Archive | December, 2011

Doing Good Can be Small Effort with Big Rewards.

By on December 16, 2011 in The Blogger

My lovely friend Jett tweeted about this last night, and I wanted to make sure it gets as much attention as humanly possible:

The young father stood in line at the Kmart layaway counter, wearing dirty clothes and worn-out boots. With him were three small children.

He asked to pay something on his bill because he knew he wouldn’t be able to afford it all before Christmas. Then a mysterious woman stepped up to the counter.

“She told him, ‘No, I’m paying for it,’” recalled Edna Deppe, assistant manager at the store in Indianapolis. “He just stood there and looked at her and then looked at me and asked if it was a joke. I told him it wasn’t, and that she was going to pay for him. And he just busted out in tears.”

At Kmart stores across the country, Santa seems to be getting some help: Anonymous donors are paying off strangers’ layaway accounts, buying the Christmas gifts other families couldn’t afford, especially toys and children’s clothes set aside by impoverished parents.

If you read the remainder of the article (and you should), it makes you realize that when you have something, that something is so much more than others have. It’s an important reminder as we close in on the holiday, which is typically when I start panicking that my kids don’t have enough under the tree. I worry that five or ten presents won’t be enough for them to feel loved – and there are families out there that are struggling to put ANYTHING under the tree.

It’s a reminder that we all have the power to make sweeping and inspiring improvements in others’ lives.

It’s a reminder that we can all play Santa.

Kmart is not the only store offering layaway this year – Walmart is also offering it. Feel free to stop in, ask for a layaway that clearly is for children, and pay off what’s left. Chances are, this late in the holiday, there’s not much left. And think of the monumental change you’re providing to their holiday.

“I don’t mind the dark, Momma. Because you can only see the Christmas lights in the dark.” – Tony

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A New Year, a New Me. (Again.)

By on December 16, 2011 in The Challenge
(Not actually me.)

It's me! In 1923! The last time we did anything for New Year's Eve!

God, I freaking hate New Year’s.

I hate it because I attach way more expectation to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day than I ever do to Christmas. Christmas is – and I firmly believe this! – entirely for the children. I don’t mind the hard work and the  lost sleep and even (.. sometimes) the lackluster response when they toss aside a thoughtfully-planned present to rip into the next box.

(Okay, actually, that part stings. Which is why we budgeted this year. DON’T APPRECIATE, WON’T RECIPROCATE.)(Is a mantra I just made up right now.)

I attach so much sentimentality to the dawn of a new year, but it’s always pretty awful. I typically make some kind of black-eyed peas and we usually eat ham, and we always have kids, and it’s like any other night. There’s never champagne and there’s never a ball dropping, and we typically turn in around 10:00. If we even make it that late.

I try to convince myself that it’s because we celebrate random other days throughout the year. People say this about Valentine’s Day quite often, so maybe we do? Who knows.

I mentioned my  new Erin Condren Life Planner the other day, and one part that I kind of felt overwhelmed by was that there is a space at the beginning of every month to write down goals. And .. I had none for the month of December. Other than to survive. Because typically, goals are reserved for 12/31 – 1/1.

So that’s my first plan of action for 2012. No big, unachievable goals. Smaller, more manageable goals.

But if hard-pressed to come up with a list of resolutions for 2012?

They would be these. In no particular order.

1. Money

2. Health

3. Education

4. Pride

That’s what I’ve got. And while I typically write involved plans for each goal, I’m not doing that this year. I’m leaving it at those things. Before I buy something, before I involve myself in something, before I commit in any way, shape or form, I will ask myself: Will this benefit one of my four goals? If the answer is NO, I’m not doing it. And if one benefits the other, then that’s okay too.

Money – Obviously. If this hurts my bottom line and doesn’t improve one of the other three goals? Doesn’t need to happen.

Health – If this doesn’t improve my health or it detracts from it, it’s out. Judgment calls include things that don’t benefit my health but may improve another goal.

Education – Not just mine, either. The boys’ education is a new concern for me. If what I’m looking at doing isn’t positively impacting their education, it’s probably a waste of energy and resources.

Pride – This is a sticky one, but whatever. I have pride. I want to instill pride in the boys. And not just pride in self. Pride in ownership. TAKING CARE OF YOUR SHIT SO IT LASTS LONGER. And by “boys”, I mean ALL OF THEM. This includes CLEANING UP AFTER YOURSELF.

Ta da! Quick and easy resolutions. That I will totally forget by March.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Comments { 5 }

Some Stuff I’ve Bought Lately: Stuff Edition

By on December 15, 2011 in The Challenge

Crap, I said I’d do this, didn’t I?

Well, okay then. Let’s DO THIS THING. Lucky you, I have bought some stuff lately. Not, like, a lot of stuff. But some stuff. Here be that stuff.

I have been having a rough winter when it comes to the skin on my face. This is ironic because, contrary to what my skin may tell you, I’m NEUROTIC about moisturizing. I literally cover all of my body – head to toe – in serious moisturizer EVERY time I shower. EVERY TIME. Fastidious am I about moisturizer. And yet. So I’d been using some heavy duty Mary Kay stuff, but it wasn’t doing anything for me. Namely, my face was scaling over and flaking off. (You’re welcome.) I had used a sample of Philosophy’s Miracle Worker Moisturizer during the summer and liked it, so I thought Hey, why not? and ordered some. Y’all. Y’ALL. Love this stuff. It’s pricey, but a little goes a long way and as long as I’ve been using Philosophy products, I’ve rarely found one that wasn’t worth the money.

As religious as I am about my moisturizing, I am also that fanatical about cleaning products. That is to say that when I’ve found something that works, I rarely stray. But it rained for about two weeks straight here, and three dogs + a winter-thinned lawn = mud pit outside. You can only imagine my wood floors in the house. I grabbed Method’s Wood for Good Floor Cleaner on a whim, and used it with my Libman Freedom Mop and .. man. It was REALLY good. Cleaned, conditioned, smelled AMAZING. (Note: don’t use this IN your Freedom Mop. Just spray yourself and then use the mop to .. mop.)

The new year is quickly approaching, and I looked at the next few months (work, basketball, set-building, rehearsals, LIFE) and I panicked. I can’t keep up with all of this! I sobbed to no one because everyone was somewhere else, presumably the event I’d forgotten that started the downward spiral of self-pity. Luckily, I follow someone on Instagram who had just ordered an Erin Condren Life Planner. And I liked the colors. Seriously, I am that easy. I ordered one and .. I am in love. It’s been years since I’ve actually used a “day planner”, per se, but this is so much more. It has a zip pocket in the back, it has monthly and weekly views, and .. it’s pretty. Here’s mine:

And I love it so. I left it at work the other day and felt NAKED without it. Again, this one’s not cheap, and it takes awhile to get it (I think mine took three weeks to arrive), but man. I adore it.

THINGS I AM GOING TO HAVE TO BUY SOON:

A trip to the hair salon. I submit to you Evidence Article A:

Aside from the obvious 1) spare tire and 2) houndstooth overload I’m currently rocking in this picture, can we talk about my hair? I’m a freaking Beatle here, guys. And I’m SO SKEERED to visit anything with scissors after the last debacle. But man. I’m not looking hot here.

New Year’s Resolution, 2012:

Look hotter.

 

Comments { 16 }

A Little Slice of Humble Pie

By on December 14, 2011 in The Biotch

A natural tendency of mine is to take up for the  underdog. I can’t HELP it. I naturally root for David even though Goliath is the clear favorite. And I mean, it runs DEEP, this need. If my favorite local restaurant is closing down, I rally behind them and don’t barrage readers with “Gah, they totally sucked anyway” nonsense, because you know? THEY’RE ALREADY CLOSING. DON’T KICK SOMEONE WHILE THEY’RE DOWN.

So when I went to get my eye/lip waxed on Saturday, I had a chance.

Everyone rags on Vietnamese nail salons. They do. It’s easy because you know their name is not Julia, although they go by that. They don’t speak the language (well), they gossip about you in a language YOU don’t speak, and whatever. But you can rag on them all you want – you know you still GO there to have your ablutions.

I was quietly waiting in line behind two women who were being waxed at the same time – maybe a mother/daughter? Either way, the lady worked swiftly between them, and they were both out of the chair in a matter of five (maybe ten) minutes. Then they started complaining because the daughter was really, really red.

PER MY STUPID USUAL, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. The waxer (?) just stood there, blank expression and nodding, and it was clear that she either didn’t understand what was happening or didn’t know how to handle it. And I couldn’t take it, the idea that it was two against one, and I said something.

“Um, ma’am? You’re paying TWELVE WHOLE DOLLARS for a procedure in a NAIL SALON that involves APPLYING SCALDING WAX TO YOUR FLESH. I imagine it would leave you a little red, no? C’mon, now, you can’t blame her for the laws of physics.”

After they huffed off, I sat down in the chair, with my Mother Teresa glow.

And proceeded to get the worst wax OF MY LIFE.

She really WAS awful.

Large chunks of skin missing, pretty sure it was old wax (as my skin has scaled over where it was used), no calming creams offered later, and bits of wax in my hairline and eyebrows.

Sometimes, Goliath TOTALLY has the right to win. And David needs to just shut the hell up.

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The Virgin Diaries: Can We Discuss This?

By on December 12, 2011 in The Couch Potato

First and foremost: I did not watch this show. It premiered last week, I believe, and I only knew it existed because I do watch Sister Wives (so help me) and although I typically fast-forward through commercial breaks, sometimes I’m doing my nails and they’re too wet to bother pressing buttons.

That is how I happened upon this:

Nowwww.. look, y’all. I understand that I watch Sister Wives, and maybe that renders me unable to hold any credibility in a situation like this, but can I just honestly say WHAT IN THE HELL?

I can understand applying a Biblical or untouched nature to your hoohah. I can. But to make your first kiss ever .. the wedding kiss? No one has a nice wedding kiss. It’s ALWAYS awkward. Mostly because 200 people are looking at you. Also, you’re starving and half-drunk. (.. just me?) I’m just saying; I worked for a photographer for a couple of years, assisting in LOTS AND LOTS OF WEDDINGS and it’s typically at least a smidgen awful.

BUT THIS.

Oh, this.

I have a problem with fish. They’re pretty, from a distance, in a tank that is not in my home. But up close, the eyes and the gaping mouths and the soul-less gasping for breath/life is just NOT my bag. And this – this promo for a show – makes me so incredibly nauseous.

I can’t even hold respect for “saving the first kiss”. I find it LUDICROUS.

(yes, I am a close-minded blowhard.)

The best part of writing a blog is opening this up: who here watched it? Thoughts?

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