play gym... yes or no?

I love stuff. 

There.  I said it.

But I am kind of on a stuff diet.  No, it's not a diet.  It's a lifestyle change. Tee hee.

I keep coming up with new things that Baby Maximus needs.  I have tried to keep it minimum but somehow I still finding myself walking around the Bumbo (free), pushing aside the portable Bobby swing (craigslist), and moving the folding chair/highchair/miracle chair (it's dumb, I bought it on a whim and it took up half a suitcase.  Lame.  I probably should have packed the play gym that my sweet sister in law offered me, instead) whenever I need to vacuum.   And while I am confessing... I somehow have an extra vacuum, an extra car seat, a set of dishes, a blender, a coffee maker (huh?  We don't even drink coffee), a set of knives, and a bunch of other stuff that I don't need.  I could already have a mini garage sale and I have been here just six weeks.  I haven't given up on the less waste thing.  I am just a slow learner.  Skinny people don't need diets.  

But as my baby lays there playing with nothing but his left foot (again.  The left one is his favorite) I can't help but wonder if I am not helping him living up to his potential.  It's the same feeling I get when Samuel does flips into the pool and I wonder if he needs to be in gymnastics or some other class.  What if he could be a genius if only he had toys dangling above his head? 

I kind of think it would be fun to make one.  Or, rather, have Karl make one.  But, woodworking tools didn't make the cut when we were packing for Kauai.  

It's all so silly.  I saw the movie Babies. I saw that the moms didn't need giant plastic toys to have healthy smart happy babies.  But they didn't need an Ergo, or a baby blanket, or diapers, or a floor either.  Those things are on my need list.  

So, do I add a play gym to the "need" list?

What are your thoughts?  Did your babies use them enough for it to be worth the money, space in your house, and eventually landfill space?

Is there something you thought your baby needed but didn't end up using?  

What about something you used more than you thought you would?

shopping joy

Karl and the kids at the store with me.  It is a rare thing to find all of us there.  This trip reminded me why.  It was exhausting.  Kind of fun (like a circus) but exhausting (like a circus).

I try to do my shopping alone.  That way, it feels like a mini vacation.  In my younger years I never would have thought that I would find such peace in walking the grocery store aisles kidless.  

It took me a few years to realize that no matter how awesome of a deal that I found at the store, I wasn't going to get many cheers from Karl.  Can't really blame him.  If you aren't interested, you just aren't.  I used to ask him to talk about economics when I couldn't sleep.  It's the same thing.  I am just not interested.  I have learned that not everyone shares my love of shopping and great deals.  You should have seen me in China.  Deal heaven.  But Karl's step mom said she has just never really been a shopper.  I offered to teach her.  Karl's dad said he would pay me not to teach her.  

But I had such a great bargain day yesterday that I just HAVE to share it with someone.  Please, someone, share my joy.

Dropped Eva off at dance.  I had the time planned out in my head.  Without kids, I can get about 4 times as many errands done as with kids.  

Hit Old Navy.  Had a couple returns and needed some stretchy shirts for this awkward belly-looks-like-jelly-rather-than-a-baby stage.  After my returns and filling out the survey on my phone to get the code for 10% off I got me three stretchy shirts and a sweater for  $16.  I was pleasantly surprised.

Went to DownEast.  Needed a stretchy shirt to wear under stuff.  All of mine from last summer need to hit the trash.  You don't realize how shabby stuff looks until you pull them out a year later.  I had a gift card in my wallet.  For all I knew there was only a dollar left on it.  I couldn't remember at all.  Picked out two shirts.  Handed the nice lady my gift card.  I only had to pay a dollar something.  Awesome, right?  Like finding a $20 bill in your pocket that you forgot about (am I the only one that does this?).

Went to Whole Foods to get some marjoram because I want to try my friend's soup recipe.  I have always been afraid of split pea soup but this one looks good.  And, yes, it is still soup weather every other day here in my sweet home town.  I like to get my spices there.  If I only need a tablespoon, I only have to buy a tablespoon.  And I don't have to pay for the jar.  I like to check out the sales whenever I go and I passed by my favorite taste-like-I-am-indulging-way-more-than-I-am boxed cookies.  They are 100% whole grain and don't taste healthy at all, but they kind of are.  I am still a sugar freak.  The dark chocolate has a little bit and the cookie part is sweetened with evaporated cane juice and other fruit juices.. I tried the Kashi equivalent and they were so gross, but not these.  They are usually about $3.50 for 8.   This time they were on sale for $2.50 AND there was a stack of coupons next to them for a $1 off each box.  $1.50 for a box!  I grabbed a couple and a few coupons for the future. 

Yum.

The nerdy excitement continues...

Picked Eva up, dropped her off at home with Karl and Samuel, and headed to Target.

I had a couple of returns (stretchy shirts that weren't the right kind of stretchy.  I am in search of the perfect T), a stack of coupons, and a long list of things to buy.

The ad in the paper said if I bought a giant thing of Tide (though I try to like others, it is still my favorite) and a giant bag of the new stain release stuff (I don't even care if it really works, I tried some and just think that the Tide scent scientist people are genius) then I could get a $5 Target gift card.  I had 4 coupons for both of those things.  Couldn't find the giant bag of stain release stuff.  Was going to bag it but finally got the courage to ask someone, who asked someone, who asked the right person.  Because the right person just let me buy the medium bag for $5 less.  With the $5 off and my three coupons I paid $2.75 for at $12 bag off stuff.  

Then I found some stretchy (do you sense a theme here?  How did women get through pregnancy before jersey knit?) Liz Lange yoga type maternity pants marked $10.  So I grabbed the grey and black (I like to buy in twos).  When she rang them up they were only $5 each!  They are still $20 online. 

There were a few other bargains but I feel like I got the good stuff out. 

Oh, and I had a card for a $5 gift card when I spent over $50.  

Today I looked at the receipt just because I was so proud of all my savings.  How nerdy is that?  I got joy from saving money on toothpaste, mouth wash, maternity pants, laundry detergent, deodorant, salsa, and sunscreen.  

I know I am not the only one that feels this way about a good deal.  I just might be the only one in this house.  I think when I tell Karl he just hears, "Look Karl, I just saved us a billion dollars by spending two billion dollars!"  Either that or the voice like the teacher on Peanuts.  

I think I just felt the baby!  I think that baby is happy I found some prego pants for $5.

me?

I looked for a photo of me. Not much to choose from. I am the family picture taker person. Wanted something a little more attractive. But, instead, I found something super real.

When I look at this picture I feel a little guilty. I get mom points for sleeping outside with my son when he had croup (in the middle of the summer?!). The cool summer air calmed him and helped him sleep. I get those points taken away when I see that I have hogged all the covers. He looks so cold. Especially that strip of his back.

Today I learned that there is a town called Cerda in Italy that has an artichoke festival. A festival for one of my favorite foods ever. There is even an artichoke restaurant. I want to go there. I need to go there. Tomorrow.

I found these cute little Martha Stewart craft sets at Big Lots for $2. Perfect for the kids. So cute. So cheap. So I buy 15. What? Yeah, I decided every kid I know needs some. This is something I do. I find something on sale and want everyone I love to have some. Or that I need 2 or 7. Then, that great deal ends up costing a lot of money. The positive is that I get to share my bargains and I am prepared if, by chance, 15 kids show up and want to do crafts.

My toe nail polish needs to be changed. I hate it when the polish is all chippy and grown out. I hate it so bad that when Eva was born three weeks early and I had absolutely nothing ready because I wasn't expecting it, I remember rolling around in pain on the hospital bed AND being bugged that my toe nails weren't pretty on such a special day.

I want to do a bunch of cute Halloween decorations but I am such a procrastinator. Thing is, Halloween waits for no one. So the longer I wait, the less time we have to enjoy my efforts. Then I walk into the store and there is Christmas stuff all around. Then I think, "Oh great, more stuff for me to procrastinate."

I once was in the cell phone store, in line behind a couple that seemed to be taking forever. Their complaint was that the wife's phone wasn't working. When she pressed auto dial, it wouldn't call the person that she was trying to reach. After checking several things on her phone, the cell phone store guy looks in her phonebook to make sure she has programmed the numbers correctly. "Why do you have all these stars before and after the phone numbers?" Too bad for her that it doesn't work when you dial a bunch of stars before a phone number. "Because they are pretty," she answers.

I don't like winter. I don't like cold. In the last few weeks I have made 6 kinds of soup: Pasta Fagioli, Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder, Tortilla, Butternut Squash, Potato Broccoli and Tomato Bisque (twice). Soup is one good thing about winter. But I really really really prefer salad weather.

What is the point of exercising in the morning if it just makes me sleepy all day long? "They" say it is good for me. Whoever "they" are, will they come take care of my kids while I crash on my couch?

Went to a restaurant. It was okay. Got home and found that I had a coupon for the place for a free meal. I hate that. I hate paying full price for things. I hate that I paid for my mediocre meal. Hate that it wasn't good enough to go back and get my free meal. I did this last week AND the week before. Note to self: double check coupons before going into a potentially mediocre restaurant.

I think I remember every scary story that I have ever heard. For that reason, when I am alone and it is dark outside I get kind of nervous and glance in back to make sure no scary guys are back there (while making sure the scary guy under the car doesn't get me, too). Then I get my heart rate down by telling myself, "It is just a story, there is not going to be anyone in your car, you are fine." Cops came for (the night formerly know as) enrichment to tell us a little about their jobs and our safety and what not. Nice police man tells us about the lady that got in her car and drove then realized there was a homeless guy sleeping in her car. Just great. Fabulous. Now I have to do a homeless guy check when I get in the car and figure out a new, more accurate mantra to calm my nervous heart. We had donuts for refreshments.

When I left my house today, it was drizzling and I saw my cute red polka dot rain boots. Eva was wearing her cherry ones. Samuel was wearing his cool fire dept. ones. I asked my sister, "Am I skinny enough to wear these in public?" Some people can wear rain boots and look all J Crew, fashionable, "I am wearing these on purpose." Some people can wear rain boots and look like they forgot to change their shoes after they were gardening or they are trying to make an, "I will not conform" statement. I wanted to look like the first description. With the encouragement of my very fashion conscious sister, I wore them. First public comment I got went something like this, "Is it really raining that hard?"

It is almost 3 am. Karl is tiling the kitchen backsplash, I am watching Martha and blogging. Nothing unusual here. For us, at least.

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I just signed up for a bunch of classes for Nicole Hill's The Art Weekend. I love going to classes. I love getting inspired. I love learning how to do more stuff that I can start and send to the "to be finished" bucket. I have taken many classes in my day and Nicole's photo class has been BY FAR the most inspiring. Book binding, paper cutting, screen printing, photoshop, photoshop actions, how to start an etsy shop (I debated about this one but if I am going to take 5 classes, might as well take six, right?)... all things I know nothing about besides that I have wanted to learn for a long time. I am kind of embarrassed at how crafty nerdy I am. I found someone to join me for photoshop but I need someone else to join me for the other (more nerdy) classes. If someone joins me, I am more likely to not fall asleep. I have been known to doze off, no matter how fascinated I am by the topic. Huh? What do you mean everyone doesn't have a secret desire to bind a book?

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been hosting

Many years ago, this Utah girl found herself in the big city of Chicago. My first year teaching and I decide to take on a class in the Chicago Public Schools. 33 students, 23 of them boys. I am telling you, it was loud and it was hard. No recess, no playground, 20 minutes for lunch, and a big-city-used-to-be-a-cop-and-proud-of-it boss, and, well, it was quite the reality check for this thought-teaching-was-supposed-to-be-like-a-fairytale-because-she-went-to-USU girl.

One of the reasons I was able to get through it was my mentor teacher, Elisa. She lent me supplies when I showed up with almost nothing. She handed me the box of tissues when I showed up in her classroom crying. She helped me get through it and eventually succeed. I am so grateful. Oh, and she also taught me how to make the tastiest Mexican rice ever.

Elisa recently came to visit. I was so excited.

We took her up to Moss Ledge for a picnic dinner and s'mores.

The kids had so much fun climbing and finding sticks and rocks (seriously, remind me why we keep going to Chuck-E-Cheese). Eva found the cutest rocks in perfect shapes. A heart, a diamond, a square, a trapezoid, a pentagon...

This is what Eva looks like when she finds out that Samuel threw her rocks into the stream. That kid is so fast. None of us saw him do it.

Elisa and I have a lot interests in common. She loves to scrapbook. Can you believe it? I go all the way to Chicago and I find a scrapbooker. So, in the short time she was here, I showed her "my Utah."

Zumba class

Creme Brulee French Toast

Hip and Humble

Koo de Ker

Lunch at Mezza

Heartland Paper Co.

Roberts

the Quilted Bear

Dinner at Tin Angel

Elaines Quilt Block

Pho Green Papaya

Just a few of my favorite places to go. We both had a great time.

I decided I love having visitors. Family? Friends? My guest room is open!

My New Piece of Old

Karl finished our mudroom a while ago. We needed a table right inside the door. I had been looking for something super structured, with clean lines, and dark. We were driving home one day and found this for sale on the side of the road. I talked the lady down to $10. It is nothing like what I was looking for. An old sewing table. Samuel brought that "birdie" home from my mom's house and set it on the table. It fits. I have decoration phobia so it will take a while to get something up on the walls.