Wednesday Wash Day

Wednesday and Sunday are my laundry days. Why, you may ask? Because it means the fewest number of uniforms for the kids (3) and the fewest number of wash days. Brilliant, no? Anyway, I really don't mind doing laundry. Filling the machine, adding the soap and softener - and always Oxi Clean, folding, hanging, putting away, I don't mind any of it. The one thing that really gets me is the sorting. And that's because as I sort the laundry, I have to empty pockets.

I'd always heard stories about the things moms find in their sons' pockets. Marbles, rocks, frogs, string are all the stuff legend. My son isn't too bad in that regard, though. I just generally find empty snack containers and lint in his pockets.

My daughter's clothes, though, make me cringe. I usually have a large collection of the cleanest rocks in town sitting on top of my drier, since I've had to dig them out after listening to them bang around in the load of clothes. She will pick up literally anything and stick it in her pockets, only to leave it there for me to find as I go through the laundry. I've come across hair clips and rubber bands, sand, crackers, raisins, paper, small toys, feathers, paper clips, bracelets, her watch, and rocks. Lots and lots of rocks. She's so obsessed with rocks that one of her friends tried to find her a rock-related birthday present, but gave her a selection of soaps and lotions instead (not sure what she was suggesting with that one, but my daughter loved them anyway). I've tried to tell her that it's gross to pick that kind of stuff up, and even more gross to carry it home with her in her pockets. It hasn't had any effect.

Now my youngest has discovered pockets and specifically asks to wear pants with pockets. So far, she is only putting her hands in them, but I'm sure if she is anything like her sister, she, too, will be collecting weird stuff and leaving it for me to find on laundry day.

I Need a Fashion Intervention - Photos

You asked for it (Jason!), you got it! I recreated the look for all the world to see. Obviously, I have no shame. Your fashion advice is certainly welcome, because as you can see, I shouldn't be allowed to dress myself.

I've also included a photo of the Curious George lounge pants. My kids love them, but they might not be appropriate for the grocery store.

I Need a Fashion Intervention

I had a "What Not to Wear" moment the other night.

Let me first say, that I would love to be nominated for the show. I have begged my friends to submit me for it. I happily admit that I am the least fashionable person I know, with pretty much the most boring wardrobe on the planet. I only wear make-up for really fancy occasions, and even then I barely manage to look passable. It's actually so bad, that my husband prefers it when I don't wear make-up. I have had the same hair style for probably 10 years (at least it's not a reverse mullet!). I've tried to change my hair color, but my hair revolts and will now only be blonde. So I know I need help and I just keep waiting for Stacy and Clinton to jump out at me and offer to take me off to New York for a week to make me over.

Every once in a while, I leave the house in an outfit that I know would make them cry. I imagine that there is a hidden camera somewhere nearby capturing how pathetic I am for all the world to see, over and over again in syndication (I definitely need a hobby). And yet, I still go out wearing it.

Here's my latest example. Saturday night, Mike and I were trying to make popcorn the old-fashioned way. We realized that we needed more popcorn and oil, since our last experiment had gone seriously wrong. I left for the nearby Safeway, at 9:45 at night, wearing an old t-shirt under a dark green, fleece-lined hoodie, with shorts, crew socks, and my slippers, already wearing my glasses, and my hair in it's end-of-the-day state. And being the environmental geek I am, I walked into the store carrying my pet store reusable bag. It was quite the picture, and I got a number of weird sideways glances as I loaded up my bag with popcorn, oil, and Junior Mints (the ultimate accompaniment to popcorn). I could easily picture a cameraman hiding around the corner of the freezer case, laughing his head off as he got prime footage to take back to New York.

I hurried home, and am now biding my time until I get "ambushed" as a result of my incredible lack of fashion sense. My only consolation - at least I wasn't wearing my mint green, Curious George lounge pants. That might have been too much even for Stacy and Clinton.

Flip Flops

Our youngest is obsessed with flip flops. I have no idea why, but she has been taking every pair of them she can find and wearing them around the house. Her sister's, which are a bit big, but are pink so that makes them appealing. Her brother's, which are brown camouflage and several sizes too big. Or mine or Mike's, which she can barely keep on her feet. They are all fair game and I find them all over the house.


I figured that she might as well have her own pair, so we headed to Old Navy to find her some. Turned out they were having a sale - 2 pairs for $5 - even better! I found a cute pair of white ones with butterflies and purple straps and she put them on as soon as we got home, took them off long enough to take a shower, and wore them until she went to bed. Best $2.50 I could've spent!

The Cookie Monster

No he's not blue, but he did eat 2 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies this afternoon.

I made a batch of cookies this afternoon for my son's birthday celebration at school tomorrow. They finished up just in time for me to leave to pick the two older kids up from school, so I left them on the counter to cool, covered by towels. I had a brief thought that they might be in jeopardy, but I really didn't have any choice since they were too warm to put into containers. I just hoped that Zatarain would ignore them and I could put them away when we got home.

No such luck. We got home and Zatarain immediately went out to his dog run and didn't come back in. Never a good sign. I walked through the kitchen and sure enough, he had eaten all but 6 of the cookies. We'll see how this comes out in the end (get it?). I'm sure it won't be funny when he's running for the door at 3 am.

So I had to make another batch, but I didn't have any Crisco left and I had to take Zatarain to his obedience class (fat lot of good that's done!) this evening. That meant heading to the grocery store at 9:00 tonight to get Crisco, and since I was there, I figured I might as well get the things I need to make soup tomorrow. I finally got home at 9:40 and got the cookies finished by 10:30. At least I don't have to go to the store again tomorrow. And I get the adoration of my son for making him the cookies he asked for, which makes it all worth while.

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup Crisco
1 1/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups oats, uncooked
1 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:
Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add Crisco, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in oats and raisins. Drop by heaping teaspoonful onto greased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated 300 degree oven for 15 minutes. Remove from tray when cool.

Round-to-it Recommends - Dog Shampoo

Buddy Wash and Buddy Rinse
I love this shampoo and conditioner! It leaves the dog smelling clean, but not perfume-y, the conditioner leaves Zatarain's coat incredibly soft, and the effects last for at least a week. It takes very little of the shampoo to wash the whole dog and even less conditioner to keep him soft and detangled. It may be more expensive than a lot of dog shampoos out there, but it's well worth it for how great the dog looks afterwards.