Using the Restroom on the Sun

Last weekend I went to Sam's Club to pick up a few things we needed in our pantry. 

(I love that I call it a pantry although it really is just a bookcase in my kitchen to hold the overflow from my cabinets.)

So I am walking around Sam's Club and notice light bulbs; you know those fancy good for the earth compact bulbs.  It occurs to me as I pass them that one of the vanity bulbs on my bathroom light fixture has been burned out for well over a week.  I haven't really cared because the lower light made me look awesome when I put on my makeup in the morning. 

Now standing in front of the mile high display of compact light bulbs I get the bright idea (See what I did there? A pun.  HAHA!) that I should buy the compact vanity bulbs to replace all the bulbs in my bathroom.  They were very cheap by the three pack and I would be saving the earth after all.

So I bought a three pack and happily skipped home.  Well, maybe I didn't actually skip, but I was thinking about.

The next day on my lunch hour from work I rushed home to eat something really quick and then scramble through a few chores before heading back to work.  After eating a quick sandwich I grabbed the pack of bulbs and headed to the bathroom.

I swapped out those bulbs so fast you would think I did it for a living.  My motivation was that by that point I really, really had to use the restroom so I just wanted to get the lights swapped and do what I had to do.

I triumphantly switch on the bathroom light switch while unzipping my pants.

OH MY GOD! I'M BLIND!

Three of those compact bulbs together in my small bathroom are something akin to the light you would have if you were using the restroom on the surface of the sun.

Our bathroom never has been brighter...or dirtier!  You can see every little speck of dirt and stray hair on the floor.  YUCK!

I won't even go into the horror I see when I look in the mirror.  Let's just say there is no amount of makeup that will make that vision a pleasant one.

What have I done? WHAT HAVE I DONE!

I am not sure that saving the planet, one light bulb at a time, is worth this.

Any one have a need for three slightly used compact vanity bulbs?

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Nicole from Just Another Mommy Blog you are the winner!

Nicole I will be contacting you to get shipping information and to find out what color palette you would like for your painting. 

Thank you to everyone who follows Days Like This and took the time enter the giveaway.  Hopefully sometime in the future I will be able to host another giveaway and shower you with more gifts.

I Won!

I finally figured out what was wrong and why I was not winning any games of solitaire...there is something wrong with the version I downloaded!

After coming within one card of winning I decided to restart my game instead of going onto a new one.  If I was that close there just had to be a way to win!

Three restarts later I had gotten to the exact same place all three times.  It was impossible to win because the ramdomizer for the cards wasn't working correctly.

So I downloaded another version.  Another version I very quickly won.

I feel so much better now, knowing that it was not me that was failing at a stupidly simple game.  It was all the programmers fault. 

HA HA! I win!

I Will Win. I Will!

Now that I have this new smart phone I spend a fair amount of time enjoying the fact that my phone has various apps (applications).  I have downloaded many different apps over the last week or so.  Apps that are functional. Apps that are fun.

Or more specifically, apps that are suppose to be fun.

Even more specifically, solitaire...the bane of my existence for the last few nights.

One of my "jobs" now that Chris has hurt his knee is to be his spotter when he takes a shower.  I help him get into the tub and stick around while he showers just in case he falls or has some other "not having a working knee" related problem.

During my wait I usually sit on the closed toilet seat and play solitaire on my phone to pass the time.

I have been doing this once an evening for days.

DAYS!

And I have not even won a single game!

Not one!

Instead of being a smart person who downloads a different version of solitaire, I have quickened my resolve and am more determined than ever to win at least ONE game of solitaire on that blasted app.

I will find a way to be smarter than this little phone!

Giveaway!

It is time for that giveaway!

As a thank you to all my blog followers I am going to be giving away a small bundle of prizes.  Here is the booty the winner will receive:

First item will be a small canvas painting, painted by me just for the winner.  (Winner will be able to select a color scheme for their painting.) 


Second item is a copy of the cookbook Deceptively Delicious, because I am all for sneaking more vegetables into my family's diet however I can.  I want them to be healthy and since you care enough to follow my blog I want you to be healthy too.


Finally, the third is a mystery item that I will pick out just for the winner.

I know this isn't a super fancy giveaway like some blogs, but the only sponsor I have is myself, so the prizes have to be within my budget.

If you have followed my blog by clicking the follow button on the side you are automatically entered into the giveaway, so you don't even have to do anything.  If you haven't followed yet, you can do so to be entered to win.  If you follow my blog by visiting a direct link or through RSS feed please leave a comment with an email address where I can reach you and you will get entered too!

I will be picking a winner out of a hat on Tuesday July, 20.  Prizes will ship after I finish the painting and it is dry enough for shipping.

Good luck and thank you so much for giving me a reason to continue writing!

Coming Soon: The Giveaway

A long while back I posted that when I hit my list list goal of having 12 followers I would have a giveaway.  Well, I have been a slacker because I now have 14 followers (well 13 if you count that my niece followed me twice) and I have yet to post the promised giveaway.  Well the slacking ends soon.

Watch for a giveaway in the next week!  Hopefully I will come up with a prize package you all will enjoy.

So check back soon. 

Oh and don't worry if you follow via RSS feed, you will have a chance to get in on the fun too.

My Son: Endless Entertainment

A few smiles from my week, courtesy of Ian.

He grabs my face with both hands so that I will look him in the eye and he says in a sing song voice, "Mama" over and over again.

When the DVD player is not on in the van I will hear this phrase repeated over and over, each time in a little more exasperated tone: "Is it on?"

While laying rubber bath toy letters on the floor in a row he sings different letter sounds to the tune of the ABC song.

He will twist his little fingers together for the "spi-er" in the Itsy Bitsy Spider song, and hold his hands up for the "out came the sun" part of the song.

He calls for our "daw-dee" (doggy) first when he wakes up from a nap.  The daw-dee's name is "Say-son" (Mason) for those who don't know.

Those running start hugs that end with Ian in a puddle of giggles on the floor by my feet.

His big laugh when I wiggle my toe just as the car he drove down my leg meets my foot.

He will hold his tiny fists up to cover his eyes so that he "disappears" and I have to say "where's Ian?" so the he will magically come back and have a big giggle at my expense for losing him.

The way he walks around with his favorite stuffed toy in a headlock under his arm and a determined, serious look on his face.

Closets of DOOM

My dear mother, Shirley, asked me to show you all my closet.  I am convinced that she took a peek in my son's closet and just wants to expose my messy side to you all.  Well, I promised I would show so here it goes.

When we moved into this house our bedroom closet about about the size of a postage stamp.  We had to put a clothing rack in the hallway to store all our clothes.  So as we renovated we decided to turn this little tiny useless room into a walk-in closet by cutting a doorway through the adjoining wall.  I am not sure what you would use such a small room for.  I doubt it would have been big enough for a twin size bed even.   Funny how when you get a giant closet you still don't have enough space for everything.  (That giant birthday gift back on the floor has my new (used sewing machine in it.)

So here it is the messiest space in our house under my control.  I say under my control because the back room and sheds under my husband's control are way, way more of a mess.  They are so much of a mess that I just avoid them entirely whenever possible.  It is a good think that Ian hasn't learned to open doors yet or I would have to try to organize this closet.  It is the total space that use to be two closets, one for each bedroom, if that gives you any idea how SMALL those closets were before we renovated.  How did the people who lived here before get by?  Seriously!

Note that my son's closet is overrun with a huge section of some of my husbands giant hockey jersey collection. The space to the right is full of stuff I have taken away from Ian (like the plastic chair he used to beat his jack in the box up and the tent and tunnel that take up most of my house when they are put up) and our stock pile of diapers.  The top shelf is a disgrace to everything I stand for. I just toss stuff up there because I am too lazy to drag a chair back so I can reach to organize is the "right" way.

Now that I have shown you my mess I shall go and hang the shame curtains now.

The Junk Drawer

Erin from The State I Am In (@stateiamin) asked me about what was in my junk drawer.  My two junk drawers are pretty much laughable.  Yes, they are full of random crap that need a place to live, but I just can't stand it when they are too out of order.  I might have a little might of an obsessive compulsive thing about organization...maybe just a little.

Erin also asked about my favorite place in my house.  I am going to have to get back to you on that one because the place is sort of off limits as I write up this post.  I promise I will get back to it sometime soon!

Time to Snoop

I have already received some responses regarding what you want to see pictures of about me and the world around me.

First up is Cate from Show My Face (@showmyface).  Cate wants to see my linen closet and vegetable drawer.

Well Cate, we have two linen closets: one that we use and one that is in a little less than usable shape.  I may have mentioned that I am organized before...well this is a good example.  The top shelf is for small stuff in boxes, the middle two for towels and sheets, the next has extra stuff and a few random things like that Hannah Montana game that Chris got in him mystery box.  The bottom I put stuff we rarely use like the air mattress and iron.  Yeah, I hate to iron that we go wrinkly most days.

Linen closet two is just about a foot wide and totally unfinished.  We put a new door on it so it would look nice on the outside but we are at a lose on what to do with it inside.  It is really deep, like almost 3 feet deep and surrounded by stuff you can't exactly drive nails into (electrical, furnace, and chimney.)  So for now it has exactly what was in it when we purchased the house, along with a few new cobwebs and bugs.  You are really lucky I even braved opening the door for a picture.  Yuck!

I am a little embarrassed to show you my vegetable drawers this week due to their shocking lack of vegetables.  All I have to say about that is that Thursday is Farmers Market day and I might have to show you again when it is actually stocked.  One drawer is for veggies, fruit, and anything that can't spill onto veggies and fruit (thus the hot dogs and sausage.)  That sausage has been in there a while, we should really cook that up for breakfast soon.  If I had taken this picture before dinner you would have found some broccoli and four green beans from my garden in there too.

My second veggie drawer isn't used for veggies at all.  (I like veggie better than vegetable...I don't know why.)  My deli  drawer is stocked with insulin for my diabetic husband so I kind of use this drawer for deli stuff and whatever else will fit to get it out of the way.  Since my husband is having trouble getting around I got him stuff to make breakfast and lunch a little easier (precooked turkey sausage, and stuff for sandwiches)that thankfully he can make on his own.  That chocolate is left over from Christmas.  I didn't realize it had been in there that long until I was writing this up.  I think that some bakes treats might be in order.  

So there you have it, a little glimpse into my world.

Since my veggie drawers are so pathetic and I have been looking to try new vegetables as part of my life list I would love some suggestions of what to look for at the Farmers Market to try out next.  What is the weirdest vegetable you like?

A Little Of This, and a Little Project

Hi!  I am still alive!  Sorry about the blogging break but life sort of took over.  Here is a little long summary of what is new in my neck of the woods, and a little fun project at the end that I need your help with.  (If you skip reading the summary, at least read about the project.  Pretty Please!)

• Work has been busy as all get out for me recently.  My job has changed and so has how I am able to spend my days.  (There is a lot less time to sneak in a blog these days.)
• My husband dislocated his kneecap at his softball game a week ago.  He was lucky and was able to pop it right back into place (Ouch with a capital O) but he is in for a long recovery.  I have been having to drive him everywhere, and pretty much wait on him since it happened.  Not that I am complaining...well maybe I am complaining a little but I am sure he will make it up to me when he heals.  I have the whole filling the ice pack down and can do it in my sleep...because at least once I have.  Also, have you every noticed that you can shake out 3 Motrin from a bottle, or 5 Motrin from a bottle, but never four?  He is on 800mg for the pain and I have yet been able to get the four pills out in one try.
• We took a trip to my in-laws over the Fourth of July weekend.  It was a little bit of a dud weekend due to Chris and his injury, but I was able to take a long ride on the trail wagon with my sister-in-law.  It was the first time I took it off their property, and I am happy to report that I hold the current speed record for getting it to go the fastest at 20.1 MPH.  
• I am super into crafting recently and will be showing you some of my new creations soon.  Well as soon as I start them.  I have the materials but I just need the time to get started.
• My friend and I went to see Eclipse on Thursday.  I had to get my husband and son a babysitter so I could go.  Chris isn't yet able to care of Ian without help, so that was interesting.  I called my husbands friend was it was really embarrassing to ask him to babysit my husband so I could go see a movie that I am sure he thought was dorky.  I don't really care though because I got to go after all.
• I almost got to go to the drive-in movies with my husband this weekend, but he would have had to sit in the back seat by himself because he can't really bend his knee yet.  What fun would it be if we couldn't at least sit next to each other...at the drive-in!  Maybe next time.
• Finally the day has come when I was able to get a smart phone!  I got the HTC Hero from Alltel and I am in love with it.  (Shhh...I might be having a little affair with it, don't tell Chris.  Hi Honey!)  I am just so happy to finally be able to have my calendar with me every where I go, and to be able to take pictures and post them online at a moments notice.  Oh and...Twitter.  I am officially over the edge hooked and I don't care because I have a smart phone.  
• My garden is growing.  I already got a whole four green beans with more growing, and there were tiny buds of bell pepper and a small zucchini that I am nursing along.  I think that I can call this starter garden a success!
• The weight loss challenge...oh what a failure it has been.  If we kept the original terms Chris would have won.  (boo hiss)  Since we extending it to the end of June, and then Chris got hurt and was in the hospital losing too much weight because of that, we called it off because it wouldn't be a fair comparison.  We are going to try again soon.  Until then I am going to keep on keeping on trying to exercise more and eat less.  Five pounds down and I want to keep that number growing and hopefully me shrinking.
• My son is shocking me with the words he knows now.  I still can't get over that he is using small sentences and phrases like: "Is it on?" "I want down." "Oh no!"  Now with his new hair cut he looks way too big and I am not sure I am ready for that. 

OK onto the fun project....

One of my favorite blogs, The State That I Am In, recently posted a call out for reader requests for what they would like to see from her life.  I thought that this was such a cool idea that I am going to institute it on my blog as well.  Thanks Erin for the great idea!  So what do you want to see?  My freezer?  Medicine cabinet?  The junk drawer?  You ask, and if it isn't obscene, I will post a picture just for you.  Ready? Go!