Today, I took advantage of some sales and coupons I had collected and went "back to school" shopping for my little girl. She's about to move from size 3T to 4T, so new clothes are in order. And what girl doesn't love fall clothes shopping? The styles are the best, with layers gallore and gorgeous colors! It was a rare treat for me since I've never really had the chance or the reason to do so before.
My girl grows slowly. Plus she's never had much need for tons of clothes. PLUS my mother buys her odds and ends here and there, so I pick up things when I see them or when we need them. I've never actually gone "clothes shopping" with the intention of buying her a whole new wardrobe. What fun it was!
We hit The Children's Place, JCPenney's and Gymboree. I got the biggest haul at Gymboree and it includes some really cute stuff, including this and this. The Children's Place had adorable skorts and she got a few of those. All we need now is some cold weather (chilly will do!) to hit South Texas.
I have a feeling we are in for a long wait.
The good news is that by the time it hits, these clothes will fit her better since the 4Ts run big at Gymboree! :)
Three stores, 120 bux later, I think my girl is ready to go. Mama got some good deals and I *never* had so much fun embracing the girly stuff my daughter loves.
I wish it was this fun shopping for me!!!!! :( lol
Friday, August 29, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Your mind goes everywhere when you can't sleep...
...and that is exactly what happened to me last night.
I was so tired, but my mind wouldn't shut off. This is a regular occurrence for me, but it never seems to be less frustrating.
My mind went in an interesting direction, however. For some reason, I was remembering one of my first New York interviews with an Internet company. It offered decent pay for writing content for a website. It ended up being between that position and another position with a small family owned educational publishing company and I chose the later.
The positions couldn't have been more different. They were both in Manhattan and the Internet position paid a bit more, but that is where the similarities ended.
The safe secure position is the one I took. It was a typical 9 to 5, unionized position that was predictable. The people there were a bit stuffy and quiet, but I was just coming off of many years of college and was hoping for something more simple and that would allow me free time to read things I'd like to read and spend time with my husband.
The position I turned down, was very unpredictable. I interviewed for it at a coffee shop and the offer came in quite late in the decision making process. They left me hanging quite a bit, which seemed to be how they were...a little less than organized. The dread-headed, well dressed guy who interviewed me told me that i could expect to work late nights and weekends quite often, especially as the site was about to launch. It was further up town than the other job which meant a longer commute alone, possibly at night. I also might not get to spend weekends with my husband. The idea of having to work late nights and weekends was not one I relished, but the idea that I might be part of something exciting was tempting. I was very interested in being in a young, fast-paced, high energy "Internet culture" work environment.
The job I did take couldn't have been less "high energy"! People there worked at a snail's pace and I resented it quite a bit. Many of them were older and "lifers" working their way up the union's pay scale with secure jobs that were safe and easy. I didn't even have Internet access for the first few months since only a handful of people had it there! Computers weren't networked and everything was done on paper there. It was a weird experience, especially being fresh from a college campus that was pretty tech-savvy.
My boss there was an interesting funny character, however, and I enjoyed the position as long as he was there. He interviewed me in a pair of jeans and an extremely wrinkled dress shirt. He was balding and shaved his head and was a short Jewish guy who didn't seem comfortable conducting the interview at all. He turned out to be a wonderful person to know and work for, however. Once he left, things took a downward spiral pretty quickly and I was bored. I started to teach night courses to do something that was more interesting and rewarding to me. In the end, I think that if I didn't take the editor position at the educational publishing company, I may have not found my way back to teaching.
A couple of years later, watching Oprah, I saw the same dread-headed guy who interviewed me for the web-editor position. Turns out he worked for HARPO Productions, evaluating technological gadgets and came onto the show to discuss them. OPRAH! Weird, huh?
I'll never know what would have happened had I taken the web editor job, but I have no doubt it would have changed quite a few aspects of my life. I know I am where I need to be so I don't have regrets. My choices have been made with a great deal of thought and usually based around what I thought was best for myself and my family. I think teaching has allowed me the flexibility I need to be a good mom. While I enjoy it, my favorite job is raising my daughter, something a faster-paced job wouldn't allow me to do! :)
I was so tired, but my mind wouldn't shut off. This is a regular occurrence for me, but it never seems to be less frustrating.
My mind went in an interesting direction, however. For some reason, I was remembering one of my first New York interviews with an Internet company. It offered decent pay for writing content for a website. It ended up being between that position and another position with a small family owned educational publishing company and I chose the later.
The positions couldn't have been more different. They were both in Manhattan and the Internet position paid a bit more, but that is where the similarities ended.
The safe secure position is the one I took. It was a typical 9 to 5, unionized position that was predictable. The people there were a bit stuffy and quiet, but I was just coming off of many years of college and was hoping for something more simple and that would allow me free time to read things I'd like to read and spend time with my husband.
The position I turned down, was very unpredictable. I interviewed for it at a coffee shop and the offer came in quite late in the decision making process. They left me hanging quite a bit, which seemed to be how they were...a little less than organized. The dread-headed, well dressed guy who interviewed me told me that i could expect to work late nights and weekends quite often, especially as the site was about to launch. It was further up town than the other job which meant a longer commute alone, possibly at night. I also might not get to spend weekends with my husband. The idea of having to work late nights and weekends was not one I relished, but the idea that I might be part of something exciting was tempting. I was very interested in being in a young, fast-paced, high energy "Internet culture" work environment.
The job I did take couldn't have been less "high energy"! People there worked at a snail's pace and I resented it quite a bit. Many of them were older and "lifers" working their way up the union's pay scale with secure jobs that were safe and easy. I didn't even have Internet access for the first few months since only a handful of people had it there! Computers weren't networked and everything was done on paper there. It was a weird experience, especially being fresh from a college campus that was pretty tech-savvy.
My boss there was an interesting funny character, however, and I enjoyed the position as long as he was there. He interviewed me in a pair of jeans and an extremely wrinkled dress shirt. He was balding and shaved his head and was a short Jewish guy who didn't seem comfortable conducting the interview at all. He turned out to be a wonderful person to know and work for, however. Once he left, things took a downward spiral pretty quickly and I was bored. I started to teach night courses to do something that was more interesting and rewarding to me. In the end, I think that if I didn't take the editor position at the educational publishing company, I may have not found my way back to teaching.
A couple of years later, watching Oprah, I saw the same dread-headed guy who interviewed me for the web-editor position. Turns out he worked for HARPO Productions, evaluating technological gadgets and came onto the show to discuss them. OPRAH! Weird, huh?
I'll never know what would have happened had I taken the web editor job, but I have no doubt it would have changed quite a few aspects of my life. I know I am where I need to be so I don't have regrets. My choices have been made with a great deal of thought and usually based around what I thought was best for myself and my family. I think teaching has allowed me the flexibility I need to be a good mom. While I enjoy it, my favorite job is raising my daughter, something a faster-paced job wouldn't allow me to do! :)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
He "agreed" ??? Was there any OPTION? Me thinks NOT!
This just infuriates me. He could have said "NO"? That would have even been ALLOWED???? I would imagine chaos would ensue if HE were able to break with tradition and KEEP her name out of nomination. I am disgusted that this is what it came down to...him "agreeing" to let the process continue as it is meant to. HOW VERY BIG OF HIM!!! UGH I hate this guy! :(
Read more at CNN's Political Ticker: Clinton's name to be put in Nomination
He "always knew this would probably have to happen", the story says (emphasis mine). SO why so long for this announcment? Why not just set the record straght from the get go and let people rest assured that the Democratic party has not ENTIRELY lost its mind?
Read more at CNN's Political Ticker: Clinton's name to be put in Nomination
He "always knew this would probably have to happen", the story says (emphasis mine). SO why so long for this announcment? Why not just set the record straght from the get go and let people rest assured that the Democratic party has not ENTIRELY lost its mind?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Finally made it to the gym...and RAMBLINGS :)
MAN that took a lot of doing! :)
Thanks for the post regarding the cereals, Mrs.L. Unfortunately, we don't have those here. Those turbos look especially yummy. I've never heard of the brands and don't recognize the cereal on the box as being packaged as something else here. Curious about the amounts of different things (fiber, protein, carbs, etc) on each of them. I couldn't make the information out on the box, although I trid.
I have a few favorites too but most are really high in carbs. Most are packaged as healthy alternatives but seem to have higher carbs than even some of the sugary kinds.
Do you guys have Frosted Flakes (also with Tony the Tiger on the box)?
I was talking to a friend today and remembering how that was all I had for breakfast most mornings growing up. Its a miracle that I survived without becoming diabetic or worse! :) I'm just a sugar addict, but I guess eating such large amounts of Frosted Flakes might be part of the reason for that, huh? :)
Curlz, your post about KK has had me thinking about it all week! I have yet to give in and don't know how the lot of you could do the "one bite" technique. It seems wrong to leave them sitting there and I know it would be a matter of time before I'd go back for MORE bites! :) I would probably never get a variety pack anyway, though, because I don't like things in my donuts. I like them plain or chocolate glazed.
Yummmmmmmmmmm *drool*
So back to the gym! I made it! I did a 30 minute cardio work out since that is mostly all I can do these days but I was glad i dragged myself there. I just hate walking over to pick up my daughter and seeing she's playing in the dark because the worker in the kids room is trying to watch a movie and has the lights off! WTF? I really hate the girls who run that room!!!! They irritate the heck outta me when they don't interact with the kids and shut the lights out! Sometimes I think they do it to subdue the kids into relaxing, but no suck luck with my kiddo. She was playing in the dark with the small stream of light coming in through the door way! :) That's my girl!!!!
On a completely unrelated note, is anyone watching the Olympics? Are those Chinese girls REALLY 16? Sure doesn't seem so to me! I don't understand how/why this wasn't investigated earlier and why it is okay to turn a blind eye to it? This is yet another reason why it sucks being in debt to China! We are walking on egg shells and afraid to offend anyone. However old those kids are, DANG! Freeking amazing! I guess at least we have swimming, huh? :)
How was that for a nice mix of topics today? LOL Here's hoping I can make it to the gym again tomorrow! *fingers xed*
Thanks for the post regarding the cereals, Mrs.L. Unfortunately, we don't have those here. Those turbos look especially yummy. I've never heard of the brands and don't recognize the cereal on the box as being packaged as something else here. Curious about the amounts of different things (fiber, protein, carbs, etc) on each of them. I couldn't make the information out on the box, although I trid.
I have a few favorites too but most are really high in carbs. Most are packaged as healthy alternatives but seem to have higher carbs than even some of the sugary kinds.
Do you guys have Frosted Flakes (also with Tony the Tiger on the box)?
I was talking to a friend today and remembering how that was all I had for breakfast most mornings growing up. Its a miracle that I survived without becoming diabetic or worse! :) I'm just a sugar addict, but I guess eating such large amounts of Frosted Flakes might be part of the reason for that, huh? :)Curlz, your post about KK has had me thinking about it all week! I have yet to give in and don't know how the lot of you could do the "one bite" technique. It seems wrong to leave them sitting there and I know it would be a matter of time before I'd go back for MORE bites! :) I would probably never get a variety pack anyway, though, because I don't like things in my donuts. I like them plain or chocolate glazed.
Yummmmmmmmmmm *drool*So back to the gym! I made it! I did a 30 minute cardio work out since that is mostly all I can do these days but I was glad i dragged myself there. I just hate walking over to pick up my daughter and seeing she's playing in the dark because the worker in the kids room is trying to watch a movie and has the lights off! WTF? I really hate the girls who run that room!!!! They irritate the heck outta me when they don't interact with the kids and shut the lights out! Sometimes I think they do it to subdue the kids into relaxing, but no suck luck with my kiddo. She was playing in the dark with the small stream of light coming in through the door way! :) That's my girl!!!!
On a completely unrelated note, is anyone watching the Olympics? Are those Chinese girls REALLY 16? Sure doesn't seem so to me! I don't understand how/why this wasn't investigated earlier and why it is okay to turn a blind eye to it? This is yet another reason why it sucks being in debt to China! We are walking on egg shells and afraid to offend anyone. However old those kids are, DANG! Freeking amazing! I guess at least we have swimming, huh? :)
How was that for a nice mix of topics today? LOL Here's hoping I can make it to the gym again tomorrow! *fingers xed*
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The evils of Crocs and other annoying phenomena
I had a good laugh this morning reading this article off MSN/Newsweek's website. It is called "Make. It. Stop." and is about Crocs. LMFAO! I have to say I agree with this guy wholeheartedly and have never understood this phenomena.
The day I knew things had gone too far, I was in a Chinese restaurant with my husband and child when another family walked in. The adults were middle aged and the children were young teens. The father was a scruffily bearded, rotund, tall man wearing tacky Hawaiian print shorts and a too tight white undershirt. He also was wearing pulled up white sports socks and a pair of neon green Crocs.
I was offended, deeply, by his "look". This look said, "I don't give a rat's ass anymore!" or "My wife bought me these so I'd stop walking around bare foot." He looked the type that just might try to go somewhere sans shoes. :)
I know people say they are comfortable, but come on. Comfort that doesn't match in the least and makes you look like a clown? WTH is that about? I'm all for comfort and had to wear prescribed, disgusting looking New Balance tennis shoes after hurting my foot two years ago. I hated them but I wore them, calling the shoes my "Frankenstein shoes". I still think those gross shoes were less offensive than Crocs!
This article also has some great links to funny sites. One is interesting and worth checking out called Stuff White People Like. Entries include, girls with bangs, Facebook, unpaid internships, sweaters, scarves, and playing children's games as adults! :) See yourself yet? LOL
It also links to a website called I Hate Crocs Dot Com, which is a blog stating, "We hate Crocs here. Why? Because they are to your eyes what secondhand smoke is to your lungs." Interesting way to put it, and spot on!
There are a few other interesting links here worth checking out. Including a piece about another offensive phenomena that I just don't get! They are called in this article, the accessory that truckers are going "nuts" for. Nuff said.
Then there is this post from super obnoxious guy at Best Page In the Universe. HIGHlarious! Some of it I do not agree with completely, but its still funny!
I hope you enjoy the reads!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Meaningless gesture # 48779948982
Or: Playing it Safe 101
Okay. Since I need a reason to dislike this guy more than I already do (dripping sarcasm), this came out yesterday.
I won't even go into it all, but over at The Confluence, Riverdaughter did a great job of summing up my feelings in this piece.
When I saw this news hit the Internet yesterday, I thought, "Oh NOW he feels every vote should count! How gracious of him!" *insert gag sound here* Riverdaughter lists the many reasons why this is not a grand gesture of any sort. I'm not sure most people see through this, but I know those who are paying attention know its another shallow attempt to appease and to appear to be something he is not. Fair.
More on this can be viewed in the following trailer. This is the beginnings of what seems like it will be quite an impressive and interesting look into the primaries, up close and personal. It appears to be an examination of things here locally in Texas. It was an unholy mess and made it clear to participants that the Obama camp was out to win by any means necessary. The rules were out the door and intimidation and threats were used in their place. So sad.
This is going to be a must see so that people can see what really went on in our state, and in others with caucuses (overwhelmingly going to Obama, of course).
Enjoy!
Okay. Since I need a reason to dislike this guy more than I already do (dripping sarcasm), this came out yesterday.
I won't even go into it all, but over at The Confluence, Riverdaughter did a great job of summing up my feelings in this piece.
When I saw this news hit the Internet yesterday, I thought, "Oh NOW he feels every vote should count! How gracious of him!" *insert gag sound here* Riverdaughter lists the many reasons why this is not a grand gesture of any sort. I'm not sure most people see through this, but I know those who are paying attention know its another shallow attempt to appease and to appear to be something he is not. Fair.
More on this can be viewed in the following trailer. This is the beginnings of what seems like it will be quite an impressive and interesting look into the primaries, up close and personal. It appears to be an examination of things here locally in Texas. It was an unholy mess and made it clear to participants that the Obama camp was out to win by any means necessary. The rules were out the door and intimidation and threats were used in their place. So sad.
This is going to be a must see so that people can see what really went on in our state, and in others with caucuses (overwhelmingly going to Obama, of course).
Enjoy!
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