Truth or Consequences

At dinner last night:

Adam (age 2): What yo name, Daddy?

Doug: You know. What is my name?

Adam: Daddy Doug.

Adam: What Mommy's name?

Doug: What is her name?

Adam: Boss. Mommy Boss.

Seems I've finally gotten through to him.

Bras, Panties and Booze...Amen

There I was in Kohl's Sunday afternoon - just minding my own business - on a mission for new bras and panties.

I'd left the guys at home doing more manly things like building bike ramps and throwing footballs.

Besides, when it comes to comfort, fit, and style of foundation garments, wise buying decisions are crucial and concentration is a must. These things cannot be rushed.

Say it with me...Fight the frump and lift it up!

With an arm full of my favorite underwear, and several bras dangling on hangers from my fingers, who should I encounter on the way to the check-out but a family from our church.

Isn't that the way it always goes? Why couldn't I run into one of my girlfriends? We'd compare panty styles and cup sizes. Or, how about a sales clerk? Every run into one of those in a store?

Me either.

So, small talk with the church family ensued.

"Fine, fine. We're good."
Maybe I can just shove this bundle of panties a little further under my arm.

"No, we haven't had the flu at our house, thank goodness."
How do I gracefully wad up these dangling bras?

Finally we said our good-byes and I was free to stand in a long line with my panties and bras in full view. At that point, the church family had already seen it all, so what did I have to hide?

This reminded me of another church family encounter I had recently, this time in the check-out lane at Kroger. I had a cart full of beer; we were having a party. And who should happen to wheel up in line behind me but our neighbor, who also goes to our church.

And she doesn't drink.

I know this because we once visited the Sunday School taught by her husband and he said, as part of the lesson, "We don't drink alcohol at our house because we feel it's not a godly example to our children. In fact, studies prove children who witness their parents drinking are 50% more likely to become alcoholics when they grow up."

So, there I was, with my stash of beer, making small talk with the non-drinking, church-going neighbor married to the Sunday School teacher.

Then along came a helpful grocery store clerk to unload all my alcohol, all the while loudly expounding on his love for beer!, wine!, and the awesome frozen drinks they once served him in Jamaica!

Now, as I walk the halls of my church, I can't help but think I may run into both of these families at the same time some blessed Sunday morning.

And they will greet me by saying, "Hello lace-panty-wearing, beer-guzzling size 34B".

Amen.

After the Bath

I wrap you in a towel - wiggle worm - and we wave to ourselves in the mirror before I carry you to your room

Bye boy. Bye mama. I shut off da light. Adam do it.

As you lay on the floor I cover your face with the towel.... "Where's Adam? Did he go to Starbucks?"

Wanna a 'chino Mama? Be care-shull, it's hot!

You get the lotion and your "trap-stick" out of the basket.

Shake da lotion mama. And don't turn da trap-stick up wiff the lid on it.

I remind you Chapstick is not to be shared. And neither is your toothbrush.

And I don't take it to school or da kids will mess wiff it. Put it back in da basket, right Mama?

I wrestle to get your diaper on, and then your footie pajamas. You've almost outgrown them.

Seems like just yesterday they were too big.

Seems like just yesterday you were so little.

We play. We sing songs.

Ba! Ba! Black sheep! Had you wany wool?

You climb on me and want to wrestle and I have to remind you to not be so rough.

No hitting, no biting and no kickin', right Mama?

This is a most precious time of day for me. Thirty minutes I'd like to scoop up and put in a jar like a firefly on a summer's night.

Me and my boy. My son.
Clean and soft.
Little life lessons - and pure joy - wrapped up in a bath towel.

Sing.....Sing a Song

Adam's become quite a singer the past few weeks.

His hands-down favorite is the alphabet. I love hearing him sing
"Double-woo-woo, ex, why and zeeee."

Yesterday out of the blue he belted out "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."

We hadn't heard that one before.

And I cracked up when he sang,
"Money, money, money, money, life is butter dream."

Happy Valentine's Day

My Summer Drawer

Many, many years ago when money was very tight for me and I rarely had anything extra for incidentals, I started buying one or two things for each coming season a piece at a time. I suppose I could have done it another way and set aside a little money each paycheck and then went shopping and got things all at once, but I didn't have the saving fortitude back then.

Times have changed. I have a little more "spending money" these days, and I'm also a much better saver (thank goodness!), but I still like to buy things for the new season a piece or two at a time.

Since most of us are still bundling up in sweater, coats and scarves, I thought it would be fun to share what I've picked up so far to wear when the weather warms up, the day grow longer, and A/C becomes my best friend. All from JCrew. If I was going to be stranded on a desert island and I could only take three things with me I would take my family, the Bible, and a JCrew store.

I love these tops:

And they will both look great with these.


I get a new pair of white pants, one or two crisp white oxfords and a handful of white T's (short sleeves and tanks) every spring. Last year's get tossed because the dingies have set in.
Oh! And I couldn't resist this lemon-y dress with a little ruffle. I think it would look great with a turquoise bracelet or two.

And last but not least (for today anyway), zebra print flip-flops. Like yoga pants for my feet.

What will you be pulling out of your drawer this spring?

I've Nearly Given Up Lipstick, People!

I'm all about personal referrals and secretly glance this-way-and-that at Target or CVS just so I can see what other people are buying. I love it when someone tells me about their favorite lip gloss, pair of jeans or mascara.

That said, I thought today might be the perfect time to post about a few of my favorite things.

First, some beauty products - also affectionately known around our house as sundries - those wonderful little doo-dads we keep in our make-up bags, showers, car consoles and desk drawers that make life a little more bearable and a little more beautiful.

I was all about lipstick until I found Neutrogena MoistureShine Tinted Lip Balm. The colors are great (my favorites are Natural and Pure), the coverage is perfect, it's not sticky and it has SPF 20 too! It's sold at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens and other popular drug stores.

Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener has been a life saver (or should I say eye-saver?) more times that I can count. It's light-weight enough to put on over my powder and is very easy to blend. I'm sure that's not the way Bobbi intended it to be used, but it works for me!

I love the Wal-Mart (Equate) brand apricot scrub. I get the medicated, which has a little menthol, which is a great pick-me-up. I scrub and massage my legs with it, rinse, then shave with shave cream.

On another note, I just wanted to give a shout out to the glory of the black yoga pant! And, tell you how much I like wearing them on the weekend with Target's long-sleeved tee. I have them in several colors in both scoop and crew neck. They are soft and comfortable and I especially love that the sleeves are extra long. I'll definitely be trying the short-sleeves for summer.

Since I'm ending on a fashionable note, I'll pick up tomorrow where I left off and show you what's in my "can't wait for summer" drawer.