Happy Leap Day

I don't pretend to understand completely what Leap Day is all about. Something about farming and the calendar and perfection. Throw in a little Sadie Hawkins where women ask men to marry them or some such nonsense, and that's February 29th.

I recently watched an episode of 30 Rock that celebrated Leap Day in its twisted, humorous way. What I took away from that episode is this: Do something crazy today. Nothing counts on Leap Day. Real life is for March.

I kind of like the 30 Rock take on it the best. I'm not a farmer. I don't have crops. And I'm definitely not about to propose marriage to some poor fool. Maybe I'll do something off the beaten path today. Something unexpected. In reality, it is an extra day on the calendar. Why not make it unique?

Which Slipper Fits?

I'm doing some redecorating around the house and have become infatuated with slipper chairs.

We had a huge reclining chair in the bedroom that had to go. It was just too big and bulky. Here, isn't it hideous?

We bought it when I was pregnant and it did come in handy on those nights when sleeping in bed was impossible. But now that babies and pregnancy are no long part of the picture, it's time to revamp.

Hence my love for the slipper chair.

I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted, but I knew I wanted pretty and pattern. As you can see in the pic above, I have a red accent wall. The rest of the room is a cream color. I don't want a red chair, but having red in the pattern isn't out of the question.

A few days ago, this little beauty from overstock.com popped up on my screen.

Isn't it lovely?? I just think the turquoise would be too harsh against my red wall. So I started searching and came across a few other lovelies.

Now, I love them all and don't know which one to choose. One thing I don't plan on doing is painting over that red wall, so I'm going to have to decide which will suit the room best. Decisions, decisions, decisions.



Academy Awards Fashion Wrap-Up

Talk about blah. I really was underwhelmed by the Academy Awards red carpet. The things that made an impression, I didn't like (aka Michelle Williams' coral tiered ruffle dress and Angelina Jolie's right leg). But since I had to choose, these were my top 3:

1. Milla Jovovich in Ellie Saab. This was a show-stopper, sequin one-shoulder dress that fit perfectly and made her look glamorous.

2. Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford. I have to admit I didn't like this dress at first - too boring. And I hated the cape. But as the red carpet progressed and nothing else was grabbing my attention, I grew to appreciate the simplicity and classiness of it.

3. Leslie Mann in Roberto Cavalli. Albeit she is one of the lesser known actresses, but this navy sequin, flowy dress just worked for me across the board. I loved everything about it.

Musing Mondays

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Musing Mondays. This week's musing asks . . .  Do you read books that are part of a series? Do you collect all the books in the series before starting? What if the series is brand new, and the only book that’s been published so far is Book one? As subsequent books in the series are published, do you go back and re-read the preceding books?

I just received my first series of books - Stieg Larsson's "The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo" series. I never purchased a series of books before, so I am pretty pumped about this. Since the entire series is already out, I didn't have to wait to purchase as they were published.

6WS

Call Me Cate at Show My Face hosts Six Word Saturday. Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words.

Another year older, none the wiser :)

Aloha Friday

Kailani at An Island Life started Aloha Friday. Want to play along? I ask a question, you answer the question in the comments. You can also ask your own question on your blog and link up at Kailani's site. Here's my question:

Are you a magazine subscriber? If so, which one?

My answer: I am not a current subscriber but I used to get, and miss, Better Homes and Gardens.

Friday Finds

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Friday Finds. What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!




"The 6 Husbands Every Wife Should Have: How Couples Who Change Together Stay Together" by Dr. Steven Craig
"Far From Here" by Nicole Baart
"Delicacy" by David Foenkinos

The Rude Hornblower

Some people are just rude.

I know this because I crossed paths with such a person yesterday morning while dropping off my son at school.

Our school has a drop off lane where you drive up to the school, let your child out, and drive off on your merry way. Sheer heaven!

I like to watch to make sure my guy gets in the school door. So I wait, as do most parents. If I'm a couple cars behind the head of the line, I'll encourage R to get out and walk the few steps to the door. I'll pace him in the car as he goes - so as to move the line along, albeit slowly, but move it.

Well, yesterday, as I was pacing my son and he was waving goodbye, the car behind me started blowing her horn at me. What the???? This was a first, and how dare you?

I pulled up farther and she pulled up next to me, rolled down her window and proceeded to tell me she's late or in a hurry or whatever other nonsense she apparently has the time to say to me.

I, in no uncertain terms, said "I'm saying goodbye to my son." She told me to move up. I told her I did.

This was incredibly infuriating and if my 2 year old were not in the backseat, I would have had quite a few other choice words for her.

As she rounded the corner to exit drop off, she had to wait in a line of cars before the crossing guard allowed them to leave the area. Shockingly she wasn't blowing her horn over there.

An hour later I was working the school book fair and needed to go back to the school. As I entered the building, who was coming in behind me but rude hornblower. Turns out she forgot her children's lunches and needed to bring them to the school. Hmmm . . . how ironic.

I rose above the nonsense and chose to ignore her. No way I was causing a scene in my son's school.

I'm not one to judge, but, oh hell, I am one to judge. I don't like rude people. And the nerve of this one to create a situation in an elementary school drop off lane speaks to the class of person of which I write.

I admit I was furious yesterday, and still get riled up when I think about it today. But I've given her enough of my time and energy, even in writing this post. I don't need to be dragged down to her level. I'll just hang out up here, above the rudeness. Karma will take care of her for me.

The R Chronicles

My 5 year old, R, is cute. I know I'm his mother and it's hard to be objective, but he is cute. And I have proof. Apparently, quite a few girls in his class think so, too.

Every day, R comes home from school with another tale of his crush-stricken classmates.

Anna calls me Mr. Handsome.

Carlie was blowing kisses at me today.

Jolie wants to invite me over for a playdate.

I realize they're 5 and 6 years old and it's innocent, but I'm of two mindsets about this situation.

Number One - I'm pleased that girls like my little man. He's a sweet boy and I hope they recognize that and not just his cuteness.

Number Two - This is starting much too early. All I can remember from Kindergarten is the sandbox. Boys weren't even on my radar yet. I don't even remember one being in my class though I'm sure there must have been.

If this is what it's like now, I can only imagine what it will be like in a few years. I'm anxiously anticipating the first phone calls from these progressive little girls. Give me a break - he's still my baby!

6WS

Call Me Cate at Show My Face hosts Six Word Saturday. Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words.

Can't wait for yard sale season.

Aloha Friday

Kailani at An Island Life started Aloha Friday. Want to play along? I ask a question, you answer the question in the comments. You can also ask your own question on your blog and link up at Kailani's site. Here's my question:

Would you consider yourself a romantic or a realist?

My answer: I'm definitely a realist. Every once in a while I find myself romanticizing certain situations, but then I snap myself back into reality.

Friday Finds

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Friday Finds. What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

"Rainshadow Road" by Lisa Kleypas
"Walter's Muse" by Jean Davies Okimoto
"I've Got Your Number" by Sophie Kinsella
"A Catered Affair" by Sue Margolis
"Definitely Not Mr. Darcy" by Karen Doornebos
"Local Knowledge" by Liza Gyllenhaal
"So Near" by Liza Gyllenhaal

Preschool Passivity

My 2 year old, D, is in preschool 2 days per week. I love the preschool he goes to. It's the same one that my 5 year old, R, went to last year. Very laid back, lots of fun, never a problem.

I am getting aggravated with his teachers lately. I understand that they like to take the kids outside for fresh air whenever it's in any way feasible. That's fine. It's still in the 40s here, sometimes in the 30s, but it's fine. The fresh air is good for them.

However, last Wednesday night it snowed here. It melted right away, but everything was still wet on Thursday. Obviously, that didn't seem to matter to this group of teachers. They let the kids play outside in the play area . . . which was wet. Did I happen to mention it's still in the 40s?

I picked up D and his pants and socks were wet. Great. A few days later, he started sneezing. Great.

I sent him to school today fully expecting them to go outside. They did. Today's in the 40s but damp and cold. It's supposed to rain and, in fact, was drizzling when I picked him up. He wasn't wet today, but his hands were like ice cubes. The teachers, for some unknown reason, didn't put his mittens on. Did I mention he was sick from last week's wet playground incident? And it's still in the 40s?

What is wrong with these women? I realize my kid is not your kid, but please, use some common sense! If you feel the need to take them out regardless of the conditions, at least arm them with the gear provided. Work with me, people!

A Sad Moment

Here we go again. Another celebrity dying from a prescription drug overdose. This has been going on for years and years, and yet the subtext always seems to be "this is a teachable moment - a lesson to be learned." Somehow that never seems to happen.

Just in the recent past, there have been numerous celebrities who have died in cases where prescription medications played a role. I can personally think of Brittany Murphy, Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, now Whitney Houston. But I'm sure there are more. Weren't all of their untimely deaths teachable moments?

It's the same old song and dance. People think they're invincible. They don't really have a problem. It won't/can't/shouldn't happen to them. They've got things under control.

The bottom line is if you're actually saying the words "I've got things under control," there's already something going on that needs to be controlled. No one who's in a situation that's "under control" is going to learn anything from the death of Whitney Houston. It's not a teachable moment. It's simply a sad moment.

Rest in peace, Whitney Houston.

Grammy Awards Fashion Wrap Up

Of all awards shows, The Grammy's are my least favorite. I really don't know many of these newcomers and the attire is just too outrageous for me. It was a struggle, and I mean a struggle, to come up with 3 dresses that I liked, but here they are:

1. Adele in black sequined Giorgio Armani. She was the star of the night, and I think she looked lovely.

2. Julianne Hough in Kaufman Franco. Another black number, this one a bit more intriguing though.

3. Gwyneth Paltrow in Stella McCartney. This was a sexy black dress in all the right ways!



Musing Mondays

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Musing Mondays. This week's musing asks . . . What is your favorite romantic book or book that includes a love story?

I'm going to say "The Bridges of Madison County" by Robert James Waller. It's such a quick read and what a love story!

6WS

Call Me Cate at Show My Face hosts Six Word Saturday. Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words.

 

Looking forward to baking and reading.

Friday Finds

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Friday Finds. What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!







"Four of a Kind" by Valerie Frankel
"Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate)" by Amy Thomas
"Life as I Blow It" by Sarah Colonna
"The Dressmaker" by Kate Alcott
"Defending Jacob" by William Landay
"Julia's Child" by Sarah Pinneo