Staging

Posted in House and Home by teamtradermom

By now you probably know how competitive I am. I hate to lose. But more than that, I hate the thought that I might not be as good as someone else.

I know, it’s silly. No one person can be perfect at everything. We all have our strengths. Blah blah whatever.

Ever since putting our house on the market, I’ve been doubting my interior decorating skills. I thought that our house looked pretty good and was well decorated. Then our realtors came in and changed everything. Most of that was less about me and more about what would sell. Ok I get that and was able to not feel bad about changing things up.

But then the open houses started. Before each one, I would meticulously go around the house and make sure everything was in its place. I was just sure the realtors would love it. Yet every time when we come back after it was all done, they’d moved many items around. Don’t get me wrong – everything they move makes total sense. I look at it and think, “Well duh. That looks so much better.” Then get mad at myself for not thinking about it first.

Now it’s become a competition. With every open house, I implement what was changed the last time and adjust a few other things. And each time come back to find more adjustments. It’s getting less and less though. Yesterday, there were only a few things moved, so I’m getting better! My goal is to one day have an open house where they change nothing!

I’m actually learning a lot, like the fine art of grouping objects in just the right way. By the time this is all done, I will be a pro!

Welp, gotta run. The tornado sirens are going off and a storm is a comin’! Time to get everything buttoned up, grab the ~~alcohol~~ family , and head downstairs!

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17Jun2011

Expenses

Posted in Finances, Isabella/Munchkin by teamtradermom

I haven’t blogged in a while about the progress of our budget and financial goals. That’s because there really isn’t any progress. We were doing so good for a while. Then it came time to get the house in order and it seemed like we were spending money left and right. We had to buy cleaning products, paint, supplies, trim, rent a storage unit, and on and on. I was still trying to keep spending in check but after a while just gave up.

Then we started planning for our big summer vacation. We’re taking an 8 day road trip up to Michigan and coming home through Wisconsin. 8 days on the road with a toddler means being prepared and having lots of supplies. We probably could have flown to MI for cheaper but 1) we didn’t want to deal with the hassle of checking/carrying a car seat and stroller and pack n’play and all her other gear, and 2) we actually enjoy long road trips. They’re fun and adventurous. However, all the supplies we needed for that – toys/books to keep Isabella busy in the car, snacks, luggage for her, clothes, oil change, and so on – cost money.

Between the house and the trip, our credit card is getting a work out.

I’ve tried to be somewhat frugal. I went to the library and borrowed some audio books instead of buying them. Any toys I bought were generally from the dollar bin at Target, on sale, or given to us by my parents. The snacks we bought at Sam’s Club in bulk. I think we’ve been smart about it, but spending is still spending.

Every time I pull out the credit card I think of Suze Orman or Mary Hunt or any number of frugal bloggers that I read and feel a tad guilty. But whaddya gonna do?

All hope is not lost though. We’ve had some extra money flow in here and there and I’ve applied it toward the credit card. So while we’re charging a lot, we’re also paying off some too. Are they evening out? Probably not. But at least we’re making a dent.

I’ll be happy when life settles down a bit and we can get back to better spending habits.

We leave for our trip next week and I’m excited about it. I haven’t traveled in a while and am getting the itch! We will have fun and most importantly, get to show Isabella that there’s more to the world than Omaha and Council Bluffs. I am so looking forward to seeing her take in everything, meet new people, learn new things and have fun. That’s really what it’s all about. Yes, I want to pay down some debt and I know we have to reduce spending to do that. But we also have to enjoy life. And if that means buying my daughter a souvenir on our trip or splurging for ice cream every night, we will do it!

On a side note, here was my conversation with Isabella tonight as we were getting ready for her bath:

Me [reaching in to the hall closet and discovering we only had one clean towel]: Looks like we need to do some laundry!
Isabella: At the laundry mat!
Me: Where did you learn about the Laundromat?
I: Elmo told me.
Me: Did Elmo go to the Laundromat?
I: No, Tully did.
Me: Oh. What did Tully do there?
I: Washed his shirts!
Me: How did he do that?
I: In the machine!
Me: Oh I see. What else did he do?
I: Go to the playground! Can we go to the playground mommy?

She’s already a pro at manipulating the conversation to go her way. Silly girl!

Have a good weekend!

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16Jun2011

You Capture: Bathrooms

Posted in You Capture by teamtradermom

Yes you read that right. This week’s You Capture theme is bathrooms. At first thought I was daunted by this one. How the heck are you supposed to take creative pictures of a bathroom and keep out the gross factor? Well here’s what I came up with. Let me now what you think!

Work

Much of the bathroom time in my life is spent in this one at work. As far as bathrooms go, it’s a pretty nice one. Always clean, they have Mary Kay stuff in there and its rather posh as evidenced by the next picture.

(BTW, this was taken with my new iPhone. Wasn’t sure if it would take as good of pics as my Droid did but so far I am pleased! I do like that it’s faster – doesn’t have the 2 second delay like the Droid)

Snakeskin

This is the wallpaper in the bathroom above. Snakeskin. Or at least that’s what I think it is. I remember when they first put it in. We all thought it was garish. But I’ve grown used to it and it’s kind of funky. The texture makes for an unusual picture too.

Home

This is what I find in my bathroom every morning when I step out of the shower. He’s my morning buddy.

Trader Joe’s

I’ve only been to Trader Joe’s once and it was last week. I just happened to use the restroom while there and found these lovely paintings on the walls. I’m assuming they do that for every city they’re in. Pretty cool actually. It made my potty experience that much more pleasant.

Well there you have it. Bathroom. Restroom. Potty. Ladies’ Room. Little Girls Room. Whatever you want to call it, it’s been documented.

Beth is taking a break this week off due to the death of a close friend so you won’t get to see her take on this until next week. I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait!

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15Jun2011

Bossy Pants

Posted in Isabella/Munchkin by teamtradermom

I was a bossy little girl. My mom jokes that I came out of the womb with a cigar in my mouth giving the doctor orders. Can I help it that I know everything?

Some might say I’m still bossy. I’ll admit that I give an order or two on occasion, but it’s only when absolutely necessary. I mean, if I don’t tell K at work to go get me a cookie, how else will he know? And at home, CJ says that I use my “mom tone” with him. I personally don’t hear it but he says it’s so. Whatever, now go to your room and think about what you’ve done. But take the garbage out first!

(Source)

Isabella seems to have picked up this trait from me. Toddlers are a little bossy anyways I guess, but she seems to really enjoy barking out orders. She gets a little twinkle in her eye when she does it. When I got home from work tonight we played together in the basement. Here is how it went for the entire 15 minutes we were down there. This was all her.

Oobie for mommy. Oobie for daddy. Pink one for daddy. Green one for Mommy. Now switch.

See pictures of baby on computer! Mommy sit in the chair there. Get pictures of baby!

Bella runs really fast! Mommy do that! Over there. Now over there! Faster!

March mommy. Like Bella does.

Itch the wall. Right there. Now there. And there. Now the sun.

Kiss the shadow. Bella’s shadow. Now mommy’s!

Mommy take a nap right there. Now right there.

Go backwards and forwards. Like Murray.

Mommy do that. Mommy hit the door. Please mommy! Now hit it over there.

Open the lid mommy. Frisbees stuck in there. Pleeeease!

Throw it mommy. To the chair. Now the other one. Mhmm. Like that.

And so on. You get the idea. I find it kind of amusing but I do try to remind her that she needs to say please and thank you. Normally she’s really great about using the magic words. I guess tonight she forgot all about them.

Maybe this will translate in to her becoming a great leader some day. Perhaps even President. Maybe she’ll create a new position for me – Chief Bossy Pants. I could live with that.

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Oobie in the Pocket

Posted in Isabella/Munchkin by teamtradermom

Isabella has discovered a new place to put her woobies when she no longer needs them. She has many places really. The floor. The tables. Inside her toys. At one point she tried to stick on in her “pocket” in the bathtub, but that was just the one time. She often tucks them beside her in the highchair and says they are in her pocket. But those places are old news. Her new place is extra special.

She puts them down my shirt.

It all started one night when I was carrying her. She had one arm around my shoulder and the other up by my neck. In fact I think she was holding on to my necklace. Then her hand slipped and ended up slipping down my shirt. She pulled my shirt back, looked down and said, “What’s in there mommy?”

Two things that can bring you a lot of power or cause you a lot of pain in your life. Parts that are so coveted, men the world over will be rendered speechless by a nice pair and women everywhere will give anything to have them. Ok not really. I think I mumbled something under my breath and distracted her with a toy.

After that, she started purposely sticking her hand down in my cleavage as a nice warm resting place. She did it once at Target and I got a few looks from moms that quickly steered their kids away from me.

On Friday night, as is pretty typical, she had 3 oobies – one in each hand and one in her mouth. She asked me for some juice but in order to take the cup, she had to put the woobies down. So she said, “In there mommy” and proceeded to place one after another down my shirt and lodge them in my bra until all 3 were tucked happily away.

CJ came in then and I told him that he now had competition for the use of my girls. Once Munchkin was done with her juice, she matter-of-factly reached down my shirt and pulled each oobie out one by one.

I guess she’s practical. She needed an oobie holder and my girls weren’t doing anything so might as well put them to good use!

I am trying to put a stop to it though. This new pocket can’t lead to anything good if it continues. It would be really awkward to be at her wedding and have her stick the bouquet down in to my boobs.