I woke up to that "it feels like a vacation day" feeling. Mike left this morning for a trade show in Vegas, Charlie doesn't have school, and today is the 13th birthday of opening ACES.
Think we will pick up Guitar Hero, World Tour, and spend the day melting some faces!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
job opportunity
Feline Geriatrics. A field you may want to consider, if you are looking for a new profession.
According to the vet, cats are living longer and longer all of the time, due to the fabulous formulations of modern cat food. And caring owners.
But as they age, they need biannual check-ups. To catch hypertension, and hyperthyroidism, and other geriatric illnesses, early on.
Mr. Claude? He is 18 years old. (86 or so in human years). And the vet tells me he doesn't look a day over 10. I guess the thousands of dollars we have invested in him lately are worth it.
And he is still an able office assistant, so he is clearly earning his keep. If only I could teach him how to do taxes.
According to the vet, cats are living longer and longer all of the time, due to the fabulous formulations of modern cat food. And caring owners.
But as they age, they need biannual check-ups. To catch hypertension, and hyperthyroidism, and other geriatric illnesses, early on.
Mr. Claude? He is 18 years old. (86 or so in human years). And the vet tells me he doesn't look a day over 10. I guess the thousands of dollars we have invested in him lately are worth it.
And he is still an able office assistant, so he is clearly earning his keep. If only I could teach him how to do taxes.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
fun Target finds
I have waxed poetic (no, not really) before about my love of Target shopping.
Once a month, I grab my 10% off coupon that I earned the previous month, along with my meticulously planned shopping list and stack o' coupons, and spend a couple of hours doing a "big shop".
Yesterday I needed two trips to get it all in (hey, 48 rolls of toilet paper and 37 lbs of cat litter take up a lot of space!)
Since I am saving so much money (my coupon secrets will be revealed in another post) I always feel the need to "treat" myself to something fresh and new, that I probably don't really need, but feel I have earned.
This month? Orla Kiely.
Oh my.
She is a designer of clothing, house goods, and all kinds of fun. I LOVE her colors, her retro funky shapes and styles. You can see more of her at her website:
http://www.orlakiely.com/usa/
First off, I needed some new desk goodies:
(a peek into what I need to survive in my office reveals pencils, receipt paper rolls, canned air, chocolate, and.... Lock DeIcer?)
Then, I discovered this cheerful new coffee cup.
But my favorite item? My new glove/hat/mitten holder. (they aren't just for shoes anymore, not when you live in a tiny house and need all of the storage help you can get.)
Just one of the many reasons I love Target-making designer goodies accessible to the masses!
Once a month, I grab my 10% off coupon that I earned the previous month, along with my meticulously planned shopping list and stack o' coupons, and spend a couple of hours doing a "big shop".
Yesterday I needed two trips to get it all in (hey, 48 rolls of toilet paper and 37 lbs of cat litter take up a lot of space!)
Since I am saving so much money (my coupon secrets will be revealed in another post) I always feel the need to "treat" myself to something fresh and new, that I probably don't really need, but feel I have earned.
This month? Orla Kiely.
Oh my.
She is a designer of clothing, house goods, and all kinds of fun. I LOVE her colors, her retro funky shapes and styles. You can see more of her at her website:
http://www.orlakiely.com/usa/
First off, I needed some new desk goodies:
(a peek into what I need to survive in my office reveals pencils, receipt paper rolls, canned air, chocolate, and.... Lock DeIcer?)Then, I discovered this cheerful new coffee cup.
But my favorite item? My new glove/hat/mitten holder. (they aren't just for shoes anymore, not when you live in a tiny house and need all of the storage help you can get.)
Just one of the many reasons I love Target-making designer goodies accessible to the masses!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
time flies, part VI
Reading time.
I started reading to Charlie before he was even born. He had bookshelves full of books when he was just a newborn. I would pick up classics at yard sales, and fondly remember reading some of them as a child. Everything founds it's way in to our house. "Blueberries for Sal" was next to "The Velveteen Rabbit" and the Little House series took up residence on the shelf next to "The Boxcar Children" and the "Hardy Boys" original mysteries. Eric Carle was an early favorite author, along with Virginia Lee Burton. Maurice Sendak made us both happy, along with A. A. Milne.
We had story time every night before he went to sleep, and often had reading time duirng the day. He LOVED books. Here was one of his favorites:
He was quite obsessed with any type of construction vehicle at the time, and even went to a Steam Thresher event with Mike and his Grandpa Don in North Dakota-where they had a real Marion Steam Shovel that he got to check out. He came home bursting with stories, in his little boy language, eyes shining and hands waving trying to explain to me just how big Marian was.
Now he is 11.
And reading is not his favorite thing to do. He HAS to read for school, and would much rather be doing just about anything else.
His bookshelves are still full, I keep trying to find THE book or series that will spark his interest in the written word again. He indulges me, and gives them a try, but it has been a while since he read a book that he really loved.
Please tell me this is just a phase, and that he will love to read again someday.
I started reading to Charlie before he was even born. He had bookshelves full of books when he was just a newborn. I would pick up classics at yard sales, and fondly remember reading some of them as a child. Everything founds it's way in to our house. "Blueberries for Sal" was next to "The Velveteen Rabbit" and the Little House series took up residence on the shelf next to "The Boxcar Children" and the "Hardy Boys" original mysteries. Eric Carle was an early favorite author, along with Virginia Lee Burton. Maurice Sendak made us both happy, along with A. A. Milne.
We had story time every night before he went to sleep, and often had reading time duirng the day. He LOVED books. Here was one of his favorites:
He was quite obsessed with any type of construction vehicle at the time, and even went to a Steam Thresher event with Mike and his Grandpa Don in North Dakota-where they had a real Marion Steam Shovel that he got to check out. He came home bursting with stories, in his little boy language, eyes shining and hands waving trying to explain to me just how big Marian was.
Now he is 11.
And reading is not his favorite thing to do. He HAS to read for school, and would much rather be doing just about anything else.
His bookshelves are still full, I keep trying to find THE book or series that will spark his interest in the written word again. He indulges me, and gives them a try, but it has been a while since he read a book that he really loved.
Please tell me this is just a phase, and that he will love to read again someday.
Monday, March 2, 2009
welcome March! and amazing women
Just loved the below zero temps over the weekend-nothing like a great glimpse of spring. Oh, and the biggest winter storm of the season was enough to keep my sis and her son from visiting this weekend. Gee, aren't we lucky to live in Minnesota?
Okay, my obligatory weather whining for the day is over now, back to more interesting things! It is supposed to hit 40 by Friday, so I need to dig out my sandals.
Today I want to highlight those women in my life who are not only incredible moms, but small business women too! It isn't enough for them to manage a home, and their children's lives, they also bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan too. (or not, if they are vegetarians...)
And not coincidentally, they are both named Tracy!
Tracy has 3 children, and has run an in-home day care for more years than I can count. Imagine turning your home into a business that five days a week is full of small children, that you need to not only nurture and care for, but provide learning to as well. I don't know that Tracy has EVER had a sick day, even though I am sure there are many days she wishes she had. Having an off day? Sorry, those little kiddies need you, and the parents are depending on you. I am continually impressed, and amazed, and she just makes me tired. The woman should be wearing a crown, and getting regular massages.
Tracy has 2 sweet girls, and is expecting her third this summer. She has her own Ebay store, and is a trunk keeper for Matilda Jane.
http://matildajaneclothing.com/
She just had a show over the weekend, that I am quite sure had to be a sales record for the entire company! She used to be a corporate woman, with Imation, but now she is her OWN corporation! In between making lunch for her girls, bringing them to school, and managing her home, she has record sales days!
Talk about multi-taskers, these two women ARE the phrase.
I am honored to be their friends! I could never work that hard.
Okay, my obligatory weather whining for the day is over now, back to more interesting things! It is supposed to hit 40 by Friday, so I need to dig out my sandals.
Today I want to highlight those women in my life who are not only incredible moms, but small business women too! It isn't enough for them to manage a home, and their children's lives, they also bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan too. (or not, if they are vegetarians...)
And not coincidentally, they are both named Tracy!
Tracy has 3 children, and has run an in-home day care for more years than I can count. Imagine turning your home into a business that five days a week is full of small children, that you need to not only nurture and care for, but provide learning to as well. I don't know that Tracy has EVER had a sick day, even though I am sure there are many days she wishes she had. Having an off day? Sorry, those little kiddies need you, and the parents are depending on you. I am continually impressed, and amazed, and she just makes me tired. The woman should be wearing a crown, and getting regular massages.
Tracy has 2 sweet girls, and is expecting her third this summer. She has her own Ebay store, and is a trunk keeper for Matilda Jane.
http://matildajaneclothing.com/
She just had a show over the weekend, that I am quite sure had to be a sales record for the entire company! She used to be a corporate woman, with Imation, but now she is her OWN corporation! In between making lunch for her girls, bringing them to school, and managing her home, she has record sales days!
Talk about multi-taskers, these two women ARE the phrase.
I am honored to be their friends! I could never work that hard.
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