I Really LIKE Catalog Living

Out of the closet…

While Gary and Elaine were in the kitchen getting popcorn, the brave yellow sweater attempted its escape.

If you have not discovered Catalog Living you really should. It is SO funny. I know I have wondered the same thing as I flipped through the pages of my favorite catalogs. Who the heck lives here? So from my brain to these posts...

10 things I can't wait to do when N gets home!!

1. Kiss him a bagillion times.

2. Smell him.

3. Show him the goodies that I got him.

4. Take him swimming.

5. Read him his favorite stories.

6. Take him to a concert in the park.

7. Measure him on his growth chart.

8. Hug him tight.

9. Watch him sleep.

10. Tickle him until he laughs that amazing laugh.

The Temptation of Target

Oh, how I love that store. You all are probably familiar with the routine. Go in for one thing and come out with reusable bag upon reusable bag filled to the hilt. Well, I am proud to say I haven't been to Target in over 3 weeks, well on my way to my month away from the bullseye goal that I set for myself when I made my 101 list. Yay! I can say that it was easier than I expected. I really did not miss the place. I have made do with the things that I have and really haven't had one thing I have needed. I guess that speaks to my ability to have things in bulk. Although, I did not plan for my month away hiatus it just came to me and I said I would run with it. So what do I attribute my success to? Well, a few things. N is away so I haven't had the need to get things that he "needs", no Happy 4th T-shirt for my little one. Also, we had all of the toilet paper and soap we needed. Not using paper towels ensures that we wouldn't run out of them. So no real draw. I haven't needed a last minute accessory, shirt or tights to wear to work either. Just no real need for the place. And what is more. I think I will continue this thing. Not saying I won't go to Target at all but not making my weekly or more trips to the place has to be good for my wallet. So I accepted the challenge and am certainly better for it. Go me!

an earthquake, really?

3.6 magnitude that wakes you up...too freaking crazy!

10 for Tuesday!

Are you ready? Are you excited? Are you at the edge of your seats?

It's about that time! Ten things I am lovin'!

1. hearing about Nico's adventures, he is having a ball and staying very busy

2. my husband

3, watching re-runs of The Cosby Show, all these years later and that show is hilarious

4.blueberries, we are going through so many of these. Like a container every other day. Crazy.

5. People.com ...gettin' my celebrity watch on

6. fresh salsa, yummy and making our dinners very Mexican

7. my social calendar

8. laundry...I kid, I kid

9. sewing, pretty fun until...the assorted things that slow me down

10. snuggle time in my bed and having the house to myself

Historical

ALWAYS LOVED THIS GUY

But adding these guys in the mix can't hurt !!!

Let's GO HEAT!!

*&^% the police!!

Now don't get me wrong I don't hate all cops. But this ish is just unfreakingbelievable! The verdict for the Oakland Transit Officer who shot a handcuffed man is in and mistaking your gun for a taser seems to be acceptable. Really? I am not a taser or gun expert but I would think that by shooting anything TWICE you would kinda know what you were using. If you haven't followed this case I am linking an article for your reading. But the long and short of it is a person who was sworn to protect and serve has taken a man's life.

What turned a simple arrest into this tragedy? Did the suspect reach for a weapon? Did he maneuver his handcuffed hands out of the restraints and attack? From numerous recordings provided by witnesses that doesn't appear to be the case. The officer has apologized. He claims that it was a mistake but I doubt it. I think so many of his irrational fears caused him to act the way that he did. Perhaps he allowed his emotions to blind his intelligence. Doesn't really matter, a man is dead and that can't be erased. The people of Oakland are incensed. The blood of another black man is on the hands of a cop. Justice has decided to take a vacation, so the officer is not guilty of murder. If not murder, than what? What crime seems to truly define what he has done. Seems pretty much like murder to me and a uniform, a taser, a gun and a few years on the force should not allow you immunity.

Retro NWA seems all too current:

F*&^ the police comin straight from the underground
A young n---- got it bad cause I'm brown
And not the other color so police think
they have the authority to kill a minority

10 for Tuesday!

Too many things floating around in my head to be contained to one topic. I am going to keep it random :P

1. J. Prince from Rap-A-Lot records has the coolest voice. I told D that if I were a teenager and there wasn't caller id, I would crank call him. He would make hearing a grocery list sound smooth. If I were his waitress, I wouldn't need a tip just hearing him order would be the best. "I want my eggs, scrambled, over easy." It would make me giddy.

2. I really don't like shows like America's Got Talent, So You think You Can Dance etc. I just don't really care. I can't tell who sounds good and if you sound really bad, I don't want to hear it.

3. Rappers are so smooth. Just think Lil Wayne and TI got one year sentences for violating their parole or whatever and they took it. Lindsey Lohan gets 90 days...3 months and she is sobbing like a baby. Now I know that this is not something to give the fellas props for but my goodness if you snub your nose at the law, you should put on your big girl panties and do your bid without the dramatics.

4. Reconnecting with old friends on FB is pretty nice. Especially when you find out what neat lives your friends have for themselves. One of my old friends/classmates is so talented and his artwork is phenomenal. I can't wait to buy one of his works to have in my home. So FB is good for something.

5. N is away and we are doing ok. We miss our little man but he is always in such good spirits when we call so we know it a wonderful opportunity for him.

6. Waiting for Wade. Will he leave or will he stay? Ugh, I wish he would make his decision. Don't leave the MIA. The Bulls are courting him and LeBron, they must have big bucks in the Chi.

7. Summer is the best season. Not the 100 plus degree temps but the actual slower pace, fruity drinks and general hanging out makes it the best.

8.I am glad we don't have any snacks in the house cause I am feeling snacky. Not really hungry but a handful of cookies would be nice right about now. Between not packing a lunch (yay, summer) and N being away we don't have the normal staples. Oh, some goldfish would be delish right about now.

9. Researching N's dietary restrictions has introduced me to some really cool blogs. I am SOOOOOO glad that his allergies are not as bad as some of the other babes I have come across. It just seems like allergies are such a life changing thing. Some families have certainly figured it all out and I am trying to learn from them.

10. The best person you can be is you. Look to your friends but realize that what works or is best for them isn't necessarily what works for you. Work on being your most authentic self...it is the surest path to happiness and fulfillment. That is my Oprahism for you guys :)

not sure

if it was the

turkey burgers

beef burgers

corn on the cob

crab legs

homemade cookies

baked beans

bratwursts

watermelon

brownies

assorted mixed drinks

or dancing for hours with the family

but i woke up quite satisfied after the 4th!!

the Wow of Women

Yes, we are too hard on ourselves. Our bodies are not trim enough, our friendships are too complicated, our faces are showing signs of age and that couldn't be you in that reflection. We see our flaws and we miss our strength. This morning I had the pleasure of watching the Wow of Women as I watched Serena Williams win Wimbledon again (the 4th time). Her body and strength is unmatched. Her skill in her sport is amazing. And it got me to thinking about all of the great women out there. The mother's who rock their babies on their hips while making a balanced dinner for the family. The mom's who put off their dreams to nurture their daughter's to dream their big dreams. The women who put pen to paper and write stories that need to be told. Oh where would we be without the women who dared so that we wouldn't have to. Girls do hold up the world and I really wish that women could hold onto that knowledge that their is so much WOW about women.

Not to be all political

But. Don't be afraid of the but as you knew it was coming. Everyone knows that I cloth diaper N and I really support cloth diapers. I am constantly reminded of how wonderful cloth is for both my son and the environment. They have been super easy to use and have prevented us from every having to make a late night run to the store for insert plastic diaper name here. tee hee. I am amazed by all of the options, your little one can be comfy in a simple prefold with snappis (picture the ones with pins) or an expensive designer one that you can put on ebay afterwards. Yeah, the range is just that great.

Well there is a movement to bring cloth diapers back to hospitals. Before you get all weirded out and come up with a dozen excuses about why this can't work. Think about it? Disposable diapers are relatively new so up until a little bit ago cloth was THE diaper so hospitals have been using them for eons. So the gist of it is that we (myself included) want babies to have a healthy, eco friendly start. So support the cause to get cloth diapers in hospitals.

it just bites

It really just bites when the blogs you love disappear. And by disappear, I mean the blogher just stops posting. It leaves you in a lurch and starts the whole what ifs in your mind. I have followed a few blogs that have just bitten the dust and it truly is such a void. Poof, one disappears to maybe write a book or take a job or something. Another disappears to start a store. Some just vanish....whateves. It just seems like once you have amassed a huge following, talking the thousands, you should not just vanish. Yes, I realize that people have lives and such but really. It just bites.

I would love it if the blogs you like had some type of guarantee that if they are awesome and super useful they won't disappear atleast until they are no longer relevant. Maybe the originator could retire for a bit and insert equally talented, interesting and witty bestfriend or twin, sister etc. The readers would be ok because it would just flow the same. Yes, I am probably over thinking things a bit but blogs are like on-line advice columns. You wouldn't expect Miss Manners or Dear Abby to go poof. Why because even though those people have died they have been replaced and who really cares who the original Dear Abby was (no disrespect)! So from now on, I am going to refrain from blog loyalty. I won't follow anyone. I will bounce from blog to blog just seeing what is out there and moving on before I get too connected. My sensibilities cannot take it when they go MIA.

Probably not really gonna happen but that is how I feel at this moment. Ugh.