Best Haircut I Ever Hated

I needed a haircut badly. I had been putting it off because the last time I got it cut the stylist was too busy contemplating how she was going to woo a guy she liked. Seriously. I have this strange power over people that makes them want to tell me their lives story or help them with drama issues. I don’t know why. With friends I like wielding this power because I want to help. Not so much with strangers. I also needed a cut because I have been going on interviews and I should present a professional image and not one of a haggard stay at home mom.

I might as well add that I have gotten maybe five haircuts in my life that I actually liked. And only one of those did I love. Therefore I don’t fret when I get a bad haircut as I know it will grow back.

I am saving money so I went to Empire Beauty School to get my hair cut by a stylist in training. I have gotten my hair dyed at a beauty school and it went well so I thought I would give the cut a chance. They have teachers walking around to assist and critique when needed. My stylist in training was very nice. In fact I wish her all the success in the world. She washed my hair and gave me the best scalp massage I have ever had. She worried if she was being to heavy handed and all I could do was give a reassuring moan that it was just right. As she began cutting my hair she was a lot slower but no worries as I would rather she was slow and precise than fast and cutting the crap out of my hair. About five minutes in and she was just done cutting the lower strip of hair. This was going to be a long process. The teacher came over and wanted to switch with her as there was a little girl who needed an up-do and she wanted my stylist to practice. Bonus for me, I get a teacher. The teacher took up the scissors and hair started flying everywhere. I have never seen some one so quick. There was little time for chit-chat as she finished in less than five minutes. Really and truly the fastest cut ever. So I’m surveying the hair and I have to admit it was exactly what I asked for but about an inch shorter all around. I fear this was more to do with the stylist in training than the teacher. I didn’t need a styling as I was going home and I like to play with my hair after getting it cut anyway.

My quandary with my latest cut is that it is a perfect hair cut. It was done wonderfully. However it looks bad on me. I have washed and styled my hair five times in less than 24 hours. I really am pleased with the cut. It is the best haircut I ever hated. Yes, hated. It doesn’t fit me. But it will grow and I will live. Although if I put on lip plumper I would look like Lisa Rinna. Or maybe just her fat Irish cousin.

Genteel Raising Southern Charm

There are four grocery stores that are near to the home but I frequent Publix 98% of the time. Even when the other stores are having sales. Why? It’s because of their employees. They are helpful and actually go out of their way to help or even just to say hello.

I go shopping with Teagan and Kaitlyn and at times they are tired or just don’t want to be in a store. I have been offered bananas as Kaitlyn whines over and over again “nana, nana.” Every time we go by the bakery I have to vigorously shake my head no, as the Baker’s start reaching for cookies. And last week the Bagger gave both girls coloring books and crayons. I know that corporate Publix wants their employees to offer these things. Not so sure about the bananas but they want to build their customer loyalty with any incentive they can.

Now to the point. My girls love balloons. They prefer helium inflated ones but will take any balloon they are given. On occasion Publix has green balloons bearing their logo and the girls are so happy to get one.

We went to the park and on the way home stopped at Publix. They girls were past tired, hungry and still sweaty which I’m sure was uncomfortable. By the time we reached the checkout they were done. I was going to let Hubby check out as I took the bears to the car when I noticed I knew the cashier. This wouldn’t be abnormal except I went to high school with her and my high school is 448 miles away from where I live now. So the girls sucked it up as I chatted away.

After a pleasant chat it was time to go. Teagan who had been so good even though she was so tired stirred a little. Then she spoke up and said “Excuse me. Can I please have a balloon?” Unfortunately she was pointing to a Mylar balloon. Now of course the answer was no and Teagan took it well. But how sweet and polite is my two year old?!

And oh yeah, I’m taking all the credit for this genteel child being raised with southern charm.

Porcupine Meatballs

Ah the improvised dinner. Lately when I go grocery shopping it is hard for me to focus on what I want to cook or eat for the week. Mind you this is a huge jump from three years ago were I would, no lie, stop by the grocery every day after work to pick out dinner. I’m proud of at least trying to think seven days in advance. Plus with two toddlers I’d go nuts going to the store every day.

So here I am with a pound of ground beef left from the weekly shopping trip and nothing else. No noodles. No bread. No freaking idea what I’m going to do with a pound of meat.

I look at some recipes but nothing really sticks. I thought about meatballs but who wants meatballs without noodles. What could replace noodles? Rice. I look around for a recipe with rice and meat. I find one called Porcupine Meatballs. With a couple of tweaks I came up with this. For a pinch it was rather tasty and the big plus, as always, is the girly-girls ate them. Even the probably-will-be-a-vegetarian-and-I-promise-I-won’t-disown-her-for-it-Teagan ate them.

Porcupine Meatballs
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup chopped onion (I used white, next time I’ll use red)
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
15 ounces tomato sauce
1 cup water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

In a bowl combine the rice, water, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and beef. Mix well. Shape into 1 1/2 inch balls. In a large skillet add oil. Brown meatballs on medium high, rolling around to get even color. Drain oil. Combine tomato sauce, water, brown sugar, and Worcestershire in bowl and mix well. Pour over meatballs. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 1 hour.

I made extra rice to place the meatballs and sauce on. It reduced a lot so not much sauce was left. The picture does not do it justice.

The Beatles Are Dead

We have lost our last goldfish. It’s not a great loss since I really think he was the reason my tank would get dirty so fast. I told Hubby several times that the fish needed to find a new home. I would never kill something intentionally so the fish lasted long past its welcome.

He was one of four goldfish that we originally got with the tank. No one told me that having four goldfish in a tank our size would cause inhabitable conditions. One by one they started to die off until there was only one.

For some reason we decided these four fish were the Beatles. The last one left was Ringo. No real reason he was Ringo, except I like him better than McCartney. Well Ringo being the only one left started to get big. He got huge. Fattest “normal” goldfish I’ve ever seen. So the joke went from tossing him out to frying him up. If he hadn’t had those huge bulging eyes it may have actually happened. Just kidding Hubby doesn’t eat fish.

The point is I think my girls need furry animal friends.

Yesterday I caught them trying to play with the fish in our fish tank. The next day the goldfish is floating. I think someone “pet” him which led to his demise.

Wanted: Mattress Sponsor

I need a mattress sponsor. Any mattress company out there that wants to "donate" a king size mattress to my family needs to give me a call. I promise you, I will rave about your product as the current mattress is not up to task at hand.

You see I’m not a small woman. In fact I’m a rather large woman. I blame my bones. This is normally not an issue. I am happy with myself even though my body isn’t what I’d like it to be. The problem isn’t my girth but my girth in comparison to my bed. Specifically an issue when my bed has been invaded by little bears at midnight who want to stay. The queen mattress will not fit all of us.

I asked Teagan (the one peaking out of the white blanket) “where will Mommy fit?” She pats the square foot between her head and the foot board and says “right here Momma.”

First Real Bear

This is the first real bear on Land of Bears.

We went camping to Vogel State Park. After we finished setting up camp Hubby was going to wipe down when he called me over. As a second thought he add "Leave the girls." Meandering down the road was this little guy. Later on we saw signs that apparently he had been roaming the park for awhile looking for food from lazy campers. He looked to be around two maybe three and not healthy. I'm not sure if he was sick or malnourished.

Now this was Hubby's first bear but it was my second. Therefore my instinct took over and I walked hurriedly after the bear to get a photo. Intelligence stopped me from getting closer so sorry about the photo but if I hadn't been holding my Taco Bell drink cup I probably would have gotten a lot closer. Much to my Husbands dismay. Wouldn't my Mom be so proud! Okay that was complete sarcasm. If you knew my Mother you would be rolling on the floor. We didn't even tell her we saw the bear until after we got back home. She would have been beside herself for days until she got our call.

That was the only time we saw the bear. However I was definitely more on edge than normal. Now I've camped for years and there has always been the caution for bears but I had never spotted one. I was a little neurotic when it came to food smells at camp. We always put our food up and in the vehicles but if the girls got extra messy while eating I even put their clothes in the car. Just being extra careful made me feel a little better but I wish I wasn't a night time pottier because that was stressful.

Poor Meow-Meow

Every child will have their favorite stuffed animal, doll, action figure that they carry with them everywhere. One that will give them comfort when they are upset or shares the bed when they go to sleep. Teagan has had a few toys that have filled this position. When she was a baby she had “bug.” A rattle, crunchy, multicolored, chewing drool catcher. We would not leave the house without bug. For almost 9 months this was her best friend. To the point that once at daycare on a totally inconsolable day the caretaker got Bug out of her car seat. Even though outside toys were strictly forbidden. Kaitlyn has not had such a friend. Her go to item has always been her BiBi. (I’ve mentioned before that BiBi is what the bears call their blankets.) As a baby and now into her toddler years, toys come and go but the only constant for Kaitlyn is BiBi.

Teagan being almost three, moved past bug a long time ago. Like her sister she has a BiBi but no new toy really stuck until her Gammaw and Poppy gave her Meow-Meow. Meow-Meow is a fluffy white animated cat. It was programmed to purr, meow, open and close its eyes, twitch its ears, move its tail and when petted it would actually sit down and after a few seconds would raise itself back up. If you pulled Meow-Meow’s tail it would growl and hiss. It would also do this if you operated a laptop too close to it. Which my Dad (Poppy) and I found hilarious and a fun game.

Meow-Meow is Teagan’s buddy. It sleeps with her every night. Has shared many a car ride and on occasion has been allowed to sit at the table while she eats. Meow-Meow has even gone on family vacations. As I felt that being in a strange environment her friendly pal might bring security. Which she did.

Meow-Meow is almost a year old. This year has been remorseless on Meow-Meow. Imagine being dragged along day in and day out by a careless two year old. One who loves you dearly but does not know how to really take care of you. Teagan has never let me brush her coat as “it hurts.” Teagan has also tossed poor Meow-Meow around so much that three legs are broken and one is sprained. I stopped replacing the batteries since the legs are broken because when it tries to stand up it looks like the cat is going into convulsions and I would rather not etch that image on my child’s memory. Just recently both ears have fallen off the cat’s head. This unfortunate though loved toy is on its last legs. Literally. Yet the loving and playing with has not even begun to wane. I’m not sure how bad Meow-Meow will look when Teagan finally gives her up. But this is her before and after photos currently. The object at Meow-Meow’s feet is an ear. Poor Meow-Meow.