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Monthly Archives: May 2005

Brain mush

I really don’t have anything interesting to say today. (not that I normally do!) I’m just going to sit here and ramble a bit…

Naps. The loveliest thing ever invented. I think it’s probably been more than a year since I got a nap for over an hour in peace and absolute quiet. I don’t feel one bit guilty skipping most of church to get it, either. I’m feeling so much better.

TSS. Toxic Shock Syndrome. (you know, that weird crazy scary reaction people can get from tampons that they warn about all over the packages) Does anyone get this? They must, or they wouldn’t scare me to death everytime I look at the package. And every month of my womanly life I’ve been scared of it. I’d forgotten about this in the last couple years (lucky me) but am now back to worrying about it. I get a headache once a month and am always afraid I’m coming down with the dreaded disease… Do people really DIE from it? What a horrible thing to die from…

Diets…Never been on one before. Not really on one now either. But hoping to lose 10 lbs. How long should that take? I think I’m getting a treadmill tomorrow (yay me!!). Is six weeks a reasonable expectation?

Daydreams. Can you "see" stuff in your imagination? I recently had a big discovery. My husband doesn’t see in his head. Like with pictures. Like I do. Does that mean I have a photographic memory? Am I weird or is he?

Ok…enough deep, thoughtful, and insightful rambling from me. :) Hopefully someone brilliant will read this and answer all of my questions…

Montez. Out.

May 29, 2005 - 7:02 pm Lara - Oh, dang it. I'm not brilliant nor do I have any answers. But, I do have to say that naps are the best thing in the world! (Also, this might be TMI, but about TSS...just don't use a higher absorbancy than you need...that's the problem with TSS...if it's not changed regularly or excessively absorbant, I think those are the .) http://www.toxicshock.com/

May 29, 2005 - 7:06 pm Lara - ...causing factors. Woops - I hit enter too soon!

May 29, 2005 - 7:36 pm Renee - TSS has always freaked me out, too.. ha! 6 weeks- 10 pounds, totally reasonable daydreams? maybe your both weird ... only teasing :-) I see things all the time!! not like you were looking for answers from me.. but there ya go !

May 29, 2005 - 8:12 pm juliekins - my aunt skimmed death from TSS. It's amazing she survived. This was back in the 80s and she used scented tampons, so i've never used a scented one in my life. i have heard the risk is higher with them.

May 29, 2005 - 8:16 pm Helen - a few girls here in Aus have died from TSS - can be quite scary. No clue on the weight loss Day dreams - mm not sure but I know that Sean remembers words and complete coversations from events etc yet I will remember snippets and more of the details and colours etc mmm.

May 29, 2005 - 8:47 pm Kent - Yikes - now you got be scared about TSS! What a way to go - you wouldn't want that printed in your obituary that's for sure. Years ago a friend of ours was hospitalized for TSS - but he was a guy?! Go figure! Naps are awesome...

May 29, 2005 - 10:17 pm stacy benintendi - naps....nothing better for me tss, also not a fan. why can't they just say.....don't leave it in longer than xyz because that would be yuck and that would be good enough for me. instead they say don't leave it in longer than xyz cause you'll die. what is that it just makes me want to stay in the bathroom for a week. hmmmm that might not be so bad i could probably get in a nap or two. :) as for diets.....girl you came to the right place. after each kid it has become more weight and harder to get off. i JUST dropped 20 lbs. in five weeks. weight watchers and not a whole lot of exercize. ww is so great. i swear by it and it's super good for people who don't have a whole lot of extra weight too. quite a few girls in my ward are lifetime members and are super skinny as for me i still have about 30 lbs. to shed to be right where i would like to be. so to answer your question in the longest way possible YES you could totally lose 10 lbs. in six weeks. daydreams i have a very vivid imagination too that is one of the best things about daydreaming for me. :) stacy

May 29, 2005 - 10:40 pm Michelle Adams - Naps - not for me, but for the 3 y/o. It's good mommy time! TSS - haven't worried about it except when I was pregnant. I'm right there with you on the 10#'s. I can "see" too - how things can be. My hubby, too, remembers more of the detail things that were said and such. Have a great day! :)

May 30, 2005 - 7:30 am hilary - Ok, I think you might need help. They have a lovely vista area at O'connor, I'd come visit you. :) I think I've seen like 2 cases of TSS in my life, but now women know to "pull it" a tad earlier. It all has to do with taking pictures of your placenta.... Hilary

May 30, 2005 - 10:54 am Shelley R. - Well aren't you just totally insightful today! Bwaahaa. TSS... yup, have always worried about it. Cautious though and make sure I only use for the "recommended time"! Naps! What are those? Hmmm must go look up the definition because I sure as hell don't know what they are!! Imagination... I think I have a good one, I remember snipets of things, not great at detail like my hubby is. I remember faces not names! So no profound words from me to you today! ;)

May 30, 2005 - 2:56 pm Kate - You crack me up Montez! love that Montez out- tee hee. naps- ihhhhh yeah- love them, need them!! TSS- my friend had it after highschool a lonnnnnnnnnnnng time ago- her Dr. said no scented tampons, no super size and no longer than 6 hours. Also another WW fan- they have an online thing you can join too- less moeny and it counts all the points etc- you just type in the food- I lost 20 lbs on it once (now they freaking came back -grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr but I'd go back on WW in a sec.)

May 30, 2005 - 5:36 pm Melissa - Naps - took one yesterday for the first time in months... it was a wonderful thing. TSS - scares the crap out of me - don't leave that tampon in too long! I remember a girl in high school had it - she almost died. Horrible about dieting - love to exercise - treadmill should do the trick. I definitely see things when I daydream.

May 30, 2005 - 6:30 pm candi - oh my gosh...you sound just like me...I tend to think of the weirdest things too!! lol. and yep...I see things in my daydreams too! Sometimes too vividly!! lol

May 30, 2005 - 10:06 pm Moriah - Deep Thoughts from Shannon Montez :) Love it!! I've always worried about TSS too!! I remember in the 80's when it was widely reported my mom didn't let us us t's for that reason! Okay, so not this week.. but the next one..wanna plan lunch? What days are good for you?

May 31, 2005 - 5:04 am Amy - oh yeah...lovin' the naps, too. :) best time of the day if you ask me! diets...i don't do diets. i just exercise, and that usually works. i think 6 weeks is more than enough time to shed 10 lbs. stay strong babe! i *see* things when i daydream too. i see dead people. just kidding. hehe

May 31, 2005 - 1:38 pm Cheryl - well your rambling is 10 million times more interesting *and SO MUCH FUNNIER* then my most interesting blog entry! ;) totally cracking up about the TSS!!! HAHHAHAH!!! and about the seeing things in your head. i totally never knew that other people didn't see pictures in their head until one day i asked my dad what color someone's hair was and he said he didn't know unless he saw them. i told him to close his eyes and picture them. he closed his eyes and said "BLACK, it's all black...i see nothing!". lol! ;)

June 1, 2005 - 9:33 pm Jessi - "Montez. Out." - you kill me girl! :) LOL!!!

Saved

From myself today. I was laying around all morning, feeling sorry for myself. Had a horrible night’s sleep and was awakened before 5AM by a certain little unnamed punk who wouldn’t go back to sleep and spent a lot of time pulling my hair and punching my nose in the ensuing 1.5 hours before I finally gave up and just crawled out of bed. Had a headache (on only half of my head…weird) and was just grumpy, tired and lazy.

Enter Kent. [angels singing] My good friend and former neighbor. A girl, by the way [you should've heard my mom's shock and horror when I told her one time I was going to a movie with Kent...she assumed it was her husband I was talking about. :) ] She called me and asked if I would go to lunch with her. That was just enough to pull me out of my personal darkness, get dressed, put on some makeup and clean up a bit. I haven’t even gone to lunch yet and already feel better. Love how friends can do that for us! YAY friends!!

I was going to post a horrible picture of us, but decided I’d let you imagine how beautiful and fabulous we are. :)

May 26, 2005 - 11:32 am Carrie Owens - saved by the pals! What a great things friends are - saving us from ourselves when we'd rather be lazy. Have a great rest of the day and turn in early...if the youngun's will let ya ;)

May 26, 2005 - 11:50 am Lindsay - beautiful and fabulous indeed! :) Glad you're feeling better girl! lindsay

May 26, 2005 - 1:51 pm Cheryl - i absolutely love reading your blog. LOVE IT. you crack me up!!!

May 26, 2005 - 7:45 pm jen - hee hee...i have a punk just like that!! but he likes to wake up at 3am!! glad to hear your friend got you outta the house!! good for her and you!

May 27, 2005 - 3:56 am Melissa - Don't you just love good friends? Hope you had a fabulous time!

May 27, 2005 - 5:11 am Shelley R. - Woohooo good for you lady! You deserve it. Does this mean you got to go to lunch WITHOUT the kids? Not fair! That is my dream! LOL Glad the day turned around for you. Hope you had a good day!

May 27, 2005 - 9:08 pm denise - LOL...I think we should get our little punks together and just let them completely annoy one another. :p Glad to hear it turned around...hope lunch was FUN!

May 28, 2005 - 9:02 am Kent - Awww!! Totally almost made me cry (the only thing that helped me not go over the edge is the fact that I'd be crying at the computer screen while still wearing the old t-shirt I slept in - not a pretty sight). You are awesome!! I hope you came down from your Excederin high - just say no to drugs! :-) And for the record we had 3 kids with us at lunch that were little terrors, running around while we tried to eat, got us kicked out of a store and one little one who will remain anonymous stole some candy - but Shannon and I are getting pretty good at tuning all this out.

May 28, 2005 - 10:06 am Tia - i love when 'angels in disguise' appear in our lives! what a sweet blessing!

May 28, 2005 - 1:55 pm marygrace - I agree. Waking up unexpectedly stinks. Neighbor friends are the best when they ask you out to lunch. Your banner's making me smile wide. :D

May 29, 2005 - 2:45 pm Lara - Some crappy days can turn out to be the best. Go Kent!

May 31, 2005 - 8:44 am AmyG - hope you had a good time!

I’m fat

I don’t think most people would look at me and think "that girl’s gotta lose some L.B.s" It’s not an extreme problem. Yet. I’m at a crossroads right now. I’m at a point where I either need to buy new clothes to accommodate this body, or do something about the body. Because my clothes and my body are having a severe disagreement right now. I need to choose either my habits now, my current way of life,or make some changes. Apparently the Oreo diet just isn’t working. :)

I have excuses. Lots of them. Maybe I should just accept the fact that I’ve had four kids, life is crazy, I love my treats, and stop getting down about my body. But the part of me that was always fit and trim wants to fight this. I feel gross. I can tell how it’s a vicious cycle. When I feel like this, I want to avoid thinking about it, just go on with my life and do things to avoid thinking about it. Food, while I love it, isn’t put into my forethought. I’m not planning healthy meals, it’s just easier to pick something up. Snack on something convenient rather than healthy. I’d rather just eat the darn thing without feeling the guilt of what it’s doing to my body. I find myself justifying things. Like, I work so hard, dealing with the kids, the house, everything all day, that I DESERVE to treat myself. Which is true. To an extent. I need to make an honest accounting of my actions. And do what I KNOW I should.

I’m going to choose ME. My healthy version of myself. The girl whose body I was proud of at one point. Gotta get back to that. And the "fat pants" that I’m now busting out of will serve as a reminder of that until they’re no longer too tight. I WILL NOT go buy myself new clothes until I’ve at least given several weeks of good effort to be a better girl. And I’m sure when I do go shopping, I’ll be much happier with the way the trim body looks in WHATEVER I try on than the "softer" one does. I put this up here to make myself accountable. To put this into my consciousness. I’m making a choice. Me first. Today.

May 24, 2005 - 3:37 pm stacy benintendi - good for you shannon. take care of you and feel good about yourself, it's so important.

May 24, 2005 - 4:09 pm miley - may the force be with you shannon..I feel your pain...you can do it! miley

May 24, 2005 - 5:18 pm Shelley R. - This is a tough one! Eating right. I have to, or at least I have to try, or my body screams back at me with my health issues. BUT today was a bad day, poutine from Burger King, then peanut butter choc. chips tonight. It is rough, tomorrow I will do better and so will you! Hang in there and you can do it.

May 24, 2005 - 5:28 pm Melissa - Shannon - I hear you! I decided about a year or so ago that I just needed to get myself back into shape. It is the habit of it, kwim? Once you get on the wagon, you don't want to fall off again. Cheers to you - and good luck!

May 24, 2005 - 5:51 pm Molly - Wow. You go! You have inspired me more then anyone could! I have the same excuses. That I like what I eat, drink, etc. But then I look at my body and can not stand what it looks like! Ugh! I am doing it!!! I am losing this weight!

May 24, 2005 - 6:46 pm Jen - i am so feeling you!! i've been struggling with those same feelings....so more power to you!!

May 24, 2005 - 6:58 pm laurie b. - I think you look great! But I feel your pain -- go you! :o) p.s. I love your site.

May 25, 2005 - 12:56 am christinew - Well now you tell me that the Oreo diet doesn't work! I have been giving it my best effort. Great post. Something I needed to read. Something I need to deal with. Thanks for sharing this part of yourself.

May 25, 2005 - 4:55 am Joanna - Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you just stop breastfeeding - or are going to soon? Your body is probably still holding on to some of that reserve fat. I'm glad you're choosing YOU, though!! : ) Go Shannon!

May 25, 2005 - 7:06 am Wendy - Hi Shannon, It's difficult taking care of ourselves when there are so many emotional demands. My dh and I are now doing a little of a low carb diet, I don't look bad people say, but I feel a bit of blubber around the buttocks. I do a few of Denise Austins exercises - wow and ouch ... lol. I am considering joining her online 'club' too. Check it out - she even allows you to have Ice Cream with chocolate sauce on it. www.deniseaustin.com. Hope you have a wonderful day and take care of YOU today.

May 25, 2005 - 7:16 am heidi - i feel your pain...that is why i went public on 2peas, and started the 2peas diet a couple weeks ago and dedicated my blog to the diet for 5 weeks...i felt that if i did that, it would motivate me to work harder since everyone knows that I am SUPPOSED to...great post!

May 25, 2005 - 9:57 am nichole - you go girl!!! right there with ya chickie! all the best, even tho i think you are adoarble just as you are...but i know how it is! :) hehe!

May 25, 2005 - 9:58 am hilary - Um... go rip-up your yard. That'll burn some calories. At least it's what I hear. Hilary

May 25, 2005 - 10:00 am Erica - Boy can I feel ya girlfriend! I'm in the same boat...My biggest problem is that one of these boys has me in the kitchen 15 times a day and I'm compelled to grab something for myself each and every time :p I wish you luck chica!

May 25, 2005 - 11:39 am missy s - gosh i feel the same way...but with only 2 kids..i have been going to the gym but not eating good at all..thinking of joining WW again..not sure though b/c i am short and i am the weight most would love to be but it is FAT for me! that makes it hard. good luck!

May 25, 2005 - 11:56 am maureen - I *so* know what you are talking about! I am working on it...but it will be a loooooooong process :P You look amazing from the pictures I see....and inside...you totally rock so don't forget that ;)

May 25, 2005 - 12:06 pm Amy - oh shannon...i can stand next to ya and make you feel better... ;) i totally know what you mean...i hate feeling all sluggish..which i do when i'm lazy & my clothes don't fit. good luck gettin' back on track!

May 25, 2005 - 12:26 pm Tia - oh, boy. BIG ditto. *sigh*

May 25, 2005 - 1:01 pm Shelby - I totally know what you mean, and cannot even say that I am hanging on to baby weight ;) I am happy for you....something I need to do too!

May 25, 2005 - 1:03 pm AmyG - good for you Shannon. I find myself in the "I deserve it" thinking a lot...and I don't like where it's gotten me. Good luck!

May 25, 2005 - 3:15 pm Holli - Tell me about it! I just went swimsuit shopping. Talk about depressing...but motivating! Should have started 3-4 months ago. Just started jogging on Monday. I'm going to work off your inspiration. Thanks!

May 25, 2005 - 3:16 pm Holli - Tell me about it! I just went swimsuit shopping. Talk about depressing...but motivating! Should have started 3-4 months ago. Just started jogging on Monday. I'm going to work off your inspiration. Thanks!

May 25, 2005 - 4:35 pm candi - yep..>I am with you...need to do the same...UGH...I hate gaining weight!!

May 25, 2005 - 7:12 pm stephanie thiel - oooooooh! I hear ya sister! I don't ever want to be 'dancer thin' again, especially at my age...but this extra baggage is really starting to take its' toll. I'm such a SLUG!! I love Weight Watchers...it worked very well in the past, but I might think about Jenny Craig if it's not too expensive. I just don't want to sit through any meetings (and DO NOT want to take the kids with me!) I also joined the Y (now I just have to haul my hiney over there! Good luck!

May 26, 2005 - 1:53 pm Cheryl - go shannon!!! you can do it!!! :)

May 27, 2005 - 1:17 pm Cosy - Good luck! I feel the same way! You can do it!

Say hello to my little friends…

The banner. We took these cupcakes to Matthew’s class on his birthday. I’m such a good mom. :)

May 23, 2005 - 5:20 pm marygrace - Yes you are! Those are so sweet!

May 23, 2005 - 5:26 pm hilary - When was Matthew's birthday? How did I miss this? WHERE do you get the time to make SUCH CUTE CUPY-CAKES. Mmmmm, cupy-cakes....

May 23, 2005 - 5:27 pm Jessi - Yes you are! Wanna be my mom? I'll give you my address............ :) LOL!!! You need to tell me when you are going to be in Utah too - if you have time, we should get together! :)

May 23, 2005 - 5:42 pm AmyG - super cute!!!

May 23, 2005 - 6:31 pm maureen - Adorable Shannon...you are a great mom :)

May 23, 2005 - 7:48 pm teri fode - SOOOOO adorable!!! You *are* a good mom...I usually just *buy* mine :) These would make a GREAT scrapbook page! T.

May 23, 2005 - 7:50 pm Heather - Those are SO cute! You good mommy you!!! ;)

May 24, 2005 - 10:18 am Becky - Those are way cute! You are a good mommy!

May 24, 2005 - 10:44 am Melissa - Those are way too cute - my kids would LOVE them!

May 24, 2005 - 10:48 am Julia - he he... very cute! :)

May 24, 2005 - 10:56 am Shelley R. - Shannon you are a good mum. And those cupcakes are adorable. Great job! Shel

May 24, 2005 - 11:23 am Carrie Owens - you are a good mom...cupcakes or not :) love these - so cute!

May 24, 2005 - 12:13 pm Cheryl - yum! you ARE a good mom, dude. i don't think i would have the patience to create those just to watch them get smeared all over a million little faces... i love them...:)

May 24, 2005 - 12:19 pm Heather - Yes you are! Cracking up at your title!

May 24, 2005 - 1:59 pm Carrie - You ARE a good mom! :) Those are too cute.

May 27, 2005 - 1:23 pm Jackie - You are a FABULOUS mom! Those are adorable! I bet they were such a hit!

Check it out

20minute Coming soon to a supermarket checkstand near you… My Matthew on the cover! That was a pretty fun surprise. I was asked to work on this project last October (I think). I was pretty flattered, they chose only 3 designers. Me, Lindsay Teague, and Jennifer Bourgeault. I was a little worried to do it because this was their first publication, I was worried it wouldn’t be good. Well, it was a risk. Oh well. I guess it’s worth the 3.99 asking price… Go check it out…

My main reason for taking on this project was hoping that I could reach an audience outside the scrap world. If I can inspire someone to start scrapping and ENJOYING it, then this will be a success. I figured the supermarket checkout was such a promising a location to reach "regular" people and it was worth the risk. Hopefully even though I doubt real scrappers are likely to get very excited by this book, maybe a couple ladies might pick the book up, see what they like and decide to try it out. That was my whole point with this.

**eta** The delight and surprise on Matthew’s face when he saw himself on the cover was great. His eyes bugged out, a big "whoaaaa…", big smile…and quoted Mike Wozowski (Monsters Inc) "I’m on a MAGAZINE!"….that was fun.

May 22, 2005 - 8:24 am hilary - that's GRRRRR-EAT! Who cares what stuff looks like, Matthew's a cover boy!

May 22, 2005 - 8:28 am maureen - Congrats though :) To you and Matthew!!

May 22, 2005 - 9:20 am Tina - How cool is that. You will win many people over to the SB world with your amazing stuff!!!

May 22, 2005 - 9:59 am Julie - Very cool, Shannon! Now dish about your new banner!!! Those froggy cupcakes are sooo cute :) Yum, yum!

May 22, 2005 - 10:33 am Joanna - Ooh, how awesome, Shannon!!! So cool!! Now I have a reason to go to the grocery store (just don't tell my husband!)

May 22, 2005 - 1:06 pm Joanna - By the way, I just saw an idea for green frog cupcakes in the lastest Parenting...is that what you have up there for your banner now?

May 22, 2005 - 1:47 pm Michelle Adams - Cool!!! I'm on the look out for it!

May 22, 2005 - 3:31 pm kent - Cool!! What a neat cover. I can't wait to see it live. Did you post the layouts you did at the crop yet? I am trying to finish up mine. Great blog entires - loved the Franklin one - he's got his mother's wit.

May 22, 2005 - 3:58 pm Melissa - Very cool! I will definitely give it a look - and a HUGE CONGRATS to Matthew!

May 22, 2005 - 4:13 pm HelenThura - congrats!!!

May 22, 2005 - 5:08 pm Lisa BC - What a cute layout! No wonder Matthew is so proud to be on the cover. :)

May 22, 2005 - 7:32 pm Molly - How awesome is that, Shannon! You go girl! I will HAVE to get this as you know it is right up my alley!

May 22, 2005 - 10:58 pm stacy benintendi - shannon, i am so excited for you. matthew is such a CUTE boy.

May 23, 2005 - 12:03 am christinew - so cool!! Congratulations! That is a great layout on the cover.

May 23, 2005 - 9:30 am Heather - CONGRATS, Shannon!!!! PS - that banner photo rocks!!! I wanna make some!!

May 23, 2005 - 9:30 am Kate - I saw this yesterday at Superstore- totally cool!!! So much shannon in one little book- how cool is that?? Had to snap it up!

May 23, 2005 - 9:48 am Shelley R. - What fun Shannon! Congrats girl. It is for sure worth it. And people will love your work! Shel

May 23, 2005 - 10:49 am Lisa Damrosch - WOWEEE!! That is super cool Shannon! Congrats to you! I have to hit a store soon...the cupboards are bare over here...I am adding this to my list! CONGRATS again..... Lisa

May 23, 2005 - 10:52 am melanie - i did in fact see this! kudos to you, shannon! :)

May 23, 2005 - 7:49 pm Heather - That is awesome Shannon!!! ;) Congrats!

May 23, 2005 - 8:55 pm Cosy - That's so cool! Congratulations!

May 23, 2005 - 8:55 pm Sonia - So cool! Congratulations! He is adorable!

May 23, 2005 - 11:34 pm stephanie thiel - How very cool Shannon! My husband and I were talking the other day about the scrapbook mag. covers and how funny it is to recognize the CHILDREN of all the scrappers! Beautiful cover...beautiful child! Congrats! ps I could spot the Burniston twins a mile away!!

May 24, 2005 - 5:47 am Jessi - So cool!!!!! Congrats! :)

May 24, 2005 - 12:15 pm Cheryl - WOOOHOOO! congrats!!! that's pretty awesome! can't wait to check it out! :)

May 24, 2005 - 12:41 pm srmc - How cool and exciting he is on the cover. Congrats to both of you.

May 24, 2005 - 1:00 pm Susan - Congrats to you and your cover boy! YAAAY!!

May 25, 2005 - 10:22 am Lindsay Teague - yay! I'm glad it's finally out! Congrats on that cover girl!!! :) Lindsay

May 27, 2005 - 1:21 pm Jackie - Congrats Shannon! I can't wait to see this!

June 3, 2005 - 3:07 pm Michelle Adams - OK - I got it! Looks good... tonight's reading!

June 23, 2005 - 8:42 am Waynette - Any idea as to where I could find this? I've been looking for it everywhere. Thanks, Waynette

I’m in LOVE

Windex_1  Can I just say how much I love these things? Thank you windex for keeping my kids busy for the last half hour, CLEANING!!! They loved it, I loved it. I love how they’re perfectly wet enough, but not too wet. Not going to ruin the tv or computer or anything…I used to give them the bottle and we’d get 10 squirts for one wipe and it was a dreadful disaster. THIS….Heaven.

And yes, it’s come to this. This is all I have to say on this fine day. I’m sooo boring….. :)

(And, yeah, windex, pay me later for the commercial. I’ll take free product…)

May 21, 2005 - 1:56 pm Vicki O - lol! why do we even buy toys for our kids. it's usually the most ordinary things that entertain them. i've never tried the windex wipes. i may have to get some.

May 21, 2005 - 2:23 pm chris - I wish I was the first to have thought of it - putting cleaning products into wipes. I wonder if some mom thought that up. I mean after using baby wipes all these years on the kids. Still keep those around - there good for cleaning up sticky hands and faces and wiping up mess when we are out and about. We are total wipes advocates - Pledge Wipes - clorox wipes - leather wipes for the car and now they have Windex? I guess I will be buying those too. Yup - those people at Windex should cut you a percentage - you've sold me!

May 21, 2005 - 5:39 pm Becky - You know what, I love those things, too! I just discovered them not too long ago. I like the ones for wood furniture dusting, too, not to mention the onse for leather wiping.

May 21, 2005 - 6:34 pm Kate - Oooooooooooooh never ussed those before- mUST get some- Mack would be in window cleaning heaven!!!

May 22, 2005 - 6:50 am Melissa - This is an amazing product. Never thought to let my kids wild with them. Hmmmm......

May 22, 2005 - 3:26 pm Shawn - Oh gonna put those on my list for sure. Have you tried the wonderful Mr. Clean Magic Erasers? My kids love those too....My daughter just starts cleaning for a long bit...I just let her...ahhhh...hope these companies keep coming up with fun cleaning products...us Moms will be able to sit back and let them clean everything LOL I WISH!

Feelin’ Croppy

Couldn’t help the stupid pun for the title. :) Ok…so I’m going to a crop today. My second ever, the first being before I really got into scrapbooking. I took pretty much everything I owned, which wasn’t much. Well, now I’m REALLY into scrapbooking, and have PILES of stuff. I’m sure there’s stuff I can leave home. I just don’t even know what to do! It should be fun, though, I hope. I really do need to get out once in a while…Into the REAL world… Anyway, I’m thinking of bringing the bare minimum and buying most of my paper and stuff there. Or should i work on a mini-album? I should’ve started thinking about this earlier… Any advice from "croppers"?

May 20, 2005 - 9:05 am AmyG - I am not a good "Cropper" I have to have all my stuff...i wouldn't even know what to bring or leave home. I'm not much help...sorry!

May 20, 2005 - 9:55 am Shelley R. - Hey you! Wow, aren't you brave! I have done one crop, a weekend crop. It was nice and yes... I brought way too much stuff. Like the idea of a mini album... or preplan a page kind of quick, papers, embellishments and put it in a bag and challenge yourself on doing a page with it! Have fun!

May 20, 2005 - 10:12 am Chris - Not an avid store cropper but I do go to private crops (me and my friends who scrap just rotate hosting). I find that preplanning works best so I only lug what I need to - those darned supplies are heavy! LOL. The one time I did go to a crop the "I will buy it when i Get there" strategy failed miserably and I didn't get anything done and didn't enjoy myself. One thing I do love about crops though is that they DO get you out and about. With 4 kids, I find it hard to get out there - but when I do hanging out and chatting with gals who love this hobby as much as I do is like chicken soup for the soul. That is one of the reasons my friends and I formed a standing every other night get-together. Almost all of us in our group have 4 kids and are quite busy with their activities, church service, and what-not so every 2 weeks when we get-together we savor what we call "our little mommy break". Take care and have fun!

May 20, 2005 - 10:28 am Chris - I meant to say standing every other week get-together. I guess that is what happens when you are trying to motivate your 3yr old to clean up his cars, blog-reading in between laundry loads,and talking on the phone. I guess I was subconciously thinking every other night LOL.

May 20, 2005 - 12:58 pm hilary - Umm... brownies?

May 20, 2005 - 2:34 pm Vicki O - I've only been to two crops in my life and I didn't do too well. I just have to have all my stuff because I never know where my ideas will turn. I'm not a page preplanner. Hope you have a grand time!

May 20, 2005 - 4:43 pm maureen - only that I go through this every time I go to a crop! have fun :)

May 21, 2005 - 10:04 am Lisa BC - Have a great time! I never get as much done at a crop as I do at home. I'm too chatty and I never pack the right stuff. :)

May 21, 2005 - 1:05 pm Amy - Good luck, chickie! I hate crops for that very reason...I can never narrow down what I want to take! And even if I do get it down to a reasonable amount, I spend a boatload at the store because I'm such a random scrapper. Have fun, though!! ;)

They make me more me

I haven’t jumped on the ipod bandwagon. I’m tempted because they’re so cute, but since having kids I haven’t been listening to much music. I really enjoy silence when I can get it. But yesterday I was cleaning out the car and found a CD I was supposed to have turned into the library that had fallen under the seat. It was the Indigo Girls. Their new album. Now…these girls are pretty much the complete opposite of me. Yin and Yang, we are. Night and day, hot and cold, whatever you want to call it.

My gosh…it was like finding a long lost love that I hadn’t thought about in a while. I forgot how perfectly their music goes with me. Just in the right range, beautiful harmony, fun…I fell in love with their music just out of high school. I think part of my sentimental love for them is because it speaks FREEDOM to me. I was really coming into my own, and they were always in the background. They were with me on roadtrips with my sister and my girlfriends. They were with me as I was falling in love with my husband. They were with me as I was becoming a woman. My own woman. Screaming with them at the top of my lungs. While they were singing to their lesbian lovers, I was singing to the guy at my side (or in my mind).  I can’t even pick one as a for sure favorite. Do yourself a favor and just listen to the samples on amazon of their Retrospective CD. Or for the real deal, I was listening to Rites of Passage during my own rite of passage. Good stuff (except these samples are just too short). A few of the songs just take my breath away.

If you could turn up the volume in my brain, it would sound a lot like that. Some angry, some nice, some mellow, in just the right key and just….cool. They just make me feel more me somehow. I can’t even describe it. But wow. How did I go so long without listening to my OWN soundtrack! Maybe I DO need an ipod, they are WAY better than silence. 

May 18, 2005 - 3:46 pm hilary - Are you sure? Silence is awful nice sometimes... although, it's been so long since I've heard it...

May 18, 2005 - 5:14 pm Tracy - I'm a huge Indigo Girls fan...although I don't have any of their new stuff. And my politics aren't that far off from theirs :) Not so militant and more accepting of others though :) Anyway, you definitely need an ipod. You can put your kids music it on it too :) And we do audiobooks - the girls love to listen on car rides. I listen while I scrub toilets. You NEED it. Really. Trust me :)

May 18, 2005 - 7:15 pm stacy benintendi - super weird that you would bring them up today of all days. i was checking to see if you had posted anything earlier and i noticed that you had indigo girls as one of the tunes you love. i was going to email you after i saw that to tell you that i am sooooo in love with them (not in the way they might be in love with me) i have been listening to them for about twelve years. one of our (jeff and mine) favorite songs that totally defined our engagement was "power of two" and so many of their other songs. (mystery, closer to fine, dead mans hill, secure yourself to heaven, thats one that my sister and i love to sing together) they have also touched my life through their great harmonies. love....love....love them

May 18, 2005 - 8:37 pm Shawn - Listen to them often. Have been lucky enough to see them in concert (small venues) and most of their CDs. Just recently downloaded some of my favs on to my new IPOD. I agree...there is something fine, familiar and heartwarming to their songs for women. Gotta love it.

May 18, 2005 - 10:30 pm Kathi - Hey Shannon - just checkin' in to see what you were up to today. Glad you found a fun cd. I kept waiting for you to say something about a late fee. I'm definately pumped up about listening to some Indigo Girls (had no idea they were lesbians) Are you going to the library tomorrow? Back to my movie....

May 19, 2005 - 10:48 am Shelley R. - Ok I am all over this! thanks for the tip girl and I likely know their songs but I am horrible with names of bands.... don't ask me who sings who? Doh! I want an ipod to! But silence is good sometimes!

May 19, 2005 - 11:06 am Rhonna - lol...yea, totally with ya... for years I listened to all of my kids stuff...very rarely bustin' out any tunes of my own... now that the kids are older, we all enjoy my 'old' music together...it's fun! my dh has an ipod & i'm coveting it... he's a sweetie & has made me my own 'soundtrack' o' all my faves, & put it on my 'puter so I can listen to it as I 'm 'computin'... yes...btw...to answer your question from my blog...I DID go on a mission to Japan!:) you?

May 19, 2005 - 1:51 pm emily ruth - thanks for the IG tribute...now i have 'galileo' in my head...love it...thanks...

May 19, 2005 - 3:42 pm Molly - I am in LOVE with them too. Got VERY lucky to see them in concert and they rocked!!! I have almost all of their albums and now can download most of their songs onto my MP3 player. They rock my world!

May 19, 2005 - 8:20 pm Lara - I just had to post a quick comment. Your pages rock. I scraplifted one of your LOs (Almost One) - loved the idea of three columns of paper. Take care, Lara .................................... Lara Montano Garage Girl for Bay Area Scrappers www.bayareascrappers.com

May 20, 2005 - 9:49 am Shelby - never really listened to them much when I first knew who they were, I just picked up a used copy of one of their cd's at the swap meet a few weeks ago and oh...my...goodness...what did I ever do without their music? wow!

May 20, 2005 - 1:13 pm Melissa - I love the Indigo Girls!!!! Totally college music for me!!!! You reminded me to dig out some of my cds... if I can find them!

May 24, 2005 - 12:50 pm srmc - I love the Indigo Girls too. Only have the older albums from the late 80's/90's. They are on cassette and album though so they don't get listened too and dh only has the CD player hooked up. Thanks for the post. I will have to go and check out their new stuff.

What the….?!

How’d the baby get a hold of the blog?! I’m doomed. I really wish he hadn’t exposed me like that. I tell you, it’s the animals running the zoo around here. We’ve completely lost control. :)

May 17, 2005 - 9:59 am Molly - ROFLMBO!

May 17, 2005 - 10:20 am denise - Don't you mean "the lunatics have taken over the asylum?" Hee. And "lol" at "what the?" That's my kids' expression of choice these days...luckily they have no idea other words typically follow the "the." :)

May 17, 2005 - 10:47 am christinew - You sure ought to be proud though. What a well spoken/typed baby you have.

May 17, 2005 - 1:12 pm Erica - lol! don't you know how to password protect?? come on Shannon, you're a smart girl!

May 17, 2005 - 5:32 pm Becky - Shannon you are too funny! Of course I'm now feeling terrible as a mom...my kids couldn't type like that at that age! ;)

May 17, 2005 - 7:55 pm april - oh my gosh! that entry totally cracked me up. i hadnt checked in on you in a couple of days. sorry I missed all the "fun"! ;)

May 18, 2005 - 8:57 am AmyG - haha! Love the new banner picture.

May 18, 2005 - 10:01 am Rhonna - lol...shan..you are making me laugh so hard..these blog entries are priceless! you GOTTA print these out & keep them in your journal..or do a sb page with this.. it's hilarious! love ya girl...thanks for giving me a good laugh! xox

the TRUTH

Img_1659s It’s about high time I busted onto this blog thing and let you all know what’s really going on around here. It’s torture. A concentration camp, I tell you. So the warden tells you how cute I am that I can open the lid to the toilet. Yeah…I’m ONE….should she be letting me do that? NO!!! And get this…not only did I open it, I did it while she was distracted and she didn’t catch me until it was TOO LATE… I pulled out a huge wad of toilet paper (thanks to Matthew for leaving that…and if MATT was leaving toilet paper, you know what else was there) and stuck my hands in my mouth too. And then spent plenty of time throwing up for the next four days. How was I supposed to know? And the warden, even though she’s supposed to only give me stuff like apples and bananas, let me eat SHREDDED WHEAT yesterday! Can you believe it? Of course I threw it up. In the car. Teach her a lesson.

Ok…so today….today was really bad. The doctor TOLD her not to give me milk, even breastmilk, because of my poor little tummy due to my aforementioned antics…well…I woke up early and she decided to give me milk anyway. Anything to let HER sleep. Even sacrifice my poor tummy. Well, I did go back to sleep, so she thought she was pretty smart. I showed her by throwing up later. THEN, during my bath, she poured water straight on my head, into my eyes, I couldn’t breathe…I was so mad. Now that was just mean. And THEN…for my nap. I told her I didn’t want to go, but she thinks she knows better so she put me in my crib anyway. I cried for a little while and then just gave up and fell asleep. I was perfectly comfortable folded in half, my head laying on my legs, but because SHE can’t sleep like that she thought I wouldn’t want to, and WOKE ME UP trying to lay me down flat. Isn’t it torture to deprive someone of their sleep? Cruel and unusual, I tell you. And then she thought I’d stop crying and go back to sleep, but I was so mad there was NO way… This lady is so thick sometimes… she let me cry some more while she took a shower. She was actually SURPRISED I was still awake when she got out. Thick, that one…

And THEN…She was trying to get all fancy for church and actually busted out the curling iron. Well, I hadn’t seen that before, and since it was on the back of the toilet (my favorite place and only place in the bathroom that didn’t have toothpaste on it…there are no counters in there) I had to check it out. MAN that sucker’s hot!!! It burned my hand, what an awful surprise. Totally her fault and I’m totally mad at her. She tried to make me feel better, but it was pretty bad. It stings.

If that wasn’t enough she sent me to the nursery at church so she could teach her lesson. I was at the mercy of the big kids…I’m not supposed to be in there for another six months… Scary. I put on a brave face though and pretended like I didn’t care that she’d left. Actually, after the day we’ve had, I was kind of glad to get a break from her. FINALLY…finally….after all that, on the way home from church I was able to get some decent sleep. The rigors they run me through here…I’m only one…I’m just not up to it. Hopefully, the warden will see the light and take it easy on me!! Here’s hoping tomorrow’s better…I just couldn’t go on letting you all think my life was easy and it was all about being cute. I had to blow the whistle on how things REALLY are around here… Signed, Franklin.

May 15, 2005 - 7:13 pm AmyG - lol - this is so original Shannon. PLEASE use this for some journaling on a layout. Hope tomorrow is better for you and the warden, Franklin!

May 15, 2005 - 7:27 pm Joanna - Oh, Shannon, what a day, what a day!!!

May 15, 2005 - 7:31 pm Chris - Oh my Franklin - so sorry you had such a hard day little guy! At least you got a break in the nursery! Here is hoping that tomorrow goes better for you and the warden.

May 15, 2005 - 8:31 pm Julie/Hoolie - That is one of the funniest blog entries I have ever read. Really, I am laughing with you, not at you. Made me feel like my crummy week was not so crummy after all. I hope you feel better Franklin. Julie

May 15, 2005 - 8:48 pm Cheryl - HAHHAHAHAHHAHA!!!! poor kid! sounds like mommy might have had a rough few days lately, too? :) totally cracked me up...:)

May 15, 2005 - 8:49 pm Rachel - This is too funny Shannon! I so feel your pain. um. i meant Franklin's ;)

May 15, 2005 - 9:20 pm stacy benintendi - that is hilarious!!!!

May 15, 2005 - 9:21 pm stacy benintendi - my husband said it's HALARIOUS. what did i tell you about the spelling thing? it's just not good.

May 15, 2005 - 11:14 pm Lisa - Remind me to make sure I don't let Todd have access to the computer...I wouldn't want him out-ting me like this! LOL Oh Shannon...and Franklin...I hope things turn around for you this next week!! Hugs Lisa

May 15, 2005 - 11:49 pm teri fode - OMG!!! What an awesome blog entry!!! LOL!!! You HAVE to use this on a scrappin' page...what a riot!!! Poor little guy anyway!!! t.

May 16, 2005 - 3:32 am Wendi Speciale - ROTF. You are an AWESOME WRITER. You had me laughing out loud for REAL. Ahhh, motherhood! Hope you all feel better soon:)

May 16, 2005 - 5:46 am Shelley Rankin - Oh wow girl! Now that is so cute! Franklin, buddy, you hang in there! Your mom (the warden) is a good one, who truly cares about you. Trust her and she will be there for you. And stop with the toilet will ya!!!! MJ found out it really wasn't worth it in the end. What the heck is the facination anyway? Please!!! Hugs Shannon!! Keep breathing lady.

May 16, 2005 - 5:53 am KerryLynne - oh my HECK...girl, you are a riot...:) i SO enjoyed reading this...and PLEASE make it into a page...!

May 16, 2005 - 9:12 am Erica - OK, I'll admit, I found your blog a little while ago but haven't made the time to post (BAD E) but how could I resits F Dawg's hilarious writing?!? You have a GIFT for writing...thank you for sharing your mom with the rest of us ;) Hope your tummy and your hand are better SOON. And lay off the milk wouldja?

May 16, 2005 - 9:13 am emily ruth - that is one of the best blogs EVER....

May 16, 2005 - 9:40 am hilary - STAY WHERE YOU ARE F. I'm CALLING DCF!!!! Poor thing.

May 16, 2005 - 10:04 am Shelby - ahhh...poor Franklin...go easy on the warden though ;)

May 16, 2005 - 10:35 am Julia - Poor Franklin! After 3 kids, you'd think she'd have it straight by now. Try to get some rest little man, but please pop in again at let us know how it's going.

May 16, 2005 - 12:29 pm maureen - Poor Shannon.......errrr, ummmmm, I mean, poor Franklin! so clever!!

May 16, 2005 - 2:31 pm denise - Oh, Franklin. I think you should just bust on out of there. Get in your Exersaucer and rock and roll and find a peaceful place where you can sleep completely folded in half. You deserve it! :) (hee)

May 16, 2005 - 2:47 pm Molly - Oh, Franklin. One day you will be the warden too! (((HUGS))) to both you and mommy!

May 16, 2005 - 2:50 pm Heather - Oh, Shannon!! I'm cracking up and feeling awful for you all at the same time!! Thank you so much for sharing this fun story with us and I hope today is better!

May 16, 2005 - 3:37 pm Christie - This is too funny! I agree that this should go with a LO in your family album! Keep up the good sense of humor!

May 16, 2005 - 8:20 pm Ruth - OMG!! That is too freaking funny!! You are soooo dang clever!!! Too bad that the day has all too much truth in it for me too..... my poor Gracie has been through those days too!

May 16, 2005 - 11:09 pm Diane R - Franklin: I sure hope you are feeling better soon Buddy. Hopefully, you have a sense of humor like your mom and you will look back on this difficult time in your life and will laugh like the rest of us are. Why don't you give your mom a big HUG! It will make you both feel better.

May 16, 2005 - 11:23 pm stephanie thiel - Franklin, There are laws out there about that kind of stuff! I'd keep a close eye on that broad. Women! Hormones! Geeez! You never know what kind of wierd psycho-torture they'll come up with next! Man, if she keeps that up, just poop your pants reallly good,right after they've changed that big boy and snapped the last one...they hate that! I 've got the names of a few good therapists...After all that trauma, you're gonna need one!! :)

May 17, 2005 - 4:13 am Melissa - Oh my... poor Franklin.... this blog had me laughing all the way through..

May 17, 2005 - 5:49 am joy - omg girl that is too much... :)

May 17, 2005 - 10:07 am Tina - Poor guy. Why can I relate to this. We should get him and Thomas together.

May 17, 2005 - 1:48 pm Kate - Aww Franklin you poor guy- mean warden eh? Too funny Shannon- you crack me up girl- you need to print this puppy out and save it!

May 18, 2005 - 1:26 pm srmc - Too funny. Well not so funny for little Franklin. I sure do hope he gets to feeling better soon.

May 19, 2005 - 9:15 am nichole - totally, totally cute, shannon!! love that little Franklin..heehee!! :) here's to a better week, girlie & baby!

May 19, 2005 - 9:27 am nichole - totally, totally cute, shannon!! love that little Franklin..heehee!! :) here's to a better week, girlie & baby!

May 20, 2005 - 12:21 pm Jackie - Franklin- you poor little guy! I am sure that she means well! Hang in there! Shannon- you crack me up! I loved reading this!

May 21, 2005 - 1:33 pm Tia - oh my heck, this is SOOOOOOOO funny! thanks for the chuckle!

May 29, 2005 - 7:37 pm Renee - Ok, this made me just *laugh*!!!

May 29, 2005 - 7:40 pm Renee - Oh, and that picture- just adorable!!!