Things I Love Thursday

I might have just found my new favorite online clothing source. Not that I actually purchase things very often... I do a LOT of browsing, finding, oooohing, ahhhing, coveting, hemming, hawing, and kvetching, but only rarely do I actually fork over my hard-earned dollars. This dress, however, may qualify.

Check out http://www.shopplasticland.com/ for more sweet and JenTastic items.

As long as we're talking about Things I Like That Can Be Purchased Online, I am currently rationing out the single package of Rosemary-Mint cleansing hand wipes that I bought on impulse at Bath & Body Works while Christmas shopping. Not only are they refreshing for your hands--perhaps used after scarfing a bag of Doritos at your desk (theoretically speaking, of course)--but you can wipe off your desktop after your hands are clean, and the discarded wipes will act as a light room (cubicle) freshener after you toss them.

You could also just walk your lazy butt to the restroom and wash your hands, but there's a lot to be said for life's small and occasional luxuries.

She's a Pro

 

In case you ever doubted it, Mae is a champion pouter. This photo is proof. Ted snapped this shot of the little lady when I was away yesterday afternoon for my knitting group. She had been pulling all of our muffin tins and cooling racks off the shelf to play with them, Ted said, and he stopped the fun and games and firmly told her "no."

Her response was to stalk off to the hallway (where Arlo's time-out spot is) and plop herself down to sulk. Self-imposed time-out? Or just a taste of the dramatics yet to come? Methinks it is probably the latter.

Dear Roasted Beets,

Dear Roasted Beets,

I like you. I think you’re sweet and pretty, but so much more. You’re earthy and robust, and you’re good for me, in so many ways. But I’m writing today because I think we have to break up.
This spring, we’ve spent a lot of time together, and it has been delicious. I especially liked it when we have shared a meal at the Wedge with our friends, Mixed Greens, Gorgonzola, and Walnuts—not to mention Raspberry Vinaigrette, your soulmate who dresses in the same color as you. And I know how you appreciate it when I make sure that each one of them sits next to you on my fork as I lift you to my mouth for each glorious bite.

I think I might even love you.

But I wish that you could get along better with my GI System. You see, GI and I have been together for a long time, and she is usually quite agreeable. She likes almost all of my culinary friends—even the spicy ones, on the occasion that I want to cut loose and party! I don’t know if you said something to offend her, but it is clear that my GI doesn’t like you the way that I do. In fact, she usually sees you coming in the front door, and boots you right out the back, and that makes me feel bad.

I am so sorry, Beets, that it has to end this way. Maybe we can see each other sometimes, in small doses, and maybe GI will tolerate it. But I know where my loyalties lie, and I think that for now I have to respect GI’s feelings and take a break from you for a while.

I had a really wonderful time at lunch today. Please know that I never meant to hurt you. I mean, you know, other than cutting you into little pieces and chewing you up and swallowing you—but you know that was all done out of love.

Stay Sweet,
Jen

Giggles

Big ups to the daddies out there, yo.

Guess it's about time for that diet-and-exercise thing I've been meaning to do...

Arlo was in the bathroom with me this morning as I was brushing my teeth and putting on my makeup. I hadn't picked out a shirt yet, and was bustling around in my slacks and bra, wet hair still in a towel from the shower.

The boy had been sitting on the toilet seat, conversing with me and watching me go through the paces of my morning routine, when he suddenly stood up, grabbed two handfuls of my belly paunch and joyfully shouted (in a deep voice, like the kind of voice you'd use to talk about a walrus), "Look at that FULL belly!"

Hmph.

"Enjoy just like Boiled Peanuts!"

 

Um, riiiight. Because everybody knows how to enjoy boiled peanuts.

I'm not even going to specualte as to why they capitalized "Boiled Peanuts."

Queer Eye for the Hawkeye

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Mom & Me

My mom took me to a New Kids On The Block concert last Thursday, at the Mark (now called the iwireless center?) in Moline. This is a picture of us from the show, just before the Kids took the stage.

I decided to post this instead of all the grainy zoom shots I tried to capture of the NKOTB waaaaaay down there on the stage, not just because my camera battery died right after I took this photo and the zoom attempts were made with my cameraphone (yyyyeah, not so much), but also because this is what the concert was all about for me. Spending some quality time with my mom, whom I love dearly no matter what differences of opinion we have. We always have so much fun together--and truly, no one *gets* me the way that my mom does.

Thanks (a little bit late) for a great "Girls' Night Out," Mom!

Widget, and ancient history

I don't know, what do y'all think of my new widget? (Look to your right.) I like the idea of building a community for my blog--so I put this little box up that allows readers to "join." Now I'm feeling a little insecure, though. It's kinda like inviting all the cool kids to your birthday party, and then waiting to see if anyone shows up.

By the by, this actually happened to me in the seventh grade (the first time I was in seventh grade, in Florida), and nobody came, except for my one best friend, who was just as nerdy as me.

The tide turned the following year. My family moved back to Iowa, and I repeated the seventh grade at Anson Middle School in Marshalltown. That year, my birthday party ROCKED. Not only did I throw a successful pool party--I also managed to get myself and 8 other little girls arrested for curfew through a botched T.P.-ing outing at 2:00 in the morning.

My poor mom and dad. They met most of my friends' parents for the first time AT THE POLICE STATION.

I try not to think too much about karma when it comes to the future of my children, especially my strong-willed and fiery daughter. If paybacks are hell, then I expect that my hair will be ALL gray before Mae graduates from high school.