She's Got The Look

How Much Does Mitch Love Nonpareils?

Mitch's parents were on vacation at the Jersey shore for the last week.  They brought back with them candy from Douglass Fudge, the best candy store on the boardwalk.  Heck, maybe anywhere.  It is to die for.  They generously brought us butter crunch, fudge, and nonpareils.  

He says this to me tonight while we're cleaning up the kitchen:

"I'm going to say this in the nicest way possible.  Stay the (bleep) away from my nonpareils."

He's so sweet.

Definition of a Major Ass-Bag

The Scene:  Target, Monday evening, 6:30pm.  I am quickly running to pick up baby necessities - diapers, wipes, formula, and Diaper Genie refills - between piano lessons.

Description of Ass-Bag:  late twenties, Tires Plus black polo shirt, black pants.

Initial Contact With Ass-Bag:  I pull into the parking lot and immediately see a front row spot.  I navigate to the spot and am ready to pull in when Ass-Bag whips his silver Camaro into the spot.  I fume and park on the other side of his Camaro.  

Continuing Contact:  Ass-Bag and I are walking into Target at about the same time, although I am slightly ahead of him.  He cruises ahead of me on his Wheelies, and I notice his cigarette hanging out of the mouth.  Ass-Bag drops his cigarette into the receptacle as he wheels into the store.

Final Contact:  Ass-Bag checks out ahead of me in line.  He is buying Red Bull and a Slim Jim.  Wheels out of store.  

He's cool.

It Doesn't Get Any Cuter Than This

Pros and Cons

So today I made TollHouse cookie bars.  If you are trying to decide between making bars and cookies, I have created a handy-dandy chart of pros and cons for making the bars instead of the cookies:

Pros:

• Bars don't take as long to cook as cookies do.
• The middle of the pan of bars is like the middle of the cookie - only there is a LOT of middle.  Start in the middle, I say.

Cons:

• I didn't use Grama P's recipe for chocolate chip cookies.  (Grama, I know you don't comment, but can you tell me if you've ever baked your cookies into bars before?  I'm sure it would work, yes?  Also, don't hate me for not using your recipe to make the bars.)
• It's harder to hide how many you eat when they come out of the oven, as the evidence is right there in the bar pan. 

History Repeats Itself

Yesterday Gizmo and I ran an errand to JoAnn Fabrics.  

You might think, "No big deal, what's so exciting about going to JoAnn Fabrics?".  But, yesterday I took one step closer to becoming my mother.  

As we walked through the doors, I realized that it was Gizmo's first trip to the store.  I was bringing my daughter along as I searched for the best fabric to upholster a chair in the living room.  It would most certainly take a good hour to peruse the fabrics, compare samples to a throw pillow I had brought along, and get samples cut to take home.

Oh, how I hated to go to JoAnn Fabrics as a kid.  I mean despised.  A shopping trip with Mom always meant a stop there.  And as my sisters and I groaned about going, she always said, "It'll just be a quick in-and-out".  And she always lied.  Not once can I remember going in for less than an hour, as sale items and extra discounts lured my mother in.  A kid can only look through pattern books for so long before they get bored.  Winnie hated it worse than I did, for she knew that when we went, there was most likely going to be a dress made for her that she would have to wear.  (She got sweet relief when Mom started making goose clothes.)

And now, yesterday, I took Gizmo, and said the same thing to her as we walked in - "We won't be too long.".  I'm happy to say that I was in the store for LESS than an hour (thanks to the lady who let me get my samples cut when she was in the middle of getting all of her fabric cut), but there were many tears and cries from Gizmo.  It was like she knew she had to hate the place.  

And a new cycle begins.  

#15 Ain't Too Shabby

Yesterday the CNN/Money Magazine released the 100 best places to live in the United States.  Our town is #15.  There are five towns in Minnesota to be listed in the Top 100. 

So, are you ready to move here yet or what?

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/snapshots/PL2717288.html

I Can't Walk Away From It

I looked in the mirror this morning, and saw two huge dark circles staring back at me.  

I am exhausted.  Physically exhausted.  I like to try to blame it on Gizmo, or the fact that the to-do list is never finished, or that I don't get to sit down and relax until after 10:00pm every night, or that we can't say no to home improvement projects that take months to finish.  But the real reason I am exhausted?

This damn computer that I'm typing on.  And the internet that I just can't quit.

Don't get me wrong, I love to blog.  I know my family loves keeping dibs on what is going on in our lives.  But I love the internet so much, that I can't just get up and go to bed.  

Take yesterday, for example.  Yesterday was spent at the lake, and we didn't get Gizmo to bed until after 8:00, which is really late for her.  By the time I cleaned up from dinner and the dishes of the day, straightened up toys, did some cooking, and helped to install two doors, I finally sat down to spend some quality time with Mitch.  We went into his office and spent easily an hour and a half on the internet - he on his IBM, me on my Mac.  Facebook, blogging, e-mails, facebook again, check the bank account, facebook, feign shock when viewing my Discover bill, facebook, facebook, facebook......at one point I realized I had to go to the bathroom, but couldn't even bring myself to get up and go.  Twice I said, "I'm going to go up to bed", and yet I still sat.  After finally bringing myself to go upstairs, I watched two episodes of Friends, and turned the light off at 11:00pm, one hour later than when I claim I go to bed.  

I can't keep this pattern up.  I can't keep going to bed late and getting up early.  I can't keep looking at my friends' kids pictures on Facebook.  I have to go to bed.  Early.  

So I now declare that I am starting a new trend.  I will be off the internet by 9:30pm every night.  No excuses.  I will be ready for bed every weeknight by 10:00pm, watch one episode of Friends, and turn my light off.  

Mitch has also declared he will join my no-internet-after-9:30 pact.  The only exemption is when doing homework or work-related business.  

And now I gotta go, so I can get my Facebook stalking in before internet-lights-out.  

I'm Convinced We Need a Lake House

Gizmo lived up to her Minnesotan heritage when we visited our very first lake today.  My colleague and friend Jill and her family live on Lake Byllesby, and she invited us down to spend the afternoon relaxing.  And by invite, I mean I called her twice to invite ourselves.  

After slathering Gizmo in SPF 60 (it was a beautiful 85 degrees, sunny and breezy today), we waded into the lake.  At first, Gizmo was apprehensive, but as soon as she started kicking her feet, she took to it like, well, like a fish to water.

She had a great time floating and spashing, and chewing on my sunglasses.

Gizmo also discovered the fine baby art of eating the beach.  This particular beach is quite rocky, but it didn't stop her from trying to cram handfuls of it into her mouth.  

After eating her fill of rocks, we went on a boat ride along the lake.  Jill even had a life jacket to fit Gizmo - and she really liked it at first!

We started off pretty slow, but then cranked up the speed.  Gizmo liked to go fast, just like Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights.

By the end of the ride, she was "resting her eyes" and was ready to get out of her straight jacket. 

 

If the lake, the beach, and the boat ride weren't enough for Gizmo, she was able to play with a doggie, too!  She really enjoyed playing with Malibu, who was sweet on her all afternoon.  

While Gizmo and I had a great time, I think it was Jill who had an equally wonderful time snuggling with a cute baby.  I have absolutely no idea how Jill gets anything done during the day, because I would be lounging by that lake from morning until night in the summer.  

Anyone want to go in halfsies on a lake house?

Today, Gizmo.....

• has decided that her high chair is her "throne".  Why must she fill her pants during a meal?
• learned how to purchase with coupons.  Can anyone say "40% off at Baby Gap"?  Hell yes.  Gizmo will be rocking her very first jean jacket this fall.  And I have coupons for every Wednesday this month.  I already know what I'm buying her next Wednesday.
• has decided that she doesn't eat fruit.  This is an ongoing battle - she won't eat hardly any of it, whether it's fresh, cooked, or Gerber.  The girl loves her carbs.  Suggestions, anyone?
• demonstrated how to be nonchalant in Sears.  These two cute girls were trying to play with her while we were waiting in line, and she very casually would look at them, then play with her sippy cup and stick her foot out of the stroller, then repeat the process.  
• got soaked while running from the mall to the car in a downpour.  It hadn't let up in ten minutes.  What a mess.
• has probably outgrown her infant car seat.  Time to buy a new one!  Again, suggestions?

The Week in Pictures

Finally, a relaxing (but still busy) week at Fifty Below Zero.  

Gizmo and I did some singing and playing at the park - 

We tried broccoli and enjoyed messy dinners al fresco - 

Is it a black bean?  Is it a blueberry?  No one can tell.

We drank the water out of our pool while looking quite fashionable - 

We had fun visits with our cousin Lil' Missy - 

What a great week!