Like a Good Neighbor

Last night I had the biggest scare of my life! While preparing dinner I realized that I must have left a bag of groceries in the car.  My macaroni was boiling on the stove so I ran out to the car to get the bag that contained the Velveeta.

Che was in the middle of the livingroom playing with toys.  Nicholas was at basketball practice.  I pulled the door up so the cold air wouldn’t get in.  Can you believe that the door was completely closed when I returned!  The baby must have closed the  locked door! I stood paralyzed with fear for a few seconds before I thought to check the windows.  I walked around the house with no luck.  Every window was shut tight.

I had the garage  opener in the car but that was useless considering that the door leading into the house was locked as well.  I was out in the cold with no cell phone and no way to get back inside.  I considered breaking a window but there was not a brick or stick in sight.

I surveyed my neighbors trying to decide who I could approach for help.  Since moving in, only one of them extended welcome.  I settled on the neighbors across the street but no one answered.  Then a car pulled into the driveway two doors from ours. 

I timidly asked to use the phone and explained my situation.  I felt embarrassed at my irresponsibility.  I was also unsure if they would help considering it can be unsafe to assist anyone now days.  I was planning on calling the fire department.  A locksmith would have taken far too long. I didn’t know what else to do.

They immediately moved to action.  “We’ll help you get to your baby.” Nancy said.  She ordered her two teen daughters and her husband to head to my house while she slipped on her house shoes.  She was clad in a bathrobe.

A few seconds later she had her daughters check the windows.  We could her Che inside whimpering.  John delivered a commando style kick to the door and we were in!Instantly I ran to my cub who was very curious about the neighbors.

They stayed for a few minutes playing with baby.  After the family left I called my cousin who promptly came over to repair the splintered frame.  The damage was actually minimal. 

“OMGeeeee!” as one of my student is so fond of saying!  I felt a mixture of emotions: overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers, upset with myself for failing to unlock the door, and  immense relief that Che was okay!

Today I plan to leave a token of my appreciation on their door.

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Wives Behaving Badly

I thought this article was thought provoking.  Sometimes we are guilty of this.  I remember when my husband would wash the dishes and leave water all over the counter.  That is what caught my attention–the water and not the perfectly washed dishes.

Let’s try speaking words of encouragement to our spouses and see things in the best light possible.  Remember Proverbs 15:4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Spring Anyone?

These shoes shout “spring!”  They also come in a variety of colors: pewter, white, turquoise, yellow, and green.  You can pair these with leggings, skinny jeans, or a cute skirt.  The possibilities are endless!

I’m 33: Happy Birthday to Me!

In honor of my 33rd birthday, here are 33 things that I’d like to do/try before reaching 34 (God willing):

1.  Go on an adult vacation: Preferably an island–any island! I went to Cancun and had a nice time

2.  Have my baby boy potty trained: He will be 21 months then.

3.  Make time to pursue my hobbies

4.  Decide if I want to attend law school No, I’ll stick to the education industry.

5.  Find a place of worship

6.  Find a great, simple recipe for mac and cheese Thanks to Suzanne, half and half, and cooking creme

7.  A serious relationship: I am lonely

8.  Make a pink champagne cake Very rich and decadent!

9.  Start/finish my a scrapbook for my mother

10. Gain 10 pounds: In my opinion there is a such thing as being too thin

11.  Have a family vacation somewhere where there is a beach–Australia maybe

12.  Compliment/encourage someone at least once a day

13.  Pray more

14.  Keep a resilient attitude

15.  Read at least 10 good books that are not work related: The Help,

16.  Manage my time more efficiently

17. Stop and smell the roses

18.  Develop a plan for my debts

19.  Be grateful for the smALL things

20.  Consciously choose to forgive those who have hurt me

21.  Finish the Old Testament

22.  Take a class–likely pertaining to my career

23.  Cook whatever I want to eat

24.  Start an online business

25.  Organize the garage

26.  Create a formal will: Shame on me that I don’t have this done by now!

27.  Save more, spend less

28.  Stop using retail as therapy

29.  Exercise patience

30.  Stop taking everything to heart

31.  Laugh more: Sometimes I am such a wet blanket

32.  Be more creative with my wardrobe

33.  Spend twice as much more QUALITY time with my kids

She’s Here!

My Ani-Lee dress was waiting for me when I got home today. It is exquisitely beautiful and very much reminds me of a tutu.     

However, I won’t being wearing it on my birthday! It is far toooo cold here in Indy. Tomorrow the temperature will be a whopping 1 degree, brrrr!     

I must say thank you to Jen because I first saw the dress on her blog which is featured in January’s  Cosmo Australia! Way to go Jen!

Journal

I started this journal on February 7, 2007.  Today I wrote my last entry.  So much has changed in the almost four years that I have been writing in it.   I have close to 10 completed ones that span 23 years of my life.

Do any of you journal? 

Color Me ___________________

If you had to describe the current state of your life with a color, what would it be? Why? I would say my life is:

BEIGE

Things are pretty blah.  Overall, I don’t have too much new or interesting going on.  Being beige is not necessary bad.  However, I must say  I’m looking forward to having vibrant color in my life. 

The Lifeless Room

Suzanne suggested that I post a few pictures so that I could get better feedback.

Pic #1: Walking through the door

Pic #2: Window treatments

Pic #3: Another view

Pic #4: My statue that I like to keep warm (hat added!)

Pic#5: Another view

Things I like about the room:

• accent wall
• custom portrait
• bench
• chocolate carpet
• ceiling fan

Things I don’t like:

• It looks like oatmeal–just so bland
• The couch is not plain making it challenging to change the decor too much
• The fake potted tree
• The furniture which is almost ten years old and in excellent condition.  But I want a more modern less stuffy look.  I really want a chocolate, champagne, and sky blue color scheme.  Maybe I will take Stacy’s advice and put my current furniture on Craigslist so I can at least get a new sofa.

What I am thinking about doing:

• Adding color–maybe teal or eggplant
• Finding a circular rug for the floor
• Adding a coffee table or ottoman
• A swag for the blinds–I don’t want to worry about hanging curtains
• Replacing the tree with sticks–the artsy kind!

What do you guys think?

Magazine Mama

I confess, I love magazines of all kind–fashion, cooking, scrapbooking, and bridal to name a few.  There’s just something about the beautiful, glossy covers and the sleek layouts.  I also subscribe to Working Mother and Parenting the Early Years.  Nicholas currently receives Legos magazine.  They make great gifts. 

However, I have a ton of them! I can’t bear the thought of throwing money in the trash or parting with their prettiness so I keep them. 

But I know I can’t accumulate them forever.  After awhile they turn into clutter.  And clutter makes me itch.

I don’t want to display them.  For one, I do not have a coffee table.  Two, my baby would simply “rearrange” them to his liking! Nor am I going to take the time to cut out articles and put them in a binder.  For me that would be the WHOLE thing–cause I really do like them!!!

I’ve been thinking of ways to get maximum use of them:

1.) In my classroom: We are currently working on persuasive arguments and I thought it would be fun to examine the persuasive techniques advertisers use.  So I’ll be toting a bag full in for this on Tuesday!  When I teach poetry , one of the poems we create a “ransom note” poem using you guessed it–words/letters cut from magazines.

2.) Decor: Some of the photographs are “room worthy” and really look good framed.  Framed covers of your favorite fashion magazines would look really chic in a dressing room or large walk-in closet; not that I would know because I have neither. 

3.) Donate: Hospitals, Nursing homes, friends–I gave all bridal magazines to a girlfriend getting married in August, and the new nail salon that I go to is desperately needing reading materials.

4.) Art Projects: If you have a crafty personality you can probably get miles out of magazines–collages, scrapbooks, etc.

5.) Props:  Roll them up and place in long boots to make them stand upright.

Please feel free to post your ideas below!

Number the Stars: Always Aquarius

Why are they reassigning zodiac signs after all of these years?  No thanks, I’ll remain Aquarius.  Its traits describe me pretty well:

Friendly

Humanitarian

Loyal

Honest

Original

Inventive

Independent

Intellectual

Analytical 

Now I’m not all obsessed with signs and don’t rely on them for anything, but I never thought it would change.  And who wants to be an “Ophiuchus?”  My new sign is Capricorn. What’s yours?

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0113/New-zodiac-signs-2011-Why-astrology-is-even-sillier-than-we-thought