![]() Today, my daughter has been learning a valuable lesson about the perils of procrastination. She has a big class project due tomorrow that was assigned almost a month ago. Her chosen assignment (there was a list of ideas to choose from) is to rewrite a novel her class has been reading as though it is a picture book for younger children, complete with simplified language and illustrations. There needs to be at least eight different major events from the novel. She finally started to work on it yesterday. To say that there have been a lot of tears at my house over the last two days? Well, that would be a drastic understatement. Procrastination wasn't something I ever struggled with as a student, but I find myself putting off all kinds of things as an adult. I really need to schedule a colonoscopy, but I somehow keep "forgetting" to do it; I wonder why? I need to organize our family's financial info (account numbers, user names, passwords, etc) so that if something ever happens to me or my husband the other can find it all easily; that's not something I want to think about for obvious reasons. Along those same lines, I need to get all our tax documents together - that deadline seems far away, but it's really not. I'd like to set a better example for my kids by doing all these things I've been avoiding, but can I start tomorrow? At least we're making progress - a few minutes ago, I needed to write in my blog. And that smiling photo? That's my kid when she finally finished her project. Baby steps...
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![]() This is a photo of the Valentine's card I bought my husband, and it can tell you a lot about our relationship. We are snarky and silly together, and we bicker like crazy. He is my best friend, and I know he always has my back even when he thinks I'm being crazy. He challenges me to be better - sometimes, I hate this (like the time we were on a long bike ride and he jumped off his bike off and ran next to me while laughing at me for being tired and slow), but I know it is because he knows I can take it. He is a rock star in his own right (literally - he was in a rock band, playing all over NYC when we met); I joke that I fell for him because he was straight and employed and had health insurance (I was in musical theater at the time - most of my dates were gay and/or had no job), but there are so many more reasons. He is a phenomenal dad, he does the dishes without being nagged, and he puts up with me - I am fortunate beyond words that we found each other. We don't usually celebrate Valentine's Day. We actually met the following week, so we picked that day instead (much easier and cheaper to find a babysitter and get a restaurant reservation!). This year, though, we happen to have theater tickets to Book of Mormon - a show that is snarky, irreverent, yet sentimental and sweet at heart. That sounds just about perfect for us - I love you, babe! ![]() A few days ago, my husband asked me a question - if I could have one wish come true, what would it be? True to form, I replied that I would really need two wishes... My off-the-cuff, flip, sarcastic first wish was infinite wealth - not because I want to be filthy rich (although it would be nice!), but because of all the worries that would be solved by never needing to worry about money. I like to think that with that kind of money I would be more like Bill and Melinda Gates than Paris Hilton, but I'm pretty sure some shopping would be going on at some point. My real answer, though - the one thing that would bring me the most joy and peace of mind if it were to come true - was about my kids. If I could have a crystal ball and look years into the future and know that my kids were well, and secure, and loved, and happy - well, I can't imagine anything being better than that. My oldest daughter is on the autism spectrum; what I want more than anything for her is to know that she finds her place in this world where she is accepted and cherished for who she is, quirks and all. My biggest fear as a parent is that the things I do to try and help her learn and grow will be the very things that dampen the things that make her so unique - it's a fine line, and it's one I struggle with every day. My younger daughter doesn't have the same challenges, but she has her own share of drama (she is, after all a girl!), and I worry that they way we parent her is colored too much by how we parent her sister, if that makes any sense. So, my wish would be to know that my kids will be okay. In the meantime, I'll just keep muddling through, hoping I'm helping that wish come true. ![]() I'm always on the lookout for unique gifts for friends, and I like to shop "local" whenever I can. This week, I happened upon a fantastic, locally-owned gift boutique that offers an eclectic mix of crafts, art, jewelry, fun yet sophisticated housewares, bath and body products, and lots more - and they offer crafts classes and parties to boot! It's called made authentic goods, and it's my new go-to shop for gifts! All of made's goods are crafted here in the USA, and many are created by local artists. Check out some of their current inventory in the photos below, and take a look at more on Facebook, too. Of course, it's best to stop in and see made in person - it's located in Stone Creek Village in Cary (NW corner of High House and Davis), around the corner from Cafe Caturra. I think this will be a great place for my next girls' night out... Happy shopping! ** Make sure you try out the hand lotion (pictured above) while you're there - it's been two hours, and my hands still feel - and smell - great!
![]() Are you looking for a grown-up bar? The kind of place where the lighting is so dim you can barely read the drink menu? Where there are no bartenders, but instead mixologists wearing lab coats who concoct drinks from scratch? The kind of a place you have to know about to find - and where the fact that you are "in the know" makes you feel cool and hip and more than a little decadent? I've been there. It's a tiny little place on the border of Chapel Hill and Carrboro called Peccadillo; if you didn't know it existed, well, you wouldn't know it existed. There is no sign out front - just the numbered door in the photo at left. Their website is almost comical in its brevity - just a type-written address, phone number, and the hours of operation (every day from 5-2). It's been in business for a little more than a year, and it's definitely worth a visit. At our mixologist's recommendation, I had a delicious gimlet made with Żubrówka, a bison grass vodka (in keeping with the illicit feel of the place, this vodka only became legal in the US in 2011). A "peccadillo" is defined as a small mistake or fault that is not regarded as very bad or serious - a small sin. Missing out on this Peccadillo? Well, that would be a far greater sin! |