Less is more

Dave and I recently refinanced our mortgage, so last week we received a New-to-the-Neighborhood welcome packet in the mail.  I suppose the mortgage company released our info, and our township must think we just moved in.  It was pretty sweet!  There were coupons for a free pizza, $15 off at the little Italian market I like, hefty discounts to other local stores, and a coupon for a free haircut at a swanky little place in town!  I've been getting my hair cut on the super cheap for the past year, so I made an appointment right away.

Basically, I plopped down in the chair and told the hairdresser that she's the expert, so do whatever she thinks would look best and make it easy to style because I'm a mom on the go but don't make it look too much like a mom cut thank you.  Thankfully, she knew what to do and I walked out feeling ten pounds lighter:

And well, you know me and my OCD tendencies.... the new short 'do made me get that itch again... the one where I start eyeing up every shelf, drawer and cabinet in my house thinking "Less is more... Less is more... Hmm... what will get tossed in the trash today?  Will it be some of Anna's toys?  No, I just pared those down a few weeks ago.  How about some more books?  No... I've donated almost every book not in frequent use.  Candles?  Kitchen untensils??  Baby clothes???  What can I trim down in this house????" 

And then I spotted it.  Or should I say him.

"Who?  Me?"

 Nutmeg- our dog.

No No, I didn't toss my dog in the trash!  Let me explain...

Nutmeg is a papillon.  The name "Papillon" means "Butterfly" in french, and these dogs are named so because of the wing-like way their ears stick up and out.   Papillons are mainly bred as show dogs.

Photo cred.

Nutmeg, though I love him dearly, is no show dog.

While I love his long flowy hair, the shedding is ridiculous.  His tail alone requires special maintenance.  Once, Dave was out at Happy Hour and one of his coworkers pulled a long, white Nutmeg tail hair off of his shirt and asked if Dave had a witch living in his home.

He's adorable.  I love him.  But Anna makes my life too busy to keep up with all that dog hair.  So I started calling dog groomers.  I've never had him groomed, so I didn't even know what something like that would cost---- so you dog owners out there can probably guess that my cheap ass was more than a little shocked to find out that it would be around $40 for a proper grooming.  I asked why, and the groomer on the phone explained that papillons are special breeds and their hair requires special styling.

"Oh-- No---" I interjected.  "I just want you to, like, completely shave him down."

"You want me to shave down your papillon???" He asked incredulously.

"Yea, you know, nothing fancy--- just shave him down- tail and everything.  Look, he's not a show dog, he's a pet, you know what I mean?"

The groomer said it would cost even more to shave him down.  Frankly, I think he was just ticked that I'd have the audacity to shave down a papillon and charging me more was some kind of punishment.

Sigh.  I looked Nutmeg up and down.  Hmmm....

"Uh Oh- what is this crazy bitch thinking?"

Dave keeps an old pair of clippers in the basement... how hard can this be?  I've shaved Dave's head before...  


.....yea.... so.... it's not that hard to do, per say....  but it is alot of work because there- is- just- SO MUCH HAIR.

About halfway through, Dave came home and checked out the damage progress.  I started with a 1/2" setting, and here is the pile of hair that resulted.

Seriously?  It took me like 45 minutes just to cut all that off!!

But once I looked him over, I decided that if I was going to do this, I might as well get 'er done- so I switched to the 1/4" setting.

I gotta say, in the beginning he was petrified and would barely come near me.  But after a while, he really got into it and calmed down.  He was even cool about me trimming around his little bird (in fact, maybe a little too cool... *shudder*)  I think he started to feel the way I did in that hairdresser's chair--- lighter- all that weight was gone and there's a freedom with that!

Even if he does kind of look like the kid in the schoolyard whose mom cuts his hair with a bowl on his head.  Meh....

"Thanks, Mom!  I feel great!"

Look, I never claimed to be an expert groomer... This will do- I mean, he's a dog.  It's not like he's going to prom or anything.  And don't worry, I promise to never cut my daughter's hair!!  That- I will leave to the professionals.

Tricky- A Haiku

Haikus are tricky

when you make one syllable

into two:  Grape-SSS!

This post is inspired by Mama Knows It All's Tuesday Haiku Link-up!  Stop by her page to see more- They only take a moment to read but they just might brighten your whole day!

"Hope they have Slim Jims in heaven..."

On Friday, I heard about the death of wrestling icon "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and it brought back a flood of memories.  Those who know me might be surprised to hear that the World Wrestling Federation (as WWE was formally known) was a big part of my childhood.  When I was young, long before anyone could smell what the Rock was cookin', my MomMom lived with us in our little house in Glenside.  You wouldn't guess it by looking at pictures of her, but MomMom was a huge WWF fan, and Saturday nights were spent watching Wrestlemania on our little TV-on-top-of-a-TV (anyone else have this set-up?  The big, table-like television box that didn't work anymore so your parents just put another TV right on top?)

My MomMom was this teeny, tiny 70 year old woman who used to yell profanities in Polish at the likes of Andre the Giant and The Million Dollar Man.  She'd get this big grin on her face at the start of any match.  We all sat watching with her, waiting in eager anticipation to see the Hulkster rip his shirt in two. 

Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan squaring off.  (Photo cred)

MomMom followed the story lines as closely as she did her soaps, and she'd shake her tiny fist at the screen if one of her favorites were challenged.

"Do you see that friggin' dupek!?  Odpierdolić!

Her favorite wrestler by far was Jake "The Snake" Roberts.  She thought he was pretty handsome and she loved when he'd bring a live snake into the ring.  Now that I'm older, I can fully appreciate the humor in my little MomMom getting such a kick out of this clearly sexually charged icon.

(Photo Cred)

I'm really not sure where MomMom's interest in wrestling came from. (Although, now that I've started googling pictures of these guys, I see the physical resemblance between Jake and my Italian PopPop, soooo..... yea.....).  But MomMom was such a firecracker, I'm sure she could put any one of these guys in place if she met them in life here on earth, so I'm sure she's got them in line up there in heaven.

MomMom- tiny with enough attitude for the entire WWF.

I like to imagine Macho Man was greeted just inside the pearly gates by a rowdy group of spandex-clad wrestlers all seated around a table, playing cards in hand, MomMom seated in the middle teaching them all how to play Follow the Queen.  She'd smile when she saw him, then tell him to take a seat next to Andre the Giant while she reshuffles the deck.

You know, just another post about food...

Anna is starting to reject alot of food.  I know this is the way it goes with a small child-- I put something that I find tasty in front of her, and without even trying a bite she shakes her head vehemently and says "No!"  

Right now all she wants is cookies and candy and cake, and I think "Doesn't she realize how delicious this Salsa Chicken is??"

It makes me think about all the things I refused to eat when I was little that I now find myself craving.  Home cooked mom-made meals!  Mmm mmm mmm- I'll take split pea soup, Spanish rice or meatloaf over McDonalds any day!  

Just the other week I picked up a huge bag of green peppers at Produce Junction- I posted a picture of them on Facebook seeking meal suggestions.  As soon as I read "Stuffed Peppers!" in the comments section, my mouth began to water.  (Even just writing about it now my mouth is watering!!)  I looked up a recipe and did it up one night, and let me tell you they were AWESOME.  The funny thing is that I have vivid memories of turning my nose up and refusing stuffed peppers when I was little.  I wouldn't touch the things.

I'm so thankful for our changing taste buds- these kids don't know what they're missing!!

Nom nom nom... come to mama!

**Time's up! 

*This post is an unedited stream of consciousness post part of all.things.fadra's Stream of Consciousness Sunday. 

Progress- A Haiku

You might not see it,

but trust me- this is progress.

The weight is lifting.

This post is inspired by Mama Knows It All's Tuesday Haiku Link-up!  Stop by her page to see more- They only take a moment to read but they just might brighten your whole day!

S.O.C. Sunday- I don't want to talk about it but I want to talk about it

I keep telling myself that I don't want to talk about the basement anymore because I think people might be getting tired of hearing about it- especially because the project has been at a standstill forever... but I can't help it now--- things are finally moving forward and I. Am. Excited!

Excited to paint and decorate and make a super fun cool playroom for Anna and Future Kid.  I'm going to have one whole wall painted with that chalkboard paint.  and I'm going to maybe buy some fun stuff on etsy to decorate with.  I might do some fun random stuff, like hang a mailbox in the playroom to one of the walls just for fun!  Kids love getting mail, right??  

And then there's my new office/craft space, which of course will be fun to decorate!

And now I'm super motivated and pumped to condense, condense, condense!!!  I worked down there all day yesterday and now I'm headed back now to tackle the holiday crap.  I. Am. Excited!!

So that's it, as I told myself I couldn't post about the basement until there was some solid development, this is all you'll hear about for a while- I thought the Stream of Consciousness Sunday was a good place for this because, it is after all, a brain dump.

And I still have more time in my 5 minutes, so a question for you- Should I paint the playroom light blue or keep it basic tan or taupe?  There's only a small window and not much natural light at all...

I. Am. Excited!!!

**Time's up! 

*This post is an unedited stream of consciousness post part of all.things.fadra's Stream of Consciousness Sunday. 

Adventures in Craftiness: Greeting Card Upcycles

I'm the kind of person who, when complimented on an article of clothing, will quickly announce where I purchased them and the deal I got for them:

"These shoes??  They are so cute, right?? Thanks so much!  Target!  Only 12 bucks!!"  

I want to share this info not only because I'm incredibly cheap thrifty, but I actually enjoy when others benefit from the deal.

I'm also crafty- I make alot of gifts and decorations and whatnot.  People often say to me "Oh, you're so crafty!  I could never be that crafty!"  And, much for the same reason that I want to share bargain shopping experiences, I always reply with something like "Yes, you could be!  If only you had the right tools and know-how!"

So lately I've been thinking that I should start sharing some of my craftiness on my blog.  I considered starting a whole new blog (Adventures in Craftiness perhaps??), but then I thought what a pain that would be because I have enough trouble posting regularly on this blog.  I stressed briefly about whether or not crafts fit the "theme" of my blog, but then I was all "It's my blog and I'll write about what I want to write about" and, well... here we are.

So, without further ado, I give you a simple, useful craft that will save you oodles of money- Greeting Card Upcyles!

What is an Upcycle, you ask?  Upcycling is taking something old and refinishing, repurposing, or revamping it for Re-Use!

So, I was cleaning out more boxes (seriously?  It never ends here), and I came across a box of momentos from my baby shower.  Inside was the stack of cards I received.  I pulled out the super special ones (from our parents, close friends, and siblings), and was about to chuck the pile into recycling when I got an idea--- Why not upcycle these bitches??

I hate hate hate spending money on birthday cards, graduation cards, shower cards, any cards really.  Not only do I always forget the card until the last minute, but they're so expensive!  Nearly 4 bucks for a card?  Now you're cutting into the gift budget!

So here's the simple tutorial...

Take any card given to you:

Cut the front picture off- Scissors are fine for this, but if you have a fancy-pants cutter like this, you can get a nice even cut:

Seriously though?  Scissors are fine for this.

Next, you can pick up these packs of blank cards with envelopes at any craft store.  The great thing is that the entire pack will probably cost you what one greeting card in a store would!

 While you're at the craft store, pick up a box of these:

These are double-sided sticky mounting squares that are easy to use and way less messy than glue.

You just pop some mounting squares on the back of your cut out picture from the card.  If you like, you can mount the picture on a color accent paper before adhering the whole thing to the front of the blank greeting card.  

And then--- Voila!

I keep a box of greeting cards on my desk, and I just put a pack of blank cards and envelopes along with a box of mounting squares right there so I can quickly put together a card whenever!

Also, take advantage of the insides of the cards as well.  Sometimes the wording on the inside is so pretty that you could mount it on the front of a new blank card with some accent scrap paper:

So you could potentially make 2 new cards from 1--- Cha-Ching!

Soon enough, you'll have people telling you how crafty and thrifty you are, too!

You're welcome.

Little Girl Napping- A Haiku

 

For all her running,

Baby girl LOVES her naptime...

So I can't complain.

This post is inspired by Mama Knows It All's Tuesday Haiku Link-up!  Stop by her page to see more- They only take a moment to read but they just might brighten your whole day!

p.s. I still have that dress in my closet as a little reminder... or a leg warmer... whatever...

I've often said that if I could go back and re-live any period of time in my life, it would be my high school years.  So when I opened my email from Mama Kat this week, I was instantly inspired to write this post from her prompt list:

If you had to go back to high school, how would you do it differently?

The short answer is--- in every way.  

I would step outside my comfort zone and introduce myself to more people.

I would stop hanging out with friends who waste my time with petty crap and cultivate the relationships that could really last a lifetime.

I would smoke way less pot and join way more activities.

 

I would look in the mirror at myself getting ready for the Soph Hop in my size 3 dress and not think "Ugh, I'm so fat."

 

I would raise my hand if I didn't understand something in class.

I would spend more time thinking about my future.  I would embrace those years, not waste them, so that it doesn't take me the next 10 years to figure out that I am capable of doing something successfully that I actually enjoy doing.

I would know that there are other options to be proud of besides 4-year colleges and bachelor degrees.

I would have more confidence in myself.

But the past is the past and all we can do is learn from it- and I am... every day.

This super-cheesy post is brought to you by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.  Check it out- it's inspiring!

Mother's Day = Bonus Birthday

I get a little selfish on Mother's day.

This is my second year celebrating Mother's day, my little bonus holiday.  When this day rolls around, I tend to feel a little selfish.  Here's my agenda for tomorrow:

-Sleep in.  Which basically means I sleep no later than 9am because I now have an internal clock that goes off way too early for me to actually sleep in.  I'll wake up to cries from my daughter's bedroom, and my husband will shush me back to sleep- "I'll get this- It's Mother's Day", he'll smile lovingly at me with his sleepy eyes.  But I'll listen to him manage the morning diaper change, breakfast, and playtime while laying in bed with my eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling.  At some point, I'll reach for my iphone and check facebook, twitter, my weather app, and various other sites I frequent on daily basis.  It doesn't matter what I do, because I'm really just using my phone to stay in bed longer because I feel like I should be sleeping in even though I physically cannot.

-Drink my coffee while it's actually still hot.  I might need to do this while hiding in the kitchen because Anna has an attachment thing going on with me these days and usually loses her mind if I'm in her sight but not in reaching distance.  So I'll hover over the kitchen sink with my piping hot cup of joe while watching whatever is on basic cable on the tv mounted under my snack cabinet.

-Take a shower.  A real one.  Might even get fancy and shave my legs.

-Pick up blue crabs from the American Crab Company.  This is my selected dinner choice for the evening, and at some point in the day, Dave is picking up a steak for himself (he doesn't eat seafood).  That's fine, I told him, but I'm not marinating it.  (What is this, Father's Day?  Psh!)

-While Dave takes my car to the carwash for a complete scrub and vacuum (The only gift I requested this year), I will go to Burpee to pick up various tomatoes, peppers, herbs, marigolds, geraniums, etc for my garden.

-Go back home and plant.

-Plant some more.

-All day.  Plant plant plant.

-Clean up, hose down walkway.  Take second shower.

-Eat blue crabs and drink Coors Light.

Boom!  That's how Mother's day is done.

I feel a little bitchy that we aren't spending time with family tomorrow.  But it's Mother's Day, and like I said before, I'm feeling a little selfish.  And it's okay to be a little selfish on Mother's day, right?  Right?

Tonight I'm even running the dishwasher- it's only half full and really doesn't need to be run until tomorrow night, but I know if I run it tonight, Dave will empty it tomorrow morning, because it's Mother's Day.  So I'm cashing in on whatever I can get on this lovely holiday.

On Monday morning, all bets are off.  Game Over.

Wordless Wednesday- That's okay, because the heavens are punishing me for you

Soooooo--- I know my posts as of late have been short and I owe the reading world something with a bit more content.  I apologize for that.  I was away this past weekend, and then I just spent three days converting my 2-hour psychic reading into MP3's for myself and family (yea, you read that correctly), and now I have a craft sale on Saturday, plus the ever present basement (I know, I know, stop talking about the basement!).  I have about 4 other meaty posts half-written, I promise you.  And one of these days, it's gonna be all like Bam!  Bam!  Bam!  Several good posts in a row.  But for now, all I have for you is another picture post.

I give you--- Reflections on Poor Landscape Planning:

Every spring, this pretty tree, which we planted right there by the front door our first year here, craps it's pretty pink flowers all over my walkway and doorstep and the petals are tracked through my front door and strewn throughout my house.

Does anyone happen to know anyone getting married this weekend who might be in need of thousands of tiny pink petals???

Thank You- A Haiku

Thank you, Elmo's World,

for being just long enough

for moms to shower.

This post is inspired by Mama Knows It All's Tuesday Haiku Link-up!  Stop by her page to see more- They only take a moment to read but they just might brighten your whole day!

SOC Sunday- Talking with the dead

I just got home from a weekend in upstate NY with my sister, 2 cousins and most of my aunts on my dad's side.  We went up to my Aunt Ceil's house for a group reading with a psychic, Melanie May.

As I've said many times before, I come from a big family.  Although we're all a little crazy in our own rite, I think of my Aunt Ceil as one of the more sane members of our crew.  She's very level headed and down to earth.  So when she told me she had been seeing a psychic, I was more than just a little shocked.  The other side of my thought process was "Well, if Aunt Ceil believes in it, then she has to be worth checking out!"

Yesterday morning, the 8 of us sat in my aunt's cozy living room in front of the fireplace while Melanie guided us through a 2 hour reading.  I'm not going to go through all the details here, but what I can tell you is that it was an amazing and moving experience.  I have shifted from skeptic to believer--- in what exactly--- I can't be sure.  Most probably just the idea that we don't have all the answers to life and the afterlife, and it would be arrogant to think that we ever would.  It's just a nice little reminder for me to keep my heart open to all sorts of possibilities.

**Time's up! 

*This post is an unedited stream of consciousness post part of all.things.fadra's Stream of Consciousness Sunday.