Whoot Whoot!!

Whoot Whoot!! Snagged a great deal IMO @ Home Depot this evening.

Since we moved into our place 6/7 months ago I have ached for a way to organize our hall closet. Mainly a home for our coats it has also adapted to storing the bulk of our larger/bulk Costco items. I LOVE the fact that I know that I can buy toilet paper twice a year! In fact in 7months we have only dipped into half of our paper towel reserves!! But alas buying in bulk requires accommodating storage space. And because of this it pains me to look in this closet and after most of our shopping trips drinks and heavier items sit outside the closet until room is made =(

So today on a whim I presented the idea of metal shelving iced with a trip to Home Depot. After I researched Sunday hours of our local store as well as shelving/organization solutions offered. We set out on our way.

As we lapped around the store, we finally found what I hoped to be our solution. We decided on one three shelf unit and one four. The three shelf unit was, as their website suggested, $19.99. While the four stated $29.99 for the black(metal) unit but $59.99 for the stainless steel version=0/
Although I would prefer for the two units to match how could I pass up a $30 price difference? So me being me, checked and rechecked item number on the box to item number listed on the tag. Knowing deep down inside that once we got to the register there was bound to be a price issue. So as we checked out I literally had my fingers crossed that there wouldn't be an issue. Talk about a Negative Nancy. And low and behold the black four unit shelf rang up for....


$15.00!!!!


I am so excited to start filling up those shelves since my honey was so awesome and put it altogether for me even taking into consideration what might be stored on each shelf and adjusting the shelves accordingly!!

❤
C

So as we enter wk4 of 2nd grade...

So as we are entering wk4 of 2nd grade, 13 days under our belt. A new backpack has already been purchased. Good Lord Walmart you drive me nuts. I hear time and time again from other mommies and girlfriends alike that they save at Walmart. Pshhh I have never spent more money on junk and wasted more time trying to find it either. NO ONE knows where anything is. Not the customers and certainly not the employees who horizontally park the carts they're working on down every other aisle. I am no retail genius but with common courtesy under my belt along with a few years maneuvering tight corners at BedBath&Beyond I would love to fill their ears with customer service etiquette.
I could go on FOREVER, literally.
But again, the backpack. So I love back to school time. Sharpened pencils, smooth folders, paints, markers, shiny new shoes.  I love every aspect. Could go back to those years of time served at Office Depot too. And armed with my love for all things back to school and my desire to at least think Im doing the right thing with my dollar I head to the dreaded Wally World. Their selection, which is becoming a noticeable trend, was less then lacking. There was NOTHING to pick from. No fun character folders, nor matching notebooks. Merely a single aisle up front of glue sticks, pencils, crayons and markers. I was actually surprised with how disappointed I was. Total let down =( Leaving with hardly the bare essentials we headed to the registers when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a small backpack display. I let the little one pick his fav and we headed on our way.
Cut to the second day of school when the front zipper totally broke. I have fiddled with it and finally decided that velcro at the top would be the the simplest solution as I am a sewing novice and zipper ignorant. Now fast forward to day 11 when the zipper of the main compartment busted. I know my son tests the life of all products that find themselves in his care but this, this is not his fault. Poor kid. How sad=(
So Walmart, you faceless beast of overfilled carts, screaming children and a bleach spill on aisle 213, I will sleep well tonight knowing I can blame you.

*New/old backpack was buried today upon a bed of coffee grounds and leftovers and New/new backpack is sitting patiently by the door awaiting Tuesdays morning rush out the door.

❤
C

Stuffed Chicken

So on tonights menu...

Chicken breasts stuffed with Spinach, Feta and Pine Nuts along side couscous and steamed broccoli.

No recipe to follow just heard via a magazine at work about this Chicken and threw the above items together with some olive oil, fresh garlic and seasoned with salt and pepper. Originally I was going to slice and pocket the Chick Breasts but they were already on the thin side so they were pounded to approx 1/4" thick by my love since I have delicate wrists 0=)

The couscous was a hit with the child who could have carried less about the chicken, which might I add his was plain. And as usual the broccoli quickly disappeared!

❤
C

iPhones don't float

Who would have guessed that iPhones don't float. I can't swim so why should I expect my phone too right?
Despite the total bummer of the situation the play by play is rather entertaining to me and most likely TMI for anyone else...

So, I was bringing in the latest Costco load (alone) when I had the urge ;0) to use the restroom. With my phone in the worst place possible (my back pocket) I headed into the bathroom. What is actually so funny to me is that at first I heard a THUD, and I was freaking out as I was bending, over that the lid of the toilet had fallen down and I was about to go on the lid. Which would be a fabulous story and horrendous mess. But in fact as I stood up and looked down it was my sweet lil phone =0( So very sad. I, pantless, am now running around my house trying to figure out what to do and QUICK. I found our canned air and started to spray. Then propped it up along with my blow dryer on cool setting for what seemed like ever. And in doing so realized what an annoying sound the blow dryer makes, poor N at 6am. So 24+ hrs later it turns on and alerts me of various alertables but alas the touch screen function (basically the soul of the phone) is unresponsive.

Decisions, decisions. N wants to unscrew the back of the phone and lurk around since you can see water streaks through the screen he assumes the warranties already void. But IDK. And suck is life

❤
C

So instead of the fair

So instead of the fair today we decided to actually USE our Six Flags passes and venture into "Marine World." It was a beautiful day  and Im not sure if it was because today was the last day for the county fair or what but the crowds were at a minimum and we didn't miss it one bit!

And we were SUPER excited to find out that there were two new additions to the Dolphin pool!! How absolutely precious!!!!

The boys had a lot of fun messing around on the bumper cars!

And we have never seen as many Butterflies as there were today in the Butterfly Exhibit

My handsome guy!!

As if this day couldn't have been more beautiful, we are being doubly blessed with this amazing cool evening. Dining on our balcony and enjoying the sweet breeze!

So turns out doing the dishes ain't so bad after all.

So this evening, as every evening in the history of man and woman, I made dinner. Dun dun dunnn... Along with dinner comes dirty dishes, and although I don't mind doing dishes per say, on this particular night I got to thinking. Hmmm I thought up dinner, I prepared dinner (and I did ask for help but was promptly declined) I even made dinner "appear" on the table. So cleverly with grin attached I simply threw out that perhaps "HE" should do the dishes. In which aforementioned "HE" thought I was joking. Ha, no. Which was followed by mild complaints from the one who dished up thirds to my single portion. "Doing dishes makes my back hurt" WAIT! What? Shoot, why hadn't I thought of that one growing up?? "Sorry Dad, you know I want to but this fifth grade homework is a real killer and my back just can't take standing at the sink." Pshh I know why I hadn't thought of (at least) saying that one out loud. Uhm.. Because I wanted to be ALIVE. But apparently I don't evoke that same fear into my partner. So I shot back some off handed remarks of the things that I really just can't do because they hurt my back too now that I think of it. *Remarks that are just totally inappropriate outside of our two earshot's.

He not thinking that I was too funny started his whole "You don't understand how difficult my job is and standing for long periods of time kill my back..."

On a side note. He works very hard and his job is LABOR intensive. Bottom line I could never do it, like EVER. I don't want to, I don't have to and Im NEVER gonna. But lets face it when have I ever not had something to say?

So back to our discussion on dishes, which he is in fact doing during this moment of "communication". Directly behind me is our kitchen table. Seated at our kitchen table is the seven year old who on average takes about TWO HOURS to finish dinner, breakfast in five minutes but dinner is almost ALWAYS two hours. So like I was saying, behind me is the seven year old who at this moment is getting up from the table. And then I hear it. That cough, the cough EVERY mother knows. The cough the includes food and lots of it. So now lets just say his hands are full. I already know what happened before I even have to turn around. I transplant the child to our lovely simple human (garbage can) and turn to "HE" aka Nick and let him know that I can do the dishes!!! He says "No, that's all right. I got this"

=( So from my view, which is all fours on the carpet scrub brush in hand. Dishes. Eh, dishes ain't so bad.

To Fair or not to fair...

Growing up every Summer my family would visit the fair, whether it be our own counties fair or one in the various other counties my mother worked in. But the memories alone of walking with my family exploring all the sights, sounds, smells and of course carnies bring a smile to my face. As a child I hated being slowly dragged through the long, boring and SMELLY animal exhibits. Staring at the stinky cows that just stood there batting flies with their tales. The pigs sprawled out in a corner of their pin and the sheep standing in line to have their coats sheared. Oh gosh it was HORRIBLE, but for some ungawdly reason my mother lived for this EVERY summer.

And as this too is burned into my cerebral cortex I find myself drawn to dragging my child(ren) down this very same road. Im not sure if it is the addicting waft or the need to offer a "because I had too when I was your age" experience that draws, a mother, to force her children to enjoy. Although my mother was more along the lines of "outdoorsy, tomboy" and more then likely dreampt of the thrills of living the life that is the farm. I am more of a "cotton candy nail polish with a splash of picnic at the park" kinda mom. I think it comes down to bringing your children to experiences that you may/can not normally take your children too. And although we have a cute as a button farm here in this itty bitty city by the bay, it does not house the lengths that are offered at our local county fair.

Growing up the fair was quite the affair, lasting in lengths of up to two weeks as memory recalls. And boasting several incentive days in which fair admission and "unlimited ride" wristbands were discounted. But clearly times have changed. I noticed just yesterday that our local fair was in town... For only FOUR DAYS! What?Along with that news was the cost. While we have season passes to the Theme Park directly across the street, which basically brings the cost to practically nothing to visit (after initial purchase) a visit to the fair for the day will set our little family back roughly $76 before anyone gets thirsty or even dare to smell cinnamon rolls. With wrist bands starting at $25 each, in which we will inevitably only purchase two (one for Shane of course and one for Nick so he can accompany Shane on rides that are larger), admission comes to $20 for our family of three and $6 parking. And to think all I wanted to do was look at some livestock.

So I've been juggling this idea in my head for a couple days now. Planning our weekend and seeing what day (granted there are now only two to choose from) would be best to go to the fair. I just keep thinking about this $100+ Im going to spend. True they offer a firework display, and there is no argument that fireworks are cool. But we will most likely go on Sunday translating to no fireworks for us because it isn't even dark out until after 9pm and we are "like totally" NOT staying out that late =) So... $100? Really?? That is until I had this fabulous thought. "Doesn't Napa have a fair?" Why yes, yes they do! And it happens to be the following weekend. Although we have plans for that weekend, the starting date is Thursday, July 1st. Which also happens to be a discounted admission date bringing that total to $6 for us. And on their website they boast advance ticket sales where the cost of their wristbands are are discounted $10 to only $15 each!! With that and parking we are looking at $41 before snacking our way through the midway!!!! And "this" makes me very happy, which lets face it, that alone ensures us all a good time!!