Hurry Mailman

Just got an email that the magic pants have shipped.

Clemsongirl, you'd better be right. My ass better look fab in them.

Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber

I am in love with the Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber!

When I got an invitation to this campaign on BzzAgent, I went ahead and joined even though I don't do a whole lot of bathtub/shower cleaning myself. After all, I have a cleaning lady! (Now, don't you judge me! You all know that's because my time is limited since I work outside the home.)

However, I figured that there would be a time when I would have to (reluctantly) clean the tub myself. How could I know how right I would be?

I recently had to tell my cleaning lady not to come during Chicken Pox/Staph Infection Extravaganza 2008. And that bathtub- well, it severely needed to be cleaned, especially after all those oatmeal baths that poor WC had taken.

I actually got a little excited to try this product out. And it worked fabulously. It easily removed all the soap/oatmeal scum on the tub, and my hand didn't even get dirty! Also, the smell is not at all overpowering, like some cleaning products can be.

So I'm sold!

Deets:

• The Starter Kit includes 1 handle and 4 cleaning pads in a compact storage tub – all for a suggested price of $5.29 (note: There's a coupon for $2.75 on their website!)
• The cleaning pad Refill Kit contains 6 pads and has a suggested price of $3.19
• Both the Starter and Refill Kits are available at all major retailers
• The Handle is made from extruded foam, low density polyethylene (that means it's comfy!), water-repellent, and equipped with fastener strips to attach easily to the cleaning pad
• The Cleaning Pad is multi-layered with tiny scrubbing fibers, pre-loaded with concentrated Scrubbing Bubbles® foaming cleaner, water-activated, and disposable after one-time use (one pad cleans an average shower/tub)
• The Storage Tub holds six cleaning pads, stores the handle on top, and takes up little space

Have you tried this product, and if so, what did you think?

New Ebates Link - $10 signup bonus

Just got an email from Ebates- they just mailed my quarterly Big Fat Check- and it's $101.85!!!! Yay!!!

If you haven't signed up yet, now is the time! You and I both will get a $10 bonus. Ebates offers rebates on most all of the places we like to shop online- Target, Drugstore.com, Eddie Bauer, Sephora, Old Navy, Gap, etc.

Just think, if you sign up, and then you refer all your friends, you'll have a nice Big Fat Check next quarter!

Email me if you have any questions about Ebates.

Chex Mix Bars

Y'all- the new Chex Mix Bars (Turtle flavor) ROCK!

I first read about them on Hungry Girl a few weeks ago (sign up for the emails!) and had been keeping my eye out for them. There they were at Sam's on Saturday so I picked up a giant box because Hungry Girl said I'd like 'em.

She was right!

These are only two WW points, and are both sweet and salty and truly delicious.

If you are on Operation Skinny Bitch like me, this is a perfect smart snack.

Damn, I Throw a Good Party

Would you look at that? Success! He was so proud and it was quite yummy too. Yay Sam's!

The party was fab. All his buddies were there and a good time was had by all. I think I can confidently say this since all the bottled water, juice boxes, pizza, and cake were completely eaten and everyone was giving each other hugs as they were leaving. These kids are a huggy bunch.

Of course I forgot to hand out most of the party favor bags, but I guess that just means more gummi bears for me.

Also, several moms asked me how I was handling such a big group of crazy 4 and 5 year old with ease, to which I gave my standard answer "Lexapro!".

Mr. Sasha suggested I not make my drug-taking such a well-known fact, but I don't mind people knowing. In fact, I wish someone had told me about it when I thought I was going crazy and there was nothing I could do about it! It's kinda my PSA, and paying my debt back towards society by helping other moms on the brink.

End of Summer Swim Bargains

Athleta has all quite a bit of swimwear on sale- and it's a really good sale! All the pieces above were basically half price, so of course I ordered!

Now, these shorts (which have a built-in brief) run a little smaller than their other fabrics, so I ended up needing a bigger size than last time, but they have a great return policy and have already shipped out the replacement shorts with no additional shipping charges.

And how cute is that skirt? It's a little below the knee on me, but remember I am pretty short.

Uh Oh

See this hour-by-hour weather forecast for tomorrow? The percentage on the right is the chance of rain.

P's party is from 5:30-7:30 tomorrow at an outside park.

I am currently working on a backup plan, but not having much luck.

Also, I am a little worried that his cake is going to turn out like this image from Cake Wrecks.

There was a bit of a language barrier when I tried to order his cake from Sam's the other day.
Although she was Hispanic, she didn't know what I meant when I said we wanted a Diego cake. We also had a misunderstanding about how old he was going to be (6? No, 5.) and the color of icing we wanted (Me: Whatever coordinates with the Diego cake. Her: Hmmm.... OK.)

I don't like the sound of that OK.

At this point, I do think we'll just leave it be and see what we get. Maybe we'll get lucky and get something we can submit to Cake Wrecks ourselves and become world famous. That'll be better than a proper birthday cake, now won't it?

Pampers Change 'N Go

What do we think about the new Pampers Change 'N Go?

I haven't decided yet....

Seriously, It Can Only Go Up From Here

My car died at CVS today.

Since I was there by myself with WC, I asked a random guy walking by to come have a look-see (and since he and I were wearing the same marathon T, I thought we might be kindred spirits and all and surely he'd be a huge help). He guessed it was either the battery or alternator, then shrugged and said "Sorry" as he was walking off to his own working vehicle.

Things started to look up after a nice guy offered to help push me to a better location to be jumped, but my jumper cables were crap.

Stop the madness!

All is well now. The kids are clean and in bed. I just chased my Lexapro with a Mike's Light Hard Cranberry Lemonade.

On a more exciting note, my Couch to 5K story is up at Operation Skinny Bitch! If you haven't checked it out, what are you waiting for?

You Need To Watch

This video.

It's about Rick, husband of my friend Cory (member of the Girls Weekend crew). It's an inspiring story.

Rick, we are all so proud of you!

For Lunch I Really Want

a Fried Ice Cream Blast from Sonic. Does that sound like a bad idea? I'm sure we all remember my obsession with Sweetheart Blasts and how I ate them practically everyday for the entire Valentine holiday season.

You can tell I'm feeling a little more upbeat today, huh? WC is at school this morning. I'll be picking her up after lunch and taking her home though. I figure that 1/2 a day at school is long enough when you haven't been there in 2 weeks.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggedy Jig

Luckily, the new antibiotic is already starting to work.

So we are home! Yay!

Thanks for all your well wishes and prayers.

I think things are looking up for the Sashas.

It's NOT MRSA, it's just plan staph

Which seems like it would be good news, but that means we have been on the wrong antibiotic since Friday....

They'll see her at 2:50 and see if they can drain any of the blisters, or if they need to admit her.

Prayers please.

Bloggy Hint #1- Spaces Between Paragraphs

We all know Blogger can be a little snarky sometimes.

Sometimes your post looks just like you want on the first try, but sometimes it takes holding your tongue just right.

So here's a little hint about how to insure that there will be spaces between your paragraphs.

Type this where you want a space: <.P.> (but take those two periods out)

Voila!

Today for Breakfast

I just had an Eggo Bake Shop Swirlz in Cinnamon (and yesterday I had Strawberry) and these are fabulous. Very decadent and they taste sinful!

I first read about them on Hungry Girl last week, and at only 3 WW points, they sounded like a smart choice for my sweet tooth. I found them at SuperTarget and of course a box of each flavor jumped in my cart.

I haven't told the kids about them yet- I'm going to save them for myself!

The Hex

Even though the bear has been shifted to someone else (Hi Slim!) the hex is still upon us.

Before dinner I dropped off swabs from WC's infected spots to the lab. The ped suspects MRSA. I won't tell you about the hell it was to hold the poor thing down so they could drain the areas. I can't speak of it, or I'll start crying again.

We will find out the results Sunday, but have started the oral and topical MRSA meds.

I am ready to do a ceremony of some sort to lift this horrible illness cloud that is upon the Sashas.

Anyone knowledgeable in this area?

Doctor, Can You See Me?

We suspect her pox are infected. Poor thing, it's Day 10 of Pox Extravaganza 2008, with no signs of depature. Not sure if you can see (tilt your head if not), but her calf is red in a perfect 2 inch circle around that blister.

I'll keep you posted.

There is a pitcher of margs in my future.

Target Find

How cute is this Merona Scoop Neck Bow Tee from Target? It's only $7.99 and super-cute on! I picked up white and brown the other day and I can't wait to wear them with capris to work.

If you happen to be petite and small-boned like me, I also found something really cool- I can wear an XL in some of the kids shirts and they fit great. These are cheaper in the store, I think, (like 3.99 or 4.99) so I picked up about 4 different colors.

God, Thank You For Steve the A/C Man

That was part of my prayers last night.

Steve the A/C Man came to our house about 8:30 pm and got us all fixed up by 9:30. The $300 we spent will be subtracted from the roofing bill.


For dinner last night I had the very nutritious dinner of two Mike's Light Hard Cranberry Lemonades and about half a bag of Garden Salsa Sun Chips, which you must try if you have not. They are fab! Mr. Sasha graciously took them away from me and almost finished the rest of the bag as his bedtime snack.

I'm home with WC today, who is feeling just fine except for the little red volcanoes all over her torso. Since I had to cancel the cleaning lady coming today, she is helping me with chores, which is making things take twice as long.

I talked to the surgery scheduling nurse this morning, and she said she has to find out from the doctor how long we have to wait after WC gets over the chicken pox before she can go under general anesthesia. Hopefully it won't be too long.

I'm Not Kidding

when I tell you that the roofers just cut through our A/C somethingorother and now we have no A/C. And it's 99 degrees at 7 pm.

It's gonna be a fun night.

Oh, Man! (said Swiper)

WC is back to throwing up again.... I now desperately need my carpets cleaned. Or just new carpeting. That might be the best and most sanitary option. (And don't forget a new sofa.) And Cornelia said I deserve a new Coach, which I definitely agree with. Maybe these earrings.

Also, the Sashas are getting a new roof today (damn hail damage) and it is super noisy in here! I knew WC was feeling bad again when she slept for 2 hours through a new roof being installed directly above her crib.

I am now wondering if there is any possible way I'll be escaping the Gastro-Intestinal Diet. I feel fine right now, but how many times can you clean up puke and stay immune? Is it like a cat- 9 lives? Cause I've spent those, for sure. It would be nice to fit back into my 8 pounds ago clothes, but I don't want to be sick to get there. Dear God, if you'll spare me the GID, I promise I'll.... well, whatever it takes, I'll do it. Except eat veggies, we both know I can't do that.

Hope you day is going better than mine! I wouldn't wish this virus/chicken pox thing on my worst enemy!

We're Still Pox-y

Day 6 of the Pox and still breaking out...

The Case of the Mysterious Bear was solved.... it's the town Travelling Bear, meant to be left on an unsuspecting person's door. You're supposed to let them freak out for 2 days, then call to confess. Not sure if I'll play along.... Creepy if you ask me.

Since I'm home with WC I thought I'd be productive and workout. Pulled out my old Firm tapes- the ones that use the Sculpting Stick and the Fanny Lifter. Damn- that is hard stuff! Kicked my ass. Results in 10 workouts they say- we shall see!

Oh- and I left a message with the surgeon about WC's pox- I am assuming they will call back and reschedule the surgery..... I just hate that!

Sasha and Mamalicious

Hollyanna, I had such a good time hanging with you today at Slim's shower! I miss you and loved getting to catch up. How cool is it that we have all been friends since first grade? (the Hawiian shirt and comb in your back pocket sucked me in)

Your gift was not at all awry and I loved the lorts!

I was serious about planning something fun SOON! Once I get out of poxy quarantine land, I'm gonna need beers!

As if the Stomach Virus(s) Wasn't Enough

We have the Pox.

Yup, WC has Chicken Pox.

Say a prayer for a mild case, since her long-awaited hemangioma revision surgery is next Thursday.

Cancelling it is not something I want to do.

The Case of the Mysterious Bear

Are you ready to help solve a mystery?

Cause this is a weird (and somewhat freaky) story, and I need help figuring it out.

Last night Mr. Sasha went to a baseball game and I was already asleep when he got home about 11 pm.

Mr. Sasha: What's the deal with the giant teddy bear on the front porch?

Sasha: Huh? There was nothing on the front porch when I closed the blinds at 8:30.

Mr. Sasha: Yeah, it actually kinda scared me because it looked like a person standing on our front porch when I drove up... but turns out it was a life-sized teddy bear leaning up against the front door.

Sasha: Was there a card or a note?

Mr. Sasha: Nope. Kinda freaked me out, so I stuck it in the garage.

And there it still sits. For reference, that's WC's tricycle in front, so you can see how giant it is. (And don't you judge me for the state of filth in my garage- it's just a garage, people!)

We've talked to family and friends and no one knows about it. I thought maybe someone was thinking of the kiddos (who have both been sick) and was trying to cheer them up.

But no dice.

My coworker thinks we need to call the police and have someone haul it off. She went down the road of drug lords who may have hidden heroin in it, stalkers, and hidden cameras/microphones.....

So what do you think??????

Kiss My Ass Hershey

It's been a super-crazy week, what with throw-up-fest going on and all, so I just now got to sit down and look through the CVS and Walgreens circulars to see what deals I can't miss out on.

And what do I find, but a new Hershey Kiss variety....

And it's "filled with Marshmallow", which just happens to be one of my most favorite sweet things evah.

Crap.

Guess I'll have to stop by Wags tomorrow and pick some up. Will you all come over and help me eat them so I can get back on the road to healthy living faster?

Finally Feathering My Nest

Would you look at that? (click on the pic to enlarge it and check out that dreamy b&w of the kiddos.... so sweet!)

We've lived in Casa de Sasha since fall of 2000, and I'm just now getting around to doing a little decorating.

I'm no Nester, but I'll give it a go. No since in living like we still live in college. We have jobs, by George, that pay us real money, and we need to live like real adults! Put stuff on the wall and shit. Act like we plan on staying put for a bit.

Let me know what you think. Do I have mad skillz or what?

I Love It When

the stars align and my kids throw up on the Pergo instead of the carpet.

Much easier to clean up.

Nope

That's my answer to your question, "Are you kidding me?"

That's what you'll ask me when I tell you that I got a call from the childcare center this morning, telling me The Wild Child had come down with the stomach virus.

Girls Weekend

Y'all, I had a fab weekend.

Every year, the last weekend in July is reserved for "Girls Weekend" with a group of my sorority sisters from college. I always have fun with these girls- they really know how to have a good time! We're all working moms with a lot in common and our friendship is the kind that is comfortable even if you haven't seen each other in a while.

Sadly, only 4 of our group of 6 were able to make it this year. Steph and Kris, we missed you! (And you missed a good time!)

After laying by Cory's pool all day, we headed for dinner/drinks at a local bar on the lake.

Jodie, me, Heather, Cory

Two interesting things about this evening:

1. There seemed to be a local convention for the hearing impaired. And they all came to the same bar we did. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just an interesting choice for them- a bar that always has a good band on Saturday nights.
2. The band looked heavy metal, but turned out to be totally fun dance music. Random.

Heather claims she drank 20 beers. The number grew exponentially throughout the day. I drank quite a few myself, but chose to stay shot-free as a preventative measure. Cory took "the medicine called Chasers" as her preventative measure.

The weekend was just what I needed! Thanks for a fun weekend girls! Love ya! Can't wait til Mexico 09!

Today At the Pool

we listened to this.



Kid Rock "All Summer Long"

Totally a beer drinkin' song.

Since I'm in a state with better beer than my home state, I spent $42 on beer last night. Don't you judge me. Most of it will be going home with me tomorrow and I'll even share with Mr. Sasha.

Hell yeah to The Summer of Beer.

Friday Fun

Oh hell.

You must check this out. My friend Amanda shared it.

Wisely, I might add. We share the same sense of humor it seems.

P is doing much better, by the way. Dietary changes and a little Axid ought to do the trick until his tummy is back to normal.

Off to Girls Weekend 2008! See you Sunday!

Lylas!

An Update

Had our first OT appointment for WC today- it went fabulous. I love this OT and think she is beyond brilliant. Plus she agreed that I probably have some sensory issues myself, and said that in the end it will help me be able to figure out how to deal with WC's sensory issues. (And made me feel super-smart since I diagnosed myself correctly!)

But poor Politician... still not feeling well. Going to put yet another call in to our ped's office when they reopen after lunch- 9 days is too long for a skinny little guy who barely weighs 35 pounds to be sick. His ribs are sticking out.

Up for Grabs: coupon code for $125 cash bonus from Chase

Pretty much every month in my Chase credit card statement, they include this little flyer that offers a $125 bonus if you sign up for a new Chase Free Checking account and set up direct deposit.

Mr. Sasha and I used one about 6 months ago and I set up a little money to go there each payroll as a direct deposit and it worked! We got our $125 just a few weeks later!

I've been sharing these coupons with co-workers who have had great luck with them too!

But I just noticed that it can also be used to set up an account online, so I'll be glad to share this month's code with the first person to leave me a comment with their email address!

Please comment only if you will truly use this code- I'd hate for it to go to waste!

Stipulations:

• First direct deposit must be made within 60 days
• Account must stay open for 6 months
• Must deposit $100 of new money (money not currently held up Chase of its affiliates)
• Limit one personal checking account-related reward/premium per customer per year
• $125 will be deposited in your account 6-8 weeks after initial direct deposit is made
• Reward is considered interest and will be reported to the IRS on IRS Form 1099-INT

Fun Giveaways!

My friend Smoochiefrog is having a lot of great giveaways this week in honor of her Blogoversary!

Go check her out and enter her contests!

Lip of the Day: 07-22-08

Vincent Longo Pearlessence Gel Stains in Dolceaqua

Lip stains are absolutely my favorite type of products. For some reason I tend to focus on my lips when I am on a hunt for new products.

This stain is pearly (obvs) and so pretty and goes on really evenly and dries fast. It's a great summer color too.

But after I put in on today I remembered why I don't reach for it that often- a gloss topcoat just ruins it. On it's own, this stain has great staying power and is marketed as waterproof, but once you put on a gloss, it's over.

But my favorite part of a stain is being able to put a shimmery gloss on top.....

This stain dries to a basically undetectable finish, but I typically find that when I purse my lips, they stick together just a bit.

I do think I will wear this more since I re-discovered it, but am not sure that I'd buy again. It's just hard for me to not have on a glossy topcoat.

Edited to add: Well, I have lost my mind. I remembered that 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic did a review on this product, so I went back to read it, and she puts gloss on top! So I put a shimmery Lancome gloss on top about an hour ago, and it's fine! In that case, this lippie is totally back in the rotation!

New Makeup Purchase

I had my heart set on going to Sephora while we were in Colorado last week, but alas, no Sephora in Denver. I think I did see that there was a JC Penney Sephora in Denver, but they don't carry all the brands in the Penney's shops.

So I settled on going in to the Bare Escentuals shop on 16th Street.

Now, I think I've told you before that I just can't wear BE foundation. I couldn't find a perfect shade match, it was a bit too oily for me, and worst of all, it made it itch.

But I love all their other products.

I saw their Get Started: Eyes, Cheeks, and Lips kit in Fair to Light ($49) and couldn't resist.

Contents:

• Winter White Eyecolor
• Smoke Eyecolor
• Nurture Liner Shadow
• Kiss Blush
• Dolly Mini Buxom Lips
• Double-Ended Quick Color & Crease Brush
• Heavenly Liner Brush
• Tapered Blush Brush

So far, I love the eyecolors and the blush. And I am obsessed with the crease brush- I get perfect application of my darker color in the crease when I use this. Perfect.

I have not gotten brave enough to try the liner shadow and liner brush yet. The lippie I am "meh" about. I typically like more pigment for a lipcolor, but this is a nice neutral that I can slop on to run into Target or something. It does smell fabulous.

On a side note, the poor Politician is still battling his stomach woes. We went to church Sunday and he went to school Monday, but woke up this morning not feeling well. His class has a big field trip on Thursday, so I hope he feels better by then. He's really excited and I'd hate for him to have to miss that too, since he's already missed his Tball party and a birthday party.

I Am A Fashion Icon

Well, probably not, but I am wearing these today, and how cute are they?????

From Target, these Xhilaration Terra Sandals are just $17.99. They are actually quite comfortable and such a bargain. Be careful, though, since the print is a multi-color floral, the first pair I picked up totally didn't go together- the left one was aqua/green and the right one was pink/grey..... I had to hunt around to find a pair that looked like it was a proper pair of shoes.

They also appear to come in blue/red/beige, possibly the same fabric as the ballet flats I love and get so many comments on...... Hmm.... considering an online order.....

Lip of the Day: 07-20-08

Revlon ColorStay Soft & Smooth in Sheer Watermelon

I forgot about this lippie and was excited to try it again today for church. It's a nice texture and doesn't really bleed. Since this is one of the six "sheer" shades that they offer in this line (the sheers come in white tubes rather than black), it doesn't have quite as much staying power. Still, it feels good on and didn't bleed and still looked pretty nice at lunchtime.

Don't know that I'd buy it again, but I'll be putting it back in rotation since I think it's a great summer color for me.

Party Planning By Sasha

So I got a new Oriental Trading Party catalog today, and was flipping through to see if they had any Diego things I might need for P's party, and I came upon this, which would be perfect for Mamalicious's BLM's upcoming birthday party. (You know I'm a slacker mama who is all about the store-bought party supplies. Saves me time, saves my sanity. Saves some beer for someone else.)

Pink Pirate!

How cute is that?

But then, I found this:

Rock Star!

Even better!

What do you think?

Note: These sets all come in individual pieces too. I don't want you thinking I'd spend $115 on plates and cups.

I'd spend it on gummy coke bottles or beer, but not cups and plates.

Teddy Grahams Trail Mix

Oh, how I love being a BzzAgent.

I think that recognition of Worth of Mouth marketing is absolutely the most genius thing ever. If someone I know has tried a product and loved it, and tells me all about it, you bet your sweet biffy that I'm going to try it. (Now, I've also been know to try products no one has ever heard of, but a recommendation from someone else seals the deal for sure.)

Currently I'm enrolled in a campaign for Teddy Grahams Trail Mix. The folks at BzzAgent were fabulous enough to send me a package of each variety for the kiddos to try. And who am I kidding, you know I ate some too.

WC loved it so much that when it came time to take in monthly snacks to daycare, I bought a box of each for her to take in.

Here's info from my BzzGuide:

• It's a trail mix designed specifically with kids in mind
• Available in two varieties -
  Bears & Bees with Chocolate teddies, Bees, Pretzels and Yogurt Flavored Raisins
  Bears & Cheese Crackers with Honey teddies, Pretzels, Raisins and Cheese Nips
• Sold nationwide, at local grocery stores, Wal-Mart and Target
• Have a suggested retail price of $2.99 for an 8oz. box
• Contain no cholesterol and are low in saturated fat

It's really a great snack. And I let my kids eat some too.

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Coors Brewery: 2000 and 2008

2000


2000


2008

2008

Holy crap. I miss my old tan 26 year old self. I miss laying in the tanning bed, and making damn sure they gave me one with a special bulb so that my face will get extra-dark.

I do not, however, miss wearing pleated shorts with belts. What the hell was that all about?

Seeing these pics together point out to me that I have aged quite a bit in 8 years.....

Wah.

Ya'll

OMG.

I forgot how much I hate flying. I am the worst passenger evah.

The second I walk through the doors at the airport, I say, "I feel sick." Mr. Sasha does not think this is funny, but I certainly am not trying to be funny- I'm totally serious.

During take off and landing, my face turns beet red and I start sweating and I feel like I might explode. I have to toss my reading material into Mr. Sasha's lap and put my head between my knees. I also have to moan a bit and grab on to his arm and whimper and do the whole cycle again, until the feeling is gone.

It's quite a sight. And it's not that I am scared of flying, cause I'm not, it just makes me sick.

The lady next to me today offered me a Dramamine.

I would have preferred a Phenergan, but I didn't have any on me, plus I'm no good for hours after I take one.

Anybody else a terrible flyer, and if so, what do you do about it?

Beer, Pie, and Gellato

All of these three things I have overindulged in over the past few days.

We'll be back in town tomorrow night and I'll try to check in.

Cheers! (drink some beer!)

Hoping to Get to Try

MGD 64.

Only 64 calories! That means I can drink more and still stay within my WW points, which I am totally going to start counting again when we get back from CO.

Hope they have it at the brewery today. Looks like it rolls out nationwide in October.

Boring Conference + Brewery Tour = Saved Trip

Mr. Sasha and I are headed to Colorado today. I've got a super-exciting (not) conference to attend Mon-Wed.

In an attempt to salvage the trip, we will (of course) be touring the Coors Brewery in Golden. Now, we have done this before while on our 1st anniv trip in 2000. It was then that I first tasted (and became a big fan of) Blue Moon.

Also, after this tour, Mr. Sasha and I were pulled aside and chosen to be Official Beer Tasters. This involved going into a special room and tasting samples of various beer and giving our opinion. We were chosen because of the amount of beer that we reported we drank weekly. Embarrassing, but super-fun.

And when we left our Official Beer Taster certificates in our rental car, Hertz was nice enough to mail them to us at home.

KytoStat Linkage

How cool am I?

Last month I did some Cliff Notes on June 2008 Parents magazine, and I mentioned KytoStat Bandages.

Now my blog is linked to from their front page! (StatCounter rocks by the way)

These bandages instantly seal the wound and stop the bleeding- with The Wild Child around, I am pretty certain I will need these at some time.... They are $15 for 3, but it sounds like they are worth it if you have small children around. I'm definitely going to get some to have on hand.

Has anyone tried them?

Unbelievable!

I was just going through my 4th of July pics, and by George, it's a miracle!

Do you see what I see?

Two kids with their sunglasses on correctly.

Typically, they are upside down.

Just like shoes, somehow more than 50% of the time, WC gets them on the wrong foot.

The Politician is Having a Birthday Party With Store Bought Invitations

Don't you judge me!

Oh, Ashley, how I love thee.

But do you know how many nightmares I have had about putting together birthday parties since your birthday post of August 2007? Your party-planning skills are amazing and I am so impressed with what you put together.

But I just can't do that.

In fact, I was so overwhelmed with birthday-party planning anxiety that poor WC didn't even really have a 2nd birthday party in January. I just decided that I sucked so bad I'd just call a few people and see if they wanted to come over and eat some cupcakes.

But Since P is old enough to be aware of these kind of things, I decided I better work on planning him a party since his bday is in less than 6 weeks.

We had a Sasha Family Roundtable Discussion last night about All Things Birthday, and here's the plan:

A Diego Party!

Place: The Birthday Park (where we had his 2nd and 3rd birthdays, it's basically free and there's tons of crap for the kiddos to play with so I don't have to come up with entertainment on my own)

Menu: $5 Pizzas and cupcakes from whatever store does Diego cupcakes (Sam's? Walmartz? SuperTarget? Homeland? chime in if you know and save me some dreaded phone calls)

Things to Buy at Party Galaxy: All Diego items: tablecloth, napkins, plates, invitations, goodie bags

Done and Done! Now that's how The Sashas throw a party.

Dear Laura and Sophie,

I'm just not feeling you. In fact, Laura and Sophie, your music stylings remind me of someone......

That's right, every time I hear you I think of The Culps on SNL. I'm just saying.

(By the way, this video is just a parody of The Culps- I can't believe I couldn't find an actual Culp clip on youtube)

Lip of the Day: 07-08-08

Maybelline Superstay Lipcolor in Plum

This is one of the two step products- you apply the long-wearing lipcolor first, allow it to dry for about a minute or so, then apply the topcoat.

The color is just OK- pretty natural, and I typically like more color on my lips. It's the topcoat that ruins this for me- it's a petroleum-type balm that doesn't smell very nice at all. This makes me remember that I really prefer the gloss-type topcoats.

Although I won't buy this again, I will probably use this from time to time since I found it in my stash.

New Ebates Link

Although the last $10 ebates sign-up offer expired, they have a new offer!

Sign up and make a purchase by August 14, and we'll both get $10!

Here's the link.

ABCs of Me!

Last month Jennifer tagged me, and this has been on my to-do list since then! The crazy thing is that a lot of my answers are the same as Jennifer's!

**Make sure you pay attention to the letter “T” cause I may be tagging you!**

A. Attached or Single? Attached (happily married!)
B. Best Friend? Lots of good friends
C. Cake or pie? Cake
D. Day of choice? Saturday
E. Essential item? 1 can of full-sugar Coke for breakfast every morning
F. Favorite color? Navy
G. Gummy bears or worms? Gummy coke bottles
H. Home town? A very small town in the Southwest
I. Favorite indulgence? Tiramisu
J. January or July? July (well, it's The Summer of Beer!)
K. Kids? Two and we are done!
L. Life isn’t complete without? Tivo
M. Marriage date? August 1999
N. Number of brothers and sisters? I'm an "only"
O. Oranges or Apples? Clementines
P. Phobias? revolving doors and also the car wash that moves you down the track by itself
Q. Quotes? The way the world underestimates me will be my greatest weapon. People pat me on the head, and I go to myself, "oh, and aren't they going to be surprised." - Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal)
R. Reasons to smile? Mr. Sasha and the kiddos
S. Season of choice? Fall- I love the cooler weather
T. Tag 5 people: Julie, Stephanie, Carrie, Holly, Traci Anne
U. Unknown fact about me? I can tap dance
V. Vegetable? Do potatoes count?!
W. Worst habit? biting my nails
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? Pregnancy ultrasounds!!
Y. Your favorite food? shrimp en brochette
Z. Zodiac sign? Capricorn
Z. Which zoo animal is your favorite? Gobi monkeys

Lip of the Day: 07-06-08

Stila Long Wearing Lip Color in Exquisite

This is really a nice lipstick- a natural look that is actually pretty long wearing. I applied before church about 9 and it still looked nice at lunch. The sheen fades a bit but you are left with a nice color that doesn't bleed.

Of course, I've always found Stila a bit expensive, and this product is no different. At $18, it's a definite splurge. Stila's products are so darn cute though, and I love how this twists up. Not sure if I'll buy it again, but I do like it.

Don't You Dare Call PETA On Me

But WC got a little too aggressive with this guy and his friend (not pictured) and they are no longer with us.

Seems that Mr. Sasha's parents just installed a new in-ground pool (fancy!). And for some reason, it attract a bazillion little frogs who swim around with you. Strange. And creepy.

So WC manage to get her little paws on one and was just so taken by it's cuteness that she was carrying it around. You could just see a lone little frog leg sticking out. And just when you'd try to pry her hand apart to get the poor little prisoner out, she'd squeeze harder.

So I had to bury two of these little guys yesterday.

But other than that, a good time was had by all humans. I made some un-wise decisions regarding alcohol intake, but it's all good. We did realize at 9 pm when the kids were scarfing down birthday cake that we are pretty sure no one fed the kids dinner, but hey, they never said they were hungry! I would have totally put my beer down and made them a sandwich or a burger- all they had to do was ask. Don't you judge me!

We are off in a bit to a party that is sure to be fun- the words "Margarita Madness" were in the invitation! Hope you are having a great weekend.

Need An Alcoholic Beverage for the 4th?

Then stop by your local Wal-Mart and pick up a 6 pack of Smirnoff Raw Tea (I recommend the Raspberry).

I noticed the 6 packs were priced at $3.67 last month, and I figured it was being discontinued, so I bought all they had (four 6 packs- don't you judge me!).

But Tuesday night I noticed they were still on the shelves and still at that fantastic price!

You'll love it- promise!

Cleaning Up the Bandwagon

So how you are doing on the Couch to 5K Bandwagon?

I think I'll clean up the Bandwagon Blogroll a bit- take those off that fell off the wagon, and add a few who have jumped on!

Leave me a comment about your progress!

Edited to add: Even if you fell off, and you let me know you'd like to get back on, you can stay on the blogroll! (That's for you, Traci Anne!)

A special shout-out to my friend Amanda who is on Week 6! She was a non-runner like I used to be, and after she came to watch me at the finish line of a 5K, she decided to join in. I'm super-proud of her and excited she has caught the running bug. She hopes to run her first 5K at the end of August. Although it is still pretty damn hot then this time of year, I'll be joining her to show my support. (Someone better have a beer ready for me the finish line)

WC Is Time Travelin'

The Wild Child learned the phrase "last night" and now if anything happened in the past, it happened "last night", even if was a month ago.

"We went there last night."
"We did that last night."
"I ate that last night."
"I took off my diaper and slid down the slide last night."
"I took my clothes off and ran around the front yard like a nekkid jaybird last night." (yes you did)

But she got me with a new one yesterday.

I got her milk out of the refrigerator and handed it to her and it must have been an old cup (don't you judge me!) because she said....

"Yuck! That milk is from tomorrow!"

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Pool

Because fun can be had for a mere $7.

Promise.

Moving to Your Own Domain

Kelly Bee asks: Sasha, Could you please, please, please do a quick post on how to make the leap to your own domain name??? I would love to do that if it isn't too terribly hard. I think it's your duty as Ashley's hero, don't you??KB

Sure Kelly Bee! I've got a lot going today, so I'll post a few steps at a time. (By the way, I tried to check out your blog, but your profile isn't enabled....)

1. You are going to need to secure your desired domain. Mr. Sasha reserved http://www.sashasays.com/ for me a few years ago because he swore someday that I could somehow use as it as place to post reviews of all my product/makeup/food finds. Who knew this blog would develop and he'd be right!

There are lots of hosting sites, but we use http://www.1and1.com/ and Mr. Sasha says it's $6.99 a year to buy a domain name. Yahoo is $9.95 and GoDaddy is $9.99- so if you are bargain shopper like me, go for 1and1.

2. The next step is to create a CNAME record for it to point to ghs.google.com.

Here is the bloger help document with specific instructions for each hosting site on how to do this. I followed these instructions for 1and1 and GoDaddy with no problems.

3. Next, you need to update your blogger settings to reflect the change.

You'll do this on the Settings Publishing tab for your blog in Blogger. Click the link at the top that says "Switch to Custom Domain" towards the top. Fill in the domain you registered, and then save your settings.

It may take a bit for all the DNS servers to update. If it doesn't work at first, try again later.

Your original Blog*Spot address will automatically forward to your new domain. That way, any existing links or bookmarks to your site will still work.

And of course, I'm glad to help anyone that is having trouble. Provided, of course, that you name me as the "Hero of the Year" for your blog.