I won! I won!

Jenni my PIM-friend over at Chaos Among Us had a contest to celebrate the upcoming opening of her Etsy shop and I won a collection of the cool crafty stuff she is going to sell-blog candy! Do me a favor and check her stuff out when she gets things opened up.



Thanks Jenni!

Back to normal

I said goodbye to Buildermama this afternoon after a spectacular, relaxing weekend. I trust that she made it home with much less drama than it took her to get here.

After she left I made a quick and disappointing stop at the outlet mall near the train station. Really nothing I could imagine buying, waaaaaaaaaaaay too many people and the prices weren't what I'd consider outlet worthy.

I headed home to get my run on. I am trying to figure out the right clothing configuration for cooler weather. Definitely things that wick away the mositure so you I don't end up sweaty, wet and cold. Ick. Today I did okay, I might have been better without the sweatshirt over my running shirt but I HATE being cold! I got my 21 minutes of running in. My hip and knee are still giving me a little grief, not pain, just some swelling in the knee and discomfort in the hip. I am sure if I were doing better in the food department my joints would be happier. I am up to running 21 minutes out of 30. I've been doing slightly longer running intervals 10-12 minutes at the beginning of my run and it feels pretty good. I really wish I could find a flat place to run, the hills are kicking my ass.

The kiddos and Gman got home shortly after I did. I popped dinner in the oven (embarrassingly the first time I've cooked all weekend!) and heard all about the big trip. It was so good to have everyone home again. While I really enjoyed my grown up weekend and some rest, I missed them--a lot.

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I am thankful for the chance to regarge and relax. I am also thankful for the safe return of Gman and the girls.

Girly Day

Ah, I feel so refreshed! Its amazing how quickly I can fall asleep when there is no one in my bed snoring. Even when Gman's alarm clock went off at 6AM I went almost immediately back to sleep--not so much when he and the girls called at 8:21. Oddly, he was surprised that I was still in bed. Poor BuilderMama had a hellish time getting here yesterday but I'll let her tell that story. My only part in it was waiting for her at the train station with Boobah who of course had to go into the train station to pee. Then she proclaimed she had to go back to poop--of course then they were closed for cleaning and when I tried to take her in when they were done one might have thought I was going to beat her by the screaming and refusal to move. I don't know what was going on in her mind but she was not going anywhere near that bathroom. Thankfully BM showed up in fairly short order. Gman met her at the door with some Cabo Wabo and Esmerelda was here with pizza for us.

Today another one of our PIMs joined us and we headed to the mall for lunch at Nordstrom's, a trip to Sephora and then off for a pedicure. All of us got sucked into the Bare Essentuals that BM had been reading about in Beauty Confidential. We'll all be primed and ready to go with our new faces. In addition we all bought another beauty product or two. The whole time the conversation was something like my husband will never let me visit/have you come visit again! It was so much fun to have girl time at the mall without telling anyone to get out of the racks, slow down, hold hands, or stop whining.

We headed out of the mall and off to the spa. It was amazing, massaging chair, leg and foot massage. It was incredibly relaxing and so nice to share it with friends. I added a paraffin treatment. I swear my feet are the softest they've ever been. We all agreed it was incredibly relaxing. The whole afternoon was just amazing--the three of us met on a Working Moms internet group years ago but this was only the third or fourth time we've spent time together--you'd think we'd all known each other forever!

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Tonight I am thankful for a chance to relax--I SO needed to relax. Here's to friends to share it with as well.

Born to Run?

I'm not talking about the Boss here (although I will supply you with a little music video to keep you interested).



At various points in my life I've tried to run. Never have a been very successful. Some people are born to run, my body is just not one of them. I like the idea of running, I like the time alone to think--its the wear and tear on the joints and the burning lungs I could do without. But I decided I wanted to do a triathlon next year so, I guess I have to run at least 5K.

I've been trying to learn to run for the past four weeks. I am doing a Couch to 5K training regimen. I wasn't exactly a couch potato to start with so I started out in phase two where 9 minutes of running got introduced to a 30 min walk/run session. This week it is up to 50/50 running and walking for half an hour. I love that I feel like I am getting a great workout in a relatively short amount of time. I love that I am doing something I've never been able to do before. I love that I can see progress every week. I hate that its dark in the mornings so running outside is something I am just not comfortable with. I hate that if I run in the evening I can't sleep. I hate the fact that if I try to run and then get back work I sweat for the next half hour and the shower I take really does me no good.

This morning I decided the only way I would get my run in was to get us out the door early, drop off the girls, go to the gym, get in a quick workout, shower and dash to the office in time to get my head on for my 9AM meeting. Thank you girlies for being cooperative this morning! Out the door -check, girls dropped off-check, run-check, shower-check. Hey, why am I still sweating? Towel off repeatedly as I dress and dry my hair-check. Get to work-check. Feel dry and confident--not so much. I swear I didn't fully dry out until halfway through my second meeting. I've done the sniff test 10 times, thankfully it seems to be just me that is uncomfortable, at least I'm not smelly.

So, I may not have been born to run but hopefully this old dog can learn a new trick or two! Gretchen, Tree and Anne, my PIMs who just finished the Denver Half Marathon are certainly inspiration! Builder Mama was running 10Ks as well.

Takin' Care of Bid-ness

I've been tagged by my PIM* Jenni over at Chaos Among Us for a meme.

1) I must post 7 random things about me:

• My middle name is Adair and I've passed it along to my youngest daughter


• I can tie a knot in a cherry stem with my tongue


• From the time I was 7 until last January I couldn't see the big E on the eye chart, thank goodness for LASIK


• I've got several groups of PIMs--the working Moms including the coiner of the the term MotherGooseMouse and the second wives whom I couldn't do without (its been almost 10 years!) and the group of ladies I met on BabyCenter when we were all ttc'ing, I've met at least 1 person from each of the groups


• I was at work at the stroke of midnight on 1/1/2000 because I was coordinating the project for my company, the facilities guy had the CEO flipped out because he was wearing his glasses with side flashlights "just in case"


• We moved into our house one year ago this weekend--the trim still isn't up in our bedroom although the floor has been there a whole year now.


• My big girl is spending her first camp overnight. Its nature camp and its nearly directly across the street from work so I'll be sure to peak in on her in the morning. (Pictures to come from Gman I am sure!)

2) Tag 7 other bloggers

• As afraid as I am of this, go for it Gman


• You too SleepwhenURdead


• Go to it Tree


• And Lotta


• Ok, now Sizzle


• And The Mayberrys


• Last, but certainly not least, MackeyDoodle

3) Post Rules & the bloggers I tagged here.

4) Leave tagged bloggers comments on their web sites so that they know they have been tagged
*PIM Psycho Internet Mommy

Then, my dear, sweet husband awarded me this...'cause it takes one to know one--Greeblemonkey made him an honorary chick.

So I am supposed to give the same shout out to 5 of my favorite girly bloggers who deserve it...of course he already named a lot of them. I've still got Chaos Among Us, Lotta, The Mayberrys, and I'm sure someone else has done it but Notes From the Trenches and Suburban Bliss.

Home Sweet (Quiet) Home

Ah, we are back home after our four-ish day road trip sans children. I think the first hour in the car we might each have mumbled a half dozen words. It was quiet, we were on the road, together in a car (not a van) and there were no car seats to be found. When we did speak half the time it was to ask each other if we were there yet, whine about it taking too long and pretending we had to pee--no, we really don't have any life without our kids.

First stop, Casa de Builder Mama. She writes about our adventures here. Although I look drunk and/0r high I really only had a couple of drinks, Lynchburg Lemonade--Yum-O! Mama and her family are something else. We had a great time hanging out, talking, eating and drinking with the whole clan. Monkey Man is so quiet compared to the two girls and there was no fighting, bliss. Liz showed off serious cooking skillz whipping up a fantastic dinner including the best cheesecake I ever ate. I was all ready to beg her to let me eat it for breakfast the next morning as well but instead she baked biscuits and sausage and egg casserole. Mmmmmmm She then showed us all around Richmond, including a stop to see her hubby and get the lowdown on the roofing situation in Richmond. It was fun to see someone really into what they do! Gman posted his pictures of our adventures here. And yes, that is Liz & I being rather irreverent in front of the Virginia War Memorial.

Stop two, Williamsburg, VA (pictures of that over at Gman's site as well). One word sums up our trip to Williamsburg HOT. It was 99 degrees, the sun was beating down and the humidity was high. Gman and I walked through the streets, took a few pictures, did a little shopping and headed out of town. I'd like to go back sometime when it isn't miserable. My mother has been dying to go for years. I am sure next time we'll have the kids and I really want to try out The Great Wolf Lodge which would certainly make up for the overdose of history. We were on our way to the beach shortly after noon.

Stop three, Virginia Beach, VA. We stayed at this hotel. Gotta say, the person who did their website has serious photoshop skills! It wasn't bad but it was pretty old and run down. The whole reason I booked us there was the availability of a king size bed--no one else seemed to have one--and the room with a jacuzzi. I love to take a bath and relax. Being able to take a soak and see the ocean was pretty much my idea of heaven. Loved the boardwalk between the hotel and the ocean, it was great for a walk in the morning as well as a night time stroll to dinner. Its not our usual family trip to the beach where things are quiet, laid back and there is little to do. I am not sure I'd want stay there for a long trip but for a day or two it was nice. We ate at Waterman's at Liz's suggestion and it was great. I was a little sad that I couldn't have seafood but I ate fish and tried to be happy about it.

So now we are back home. Last night we did nothing. Today we went back to work. I don't know what I was thinking before I left but I managed to be in meetings for all but a couple of hours today and the afternoon was 4 hours booked straight through. Tonight we cleaned up a little, I went to see my acupuncturist who declared me very relaxed, then I came home to a Gman prepared dinner (I can't remember the last time I was well and that happened!). Bless him for trying but we ate some kind of Vegan fake chicken product--eww. I guess I found the limit of my granola crunchiness! Tomorrow the children return. My mother says they are leaving around 9-9:30 tomorrow morning. Sound like they are anxious to return them?! PDQ lost her top front tooth today and I can't wait to see her. The trip was great but driving around today, alone in my minivan reminded me just how much I miss them!

The third degree from BuilderMama

Not really, I asked for it. If you'd like to play, here's what to do (its easy, I promise):
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your weblog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Builder Mama's Questions:
1. What is your biggest challenge as a stepparent, but what do you enjoy the most about it as well?

Wow, what part of step-parenting ISN'T a challenge?! I think the lack of role models and people to talk about it with is one of the things that are really hard. You are suddenly thrust into this role with no good examples, plenty of preconceived notions about evil stepmothers and a Mom on the other side working against you. The hardest part for me in the beginning was distancing myself from a lot of the venom with his ex-wire. Gman would forward these awful e-mails from his ex and eventually I had to ask him to stop, I just couldn’t handle it. I wasn’t prepared to deal with tween/teen angst either, bad enough when its your own kid but when they are someone else’s and they are predisposed not to like you it really sucks. There is an e-group of women that I’ve been online with almost since the beginning of my relationship with GMan and without them I don’t know what I would have done. Some of them have stories that make your toes curl, that perspective and been there, done that is invaluable, especially when you complain and someone says—you knew what you were getting into. Not. Even. Close.

The most rewarding part has been seeing them grow up. There have been some really tough times with eldest stepson and the last few times we've been with him it has actually been pleasant which after years of awfulness was amazing.

2. If you had an entire afternoon to yourself, what would you do?

Sleep? Oh right, I can’t sleep at night, no way it is happening during the day. I’d have a pedicure and a massage. Then I’d head out to this place in Frederick, MD that I read about in Southern Living to try and find some accessories for the house. It’s a huge warehouse with unique stuff that they pick up all over the place, it look fabulous and I haven’t been able to find the time or energy to check it out.

3. How did you meet Scott (GMan)?

Gman and I met online playing backgammon on an old BBS. He was married, I was dating someone pretty seriously and it was all just fun. We kept in touch on and off. Then a few years later he resurfaced and said his marriage was over. We talked on the phone for hours, e-mailed, and IM’d on AOL. Finally we met in person about 9 years ago. I would never have believed it! We’ve been married 7 years now.

4. If you could have a drink with any historical figure, who would it be and why?

Eleanor Roosevelt, she was a woman before her time and I feel like she’d have great insight to share.

5. What is your biggest vice?

I guess it’d have to be a toss up between shopping and chocolate. I’m fine as long as I stay away from both but put it right there in front of me and I just can’t resist it!

Simple Pleasures--The Weekend Edition

Simple Pleasures from the Weekend:

Started off the weekend having dinner with Builder Mama and family. Mama and I have been on a Working Moms board together for about 5 years, we've met in person a couple of other times. This was the first time we'd been together with the families. It was so nice to have a relaxed dinner with people you felt you'd known forever. The kids got along great and behaved in a nice restaurant for nearly 2.5 hrs (other than ripping the cover off the baseboard heater).

There was unbridled excitement in our house yesterday because it ACTUALLY SNOWED! PDQ declared it THE-MOST-BEAUTIFUL-THING-I-EVER-SAW!

I had my own moment of unbridled excitement this morning when I went into the garage, opened the door and hit the road--without any scraping or advance preparation. It was my first bad weather day with a garage, thanks Scott for letting me park there.



Stamp camp on Saturday night. I know to the uninitiated it probably sounds a bit corn ball but I really enjoy it--a little wine, a little crafting, a little poking fun at husbands who need it (not you this time dear), and a whole lot of laughing. Here are two of the projects we worked on this weekend. A cool card that slides and a magnetic picture frame where all the words and the picutre can be moved.