Mega Millions: Are You Feelin' Lucky?

I know, I know . . .

I've got like a one in 176,000,000 chance of winning tonight's Mega Millions drawing, but I just can't resist the opportunity to savor a brief money's-no-object fantasy fest. 

How would I handle that kind of cash infusion? What would I splurge on? What worthy people & causes would I share my good fortune with?

What I know for sure...

• I would keep quiet about the scope of the windfall.
• Before any spending sprees, I'd make sure the long-term financial plan was rock solid.
• Donations would be many & anonymous. 
• New vehicles wouldn't be anything too flashy. 
• The new, custom-built home would a modest Craftsman-style bungalow.

And, as I recently heard someone say on TV (and, of course, I can't remember who it was or on what show) - I'd make sure the boys had enough to do something with, but not enough to do nothing.

And then there's the boat I'd buy the Handsome Husband . . . ok, so maybe that one purchase I just might get a bit carried away with.

Did you buy a ticket to dream?

Or go in on the playgroup ticket buying pool?

Would you keep working?

Would you hire a maid? Or a full-time nanny?

What would you splurge on?

Wait, I just thought of two VERY important personal splurges . . . I would never ever do another load of laundry or unload the dishwasher. (To assuage my guilt over this decadence, I would pay my domestic angle a real salary, with generous benefits.)

All right, enough fantasizing for one morning, it's time to get to work, time to make some real $$, 'cause those Mega Millions aren't in the bank account yet!

Bloggin' Better in Boston

Saturday was the first ever Blog Better Boston and this Housewife's first ever bloggers' conference.

The conference went off without a hitch (three cheers for Alana & Alex!) -- lots of eager bloggers, interesting & informative panel discussions & workshops, and lots of networking & card swapping.

It was inspiring, but a little disheartening, too. How do they do it all? So many ideas, so much more I want to do with this site . . . where's the Housewife gonna find some extra time? (Has someone set up a Time Shop on Etsy yet?) 

I met numerous fascinating folks and I'm looking forward to getting to know their blogger alter egos.

While many have been feverishly typing & posting, and taking action on all those fab ideas, I am ashamed to admit that I have been a total slacker today.

A grey, drizzly Sunday seems the perfect excuse to curl up with the Baron & Master for a movie marathon. After all, yesterday I was gone before they woke, and they'd been asleep for hours when I dragged my weary self back thru the front door.

Of course, I'm telling myself I'm letting it all mull around in my mind, I'll make that action plan tomorrow, promise.

High point #1 . . . 

Hanging with my new Needham Blogging Team pals -- Amanda (The Little Lily Pad), Emily (Random Recycling) and Nikki (our resident photog).

High point #2 . . . 

When an uber stylish, perfectly polished & coiffed gal, balancing on 5" (maybe higher) heels paused mid-lipstick swipe, turned to me in the ladies room, and asked if I was a fashion blogger.

I was so relieved when I managed to squeak out a "Me, no, parenthood & lifestyle," while squelching what I'm sure would have sounded like some kind of maniacal cackle in the echoey powder room.

Unexpected side-benefit . . . 

All-day conference got the Housewife out of three meal preps and dishes, laundry & assorted other household chores, so come Sunday morning Friday's manicure is still shiny & chip-free!

Springin' into Spring

today's high in my little Boston 'burb

I'm sure the sun beating down on the jungle gym, where the monitor is mounted, had something to do with this, but it sure was a lovely day, whatever the weather records will show.

Can't Resist . . .

. . . sharin' a wee sprig of spring.

I love the winter -- skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, hot chocolate with marshmallows, hearty soups & stews, twinkling holiday lights -- but spring sure is hard to resist!

Especially when it's burstin' up thru the dirty, brown grass & dead leaves, and coloring the entire neighborhood!

Happy 1st Day of Spring! 

Tomorrow . . . how 'bout we get a little slimy?

Supremely Springy Sunday

What's a Housewife to do on a sunny Sunday when the mercury is climbing to a Boston record high of 74?

Load up the backpack, 

meet up with a pack of pals,

and hit the trail, of course!

Yep, that's the Boston skyline in the distance.

No boulder was left unconquered!

Pause, Please

I ran into a blogging pal at school pick up this afternoon . . .

"Where have you been? I was so glad to see your comment last night". (on her blog post)

What? I didn't go anywhere? 

Then I realized I hadn't posted a peep in since Tuesday!

I had ambitious plans for this week - three planned posts (Tuesday's was an unplanned bonus), and the launch of operation Project Pillow - but the germ gremlins had other plans!

After a fun-filled, kid-free ski weekend with the Handsome Husband, I came home ready to conquer Weeksworld, the piles of paper and my lengthy lists.

Monday chugged along relatively productive, and Tuesday I managed to finish a post before the trend took a less than fortuitous turn.

By mid-day I hit an unusual depth of exhaustion, and by evening my throat was sore and there was an uncomfortable pressure in my sinuses resulting in a lovely headache.

Sleep alluded me most of that night and by dawn Wednesday I was full-blown sick! 

Of course the Handsome Husband had an important morning meeting, so I dragged my unkempt self around town, dumping the Baron & Master at their respective schools. Upon my return home, I plopped myself on the couch, sent out a torrent of urgent texts to friends & the husband calling for back up, then dozed on and off for the rest of the day.

I didn't race to the doctor, certain it was just a common cold or virus and I would be instructed to go home and ride out the storm, but Thursday when the pressure in my ears went from mildly uncomfortable to something akin to a Bic pen being stabbed into my inner ear, I knew it was time to make an appointment.

Had this cold morphed into an ear infection?! Surely I'm too old for one of those!

A quick swab of my throat and the results soon confirmed the nurse practitioner's diagnosis - strep throat. And a pretty significant case at that!

What?! Strep throat! I haven't had strep throat in 30 years!

7:30pm Thursday I was finally armed with a bottle of penicillin!

One dose and a decent night's sleep and Friday dawned a much brighter day, despite the dreary March skies hanging over Boston.

A few days of forced couch potatoing and now I have days of catching up ahead of me!

Which leaves me with just one wish . . . we may not be able to avoid the occasional germ, so why, oh why can't life have a pause button, or at least a slow motion mode!

Year of the Dragon

What a treat last night . . . dinner  with our dear friend, Wendy, home from Shanghai for a short visit.

Such fun catching up & hearing all about life in China, and fascinating to scroll thru the 100's of photos Wendy has taken, documenting the beautiful and strange in her temporary homeland.

My personal favorite - 
15th day of Chinese New Year Celebration,
dragon lantern festival at Yu Yuan Garden.
Photo courtesy of Wendy E.

Talking about this Year of the Dragon got me wondering . . . what menagerie resides in Weeksworld?

The Fortuitous Housewife is a Dragon.
(Dragon Mama . . . I like the sound of that!)
Dragons are magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous and loyal.
Dragons can also be tactless (I have been known to struggle with foot-in-mouth disease), arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous and brash.

The Handsome Husband is a Monkey

(He is pretty hairy!)

Monkeys are inventors, motivators, improvisors, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solvers, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective and factual.

Monkeys can also be egotistical, vain, arrogant, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious and stubborn.

 

The Baron of Boredom 

is a Rooster.

(No surprise . . . he thinks he rules this barnyard!)

Roosters are neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionists, alert, zealous, practical, scientific and responsible.

Roosters can also be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, proud, opinionated and gives into empty bravado.

The Master of Mayhem is a Boar.

(He certainly is my gallant little prince.)

Boars are honest, gallant, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate and intelligent.

Boars can also be naive, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic and materialistic.

Chinese Zodiac . . . fascinating!


Safe travels back to Shanghai, Wendy! We'll be counting down the days til your return in July!

Chinese Paper Cut Images via SinoPaperArt
Chinese Zodiac descriptions via Wikipedia

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Homework Can Be Such a Drag

1st grader homework with a twist . . .

bedtime story in mama jammer drag

In the ongoing campaign to instill a love of reading in our children, the Baron brought home a reading activity calendar for March.

He's read Star Wars while wearing the Handsome Husband's slippers.

He's read Go Dog Go in an opera voice.

And tonight he read Super Hero School while wearing Mom's pajamas.

It looked like so much fun the Master refused to left out.

Can't wait to see what the rest of the month has in store for us!

Need a Giggle?

I know I'm always game for a humor break!

Here are a couple giggles I've recently enjoyed while "wasting" time on Pinterest . . .

Source: pinterest.com via Lollie on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Lollie on Pinterest

Now get back to doing whatever it is you're supposed to be getting accomplished!

Sew Scary

I had three practically-perfect accent pillows adorning my living room sectional for the past several years.

But, thanks to the four messes in my life (two minis, one major & one four-footed) my nest is constantly under siege (Nutella fingers, mud-encrusted sneaker, milk dribbles, rain-soaked pooches, butt ground-in cookie crumbs, fruit-scented markers, boogies & barf . . . after that list I bet you're just dying for an invite to my house!) and one day I realized those poor, defenseless pillows had morphed from "practically perfect" to "decorating disgraces".

For the past few months I have squandered countless hours searching online and in-person - Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Target, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods - for reasonably-priced replacements.

Sure, I found options, but I wasn't willing to make a major pillow expenditure that would send me flying into a tither every time one of my messes got near the sofa. 

Sure, the pillow's matching curtains (from our former home & no longer in use) were tucked away in my attic, but I cringed just considering what it might cost to pay someone to transform them. 

Then Anna, over at Take the Side Street, inspired me . . .

Source: takethesidestreet.com via Lollie on Pinterest

Maybe it was finally time to open that sewing machine the MIL gave me oh-so-many years ago? 

The poor contraption has never seen the light of day! It's still in its original box, collecting dust in my basement.

So last week it made the long journey upstairs . . . I even unpacked it!

I'm more than a bit daunted by all the tiny bits & bobbins, and mega manual!

A bit of online searching & I discovered Crate & Barrel has very reasonably-priced feather/down pillow inserts in a variety of sizes.

I settled on 16", 18" & 20" squares, and two 18"x12".

I even nabbed a can of Scotchguard spray at the local hardware store in the vain hope of "mess-proofing" this next generation of pillows.

Guess there's no more procrastinating . . . it's time to get measuring, cutting, spraying, pinning and sewing . . . yikes! 

Pray for me, fair readers!

I haven't touched a sewing machine since high school, when my sew-talented Grand attempted to share her gift with me.  

FYI - I never finished a single project, but I have high hopes for this venture.

Can You A Keep Secret?

Wednesday's "please" . . .

Friday's "thank you" . . .

Please keep our little secret, please don't tell their teachers - I was already chastised by a grumpy ol' Grandpa in the lodge for teaching my kids "bad morals", so I don't need to be in anymore trouble with authority figures - but after two days of snowfall, this Mama needed to make some turns . . . with her boys.

Thanks, Mother Nature! Thanks, Wachusett Mountain Ski Area!