Coughing Kiddo

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. Inhalers are entirely too expensive.
Emma doesn't need one very much; but when we have to get a new one, the pharmacist always says, "Now, you know how much this is, right?"

2. Constant coughing is annoying.
Bless her little heart, I'm sure Emma isn't trying to bug the crap out of me, but...

3. I feel helpless.
I just wish I could help her get rid of her cough. It's got to be frustrating for her.

Game of Thrones

Big Daddy and I have been plowing through all the seasons of Game of Thrones for about a week now. We are now caught up and are ready, like everyone else, for the next episode.

I now totally get what the "big deal" is about this show.

And I just purchased book 1, so I will begin reading the series very soon. I'm sure it'll be fantastic.

At this point, my favorite characters are Jon Snow, Arya Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, and Olenna Tyrell (sassy old broad). And, honestly, I'm kind of starting to like the Hound.

I'm not sure how I feel about sharing a name with Jaime Lannister.

Of course, all this may change after reading the books. Like I said, I've only seen the show so far.

Wanna talk about Game of Thrones? E-mail me (or at least comment below), and we'll chat.

Turn Signals

Two Cents Tuesday

I was bored with Twitter Tuesday and wanted to make a change. My mom came up with this theme idea. Trying it out today, giving you my two cents on a topic.

Turn signals are important. Using them properly is even more important.

Making a turn up ahead? Let people know about it ahead of time by engaging your turn signal 5 to 10 seconds ahead of your turn instead of as you're turning.

Switching lanes in congested traffic? Use your turn signal to alert the cars around you of your intentions.

Just made a turn? A quick glance at the dashboard is all it takes to verify that your turn signal is no longer flashing (which can confuse and frustrate the cars behind you because they can't tell if/when you're turning).

I'm just saying.

Time Off and Hair Dye

You may or may not have noticed, but recently I've taken a small break from blogging. I guess I just haven't had anything to say.

I think it's time to get back to it. I enjoy writing. It's fun.

A few weeks ago, I decided I wanted to lighten my hair. I wanted to do it myself (because I'm a cheapskate). Well, I did it; and the color turned out strawberry blonde on me. Apparently my hair just has a reddish tint to it when I dye it. Which makes my face look flushed and/or sickly because I have red tones in my skin.

I left it for a few weeks, trying to get used to it. But this past Friday I decided I'd had enough and went with a different brand of dye. Which made it even MORE red, making me look even MORE flushed.

So I dyed it again today. I *think* I succeeded in toning down the reddish tint, but I'll need to wait and see. If I can't handle how it looks, I'm just going to go darker. That'll make the "grow out" process less awkward (i.e. less horribly visible roots).

I'll let you know how it goes.

Grammarly FTW

Wordy Wednesday

(FTW means "for the win" for those of you who don't know...)

It's a lot. Always and forever.

Just like would have or should have.

Even Tracy Morgan gets it.

Who's the April Fool?

I slept on the trundle bed in Emma's room last night. Went in there after she was already sleeping so I could surprise her in the morning.

Since I normally wake her up in the morning, I had to figure out a way to make her wake up and notice me in there without me actually waking her up. I used my phone as an alarm and hit snooze after it went off the first time right next to me. I then put the phone on her pillow next to her head and waited for the 10 minute snooze. I heard it go off, but I stayed where I was until she woke up and was all confused and finally whispered, "Mommy, your phone." To which I replied, "April Fools!"

It worked. She was surprised I was there. Mission accomplished.

Or was it?

That trundle mattress may be good for visiting little friends; but that thing is NOT good for an adult to sleep on. Harder than a rock. I'll be paying for that later today.

Cats, Naps, and More

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. I love playing with the adoptable kitties at PetSmart.
Since Norbert can't seem to handle other animals in the house, it's nice to be able to go over to PetSmart and spend some QT snuggling with sweet kitties. Emma and I are getting to be good friends with all the employees over there.

2. I don't think one day of warmth and sunshine over spring break is too much to ask for.
I mean, seriously.

3. Naps are awesome.
Need I say more?

Fists and Fives

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook. I don't watch hockey, but the good fights are always entertaining. This one didn't let me down. Watch until the very end.



A few thoughts:
1. I found it hilarious that the TWO refs just stood there and let the whole thing unfold.
2. Don't you think both men had sore knuckles and faces the next morning?
3. All fights should end with a high five and no hard feelings.

Spring Break: Day 1

Today's Events
Short time at work with me
Pediatric dentist appointment in Speedway (No cavities!)
Lunch with Big Daddy (@ Qdoba!!)
Trip to the Greenwood Park Mall (Hooray for sales!)
Continuing the Harry Potter marathon (Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire)

Tomorrow
Bowling with MIL and FIL

Wordless Wednesday

Pre-Paddy Party

Big Daddy and I celebrated St. Patrick's Day this weekend at The Monkey's Tale in Broad Ripple. He was asked to run sound for a friend's band, The Whiskey Ninjas (who were awesome, by the way); so I got to tag along.

Broad Ripple, for those who don't know, is touted as one of six cultural districts in Indianapolis. Wikipedia describes it as a lovely, diverse, cultural utopia. But if you ask someone from around here about Broad Ripple, they'll probably tell you it's a college bar scene.

Sounds like Big Daddy and me, right?

Well, here are some things I learned from our pre-Paddy party experience:
1. I am old.
2. I need more than 5 hours of sleep to function properly.
3. Next time I go out to a bar, I need to wear a purse with a cross-body strap. Holding a clutch all night is not fun.

Would I do it again? Yes. But not right away.

I've got to rest up first. And buy a new purse.

Nighttime Thoughts

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. Chromecast is really neat.

You can just toss the video or whatever you're watching onto the TV screen so everyone can see/hear it instead of turning your laptop around and making everyone move close so they can see the screen.

2. I loved wearing flip flops the other day.

I hope I can do that again VERY soon. That and go outside with no coat on and be comfortable. Man, that sure was nice.

3. I'm going to dye my hair tomorrow.

I've just decided. I know what I'm going to choose, but I'm curious as to what color my readers would like to see...

For Funsies

I can't get enough Olaf. He cracks me up.

So on this lovely Tuesday (and before winter comes back tomorrow), let's enjoy this happy song together. As many times as we want.



Go ahead. Sing along. You know you want to.

Almost...

Almost got a cat this weekend. Emma and I went to the Humane Society adoption event they were having at PetSmart on Saturday. I fell in love with this little light-colored kitten named Gunther (Adventure Time, anyone?). Then I noticed he had a sister (a sweet-faced black kitten named Elana) in there with him; and the literature said that they cried without each other. Which basically meant you had to take them both. Figured that probably wouldn't go over too well if we came home with two kittens when Chris was unsure we should even get one.*

Then we went over to another area of the store where there were 3 cats in a big, wire cage. A rabbit-colored one named Valentine, an orange and white one named Jasper, and a gray, stripey one named Uriah. Uriah fell in love with Emma. She crouched next to the cage and petted him for quite a long time. If she stopped petting, he would rub against the cage or paw at the cage, telling her to keep petting.

*Our concern on getting a new animal for the house is Norbert. He's 12 years old, has been an "only child" for his whole life with us, and he's crazy. Seriously. He's just an odd duck. Remember the Roscoe experiment? Yeah, that didn't go over too well with good ol' Norbert.

My idea was maybe a different species of animal wouldn't bother him as much. But I don't want to adopt an animal and then have to take it back because Norbert can't handle it. That's not fair to the adopted animal.

So it looks like we'll be waiting to adopt an animal until after Norbert is no longer with us. It's probably easier that way.

I never held Uriah. I knew if I did I wouldn't want to leave without him. Which is also why I never held Gunther or Elana or Valentine (who slept the entire time we were there) or Jasper.

I tell you what, though. I would have taken them all - and all of the ones at the Humane Society - if I could have. Which is probably why I shouldn't go to those kinds of adoption events anymore.

Happy birthday, Papaw!

My grandpa will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow. So on this Throwback Thursday, I thought I'd show you some old photos I found of my Papaw Bud.

Emma was 2.

Emma was 4 1/2.

Happy birthday, Papaw Bud! I love you very much!!!

Hiccups and Hurts

You know when you get those hurty hiccups that feel like they will never go away? Yeah, it stinks.

Speaking of hurty... I cut myself again with a sharp knife last night while making dinner. I cut my left pointer finger right at the top bendy part as I was hand washing the knife in the sink.

I went to the school nurse about it today. 

Really. I was helping out at Emma's school, and I was chatting with Mrs. Lee, the school nurse. I asked her if she'd look at my finger to make sure it was OK. She said it looked good, and I don't need stitches.

I shouldn't be allowed near sharp knives. I'm a danger to myself.

A Couple of Sillies

Twitter Tuesday

See what happens when Tina Fey and Jimmy flip lips: http://t.co/dkss2q7fHN #FallonTonight
— Fallon Tonight (@FallonTonight) March 4, 2014

Not Again!

Wellness Wednesday

It looks like I've come down with another terrible cold, just as Emma is getting well from hers. That's always how it seems to happen around here.

I've been using my Neti pot (this exact one, actually) in the morning and before bed since Sunday. It is helping some, so I'm hoping I won't have to make an appointment with my doctor; but it's looking like I may have to make that appointment in the next day or two, as my ears sound like they're filled with crackling Rice Krispies and my throat is starting to hurt when I swallow. Boo.

So if you happen to see me around or talk to me on the phone, I apologize for my ridiculous nasal tone. I really am trying to get better. It'll go away, even if I have to buck up and go to the doctor and get medicine to make that happen.

If you see me this time next week and I still sound like this, you have my permission to tell me the following:

Voldemort?

Twitter Tuesday

We might have been onto something with that @JamieMcMurray Superlative… http://t.co/LMppdXcOVr pic.twitter.com/60gl7L2gVP
— Fallon Tonight (@FallonTonight) February 25, 2014

“@jamiemcmurray: How did you know @jimmyfallon?@TheTonightShow @CGRTeams #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/9OUCnzVrUy” ha!! I knew it.
— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) February 25, 2014

Adventures in Cake Pops

My sister- and brother-in-law (i.e. Big Daddy's sister and her hubby) got me a cake pop maker for my birthday.

Emma was desperate to try it out as soon as we got home. I was really not so much in the mood to tackle that right then, but we all decided to do it as a family. And we had a blast!

We picked the red velvet cake pop recipe from the booklet that came with the device. But we didn't have any cocoa or buttermilk. Did we go to the store? Heck no! We improvised.

Thanks to Big Daddy's interweb prowess, he figured out how to use a mini Hershey bar + slightly less butter in place of the cocoa. Instead of mixing the cocoa powder with the dry ingredients, we blended the melted Hershey bar with the softened butter (which we decreased by a 1/2 tablespoon). Big Daddy used to watch a lot of Alton Brown's "Good Eats," so he learned a lot of the science of food and how important it is to keep the dry and wet ingredients separate until the right time. Totally worked.

He also figured out how to simulate buttermilk. I was busy mixing other ingredients while he did that part, so I'm not exactly sure how he did it. You'll have to ask him about it. I think it involved milk and lemon juice; but whatever it was, it worked.

We also made a vanilla glaze to go on the cake pops. So basically we made red velvet doughnut holes on sticks.

(That pill bottle is Norbert's antibiotic. He had a hurt-y paw the other day that required a trip to the vet. We use that knife to make a little opening in a piece of hot dog and slip in the pill. Works like a charm. Just in case you were wondering about the random pills and knife in the middle of the photo...)
*Also note Emma's concentration face. Hehe*

And you know what? They tasted pretty darn good!

Next time we'll do a thicker icing on the cake pops so we can decorate them with rainbow sprinkles (Emma's favorite). And I'll make sure to have the proper ingredients before we start.

Extra time

3 Thoughts Thursday

What I did with my extra hour this afternoon
1. Gave myself chunky highlights
2. Laundry
3. Caught up on a few DVR-ed episodes

Etc. versus Et al.

Wordy Wednesday

Etc.
The abbreviation etc. (pronounced EHT set-ur-uh) comes from the Latin et cetera, which means, "and so on." It is used to in both informal and formal writing to suggest the logical continuation of a list of things.

Et al.
The abbreviation et al. (pronounced eht-all) comes from the Latin et alii, which means, "and others." Primarily used in bibliographic citations, it can also used in both informal and formal writing to suggest the logical continuation of a list of people.

Examples
The kids ate candy, cake, cookies, etc. at the party, no wonder they were bouncing off the walls.

I never really liked Christopher Robin, but I always enjoyed reading about the adventures of his friends Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, et al.

Hip Hop Dancing

Twitter Tuesday

In case you missed it.

The Evolution of Hip-Hop Dancing with Will Smith: http://t.co/4IFFDVFP6d #FallonTonight
— Fallon Tonight (@FallonTonight) February 18, 2014

You're welcome.

Weather...Or Not

Dear Snow,
You really are lovely. But enough is enough. You've worn out your welcome.

Dear Cold Temps,
You are not lovely. And enough is enough. Please leave and let your warmer brethren visit for a (long) while.

Dear Terrible Snow Drivers,
You are a menace. Don't feel comfortable about being on the road? Then don't get out when it's snowing! It's simple. Save yourself the stress, and save all the other drivers the frustration of having to deal with you. Thanks so much.

Dear Icy Sidewalks/Roads/Parking Lots,
I'm clumsy. I'm tired of worrying about falling down all the time. Warm up and melt the ice already!

Today's Top 3s

3 Thoughts Thursday

Restaurants
1. Qdoba (a.k.a. The Dobe)
2. Fazoli's (Breadsticks, anyone?)
3. HuHot Mongolian Grill

Movies (as of now)
1. Frozen (Olaf is my favorite!)
2. Pitch Perfect (Aca-believe it!)
3. This Means War (Seriously, it's really funny.)

Time wasters
1. Rainbow Loom
2. Facebook
3. Rainbow Loom (Yeah, I know. Don't worry about it.)

TV Shows
1. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
2. The Big Bang Theory
3. Adventure TIme

Affect vs. Effect

Wordy Wednesday

I had a request for this Wordy Wednesday topic. It's a tough one, for sure. Very confusing. Let's see if I can help simplify it.

Basically, affect with an A is a verb (action), and effect with an E is a noun (thing).

Affect
Affect means "to influence," as in, "The rain affected my hairdo." Affect can also mean, roughly, "to act in a way you don't really feel," as in, "She affected an air of superiority."

Effect
Effect, to me, basically boils down to mean "a result." You could say, "The rain had no effect on my hairdo."

I always like to think of cause and effect, like from those ISTEP tests back in the day. Remember those? They'd give you a cause, and you were supposed to mark the effect as your answer. Always EFFECT. Never AFFECT. Maybe that only makes sense to me, but I just wanted to throw it out there.

I hope that helps, or at least makes it a little easier to understand.

Friends

I'm being very real today. Honestly, this is embarrassing to admit. But I've decided I'm tired of not talking about what's really on my heart. So, here goes nothing.

It sounds dumb to say (at least it does to me), but why is it so hard to make friends as an adult? Am I the only one who would like to have a good friend in town? Am I the only one having trouble finding one? Just one?

Rough Day

Normally my Monday posts are full of Dear Such-and-Suches or Dear So-and-Sos. I didn't have a very good day today, so I'm not going to go in that direction with this post.

I was focused on myself today. On what is going on with me. How I feel.

I didn't take a second out of my pity party to think about what someone else might be dealing with.

But that ends now.

I want to encourage you (and me) to pray for someone today. Pray for a friend who you know is going through a rough patch. Pray for a family member with whom you haven't spoken in a while. Pray for your lonely neighbor. It's up to you.

Have a great rest of the day, my friends. God loves you, and so do I!

The Day After

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. It was so fun to get all the birthday greetings on Facebook yesterday.
I know a lot of people probably just said something because FB told them to; but they could have chosen to ignore it, and they took the time to wish me a happy birthday. It was very much appreciated!

2. I don't really feel any older.
At least not until I have to check the new age bracket on some form somewhere. Goodbye 25-34. Hello 35-44.

3. I think being short makes me look younger. I don't mind.
People still use my head as an armrest. I'm used to it.

The Day Of

Woo-Hoo Wednesday

Even Google wished me a happy birthday!

The Day Before

Twitter Tuesday

Today was a weird day. You could totally tell some stinky weather was on its way in. At least we finally got to have a Brownies meeting.

Groundhog Day

Dear Super Bowl XLVIII,
Worst. Super. Bowl. Ever.

Dear Peyton Manning,
I think you're awesome. Especially when I read stuff like this. Stay classy, Mr. MVP. You are an excellent role model, for people young and not so young.

Dear Bruno Mars,
Excellent halftime show! Loved it!

Dear Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Aren't we a bit old to be prancing around on stage without wearing shirts?

I wonder...

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. Is it better to find out crappy information beforehand or at the last second, thus making it a crappy surprise of sorts?

2. Can't I just get paid to Pinterest all day?

3. How many is too many times rewatching a movie?

Twitter fave

Twitter Tuesday

@Stacy_Corwin is one of my favorite Twitter-ers. Where else can you get gems like this?

Never married. Really? A handwritten note on the back of the photo says: “Aunt Velma, she never married.” 1888 pic.twitter.com/cRAqqylUbD
— Stacy_Corwin (@Stacy_Corwin) January 27, 2014

Seriously

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. It's so frustrating when you wake up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night but then can't turn off your brain to go back to sleep.

2. Why are family relationships sometimes so complicated?

3. I'm over this polar vortex business.

Rainbow Loom Fun

Twitter Tuesday

Had lots of Rainbow Loom fun today...check out my first 2 charms! #craftycrafterson http://t.co/2fUV9I0CZk
— Jaime Heacock (@jaimeheacock) January 22, 2014

Dear Fun Weekend

Dear Junior Bowling League,
Emma was awesome! She did extremely well on all three games, even though her arm got tired on the third game. She rolled 81 and 96 on the first two games! I'm pretty sure that's better than I could do.

Dear Denver Broncos,
I thoroughly enjoyed watching you beat the New England Patriots. It was glorious.

Dear Cracker Barrel,
Your boneless fried chicken is SO delicious! Thank you for the yummy, warm, Sunday lunch. Oh yeah, those Wickles Pickles are super good, too. I'm glad we got a jar of them.

What I did today

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. I don't like to shovel snow.
I shoveled the driveway so Emma didn't have to walk through deep snow in her imitation Keds.

2. "Unplugging" from TV/phone/computer is difficult.
I was doing my daily Bible study on the Stronger website, and today it encouraged me to turn off my devices for 3 hours. I was unsure that I could do 3 hours, so I committed to 1 hour. I did it. And it made me tired.

3. I love naps.
With nothing to watch or do (computer/TV/cell phone), I did some little things around the house. Then I sat down and did a few puzzles in a word puzzle book. And then I got tired and took a nap. And it was glorious.

New words

Wordy Wednesday

I saw an article about the new words recently added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Here's a few I felt the need to point out (with my comments on them in pink).

• apols, pl. n. (informal): apologies. 
This seems very strange, but whatevs.
• cakepop, n.: a small round piece of cake coated with icing or chocolate and fixed on the end of a stick so as to resemble a lollipop. 
A delicious addition.
• derp, exclam. & n. (informal): (used as a substitute for) speech regarded as meaningless or stupid, or to comment on a foolish or stupid action. 
I have never even heard this word used.
• double denim, n.: a style of dress in which a denim jacket or shirt is worn with a pair of jeans or a denim skirt, often regarded as a breach of fashion etiquette. 
I had no idea this was even a thing. I would NEVER wear it (unless it was for a costume or something).
• selfie, n. (informal): a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website. 
I find this humorous for some reason.
• srsly, adv. (informal): short for ‘seriously’. 
OMG.
• twerk, v.: dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance. 
I blame Miley. Derp.

Highway etiquette

Twitter Tuesday

Seriously, how hard is it to move into the empty lane next to you so I can pull out onto the highway?
— Jaime Heacock (@jaimeheacock) January 14, 2014

Dear #holidayparty

Dear Big Daddy's Work Holiday Party,
Thanks for the complimentary valet, the open bar, and the delicious food! We had a great time at the "casual cocktail" event. It was fun to get dressed up and go out for an adults-only event for a change. (And here's a shout out to Big Daddy for winning an All-Star award for being awesome at his job!) #proudwifey

Dear Colts,
Thanks for a great season, boys! Everybody rest up and get healthy in the off season so we can dominate next year. #okaythanks

Dear Broncos,
So glad you beat the Chargers. Now, for goodness sake, please mop the floor with the Patriots. That is all. #pummelthosepats

Dear Sunday Morning Singing,
It was so great to be healthy enough to sing again at church! I have had a cold for what seems like forever. So glad it's finally leaving the building. #lalala

Commercials

3 Thoughts Thursday

[Most recent] Stuff we "had" to get because of commercials

1. TruMoo Chocolate Milk

2. Flipeez Monster hat
Plus her best friend Sammi had the kitty cat one. Now they can wear them at the same time on the bus.

3. The entire set of Equestria Girls dolls
This has been a long time coming... she finally completed the set at Christmas. Santa rules.

i.e. versus e.g.

Wordy Wednesday

You've seen i.e. and e.g. used all over the place, but do you know what they really mean and how to use them yourself?

Both are abbreviations for Latin terms: i.e. stands for id est, roughly meaning "that is;" e.g. stands for exempli gratia, meaning "for example."

But you're probably wondering how you could possibly remember that. It's easy! I.e. starts with i, as does in other words. And e.g. starts with e, as does the second word in for example.

i.e. = in other words
e.g. = for example

If you're still confused, forget the Latin abbreviations and just write out "in other words" or "for example." Save your brain the trouble. :)

Meatloaf

Twitter Tuesday

Getting ready to go make meatloaf for dinner. It's the most active thing I've done all day. #snowday #paradise #dashboardlight

Dear Snowpocalypse 2014

Dear frigid cold,
You're not awesome. And I don't appreciate you trying to freeze my sweet puppy when all he wants to do is go outside to use the bathroom.

Dear Sunday snow,
You had the biggest, wettest snowflakes I've ever seen. Sure, you looked pretty - for a while. But you could have stopped way earlier than you did.

Dear Emma's birthday iPod Touch,
You have been a great companion for her during these stir-crazy hours. And thank you, also, to Mamaw for the iTunes gift card which has allowed Emma to purchase some super-fun games to play on said iPod.

Dear restaurant commercials,
Curse you and your delicious looking food. You make us want you; but we're not allowed to be on the roads right now, so we can't try the food you show us.

Snowstorms

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. I wish the snow could fall just on the trees... 
I love how the trees look with snow on the branches. It's like a postcard or a painting.

2. ...but stay off the roads.
I don't like having to drive on snowy roads. And I especially don't like driving on snowy roads with other drivers who are idiots and don't know how to drive and thus take their half out of the middle "just to be safe" or who drive way too fast because they apparently have no fear and no sense of common courtesy for the potential danger they are to others on the road or who drive 0.2 MPH "for safety's sake" and have no business being out on the roads in the first place.

3. Someone needs to invent an inexpensive way to make concrete heated.
Or make self-salting roads.

Happy New Year 2014

But, more importantly, I want to wish my New Year baby, Emma, 

a very happy 8th birthday!