Lunch Box Yes. (Public) School No.

We have decided to keep the girls home for one more year, and possibly continue to homeschool next year as well.  Each is ready with a book bag and a commitment to learning (well, most days anyway...). 

The only thing missing was the lunch bag although recently, I received a sweet neoprene one (in exchange for my honest opinion) that has my heart a-blazing.  So far, it has been holding up beautifully, especially at the hands of the two little ones.

My girls love the bright graphics, and I love how much I can pack in this lunch bag! We take it with us on outings, just recently apple picking (it's all part of the learning experience). It kept all the snacks, juice boxes etc in tip-top shape.

 I prefer handles in general, but I am glad the bag comes with a long strap as well. Made it easier to carry around with everything else we normally have to drag.  Isn't it adorable??? Get yours here!    https://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B00TLYTY76

Goodbye Summer...

I can't believe Summer has ended...Even though the heat and I have never been friends, I am already missing the trips to the lake, watching Lillian play in the water, while Emily avoids it at all cost.  It's now time to reminisce about my childhood (the good parts), when almost every day was an opportunity to explore the world.  Whether bike riding with my friends, or enjoying the hot days with the family, Summers were surely fun. 

Perhaps the highlight of that special season (many, many years ago), was spending Sundays at my grandparents' house.  After a long and late lunch, we would grab the one single hammock we had (the kind that looks like a fish net and marks your legs if you don't put a blanket underneath your body?), walk all the way down my grandparents land, and settle on the two trees we found were the best for our afternoon fun. We set up the hammock, ensuring the rope was tightly secured, and carefully hopped on, one at a time.  And we spent countless hours talking, and reading books, comics. 

It is memories like that, that make me smile, and hope that I can give my girls those same good moments and feelings of contentment.  I had to get a hammock.  Just had to.  But definitely not the fish net type!  After patiently looking for one that would fit our needs, I came across a true gem - TripWorthy's Premium Outdoor Hammock, which I received free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.  It couldn't have happen at a better time.

For my family's needs, it is perfect. I can't wait for my girls and I to spend our summers doing the same thing I did back when I was younger...enjoying books while snuggling in this premium outdoor hammock. We didn't get a chance to bring it with us to our nearby lake this year (it has a little pouch attached, so you can fold the hammock in!  So portable!), but I set it up outside the house. It took less than a minute to put it up! It is very strong (parachute fabric, fancy! Holds 400 lbs - here's to me having more cake and stretchy pants), and I am sure this hammock will last us forever (but will trim the nearby bushes, just in case!).  My girls love it (they want me to bring it inside as well). They want to use it as a makeshift tent too, although I can't blame them, its colors are so vibrant and inviting. Just look at it!  Fiery.  I call it passion fruit :)

So here's to the end of Summer and all its glory.  Here's to the best hammock (thank you TripWorthy for making such a great product!) in the world and all the memories it will hold...

Migraines, Toddlers, and Pillow Gel Mats

Argh, I hate migraines and sinus headaches...I normally take Spedifen (a miracle pain reliever my mom always brings me when she visits from Switzerland), but as miraculous and fast working as that lovely powder is, the pain is exhausting...

I was recently given the opportunity to test out the Frosty Pillow Gel Mat, for a reduced cost.  It is amazing!  It really helps soothe the pain,while I wait for the Spedifen to do its magic.  The only drawback is that the girlies want to wrestle it away!!!

I can just imagine how marvelous hot summer nightfall be with this little puppy.  I'm always hot, blerghhhh

Interested in snatching one? The Frosty Pillow Gel Mat peeps have generously provided a discount code so anyone can get one for less!  Here is the code and link:

30TMSN15 (30% off yay!)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01600LIQI

Princesses Are Dreaming...

...of unicorns and rainbows, while momma catches up on her not-so-secret love of the Real Housewives franchise.  Yipppiiieeee!

Sleepless in Swedish Mattress

I meant to publish this back in May of 2008.  Since then, Sushi has passed on :( 

Soooo…Last night, I gathered the kitties to discuss sleeping arrangements. I brought up my list of grievances (all in English because the little one doesn’t understand Portuguese that well):

I cannot move my legs when both of you snuggle so close to them. It makes me feel trapped, like I can’t breathe
Since when do cats snore? Must I wake up, and nudge you to stop?
Using my head as a pillow is kind of disrespectful
Chasing each other around the house at 3:00 AM is totally bad, especially when you jump over me and accidentally scratch me while I sleep
I don’t know if you are aware, but you CAN eat dry food in the early AM before I wake up. Momma needs her beauty rest. She doesn’t need to be awaken by screeching felines who demand their canned goodies, and then just sniff and leave the food behind with a disgusted look (stop snickering, both of you.)
You could, at least, be considerate enough to move your ass out of the way, as I’m trying to leave the bed. I’m very flexible, but I’m not a gymnast.

Sushi and Sashimi listened to what I had to say, and then they decided we live in a democracy, where majority rules, so I should be lucky I still have a little tiny area of the bed to myself. From now on, I should not bother either one with my pettiness, and they’ve insisted on getting massages before they doze off each evening. I think they went a little too far with requesting (more like demanding, if you ask me) that I address them as “your highnesses”, not speak unless spoken to, and that I do not look at them directly. Gosh.

The CATastrophy

I woke up this morning, with an extra spring in my step, yet my mood soon became clouded with the thought of taking Pixie over to get her tummy tuck (aka, spaying). I felt so guilty, I nearly took a little white pill to calm me down. The dread, the thought of my little cutie pie going through such a traumatic experience, I can't just imagine. My little bunny.

I had it all planned. Wake up extra early, allow about 45 minutes to gently coax my little minx into the carrier using her favorite feather toy, feed the other babies, and be on my way to the shelter that sponsored Spay Day. Ahhh what a nice little plan...

Here's the result of the @%$&*@$ plan...

My house is literally upside down. I mean, I had to split the sectional, both parts are upside down right now (she was hiding for a while inside the armrest, yeah, the actual INSIDE of it…), my bed has been completely dismantled (maybe she was hiding inside the box spring). At one point, I thought I had maybe accidentally smothered her, as the mattress folded onto itself as I was removing it --- it's a very heavy tempurpedic...

I’ve got the kitchen chairs all over the place (we did a little Benny Hill routine between the living room and the kitchen for the first hour or so), the fridge has been pulled away from its area (there's a space underneath it by the motor where kitties can hide, but usually don't), cabinets were open and closed numerous times as I became more and more frantic, also looked on top of the kitchen cabinets, as one of the other cats seems to deeply enjoy the view, the sofa cushions are
all over the living room, as are the fancy pillows...

My duvet, bedsheets, pillows are somewhere between the wing chair and the floor in the bedroom...The two storage bins I keep under the bed are on their sides with some of the contents spilled onto the carpet, the cat food is in the bathroom
(I know, it’s just where it ended up during the Great Chase)...

But finally, 2 calls made to the shelter (one explaining I couldn't find my cat, and no, she's not an outdoor cat, well, she's tiny and black, can hide anywhere in a one-bedroom condo...a giggle or two in the background...second to say that after only 3 HOURS, I had caught the little stinker).

I left the house without feeding the other two cats (I had to remove all food the night before, because Pixie wasn't allowed to eat prior to surgery), my face completely red, my hair all disheveled, 3 very VERY upset kitties (all traumatized forever, and I'm sure, already planning the next attack on yours truly), my potty mouth needing a good cleaning (I think at one point, I actually called them all bitches), and a vow to never let these three cookies boss me around (yeah, ok, like that's EVER going to change).

War on Poo - Part II

The war against poo continues...Neighbor is letting his dog poop in the common area. I had no choice but to tattle tell...Here's my letter to property maintenance sans graphic photos and videos:

Hi Rhonda*:

I had recently contacted your office regarding the laundry facilities and the detached railing on the back of Units X3/X4. Thank you so much for the swift reply. I am sure you were notified that the area by the railing was filled with dog excrement, which was all cleaned the day the railing was also removed.

I had recorded the “gifts” that were left there (videos 65 and 66 below), as I had planned on reporting it, until the area was subsequently cleaned. I was sure the culprit would have gotten the “clue”, but unfortunately, it started up again. There are two new piles of feces, same area – back of Units X3/X4 - see photo 1 and photo 2 attached.

I cannot say with 100% certainty that the offender (the condo resident that is, not the dog as it does not know any better) lives in Unit X6 (I’m sure the guy’s lived there for over a year, but I’ve never noticed anything like this before, and I walk through the back every day), but do know, when it snowed, the foot/paw traffic led a very clear path between our units.

Aside from that, I did see the owner with his dog coming out of his unit, by the time I picked up my garbage to take it to the dumpster (as a pretense to catch them in the act), a new present had been created and both the guy and his dog were back in the house. Dog was way faster than I was.

Finally, I heard a dog barking and it seemed very close to my living room window (front of building), I turned on the outdoor light, and there he was with his dog. The next morning, I went outside to see if there was anything on the ground, and ta-dah --- his dog’s latest sculpture. That’s when I realized he’s been letting the dog defecate in the front of his unit as evidenced by the decomposing and the recent artistic displays (video 67).

I don’t want him to ruin it for the rest of those who own dogs and are very much responsible when it comes to picking up after their pets.

Incidentally, I also noticed one of the shutters had detached from one of the windows when we had those strong winds (video 68). I placed it by my plant pots/bushes in front of my unit.

Thank you,

Fruity Ana*

* names and places changed to protect the victim (moi)

Errr Watching The Bachelor

OMG, why do I punish myself? Just watched the Bachelor. Is this how dating goes? You're having a conversation, and all of a sudden, you stop in order to swap saliva? Seems so staged. But yes, I'll be watching again next week, for more awkward scenes. Ahhh, something to look forward to, when I begin dating. Hmmmm. Maybe later.

New Curtains for the Chamber of Horrors (Le Bedroom)

Uhhh one curtain or two??? I can't decide. O that's Sushi. He is a camera hog. And ahhh, yes, that would be a Christmas garland on my dresser. I am a firm believer in leaving holiday decorations up until I feel like it.

Hopefully, that will be before March, because the tree is starting to look a little like a party girl who had waaaaay too much to drink.

The Return of the Bottle Cap

Someone's messing with me. I tossed that bottle cap yesterday. This morning, it was back again. WTF. Same place, right next to the windshield wipers. Did I misspell wipers?

Freaky stuff.

Hurting Butt

According to a recent article, experts are now saying that sitting for extended periods of time can be deadly.

No worries, I've got an easy solution!!! How about if we alternate butt cheeks while sitting? That would totally cut the risk by approximately 50%, plus the exercise from shifting your body weight from one cheek to the other would probably eliminate the harm altogether.

Gosh, I'm so smart.

Ahhh Flip This Cap Buddy

Someone left a beer bottle cap by my windshield wiper. Found it this morning. Perverts.

Thought of the Day - Twilight Saga

I'm now on book 4 of the Twilight Saga. In the third book, I wrestled between my love of "Edward" (although he always looks constipated in the movies), and my new found fondness for "Jacob" (the muscles did it).

Since then, I've been trying to decide if I was team "Edward" or team "Jacob". Then I realized, why settle? I am now team "Edward" + "Jacob". Nothing better than a tall glass of milk with some hot apple pie, am I right ladies? High five.

Breakfast

The buttered roll I got from the cafe downstairs at work was pretty disgusting. Clumps of old butter smeared on a roll...Half of it was inedible...unedible...ah crap...this brain fog thing isn't good...can't spell anymore. Inedible? Ahhh feck it...the bread was not eatable. ehehehehe.

Pumpkins

My company is having a departmental pumpkin-carving event for Halloween. My first thought: "they are going to give us knives???"

A Bag in My Hand

I decided to go to the mall yesterday. I'm strolling around JCFanny's (name changed to protect its identity) one minute, the next, I've got red lipstick smeared all over my lips, and a bag of goodies in my hand. Yep. That's how fast it got me.

Ok, fine, I ended up in Semora (again, identity thingy), which is right in the JCFanny's. I was just browsing, maybe getting some ideas on what makeup to wear for a work-related event/trip. I decided to go all wild for the evening portion, and go for red lips.

Gotta practice applying the color, because it can go wrong very fast, ehehehe

Sushi Attacks Again

Sure, go ahead, kitty cat, it's not like I loved that neat little shopping bag that I bought in Portugal with my sister. Nah. Don't need it. Keep using it as a scratching post. Looks grrrrreat!!! You are truly an artist, Sushi.

Simmering Potpourri!

I can't help it! Newest experiment? Simmering potpourri. Smells good enough to drink! Lemon, cinnamon, cloves, ahhh lots of goodness.

An Ode to Me! Auntie Patricia (yep, also me)

Sooooo what makes a lovelier gift from Auntie Ana (known by my middle name, Patricia, in my family), than a picture of me on a onesie for future nephew/niece to parade in? Will be mailing this puppy to my sister this week.

Ah yes, almost forgot to mention there is also a dedication to my singlehood. Here is the piece of art, with the translation underneath. It's advertising at its best!



"my auntie adores me! Auntie Patricia: scorpion, enjoys walks at home, origami, and having intellectual conversations with cats." I'm sooooooooooooo going to be the best aunt ever!

Ahh Dreaming of Eggplant & Goat Cheese

I'm still dreaming of that eggplant and goat cheese sandwich. It was magical.