January 28, 2010

hunkered down (but in a very ladylike way)

After three days of juggling a sad, sick kid and gigantic pile of work, I woke this morning to two! healthy! children!

And a severe winter storm. I cannot get a break over here.

(Actually, that’s only half true — Oklahoma City public schools were all closed today, but my kids are at school until after lunch. So I’ve got that going for me.)

I will probably wear these pants all weekend.

We’ve known for days that this storm was coming, but yesterday it was sunny and 65 degrees, which makes it really really hard to actually believe that by tonight we will be totally iced in. And possibly without power! Hooray!

Also, dammit.

I went to the grocery on Tuesday night, and got all provisioned. And then Charlie and I went again yesterday because we were completely out of batteries and candles and half and half.

What?!? It’s an emergency! I need half and half!

Oddly, there wasn’t any half and half to be had, only non-dairy creamer (uh, no) and whipping cream. I went with the whipping cream, figuring I could mix it with milk and make my own half and half. So far, I’ve just been dumping it in my coffee straight. It’s delicious, but if this goes on for too long, I’m going to need a bypass.

(Also, please explain to me why half and half is a storm-related staple. Bread I understand, but half and half? Weird.)

This morning I woke up and realized that a frozen pizza and three loaves of bread were probably not the best food options for the next three days, so I went back to the grocery and got real food (still no half and half! and today no whipping cream, either — weird, I tell you). Of course, in the checkout line I realized that if our power goes out, I have no way to actually prepare any of this food; I would have been better off sticking with the bread and just making pb&j sandwiches.

Wade’s office is closing at noon; he’s going to bring the kids home. We have movies and snacks and hopefully enough alcohol to get through two days of Enforced Family Togetherness (oh who am I kidding, there’s not enough alcohol in the world for that). I’m all cozied up in the cashmere yoga pants I scored from Rita, which are the Best Thing Ever (though when I sit on our mohair sofa, the static charge from the pants could light up most of my neighborhood).

((That could come in handy if the power goes out, now that I think about it …))

January 26, 2010

pretty things

Anthropologie Variegated Rosette Shirt, $78

Old Navy Rosette Tank, $12.50

Lucca Couture Striped Tunic, $28 at Urban Outfitters

GAP (PRODUCT) RED™ watercolor boyfriend T, $28

January 25, 2010

using my inside voice

Charlie is home sick today; he has a hacking cough that seems to get worse any time he gets close to me. You know, like when he climbs into my lap to snuggle or curls up next to me on the sofa. Which is awesome.

I have a huge to-do list, mostly of big project-y things, like take down the Christmas trees (we still have both of ours up! yes really! the one in the playroom is still fully decorated and lit, too, which is just sad) and buy a desk (the front of the drawer in our hand-me-down desk fell completely off this morning, while I was on the phone, so now the Chap Sticks and post it notes are spilling out into my lap while I work) and replace printer ink (since the printer isn’t functioning as a printer at all right now, but only as a scanner, which is fine except for the part where I need to print things, like for work and all).

Sigh.

Porter Collector Desk, Pottery Barn. This desk is going to change my life.

I’ve been feeling fairly introspective recently, which in theory should make it easier to write, but in reality makes it harder, because … well, I’m not sure why.  I have all these things buzzing around in my head, but I can’t bring myself to write about any of them. Sort of like I can’t bring myself to get that damn Christmas tree out of my dining room.

The Christmas tree is driving me crazy. Then again, a lot of things are driving me crazy just now. But only one of them is standing in my living room.

In a few weeks, I’m speaking at Mom 2.0, on a panel titled — ready for this? — Clearing Out Mental Clutter:

So many of us are rocking out on social media, but we are still struggling with managing a crazed schedule and creating a balanced life. News Flash: the world our Mother’s taught us how to be women in, is as ancient as the dinosaurs! Innovation is the name of the game when attempting to clear our schedules and our heads. This panel will discuss topics from time/project management to clutter habits that stand in your way as well as redefining our standards of perfection and acceptance.

I will be talking about how to work a 40 hour week with a lap full of lip balm and Sharpies, apparently.

It’s going to be a great panel. I might show pictures of my Christmas tree.