It's OVER... and I'm actually a little sad about it.

After spending the past month planning, sending out eVites and actual postcard invitations, washing the walls (YES--washing the walls--just sweeping away cobwebs wasn't good enough for me, folks!), having the carpets steam-cleaned, and spending a day and a half cooking, I FINALLY had my Southern Living at HOME party, this past Friday. And do you know what? I'm actually kind of sad that it's over.

It's kind of like getting ready for a wedding... (okay, anyone recently married who's reading this will probably want to kick my a**, 'cuz it's not at ALL like getting ready for a wedding!) I mean, you spend all this time (and yes, money too) getting everything to be just perfect, you slave over the invitations and follow up on all the RSVP's. You even pray that everyone will come and yet wonder if you'll have enough space/chairs/food... not to mention figuring out how to deal with this person sitting by that person and keeping the peace. Ha! Ha!

So when the appointed hour finally arrived, I wasn't even nervous. Just excited! I had so much fun, and everyone got along fine. There was more than enough food. There was even plenty of alcohol--and nobody got so wasted that they had to have, as Molly called it, Tipsy Taxi Service.

See how my house was transformed?

Sue and Jenny help "model" some products!


Cori's browsing the catalog, checking out what few items aren't on display.

And when I woke up Saturday morning, I was excited by the prospect of raking in scads of good loot, courtesy of all my fabulous guests... But I was surprised to find that I was also feeling a bit let down.... "It's over already?" I found myself thinking.

This was, by far, the best hostess party I've ever had! I'm getting about $400 worth of stuff for the low, low price of about $115 (not including tax)! Plus, I didn't even have to pay shipping and handling--which saved me at least ten bucks!

I think I've finally overgrown my fear of having people over. I had so much fun getting ready for this event!!!

Check out all the great stuff I'm getting! (One item I wasn't able to copy and paste is the Savannah Beverage Server, but if you check out the 3rd picture from the top, at my party, you'll see it full of Sangria, pieces of fruit floating on top.)

Galveston Two-Tiered Tray--a versatile necessity for entertaining.

Galveston Serving Tray--way cool!

Astoria Flatware Caddy--a SLAH bestseller!

Filigree Iron Candle Stand--one of my favorites!SL Beautiful Containers--to give me ideas on what to do with my new items!

Plus, check out what my Mom's getting me for my birthday in November, and for Christmas! I totally scored!!!

Devonshire Lidded Trifle--another versatile item!
Estate Trivet Trio--these are going on my wall.
Parisian Luminaries--I can't wait to get these!

Okay, so now I feel like I should at least add the two items I got from Jenny's party a month ago... what started this whole thing!

I love making pies & have always wanted a stoneware pie plate (which this is, though it's glazed) - Hospitality Collection Pie Plate, Butter

Estate Collection Canister--this is awesome! I've got Halloween M&M's in it now, will put other candies in it, or candles, or maybe I'll move it to the bathroom and put cotton balls in it, or.... or....

All about me

Okay, so I feel like alot of the time, lately, I listen to what other people are saying about what's going on in their lives, but they assume that I'm the stay-at-home-Mom who just sits back and eats bon-bons while watching soap operas (or even Thomas the Tank) all day long.
This is so NOT TRUE. First of all, I have yet to buy A bon-bon, much less multiple bon-bons. I mean, sure, I eat chocolate, if the OBSESSION strikes, but it's not like I'm lying about on my couch while I do so. (Usually, I'm eating over the sink so there are no chocolate crumbs as evidence of my debauchery.)
But here's how an especially abnormal (but becoming normal) day goes for me... this was yesterday:
7am - Wake up to find Donovan awake and already in the high chair --Daddy got him out of his room, as he was awake and knocking on his bedroom door to be let out. So Jim got him breakfast--thanks, Daddy!
7:30 - make sure the girls are moving, up and eating breakfast, then on to get dressed....
8:00 - I've showered (hopefully) plus taken all my meds and vitamins for the day, and maybe even squeeezed in a small bowl of high-fiber cereal for breakfast!
8:40 - the girls are off to school, walking on their own for the first time this year.
9:30 - I'm catching up on e-mails and trying to pry a mechanical pencil out of Donovan's hand as he thinks it's a pen, so he continues to click! click! click! PBS is on, but he's only mildly interested.
10:10 - I've turned on a Thomas the Tank video for Dono and gotten him settled down with two packages of fruit snacks, so hopefully I can buy myself about 15 minutes of time.....
10:12 - I'm calling the Girl Scout Homestead office, leaving messages about new recruits and setting up dates for our troop to go camping this fall.
10:14 - Calling Dietz to see if they've got the piano lesson books I need for both the girls... they have to get some sent from downtown and will call when they're in.
10:36- Am running with Donovan to the Cathedral Art Show to see Anita and check out the cool exhibits (plus buy the Cathedral Cookbook--original price: $25, final markdown: $10!!!)
11:32- Stop at Chipotle for a quick to-go fajita burrito!
11:48 - Call Chipotle back ("fajita burrito" is missing the "fajita" portion!.... I just got rice, sour cream, cheese, and salsa), as Donovan sits down to the 1st course of his lunch (a string-cheese)
11:50 - Have gotten Dono two pieces of boloney ("b---on--ey!!!"), course #2, and am calling Homestead council again. Found out name of the camp contact.....
12:48 - Call from Dietz, piano music is in
1:30 - Have had lunch, but Donovan is not in the mood for a nap today... his cat-nap as I cruised the Art Show seems to have been enough. I call Camp Catron to set up camp dates.
1:52 - Received call-back from GS Homestead employee--they've got 3 new recruits and will get me more info ASAP.
1:57 - Change poopy.
2:10 - Talk to GS co-leader, she suggests change times at camps (arriving and leaving) plus a few other minor details.
2:18 - Talk to Camp Catron rep, update info.
2:32 - Snack for Dono and Mommy!!!
2:58 - Catch up on e-mails
3:14 - Start a Thomas the Tank video
3:50 - The girls are home!
4:10 - Get the girls a snack
4:30 - Try to get Lindsay to start Homework
4:52 - Start supper
6:01 - Push Lindsay towards Homework again
6:12 - Break up fight between Josie and Donovan
6:34 - Jim is home!
6: 48 - Take off to pick up piano music from Dietz
7:12 - Stop at Target for 3-ring binders and loose-leaf paper, as per instructions from piano teacher
7:40 - Get home to see Jim putting Donovan to bed
8:00 - Check e-mails
8:40 - Get girls ice cream
9:06 - Send girls to bed
10:57 - Wrap up on computer, head for bed
11:48 - Fall asleep!!!

Let's go crazy! Let's get NUTS!!!

Josie (candid shot by Uncle Mike)

This is Josie's second year as a Girl Scout Brownie... her first FULL year. Since I was a co-leader for Lindsay's troop for a couple of years, it's only fair that I co-lead Josie's troop too. And actually, I'm really pumped about it--Josie's leaders are great! (There are four of us, because, at one time, there were 20 girls in the troop... I think some have pulled out because they have too many other commitments, and I'm hoping we'll get a few new ones signed up in the next week or two.)

We're just getting started with meetings (still trying to nail down a permanent meeting place!!!), getting all the registrations in, etc. The usual stuff. But something that's new (obviously) for Josie, as well as for me, is Nut Sales!

I'm sure you're all familiar with Girl Scout Cookies, which are sold in February. (You're thinking, "Duh, Trace, what else do Girl Scouts do but sell cookies?") Actually, Girl Scouts do MUCH more than that, but that's a whole other topic. In addition to the MANY other things Girl Scouts do, they sell nuts in the fall.

Now, they have Nut Sales, but it's not just nuts. Actually, there are various candies and munchies available at this time, and they all have different prices, too. (They range from $4 - $7, depending on the product.) I'm pretty excited about this, not only because it seems like a greater value for your buck, but also, it's just a new and exciting venture for us. I plan to take Miss Josie out around the neighborhood over the next few evenings and maybe a weekend day or two. Nut Sales go until mid-October, so we've got some time to work on this... but knowing me, if I don't get a jump on it now, all that time will slip through my fingers!

So feel free to let me know if you're interested in nuts... or candies or munchies. If you're reading this, chances are, you know how to get a hold of me. (And if you don't know me, check out the official Girl Scouts website to find a troop and score some nuts for yourself!)

How's that for a shameless plug?

You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish!

We got a piano the other day... for FREE!!! Have you heard of Freecycle.org? It's fantastic!!! There's all kinds of free stuff on there, from tomatoes, to guinea pigs, to TVs that don't work (or TVs that do), to jarred baby food, etc. Anything you can imagine... People who have something they feel it would be bad to throw away--they give it away, instead, on Freecycle. I love it! I've been watching for a piano for a few weeks, and I almost got one earlier last week. But the chick who posted the piano neglected to update that the piano had already been picked up. So I had called her and left two messages about how I wanted it and was lining up movers (for at least $125), etc., when she finally called and told me I was too late. Well, by that point, I wanted a piano so badly, I could TASTE it! So I posted that I was looking for one, and later that same day, someone e-mailed me and said they had one, already in their truck, and they'd bring it by later that same day. Oh, and the guy also tunes pianos and he's going to give me a two-for-one on my first two tunings! What a great guy! Now I'm going to post a few things that we're going to give away. It's just fun! (I have someone lined up already, too, to teach the girls lessons!)

New piano in the Husker Room

The girls were junior cheerleaders again last night. This is their 2nd time doing that, for Lincoln Southeast High School. (They've also been junior Shirettes twice--the Shirettes are LSE's dance squad.) The girls had SO MUCH FUN doing this! I think they'll make great cheerleaders when they actually get to high school!

Best friends!

Lindsay's middle row, 2nd from right, Poser Girl!

Rah! Rah! Go Team!

Not much else new. We're just enjoying the beginning of the new school year. We've started calling Donovan "Cowboy X" (from Sesame Street--click the link to see it on YouTube), because he goes all around the house--indoors and out--with either sidewalk chalk or crayons, writing all over the walls, furniture, phones, etc. He knows, now, that he's not supposed to do this. So he's gotten to where he'll write on a wall or something (mostly outside, now, since the sidewalk chalk rinses off), and then he'll point at it and shake his finger, making a stern face and saying, "No, no, no!"

Cowboy X, always gotta be "writing".

Random Testing

I got this e-mail the other day, and below it are my thoughts on it.

THE JOB - URINE TEST (I sure would like to know who wrote this one! They deserve a HUGE pat on the back!)
I HAVE TO PASS A URINE TEST FOR MY JOB... SO I AGREE 100%.

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job.. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck,

I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem.. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their butt, doing drugs, while I work. . .. . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don't. Hope you all will pass it along, though .. .. Something has to change in this country -- and soon

 

Actually, it seems to me that the person who wrote this is a little uptight (and could use a hit or two off a joint! ha! ha!). Seriously, though, I think most places that do random drug checks are places that have some sort of machinery involved in the job (i.e. factories, construction,etc.) where people could actually be HURT if working while under the influence of drugs. Whereas, I had to take a drug test to get hired at my last full-time job, but they apparently don't give a crap if their employees start or resume using drugs once they've been hired. (It's no be feat to quit smoking pot -- or doing whatever -- for two weeks to get it out of your urine... or to drink vinegar water or take goldenseal to get it out quickly. Most users know about all of these techniques.)

Sure, I think it's a funny message, but I think the author is way off base on what's wrong with our country.

I totally disapprove of people using drugs if they're working with machinery--they not only put themselves at risk, but those working with them, and possibly even the recipients of whatever they're working on. I also totally disapprove of people "taking advantage" of the welfare system, etc., AND using drugs while they're doing it. But do we have numbers on how many people are doing that? I'd hate to make people who are truly in need of financial help subject themselves to anything further humiliation (like passing a random drug test) after all they've already had to go through in order to receive that financial assistance! Obviously, the person who wrote this has never had to accept help from the government or probably anyone else, and they are overly self-righteous about that fact. It is an INCREDIBLY humiliating thing to have to go apply for food stamps or WIC or some other form of government assistance (and yes, I know, there are some people who DO take advantage of it or who are born into it)... Having to pass a urine test on top of that would be, to me, punishment for something that is, more often than not, out of a person's control. (When I was a senior in college, I had to get on Food Stamps and that was so very painful and humiliating... I felt horrible and am still scarred by it!)

I see the point the author of that e-mail is trying to make: if you've got the money to spend on drugs, you should get off your butt and get a job, not suck money off the government. I can dig it. But to force every single person on government assistance to submit to a drug test??? I mean, seriously, that seems like an invasion of privacy and an total infringement on a person's rights as a citizen.

Plus, one other thing I'd like to point out is that people KNOW they're applying for or working for a company that requires drug testing (whether scheduled, during the hiring process, or random, once hired). They still VOLUNTARILY work for that company. Drug testing is not something required by every single place of employment! It's something each company decides upon and then each potential employee is notified of that... they get to decide, then, whether or not to go for that job. On the other hand, wouldn't mandatory drug-testing of welfare recipients be sort of, I don't know, fascist or communist? It just seems un-American to me.

**Addendum**

Okay, I have this feeling I'm going to be inundated with e-mails from people asking me if I was smoking pot when I wrote that. No, I was not, and I do not.

I feel like I need to make it clear that I do not condone the use of drugs, whether it be by people on welfare, construction workers, white color workers, the President, etc.

To simplify even further (because I can't seem to let it go), why can't we just give people the benefit of the doubt?