Things that annoy me.

In no particular order….

people who veer left before turning right

people who stand in line for 20 minutes and then look at the menu when they get to the register

people who write checks

the fact that my apartment’s beautiful windows give off so much radiant heat that even if it’s 40 out, if it’s sunny, our AC runs ALL DAY LONG

when people talk to their kids in a higher volume than necessary just so you can hear them parent

when people let their kids play on their phone in public places but do not insist they lower the volume, or turn the volume off completely (which is what we do)

that children’s Tylenol taste so good that Bonham wants it, asks for it

that other meds taste so bad that I have to force/bribe/plead with him to take them

people who say “I don’t have time to read blogs” (I could write an essay here, but I won’t since everyone reading this already gets ‘it’…but I read blogs along with magazine articles and news. It is part of my morning and evening routine. I don’t sit at the computer all day just reading away…ugh)

OK. I am done. Let’s balance it out though.

Things I love…

a care package from a sweet friend filled with bath salts that she knew I would love

unexpected texts from friends that make you smile, laugh, feel cared about, think of memories, dream of the future

a far away friend who knows that the “I’ll be over in 15 min with beer, cupcakes and a few movies” text  is code for “I miss you”

hearing “I love you mommy” many times a day

a reader filled with bloggers who share similar thoughts/interests/loves as I do

new projects, possibilities and adventures

And every post needs an image…how about this lovely one that falls in the Things I love category…shirtless Adam Levine (from SNL).

Or with a shirt if you prefer (no shirt, but with a beard so it is a fair trade)…

Just a random bit of etiquette for you…

If someone hands you their phone to look at a picture, you look at that picture. You DO NOT scroll to other pictures unless instructed to do so.

Consider this your etiquette lesson for the day. Just trying to do my part to make this world a bit more user friendly.

I need to up my parenting game…or just my “being a fun person” game. I suck at holidays. Last week for NYE we did nothing. We made zero plans with friends. We even had sold our Thunder tickets. Our plan was pizza, watch game, drink a few adult beverages and bed around 10 or 11. Other than a friend joining us for the game watching, the night was just as described. I bought no party hats. We watched no ball drop. The next day looking at pics on Instagram I realized that I for the sake of my kiddo and all around fun, I need to up my game. Next year I will work harder to plan something with friends. Next year with or without a group of people….there will be hats. And noisemakers. And a ball drop – either staying up for it or watching one on YouTube!

This doesn’t just apply to NYE, I need to make more of an effort on all holidays. Often we don’t plan anything and then end up just the 3 of us. The 3 of us is fine, but I need to make more of an effort to make those events special. I think 4th of July is the next “big” one, but before that we have Valentine’s Day, St. Patty’s Day and a few birthdays. Call it a resolution, here I am declaring that our house will celebrate holidays better in 2013.

frozen milk hearts via A Subtle Revelry

1. On the way to school Bonham asked me how states are formed. Both legally and geographically. I somewhat stumbled my way through an answer. The next topic was how grass and trees were formed. He told me that an Oak forest was probably formed by squirrels who hid their acorns and forgot about them.

2. Other topics I have been unable or unwilling to tackle: the last 2 days of writing promps.

Sunday: When you’re a kid, bedtime can be fraught with peril. Take yourself back to that time, and recreate what it was like: the dark; the invisible monsters; the potential for bedwetting; the inability to sleep when the lucky adults got to remain awake.

Monday: You’re in a clearing in the woods. A deer sidles up to you with a package around its neck. It bows its head and allows you to take it. Inside there’s a message. What is it, and what happens next?

Back on it tomorrow. I sort of promise.

3. In February I am doing the Fight for Air stair climb. 34 Flights of stairs. I am doing it in honor of Oakes and the race benefits the American Lung Association. I have a team…so if you are in OKC and want to join, let me know!

4. In other work out related news, I am thinking of starting Insanity again. I can’t do 60 straight days like last time due to other work outs and not wanting to double up daily…so instead I am going to try for 4 days a week. This means only doubling up one day. It also means no rest day….oh well. I rarely take one anyway.

5. I made breakfast bars with quinoa this weekend. Recipe later this week. They are yummy and protein packed.

6. Bonham informed me last night that some times Santa brings you things you didn’t ask for but really love, like Thunder stuff. He does this when you are extra good. I think he is just angling for more Thunder stuff, but being the sucker that I am…I’ll probably go get something.

7. Sarah’s beard porn Pinterest board makes me happy.

8. I am kind of loving all things Eberjey lately. Why are they so pricey? Anyone have a go to place for cute cami/short or cami/pant sleep sets that aren’t more expensive than regular clothing? I am in love with their cami sets – well, and their other PJ sets, and the bras and and and. Ok, I want it all.I have been trolling Gilt and RueLaLa. Anywhere else I need to check?

9. I have an iPhone 4 with AT&T. RBB has a 5 with Verizon. He can use his in Chesapeake Arena, as well as well other places. I cannot. I am trying to decide if it is an AT&T issue or a iPhone 5 (which has LTE) issue. If I upgrade to a 5 I can keep my AT&T unlimited data. If I switch to Verizon I lose it. I am neither eligible for an upgrade or at the end of my contract. So all of this is really just wasted thoughts and energy. But man…I want my phone to work better!!!

10. All lists need a number 10.

A friend of mine turned 18 this weekend. It made me think….

I turned 18 in 1993.

1993.

Average cost of gas was $1.16 a gallon. A movie ticket was $4.15.

Federal Agents raided the compound in Waco, Texas.

Lorena Bobbett was in the news.

Jurassic Park, Mrs. Doubtfire and Schindler’s List were in theaters.

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston was on the charts. Dazzey Dukes, Rump Shaker and Informer were also.

Oh my god Dazzey Dukes. That song reminds me of my first semester of college in a big way. That was a big hit at the frat parties.

The final episode of Cheers aired. Coincidentally, we are watching Season 1 on Netflix right now.

Prince changed his name to a symbol.

I met RBB for the first time. I actually don’t remember this, but he claims to. I was walking down the hall of Grace Covell Dorm and my friend Jack called out from his room for me to come in and say hi. It was actually “oh fine, just walk by and don’t say hi!” that was yelled at me…so I came in and said hi. RBB was Jack’s roommate and I guess was there for that exchange. I don’t actually remember. Sorry RBB. My first RBB memory is in a class later that year.

1993. This summer is my 20 year high school reunion. The year was 1/2 high school ending and half college beginning. I turned 18 right at the break point – June.

Btw, I looked through LOTS of freshman year college pics but could not bring myself to post any. The combo of body suits (the adult onsie) and flannel shirts was too much to take. Also, the alcohol. Same reasons apply to not posting any pics from the summer between high school and college. You are welcome Estelle.

Do you care about college savings? Have a few minutes to complete a survey? If you do, you will get a Gap coupon. Seems worth it to me! Sorry our of town folks, this post is for the Okies only.

“The Kids on College Survey Sweepstakes runs from Wednesday, August 1 through Saturday, September 15, 2012. To enter the sweepstakes and obtain official rules, parents and guardians of all kindergarten through fifth grade students in Oklahoma can log on to www.ok4saving.org/kidsoncollege by September 15, 2012.  Once a parent-child team completes the survey, they may download a coupon for 25 percent off the purchase of $100 or more at participating GAP stores in Oklahoma.”

vacation, all I ever wanted…yea – song is stuck in my head now too. Sorry about that.

Bonham and I are headed out of town…off the surface of the sun-oh my god it’s over 100 again. We are headed to….Fresno, Ca. So yea, really just from one corner of the sun to the other. We won’t escape the heat, but it will be worth it. We are going to spend 5 days with my sister and her family, then head down to San Jose to see Estelle for a few days and even a day trip to see Melissa. Our last day will be in SF where we will stand outside and soak up every bit of 50 degree weather we can and try and pocket some for home….and see my friend Kate.

My OCD rarely allows me to do things like not post, but I realize that is lame, stupid, illogical and wrong. So rather than be a freak and post on vacation, I will be enjoying vacation. I’ll be back in a few weeks with some great recipes (a SF classic…Cioppino!) plus some outfit posts for a fun new site I am joining (I know, me…a style site..haha..but yes, I’m doing it), a make up tip I just discovered and an evaluation of how I am doing changing my home over to being more eco friendly. Until then, if you miss me, follow me on Twitter and Instagram (elleinadspir on both).

This may seem random, or maybe not at all. But here it is. We are not alone. Any of us. And I think that is a massively important thing to know and one that will help each of us navigate the day. When Bonham was a baby and never slept, it helped me when I was able to step back and think…I am not the only one out there that was up all night with a crying kid. I am not alone.

When Bonham had tantrums, I had friends lining up to tell me that they had been there or that they were there.

When I was struggling with fertility…I had to get out of my own head. Out of my bubble. I needed to realize I wasn’t on an island. What I was dealing with sucked. And it felt huge and all consuming. But I wasn’t the only one out there going through it.

It sucks to work an 80+ hour week. I get it. I have been there. I know people who are there.

Relationships take work. Not every day is easy.

Babies die. Miscarriages. Illness. Accidents.

We have all struggled to make decisions, to make ends meet, to make amends.

We have all felt things that consume us. Things that seem so big. Things that make us feel the “why me?” and the “this happened TO me.”

But very little is unique to just us. It has happened to others. Probably at that same second.

We are not alone. None of us.

Why am I writing this? I don’t know. A text from one friend with amazing, wonderful news. Moments later a text from another with devastating, terrible news.

Neither of them are alone. I find solace in that. Strength in numbers. Comfort in groups. Someone out there has it better than you, and someone has it worse. But someone also has it the same.

I don’t know…random Wednesday night thoughts….

I have always known I share my birthday with 2 other ladies…my sister and Angelina Jolie. Angie and I are twins. Both born in LA on the same day, same year. The second lovely lady is my sister Karen. I was her birthday present for her 6th birthday. She wanted to return me.

What I didn’t know about my birthday was who else I share it with.

Stephan Lessard? REALLY? Do you have ay idea how many DMB shows RBB and I went to between 1994-2000?? A million and two. Seriously. Anyway, I am a year older.

Noah Wyle? Wow. I watched ER forever. The entire time really. Long after they jumped the shark, I still watched. He was born in 1971.

Bar Refaeli…born in 1981. Let’s not talk about her anymore ok?

Russel Brand – June 4, 1975.

Who else….

Horatio Sanz in 1969

Scott Wolf and Al B Sure in 1968

Bruce Dern in 1936

John Barrymore in 1932

Dr Ruth in 1928

So there you have it. My birthday peeps. How about you? Who do you share your birthday with?

Bonham is an incredibly outgoing kid. He makes friends easily and can converse with adults…when he wants to. He has selective shyness. It drives me crazy. He is shy when someone directly asks him a question. Not all the time, just when he feels like it. It confuses people. One day he chats up a storm with them, the next day they ask him something and he hides behind my leg. What’s the deal? I try not to push him. It is ok to be shy, but it isn’t ok to be rude. I am trying to find the line that allows him to be shy but still maintains respect and common courtesy. Seriously, where did my parenting manual go!??!?! Where is the chapter on Shyness 101.

It doesn’t surprise me that he has some shyness. And I guess it is even somewhat predictable that it is situational and off/on shyness. Most people don’t see me as shy, but I am. I fear cocktail parties and mixers. I go to events and meet no one because I am bad at putting myself out there. Yet I help organize event and want to go to them in theory. And I am able to communicate well on Facebook and Twitter. I just get nervous in person. So I guess I also need Shyness for Adults 101.

RBB, by the way, doesn’t have a shy bone in his body. He can adapt to any situation and make friends with everyone there.

This picture has nothing to do with this post, but is adorable. This was the first time Holly hung out in Bonham’s bed. I always wonder why she doesn’t – his room is really sunny and warm in afternoon/evening…but she never has…until now. He’s clearly pretty pleased with her presence.