Cruisin'

Ok, so I haven't been big into biking in the past. But I do need some exercise and I do like majorly cute things. Check out these Beach cruisers. So cute. And you don't have live at the beach to have one! Although Zane would love to live at the beach--he says that's where he wants to go every time we get in the car.

This beauty is the Firmstrong URBAN CLASSIC LADY Beach Cruiser. It also comes in pink, red, green, purple, and vanilla. I think I'm in love. They also have other models for women, and models for men and kids.

This Firmstrong Urban Delux Chopper Cruiser is pretty cool, too:

Looks like a bad boy might ride it. Vroom vroom.

The prices are pretty reasonable and the bikes are said to offer a relaxing and comfortable ride. That sounds good to me!

~t

The Best Enchiladas EVER

If I spoke any Spanish, I'd wax poetic in Spanish, but since I don't, I'll just say my husband makes the best enchiladas ever. Our whole family loves them and most of our neighborhood. Even our neighbor's 7-yr old daughter couldn't get enough. Now, my husband is an amazing cook. But part of it is the special enchilada sauce we use--Mi Vida. It really is the bomb. I wish I had a picture of the enchiladas. Anyway, it's not widely available in stores yet, but you can order online. They're also really nice there. So, check 'em out.

This NOT a sponsored post. Totally just my own desire to talk up Mi Vida Enchilada sauce. ENJOY!

~t

Down Bedding

I love my bed. I have even mentored my child in the art of falling into bed and exhaling a lengthy sigh of happiness and comfort. And I'm a bit of bed snob because I used to work in a linen shop. One of the most comfortable materials you can have in your bed is down, but there are a lot of different choices on the market. How do you know what you need?

There is a very informational site on How To Buy Down Bedding that can help. They include info on the practicality of down, it's energy saving qualities, the different types available, how to look for quality products, and a very useful FAQ.

With this site, you can learn all you need to know to dress your bed in comfort and practicality.



~t

Zanespeak-English Dictionary

We have been having so much fun with language around here. As I was sharing some of it with Heather, she suggested I post my Zane-English dictionary, so here it is. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Now, mind you, he has many other words that he pronounces just perfectly and even these words are getting better all the time. It's just too fun, though.

(Gosh I hope Blogger never goes down permanently. This IS my kid's baby book.)

ahdoe=apple
ba ba bock=chicken
bilar=banana
brudder=brother
dee=tree
dees=cheese
diader=diaper
dit=chip
dow dow down=down
fuddy=funny
ga ga and ca ca= grandma and Caspian, but they almost always sound alike, which leads to comedy in our house.
gar=car
gheeeyucky=yucky
glock=lock
goggie=doggie
guck=duck or clock or cup
heaky=sneaky
helpf=help
henh=yes, but he also says “yeah” now
hidoe-cereal
hit=sit
hlipper=slipper
hocks=socks
hoddy=sorry
holdjyou=hold you=hold “ME”
hooney=snoopy
huck=truck
Kiki=Katie
lolo=hello
mook=milk
moonie=smoothie
pada=pasta
pate=plate
ruddig=running
upf=up
veen=Halloween
wabu=water
wehwipe=wet wipe
whos=shoes
woewish=goldfish
zoup=soup

I cannot even begin to spell what he does with “washcloth” and “glasses” It’s cute, though.

Mortgage Help

Having just gone through the house-buying process for the first time, I can tell you, it's overwhelming. I'm still not even sure about everything that went into getting us in here. So many papers to sign and fees for this and that and who can you trust?

I think one of the best ways to handle the situation is to educate yourself fully. Find out as much as you can about mortgages before you even start the process. If you're looking for a mortgage, personalhomeloanmortgages.com can give you all the information you need. They have sections with helpful industry content where you can learn more, find out about your local mortgage market through an extensive directory, calculate monthly payments, prequalify for a loan, and participate in an online forum to share information and stories with other borrowers.

If you're worried about your personal information, the site protects customer data through SecureTrust which guarantees compliance with FTC, DoNotCall & Can Spam regulations.

All in all, it looks like a great resource.



~t

Food Oddities

Well, it's been an odd food day around here.

First, Zane requested a smoothie. It was odd that he didn't really drink it. Even odder, that somehow when we weren't looking, it exploded on his head:


Later in the day, Caspian considered donating these conjoined Fritos to science:

He ended up eating it instead. But at least we documented it.

~t

Keeping Track of the Kids

Caspian just recently got a new/used laptop from his mom. Personally, I wasn't sure I was ready for the responsibility. He is, after all, only 8 years old. And there is so much happening online that I know I don't want him to access. (Heck, I just mentioned in an earlier post I don't want him seeing everything on MY blog.) We were given a little bit of a reprieve when the laptop unexpectedly crashed, but his mom just sent the recovery disks, so he's up and running again.

Now, I think it's just my fear talking, because of course, I know more than most what WONDERFUL things you can do and learn online. I am an internet junkie. But, of course, we still want to make sure the little ones are safe. To that end, SpectorSoft has come up with some great Keylogger software.

SpectorPro 6.0 automatically records their emails, IMs, chats, websites visited, keystrokes, programs launched, peer-to-peer file sharing, screen snapshots, and passwords. It is also the only keylogger that records all myspace.com activity.

Having software like this would really help me feel better about him using the Internet. This way we KNOW he is only frequenting the places we approve and communicating with people we know and trust.



~t

New Game

Here are Zane and Kevin "pretending to be asleep". (Yes, Zane sleeps with his eyes open. Well, not REALLY.) They are surrounded by the remnants of the diapers I pelted at them after Kevin teased me for tossing some diapers across the room.


Ahhhh...diapers. Has everyone seen "The Diaper Dance"? I doubt it. But it's a favorite around here. This is just a clip. It's from our fave, Signing Time.

~t

Looking for Networking Hardware?

Are you interested in some fabulous deals on networking hardware? Here is a website that has Used Cisco hardware at deep, deep discounts. They have Cisco routers, switches, and modules. Some of the discounts are up to 90% off of new hardware. That's amazing.

Now, I can sometimes be leery of used equipment, particularly electronics. But with these 30-90% discounts, all hardware also comes fully tested and backed by warranty. That makes it a little easier to relax about the great prices.

How can they afford to do this? They offer a large inventory of products. And what's even better? They offer IMMEDIATE shipping. One of the few things I don't like about shopping online is having to wait. Take that out of the equation, and I'm sold!

~t

The Ham Update

So I sent a link with the original ham post to my friend Jen, and here is her memory of how ham samiches became funny to us:

"We got a huge kick out of it because they said either after or before the show they went home and had ham sandwiches...Then we cracked up because we couldn't figure out why ham sandwiches were so funny."

So, there it is. It seemed to involve someone's parents, a movie, and ham sandwiches as the pre- or post-date meal.

"Hey, you wanna go to a movie and stop by my house for a ham sandwich after?"

~t

The Rain in Spain

Kevin has always been interested in owning a second home. Of course, we might have to finish up paying for the first one before we get into that. However, it's always fun to look, and it's especially fun to look at property in Spain. I have not ever been there, but I have heard it's amazing and would love to go. The culture, the sun, the architecture, the food. I seem to be dreaming of a getaway these days. Maybe it's this hacking cough I'm suffering. I'm sure it would go away in Spain.

If YOU start to look and get to the point of buying a property in Spain, this company can work with you to make it happen.

~t

Mercury Retrograde is on it's way

Ok, everyone Mercury is about to retrograde again--This happens around 12:00 PDT this Saturday, October 28th. I'm not going to go into all the technical things this means. (If you want that, go to the link.) But we are in the shadow right now. And it's feeling pretty shadowy around here.

• We are all sick.
• I can't even talk, because my voice is almost gone.
• My friend has been trying to get home for a LONG time and can't seem to get here.
• We are working on a cafepress store and having lots of difficulties with it. Ha ha...was trying to go there now to pick up a link and the whole site is unavailable!
• After being VERY good on WW this past week, my scale BROKE this morning so I couldn't weigh in and see if I got to the goal I wanted. (Ok, it just needs a battery, but it is sooooo mercury retro.)

I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of it right now. Remember people (and I include myself in this), patience and humor are the keys here. Mercury is the trickster, and generally for our own good. Things don't usually really go terribly wrong, or terribly broken, or terribly expensive. Just kinda annoying and ok in the end. At least that's been my experience.

I find it interesting that this year Mercury Retros right on the Time Change--Fall back. That will most likely mess with some people.

~t

Costumes for after the trick or treaters have gone home

Well, it's costume time of year. But I'm talking about costumes for adults only. The ones that come from a lingerie store.

So, this is at least a PG-13 post. Caspian, if you ever get online and to my blog, don't read this. Hmmm...I wonder if I can have Kevin block this website. Have to make mental note. Dad and Tim, skip this one. Any family members, just move right along.

Anyway, thought these might be kind of fun for the adults in the audience:

First, we have a your typical Halloween costume. I believe there's always room for the basics.

But, as you look a little further, you find some things that are a little more interesting. Take this nurse, for example. Updated, yet still sexy. Nice. Ladies, I'm sure this costume will have your men saying "clear" to everything else on their agenda.

The little plaid skirt. Every man's fantasy. I think that's all that's necessary to say. This one does, however, have a nice updated feel to it. I will not even go to the puns I could from there.

If you're into the exotic, I think this little Japanese Doll costume is quite nice.

Ok, this was kinda fun. Maybe I should do more fashion blogging.

Have a good time, folks, and be safe!

~t

"Holdjyou"

Little sleepy bear is upstairs napping as I write this.



Language acquisition is so fun and interesting. Zane has really been into perfecting some of his words lately and also learning prepositions. Up, down, in, out, on, off. These are useful tools that he is currently enjoying. One thing that does have him a little confused is the whole "me" and "you" thing. I guess that's why people talk to toddlers in the 3rd person, huh? He really doesn't get it yet. My favorite part of this is that somehow, he's put two words together and when he wants us to pick him up, he imitates what he has heard us ask, "Should I hold you?"

So, now, when he wants to be held, he simply says "Holdjyou" with upstretched arms.

~t

All-Inclusive Holidays

Kevin and I had a small wedding. But we had the most fabulous honeymoon ever. We relaxed at a luxury resort without a care in the world for about a week. One of the things that made it particularly wonderful was that we chose an all-inclusive package. Let me tell you, it was totally and completely WORTH IT!

In my opinion, All Inclusive Holidays are DEFINITELY the way to go. We didn't have to worry about a thing. We didn't have to carry money at all. We could eat as much or as little as we liked. We didn't make any decisions about what we were going to enjoy as far as food or beverages based on cost--we had what we truly wanted and didn't have to worry, because we knew the bill was already paid. What freedom! What fun! We could just sit on the beach under a little umbrella ordering fruity drinks. Oh yes.

Many resorts will also let you include things like water sports and other recreational activities as part of your package. That's a particularly nice option if you are looking for a more active vacation.

If you are looking to really get away from it all, I'd say give an all inclusive holiday a try. Do you think it would be as much fun with a tw0-year old?

~t

Had to take another quiz

Ok, my (non) nerdy friend Heather had this on her blog, and I got curious about my own nerd score. I figured, somewhat correctly, that I am not a nerd. At least not the kind they were looking for. (but it does still bother me that I just ended that sentence with a preposition.) If my dad or brother are reading this, you should definitely take this quiz. Ok without further ado...



~t

Office Space Contest

Heh heh...I love this. Offices2share is a great online resource to find short-term, ready to use office space. You can find office space or list office space.

Offices2share is currently running The Home Office From Hell contest. The contest is aimed at people who are currently unhappy in their home office space and would love to relocate to "real" office space. Since we do a lot of working from home, I can definitely see the appeal of this contest. The logo for the contest itself is worth clicking through--for some reason, I found it hilarious.

The site lists the Grand Prize as follows:

12 Months Rent in a Real Office (Maximum amount $12,000)

1 Dell Desktop Computer, 1 Dell Notebook Computer, 1 Dell Switch and Server (Approximate retail value $7,500)

Tuition For "The Entrepreneurship Mastery Program" at Trump University (Approximate retail value $2,500)

Trip to NYC and 2 night hotel stay (Maximum amount $2,000)

Lunch with George Ross and an autographed copy of his new book "Trump Style Negotiation"

Other prizes include a notebook computer, Trump University Audio tapes, and business books.

To enter, you have to come up with your top 10 reasons you need to move out of your Home Office from Hell. You can also include a video.

~t

Conversation with Mom. 1:30 am.

So, my mom comes out of her room at 1:30 am. For the second time since we have lived together, I think she has said "Come in" to no one in the middle of the night. The first time, both Kevin and I heard her and were concerned there was a knock outside the door and she was letting some stranger in her room in her sleep. He went outside with a bat to find no one around and then my mom woke up and told us she had been sleeping but thought she heard a knock. So we said, "Well, don't tell them to come in!"

Ok, so that was a few weeks ago.

I am alone at my keyboard and I hear her do it again. "Come in."

I try to talk to her, but I get no response.

About 10 minutes later, she comes out, and I ask her about it. She confirms that she had been sleeping and thought she heard a knock. She said it sounded like me knocking, not Zane (who often knocks on her door).

I said, "Well, maybe you shouldn't just say 'come in' when you hear someone knocking. " (Now, I'm thinking it might not be under her control anyway, because she is asleep, right?)

This is when she tells me she thought it was me and maybe there was something going on.

So I say, "Maybe you should say 'Who is it?'"

And she says, "Well, I don't want to ask that and have a ghost answer me." (I wasn't expecting that.)

And I say, "Do you think you are better off just telling them to come in? If a ghost answers to 'Who is it?', then you can just tell them to go away."

Then we both cracked up for a couple of minutes.

Then she said, "You're funny in the middle of the night."

~t

PPP Blue Monster 98

Oh you gotta love the payperpostbluemonster. If you are a regular reader of my blog (Kevin & Heather), you are quite familiar with this spiel already.

Payperpost, the company that pays bloggers to post blog ads, is running what I think is a pretty darn funny contest. People have to search around to blogs online to find puzzle pieces and put them altogether on their blog to win a chunk of cash. And it's a blue monster. That's funny. Maybe not as funny as ham (see previous post), but still funny.

Without further ado, here's puzzle piece #98:



Ooooooh, what COULD it be?

~t

Ham

There is something funny about the word ham.

Is it because it is so short?

Is ham just funny?

Is ham slightly out of style?

Is it because pigs are funny?

Is it the way my 19 month old says it? (That could add to it, but we thought it was funny before we met him.)

Ham.

Is it because it's funny to be a ham?

Ham.

Ham.

Ham.

What about ham sandwiches. There is something funny there. I don't remember what it is, but me, Kevin, and our friend Jen just prattled on into the night one night about the utter hilarity of ham sandwiches. And we had no substances in us. Except maybe ham.

Ham.

Kevin made a ham the other night.

I thought of giving some away.

Giving someone ham seems like a funny thing to do.

And what about ham spread? Good Lord, that's some funny stuff. Only people born before 1950 would touch it, I'm imagining.

Now go eat a ham sandwich and tell me why it's funny.

Personally, I love ham. But there is something funny about it.

Ham.
Ham.
Ham.

~t

PPP Blue Monster 72

I talked about the payperpostbluemonster puzzle in a post a couple days ago. Of course, by now you must know that payperpost is the company that pays bloggers for blog ads. (If you didn't know that, check out the link--it's so cool!)

Anyway, this fabulous company is running a contest to be announced in the near future with a bunch of puzzle pieces. The first person to assemble all of them and post them on their blog wins a nice cash prize. Here's puzzle piece #72:



~t

The Blast Astrology Conference

Calling all students of astrology!

My friend Moses has been putting together a fabulous new conference, called The Blast.

This promises to be quite THE event. The website states: "Come see the brightest, up-and-coming astrologers (and some beloved veterans, too) present their most invaluable astrological methods. Keep reading to find out why this conference represents such a positive revolution for astrology." (You'll have to click the above link to keep reading.)

My favorite part of the marketing for this event is Moses' top 10 list.

The Top Ten Reasons to Come to The Blast ...
10) Sedona makes everything a lot more magical--inebriation completely optional.
9) You have the chance to see ALL 26 of our incredible speakers for over 24 hours of lectures and workshops. We think that's nicer than an event with 100 speakers when you only get to see a small number of them!
8) Five full days of lectures and activities. Most conferences (even the big ones) have the major events for four days. So there's no extra charge for pre- or post-conference workshops, and there will be three workshops for you to attend at the end of the conference.
7) Spending the conference in one hall together means no running around and stressing over what to do. It also creates a better sense of community, and you can keep looking at that cute guy/girl the whole time.
6) You haven't seen most of our speakers before, and they have an amazing level of experience and expertise. You'll hear tons of very practical and new information that you won't get anywhere else. We're going to make sure that happens.
5) When's the last time a conference took off half a day so everyone can hike through the red rocks together or visit ancient native american sites (or let you do your own thing in an amazing place)?
4) The perfect balance of speakers, from modern to ancient, from Western to Vedic, from Evolutionary Astrology to Locational Astrology, from Kepler students to international speakers. Hear the best from each tradition.
3) 10% of conference profits go to support charitable projects in India (where US dollars go much farther). And, as if that wasn't enough ... you get a free T-shirt!
2) LOTS of young people. LOTS of old people. You can't beat that!

And the #1 reason to come to The Blast ...1) It beats the crap out of sitting in front of your computer! (and you only live once, amigo)

LOVE it! Sounds awesome. Check it out!

~t

Super-power=Night Vision

Living with three guys, I know guys love their toys. If you're looking for a gift for the guy who loves toys on your list, check out Optics Planet. They are the leading sport optics supplier and boast "the most complete selection of night vision equipment in the world" They have brand name deals on night vision goggles, night vision scope, night vision binoculars, and night vision rifle scopes. I know some dudes would just love to get their hands on these things.

But that's not all--they also sell telescopes, binoculars, riflescopes, spotting scopes, digital cameras, and rangefinders. They offer a Best Deal Guarantee on Bushnell, Nikon, ATN, Leupold, Barska, Steiner, Meade, Celestron, Swarovski, Leica. Because it can be intimidating to make a choice on important equipment with so many options, they have support forums where you can learn more. And--here is what I love--FREE UPS on orders over $29.95. Now that's a great deal. Some places only do that on $50 or $100 orders.

The selection on this site is truly astounding. If you think the guy on your list would like some of these toys, but are somewhat stymied by the selection, check out their Holiday Gift Guide.

~t

Dip It

As I was laying in bed with my 19-month old son this evening, he started a conversation with a semi-unintelligible word.

I said, "What?"

He said it again.

"Did you say cracker?"

"Henh" (his version of yes.)

"You want a cracker?"

"Henh. Dipit."

"You want to dip a cracker?"

(Mind you, he is in bed for the night and asking to get out of bed to do this.)

"Henh. Pick."

"You want to go pick out a cracker that you can dip."

"Henh."

"Well, I don't even think we have anything to dip crackers in."

(pause.)

"Pudding."


~t

Cool Political Vid

Gettin' political here.

Check out this vid, called Take Back the Capitol!

The vid is part of a non-partisan political grass roots viral video. (What a mouthful.) Basically, people who have had enough coming together to voice their opinions in a way that can reach a mass audience.

Here are some stills:



The website describes the video as such: "A vibrant hip hop beat throbs to flash cuts of angry citizens voicing their dissent to the party in power. The camerawork is deft and the look sleek, with jolts of animation punctuating sound bites of disaffected voters speaking their minds. Dozens of man-in-the-street interviews build with increasing intensity toward an anthem-like crescendo."

The video is about 2 minutes in length, is interesting to watch, and makes a lot of good points about where we are headed as a country in the current climate.

I think it's amazing that this whole new medium exists for the everyday man to inexpensively voice his or her opinion. Perhaps real change is on the way? I, for one, hope so.

~t

What Happened to Lazy Saturdays?

Well, I guess I haven't had any lazy Saturdays for a long time, since I used to work Tue-Saturday. It's business as usual for here, me blogging and working on other projects, Kevin upstairs working on an online store, and everyone watching out for little ZV.

Zane has taken to doing a lot of "cooking", mostly on a cabinet in the dining room. He opens it and closes it and bonks his head and needs kisses. It might not be the best system. And he is obsessed with picking out snacks and dishes from the the kitchen to the point where he is piteously crying and grasping my leg as I write because I won't let him in the kitchen right now. Luckily, his fits don't last long. He's a good boy.

My mom is helping with ZV as was Caspian, but now he's off playing vids and hanging with his friends. My mom doesn't usually play vids. She walks around picking up crumbs off the floor for fun. Or just because she is cleaner than we are.

Gotta go kiss Zane's bonked head...

~t

Another SEO Blog

Maybe I should have taken that bipolar quiz I saw at blog things. Going between SEO blogs and goofing off. I guess we need a little goofing off between the business.

Well, I'm sharing this stuff because it's what I'm into learning right now. I think it's a great idea for everyone to begin to understand the internet and its marketplace. It's so prevalent and there are many opportunities for exciting entrepeneurism.

I found a lot of great Search Engine optimization and online marketing tips and lessons at SEO'Brien. This blog promises the following: "Discover how search engine marketing can deliver ROI and support your brand through paid and natural search optimization. Drive revenue while reaching targeted customers with advanced search marketing insights including comparison shopping, portfolio and integrated marketing, and affiliate search."

The writer of the blog is Paul O'Brien. He delivers a lot of in-depth marketing information from his 15+ years of internet marketing experience--first with Yahoo and now as head of Online Marketing for HP's direct to consumer business.

Feel Like Goofin' Off?

I feel like goofin' off, so I'll share it with you. :) I love these little quizzes.

Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino

Smooth and sweet, you fit in to almost any crowd. No one would suspect you of being a coffee tweaker!

What Flavor Frappuccino Are You?

Ha ha...don't know if the next one is true; I guess YOU could be the judge:

Your Blogging Type is Artistic and Passionate

You see your blog as the ultimate personal expression - and work hard to make it great. One moment you may be working on a new dramatic design for your blog... And the next, you're passionately writing about your pet causes. Your blog is very important - and you're careful about who you share it with.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

This is just weird:

Your Monster Profile

Twisted Darkness You Feast On: Fried Chicken You Lurk Around In: Olive Gardens You Especially Like to Torment: Vegans

What's Your Monster Name?

This is just silly:

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Quick Rage Your Superpower is Radiation Your Weakness is Kittens Your Weapon is Your Rusty Battle Axe Your Mode of Transportation is Sleigh

What's your Superhero Name?

Heh heh...

Your Hillbilly Name Is...

Billie Jo Hogg

Hillbilly Name Generator

I'll end on a deep note. I liked this one.

You Are a Prophet Soul

You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone. Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people. Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run. No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way. You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle. Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings. A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning. You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer. Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

~t

Search Engine Marketing Blog

I know a lot of people who read blogs are bloggers themselves. And my friends who are bloggers and read my blog (blog blog blog) are also interested in the marketing value of their blogs and how to increase their page rank and profitability.

There's a lot to learn about internet marketing, and I'm just starting this process myself. One good resource is this SEO Blog. According to the site, it has "All the latest news in Search Engine Marketing. Reporting on Paid Search (Pay Per Click or PPC Advertising), Natural Search (Search Engine Optimization or SEO), Pay Per Call, Affiliate Marketing and more."

There is a lot of up-to-date info on Google, MSN, Yahoo, and much more. Better yet, the focus in not on marketing techniques for the sake of marketing but on really building a quality customer base for your product, service, or information.



~t

Shameless Artistry

I just thought I'd take this opportunity to highlight the artistic side of Kevin's creative talents. He is somewhat well-known for being funny, but have you seen his art? It's so cool. We also have some murals in our house, courtesy of him. If you are interested in seeing more of his artwork on products, go to Shameless Artistry in his cafepress store.

Get Your Own! View Slideshow

Oooh, that's an attractive slideshow, if I do say so myself. (I made the slideshow. heh heh.)

Another big hit these days is his political anti-Bush merchandise. Check it out, here.















~t

VoiceQuilt

VoiceQuilt is a website that allows you to create a "music" box with voice messages for a special someone. The website itself is easy to navigate, and what a great idea. You can also email other friends and family members to be part of the fun. Everyone just calls a toll-free number to record their message. Then, you review all the messages and pick the ones you want. Currently, you can select from four different keepsake boxes.

I could see this being a great gift for my mom, especially if I had the boys record messages for her. How fun to preserve Zane's little baby voice for all time!

~t

Speaking of Baby Pics

Hey, when aren't they baby pics anymore? After age 2? Or is this not a baby pic? Caspian made a fort for ZV in the living room with pillows. That kid digs those pillows.

Zane's cutest new thing is that he packs up a "backpack" of stuff, gets on his bike, and tells us he's going to Ralph's for a mocha. Sometimes he even asks for money. I wonder where he gets these ideas?

~t

Rate My Baby Pics

I simply adore taking pics of my little Zane. At times, we have been obsessed with it. Now there is a new site that brings you together with other parents with similar obsessions. Rate My Baby Pics is a great place to show off pics of your little tot. But, it's more than that--it's a whole online community of parents sharing information, trials, tribulation, and fun.

This is a great place to meet other moms. The mom friends I've met online have become some of my closest buddies. The site has free message boards to express your opinions, free monthly contests where you can win prizes, and info on what it takes for your little one to become a baby model. Hey, don't think I haven't thought of that!



~t

Birthday Photos

A lovely dinner was had by all last night. My mom received a nice candle from Gene and Kay. Zane had fun with the birthday "cake", which was actually brownies that my mom made (she wanted to, ok?) This was the first time we had a birthday around here that he really seems to be starting to understand what goes on. He was all about it and wanted to do it again today. Ha ha. Poor thing, now we have Kevin's, Caspian's, and my birthday all before his. So, he should be geared up for the big #2.

~t

Blue Monster 178

Boo! No, it's not that kind of monster. I'm just participating in an upcoming puzzle by the blog marketing company, payperpost. The contest is to be announced in the near future. When the entire puzzle is assembled it will be a sneak peak at the payperpostbluemonster, a secret program that we will find more about later, I'm sure.

Ok, so here's the puzzle piece:



The first person to assemble the pieces and post the whole thing on their blog gets a fabulous cash prize.

~t

Just Go Do It

Well, it seems I may have gotten whatever Zane had. Ugh. I've been down for most of the day. And all night. At least at night, it's nice when you're sick and your kid wakes you to nurse like 4 or 5 times. Oh wait, that's not so nice. I finally broke down and took some meds and am feeling a little bit better.

Was funny--I wanted to take a bath, but not with Zane and Zane is obsessed with baths. But he was upstairs with Kevin. I said it to my mom. And she said, "Well, just go do it."

Just go do it. What an idea. Just go do something for myself. I did. It was nice. Sometimes those moms know what they are talking about. The whole family has been really great today about keeping Zane occupied so I could rest. Thanks folks.

We had a nice night last night for my mom's bday. I should have some pics around here somewhere, but I have to find 'em. The probably ended up on Kevin's computer. Maybe later. :)

~t

Simone and Elvis

What a provocative title. It belongs to a new Self Help Book I recently found. I haven't read it yet, but the site has some interesting information, including a relaxing flash presentation you can view for free. I tend to like self empowerment and self help books, so this is something I'm going to look into more. Let me know what you think!



~t

How Many of Me?

This a fun little link sent to me by Heather.

Apparently, I am quite unique, my husband has only one duplicate, and my kids don't even exist! Horrors!

HowManyOfMe.com

There is: 1 person with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Have fun "finding yourself"

(cracking myself up over here.)

~t

Dream Jobs

You may not know this about me, but I am passionate about people finding their right work. We spend so much time working, that if we aren't doing our dream, our calling, we are just taking time away from things we'd rather be doing.

I'm excited to have found this book on Dream jobs.



It lists 101 careers that many people would love to consider. (I was excited to see that Life Coach, one of my dream careers, was listed!) Not only that, it gives you the tools to discover, choose, and create the dream career for you, with specific action steps.

You can order the book or download a free copy of their ebook right at the site. The book is a #1 bestselling career book at amazon.com and has been featured in the June 2005 issue of Women's Day Magazine.



~t

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Maaaaaa-aaaaaahm,
Happy Birthday to YOU!

Aye yih yih, she's SIXTY! I am such a bad daughter for posting this online. It's ok, Kevin is making her a ham dinner tonight to make up for it.

Here, I will also post a nice picture from recently in the pretty porch spot. (Whoever sits in this spot automatically looks pretty.)


~t

Ultimate Chopper

Well, Kevin and I survived our first cooking lesson. He worked on teaching me how to cook beef stew. That was a pretty big deal. And we are still married. One thing he did notice I needed some help on was my chopping abilities. They are somewhat lacking. Of course, he thinks I just need practice, but I found a shortcut online: Ultimate Chopper.

This thing not only chops, it grates, minces, crushes, grinds, whips, and purees. Holy heck--that's major duty. According to the website, it also "has 750 Watts of Mega-Power." That sounds so manly. Do you think that will convince Kevin that we need one?

~t

New Boots

Well, as we saw earlier this week, the rains have come to Olympia. Zane and I went shopping today, and he got these:

He's not totally sure how he feels about them. Sometimes he prefers using them as buckets rather than boots. He likes to SAY "boot". I got some, too, but mine weren't quite as animated.

~t

100th Post!

This is my 100th post!!!

Woo to the hoo!

~t

(maybe I should have said something important.)

Online Coupons

I love to shop online. No driving, no hassles, no crowds. And I love it even more if I can get a deal while I'm doing it! I'm not that great about using coupons in person (another piece of paper to manage), but it's so easy online.

One of my favorite stores for both in-person and online shopping is Target, and I just found some great Target coupons at this site. Although I love online shopping, I hate to pay for shipping, and this site has some coupons to get it for free. They also currently have one I like that's $5 off of a $50 order. It's really easy to use. Check it out!

~t

This is what toys do...

...when no one is looking.

And I thought these two were both boys. Hmmmm...maybe they are. We're openminded.

Kevin insists he did not do this to the toys. Hmmmm...Another mystery. Maybe it was the ghost.

~t

The Pushchair Guide

When Kevin and I registered for gifts before Zane's birth, we were completely overwhelmed by some parts of the process. Picking the right stroller was one of them. There are so many different kinds out there, and it can be a big purchase. We were lucky to find a friendly mom in the stroller section who gave us some direction. But that was a somewhat random occurrence. Were I to have the decision to make again, I'd probably want to be a little more informed. The Pushchair Guide is a good place to get that kind of information.

First off, I have to say, I hadn't heard of strollers being called "pushchairs". Not sure if that is regional or what, but the site has a lot to say about the different types available. There are sections on types of pushchairs, where to buy, top brands, accessories, price checking, and even a quick checklist to help you determine what you really need. There are also sections on safety (all important), news articles, and reviews by other shoppers. It's a great place to get all the facts before you make a purchase that could really save you some energy in the long run!

~t

Just for Gina

Before I had Zane, I swore he would not taste pasta until he was 16 years old. That's right, 16 YEARS. I was just kinda grossed out by it. Not the pasta. The sauce. All over. Yick. Me and food stuff. Not so much. Yucky yucky.

We've been pretty crunchy on the intro of food, and he didn't even have rice cereal until he was 6 months old. But, somehow, pasta snuck into his repertoire of foods LOOOOONG before his 16th birthday. I have become amazingly ok with it. I guess after the muck of childbirth, a little bit of pasta sauce just is not that big of a deal. Well, and he just loves it.

~t

Home Improvement Daydreams

Since we just got a new/old house, we have been working on it a LOT. Of course, there are still many home improvement projects that we would like to have done. I've just been daydreaming about what we'd do if money were no object.

First on our list is our fence. Kevin's been tearing it down due to termites, so we'd like to replace that. We'd especially like to replace it with something high enough for privacy in the event that we see one of our other home improvement plans come to fruition: the hot tub. Oh yeah.

Hmmmm...what else would I do if money were no object? It's fun to think about. We'd get some art. Stainless steel countertops for the kitchen. That would be fun. We'd really like to trick out the back yard more--a little patio, some great furniture, probably an umbrella of some sort. And a fire pit with seating. Somewhere Kevin could play guitar.

But, I think, more than anything, I'd like have a super deluxe bathroom attached to our bedroom. We have a bathroom upstairs right now, but it definitely needs work, isn't very convenient, and doesn't even have a tub. That is truly a bummer. I loves me a good soak. My mom has a tub I can use if I need it, but it's not the same. Especially if Zane is sleeping. When I was in Vegas, I took a bath while he was sleeping in the next room. If he woke up, no big deal. Now, if he woke up while I was downstairs in my mom's bathtub...ehhhh, I don't bother.

A dream bathroom. Good to think about while Zane watches Rent for the gazillionth time.



~t

Mysterious Figure on the Stairs

Here is Caspian's account of the "figure" he saw on the stairs. We have already determined (like the annoying parents that we are) that it was not a stick figure, a figure 8, or a figure that you use to sew dresses.

Now, without further ado, here are Caspian's words about the incident (which occured at approx. 5:50pm today.)

Caspian: "There was a female walking up the stairs. She was oh, I'd say about 5 foot 7. She had light blond hair. And gave me a sideways glance."

He rescinds that he originally said she was dressed in the 1680s style.

Terri: "Was she cute?"

Caspian: "Kind of. She was wearing a bonnet, though."

Terri: "How old did the figure appear to be?"

Caspian: "About your age." (For the record: 34.)

Terri: "Was she wearing a dress?"

Caspian: "Yes. One of those old-fashioned dress that they would tighten the straps behind it to make her look skinnier."

Terri: "What color was the dress?"

Caspian: "Light blue with white."

Terri: "With white what?"

Caspian: "White. The white thing that made her look skinny. I dunno, what is it called?"

Terri: "A sash? A corset? A belt? An apron?"

Caspian: "No, not an apron or a belt."

Terri: "This sideways glance, was it friendly?"

Caspian: "It was just kind of blank. Just walkin' by."

Terri: "Anything else to add, Caspian?"

Caspian: "Nnnnnope. Oh wait, there is one more thing never mind. It was just kinda weird to see a figure walking by, but that's pretty much all I have to say."

Terri: "Was she solid or transparent?"

Caspian: "Not really solid."

Ok, I think that ends our transcript. Stay tuned for more sightings from our circa 1890 house.



~t

Kitchen Appliances Guide

Well, we just moved in to a new/old house and redid our kitchen. But it may not be quite done yet. (And by "redid" I mean Kevin scraped and scraped and scraped and painted and painted and painted. I shopped online for cool chairs.)

I just found a pretty, pretty site where you can get all sorts of information on different kitchen appliances and good places to buy them online. This site has a Kitchen Appliance Guide that is really helpful to girls like me who are more comfortable in front of a computer screen than a stove. They have great tips for making selections of all kinds of applicances, including can openers, food processors, hand mixers and blenders, steam irons, juicers, kitchen scales, ice cream makers, electric kettles, and smoothie makers.

Since my family is big into smoothies, I was specifically interested in their section on smoothie makers. I liked this page because it had some tips for buying that I might not have thought about--like looking for anti-drip pouring tap and dishwasher safe parts. Because, really, with 2 boys, we have enough messes to clean up. The page also includes addtional helpful links like where to buy, brands and top models.

I just love having this sort of useful information at my fingertips!

~t

Kids Who Leave Their Clothes Upstairs and the Dads Who Do Laundry All Day While those Clothes Fester Upstairs

Wow, is that even a viable title? Well, it's what's going on around here. I wish I could say it was something new, but it surely doesn't seem to be.

This episode of "Kids Who Leave Their Clothes Upstairs and the Dads Who Do Laundry All Day While those Clothes Fester Upstairs" is extra dramatic because school pictures are tomorrow. WHAT will happen?

Well, first a bunch of yelling. And then some apologizing.

Hmm...none of this is really big news around here.

But, in general, for those of you have been following this story, Caspian has been being really, really, really good. He is a good student, and an excellent older brother, and has been working very hard at being responsible (so he can have a hamster). I mean, just for the sake of being responsible. Because he's responsible. And he didn't just slam the door. He is a Capricorn after all.

Vonage Forums

We love technology around here. As you can see, I might as well have my computer attached at my fingertips. One technological advance that many people are jumping upon is VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol. Basically, it's having your phone service come through the internet, and many companies are offering great deals on this service.

As with any technology, there is a lot to learn before making a decision on whether or not it's right for your family and who would be best to provide the service. A great place to learn more is this Vonage forum. It's an incredibly informative site that includes over 90,000 articles from its members. There are also reviews and an entire section on Vonage in the news. It's a great place to go learn more.

~t

The Kid Loves Juice

Well, it has happened. Zane's love affair with juice has begun. We have put it off for over 19 months, so I do think that's an accomplishment. All he had was water and milk for a long, long, LONG time. Don't worry, he's eaten plenty of fruit in his day.

It started with a little orange juice in a restaurant. Then, he had to have some of Caspian's apple juice today. Then, he went to the fridge, said "juice", and had to have some Morning Blend, which is, admittedly, delicious. Yum, yum, yum. We haven't had that in a long time. I bought it for smoothies. But, apparently even Kevin had to have some Morning Blend in a cup. That may not sound like a big deal to you, but trust me, it is. Kevin does not drink Morning Blend in a cup. Kevin drinks Coke. Kevin drinks coffee. If he has been having problems with his teeth or leg cramps, he might drink water. Kevin does not drink Morning Blend in a cup. But today he did. What is going on in the world?

~t

Comparison Shopping for Health--Vimo

Health care is a major concern for many people, myself included. It can even make or break a decision to take or stay at a job for some people. If you find yourself in the position (personally or professionally) of researching insurance, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), medical procedures, doctors or dentists, Vimo can be a good place to start.



For a long time, large HMO's and the companies that used them for their employees were in control of health care. Today, with so many people choosing self-employment or working for small companies, more options are necessary. We are starting to see more choices available to us, but finding both the right insurance plan and service providers can be a daunting task. Vimo's goal is to help consumers by being the "only Internet destination where users can gain objective, authoritative, and comprehensive shopping-comparison data" for the above health care services.

Both the integrated nature of the site and the community idea behind it are what makes it unique and helpful. You don't have to surf around from site to site to find the doctors, health, or insurance information you need--they're all right there in one place, ready to compare side by side. And, you can read reviews of doctors by their patients. I think this option is really useful. I know that when I am searching for a doctor, I like to hear what other people do or do not like about each particular doctor's style.

As a bonus, the site is attractive and easy to navigate. Currently, if you rate your doctor, you get a free t-shirt.

~t

Getting Ready for Rosie's 60th

Disclaimer: Even though this post says "suck" and "pull" a lot, it is not dirty. Except maybe that I haven't cleaned the laptop yet.

Well, Kevin declared today that I need to leave the computer alone and we were both going to just clean clean clean the house. As you see, I'm being disobedient. However, this is my first entry and it is 4:35, so I've been ok. He actually made me CLOSE the laptop. To avoid the pull of the screen. Have you noticed how screens just pull you in? Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. Puuuuuuuuuuullllllllll. Even if I am in a bar or restaurant, and there is a sporting event on, puuuuuuuullll. Suuuuuuuuuccck. It just happens. I wonder what it is. Do they have some special sucking and pulling technology that they put into screens? Is it like a window? You just can't help it? Are we all still just amazed on some secret level about TVs and computers? We just can't help but look.

Anyway, what I'm SUPPOSED to be doing is cleaning the house for my mom's 60th birthday. Holy heck, she will be 60 on Thursday. And we are having Kevin's Aunt and Uncle over. Cookin' a ham. Rosie loves ham. It should be fun. Our friend Bam Bam should be home after a long trip, too. And we can't wait to see her. We might give her ham.

Ok, so I went to the grocery store today and fed Zane and he wouldn't stay asleep for his nap when I got up, so I ended up sleeping with him for like 3 hours. Kevin would say "Bad guhl."

~t