December 15, 2005
if I could, I’d give every single one of you a new car
I have risen from my sickbed to rejoin the human race–okay, no, there was no sickbed. Are you kidding? With two small children? Although I did go to bed at 5:30 on Monday night, and stayed there until 6:15 Tuesday morning. Ahhhh . . . Anyway, I’m feeling all better, as is Charlie, who rubbed us both with his binkie last night and said, ‘Now our sick is gone!’ Who needs antibiotics? We have Clean Binkit!
The past three days have been about the most boring of my adult life, what with the sick and the lethargic and the contagious. We have watched 2,000 hours of PBS Kids and Playhouse Disney, plus Madagascar three times (maybe it was all the Tylenol, but my god is that a stupid movie! Except for the penguins. The penguins rock). Yesterday I went to SuperTarget to get groceries, and spent the entire trip answering my cell phone, fielding Important Calls from my mother and mother-in-law who wanted to know things like what the thread count of my guest room sheets is and if three-year-old preschools require complete potty training (the answers were 250 and yes). Charlie finally got bored and started piling our cart full of age-inappropriate video games, so we came home. Day over! Time to rest! And take more Tylenol! Hooray!
Today I finally feel like my real self again, which is good because today is officially the Longest Day of the Friday Playdate Holiday Season. Yes, I realize we’re just hours from the Winter Solstice–that’s not what I mean. Wade left for work at 6:30 this morning for a 7:30 meeting; he has an office holiday party tonight at 7:00, so I won’t see him again until Tuesday. Just me and the kids! All day! Except for the two hours that they’re both in school! Fortunately, I am all better, thanks in large part to your fantastic lists of your favorite things (if you haven’t done yours yet, get cracking). I had so much fun reading them, especially through my ibuprophen haze. Thanks for cheering me up!
And now, with no further ado (what the hell does that mean, anyway?) here are a few of my favorite things . . .
Things to Indulge In
Cashmere from J. Crew. Don’t those colors make you happy? And it’s sooooo soooooooft.
Love the J. Crew shoes. All of them. Especially the really really impractical ones.
This turtleneck. Gap has them every year, in fabulous colors. And the best part? By Thanksgving, they’re on sale for half of the original price!
These corduroys from Old Navy. Comfy and machine washable.
From Clinique: this lip balm, which really DOES moisturize! And this lip gloss which is an easy alternative to lipstick (I don’t do well with lipstick, for some reason. Go figure).
Things to Savor
Teas from The Republic of Tea. I am partial to the Vanilla Almond and the Matte Latte, or the British Breakfast for something more conventional.
This chocolate cake.
The Sunday New York Times. Yes, we love to hate it, but really, with a nice pot of coffee on a lazy Sunday, it can’t be beat. At least not in Oklahoma.
Things for the Kids
Playmobil toys. The boys are getting the knight’s castle and the pirate ship for Christmas (and before you start e-mailing to say how expensive these toys are and how spoiled my kids are, there is some wierd thing about the pricing at the Playmobil site–we found these at Target for under $30.00 each. Because I love my sons, but not $150.00 worth of love. I need that money for shoes and cashmere). This favorite thing comes with a disclaimer: Playmobil toys have a lot of small parts. I cannot emphasize this enough. They have a LOT of SMAAAAL parts. Parts that will constantly fall off and go missing, causing your child to cry and forcing you to crawl under the sofa and wonder if you should REMIND the cleaning lady to clean UNDER the furniture because what’s with the dust bunnies and fish crackers living under there (or maybe that’s just me). And these particular toys will require that Wade and I stay up all night Christmas Eve assembling and swearing (and probably drinking, which makes the assembly even harder). But! My boys have had hours of fun with their Playmobil pirates, and I’m all about anything that encourages imaginative play. Whew.
It’s a little cliched, but still: I’m all about the Harry Potter books. They are beautifully written and they teach courage and loyalty and the importance of doing your homework. Henry is getting these books as well this Christmas (although we’re having a bit of a hard time convincing him that there is no real quiddich. Charlie is getting a stuffed Hedwig the Owl (come on, he’s three! And it’s SOOO cute).
Things Money Can’t Buy
baby yawns
the way my kids smell when they have been playing outside
having my back scratched
reading to my children
homemade banana bread (I have a great recipie, my grandmothers–ask nicely and I might share)
my vintage watch collection (three watches, one from each of my grandmothers and the watch my mother wore when I was a child. I love them and wear them all the time)
coffee dates (the kind that last three hours and four cups of coffee)
e-mail from people I wish I could see every day
clean laundry
cocktail hour
And finally, and perhaps most of all, this website and the wonderful people who read and write here. Happy Christmas to all! And I mean it this time.
Posted by Susan @ 6:14 am • Uncategorized
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December 15th, 2005 at 8:26 am, Dawn Says:
Let me second your love of Playmobil. Emily spends HOURS with her playmobil Modern house, Arctic Adventure and soon to be added, “Magical Unicorn Forest” sets. For a girl with ADD and sensory issues, she will immerse herself in these tiny, fine motor building toys. Best money we ever spent.
Have you tried Burt’s Bees Lipbalm? It is my savior in the New England winters.
Welcome back to the world of the living!!
December 15th, 2005 at 8:33 am, Misfit Hausfrau Says:
So glad you are better. Being sick sucks in the winter. And in the summer. Well, it sucks all the time. Carry on.
December 15th, 2005 at 8:42 am, Felicity Says:
You are awesome. I love the way you so thoughtfully broke up your favorites lists.
Also nice new picture of the boyz.
December 15th, 2005 at 9:09 am, Suburban Turmoil Says:
I had no idea there were “actual” Harry Potter schoolbooks for sale. That reminds me of the time we bought Buffy Summers’ yearbook from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” for my stepdaughters. They loved it! You can find just about anything on Amazon.
December 15th, 2005 at 9:15 am, Kristen Says:
That cake recipe looks awesome, and quite manageable,even for a kitchen idiot like me. I also love those Gap turtlenecks - I bought the light pink one this year, and am thinking of going back for a black one now. And I had to LOL about the dust bunnies and crackers under the couch - we always find about three dozen matchbox cars and enough dog hair to make a nice extra couch cushion.
December 15th, 2005 at 9:44 am, Susan Says:
Felicity, you’re so nice to refer to my categories as ‘thoughtful’, as opposed to ‘anal’ or ‘holy hell, woman, you have WAY too much time on your hands.’
Neither of which really describes me, by the way. I’m thoughtful! That’s all!
What?
December 15th, 2005 at 10:55 am, Melynda Says:
Strep is the worst! So glad you are feeling better.
My list:
My Old Navy black trench coat (the best $44 I ever spent)
A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio CD
Hershey’s Limited Edition Mint Chocolate Minatures
The DVR that our cable company gently persuaded us to try out. (very much like TiVO - I’m not sure how I survived before)
December 15th, 2005 at 11:38 am, Chag Says:
God bless PBS Kids! Nothing like watching Barney at midnight with a sick child.
So you’re alone with the kids until Tuesday? Or is that the Tylenol talking? Or am I missing something entirely (which is probably the answer)?
December 15th, 2005 at 12:01 pm, Susan Says:
No, I’m not actually alone with the kids until Tuesday–just until well after bedtime tonight (oh, did I forget to mention that Henry got up at 5:50? and that Charlie woke up sick and STAYED HOME FROM SCHOOL? and that my husband is going to a party tonight, with an open bar? while I stay home with the kids? Yes! Yes! It’s all true!).
So you see, this one day will FEEL like four. Or five! At least.
But no, no weekend alone with the boys for me. Thank god.
December 15th, 2005 at 2:30 pm, ieatcrayonz Says:
Happy Christmas to you and yours. That list totally kicked my tampon list’s ass.
December 15th, 2005 at 4:37 pm, adria Says:
Congratulations on feeling better!
I am so sorry you cannot go the drinking party.
I love the list. I will try the chocolate cake because it sounds so yummy!
December 15th, 2005 at 5:12 pm, marti Says:
I love turtlenecks. And turtlenecks on sale? Priceless.
December 15th, 2005 at 5:20 pm, Laura Says:
I also am glad you are better. (Not bitter, as I originally typed with the band-aid on my finger. Of course, you could be bitter. That is entirely up to you.) Also - penguins always rock.
December 15th, 2005 at 5:56 pm, Susan Says:
I’m totally bitter, Laura, but I find that the lovely turtleneck and the soft corduroys hide it well.
As does the cocktail hour. Bottoms up!
December 15th, 2005 at 7:12 pm, The June Cleaver Diaries Says:
Please stop shopping for me. Really. I’m broke.
And I’ll be going to Old Navy AND JCrew tomorrow. Husband will be with me, wincing at every purchase, as usual.
December 15th, 2005 at 7:45 pm, Susan Says:
SNMartha, may I also recommend, at Old Navy, the puffy down coats? It’s like wearing your duvet outside! Which is good for your mental health, yes? Okay, well, it’s good for mine.
December 15th, 2005 at 8:34 pm, Mary P. Says:
Playmobil!!! We LOVE the stuff. Started buying it when my kids were little. We had three of the castles: two square and the round turret, and a TON of their little men. Did you know that you can pry their hair off with your teeth, and then you have all these hollow-head knights kicking around the house? My eldest does. Discovered it when she was three. And then you can fill their tiny heads with playdough, which dries hard as concrete and never comes out and the wigs can’t fit back on!! Ever again! And then their wigs can join the tiny swords and shields to fight off the dustballs and the goldfish crackers under the couch!!
Or you can buy the playmobil dollhouse furniture. Make sure you get the bathroom furnishings, so that Charlie can take some pet kibble (you DO have a pet, don’t you?) and drop them in the toilet and say the playmobil guy is pooping! Every three-year-old LOVES to do that. Their lives would be impoverished without kibble poop in playmobil toilets. My son’s would have been, anyway.
And now he’s sixteen! And he keeps TWO stuffed toys (very discreetly) in his room. Isn’t that sweet? And he uses the toilet all by himself!! And even sometimes showers without being told!!
Playmobil is a Good Thing.
December 15th, 2005 at 8:53 pm, Susan Says:
Jesus Christ you’re funny, Mary P! Charlie and I like to randomly change the little pirate’s wigs, although this often causes Henry to flip his own little wig.
Oh my god, I’m still laughing. Pet kibble! So very funny!
December 15th, 2005 at 9:55 pm, Susie Says:
Susan, I played today. I’ve been trapped under something heavy (my sinuses) and not able to visit. But SO LOVED your list that I made my own. Thanks for the inspiration - as always. You are one of my favorite blogs!
December 15th, 2005 at 9:55 pm, sarcastic journalist Says:
Oh look at you, bragging about nonmaternity clothes and tempting me with cake.
You are a bad, bad person.
December 16th, 2005 at 8:11 am, Susan Says:
SJ, isn’t that what Christmas is all about–taunting the pregnant woman?
Ho ho ho! Make the cake–it’s delicious.
December 16th, 2005 at 8:41 am, Candace Says:
Damn that Kinja and its “maintenance” and the making me miss new posts.
Anyway, good lists! Playmobil ROCKS. The kids are getting an add-on to the zoo and Sophie is branching out to the Playmobil Magic line–all fairies and unicorns and princesses. And pink. Lots and lots of pink.
Glad you’re feeling better.
December 16th, 2005 at 3:18 pm, Jenorama Says:
I LOVE Playmobile. My kids have moved on now to Bionicles and Sam is getting Lego Mindforms this year!!! But we still have the Playmobile toys– including the toddler additions we started with.