Lip of The Day: 6-20-08

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lip Glaze in Overtime Wine

Since I have about 200,000 lippies, I thought I'd start using a different one each day and weed out some of the ones that don't work for me. So here's what I am wearing today.

By the way, I totally have a crooked smile and a chip out of one of my front teeth. And my teeth need some whitening. Lipstick recently asked me about tooth whitening and I've been meaning to tell you all my teeth whitening story, so I'll do that soon- maybe later today.

Anyway, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this lipgloss. I normally can't wear gloss because it runs too bad into those pesky lines around my lips, but this gloss has some staying power. It's also a little bit sticky, which I actually like. That makes it feel very moisturizing and gives it a little bit of the staying power too, I think. It wears off evenly, and I don't mind reapplying after a few hours. Smells good too!

An Email about P

My friend Amanda sent me this email last week:

Today....dropping C at school (ed. note- C is 2).....C stops at the 4 yr old room to see the toys. We see The Politician and he said "Hi Amanda...what's C doing?"

I said "He's looking at your room."

Then P said..."Well this is the 4 yr old room. He's not 4. See here it says right here on the door (comes to the hall and points above the door) '4'....well it says '2', but it really is the 4 yr old room."

Too cute.

Fun! New Dowloads at Mom Agenda

Clemson Girl, this is totally up your alley.

I have the Mom Agenda Kitchen Folio in cherry (above) and I LOVE it. We keep it right by the phone and have all sorts of good info in there. And even though I am completely disorganized, I got my shit together one time and put everything anyone ever taking care of the kids would need. Even a medicine dosage chart (by weight!) for all the OTC meds I have for the kids. (email me if you'd like a copy)

But even cooler is that Mom Agenda just came out with some cool free downloads that can be printed out to put in the Kitchen Folio, or even in your own notebook. And they even come in cherry, ocean, and butter shades..... so cute! I just printed out the new ones and am going to pretend for a few days that I'm going to get around to using them. We all know I won't, but they sure look pretty sitting on the corner of my desk!

Meme from Clemson Girl and Hello Darling

You know, I did the 60 questions meme, but I am pretty boring today, but there is one thing I want the world to know (especially Ben and Jerry).

10. What is the best ice cream flavor? Ben and Jerry's Cool Britannia (not made anymore!).

Mr. Ben and Mr. Jerry, please please please bring it back! Vanilla ice cream with strawberries swirled in with little chocolate-covered shortbread pieces.... what's not to like? I think you were just before your time- it would be a hit in 2008!

Edited to add: Oh, and please bring back this one for Traci Anne!

The Full VerMonty - Maple ice cream with caramel swirl and pecans. A naked homage to our home state's Green Mountain bliss.
And holy cow, dear readers, if you love me but at all, you can vote here to resurrect Sasha's favorite flavor (Cool Britannia if you've got a short memory). I'd love you forever!

Hemangioma Surgery Scheduled

On Monday, WC had her pre-surgery appointment with her Pediatric Plastic Surgeon in Big City In A State Near Us and it went fabulous! He will be removing the remnants of her ulcerated hemangioma. They will be able to remove all of the hemangioma and all she will be left with is a pencil line-type scar across her arm, like the black line I have drawn on the picture above.

We were expecting that they would want to do the revision surgery in December or January, but they actually want to do her first surgery on August 7 and do the second and final surgery on December 4. We didn't know that it would take two surgeries to remove the remnants of the H, but figured that was a possibility.

The best part of all this is that it is outpatient, and they'll use internal dissolvable stitches and use dermabond on the top layer, so they said she could even get it wet the next day! We feel so good about this- so much better than we expected.

She was quite the ham at the appointment and was so friendly to the doctor. I think she will do great, although I may need a stiff drink to get me through it since I am a worry-wart. But I know she will be in great hands, so I think I can make it through. I am just glad to put this all behind us and stop getting the question "What happened to her arm? Was she burned?".

Sensory Sensivitity vs. Sensory Integration Disorder

The more research I do, I really think that WC has more of a "sensory sensitivity" than "sensory integration disorder". She just doesn't meet all the characteristics of SID. She meet some, but not all, and I think that's more of a sensory sensitivity. (Which explains A LOT about me- you know how I can't be hot or I freak out and can't breathe, and how I can't smell the same smell for very long or I feel sick and hot, and then I freak out, and then it's just a vicious cycle.....)

Anyway, last Thursday, our CDS called and me and said she wanted to refer us on to a Occupational Therapist to do an evaluation on WC. At first, I was worried that it was worse than we originally thought, but after reading more this weekend, I actually think it's better than we thought.

The CDS said that the OT will probably be able to tell us some specific things we can do at home to help WC, which sounds great to me.

So I called the recommended OT today and we talked a little about WC and I filled her in (what a story!). She felt like she can help us and we will probably get together next Wednesday.

I am just feeling so good about the steps we are taking!

Today

At school today, WC was at the top of the slide. Her teacher looked away for just a second, looked back, and WC had her shorts down around her ankles.

She took off her wet diaper, flung it off the slide (and they said she's got a good arm- it went far!) pulled her shorts back up, and went down the slide.

Wow.

Sasha's Favorite Books

Shannon asked for some book recommendations, so I created that handy little Amazon widget to the right.


If you haven't read Sophie Kinsella, drop what you are doing and get your hands on the Shopaholic series. Now, they do need to be read in order, so start at the top of the list. These books are an absolute riot- kind of like Bridget Jones, only funnier. And cooler. The Kinsella books without Shopaholic in the title are stand-alone books that are fab too.


At the very end of my list are two books by Pamela Des Barres- a groupie during the Zeppelin and Doors days. In our senior class newspaper, I listed her as my "Person Most Admired" and I think I scared the hell out of my parents. If you have any interest in the days of classic rock, give her first book a read- I guarantee you'll think she's a cool chick.

Happy reading!

Hemangioma Treatment Question

Anonymous writes: hello! our little princess also has a 4cm hemangioma located at her left deltoid area.. i wonder if your child underwent any treatment and if YES, kindly enumerate them..so we could have a better option on which treatment modality we are to take after considering all option offered by her physician..hoping for your reply..

We actually didn't do any "treatment". Our local pediatrician told us to wait it out. Once we decided that probably wasn't the correct advice since she was in so much pain for over 2 months, I started doing extensive research on the Internet and found a pediatric plastic surgeon who specialized in vascular anomalies in a neighboring state a made an appointment. The quickest appointment they had was 3 weeks away.

Unbelievably, during that three week period we noticed that the ulceration was starting to heal and by the time we got to our appointment, part of the scab was even beginning to come off! He said that if he had seen us sooner there would have been things they could have done for the pain, but since it was starting to heal, we should be OK to wait it out. He did tell us to watch for another growth phase between 9-12 months and there was a chance it would ulcerate again.

Although it did appear to grow a little bit more from 9-12 months, it did not ulcerate again (praise God!) so the doctor said they didn't need to see us again until she was 2 1/2, at which time they would assess and schedule a scar revision surgery around age 3.

One important thing I should ask, Anonymous, is if your daughter's H is ulcerated. If not, most doctors do agree to leave the H alone if it is not in an area that affects breathing, vision, or eating. If the H leaves a cosmetic defect once it involutes, a revision surgery can be done around age 3 like my daughter will have.

Hope I answered some of your questions!

Ask the Product Junkie: Non-Feathering Lip Color

Blanda Amania writes: I'm loving and appreciating your makeup tips and product reviews. One thing I'm having a problem with being older, and sun OVERexposed, is dry skin around my lips, which encourages my lipstick to feather-- just hate it. Have you encountered this problem, and if so, what products/application techniques have you found to combat it? I kid you not. At 10am everyday I'm checking the reflection and cursing it all.

Thanks Blanda! Feathering lipcolor is the thorn in my side too- it's always been a problem for me as well. Now, I attribute mine to smoking back in HS and college, but I was also sun OVERexposed like you.

What I have found is that I just can't wear a typical lipstick. And lipliner is no help. I've tried it all- the "outliner" that is supposed to keep your lipstick from running (ha!) and of course colored liner to match your lipstick. I still get feathering.

It's pretty much got to be labeled as a long-wearing lipcolor, or it's got to be a stain.

So I stick with Revlon Colorstay Overtime Sheer Lipcolor in Sheer Pomegranate or I use a stain with a clear sparkly gloss over it- I like The Balm Stainiac in Beauty Queen with Bare Esentuals Buxom Lips in Dominique over it. I also have found that Revlon's ColorStay Mineral Lip Glaze in Overtime Wine doesn't run that bad... actually one of the first glosses that wears OK for me (but it is mysteriously missing from the Revlon site).

Other products I like: Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor (a bit darker than the sheer version), Too Faced Mood Swing (a color changing gloss that doesn't seem to run) and Avon's Pro-To-Go Lipstick (order from my friend Valeri!) in Cherry Glisten (a highly pigmented lipbalm that doesn't seem to run).

Anyway, I feel your pain! If your coloring is way different than mine, let me know what shades you are looking for and I'll see if I have any ideas!

Meme

What was I doing 10 years ago? Working full time, going to grad school and drinking lots of beer (it was pre-kids and pre-marriage!)

6 Non-important things/habits/quirks:
1. I always have to have something on my feet. It can be flip flops or socks, but I simply can't be barefoot.
2. I drink 1 can of Coke every morning. Full sugar version.
3. I love classic rock and am pretty sure I was born 15 years too late. I am dying to meet Pamela Des Barres and have chatted with her numerous times in the late 90s.
4. I bite my nails, although I am always trying to quit. I go through cycles where I do a great job taking care of my nails and keep them painted, and then there are busy times like right now where I bite the dickens out of them because I don't have time to take care of them properly.
5. I am totally in the wrong career. I should not be an accountant, although I must say I am good at it. I should be in product development, marketing, or something with makeup!
6. I am a bargain shopper for househoold goods and food and even clothes, but I make up for that by being a Coach purse girl.

Five Foods I Enjoy:
1. Coconut shrimp, although I hate coconut and won't eat any other food with coconut in it. It gets in my teeth and I get all crazy about that.
2. Tiramisu, although I hate coffee.
3. Gummy candy- Sugar Plums, Peaches, Raspberries, Coke Bottles, Worms, Bears, etc.
4. Raspberry yogurt.
5. Chicken Burrito (no pico) at On The Border.

Things I Would Do If I Were a Billionaire:
1. Redecorate my current home- we've got all the room we need. I'd love a professional landscaper to come take care of my flower beds though. We are way lazy and they always look like crap.
2. Get the dent in my face from forceps when I was born repaired. I've tried fat transfer, but it only helped a little. I'd go see Dr. Rey! And get my cellulite taken care of while I was there.
3. Buy myself a few more hours a day so I could read all the books I'm dying to read. (A billionaire should be able to do that!)
4. Buy the house two doors down for my hairdresser to live in so she could blow dry my hair every morning.
5. Fully fund the music festival I helped found this year.

Five Places I Have Lived:
1. With the folks in 5 different places, including a mobile home and a log cabin on a farm
2. Sorority dorms
3. Rental house during the summer in college
4. Townhouse I purchased before I got married
5. House we bought after we got married

Diagnosis

The result of the screening/questionnaire from last week is that The Wild Child has Sensory Integration Disorder. I feel better that we know what is causing her inappropriate behavior and now we can start working on how to handle it.

Basically, her sensory threshold is like a half-filled glass of water. If you try to put anything else (more sound etc) in the glass, she has trouble processing it. So when the teachers ask her to stop doing something (like taking off her shoes) and she doesn't respond, it is because she can't process their words since so much else is going on sensory-wise. Makes me feel better that she's not ignoring them like we thought. This problem is also causing her to act inappropriately when she is over-stimulated- that is when she bites, hits/swats, spits.

We are still having her hearing checked on the 27th just to rule out a hearing problem.

And the Child Development Specialist will be going to her school on the next week to observe WC in class, and then the CDS will go back twice in the next two weeks to visit with her teachers during nap time and get us all on the same page. Mr. Sasha and I will go back to see the CDS in three weeks to see how everything is going....

I feel better, mostly, but also hate that there is something "wrong"... But I am confident that we will figure it out!

I Can Be Crafty!!!!

I bet you are wondering, what can be made with thin ribbon, pipe cleaners, and aquarium tubing?

Why, an Official Sasha Family Anti-Biting Bracelet.

Proof positive that it is totally possible for me to be a little crafty when necessary.

When I told our Child Development Specialist last Tuesday that WC has been biting herself on the arm when she's frustrated, she told me to get some aquarium tubing and fashion a bracelet. Once she is wearing the bracelet, we are supposed to encourage her to bite the bracelet when she needs to chew on something- not skin!

I spent a few days trying to figure out in my head how to thread ribbon or elastic thru the tubing, when I had a Eureka Moment yesterday and thought of pipe cleaners. I wrapped the end of the ribbon around the end of the pipe cleaner and used that to thread it through. Genius, I tell you. (I do hate that it took me 4 days to figure it out, but hey, I'm an accountant, not an art major.)

Anyway, she wore it to school today and had a fab day, and evidently spent quite a bit of time chewing on the bracelet and not her friends.

We see the CDS again tomorrow and I am hoping to get our Discipline Plan down on paper. Wish us well!

Swimming- Redneck Style

Damn Tornado Alley

So Mr. Sasha and I are in bed last night (get your mind out of the gutter!), enjoying the pilot episode of Swingtown, and as it often happens this time of year in our part of the country, our favorite weatherman broke in and he and the crazy-ass storm chasers started in talking on top of each other about power flashes and debris. So we missed the last 15 minutes of a show I think we are really going to like. Damn weather.

Did you watch? There's a recap up at cbs.com, but no real details about the last bit. Can you fill me in? We'll watch it online later, but I really want to know now....

For Slim- A Lesson in Consumerism

Slim, here's the link I was talking about at lunch- when we were discussing the dirtiness and lack of metal forks at Mazzio's at the absurdness that Carl's Jr. can claim to be out of ketchup (and fries!) with both Albertson's and SuperTarget within walking distance.....

The $39 Experiment

Self Tanner Update

Did you get around to trying Loreal's Sublime Glow in medium as I recommended?

So far, it's endorsed by me, my neighbor Crystal, Beauty Addict (she's got a fabulous post on self-tanner smell), and Laura!

Laura writes: ......but I just finished up my Jergens and bought some Loreal Sublime Glow (Medium) and OMG - It's so much better than the Jergens! At Target is was actually a bit cheaper too ($6.49 vs $6.99) I really like that it's got little sparkly things in it that reflect the light. Hey, any help we can get, right? Anyway, I'm definitely a convert! If they only had it for the face - I'd be happy! It smells so much better than the Jergens I'm using on my face (which smells like peepee). Thanks Sasha!

So who else has tried it and what did you think?

Instituting Anti-Biting Program

You may remember in April that I posted about the fabulous anti-biting workshop I attended at our local health department. I finally found the Nuk Massage Brushes online and am placing an order today for enough for the entire 1 1/2 year old class and the 2 year old class (WC's class). These are the two classes where biting is the biggest problem.

I am so excited and so hopeful that this helps! I feel so lucky that my kids attend a center that is so welcoming to parent suggestions. They are totally on board with this and I know it wouldn't be that way everywhere.

Cross your fingers that this helps!

Summer TV!

OK, before you freak out and leave me a comment that my excessive TV-watching is probably contributing to the downfall of my youngest child's behavior, let me assure you I Tivo all my programs and either watch them after the kids have gone to bed, or while I am running on the treadmill, which lately hasn't been much.

So basically my TV-watching time is pretty limited. I am freaking out a little because I just got my new TV Guide (love it!) and there is a whole list of things I am wanting to watch this summer.

1. Nashville Star (Tivo alert! Changed from USA Network to NBC- you'll have to change your Season Pass) (June 9th)
2. Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Home (Tivo alert! Name changed) (Oxygen June 17)
3. My Boys (Tivo alert! Needs to be re-added as a season pass- info from last summer was lost) (TBS June 12)
4. Swingtown (CBS Thursdays- this week!)
5. Big Brother (Tivo Alert! Will probably need to be added since the put the season number after it) (CBS July 13)
6. Project Runway (Bravo July)
7. The Next Food Network Star (Food Network- started last Sunday)

I still haven't watched the Lohan show or Denise Richards either, and I don't think I will. Just no time. My list above looks much better.

EDITED TO ADD: Damn, Slim, you are right. I left off So You Think You Can Dance! I even attempted to do a whole post dedicated to Claire Callaway and her new (bad) hair, but I couldn't find a pic the other day. Love that show. Love the choreographers most of all.

Note from School 6/3

"WC was sent to the office today for taking off her shoes 3 times and for sassing her teachers."

Wah.

New Motto Found at the Health Department

"Power belongs to those who use it, and if parents don't, their kids will."
-Gregory Bodenhamer, Former Probation Officer, Author

Well, well, well. We are making progress.

Today I met with the Child Development Specialist (CDS) and got the results from The Wild Child's developmental assessment from last week. As I suspected, she scored age-appropriate in all areas, and her speech actually measured at beyond a 3 year old level, which is fab since she is only 28 months old.

We worked on a sensory questionnaire today and I'll go back next week for the results of that. I also scheduled a hearing screening to rule out a hearing problem.

Some background for those of you just joining us: The Wild Child is hell on wheels. She's actually a fabulous child with such a great spirit and personality- but she chooses some inappropriate behaviors when she doesn't get her way that include (but aren't limited to) biting, hitting, spitting, ignoring, etc. We also have trouble getting her to follow directions when she doesn't want to do what we are asking. Most scary to me is that she has been running from us in public places and won't respond to us when we tell her to "Stop!".

The Child Development Specialist and I have decided that WC is a "spirited child". We also went over a cool analogy involving The Hundred Acre Woods that put it all in perspective for me (WC is a Tigger, The Politician and I are Piglets, and Mr. Sasha is a Pooh- more on that later when I get a copy of it next week). Basically, parenting WC is just different than parenting P, and the Sashas just need to figure out what to do. As one friend said last week, "You don't want to look up in 2 years and realize that WC is running the house!".

The most fabulous part of all this is that the CDS is going to meet with us weekly until we get a "discipline plan" in place once we figure out what will be most effective. She even offered to visit WC's early childhood development center to observe her in class and discuss with her teachers what discipline plan we decide on.

I feel so good about all this and really feel like I am taking the steps I need to take to keep myself off Super Nanny on national TV.

Passionberri?

Does anybody know what the hell passionberri is? There is a new store going in a strip mall near the Sashas but it's just this sign and a blank empty store right now. Their website is crap- take down that splash page and put up some content!!!! Am I missing something on there? Is there a "click here to continue" somewhere?????

So does anybody know- it is like pinkberry or Tutti frutti? Thanks to Perez and Buford Betty, I am flippin' dreaming about these places, just dying.

Happy Birthday Mamalicious!

Hollyanna, I knew when you came into Hayes in first grade with your Hawaiian shirt on and a comb in your back pocket that you were way cool and we were destined to be good friends.

And I also knew that we were way too hot for 1987 when we randomly dressed up and had Mimilicious take this shot in your driveway. That is a bandanna that you are wearing as a bikini top and yes, I do have on a trash bag and blue lips.

Thanks for being a good friend for all these years- I love ya and can't wait to celebrate your 34th with you.

Now when is that going to be?

Parents Magazine June 2008 Cliff Notes

I know you are as busy as me and don't have time to read magazines, but I had a hair appointment today and actually had 20 uninterrupted minutes while I was under the dryer! So I read the June 2008 Parents magazine for us and tore out some interesting pages so you don't need to read it yourself.

Without further ado, here's the high points:

• Veet In Shower Hair Removal Cream, designed to withstand water, so you put it on before you get in the shower, wait three minutes, then remove the cream with the sponge that comes with it.
• McCormick has come out with Potato Steamers (in your grocer's freezer) the steam in the microwave in no time- Italian Herb and Roasted Garlic & Rosemary varieties.
• KytoStat bandages ($15 for a pack of three at drugstore.com) don't just protect the wound- they actually stop the bleeding. Expensive- but it sounds like they may be worth having on hand.
• Theme park smarts- Safety Tat - Temporary tattoos with your phone number! Very cool.
• Last but not least, Parents is having their Annual Cover Search. As I've told you before, don't you dare go entering your kid and trying to beat mine. Kidding. Sort of.

Wow, I just noticed that was almost all "products" that I tore out and nothing about actual parenting, with the exception of the bandages and safety tats that would make me a safer parent. Interesting.

Damn you, swimsuit season

Oh, how I hate summer. I mean, I LOVE summer, but I HATE putting on a swimsuit. And most of all, I hate shopping for a swimsuit.

I hate it so much that I wore the same top for 8 years, and even when the back clasp broke, I continued to wear the top and kept using the MacGyver-ified grey rope that held the back together. For like 3 years. I'm sure Slim will remember because it all went down at the lake on their pontoon boat.

Anyway, one of my requirements is that the bottoms be shorts, not some skimpy bottom. Mr. Sasha doesn't understand, but the backs of your legs at 34 just don't look like the back of your legs at 18. Even if I was underweight, the yuckiness would still be there.....

Anyway, I am thinking about getting this suit but am not sure which print I like best. Opinions please?

Heat Wave Print

Ebbtide Print (on model above)

Beach Breeze print

2008 School Pics

Holy crap my kids are growing up fast. The Politician will be 5 in August and starting Pre-K. The Wild Child turned two in January and is continuing to turn our house upside down.

But, sweet niblets, isn't that the sweetest face you've ever seen?

This is more like it..... She's hamming in up for the camera, and P is dashing off in the background. I'll have to get this one for sure because it cracks me up.

Ask the Product Junkie: Brown Lipstain

Stephanie asks: Any ideas for lipstains? I tried Lip Envy at Sephora. It was 15 or 16 dollars and the only stain they had that wasn't pink. (I am looking for something brown or at least natural lip color-no pink!) It is not good at all!!!!! It doesn't stain anything! It comes right off and is chunky when it wears off and mixes with the gloss I wear over it. Ahhhh!

Stephanie, I agree that Lip Envy is not a good product- I was not impressed with it at all. Did you know Sephora has a great return policy?

Anyway, I saw a friend from college this weekend (Hi Heather!) and of course I asked her what lipcolor she was wearing. Her coloring just happens to be similar to yours.

Turns out she wears Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor in True Chocolate. Fabulous brown color. This is a two step product with a stain/longwearing lipcolor on one end and a top coat on the other.

I love love love this product (two of my HG lippies are Overtime Lipcolor Sheer in Sheer Pomegranate and the Overtime Lipcolor in Perpetual Plum) and think you would like it too. You can apply the topcoat as much as you like and it's doesn't ball up the lipcolor.

New Lipgloss Find

Well, my last two posts certainly were downers, weren't they? So in an effort to cheer you (and me) up, let's talk about one of our favorite topics, makeup!

I noticed a new product in my Walgreen's flyer last week, Revlon's ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze. (Note that for some reason, this product is not listed on Revlon's website.)

I love lipgloss, but have a terrible time wearing it because it always runs in the little lines around my lips. So I'm always searching for a lipgloss that has staying power and pigment and doesn't run.

Found!

I purchased the two darkest colors, Overtime Wine and Plum, and they are fabulous. Smell is nice, feels good on your lips, pigment has staying power, wears off evenly, and lasts all morning!

I Hope Supernanny Works at DHS

In a moment of desperation, I just called the girl who set up the biting workshop at DHS, and asked for her help.

Mr. Sasha had just called me and said that after I left for work, The Wild Child did the following:

• took off her shorts and tried to secretly throw them away
• poured out her baggie of cereal on the floor
• tried to get the cereal box to eat out of instead
• spit on him a few times
• hit at him
• yelled "No!" about a million times
• tried to bite Mr. Sasha when he was putting her in her car seat
• cried/screamed all the way to school
• then magically changed her tune when she saw her friend walking in to school, wiped off her tears and said "Yay, school!"
• once she was in her classroom, saw a little boy crying for his mom and she gave him a hug and said "It's OK."

WTH?

So we have a "developmental assessment" scheduled for next Tuesday morning. Maybe she has some developmental delay that is causing her to be frustrated? Maybe she has a sensory integration problem and just can't deal? Maybe we are just bad parents? We will see what DHS has to say.

Night Time Potty Training Hell

I was doing just fine putting a night-time pullup on The Politician every night. It didn't bother me one bit that he didn't wake up to pee. Not one little bit.

But now he's starting to wake up to pee and it is driving Mr. Sasha and I ca-razy.

Most usually we'll wake up in the middle of the night and realize that he's standing by our bed. Who knows how long he's been there and it's kinda creepy. He wants someone to go to the bathroom with him and then take him back to bed and tuck him in. Sometimes I pretend I don't hear him and let Mr. Sasha deal with it all (Hi Mr. Sasha!).

I have told him every night for months about how he can do it on his own, not wake us up, etc. He's not listening.

I need a solution, and I need one now. What's a tired girl to do? Help?

My Mother's Day Present

Amy asks: Did you ever get that garmin thingy for running you mentioned right before mother's day? If so are you happy with it?

I can't believe I forgot to post about this! Mr. Sasha actually got me the model that was one step up from the one I originally told him about- he got the Forerunner 205.

I absolutely love it! It shows your pace, distance, and elapsed time, all figured using a satellite system! It's rechargeable, so no pesky batteries to replace. The band is actually small enough for my pretty tiny wrist. All in all, one of the best presents I've ever gotten. All of you on the C25K bandwagon need one- you'd love it!

There's something to be said for picking out your own gift. Mr. Sasha actually ordered his own Father's Day gift today- some new golf shoes and some golf shirts so he'll be all set for his Amateur Golf Tour this summer.

How about you- what's the best gift you've ever gotten, and did you pick it out yourself, or were you surprised?

Problem getting your cashback from Ebates?

Evil Kate writes: This will probably come as a real shock but I think I screwed something up when I tried to use it. We tried to book our rental car through ebates but I don't see where it shows it worked....HELP!!!!

In the 3-4 years that I've used ebates, there have been about 3 times that something slipped through the cracks at ebates. However, if you click on "help" in the upper right hand part of their screen, you'll get a nifty customer service menu. And, behold, a link that says "Where's my cash back?"

So, Ms. Kate, just log in, click on that, and follow the instructions. I've never had a problem once I've gotten the proper information to them. Heck, there must be 10000000 people who belong to ebates, no less than 75 referred by yours truly. I figure it kind of like the post office, give them that much stuff, they're going to lose a little bit here and there.

Hope this helps!

Oh, and if someone still isn't registered with ebates, now's the time! Follow my link on the right to get your $10 bonus too!

A New 100 Calorie Treat

Made a quick run to SuperTarget at lunch to pick up necessities (milk, Mr. Clean, printer cartridge, Market Pantry Raspberry Blackberry sparkling calorie free water, toothpaste for P) and of course I went down the snack aisle. I'm a big fan of the 100 calorie packs, seeing as how I have no control when it comes to portions and the way I've been eating lately, I'll be needing that wardrobe back that I donated to charity after I finally lost my baby weight last year. So I'm making the 100 calorie packs my afternoon snack.

Anyway, the above York 100 Calorie Peppermint Wafer Bars called my name and ended up in my cart. And they are tasty! The are 7 packages in the box ($2.99) and each package has two long slim chocolate-covered wafers with a peppermint creme in the middle. I'll definitely be buying these again and will also be searching for the Reese's version.

New Beverage Find

Damn, this stuff is good. Mike's Light Hard Cranberry Lemonade- 98 calories or thereabouts.

Super good on an early summer night listening to an Americana band in the park. Makes corralling the kiddos on picnic blanket not as bad as it could be.

Maybe if I had brought a few more we could have stayed longer......

Ebates Rocks!

So I know I mentioned it earlier, but can you believe I am getting a check for over $125 this quarter from ebates?

If you aren't signed up yet, now is the time! Through June 30, anyone who signs up through this link will get $10 (and so will I!).

Let me know if you have questions. Glad to answer them!

My Avon order should be delivered today!!!!

Dude. I love makeup. And I love my new friend Valeri who emailed me a free shipping code to use on her Avon site!

So I've been stalking the UPS website and I see my package in now in Big City Close To Me, My State, so it should be there when I get home today. I actually foresee that I might have to continue to stalk UPS and once it's delivered, I may or may not have to make up an excuse to run home to get it.

I ordered: (and yes, I know I went overboard, but hey, that's what I do, and Mr. Sasha, if you are reading this, I am using my $128 ebates check to pay for this that should be arriving any day since it was mailed to me yesterday)

• Pro To Go lipstick in Cherry Glisten, Berry Juice, and Provocative Plum
• Skin So Soft Bug Guard since we live in Mosquito Land
• Banishing Cream Skin Discoloration Improver (recommended by Valeri for my hyperpigmentation)
• mark Glossblossom Ripening Lip Tint (like O-Gloss or Mood Swing, only affordable!)
• mark Caribbean Shine Lip Gloss in Kiss on The Beach
• Nail Experts Nail Brightener- a must-have per Traci Ann
• mark Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Moisture Milk - supposed to smell like my beloved Fresh Sugar Lemon
• mark Shine Tubes Hook Up Lip Gloss in Buttercream Brioche - another Traci Anne recommendation

So hold tight, reviews to come!

My New Favorite Song

I recently found my new theme song (Jason Mraz- I'm Yours), and it's all summery and makes me want a beer or three. That works out great since this is The Summer of Beer.

For some reason I can't explain, I've developed a little crush on Jason Mraz. Yum.

Let me know what you think. Am I nutty?

Edited to add: I figured it out! It's that cute little sideways grin he has when he is singing..... Boy, I'm certainly a pathetic 34 year old working soccer mom of two, huh?

Concealer Answers for Laura

I knew the only person who loves makeup more than me would have some ideas for Laura!

Thanks Traci Anne! Love ya!

Ask the Product Junkie: Concealer

Laura writes: Sasha, I read your blog daily. I’m Laura and you link to mine (Our Crazy Wonderful Life) on yours. Anyway, I’ve got a product question for you. I have dark under-eye circles that I can not get rid of. I use Bare Minerals for my makeup and love it. I also started using the Neutrogena eye makeup remover after you suggested it and I really like it a lot. For under my eyes, I’ve tried the yellow-tinted powders, lighter foundation under my eyes, coverup (which I can’t stand – I’m a powder girl) everything – but nothing works. What’s a girl to do?Help?

Laura, first of all, I've seen a pic of you on your blog, and I see no dark circles! You are gorgeous! But if you insist that this is a problem for you, I may have an idea that you haven't tried.

Have you tried applying your minerals wet? I have heard of ladies using water or, get this, Milk of Magnesia, to make a paste with their minerals and applying that with a concealer brush. Let that dry before you apply your foundation dry with your normal foundation brush. I believe they were just using their regular foundation color for this method.

Let me know what you think. If this isn't a road you want to go down, I have another makeup crazy friend who might know..... Traci Anne, any other ideas?

I Want To Be Like Reese Witherspoon

So I'm gonna use the same lipstick she does. Isn't she gorgeous?
My fab new friend from OBBC, Valeri, directed me to her personal avon page and was kind enough to send me a free shipping code so I could get my hot little hands on some of their new Pro To Go lipstick!
I imagine she may have some more codes to spare- just email her at bucfanri at gmail dot com and tell her Sasha sent you!
I would describe the Pro To Go as a highly pigmented lip balm. It doesn't have a lot of staying power, but it feel absolutely fabulous on your lips and wears off extremely evenly, so I didn't mind reapplying it. My lips were somewhat chapped the morning I started using the lipstick, but by the end of the day, they felt conditioned and weren't chapped at all. Love this stuff.
I tried Cherry Glisten (Reese's shade and my favorite), Provocative Plum, and Berry Juicy- all are beautiful shades. Try 'em and let me know what you think!

Ulcerated Hemangioma Pictures

I get A LOT of google search hits from my hemangioma posts. I thought it might be useful to put my timeline of pics all together. If you are squeamish, I recommend you skip this post.

I did a lot of internet searching out of desperation when WC's H started ulcerating, and I didn't easily find any pics like these, showing in order how an H opened up and then healed.

If you ever need any information about hemangiomas, or just someone to talk to who has been through one, just email me.

5 weeks

8 weeks

9 weeks

13 weeks

14 weeks

17 weeks

18 weeks

19 weeks

20 weeks

22 weeks

almost 7 months

10 1/2 months

1 year

15 months

18 months

2 years

I also want to send you to another post I wrote on this subject that mentions specific doctors and contact information.

Homework!

The Sashas are big slackers.

The Politician had some homework over the weekend- the above pennant was sent home blank and he was supposed to decorate it- concentrating on his hobbies and interests.

Mr. Sasha was all, "Oh, we can have him put a bicycle on there, and soccer, and trains...."

I said, "And are you wanting him to draw these things????? Because he can't even write his name."

Cause we are slacker parents and haven't worked at all with him on writing or drawing. He is just not interested in coloring/drawing and I don't push it.

Anyway, I got out some markers and set them on the table. He grabbed a yellow tadoodle and started scribbling. You can see the results above. I was getting worried and a little sweaty- what was this going to look like next to all the others?

Suddenly I got the bright idea to get a magazine and cut out pictures of things he likes. He loved this and had fun taping the pictures of Dora, Diego, pancakes, drums, and ice cream etc. on the pennant. He did also try to write his name, which I blocked out, but let's just say it would have probably been safe to leave it there because I don't imagine you would have been able to decipher it.

And it was just fabulous that I realized on Mother's Day that I am the worst mom ever. P will be 5 in August and can't write his name. Is he destined to be a non-productive member of society?

Lyrics Quiz

My friend Tina did a Lyrics Quiz on her blog the other day, and I missed it! I would have totally gotten the Marky Mark one if Cassie hadn't beat me to it!

I think I'll do my own, and as Tina said, I have "eclectic" taste, so have fun!

Rules:

Step 1: Put your MP3 player or whatever on random

Step 2: Post the first line from the first 25 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song.

Step 3: Here’s the fun part: YOU get to guess what song it is from just the one line; if you’re really good, you’ll know the artist as well!

Step 4: I'll color line when someone gets it right, linking to that someone, cause I’m nice like that.

Step 5: No cheating! And by cheating, I mean no looking them up on Google or any other search engine.

1. Another summer day, has come and gone away in Paris and Rome (Stephanie guessed Home by Michael Buble, although the one on my ipod is actually by Blake Shelton)
2. I could go out tonight, and find some stranger, it wouldn’t be wrong, no it wouldn’t be wrong
3. I've been waiting, pacing along the halls ever since you left here. I've been cleaning, scrubbing the plates and weeding out the garden dear
4. I don’t mind spending some time just hangin here with you
   Cause I don’t find many guys who treat me like you do
5. I don’t remember what day it was, I didn’t notice what time it was
6. Down in the valley, the valley so low, that's where my vegetables, my vegetables grow (CM got it- In the Valley of Vegetables by Laurie Bernker)
7. She got a shack floating down the Pontchartrain (Britni got it- Love is Free by Sheryl Crow)
8. Busted flat in Baton Rouge waiting for a train (Hair Girl got it- Janis Joplin, Me and Bobby McGee)
9. Anyone who's ever had a heart, wouldn't turn around and break it (The Renee got it- Sweet Jane, and I have both versions on my ipod- Cowboy Junkies and Velvet Underground, which I like equally well)
10. I don’t wanna see your face, I don’t wanna hear your name, I don't want a thing, just stay away baby (Hair Girl guessed Rod Stewart, but not that I know of)
11. He’s a movie star, only drives rented cars. met him in a bar, said I know who you are. Took him to my party as they games were starting, bottles on the ground, are you ready now?
12. You say, I only hear what I want to (Slim got it- Lisa Loeb "Stay")
13. She said “It’s cold outside” as she hands me my raincoat (Sandra got it- 3 AM by Matchbox Twenty)
14. So long ago I don’t remember when, that’s when they say I lost my only friend (sweet-seventeen got it- One Headlight by The Wallflowers)
15. I went to a party last Saturday night, I didn’t get laid, I got in a fight (aj got it- Lita Ford- Kiss Me Deadly)
16. Baby I get so scared inside and I don’t really understand, if it's love that’s on my mind or is it fantasy (Anonymous got it- Close My Eyes Forever by Lita Ford and Ozzy)
17. I was sitting in my garden, when I saw a bumblebee (CM got it- Buzz Buzz by Laurie Bernker)
18. Hey, hey, mama, said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove (Tech Savvy Mama guessed Led Zeppelin and aj knew that it was Black Dog)
19. You know the day destroys the night, night divides the day (Sandra got it- Break on Through by The Doors)
20. It's getting near dawn, when lights close their tired eyes. I'll soon be with you my love, to give you my dawn surprise.
21. Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone, Susanne the plans they made put an end to you (Smoochiefrog got it- Fire and Rain by James Taylor)
22. If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? For I must be travelling on, now, 'cause there's too many places I've got to see. (Jennifer got it- Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd)
23. Well I never been to heaven, but I been to Oklahoma. Well they tell me I was born there, but I really don't remember (not the first verse) (Hair Girl said Never Been to Spain by Elvis, although my version is by Three Dog Night)
24. There are stars in the Southern sky, southward as you go. There is moonlight and moss in the trees (Joy got it- Seven Bridges Road by The Eagles)
25. Sweet wonderful you, you make me happy with the things you do, oh, can it be so, this feeling follows me wherever I go (sweet-seventeen got it- You Make Lovin Fun by Fleetwood Mac)

I Got Excited For Just A Second

last night when The Politician said, "Momma, your Mother's Day surprise is in Daddy's car!!!!" as I was putting him to bed.

I said, "Hmmm.... what it is?" (Hoping for this Garmin Forerunner 101 GPS watch thingy to help me with my pacing.)

P said, "Six tootsie rolls and four peppermints!"

Super, just what I wanted.

Holy Crap

Yeah, I just figured out that I left my keys in the ignition this AM when I got to work.

So I am missing my arts org meeting.

And can't go to Target.

And have to eat work food.

And must call the local Honda dealership to find out how much $$$ we'll have to shell out to get finally get an extra key. I hear it's $150.

Damn.

Edited to add: Yay for AT&T Wireless Roadside Assistance!!!!
As I was perusing the Yellow Pages for a cheap locksmith, my coworker asked if I had a roadside assistance plan..... All of the sudden I remember I did!!!!!
So my car got unlocked quickly, and for free to boot.
Mr. Sasha wanted me to ask about getting reimbursed for our lock-out a few weeks ago, but I told him there was probably a Stupidity Clause and if I told AT&T we just went through this 3 weeks ago, they'd be less likely to dispatch someone quickly.... plus I hate doing stuff like that over the telephone, a la Ashley. So I told him he can take care of that phone call himself.

Links and Product Junkie

So I loved it that Kate told me about an awesome website that I'd never heard of. I need more!

Anyone have any other sites they need to share with me?

Some of my personal faves:

• Makeup Alley for makeup reviews
• Internet Movie Database for those times when you can't figure out where you've seen that actress before
• Purse Forum especially this thread for authenticating Coach bags on ebay auctions
• Coupon Mom's Newspaper Coupon Database (link in middle of page)
• This site to quickly figure WW points
• Amazon filler item finder when you need to get to $25 for free shipping
• Digital Camera reviews
• Negative/Neutral feedback finder for ebay- quickly find seller's negative and neutrals without wading through all their feedback
• and of course I love Television Without Pity and Perez, but you knew that

So what links do you have for me?

Also taking submissions for Ask the Product Junkie.....

Red Velvet Cupcakes!!!!!!

Kate just directed me to a super-cool website, Hungry Girl, all about yummy good-for-you (or at least better-for-you than Hershey's Bliss) food.

I found a fab recipe for HG's Red Velvet Insanity Cupcakes. Sweet niblets, I can't wait to try them! There's a slight possibility I might make them for a coworker's birthday tomorrow, but there is a bigger possibility that I will just pick up something at the grocery store for the birthday and make these when I have more energy. Who knows when that will be, but damn, I have got to make these.

(photo above from Hungry Girl website)

Another Yummy Snack Food Food

So you guys know that I have this problem grocery shopping- I pretty much just go from aisle to aisle, seeing interesting stuff and tossing it into my cart. Especially new yummy snack food.

I'm a big fan of the 100 Calorie packs that are so popular now. Yes, I know they aren't very economical, but it would be less economical for me to eat a whole regular sized bag at a time and have to buy a whole new wardrobe, now wouldn't it?

My latest find is Chex 100 Calorie Chocolate Caramel. Mercy, it's good. There's two flavors in the bag, (obvs) chocolate and caramel. The caramel rocks my world and the chocolate isn't too bad either- a nice balance for the so very sweet caramel. But I could actually eat a whole bag of the caramel, but then that would probably be more than 100 calories....

Anyway, I've also recently tried the Turtle and Peanut Butter Chex and although they don't come in the 100 Calorie bags, you simply must try them. The kiddos loved them too, although they did leave the pretzels in the bag of course, as they weren't covered in a sugary concoction.

And, hey, if you are getting pissed off at me for suggesting too many red-light foods, just remember I can always email you the C25K plan!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!!!!

Well, I just got an email that made my day (and my week!)!

Turns out I'm a winner in 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic's Clean & Clear Giveaway!!!!!

You know how much I LOVE trying new beauty products, so I can't wait to use these products and post a review for you.

I absolutely love Christine's site- it's been one of my faves for quite some time. Check her out- she always has great reviews of fab products!

Oh Snap

Oh, this is totally something one could blame on one's children, but alas, I am not able to do that.

Cause I did it. Yup, it was me who opened the cabinet above the toilet, only to have a bottle of OPI Candy Cane Cutie come crashing down and shatter on my bathroom floor.

I spent the better part of 30 minutes trying to get up as much as I can off the toilet seat, the toilet bowl, the tile, the door, the shower door, and the threshold. I gave up on the rug and just threw it away.

I am about to google "getting red nail polish out of carpet" because, you see, just on the other side of this rug, where you can't see, is cream carpet. Now with red nail polish on it.

I must admit that the Lexapro allowed me to say, "Hmmmm... wonder what my priorities should be? Toilet? Floor? Shower door?"

It's nice not to freak the F out.

Yay me!

28:50!!!!!!

My best time ever, and that's after 3 beers at girls night last night!


Super awesome thanks to my friend Amanda for coming to cheer me on! So sweet and you made my day!

Damn You, Hershey

You know raspberry is my weakness..... so you just had to go and do it. Damn you.

(And, oh, but they are good. Found 'em at Target, where they just jumped in my cart.)

Meme

maybe i should start to work on that tax return for work that is due May 15

i love the smell of laundry and Fresh Sugar Lemon

people would say that i’m a bit nutty and talk a lot and know a little bit about a lot of things and can find anything on the internet

i don’t understand why The Politician can't go to the bathroom in the middle of the night without coming to wake us up

when i wake up in the morning I turn off my alarm that is going to go off in 3 minutes and I jump out of bed ready for the day (I'm super annoying like that)

i lost my willpower to keep counting WW points

life is crazy and right now I couldn't do it with my Lexapro

my past consists of a few semi-bad choices, but I turned out OK regardless

i get annoyed when things don't go my way, a typical Capricorn behavior

parties are something to look forward to (unless there's no beer)

dogs sometimes scare me, but I'd like to have a Golden some day just like LaVerne

cats make me cry since I miss Phil and Margo desperately

tomorrow is a 5K followed by a Tball meeting

i have low tolerance for wine- just a sip and I'm drunk and have a terrible headache

i’m totally terrified of revolving doors and eating vegetables

i wonder why I thought accounting would be a fun career choice

never in my life have i felt the pride I feel when I see my kiddos

high school was pretty damn fun

when i’m nervous I get a rash and my neck turns red

one time at a family gathering... my crazy grandmother made chili for a holiday dinner and tried to poison everybody

take my advice: figure out what works best for you parenting-wise and don't worry about what anyone else thinks- all kids are different and what worked for your best friend/mom/boss may not work for you

making my bed is a necessary part of the morning- I simply cannot go to sleep in an un-made bed

i'm almost always tucking my hair behind my ears and chewing on the inside of my cheeks

i’m addicted to BBC and full-sugar Coke

i want someone to come blow dry my hair every morning

PTO Fundraising

So I absolutely hate fundraisers. I hate asking people for money. Stupid thin wrapping paper, overpriced cookie dough, magazines I don't have time to read- hate it all.

My view on fundraising is this: School, if you need money, just add $5 to our weekly fees, and we'll hardly notice it. You'll have your money, and we won't have to do any ridiculous fundraising.

But see this fabulous piece of 3X3 art pictured in the middle above? That was painted by my super-talented kiddos, and purchased by the Sashas for the bargain price of $65. It's going to look fab in our playroom!

Our director came up with this idea last year, and we raised a whopping $3500! We are on track to do the same this year.

Here's how it works: parents and staff make the canvases, keeping the cost down. Frames are built with scrap wood and canvas is stretched on the frame and stapled on. Paint is slopped on to give it a base color. Then the kids go to town, creating their masterpieces.

Orders are taken from parents for "commissioned art" at these sizes and prices:

• 1' by 1': $25
• 2' by 2': $45
• 3' by 3': $65

We then have an "art show" where all the pieces are hung up at a local coffee and chocolate shop for a month. Not shown in the picture above are the little cards that will be by each picture with the title and artist of each piece.

On a specific night, parents come to admire the work of their children and there is a silent auction on some group or class pieces. The school even offers childcare for the evening and parents get to enjoy wine, cheese, and chocolate and a little social time, and open up their checkbooks.

How fun is that?