In keeping with how things have been going here at my house for the last I-don’t-know-how-long, we did not get any Hanukkah decorations up before the holiday officially began at sundown last night. It wasn’t for lack of trying: We (and by “we”, I mean Jim) dragged the two massive, storage-locker-sized Rubbermaid containers of Hanukkah decorations (mostly menorahs) up to the family room from the crawlspace about a week ago. They have been sitting there ever since, untouched and attracting piles of random stuff on top much like a treadmill ends up with clothing draped all over it. Around 5:00 p.m. yesterday (the sun was DOWN), I opened up the…
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Like Carnies, Only Craftier.
This weekend, I did something I haven’t done in more than fifteen years. I had a booth at a craft fair: two actually: one Friday and one Saturday. Last month I wrote about how I did a Holiday Open House, which was actually at someone’s home. The craft fairs this weekend were at two schools, and I was one of about thirty vendors at the first one, and one of about sixty vendors at the second one. I had forgotten how fun it was to make a bunch of crafts (travel journals that I sold along with my travel book) and then sell them. (Jim is probably groaning as he’s…
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Parenting Secrets From Behind the Tiara
I wrote this post a couple of years ago, for a friend who needed a guest post on her blog. She has since shut down her site, so I thought I’d post it here! My husband Jim and I are successful parents. Really. If we were in Oprah’s magazine, our mad parenting skillz would be featured on her “What I Know For Sure” page. Of course we are not the only successful parents in the world, but we’re the only ones that matter…to our kids. I am happy to report that our boys are fine, upstanding young men–and it’s not only because we think so: that’s the general consensus from…
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There Are Worse Addictions, To Be Sure.
Jim, the younger boy and I went into the city (again) last weekend. As I was driving us out of the parking garage to head home after a great show at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, I was excitedly saying, “Oh, I LOVE this city!” like I always do whenever I am there (or whenever I see the skyline from afar, or when I talk about it, or when I read about it, or when I see it on television, or…), when Jim said, “You know, you really need an intervention.” What the what? “I certainly do NOT!” I replied. Then, mocking me, he started making up all…
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I Nearly Gave Myself Whiplash With This One.
Remember how I started the C25K program? Remember how I said that I wasn’t planning on doing a 5K, that my only goal was to finish the program? Yeah, about that… I changed my mind…again. I will be doing the Blogher 5K in New York’s Central Park this August*, because how great will THAT be, to do a 5K in one of the most fabulous places in the entire world? Go big or go home, you know? Hold me. *With one of my roomies, Michelle. Anyone else doing it? ©2010 Suburban Scrawl
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Pepsi Challenge 2010
Disclaimer: I was not asked to write this post. I was not paid to write this post. I was not given free product to write this post. This post is–amazingly enough–just a post. It is not some sneaky, reverse-psychological mind trick I am using to actually advertise Pepsi products to you, my loyal and faithful readers, and I am not in cahoots with Pepsi. Thank you for your time and attention. I like Pepsi. I don’t love Pepsi. Although I believe Pepsi to be a very suitable second-best, I’ve been a Coca-Cola girl for ages. Why? I just like it better. Don’t hate: if you prefer Pepsi, I’m not judging…
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No Need To Be Impressed. YOU Can Make Them, Too!
The younger boy did me a favor and filmed me* making a tissue paper flower. Try it. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is! Really! (and there’s a little bit of mom-son banter, as a bonus!) *I also took video of him doing a “how to” on duct tape wallets…but it turned out to be 3 minutes too long for Youtube. Wah. We’ll do it over again; I want to post it on Saturday in case any of you need a last-minute Father’s Day gift!
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The Day That It Paid Off To Be Forty
Last week I had a moment when I was so excited to be forty, and I wanted to share it with you. Normally, though I had a bit of angst when I turned the Big 4-0 in November, I don’t even think about my numerical age because I always feel so much younger anyway. It’s just a number and doesn’t really hold much importance. Until Saturday. I took the younger boy out to lunch after his last band concert. We went to a new burger place, a “fast casual” restaurant. Orders are placed at the counter but they give you a number to put on your table; a server delivers…
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Go Big or Go Home
I don’t do anything small. It’s a personality trait, I guess. My sister’s got it bad, too. Our mom started it, I guess. And, I would imagine, our grandmother was just as “bad”. Individually we are pretty creative, but add one or two more of us and the combination is lethal. Give us a simple task and our brains start to spin with ideas on how to make it better, stronger, faster, more impressive, and shortly after that, we RUN with it. Remember our “Amazing Race” premiere party? That’s just one example. I have been called “Martha” more than once (way more) in my life. I don’t know how to…
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When It Works To Be Unpredictable
Note: This post is part of Fatherhood Friday at Dad Blogs, where all the cool kids are hanging out. (Moms are welcome over there!) Welcome to my visitors from DB; thanks for stopping in! Jim and I pride ourselves on being consistent, steady. We firmly believe that when kids can count on their parents to be consistent, they grow up with a stronger foundation of what’s right and wrong. My sister and I grew up with very consistent parents as well. (And we turned out GREAT, don’t you think?) It’s a proven method. Sometimes though, when the kids are older, it’s good to throw in a little surprise now and…