Just Pure Lovely

Pretty Paper Products

Oh, sure.  She can look sweet enough.  But when the UPS guy brings two big boxes full of bright, coordinating, absolutely delicious paper products from Carolina Pad's Eye Candy line...

 

...why, then, the sweet little thing turns into an eye-batting, sly-smiling preteen who takes more than she could possibly need

 and almost more than she can carry.  Never mind that the address label clearly says my name on it!

Those packing up a box for me us were so generous that I was able to keep a load of stuff for myself, too, and our little gal grabbed a few things for herself.  The boys didn't want anything, lucky us. 

I won these pretty goods just for writing a little comment on Carolina Pad's Facebook fan page.  I absolutely meant every word I said (something about finding myself wanting to pay the bills,  work on school planning, write a novel? - just so I could use their pretty paper stuff). 

I very much wanted to win.  You see, I'm the gal whose heart palpitated two days ago as my man and I walked into Staples to fax something boring.  The task was suddenly so not boring the moment we stepped into the store and I  breathed deeply of that ink and paper smell - oh, my!  Never mind that boring fax, there were things to look at: pink and green highlighters I don't need, sticky notes I already own too many of, and, goodness, they have the cutest binder-clip-things these days, sold by the cup!

Lucky for me, really, lucky for my man -- I'd already received this incredibly generous gift from Carolina Pad, so I didn't purchase anything.  I'm set for the rest of the year.  I mean, I thought I was set for the year, until this little scoundrel claimed half the stuff for herself. 

She doesn't even look sorry.

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Book Review: Fearless by Max Lucado

Recently, I was asked to review one of Thomas Nelson Publishers latest books by Max Lucado, Fearless.  I don't always agree to book reviews, since I have a hard time knowing what to do if I don't like the thing, but I'm familiar enough with Max Lucado to know he's pretty good, so agreed. 

Still, the title "Fearless" put me off a bit.  I wasn't sure if I needed a book called that.  I'm the gal who has learned to be unafraid of snakes (as long as they aren't coming at me) and I find such a fascinating beauty in these gals...

  ...that I will often put my nose right up to one to study it better.  Even in non-physical things, I thought, I'm not too fearful.  I've learned through life's hard knocks that most of what we worry over doesn't ever come true.

So I started Max Lucado's book with a this'll-be-good-for-someone sort of attitude.  Not for me, but for someone. 

But.  In chapter 2, I read, "Ah, there it is. There is the question. The Amazon River out of which a thousand fears flow: do we matter?"

Through a poem about The Villagers of Stiltsville and through sentences like, "That's why it bothers us when a friend forgets to call or the teacher forgets our name...," I realized, yep, I do have a bit of fear.  I'm forever worrying over other people's happiness when they're around me, and if I'm ever told someone is unhappy with me, I'm absolutely obsessed over how to fix it.  Why?  I guess it's because I need to matter, too.  

The book covers the fears of disappointing God, of not protecting the kids, of violence, of the coming Winter, and of global calamity among others.  There are a lot of things to be fearful of, aren't there?

This afternoon, while our ballerina was in class, our little gal and I moseyed on to the town library, but on the way we got a sudden urge to browse an antique shop.  Before long, we got to chatting with the store owners, a strongly-accented older couple: he, from London; she, from Germany (they met and married in America!).  He remembers watching the Germans bomb London as a small child.  She remembers the story her mother told of while pregnant with her, caring for their 4 year old and 8 year old , the family barely survived the bombings from the British that leveled their entire town, killing 18,000 that one day. 

They had a reason to fear. 

I don't, really, when you put it that way.

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Holiday Decorating? Done. Well, one thing is.

There you have it.  That's all the Christmas decorating we've done so far. 

Okay, it's all the Christmas decorating she's done so far.  I mean, we haven't done any, either, but I can't take credit for the nativity setup.  She wouldn't allow it.  She sets it up just so each day (or whenever a little person or animal is out of place) and then...

...she folds her hands and smiles every-so-slightly, just like Mary.  They both gaze at Baby Jesus.  And when I'm there to see it, I sigh.  Contentedly.  I like seeing her show a bit of reverence to Baby Jesus, even if it is just a copycat move (how else do these little ones learn?).  And I'm glad that she can put everyone in the right places now.  When the set came in the mail, people and animals were all over the place, more like Fisher Price Little People than a One to Believe nativity set.  We had to read the (included) little booklet to remind her of the Christmas story. 

Monday, we'll go to the local tree farm and select our Christmas tree. We're waiting until the blue skies return and when everyone else will be in school and at work (unemployment has its advantages).  Besides, Monday will be 50 degrees, not 70.   We need a cold (-ish) day to choose our tree. 

Until then, we'll enjoy our little gal's nativity set as our only Christmas decoration.  Have you decorated yet?

p.s. If you want a nativity set like this, too, click on One to Believe's photo of it below, to visit their online store.  They also have other neat toys, most are Fisher Price or Papo -like, but with a Biblical theme, like Jonah and Samson figurines)...

p.s.s. The little deer isn't in the set.  Our little gal added that from her own animals-in-a-tube set. You know the ones?  I'm glad she didn't add a few creatures from the boys' dinosaurs-in-a-tube set.  Maybe deer saw Baby Jesus that night, too.  But dinosaurs?? 

Disney: Day Two at the Mom Blogger Mixer

After a nice continental breakfast, we head to the DisneyWorld's Magic Kingdom.  That's the one with the castle. 

First, we go to a grassy area to get our photos taken by our papparazzi (okay, James) in front of Cinderella's castle.  Because we're princesses.  You know.  All girls are.

Visiting the Magic Kingdom is so surreal.  Every tiny detail is thought out.  Every. Tiny. Detail.  The topiaries are even dancing!

      

I could learn a lot about housekeeping from Disney.

After a delicious lunch at the Hollywood Brown Derby, we head off to Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios) to scoop the media by being the first non-Disney people to tour the new Toy Story ride, called Toy Story Mania.  It will be open in a couple months.   

While in the waiting line at Toy Story Mania, you won't be bored as you are surrounded by recognizable toys, which are all your size (or are you their size?).  Lincoln Logs, game boards, TinkerToys and a Mr. Potato Head are together, surrounding your tiny self.  While touring the still-under-construction set, Mr. Potato Head surprised us by dropping his ear (!) in the middle of our tour.   The Imagineer (our guide) said it wasn't on purpose, but I think  know Mr. Potato Head looked guilty.  It was frightening having a giant ear clang to the ground.  I hope Mr. Potato Head pulls it together before the opening day!    I didn't see a Mrs. Potato Head, and that's probably the problem right there.

After a visit to PlayHouse Disney (a show) and a parade, we go back to our rooms to rest (whew) and prepare for a full evening. 

Walking out of the lobby, looking so pretty (ie. no spit-up on our shirts), we're surprised by Michelle, our Disney hostess, who has brought us three white stretch limos, complete with chauffeurs in ties.  Champagne, Cokes, and water are in each limo.  I can't remember ever being in a limo before.  I think I might be able to get used to being treated like that.

 

(I'm in the black and white top. Wish I didn't just tell you that. I don't like being in front of the camera)

Steven, our limo driver, takes us to the California Grill, which I've been told is the best restaurant at Disney.  I know one thing:  it's on the 15th floor and has an awesome view

and awesome food.

One of the fun things about our trip is getting to meet Disney experts.  At the California Grill, while someone strums a guitar, we're introduced to two of Disney's top chefs.  I ask one of the chefs (a lady from Germany) if I can take her home to be our family's personal chef. 

"We'll give you lots of appreciation.  No money, but we'll thank you."

She refuses my offer.  Ah, well.  You just never know.

That leads us into a quick chat about cooking, and after hearing my frustration over my cooking skills (must have a recipe.  must follow the recipe. can't find a recipe. didn't think ahead.  peanut butter and jelly, everyone?), she says something that I hope changes my cooking skills forever.

"You don't need a recipe!  Just taste.  If it tastes good to you, its good!"  She suggests adding a dab of, say, sauce or spice to a recipe and tasting that.  If it's good, add more.  If not, well, don't.

And she suggests thinking of what takes the longest to cook and cooking that first, adding that the starch (rice, potatoes) usually takes the longest. 

I know, that's really simple advice.  But I'm a simple gal and need simple advice.   

After dinner, we get into our limos again to head to the Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba show, one of my favorite shows on Earth.  No, I think it is my favorite show on Earth.  But I've only been to one.  But, still, it would be even if I'd gone to more than one.   

After the Cirque, we meet two of the La Nouba performers, the singer and the ballerina, who are also moms.  We're able to ask them a few questions about how they juggle motherhood and work.  Inspiring girls, those two!

So ends our very long but very memorable second day at the Disney Mom Blogger Mixer.  Here is JoLynne and I in the limo on the way back.  We look a bit more tired, but quite happy! 

So, happy, in fact, that we're glowing, it seems.

Disney: Day One, After Dark

After I wake up, I head to the hotel lobby to quake in my heels meet the other bloggers and our Disney hostesses.  My fears are for naught; everyone is so approachable and easy to talk with that I feel at ease almost immediately. 

This weekend ends up being one of the most pleasant gatherings-of-women that I've been to, as there wasn't any one person trying to take all the attention or be the know-it-all or always be the leader.

Hmm.  It just occurred to me that that person never realizes that they are being that way.

Oh. So then, was it me? 

Nah.

We chat easily with one another, going from person to person, genuinely interested in each other.  Talking with these other gals was certainly my favorite part of the entire trip.  It starts this Friday evening  in the lobby and continues until the airport on Sunday.  We seriously do not ever stop chatting.  Without kids interrupting, or men to fuss at, we talk and talk and talk. 

We enjoy cocktails under a poolside gazebo with a photographer assigned to take candid photos of us.  We can't help but snicker and call him our papparazzi, but honestly we're more like tourists as we're snapping more photos than he is.  After this, we make our way to Italy. 

Italy, as in the Italy part of Epcot.  You knew that. 

The Italian dinner is fabulouso.  I order salmon after a short hesitation because I don't know if Italy is known for its salmon.  Is it?  Or is it just something they stick on the menu for non-pasta people?  I mean, ordering salmon in Italy - is that like my kid ordering a hamburger at the local Gulfside seafood joint?  But on the menu it is called Salmone, so I justify it by saying it just like that: sal-a-mone-ee in my best fake Italian accent when I order.

Our Italian chef insists on us staying for his desserts, even though we have an appointment in the United Kingdom for dessert.  Oh, well, if he insists, we might as well accept.  Sigh.  While we're eating our desserts, someone from the United Kingdom comes by and says, "The Italian desserts are good, but ours are better! Save room!"

I think every one of us takes a photo of the Italian desserts.  By the end of the weekend we are so used to fancy things that we don't take photos of our food anymore.  But tonight, we do:

The strawberry is my favorite.  I'm a simple gal.

Disney people with bright red glowing light stick things lead us through the mob crowd from Italy to the United Kingdom.  The tourists stare at us and after a quick look to see if we're someone famous, definitely not, they seem to wonder why we are so all-important.   I wonder the same.  I want to yell to them, "Start a blog!  You just never know!" 

But instead I accept my wonderful fate and follow the red glowing stick to a private area to watch Illuminations, Epcot's light and fireworks show. 

This show is my mother's all-time favorite show on Earth, well, no she really likes the dolphins at Sea World, so it's her second all-time favorite show on Earth, and I think of her the entire time. She would absolutely love every minute of watching Illuminations right on the lakefront in a reserved area, without any crowd, with candle-lit tables and our very own guy serving our second helping of desserts, coffee and tea.  Start a nana blog, ma.  You just never know.

Sigh.  There's even a full moon.

We get three more hours to roam the park, but, honestly, we're all too wiped out.  After one ride, we head back to our pretty hotel for the night. 

Next:  Day Two!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More friends have posted their perspective of Day One:  Kris at Clever Parents, Elizabeth at Table for Five , MaryBeth Whalen at Cheaper by the Half Dozen and Stephanie at  Adventures in Babywearing, who posted the evening in a separate post, here. 

(note:  here is an explanation of why I was in Disney)

Oh, now, this is fun.

"Did you order something from Land's End?" My man called my cell to ask while I was at the eye doctor's shop this morning.  The neighbor had called him to let him know a package was on our front porch.

Why, no, I hadn't ordered anything this time, but  I was immediately struck with a curiosity that made the next hour of waiting nearly unbearable.  What could have possibly arrived with my name on it? I adore surprises in the form of packages.

Here's what I found in the big box left on my front porch:

(No, silly, not the kayak.  Can you imagine the UPS guy bringing that or Land's End sending it?)   

Land's End heard about my upcoming Mommy Blogger Weekend at Disney, so sent a beautiful (and big!) beach bag and a giraffe towel (with pink edging; love it) for my trip to Orlando.  Land's End is one of those companies that have discovered that we moms are great at marketing amongst each other.  Cool, huh?

I'm excited about these companies paying more attention to what we moms want.  It's an exciting time to be a mommyblogger.  Johnson & Johnson recently hosted Camp Baby, Disney is hosting a Mommy Blogger Weekend (next Friday, yay!), and last fall Hewlett Packard asked for reviews of their photo books (that link takes you to the one I wrote on my former blog), while Precious Moments started a Precious Moms area on their site.  These companies, and others, have discovered that they should listen to mommies, because we moms like to (and will!) share our likes and dislikes with each other.  Duh, right? 

It seems that mommies are holding the television remote less often and  picking up the laptop a bit more often, so the companies are searching for us where we are...online!  I'm especially happy for our internet obsession, as I think the internet offers more than television, in the form of community, self-education, and just overall coolness (um, I should disclose that I am watching American Idol with a zillion other people this evening for their Idol Gives Back Show; I'm no purist, you know). We moms have so much to offer each other.

So, mamas, keep blogging.  Let's keep those companies listening to us. Imagine!  We can let them know our biggest peeves with their equipment/packaging/etc. and know that we finally have a listening ear, not just a far away executive committee's wild guess of what we like.

~ Lori Seaborg