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Rejoicing in Re-gifting

23 Dec

You know those gifts that many people re-gift? While it’s the thought that counts and every gift is appreciated, many people have a few things on their gift no-no list. The ones that they have no idea what to do with or just genuinely don’t like. They are outcast gifts and I love them.

Here are a few of my favorites that often end up in someone else’s re-gift pile:

  • Hickory Farms – LOVE it. Those processed and preservative-packed food stuffs are packaged in such an awesome assortment. Strawberry hard candy? Yes, please!
  • Jewelry – Since I never buy the fashion flair for myself, it’s such a treat to get it from someone.
  • Holiday decor – I’ll take Santa. I’ll take snowmen. Reindeer are always welcome here. It can be in the form of a statue, doll, music box, candle holder, kitchen bowl/plate, pillow, towel, yard ornament, tree ornament – if it has one of the symbols of the season, I’ll display it.
  • As Seen On TV dodads – I never did get the Snuggie. Sad face. I’m lucky enough to have the Magic Bullet and Paint Buddy though. Two of my faves.
  • Random, store-suggested gifts – For example, stationery, magnets, frames, platters, movies, hot cocoa kit/specialty kits, coasters, book of the moment. Some people may think they were thoughtless gifts, I see them as fun finds!

I’ve been thinking about all the gifts that teachers can get from their students. That must be incredible. I often wonder what things they decide to keep over giving away. I’m pretty sure our neighbor re-gifts some of her teacher treasures but that’s fine by me! So far, we’ve gotten a glass cutting board, some festive holiday towels, a cutesy reindeer candle holder and Hickory Farms. That’s right, the Hickory Farms box of sausage and cheese is upstairs. Best presents ever!

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Black Friday Family Fun

27 Nov

Maybe you love all the after Thanksgiving sales. Maybe you despise all that the retail circus represents. Maybe you’re scared of the crazies. Maybe you don’t care either way. I would say I’m all of the above but tend to lean toward loving it. Not so much because of the sales, but because of the fun I have with my family.

The teen-and-up girls of my fam don’t let a Black Friday pass without a purchase. My mom, sis, niece and I set off as early as we can to take advantage of any sales but mostly to have a blast living through the experience together.

This year brought plenty of laughs. There was the man who almost ran us over in front of the mall as he abruptly stopped to shove his woman out of the car. There was the highly mediated cashier who was barely breathing and then needed to attempt to call for a price check. There was the man in the fast line who wouldn’t stop talking to the cashier and then stopped to talk more to us because I told him he dropped his debit card on the ground. (I now know he keeps his card in his checkbook so he can write down every deduction.) But the best was the noisy shopping cart that was bestowed upon us. It could be heard throughout the store, over the terrible shopping music and our in-stereo laughter.

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I’d push the loudest cart with these ladies any day of the year.

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Picture Perfect

15 Nov

It’s an unfinished work of art and I love it. Nia’s depiction of our home and family may not capture the exact layout of our house or my current hair style but I think it beautifully captures a little girl’s view of her world and she drew it because she wanted to, not because it was assigned. One of my favorite Nia Originals.

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Silly Boy

26 Oct

First, he was running around the house with his baseball glove – back and forth in the hallway and living room – diving and sliding on the floor. I suppose he was perfecting his baseball moves but it just looked painful and extreme. Then, came the cup music.

Nate made for some funny entertainment while I tried to do the dishes. I would have to stop to laugh and then to, of course, get his silly version of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” on camera. Thanks for making mommy shake her head in confusion one minute and then laugh out loud the next, you silly boy.

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He cried, then I cried – in baseball

18 Oct

I thought he made it. He thought he made it. It was such an exciting sight. Cheers from both sides erupted as we all watched him take off for Third base as the Second basekid on the other team chased him. That Second basekid had to dive for Nate to even have a chance at catching our speedy number 8. Nate was almost there. I screamed and jumped. The other child dove. I screamed and jumped. “He made it! He made it!”

“You’re OUT!” The umpire’s call proved me wrong.

My arms fell to my sides. Nate stood on Third in shock. He shook his head in disbelief and sadness.  His head folded under the weight of his helmet as he was guided off the base. Tears slid down his cheeks. Tears slid down my cheeks.

I’m sorry, Buddy. I know it won’t be the last time you are disappointed on the diamond. I can only hope your little heart doesn’t break each time – for both of our sakes.

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Hollywood on Booker Hill

25 Sep

I’ve seen quite a few interesting things while growing up in my childhood neighborhood in Weirton, West Virginia. There was the time someone stole a roll of our old carpet off our back porch. Two other times, some high school boys thought it would be hilarious to build anatomically correct snowmen on our front steps. Another time, my friend and I thought it would fun to tie blankets together to climb out of my second story bedroom window – you know, like they do in the movies.

Well, now the movies are in my backyard but I’m sadly not there to see it. I’m living through Facebook pictures, news stories and the detailed descriptions from my mom.

I can see my bedroom window in this picture! It's above the crane. (Photo courtesy: http://www.super8news.com)

She and the neighbors we’ve lived next to since before I was born are now outsiders in the middle of movie making. It’s a J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg movie called Super 8 and it’s unreal. Although the neighbors are excited about the opportunity, they’re having to adjust to the change in their day-to-day lives – having to park blocks away and walk, people and movie props (tanks!) all over the place, movie people using my mom’s planters as a garbage can (they cleaned it up) and the security guard who shined his light in her face as she walked to her house. (He said, “I’m the security guard.” She replied, “I’m the neighbor.”) Our one neighbor was also getting a little uneasy about how they kept wanting to use more rooms of her house. They had already gutted the living and dining rooms of all their current possessions to transform it with 70’s style decor – then they added the kitchen, a bedroom and the garage to the movie set. My mom also keeps saying, “I can’t believe how many people they need to make a movie!” Still, it’s hard to complain about something so incredible and they are all anxious to see what it will look like on the big screen.

It’s not just my neighborhood that’s hosting Hollywood either. Many areas throughout the city are feeling the effects of movie magic and – from what it seems – many people are loving it. Here are just a few of the news articles and scoop stories talking about the experience:

I just hope it all turns out to be a great thing for Wild, Wonderful, (Weirton) West Virginia. The city has had its hardships (terrible flooding and a huge hit to the steel mill) and some of the scenery has changed (a “Cafe and More” with video gambling in it on almost every corner) and this movie seems to be a boost for the city. I love my hometown, always have. I would probably still live there if another love (hubs) didn’t have to listen to the Army and move to another state. Funny how we chose a town that reminds us of Weirton, only with a southern spin on it.

Good luck, Weirton! I hope Hollywood is kind to you.

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I don’t Facebook like you anymore

19 Sep

I lost a Facebook friend this week and I can’t fathom why it bothers me like it does. The only reason I even realized my friend number shrunk is because I had an even number – 390. When 389 caught my eye I immediately started to wonder what I did wrong. Did I update too much? Did I offend update? Did I TMI update? Maybe I haven’t been liking any of his/her updates? I say his/her because I have no idea who decided to unfriend me. Some friend I am.

That’s one reason why I can’t understand why I’m so concerned. Why do I need to know what lead to the dumping? Why am I putting myself through this? I thought I was through the phase of wanting validation, acceptance and friendliness from others. Why am I voluntarily involved in something that makes me feel like I did in high school?

On top of that, what is up with us putting the extra level of etiquette and work on ourselves? Did I wish that person a happy birthday? Did I thank someone for wishing me one? Did I respond to that comment in a timely manner? Am I neglecting a friend? Oh my, I missed that terrible news because I have that person hidden! Now, I’m a total jerk. Ah!

Too. Much. Pressure. Also, too much judging. How many people have unfriended/hidden someone because that so-called “friend” posted something annoying/insulting/political/stupid? Even news organizations and others claiming to be experts in the social media field have an opinion on improving your Facebook reputation. CNN wrote about “The 12 most annoying types of Facebookers” (there’s even a quiz for you to test yourself) and a Google search offers plenty of tips on how to be the better updater.

I guess, it’s really not that much different from buying a book or searching for tips on how to be a better in-person communicator or how to make people like you. That’s why I’m wondering if the whole Facebook world is really worth all the extra effort? Keeping friendships in the face-to-face world is hard enough. At least there I know which friends I’ve lost and what happened to cause the sad split. However, I’m pretty sure I’ve never had 389 face-to-face friends at one time. I wonder how much that number will change after I post this?

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A Jug Tavern Festival is Just Right for Kids

11 Sep

It just sounds so wrong though. How could it be ok to take a seven and four-year-old to an event bearing such a name? Well, consider it one of those don’t judge a book lessons. Apparently, the name has nothing to do with alcohol or slang for female parts.

Fest Flying


Even so, I didn’t really care. It was a community shindig and we dig those. This one offered all the usuals – some bouncy things, pony rides, balloon animals (that popped before Nate got his to the car), shaved ice (that made a sticky mess when it spilled in the car), funnel cake, live music, overpriced but “awesome” kid entertainment (the kids loved flying high in the air), arts and crafts and tasty BBQ. That BBQ is what makes this festival a little different than those usuals though.

People from all over have set up fort here for a National BBQ Cook-Off. They’ve parked their suped-up RVs on the grounds, complete with satellite dishes sticking out of five-gallon buckets. The scenes surrounding the RVs were impressive. Some had TVs displaying a football game and others had tables and portable kitchens where older men prepped their pride and joy for the competition. All of them had massive smokers, pits and grills filled with various meat soaking in a secret sauce or dry rub. The smell of deliciousness hovered over the festival, making stomachs growl, mouths water and Nia and Nate worry about all the smoke. “Mommy! That smoke cloud is coming right to us!”

Seems kid-friendly enough for me.

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Better Than Turbo Jets

29 Aug

What happens when you take 100% polyester shorts and put them on an incredibly intense four-year-old? You get speed you would not expect to come from such a small body. (Go to about :30 in to see him take off.)

Nate dubs them his “fast pants” because he believes they help him run faster. He wants to wear them everywhere. We’ve even planned for it – buying one pair for almost every day of the week –

Assortment of Fast Pants

I tell him his shorts aren’t what makes him fast but he won’t hear it. Probably because he doesn’t stand still long enough for me to explain it to him.

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Nia and “Selena”

21 Aug

Selena Gomez (an actress on Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place“) has cast a cute spell on our little girl. Nia loves her show and her music and is now even calling one of her other dolls, Selena. I just wanted to capture all that has been Nia and Selena over the past week.

Selena comes with us on errands or entertainment outings. She came with us to the movies and sat next to Nia on the arm of the chair – enjoying “Ramona and Beezus.”

Selena is the music artist of choice anytime we are in the car.

Selena joins us for breakfast. (Finally, someone is eating slower than Nia!) She was served a pancake and a smoothie. Mysteriously, she made a happy plate and cup.

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