Just Make Stuff

The sh*t WAS bananas...

B-A-N-A-N-A-S :)

First of all, please excuse the psycho look on my face...I quickly handed a girl sitting behind us our camera and apparently I found time to do a little crack before she pressed the button.

The concert was really great.  Sean has officially been de-flowered...ringing ears and all...he will no longer be the 28-year-old concert virgin.  Mac was actually asleep in his seat before she got on stage, but once the show started he was rearing to go.  I can't tell you how fun it was to sing and dance with him...we didn't know every song by heart but we were all over "Rich Girl" and Hollerback Girl"...I even saw Sean bouncing a little.  :)  All three of us just loved it.

Sunday morning Mac was in rare form...he decided that he wanted to write some letters...to Gwen Stefani and Santa.  He got Gwen's done...wrote it all by himself with lots of cute phonetic misspellings.  I looked on her website to see if there was a fan mail address to send it to but there wasn't, so today Sean asked one of his fellow teachers & good friend at work, who just happens to be Gwen's cousin, if she had any ideas.  Alicia thought it was so cute that Mac wrote her that she said she'd give to her Grandma who'd be able to send it on to Gwen.  Now if we only had that good of a connection to Santa :)...

The sh*t is bananas...

Today is a momentous occasion...as of tonight my son and my husband (yes, my 28-year-old husband) will have attended their FIRST concert.  Granted there has been the symphony, little concerts in the park during the summer, or the ballet once...but there has never been a major concert.

Tonight the three of us have tickets to see Gwen Stefani.  Sean loves her and decided that he wanted her to be his very first concert experience.  Mac is totally excited too...he'll be all ready to dance around to, "the ship is bananas"--our PG-rated version of Hollerback Girl.  I'm probably a bad mom to bring my young son to a big concert but, I figured I got to see Madonna when I was eight years old so Gwen probably can't do too much damage to Mac at nine. :)

I'm tired...

Thanksgiving went great...relaxed, fun, good food and good times.  Sean and I got a little bit of an early start on the Christmas decorating last night and both of us worked most of today.  He was setting up the tree & stringing Christmas lights all around the house outside (we finally got the big traditional lights for the outside and it looks soooo very cute).  I stayed indoors setting up decorations, wrapping more presents, and making a bunch of gift tags.  We got a lot done and unfortunately we still have a lot to do...it's kind of stressing me out because I just want it done so I can sit back and enjoy. 

While I was working on some wrapping tonight The Family Man was playing on NBC...it is such a great movie.  As it got to the end a few minutes ago it just struck me that it's not about getting everything done as much as it is about enjoying what I have to do and who I have to do it with...it always feels good to be reminded of that.  Now, I need to go apologize to Sean for being so snappy with him for the last couple hours and go to bed.

Good night...

Thanksgiving Eve...

I recently got a little camera to carry in my purse all the time so on Monday night when we were at the grocery store I was able to snap this.  My dedicated other half digging through the freezer section for the perfect turkey...or in this year's case two perfect, small, but as even-weighted as possible turkeys instead of getting one big one.  He must really love me, that or he's as crazy as I am. :)

I caught a cold this week and was pretty worried that the Thanksgiving To-Do shit would hit the fan (what does "shit hit the fan" really mean?  it just occurred to me that I have no idea).  However here it is a few minutes away from midnight and the house is straightened up, the dining room table is set, the turkeys are defrosted, the stuffing is made, dessert is all done and I'm going to bed. 

The plan for tomorrow is to get up and hit the treadmill as I watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, finish cooking dinner and sit down to eat with friends around 3pm.  Mac goes to Bryce's for Thanksgiving dinner #2 at 5pm and then he'll stay there till Saturday evening.  Sean and I will be home busy decorating for Christmas.

I just love this weekend and am so glad everything has gone smoothly so far...hopefully tomorrow will be uneventfully pleasant too.  We're trying some new recipes so we need to cross our fingers that we'll be sitting down with some good food tomorrow afternoon. :)

Happy Thanksgiving

Curls and other randomness...

Thought I'd share the curly look. (a la picture in front of the bathroom mirror) I've been joking that it's very Bozo the Clown, but I really don't think I'm too far off with that description...minus the bright colors of course.  Oh well, it is what it is...and it is sooo much easier to wear it curly. 

Nothing else too terribly exciting to report.  All of our weekend plans went great.  Somehow with all the busy-ness it was still fairly relaxing...minus all the traffic we seems to get stuck in every where we turned. 

Sean and I also got almost all the Christmas shopping done on Sunday...all that's left is Mac's bus driver and gifts for each other and I'm sure we've inevitably forgotten someone, even though we've listed everyone we can think of a couple of times through. 

One of yesterday's highlights was when it finally struck me what to get my dad and his family.  I always struggle with finding them either little individual gifts or a bigger family gift.  I came up with a collection of Christmas DVDs...It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Mickey's Christmas Carol.  I'm hoping it's a little something for everyone to enjoy over the years since my step-sister is a teenager and my half-sister is a baby.  So, so glad that challenge is checked off the list. :)   

Today I need to sit down and get a Thanksgiving dinner shopping list organized and then head off to the grocery store...and a dozen other to-do's I won't bore you with.

T-minus 3 days and counting till my favorite holiday :)

Busy-ness...

So the bedroom is getting there.  I'm not totally convinced about the headboard, but I loooove the green wall.  So much so that I came up with another crazy painting idea...if and when we pull it off I'll share another photo sometime soon.

Sean and I have a busy weekend ahead...actually if I really think about it we are now officially busy from now until New Year's.  We already have a party to be at, host, or will be on trip scheduled every weekend through Christmas.  Oh well, it's all fun stuff. 

This weekend we have a baby shower to go to tomorrow.  Or rather I'm going to while Sean takes his best friend (the new dad-to-be) out to celebrate at the driving range.  Then tomorrow night we are going to a Thanksgiving dinner with a bunch of friends from Camp.  Really looking forward to catching up with everyone, but tonight will be spent cooking the three different dishes/dessert we're bringing along tomorrow.

I am going to TRY to not procrastinate on the last bits of school work to take care of for my English class.  I've gotten myself an "A" so far, so I just need to stay on top of my research paper, especially since the rough draft I turned on Monday was really rough.  I keep thinking about how good it's going to feel to walk out of the final knowing I've accomplished this class.  Now I just need to decide on the what/when for the spring semester.

Then there's just the 1,000 to-do's of Christmas.  April was here visiting yesterday (which was way too much fun) and I suckered her into trying to get a Christmas card photo.  She succeeded which feels ever so good to have crossed off the old list.  Now the cards just need to be made...I say it like it's no big deal, as opposed to the 5-hour assembly-line event that it usually is. :)

Lots of busy-ness.  Can't believe Thanksgiving is less than a week away...just can't wait...we'll that's assuming that a bunch of stuff gets done beforehand. 

Have a good weekend...

Many Ways...One Will...

I was thinking of the whole saying "Where there's a will there's a way" last night.  One of neighbors thought to give Sean and Mac a couple of last minute Mighty Ducks hockey tickets that they weren't going to be able to use, so as the two of them headed off to the game I had a couple hours by myself before I left for my soldering class last night (which was very fun and definitely a technique that I need a lot more practice on--good thing I bought all the tools I need so I can keep trying).  Besides working a little more on my paper for class and eating dinner, I went out by myself with my i-pod in hand to walk/run.  I was thinking of all the ways I've been exercising lately...

Walking with Sean

Walking with Sean & starting ever so slowly to learn how to run--yes, I need to learn because I've never really done it

Walking with Sean and Mac as he rides his bike

Walking with Sean and pulling Mac in the wagon since it's too dark out for him to ride his bike

Walking on the treadmill in the garage set at 10% incline because I might as well get more of a workout if I can

and my morning meetings with Denise Austin...I have the DVR set to tape her shows off of Lifetime every morning and I try and do as much as I have time for...she's kind of annoying but her flat-as-a-board stomach is pretty darn inspiring

So back to last night...

My i-pod was blasting in my ears, I walked down one side of the street and ever so slowly did a pathetic shuffle-like jog up the other...as I went up & down the streets I looked up in the sky to see on one side a pink and orange sunset, on the other side the moon rising in the darkening sky...it was such a beautiful night.

I was literally dripping sweat off my face, my breasts were just about to fall out of the bottom of my way-too-big-now sports bra (rest assured I went and bought new ones today at Target) and I looked altogether ridiculous bouncing around in my attempt to run I realized...I felt GREAT. 

Exercise makes me feel great.  Don't get me wrong, it's not the highlight of my day and more often than not I'm dragging my ass to do it, but if I could bottle and sell the feeling once I get started I'd be a billionaire ten times over.

I still struggle every single day about food and staying motivated...and I've already failed myself dozens of times...but I just keep trying...keep working...keep running (or trying to). 

There are many ways, but one will. 

I want to be in the best shape of my life and maintain it...this is the only body I'm ever going to get and I'm dead-set on taking care of it.  It's going to be an everyday forever kind of a deal.  I just need to constantly remind myself of the sweaty, disgusting, tired, accomplished, relaxed, empowered, wonderful feeling I get in the end.

Blue tape...

This is a look at our bedroom right now.  It was nice and neat this morning, but blue tape is back in action once again around the house and where it goes surely a disaster follows.  Sean's going to paint the one wall in our room that doesn't have high ceilings a lovely pukey limey green.  I can't wait! :)  He also has spent the last week working on what will be our new headboard.  We bought shutter style closet doors and painted them two different shades of blue.  That way there's some height on the big wall and most importantly some color.  I really hope it works because, as always, it was my crazy idea to do this.

While Sean's painting I'm sitting at my computer desk with piles of articles surrounding me.  I have a rough draft of a research paper due tomorrow morning and am in true procrastination style working on it at the last minute.  At least it's a rough draft, that is my saving grace for it seems I am completely unable to write any cohesive, informative paragraphs about trans-racial families this afternoon.  The unorganized piles of information with tons of blue highlighted passages aren't helping me much either...that's because I can't remember what article I read anything in.   Oh well, by December 5th when the final draft is due I'll be all set...probably because I'll be working on it last minute all day December 4th.

I really have to get the paper done this afternoon since tonight I'm taking a soldering class at The Art Bar...something I've wanted to learn for months now and I'm kind of guessing I'll not be that good at, but I won't know until I try.

Back to writing...wish me luck...

Happiness is...

New Catslife Press stamps. :)  I think we all know at this point that I LOVE stamps and out of all the stamps in the world these are my very favorites.  Susan comes up with the most unique stuff... just can't get enough of it.

She e-mailed me on Sunday night to let me know she had put the new images for Fall 2005 on the website (sort of because I just happened to bug her a couple of days before asking when new stamps would be available--I'm not addicted or anything) and I sent back an order immediately...went nuts over all the new polka dot fun and excitement...but I think my most favorite stamp this time around is the "Art doesn't have to be perfect"...what more do you need than that?

13 inches later...

Okay not the best photo...which is the story of my life.  Literally got out of the car, ran upstairs and got the camera so Sean could take this while there was still light in the sky.

So, here's the after.  She cut off 13 inches and left me with this cutey cute bob.  I decided to have her cut a light layer of bangs...am I a wild woman or what?!? :) Hopefully I can carry it off.  I think I've run my hands though it 157 times already and I just got home a half hour ago.

I'll switch back and forth between my pathetic attempts to straighten it and letting it be the curly mess that it is...so we'll have to see what it's looking like tomorrow...

**edited to add** it has brought to my attention that the title "13 inches later" has the definite possibility of being misconstrued as a sexual innuendo...I just wanted to clarify that I was in no way subconsciously or otherwise sharing anything about my sex life again.  And, for the record, 13 inches???  Oh my Lord, I'd no sooner be a dead woman.** :)

Before...

Mac took this for me yesterday during our pile of leaves fun.  This will before my before photo because as of 3:30pm today I'm cutting my hair off...well at least 10 inches of it.  I decided a couple months ago that I wanted to donate my hair to Locks of Love and since it's needing to be trimmed I figured might as well do it now. 

I must, vainly, admit I'm a little worried about a new haircut bring much more attention to my fat cheeks and neck, but I figure that will be all the more reason to keep working on not having fat cheeks or a fat neck.

On that note, those just happen to be the size 12 GAP jeans I've had hanging in my bedroom for the last couple months as a daily reminder to work on fitting into them...26 pounds down 43.5 to go.  I struggle every single day to stay on track but I'm GOING to get there.

I'll have an after photo later today...

He just sparkles...

That's what Mac's teacher said about him during out parent teacher conference this afternoon...she admitted that she was about to cry just talking about him. 

All of his schoolwork she had to show was lacking, but it doesn't matter.  He trys hard, he's enthusiastic, he's respectful and he keeps his desk really clean.  (the way to his OCD mom's heart) 

Not to brag...PLEASE know that's my very last intention...but every teacher he's had has said something similar over the years.  He captures their hearts with his smile.  I told Mrs. Beckman today that the "sparkle" she referred to is what I've always referred to as magic.  Mac is just magic...it is in and of itself innate to his being...even when he was just 2.3 pounds, it was there.  As long as I live I don't think I'll ever know how I got lucky enough to be his mom.

This afternoon between picking him up from his minimum day and going back to his school for the meeting he desperately wanted to rake our next door neighbors leaves...both to do something nice and, most importantly, to get to play in them.  I was all too happy to help him because that meant I'd be able to get some pictures. :)  We just had the best time...I don't know what I got a better workout from, the raking or all the laughing.

A couple pretty BIG things...

It occurred to me that I haven't shared my super-duper (non-adoption related) news.  Then we also got some exciting Mac-related news a little while ago.

So, guess where Sean and I got plane tickets to for $164 dollars each way...applied for passports, are traveling February 10th through the 17th, and are soooo very out of our minds excited about?

We actually GOING...not talking about it, not dreaming about it...GOING.  To say I cannot wait is the understatement of the century. :)

To continue the guessing...

Guess who's musical theater teacher asked this afternoon after class if he could come to extra rehearsals for the next few Wednesdays because they would like him to be a part of the choir of kids that will be performing Christmas carols along with the Bare Naked Ladies in concert in LA on December 13th?

How cool is that? :)

That's a wrap...

Okay don't think less of me, (of course from the last post there's really no where to go but up) but I spent a couple hours today wrapping Christmas presents.  I know that November just started, but every year I make a point to get started early.  In the last couple weeks I have really started getting some shopping done so I wanted to get started wrapping before the pile got any bigger.  Mac's at Bryce's so it's a good time for Santa to shop, wrap and hide gifts in the attic.  In fact between Santa, Mommy & Seany all of Mac's gifts are done. There are four other people crossed off the shopping list and several other random gifts purchased too.  Still have to do ribbon & make tags, right now there's post-it notes stuck on the gifts to remind me what's what. 

We got a bunch of other stuff done this weekend too.  Yesterday morning Sean and I worked out in the front yard together weeding, dead-heading flowers, and pulling out annuals that were done for the season...then we went shopping for some more plants, which is one of my new favorite things...all the colors, variegated leaves, different heights...it's just fun to combine all different kinds of plants and get them arranged in the yard...it's kind of like putting together a live scrapbook layout. :) 

Today's domestic fun and excitement has included getting the kitchen cabinets under the counter all cleaned out, putting down new contact paper and installing rolling bins to make reaching pots and Tupperware easier.  Have wanted to do that FOREVER.

Combine that with a rough draft of a paper I wrote and the essays I read for a quiz tomorrow and it's just been action packed around here. :)   

Seriously, it feels so good to reach Sunday night and see that we got so much done...lazy weekends are great too, but nothing beats the relaxing feeling behind getting those to-do's crossed off the list.

Is it bad...

that we had all the Halloween decorations packed up and the turkey stuff out by 9pm last night? :)

We had a great Halloween...a bunch of our neighbors came over for pizza...the kids were dancing as my i-pod played Monster Mash, Thriller, Ghost-busters, and other spooky favorites...our little warlock trick-or-treated his way all through the neighborhood.

But, every year as the trick-or-treaters at our door start to dwindle I can't wait to move on to Thanksgiving.  It's my favorite holiday.  It's not completely about the food (even though it's ever so good) or even family since I'm not always getting along with them...I just love that it kicks off the whole holiday season.  Christmas day is great and all, but it's so anti-climatic.  Thanksgiving is the very beginning and I love all the traditions...cooking...watching the Macy's parade...decorating the house for Christmas later in the weekend. 

Seeing the calendar turn to November 1st always makes my happy.  This November I have a TON of school work to do, I want to get a few more projects done around the house, and we have several other things planned I'm really looking forward to, including Thanksgiving...only 23 more days! :)