Saturday, August 28, 2010

Birmingham in Pictures

My trip to Birmingham last weekend can pretty much be summed up with pictures. I had a blast helping with the garage sale and subsequent house demo. Wish we could hang out more sissy!!!

But first, husband was unable to come because when we arrived home from work on Friday, Bart had pooped/puked allllllllllllllll over his doggle crate. Suffice to say, husband stayed behind to take care of that hot mess and take him to the emergency vet. His hiney was bleeding too. TMI yet? :D

He is all okay now, except when I came home on Monday and he had puked again in the crate. The vet thinks he has a virus of some sort. Until that is all cleared up, he and his big brother are staying in our tiled bathroom during the day. Maybe it is too hot in the garage?? We have a big box fan blowing on them. I'm not sure.


John brought us all burritos from Salsarita's (their restaurant) at lunch on Saturday. YUM! I took this picture because my sissy's FIL was using this fork. The only fork left in the house. It's actually looking like a meat turner thing/stabber. Hilare.


Precious Letta-she will be 4 months old soon!!

Naked Emma banging Grandpa's old pots and pans
Yes Britt, it is a Southern thing!



"Umm, hello Parpa. Can I have a bite of that McGriddle??"
She stalked my dad for bites of this until it was gone.




Dad and Emma chilling. She is feeding herself. :D




Got Junk? Ummm, yeah, I think so. This was taken before they were done.
Dude had to strap a tarp on top after all was said and done.
Yeah, that's a copier from 1987.




Emma and Nonnie playing the piano




Sister blowing darts out of Grandpa's blowgun
While smoking. In the garage. In a white velvet armchair
(that was stained to H and back)
Yikes.




Emma and her new best friend (dad).
He is letting her hold his cup of ice water.
She kept "fishing" in the cup for ice.



On the way home!
I'm excited to see my daddy!


The End. (As Amy says! :D)

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Signs

I have always wanted to teach Emma how to sign before she was verbal. I had allllll these ideas of things I was going to do when I had a baby. That was before. I cannot find the time with a full time job and one year old to research the best signing programs and actually implement them with Emma.

I have read many blogs where people (friends, even) are successfully teaching their babies to sign. Signing is proven to be a great pre-verbal agreement with children to get them used to communicating.

Being a teacher, I love "research based" theories. I know that language is super important and forms a child's educational background. Many people know that talking to your child ("regular talk" and baby talk), reading to and with your child, and now signing, are ways to help your child to become verbal earlier and in more advanced ways.

When Emily, the Communications Coordinator for Primrose Schools, contacted me and asked if I would share an article she wrote on signing, I jumped at the chance! Like I said before, I am a big fan of signing and am trying to work on it now with Emma. I still think she could pick it up and become a fan. :D

So, I hope you will read and enjoy the article that was co-written by Emily. It's copied below. Any questions? Send them my way!

Also, who has signed with their kids and what were your results???







Children Should Learn Sign Language Early to Earn a Competitive Edge

One of the keys to surviving in a tilted economic system in which opportunities to achieve a decent standard of living will be limited is versatility – and the ability to communicate articulately in a variety of ways with the widest possible audience. This includes bilingual ability as well as the ability to communicate in non-verbal ways for the benefit of the disabled – primarily the deaf.

At the same time, a growing shortage of qualified interpreters fluent in American Sign Language has led to more career opportunities – and if current trends continue, it's likely that skilled ASL interpreters will have little problem securing lucrative employment in a society where such a commodity is destined to be in short supply.

Signing Before They Can Speak

A great deal of research has clearly demonstrated that the early years – ages 2 to five – are the best time to educate children in different modes of communication and language. This goes beyond the spoken word (though it is an optimal time for children to learn a second language); many young children have an aptitude for signing as well.

This is not as odd as you may think. As you know, many indigenous peoples around the world,
including American Indian nations, have used sign language for centuries to facilitate communication with other tribes with whom they do not share a language. Some paleontologists and anthropologists theorize that Neanderthals – who apparently lacked the vocal mechanism to produce many spoken words – depended a great deal upon hand gestures to communicate.

In fact, recent research suggests that sign language is innate. An article published in the Boulder Daily Camera in 2003 presented strong evidence that babies as young as six months old communicate with their hands:

"...by 6 to 7 months, babies can remember a sign. At eight months, children
can begin to imitate gestures and sign single words. By 24 months, children
can sign compound words and full sentences. They say sign language reduces
frustration in young children by giving them a means to express themselves
before they know how to talk." (Glarion, 2003)

The author also cites study funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development demonstrating that young children who are taught sign language at an early age actually develop better verbal skills as they get older. The ability to sign has also helped parents in communicating with autistic children; one parent reports that "using sign language allowed her to communicate with her [autistic] son and minimized his frustration...[he now] has an advanced vocabulary and excels in math, spelling and music" (Glarion, 2003).

The Best Time To Start

Not only does early childhood education in signing give pre-verbal youngsters a way to communicate, it can also strengthen the parent-child bond – in addition to giving children a solid foundation for learning a skill that will serve them well in the future. The evidence suggests that the best time to start learning ASL is before a child can even walk – and the implications for facilitating the parent-child relationship are amazing.

Co-written by Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas

Emily and Kathleen are Communications Coordinators for the Zionsville child care facility, a member of the AdvancED® accredited family of Primrose Schools (located in 16 states throughout the U.S.) and part of the network of Indiana child care preschools delivering progressive, early childhood, Balanced Learning® curriculum.

Emily Patterson
Communications Coordinator
Primrose Schools
epatterson@primroseschools.com

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

It's time for a........

Things I'm loving right now post:


Crystal Lite packets-specifically Raspberry Lemonade








Obvi, my phone



Korres natural foundation



Whole Wheat bagel thins and WW cream cheese



A new jumbo Tervis tumbler with my school logo on it




Things I want to be loving right now:


new sheets!


TB Revas





a new kitchen table


a deluxe label maker


Sigh. A girl can dream, right? Family..........that was my Christmas list........hint, hint.


Things I want to be doing right now:


sitting in a clean house


playing with my sissy while fixing up her new house


reading books


playing WWF


reading tweets


What am I doing?
Obviously blogging. But also, folding laundry and cleaning up dinner aftermath.


On another note, does anyone use TweetDeck for iPhone? I got it and have no clue how to use it. And can't find any help for it. I mean, it can't be that hard to figure out, right? Right? Someone help me please so I can be a better tweeter! :D
Edited to add: no thanks TweetDeck, Ima go with echofon. Peace.


What are you all loving/wishing for/doing/wanting to be doing??





Monday, August 23, 2010

You Decide...

I have a situation and I need your input.

If you follow me on Twitter, you've already heard most of this.

I want your honest opinion.

Today I went to the gym to walk/run in the cardio/movie room. When I got there, a gym employee was cleaning the treadmills and ellipticals and had the lights on. There were about 3 people working out while watching 10,000BC. I went in and got started, then begin reading blogs while power walking (which is quite a feat in itself.) :D

About 5 minutes later, a woman came in and went to the third/back row of the treadmills and proceeded to get on her cell phone and talk in a very loud voice. The women around me were getting pissed and saying things to each other and me. I was agreeing with them. Finally, a woman in the row in front of us said, "That's it, I've had it, I'm going to tell the manager."

During all of this, the employee was still cleaning the machines and the other ladies asked him to turn up the movie volume twice to compensate for "loud talkers" voice.

I would read a few blogs, put down my phone, swing my arms, pick it back up and read, increase the incline, jog, read some more, etc. Finally, the manager came in and had some words with the woman. She got pissed off.

She started saying, "Well, that lady's texting is bothering me! Make her stop! (referring to me-reading blogs-not texting-and anyway, texting is not a LOUD voice).

I ignored her and kept on. They told her that I wasn't breaking any rules and that I wasn't being disruptive.

The girls next to me were like, "Oh no she didn't, waht a cah-ray-zee ....................." About one minute after the manager left, they turned off the lights, and girlfriend KEPT SHOUTING TO ME that the "brightness" of my screen was distracting her from her workout.

No licken. Momma is getting riled.

I started getting pissed.

Girlfriend gets off her machine and comes up to me in the middle of my workout and basically cusses me out. Saying I am distracting and I should have to leave and put my phone up. I told her to shove it and get out of my face. Basically. I also informed her that I wasn't talking at mach 10. Really Susannah, mach 10 doesn't describe sound levels. It's speed. But good one.

She stormed out.

Without cleaning her machine. Figures. She's one of those people.

Now, I want your honest opinion. On the cell phone talking in the movie room. On the fuh-reaking out. And on the "attack" on me, practically an innocent bystander. And on me, my little reaction to her heinous ways.

What would you have done/said??

Please share and be honest! No hard feelings if you think I was in the wrong.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Etcetera-basically, a Thursday Randomosity


SO.


So sorry I have been SUCH a slack blogger. I am having a really hard time getting back into the mix of working, cooking, cleaning, caring for baby, and everything else that comes with being a wife and mom! Plus, when you add a new iPhone into that mix, you can basically just forget it on anything of value being accomplished.


Since the glorious arrival day last Saturday, I have not been much good for anything, unless you count my new talents of:


*Words with Friends (southernsass30-play me)

*Twitter (@edwardsedition)

*Mobile RSS-to keep up with all y'all-sorry for the major lack of comments!!!

*Facebook on the go

*Email non stop-like at a traffic life.
*Did I mention Words with Friends
*PS please leave me some more app recommendations!


You would think I would be totally caught up on all of my technologically important items, but alas, it seems I have added more items to the mix. More things to play with and check on. It's addicting and I may have to put myself through detox. Because I don't want to be on it all the time. That annoys me when I see other people acting like their phone/life is so important that they can't be bothered to put it down and interact. Puh-lease.


However, it is quite rad. I can take pics and videos in 2.5 seconds, have "face time" with other iPhone4 users, and just generally do things faster and be in this century with a phone. JDub, I felt feel your pain on your last post about your phone! :D


Sissy and LG have been walking me through quite a bit of questions. I will text one of them a stupid thing like, "How do you email a picture," and they're like, "For the Love woman, here is how." Thanks ladies.


In news that doesn't revolve around my phone, we are going to Birmingham this weekend to have a garage sale with sissy on all of grandpa's items. If you didn't know, my sissy and BIL are moving into and renting my grandpa's house. It is going to be awesome for them!


I have been having problems with my time management lately. I wonder why. I am not going to bed until like 11, then getting up at 5, and that doesn't work out real well for someone who requires 8 hours or more. Not well at all.


I feel so behind on everything like laundry, bills, shopping, menu planning, time with friends, etc. I am trying to make time for important things like going to the gym, WW, playing with the family, etc. I am still not in my lesson planning/copies/newsletter/8 other bajillion things I must get done in a teacherly week mode yet. That better hurry up and get here.


I feel like I had so much more random things to share with you. Now I can't remember. Again, I feel disconnected from you all from lack of blogging and commenting. Please forgive. I will try to NOT read blogs on my phone cause I don't like to comment via phone. It takes to long to do all the signing in, word verification (which is BS if you ask me) and all the other commenty steps.


I am reading and keeping up and miss/love you all!


xoxo


Sunday, August 15, 2010

First Birthday-Finally!

I know you've all been waiting patiently for the birthday party remix! (Ha-only Nonnie and FeFe have been really).


Let's start the weekend off by making 8 bajillion sugar cookies, then taking them to your best friend to ice the day before the party. Because you A)don't know how to make icing OR use it, and B)you don't have enough to do, and C)your one year old needs to give out a party favor. Yeah. Here is the scene.










Those are the number one and the other oddly shaped things are supposed to be cupcakes. I'm not even going to LINK YOU to the radical cookies Sweet Tea Diaries made, but suffice it to say they put mine to shame. There were exactly what I had in mind. Next year, I will pay her to do it for me. OK, go to her blog and look at the cookies.






The next morning the birthday girl starting turning tricks early with her new stroller. And, she is wearing her 9 month old bathrobe. Super cute. She pushed this stroller around all weekend.






Scene of the crime before we set up the "cake table."




Stuff everywhere!!



My bestie's kids-(the cookie icer)-Reed and Sara Kay.
He is Emma's future husband-an older man.
He sported a mohawk for her party. Cause he knew she liked it. :D



Emma with Poppy and FeFe. They took her (thank goodness)
the day before the party and went places with her all day so sissy
and I could shop for food, cook, and clean.




Just cause she's a bundle of cuteness-my niece!
(Don't you just want to smoosh her fat rolls and LOVE her face off!!)




Emma was borrowing the tutu. And playing music.



I may have to start buying balloons all the time. These kept her occupied for a good hour. She was loving the weights on the bottom too.





The "cake table"
















Emma's giant cupcake smashcake!!

It was soooo good!


Nonnie and Emma



Birthday girl!! xoxox



Front of the house decorations-precious wrought iron birthday cake from FeFe
and LOTS of balloons!



Sweet girl!!



Sweet Gracie! She never lets me love all up on her. She was giving it away at the party! Everyone wanted to take her home with them!!



Having snack




Sarah with Harrison-he is toooo cute and looks just like his sissy Kirkland.




Umm, no thanks on the birthday hat.




Kirkland was stalking the cake table. Look at that face.
Yikes Emily, you have your work cut out for you! :D




This was the White Water area in the backyard. It was awesome!!



I may or may not have bought a bubble machine from Party City for a (paltry) $15.
Hit of the party.





Sara Kay was modeling the NYC glasses from Brooke!




The aftermath. We were exhausted and fell asleep on the floor at 3 pm, woke up at 5 pm, kept eating/drinking till 11 pm, then promptly passed out!



We had such a great time! I cannot wait for the second birthday party! And you better believe that until she is old enough to ask for stuff, I am planning the heck out of a family BBQ/swim party!!!

Friday, August 13, 2010

I got it. Today. My eyes are burning. I have been "playing" since six o'clock. :D

I am on twitter now too
@edwardsedition

Be back sometime this weekend (hopefully!)
xoxo

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Grilled Vegetable Salad

A few people asked for this incredible grilled vegetable salad recipe. I got it from a fellow blogger, but don't remember who. If you know who/what it is from, please let me know so I can give credit! Also, the original blog had a great picture, but I inhaled mine too fast to photograph! :D

*1 Zucchini
*1 Summer Squash
*1 Onion
*Romaine hearts-I only used 1, but it could do with 2)
*Cherry or Grape tomatoes (about half a carton)
*Feta
*Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, EVOO, kosher salt,
freshly ground black pepper (for dressing)

Half the squash, zucchini, and onion. Brush with EVOO and grill until soft. Leave the core of the romaine heart intact, and cut each in half. Brush with EVOO and grill for about 2 minutes. Grill the cherry/grape tomatoes (I used a grill basket for the lettuce and tomatoes). After all veggies are grilled, cut them up into bite size chunks. Plate it. Add as much feta as you like. I used reduced fat and it was still incredible. Make the dressing out of dijon, white wine vinegar, and EVOO, salt/pepper. I really just estimated in a little ramekin. Honestly, this would be just as good without dressing if you add salt and pepper. You have that natural goodness of the EVOO and smoky grilled veggies shining through. We served this with a pork tenderloin and a bag of Uncle Ben's 90 second brown rice. DELISIOSO!!!

Peace.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tuesday Randomosity

Cause I can't go one week without a randomosity post. And, cause I'm still procrastinating on the birthday blog. No reason, just tired, overworked, and lazy!


*So, the first day of school was yesterday. I wore this dress in a dusty rose (with a NY&Co cardi thing over it). Super cute and got lots of compliments. Bonus: I was comfy!





*I wore this dress today (in black) with a pair of wedges. Basically, I ravaged NY&Co and Loft on Sunday. More photos to come. And, as mentioned above, I didn't wear the heinous booties-sorry, I cannot get down with that trend. I live in GEORGIA, not NY.





*Ummmm yeah, I miss my phone. I tried at least 4 times yesterday to text and/or call someone on the way home from work. Boo hiss. I need communications while in the car. I did talk to AT&T today and my phone was ordered on Saturday. So, I am hoping for a Friday arrival of THE PHONE.


(Livin' in 2000. Yeah, that was me.)
*I went to the gym yesterday. The dude at the desk was all like, "No soliciting." I was like, "Dude, I am a member here. You just haven't seen me in 9 bajillion weeks!" It hurt.
*First day of school was pretty rad. As was the second.
*OK-lots (read 4) of you asked for "background" on Shasta a.k.a. My Brunette Reality, etc. Here is what I know (cause I love her.)
-She lives in the Pacific NW-Washington state I think.
-She is loaded and dresses super cute and takes pictures of her outfits.
-She is TINY and adorable.
-She changes hair colors/extensions all the time.
-She is like a PA or something at a dermatologist office. She does lots of recs on skin care stuff.
-She is smart-even though people are mean to her and degrade her-she keeps on.
-She has a history with depression and stuff and when people are "mean" to her on her blogs, she basically shuts down, deletes, and moves on/makes another blog.
-She has three kids.
Lots of y'all (again, read 4) have told me she deleted her "old" blog cause she felt it was getting too personal. Now she is writing for CupcakeMAG. I am now reading that "fashion blog" JUST for my Shasta fix. I can't really explain it-I just like her and want to befriend her in real life. :D
*And, cause it's been like 4 months, I figured why not post a MENU MONDAY!
Even if it's Tuesday. Shhhhhhhh!

Monday-grilled veggie rigatoni
Tuesday-pork tenderloin with brown rice and grilled veggie salad
Wednesday-chicken salad with fruit and crackers
Thursday-WW turkey sausage and pepper pasta pot with salad
Friday-grilled chicken salad with garlic bread
Saturday-linguine with sun dried tomatoes and grilled veggies
Sunday-grilled chicken breast with WW stir fry veggies and noodle side
OK, if you want any recipes, email me. And, can I JUST SAY that tonight's grilled vegetable salad (served warm with things like squash, zucchini, onion, tomato, romaine hearts and FETA was TDF!!!!) I may eat this three times per week now. Srsly. Srsly y'all. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh.
*PS-check out my "Blogs I heart" sidebar for new blog additions-I will try to do a book review post soon along with another round of "new" blogs-cause I've found some. Oh yeah.
Peace.