New Favorite Thing!

So here was the dilemma:
I used to take a ton of pictures.
I had a great little point and shoot digital.
I'd throw it in my bag and go.
Then I got (chorus of angelic voices) a Canon Rebel.
AND I got a big-arse expensive lens.
No more carrying the camera in my bag.
I needed to use the camera bag.
The big, ugly, boxy, camera bag.
Well, guess what.
It's too much to carry AND carry my regular bag.
so NO CAMERA=NO PICTURES
I had this great camera and wasn't taking any pictures!
SOLUTION!
I found these fantastic camera bags on Etsy.
They are made by Tracy Joy..

This style is called Kristine and it's $79.
How cool is that design?? It's so cute!

It has 4 pockets and the middle is open so I can carry my camera, lenses,wallet, phone, date book, whatever
ALL IN ONE BAG!
*Obviously I can't take a pic with my camera in the bag. It would go in the bottom left pocket.

The bag comes with one foam divider, which I wrapped around my expensive lens.
I will probably get another divider which costs $6.

Here is another shot of the inside. Roomy!

Here is the closure.

Now here is the coolest feature: notice the velcro....

You can remove the patterned cover and change it to match your mood, outfit, whatever!
Additional covers cost $22.

Compare beautiful, fun, new bag to old, ugly, bulky bag.

Please note that fabulous new bag lays flat against the body.

Adjustable strap enables you to wear bag over shoulder or across body.
I should have take the pic in the full length mirror.
I love this bag - highly recommend it!

Happy New Year

My resolution is.....
DON'T RUSH.
I am going to drive slower.
I am not going to get crazy trying to get out of the house earlier.
I'm going to take my time doing things.
I practiced a little this past week, it's not too difficult.
We'll see what happens once school starts again.

Mojo A-flowin'

I started this yesterday.
It's pre-digital pics.
I like it.

Etsy Love

I have discovered Etsy.
What is Etsy?
It's a place to buy and sell all things handmade.
I found these, which I love!



*I had to remove those horrible pictures of me.
They were scaring me.

I bought them from
LingGlass.
She's in Singapore and ships very fast.

I also found this camera bag. Paul ordered it
for me for Christmas. I'll take real pics once
I get it.

You can see more here: Tracy Joy .

And just in case you didn't get enough
dopey pics of me taking pics
of myself, here is one more fabulous shot.
Enjoy.

Last day of 2007

Happy New Year's Eve!
What are your plans to ring in the new year?
My friend Milissa was going to come up to NY
and go to Times Square. I told her she was nuts.
Not only are you at risk of being crushed, but
once you're there, you can't leave to go to the
bathroom. For me, that would be a fate worse than
death.

We have a New Year's Eve tradition in my house.
We stay home, have a lobster dinner and try to
stay up with Dylan while he watches the ball drop.
Wish us luck.

A Very Bose Christmas

Music is a big part of our family life.
Music pays the bills.
I'm married to a musician.
I'm the mother of a musician.
Paul and Dylan can actually have conversations
about sharps, flats, tone etc.
My take on music is a little less "intense".
I love it.
I appreciate it.
Heck, I won a karaoke contest once!
I usually listen to iTunes on my computer and
it makes Paul nuts because the sound quality stinks.
Didn't bother me.
I was too busy singing my 80's tunes to notice.
Well - all that has changed.
We had a Very Bose Christmas.
I gave Paul these:

Those are Quite Comfort Noise Canceling Headphones.
Dylan received his own set of Bose Headphones and has not removed them since.

And I got this!!!

A Bose Sound Dock form my iPod!!
I put it in the kitchen so I can sing my favorite high school songs while making dinner!
The sound quality is amazing.
LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Christmas Eve Day

1 - eye doctor (what the hell was I thinking making an appointment for today???)
2- run to the Gap for last minute gift
3 - run to the grocery store
4 - last minute gift cards
5 - run to the butcher
6 - make a baked ziti and meatballs and sauce
7 - wrap the rest of the gifts
8 - try to organize the mess under the tree
9 - laundry
10 - laundry
11 - LAUNDRY

That's my plan for today.
Let's see how it pans out.

*UPDATE:
-before the eye doc, I ran to CVS for $200 worth of gift cards
-while waiting in doc's office, I look at gc receipt
-GIFT CARDS WERE NOT ACTIVATED!
(yeah, yeah, my fault for not looking at the receipt in store)
-eyes ok, need reading glasses
-run to post office to get Etsy stuff I ordered from Singapore
-NO FREAKIN' PARKING even after 2 go-rounds -screw it
-run back to CVS to activate gcs.
-run to grocery store
-NO FREAKIN' PARKING
-try THREE go-rounds for a spot, nothing - screw it
-bagel store
-bagel and coffee
-I'll try for a parking spot later.

The Tree

Every year we say,"We should have gotten
a bigger tree."
Well, this year we did.
We went to Home Depot and don't start telling me
that I should have gone to the guy in town who sells
trees. They're too expensive and dry - so there.
We took the first tree we saw.
It was big.
Big and expensive, but it was big and that's what we wanted.
We got it into the house, no problem.
Then it relaxed and really opened up.
We have no idea how we're going to get this thing out.
We'll have to chop it up.
Here, take a look.
Keep in mind that Paul is 6 feet tall.
Also, I had to lighten the pics a little so, yes, they look weird.



It's the Ridiculous Tree.

Finally!

I am FINALLY starting to feel better!
I'm so sick of being sick.
I guess the two weeks of antibiotics
actually did something.
Now that I'm back on track I'll post
some pics of what's been going on.
Until then, I leave you with an actual
conversation between a few 3rd
graders:

Kid 1
"My dad is getting an operation on his shoulder."

Kid 2
"My dad had an operation on his shoulder AND
his neck."

Kid 3
"My dad is going bald."

Kid 4
"My dad has lice!"


I love my job.

Hi - I'm here, I'm here!

Yes, I'm here, I'm okay.
Thank you for all the e-mails.
All is fine.
You guys are the best.

Guess what...I'M SICK......AGAIN!
Actually, it's not again, it's still.
I have a cough.
I have THE cough.
No, not TB.
It's something I've had before.
A lot of pilgrims died from this, but I
think I'll pull though.
The antibiotics are killing me though.
Blech.

Enjoying work today.
Listening to Christmas music, making
wrapping paper with the kids.
It's like Santa's Workshop.
I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!

Monday

Funeral.
Dad's eulogy rocked.
Applause....in church!
Dylan.
Ave Maria.
Perfection.
So Proud.
Grandma at Rest.
Life goes on.

Dylan and Grandma, May 2007

Mending

I've been sad.

You are good people.
Not only have I gotten so many good wishes
on my blog, but I've also gotten a lot of
emails wishing me well. Thank you so much.

The family is here, my grandmother
had 8 children and we had to wait for
everyone to get here.
Today is the wake.
It's snowing. The roads
are bad so it will probably just
be our family. That's good, we can
tell Grandma stories and laugh, that's
how we are.

My faher asked if Dylan would play
Ave Maria at the funeral. Dylan was very
upset when I told him about Grandma, so
when I asked him if he wanted to play I told
him he didn't have to - he doesn't even know the song,
would have to learn it in a couple of days.
He said he WANTS to do it.
Great kid.