A Posting in the Private Sector

www.carie-list.blogspot.com

Some of My Halloween Decor

I am the worst photographer of all time. Just need to make that disclaimer.

One Day Only Special

Today I am ending my 5+ year ban on Oprah. At 3pm (I had to look it up - I had no idea when she was on) I will be tuning in.

This is a one time offer, good today only.

The ban began about 5-1/2 years ago when I came home from the hospital after having my last child. You know how the first week after childbirth goes: lots of laying around, sleeping, recuperating, sitting in solitary positions for long stretches of time. Hence, I was spent a lot of time reading or watching tv (there is not much else to be done while nursing a newborn who is taking her own sweet time.) I think I watched Oprah every day that week. In the course of this Oprah-fest, she had 3 different Hollywood actresses on her show. EVERY one of them belittled the importance of marriage - cheered on of course, by Oprah. Oh yes, I am naming names: Sharon Stone, Cameron Diaz, and Halle Berry. ("I will never marry again but will definitely have kids" one said. "How can I know who I will love in 5 years?" another said. "Traditional families are not as important these days.")

Here I was in my little family love cocoon, welcoming our latest edition, truly reveling in my greatest treasure on earth my family. Then to be watching this show which had the complete opposite agenda. It just didn't work for me.

First, my personal belief is that marriages and families are a gift from God. Families are his creation, not ours to diminish or change to suit our whims. Our greatest joys in life will come from the relationships we form within our family.

Second, I found it terribly irresponsible for these women with their millions of dollars and access to nannys and elite preschools to try to promote life as a single parent. Every statistic shows that children do better in a 2 parent home. And any single parent will tell you it is the hardest thing they have ever done.

Not that Oprah is evil. I think she is amazing in many ways and has done great, charitable things. But, it was time to part ways. I had better things to do with my time. So, I wrote her a letter explaining my thoughts. I thought she'd want to know.

I think it is abundantly clear the effect my boycott has had on Oprah's empire. (None.)

But today, Oprah is having Stephanie on her show from the Nie-Nie Dialogues. Stephanie, the blogger who wrote adorably about her family. Her joys of motherhood. Her sweet relationship with her husband. Then had the terrible accident, to come back only more dedicated to her role as mother and wife.

I think it is appropriate that I break my ban for Stephanie.

So, yeah, I am watching Oprah today. (But not tomorrow.)

AE Jewelry

American Eagle always has the best jewelry. Even a novice like me could figure out how to wear these.


I couldn't find all of my favorite pieces online, so go to the store to see even more greatness.

Monster, the Creation Thereof

Today my youngest was getting dressed for school. I told her she looked nice.

She said, "Do I look J.Crew?"

It Ain't Pretty

This is what I look like after running 12 miles.

In 1 hour and 50 minutes and 13 seconds.

Which is pretty fast. 9:11 minute miles, if you are keeping track.

Which means I might be able to match last year's time for my half marathon.

And also means I burned close to 11oo calories. Which means I go can to Chipolte and eat their chips and guacamole all by myself, if I want.

And lastly, it also means that I am officially tapering off the long runs until the race.

Nice Surprise

Happy thing #1- Today my cousin called me as she was driving through town. It was so fun to go out to breakfast with her and her husband.

Happy thing #2- I went to the library today, expecting to find one book on hold and was pleasantly surprised to find this stack waiting for me. Five books and two dvds. (Even Dan Brown's latest which was extra-unexpected because I was number 41 on the list two days ago.)

Conversation

Me: Hey, What do you think of my new pants*?

Husband: They are . . . (long pause) . . . different.

Me: They're pajamas.

Husband (surprised and relieved): Oh! They're great.

(*that I got on clearance at Old Navy for $5.)

Halloween Preparedness

I have been gearing up for Halloween by picking up some of the cute Martha Stewart goods at Michaels.

Here is some of the Martha Stewart Halloween paper framed on my wall (a little early but I was in the process of redecorating, so it went up early):

Good For Nothing

(Please do not misconstrue this as a feeble attempt to gain praise from the dedicated readers of this blog. I am not looking for communal encouragement, so please don't comment about how great I am. You can save that for another post.)

I was talking with a group of friends about a month ago. We were figuring out what kind of businesses we would run, if we weren't moms. It was so easy determining the professions for my friends. In less than a minute I could tell you: That one would make a great politician. The next one could easily own a restaurant or be a chef. And the other could effortlessly be a party planner. And if they ever wanted to switch careers, I had no trouble coming up with back ups: Shop Owner (a classy boutique shop), a gardener/landscaper, and a home decorator respectively.

But here's the thing: I wasn't able to come up with anything for me - and neither were they.

NOT that I can't do anything, just that I don't do anything exceptionally well. I can do lots of things, but nothing really seems to be my specialty. Cooking, gardening, singing, writing, running, crafting, decorating, fashioning (I know it's not a word): All things I can do. I'd give myself a strong B in most of these areas, let's even say B+. But where is my A+? What is my specialty?

All this begs the question of why I find the need to define myself in this way. Why do I need to have something I am good at - or said more honestly: better at than anyone else? Besides the obvious (Pride, Vanity, Self Centeredness) I can think of two solid reasons.

1. I think this all has something to do with the recent Big Change in my life: All of my children are gone at school, All day. I have defined myself as a stay at mom for so long, I am not sure how to define myself for those 7 hours a day when they are gone. When they were home I was the washer, cleaner, lunch maker, book reader, the whole she-bang. I didn't have to be amazing at anything, I just needed to be the mom.

They of course, come home each day and I am needed in every same way, but since they have been gone, I've got to thinking. What is good about me beside my mom-ness? What am I good at? Even though my youngest is only in Kindergarten, I realize that someday - sooner then I think, they will be gone and my mom-ness will be a lesser part of the whole of me.

2. My second reason: I have some pretty amazing friends/sisters/people who let me hang around them. They are all talented in many ways, but seem to have a particular specialty that sets them apart. I love who they are and cheer them on wholeheartedly. But being around them, makes me look at myself and think, what's my thing? How am I great?

I had a couple of friends over. (Visiting Teachers for the lds crowd.) In a round about way, this very topic came up. I mentioned how I felt that I didn't have any one true talent that sets me apart.

One of these women, who doesn't even know me particularly well, FIGURED OUT MY ONE TALENT, my specialty. Right there on the spot. Something I haven't been able to do and I've been really thinking about it for awhile. My talent?

Being social.

It's true. I am a good conversationalist. I like large groups, I know how to work a room. I would go as far as saying that I at party, I can be charming even.

I know how to talk to people, almost anyone. And I enjoy it. As I've gotten older, I learned that asking questions and really listening to the answers is even better than talking. Because people are super interesting. I remember things that people tell me so I always have more to ask and listen about the next time I see them.

I didn't realize that some people don't know how to do this. It never occurred to me to label this as a talent, let alone THE talent, because it is just part of me. I don't even have to think about it.

Now, I am not saying this talent of mine has any street value. I certainly couldn't make any money off of it. But U feel really good about this talent, because it truly is something I don't need to be better than anyone else at. I have never found the need to compare myself with people in this area.

It is something I am exceptionally good at so I am just going to be happy with that.

Too late

I hate it when I wait to purchase an item, and then it suddenly, inexplicably, without warning, it goes out of stock.

Here is a pictorial list of things that will never be mine.

Take this skirt, One day: plenty in stock, The next day- nada. The wound is still fresh.

Why, can I ask, does Downeast send out a catalog and then not have any of the items in stock? It is heartbreaking.

I am still kicking myself for the time they had these lanterns at Walmart and I decided to pass even though they were half the price of exact same lantern at Pottery Barn. And now they are gone, never to be owned by me.

Or the one I am STILL sad to not own, 1 year later:

Boyfriend Fit

I love the "boyfriend fit" pants every store seems to be carrying. They are very flattering.



These are both from gap. Problem is, when the cold comes, what shoe do you wear with them?

Good Find

This is the perfect rug for my boys' room. I love the colors in it: orange, brown, green, yellow, red. Happens to perfectly go with their bedding.

Also happened to be 60% off, so that makes it even more perfect.

Health Update

We are still sick. Same sickness, different kids. The boys spent the first days of this week at home. Thankfully, they were both back in school today and doing much better. My oldest on the other hand, decided to join the party and became very ill yesterday. Why not? Everyone else is doing it. So, more trips to Urgent Care, more trips to the Pharmacy.

The good news is that now we know what we are up against: Strep. On a whim they tested for it 4 days ago (at our first Urgent Care visit) and it came up negative. They sent it to a lab for more accurate results and sure enough: STREP! My son just happened to be on the antibiotics for his ginormous spider bite, so he was feeling much better. (Incidentally, after his 2nd visit to urgent care, the Dr. determined all the other spider bites were actually an allergic reaction of some sort. But the big one, yep, that was a bite.)

Even so, I spent several hours yesterday sprinkling this all over the boy's room. Then vacuuming. It is supposed to get rid of insects. Just in case.

While the boys were sick we watched a lot of movies and more Disney Channel than I ever thought possible. The movies followed a theme:

Once my oldest's illness hit, we had to find something else to watch. I picked up this at Target.

Something I've been meaning to do anyway. I also bought a very inexpensive DVD player for my room, because for some reason it seems to be the desired place of convalescing.

And Mark is traveling for work, again. Sigh.

I am ready to be made into a Saint because a week straight of rotating sick children? It's hard. Can they do that if you are not Catholic? Do they have Saints in the Mormon church? I have never checked.

I am ready for a break. Maybe a pedicure. Or a shopping trip. Or a quiet hour spent alone, without a sick child. Or, is it sad that I am secretly hoping that maybe I will get sick and they can all take care of me?