Chattahoochee Mama: January 2009

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January 2009

My Son Is A Sucker For Pretty Eyelashes

The other night, I was watching America's Funniest Home Videos with Wyatt and a commercial came on for mascara. He perked up and said, "Mom, you've gotta see this." Throughout the commercial, Wyatt kept watching for my reaction.

At one point, the camera closed in on the model's eye as she swiped on the 8th layer of mascara and the announcer said, "Watch how they grow longer before your eyes."

I wanted to roll mine, but smiled for Wyatt's benefit. When the commercial ended, Wyatt looked excitedly at me and said, "Did you see that mom? Her eyelashes got longer! Do you like that, too?"

"Well, do you???"

January 28, 2009 at 07:49 AM in Television, Wyattisms | Permalink | Comments (6)

Mini Getaways for Moms

Some weekends, I'll take an afternoon while Ben is home and the boys are napping to run errands. My husband always tells me when I'm heading out the door that I should do something relaxing instead, like go to Starbucks and read a book for a couple hours. But I hardly ever take his advice.

However, this past Sunday, I started to feel the burn again and am dying for a mini getaway. A vacation would be wonderful, but I'd settle for a few hours... totally unproductive, uninterrupted, and unplugged. Some "me time." Some of my favorite mini getaways include:

Getting a massage
Reading for a few hours a Starbucks
Indulging in a mani/pedi at a nice place
Having lunch with a girlfriend at a fave spot

January 27, 2009 at 11:00 AM in Personal stories | Permalink | Comments (3)

Wyattisms

"Mommy, sometime I'm going to teach you how to drive looking backwards so you can help me while you're driving."

January 27, 2009 at 07:40 AM in Wyattisms | Permalink | Comments (4)

Announcing the Winner of the Erica Hardy Jewelry Giveaway!

This morning, I put all of your names into an on-line random list organizer to decide the winner of the Erica Hardy Jewelry Giveaway. There was a total of 75 entries (this includes the 2nd entry of those that linked to the giveaway on your own blog). And the winner is...

Congratulations, Anna See! You are the winner of any piece of jewelry from Erica Hardy's Etsy shop valued at $40 or less. I will be contacting you this afternoon with more information!

Thank you all for participating and for helping me spread the word on your own blogs. And a special thanks to Erica for allowing me to do this fabulous giveaway of her beautiful jewelry!

January 26, 2009 at 12:53 PM in ChattahoocheeMama.com, Fashion | Permalink | Comments (1)

London Anyone?

A few years ago, Ben and I won a free trip to London and seriously had the time of our lives. We have dreamed about going back... even living there... but neither has worked out so far.=)

Currently British Airways is offering an incredible deal - $312 roundtrip plus two free nights in a 3 or 4 star hotel in London. I really wish we had some extra cash floating around right about now...

January 26, 2009 at 07:36 AM in Promotions, Travel | Permalink | Comments (7)

Still Time To Enter The Jewelry Giveaway!

The Erica Hardy Jewelry Giveaway will remain open until Sunday night... so if you haven't had a chance to enter, there's still time! Tell your friends... tell your mom... tell your sister... because anyone can win.=) And good luck!

January 22, 2009 at 11:51 AM in Fashion | Permalink | Comments (1)

Never Leave Empty Handed

Wyatt's favorite brand of rice milk comes from Trader Joe's, and I usually wipe out their supply every time I go. We were almost out, so yesterday I made the hour-long trek (rountrip) out to TJ's to restock. But when I got there, I discovered that someone else had already cleaned them out - not a single carton o rice milk left. Ugh.

Not wanting it to be a total waste of a trip, I picked up a package of these Pumpkin Whoopie Pies that I've been resisting the temptation to buy for over a year... it was totally worth the drive.=)

January 22, 2009 at 09:40 AM in Food, Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (7)

Do They Still Taste Good After All That?

Wyatt can't eat the usual treats that kids love so much without an allergic reaction. So I'm thankful for the So Delicious non-dairy, non-soy, non-gluten fudge pops from Whole Foods. They make him happy. (And they really do taste good after all that - I've hijacked a box or two during a spontaneous pregnancy craving.=)

January 21, 2009 at 02:53 PM in Wyattisms | Permalink | Comments (3)

Hoochee Book Club Update

I haven't had much time to read the past few weeks, but I finally started Peace Like A River and am loving it. Just a few pages in, I already felt like I was sitting alongside each of the characters... totally wrapped up in their story.

I wish I had a weekend away (preferably at a spa) to just spend reading it straight through to the end.=)

It's never too late to join the Hoochee Book Club, and you still have plenty of time to get this month's selection. You'll have until Friday, February 27th to read the book and report back on our blogs. As always, if you don't have a blog, then you can jump into our virtual book club discussion in the comments!

January 20, 2009 at 12:01 PM in Hoochee Book Club | Permalink | Comments (3)

Missing All The Action

Today, I wrote a post over at Deep South Moms for Inauguration Day called Missing All The Action. With all the inauguration coverage on the news lately, I've been reminiscing about my time spent in D.C. It's such a significant day no matter on which side of the political fence you fall!

Until last summer, when my husband's job moved our family to Georgia, I lived outside of D.C. for 7 years. After we learned to navigate the streets and manage the Metro, we loved spending time in the city as a family. On my husband's day off, we would often head downtown for a picnic on the Mall, a stroll around the tidal basin, or a visit to the Museum of Natural History (aka "the place with dinosaur bones"). Read on...

January 20, 2009 at 10:21 AM in Events | Permalink | Comments (0)

So Much for Elegance

When I bought this rustic wooden stool, I intended to use it as a place to put my tea and crackers while watching Pride & Prejudice on a Sunday afternoon...

January 20, 2009 at 07:28 AM in Parenting | Permalink | Comments (2)

Mr. Pouty Pants

This is what Wyatt looks like when he doesn't get his way. I think this had something to do with me letting Dylan put the lid back on the play-dough container. Unbeknownst to the rest of us, Wyatt is the only one allowed to do that. (You can see he's holding the said play-dough container in his right hand, which he eventually re-covered himself.=)

January 19, 2009 at 02:46 PM in Wyattisms | Permalink | Comments (5)

I'm Giving Away Jewelry!!!

My good friend Erica has been making jewelry for as long as I've known her. Long before she was selling her jewelry in chic shops around the D.C. area, I was the proud owner of several erica hardy designs. Women always compliment and comment on the uniqueness of her jewelry.

That's why I am so thrilled that Erica has finally opened an Etsy shop!

Erica takes retro and vintage designs and gives them a modern twist, and I haven't seen anything like it elsewhere. Erica's personal style oozes through each and every one of her creations.

In honor of her 2009 opening, I'm giving away a free item from her shop to one lucky Chattahoochee Mama reader! The winner will be able to choose from any of her gorgeous pieces for $40 or less.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post naming one piece from her shop that you like.

(You can get a 2nd entry if you post about the giveaway on your own blog... just come back and leave the link to your post in a separate comment.)

The giveaway will remain open until MIDNIGHT on Sunday, January 25th. I'll announce the winner on Monday!

January 19, 2009 at 07:35 AM in Fashion, Giveaways | Permalink | Comments (74)

32 Third Graders And One Class Bunny

Sounds like the answer to some kind of riddle, doesn't it?=)

It's actually the title of a wonderful new book by Phillip Done, a 3rd grade teacher in California. I knew that this would be a fun book as it looks at the life of an elementary school teacher from the first to the last day of school.

Within the pages are hundreds of antectotes of school-age moments. Everything from Picture Day and Meet the Teacher Night to rearranging the seating chart for the umpteenth time, Done's easy way of writing had me both empathizing and laughing out loud at times.

It was incredibly refreshing to hear such a detailed and honest description of what goes on in the classroom as well as a teachers' mind. Done did a fabulous job capturing the spirit of such a familiar time in everyone's life.

January 16, 2009 at 10:14 AM in Books | Permalink | Comments (5)

It's My Favorite Time of Day

It's 4:30 pm, and my boys have just woken from their naps, so they're still sleepy, docile, introverted. It's cold outside, and a fire is crackling in the hearth. Ben will be home in about an hour and a half, so I don't have to worry about dinner just yet. We can all just watch cartoons together, snuggled up on the sofa.

When is your favorite time of day?

January 16, 2009 at 07:39 AM in Friends & Family | Permalink | Comments (6)

Preparing for My Little Peanut

Not only do Phil & Teds have an edgy new look, but they also has some great new products to check out. One of my favorites is the Peanut - a super light, carry cot that clicks into the Vibe. Its peanut-shape is perfect for your little peanut to snooze away in while cruising, and can be easily detached to continue slumbering at home.

This new baby on the way is making me covet cool new baby products all over again!

January 15, 2009 at 01:20 PM in Baby gear | Permalink | Comments (8)

Reading with Hand Sanitizer =)

I have issues with the going to the library. Aside from the fact that I never return my books on time and end up paying late fees, I just really love the feeling of a new book that's all mine.

Then there are the germs, and the fact that hundreds of people have touched, slept with, and possibly sneezed on the very book that I'm holding. =)

But yesterday morning, I decided it was high time I get started on Peace Like A River for the Hoochee Book Club.

I was driving by the library... so I told myself that if they had a copy, I had to check it out and read it. Well they had one copy that I now hold in my hands at this very moment.

I haven't cracked it open yet, but my goal is to start today. If I can make it through the book and successfully return it without paying any overdue fees, then this might be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

January 15, 2009 at 10:14 AM in Books, Hoochee Book Club, Personal stories | Permalink | Comments (9)

The Little Guy Holds the Straps Back

Every day, when Dylan and I pick-up Wyatt from preschool in the carpool line, I reach back and pull apart the car seat straps. Well, lately, as I've been reaching back, Dylan has already beaten me to it. The little guy is such a helper and can't wait to welcome his big brother. Yesterday, Dylan was sick with a stomach bug, but I snapped this photo to capture his willingness to help.

January 15, 2009 at 07:35 AM in Chillin Like Dylan | Permalink | Comments (2)

The New Thong

No, not that kind of thong! These are toe thongs - an anklet that connects to a toe ring - and apparently they are the chic way to go barefoot. My friend's sister-in-law custom creates toe thongs for every occasion, and donates a portion of the proceeds from her autism items to The Autism Resource Center of Central Massachusetts.

I've never been one to wear anklets or toe rings, but I'm willing to give anything a try for a good cause.=) Plus, this beach-inspired wedding design is pretty snazzy.

January 14, 2009 at 11:30 AM in Fashion | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Pregnancy Pass

Today I have a post up at Deep South Moms, where I talk about my solution for getting away with pregnancy brain - it's called The Pregnancy Pass.=) You can check it out [here] or begin reading below.

I don't know who makes the rules about these sorts of things - but if it were up to me, then every pregnant woman would get a pass from the time she first thought she was pregnant, and it wouldn't expire until you're child turned 1. It would be a pass that you could just hand people every time you made a silly statement, forgot to say Happy Birthday to a close friend, paid your bills too late, or failed to get thank-you notes out for all the wonderful shower gifts. It would be a magical, wonderful pass. Read on...

January 14, 2009 at 08:50 AM in Pregnancy | Permalink | Comments (3)

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