Last night I had a proud mama moment.   My 3 yr old son, Everett, learned to use the computer mouse.

Occasionally when I’m on computer, Ev asks to play a game.  This usually consists of Ev sitting on my lap watching while I click the buttons.

This time I googled “Preschool Games” and came accross the JumpStart 3D Virtual World.   The first few minutes I took control but then the phone rang.   Being an impatient 3 year old, my son went ahead and took control of the mouse.   He didn’t quite get the hang of clicking but it was a start.   

As we went through the Virtual World, he was very interested.   The images were very colorful.   It leads you thought the scenes with a trail of letters.   My son hasn’t learned his letters yet but it may be a big help.

We went through the movie booth, the music brought a smile to his face.   Then we moved onto the bulletin board and the art space.   The art space was definately his thing. 

I helped him pick a picture and get the paintbucket tool.  Then away he went.   He started to get the hang of the mouse and clicking the buttons.   Soon the whole picture was green. 

The house was green.

The sky was green.  

 The dog was even green.

We switched to a new picture of a train.

“Ev, would you like to use another color?”

“No, Green”

“Ev, do you like green?”

“Yes”

We repeated this about 6 times going back and forth between pictures.

But repitition was good.  

Soon Ev was positioning the mouse to get into the tiny little pieces to turn them green.   If he was having a really hard time, I would hold the back of the mouse to help him position it.   I was being sneaky.  He didn’t even know I was helping him.

I’m so proud.

Ok I’ll admit it.  I love my Granny socks.   Yes I’m talking about those lovely looking support hose.  

I just happen to discover them by mistake.   I had a pair in my drawer from when I was pregnant and swelling up like a balloon.    I couldn’t find any of my trouser socks to wear with my knee high boots.   As a last resort, I just grabbed the support hose.    

They have been my favorites ever since.

Why on earth would I pick support hose?  I’m 28.  I’m not an old granny.

• Normally 8 hours in high heel boots would cause my feet to ache.   Not in support hose.
• Trouser socks fall down at some point and need to be adjusted.    Not in support hose.
• Boots a little tight.   Throw on some support hose.

Well I may look like a dork right now, but hey my legs will never look like this:

I swear every time I go to Target I look for the sign on the door that says “minimum purchase $40″.   I cannot step in that store without spending more than that.  Well I did once.  It was freaky.   But it was at lunchtime, I was in a time crunch, and on a mission.   

For instance this weekend, I went to buy my son a new pillow since the last two I forgot to put waterproof pillow covers on and he threw up all over it.   Yeah I think we’ll just throw this away.   By the time I left I spend $100.   Oh might as well get two pillows for our bed to replace the 20 year old down pillows.   Oh yeah my hubby broke the lamp let me just get a new one.

Now today I ventured onto Etsy for my first time for a hairbow.   Actually this $7 hairbow by 2goldgirls to be specific:

$100 dollars later I checked out. 

So what else did I get?

New props for my budding photography business.   (Did I tell you that I will one day be an overpaid child photographer?)

A beautiful cocoon/papoose by petstafford

Baby Skin by Marta Locklear

Red felt flower headband by LouandLee

Yesterday, I received the tracking number for my package from Amazon.com.   I’ve only tracked the progress like 4 times today.  For the record, it hasn’t moved.  I’ve already warned our UPS man at work that I will be stalking him this week.   

So what’s in my package that is so exciting?   This….

Nikon SB-600 Flash – I’m so excited to be able to bounce flash. 

and this…

Adobe Creative Suite Design Edition – includes only the best graphic design program ever – Photoshop!

and this…

PowerDirector – This was rated really well as a home movie production software.  We’ll see!

Now you know why its completely justified that I stalk the UPS man!

I’ve wanted to get a pair of Uggs for the longest time.  I’m talking the real sheep skin lined boots not the cheap knock offs.   More for the function that the style.  

But I just found these boots and  I really like them.  But I’m not sure how they will look on a mom with 2 kids.

Whats is your take?

So did you ever think you would hear cello and classic rock in the same sentence? Neither did I, but Low Strung has done it beautifully. They have remixed classic rock songs such as Don’t Stop Believin’, Livin’ on a Prayer, and Stairway to Heaven.

For the past month, this CD has not come out of my car and my MP3 player is always set on Low Strung.  

I recently started taking a drawing class.  I was quite freak out by this class.  You see I’ve never been an artist.   But its required for a graphic design major.  This is where Low Strung comes in.  Their music is inspiring.   It is soothing.   As you listen, you can envision an artist feverishly working on a piece.   That is what it does to me.

Low Strung perfect background music for a young hip dinner party, a soak in a tub, or even for wedding music.  That is how I actually discovered Low Strung.   Me Ra Koh is an amazing photographer.  She recently posted a photo montage on her website using Low Strung as the background music.  I thank her for introducing me to Low Strung.

About Low Strung:

Low Strung unites the classical virtuosity of twelve cellists with their indomitable rock and roll spirit as we play some of your favorite rock anthems. The CD includes a bonus 12th track not available as a digital download.

For too long the cello has lived in the shadows. Centuries of tired bass lines and harmonies have left the unique versatility of the cello largely unrecognized. That is about to change. Formed at Yale University in 2004, Low Strung unites the classical virtuosity of twelve cellists with their indomitable rock and roll spirit. These twelve tracks, all time-tested rock anthems, lay bare the most extreme capabilities of the cello: heartbreaking beauty, bone-crunching rawness, and everything in between.

I know its too late for Christmas but I’d love to introduce you to Fine Handmade Silver Jewelry by Juanita Bitonti of Lookie-Lookie. I can’t tell you how much I love her work. Usually once a week we all gather at the front desk in our office, to ohhh and ahhh over her new pieces.   This is exactly how Juanita’s company was born.   As she showed off her new jewelry pieces, it always started with “lookie lookie.”  

One of my favorite pieces is the VerteBracelet.  This piece resembles old chainmail.  The intricate rings are joined together to form this classic looking piece.   If you are a jewelry lover, you must stop by her website.

About the artist:
Making art jewelry is very exciting for me. When designing a piece, I desire to invoke cherished memories…memories of mysteries, people and places. When someone says, “I love it – I wear your jewelry all the time”, I get a rush of adrenaline that justifies the work I put into each creation. I love the research and design involved in creating jewelry. Incorporating charming textures, engaging patterns and attractive shapes inspires me to create the elegant and fun, yet functional, jewelry that can be worn by anyone, anytime, anywhere. Wearing beautiful jewelry is empowering!

Juanita Bitonti
Artisan/Owner
Lookie-Lookie.com

So why I need the BOON High Chair….because anything has to have better brakes then the chair we have now. Why is that important you ask? Because my children love M&M’s…

This is where we keep the M&M’s….way up high on top of the fridge….instead of way up high on top of the shelf above the potty…but that is another story…

This is big brother standing on the counter getting the M&M’s

How did he get up there you ask?

“Hey mom, did you know the high chair makes a nice sturdy stool? Much better than balancing the plastic stool precariously placed on the toilet! Hey Mitchell you’ve got to get up here! I’ll share the M&Ms with you!”

I guess Mom needs to find a new hidding spot for the M&M jar.

Or get a new high chair that stays parked under the kitchen table where she left it. Please Please Please pick me….I have a really good home for the old highchair…

FYI to family and friends I’m trying to win a highchair from momdot.com