I guess we all run around like crazy people getting costumes, spending money on odd props, and covering our kids in face-paint for one reason: they like to get dressed up. Sometimes.

 

I can't tell you how many costume "situations" have backfired...a screaming tom and jerry one year; a sleepy, balling animal from the muppets last weekend;  an ornery tiger years ago.  The list  goes on from there. It's usually more fun for me- I drink mudslides and pass out/eat chocolate while wearing cat ears or something pretty simple..but nonetheless, fun. Anyway, I was thinking, what the hell is this for? WEll, there is some history behind this creepy holiday, as you know. I'm just not sure anyone knows what that history is, exactly. So, I looked around a bit.  The history channel has the long, detailed 411on vampires, bats, origins and more, including fascinating fast facts.

 

But, if you care to read a brief history of halloween (a Montessori halloween...who's surprised there?) and want to impart some wisdom on your sugar-overloaded children while they are running around the house looking for wigs or whatever, read this. I know my oldest son will like to hear this type of info when I tuck him into bed...study up, parents, study up. 

 

If you are looking for last minute activities, click here. 

 

If you, like all the moms eating bonbons, have nothing to do and want to spend a quality day in the kitchen or craft room, click here.  

 

If you have any websites to share, by all means, please add them in the comments. Now, what the hell was I doing? Oh yeah, getting ready for HALLOWEEN!!! Good luck and may the costume-force be with you.

Ok, moms. It's humpday, the week is lagging and you probably need some mindless distraction. That's why I've put together my top ten favorite hot dads for all of us to dream about while making our pathetic meatloaves and chicken pot pies.

 

I don't know about you but these dads make me want to scrub the house and get all worked up...I'd even vacuum for these gents. Ok, that's a lie but nonetheless,  these are my favorites...don't thank me, thank google pics and God above for their handsome faces. Also, the big bulging wad in their pants is attractive too. Ladies, I'm talking about their wallets...get your minds out of the gutter, please.

 

 

 

Can you figure out who is who?

hoppus & BARKER from blink 182

Pitt, Law & Depp

Gwen's Gavin

Todd Richards...yummy

Eminem & Beckham

Mystery man

 

 

This is nothing more than a ramble. I have no "academic"  clue about economics but I see the red flags everywhere...if you know anyone who is struggling... you aren't the only one! The TITANIC of debt is taking on water, people.

 

I found this article particularly interesting because it shows that people everywhere are living paycheck to paycheck. It  did kind of bug me, though,  because the family in the article pays $500 dollar for rent which I thought was obscenely cheap...still, triple or even quadruple that rent price and factor that into a "normal" family budget. It's a lot for SO many people!

 

 In various circles - friends & family alike, I've been hearing about people losing houses, not making enough money to get out of their parents' house, not making enough to cover childcare, or simply having hard times financially. I watched Oprah the other day and some housewife put her family $150k in debt on credit cards...people are falling under the wave of financial ruin. (I'll admit the mother was not smart about her choices...all her purchases were to fill a void and "keep up with the Joneses")

 

The gap between "sucessful" and "struggling" is enormous. There are families with ten + years  of work experience who can't stretch their dollars to pay for groceries(let's face it if you don't want chemicals and preservatives....you have to pay more!) and bills and cost of living. I know a family -married nineteen years- who lives  paycheck to paycheck...they have a house and four kids...he has TWO great jobs!

 

Many of my professional friends who don't have kids but are hovering around the 30-35 age still can't buy a house- and they don't have a savings. It's like something got all messed up in there... The monthly payout for bills is insane. For phones, cell phone, tv, medical, loans, credit, mortgage/rent, groceries, fees, starbucks (lol)...it's just insane.

 

So, the point? Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.The scary part? (From my favorite ship-is-sinking-parody,Thumbtanic)  "you can't come back from sinking."

 

 

more Thumbtanic...

 

 

 

With the holidays soom approaching, you might need to get out some of those rarely-used metal pieces of silverware/dishware.  I know I have a few things that I either need to brighten up or leave in the back of the storage cabinet. If you've got brassy, browning metals check out this list directly from Green This! by D. Imus..

 

Remember, kids LOVE to polish so with these safe solutions, put them to "work"!

 

Aluminum

Clean with: cream of tarter & water

 

Brass

Polish with: soft cloth dipped in lemon & baking soda solution OR vinegar & salt solution

 

Chrome

Polish with: nontoxic glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth

 

Copper

Clean with: rag/cloth + mixture of salt, lemon juice water...dry thoroughly

 

Gold

Clean with: toothpaste

 

Pewter

Clean with: paste of salt, vinegar, flour

 

Stainless Steel

Clean with: nontoxic glass cleaner + microfiber cloth...for utensils, soak in bakingsoda for 15min, rinse & dry

 

Silver

Clean with: soap + warm water or silver polish cloth or toothpaste or 1part water/ 3 parts baking soda

 

NOTE: storing silver in cloths will keep them cleaner longer...

 

 

MORE "recipes" and ideas to come...

 

 

 

 

 

When my mother in law sent me the book green this! greening your cleaning  by deidre imus I took my sweet time to sit down and read it.  I didn't pick it up for at least a month. When I finally got to skimming it, I kind of had a panic attack. There are so many crazy things that normal, smart, "healthy" people do everyday (all day) in a false attempt to "clean" everything. 

 

I started out in the "fact section." Great. Hypochondria, paranoia, guilt, stupidity ..all those feelings set in when I read through the hundreds of toxic choices my friends, family and I make all the time. It was a real eye opener.  Here's a bit of info to get your hearlt palpatating.

 

The EPA estimates 80,000 chemicals in the environment.

 

Toxin Types [pp31-32]:

neurotoxins-chemicals that affect brain/nervous system

found in: air fresheners, disinfectants, spot removers, permanant press fabrics

 

carcinogens- chemicals that cause or aggrevate cancer cells

found in: all purpose cleaners, dishwashing liquids, furniture polish, oven cleaners, glass/window spray, air fresheners, spray starch, flea and roach bombs, spot removers

 

mutagens- agents that cause permanant genetic cellular change

found in: air freshener, cleaners, detergents, spray starch, disinfectants, furniture polish

 

endocrine disruptors- agents that interfere  (or mimic) with hormone / reproductive system

found in: some laundry detergents, furniture waxes, metal polishes

 

teratogens- substances that interfere with fetal development

found in glass cleaners, all purpose cleaners spray starch

 

After browsing that section, I read through facts such as dieases associated with chemical exposure (everything from adhd to tremors), types of cleaners (solvents to propellants), marketing tactics (saying "natural" when it's not a green product), where to find all these crazy chemicals, including petrollium distillates [EVERYWHERE from lipgloss to motor oil]...an on and on...

 

SO, after capturing my full attention, I read on to all kinds of ways to make my home safer, healthier and naturally cleaner.

Did you know air fresheners and toilet bowl cleaner vapors are extremely toxic? Did you stop to consider that burning candles can emit hazardous chemicals? Did you ever think  of your indoor plants as air purifiers?  Have you considered using natural, cheap substances like vinegar, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, salt and baking soda as household cleaners? 

 

I hadn't before reading this book.  I often bought less toxic lemon/citrus cleaner but  I quickly realized that there is MUCH more to it than that. So now, I have no choice but to reconsider my foolish ways. Here are a few ideas that everyone can use starting TODAY without making an expensive trip to the organic food store and investing in pre-bottled all natural household cleaners!

 

in the kitchen...

a baking soda & lemon juice paste can scrub sinks and countertops

 

in the bathroom...

adjusting ventilation can mean the difference between inhaling toxic chlorinated gases and breathing cleaner air

 

in the bedroom...

make natural mothballs from rosemary, mint, thym, ginseng & cloves (ok, you might have to go to the store for this stuff, lol)

 

in the living room...

use essential oil diffusers vs. candles and air fresheners

 

in the laundry room...

use distilled white vinegar vs. toxic fabric softeners

 

and so much more...

 

Beyond all the practical tips like these, the book is well researched and all proceeds benefit kids with cancer. SO, if I were to pick a top Christmas/ holiday/birthday gift??? This is one for the list.   Nice choice MIL, thanks...

 

 

 

 

Book Description (from amazon.com)

Change the way you clean and keep your family's home wholesome and healthy with the help of expert and activist Deirdre Imus.

We all grew up thinking chemical smells like bleach and ammonia signaled "clean." But as Deirdre Imus reveals, some of the chemicals we use to maintain our homes are doing us and our families much more harm than good. In Greening Your Cleaning, the first in her Green This! series, Deirdre shows how cleaning house the environmentally responsible way can be as effective and often cheaper than the more traditional, toxic, means. This volume includes:

• Simple, efficient cleaning methods for every room of the house

• Spotlights on everyday products (all purpose cleaner, glass/window cleaner, laundry detergent) and the toxic ingredients you should be wary of

• Summaries of the latest research on the toxic effects of ordinary chemicals

• Resource lists of widely available "green cleaning" products and retailers

Filled with tips and testimonials, Greening Your Cleaning will show you how to streamline your cleaning products and practices, and how easy it is to make "living green" your way of life.

Yeah, I am an idiot...lol. I was skateboarding - for like 10 seconds- with the boys out front, trying to prove that yes, a mom can ride down the street fast on a board...you know where this is going...well, I tried to kick turn myself around (remember, mommies, swingweight- not so cool) and so, I leaned too far one way, the board zoomed out and I came down on my right arm. I was lucky it didn't snap. My feet went up in the air and I flat out landed in the middle of the street. I am pretty sure I ruined my neighbor's sunday brunch with an emabarassing crash right outside their bay window. Wow. My son and his friends were laughing at me- it was really embarassing and when I rolled up my sleeve, my elbow was scraped off (the bruise should set in at around day four)and I pulled every muscle from forearm to shoulder blade...and so mommies, I guess I have to stick to doing nothing...what a tool.

Hello Friends,

 

I know this is a long entry but this issue consuming my life right now and any of your insight would be much appreciated.

 

SO, this school year started out okay, or so I thought until I called the school for another purpose, and by accident spoke to a nameless counselor  who mentioned to me my son hadn't focused at all this year, that he's an emotional mess and that I should seek other alternative support options. I was like, what? Why hasn't anyone said anything to me?

 

 He's been pretty stable at home- way less power struggles and intense issues so I hadn't really known this.  He said he was doing fine- Ihadn't heard from the teacher (mind you this is 3 weeks in or so). So, I call the teacher, his other counselor and the guidance counselor.

 

They all have a different opinion about DS. One dropped "bipolar" one dropped "distracted" and one dropped "indigo child." (which I mentioned before) 

 

So I dropped "gifted" (just to categorize his behaviors under a common label- not prodigy or genius...) When I mentioned I joined a parent group for dealing with "gifted" kids, I literally got, "well, we don't feel that because he's certainly not showing any signs of motivated learning."

 

First of all, that means very little since my book that I am reading with this class has a chapter covering these issues surrounding my kind of kid:

• motivation
• intensity
• stress
• anxiety
• perfectionism
• idealism
• anger
• power struggles
• underachievement
• school communication
• counseling
• motivation (usually a lack of)
• sensitivity
• and so forth!

 

So I'm not that far off either. However, the district already labeled him  (not officially as in coded) as having emotional issues so they aren't even thinking gifted- plus they don't have a GT dept anyway...in fact there's only one alternative (a delinquent high school) school in all of vermont! I asked if they covered tuition for outside schools that better meet the needs of kids....

 

I heard this: (paraphrased)" every child deserves a public edcuation and we don't offer anything else. And, I don't know where you came from but we don't pay for private tuition if we can't meet the needs of your child We meet the needs of every child." I was like, ok...hmm...I do know they are mandated to meet the needs of special ed - I think they are trying to get him coded ED - emotionally disable which is a total crock...anyway...it continues....

 

I had a meeting with all three: teacher, counselor and private counselor. I heard he hasn't done anything all year...I said well, he can't go another year without learning anything...they said (in the next breath) well, academically, he's doing just fine...I was like ok, so what should I be thinking?

 

In the meeting, I told them how he found music and it is going really well. We went over details and they all had different things to say but agreed he's hard on himself and then I got a fear-tactic kind of comment.

"My concern is fourth grade. Next year the manipulatives really start to go away and the class is run much more academically (mind you my child isn't struggling with the content...mostly delivery- she's using "acdemic" to mean "traditional")...If we continue course, we're going to have to really start early to transition him in..."

 

Oh great! It's going to get worse? Gee, what are my options???

 

So, I sat in on his 2/3 class. 22 Kids buzzing around in a progressive style format- lots to do and plenty of resources...good. Okay, did I see any other third grade boys SO on tasK? nope. Did I see a girl following my son around rubbing his hair and his foot? Playing with his keyboard buttons? Talking incessantly to him? YES! It was audio-overload in there. It certainly wasn't too loud, it was just too busy. I know exactly what my son is dealing with. I could feel it while I was in there. It was maddening for me...let alone him.

Then, to provide proper comparison, I visted two well-known progressive, private third grade classrooms. I was amazed at the pace, the thought, the class-size, the manipulatives (blocks in all classes through sixth grade-sweet!)...it was just so much more tolerable- actually enjoyable!

 

If I could drop the cash- I'd pull him tomorrow and put him in one of the two...what do you suggest I do?

I have to meet with the principal and the district psychologist next week...I feel terrible about going down that road (which he'll have to do to play the public school game)...I'm maxed out. I have had meeting after meeting, vistits, phone calls, emails, and voicemail messages- I don't know what to do, think, say...

Thoughts??? What would you do???

 

dustbunny

 

Okay, so I haven't ridden my snowboard in a while so I am certainly not as core as I should, would, or could be at this point in my life. Kids took over and my feet were always miserably cold so hey- whatever, let it go. But, occasionally I play around on snowboard websites just to see what's going on out there (plus my hubby has worked in the industry this whole time...anyway...). I came across an ad on Shredbetties for funny stories of embarassing crashes. So, I thought I'd draft an article. I haven't submitted it yet but I think you'll all appreciate the visual on this one! It's not edited but I need to step away from it and clean it up...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(please sing to the dora "backpack" song :)...

 

ok, so if you are any way interested in my extra- large love handle drama, keep reading.

As you might know, I went in for a lipoma removal. It sounds creepy and a bit scary BUT it's basically a fat chunk...like a tumor but made of lard, that collects anywhere on your body.  Mine was nice enough to form in the deepest part of my lower left love handle (literally). 

 

So,  how did I get this, you ask?

Well, after my first baby (55lbs,- I don't know where I could have scored some extra fat)...I found a lump. I thought I had cancer of the handle and I went in to see a doc...He chuckled and said it was fat and that they were normal and that he had one too. He even showed me his, since I showed him mine (his was on his arm- no naughty stuff here, sickos :).

 

Fast forward eight years to today .

 

After 2 more pregnancies-100lbs gained and lost -(well, be nice, I know it's not all lost...but a good portion), the chunk grew a bit more each time. It's not grotesque or anything and with clothing on, you'd never know about it- anyway, I went back to the doc and asked to have it removed. They sent me to general surgery and well...long story short...

 

I couldn't have it done today! I had to schedule an ultrasound....he said it's too squishy and it might be....drumroll....(this might make you sick) enlarged blood vessels OR basically vericose veins attached to a lipoma!!!! Seriously, a vericose viended chunk of blubber ... a pesky old fashioned hip hemmorhoid (hipperoid, lol)! That thing makes half moon pose nasty moon pose and the muffin top extra muffiny on the backside (I guess it should match the front- right?)...let's add insult to injury. I have to wait until they see the ultrasound and determine if I need a full operating room due to a higher liklihood that they hit a liquid core and I die on the table.

 

 

I made that last part up...they just need to know more incase they need more "tools." It could be worse...but it could be better. Oh well, another day with my fatty friend.

 

Ok, so, I knew I heard clanking with the sugarbowl lid...then footsteps running down the hall...I follwed suit and here's what I found.

 

busted baby in the sugarbowl

 

btw, I didn't realize this posted in posts...sorry...also, he has marker on his face...he was just drawing on himself...sugar + marker= bathtime!!!

I was kidnapped. Last week, I found out I was on the receiving end of an elaborate plot to be abducted and forced to relax at the topnotch spa. I received a phone call on Thursday afternoon ...

 

"hello?"

"pack your bag"

"what? what bag?"

"the bag by the bed"

"what? the kids have soccer and I have class...I'm supposed to drive.where are we going? who's watching the kids? what!?"

"it's all taken care of. I signed into your email, contacted our friends and everyone knows but you."

 

meanwhile, my neighbor who was chatting and drinking coffee with me starts laughing from the other room...

 

"hold on....(shouting into the kitchen) did you know about this???!!!"

my friend, "yes. I have a list of things for you to bring. a bathing suit, sneakers, jeans and a nice top for dinner out."

 

"what?! I hate surprises (talking to both at the same time) you guys suck! I don't have laundry washed or sheets clean for a sitter! M has a field trip, T  has a class fruit salad to make tomorrow...aaahhh! "

(I start panicking and thinking of how much work I suddenly have to do).

hubby..."just chill out, it'll be fun. I'll be home later."

"ok. alright.whoa.okay.laundry.see you in a bit."

chuckle chuckle, my neighbor, who hung around all afternoon looking at martha sturart & family living magazines had been hiding this from me. then, I find out my neighbor (who turned the big 4-0) had won a free spa vacation for 2 nights @ the top notch  but totally worked the place into giving her two rooms for one night...we got one, she and her hubby got the other.

 

wow...all this time they had been planning and scheming behind my back! I thought I was the sly one who kept a surprise party under wraps last week for her birthday (the neighbor who surpised me).

 we threw a suprise party last week...which actually is a great story in itself...I'll recap that in another post...

 

anyway, so, bottom line, I wash sheets, gather blankets, pack lunches, find clothing, get ready in a tornado of domestic planning...we have a tag team efforts of friends and babysitters picking up, dropping off, getting ready- it was like a three ring circus getting out of the house but when we did, it was really fun!

 

when we arrived and finally checked in, there was a message for us...do not hesitate and head directly to the outdoor hottub.... what?

 

 

so we go out there and there's my friend, sitting in the most picturesque hot tub patio environment, sipping a martini and in full relaxation mode...(she has three kids and this was necessary for her as well!)

I laugh- she's like- we got you!

I  reply "you guys suck! you had me totally fooled and I had no idea! THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!"

 

We went to the Topnotch Resort/Spa in Stowe Vermont. Unreal. Awesome. Late dinner...relaxing in hot tubs...pools and then, the following morning...you'll never believe this:

110 minute custom massages!

 

HOLY COW! do you know how long ONEHUNDREDANDTENMINUTES is? It's nearly two hours of insanity...as in good insanity. In fact, my massage actually changed my life...I'm going to fill you in on that experience in a later post.

 

 

Right now, I hear the clanking sounds of little hands tampering with the lid on my sugarbowl - gtg...more stories to come...

db