My secret indulgence.
If you know me at all, you're aware that I'm not exactly "high fashion." I buy my clothes at Target and my shoes at Payless. I get my hair cut at Supercuts/Fantastic Sam's/et. al, and "styling my hair" involves "washing and drying." I'm quite low-maintenance when it comes to my appearance in my every day life--and although I can pull myself together for, say, a job interview, a fashionista I'm not.
Having said that, there is one "beauty" area in which I go all out--perfumes (or "parfum, " as we call it in the biz). I refuse to skimp on my scents. My perfume is my signature, my "thing." It's what identifies me. It's how I leave my mark.
My latest scents have been a rotation (depending on my mood) of Romance by Ralph Lauren and True Star by Tommy (which, at $58, is actually one of my cheaper buys); however, as of this month's Glamour, I now covet Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana. Yes, THE Dolce and Gabbana. (Who the hell am I, Carson Kressley?)
So, while my closet is filled with inexpensive, designer-label-less clothes and shoes, my "scent wardrobe" is like a fashion "Who's Who."
What are YOUR fashion and beauty must-haves--price be damned?
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Just another manic Thursday?
Normally I really like Thursdays- it's almost Friday, almost the weekend- Yay!
But this Thursday is NOT doin' it for me. The phone lines are down at my office and the main projects I needed to work on today require phone lines. I've done everything else I can do. I'm SO bored.
And have you noticed how on Thursdays the number of posts and comments on blogs go way down? What's up with that?
Normally I really like Thursdays- it's almost Friday, almost the weekend- Yay!
But this Thursday is NOT doin' it for me. The phone lines are down at my office and the main projects I needed to work on today require phone lines. I've done everything else I can do. I'm SO bored.
And have you noticed how on Thursdays the number of posts and comments on blogs go way down? What's up with that?
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
*#&$#^$%%@
Something happened in my niece's class today that has my sister, mom and me all fired up.
At Paige's school, Thursdays are Popcorn Days--students can bring a quarter and get a small bag of popcorn. All year, Paige's teacher's policy has been that if a kid forgets the money, he/she doesn't get popcorn--the teacher doesn't loan them any money. (And for the record, I understand her policy during the school year as a whole--a) you want to teach responsibility and consequences of forgetting your money and b) even if you only put in like a dollar or two every week for the kids who forget, that CAN add up from August to June. And trust me, public school teachers have to use enough of their own money for school supplies as it is.)
Since this is the last week of school, though--and the last Popcorn Day of the year--my sister wanted to make sure that all the kids in the class got popcorn. Therefore, Katey sent an extra $2.00 to school with Paige, so that any kids who didn't have their quarter could still get popcorn. Even with this extra money, however, the teacher was still 75 cents short.
So what does this teacher do? Instead of reaching into her pocket on this, the second to the last day of school, for the extra money to make sure that her whole class gets popcorn, she uses Katey's money to purchase exactly 8 extra bags of popcorn...
AND THEN MAKES PAIGE DECIDE WHICH 8 KIDS GET POPCORN AND WHICH 3 DON'T.
As an aunt, I'm irate. As a future teacher, I'm even MORE pissed off. YOU DO NOT PUT A SECOND-GRADER IN THAT POSITION. If she was dead-set on NOT chipping in the extra 3 quarters, fine. (Although again, since this was the end of the year, and because a parent made the effort to ensure that all the kids WERE included, I don't think that this one time would have killed her.) But even so, there were still other options; namely, taking the popcorn that Katey's money bought and splitting it up among all the kids who didn't have any. Instead, three kids had to sit there while EVERYONE ELSE ate their popcorn. And PAIGE had to decide who those three children were.
So...am I overreacting? Or did this teacher suffer from a severe lapse in common sense and compassion?
Something happened in my niece's class today that has my sister, mom and me all fired up.
At Paige's school, Thursdays are Popcorn Days--students can bring a quarter and get a small bag of popcorn. All year, Paige's teacher's policy has been that if a kid forgets the money, he/she doesn't get popcorn--the teacher doesn't loan them any money. (And for the record, I understand her policy during the school year as a whole--a) you want to teach responsibility and consequences of forgetting your money and b) even if you only put in like a dollar or two every week for the kids who forget, that CAN add up from August to June. And trust me, public school teachers have to use enough of their own money for school supplies as it is.)
Since this is the last week of school, though--and the last Popcorn Day of the year--my sister wanted to make sure that all the kids in the class got popcorn. Therefore, Katey sent an extra $2.00 to school with Paige, so that any kids who didn't have their quarter could still get popcorn. Even with this extra money, however, the teacher was still 75 cents short.
So what does this teacher do? Instead of reaching into her pocket on this, the second to the last day of school, for the extra money to make sure that her whole class gets popcorn, she uses Katey's money to purchase exactly 8 extra bags of popcorn...
AND THEN MAKES PAIGE DECIDE WHICH 8 KIDS GET POPCORN AND WHICH 3 DON'T.
As an aunt, I'm irate. As a future teacher, I'm even MORE pissed off. YOU DO NOT PUT A SECOND-GRADER IN THAT POSITION. If she was dead-set on NOT chipping in the extra 3 quarters, fine. (Although again, since this was the end of the year, and because a parent made the effort to ensure that all the kids WERE included, I don't think that this one time would have killed her.) But even so, there were still other options; namely, taking the popcorn that Katey's money bought and splitting it up among all the kids who didn't have any. Instead, three kids had to sit there while EVERYONE ELSE ate their popcorn. And PAIGE had to decide who those three children were.
So...am I overreacting? Or did this teacher suffer from a severe lapse in common sense and compassion?
Up Nort’
Last week I was sent to lovely Traverse City, MI for a conference for work.
Highlights of the conference:
Sitting by the pool all afternoon on Thursday basking in the sun, drinking and getting paid for it
Watching the sunset over Lake MI from the most expensive restaurant in the area, paid for by the company
Getting all prettied up (I chose the long black dress, for those of you in on the decision) for the banquet
Getting $50 from the conference to spend on whatever I wanted in the hotel shops
And I didn't do anything stupid all conference :)
Tim met me on Thursday night and we spent the weekend on and around the Leelanau Peninsula. (northwest corner of the lower part of MI)
Highlights of our mini-vacation:
The GORGEOUS scenery up and down the coasts of the Leelanau & Old Mission Peninsulas
Tasting at winery after winery after winery (even allowed to taste an Ice Wine that sells for $80 a bottle!) It’s like a little Napa up there!
The CUTE “seaside” towns (We found 3 Degas sketches in a little art gallery in Summit Bay)
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park (500 foot high sand dunes, beautiful views)
Laying on the beaches of the Lake MI
#1 Most exciting/terrible event:
The BAT in our “cute little personal cabin in the woods” at 12:30am (Tim is so brave & wonderful for defeating it. I’m positive it was actually a vampire come to kill us! He’s my Hero!)
Last week I was sent to lovely Traverse City, MI for a conference for work.
Highlights of the conference:
Sitting by the pool all afternoon on Thursday basking in the sun, drinking and getting paid for it
Watching the sunset over Lake MI from the most expensive restaurant in the area, paid for by the company
Getting all prettied up (I chose the long black dress, for those of you in on the decision) for the banquet
Getting $50 from the conference to spend on whatever I wanted in the hotel shops
And I didn't do anything stupid all conference :)
Tim met me on Thursday night and we spent the weekend on and around the Leelanau Peninsula. (northwest corner of the lower part of MI)
Highlights of our mini-vacation:
The GORGEOUS scenery up and down the coasts of the Leelanau & Old Mission Peninsulas
Tasting at winery after winery after winery (even allowed to taste an Ice Wine that sells for $80 a bottle!) It’s like a little Napa up there!
The CUTE “seaside” towns (We found 3 Degas sketches in a little art gallery in Summit Bay)
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park (500 foot high sand dunes, beautiful views)
Laying on the beaches of the Lake MI
#1 Most exciting/terrible event:
The BAT in our “cute little personal cabin in the woods” at 12:30am (Tim is so brave & wonderful for defeating it. I’m positive it was actually a vampire come to kill us! He’s my Hero!)
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Star Wars as Political Commentary?
I saw the new Star Wars when I was out of town. I was raised with the ewoks as a Star Wars fan from birth so it's kind of sad to see it come to an end.
While I watched, my liberal-Democrat mind thought it detected a political commentary on the state of democracy in the US today: We've got the Senate, the figure head of the Senate has increased powers because of a war that some don't feel was justified, etc.
My husband thinks I'm crazy but what do those of you who've seen it think?
I saw the new Star Wars when I was out of town. I was raised with the ewoks as a Star Wars fan from birth so it's kind of sad to see it come to an end.
While I watched, my liberal-Democrat mind thought it detected a political commentary on the state of democracy in the US today: We've got the Senate, the figure head of the Senate has increased powers because of a war that some don't feel was justified, etc.
My husband thinks I'm crazy but what do those of you who've seen it think?
Monday, June 06, 2005
Detroit's going back to the Finals!!!!!!!!
Tonight was a damn good game, though. Sure, it's always nice to see your team win by 20. But really, how EXCITING is it? Hell, half the time, people will actually get up and leave before the game is even over. There's no suspense.
But tonight? Now THATS how a game is played, if you ask me. You weren't going tos see ANYONE filing out of that arena early tonight. The lead kept changing back and forth; hell, it was anyone's game up till the final seconds. Sure, I was swearing like a sailor and jumping up and down like a demented Rumplestiltskin--but I loved it.
Miami went down swinging--mad props for that. But when all was said and done, they still went down.
Here we go.
Tonight was a damn good game, though. Sure, it's always nice to see your team win by 20. But really, how EXCITING is it? Hell, half the time, people will actually get up and leave before the game is even over. There's no suspense.
But tonight? Now THATS how a game is played, if you ask me. You weren't going tos see ANYONE filing out of that arena early tonight. The lead kept changing back and forth; hell, it was anyone's game up till the final seconds. Sure, I was swearing like a sailor and jumping up and down like a demented Rumplestiltskin--but I loved it.
Miami went down swinging--mad props for that. But when all was said and done, they still went down.
Here we go.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Announcing the arrival of the baby robins!!
I've been checking the nest every day (sometimes several times a day) for the last week or so--as I leaned in to check today, I did a double-take because there were two baby robins staring back up at me! The other two should hatch in the next couple of days (they hatch in the order they were laid, about a day apart). They're kind of freaky looking, with big eyes, long, skinny necks and wide-open beaks--but, like a true "mother," I think they're beautiful.
However, now I'm really worried because we're getting a big storm tonight, with high-ass winds, hail and rain. A minute ago, the winds were so high that I could barely open the sliding door to go check on them. I almost cried, because Momma Robin was stoicly sitting in her nest, braving the winds and the rain to protect her babies. My main worry is that the winds will knock the nest out of the tree or something. We're under a tornado watch, and you KNOW that if one hits, my ass'll be up in that tree, protecting the whole robin family.
Anyway, I have about 4 pictures left on this roll (enough to get me through the birth of the next two babies), and then I'll get them scanned (and, of course, I'll have to buy another disposable camera to continue documenting their development).
I'll update this post when the next two are born.
I've been checking the nest every day (sometimes several times a day) for the last week or so--as I leaned in to check today, I did a double-take because there were two baby robins staring back up at me! The other two should hatch in the next couple of days (they hatch in the order they were laid, about a day apart). They're kind of freaky looking, with big eyes, long, skinny necks and wide-open beaks--but, like a true "mother," I think they're beautiful.
However, now I'm really worried because we're getting a big storm tonight, with high-ass winds, hail and rain. A minute ago, the winds were so high that I could barely open the sliding door to go check on them. I almost cried, because Momma Robin was stoicly sitting in her nest, braving the winds and the rain to protect her babies. My main worry is that the winds will knock the nest out of the tree or something. We're under a tornado watch, and you KNOW that if one hits, my ass'll be up in that tree, protecting the whole robin family.
Anyway, I have about 4 pictures left on this roll (enough to get me through the birth of the next two babies), and then I'll get them scanned (and, of course, I'll have to buy another disposable camera to continue documenting their development).
I'll update this post when the next two are born.
Give it up for bargain shopping.
First, let me say that I love Target, and not just because Renee's husband is a VIP with the company. I know that I tried to boycott it last Christmas (I was unsuccessful, by the way--I finally gave in because of their great price on the Star Wars trilogy that I was getting for Dad), but their stuff is just GOOD.
I went there yesterday to pick up a couple of pairs of shorts for summer (I waited until now to make sure that summer was, in fact, here to stay-in Michigan, you can never be too sure), and I walked out with 4 shirts and 3 pairs of shorts for like $50 (there were some AWESOME sales, including a clearance rack). CAN I GET A HELL YEAH?
Also, I got two new pairs of sandels at Payless (buy one, get one half off).
ALSO, I did another mystery shopping assignment, this time at Party America. I took Luc (the two year old) with me (we were encouraged to bring kids on this assignment, as they're supposed to offer a free latex balloon to children). Well, apparently Mrs. S tipped him off as to the reason he was going to the "balloon store" with Supernanny, because from the second we walked in the door, all he could say was:
"Supernanny, when are they giving me my balloon?"
"Where's my balloon, Supernanny?"
"Supernanny! Balloon, please!"
So much for remaining inconspicuous.
Oh, and for all you Angels out there, Party America has one whole side of an aisle FILLED with patriotic/ 4th of July stuff--GREAT for care packages. And not just the usual ribbons and bows and streamers and stuff; they have paddles (the kind with a rubber ball attached) and hackeysacks and "fliers" (airplanes) and ALL KINDS OF STUFF in red, white and blue--very reasonable prices, too--a dollar or less in many cases.
First, let me say that I love Target, and not just because Renee's husband is a VIP with the company. I know that I tried to boycott it last Christmas (I was unsuccessful, by the way--I finally gave in because of their great price on the Star Wars trilogy that I was getting for Dad), but their stuff is just GOOD.
I went there yesterday to pick up a couple of pairs of shorts for summer (I waited until now to make sure that summer was, in fact, here to stay-in Michigan, you can never be too sure), and I walked out with 4 shirts and 3 pairs of shorts for like $50 (there were some AWESOME sales, including a clearance rack). CAN I GET A HELL YEAH?
Also, I got two new pairs of sandels at Payless (buy one, get one half off).
ALSO, I did another mystery shopping assignment, this time at Party America. I took Luc (the two year old) with me (we were encouraged to bring kids on this assignment, as they're supposed to offer a free latex balloon to children). Well, apparently Mrs. S tipped him off as to the reason he was going to the "balloon store" with Supernanny, because from the second we walked in the door, all he could say was:
"Supernanny, when are they giving me my balloon?"
"Where's my balloon, Supernanny?"
"Supernanny! Balloon, please!"
So much for remaining inconspicuous.
Oh, and for all you Angels out there, Party America has one whole side of an aisle FILLED with patriotic/ 4th of July stuff--GREAT for care packages. And not just the usual ribbons and bows and streamers and stuff; they have paddles (the kind with a rubber ball attached) and hackeysacks and "fliers" (airplanes) and ALL KINDS OF STUFF in red, white and blue--very reasonable prices, too--a dollar or less in many cases.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
I'm going to be on the news tonight!
A lot of you got (or will be getting) this email, but here it is again...
It all came down really fast, but there's a wounded soldier who is coming home tomorrow at the Detroit Metro airport. Soldiers' Angels was trying to get some Detroit-area Angels out there to help greet him. Well, the local Fox news station heard about it and wanted to interview an Angel. Patti (the president, who knows me because of my work with the newsletter) emailed me; I called her, got the reporter's number and touched base with him. Half an hour later, I was being interviewed for a story to run in about 15 minutes!! Fox is airing a story TONIGHT to try to get as many people as they can to come to the airport tomorrow to help welcome home this amazing hero.
After putting in almost an 11 hour work day, I'm pretty sure that I looked less-than-fresh (not to mention my PMS breakouts--OH MY GOD, and my freakish streakiness), but I keep reminding myself that no one cares how *I* look (except for me, ha ha), and hopefully, we'll have a great turn out tomorrow afternoon for Brian. Plus, maybe we'll get some more Detroiters to sign up and help support even MORE troops!
Good stuff.
Love,
Jen
(PS, if you want to talk to me you'll have to go through "my people," as I am about to become way too famous and important for you to be able to contact me directly) ;)
A lot of you got (or will be getting) this email, but here it is again...
It all came down really fast, but there's a wounded soldier who is coming home tomorrow at the Detroit Metro airport. Soldiers' Angels was trying to get some Detroit-area Angels out there to help greet him. Well, the local Fox news station heard about it and wanted to interview an Angel. Patti (the president, who knows me because of my work with the newsletter) emailed me; I called her, got the reporter's number and touched base with him. Half an hour later, I was being interviewed for a story to run in about 15 minutes!! Fox is airing a story TONIGHT to try to get as many people as they can to come to the airport tomorrow to help welcome home this amazing hero.
After putting in almost an 11 hour work day, I'm pretty sure that I looked less-than-fresh (not to mention my PMS breakouts--OH MY GOD, and my freakish streakiness), but I keep reminding myself that no one cares how *I* look (except for me, ha ha), and hopefully, we'll have a great turn out tomorrow afternoon for Brian. Plus, maybe we'll get some more Detroiters to sign up and help support even MORE troops!
Good stuff.
Love,
Jen
(PS, if you want to talk to me you'll have to go through "my people," as I am about to become way too famous and important for you to be able to contact me directly) ;)
You know what? SCREW THAT.
Okay, I'm done allowing someone else to make all the decisions that affect MY life (such as my job and where I live).
Noah came home from preschool today with an AWESOME report card; he has made so much improvement since the first half of the year. His mom is really happy with his progress and attributes a large part of that to me (I've been working with these kids since January).
And you know what? I love these kids. I don't want to leave yet. I mean, I'll have to at the end of the summer anyway for student teaching, but at least that's on MY terms, for MY reasons. Not someone else's.
So I'm talking to Jeff tonight. If he still insists that he wants me out for the summer, so be it. I'm looking into rooms for rent. It will set me back a bit financially, but screw it. I'll live in a motel if I have to. If someone else can't act like an adult, fine. And who knows, if I sit him down reasonably and calmly and outline the reasons I want to stay--if he understands that this is about more than just him or "us", that it's my job and these kids--maybe he'll agree. Or hell, if he'd even relent enough to let me stay there for PART of the summer, reducing the number of weeks that I'd have to rent out a rooom somewhere else, that'd be great.
But you know what? I'm not going to quit a job that I love and move back home, taking the chance that I'll get stuck with a job I hate--or, even worse, that I won't be able to FIND a job--and be miserable all summer. This is my life too, dammit. But I'm not DONE with these kids yet. I'm not ready to move on. There's still so much I can do with them, so much I can teach them this summer. Plus, I kind of need them, too. They're one of the few bright spots in my life at the moment.
So I'll talk to Mrs S. tonight and let her know to keep looking for a nanny (again, they'll need one in the fall anyway) but that there's no rush, because (unless she thinks I'm totally crazy by now) I really want to stick around. (She understands that my current living arrangement has been a bit "unstable" recently, so she knows WHY things have been so uncertain in recent weeks.)
Okay, I'm done allowing someone else to make all the decisions that affect MY life (such as my job and where I live).
Noah came home from preschool today with an AWESOME report card; he has made so much improvement since the first half of the year. His mom is really happy with his progress and attributes a large part of that to me (I've been working with these kids since January).
And you know what? I love these kids. I don't want to leave yet. I mean, I'll have to at the end of the summer anyway for student teaching, but at least that's on MY terms, for MY reasons. Not someone else's.
So I'm talking to Jeff tonight. If he still insists that he wants me out for the summer, so be it. I'm looking into rooms for rent. It will set me back a bit financially, but screw it. I'll live in a motel if I have to. If someone else can't act like an adult, fine. And who knows, if I sit him down reasonably and calmly and outline the reasons I want to stay--if he understands that this is about more than just him or "us", that it's my job and these kids--maybe he'll agree. Or hell, if he'd even relent enough to let me stay there for PART of the summer, reducing the number of weeks that I'd have to rent out a rooom somewhere else, that'd be great.
But you know what? I'm not going to quit a job that I love and move back home, taking the chance that I'll get stuck with a job I hate--or, even worse, that I won't be able to FIND a job--and be miserable all summer. This is my life too, dammit. But I'm not DONE with these kids yet. I'm not ready to move on. There's still so much I can do with them, so much I can teach them this summer. Plus, I kind of need them, too. They're one of the few bright spots in my life at the moment.
So I'll talk to Mrs S. tonight and let her know to keep looking for a nanny (again, they'll need one in the fall anyway) but that there's no rush, because (unless she thinks I'm totally crazy by now) I really want to stick around. (She understands that my current living arrangement has been a bit "unstable" recently, so she knows WHY things have been so uncertain in recent weeks.)
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