Blogger’s Block

Filed Under Blogging | 1 Comment

I know we all get it. I don’t know what to blog about and I’m not in the mood. So I’ll see you around once I get inspired again.

Snow Day

Filed Under Daddy, Firsts, Twenty-One Months | 3 Comments

Sunday was Bailey’s first chance to play in the snow. Well, last year Jonathon sat her outside in the snow in a pair of cotton pants and she (understandably) was pretty ticked off. Then she played with a snowball but she was mad because it was so cold. Remember this?

So Sunday, we just had a little bit of snow. It hadn’t gotten bad out yet, and Jonathon asked Bailey if she wanted to play in the snow. Well, I caught him about to take her outside in fleece pajamas and a pair of crocs. He’s a good dad, but you know how dads just don’t think like moms? Perfect example. So I got her a little more bundled- fleece pants with Babylegs underneath because we don’t have a snow suit. Two shirts, coat, hat, mittens. Shoes that actually cover her feet. Then we went outside.

Jonathon was up on the deck trying to add water or chemicals to the hot tub.

Come on, daddy! Come play with me! (She says, “Come on, pease! Wahr you, daddy?”)

Bailey and Daddy had fun playing in the snow. Which really was just a lot of running around…

And falling down…

We had lots of fun in the snow. We only stayed outside for about ten minutes because I didn’t want her to start coughing again. She also went outside for a few minutes on Monday. Today, she has not been out. I think the snow is too deep for her to actually have fun in. She would have trouble walking, and it takes so long to get all bundled up for just two minutes outside.

Unscripted Cologne Winner

Filed Under Giveaways | 1 Comment

Here are your random numbers:

7

Timestamp: 2009-01-28 05:30:53 UTC

What this really means is, Kelly is the winner! I already have your contact info, so I will get your cologne in the mail to you this week. Congratulations, and thank you all for entering!

So far in my life….

Filed Under Me | 1 Comment

Do you think you’ve really lived so far? This is a list of 100 activities–some I have experienced (bold), some I have not (regular).

1. Started your own blog (several- is there an extra bold?)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Bathed in a river
7. Been to the Taj Mahal
8. Walked on a glacier in Alaska
9. Caught and held a snake (hell, NO)
10. Spoke in front of a big crowd
11. Bungee jumped
12. Had a whirlwind love affair that broke your heart
13. Found an arrowhead or fossil
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Rescued an animal
16. Ate sweet breads, glands or tripe (not sure what these even are….)
17. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hiked to base camp on Mt. Everest
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Watched an animal being born
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Learned a foreign language
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Stayed up for more than 24 hours
31. Trained a dog to do cool tricks
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Can drive a stick shift car
37. Won over $1000 in a raffle or lottery
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Been serenaded (by fraternity guys, lol)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Broken a bone
47. Started your own business
48. Quit a job because you were totally unhappy
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the Eiffel Tower
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain passionately
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Joined a prayer group
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
62. Gone whale watching
63. Received flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London
77. Broken something extremely expensive
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Got a tattoo
83. Been to a coffee shop in Amsterdam
84. Seen the aurora borealis in person
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Toured the UN
95. Hiked to Machu Picchu
96. Swam in the Indian Ocean
97. Conversed with someone when neither of you spoke each others language
98. Dirty danced
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Acted in a play

42 out of 100… I need to travel more

I would like to come back to this list in a few years and see where I stand… although I don’t ever want to do #82 so I guess it’s a list of 99 things for me.

How many of these things have you done?

I hate snow, I really do

Filed Under Play, Sick, Sleep, Twenty-One Months | 1 Comment

Seriously, I hate being stuck at home because of snow. But I also hate driving in snow/ice. I don’t know which is worse. So I am sitting here being grouchy about it. Jonathon is going to be home from work tomorrow so at least I will have company. I need to sit and list some things on eBay too so hopefully he will give me some free time.

In the meantime, I will share some pictures of my child. She’s currently obsessed with playing in the bathroom. I wish she would use that obsession to learn how to go potty, but that’s not the case. Just playing, playing, playing.

Oh and a little follow up on B’s cough- it got really bad on Saturday night and I brought her in to sleep with us. She was coughing in her sleep but it was keeping me awake, so I thought it might help if she could sleep with her head propped up against me. She did much better and it was kind of nice and snuggly to have her in bed with us. She even put her arm around my neck for a while. Apparently she also kicked Jonathon a lot because somehow she ended up with her feet by his face. I asked if we could have her sleep with us again the next night. He said that she could sleep in bed with me but that he would sleep downstairs. So, she is back in her own bed. We didn’t go to church on Sunday morning. I was so worn out from a long day Saturday and then being up off and on with her during the night.

My friend Jen (who is a chiropractor) adjusted us both on Sunday night. Bailey has coughed ONCE since then. Could it be possible that getting adjusted is like the new miracle drug? We have been Benadryl free, coughing free since then.

Crummy Day

Filed Under Complaining, Twenty-One Months | 3 Comments

Today has been a bummer. I spent this morning working at church (okay, I got to enjoy the company of my friend Casey, but still not a thrilling Saturday morning). I left early for a dentist appt, only to find out the dentist DOESN”T TAKE MY INSURANCE despite the fact that they are listed on my insurance website and assured me they did when I made the appointment. So now I have to find another new dentist and wait a month or two to get worked in. It’s just for a cleaning, but still. Oh and did I mention one of our cars needs to be fixed? We think it’s just the radiator hose leaking but we need to get it into the shop. Nobody would look at it today because it’s a Saturday. AND I wanted to take Bailey to see Elmo Live today but didn’t because I had already committed to those other things. So I have been bumming about that. I wish I had just taken her.

Also she might lose a lung at any moment the way she is coughing. Minimal clear snot, no other symptoms. Completely dry cough. I am chalking it up to allergies again because of the recent warmer weather. But we will see, if it gets worse it’s back to the doctor’s office to spend another copay being told she’s JUST FINE. And I am tired. She coughs all night in her sleep. She sleeps, I don’t. But I just rocked her to sleep for nap. She was so tired that she actually let me. It was awesome.

Win Patrick Dempsey’s new cologne: Unscripted

Filed Under Avon, Giveaways | 7 Comments

I am finally back in the swing of things. I cleaned my house today, put away laundry, and now I am tackling the rest of my to-do list. Starting with my blog giveaway. If you are anything like me, you have no idea what to get your significant other for Valentine’s Day. Here’s an idea-

I am absolutely in love with Patrick Dempsey Patrick Dempsey’s new cologne. It’s called Unscripted and he helped design it exclusively for Avon. It smells absolutely amazing. For those of you who are smell experts, here is the breakdown:

Top notes: black peppercorn, cardamom
Middle: violet leaves, fig, crisp lavender
Bottom notes: Leatherwood, patchouli, musk

This cologne retails for $32 but I am giving one away to a blog reader. I will draw on Tuesday at noon CST (using random.org) and ship as soon as I get your address, so you’ll have it in plenty of time for Valentine’s Day.

Want to win? Leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite cologne or perfume is. For a second chance, link to this contest on your own blog, then leave me a comment with the link.

Magic House Expansion

Filed Under Outings, St. Louis, Twenty-One Months | 3 Comments

On Wednesday, we went to the Magic House with some friends. They have recently expanded and it is over twice the size now. It’s amazing and we could spend days there without doing everything. Well, if we move at Bailey’s speed, that is.

These first shots are in the Little Bit of Magic area where we have always played before.

These next few are from the “Once Upon a Time” area. It’s a new area based on fairytales. There are about fifteen different stories represented and each story had its own play area. I should have just walked around and taken pictures!

This is at the Beauty and the Beast story. There was also a big dining table with lots of pretend food and platters and stuff to play with.

This was some story about a fruit or a worm… I forget what but it wasn’t familiar. Bailey liked the tunnel.

The pumpkin from Cinderella

We got to see a little bit more of the new stuff but Bailey was having kind of a crabby day so we headed home. Where she continued to be crabby. Today was better, with the exception of the hour after her nap when she cried almost constantly.

You guessed it!

Filed Under Avon | 5 Comments

Harmony was right when she guessed that I won the Avon Miss America contest! Not only was I “crowned” and given roses, but I got a huge gift basket full of Avon products. Thank you so much to everyone who ordered and helped me out. My website is always available, and you can use the code FSANY for free shipping!

If you are looking to earn some extra money, consider signing up to be an Avon representative! It only costs $10 to start, which pays for your first brochures and your paperwork/handbook/etc. There is no minimum order size and no inventory required so you can do as much or as little as you want. Contact me to find out more by visiting my Avon site or emailing me at: tara (at) twolinesonastick (dot) com

Win a Pair of Leg Huggers

Filed Under Contests | Leave a Comment

Click HERE to enter a contest for a pair of leg huggers. They are so cute!

And you’re wondering why I said I was going to be doing giveaways weekly? And didn’t follow through? That’s because I’m lazy. Really. My next giveaway on this site will be posted Friday. Now I will have to force myself to not be lazy and post a cool giveaway tomorrow.

Can You Guess…

Filed Under Random | 5 Comments

Why I am wearing this?

And why these were given to me?

21-Month-isms

Filed Under Talking, Twenty-One Months | 4 Comments

While I am thinking of it, a few recent things:

-Bailey loves to wander around the house yelling, “Daaaaaaaddy! Wahr You?” (Where are you?”) I think she hears me say that a lot when he is pretending he can’t hear me. When she finds him she says, “There you-wah!” or “Hee you-wah!”

-Still no luck with the potty but she now tells me that the potty is for poop and the Ernie poops in his diaper.

-She still does not dress or undress herself. Honestly, I am NOT encouraging it at all. We don’t practice. I don’t want to deal with a kid who takes her clothes off every day at nap time. Alison used to do that and it was annoying.

-Yesterday she squeezed my b00b and said, “Babies drink.”

-Bailey loves to sleep with blankets and lovies. She kind of likes one particular lovey, Pinky. However she’ll really just take whoever happens to be there at the moment. She’s not very loyal, I guess. She also likes to pull her blanket over her head to go to sleep. I have to check on her and move it after she falls asleep.

-Several times now, Bailey has tooted and then said, “Burp!” I guess she thinks her bottom is burping

-She loves to try on my jewelry and say that she’s beautiful. She also loves to try and put on my makeup. I found her the other day with a giant clown mouth of lipstick again. I put eyeshadow and powder on her when she wants to. And we go in public like that. I don’t care.

-Her favorite food is a “Big Bird Barn” (she means BAR, not barn) which is an Earth’s Best nutri-grain type bar with Big Bird on the wrapper. She will ask for them ten times a day. We have told her it’s a special treat.

-She loves going to class. Early childhood class, class at church, anything. She talks about her friends and singing songs. Today she got moved up to the 2-year-old class for Tuesday mornings at church. She had fun and got to go for a walk holding onto the rope. I hope she doesn’t drive her teachers nuts since she is the youngest in the class.

-She eats one food at a time, just like me. I swear I did not teach her that.

-Her favorite song is Jingle Bells. It took us a while to figure out why she kept saying “Jingle Bangle.” She likes us to sing to her and she tries to join in. She also does motions to some songs like Wheels on the Bus and Father Abraham.

-Bailey likes to put trash in the trashcan. I kind of have a personal assistant when I am trying to get stuff cleaned up in my office. She also loves to throw away her diaper in the morning (she wears a disposable at night).

-She feeds her baby doll soup with a play fork. Yum. She loves that doll but refuses to rock it. Must stem from her long-standing hatred of rocking. She didn’t like it after about two months old.

-She loves to check the mail with me. She asks, “Mails?” and then I give her junk mail to open and tell her it’s a letter for her.

Wordless Wednesday- Tunnel

Filed Under Twenty-One Months, Wordless Wednesday | 3 Comments

My Keurig

Filed Under Technology, This Rocks | 5 Comments

I love my new coffee maker. It has revolutionized the way I drink coffee. Really, I like it a lot. Jonathon of course has also decided that HE likes it and he has been warned to stay away from my favorites!

Are you wondering what the heck a Keurig is? It’s a single serving/cup coffee maker. They range from $79 to commercial ones for offices and stuff which cost more like $2500. The “lower end” ones are the greatest thing ever for a home coffee maker. This is mine:

I got it at Sam’s for $129 and it came with the machine, 2 water filters, and 90 K-Cups. So it was a really good deal, because just the machine itself was $149 on the Keurig site. You might want to go check Sam’s if you’re interested.

You pop in a pod (K-cup), choose the cup size by pressing a button, and your cup of coffee is ready in less than 30 seconds. Mine has a 48 ounce water holder so I don’t have to refill it more than once every few days. You can use any coffee cup with it. If I have a huge cup, I make a medium Keurig size cup and then a small one, and it fills it perfectly. I just use the same K-cup for both times because I like weak coffee.

There are all kinds of yummy flavors available like Caramel Apple and Chocolate Crunch and Butter Toffee. Plus, the traditional flavors. I love to mix my coffee flavor with an interesting creamer. They also make hot chocolate and tea K-Cups. I have a mandarin orange spice tea one that I am looking forward to trying. We are going to have a lot of fun coffee shopping. You can get the K-Cups at Bed Bath and Beyond and lots of regular coffee places now, too.

If you don’t want to use the K-cup pods all the time, you can buy a My-K filter. It’s a reusable metal filter and then you can use your own coffee grounds in place of the K-Cups.

It’s even faster than driving through Starbucks and costs about 50 cents per cup instead of $3.85! In fact I think I might have to go make myself another cup now. It’s kind of addictive.

Bailey’s First YMCA Shirt

Filed Under Clothes, Me, Twenty Months | 4 Comments

If you know me, you know why this shirt was fun for me to receive from my friend Sarah. I couldn’t get Bailey to cooperate but this is her new “jammy shirt” for the spring/summer. I did put long pants on with it after these pictures were taken.

If you don’t know my life story, I worked at a YMCA camp for four summers. It was weird, because it was like a place completely separate from real life. We could do anything we wanted to do (oh and trust me, we did plenty of stupid things). It was the land of driving golf carts and 15 passenger vans instead of cars, of drinking at a country bar at age 17, of having flings with college guys from other countries… of sneaking out and hiding on porches, of creating an elite club based on a wooden spoon, of spending the day baking in the sun and never getting enough sleep. Meeting locals who paid for a paternity test to see whether their uncle was their sister’s daddy, etc (Seriously). Karaoke-ing to Madonna after doing too many shots of something called c*ck$ucking cowboy. (Don’t ask me what was in that shot but I promise it was good. I’ve never found another bartender who has heard of it, though). It was a place where I grew up, where I was my happiest (until becoming a mother), where I took chances and had adventures and made some of my best friends. The YMCA will always have a special place in my heart.