I have jury duty summons. Hooray for me. I am less than excited.
I actually got summons last September, but I asked for an extension and now my time is here again. Luckily I am on call-in status, so I only need to actually travel downtown if I need to be there. Still, I am not looking forward to it. I am going to load up on some books that have been sitting and waiting for me to read them.
And you better believe that if I get chosen for a case, I am sharing stories here. I mean, whatever I'm allowed to share. ;)
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
If I can do it, anyone can. (Confessions of a non-runner).
So, I have always had this weird desire to be a runner. It was a weird desire because no matter how much I wanted to "be a runner," I didn't enjoy the actual running. I just wanted to "be a runner" and run races and wear cool running clothes and stuff. I guess deep down, I wanted the end result without any of the work. Once I realized that that was nearly impossible....okay, totally impossible....I decided to do the work.
In May of 2005, I started a run/walk program that was to gradually take me from a walker to a runner. Well, about a month into the program, I began to have some knee pain. I tried to run through the pain, but it got worse. I went to a doctor and learned that I had really sucky connectors between my quad muscles and my knee joint. (I'm sure there's a much more technically correct way to say that). So I went to physical therapy a couple times a week for another month or so. I continued walking and doing a little running. Then, on July 7, a little blue line forever changed my life. And my running plans, as it turns out. I called my physical therapist and told him I didn't feel like running anymore. So I quit! Call me crazy, but being pregnant was enough for me to focus on. Once morning sickness ended, I was back at work and thought naps were more fun than running. :)
Fast forward to April of 2008. Three whole years later, and the urge to "be a runner" hits me again. A group of friends decided to take part in the inaugural Maple Grove half marathon and 5K. I was excited for them but was pretty sure I would be watching from the sidelines. Then one of those friends said she was doing something called the "Couch to 5K" program and that I should check it out. So I did! It was a program similar to the one I had tried three years earlier. It's broken into walking and running at various intervals for 9 weeks. Okay, obstacle number one: I had 6 weeks until the 5K. And presumable obstacle number two: I had a bad knee. Remember? Physical therapy? I couldn't do that again!
Never the less, I decided to start the program. I got a calendar and figured out how to cram the 9 weeks into 6. I got a cheap stopwatch at Target. I mapped out my course outside. And most importantly, I got new shoes. REAL running shoes. From a place where they actually measure your foot and give you a food that FITS it. (12 narrow, for the record). I fell in love with the shoes right away. And the next day, I ran.
Day 1, I jogged for a minute. Then walked for one and a half. Then jogged, then walked. The whole thing was repeated for 25 minutes. It wasn't a walk in the park to run for a whole minute, but I certainly didn't feel like I was going to die. In fact, I went on to the second phase a day early because I was feeling pretty confident. Run one and a half minutes, walk two. Repeat for 25 minutes. Okay, adding 30 seconds was a little harder than I expected. but it got easier every day. Then I was hit by the bus called phase three. Run one and a half, walk one and a half, run THREE, walk three. THREE??? What happened to two? Or two and a half? You seriously think I can just skip to THREE MINUTES and be okay with it? Well, I was okay with it. It wasn't as impossible as I made it out to be. The program continued. The running increased, the walking decreased. I surprised myself each time I started a new phase and didn't die. Before I knew it, I was running for five minutes at a time. Eight minutes at a time. Ten minutes at a time! It was crazy. And the best part? My knees were fine! Sure, I had shin splints to beat the band, but my knees were fine and that's all I cared about.
A couple weeks before the race, I was still a little leery that I would be ready. But I had registered, so there was no backing out! I was pretty sure I would probably do a combination of running and walking, but I was definitely going to do it. Those weeks leading up to the 5K included a 20 minute run, a 25 minute run, a 28 minute run, and a 30 minute run. I glanced at the program and noticed that 30 minutes of running is as high as it went. Crap! I couldn't run three (well, 3.1) miles in 30 minutes! I need an extra week! Someone, quick, call the people in charge of the Maple Grove race and tell them I need an extra week. Yeah, unlikely. I decided to factor in a three-mile run after my 30 minute run. Just to see if I could do it. Three days before the race, I ran for three miles. Unfortunately, it took me 40 minutes. But I ran for 40 minutes without stopping! Are you kidding me? No, I'm not! I deemed myself ready for the race. And I even set a goal. Break 40 minutes and never stop to walk.
Then the race day came. And it was a beautiful one! Millions of people (or right around a thousand, anyway) crowded into the Maple Grove Senior High track. About 600 were there to take part in the half marathon (crazy people!) and the rest were doing the 5K with me. We watched the crazy half marathoners start their race and took our places at the starting line. The gun (er, blowhorn) went off and we were off! Like a herd of cattle, really. We ran the proclaimed "flat, fast" course and basked in the sun in the process. I ran with my mom. Well, she racewalked. But we were together for the whole race. And just like that, it was over! I mean, after a lot of heavy breathing and hard work, it was over. But I met both of my goals. Our time was right around 38 minutes, and I never had to stop to walk!
So, there you have it. I am, apparently, a runner. And I like it! So much so that I have registered for two more 5Ks in the next month. I'm out of control! :)
In May of 2005, I started a run/walk program that was to gradually take me from a walker to a runner. Well, about a month into the program, I began to have some knee pain. I tried to run through the pain, but it got worse. I went to a doctor and learned that I had really sucky connectors between my quad muscles and my knee joint. (I'm sure there's a much more technically correct way to say that). So I went to physical therapy a couple times a week for another month or so. I continued walking and doing a little running. Then, on July 7, a little blue line forever changed my life. And my running plans, as it turns out. I called my physical therapist and told him I didn't feel like running anymore. So I quit! Call me crazy, but being pregnant was enough for me to focus on. Once morning sickness ended, I was back at work and thought naps were more fun than running. :)
Fast forward to April of 2008. Three whole years later, and the urge to "be a runner" hits me again. A group of friends decided to take part in the inaugural Maple Grove half marathon and 5K. I was excited for them but was pretty sure I would be watching from the sidelines. Then one of those friends said she was doing something called the "Couch to 5K" program and that I should check it out. So I did! It was a program similar to the one I had tried three years earlier. It's broken into walking and running at various intervals for 9 weeks. Okay, obstacle number one: I had 6 weeks until the 5K. And presumable obstacle number two: I had a bad knee. Remember? Physical therapy? I couldn't do that again!
Never the less, I decided to start the program. I got a calendar and figured out how to cram the 9 weeks into 6. I got a cheap stopwatch at Target. I mapped out my course outside. And most importantly, I got new shoes. REAL running shoes. From a place where they actually measure your foot and give you a food that FITS it. (12 narrow, for the record). I fell in love with the shoes right away. And the next day, I ran.
Day 1, I jogged for a minute. Then walked for one and a half. Then jogged, then walked. The whole thing was repeated for 25 minutes. It wasn't a walk in the park to run for a whole minute, but I certainly didn't feel like I was going to die. In fact, I went on to the second phase a day early because I was feeling pretty confident. Run one and a half minutes, walk two. Repeat for 25 minutes. Okay, adding 30 seconds was a little harder than I expected. but it got easier every day. Then I was hit by the bus called phase three. Run one and a half, walk one and a half, run THREE, walk three. THREE??? What happened to two? Or two and a half? You seriously think I can just skip to THREE MINUTES and be okay with it? Well, I was okay with it. It wasn't as impossible as I made it out to be. The program continued. The running increased, the walking decreased. I surprised myself each time I started a new phase and didn't die. Before I knew it, I was running for five minutes at a time. Eight minutes at a time. Ten minutes at a time! It was crazy. And the best part? My knees were fine! Sure, I had shin splints to beat the band, but my knees were fine and that's all I cared about.
A couple weeks before the race, I was still a little leery that I would be ready. But I had registered, so there was no backing out! I was pretty sure I would probably do a combination of running and walking, but I was definitely going to do it. Those weeks leading up to the 5K included a 20 minute run, a 25 minute run, a 28 minute run, and a 30 minute run. I glanced at the program and noticed that 30 minutes of running is as high as it went. Crap! I couldn't run three (well, 3.1) miles in 30 minutes! I need an extra week! Someone, quick, call the people in charge of the Maple Grove race and tell them I need an extra week. Yeah, unlikely. I decided to factor in a three-mile run after my 30 minute run. Just to see if I could do it. Three days before the race, I ran for three miles. Unfortunately, it took me 40 minutes. But I ran for 40 minutes without stopping! Are you kidding me? No, I'm not! I deemed myself ready for the race. And I even set a goal. Break 40 minutes and never stop to walk.
Then the race day came. And it was a beautiful one! Millions of people (or right around a thousand, anyway) crowded into the Maple Grove Senior High track. About 600 were there to take part in the half marathon (crazy people!) and the rest were doing the 5K with me. We watched the crazy half marathoners start their race and took our places at the starting line. The gun (er, blowhorn) went off and we were off! Like a herd of cattle, really. We ran the proclaimed "flat, fast" course and basked in the sun in the process. I ran with my mom. Well, she racewalked. But we were together for the whole race. And just like that, it was over! I mean, after a lot of heavy breathing and hard work, it was over. But I met both of my goals. Our time was right around 38 minutes, and I never had to stop to walk!
So, there you have it. I am, apparently, a runner. And I like it! So much so that I have registered for two more 5Ks in the next month. I'm out of control! :)
Friday, May 09, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
A few of my favorite things, #3
This is my spice rack! After 5 1/2 years of struggling to keep 1/2 empty bottles of God-only-knows-what from falling over and getting lost, I invested in the BEST invention in kitchen organization. Magnetic spice jars! They are aligned on the side of my fridge, with easy access to everything. And I can see what all of them are! And a whole shelf in my cupboard is free! I love it. :)
Thursday, April 17, 2008
2 years (well, close enough)
My dearest Jackson,
You are a two-year-old! How did that happen? Two years ago I was getting used to the joy of being a mother and had a tiny (well, that's all relative) little boy in my life. Your arrival at 1:36 am on March 19, 2006 made me a mom. And that's a job I have adored from the first moment.
Your first year of life was exciting because of all of the "firsts" involved. The second year was exciting because you started to become this little person. I mean, you were always technically a "person," but you really just started growing up. You started saying things and interacting more and developing your own opinion about life. That's a fun one!
It's only been 6 months since the last update, and there wasn't a LOT of activity to report on. It is winter in Minnesota, after all. We did get to celebrate your second Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On Halloween, we went to A Night in the Light at church and you dressed as a pumpkin! You really wanted to be a duck, but they didn't have your size. :) Your friend Eli was a puppy. You were both so cute! Thanksgiving was pretty low-key, but we learned how much you love mashed potatoes. Yum! Christmas with a 21-month-old was awesome! So much more exciting than the year before. You were much more into everything and loved opening gifts. You got lots of fun stuff from so many generous people.
January brought a BIG change for our family--I got a job! It's wonderful and I absolutely love it. But it meant putting you in daycare. Luckily we found someone that we really like and you really like being there. You have lots of friends and I think the interaction is really great for you. And you still have your Gigi two days a week, so it's a nice balance between social interaction and getting all of the attention. ;)
Your recent fascinations: guitars (Uncle John got you a mini acoustic for Christmas), monkeys (you love EVERYTHING Curious George!), trucks (especially books about trucks), fish sticks, M&Ms, going on the big boy potty (and getting an M&M for doing so!), and squirrels. Although, that's the funniest sounding word coming out of your mouth. "Queous" or something. But you know all about how they live outside and like to go on the roof. Oh, you are too funny!
We love you so much, Jack! And I think you love us too. :) Just last night, I slammed my finger in the door when I was leaving your room. When I went back in (because you weren't going to sleep very easily), you scurried to a standing position, grabbed my hand, and kissed the CORRECT finger! You just blessed my heart. You are so sensitive and loving, and I never want that to change! You are just the best kid ever. Here's to tackling the Terrific Twos with grace and gusto!
Love you darling,
Mom
You are a two-year-old! How did that happen? Two years ago I was getting used to the joy of being a mother and had a tiny (well, that's all relative) little boy in my life. Your arrival at 1:36 am on March 19, 2006 made me a mom. And that's a job I have adored from the first moment.
Your first year of life was exciting because of all of the "firsts" involved. The second year was exciting because you started to become this little person. I mean, you were always technically a "person," but you really just started growing up. You started saying things and interacting more and developing your own opinion about life. That's a fun one!
It's only been 6 months since the last update, and there wasn't a LOT of activity to report on. It is winter in Minnesota, after all. We did get to celebrate your second Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On Halloween, we went to A Night in the Light at church and you dressed as a pumpkin! You really wanted to be a duck, but they didn't have your size. :) Your friend Eli was a puppy. You were both so cute! Thanksgiving was pretty low-key, but we learned how much you love mashed potatoes. Yum! Christmas with a 21-month-old was awesome! So much more exciting than the year before. You were much more into everything and loved opening gifts. You got lots of fun stuff from so many generous people.
January brought a BIG change for our family--I got a job! It's wonderful and I absolutely love it. But it meant putting you in daycare. Luckily we found someone that we really like and you really like being there. You have lots of friends and I think the interaction is really great for you. And you still have your Gigi two days a week, so it's a nice balance between social interaction and getting all of the attention. ;)
Your recent fascinations: guitars (Uncle John got you a mini acoustic for Christmas), monkeys (you love EVERYTHING Curious George!), trucks (especially books about trucks), fish sticks, M&Ms, going on the big boy potty (and getting an M&M for doing so!), and squirrels. Although, that's the funniest sounding word coming out of your mouth. "Queous" or something. But you know all about how they live outside and like to go on the roof. Oh, you are too funny!
We love you so much, Jack! And I think you love us too. :) Just last night, I slammed my finger in the door when I was leaving your room. When I went back in (because you weren't going to sleep very easily), you scurried to a standing position, grabbed my hand, and kissed the CORRECT finger! You just blessed my heart. You are so sensitive and loving, and I never want that to change! You are just the best kid ever. Here's to tackling the Terrific Twos with grace and gusto!
Love you darling,
Mom
Sunday, April 13, 2008
A Few of My Favorite Things #2
Mess-free fun.
Jackson turned two almost a month ago, and two of his gifts are just rocking our world around here. Number one:
Aquadoodle! This isn't the exact one that Jack has, but this thing is amazing. It's a mat that you put on the floor or a table, and a pen that you fill with water. When water touches the mat, it makes marks and you can draw pictures without worrying about spilling paint or getting marker on the wall or crayon on the piano (yeah, been there). The only downside (according to Jack anyway) is that the images fade to fast (as soon as the water dries). He gets frustrated. I think it's a good thing because it makes room for more pictures. Anyway, on to
number two:
Crayola color wonder! It's the same concept as the aquadoodle--the special paint, markers, and crayons can only color on the special color wonder paper and coloring book. Jackson thinks they are just awesome! We had a lot of fun with the paint today, and our art is now displayed on our sliding deck door. :)
Ah, lazy Sunday afternoons!
Jackson turned two almost a month ago, and two of his gifts are just rocking our world around here. Number one:
Aquadoodle! This isn't the exact one that Jack has, but this thing is amazing. It's a mat that you put on the floor or a table, and a pen that you fill with water. When water touches the mat, it makes marks and you can draw pictures without worrying about spilling paint or getting marker on the wall or crayon on the piano (yeah, been there). The only downside (according to Jack anyway) is that the images fade to fast (as soon as the water dries). He gets frustrated. I think it's a good thing because it makes room for more pictures. Anyway, on tonumber two:
Crayola color wonder! It's the same concept as the aquadoodle--the special paint, markers, and crayons can only color on the special color wonder paper and coloring book. Jackson thinks they are just awesome! We had a lot of fun with the paint today, and our art is now displayed on our sliding deck door. :)Ah, lazy Sunday afternoons!
Monday, March 31, 2008
I believe
In the sun, even when it's not shining.
In love, even when I don't feel it.
In God, even when He is silent.
In love, even when I don't feel it.
In God, even when He is silent.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
My boy the explorer
Okay, I'm still working on Jack's 2-year letter, but here are some cute pictures to tied you over. On Easter, we were at my aunt and uncle's house, and my cousin got these shots of Jackson. He cleared the shelf of a bunch of books and proceeded to, well, you get the picture. :)
I'm so proud!
I'm so proud!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
I know.....
It's Jack's birthday, and I should be writing him a letter. I will. Just not right now. It's holy week, and I work in a church. Let me get to the weekend and then we'll talk.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Yay!
I got confirmation today that my Tastebook has shipped. A couple of things I forgot to mention in my last post about it is that you get to title it and pick a cover picture. My title is "In My Kitchen" and my picture is a tin of cookies. How appropriate. Coming soon - a review of the actual product, once I have it in my hands (maybe even pictures!) and A Few of My Favorite Things #2.
Happy Wednesday! :)
Happy Wednesday! :)
Friday, March 07, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
A Few of My Favorite Things - #1
Blogging seems to be going the way of the dinosaur. Or at least the way of the spider monkey, with the influx of sites like Myspace and Facebook. So, in an effort to get me blogging more consistently, I am starting a new "publication" if you will: "A Few of My Favorite Things." Now, no one tell Oprah. Although, I really don't intend to start giving away cars and flat screen televisions. I only intend to share things with you that 1)make my life easier, 2)might not (but should be) well-known by the general public, or 3)just make me glad I'm not the one in charge of coming up with new ideas.
First in the series is a website. And as someone who spends time in the kitchen, I think this is a winner!
www.tastebook.com
There are a number of things about this website that are just wonderful. It is connected to epicurious, which is a great database for recipes, so they have a collection of over 25,000 recipes from Gourmet, Bon Appetit, and many world-renowned chefs. Tastbook allows you to create your own cookbook. But the best part is that you can choose recipes from your epicurious account or their huge collection OR you can add your own recipes into their format. So, even though I am sure I could find some great recipes in all of there nooks and crannies, I am working on a book of all of the random, loose recipes I have been collecting for years. Now I can have them all in one place! And you get to pick a cover design from a handful of pictures. For $35, you start out with a credit of 100 recipes, but you don't have to order them all right away. For instance, I currently have 74 recipes in my book. I am going to order it soon, and I will have a credit of 26 recipes to order whenever I want, and I can just add them to my book (5-ring-binder). So fabulous - I have condensed my plethora of recipes and cookbooks that I only use for a couple of things into one place.
On a side note, the Oscars are this weekend, so I am removing my Widget. Enjoy the awards - I'm sure I'll have something to report on Monday! :)
First in the series is a website. And as someone who spends time in the kitchen, I think this is a winner!
www.tastebook.com
There are a number of things about this website that are just wonderful. It is connected to epicurious, which is a great database for recipes, so they have a collection of over 25,000 recipes from Gourmet, Bon Appetit, and many world-renowned chefs. Tastbook allows you to create your own cookbook. But the best part is that you can choose recipes from your epicurious account or their huge collection OR you can add your own recipes into their format. So, even though I am sure I could find some great recipes in all of there nooks and crannies, I am working on a book of all of the random, loose recipes I have been collecting for years. Now I can have them all in one place! And you get to pick a cover design from a handful of pictures. For $35, you start out with a credit of 100 recipes, but you don't have to order them all right away. For instance, I currently have 74 recipes in my book. I am going to order it soon, and I will have a credit of 26 recipes to order whenever I want, and I can just add them to my book (5-ring-binder). So fabulous - I have condensed my plethora of recipes and cookbooks that I only use for a couple of things into one place.
On a side note, the Oscars are this weekend, so I am removing my Widget. Enjoy the awards - I'm sure I'll have something to report on Monday! :)
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Check out my Widget!
I love the Oscars. And why not share the joy with all of you in the form of a "widget"? :) Yay! Only three more weeks until the best award show of the year! (Pending STUPID writer's strikes and stuff).
Monday, January 28, 2008
I owe you a nice long post...
...but it's going to have to wait. :)
For now, I want to share something I read today that I like a lot.
"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." -unknown
For now, I want to share something I read today that I like a lot.
"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." -unknown
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Dan in Real Life
Just wanted to let you know that one of the best movies I saw this year (see title) is at the Maple Grove Mann (cheap!) theater right now. If you haven't seen it, I would highly recommend it. And what better to do with a FREEZING cold weekend than spend it inside watching a great movie!?
Enjoy. :)
Enjoy. :)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Oh, give me a break!
Okay, I have a bone to pick with Target. It's bad enough that after Back-to-School, half of the seasonal department turns into Christmas. And of course, the other half comes after Halloween. (Hello, have we heard of Thanksgiving? Let it be a holiday! Oh, that's another post). My beef today is that now that it IS an appropriate time for Christmas stuff, I found Valentine M&Ms on an endcap. Seriously? Is someone really going to come into Target in the middle of December expecting to see pink and red M&Ms? Do people have to really plan ahead for the hugely popular holiday of Valentine's Day? I just don't get it. I'd honestly LOVE to know how many they sell before January. Crazy!
All right, I'm done.
All right, I'm done.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Book Meme
This should be fun!
1. Hardcover or paperback, and why? I don't usually care. Paperback usually means cheaper. :) If it's hardcover, I do have to take the paper outside off. It bugs me.
1. Hardcover or paperback, and why? I don't usually care. Paperback usually means cheaper. :) If it's hardcover, I do have to take the paper outside off. It bugs me.
2. If I were to own a book shop I would call it…The Book Nook. It would be next door to The Cookie Nook. You could buy a cookie and go read a book. What could be better?
3. My favourite quote from a book (mention the title) is…From Eat, Pray, Love: "In the end, what I have come to believe about God is simple. It's like this--I used to have this really great dog. She came from the pound. She was a mixture of about ten different breeds, but seemed to have inherited the finest features of them all. She was brown. When people asked me, "What kind of a dog is that?" I would always give the same answer: "She's a brown dog." Similarly, when the question is raised, "What kind of a God do you believe in?" my answer is easy: "I believe in a magnificent God."
4. The author (alive or dead) I would love to have lunch with would be ….C.S. Lewis
5. If I was going to a deserted island and could only bring one book, except for the SAS survival guide, it would be…The Bible. It sounds so goody-goody of me, but it's the only thing I've re-read and enjoyed the second time as much as (or more than) the first.
6. I would love someone to invent a bookish gadget that….Something that holds them open on a table. I didn't think it was a necessary gadget until I tried to type the quote above. :)
7. The smell of an old book reminds me of….My elementary school library. I used to check out a book about Christmas around the world. The book was ancient and I was one of only two people to ever check it out. I'm not sure why I loved it so much! I guess I just loved Christmas that much.
8. If I could be the lead character in a book (mention the title), it would be….Anne in Anne of Green Gables.
9. The most overestimated book of all times is….Harry Potter series. I'm sure the books are good (I have read the first) but it seems like a lot of hype.
10. I hate it when a book….ends before I'm ready for it to!
Tag to whomever sees this next! Corinne or Lisa!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Meet my new best friend!
His name is Mr. Clean. I've never been a fan of his cleaning products, as I tend to go for generic store brands. However, all of that changed today. He entered my life with fairly new product called "Magic Eraser" and I promise I will always have one of these truly magic products in my house. Let me explain.
This morning, Jackson and I were doing some random chores around the house. Now, when I say we were BOTH doing chores, I really mean that I was doing things, and Jack was right on my heels, undoing everything for me. Fantastic! At one point, he discovered some stickers in our bedroom, so I let him sit there and go crazy with the stickers while I did something productive without his help. At one point, things got eerily quiet in our bedroom, so I decided to check on the sticker boy. As I entered the room, I was met by Jackson, black sharpie in hand, and this:
You've got to scroll down a little bit so that it's a surprise............... :)
I almost threw up. I must have yelled, because Jack started crying. So I held him for a while, explaining that it was my fault for leaving him alone and that his artwork was really quite good. After we both settled down, I tried to remove the marks with a variety of household products. When none of them worked, I googled "removing permanent marker from wood furniture." And voila! There were tons of sites that claimed the magic eraser was exactly what I needed. Since we needed a couple of other things at Cub, Jack and I ran a quick errand. And there, on the top shelf of aisle 15, was my new man, in all his shiny bald glory:
I grabbed it and the rest of our shopping list and skedaddled out of the store. After getting Jack in bed, I started in with the magic. (By the way, the picture only shows half of the mess. I wanted to get it close up. The dresser is double wide, and he got both sides very nicely). AND BOY WAS IT MAGIC!!!! I just about cried, it was so amazing. It hardly required any effort on my part. I don't know what the sponge is made of or what is in it, but I was absolutely amazed. Here is the SAME dresser after Mr. Clean's help:
Aren't you just amazed? Seriously, I feel like I should call the company and do a commercial! :)
This morning, Jackson and I were doing some random chores around the house. Now, when I say we were BOTH doing chores, I really mean that I was doing things, and Jack was right on my heels, undoing everything for me. Fantastic! At one point, he discovered some stickers in our bedroom, so I let him sit there and go crazy with the stickers while I did something productive without his help. At one point, things got eerily quiet in our bedroom, so I decided to check on the sticker boy. As I entered the room, I was met by Jackson, black sharpie in hand, and this:
You've got to scroll down a little bit so that it's a surprise............... :)
I almost threw up. I must have yelled, because Jack started crying. So I held him for a while, explaining that it was my fault for leaving him alone and that his artwork was really quite good. After we both settled down, I tried to remove the marks with a variety of household products. When none of them worked, I googled "removing permanent marker from wood furniture." And voila! There were tons of sites that claimed the magic eraser was exactly what I needed. Since we needed a couple of other things at Cub, Jack and I ran a quick errand. And there, on the top shelf of aisle 15, was my new man, in all his shiny bald glory:
I grabbed it and the rest of our shopping list and skedaddled out of the store. After getting Jack in bed, I started in with the magic. (By the way, the picture only shows half of the mess. I wanted to get it close up. The dresser is double wide, and he got both sides very nicely). AND BOY WAS IT MAGIC!!!! I just about cried, it was so amazing. It hardly required any effort on my part. I don't know what the sponge is made of or what is in it, but I was absolutely amazed. Here is the SAME dresser after Mr. Clean's help:
Aren't you just amazed? Seriously, I feel like I should call the company and do a commercial! :)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
What Jackson WON'T be wearing this holiday season
So, a couple of years ago I ordered a pair of clearanced flipflops online from J Crew. Ever since, I have been on their e-mailing list. I recently discovered that they have a kids' clothing line called Crew Cuts. I got an e-mail about some of their "holiday looks" today, and I just want to share with you a single little boy outfit.
Here is a cashmere cable knit sweater for $98.
Of course, he'll need a shirt to go under it, so this is a classic dress shirt for $36.50 (for a limited time, it's on sale for $28.50).
And plaid pants for $185. I don't think I've ever spent that amount of money for a pair of pants for myself.
Obviously, he'll need some shoes, and what better than these loafers for a mere $88? (We'll use our own socks, since theirs are upwards of $9/pair).
If it happens to be cold, he'll also need a jacket. Here's a leather number for $350.
For a grand total of $757.50. So THIS is where the celebs shop for their kids. Heaven, help us!
Here is a cashmere cable knit sweater for $98.
Of course, he'll need a shirt to go under it, so this is a classic dress shirt for $36.50 (for a limited time, it's on sale for $28.50).
And plaid pants for $185. I don't think I've ever spent that amount of money for a pair of pants for myself.
Obviously, he'll need some shoes, and what better than these loafers for a mere $88? (We'll use our own socks, since theirs are upwards of $9/pair).
If it happens to be cold, he'll also need a jacket. Here's a leather number for $350.For a grand total of $757.50. So THIS is where the celebs shop for their kids. Heaven, help us!
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