Every Nursery needs a theme!

I started with a pink and brown theme, and then I tried to add a touch of my favorite animal. Can you tell what my favorite animal is??? Did I go overboard?

Lastly, two very sweet girlfriends donated to my cause! (Or my love of giraffes!)

What Happened When I Discovered iPhoto Booth

Jeff and I got a Mac a couple weeks ago. I've found some cool applications, Photo Booth is one that has been around, but is new to me. This is what happens when Lauren and I discover something new and cool...and have too much free time!

Lauren wasn't nearly as impressed or excited as I was about this application find....

The Opposite of a Compulsive Shopper

I have been way into A&E's television series, "Hoarders". It amazes me how much people hold onto things and how messy someone's home can be, but it doesn't bother that person. There was one episode that stood out to me because the wife was a compulsive shopper and her husband was a hoarder, so together they didn't quite make a good team.

I almost fall under the compulsive shopper category because I LOVE TO SHOP! I'm at Target every other day and I frequent the mall just about every weekend. Sometimes I just feel better after spending a little money, even if it's just a buck for a Coke...yeah, as if the money was literally burning a hole in my pocket.

I have something helpful on my side, however. "Buyer's remorse". If it's something I don't really need, I tend to return it within a week. The people at Target probably recognize me, and maybe some should even start asking me, "Hey Maxene, do you really NEED this? Or really WANT it? You could always leave it on the rack and think about it..."

So, I'm a Compulsive Returner. Technically, this could be a good thing. That, or I should learn patience and just wait on certain items. My new motto should consist of a 3 step process: (1) Do I need the item? If yes, than get it. If no, than (2) Do I really want the item, like life would be better with it? If no, than don't get it. If yes, than (3) go home, sleep on it, and if I remember the item in a few days, than go see if it's on sale to determine the final purchasing decision.

Maybe cats aren't so bad after all

I don't quite know what it is about me and cats, but we don't get along. I think it had something to do with a black farm cat that scratched my eye (or maybe it was my sister's eye) when I was a little girl. Ever since then (that and the persistent allergies) I haven't been a big fan of cats...until I saw this youtube clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_uuN5kuq74

There you have it.

Ring Leader

I wouldn't say I come up with a lot of good ideas. I'm not the dare devil who comes up with a brilliant game plan or activity and gets all my friends to follow in suit. No, I'm definitely one of the many who follows behind that ring leader no matter if it's for good or for trouble! My husband, on the other hand, was born a ring leader. Jeff has had more broken bones, stitches, and trips to the emergency room than anyone else I know. He's also a "do-er". When there's an idea out there, he's the one up front making sure it's carried out. A week or so ago, he had one of these great ideas. He got a golf ball catcher a while back as a gift, and since has not had to buy a single ball at the store. Last week, for our Family Home Evening, we had dinner and for our activity, we went to the golf course to go on a "walk". We waited till dark, brought our flashlights, and packed Lauren in the stroller with some blankets. As we walked to the designated water hazards, it was not to enjoy the view nor to appreciate the fairways. We proceeded to fish for golf balls with Jeff's catcher. We even came up with a game plan if we sensed issues. Jeff was to run out of sight and I would casually continuing strolling on my "nightly walk" which just happened to cross through holes 16 and 17. We would meet up at the old house I grew up in. I'm sure we looked very suspicious. We only had one close call, and 3 dozen balls later proved to be worth it. It's true, we're getting older but we're not growing up!

Lauren, Part-Time Model

My sisters and I all love to take model shots when we're goofing around. One of us will come up with a scenario, we'll all get ready, and then we'll pose for that scenario while someone takes the picture. It's a pretty fun game.

Lauren was particularly playful this morning, so I tried to catch some good mommy-daughter shots.

This first one was supposed to be a regular smile pose. This next one was supposed to be "curiously suspenseful". I went for pure fierce, and Lauren went for her signature, pure terrified look.

Brian WIlliams, My News Hero

I usually don't watch the news for two reasons. One, being that most of news is sad, depressing, or scary. As a new mom, I've got my own fears of Lauren choking on something, calling Grandma "Mom" and not recognizing me, and wanting to call the doctor when we've reached the fourth day of no poop; and that is without the news' stories of the negatives. The second reason is because Jeff and I don't have cable so we haven't had the chance to catch much news.

Recently, he figured out how to get a few select channels for free by streaming them from our HD television. We get NBC, ABC, and PBS (and a handful of Spanish soap opera channels.) Tonight, Brian Williams reminded me that there is a lot in the world that is not negative.

http://www.hulu.com/search?query=chicken+vs.+egg+came+first+NBC&st=0

I think I can rest peacefully after a story like that. I am curious, however, as to where that chicken came from?