T-5 and counting

I am just realizing how unprepared I am for our upcoming family vacation. We leave at the end of the week for a beach vacation in Hilton Head, SC.

As the MOM and the primary do-it-all for the family, it is up to me to make the packing list, fill in the blanks with frequent visits to Target for items like bugspray, sunblock, and pepto bismol, air out the suitcases, wash the clothes, pack, etc. etc.

Now that we are a mere five days out from the family road trip, I am sitting here at my laptop, starting the first day under my new role at work and sweating bullets thinking about how much more I have to do.

I am thinking that even with the case of wine we are toting down, it will take half of next week just to unwind before I start enjoying myself.

The upside is unlike some of our recent vacations, the rules for this one are quite different. This is not a vacation where every moment of the day is planned. This is all about relaxation, sun, food, and libations.

I've decided that I am also NOT bringing the laptop.

Nope. I won't be driving to the nearest Starbucks looking for an Internet Hotspot. I swear I won't. No calling in for messages. No contact with the outside world beyond my family.

I'll be the woman in the shorts and flip flops ordering an iced latte, and PERHAPS sipping it on the outdoor porch instead of bouncing back in the car and driving with one eye on the road and the other on the clock.

Hmmmmmm, I can't wait.

Until then, it's just the overplanning, stressed-out, time chasing Shelli you all know and have come to love.

After I've completed the last task/errand at the end of this week, I am locking up the office and taking a technology break.

Yay!

Subtitled: When blogs go bad

Linky love: Workin' Moms Edition

I read many blogs in the course of a day (I love the celeb trash ones, but let's face it.. do we really care if Britney Spears ever makes a comeback??), but the ones I enjoy most are the ones I can relate to as a working mom... thoughts on how to get through the day, tips, and discussions that ignite a spark on issues that intrigue me.

One of my favorites is Work It: A Blog for Working Moms. A great hodgepodge of Mom-centric topics that will entertain you or get you thinking. A great site you should not miss.

Another fave is Working Moms Against Guilt... could there be a better title than that? I especially love their "Finds" and their humor... always great with a cup of coffee when I'm taking a break from the work day.

Lastly, check out BlueSuitMom.com for ideas on how to deal with a boss who doesn't appreciate the finer points of work/life balance or just for some tips on streamlining your day.

Thank goodness for all the resources like these which are so accessible in our technology-driven world.

You are just a mouse-click away from a better day.

IFFGD Celebrity Handbag Auction

Some notable celebs are giving away their handbags in an effort to raise research funds for The Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

The IFFGD Celebrity Handbag Auction is running right now through Wednesday, May 9.

Go forth and bid my friends!

For more information about IFFGD, visit http://www.iffgd.org/.

No sweatpants week

Miyagi: We make sacred pact. I promise teach karate to you, you promise learn. I say, you do, no questions. -The Karate Kid (1984)

I am playing role as teacher this week, and (gasp) I've been in the office all week so far.

Upside, I am getting to dress up and be an adult at work all week. I've even got my matching purse and shoes on! And, last evening a very relaxed business dinner at one of my favorite restaurants.

Downside, no time for bloggy stuff or enjoying the great weather we've had here this week.

I realize one of the things I love about my job is enablement/instruction. I like to teach, and have been having a good time (although my voice is about to cut out).

I'll be back to regular posts later this week!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

After a week of straight rain and gloom, it's finally a sunny day. I'm taking a mini-blogging break to breathe in the fresh air and ponder how lucky I am to do that.

Won't you join me?

Hide and seek

Ok, all you obsessives out there, those worried about your collection of valuable jewels, or concerned the CIA is on to your secret stash of laser printed twenty dollar bills badly hidden in your sock drawer. lol.

I've got a website link for you.

This person has chronciled all the places in their house suitable for hiding things.

Behold, the visual:

So, if you're into any less than above-board activity and want to cover your tracks, or just want to hide items so well you can't find them again (cause, as a Mom, I'm really good at that)... consider using your tampon box, or hell.... just go dig a hole in the backyard as advised.

Seriously, I wish I had this much time on my hands.

Yes, the world may very well be ending

Let me just say that living in an area of the country with few(er) meteorological events has its advantages most of the time.

No earthquakes here.. few tornadoes. Not much in the way of weather on a normal day in New Jersey.

However, I have to say that this Nor'easter currently (still) kicking our butts here in the Northeast has been powerful, scary, and sorta like Cybill.... a mind of her own with multiple personalities.

It has rained for more than two days. When I say rain, I don't mean the on and off variety... we're talking driving rain.... since the night before last. It just never stopped.

Our street has been a river. I swore I saw ducks gliding down it like it was the river rapids ride at the local theme park.

In the last 8 hours, SNOW and sleet. Again, not the light variety.

I stopped at Dunkin Donuts this morning and got soaked just opening the window at the drive-thru.

We (me, hubby and David) were awake most of the night. The wind, sleet, hail worrying. I feel like the house is going to lift off the foundation and (ala Wizard of Oz) and spin off into the atmosphere.

And, I should mention... I took the day off today to go shopping for our upcoming vacation in two weeks. Yeah, geeeeeeez.

Figures.

I guess I'll go clean my closet instead. Maybe I'll find an unused Coach bag I forgot about.

Sorta like treasure hunting for Moms on the day the world is coming to an end.

Or something like that.

Random thoughts

You know I can't let the week end without acknowledging that my pick to leave American Idol was dead on. Of course, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.
Sorry Haley.

Moms, look out.. another recall alert. This time it's Listerine Agent Cool Blue mouthwash. If you have any, THROW IT OUT. But before you do, make sure you send in for a refund. I happen to have this (David had just started using it), hopefully no ill effects. Just sent in for my refund today.

It's a good weight loss day too. I lost 3 lbs. this week. Woo hoo! That, despite indulging in my sister-in-laws HEAVENLY easter treat, home-made Spinach & Artichoke dip.
J.- I have the Rachael Ray recipe... but I want the one you used on Sunday too..... yummy!

I am spending today tweaking my new company issued laptop. I thought I had transferred all my data over, but alas, I am not finished. After another hour or two of pulling my hair out trying to be the technology techie I've never been meant to be (hey, I work in the industry.. doesn't mean I know everything).....I should be done.... heh.
I feel like a CIA agent now, my laptop has fingerprint recognition technology.
How cool is that?????

Out with the old, and in with the new!

It’s a new look for BagMomma, whatcha think?

Susie from Bluebird Blogs did an absolutely fabulous job redesigning my blog. Thank you Susie! You revived my boring old blog and my eyesight (it was getting really, really, hard looking at the small type on the Blogger template). lol.

Seriously, friends… if you are thinking about freshening up your blog, please check out Bluebird Blogs….

And welcome to the new and improved BagMomma!

Is there such a thing as toddler delinquents?

I picked up David from preschool yesterday, and he mentioned in the car that his preschool friend, Sam (not his real name), was kicked out of school (his words).

"What do you mean, kicked out of school?" I said.

"Sam is a bad kid. His Mommy came to get him because he is always in trouble. And he's not allowed to come back to play with us."

So, this conversation is intriguing to me. One, because I have been in the company of Sam. To me he always seemed like a kid just wanting attention. But as I witnessed over the course of the last couple months, his behavior was pretty bad every time I've been in the same room (which is like 1/20th of the school day... imagine what its like the other 98% of the day).

He often would push David down in my presence, with no reason. My husband said that 9 times out of 10 when he picks up David, Sam would knock David's lunchbox out of my husband's hand for sport. If David reached for his coat hanging up under his cubby, Sam would body slam him.

Once I corrected Sam (a week or so ago), saying, "That's not nice Sam, there is no reason to do that to David". I've never done that before, but I felt like my son was Sam's favorite punching bag... until I started talking to other parents and finding out that Sam's target isn't just us, it's everyone and anyone.

I assume that the school picked up on this and the result is Sam is gone... for now. I don't know the specifics.

It feels very odd to think that a 4 year old can be expelled from a preschool. I wonder how that conversation ensues...

...well, your kid is a blight on this classroom, so you are outta here.....?

Where do you go as a parent if you are told your child is out of hand? Does anyone follow up to ensure he gets assistance (if he needs it)?

It just seems so crazy to me.

And for my son, well, he has just been introduced to the ugly side of preschool. And, it won't be the last time I fear.

The sound of silence

aaaaah, it's Monday.

And as with all Mondays after a holiday, it was especially difficult to get up this morning. I am still suffering from the latest miscellaneous infection dujour... the good news is my voice is finally coming back. I've never totally lost my voice before from being sick, so I lived part of last week and the weekend learning how much it interferes with one's day when you can't speak.

Case in point, try to do a couple of minor errands with no voice. I took David with me to the Post Office to get some stamps and I had to pretty much play charades with nice postal employee behind the counter. All while David kept saying, "my Mommy can't find her voice". As if I lost it in the parking lot.

Next, a quick stop at the grocery store. I was fine until I got to the checkout line and checkout girl gave me a look like why won't this woman talk to me. She was babbling to my son about the Easter Bunny while I tried to get her attention to say, normally I can do small talk but not today.

Then, a quick detour to Dunkin Donuts drive-thru.... it wasn't until I heard the voice on the other end that I remembered hey, I can't talk. I mustered every being of my body to say, "medium, just cream"... and was about to sheepishly bail out of the line until my son yelled from the back seat. "Medium coffee, just cream!", and thank the lord they heard him.

My little guy saved my day.

And, after Sunday...a day of eating and fun... candy and toys... and wine with dinner (which I shouldn't have had in hindsight with the drugs I'm on), I am beat this morning.

Getting the little man up was challenging too. David fell back asleep three times before I could get him out the door to preschool. Once when S. brought him downstairs, again when we tried to wake him up in the recliner, and the third time he fell asleep as I carried him to the bathroom to brush his teeth (the bathroom is merely 30 steps from the family room).

He slept on the way to school too, but thankfully he perked up when we got out of the car.

If I had any sense at all I would have taken today off. But then again sensibility is lost in the mire coming off of wine, overeating, antibiotics, and Tylenol PM.

So here we are and a full work week staring me straight in the eyes.

Welcome to Monday, friends.

Goodness it's Friday

That was a pun by the way. lol.

Today I am nursing the fact that I have no voice for this Easter holiday. Yep, sick again. I got a doozy of an infection this time (no doubt the carrier being my preschool son).

Another round of Zithromax for me to go along with my festive egg salad sandwich.

Bag Envy

Besides reading a lot of blogs, I like to keep up with the celebrity gossip. Not so much for the celebs themselves, but I love to see what unlimited money can buy in terms of fashion and accessories.

Take, for instance, my girl JLo. Who doesn't want to be known as JLo anymore, just call me Jennifer Lopez please. I saw a bunch of pictures of her over the course of a couple weeks and SHE NEVER HAD THE SAME HANDBAG in her hand.

This is astonishing to me. One, I'm kind of jealous that she has that many (far outshines my closet of bags).

Second, the logistics of switching bags EVERY DAY defies logic. I mean, how can you keep track of your stuff when you are constantly switching off bags like shirts?

I am not a bag switcher. Unless I am going out and using a smaller bag. I tend to buy a bag and carry it for, say, two-three months. By that time we're in another season and the switch is warranted. And when I go to switch bags, it's a 20 minute task of cleaning out one, reorganizing into another.

Maybe the celebs without kids can do it easier. I mean, what does a single girl need more than a cellphone, lipstick, and a little wallet??

I buy Mom sized purses now. Don't let the price tag fool you, I carry lovely bags that from the outside, looks nice. But peek inside, and you are guaranteed to find a juice box, a used tissue, a bottle of water, miscellaneous dollars floating around, some WetOnes, my wallet, and some half eaten lollipops that my son gave up on when we couldn't find a trashcan.

What does JLo carry in her purses that makes it so easy to switch off? Does she even own them? Or does [insert designer here] just give them to her for free advertising (free for them, a tax burden for her)?

I wonder about these things.

I guess I am a little envious. My most prized handbags (in the you gotta be ridiculous to spend that kind of money on a handbag category) rarely ever get used, because I'd have a cow if I got a greasy handprint on them from my son.

They are treated like my own personal museum pieces. Every once in awhile I use them on special occasions... the rest of the time I am wondering why on earth I justified the purchase to myself. Unless they were a gift from my Mom (love ya Mom).

Oh yeah, that's right.... it's like my hobby. Hubby has his Harley, which will always cost more than all of my bags. No guilt trip there.

So, hey, if any designers want some free advertisement, you'll know where to find me. I just hope you don't mind that I don't hang out in L.A. or NYC.

I am from the ultra-cool streets of New Jersey where the check-out girls at Target and my favorite Barista at my local Starbucks (who always notice my bag of the season) would LOVE one of your designs. Where the sun never sets unless it's behind the shadow of a Wal-Mart and a Circuit City.

Whaaaaat? You don't think Joisey is cool? Just call me Shelli from the cul-de-sac. The hip part of town next to the horse farm.

lol.

Holy cow, it's Tuesday? It's April?

Ok, I lied.

Work has been gruesome. How dare they cut into my blogging time? lol

Do not fear, American Idol is on tonight, and I can't wait to write about it tomorrow. Lest you think this is a Mommy Blog, I know I have strayed a little bit in the last weeks, but promise I'll be getting back to my fine wit and wisdom in the next few days.

Hang in there with me!

Shelli