What Do You Use?

As I sat there watching commercials the other night, I wondered, does that new cream from Oil of Olay REALLY reduced wrinkles? And will those new magical Tide pods get the grass stains out of B’s white sweat pants? (Please feel free to comment on the fact that I purchase white sweat pants in the first place.)

As a working mom, I am typically looking for products that work quickly but don’t break my wallet. Unfortunately, I don’t have time for the extreme couponing, nor do I receive the Sunday paper. (Wow – I remember getting the G’burg Register Mail every day for my Dad – what happened to those days? Sorry – tangent!!)

So I started thinking about all of the products I use and wondered if you had any suggestions?

First, I will start with laundry – do those Tide pods actually work? Also, I have a red-headed hubby and blondies for children – so All Sensitive Skin/ All Clear detergent is a must. Any other products for sensitive skin you would suggest?

Second – make-up/lotions. This may surprise some of you, but I actually work out over lunch. Which means, make-up in the morning and reapply after the workout/shower. Is there a mascara you use that won’t smear/need to be removed after the shower? Or one that won’t leave black rings under my eyes? Also, for the dark circles, any magic potion you swear by? Or a moisturizer that helps with both wrinkles and zits BUT won’t leave your face oily?

Oh – and while I am thinking about it – any great shampoo and/or conditioner you use for swimmers’ hair? A & B are in the pool all of the time, and the chlorine just destroys their hair!

Finally, cleaning supplies. While my hubby would argue that this is not my area of expertise (and he would be right!), is there cleaner you use for your kitchen counters that will easily clean up everything from stuck on suckers to purple pop AND not smell like bleach?

Thank you for your tips! Have a great day!
Jean Anne

P.S. Sorry for the brief hiatus.  I was enjoying Spring Break in the Dells and did not touch my laptop for over 5 days!!

Top 5

As I attempted to find time to write my blog post this week, every opportunity/brief opening I had suddenly seemed to fill up with meetings, errands, reports, etc.  For some reason, tasks that should have taken 10 minutes suddenly took an hour.  And things that I delegated soon came right back in my inbox.  Even now, A just came downstairs to see what was going on.  So given this madness, I feel that this post should just be fun! 

I not sure how we got talking about this, but someone began talking about favorite episodes of "older" TV shows - Seinfeld, Friends, etc.  And, of course, someone mentioned the "Top 5" episode from Friends (you know - the one  all consider what five celebrities would be on their "freebie list?).  So today's post is all about who would be on your "freebie list."  (And yes, we are all happily married...but this is just for fun!!)

My top 5 list is:
1. Matthew McConaughey - from Dazed & Confused to his Dolce & Gabbana ads..."alright, alright, alright."  This man looks great in a $3,000 suit, in a pair of ripped jeans ("A Time to Kill) or without a shirt.  Plus, I love his accent.
2. Sean Connery/Pierce Brosnan/James Bond - I have had a huge crush on James Bond ever since I was a little girl.  The cool cars, the style, the confidence.  And who doesn't love Sean Connery's voice?
3. Mark Harmon - I love the tv characters he plays.  Plus, he played QB for UCLA!  And if Scott were to go gray...please be like Mark Harmon!!
4. Aaron Rodgers - QB for the Packers.  Hot guy who loves sports and just seems like a regular guy.  Let's hope he stays on the list longer than the last Green Bay QB. 
5. Any of the hotties from the USA network shows (Matt Bomer from White Collar, Gabriel Macht from Suits, Jeffrey Donovan from Burn Notice or Christopher Gorham from Covert Affairs).  Can you tell what my DVR is set to?  And yes, NCIS also shows reruns on USA too!!

So that's it!  There have been many changes over the years (thank you Brett Favre and Tiger Woods for your scandals!!).  And this list is not static (although Matthew M has always been there). 

How about you?  Who would be in your top 5?  I love the hear what people have to say - there are always surprises!  My favorite one was "David Beckham is my #1, #2, #5, #17, #95 etc." 

I hope this makes you smile :)

Jean Anne

Suddenly, It's March

Welcome to March! I know that we had an extra day in February, but sadly, I am still behind. Could it be that we are almost at Spring Break? (And as I type this my lack-of-focus brain thinks – “Spring Break – woo-hoo! Oh wait, I’m not in college anymore!”)


I was supposed to have so much completed by this time:

• New pictures in frames in hallway

• Lose 10 pounds (or at least 5)

• A & B eating healthier

• Better communications with my family and friends (not just the occasional random email)

• New databases at work

• Better filing at work

• Summer “nanny” for A & B

• New recipes for home

• A pedicure

Do you know how many I have completed? One – maybe – if you count that A is asking for bananas rather than Airheads and B is living on yogurt instead of cheese puffs. What happened?

The one that currently concerns me the most is the summer “nanny” for A & B. (I am using quote marks around nanny, because I really hate the term sitter and I typically think of a nanny as also running errands, doing light cleaning, cooking, etc.) At this point, we don’t have any person lined up for the summer to watch A & B. And I am not sure where to go next….

A & B currently have it pretty easy. After school, we have a wonderful person who picks up A & B, and watches them until Hubby and I get home from work. She is great – lets them watch a little TV, helps them with their spelling words, gets them a healthy snack, etc. Plus, she also helps get them ready for swimming, dance, soccer practice, etc. Given the fact that A & B get one-on-one attention (for the most part), this is well worth it (and a lot cheaper than before!).

Unfortunately, she is unable to watch them full time during the summer. Which leaves us with finding someone new. While we have been in our house for almost 8 years, we still somewhat feel “new” to the area and don’t know that many people. Even more difficult is the fact that I am trying to find someone that fits perfectly with my family.

I currently am stuck with trying to find someone responsible who can “haul” A & B around all summer, whether it be to swimming, soccer, softball, dance camp, camps at the SCI or Blank Park Zoo or maybe just spend a day at Adventureland. And I honestly think, most days, they are pretty easy to hang out with.

But, I am not ready to give this responsibility to a 16 year old. Hello – do you remember how you drove when you were 16? And for most of you, the distractions didn’t include texting/IMing while driving. On the other hand, I am not sure a college student I barely know works either.

So all thoughts would be appreciated. What are your plans for your kids this summer?

Thanks!

Jean Anne

It's February

This is a blog post of many apologies (So sorry!)

First, I need to apologize for my prolonged absence from the blog. Last week I was attending a conference in Scottsdale, AZ (correction – last Thursday I was mainly in airports/on planes trying to get home!). And the week before that, I was preparing to take the week “off from work” to attend the conference. So I am sorry I have been absent. 

Second, I need to apologize for the content of this post. To quote a Darius Rucker song title “I’ve Got Nothing.” (Probably need to apologize for the bad grammar there too!). I have been trying all week to come up with a good topic, and yet, nothing. Zero, zilch, nada.  And what a boring title!

Third, I need to apologize for my attitude (see #2 above). I am in a rut. Yes folks, it’s February and I am stuck. Don’t get me wrong, life is good (at least I think so, but I have school conferences for A & B tonight, so let’s hope it goes well!). But I don’t have anything planned or a goal that is just, well, WOW!

Sure, we have vacation plans, kindergarten graduation, Spring dance show, soccer and softball, but nothing really out of the ordinary. And last year, I had the goal of running a 5K. While that goal didn’t pan out, I am still in the gym 4 times a week, have added Zumba to my workout and toned up.  

So what next? Does anyone have anything exciting or big goals for 2012 that you are willing to share  Thanks!

Jean Anne

P.S. Sorry for the whiny tone of this post. I should be thankful for the “normalness” of my life.

Mandi's Challenge

To continue on the theme this week, I am posting some of my personal tips for parenting. And while I am not up for Mother of the Year anytime soon (will my kids ever eat a vegetable?), these are things I have learned being a mom.

1. Hug your kids as much as you can. Sometimes our kids can drive us crazy, but we still love them. So I will randomly just give them a big hug to let them know I am here for them. Plus, they will soon become embarrassed by me, so even better!

2. Buy a DVR/TiVO. Some will argue that kids should not watch too much TV, and for the most part, I agree. But I could not live without my DVR. I don’t remember the last time I actually sat and watched NCIS or Hart of Dixie in real time, because we are too busy with dinner, dance class or swimming lessons. Sometimes I even record the 10 o’clock news! And bonus tip – it doesn’t take as long to watch your favorite show since you can skip the commercials.

3. Buy something to keep them occupied in the car if you travel a lot (Nintendo DS, DVD players, iPad, etc.) Yes, no parent wants their kids to be hooked on video games or watch too much TV. But on a 10 hour car ride, there are only so many times you can hear “Are we there yet?” before you want to just drive off a cliff. So save everyone’s sanity and get them something that will entertain everyone for hours. (This also works for husbands, as when my girls were really little, my hubby watched the Broncos’ Super Bowl win with the girls!).

4. Avoid the family drama. Face it, every family has drama. Currently, my kids are too young to understand all of issues and for that I am thankful. They need to be able to make up their own minds when they are older. For now, we just avoid the awkward situations that will upset them, while still giving them a chance to love everyone.

5. Find “family” that will love your kids no matter what. Similar to #4, family does not have to mean blood relatives. Make sure to spend time with those people who are truly wonderful to you and your family.

6. Don’t take 1 syllable words as the final answer. How was your day? “FINE.” Anything happen at school? “NO.” You probably hear these answers a lot. So keep asking more questions. “How was Ella today? Did you have fun at recess? What words/projects did you work on today?” Etc.

7. Lead by example. Yes – I know this sounds simple, but as adults, we often think we know better than our kids. Like my hubby looking at football scores on his phone while driving or me speeding…because I want them to do that when they are 16. Or saying something inappropriate. My hubby is still upset because A randomly says “holy crap” after hearing me say that (although better than what I actually wanted to say.)

8. Explain to your kids why you work. Many of us feel guilty for working (not getting into the SAHM debate here). So when your kids want you to stay home or pick them up from school, explain why you work and what your job provides for them. It probably doesn’t make you feel less guilty, but it gives them a sense of why you have to work.

9. Let your kids know you make mistakes too. While I want my girls to realize that I am the boss/person in charge, I am also need them to know I am not perfect either. I make mistakes, the same as they do. And it’s ok to make mistakes – we just need to learn from them.

10. Tell you kids you love them every day. Similar to #1, letting your kids know that you love them gives them self confidence to go out and be themselves. Time passes so fast (I can’t believe my girls are going to be 6 in July!) it never hurts to let your kids know they are loved!

Jean Anne

Date Night

We are in our 3rd week of January and the hubby and I have actually had 2 date nights already, with a 3rd one coming up next weekend! This pretty much equals all of our date nights for 2011, so, needless to say, are ecstatic!

But while this is a great boost to our communication and making our marriage better, we are not sure what to do on a date night anymore. Dinner out is standard – with usually a run to Target or Kohl’s as the cap to the night. (Yes, Target because sometimes it is just nice to not have to go through the Barbie aisle). And a movie is an option, but some of the movies out just aren’t that great. Bowling? Ice skating? Golfing (when weather permits)?

As I was sitting down to write this post, my co-worker mentioned that they had a party bus rented for the night and he was excited because his friends were getting a babysitter. Sounded like fun, I said. And then I thought, when was the last time hubby and I went out with friends?

When did going out with friends become so complicated? I would love to go out with friends, as a “double date” perhaps. (Let’s not mention a ladies’ night, because given current geographic locations is a little difficult.) Oh yes, I remember now…

1. Have to find a weekend we have free (currently a little easier, but we are still busy)

2. Have to find someone to watch A & B
a. Check with Grandma and Grandpa – if no, option B
b. Check with person who watches A & B after school – if no, option C
c. Check with old babysitters

3. Have to check with friends for free weekend
a. This becomes an issue especially if friends have kids because they will have the same issues as #1 and #2

4. Find something to do other than dinner

Whew…and this becomes even more difficult if this is someone only the hubby knows or vice versa. Plus, if you include travel with it…HA! And there is always the possibility of bad weather or a sick kid!

So any ideas out there? Do you have a standing “friend night”? If yes, what activities do you do?

Thanks for the ideas! Have a great weekend!

Jean Anne

2012: Year of What?

As you may recall, I decided that 2011 would be Year of the Mommy. Well, 2011 has come and gone. Welcome 2012 – year of the ??? Is it another Year of the Mommy (and some would make the argument, every year should be!)?

This question has been occupying my thoughts for a while, as well as the “what are your New Year’s resolutions?” question. Is it possible both of these go hand-in-hand? Shouldn’t my resolutions focus on what I want my year to be like?

Truthfully (sadly, perhaps), I don’t have a lot of resolutions this year. I am pretty content AND thankful for what I have. Yes, there are things I need to work on, but on the whole, things are pretty good. What should I focus on in the next year?

1. Cooking better family meals. I know this sounds simple, however, I am a lazy (and most of the time) boring cook. Even my girls are tired of frozen pizza! So I need to do a little research on new family meals (and try to sneak in some veggies in the process!)

2. Making sure I continue to work on my marriage. Some wise person told me to just keep talking until I made sure my feelings were heard and understood. This has helped immensely both in the communication between the hubby and I, and in my self-esteem.

3. Enjoying time with my family. Between laundry, errands and practices, sometimes I get so frustrated when A & B act out in Target or don’t understand why Mommy can’t watch them dance for the millionth time while I have to fold the laundry. But I need to remember that the laundry can wait – A & B growing up won’t.

4. Spending time with my family. Yes – this is similar to #3, but I am expanding it to include my true, much bigger family than just the hubby and kids. These are the people who will drive out of their way for A & B’s birthday party or talk to me on the phone for over an hour just to check on me. Family makes everything better – especially if it includes ice cream and dancing!

5. Me. This sounds simple, but as moms, most of tend to take care of everyone else before ourselves. So I need to keep working out, eating better, taking time for a “me” day (or hour), and splurging on some new shoes every once and a while.

I am not sure what this list makes it the Year of…Maybe it’s just 2012. And it’s going to be a great one! 

Have a wonderful Year of Whatever!

Jean Anne
P.S. Jimmy Choo store – I am coming to visit in February. Please have a sale!

The Top Five Ways the Holidays Have Changed With Kids

Last week, my group at work had a small get together outside of work. When I returned home (by 8:30 PM, mind you), I still had time to fold a load of laundry, read a story to the kids and watch the evening news. As my hubby asked me if I had a good time at my dinner, I said “yes, but what a change 5 years means.” And I got to thinking about how the holidays have changed.

1. The Definition of Holiday Party
Remember when holiday party meant your office/firm get together outside of work? How you didn’t want to be that drunk girl/guy hitting on your co-worker or getting too wild on the dance floor? Now holiday party means your kids’ school party with cookies/treats for at least 20 kids and juice.

2. The Christmas Tree
When we first got married, hubby and I had a wonderful tree filled with beautiful, breakable ornaments. Now, we have a family ornament from each year since the girls were born, Scooby Doo, Hello Kitty and lots of princess ornaments all on the lower half of the tree.

3. Traveling
Hubby and I would split time with his family and mine, traveling from Iowa to Illinois to Wisconsin, enjoying spending time together in the car, listening to classic songs on the radio and loving the open road. Now we get there as fast as we can, praying that we brought all of the right DVDs and Nintendo DS games.

4. Christmas Shopping
There was a time I would spend hours in the mall, looking for that perfect gift. Now I pray for a short line in Target, hoping I can get out of there without yelling at my girls that not every gift is meant for them.

5. A Christmas Show
When we were first married, we would try and attend a holiday concert or show – just something special as a night out to celebrate the holidays. Now the Winter Show means getting early to the SE Polk High School auditorium to save the best seats to watch A & B dance (and tape the performance!)

Please know that this is meant to just be a humorous look on how my life has changed with kids. Nothing can replace how I feel when A opens her Christmas gift and her smile lights up her face or B searching the house for Eugene (our Elf on the Shelf). And truth be told, I am a little to old to be getting wild on the dance floor. But a few holidays spirits wouldn’t be too bad.

Have a happy holidays!

Jean Anne

25 Things to Be Thankful For

No, this is not the countdown to the 25 days 'til Christmas (although, that is right around the corner).  And yes, you have seen everyone's list of things they are thankful for (family, friends, etc.).  So, I was trying to be a little creative (while being serious and funny all in the same list) and come up with a list of basic things that I am thankful for that I don't typically think of every day. (Don't get me wrong - I am very thankful for my family, friends, roof over my head, food on my table.  I just wanted to try something a little different this year). 

1. My Honda Civic - we have been together for 11 years and approximately 117,000 miles, and she still gets me to work and doesn't typically bankrupt me at the gas pump.

2. The gym at work - you have helped this very busy mom find time to work out and improve my self esteem.

3. The balloon guy and face painting lady at the craft fair - you always make my children feel very special with your creations.

4. The athletes at the Special Olympics games - you truly understand the meaning of "trying your best" and enthusiasm. 

5. Hershey bars - because B can pretty much be bribed by you!

6. The dollar aisle at Target - because I can "let" A & B get a prize without going overboard.

7. The smell of pine trees - ahh - memories from Dairymen's.

8. A perfume counter - Grandma Zarn, I miss you so much!!

9. My microwave - because it actually makes me a "cook!"

10. The Altoona Campus basketball refs - for giving every little kid playing basketball a chance to make a basket and make each kid feel like a star.

11. Victoria's Secret  -while we do have some issues, thank you for making this mom feel pretty.

12. The portable DVD players - without you, traveling would be horrendous.

13. The Ramada in the QC - for giving us a great place to stay and catch up with friends and family!

14. Merle Norman concealer - thanks for covering up these zits and wrinkles.

15. Raygun - for making hilarious t-shirts.

16. Having the ability to see many musicals when I was young  - Les Miz, Phantom, Joseph  - I still love this music.

17. Diet Moutain Dew - because I finally realized how long a treadmill it takes to burn off the calories from a regular Pepsi.  And, hello, caffeine.

18. My best friend's paparrazzi skills - sometimes, I only have pictures of A & B because of you :)

19. Pie at Village Inn - because you can't balance a budget on an empty stomach.

20. Rest areas on the interstate - because I have a small bladder (and you don't realize you need one until you are on I-88 from Dixon to Rockford!)

21. No tolls in Iowa!!

22. Highlighters - because without you my notes are so confusing!

23. My watch - even if I am always late, you always seem to give me a few more minutes.

24. My DVR - so the shows I watch don't all have to be cartoons or the Disney Channel.

25. Shoes - I just love shoes.

I hope this Thanksgiving brings you many things to be thankful for!

Jean Anne

Interview with a Newbie

Sorry for the absence, folks. Last week I had to travel to Columbus for work and it was crazy!

But, I digress, because that trip is more of a “what happens in C-bus, stays in C-bus.” Ok – not really, as it just was work meetings and not exciting, but, hey, I can fantasize, right?

This week had a lot of catching up on emails, deadlines from last week’s trip AND (drum roll please) a request to be interviewed for the quarterly compliance newsletter. Now, I know what you are thinking – really? Hasn’t she only been there for a few months? And what exciting things could she talk about (I mean, Dodd Frank is exciting, right?)? But you can’t say no to a request like that…

So, it started off with your basic questions:
Where are you from?
How long have you worked here?
What is your educational background?
Tell me about your family?

Pretty much your basic questions, which I have stock answers to. Nothing too wild and crazy here. But then we veered off topic a little bit with these questions:
What are your pet peeves?
What are you afraid of?
 Do you have any goals you want to accomplish still?
If you could, would you go back and redo anything in your life?
What is a time you will never forget (good or bad)?
What is something you are proud of?

And yes, those were the questions. Part of me thought I was sitting on a long couch talking to a therapist (not necessarily a bad idea for a stressed out mom, but I digress). Now the pet peeves and afraid of questions were ok (I admit, I do like an interview that asks a couple of off the wall questions), but goals and regrets? How long does this interview need to be?

Possibly, I took the questions a little too much to heart. But they did get me thinking…
Goals? Where do I begin?
Redo/Regrets? Hindsight is 20 – 20.
Times I will never forget? Too many…all that bring a smile or tears

Something I am proud of? This was probably the 2nd most difficult question to answer (behind the redo/regrets question), because I don’t really think of myself as being special. I just live life the best I can. So the answer came out as this:
“I am proud to be a working mom, who does her best to balance her family and job.”
Oh – and I also added “I am proud to have such wonderfully close friends and family, who I know would be here in a heartbeat if I needed anything.”

So what about you? How would you answer these questions?

And yes, I realize I was way over-thinking these questions, but hopefully it makes you think a little too 

Have a great day!
Jean Anne

Out of the Mouth of Babes

So lately, there has been some craziness going on in my life (more than normal) and I just don’t want to take a “deep dive” into it today. So instead, I am featuring funny quotes from my girls (yes, I keep a running tab). So hopefully, these put a smile on your face.

“I am really smart. I have a lot of stuff up here (pointing to her head).” – A

“I don’t know why he wants to be my boyfriend. I’m not nice to him.” – A

“I think Daddy would like a Scooby balloon for his birthday. Then, he can let me borrow it.” – B

“Mom (in that sing-song voice), I need to go to the bathroom before soccer, so I can run super fast.” – A

“I love you Daddy. Now can I have the Barbie Dreamhouse?” – B

“Mommy, you look like you need to go shopping. I think we should go on vacation on a plane so you can go shopping and I can go with you.” – A

“Does it count to trying something new if I try a French fry dipped in ice cream?” – B

“Mommy, you look like a princess (the first time I wore a fancier dress)” – B

In asking my 5 year olds for advice:
A: ”Mommy, you need something else besides that necklace and shirt.”
Me: “Is this better?” (after adding a jacket.)
A: “Nope, but you still need something.”
Me: “Does this shirt make me look fat?”
A: “No, but it makes you look funny.”
“I did not hmph.” – A
A: “Can we get that?” (regarding a toy in Target)
Me: “No, Mommy doesn’t have enough money.”
A: Where’s Grandpa? He has quarters.”

“Daddy will totally flip out when he sees this.” – B (referring to her new Scooby shirt)

These are just a few of the funny sayings I hear all the time. Now, if only I was able to capture them (and the facial expressions that accompany them) on camera.
Happy Thursday!

Jean Anne

This Weekend

This weekend, my hubby and I are headed back to my hometown (well, 2 miles from my hometown) for his 10 year college reunion. Has it really been 10 years? Looking back, I can’t believe our lives have changed so much, yet, in some ways, not at all. And I can’t believe we are actually spending time together, without the girls!!

This weekend is long overdue for us. It probably comes as no surprise to most of you, but spending time together is not always our #1 priority. (Now I am not saying this is right or wrong, I am just being honest). Between work, soccer and dance practices, grocery shopping, school, daily “chores” and basically just making it through the day, we don’t focus on “us.” Adding in traveling on the weekends, hunting season and upcoming holidays, means I can’t remember the last time we had a date night.

And while I realize this needs to change, realizing it needs to happen and actually making it happen are 2 very different things. I am jealous of those couples who seem to be able to do it all (have a happy marriage AND raise a great family). How do they do it? How can they afford a babysitter every month? And if they do, when is there a break from the “normal” family activities to go out to dinner? If you look at my calendar since July, we have had maybe 2 “free” weekends.

Maybe these are all just excuses. To be completely honest, I don’t feel like I spend enough time with my kids during the week, so any “free” time I have, I want to spend with them. But this puts my marriage at a disadvantage (probably not the correct word, but you get my meaning). I know I need to put more work (I hate to say that – how about more heart?) into my marriage. Luckily, this weekend is a perfect time to get back to “us” meaning the 2 of us, not the whole family. Hopefully we can find something to talk about besides work and the kids. Or maybe we can just go back to being “us” and watching Sportscenter.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jean Anne

Pet Peeves

As many of you know, I work in a corporate setting instead of your typical law office. My set up is a little different than most attorneys, as I don’t have my own office. Basically, I am in cube world (picture the movie Office Space). So, as I sat down to write my post for today over my lunch “hour,” I kept hearing this annoying squeaking from the printer.


And no, this is not my personal printer at my desk, but the communal printer which several departments use. So pretty much not more than 2 minutes go by and I hear “squeak, squeak, squeak.” Given tough economic times and the make the best use of your resources ideals, this means you do not call the tech department unless something explodes or in on fire. So the squeaking will continue…

So there are no profound thoughts for this post, as I am like the hamster with the squeaky wheel (literally) today. But it did get me thinking about different office pet peeves:

1. Squeaky printers that everyone complains about, but no one can fix

2. People that stand at your desk while you are on the phone (and continue to stand there even when you give them the “this is going to be a while look.”)

3. People that keep talking to you even when you have a ton of work to do, and to make your point, you turn away from them and begin typing an email.

4. Loud talkers

5. Calling the “help desk” for your computer/phone issues, but receiving no help at all, except “why don’t you try restarting your computer.”

6. People who schedule meetings over the lunch hour

7. People who schedule meetings when the topic could have been covered in an email

I am sure that there are more pet peeves, and I am quite sure that I have committed some of these offenses. But until someone fixes that squeak, I’ve got nothing.

Feel free to add to this list. I can’t wait to see what other office pet peeves there are out there. And for all of you Office Space fans “why does it say paper jam, when there is no paper?”

Happy Squeak-Free Thursday!

Jean Anne

Happy What?

This week has been a busy week for our house. Yes, it was our 8th wedding anniversary and my hubby’s birthday. And no, I did not plan it that way – September is busy enough as it is! You might be wondering, what exciting things did we do for our anniversary and his birthday? Well, drum roll please….

NOTHING! Yep, I completely botched both the anniversary and birthday this year. Our anniversary was spent with the girls at Sugar Shack, supporting the Centennial Elementary PTA and hubby’s birthday will be spent at soccer practice and Hy-vee. As for gifts…well…Again, epic fail.

In all fairness, we recently purchased a used Dodge Durango (aka they hubby’s hunting vehicle). And he did get a new trailer/hauling thing for it on Saturday. We seem to have succumbed to the mode of “when we need something, we just go buy it.” And he seems ok with it. But I feel horrible. Plus, I even forgot cards from A & B! (Although, they did wish him a happy birthday as soon as they woke up AND sang him happy birthday!)

I just keep wondering, what happened this year? Last year, I was on a roll. We spent our “lucky 7” anniversary in Las Vegas – our 1st big trip away from the girls. And, because it was our 7th anniversary and John Elway (#7) was his favorite football player, he also got an autographed, full-size Elway helmet. It was GREAT!! 
To top it off, hubby got me a beautiful watch this year from Joseph’s for our anniversary. And what did I get him? NOTHING! Not even a card!

So, it makes me wonder…did I go to big last year? And I love giving gifts, so what is stopping me from spoiling hubby this year?  We are currently planning to celebrate our anniversary in October, when we attend his 10 year college reunion without A & B (I know - a weekend away!).  But I just feel that I should have done something a little more special now.


Any ideas to make it up to him?

Thanks!

Jean Anne

Christmas Wish

Yesterday I posted on my Facebook page that I had already figured out what I wanted for Christmas and it was completely selfish. Now, I didn’t post exactly what it was, so the feedback and comments I received were crazy!


So what is it? What do I want so bad that I actually posted it in September? And is it truly selfish (as most Moms are thinking –HA!)? And, most importantly, how do I have time to think about Christmas presents in September? Well, keep reading (hopefully I am building a little suspense!!)

The thought actually started after lunch on Tuesday with a great friend. She was talking about how she was purchasing Christmas gifts for her kids, 1 gift each month until Christmas so she was not overwhelmed in December and she could get that last minute “I want that” gift without any issues. Genius, I thought! (And truth be told, she is a genius!).

So I started thinking about what to get everyone for Christmas…and then I realized what my husband always complains about – I couldn’t think of anything for me (just me!). I could come up with ideas for A & B, my hubby, even my parents, but nothing just for me. Everything I thought of had something to do with the kids (going to a nice hotel over Christmas break), the house (new bedroom carpeting or living room furniture), or basic necessities (saving for a new air conditioner).

I wish I could say it was something profound (like world peace) or a basic need (like having my family be happy and healthy), but this is just pure selfish. Yes, for the 1st time since my girls were born I am not being practical or thoughtful – just plain selfish!

Drum roll please…..

I want a day with my best friend. Just us – no hubbies, no kids, no text messages or calls asking “where are this kid’s boots or this stuffed animal.” Just a day filled with indulgence – manicures, pedicures, massages, shopping (and not at Children’s Place!) and some adult beverages.

Now while this may seem pretty reasonable – planning is difficult given our schedules, our kids’ schedules, distance and possibly budget (we would need to find a place with all day happy hour!). Plus, it is not easy to just take a day. Laundry piles up, errands get doubled up and there is the inevitable “Well, you spent the day with your BFF, so I should get to go XXXXX (insert event here)” from the hubby.

So now you know. Nothing too wild and crazy (although I did like this watch at Joseph’s Jewelers too!). Now – what do you want that is completely selfish? Go on – admit it!

Jean Anne

P.S. If we could make this a day for the Fab Four – even better!!

What Not to Wear?

Ok – I know that we have touched on this before, but I am again stuck on what to wear (or maybe what not to wear?). As most of you know, I work in the corporate office setting (think Office Space cube world) and would have no idea what to wear to court. My attire is dictated by a company-wide dress code (no flip flops, no torn denim, no vulgar sayings on shirts) aka business casual. But what does business casual actually mean?

At first glance, it means you can easily rule out wearing suits to work (with the exception of important meetings, clients, auditors, or interviews!). Thank goodness, because I haven’t worn truly worn a suit since I graduated from law school. (This, of course, means I need to give these suits away to the Career Closet at the Young Women’s Resource Center…but I hate to part with my fabulous gray Victoria’s Secret suit with the great pencil skirt…and it would match my new shoes…but I digress). And yes, it means no jeans (unless it is a special day/charity drive). So now that I have defined the ends of the spectrum, this leaves a large area for error.

What about khakis? Or black dress pants? Should I pair the khakis with the button down dress shirt? And what shoes? Are those dressy sandals really that dressy? Can I get away with a skirt and no pantyhose?

As a working mom, I also have additional issues of can you really notice this stain or do I need to change my shirt before I go to work (if I catch it)? Will I be able to wear these heels on the soccer field? Will I be the only mom at dance practice in work clothes (this is a yes and I really missed the Package at this!)? Will I be changing in the van before I head to a PTA meeting?

I do realize I am lucky in the fact that I work with 2 men who could really care less what I wear to work (no chance of them noticing my new cute flats or kitten heels!). But I still want to look stylish and professional.

So thoughts? And how do you look cute at work without looking like you are headed out on a hot date, especially with skinny jeans and cute heels?

Have a GREAT day!

Jean Anne

The School Lunch Showdown

We are in week 2 of kindergarten and I thought things were going pretty good. And, they were, until I learned that A & B weren’t really eating their lunch, or breakfast for that matter. It all started in a conversation like this:


Mommy: “So, how was breakfast this morning?”

A: “The fruit roll-up from my snack bag was great!”

B: “Yummy! I love fruit roll-ups!”

Mommy: “But what else did you have for breakfast?” knowing that she had paid for breakfast.

A & B: “Nothing.”

So, at that point, hubby got upset because they were wasting money and it all spiraled out of control. It got to the point of “well, then you won’t take lunch at all.” Yeah…like that’s going to work.

I fully admit my girls are EXTREMELY picky eaters (similar to me!). And one of the exciting items when we picked out school supplies were Hello Kitty and Ariel lunch bags (to match the backpacks!). So they really like to take lunch every day. And I can’t say that I blame them, as school lunch BBQ chicken or turkey and noodles would not be high on my list either. (And no, this is not going into a discussion on how healthy or unhealthy school lunches are...hello, I let the girls drink pop and eat Cheetos all the time!).

So, we have compromised and look at the school menu each day. Some days – the cool lunch bag; other days (mainly pizza and corn dogs) school lunch. Sadly, today I didn’t know the option and they were stuck with an egg sandwich on a bagel for breakfast (which wasn’t looking that great…)

On a nice note, I did get a call from school this morning saying that although they had charged A & B for the full lunch, the girls only had milk, so they would refund my money. And to be honest – at that point in the morning, I was more than happy to let them have the pudding out of their lunch bag for breakfast and pay the full amount for breakfast for just milk!

So what does everyone else do about the lunch dilemma? And please note, this is not a discussion about healthy lunches – I just want my kids to eat something.

Have a great day!

Jean Anne

I Survived!

Yes, this week A & B started kindergarten. What an experience! School supplies went to Miss E’s class last Thursday for Open House, backpacks with matching lunch bag (aka snack bag), were packed and clothes for the 1st day of school were chosen. And I faced these challenges all on my own!


Call it poor timing or a bad coincidence, but my hubby had to be in Minneapolis for work this week. He travels twice a year (once to AZ in January, once to MN in August) and it just so happened that his conference was scheduled for A & B’s first day of school. He (and I) were broken hearted. (But don’t worry – plenty of pictures were taken!) Plus, my normal back-ups/life savers – aka Grandma and Grandpa – decided to take vacation this week too!

So on Tuesday morning, off we went to kindergarten in the Mom mobile - A & B all dressed up with the Ariel and Hello Kitty backpacks and snack bags and Mommy with her camera and a heavy heart. They walked right in to their class, sat at their tables and began working on the coloring pages Miss E had already laid out (she is a GREAT teacher!). And there I was, “bothering” them by snapping pictures.

In all honesty, part of me was very proud of them for their independence, but the other part of me wanted them to cling to me a little/need me a little more. When A asked me for a favor, I thought – YES! But all she wanted me to do was hang up her snack bag before I left.

I do realize that I am very lucky to have such independent and easy going girls. And, so far, they love school! So I am counting my blessings that this continues.

But as Darius Rucker sings in It Won’t Be Like This For Long, “someday soon that little girl is gonna be all grown up and gone.” I would like to hold on for a little longer. (And yes, I did cry at this song and many others this week!).

I hope everyone’s school week was this easy!

Jean Anne

Open House

Tonight, we head to kindergarten open house for A & B. This is our chance to ask questions, meet their teacher, bring school supplies, and generally provide A & B a chance to check out the “lay of the land” before they start next Tuesday.


To be perfectly honest, I think I am definitely less prepared then the girls are. We have all the school supplies (thank you Target and my credit card thanks you as well) and our Ariel and Hello Kitty backpacks are totally stylin’. Plus, we have driven by multiple times, stopped at the playground and even had softball practice at the school. Each time, we prep A & B for the change, explaining that as of next week, this will be there new school. And, to their credit, they are excited.

I, however, am nervous. As Mandi discussed earlier this week, I share many similar concerns. What if some kid bullies them? What if some one doesn’t want to share with them? What about cliques? What about getting teased for what they are wearing? And yes, I know that these things will happen…but it just breaks my heart. And how do I prepare them for this?

Right now, A & B have no fear of making new friends or going to a new school. As a comfort, they do have each other and they are in the same class. So I need to continue to follow their lead and put on a brave face. My girls definitely have a lot to teach me about the world.

Have a great day!

Jean Anne

Technical Difficulties

You maybe be wondering why this posting is so late...well let's just say I had a few technical glitches.  Last night, no wireless at home.  No problem, I can just do it tomorrow (aka Thursday).  Except, still no computer at work (yep, day 4 still no computer).  So here it goes...seems a little anti-climatic.

On Monday, I started my new job.  So far, with the exception of the computer snafu, so good.  I like the new team I will be working with, having a gym at work is great, my stress level has greatly decreased, and I think I can make an immediate impact.  And while I miss my wonderful team and the Best Boss Ever, I haven't felt that gnawing in my stomach about making a wrong decision.

However, I am a little nervous about one thing - making new friends at work.  And yes, I wasn't kidding when I posted on Facebook earlier this week about having the Fab Four walking me to work!  Truly, I am not bragging about myself, but I do think I am pretty friendly, nice and (as a co-worker once told me) I could "make chat with a houseplant."  So why worry, you ask?  Because my team is extremely small, with only 2 people in my office (both male).  And we are somewhat isolated from the rest of the company (which is great for getting work done, but not so much for socializing).  As for going to the gym, well, it's hard to make chat when you are huffing and puffing on the treadmill! 

But, as I was huffing and puffing today (because my 5K is coming up quickly!), I wondered if this is what A & B feel like going into kindergarten.  They are pretty outgoing, are nice to everyone and just want to make friends.  But it will be a totally new situation for them, with bigger kids and new challenges.  Will they have the courage to go up to someone and say "hi"?  And what if someone is mean to them?

Maybe this was good timing to start my new job...in more ways than one :)

Have a great night!
Jean Anne