seem to be the most fascinated by are the home pictures. Maybe it's because I've been spending so much time in mine that I just want to look at everyone else's. We all want to live in beautiful, grand surroundings. But due to money and resource constraints, that isn't always possible. That's where your imagination comes in. I've come across some pictures of home features that I had no idea existed. I'm not kidding when I say there are some really far out houses out there. Here are a few of the things I might include in the dream home of my imagination.

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We Can Beat This & 10 Things To Do In Quarantine

This is a crazy time in the history of the world. A global health crisis not only poses a threat to our physical wellbeing, but also to our mental and financial wellbeing as well. As much as I support social distancing (I've been doing it since Friday afternoon), it's difficult to see some of my favorite small businesses suffering in order to support these efforts. But I know our collective efforts will pay off in the end by limiting exposure and therefore, stopping COVID-19.

In the meantime, it's overwhelming to take in the abundance of information that's coming from all directions and try to maintain some semblance of sanity and control. While it's been hard for me to limit my time on social media each day as I am constantly checking Facebook for updates and Instagram to see how everyone is doing, I know also that I need to take a break from the constant news stream.

As hard as it is to be quarantined, it's also the only way we will end the spread of COVID-19. Rather than live in denial, embrace your limitations and use this time as a chance to accomplish things you never seem to have the downtime to do.

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The Cast Is Off!

After 8 loooooong weeks, Harper's cast was finally removed.

Looking back, those 8 weeks sure did fly by, but at the time, they seemed like 8 months. There's nothing more emotionally wrenching than seeing your child in pain or injured. It's an awful feeling.

The first week and the last week were the 2 worst weeks. During the first week, it was like having a toddler all over again. Harper needed help to do just about everything. She couldn't get dressed by herself, she couldn't take a bath by herself. She could barely get herself a snack. Learning to cope with the temporary use of one arm was not easy.

During the final week with the cast, we were on vacation in Florida, surrounded by several swimming pools and the Gulf of Mexico. Although we bought a waterproof cast cover, it didn't fit properly and so, it wasn't completely effective. And so, Harper spent much of her time out of the water during a vacation where she otherwise would have been water logged by days end.

It was on this past Tuesday that she bounded out of bed excited for the day ahead. Excited that the cast would finally be removed.

When she arrived at the orthopedic surgeon's office, the cast was removed first. There were no guarantees. An x-ray had to be taken to be sure the bones had fused properly. Another cast was not like but was certainly an option at that point.

Always the model patient.

As soon as the assistant removed the cast, Harper was astounded by how much lighter her arm felt. The assistant took her for her x-ray, and she quickly returned and couldn't stop staring at her arm.

We waited patiently for the orthopedic surgeon to come in to give us the good news or the bad news. Those 30 seconds seemed like an eternity. But he soon came in and told us that Harper's bones were about 85% fused.

OK....and...

She would now need only a removable brace for another month. Woo hoo! I was pretty pumped. I can only imagine how happy my little girl was.

As we were leaving the office, I asked her what she wanted to do. She said she wanted a smoothie from her favorite smoothie place, Fins. And so, we celebrated with smoothies! Here's to a healed broken arm!

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The Joy...and Heartbreak of Motherhood

Everyone always tells you how much joy you'll get from being a mother. "Oh, it's so great. Having kids is awesome. It's so rewarding."

I don't dispute any of it. It's all true. 

When your children experience joy, you are joyful. It's an unbelievable high.

When your children experience heartbreak, your heart breaks. It's an unbelievable low.

No one ever tells you about that.

As resilient as children can be, they can get knocked down pretty hard too. 

I watched as one of my own got knocked down recently, and to say that my heart was broken is a gross understatement.

It all started last Tuesday when I struggled to get Emma out of bed in the morning for school. She whined and complained and cried. Cried. I haven't had crying since the preschool days. She complained of a stomachache. So, I let her stay home, and I carefully watched what she ate. She seemed fine after an hour or so, and she was even eating normally. I coughed it up to "just one of those days".

The following day was more of the same just less intense. And this time she went to school and went to early morning band practice. Those were good signs. But when Thursday morning rolled around, she complained of a headache this time. I told her if her headache persisted, she should go to the nurse. She got on the bus on the verge of tears.

Since it was a four-day weekend, I decided to watch her behavior and her pattern of headaches and stomachaches. None.

Until Tuesday morning. There was nausea and tears. Tears flowing from her eyes and from mine. Why was my child so sad? Why did my child have an all-of-a-sudden aversion to school? I put her on the bus...she walking on in tears, and I walking away in tears.

This wasn't about headaches. This wasn't about stomachaches. This was about school. Something happened at school.

That evening after Emma finished her homework, I asked her to tell me what was going on. I pleaded with her to be honest with me, to tell me what was bothering her.

After much prodding she finally told me. "During a small group activity, I answered a question incorrectly, and a someone in my group said I was dumb".

My heart sank.

"Am I dumb, mommy?" She asked. This time my heart broke.

"Of course, you're not dumb, sweetheart. You are a bright, intelligent young lady. Who said that to you?" I asked.

Suddenly, an IMAX movie I had seen recently about a mother polar bear came to mind. She was fiercely protective of her cub. Stopping at nothing to maintain its safety.

As upset as she was, she wouldn't tell me the name of her classmate. I was at a loss.

I am certain we both cried ourselves to sleep that night.

The next morning was, again, another struggle to get out the door. As soon as everyone was on the bus, I rushed inside, promptly sat at my laptop and began typing an email to her teacher.

I explained the situation. I tried to be as diplomatic as I could. I didn't want to be judgmental. I didn't want to jump to conclusions.

A few hours later, her teacher responded and asked me if she had my permission to speak with Emma about this situation. I gave her my full permission. As parents, we must have full trust in our teachers. We need to know that they are the protectors of our children while they are away from us during the day.

The next day she spoke with Emma and found out the name of the student. Not only was he her classmate, he sat directly beside her in class and rides the bus with her every morning and every afternoon. Suddenly, everything was crystal clear. Her hesitancy to ride the bus and go to school all made sense.

Emma's teacher reassured her that she is a wonderful student with a heart of gold. She made every attempt to help restore her self-confidence. And she promised to speak with the student and his parents, and move Emma's seat in class. The next day when she walked into the classroom, her desk was in a new spot.

She's on the mend. I am on the mend. We are mending together.

For nearly 8 days, I watched as my daughter was a shell of herself because of a comment from a classmate. I am trying not to judge this boy, but it's very hard. The years and years of hard work that I have put into building the self-esteem of my daughter were nearly destroyed because of an unnecessary comment by an insecure child.

Sad, detached, uninterested only begin to describe my daughter during those 8 days.

Maybe one day when that boy is a father himself he'll understand how the smallest of cruel words can be so damaging and hurtful to an impressionable child. Maybe he'll feel helpless just as I did on those mornings. Maybe he'll feel sad just as I did as I tucked my child into bed each night amid a sea of tears.

I am done wasting time on that boy.

My focus is on my daughters.

I saw this on Facebook tonight, and I thought it was appropriate for this post.

If there is one lesson I hope to pass on to my daughters, it is to be a good friend. You'll make a lot more friends being nice to people than you will being mean.

Actually, there is another lesson I'd pass on. Don't be afraid to be a polar bear. 

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Daily Diary: Waiting for Hurricane Sandy

There is nothing like a summer at the Jersey shore. Living so close to the coast most certainly has its advantages. Unless, of course, a hurricane is predicted to slam directly into you.

Such is the case in my town. We could be a direct hit or Hurricane Sandy could make landfall just to our south or to our north. Either way, we are in for some trouble.

As we made some last minute preparations yesterday, we took some time to survey the situation on the beach.

Some VIPs came to town...

A lone reporter braves the elements while waiting to go on camera.

After we left the beach, we made one more stop to stock up. We do have priorities, after all!

Are you in Sandy's path? How have you prepared for this epic storm?

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The Letter that Landed My Daughter on the Safety Patrol

My soon-to-be fifth grader has been a ball of stress all summer about becoming a safety patrol.

It's serious business. It's serious responsibility. Only about 25 children are invited to become safety patrols. I don't know how many applied, but there are about 120 children in her grade.

Before the end of her 4th grade year, all interested candidates were asked to submit an essay stating why they wanted to be a safety patrol and what qualities they demonstrate that would make them an ideal safety patrol.

Last Saturday, we received a letter from the school's principal and vice-principal inviting Emma to become a safety patrol. She was thrilled! We were proud.

Here is the essay that secured her a spot in the elite group.

I didn't help her write the essay. Both she and I  insisted that she does it on her own, using her own words and ideas.

She must have really "wowed" them!! I think it was the "happy as clowns" part. ;-)

So proud of my big girl.

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A Mother's Day Special: You Know You're a Mom of Girls When...

I can remember being a little girl and envisioning my "dream" family. You did that too, right? Doesn't every little girl dream of her perfect family at one point?

My perfect family consisted of me, a husband, and 2 little girls. The girls were 2 years apart and had long, soft, perfectly brushed blonde hair (a girl can dream, right?). At the time, I had a huge crush on a boy who was a lifeguard at our local swim club. In my eyes he was dreamy: tall, blonde, perfectly tanned skin, and his dad drove a Jeep Wrangler. So cool!

I had always pictured my perfect family in a Jeep Wrangler, top down, the beautiful blonde hair of my children blowing in the wind.

I didn't marry the lifeguard, but I did get my husband, two beautiful daughters (one of whom has blonde hair) and the Jeep Wrangler. So things didn't pan out too badly after all. Little did I know back then that those little girls would come with a ton of idiosyncrasies and "stuff". Things. Mostly tiny things. That end up on the floor.

Today, I am teaming up with my friend and fellow blogger Jessica from Found The Marbles on a special Mother's Day post. Jessica is the mother of 2 young boys. We are both mothers, but the similarities pretty much end there. Jessica's experiences are polar opposites of mine. It's true when people say, "Boys are so different from girls". To prove it to you, Jessica and are are sharing our respective motherhood experiences. We've also polled fellow bloggers for their insights as well. Be sure to visit Jessica to read all about being the mom of boys.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A MOM OF GIRLS WHEN... (according to moi!)
- you're in search of a hair tie, and you merely need to look on the floor to find one.
- your makeup case looks as if it's been ravaged by a pack of bears.
- you can NEVER find a hairbrush because they are hiding under the girls' beds.
- your laundry basket looks like a sea of pink.
- despite how often or how well you wash your little girl's hair, there's always glitter in it.
- the employees of Claire's, Bath & Body Works, and the beauty supply store know you by name.
- the answer to the question, "What should we do today?" involves shopping, manicures, or pedicures.
- my missing jewelry can be found in the jewelry boxes of my daughters.
- my missing shoes (mostly heels) can be found in their closets.
- you can name every Disney princess and her prince and the best location to find her at Disney World.
- you thought you'd never play with My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake or Hello Kitty since you were a girl.
- when the bottom of your foot is aching because you've stepped on yet another plastic ring.
- you wouldn't trade all the pink, glitter, or sparkles for ANYTHING in the world!

Below are insights shared by fellow bloggers. Please be sure to check them out at their own sites!


- when everything you own is either pink or covered in glitter, stars, or sparklies! From Debra at The Harried Mom.


- when you give birthday request lists of: skirts, tights, shirts, and Barbies and find yourself living vicariously through your girls and their fancy frilly clothes and things.
- And when your preschooler starts talking about going to the ball and getting married to the cutest boy in class...all at age 3. From Hilary at A Fancy Girl Must.

- when she takes longer to get ready than you do. From Desiree at Writing to Sanity.


- when you are sitting down to a tea party with teddy bears and donning a fuzzy pink boa. From Beth at Life in the BAT Cave.


- when...you cannot locate any of your shoes or purses, because they are all stashed in the dress up bin! From Kimberly at (sort of a) Rock Star Mom.


- when you have played yea party enough times that when your daughter sees someone adding cream to his/her coffee, she yells, "Cream! Sugar!" to let the person know what to do next. From Beck at Crafty Garden Mama.


- when  you are late to work because your toddler decides that 2 ponytails is "too baby" and she wants one "humongous puff" because she's a "big girl." From Brandi at Mama Knows It All.  lol!


- your biggest battles are over clothing styles (or, as a mom, your TOTAL lack thereof). From Stephanie at Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Mom.


- when glitter falls out of your shoes (as you are taking them off to teach a yoga class). From Trish at Yoke. 


- when your clothes, make up, jewelry, sunglasses, perfume, socks and anything else you think is personal comes up missing but found in HER room. SIGH! From Uneeka at Power Mommy Nation.


- when you clean out the dryer link tray and it is full of sparkles! From Toni at Tickles and Time Outs.


-  when you can't tell if you're washing clean or dirty laundry anymore (because of frequent outfit changes). From Cindy at Whatever Works.


-  your shopping cart is full of all kinds of feminine products, special hair tonics, deodorant, makeup, and bras! (and none of it is mine!) From Alison at Kitchen Table. 


- when you find yourself saying, even to your 2-year-old, "Sorry! Sorry! We just have to get these knots out of your hair!" From Alissa at Fun Finds for Families.


- when you've gone out with little headbands or whatever in your hair after your daughter has done your hair.
- when you've walked out of the house with a princess sticker on your butt. From Melissa at Girly Mama.

Are you a mom of girls? What would you add to this list?

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My Athlete Crush: Barry Zito

Oh, come on! You know you have one too.

Let's be honest here. If it weren't for athlete crushes, women would have absolutely no reason to watch sports.

Find yourself a hottie to ogle, and your sports watching experience will be tolerable, even pleasurable.

I discovered my athlete crush about 10 years ago, shortly after Emma was born. The Hubs did the night time feedings. I'd crash into bed by 9:00 pm, and he'd stay up until 2:00 am and cover the baby feedings during that time. To keep him company, he ordered the MLB (Major League Baseball) channels on DirectTV so that he could watch the west coast games.

During one particular game, I woke and came into the room to check on things. The Hubs was watching an Oakland As game. I glanced at the TV, and did a double take when I saw the pitcher. Whoa!

Me: "Who's that guy?"

Hubs: "Why?"

Me: "No reason. Just curious."

Hubs: "You think he's good looking. Don't you?"

Me: "No. Please." Trying to muster my most serious tone.

Hubs: "You totally think he's hot. I know you!"

Me: "I mean, he's OK."

Hubs: "His name is Barry Zito, and just admit that you think he's good looking."

Me: "Fine." I said in my most casual tone. And back to bed I went.

And so, for the 10 years following that late night conversation, I've had a crush on Barry Zito. It hasn't been full-on, heavy panting for 10 years. But I've admired from afar, watched him during games, sometimes stalked him via Google and ESPN.com.

What's not to like, right?

Do you have an athlete crush?

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Rainy Day Play: Making a Hypnotizing Video

Today was a rainy day, the first rainy day we've had here in the northeast in about 3 weeks. My kids were like fish out of water. They had no idea how to handle this type of weather. It's been beautiful and unseasonably warm for weeks. But they didn't fret. It wasn't long before they found something to occupy themselves.

They found my Flip lying around, and they went to work. This is a classic. I revel in their vivid and creative imaginations.

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When Bloggers Go Out To Dinner...

We generally go without our other halves. And here's why: it's tough to tolerate the tweeting, Facebooking, YouTubing, Instagraming, etc. that goes on at the table. I am NOT kidding you. And if you are a blogger, you know exactly what I am talking about.

We've been talking about getting together since we connected at Bloggy Bootcamp Philly in September 2010. Finally, last night, the stars aligned and it happened. I met up with Tina, Corine, Heather, and Stephanie for a much needed chance to catch up. 

About 2 minutes after being seated at our table, this was the scene. We were tweeting away!

Women are the ultimate multi-taskers. We were tweeting, chatting, drinking wine, and eating, and doing it all perfectly, without missing a single beat.

We met at Casona in Collingswood. Four out of five us had attended a Girls' Lunch Out event there back in October. The lunch that was served was delicious, and we were hoping our dinner would live up to our expectations. We were not disappointed. I ordered the vegetarian paella. It was perfection. I especially loved the green olives. Yum!

The wine and conversation flowed easily. I was great to catch up. Blogging friends are real friends.

Soon it was time for dessert. These wonderful desserts were placed in front us of, but we had other plans. Check out Stephanie's blog post to see what we did before we ate dessert. It's hilarious!!

We ordered the dessert special, crepes with chocolate and strawberries, and the chocolate flour less cake from the regular dessert menu. Oh. My. God. Heavenly.

A great night with great friends and plans to meet again!

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Conquering My Fears: The Eyelash Curler

I've deemed 2012 the year that I will conquer my fears (well, most of them). Look for a post called 12 in 2012 where I map out the fears I hope to accomplish this year.

Ever since I've been wearing makeup, I have been scared to death of eyelash curlers. I'm not kidding. They even look like little monsters. This one looks as if it's ready to attack.

And when someone else is doing my makeup, I silently panic when I see the eyelash curler. I try to hide my fear of that contraption taking out one of my eyes. Makeup artists must think I'm a total freak.

On Sunday, I decided, on a whim while browsing cosmetics at Target, that I will be scared no more. I will buy an eyelash curler. And I will use it, dammit.

I won't lie. I was almost trembling the first time I used it. But today, after using it for 5 days, it's a piece of cake. I love the way my lashes look.

As is the case with most fears we conquer, I am left wondering, "What took me so long?"

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A Bad Omen?

Two years ago our house was robbed. In the middle of the day, a bright, sunny, summer's day, someone broke into our house through an open window and took some of our prized possessions.

Laptops, camcorders, cameras...can all be replaced. It was the jewelry that got to me. A charm bracelet given to me by my grandmother. Countless pieces from the Hubs and pieces made by my children were stolen. Very high in sentimental value to me, but the thief didn't care about that. The thief cared about the monetary value. Desperate times call for desperate measures, I suppose.

Last night, a hit and run driver plowed into our picket fence and sped from the scene. We weren't home at the time. I received a visit from a police officer about an hour after the incident occurred. He informed me what happened and told me that there was an eyewitness who was able to get the license plate number of the driver. The police eventually caught up with the driver and issued him a number of summons.

What is wrong with people? Have morals gone to the wayside? Accidents happen. Thank goodness that an eyewitness had the sense to do some good.

I'm thinking it's time to move.

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A Messed Up Week & Mom Guilt

Little Harper has been home sick since last Thursday. You read that right. Since December 8, I've had a 5 year old following me all over the house when her big sissy isn't home. I haven't known what that was like since she started kindergarten in September.

I've had the freedom and ability to work part-time from home. I've been able to schedule my day around their school day. But the past week has been anything but normal. Or easy.

First, she's not sick anymore. However, per the pediatrician's orders, she is not permitted to return to school until December 19 for fear of being further infected by a sick child at school. Soooo, I've got a perfectly well (but coughing) 5 year old at home. Bored. Out. Of. Her. Mind. She asks me to play all the time and doesn't understand that I cannot always play with her. I had the flexibility last year. But this year my situation has changed. I have commitments that are beyond her grasp.

It's difficult to get a child to understand that I have an email inbox overflowing with opportunities for sponsored posts. You know, the kind that pay me money!!!! The money that will, in turn, pay for some of her Christmas gifts. But try explaining that to a 5 year old. Yeah, impossible.

And then there's Mom Guilt. The monkey on my back. That nagging voice in my head saying, "When she's leaving for college, you'll remember this day and wish that you had played with her." Gee, thanks. And so, I cave to Mom Guilt in an attempt to stifle that monkey. I played Fisher-Price people ("People House", as she calls it) for 2 hours. I sat on the floor of her bedroom, occasionally checking my email and Twitter stream. Oh, shoot me, OK? When I picked myself off her floor, my lower back was killing me. I'm too old for this, but how do I tell her that I'd rather sit on an inflatable donut than on her hardwood floor?

All week I looked forward to yesterday when the Hubs and I took the kids into Manhattan for the day. No "People House"! No "Hello Kitty hide and seek". Don't ask.

I am so ready to put this week behind me. How did I get through it? Well, the support of a great husband and wine. Don't judge.

Hoping your week was better than mine...

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My Crazy, Non-Stop Day from H-E-Double Toothpicks!

I don't normally have jam-packed days where I don't have a minute to breath in between events and activities. I'm just not THAT busy. But today was one of those days where I had to literally write down everything I needed to do and everywhere I needed to be because I didn't have one nanosecond to think about where I had to be next.

It all started at...

6:45 am  My alarm went off, and I didn't even have 5 minutes to spare to snooze. I jumped out of bed and into the shower. No rest for the weary.

6:50 - 7:30 I showered, got dressed and dried my hair. If I don't dry it but instead allow it to air dry, it's impossible looking all day. So, I had to dry it before I got sucked into the morning routine.

7:30 - 8:20 Wake up kids. Pry them out of their beds and make their beds. Break up a fight. Brush and style their hair. Of course, both of them wanted the fanciest of hairstyles today. Feed them breakfast. Finish packing their lunches and snacks. Clean up breakfast dishes. Tie the little one's shoes. Break up another fight. Ask myself if it's too early for wine. Strap on backpacks and walk to the bus stop.

8:23-8:30 Come back from bus stop. Clean up remnants in the kitchen. Straighten up downstairs. Head upstairs. Make our bed.

8:30 - 9:09 Apply my makeup and change my outfit twice. I had a media event to attend, and I couldn't decide on an outfit. Finally decided on an outfit with which I was totally unhappy, but time was running out. Took one look at the pile of clothes on the floor and dreaded the cleanup that would come later.

9:10 - 9:14 Gather my directions, cameras, business cards and head out the door.

9:15 - 9:42 Drove to the event. The entire time during my drive I thought about the white chocolate mocha that I wasn't drinking because I was worried that I'd be late to the event if I stopped at Starbucks. I ended up getting to the event 15 minutes early. So, I stopped at Burger King for a Diet Coke.

9:43 - 9:55 Sat in my car and reveled in my Diet Coke. Checked a few emails.

9:56 Headed into the pre-opening media event at iPlay America. Look for a full post with lots of pictures. In the meantime, you can check out iPlay America's Web site.

10:00 - 2:00 Media event. Yes, it was 4 hours long, but it went fast.

2:00 - 2:15 Stood in the parking lot chatting with Beth until I realized that I had to get going.

2:20 - 2:50 Drove home. Again, my drive home consisted of obsessing over that white chocolate mocha that I never had in the morning. I gotta find a Starbucks Anonymous meeting near me.

2:51 - 2:54 Ran inside the house and changed my shoes. I was wearing boots, and it was 72 degrees outside. My feet were begging me to let them see the light of day.

2:55 - 3:02 Drove to the elementary school to pick up the girls. They normally take the bus, but Emma had a broken band on her braces. So, I had to take her to the orthodontist's office so that he could repair it.

3:02 - 3:11 Sat in my car in silence checking my email. It was bliss.

3:11 - 3:25 Stood outside the school chatting with other moms and waiting for the girls to come out.

3:25 - 3:29 Drove to the polling place so that I could vote.

3:30 - 3:44 Voting. This clearly should have taken all of 3 minutes, but you know, it's the government...

3:45 - 4:00 Drove to the orthodontist's office.

4:01 - 4:14 Orthodontist. Quick and painless.

4:14 - 4:30 Drove home. Put the garbage at the curb for tomorrow's pickup.

4:30 - 5: 26 Helped both girls with their homework and made them a snack. Emma didn't finish her homework so we'll had to come back to it later in the evening.

5:27 - 5:35 Spent 8 minutes looking for Emma's CCD folder. Really???

5:36 - 5:39 Drove to church to drop Emma off for CCD.

5:45 - 6:10 Drove to wine store and bought 2 bottles. Don't judge, people. After the day I had, I was going to need wine.

6:11- 6:38 Drove to Target to pick up a few things we need for our upcoming vacation.

6:39 - 6:55 Drove back to church and waited for Emma to be dismissed.

6:55 - 7:06 Still waiting at church until she finally came outside at 7:06.

7:07 - 7:20 Stopped to get take-out since there was ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO WAY I was going to be making dinner tonight.

7:24 - 8:05 Ate dinner.

8:06 - 8:30 The girls took showers while I cleaned up the kitchen.

8:32 - 9:10 While I helped Emma finish up her homework, Harper fell asleep on the sofa.

9:12 Emma falls into bed, mentally exhausted.

9:12:30 I crack open the bottle of wine and pour myself a big, fat glass of it. I savor the first sip, hoping it will make me forget about that pile of clothes sitting on my bedroom floor.

9:14 I open my laptop for the first time today. And here I still am at 11:34 pm.

Where was the Hubs during all of this? He was traveling today. So, I had to go it alone. :-(

So. How was your day?

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Vacation Interrupted

You know that feeling you get when you are weeks away from a vacation? Excitement, and anticipation. You start a countdown weeks before, and you totally look forward to Day 0. Well, I've had the excitement and anticipation for weeks. Every year, my sisters and I and our respective families head to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware for a family vacation.

We grew up vacationing in Rehoboth Beach. We've made lots of memories here, and now we are making more with our own families. We literally look forward to this vacation from the moment it ends the previous year. It's just that good. You can imagine our sheer excitement days before our vacation. But this year, our bubble was popped when Hurricane Irene decided to grace the east coast with her not-so-welcomed presence.

Our vacation was to begin on Saturday the 27th. On Friday, my sister received an email that vacationers were strongly being urged to postpone their vacations until Monday, August 29. Wha???? Monday? That's 2 days. I can't wait to days. I've waited for this vacation for 365 days. I cannot possibly wait another 2 days.

But Irene was not going to cooperate. It was Irene's way or the highway. And so, we hunkered down in New Jersey. We rode out the storm. We expected the worst and were pleasantly surprised when we woke on Sunday morning with full power and a few branches and a bunch of leaves all over the driveway and our street.

We started out the day lazily. Lingering over breakfast. Doing last minute laundry. Slowly finishing our packing. And then, my sister came bounding into the room with some news: the realtor emailed. We could check in as early as Sunday!!!! For reals!!!!

We furiously started packing. It was mass hysteria. A mad dash for suitcases, tote bags, beach bags. It was a frenzy. We loaded the cars. And soon we were on our way. The roads were deserted. No traffic. It was fantastic!

And by 6:30 pm, we pulled into the driveway of our rental house.

Let the vacation begin!

 

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This is what happens when I'm on the treadmill...

Turn your back for a second, and nonsense ensues. Here is just a sample of the goings on when I am on our home treadmill. Also, take note that this is what happens when a 9 year old owns an iPod Touch.



The girls are totally into making these lip synching videos lately. Emma does the actual singing (while she's taping), and Harper pretends to sing. It's hilarious. Oh, the imaginations of children. Gotta love it!

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Gymboree Summer Sale Fashion Haul

The summer sale season is in full swing, and I have to say, I am in retail Heaven. The sales this time of year? Unbelievable.

Today, we set our sights on Gymboree. Not only was it Gymbucks redemption, but Gymboree was offering up to 70% off retail prices. I had $100 in Gymbucks, which meant that I had to buy $200 worth of merchandise to get $100 off. Wow!

You'll never believe all the great clothes the girls found.

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An Artist's Rendition and Mystery Reader

Last Friday, I volunteered to be a mystery reader in Harper's preschool classroom. It was exciting for me, and and a complete surprise for her. She had absolutely no idea!

After I read the book that was chosen for me by the teachers, the children played a game, and then they were seated at the tables to do an art project. Their task: to draw something they remembered from the story and include the mystery reader somewhere in the drawing.

As the children drew their pictures, I wandered around admiring the work of the budding artists. Although they were all magnificent, one of them caught my attention. Harper's classmate and friend, Brady, is quite the Picasso. His attention to detail is envious. I don't think I'm as detail oriented as he is...even as a grown up!

This is how I was depicted by Brady.

Check me out! He captured it all: my boots, jeans, trench coat, hoop earrings, and my hair in a ponytail.  And look, he's even got me holding my camera!!!! I look better in his drawing than I do in real life!

Something tells me in 25 years, we'll all be paying big bucks to hang his artwork on our walls!

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SnOMG!

If you were anywhere along the East coast this weekend, you were walloped with a massive snowstorm. From the Delaware coast to Boston, people are digging out 2 days later. We are no exception. Here along coastal New Jersey, we were slammed with 30 inches of snow. Add to it the winds, and there are snow drifts in some spots that are 7 feet high. It is unbelievable. I've never seen snow like this in my lifetime, and I hope never to again.

Only this morning are we seeing snow plows for the first time. The clean up efforts are daunting.

This is a frontal view of our house. If you look to the right, you can see the sheer depth of the snow. We have a picket fence in front of our house. It's completely smothered.

Snow blowing the two-car driveway was a monumental task. We stuck with one side...for now.

The girls couldn't have been happier. In temperatures that were hovering around 10 degrees Fahrenheit, they refused to come inside where it was warm and toasty. 

The hubs' Jeep Wrangler was completely enveloped in snow. We just don't get snow like this so early in the season and so close to the coast. No one was prepared for it. Finally, today, we are seeing some progress being made in plowing secondary roads.

It's about time because I'm going a little stir crazy. I've got to get outta the house!

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