duck.wine.rock.well.

i had such a great weekend. it was busy, but great. what made it sooooo great, you may ask???

because my GRANDMA came to seattle to visit! picture my heart bursting into a million pieces because of happiness-THAT'S how excited i was when i learned about this trip.

she was staying in seattle with my mom and i got to spend saturday and sunday with her...of course, as usual, good times ensued...

i drove up to seattle from tacoma on saturday morning where the three of us (moi,gma, and mom) went to westlake center to catch the seattle duck boat tour. if you've EVER been to seattle, chances are you've seen this bus driving around town.



now, having lived in seattle for 15ish years, i've been to seattle approximately 629 times, and have probably seen that amount of duck boat bus car things but never knew what the big deal was. holy crap i've been missing out! it was sooo much fun!

we left westlake center where we proceeded to drive to lake union where the bus literally drove off the dock straight into the water! along the way the driver (who was hilarious) made jokes and played fun songs all the while telling us fun facts and tidbits about the areas we were driving through.

hey, look, it's the famous needle!



while on lake union we saw:

a gorgeous view of what i THINK is i-5??


the boathouse(or houseboat?? apparently there is a difference) from the movie sleepless in seattle (see the two white flags? it's directly below them. right there. there it is. do you see it???)



and gasworks park. julia stiles and heath ledger played paintball here in the movie 10 things i hate about you:



on our way back to westlake center we drove through the little town of fremont. apparently if you picture the weirdest person you've ever seen in seattle-THAT person's weird cousin is someone who would (allegedly) reside in fremont. there's even a crazy parade that this town throws every year called the fremont solstice parade. people ride bikes naked, dress up in funny costumes and just basically go all out. of course i, someone who is wanting to experience most everything in this world, will be attending the parade this year just to see what all the hoopla is about. if you are a close, personal friend of mine, chances are you will be attending this parade as well.

this is a cool statue we drove by in fremont. the driver didn't really say anything about it, i would love to know the story behind it, though:



after our adventure on the duck boat we were staaaaarving so we had a delish lunch at p.f. changs. after lunch it was time to say bye to grandma but i wasn't terribly sad because i'd be seeing her the next day!

so i left seattle and drove to renton for my next adventure of the day...

in case you haven't noticed, me and my (girl)friends, we're classy gals. so when my friend wants to throw a boxed wine party, i will support her with all the classiness i have in me! there isn't too much to say about the party in general, there was, of course, boxed wine(pics were taken at the beginning of the party, there ended up being about twice the amount of food and wine shown):



and food:


it was a blast. of course. because wine+food=instant blast. i met a lot of people, made some new friends, and little did i know there was a magician at the party! i've always been fascinated by slight of hand and illusions so i begged him to show me a trick:



at about 1230 i ended up falling asleep at the hostesses house (never drink and drive, kids!). and dreampt(sp???) of living on a island with jimmy fallon, ryan reynolds, and an endless supply of calorie-free girl scout thin mint cookies....

the next morning i woke up, drove home and promptly got ready to spend another day with grandma<3!! this time her and my mom were driving to tacoma so we could see the norman rockwell exhibit at the tacoma art museum.

i've heard of norman rockwell, i've seen his art, but i had NO idea, not even a clue of what an AMAZING talent he was. i'm not a huge art fan, i'm pretty sure i've been to an art gallery never, but i was literally in awe over his pieces. he had such a way of telling a story with each painting. he dealt with multiple subjects from civil rights, to current events and even the presidents of the united states. he used models for his paintings and a lot of times he painted in his own family members, or even himself! he was also a funny guy,which shows through the characters actions or facial expressions in his work. there was an audio tour that i took of his paintings that told background stories behind them. i learned SO much i'm really glad i went to see this exhibit-it definitely made a new fan out of me!

after the exhibit we went to the old spaghetti factory and had a nice lunch. and then... it was time to say our good byes. i'm totally sad, i only see grandma about once a year, but i'm SO glad she was able to fly up and see a little bit of where i live. thanks again grandma for visiting, i hope you had as much fun as i did :) LOVE YOU!!<3

my dear

my grandma loves carrie underwood. like loooooooves. since carrie came onto the scene after winning american idol my grandma has always talked freely about how much she adores her because she's this nice, wholesome southern girl. oh, and she's pretty too. in fact, i've often joked about my grandma wanting to adopt her as a grandchild and how i will always be second best compared to carrie (all the while knowing this would never actually be true ;).

tonight, i had the following phone conversation with my dear grandma:

gma: "oh carrie's on tv! she's performing at the cma's...can you hear her singing??"

me: "no, grandma, i can't hear her."

gma: "ok just a sec lemme turn up the volume on my television..."

grandma turns up the television volume so now instead of absolutely nothing i hear the slight whisper of a television

me: "still can't hear it grandma...oh well."

gma: "she's performing with some guy who has long black hair. and she's wearing a black dress. i don't like it. i don't know what it is about the dress, i just don't like it."

me: "it's a short black dress??"

gma: "yes, it's short. but i don't know, that's what everyone's wearing in today's fashion i guess. i don't know who that long haired guy is she's singing with."

me: "is he a country guy?"

gma: "i don't think so, he sure doesn't sound country!"

me: (wracking my brain trying to think of a long haired dude who doesn't sound country but does a lot of duets)"is it kid rock??"

gma: "does kid rock have black hair??"

me: "no...."

gma: "and the song they're singing...i don't like it very much. can you hear it??"

me: "no grandma, i still can't hear it."

at this point i was dying to try and figure out who carrie was singing a duet with but couldn't find any information when i googled it. it wasn't until a couple of hours later that i finally found out...

carrie's long black haired duet partner?? steven tyler

the song they were singing?? walk this way

oh grandma. i love her.

reason number 34987...

why i absolutely ADORE jimmy fallon. no one funnier. seriously.:

challenged

i'm always trying to be consciously aware of how i treat people. it is, after all, the golden rule:treat others how you would want to be treated. this is very important to me when it comes to my friends and family, but it's really important to me in how i treat strangers as well. you never know what kind of day that person you just walked by in the grocery store is having. you hear stories all the time about how ms. smith was having the crappiest day ever,but then a stranger did something-smiled, offered a ride, gave her five dollars and it just MADE her day. i know when i'm having a crappy day it's the little things, like the barista not charging me for an extra shot in my coffee, that perk me up.

earlier today, a big hearted friend of mine posted a link on facebook for the great kindness challenge that is taking place on august 13th. it involves children doing good deeds for others on this day. it's awesome because it gives the children the sense of how it feels to help other people out, as well as getting them involved in their community.

but it got me thinking.

just like how the "christmas spirit" shouldn't be around only during christmastime, people should do kind things for other people on other days this year besides august 13th. soooo i made a challenge for myself. lucky for me, i love a good challenge.

the great kindness challenge website has a list of 50 kind things for the children to do, but this list is also very applicable to adults. my(short term) goal is to complete every good deed on this checklist.

i'm really excited about this because there are a few things that are super easy and within my comfort zone (smile at 25 people, compliment 5 people, read a book to a younger child) and some that are just fun (take a treat to your local firefighter, cut out ten hearts and leave them on 10 cars).as i complete each task i will blog about my experience doing it and i'm sure, knowing me, there was also be plenty of pictures. :)

of course challenges are more fun when there's lots of people involved, so i invite anyone who is reading this to do the challenge with me!this can obviously be done in any city in any state and at little to no cost. it would be so fun to compare stories, and maybe even complete a step together! if you are interested, let me know!

jersey floor

if you have seen even half a second of a jersey shore episode or can name at least one member of the cast then you HAVE to see this parody show jimmy fallon did on late night with jimmy fallon called "jersey floor". it is HILarious.

there's even a website devoted to it.

my future baby's daddy is a comedic genius.

enjoy. and you're welcome.




p.s. i just re-watched it. jimmy's <3 dj pauly d impersonation is SPOT ON. this may have been the funniest eight minutes of my life EVER."i do shots, i tan, and i drink. std's. that's what we call it." "it's sweatshirt tiiiiiiime!" i may be obsessed. please don't judge me.

Guest Blogger: H.Denbert

The Mile High Cry: Tips on Traveling Stress-Free With Your Toddler

This guest post was written by H. Denbert who has a degree in social work and hopes to satisfy her interest in science by getting a forensic science education in her spare time

We’ve all been there: trapped on an airplane, with that annoying baby crying in the next aisle throughout the flight. I was even on a plane once where another “helpful” woman angrily screamed, “Have you heard of a pacifier?!” Maybe like me, now you’re on the other side of the equation, with a toddler in tow, trying to fend off pissed-off passengers with apologetic half smiles. From navigating the maze of airport security to the endless hours in the sky, here are ways to cut down on the inevitable stress of flying with your child. Just look at it this way: at least we don’t have to travel by wagon train anymore.

Before You Get to The Airport

• Make sure you have the right size containers. You’re allowed to fly with juice, formula, or breast milk for baby, but it has to be in the right size container. Only 3.4 ounce (100 ml) or smaller containers are allowed. Check the TSA website for the most recent information on airport security and what it means for your toddler.


• Keep your stroller organized: You’ll have to take everything out of your stroller, in order for it to be x-rayed. Keeping things organized will cut down on annoying time in the security line. Pack things together, and minimize the amount of clutter floating in your stroller’s compartments.


• Bring a baby seat and reserve that extra plane seat: While it might be possible to carry your child on your lap while flying, it sure isn’t comfortable. The money you can save by doing it might be appealing, but reserving an extra seat is more courteous to the fellow fliers and more likely to result in a calmer flight for your kid. And, if your child weighs more than forty pounds, you’re required by the FAA to restrain them with an airplane seatbelt.


• Bring the right entertainment: If it’s the portable DVD player your kid loves, make sure it’s in the bag. Don’t overpack, however, or you’ll be lugging a heavy bag through the airport.

In Flight

• Pack a diaper change kit: Put all the things you need to change a few diapers in one easily accessible bag. You’ll be glad you had that diaper, some wipes, and a good smelling lotion around when you need to change a diaper in flight. If you’ve got a larger kid, ask a crew member if there is a bathroom on the aircraft with a change table, as this is often the case.


• Dealing with ear popping: That uncomfortable feeling of pressure buildup in the ears can be one of the most trying things about flying with children. A pacifier is helpful, and should be put in during take-off and before your descent. Unfortunately, for kids too young to understand the instructions to swallow, crying can be the only effective way to relieve ear pressure. Let them cry it out---it’s actually helpful.


• Bring more food than you think you'll need: Pack food and snacks as if you won’t be getting any on the plane. This is often the case these days, and even if there is food that doesn’t mean your toddler will actually eat it. When it’s time to eat, feed your kid first, then yourself. Manipulating trays of food in flight can be difficult, and you’ll be more relaxed while eating if your child has already.


• Be prepared for motion sickness: If it’s your child’s first flight or you know they are prone to motion sickness, be prepared. Put a Ziploc bag in your purse or in front of your seat, if you fear they might puke. And of course, keep lots of wet wipes around for clean up. Don’t let them eat too much before the flight, and consider putting a disposable bib on any child that may get sick. Even a little puke smells really bad, when stuck in a tiny airplane.

Guest Blogger: Kellen Thompson

7 Questions New Moms Should Ask Themselves Before Returning to School

This guest post was written by Kellen Thompson who has also written at length about receiving accounting degrees online as well as enrolling in online classes

When I was seven months pregnant, I graduated with my Master’s degree. At the time, I thought that if I was blessed to stay home with my baby even for a short time while my husband worked, a Master’s degree would benefit me when I re-entered the workforce. My employer was also willing to pay a portion of my tuition. What I didn’t know at the time was that I would have two more children and ultimately be out of the full-time workforce for almost 15 years. I also didn’t realize back then that when I was ultimately ready to go back to work, I would not want to go back to the same career.

Now I am looking to go back to school to find out what I want to be when I grow up. My children are at the ages that they are more self-sufficient so I could devote more time to my studies. However, the baby that I carried the last time I was in school is now getting ready to go to college and pursue his own dreams. Will we really be able to afford for both of us to be in school at the same time?

There are several questions that moms, in particular, need to ask themselves before returning to school. The first question is how will my decision affect my family? Because, as a mom, our family is our first priority so we have to really assess how our decision to go back to school will affect our loved ones. Another question that we need to ask is will childcare be an issue? When you factor the cost of your education, you need to factor in all of the costs associated with your education, including childcare. The benefit in today’s educational sphere is that now we have the option of pursing an on-line degree and we never have to leave home. The world literally is our classroom and on-line degree programs are available in every possible field. Check out this link to find out more about these programs: guidetoonlineschools.com/getting-started/distance-learning-101ms.

Another question that you need to ask yourself before enrolling in any program is why are you returning to school? You need to check your motive to make sure that it is the right motive, one that will sustain you in those times it may get difficult balancing school and family. And then you need to ask yourself who are you doing this for? Again, make sure that your motive is correct so that you won’t burn out halfway through the program. The right motive can provide the drive needed to keep going when you may feel like giving up.

Another question that I wish I had asked myself 16 years ago is will this degree give me some options. Everyone makes several lateral career moves throughout their lifetime and many of change careers completely at least once. I wish I had thought through my degree and asked myself what else I could do with the Masters I had chosen. For example, a Master’s in some disciplines will give you the opportunity to teach on a university level as an adjunct at some schools. This is an excellent option for moms who want to teach but cannot commit to a full-time position.

The next question you should ask yourself is how long do you want your schooling to take? Again, considering your family commitments, factor in all of your present commitments and set a realistic goal for yourself. And the final questions you need to address deal with finances. How much do you want to spend on your degree and how do plan to pay for your schooling? If you research different options, particularly distance learning versus traditional college, you will find that many institutions and degree programs vary in cost. An assessment of your personal financial situation can help you determine which program is right for you.

Going back to school at any age, at any time in your life is a big decision. But it is also, in my opinion, one of the best decisions that you will ever make. My kids tease me that I have a Master’s degree so that I could change diapers. But in reality, my degree has opened many doors for me that have allowed me to pursue other dreams that I didn’t even know I had 16 years ago!