Happy New Year's Eve!!

Once upon a time, HWK had a lumberjack hat.  Then he had a child.  Now he has a child who has a lumberjack hat.  This may be my all time favorite picture of The Teenager, taken about an hour ago, on his way to a friend's New Year's Eve party:

 HWK & I are holding down our couch, me in my flannel jammies, naturally!  We've got a George Clooney movie coming up at 10:30, and Toffee the Evil Kitty is sprawled out, snuffling in her sleep.  It's a brilliant start to the New Year, I think!

Here's hoping your New Year is filled with love, light and laughter!!

Business Flannel: My New Cause

I'm retiring to a life of leisure (trading in my Mom jeans and Farmville for dress pants and interoffice memos) on Monday.  I say retiring, cause Mommy work is hard!!  Just helping The Teenager translate teenage-girl-speak has been a challenge!!  And while I'm sad to not have as much time with HWK and The Teenager, I am excited to spend more time with adults and less time with Toffee the Evil Kitty.  I'm hoping absence will make her heart...well...I'm really just hoping she'll glare at me less.  I think I've been cramping her (napping) style!


The real tragedy of this change comes from having to spend way less time in my flannel jammies.  The best part of winter is wearing flannel jammies and poofy hand-knit by Mommy sox!!  As a nod to adulthood, I do wear thermal shirts (color-coordinated, natch), instead of head to toe character flannels, just so you know.  I think the thermal shirts add a touch of class!  ~*~

So this week, while buying new sneaks for The Teenager's ever-expanding feet, I scored marked down, now on clearance (and I had a coupon!!) jammies at JCPirates.  I'm telling you, JCP is my shopping mecca!!  I got me some fine, fine jammies. The Teenager, who has learned that it's not even worth it to remind me I'm an adult, held his tongue through multi-stripes, aqua with snowflakes and sheepies with scarves, aqua with black, hot pink and white stars, and even all thermal oatmeal with white and black sheep (red scarves, of course).  Add these to my red with rubber duckies, red Mickey Mouse (which are older than the-friend-that-got-them-for-me's 3 kids), and assorted other lovelies, and you have a jammie collection from Heaven!


The one pair that The Teenager balked at?  The lavender with sock monkeys on sleds!  They even had cute little matching scarves, hats and mitties!  He put his foot down, told me they were "weird" (*gasp*), and told me to "put 'em back".  Wow. 


It wasn't until I got The-Teenager-approved jammies home that I realized how much less time I will have to revel in their soft, warm comfiness!!


It made me sad.



                                          :(         :'(         :(         :'(    




Anywho, I told you all that (sorry) to tell you about this:  my status on Face(comic)book is:


Melissa thinks flannel jammies are perfect for all occasions. Perhaps if world leaders met in flannel jammies, we'd all live in a better world!    *extra points for sheep, sock monkeys and teddy bears*


And I really think I'm on to something here.  Yeah, yeah I know that everyone in the business world is all "but it's business casssssssuuuuaaaaalllll".  And just what the heck is that, really??  'Cause believe me, I've seen some very liberal interpretations of that phrase, my friends. 


But, sadly, I've never even heard of "business flannel".  And why?  Whhhyyyy?!?!?!?  (Insert pic of Nancy Kerrigan)        *extra points if you got that reference*


Business Flannel is an idea whose time has come.  Warm, soft, eco-friendly.  Easy to coordinate.  Does NOT go with heels!!  AND often comes with an elastic waist!  I mean, come on!  


I'm going to work up a business plan for Business Flannel as soon as I get back from my orientation.  Which is Down South.  I get a hotel room all to meself.  No Kitty.  No laundry.  No dishes. 


But I'm taking my flannel jammies!  

The Queen and Her Boy

The Teenager and Toffee the Evil Kitty spent some time lounging on the couch today.  Now, I ask you: Does anyone doubt who is Queen of our Household?!?!?

Oh, how difficult her life is....

Love, 

   

      The Help

Merry Christmas Un-Madness!

I'm going to let you in on a little family secret.  We have a wonderful Holiday tradition:  we do little, if anything.  We hang out, watch movies, eat, and often change from jammies to...jammies!

I love all the traditional fun of Christmas, but I have to tell you - the last couple of years we have hibernated, spending time just with each other, and it has been very rewarding.

HWK and I bought The Teenager's gifts early, and besides the many, many cookies that I have been and will finish baking tomorrow for The Teenager's friends, our Holiday will be very, very quiet.

And even though we live very close to Manhattan, there's no way you'll catch us braving the frigid cold to go to Times Square for New Year's Eve.  The Teenager is going to a friend's party, and HWK and I will not budge from the house except to squire him to and fro.

Even Toffee the Evil Kitty seems content to simply knead a nest in an afghan and settle in for a peaceful Holiday season!

Random Blecky Cold Thoughts

I am fortunate in that I rarely catch a cold.  HWK and The Teenager are unfortunate in that I am not a "good" sick person.  I still try to do things like laundry and dishes, and get contrary when my head feels stuffed to capacity.  

I do have, however, one must-have during times of *sniff* *koff* *hack* *grumble*:

No, I do not work for Vicks.  I'm just giving credit where credit is due.  This stuff is like cold-crack.  Gimme my drugs and no one gets hurt.

When I'm ill I am always reminded of my trip to visit my Mom years ago in the UK.  We went out for a "proper tea", which was just fantastic!!  And believe me, I'd much rather have tea like this: 

Than like this:

Alas, for now, if you're looking for me, I'm hanging with my new best friends: 

 and

I hope your week is sniffle free!

*koff*

Dear Christmas Fairy:

I know we don't talk like when I was a kidling.  It's my fault, I know...

Anyway, I've missed you.  Even though you never brought me the pony I asked for when I was 10.  I'm almost over that...therapy helped.

This year for Christmas, I would like the gift of time:
  
** More time with The Teenager before he only says things like: "Hey, can I have the car keys?"

** More time with HWK, going on mini-adventures and just hanging out on the couch.

** More time patting Toffee the Evil Kitty, in hopes she will decide I'm not that bad.

** More time to talk to and go visit family, all far and wide.

** More time to play with my new sewing machine.

** More time to stroll down the cyber aisles of Etsy.

** More time to take pictures of all of the above.


Remember, Christmas Fairy, when I wanted to hurry up and become a grown-up?  May I have that time back, but as a grown-up?  Oh, and while you're at it, would you mind vacuuming?  Thanks.  Let's talk more often!


Love, Melissa

Kitty Love

Toffee loves HWK.  She does not love me.  Most of all, she loves to cuddle on HWK's lap, gloating and preening.  This evening I took some pics.  Please forgive the low lighting -- and note the self-satisfied snippety kitty looks!

I'd just like to mention that HWK never wanted a pet.  That he NEVER gives her food or water.  He doesn't even pat her on a regular basis.  And scoop her kitty box?  Ha!  You must be mad!

All I'm saying is, they have a bit of a dysfunctional relationship.  

Do I sound jealous?  And of which one?  It just seems a little unfair.  

I may need therapy...

Happy Holidays!!

Yay!  The Holidays are officially here, and our tree is up and trimmed!  HWK (who wasn't feeling very well, poor thing) and The Teenager assembled, while I took pics and strung bulbs onto their little hooks.  Those little hooks, by the way, completely disappear into carpet, have you noticed?!?

 

I am posting these this evening, as Toffee the Evil Kitty is already bedding down within the tree, and ornaments have been flying all evening.  Last year we literally had no bulbs on the bottom half of our tree.  Apparently they limited where Toffee could nap, so they had to go!

HWK came through in a big way this year -- I got my Christmas present early:
It's a Brother SE400 combo sewing machine and embroidery wizard-y thingie!! I'm so excited!  I've had a busy two days, so it still looks like this:


Tomorrow morning, however, we are going to bond like crazy!  I am going to sew and monogram and embroider anything I can get my hands on!!  I am nearly beside myself trying to decide which project to do first!

So...(sew...)...if I disappear for a bit, send in the troops, cause I've lost my mind and am embroidering Kitty!!

Have a great rest of the week, everyone!  :)

Thanksgiving...The Not so Old-Fashioned Way

The Teenager is visiting family in Chicago this Holiday Weekend, so HWK (He Who is King) and I decided to have an unconventional Thanksgiving.  We planned a Movie Marathon, and were going to order Chinese.  Except our favorite Chinese place was CLOSED for the Holiday.  Well, geez....

SO we snuggled up under about a hundred afghans that Mom made for us, watched movies and ate pizza! :)

No dishes, and all day jammies!  If Toffee the Kitty would just learn to bake pies, life would have been near perfect!

I also got to play with some of the lovelies I received from my high school buddy, Dawn:

This is Wilson (the never to be burned Snowman Candle).  I love him!

These three little Amigos are only 3 1/2 inches high!!  Gnomes and Elves rejoice!

Dish and candle are my own -- the awesome potpourri, with wax tartlets, fir sprillies, nuts and berries, and yummy spices,  were a perfect match!

Let's see these again...SO CUTE!!

Dawn lives on a lakeside sheep (and kid and heirloom veggie) farm in the wilds of Maine...you can see (and get for yourself) some of her amazing stuff in her Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/baahurrahfarm.  I just want to add the caveat that I get first dibs on new stuff!!!  :)

Seriously, I have a well-documented Etsy addiction...and her shop is simply the best.  I got a note earlier today that our (MAINE made, real live) wreath is on its way!!  Check out our soon to be here front door decoration:

Stroll on over RUN! Don't walk! ...on over to her shop.  You won't be disappointed!!!!

Anywho, moving on....HWK and I have technically finished Christmas shopping, but we did a middle-of-the-night run to pick up a couple of things for the house, including:

Oh, my Paula Deen cook set, how I love you....

Good thing, too, because our old set was decrepit!  And it came with a bonus nonstick (champagne colored!) bake set.  Life is good!  Big ole soup pot, double boiler, etc. etc., etc.  :)

I mention this not only to drool over my cookware, but to also address an age-old Black Friday question: pajamas or no pajamas??  I was amazed, as I always am, at the many women in heels, perfectly done hair and make-up and (matching!) fancy-shmancy outfits shopping in the middle of the night on Black Friday.  I go ALL the way the other way.  This year, for example, I went with my bright red fleece PJ jammie bottoms -- the ones with the yellow rubber ducky motif.  (Surely she jests, they think...).  Um, no....see:

You want 'em.  You know you do.  It's OK...I won't tell!  Add in a Walmart, light festooned reindeer antler headband, and I was STYLIN'!!  It was clear from the stares I received that people were wishing they had my taste, my verve, my...oh, they just wanted my Paula Deen cookware?  Well, whatever...I still was a fashionista!

Lastly, on this weekend of Thanksgiving, I am sharing my new favorite internet activity:  Oovoo.com - it's awesome, way-easy videoconferencing!  Earlier this week, The Teenager talked to relatives in Oklahoma and Maine, face to face via the 'Net!  And earlier this evening, HWK got to bond with three generations of his family from over 1,000 miles away!  It's so great - if you haven't tried it, please do!  Seeing loved ones, the nuances of their expressions and the way they have grown and changed, makes being apart just a little more bearable.  Oh, and did I mention it was free?  FREE!!  I love free....

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and remember -- nothing says "I will take you out if you try to take the last set of Paula Deen cookware!" better than red rubber ducky fleece jammies and reindeer antlers!

:)~ 

 

Last one, I promise...

Words to live by...

Further discussion would be superfluous, don'tcha think?!?

Oovoo.com - Welcome to the Video Age

HWK and I have family scattered all over, and wish we were able to visit everyone more often, especially since The Teenager seems to be growing an inch a month now.  Today I finally muddled my way through Oovoo.com -- and even got some the relatives from different states up and running as well.

Tonight we got to talk "face to face" with relatives from Maine to Oklahoma, and The Teenager got to see some pictures of his Dad from HWK's childhood.  It's so cool that we live in an age that we are able to connect in such a personal way at such a distance!

Yay Oovoo.com!  And yay seeing loved ones from way far away!

:)

Harry Potter!!!

HWK, The Teenager and I went to see Part One of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this afternoon.  It was wonderful!  I have to admit, though, it was a bit bittersweet.  The Teenager has grown up with HP.  It was weird to see the actors we saw in HP I so grown up...especially since when I turned my head and looked at The Teenager I realized he is fast become a young man.

Now I know he's almost 6 foot, and has feet the size of small submarines.  It still was weird to think about how little he was when we were in line for the earlier movies.

Just like I wish the characters (and actors) could somehow be suspended in time, I sometimes wish we could take snapshots of The Teenager, and capture some of the fantastic moments we have experienced together.  I love watching The Teenager become a young adult, and look forward to seeing what an amazing adult he will be. ..but I will always miss the little boy that watching the movie today reminded me of.

I love the BBC

I love the BBC for many reasons; today specifically because I caught a few reruns of this:
Oh, Captain Jack

I love Torchwood!  I know there's going to be a reboot coming next summer, and I am hoping I can bear to watch it.  OH, how I hope "they" don't mess with the awesomeness that is Torchwood!!

I did a little Wiki search ("Torchwood: The New World").  Captain returns, with Gwen, the husband and the baby!!

Torchwood is the perfect show for HWK.  It has all the sci-fi and aliens that HWK loves, and all the angst ridden "do the right thing" drama that I love!  Since Torchwood is a Doctor Who spin-off (did you know "Torchwood" is an anagram for Doctor Who?), HWK was already onboard when we first found it.  And John Barrowman as Captain Jack is the only gay man that has ever made me wish I could convert him!  And the clothes!  Oh, the dashing coats for Jack!  Ianto's tailored suits!  The modern slick design of everyone else's moto-cross style jackets!  And gorgeous Cardiff as a location!

Now, don't get me wrong here - I love the BBC for their news, HWK and The Teenager are addicted to Top Gear, the new Sherlock Holmes is adorable...I could go on and on.  (Anyone remember "Hex"??  I LOVED that show!!)  But my one true love, no matter the quirky love triangles, the cheesy aliens, the over the top camp of the dialogue...I adore Torchwood.  Now, if you'll excuse me, the power of DVR has made it possible for me to share at least this evening with the Captain!  :)

what insomniacs do at 3AM

I've always had trouble sleeping.  I learned long ago that sometimes it's just easier to go with it, rather than freak out and try to will myself to sleep.  But sometimes, when I'm out of books and there's nothing but bad movies and infomercials on, I find myself being very silly.  For example:

This is my favorite-est kitchen appliance (but don't tell my slow cooker):

I

I love it.  It's my friend.  My Precious!  I tried breaking up with it this summer, vowing to save myself from a life of caffeine addiction.  I was wrong.  So, so wrong.  And I have since apologized to my lovely Keurig, which can make coffee, tea, hot chocolate or just hot water in less than 60 seconds.  I hear tell, cause I would never actually eat this or allow TT to make it, that a little of its instant hot water even makes for some mean Ramen!

~  I digress ~

This afternoon HWK, TT and I were out and about, and I found this:

Really?  Butter Toffee Coffee?  It's just cruel.  I haven't even been to sleep yet, and I am already coveting my morning coffee!  So, this is my 3 AM response to the aforementioned Butter Toffee Coffee:

Oh, and to my Facebook friend that said I was getting wrinkles on my forehead: I'm 40.  This is me at 3AM, with no make-up and no sleep, in my hot pink jammies!  And no, I do not blow dry my hair.  Some days I'm lucky if I have time to pull a brush through it!  I'm not vain or threatened by my age -- I've earned my wrinkles!  So shut it -- and hand me some coffee!

Nighty-night!

Sad Melissa and her high PH soap

So remember earlier today, when I was all excited to sell my new hot process bacon, pumpkin creme brulee and eskimo kisses soapies?  And I did sell!  Um...yeah...so I sliced my loaves into individual bars, and used the last of my PH strips to just double check the individual bars of the bacon (the outside was A-OK).  Some of the bars were high.  Yes, after I had already sold them.  I didn't test the individual bars for the EK or PCB yet (see "last of my PH strips").

*slinks under porch, since the feral kitties won't even let me share one of their condos after this snafu*

So obviously I refunded the purchases, but seriously -- way too much of a blonde moment!  It was my first shot at hot process soap, and while you are supposedly able to use the soap immediately (the lye is neutralized in the cooking process), I obviously should have tested the internal PH of the loaves.  And yes, I can give them another week or two and test the PH again (must get PH strips tomorrow).  But wow-ee.

I'm mortified I could have sent out something that would have hurt, rather than help.  And terribly embarrassed.

as TT's best friend would say: "sad face" :(

Ta da! Bacon Soap!

Yep, you read that right!  My hot process (made in a crockpot) bacon soap is now ready to go!  I listed it today  on Etsy, along with our new Eskimo Kisses and Pumpkin Creme Brulee soaps.  I must confess I am a little scared of the bacon soap.  The Teenager loves it!  He says it looks more like Spam than bacon.  I'm just glad that while the bars smell like bacon, they don't leave the scent of bacon on my hands!  I can only imagine how irritated Toffee the Evil Kitty would be if puppies started following The Teenager home!

My Mom/TT's Grandma is knitting and crocheting up a storm, and is keeping me busy taking pics and getting all of her items ready to list on Etsy.  We're still just starting out, but I'm having tons of fun!  I've enlisted TT's help here and there, advising him that with any luck maybe our shop can help pay for that film school he wants to attend after high school.  I'm hoping, as always, that investing in his education will allow him to keep me in a style I am as of yet not accustomed to!  :)

I'm off to snap some pics of sox and scarves and mitties.  I'll leave you with my latest soap creations:

Bacon Soap

it does look like Spam!

Pumpkin Creme Brulee...yummy!

Eskimo Kisses!  Candy canes and icicles!

Hope your Friday is wonderful!!

King Tut and Times Square

Every so often I drag HWK and The Teenager into NYC for some "culture".  Today we went to the King Tut exhibit, and then wandered our way to and through Times Square.  It was chilly enough to be perfect for a brisk walk, and I did have the brilliant idea of bribing The Teenager with a Peppermint Mocha (tired Teenager sadness averted!!).

AND, I brought you back some pics:

Empire State Building from Penn Station

HWK & TT in Times Square

People watching in NYC...

Ohhh...Pacino in Shakespeare!!!

I <3 Phantom!!

Getting tired...

Peppermint Mocha makes everything better!

 And now they are all snug in their beds...

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend, and have a fantabulous week!  And hey, psst...bacon soap is coming....