Crunchy

So I'm going green... or at least TRYING to anyway. And I don't just mean that I'm taking my own bags to the grocery store (although I AM doing that). Nope, I'm also recycling, trying to use less electricity (I've always been an electricity hog. You should see our power bill... yikes!), the boyfriend installed CFL's througout the house, and I've switched our cleaning and personal hygeine products to more environmentally friendly options. Also, they don't have as many of those nasty carcinogens, etc. that are supposed to be so bad for your body.

But the point of this blog is actually to tell you that I've decided to take things one step farther and actually try to MAKE some of this healthy stuff. (This coming from the girl who can barely cook a meal).

I started with lip balm. And, after a few tries, I actually figured out a recipe that works (although I'd love to add more ingredients and make it even better. I'm experimenting with coconut oil at the moment). Now I hardly ever use the store-bought stuff any more (and if I do, it's Burt's Bees all the way, baby).

My next adventure is soap. Now, I don't know if you guys are aware, but in order to make soap, you have to use this highly caustic (which I'm pretty sure means omg-so-dangerous-you-have-to-wear-gloves-and-goggles-and-a-face-mask) stuff called lye. I looked and looked for soap recipes that don't use lye, but unfortunately, I'm out of luck. So I've gone ahead and bought gloves, safety glasses, and one of those Michael Jackson masks, and now I'm just waiting for a weekend when the kiddos won't be here, because there's no WAY I'm letting them get anywhere near something that dangerous (until all the nasty alkilinity is out of it, that is). Until then, I'll be buying my soap at the Sunflower Natural Foods store (which is completely awesome, but the way).

I'll let you know how it goes... if I still have eyeballs and fingers.

P.S. The other night, we had linguini alfredo with meatballs and spinach for dinner. Gavin, being one of my two vegetable haters (Bill is the other), left his spinach sitting on the plate until the end of his meal. "Look, Mommy," he said. "I saved my spinach for last!" "That's great, bud," I told him. Then he said, "I'm gonna eat all of it." Now, this is big news, because Gavin NEVER eats all of his veggies. Never ever ever. So I said, "That would be awesome!" He looked up at me with those huge baby blues of his and said, "So you want to help me out with that?" Ohhh, he's slick. I didn't, of course, mostly because by then his spinach was ice cold, but believe me, I was tempted. That boy is a charmer, let me tell you.

Working with the public can be hazardous to my health

I have good news and bad news.

Bad news first:
I am so, so, SO tired of dealing with PEOPLE this week. Working in a public library, one is pretty much guaranteed with facing crazy people, angry people, and just plain annoying people on a daily basis. And today is my sixth day in a row of this. I'm at the point where if one more person comes to the desk and mumbles, "Computer," instead of the infinitely more polite, "May I use the computer, please?" I just might say something that will feel good in that moment, but that I'll eventually come to regret.

And now for the good news:
We are deep into the holiday season, and I am absolutely loving it this year. The kids have been a bit better behaved (after weeks of my 7 year old acting like she's 15, and my 5 year old forgetting that he knows how to hear, this is actually GREAT news), I've spent tons of time with my sisters, AND I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. Plus, all that goodness is not even counting the fact that I have a boyfriend who listens to me complain and nag, and who still tells me that he loves me no matter what. Sometimes I'm not sure what I did to deserve this life.

So I'll suck it up and be nice to the library patrons for the rest of the day. Because I could be a whole heck of a lot worse off.

Sleep talking

When I woke up this morning, Bill told me I had been talking in my sleep. He said that I kept saying the word "Grammie." And when he asked me what I was talking about, I said, "couch."

What was THAT all about? I can't remember what I was dreaming, and I don't know how Grammie (or WHICH Grammie) is connected with a couch.

But I wish I did.

Ask and you shall receive

First of all, can I just say that it is 27 degrees outside right now? 27. Also, it's windy, so according to weather.com, it FEELS like it's 15 degrees. My parents are arriving from Florida tomorrow, and I have a feeling they're not going to be thrilled with the weather, but that's just a hunch.

Second, guess what?? Remember the other day, when I was lamenting the fact that I would need to wait at least 4 weeks to get my next Stephenie Meyer fix? Well, the very next day when I arrived at work, I discovered that our teen librarian had just gotten in THREE copies of "Eclipse." That totally made my day, let me tell you.

Third, last night, Bill told me he's already bought the kids (and us) a Christmas present, and it's pretty much the most exciting thing ever, because I've been wanting one for a long time, and was planning on spending part of my tax return on it. I won't tell you what it is just yet, but suffice it to say I have the coolest boyfriend ever.

Fourth, just as a small aside... Daisy girl scouts should NOT be made to feel bad that they didn't sell 8 million fundraiser items to their friends and family. I'm just saying... Grrr.

Gobble gobble gobble

Thanksgiving is coming early this year. On Saturday, to be exact. Since I don't have the kids for the actual Thanksgiving day, my family is gathering this weekend for an early celebration. At my little apartment. It will be crowded and loud and absolutely wonderful. Also, a little bit nerve-wracking, because I'm introducing Bill to my parents for the first time, and I want SO badly for them to like him. I would never tell him this, but they can be a bit picky. I think they've genuinely liked maybe three of four of my boyfriends in all the time that I've been dating (approximately 13 years now). And their opinion matters a lot. Don't get me wrong... I haven't broken up with anyone I was dating just because they didn't like or approve of the guy, but it has weighed heavily on my decision a few times. (Don't worry... I won't share any of this with Bill. He will be blissfully unaware.) And honestly, I think they're going to like him. He reminds me of my dad in a way, and he and my parents actually know some of the same people. So here's hoping...

And another thing... I think Mom and Dad are going to make me cook a little bit more of Thanksgiving dinner than they did last year. This could be scary.

Ch...ch...ch...ch...chaaaanges

I'm wearing a suit today. As in, black dress pants, a black and white button up blouse (with ruffles! I don't even know if they're in our out, and I don't care!) and a black suit coat. Oh, also high heeled boots, except those are mostly hidden by my pants. Why the detailed description of my clothing, you ask? Mostly because I've gotten comments all frickin' day long about it. "Why are you so dressed up?" (I didn't think I WAS.) "Are you going somewhere special after work?" (Um, I get out of work at 8, and I'm a little old lady, so no. Definitely not.) "You look really nice today." (I swear to God I don't look like a scrub all the other days... at least I don't THINK I do.)

Anyway.

I've decided that I need to work a little harder at being spontaneous. I've been a single mom for four years now, and I've managed to get myself and the kiddos into a pretty strict routine. And when someone tries to change it... well, I kind of... resist.

Last Thursday, I went to Bill's, thinking just the two of us were hanging out. Except that when I got there, his cousin and a friend of theirs had already taken over the place. Everyone had a drink in hand, and the music was cranked up. There seemed to be a little party in progress, and I'd had no warning. So I had a mini freak-out.

And seriously... what kind of reaction is THAT? There were only two extra people at Bill's house, and they were both people I've met and like. And yet, when I saw that they were there, I ALMOST turned around and left. Bill talked me into staying, but it took quite a bit of convincing. So why wasn't I able to just take things in stride like a normal person? Is it because I'm so used to being on my own? Is it because just about every other Thursday of the past 4 years, I've gone home, turned on the tv, made myself a bowl of ramen noodles, and vegged until bedtime? Probably.

It's definitely time to start embracing this sudden (wonderful) change in my life. It just might take a little bit of effort.

Shopaholic Takes On Kohl's

Omigosh, I love Kohl's. Late-ish last night, Jenni, Bill and I went shopping. Well, technically Jenni and I went shopping, and Bill watched... being very careful not to say anything negative about the things we were trying on. And I must say, he did an excellent job. With one small exception. I was trying on a belted blouse (Jenni told me not to use that word, but I am anyway. So THERE, Jenni) and Bill commented that he thought the belt was too high. (Bless his heart, the boy lives in Carhart, so I didn't actually take note of his worry about the height of the belt).

As we were checking out, the girl behind the register joked around with us, and gave us more of a discount than she was supposed to because we were basically the only customers in the store, and she was bored. Which means I bought 5 shirts and sweaters and one pair of black dress pants for a grand total of $63.00. Awesome.

And tonight, we're all off to Shea's house, to finish off the sister-boyfriend introductions.

Phew.

I'm gonna kick some Kindergarten BUTT

So when I picked Gavin up from daycare this afternoon, he had a big red mark on the side of his nose... right next to his eye. When I asked him what happened, he said he was playing volleyball (turns out it was actually dodgeball) in gym class, and that someone threw the ball and hit him in the face. I think it's probably illegal for me to go after the little snot who did that to him, but that doesn't mean I don't WANT to.

When I asked Gavin if he cried, he said, "Nope! I was a brave boy!" And of course that made ME want to bawl. How did my baby get to be such a big kid so quickly??

*Sigh*

I went to JoAnn Fabrics this morning to pick out some things that I can't tell you guys about because they have to do with Christmas presents for my sisters, and one of them reads my blog on occasion.

Anyway... when I was signing the receipt, the cashier looked at my signature, and said, "Wow, you write really small." I nodded and smiled, because I get that all. the. time. But then she added, "You know, the size of your signature is supposed to be an indication of your self worth. So you should start writing bigger."

On-sale craft supplies AND a free psychological evaluation all in one trip... Score!

In addition, Bill brought me roses today. I haven't gotten flowers in... well, in a REALLY long time, so this is totally news-worthy. He also brought me bacon. (Yes, bacon.) And it was delicious. =)

The end.