Should have known

Any girl that had a boyfriend in 1991 that said, "I don't get it" when he heard this song should have known that it wouldn't last.

That Time

That time you send a series of not so happy texts to your son's new cell phone at 2:30am when you meant to send them to your husband.

yup.

that happened.

[music] Commercial Influence II

I have had a history with becoming obsessed with music in commercials. Sometimes its the combination of a great visuals with the perfect song. Like in 1999 when I first saw this commercial for Cambridge Soundworks:

Neighbors from Tim Cawley on Vimeo.

I mean seriously. That is still a killer commercial. Kind of raw. A little edgy. Sucked me right the hell in. Before long I was excited every time the thing came on just so I could hear a snip-it of that song. I mentioned it to my little sister and she was responded, "That's The Sheila Divine. They're from Boston" as I should have know this already. The CD became mine and became a HUGE part of the soundtrack to the crazy fun times I had as I started to date my hubs and meet all the friends that I still now hold dear. 

Thanks Cambridge Soundworks and Kristin and of The Sheila Divine!

A perfect combo is not always necessary as with evidence from this Gameboy Advance spot that got me hooked on 'Strict Machine' by Goldfrapp. It's honestly not worth embedding for viewing. I would just suggest taking a listen to the killer track on Spotify. Soooo good. 

I guess its been since February that I last went searching the internets for the name of the song in a commercial. This one popped on the TV while I was having particularly tough night sleeping and found myself on the living-room couch. As I lay on the couch in the first stages of falling back to sleep this visual gem appeared:

Striking as hell-- and that party!? I want to have one of those kind of house parties at least once a week. Don't you? 

Thanks Sonos, Janelle Monáe, Deep Cotton and sleepless nights!

All Growns Up

There are times that I can't believe I'm forty. I still feel like a youngin'. Then there comes an event that makes you feel your age, like parent teacher conferences. But, truth be told I sometimes feel like a little kid in those situations even when the teacher is younger than me. This past week I discovered the adulthood check event.  Travelling cross-country (BOS-SFO) with your two kids and husband. Packing for the household. Keeping the infant calm on a 6 hour plane-ride. Making sure you have snacks for every bit of the excursion. Yup, I got my parenthood travel badge this past week. And yes. I DO need a vacation for myself now.

What was in that fancy box?

Over the past ten years or so I have really come to believe in the practice of Feng Shui. I picked up the book "Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life: How to Use Feng Shui to Get Love, Money, Respect, and Happiness" on my break years ago-- I was curious, but not expecting anything. Shortly after I made adjustments according to the book a series of small, but exciting things happened seemingly out of the blue. Feng Shui? Not Feng Shui? Who really knows I guess, but a bit of reorganization has never hurt anyone. SO I do still practice it-- I'm not a nut about it, but I do find that when I unblock areas things seem to go smoother.

One of the things I did back when I first started was to clear out under my bed to get the mojo flowin'. One of the big red flags I had under the bed was my boxed and cleaned wedding dress from my first marriage. And yes, I was remarried. I took that box rigth out from under there and moved it-- into the closet. OK OK,  I know that any Feng Shui master would shake their head at this decision, but that's what I did.

Was I holding onto it for memories sake? Holding onto the relationship? Not that I was consciously aware of. I had every intention of donating the dress. I loved that thing when I saw it in the window of Jessica McClintock in '93, but seriously, who the hell would want it now!?

Today as I was making room in the closet for clothes my son has outgrown I came across the big, white, rectangular box as I had many times. This time however I was like like:

"You! Get the hell out!"

I put it in the kitchen next to a bag of other donations and packed them in the trunk as I dashed out the door to pick up my eldest at school.

After I scooped him up we ran some errands then went to the clothing donation box. I pulled in front and popped the trunk. I grabbed the stuff and put it in the chute. Into the big yellow box went the dress that I have been carting around for 15 years.

Nice!

I got back in the car and started to drive away. My son asked, What was in that fancy box?"

"Just a dress I was holding for an old friend and she doesn't need it anymore."

Deserving? Entitled? Or just grow up?

Am I acting like a child when I'm upset that my 40th birthday was bust?

Is a present too much to ask for on my milestone birthday? (I sent the link to the Clarisonic Mia2  in Peony I wanted to the hubs over a month ago)

Well--- I am pouty about it. 

How would you react? Would you be pouty too? Or should I just grow up and save the birthday wishes for the kiddos?

Four Ohhhhhhh

When I started this post my first inclination was to write something reflective, sweet and inspiring about my graceful entry into this next stage in life. A post worthy of the praise of Oprah, the "Lady of Life" as my first born calls her. Truth is reaching this milestone birthday has made me come to grips with something hard to say.

Gulp.

Deep breath.

I am vain.

Vanity is a hard pill to swallow for me. I have never been one of those girly girls. I appreciate a cute flat wayyyy more than a heal-- Christian Loubo--whatevs. Jeans and a t-shirt are just fine with me. And in other people I value intelligence and wit so much more than the physical. So I feel like this admission will get me kicked out of some sort of "cool girls" club I am a member of.

I guess that a lot of this rests in the fact that I have always loved the thrill of being found attractive by the opposite sex and feel like that ability is fading as I cross into--- eek-- middle age. My browser history is not surprised by this admission with recent reads such as Strip Club Science: Stripper Beauty Secrets at xoJane. Yup. That tab is actually still up so I can take some notes. :/

I guess on one hand I should be happy to have reached this age and still give a shit. I haven't ended up throwing in the towel and totally become a clog-wearing-soccer-mom. I still want to feel and look young and vibrant. That's half the battle, right?

Right!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.