Booze and Blankets and Pens, oh my!

In honor of Oprah's last show, I thought I would create my own list of favorite things.

courtesy of Oprah

I've never actually watched one of her Favorite Things episodes, but it's my understanding that she shares a bunch of products she loves with her audience.  If I had 50 ba-gillion dollars, like Oprah, I would do that to.  Or at least I'd buy everybody a pitcher of Mac & Jacks.  So here goes, my favorite things . . .

Courtesy of Mac & Jacks

Mac & Jack's African Amber is quite possibly the best beer.  Ever.  Love it!  Nectar from the gods!  Brewed in Kirkland, WA, and only available in a limited number of places.  If you can find it, drink it!  If you live near Kirkland, go to the brewery and get a keg or a growler or 2, since it's not available in stores.

Courtesy of Rain or Shine Kids

The Woo Bee all-weather blanket from Rain or Shine Kids is so great!  It's wind-proof and water-proof on one side and then snuggly and fleecy on the other.  So flippin' awesome for a cold weather climate.  It was a splurge, but totally, totally worth it!  It kept the peanut warm and dry, even in very cold temps this winter!

Courtesy of Gold Peak

I love sweet tea, and Gold Peak's is super yummy.  I had only seen it in restaurants, but now it's available by the bottle in grocery stores.

Courtesy of Dry Fly

Dry Fly is another regional spirit producer.  The distillery is right here in Spokane, and their products can be found at most local bars, etc.  Being a gin drinker, I totally support them.  Their gin has a really nice citrus-y flavor.

Courtesy of Puma

I'm a sneaker girl.  I love, love, love wearing kicks, and these are my all time favorites!  I've had my Puma Californias for a long time, and they're getting close to dying which is super sad because Puma doesn't make this style anymore.  Maybe they'll bring them back.

Courtesy of Visit Savannah

Savannah, GA is one of the awesomest, most chill places ever.  It has fabulous old architecture, beautiful parks, leafy boulevards, and fun bars and restaurants.  If you haven't been there, go.  Go now.  Make sure to hit up Wet Willy's, Bar Bar, Forsythe Park, and Tybee Island.  And watch out for all those army boys. =)  So much fun!

Courtesy of Neutrogena

Neutrogena makes great stuff, and this lip balm is wonderful!  I don't do lipstick, so this is my new favorite lip stuff.  It's not sticky or goopy, and it doesn't have a strong flavor/scent.

Courtesy of Kirkland

I'm totally addicted to Kirkland's dried Mangoes and Berries!  It became my go-to snack when I gave up cookies, etc. during Lent.  Yummy, yummy, yummy.  Plus, come on, who doesn't love Costco?!

Courtesy of Pilot

Everybody needs a good pen, and my favorite is the Pilot G-2 in blue.

If you haven't tried these products, you should.  Again, I wish I had Oprah's money to get this stuff for everybody I know, but I don't.  Sorry about that.  Hey Oprah, wanna buy some sweet stuff for me and my friends?

Yes, the cardigan is required

Courtesy of Wheelock College Library blog

When most people think of librarians, a certain image pops into their minds: old lady, gray hair in a bun, glasses perched on the end of her nose, a stern look on her face, and of course, a cardigan sweater.  As a library worker (I don't have my MLS, so I can't technically call myself a librarian) and an avid wearer of cardigans, I just want to take a moment to dispel this myth.  Not all of us are cranky, old ladies with buns.

Courtesy of iheartdaily.com

That being said, unfortunately, many librarians are not what the average person would call snappy dressers.  I say this because earlier this week, I attended a library workshop and was reminded of the frump factor that often accompanies library science.  In fact, looking around at the other ladies (and few guys) at the lecture, I felt unusually fashionable.

You see, I don't consider myself all that fashionable most days.  I prefer to wear comfortable shoes and carry purses that don't resemble large pieces of luggage.  I have a handful of fashionable items, but I rarely mange to coordinate them all together.  However, many of my coworkers and I would be first in line to grace the covers of the fashion magazines in comparison to some of our frumpier compatriots.

Let me just paint you a picture . . . pants that are at least 2 inches above the ankles, yet not intended to be capris or cropped; sack-like jumpers; socks with cats on them; t-shirts, sweaters, scarves, and bags that say things like "I [heart] books" or "bibliophile" or the like (because apparently these ladies did not get the memo that you don't wear the t-shirt of the band you're going to see).  Anyway, I think you get the idea.  All I'm saying is TLC's What Not to Wear could change some lives if they had a booth at most library conferences.  Especially if the minimum of what they did was provide some conditioner and a little mascara.

Happy Mother's Day

This is my first mother's day, and thus far, honestly, it's not really all that different from any other day.  My husband gave me a card, as did the Peanut--she even signed it all by herself, thanks to husband! =)  What I'm coming to understand, though, is that (not surprisingly) my mom was totally right.  My whole life, my mom has always said that every day is mother's day.

I know that sounds really cheesy, but truthfully, every day I get to spend with the Peanut is special.  Seeing her smile and giggle, the way she grips my finger, her cute little chatter, it's all so amazing, and I gave life to this child!

But this morning, I was reminded of one of my most favorite things about being a mom.  When I was feeding the Peanut breakfast in her high chair, I was sitting in a chair, facing her.  This is our normal protocol.  I'll put my feet on the bottom rung of her chair (and I totally don't even understand this low rung because if the kid's feet can rest on that, they shouldn't be in a friggin' high chair, but that's another story!), and as she eats, the Peanut presses her little feet against my knees.

Courtesy of Prices Prices.com

It's random, but I love it!  To me, it's a sign of her love and affection.  She's not kicking me away, she's making contact to say, "hey ma, I love you, thanks for grub, nom, nom, nom."

I'm sure every mom has something random and special like that.  A certain sign that makes them smile and laugh and know the love of their child.  This is just one of mine.

Happy mother's day everyone!!

Not so extreme couponing

Coupons and saving money seem to be really hip right now.  There's a tv show on TLC about it.  And there are countless websites and blogs about it.  I grew up watching my mom clip coupons from the Sunday paper, and I've actually done it for years.  But now, with all these new sites, many of which post updates on facebook, so I don't have to actually go to the sites each day, it's so much easier!  Thus, I've decided to up my couponing ante.

Courtesy of Color-Coded

As of April 1, I started keeping track (on a spreadsheet--yes, I'm that nerdy) of how much money I was saving by clipping coupons and paying attention to in-store discounts and deals.  I am by no means an extreme couponer!!  I only clip coupons for the stuff I would be buying anyway.  And I rarely buy in bulk.  In my mind, there is no need to continually have 8 bottles of mustard or the like on hand!  Plus, we just don't have the storage space.

Anyway, by the end of April, I had saved $160.47.  That's pretty impressive, if you ask me.

Keeping track of this has really become a fun challenge.  How much can I save in one transaction?  Can I print the same coupon several times?  And at the end of the month, I'm putting half of the total amount saved in the Peanut's college fund, so this fun challenge really does have a purpose.

A razor scooter, really?!

Working at a university has led me to believe that #1) I really have become a grown-up (aka "old"), and #2) I don't think I'll ever understand college kids.  Why do so many of them ride around on razor scooters?!  Don't they understand how dorky they look?  Do they really believe that the scooter gets them to class or the COG faster?  I really feel like pulling these kids aside and telling them to stop it with the scooters already.  You look silly!  If you're a little kid, a razor scooter = totally fine.  If you're in college, a razor scooter = ridiculously lame!

Courtesy of wdok radio.

Although, I have to admit, one of the funniest things I've ever seen was a girl on her scooter trying to go over a speed bump and totally wiping out.  Funny stuff!!

Speaking of speed bumps, I hate the things!  Normally, I just blast on through them (much to my husband's dismay), but this afternoon I was thwarted in attempt to do so.  The two cars in front of me both insisted on coming to a complete stop before going over each speed bump. WTH?!  Why?  Speed bumps are there to suggest that you slow down.  You're not required to stop!  Seriously irritating!