9.99 from Ross!

I don't like logos.  People who wear labels from head to toe are trying to prove something..and it's painfully obvious.  Fancy purses just advertise how much money you have to throw around, not necessarily that you're cool.  I like the bling and I love Italian leather but if you say you like my jewelry I'll tell you what's "real" and what isn't.  I'll tell you what is fine and what is costume.  If you like my purse, I'll tell you where I got it...because you'll probably never know by looking at it.  If you like my shirt, I'll say "$9.99 from Ross!" and say it with a smile.  I love to get dolled up and primp...but I have nothing to prove.  If it makes me feel pretty or I like it, I'll get it.  Doesn't matter if it's a luxury or a markdown.  People who buy something for nothing and then swear they got it at Bloomingdales bug the hell out of me.  If you're like that, just make sure I'm not with you when you shop...because I will blow your cover.  Not on purpose...I just won't remember to lie to cover up your "Louis Vuitton" knockoff from the mall kiosk.

"She's fiesty"

That's right, I'm feisty.  I curse...or cuss.  Doesn't necessarily mean I'm mad either.  I'm not politically correct.  Feminists make me roll my eyes.  I judge people.  I will correct your spelling mistakes.  I will make fun of you when you keep making the same mistake over and over again.  I'm loud and I have a big mouth.  People who love me wouldn't necessarily call me a bitch..they say I'm "feisty".  I like it.  ;-)

The "Look"

Some guys from Driveway Impressions came to give me an estimate this morning (see facebook status).  I'm sure most people looking to improve the look of their home isn't telling them "I don't really want to invest that much on this house because..heh...look at our neighbors."  It's true though.  Part of not having an HOA means you'll have neighbors that throw every piece of junk they have in their front or backyard like lawn ornaments.  Whateva.  So the "main dude" was chatting and he asked about my last name, asked where I'm from..yada yada yada so I had to explain my schpeal of "my husband is half Italian but we both like to roll around in the Italian-ness hence our childrens' names..." you know the drill.  Both kids were actually pretty well-behaved the entire time but most people don't realize they don't just act that way for nothin'.

No, actually I "prep" them before people come over.  I give them the "look"...I threaten....I point my finger at the one with the winkie in particular since he's usually the one instigating the trouble in this house.  Then I put the girl in the high chair since she'll be relatively safe and secure and the boy is told to remain on the couch or in its vicinity.  The tv is on, pacifiers, burpies and other items are handed out and a final warning before I open the door to guests. 

So the "main dude" at one point looked over at the kids and goes, "They're really well-behaved."  He said it almost like he was surprised.  He just stopped talking, looked over as if it just dawned on him that two children were in the house.  Three men and only I happened to notice and hear the chatter and loud talking in the first few minutes of driveway/patio discussion.  I keep hearing that "kids will be kids" and that "they're like angels compared to other kids!".  Yeah, as I said...they don't just come out like that.  Kids are kids but not in front of other people. lol  I told the guy I run a tight ship and he goes, "No that's good, believe me...look how good they are."  The pediatrician says the same thing.  She has three boys and she admits to yelling, cursing and being on their ASS.  She says boys will run you into the ground if you're not on them.  I believe it....and I agree. 

I was talking my friend....haven't decided what I'll call her yet...my "redheaded Mama"?  She's called herself Twinkie Mom but somehow I can't call her that not actually ever having SEEN her eat a twinkie..lol  I'll have to think about that.  Anyway, the fine line between a child who clearly has issues or a child that just needs an ass-whooping...hard to tell sometimes.  I'm fortunate in that I know if my kids are doing something ridiculous it's usually because some tough love needs to happen.  I can give "the look", I can gesture with my hands (cuz they're up in the air when I'm on the phone anyway), I can snap my fingers, clench my teeth, take a threatening step toward the one with the winkie (do I need to remind you he's usually the one starting something?)....but sometimes you just need to say, "Excuse me, I need to yell for a sec.."  and let loose.  I'm loud.  Very loud.  Embarassingly loud.  Apologies to all that have ever had to hear me.  It's the price we have to pay...otherwise my kids will be "muling" in my ear..and yours.  Nope, can't have that..cuz I run a tight ship.

What do I do all day?

1:39pm - is usually late on the whole technology/what is everyone into game but now I'm a follower of blogs, a blogger myself (though I don't know how anyone is supposed to find my blog without me self-promoting my nonsense) and I'm trying to write a children's book.  Don't know if any of these things will pan out but it's keeping me busy in the meantime.  ;-)

Apparently I don't do enough each day.  Back in November I was homeschooling as well as dealing with attitude problems of the entire household (mine included) and then I decided to put the house on the market...just for the hell of it.  Just to test the market and see what could happen.  I got the deck painted, the junk hauled away, I stepped in multiple piles of poop thanks to the neighbor's NASTY beagle, got into a fight with these neighbors over their NASTY beagle and watched them move out with a smile.  We lost our homeschooling mojo for a couple of months and slowly in February we got it back. 

On a tangent -if you think buying a specific table for a specific area to do specific homeschooling things is going to make you feel better and make your house look better, by all means, go for it.  Didn't work for me.  During our homeschooling hiatus I bought a folding table and folding chairs to set up downstairs to create...something...still not sure what...anyway, it didn't take.  We're still back up in the kitchen where we spend the majority of our time and my kitchen counters are as cluttered as ever.  I have a bin of file folder games resting ever so dangerously on a pile of pots and pans in my cabinet right now that's just itching to come crashing down.

Anyhoo, I always seem to be creating projects for myself....and all to avoid exercise.  "As soon as I'm done laminating file folder games...THEN I'll have time every evening to exercise."  "Well, the kids need new spring clothes so I'll order those first...and THEN I'll do some yoga moves."  Next thing you know I've spent two hours drooling browsing over Diamonique.  That's okay though because it's on "my" time. 

During the day I manage to dole out snacks, refill sippy cups, think of lunch and dinner from my repertoire of 2 minute meals, read books, work on phonics, count to 3 several times in a firm, slightly threatening voice and still somehow  remember to visit the toilet at some point.  That's on a slow day when we haven't even gone anywhere...or done anything REALLY productive.  I'm leaving out the noses I help clean, the mouths that end up with schmutz all over them, the teeth that need brushing, the nails that need clipping, the hair that needs cutting, the clothes that need washing and the butts that need wiping...oh wait, guess I'm not leaving that out.  lol 

So as if that whole job wasn't enough, I decided to add more to my plate.  I still have file folder games that need finishing, curriculum that needs to be planned, shopping that needs to be done and an ass/gut that needs to become smaller but no, I've decided to unleash the madness that is in my brain and type it all out.  In several different ways.  Facebook was good for a while...until enough relatives and in-laws friended me so that now I need to censor.  Now it's this whole blogging thing.  I don't really know how I find others' blogs and I still need to self-promote...then again I just started.  I don't even know how to add a "signature" to my yahoo account...though plenty of other moms have special blurbs that make me jealous.  Makes 'em seem like they have something going on besides babies, you know what I mean?  Time to pull up Yahoo while the kids are watching Wubbzy to see what I can learn now.  :-)

Someone who makes braciole

I've always been told I should have been born in a different era.  I agree.  When I was little I had an obsession with the 1950s.  Everything retro, the fashion, the tough guys in white shirts and leather jackets, you know, like in Grease.  Even now I get a smile on my face when I read my children Little Golden Books first published in the '50s and '60s.  That whole mother with an apron and heels, children dressed up for church kinda thing.

Then I hit the Mafia fascination.  That one still exists too.  My scope was more the 1960s-90s though, not so much the days of moonshine and prohibition.  lol  The classic movies like Goodfellas, Godfather, A Bronx Tale, and the list goes on..until I discovered The Sopranos.  Not until after everyone went crazy on Sunday nights watching on HBO...not until the reruns started playing actually.  I'm always late for stuff like that.  Now I have the entire series on dvd and I watch them over and over.  Seasons 1-4...after they kill Adriana I really couldn't stand watching Christopher with someone else.  You can almost feel the end is near.  Janice and Bobby together was beyond ridiculous...and Carmella should have SO gotten together with Furio..at least once..but anyway, enough about that.  lol 

So with all things Mafia comes a love of Italian food.  They go together.  Say those two things together and someone will almost always remember the scene in Goodfellas where Henry talks about being in "prison" and Paulie slicing the garlic with a razor blade...so thin it just melted.  I love that.  The scene, not so much the garlic.  I'm a fan, sure..but my mom...she's on a whole 'nother level with garlic.  Pops them like it's candy, raw, pickled, cooked, roasted...you name it. 

Now for this generation of Italian-lovers there's Jersey Shore.  Guidos and guidettes on the beach in Jersey living it up and avoiding "grenades".  I got hooked the first season but when chicks start fighting...that's the end of that.  Not a classy show to begin with but I gotta draw the line somewhere.  There was the very first show when they film each member leaving their home and families to go to the beach house and Vinny's mom was packing him food to take.  She was making broccoli rabe and picking red grapes off the stem and he goes, "Ma, you don't have to do that." and she goes, "Yes, I do."  I totally understand.  I bet I'll be doing the same thing for Gino when he's 20.  ;-)  Snookie was saying how Vinny's mom is like her own grandmother, feeds everyone and when everyone is all fed and happy, then she finally sits down to eat in the kitchen.  That's ALREADY me!  I know, I know, everyone teases that I'm already an old lady but seriously, I feed everyone, clean mouths and clean the floors and get everyone on their way...and THEN I sit down to eat.  I've tried sitting down to eat with everyone and getting up a million times to get something, getting another drink for someone or just dealing with the commotion, I don't even know what the hell I ate by the end of the meal!  I'd rather sit in peace and quiet and enjoy my meal. 

I want to be one of those women that has Sunday dinner at 2pm every week at her house.  Not a huge thing but like, Carmella style...the parents, the husband, the kids and maybe a couple of extra guests.  Real food too...like homemade meatballs or something as delicious as a braciole.  I saw a youtube video of some guy that looked like he was straight from the Goodfellas lot making pig skin braciole.  Now, the pig skin thing would have been weird enough...but no actual meat?  There is no satisfaction if there is no meat.  lol

This is a random picture of braciole so you know what I'm yammering about.  ;-)

I found a great recipe with none of that weird crap in it like raisins.  Hate sweet in my savory..ylekh.  Sauteed mushrooms, onions, garlic, pancetta with crushed red pepper flakes, spinach, cheese all rolled up in the meat and simmered in the "gravy" for hours.  Sounds like heaven, right?  Yup, never made it.  Sounds good though.  I want to be someone that makes braciole.

Looking back on last year...

So I was reading my status updates from last April when I first started keeping track...can't believe so much has changed in just a year.  I've become "owner" of our Yahoo homeschooling group and (hopefully!) spiced things up enough to gives some of the moms in our area another avenue to find out about resources, activities and to meet more families.  My parents moved out last spring and I thought the days would go by slowly...and they did at first...but now the time is flying.  It will go by even faster when the weather is warmer and we won't be cooped up at home.  Mike's visit came and went.  Bills came and made us broke.  I started homeschooling my son though he won't be "official" until this coming fall. 

  I met a new friend and she helped me bring back the old me.  You know, the old me that made time for makeup, got excited to straighten my hair, picked out my jewelry as if going on a date and the best part is she doesn't think I'm insane for homeschooling...because she's doing it too! 

I'm slowly getting my groove back..everything is falling into place...the taxes are filed and we'll finally be able to breathe a little easier.  A lot has happened since last year but it's just getting better and better and for that I am grateful.