Free Your Mind Friday

Black Friday Safety

By the time most of you will have read this post, you'll have enjoyed your Thanksgiving feasts (unfortunately 'feasts' in plural applies to most of us who choose to indulge, indulge, indulge on this day); your mind is now fixed on Thanksgiving Day, con't: Black Friday.

If the conversation at your dinner table was anything like the conversation at our dinner table, between passing the cranberry sauce, someone was reciting the sales pages of Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target as if they were the first 3 Books of the Bible. The Thanksgiving Day celebration continues with the annual tradition of our retail friends slashing prices of the most-wanted items to the point where we don't seem to mind waking at the crack of dawn to compete with other shoppers as not to miss out on the latest Deal of the Century.

I won't repeat the details of Black Friday here on Secola's Space. No doubt, millions of blog posts are being published with the info you need - no matter where in the US you reside. I would like to use this opportunity to remind you of a few simple steps to keep the tradition full of blissful shopping memories, not those of you being robbed blind because you weren't aware of a few safety tips or so caught up in retail glory you just didn't pay attention.

So here's goes:

First and foremost: Once the shopping day begins, LOCK YOUR CAR/SUV DOORS! You'd be surprised how many of us invite crooks to steal our wares because we make it so freakin' easy for them to do so!

Secondly: Before you enter the store, make sure your purse or handbag is zipped, snapped, drawstring tied, clochette locked - what have you. If there are any external pockets, be sure they are secured as well and facing your abdomen area. Black Friday is pick-pocket Holiday. Give 'em lump of coal instead of Christmas Joy.

Third: This one is more a reminder (chastisement) to myself than anyone else. Know at all times where your wallet/purse is. Yours truly has the worst habit of leaving her purse in the front of a shopping cart and turning my back to shop, only to have my daughter give me a stearn 'mom!' with an accusatory evil eye, pointing to my unattended purse. Just asking for it!

Fourth: Once you have your fill of shopping (is that possible?), be sure to secure all your packages before you head to the parking lot. Imagine how easy it would be for a professional to grab a plastic sack out of your cart if you're distracted by other bags falling out or moving around inside the cart, hmmm?

Fifth: Have your car keys in hand (ESPECIALLY if you shop at night) before you leave the store and approach your car. Thieves are just lurking for that perfect victim who is stuck outside of the safety of her car, fuddling for her keys with a cart full of goodies. You're asking for it!

Sixth: Check the interior of your car BEFORE entering, especially if you drive an SUV. Take a peek inside the window before you get in to make sure there are no extra passengers to whom you didn't offer a ride. It wouldn't hurt to check under your car, either. You'd be surprised the lengths our less honorable neighbors would go to to get a hold of some 'free stuff,' and catching you off-guard is one of the easiest ways for them to accomplish it.

I certainly didn't intend to be a damper on anyone's celebration as we enter my absolute favorite time of year. But a little extra awareness while your out and about, spreading your Christmas joy will help to ensure that the memories created this Holiday Season will be those you'll never want to forget.

Any tips of your own not included here? Please share!

The Library

Is it just me, or does being in the library suddenly make you feel smarter? Why is it that when I enter the doors I want to head over the fiction section and choose a classic and immediately begin reading it?

I'm doing some research for an article I'm currently working on and I needed to visit the library in Carrollton, Texas. Who woulda thunk it? The internet and almighty Google didn't give me the information I needed! I actually had to get in my car and grab a couple of books to get the reference material. Are we in the year 2008 or 2000?

If you haven't visited your local library lately, you should check out a positive expenditure of your hard-earned tax dollars. Libraries have come a long way since I was a kid. Gone are the days of the mean librarian who glares at you from the top of her specs. Technology has made it easy to find and check out books. If you're lucky, you may find that DVD you've been wanting to watch and can borrow it for free, unless you're like us and don't return it on time and end up paying more in late fees than you would purchasing the flick outright!

As an aside, my daughter owes $60 in late fees for not returning 2 books on time! We (no she), borrowed them in late spring for a project she was working on for school, and when it came time to return them, she couldn't find them. I guess we should take care of that, huh?

Anyway, it's still a good place stimulate the brain, and don't listen to some political pundits who may begin labeling you as an "elitist" because you choose to read.

I mean, if you didn't read, how you know what "elitist" even means?

I'M BACK!

I've had a few emails in the past few weeks asking "where are you?"  There has been so much that has happened in the last month that I can't begin to explain.  So most of it I am going to leave out because I'm really not in the mood to drudge up some of the crappy details.

What I can say is that I have returned to the Blogosphere and I am so glad.  I really missed my blog.  I missed being obsessive about checking my blog stats.  I especially missed my blogosphere buddies.  I can't wait to drop in on some of my faves and leave comments.  I hope they remember who I am.

Taylor and I have had enough conversations over the last month to fill a book.  Due to my virtual writing 'strike' I didn't take notes, so those will be lost opportunities to write about them.  But the good part is that my kid is full of personality and opinion and there will be much more to come in the future.

I hope this will be the one and only time that I am absent from this space.  I created it out of a desire to fulfill a goal of becoming a professional writer.  Life does throw curve balls at us.  I didn't see this last one coming, so I couldn't get out of the way.

Most importantly, I'm back and I'm sooooo glad.

Hangin' Out at the Mall - The 'Cookie Nazi'

The kids and I decided to do a little shopping the other day. Well, actually, Dixon was putting the finishing touches on his new back-to-school wardrobe. You shop with him at your own risk: once you enter the mall, you may not make it back out!

Right, mom? (inside joke)

We stumbled upon the perfectly placed cookie stand (every mall has one) and Taylor and I decided we needed sustenance.

What we didn't need was the hassle from the Cookie Nazi that ensued.

Me (reading a cute cookie-shaped ad in the showcase): "Buy 5, get one free." Then I looked at Taylor, "are you up for sharing 6? If not, I'll end up eating all of them myself."

Taylor: "Get them. Dixon's greedy, he'll eat whatever's left."

Me (looking at the cute cookie-shaped ad hanging on the frosted cookie tray): "Wow, frosted cookies are buy 5, get one free. They look good."

Taylor: "Yeah, let's get those!"

Cookie Nazi: "Oh, I'm sorry, the frosted cookies aren't included in the special."

Me (pointing in the direction of the sign): "But the sign is directly on the tray." I read it again, aloud, "Buy 5, get one free."

Cookie Nazi (pulling the tray out of the window to check the sign, I guess to make sure I wasn't pulling a con or something. My claim was true, much to her disappointment.): "I'll have to charge you full price for those."

Me: "You're not gonna honor it? Why is the sign there, then?"

Taylor (growing more and more embarrassed with each exchange, said under her breath): "OMG"

Cookie Nazi (in full Soup Nazi mode of Jerry Seinfeld fame): "I don't know how that got there, but our frosted cookies never go on sale. You'll have to pick from our regular cookies."

Is it that serious?

Me (up to the challenge): "No, I want those 5 frosted ones, there. You can't advertise something and not honor it. And I want my sixth one to be peanut butter." I placed my order for the 6th one to let her know I wasn't backing down.

Taylor (looking around to make sure no one she knew was within 100 yards of us, again under her breath thru clenched teeth): "OMG, mom. This is sooo embarrassing."

Cookie Nazi: "That'll be $7.50"

I hand her a ten. She pulls out the last of her precious frosted cookies with frustration and places them in a small box, at least the ones that would fit. Instead of giving us a larger box, the others were put in paper pockets. The other 3, that is. Lots of cookie paper pockets to carry around. Score one for the Cookie Nazi.

Taylor (as we're walking away): "OMG, mom. That was so embarrassing! Like, why didn't you just take the plain ones?"

Me: "I didn't want all plain ones. The sign was clearly on the frosted ones. It's not my fault someone put it in the wrong spot."
Taylor: "Exactly. You know it was a mistake. Frosted cookies never go on sale. She was the manager, and now the owners are probably going to be mad at her."

My teenager has a heart!

Me: "How do you know she's the manager? I don't remember seeing that on her name tag."

Taylor: "She's old working in a cookie stand, mom. High school kids work there."

So much for the heart.

Me: "Just because she looks older than the typical person who works there doesn't automatically make her the manager. She may have needed to take on a second job, you never know."

Taylor: "OMG. That makes it worse. Now she'll have to pay her second job money back to the store because you made her give you the discount. Good job mom."

Me: "When are you gonna get a FIRST job? That way when we run in to this problem again, it'll be YOUR money at the center of the debate."

Taylor (with a mouthful of frosted cookie): "OMG"

Score one for mom!

Hangin' Out at the Mall - The 'I Wanna' Edition

 

photo of Vista Ridge Mall, Lewisville, TX. Courtesy of Jared Stump

Sounds from a shopping trip:

Taylor: "O.M.G. I need more skirts!  I so want to wear mini-skirts this year!"

Taylor: "I love those shirts (pointing to the skinny tee, cap sleeve, printed shirts).  I would so wear those, like all the time!"


Taylor: "I want some flats this year.  Well, I always wear flats.  I love them.  I need black and red."


Taylor:  "Those skinny jeans are so cute, I want every color."

Taylor:  "OMG, so many people I know are carrying around that stupid Dora the Explorer backpack."  A couple seconds later:  "Oh, Friday is Super Hero Day at school.  I soooo want a Power Puff Girls shirt to wear, mom."


Taylor:  "Why does Dixon take so long to shop?  He's a boy.  OMG.  I want a car so I can leave him here."


We run into Taylor's very excited friend: "TAYLORRRR!! 

Taylor, speaking to very excited friend:   "Hiiiiiiii!"  Then she said, "Uww my God, you look soooo cute!"  (when did 'Oh' become 'uww?')

Taylor's very excited friend:  "I looove your bangs!"

Taylor: "Really?"  Then she said, "OMG, I've had to cut them twice already! I'm going for the Rock Star look this year."  To her friend, "I love your hair, too!  Did you get highlights or something?"

Taylor's very excited friend:  "Yeah, I wanted to do something new."  Subject immediately changed.  "Do you like your school?"

Taylor:  "No, it's so lame. We didn't get any new cute boys this year.  Same old faces.  So lame.  But I'm excited to be back, though."

(huh?)

Taylor's very excited friend: "I know.  There are no cute boys at my school, either."


Subject immediately changes again.

Taylor: "I've got a TON of homework, but keep in touch!"

Taylor's very excited friend: "Yeah, me too! Bye!

"These outfits are so fressshhhh."  Gotcha!  That was the boy, Dixon, chiming in. Very satisfied with his purchase that took him nearly 2 hours to finalize.


Taylor (on our way to the car):  "Mom, OMG, that Nissan Altima right there is sooo cute.  I so want a car."

Me:  "I so wanna glass of wine right now."

Motivational Monday

Just when you think there are times that your efforts as a writer or blogger go largely unnoticed, you get a nice surprise to give you that motivation to keep going!

This Motivational Monday is not based on an inspirational quote, but comes from something more special: being recognized by your peers!

Secola's Space has been chosen by not one, but two fellow bloggers to receive the Brilliante Weblog Award!

I want to give much thanks to Thirty Something Reality and The Toils and Woes of a WAHM for bestowing me with this honor. Secola's Space is a Two-Time Winner! What a great feeling!!

Where's the motivation here? It's simple.

When you work at something you love - for me it is writing, communicating with people - the rewards may not be instant. But eventually, people will recognize your efforts because of the passion with which you go about your work and the accolades will follow.

If you build it, they will come...

What's even more priceless is that you may even inspire someone else to follow their passion.

Make this a Motivational Monday!

Gotta Get My Beauty Rest

My girl and I were shopping for some cheap DVD's last night and found ourselves at our local Blockbuster, combing thru their 4 for $20 previously viewed section.

We actually found some pretty good offerings for the price. We picked up 3 all of us would enjoy (I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Mr Woodcock and The Heartbreak Kid) and one just for me (Death Sentence with Kevin Bacon). On the way home, we debated on which one we would watch first. Since it was already after 10 pm, I would probably only last through one movie that night.

I had to make a good choice.

Here's how the decision process was laid out:

Me: I think we should watch Death Sentence tonight. I've really been wanting to see this one!

Taylor: NOOO! OMG! Mom, I do not want to watch that movie! We have 3 really good movies and one bad one - Death Sentence. Why should we be forced to watch the bad one?

Me: Well, maybe because all of them were purchased by my money and I'm pulling rank.

Taylor: That's SNF! (so not fair) Why can't you just watch it tomorrow? You'll probably fall asleep before it's over anyway.

Me: Because I'd like to watch it tonight.

Taylor: How about this: Since you're up every morning around 6, why don't you just watch it then? I'll be sleep until 11:00, so I won't even know it's on!

Me: Why don't you try waking up earlier, anyway? You sleep half your day away.

Taylor: OMG. How do I sleep half the day away? I don't go to bed until 1 and I wake up at 11, that's only 10 hours. I'm actually up 14 hours! That's more than half, mom.

Me: Sleeping half the day away is more of an expression or an approximation than an exact time frame. 11:00 is too late to be asleep, regardless of what time you went bed the night before.

Taylor: School starts in 2 weeks, I have to get up at 6:30 then. Can I pleeease enjoy these last 2 weeks of sleeping in? My beauty rest goes out the window because of SCHOOL! What am I supposed to do then?

Me: Far be it from me to disturb your beauty rest, darling. Try going to bed at a decent hour.

Taylor: OMG!

We made it home and popped in Chuck and Larry and I was out before chapter 3...

That Hurts!

I've battled gum issues since I was in my early 20's. I've never had a cavity in my life, but my gums are CRAPPY!

What a dilemma!

Yesterday I was in so much tooth pain, I was almost brought to tears... The throbbing was so intense that it spread to the rest of my mouth, down in to my neck to my finger tips.

Wow!

I took the strongest over-the-counter medicine I could find and it only helped for a couple of hours. Orajel was a JOKE! Of course the dentist won't be available until tomorrow and I didn't want to sit in an emergency room for 24 hours!

So...

How am I feeling well enough to blog about it today? Salt water! I concocted a brine! Salt and warm water mixed together works wonders! I've been rinsing my mouth with the saltiest brine I can stand every 2-3 hours. I actually slept thru the night!

I haven't had drugs in almost 12 hours. Whew!

What's your best home remedy?

Disney Animation!

I love movies, especially Disney! Especially, especially Disney Animation! What an escape, huh?

I was blog-hopping and ran across a sweet blog called Lainy's Musings and she posted about her Top 15 Disney Movies. I thought it was so cool I would post about it here, too!

Hers is in random order, but I wanted to list mine from 15 to my number one fave all-time Disney Movie!

Here goes:

15) Pocahontas
14) The Rescuers
13) Aristocats
12) Remember the Titans
11) Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs
10) 101 Dalmations (animated)
9) Bambi
8) Lady and The Tramp
7) The Parent Trap (Dennis Quaid, Lindsay Lohan)
6) Little Mermaid

The Top 5 Disney Movies EVER!

5) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
4) Lion King
3) Aladdin
2) Beauty and the Beast

... and Number One: Cinderella! Who doesn't love Cindy?

What's your top Disney flicks? I'm sure you have a more thrilling lifestyle than I do, which is why you probably don't have time to list 15, but I'd love to see your top - 5- maybe?

Printing a Retraction!

Taylor decided to read my blog yesterday, which was a surprise because she nor Dixon read it very often.

She was not happy about an item in the Music to My Ears post, so I'm printing a retraction.

If you'll notice towards the end of the conversation, Taylor responds to a question I asked her. I wrote her response as, " Wow, mom! Like, OMG! Why would I want to have a baby with some geezer who won't live long enough to see it grow up just for money? Gross, mom!!"

Her beef with the author is that while she does use the terms 'OMG' and 'like', she never use them together. She said, " I say 'like', and I say 'OMG', but I never say 'like, OMG' together. That's just lame."

"Please change that mom."

Duly noted. And I stand corrected!

Music to My Ears

Monday night, the twins and I were watching an oldie but goodie, "Coming to America." It is a comedy classic from the late 80's (there I go with the 80's again). I actually think the movie is pure comedic genius, especially Eddie Murphy's performance(s)! If you haven't had the pleasure, I suggest you see it when you've got some time to kick back and I'm officially jealous of you because you have the opportunity to experience it for the first time.

At any rate, there is one scene in the movie (not spoiling anything) where Arsenio Hall plays a preacher who mentions Hugh Hefner and Larry Flynt in part of his sermon, which takes place in a rec center, during a swimsuit contest.

What became music to my ears was my conversion with Taylor that ensued:

Taylor: Who's Larry Flynt and Hugh Hefner?

Me: You've never heard of them?

Taylor: No, but it must be something bad because those girls look sleazy.

Me: Larry Flynt is the publisher of Hustler Magazine and Hugh Hefner is publisher of Playboy.

Taylor: What's Hustler Magazine?

Me: It's the lesser known version of Playboy

Taylor: OMG, I Knew it sounded sleazy

Taylor: (after a brief pause) OH! Hugh Hefner is that really old guy who's on "Girls Next Door!" Do you think he sleeps with all of those women?

Me: One for sure. She wants to have his baby.

Taylor: Ewwwww! Not that's what I call VVOPL! (for those of you who need a little Taylor 101, VVOPL means 'very, very old people love). Isn't he like, 200 years old? Why would she want to have a baby with a geezer?

Me: Security

Taylor: What?

Me: Babies can mean big business for a woman if she finds a man rich enough and dumb enough to have one with. (taking a hard swallow before I ask this next one) Is that something you think you would consider one day?

Taylor: Wow, mom! Like, OMG! Why would I want to have a baby with some geezer who won't live long enough to see it grow up just for money? Gross, mom!!

I was just checking...

Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

This must be the day to give shout-outs to my cyber buddies (see post below and the previous statement will make sense)!

My fellow blogger Razz at World of Mom is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card. All you have to do is enter your first name and your blog/website address! It's easy!

Check it out!

Tagged! I'm 'IT!'

I've been tagged!! For those of you who don't keep a blog, this is the cyber-version of the children's game we all played, of course, for me that wasn't very long ago. *cough*

This is my first meme (official name, I mean 'grown' women can't go around saying, "tag, you're it," can we?). I'm feeling pretty popular right now!! I get to choose six lucky bloggers to keep it going!

My good cyber buddy My Nut Village tagged me last week, actually. I've just been really, really slow with my response. My bad!

Here are the rules for the game (start one yourself, if you'd like):

1) Link to the person who tagged you.

2) Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6).

3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).

4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.

5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

OK, 6 random things about me. I'm sure you all have been dying to know!

1) Sade is my all-time fave recording artist. No one else comes close!

2) Ruby Chanel is the first name I chose for my daughter. Everyone nixed it saying it reminded them of an old lady. Taylor is what we named her. She's pissed off about it because Taylor is becoming a common name for girls. I blame everyone else for her not having a unique name, not too many Ruby Chanel's running around town.

3) I've played competitive tennis since I was 12.

4) I play tennis with Prince racquets.

5) I LOVE the French language and culture

6) I haven't eaten beef or pork since 1986. I was a senior in high school driving to school one day and there was an ad for a bacon company on the radio. It talked about the type of pig it used to produce its delicious, tender bacon and ham. It grossed me out to the point that from that day on, I no longer ate pork of beef. Gotta love the teenage mind, right?! I was eating ground turkey before eating ground turkey was cool!

Who are the lucky 6 I've chosen? Secola's Six we'll call 'em:

Without further delay:

World of Mom

Hate My Minivan

One Mom's Quest

Kateedyd What?!

Inevitable Regeneration

1001 Hustles to Bring in Cash

Make sure you pay these hard-working bloggers a visit and show them some love. We LOVE to feel appreciated!

Motivational Monday

During these times of uncertainty, I've noticed there are many of us who need an uplifting word every now and then.

One of my most popular posts was focused on a quote from Maya Angelou. I have a built quite a reference collection of inspiring quotes and sayings and I'd like to share them with you.

Hence, the birth of Motivational Monday!

Enjoy!

Our first Motivational Monday post will be a quote from Ms Angelou:

I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass.

We may not all be considered a young girl in terms of our birth certificate, but we are all young at heart, especially for those of us venturing out to carve new paths in life.

I'm speaking to myself as loudly as I am speaking to my readers, if opportunity knocks, don't be afraid to grab those lapels, the bull by the horns, the brass ring or any other object you need to keep you focused.

Just do it!

Free Your Mind Friday

Hollywood's Must Have Accessory - Twins

Rebecca Romijin is expecting a pair. Lisa Marie Presley doubled her pleasure, and will now... well, you know the rest. We've all been formally introduced to Knox and Vivienne. J-Lo blessed us with her two. Julia Roberts, Marcia Cross, etc., etc., etc...

I can go on...

Rumors of fertility drug abuse aside, it seems anyone who is anyone in H-Town has to have them. We've moved on from everyone sporting their black child accessory. One kid at a time isn't enough, we've gotta have two now.

Of course, my Taylor (who's a twin herself) and I discussed it last night. Here's her take:

Me: Elvis' daughter is having twins
Taylor: Isn't she kinda old to be having kids?

Me: (after flashing her a quick evil eye) She's 40, same as me. 40-somethings have kids all the time!
Taylor: OMG, I mean, I'm just saying. Doesn't menopause start at like, 42?

Me: How did you come up with 42? It's completely different, from woman to woman.

Taylor: Well, I just don't see that many 48 year olds having kids. Kinda gross when you think about it.

Me: You're just a teen-age girl, living in your teen-age world, aren't ya?

Taylor: Yup! Thank God!

Yes, let's thank him for that!

The Awakening Pt 2

Those of you who regularly read my blog - a big THANKS, by the way - should remember me posting about one of the twins, the boy, waking me up at 3:00 am vomiting in the bathtub. If you haven't read it, catch up on the drama here

Not very high on the list of reasons to be awaken in the middle of the night.

Seems the girl twin, Taylor, did not get the memo.

Approx. 3:08 am Taylor taps me on the shoulder and before I could open both eyes she immediately sinks to her knees doubled over in pain. A couple of minutes later, she's giving a Wal-Mart shopping bag a really good work out.

After 2 hours of nursing her back to health, I finally lie down, thinking, 'haven't I been here before?'

The woes (joys) of motherhood!