Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Weekend Update

 My daughter had a rough weekend. Labor, C-Section, worry, sleepless nights. The first of many...the sleepless nights and worry anyways. Rob and I got to welcome a grand baby into our lives. Biologically number one for Rob, but in our hearts an equal four-way share. 

I generally dislike photos of myself. However, I think holding this baby is the magic trick I've been needing to look good on film. :  ). Little BC is struggling with low blood sugars. But he needed an emergency C-Section because he was not doing well with contractions. We are trusting the Lord to work out those minute body system details. 

Scribbles and Scrambles~ The Curious Case of the Mistaken Identity

A few weeks ago I spent a lovely day it with my little grandloves and we took a trip to the zoo. Oh, so many exciting things to see. We even saw a turtle giving another turtle a piggy back ride!  Those silly turtles.

My daughter loves bulldogs. I must admit I think they are pretty stinking cute too. While we were driving down the street with the kiddos a bulldog popped his cute little mooshface out the window. My daughter and I oohed and ahhed but she couldn't get her phone out quick enough to snap a picture. So I maneuvered through traffic to get close. We crept up, camera at the ready but the dog had apparently decided to lie down. Sigh.

Of note, this whole conversation and unfolding paparazzi drama was outloud and the children were kind of interacting. The bulldog car turned after we passed it and my daughter mentioned it. A few blocks later the 6 year old pipes up from the back seat, "Mom! I see the dog. Is that the dog?" My daughter looks around, I look around. She says" he turned a ways back. I don't see his car." The 6 year old points and says, "that car right there!"

My daughter started laughing. "Oh, Honey, that's not a dog. That's a little old lady with fluffy hair."

not a mooshface bulldog, not a little old lady either. just a beagle butt. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ To Purge or Not to Purge.

The more I get rid of the more I question my motivation for having so much to purge. The five scarves (this purge round) still leave ten in my closet. Though there are eight mugs headed out the door I have enough mugs for significant number of folks for brunch. 

The clothing....I can't imagine being a capsule wardrobe kinda gal who only owns 30 something pieces total. But I know I have too many items in my closet so I ruthlessly throw items into a bag when it can't stand and fight under my scrutiny anymore. I can't wrap my brain around the idea that two button blouses, two tees, two cardigans, three pairs of pants, a cute dress, three skirts, one sweater, two purses, three pairs of shoes, a jacket, a coat, a trench coat, two scarves, two necklaces, a lacy/fancy tank(...that's 29...I could add more?) is enough. I can't picture this being a workable scenario for me, just because my mind wants to panic at the idea of three pairs of pants and five tops. But the idea is that each of these pieces meshes with the others and with them there are a bunch of different outfit scenarios. One source said 72 outfits with 12 pieces. Here's a website that has interesting links, info etc. I'm too scared to go crazy ruthless...but if I have six pairs of pants and six skirts and ten blouses and ten tanks or tees and six cardigans/jackets....that's a lot of outfits if they coordinate. Hmmm. I maybe need to get even more ruthless. Dare I?  

I'm also really starting to think of what I spent for my collection of stuff. I am truly grateful I'm a clearance and thrift store shopper or I'd be depressed. Honestly. One of the mugs that is leaving my home was part of three purchased because they were a bargain at $.99 each. I have never needed all three, or two. Another couple of ideas that seemed good at the time and were seriously discounted were $6.00 a piece and they haven't done a single thing but gather dust for four years. Someone else needs them.  I do not. But you know what, I want that money back. A buck at a time adds up pretty quick. Just those three items is $13.00 equal to two coffee splurges with tips. 

In spite of all my questions, I do know this...it feels better to give and purge than to buy and hoard.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Officially Unique

According to BarkPost Gladys and Gertrude are not on the list of most popular dog names. 

However, the top 7 food inspired dog names were amusing. 

Olive. 

Snickers.

Nutmeg.

Sake.

Kahlua.

Pumpkin.

AND Kale!!!! 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ NDD Recap

Wednesday = National Dog Day. 

This photo = Gladys's reaction to her day.  Maybe I should've made cupcakes.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Ima Sucka

Though this is probably zero in the surprise department for y'all, I'm kind of a dog freak. 

Let me state that I'm way too cheap to indulge in matching ensembles for the three of us, and I'm way too practical to put cute clothes on Gertrude and Gladys,  (This is what would happen. Gladys would rip a hole in Gertie's outfit by clenching onto a ruffle and pulling. Gert would then get ticked and grab hold and pull the sweater over Gladys's head. Then one or both would find something to roll in, or at least need to dig a hole in the yard while wearing it. Cha-Ching!  $20.00 burnt right in front of my eyes. ) 

But I'm ridiculous none-the-less. 

For example, I have been reading quite a bit lately. Why? Because it's beautiful outside and the girls like to be outside but they like me to be with them. Yep. If I go in to do chores during outside time it usually results in barking at the door. To be let back in. And ringing at the door because they really, really want to bark at...well....anything and really like the echo they get outdoors.  So I do some reading time and more often than not have some furbaby sitting in my lap while I do so. 

I also give way too many treats. I've begun buying smaller and breaking them into tiny pieces because, well, I don't want paint can dogs. (You know the ones who's bodies look like a gallon paint can turned on its side with a tiny peg head and teensy peg legs?) I also talk to them a lot. And feel bad that they are in their room while I'm away. The kennel that they often choose to sleep in. On days I'm home during the day, they nap. So it's not like they miss me. After a weekend where I'm home a lot, they seem kind of relieved come Monday. Like they are thinking "finally, we get to chill and not have to entertain her ALL DAY!" 

I have cut down on computer time as well. Because they prefer to bookend me and since the computer is on my lap, bookending just doesn't feel comfortable what with the cords and sharp angles. And one or both of them might want to get on my lap or use it at a springboard. 

Finally, the pictures. You see a lot of them, but, seriously. I take so many pictures of these dogs. And I used to not even like dogs. Wha?!? 

Scribbles and Scrambles - I Diderot

Recently, I wrote about the Diderot Effective. The one wherein psychologically one purchase leads to more. The new skirt morphs into the shoes and necklace, too. Or the paint for the living room stretches the budget or assaults the credit card because new accessories and decor are a must.

I might be guilty of ignorance of this effect but marketers are not. Slap my forehead. This would be why window shopping or emotional shopping might be the deadliest thing for your budget. Can I just call out the elephant in the room? Who doesn't have their head turned by the ever morphing magical place called the Target $1 area? I can discover a lot of needs while standing and inhaling the scent of cheap plastic and burlap.

Then there is every new season's and holiday display of colors and styles draped on dummies (Of course I don't mean those who buy! And those mannequins aren't dummies....those are effective tools). Each item paired with multiple pieces, shoes and accessories. Hmmm, not an accident that everything goes together oh so well! 

Speaking of colors. Who's the evil genius behind the new it color palettes? And don't forget the creative minions who use those colors to design cute household accessories. Oh, and the off-to-college themes with the clever space saving furniture and organizers. 

I don't want to become a conspiracy theorist but...if the whole industry is conspiring for our hard earned dollars can we say the shoe fits????

I think I need to ponder this more. I may have a bigger issue than I thought. Fingers tapping on the table top.

This hideous Exhibit A photo is my stack of fancy paper cupcake liners. Remember back in the day when you either got plain white or an assortment of pastels and that was enough? 

Do I really need polka dot, leopard print, stripes and plain fuchsia, teal and blue cupcake liners? Apparently I thought I did.