A Rose By Any Other Name

It's possible that I'm a little frugal. Or cheap, depending on your point of view. My winter coat tends to be the same one year after year because ... it works, so why get a new one? Periodically, though, my coat will tear or get stained (I hate winter salt and muck!) or simply become something I can't imagine putting on even one more time.

Fortunately, that tends to happen at the end of the year when the winter coats are all on sale. Of course, the selection then also tends to leave a bit to be desired, but I can get over that. I had to buy a new coat not last year but at the end of the winter before.

Living in Chicago, I needed to find a coat that would keep me warmer than the one I had at the time. My mom had bought a coat that she loved that promised to keep you warm to 15 below zero. It sounded good to me, and I liked the style. I couldn't get the same color as my mom (she dressed my sister and I too alike for too long growing up for me to ever be matchy matchy with anyone), but they offered more than the chocolate brown she'd purchased.

I went to the store and found the coat on sale for $15. Marked down from $138 (which my mother had paid). The only downside? There was one coat in the color my mom had gotten and one in gold. Gold! I can't wear a gold coat.

Smart me, I went to the online version of the store to see if they had a better selection of the coat. And amazingly, they did. As I recall, they had it in silver (it was a muted beautiful silver), white and something else. For $45.

And the frugal in me warred with the I-can't-wear-gold part of me. I vented to my mother who talked me into the gorgeous gold coat - her words, not mine. And really, for $15, how can you not love a coat that will keep you that warm. Because of course I went back to the store to get the coat, and the only one left was the gold coat. So I bought it.

It went into my closet for the next winter (which was really last winter). And when winter came last year, it stayed in my closet. I couldn't wear it. The coat was gold - GOLD. I just don't have that much fashion pizazz (ok the fact that "fashion pizazz" was the best phrasing I could come up with should tell you something) to pull off a gold coat.

And so it gathered dust in the closet.

Late in the winter, my mom borrowed it one day to get Little Miss off the bus. And she realized it still had the price tags on it because ... I hadn't done anything with it since the day I bought it. She convinced me to try it on.

I reluctantly wore my coat after that. And you know what, it really is warm. And sorta fashionable - just obviously not in that picture from a horrible angle. Trust me on this one. That doesn't mean I was comfortable wearing it, but I wore it.

The other day? A random woman gave me a great compliment. I love your coat. Champagne is such a great color on you - and so trendy right now, too!

Oh. My mistake. It's not a gold coat. It is simply champagne. I'm not sure why, but I can totally wear a champagne colored coat. And I do. With pride - and warmth.

I Don't Think They Celebrate

One more last quick fun with Christmas before it's really time to move on. To recap: while I refuse to acknowledge and celebrate holidays early (really, Target - do you have to have your Valentine's Day stuff out before Christmas day?), I also like to drag out the celebrating of Christmas a bit. Our tree will be up until the second week of January.

The main point though... at the beginning of December, Melisa and I were at a store where she happened to notice some interesting Christmas cards. I debated buying them just for the fun of sending them - and to see who would notice - but I didn't, which is why not all my Christmas cards are even out yet.

So would you have bought these?

Nope, It's Not A Spider's Web

Soooo, this is my Jabra headset. The great one that I use all the time because that way I don't accidentally hang up my phone while talking (my cheek doesn't like my Droid or vice versa, I'm still not sure which). I love it, and it has a special place of honor all its own in my purse in a little zippered pocket to protect this not inexpensive little toy.

So what do you think? Does it look like a spider crawled into my purse and spun its web around my Jabra?

Not so much unfortunately.

Nope. As protected as my Jabra bluetooth is in its little zippered pocket, I got it out the other day, and the portion that goes over my ear had simply snapped off. It's bendable and flexible, yet it had somehow broken off.

And I may not be tiny and delicate, but apparently my ears are. I can't wear the bluetooth, even with the smallest earpiece setting, without something to snuggle it into place. My ears are simply too small, and it falls out. Repeatedly. Trust me, I tried everything.

Including Gorilla Glue, which doesn't really work well on the smooth plastic parts of a Jabra Bluetooth. This is my third attempt at getting it to stay on. Let's all cross our fingers in hopes that it stays together like it should this time. I can't justify spending another $75 on a bluetooth right now.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Tasty Tuesday!

The holidays are always a time for entertaining - at least amongst my friends and family. This year, my uncle had Christmas Day dinner again (I host Christmas Eve with a smaller group, but the big event includes all the extended family). He loves to cook, as I do, and this year he outdid himself, as usual.

My favorite, and one of the more unique items he made was an appetizer that was arranged to look like a pine cone, again perfect for entertaining and the holidays. We won't comment on my view of it while seated from further away and thinking it was a porcupine (oops, sorry!) - once you stood up to view it and saw the little pine bough at the top of the pine cone shape, it was obviously a pine cone and very cool. And of course very yummy! If you haven't figured out what you're making for New Year's Eve or your next gathering, this one is definitely worth a second look.

Six Point Spread

Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese
4 oz Swiss cheese
4 slices bacon, crispy
2 T green onion, sliced
1 t Worcestershire sauce
1 c whole almonds

Directions:
You'll want to make this ahead of time to ensure it chills sufficiently to hold its shape.

Place the almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast at 250 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. You don't have to do this, but it really adds a lot of good flavor to it.

Ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature. Mix the cream cheese with the Swiss cheese until fully integrated. Chop the bacon into small pieces, and add it, the onion and the Worcestershire sauce. Mix completely, and chill.

Shape as you will (for example, into a pine cone!), and place onto your serving dish. Arrange the almonds into an artful pattern atop the spread. Serve with crackers, and watch it disappear.

Enjoy this and more at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday with Blessed With Grace! (And thank my uncle for a great idea!)

And A Very Merry Christmas To All

Little Miss has a message for everyone....



Current Giveaways:
Professional cookware, courtesy Jewel here
Baby Einstein Discovery Kit here

From The Mouths Of Babes: Idioms

I always find it interesting to hear how children speak. So often they sound like their parents or other adults they hang around regularly. Sometimes the things that come out of their mouths make you realize just what you sound like - sometimes to your chagrin (or at least mine?).

This time? I just giggled.

The wee ones were - without being asked - putting away all their laundry, and they were so proud of themselves. Mister Man paused on his way to his room, his arms laden with shirts and pants he'd somehow managed to hang - properly, mind you - all on his own.

I'm really going to town* heating up the gas** now, aren't I, Mommy! he exclaimed, then zoomed on by.

Ummm. You've almost got it, Buddy. I think we need a little more practice before we take that one elsewhere though.

* One of us somewhere along the line once told Mister Man that he was really "going to town" while eating something. He thought that was the funniest thing he'd ever heard and absolutely loves that expression. He uses it in every conceivable situation he can.

** He really meant that he was "cooking with gas" which I'll admit is something he learned from me. Or almost learned from me, anyway.

Current Giveaways:
Professional cookware, courtesy Jewel here
Baby Einstein Discovery Kit here

We Wish You A Merry Christmas...

So yay, my Christmas - errrr New Year's - cards went out tonight, which means they're really in the overstressed mail stream tomorrow. They'll arrive eventually, and next year I'll order the cards prior to December 10. They turned out gorgeous, no?

Most Wonderful Year Christmas 5x7 folded card

Create modern Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

And for all of you, a special edition of the letter and where we stand this year. Life. Is. Good.

Happy Holidays!

This year, I was so proud of myself. I thought about cards more than two weeks before Christmas. Then I ordered them and discovered that they wouldn’t arrive until only a couple days before. Oops!

This year has been a fun one. Mister Man has moved into first grade, still at the Catholic school, where he is doing really well. With the official Asperger’s diagnosis for him coming in April, we are truly impressed at the improvement he’s had over the last several months. Starting him in Tae Kwon Do this summer – he’s now a purple belt and working towards his green belt – has made a huge difference, and he loves it. He’s also doing “gymnastics” as part of an OT program that has been a lot of fun, although these activities meant we had to give up swimming lessons in September.

Little Miss is also doing gymnastics and becoming pretty decent for a five year old. She’s still in the beginner class, but her cartwheels and handstands are definitely recognizable as such. She started kindergarten in a special Spanish immersion program, meaning that she has a near full day program that is entirely in Spanish except for lunch and library. It’s been an interesting transition for her (and for me – I’d thought she was going to be at the same school with Mister Man until the day before school started!), but with some friends both from preschool and the summer school class she did, she’s been loving it!

They both did t-ball this past summer and enjoyed it, but I think we’ll skip that next year. Games every Saturday and Sunday from April to June was a bit much. We’ll find other ways to occupy our time instead. They also got to go to Disney twice this year, once for a conference I attended (which meant all sorts of special backstage meet and greets and other neat stuff – like being at a Mission Impossible dinner for Robert Irvine on Food Network) and once with my parents in August. I don’t think they’ll ever get tired of it.

My husband is continuing to do the traveling teacher gig between schools, which he enjoys. His coaching commitments have already started, and he’s anticipating a good team this year – at least at the middle school level. He turned 40 this year (at the end of July) and was surprised (in September) with a party to celebrate. That milestone hasn’t stopped him from playing baseball, and he’s signed up for next year already, too. Between that, teaching, coaching and his PA announcing, he’s pretty much booked up, but that hasn’t stopped him from adding some tutoring on the side recently.

I am happy to announce that I am no longer PTO president, which has removed some responsibilities. That said, I'm secretary of the board at Mister Man’s school and in charge of hospitality at Little Miss's. It’s still easier than what I had been doing - besides, I quit work at the end of June to stay home with the wee ones, so have more time (theoretically). I ran my first 5K in NYC in August (with Melisa with one S) and am now learning how to use my new DSLR – slowly.

I hope that your year has brought you peace and happiness!

Current Giveaways:
Professional cookware, courtesy Jewel here
Baby Einstein Discovery Kit here