I went to a different Wells Fargo today (Foothill Ranch) and their atm does deposits without envelopes. Trippy! You stack your checks up and slide them in, then the machine scans each one and displays them on the screen with how much they are each for and you accept it. I didn't tell it a darn thing. On top of it, it prints a receipt with the images of your scanned checks, minus the bottom part where your account number is. It was weird and fascinating at the same time, especially since I looked for envelopes for a few minutes before reading the big sign saying they don't use them. I am still fascinated about this new way of depositing money (cash is now separate and without envelope as well). As a business owner it's great because you have actual copies of all your checks. I love technology!
Piper's a big girl now and she doesn't eat just baby food, she eats real food too! However, I'm not exactly ordering for her at a restaurant yet. So, I recently purchased one of the Mackenzie lunch bags from Pottery Barn Kids for $19 and I take it everywhere! I got the one on the far left, but in the pink and green, and I can fit a jar of baby food, a storage container of fruit, a cereal bar, a bib and a big thing of puffs and off we go! I truly love it and I really use it almost every day. I know it will be beat up by the end of summer which makes me soooo happy.
I've never watched Tori Spelling's reality show, Tori & Dean Home Sweet Hollywood, but I did for the first time ever tonight. I don't have any shows on anymore and People Magazine reminded me that it was coming up. I have to say, it was cute! I liked it! And, who would have thought that I could find so many similarities between myself and her (minus the money and fame). Hopefully it will be a new fav to get me through the tv show drought.
Life isn't exactly easy right now, but it's not downright awful either. I'm in a funk. Maybe an inspiration funk; what inspires me. I'm designing lovely things so it's not affecting my creative juices. I think it's life inspirations. I'm not reading my usual daily blogs about cute dresses and pretty things (although I am still writing about them). I find that I am searching for realness. The blogs I am going to are about people who have lost a spouse, been through trauma, or just have some deep life experiences to share. They are real to me and they inspire me in my everyday life and trials. We all know Nie Nie and her plane crash. We all waited on pins and needles to know that she would survive. I tell you......I check her blog every day, hoping for an update. And, when she does, I drink it up like a cold glass of lemonade. She is so real about her pain, her life, her hurts and her recovery. It hits me every time. Among other blogs, this is what makes me tick right now. These blogs give me perspective on my own life, about being a survivor, about the important things and just about being real. Tonight I needed a drink of realness to escape unnecessary drama and hoped Nie Nie was updated...and it was. And I drank it up. I took in some inspiration. I'm ready to move forward with my own obstacles. I know I will once again return to my old blog favs and pour over pretty dresses again, but not right now.
A friend gave me a bottle of the Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizer this week. All parents should be using this type of sanitizer because it doesn't contain alcohol. We have all heard about the warnings of regular sanitizers and children licking or ingesting it.....so dangerous! It kills 99.99% of germs including MRSA, Salmonella, and Staph. We know it's alcohol-free, but it's also non-toxic, cruelty-free and 100% biodegradable. It comes in a a spray (which I like), desktop bottles and wipes. You can buy it at Target, Whole Foods, Amazon.com and Bath & Body Works. Time for a switch!
When Mark got home from work, I begged him to take me out to dinner. I don't know what came over me. I guess it's been a long few weeks and I just wanted to enjoy a good dinner. A little random for a Thursday night, especially taking the kids, but he said okay and off we went. I picked Cheesecake Factory since there are at least two dishes there that never let me down. Now the reason that I am posting is because despite the kids screaming and being naughty, it was a great dinner. Want to know why? Because in this failing economy Cheesecake has stepped it up a bit (or at least the one near our house). As soon as we sat down they brought both kids the little kids platter with bananas and bread (always free), which I use to have to ask for. They also now have a Kids Menu and a separate menu for smaller portion food. Great! Now the prices aren't any less, but my drink was always filled and they even made me extra sauce to take home with my leftovers. I think that they have had a nice makeover in terms of offering more for the masses, including children items and in customer service. I always wondered why they didn't have a kids menu! Way to go Cheesecake Factory, I still spent way too much for a Thursday dinner, but you impressed me.
All you have to do is leave a comment and one winner will be chosen randomly. Last day to enter is Friday, May 22nd. Winner will be announced on Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day). Good luck!
The Nordstrom's Half Yearly Sale for Women & Kids starts this Wednesday, May 20th! Doors open Wednesday morning at 7am.
I love my Say Where! application for the iPhone. Not only is it free, but I use it all the time. First you say the city and state of the business and then the business name. Once you find it it gives you the address and phone number and you can either map it from where you are, call them or whatever! How many times has this saved me? A bunch and I never need to call 411 for directory assistance and many times it's faster than your car's gps system. Love it!
I am very excited to visit you tomorrow for my birthday. Thank you for giving me a free ticket for the day. However, don't fret, I know we will spend a fortune anyways. Oh well, as long as we have fun!! Can't wait.
