Get Some....Zzzzz's That Is

We are all tired, right?  You would think, then, when the opportunity presents itself to climb into our cozy comforted beds we would do so and let the world slip by.  

I have had several conversations with folks about insomnia in the past few days.  I have always had a problem sleeping - restless my whole life.  I have learned some tricks and hope you will share yours too. 

1)  No tv in the bedroom.  Taking my tv out of my bedroom was a huge step and did work, for awhile.  

2)  Drink something hot before I go to bed.  (tea usually but I love hot toddy's in the winter).  

3)  Keep the room cold.  If my bedroom is hot, I will not sleep.  I also cannot sleep if my feet are "tucked in".

4)  Mind games.  Seriously, I need to distract myself from my daily anxieties.  So.  I do the following little games to keep my mind occupied enough to relax.

• Spell my friends names backwards to forwards
• list ingredients to a pizza from A to Z
• list halloween candy from A to Z (this was tricky)
• try to come up with famous names that are AA BB CC (Abigail Adams, Burt Baccarat, Courtney Cox) all the way to ZZ (Zig Ziegler, just in case you were wondering)

Most nights, these do the trick, but lately it hasn't been falling asleep that is the problem, it is going back to sleep after I have woken up in the night with Charlie.  Last night I was up from 2-430.  I just should have gotten up an done some laundry - at least then the time would have been productive!

Any fellow insomniacs out there? 

Left holding the bag...

This week's Ventage Tuesday is to dish on five things in your bag.  This one is pretty ridiculous.  Doing this challenge crystalized that I am the depositer of all things for our fam. 

First things first:  the bag itself.  I purchased this lovely grey Fossil bag at the Mall of America while on a girls weekend with Barb.  Grey leather, totally gorgeous.  One day it was hanging on the gate to our basement.  Someone who shall remain nameless (cough cough, Mike) put some swiffer wipes in a bag and hung it on said gate.  The bag holding the wipes leaked, {insert wimper} all over my grey leather bag.  {sob}.  I was able to put the bag in the washing machine and although it didn't retain the new leather goregousness that it had before, it is still pretty nice.  {i guess I can forgive him}

Here it is:

Now, onto the contents. 

1.  Keys - Please note the super cool Princess Leia keychain. 

2.  Receipts - I have a TON of slips in my purse.  No rhyme or reason.  No organization.  I am sure that most of them are old and not useful.  But still, they are there.

3.  Baby gear -  Diapers, nuks, and today, for some reason one misc. baby shoe.

4.  Makeup - lipglass (MAC), lipstain, lip balm (pangea), mascara (blinc) and random giant cocktail ring.  

5.  Fruit Snacks - never leave home without them.  

There it is folks, the secret inner workings of my purse.  Go check out the sordid details of Barb's , Katrina's, Stephanie's and Em's.   

hello Monday

hello to my little man Charlie, whom I missed very much while we were in Florida.  He chilled with Grandma and Grandpa and had a blast.  Unfortunately, he came home with an ear infection and is hanging out healing up with me today.

hello piles and piles and piles of laundry.  

hello call to a cleaning lady.  need to get this hell hole cleaned up before the holidays!  the world has gotten away from me and I need some help to get organized. 

hello to thinking about some changes and trying to decipher the best way to get what I want.  Usually my approach is to just ask - might not be appropriate this time.  

hello to emails from friends that make me laugh. 

hello to Gilmore Girls marathon (no I have no idea why I have a marathon on a day I should be laundering and cleaning).  

inspired by Katrina who was inspired by Lisa Leonard.

I missed this week - will do a catch up.  Right now I am alternating between loving vacation and hating.  Fully expect a post about traveling with a 4 year old and 2 year old.  And why vacations where booze is very very expensive will probably not be in my future for another 20 years.  

And today?  Today the divine Miss Barb starts her new adventure.  She is going to be awesome at her new job.  Wish we were there to cheer her on.  Get it girl.

The freak out

Today was our last day before we embark to see the Mouse.  Total chaos.  

I may at one point:

• told Mike I would never go on vacation with him or the kids again
• called Barb and had a ridiculous diatribe on why tennis shoes are the most hideous thing known to man
• stalked around Target wondering how to bribe my kids into good airplane behavior
• imagined leaving everyone at home and going on vacation by my self

Not my finest hour.  Hopefully things improve.  

Breakfast Table(desk)scape

Everyone knows that breakfast is supposedly the MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY.  Man, wellness people are so insistent.  (another topic entirely).  I struggle to eat breakfast on a regular basis because I wake up at 4:30 every morning.  Nothing tastes good at 4:30 in the morning. 

I have been known to hit McDonalds at the more respectable 5:30 in the morning, but most days its coffee. Sometimes I have a little something else too.  That is probably why by 8 I am freaking starving.  

This morning, I have my normal coffee but in a much happier coffee cup than my go to travel mug.  My work friend also brought in blueberry muffins.  The cup was a birthday gift and says, Love the Moment.  I don't really think, as much as I would like to be, that I am a Love the Moment kind of gal.  Usually in the Moment, I am freaking out about something or haphazardly struggling to accomplish meaningless tasks. 

I read a lot of stuff about cherishing the moments with your kids.  Don't get me wrong, I do cherish my KIDS but not really the moments.  The moments are full of anxiety of "did I remember to run the dishwasher before I left for work?", "did I charge the old ipod so the kids have white noise at bedtime or are we out of luck? " or, "is it today or tomorrow that the book order is due?" or one of my favorites, "will Mike forgive me for being such a harsh jerk this morning?"

So instead of admonishing you to Love the Moment - how about instead a less demanding instruction.  I think "life is ok, it will all get done somehow" seems more appropriate for those of us that get bogged down in the details.  And if it doesn't get done (I am looking at you laundry) then it will wait til tomorrow (or we will have to go to Target and buy clean underwear). 

Have a great Friday. 

I know.

 I know that real, true friends are hard to find.  

I know that friendships can have some strange paths.  

I know that our neon campaign would have been a big success if only those bitches had listened.  I know our road trips have been some of the funnest days.  

I know all my children's lives are better because you are their auntie.  I know that they are learning important things -sometimes ice cream for dinner is ok, books are important, laughing is necessary and that there is always a reason to party around the corner.  

I know this was not your plan.  I know you love the traditions and rituals we have built for our grown up lives.  I know that we will continue to build traditions and memories and find new adventures to laugh about when we are 100 and 98 respectively.  

I know that you deserve (and will have) such big happies.  I know  that anyone who could be such a dear and important and necessary friend can only be that way because the light and love is in their heart and that is what the happies are drawn to.  

I know I will miss having you so close, being so accessible, ingrained in so much of my (our) day to day.  

I know this is not the end, it is an ebb in a friendship that has ebbed and flowed for almost 20 years now, a friendship that has spanned different cities before and will successfully do so again.  

Mostly, however, I know that I feel sad and miss you already.  I know I am not often at a loss for words - but there are no words to say how much you mean to me.  

I hope YOU know that.  

Ventage Tuesday - Around the {eeek} House

The idea of the five of us sharing the details of our days/closets/lives sounded awesome when I was in charge of the prompt.  This weeks prompt in true Halloween fashion is SPPPPOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKY.  In fact, it is terrifying to me.  

Prompt?  Five things around your house.  

My first instinct was to take five VERY VERY cropped photos of things in my house.  

If I do say so myself, I have some cool stuff on the walls at my house.  I have  a series of canvass kitchen art.  It is colorful, cool and if you look at the walls, you are not looking at the mess on the floor or the counters.  

At my house, we also have boxes full of stuff in many places.  Not organized.  Right now, the above photo of a bazillion K-cups is located in a very logical place.  On top of another box on my washing machine.  

You see, my friends, there is only one organized cupboard in my house.  The cupboard that houses about 1/3 of my fiestaware dishes.  Looks nice, right?  Well, if you love dishes, get your ass over to my house.  There are dishes every where.  In every room, in every closet.  Mike has put me on a moratorium from buying dishes because there are so many.  If I am ever called upon to host the entire city of Green Bay for dinner, I will be prepared. 

I like to think that all the clutter is spurring creativity.  See Dottie's magnet art work on the fridge?  This should be the nerve center of my house (according to all the home/lifestyle blogs).  Instead?  Random assortment of stuff we have no idea where else to put it.  Old pictures of me as a baby?  Fridge!  Packer schedule?  Fridge!  Rebate forms that are probably expired?  Fridge!  You get the idea.  

But, because I promised to share.  Because our theme is to keep it real.  Here is what my living room looks like right now.  7 loads of laundry sorted and folded, waiting to be put away.  Notice the (2nd) box of KCups on the shelf?  Notice the random assortment of other crap that needs to be put away on the shelf?  Its a disaster.  And this is all I am willing to share.  

Check out the other girls for today's challenge.  Em, Steph, Barb and Katrina.  

hello monday

hello two coffees and one giant soda before 9 am due to a cranky baby. 

hello sweet husband who braved a solo weekend with the kids (where it rained all weekend) so I could have a weekend back home by myself. 

hello dear friends from growing up.  It is so damn cool to see what you have become and how much our shared heritage is with me.  hello to big laughs, old teachers and texts to Barb about an old boyfriend of hers.  epic. 

hello to the week before our big adventure - family vacation to florida.  I am a mix of anxious, excited and terrified all at once. 

hello to a looming goodbye that I am choosing to pretend (for just a little longer) is not around the corner.

hello to Luke learning to tell jokes.  More on this later.

hello to an insane rest of 2012 calendar. 

hello Monday is an idea shamelessly hijacked from Katrina who may have hijacked it from someone else. 

True Romance

Some people may have visions of romance looking like this.   

Cute, fashionable couple.  Highly accessorized, sharing a pumpkin spice latte. 

But friends, know the truth.  Romance?  It looks like two haggard parents of three children four and under.  In their PJs.  One sleeping on the couch with a baby recovering from an ear infection.  One sleeping with a thrashing soon to be three year old.  An accumulative 5 hours of sleep between them. 

Sexy?  A husband who blearily delivers you coffee while you are trying to look cute for work in the 10 minutes you have to get ready - in the dark so you don't wake said almost three year old. 

Someday we will be well accessorized.  And drinking pumpkin spice lattes in a park. 

Right?  RIGHT?  

Ventage Top Five 10/9

The other day, I told you about my Ventage girls.  Lately, we have been having some pretty epic email chains about clothes.  You know, the I hate my closet, I look so boring, wish I was a millionaire type convos.  Well, we still might hate our closets and want to be millionaires, but if you want to start looking at your clothes with fresh eyes?  Bring in fresh eyes!  

We have been taking some selfies and sharing our outfits.  I can't speak for everyone else, but it has made me look at my closet differently and put things together in a better way.  

I could still be skinnier, and more stylish, but I am feeling pretty damn good about my wardrobe lately!  

Today's challenge?  What are your top five closet must haves.  Go check out Em, Steph, Barb and Katrina and I have some things in common - but everyone has their own style!  We are just real women, not skinny minis, not unlimited cash to spend on clothes, not always the most confident in our choices.  BUT - we are committed to stepping up our look and are happy to share what we are learning along the way.  

Here are my top fives:

1)  Great fitting jeans.  Not the jeans that you WISHED fit you, but ones that really do. I am a huge fan of the Gap 1969 perfect boot in dark wash.  

2)  Tank tops.  Lots and lots of tank tops in many colors.  I like to buy these cheap (think Target or Old Navy) wear them till they lose their shape and then add them to the pj pile.  Can change a lot of looks with a tank (paired with a cardi, layered with another shirt) use to cheaply add color and texture to outfits.  

3)  Red heels.  I love to wear colorful shoes to spice up a boring outfit.  My go to shoes are red heels.  xoxox this look.  

4)  A versatile black dress.  Now, this is not the I want to knock your socks off and make out in the back of the mini van (I know, such a wild and crazy life I lead) kind of dress.  This is a workhorse dress - easy to wash, wear for a casual night out, wear with a cardigan to work, add some sparkly jewelry and wear for a dressier occasion.  Note - this piece doesn't need to be spendy.  My favorite black dress (see below) was $38.  yay!

5)  Crazy jewelry.  I am always scouring for weird and bulky necklaces.  They spice up that boring shirt without spending a ton of cash.  I get TONS of compliments on my necklaces and love the costume jewelry because it is fun and funky!  

Would love to hear what your must haves are - and be sure to go check out the rest of the gangs ideas too!

Ventage Top Five 10/9 by angiejolson featuring a ribbed tank

Ruffle dress / Ribbed tank / GAP mid rise jeans / Miz Mooz shoes, $165 / Chain necklace / 

Kick it.

Fall Saturday mornings used to mean farmers market, coffee, running around with the kids.  Usually pretty chill - good way to kick off the weekend.  

Now?  Soccer time.  Now, not soccer time like those freaky soccer people who are in ten million tournaments and packing lunch to eat at the field.  Not us.  Hopefully, not ever.  

But we have a fantastic neighborhood YMCA.  The super awesome kind - family focused, great vibe, teaching about teamwork and respect and working hard.  All ages, from Charlie sized mini workout kings to 90 year old Albert work out kings.  Its a happy place.  


Especially for Luke 

Soccer starts at 9.  He wants to leave our house every Saturday morning at like 7:30.  We are ALWAYS the first people there.  We kick the ball and get geared up.  Its Mom and Luke time. 

One of the things I was most worried about was Luke's ability to wait his turn.  The gams are three on three so there is a lot of sideline time.  This momma could not be prouder - he is engaged, cheering on the other kids, doing awesome.  

Coach Zac is a college soccer player from St Norbert College.  Me thinks he is uninitiated in the world of the four year old.  Luke thinks he is Soo Coool.  

I think it is so cool to see him taking some steps into his own.  He is so happy playing around, running, wearing himself out.  He is friendly and encouraging.  He almost always has to pee in the weeds because he needs to go.  bwhahah.  When the games are done, we get in the truck, have  a juice box and a little dance party.  Saturday morning we were almost home and he said,

"I wuv doing this with you mom".

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Cue the Golden Girls Music

I have some wonderful friends on these interwebs.  Their daily emails are often what push me forward when I feel like I am running on empty.  In the past six months, we have had some real life events.  I mean, big heavy stuff.  The stuff that can really make you wonder. 

The funny thing?  It is those girls.  They are the ones who keep my life light.  Who have made me laugh, cry and so damn grateful for their presence in my life.  Let me introduce them to you -

Barb - She is my BFF.  Barb is smart, funny and creative.  She puts up with a lot of grand ideas and has the ability to boil them down into manageable pieces.  She loves starbucks drinks that I can never successfully remember to order correctly.  She loves books.  LOTS AND LOTS OF BOOKS.  She has an infuriating habit of reading books and skipping to the ending and then going back to finish the guts of the book.  She has been with me through it all.  Seen me at my very worst and chooses to ignore all that baggage and sees me as my funny and most of the time kind self.  She has given me the - you better shut up and make things right talk. She has brought me diet cokes when the world was falling apart.   She is the best auntie to my children and they adore their Bahb.  (I do too). 

Stephanie -  Stephanie is one of those people who is so positive and sweet and just, well, good.  Momma to two sweet boys, she is a full fledged member of the moms with husbands who travel club.  She is the queen of one liners. She is our resident expert on Disney, and the inner workings of tv news.   She loves Florida Gators (but we forgive her that, not everyone can be a big ten girl).  She shares my love of shrimp.  She is a fantastic photographer.  She is a mom who understands that speech delays are tough on moms as well as kids.  She is fierce and fun and I love her. 


Em - My fellow Badger.  Lover of all things grilled cheese. Momma to two littles, music teacher by day, scrapbooker by night.  Her swearing off dr pepper gives me hope that she does have at least one vice.  She is the author of my favorite rap, ever, Lice Lice Baby.  I hear she is known for ranting voicemails in more than one language (although her voicemails to me have never been ranting).  She is a little overwhelmed these days with the working mom blues but let me reassure her that everyone has a messy house, overflowing laundry and nights where cereal for breakfast looks like a gourmet option.  She is funny and kind and I love her. 

Katrina - Katrina is the mom who reminds us that we will survive these preschool years.  Her Austin and Hope are beautiful and kind and smart and funny young adults that give me hope that my children will also be such great additions to the world.  She is FUN - NY although she wants to believe that she is only dark and twisty.  She might be twisty but in my life, but she light not dark.  Lover of green smoothies, kale, swiss chard and other hippy foods - she is our resident meditator and reminder to be zen.  She is too damn far away (VT) but such an important part of my daily routine that I miss her and when I don't get emails from her I am sad.  She is embracing the eyeshadow and teaching me many things about cosmetics.  She is good and honest and hilarious and I love her.

These girls are the backbone of my support.  They are my Ventage girls and I hope you all have friends like these that lift you up.  Little reminders that you are more than a daughter, wife, mother, employee, whatever lable life sometimes slaps on you. 

Ventage girls - you may not change the world, but you have changed my life.  Love you forever. 

Trendy Tuesday

When Luke was born, I became a total slob.  I mean, I could barely comb my hair, get showered and dressed in something besides yoga pants.  I was adjusting to a 430 wakeup time, sleepless nights, all that jazz.  

When Dottie was born, I went from slob to zombie.  Two kids in 17 months.  I was barely functioning.  I have very few memories of the first six months.  My memories of the second six months involve lots of meltdowns (me) and tantrums (Luke) a confused baby (Dottie) and a traveling for work husband (Mike).  

Now with Charlie - it is like a lightbulb went on.  I am adjusted to the 430 wakeup, the nights of interrupted sleep.  I have come to peace (sort of) that my house is a disaster and that the laundry never is caught up.  I refuse to feel guilty that sometimes we eat just buttered noodles and applesauce for dinner.  No one is malnourished at my house.  

And so, I am coming out of the fashion black hole I have been living in.  Like - really making an effort to put together some outfits and wear accessories and (gasp!) makeup.  It is the makeup that is making this so fun - trying new looks, acting like Kim Kardashian with a huge smokey eye (lets be clear, I already had the huge ass) and not caring that a paper company lawyer doesn't usually mean fashionable.  

So if you are in that dark hole of either zombie or slob - there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  You can get your groove back.  Embrace that glittery gold eyeliner!  

But I do still love yoga pants.