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I've been taking down my Christmas decorations since yesterday afternoon. It's a lot of work, but I dusted and vacuumed (all the millions of faux pine needles!-my tree will be naked next year!) as I went and so it feels good to have it clean now! Last night Ethan helped me take off ornaments, and he checked them each to see if they were really breakable, or if they could come apart. They thankfully all survived his testing.
This morning, I finished taking down garland, and worked on dusting-it took forever! I dust (usually..) as I put up the garland, lights, ornaments, Santas, reindeer, angels, etc. so I haven't dusted since. It was gross. Sequin-y bits, hard faux-ice (think hard candy-looking stuff), real dust, feather-y pieces (obviously plucked out), and more of the pine needle things. I had to vacuum the top of my dining room table carefully before I could even dust it. I just knew I'd rub in the sequins and hard candy bits and scratch up the table. I did okay. It is very clean and feels fresh like January should. ..Except that my table looks lonely and empty, as does my mantle. I may need a shopping excursion to find the perfect things to finish it.
..I tried taking a shopping trip into my yard this afternoon, but it ended badly. I took our huge loppers (don't really know how to spell it, but rhymes with coppers) out along with the huge glass vase I wanted to fill. It's about (was about) 16 inches high and about 8 or 9 inches wide. I have (had) a pair, and I love (loved!) them! I gathered a huge Magnolia branch-just beautiful! and some huge bush-branches (can't get Ches to think of the name at the moment-ok-Manhattan Euonymus), and it was filling up rather nicely. Until. the big gust of wind. It fell to the north onto the metal edging of the bed, and broke. Yep, it's gone. I scooped up my branches (why waste all that work?) and headed in. I found another much-less-perfect-too-skinny vase, and filled it with river stones and put in the branches. It looks ok. I'm not so happy with just okay, that's why I'm in need of the 'excursion. I still have the other vase, but it's in the living room filled with branches of curly willow, and fake snow hard-candy thingies, so I don't want to move it.
Do I have a big accident every day? Well, not quite, just most days. Last night's adventure was almost falling off the ladder at about 9 or 10 feet up. I pulled the tree toward me to take off the top ornaments, and I thought we were both headed south! Turns out, maybe my Wii balance games helped! : )
Back to the important things! ..What should I put in the center of my dining room table? I don't really want to put on live, growing plants since they could leave water rings. (Although that was my first idea.) So, another big arrangement? Big candle holders? Right now, I have a rectangle "dish" of pears in a row, an architectural pointy thing, and chocolate sequined flowers on there too. The table is set in lime and chocolate. Help??
The kids are all bathed and beautiful (and smell so sweet!), as I am getting ready to take them to Target to spend the gift cards their aunt and uncle sent them! They are sooo excited! The options are endless...
We're off to shop, I hope you have a great Saturday! : ) We have a fresh new year waiting (do you have a new calendar yet? My wall calendar is Mary Engelbreit!) so what are you going to do with yourself this year? My goal is to be in shape for my annual dr's appt on January 19th. Beyond that, no plans. Hmm...maybe to help Mary Claire learn to ride a bike with no training wheels, help Clay get better at tying his shoes (so we can skip the Crocs he's become addicted to..), keep up my exercise on the Wii, and allow myself to forget or not do one thing a day that I feel is imperative, read more with Ethan... Maybe that's it. I'll let you know in December how I did.
Ok, off to Target! Toodles!
Let's see. I've bought the Daisy girl scout patches for our meeting on Sunday-most of the girls have already earned a few petals, and we get to put them on at our next meeting. I mailed a check to pay my "Improper Driving" ticket today (in a Bank of America envelope-tell you why in a minute), picked up lots of drugs at WM (and had to show ID for Advil Cold & Sinus), ate a broken taco on the way home, my day is only just beginning! Ok, I remembered I had a court date (heehee-I feel naughty just saying it!) on Monday morning at 7am (can I CAPITALIZE 7AM??) and decided not to make an appearance, so I called, and they didn't take debit cards. What kind of city are they? What if people pass bad checks? A debit card is a sure thing. Anyway, the lady (Shannon) at the Bank of America drive thru asked if there was anything else she could do for me, and I said I needed an envelope, so she got me one! That's service! Next time I'll ask for tiramisu! : ) I didn't have a stamp, so I went to the post office -horrible line- so I went to the machine. You can't spend less than a dollar, so I bought three stamps-and they are the ugly barcode sticker things. Sadness. I like the flowers, Mickey Mouse, or least a Liberty Bell or something. Bad thing is, I have two left just like it. Ugh. And I pay all my bills online, so some poor friend is going to get the Ugly Stamp. Will it be you? I gotta send out thank you's, so it could come your way... And yes, I put my return address on BofA envelope, so it wouldn't go back to the bank in case I remembered the Rogers Police address incorrectly.
It's been a fun day, huh?
I'm off to get medicated, and fit in some Wii. Maybe a nap since I don't feel too hot.
Oh, and I should vent a little too: Why did I get the ticket you ask? I was going 49 on Wagon Wheel Road-the one they are making into a FIVE lane road since it's becoming a major thoroughfare (a Northern Corridor) between 540 Bypass and 71Business. BUT, the week before, they lowered the speed limit to 25 (CAPITALS:25!!??) on a major road?? And, when I said to the officer (obviously new and nice-except for the handout-of-the-ticket) Yeah, it just changed Last Week! (Very Stupid Response On My Part), He knew I knew the new limit, so I got a ticket. WHY, may I ask, did we lower it??? Only to gain money for the cities/counties it represents-three cities, two counties (yes, for a 2 mile stretch of road). I was going 24 over (sounds extreme, I know, but I was taking Ethan to the dr. to discover he had pneumonia-yes again, pre-blogging, or you woulda heard about it). AnD, I only got Improper Driving (not to complain) so it keeps it off my record, doesn't get reported to my insurance or make it go up, I just have to pay the fine. So, AgAiN, my point is, it's only to gain money. I didn't figure I'd make a good impression on the judge next Monday at 7am with my complaint of the too-low speed limit, so I'm just sending the money as late as possible. Ok, thoughts aired. I'm off to Wii! (Henceforth, used as a verb also!)
Footnotes for Mom: TMI (Too Much Info), WM (Wal-Mart)
Ok, if you can spend $2 per toilet every 2-3 months, have I got the solution!! I've been blabbing about this for a while, but it works!! I just reloaded on Tuesday! You clean your toilet (we're talking the inside part where the water swishes), then put a Clorox bleach tablet (yes, contains real bleach) into the tank. You -seriously- don't have to swish with a brush for 2-3 months (depending on whether it's your never-used-guest-bath, or your frequently-used-toilet). The bonus: it smells freshly brush-cleaned for that long too! You still have to wipe all other areas and clean under the seat-even thought you never use that side-someone else does... but I do love a fresh smelling toilet-hence the singing this am.
My other really good tip: mirror cleaning! Use a water bottle (think ironing or wetting down your child's hair in the am to calm bedhead) to spritz a LITTLE water on the mirror, then wipe with a clean washcloth, lonely sock, or soft cloth that's been washed with detergent and fabric softener. There are NO streaks, and no Windex buildup. Keep turning the cloth. I use the same washcloth for all the mirrors in my house. I think the key is the fabric softener. You know, it breaks the surface tension on water, and I guess it cuts the streaks and film.
Ok, just one more...My mom found about 80 uses for a Bounce dryer sheet....Put one in each of your tubs in storage or your attic, and bugs run the other way, and your maternity clothes and old teaching stuff smell great five years later! (out of style, but smellin' good!) (but who's stylin' With Child?)
Ok, I actually had this thought in my head today (scary!), "Should I shave my legs or spend more type on my blog?" I said scary.
Ok, other scary thing. I was singin' My Toilets Are Clean (to the tune of Nanny, Nanny, Boo, Boo).
Third not so scary thing-I tried the smoky eye (but not too dark, for I'm going out -nanny, nanny, boo, boo! -at 4pm though), and actually tried to take a picture. I first covered all with ivory (matte thought, as I read no sparkly flecks over 30) then, layered with a lightish brown in crease and eyelid, then eyeliner on top only, then dark brown along lash line and almost to crease, then darker shade in crease and brushed it all to blend (fairly inexpensive Sonya Kashuk brush from Target). I thought it was ok, it's my new-ish eye shadow look. I took a picture, but I didn't do such a good job since I had to see what I was taking a picture of...I'll try to upload it. Just don't look if not interested. !: )
I must say Happy Birthday!! to my mom. Her bday was yesterday! We went to Copeland's in Rogers for lunch with some of her friends! : ) It was fun, the food was great, and the desserts and coffee-better? Dora took a very good picture, but I don't know if I'll get a copy soon. If so, I'll post. We stayed till 3ish. I didn't leave the parking lot till 3:40! It was a long lunch, as she likes it. I join them for lunch periodically, so I know their preferences. No dishes to be removed too soon, don't bring the bill till we ask for it, always offer a dessert menu, don't rush us to order, get the order RIGHT the first time, come frequently to refill some drinks, don't touch the tea after it's perfectly sweetened.... I have absolutely no preferences. Does it come with plenty of eating out, age-knowing what you want, or getting to know your friends so well you'll actually talk about your preferences? I am just so thrilled to be out alone eating in a restaurant enjoying food I didn't cook, and knowing I don't have to clean the dishes or crumbs, and I get to sit here for more than 38 minutes (including ordering AND eating) due to the "Done, done" climbing out boy who doesn't want to sit on a lap-he wants to GO! Anyway, I hope there's a day when I actually take that for granted and get to consider what I really like at a restaurant. (Like no crayons at the table...)
Anyway, my sweet mom, on her birthday, watched Ethan while the rest of us went to anticipatory mass for today (Solemnity of Mary). It was nice to be able to just sit. The kids were pretty good, except for the standard, "I'm tired...", "How many more songs?" (Mary Claire times Mass by the songs left), and the general "Read along with us", "Sing with us", "You've been to church with us over 340 times. How do you NOT know how to sing the Alleluia?" etc. Pretty normal, huh?
Afterwards, we came back and played the Wii with my parents-mom actually scored a 212-no handicap! It was like 5 or 6 strikes! Amazing. Ches was trying to beat her score the night before and threw out his arm. He was so stressed trying to bowl and throw the perfect curve ball! Then we played doubles tennis-my fave! I ended up swatting at the fireplace screen a lot-there's just not room for four of us to be swinging weapons around. We'll have to relocate... This is why people have a game room-for Wii sports!
Ok, must finish. Have to leave for the movies shortly. We're seeing Benjamin Buttons-woohoo! Three hours long! I'll let you know how it was... We bought the collection of short stories it came from on the way to France in October. Ches said that it wasn't that similar to the movie, but have I had time to read it?...It's on my To-Do List...
Ok (I have a few minutes..) I've now scored an 834 on Super Hula Hoop and I've made it to Yoga Master level (four stars) on some of the yoga poses! Go, me! Well, some of them I'm way-shaky on, but still! I've gotten good at the balance games EXcEPt that stupid floaty bubble down the river. I suck at it-I can't get past the Unbalanced level (one star). It makes me SOOO mad! I think I'm the best at the Rhythm Boxing, Super Hula Hoop, and Advanced Step Aerobics. It's awful to be good at something, and then have your Mii look so dejected after you are bad at something. I need encouraging words (which is why the yoga and I get along so well! Calm and positive!)
Must go! Date night!
