Half of Ten Things

I've thought about doing a ten things post on products. I can only imagine this is because I've been attempting to read through our magazine basket in the living room so it can become a toy basket for the living room, and have been subjecting myself to Glamour, Health, Harper's Bazaar, Ladies' Home Journal, and Redbook articles from the past year. You may not think you need, or even want anything, but one flip through Redbook seems to change that. This, added to it's spring (which already feels like summer here), equaled me buying lip gloss. And helped define the theme of my mom's birthday present - mom, when you get your present, just remember I was trying to get you something nice and helpful and I actually did a lot of research. I wasn't trying to point out how old you are. 

1. Kinky-curly detangler and curling custard. A friend with tight curly hair recommended this and mentioned our local Target carries it. I've tried the detangler and the custard (yes, that does sound weird, but it smells nice) and really like both. It leaves a soft, natural feel to my curls, helps reduce frizz and keep the curls defined. I also feel better about Squirms playing with my hair because this doesn't leave a sticky residue and is one of those products that comes with a nice list of bad things that aren't in their products. kinky-curly

2. Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss. It's been a while since I've worn a gloss, but I was just in the mood. So far I really like this one. Part of me just really likes owning a make up item from Bobbi Brown; and the other part likes the actual look and feel of the gloss. And, most importantly, R likes the look of it. I've been attempting to apply a bit of lip color and mascara before 6 pm as part of my trophy wife image. BobbiBrown

3. Essie nail polish. While I adore OPI cleverly named polishes, Essie seems to be thicker and go on a bit nicer. Oh, and their base and top coat have helped my homemade nail manicure last an average of five days. essie

4. Clinque acne three step cleansers. This includes a wash, toner, and lotion. I've used it for approximately two years and just also started using their normal lotion on my neck. I read somewhere that most women moisturize their face, but forget about their neck and with age your neck needs moisture too. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I had never put moisturizer on my neck; so I try to remember now. Clinique

5. Chanel fragrances. I've tried different versions of Chance, and steal my mom's Mademoiselle when we visit. Sadly, R doesn't like No. 5, and really, it's just the idea of No. 5 that I really like. Isn't that what perfume is for though, the idea and image of the smell? I'm a marketing person's dream. 

Chanel Fragrances

Well. I don't seem to have 6 - 10. Maybe that is a good thing.

Weekend in Review

On Friday the Squirms and I ventured out of the house to visit a bookstore. Yes, I dressed my child in red hearts in March during St. Patrick's Day weekend. Thanks to Auntie C for this super cute, and warm, outfit. 

Ha! I did get my shoe off!

When R arrived home we went for a bike ride. Squirm's bike trailer is a triple threat: It allows R to ride his bike more; it encourages me to go with R on a bike ride; and Squirms seems to like it, at least for the first twenty minutes. She is not a fan of the bike helmet and it looks hilarious on her.

That night R and I finished (finally. it took us three months. 1000 tiny pieces.) a puzzle. R was studying and I was puzzling (that means working on puzzle). I notified him when there were only twenty or so pieces left and he came to help. Five spots left, I counted the number of pieces and started to panic. We only had four pieces left. 1000 pieces and it looked like we had lost one. R looked at me and smiled I was holding one in my hand. I wanted to put in the last piece. I would have been mad if I could have stopped laughing - my super smart and responsible husband likes to search the house for Christmas presents when I'm away and hide puzzle pieces so he can be the one to put in the last piece.

One of my proudest moments.

On Saturday the Squirms and I went to a soccer game and I pretended to be a soccer mom. The weather was perfect, slightly cool and very sunny, and it was pretty fun hanging out on the sidelines and cheering for AWR's son. Then we went to a super cute Hungry Caterpillar themed first birthday party for one of Squirm's future best friends. Saturday night included trying out a new recipe, grilled fish over an asparagus salad. While our five year old guest for the evening wasn't crazy about the vegetables, R and I really enjoyed it. 

This morning we went to church and I actually got to sit through an entire worship service! Very exciting - I hadn't sat through the full service since November (podcasts are my friend). It was wonderful to sing How Great Thou Art with the rest of the congregation. 

And now it's Sunday night.

Caffeine and....I Forget....

Things I've said over the past six days:

Well, Squirms is asleep, but she's out from under the bucket.

Oh good, I've finished that rabbit!

Yes, Squirms will be 15 months old next week!

Things I meant to say over the past six days:

Well, Squirms is asleep, but she's out from under the blanket.

Oh good, I've finished that bird! (While putting together a 1000 piece puzzle)

No, Squirms will be 13 months old next week. She just turned one. (In response to our neighbor down the street asking if she was 15 months old)

Last Wednesday I stopped caffeine intake. 

Never do this. 

I learned that when a body is used to daily dosages (a bit high in my case) of caffeine, there can be moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms. I expected head aches; but not the body aches, joint pain, cognitive issues, sinus problems, and general apathy about daily activities. It felt like I had the flu and was trying to awake from anesthesia. All while being angry or just not caring. Poor R took care of me and a teething Squirms all weekend. 

Did I also mention that my new, temporary diet includes no CHOCOLATE, alcohol, carbonated beverages, nor eating two hours before bedtime? I'm hoping R will still want to live with me in six weeks.

Beautiful day yesterday.

In much better news, we had a beautiful day yesterday and Squirms got to play in the front yard. Also, we should be assigned our social worker for our current adoption this week. I have mixed feelings about this: excitement, looking forward to meeting this person and moving forward with this adoption; and sadness, because I loved our social worker from Squirm's adoption so much.

Mom. Please drink some coffee. I'm worried about you.

 I've also been going through magazines (thank you Granny) in order to turn our magazine basket into a toy basket for the living room. And I've decided that I really like Harper's Bazaar. Sometimes they do articles in which the writing is centered on the page and it looks nice. Unfortunately, this task is taking me a while. Magazines are difficult to read quickly. And there are so many pictures to look at.

The ongoing quest to eat mom's phone.

 The Squirms is as awesome as usual. Except for this teething thing. I really don't appreciate (and neither does Squirms, she tells me, very loudly, all the time) these pre-molars.

Also. She can whistle! She heard my mom doing it on FaceTime and since then has been crawling around the house whistling. So funny!

What? I'm just enjoying my piece of tree stick, soaking up the sun. I certainly didn't dig up a tree root.

As I mentioned before, R had a tough weekend with the two of us. I can whine better than Squirms. He's also been diligently studying for the Professional Engineering (PE) exam. He's very cute when he studies. And then I nod like, oh yes, I remember that, when he tells me he is reviewing l'Hôpital's rule, circuit theory, or controls engineering and differential equations. 

Today, we are enjoying gentle rain. Tanner, Shelby Ann, and Squirms are all taking a nap. I think that's what I should be doing too.

In case of curiosity:

http://www.energyfiend.com/caffeine-withdrawal-symptoms-top-ten

http://addictions.about.com/od/Caffeine/a/What-To-Expect-From-Caffeine-Withdrawal.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine#Withdrawal

http://www.livestrong.com/article/529423-how-to-reduce-caffeine-withdrawal-symptoms/

Another Post. And some Pictures.

Last Wednesday night we arrived home from church and the Squirms went straight to bed. After turning out her light, I headed to the back door to let the poor, neglected dogs inside. I passed by the love seat, full of laundry waiting to be folded, the ironing board, and numerous Squirm toys on the living room rug that needed to be vacuumed. The room reminded me of all the things I hadn't done that day, or the days before. I thought to myself. At least the dogs are well behaved, I'm so proud that they never pick up her toys and carry them around like their own. They are such good dogs. Even the toys that squeak. Shelby Ann carries around socks she finds in the laundry room and Tanner runs to the dogs' toy basket every time he enters the house. But they don't bother Squirm's toys.

The dogs ran into the kitchen and then back to me.
Shelby Ann was carrying Sophie the Giraffe.
Sigh.


Here are some photos from my phone from the last week or so. For H and dad.

Abiding by the pledge on my shirt. Thanks Auntie L.
(The shirt says I solemnly swear that I am up to no good; from the Harry Potter books)

Please mom. I want to go to bed.

Big girl car seat. On the way to our second one-year check up....
since I forgot to take her the first time....and the Mother of the Year award goes to....

Here Dad, let me show you how to calculate circuit resonance.  

The living room rug. Ten seconds after vacuuming.