Weekly Read: Dead Animals Do Not Make Great Souvenirs

Travel Light Hearted (Click to Read)

Quiet Time

Kassie's leg. On the upside she and her brother (Matt) have been peaceful all afternoon. Proof that no matter how old they are if it gets too quiet they are probably drawing on something.

Blast from the past ... Why My Son Will Need Therapy Edition

Better mothers run for an ice pack. I grab the camera.

 

 Description: Hammocks are tricky. Oh sure they act all sweet and innocent, lulling you into a sense of relaxation, but that s just a ruse to lower your defenses. One moment you are swaying happily ~ sure it’s a little too high but it’s not like your mom knows anything when she cautions you about that. Nope, one minute you are swinging away, ~enjoying the breeze and catching the sky. Then WHAM! You are doing a face plant on the downswing - straight into the dirt. Fortunately you aren’t too badly hurt. Unfortunately, you broke your fall with your mouth. Ouch! Cousin Elizabeth did render some first aid in the form of good cheer. As you lay prone on a lawn chair, ice bag pressed to your bloody, swollen, and altogether shredded lip, she leaned over you gently and said “let me see it buddy ....” only to jump back about a foot and scream “OhMyGosh That’s HORRIBLE!” when you did (and then WE laughed ~ even though you didn’t). Glad to see you healed up nicely buddy. Just always remember that there’s a reason you should listen to the things your mother warns you about. Oh, and I’m telling you ~ hammocks are not to be trusted.

GirlWonder's Big Debut

Mother's Day Program, Middle School. I cried. I love you to the moon and back three times and all the way to Salem too baby. ♥

Happy

Because nothing says "Happy Easter" like ammo.

I'm Going Grunge

Say what you will that grunge died with Kurt Cobain but consider the following photo au' natural

 


Same photo with Grunge filter applied (courtesy of Snapseed iPhone app)

It's official. I love Grunge.

If I could get a version of this to carry around in front of my face ...

Keurig - You Own Me.

I don't have a problem.

Who says I have a problem.

Why I Wouldn't Buy Another Acer Computer Even If They Came With Free Foot Massage

I say "another" because we already own one and I've been happy with it although NOW I view it with deep and growing suspicion (knock wood).

It's probably a ticking time bomb.

Being an academic minded mommy, I purchased an Acer Aspire netbook from Amazon.com as a Christmas gift for Boywonder.

Upon opening his gift on Christmas Day we discovered it was not working properly. Witness me making the :( face but these things DO happen.

We returned netbook to Acer on December 28, 2011 for what we were told would be a ten day turnaround time for repair.

They ended up keeping it for 34 days, including shipping it to the wrong household once (and sending someone else's to us. Good thing I'm not an identity thief!); missing another promised shipping date entirely, and at one point arguing with me on whether or not they should have to pay for overnight shipping? (I voted "yes.")

Don't for a minute think this was a pleasant process. This was the kind of tear-your-hair and bang your head on something solid out of sheer frustration experience that would have tried the patience of a SAINT. Each and every mix-up and missed-shipping date was met with "we know this is frustrating for you" and the unspoken finish "but please undrestand that we have no intention of doing a da#$ thing differently" that characterize Acer's internal process control.

Yesterday, after having been PROMISED it would be in our hands no later than January 30th, we finally received it returned to us on February 1. Inside the box was paperwork that says:  Item not Repaired. No Issue(s) Found.

I make another :( face. Is there an emoticon for SCREAMING?

Within minutes of turning it on, I am able to take a video of said Netbook exhibiting the same exact symptoms we sent it in for (frozen screen and grinding noise coming from within the computer).



No issues found? We beg to differ. 


Acer isn't sure why this happened but, as you can imagine,They understand our frustration.

No, I really don't think they do.

Better yet? The return window for Amazon ended on 1/31, a date I missed because Acer was holding it hostage. Amazon graciously offered to extend the return period one day for me and will give a full refund. Kudos to Amazon for understanding my frustration and offering to alleviate that, even when nothing was their fault.

Moral of this story.

Amazon good.

Acer bad.

Any questions?

Imperfect

Don't you just hate when people post photos that make it seem as if their homes are always perfect?

Yeah, me too ;)

These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ (And Sleeping and Soccer and Standing Around Feeling Pretty Fabulous).

Disclaimer: Country Outfitter, a retailer of Cowgirl Boots, sent me these Dan Post Women's Maria Boots to review.

I’m not sure if I should be flattered, or devastated, that Country Outfitter generously offered me a pair of boots.

I fear that some sort of bat signal (boot signal?) went out. Or  perhaps there was a staged intervention masterminded by family and friends to finally drive a stake through the heart of my played-out faux-Ugg sheepskin boots. Whatever the cause, I am not proud but, rather, thrilled because (bias alert ahead): I love boots. If I could live my non-barefoot days completely in boots or sandals my feet would be forever happy. I used to love high heels but let’s face it, I’m not 18 and pretending that I could star in a ZZ Topp video at any moment in three inch heels no longer suits me. Those darned heels just kept getting stuck in the soccer turf and are no use at all if you slip on a grocery store grape. 

I also have a couple of these in my life and, frankly, they scoff at kitten heels.

Penny is saying “bring it on ya’ big sissy! If I make a break for that fence you’ll never catch me in heels!” (I’d never catch her in track shoes, but we digress).

I’m not some “Easy Endorsement Annie” casting my love to just anything that comes down the pike.  I’ve turned down some strange reuqests because I’m not that kind of a gal, and I don’t guarantee glowing reviews. I’m what you call a tough customer. Both in my expectations of a product and the fact that I cannot have anything nice. 

Because walking around is something it seems like any amateur such as myself can do, I felt comfortable agreeing to give the following wholly unbiased review:

These are the boots out of the box. I cannot tell a lie. The smell of fresh leather was strong and enticing. This is new high for me as the scent of “pleather” from my previous boots was not nearly as alluring.

A good portion of my readers tell me they read me because as urban or suburban dwellers they enjoy living vicariously through my “fish out of water” act of a woman generally lost in the wilds of rural America (newsflash: it’s not an act). Accordingly, many of them are going to have the knee jerk reaction of “cute but I don’t need cowboy boots because there isn’t a single rodeo on my horizon.” You would be wrong my friends. Oh so wrong. (Not about the rodeo of course. I mean if you want one, go find one. I can highly recommend the cowboys – and the fried cheese. The hats are also darling). Even if you aren’t a Rodeo Gal you may still be ignoring the absolute best, classic boot right under your nose – or toes.

If you don’t think western style boots “work” with your non-rural lifestyle, think again. They do. When worn with jeans these are just really rockin’ boots, pure and simple. (Lovin’ that Whiskey Brown color and we’ll just ignore my acid-washed ‘80’s jeans for now ‘m’kay?) Seriously, I’ve been wearing these for nearly a week now and not a single person has asked me where I left my cows.

There actually is a pretty significant heel on these boots. Accordingly, I felt I walked a little taller and could have totally kicked butt in the grocery store or soccer game, had the situation presented itself. (Fortunately it did not).

Even with the heel, these boots were amazingly comfortable. I wore them morning through night and never experienced the throbbing foot pain of death that so often caps off the end of a cute-boot day. There was no breaking in period. I am not privy to the technical details of boot construction beyond saying learned things like: “Adorable!” Suffice to say that there is padding stitched in to the bottom of these boots that perfectly cradles and supports the foot. I am a huge fan of this padding.

Road Test: I put these on out of the box and wore them … everywhere. All the time. I wore them morning through night. One day I wore them for 18 hours straight (yes, really). In every instance my feet felt as good when I took them off as they had when I put them on.

These boots are made for soccer!

The final road test: How do they wear out and about? I’m not going to lie. These are not gripping snow boots with radial tire treads (thank you Dan Post because, frankly, that look is so not cute).  While certainly not sled-and-ski wear, my feet stayed dry and comfortable for short inclement weather jaunts. Even in the slush and snow they didn’t put me on my rear end even once. (<—This is saying something as “Grace” is definitely NOT my middle name, any part of my name, or really ever uttered in conjunction with my name). I’m only five days into these boots but I can also say that I see the leather only getting better with age. (<—this is what people who don’t take care of nice things tell themselves. It helps me sleep at night).

The verdict: These are the most comfortable boots I have ever personally worn that didn’t double as house slippers. Apparently quality materials + quality constructions = quality footwear experience. Who knew?

Consider breaking out of your “suffer for beauty” footwear mold and consider seeking out real boots made my classic boot makers for authentic, attractive, quality construction and footwear that doesn’t make you want to cry.

If you do, you are going to look stylish from the street to the soccer field and all environs in between.

And if a rodeo breaks out, you are so there.

Life Lessons

From Facebook: I have failed as a parent. My son (14) can dismantle a firearm, chop firewood, load and manage a wood burner, set up camp and survive for days by himself and repair most small electronics with a butter knife and sheer cunning. This same boy just stood in front of the washing machine, perplexed, and said "Mom how do you work this?"

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Full Circle

While cleaning out the attic playroom, these toys were hauled down to the porch to be donated.

They've been there since last night, but walking up to the house this morning I caught my breath.

There was a brief period of time, in my children's toddlerhood's, that this is where these items lived. Many hours were spent on this porch in rest and play. " Just like mommy" and "I be this and you be you." I sipped untold gallons of invisible, pretend tea from tiny plastic tea cups right here.

And then I blinked. Then they grew. And now we've come full circle.

Back to the porch with you old toys.

Just for a moment could we "just pretend" again?

Moves like Jagger

Grunge filter by nature and photography. Jagger as a 70's dog, and possible member of the James Gang.

Guess who just got an iPhone and is probably going to torture her friends with photos of her dog - and her own feet?

Truth

 

Of Mice and Men

 

This is a man intent on catching the culprit. Mr. Wonderful's Mouse Barricade. 

(One cagey critter has been picking open the rear door of the fancy trap and stealing all the peanut butter)

(Somewhere I hear the sound of a very wily mouse saying "Oh yeah Pal. It is so ON." 

Supreme Commander of the Corner

In that light I declare myself Supreme Commander of the Living Room - but only one corner. Anything else is too much responsibility. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/31/world/asia/north-korea-vows-no-engagement-with-souths-president.html

Be Prepared

Image taken by Daddy's Cell phone of a child going very fast on a skateboard, using crutches to propel her even faster.

Why do I get the feeling those crutches are going to come in handy?

Made in the USA

According to ABC News, if we each spent 64 dollars on products made in America during our holiday shopping we could create 200,000 jobs. Made in America news story 


Some of the sources provided by friends include:


Rada Cutelery
bath towel set
made in usa forever - toys etc 
Homer Laughlin
Burt's Bees
Munro Shoes
Fortune Tee's
Lodge cookware

Other sources for Made in the USA Materials and Merchandise: 

Still Made in USA
Companies that can proudly display "Made in America"
    

Dear Dick's Sporting Goods: You Are The Spawn of Satan

Just for fun again THIS year let's play the "Which Item Does the Dick's Sporting Goods coupon actually apply to game! (Answer: gum). The list of exclusions on a Dick's Sporting Goods coupon is mind-boggling. I think it would be simpler for them to have written "everything in our inventory." True story last year their own Customer Service could not tell me what I could actually use a coupon code for. http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=12312192&camp=Email:11282011CyberMonday

For those playing along at home the exclusions to the use of this coupon/code are: 

% & $ OFF COUPON:
Offer valid only while supplies last and not applicable to canceled orders due to out-of-stock merchandise. Discount does not apply to taxes, shipping and handling charges, gift wrapping or similar charges. Discount not applicable with returned merchandise; total discount will be deducted from the value of any returned item to which the discount applied. Discount excludes the following:

ABU GARCIA ADIDAS GOLF USA INC ANDERSON BAT ANON ASICS ATHALON ATLAS SNOW-SHOE BABOLAT BAUER/NIKE HOCKEY BILLABONG BIONIC BLADERUNNER BLOCK BRIDGESTONE BRINE BROOKS BURTON CALLAWAY GOLF CARHARTT CCM CLAM CLEVELAND GOLF CLUB GLOVE COLUMBIA COMBAT SPORTS INC CONTOUR COSTA DEL MAR SUNGLASSES DAKINE DC DECKERS OUTDOOR CORP. DEMARINI DESCENTE DIAMONDBACK DITA / FIELD HOCKEY NORTH AMERICA

DWINDLE DISTRIBUTION EA SPORTS EASTERN EASTON ECCO USA, INC. ELECTRIC ELEMENT SKATEBOARDS ENJOI ESCALADE EYEKING FITNESS QUEST / TOTAL GYM/AB LOUNGE FLOW FOOTJOY FOXPRO G-LOOMIS GIRO GITA SPORTS LTD GOALIATH GOALRILLA HARO HEAD HUMMINBIRD HURLEY INNOVA J & B IMPORTERS, INC. JANSPORT JORDAN JUGS K2 KETTLER LEGEND DISTRIBUTION LEW’S LIFETIME LOUISVILLE SLUGGER / BIONIC

MAUI JIM MERRELL MIKEN MISSION MIZERAK MIZUNO NAVICO NIKE NIKE PRO NIRVE SPORTS LTD NOKONA OAKLEY ODYSSEY OGIO OLD TOWN O'NEILL PATAGONIA PHITEN USA PING PINNACLE POLAR POWER BALANCE PRANA PRINCE QUIKSILVER RAGE BROADHEADS RALEIGH RAWLINGS RAZORS REACTOR WATCHES RED REEBOK CCM/REEBOK HOCKEY REEBOK ZIG REEBOK NFL JERSEYS

ROLLERBLADE ROSS REELS ROXY SALOMON SAUCONY SCHUTT SPORTS SCOTT SHAUN WHITE SUPPLY CO SHIMANO AMERICAN CORP SKULLCANDY SMITH OPTICS SOLE SOREL SPY SPYDER SRIXON ST. CROIX RODS STRIKE MASTER TAYLOR MADE THE NORTH FACE THULE TIPPMANN TITLEIST TUBBS SNOWSHOES UGG AUSTRALIA UNDER ARMOUR VOLCOM VON ZIPPER WARRIOR WILSON PROFESSIONAL GOLF WILSON SPORTING GOODS YAKIMA ZOO YORK

Also excluded are :Boats, Canoes, Kayaks, Hauling and Storage Racks, Canopies, Shelters, Furniture, Coolers, License and Championship Merchandise, Heaters, Fire Pits, Grills, Smokers, Hammocks & Stands, Team Orders, Gun Safes, Trolling Motors, All Electronics, Fish Locators, GPS, Ellipticals, Table Games, Treadmills, Home Gyms, Weight Benches, Cardio Equipment, Gift Cards and Gift Certificates. Additional exclusions may apply. Cannot be combined with any other promotional offer nor is this offer valid on previous purchases. Entire order must be shipped to a single address and customer is responsible for all shipping costs for returned merchandise. This promotional offer may be modified or terminated at any time without notice.

 I absolutely LOVE this take on the age-old (is it?) question "Kids in the Kitchen? Yay, Nay, or "is that a booger in my meatball?" All the Good Mothers are Doing It  by Andrea Ferrell

My response to this wonderful and witty blogger's question?

Wait until they are twelve.

Ten at the outside.

My 12 year old daughter is a careful and capable cook, more concerned with exact measurements than I am and a bigger germ-a-phobe than any of us. I could probably hire her out as a sous' chef.  (sp?)

I had her messing around in the kitchen at a younger age but the keyword is "mess." Be willing to sacrifice the occasional egg or 1/4 of flour to the cause, let them crack and mix and whip to their heart's content. Then practice good sleight of hand (or just wait until they lose interest and wander off).