Today I Saw Jane Eyre.

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My poor husband came with me and I think it was the longest hour and a half of his life.  I admit,  I have never read Jane Eyre.  I bought a copy for myself over 10 years ago and I think I started it, but I don't remember ever finishing it.  I figure since I've watched so many versions of it, I know all there is to know.  Which even I recognize is a pretty silly way to think.  My favorite has always been the tv movie in which Samantha Morton plays Jane.  I'm not sure it isn't still. 

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Mia Wasikowska plays a really good Jane too.  And Michael Fassbender is a much better looking Rochester than Ciaran Hinds.  But St. John Rivers in the new Jane Eyre is AWFUL!  Though, from what I've read about the book, his portrayal is more accurate.  The first 20-ish minutes of the movie was overly sad and depressing.  Like, really lame.  And the crazy wife is boring.  Sophie Reissner is sooooo much better - even scary!   They tried to switch things up by starting in the middle of the story, going to the beginning and then the end.  Good idea, but like I said, the beginning was such a disturbing damper.  I know it's supposed to be, but I also know that Jane took pleasure where she could (I think I got that from the book, correct me if I'm wrong).  Verdict:  I liked it (once it got past Jane's terrible childhood), but could totally have waited until it came out on Netflix. 

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P.S.  I kept thinking, through the whole movie, "I've seen this girl before......"  Just figured it out!  Alice in Wonderland.  Hahaha!  I liked that one a lot.  Matter of fact, I think I'll go put that on my Netflix list again. 

Today I Pulled Weeds.

The poor arugula has never been weeded.  It grew really nicely anyways though.  Today was the first time I've weeded any garden in a very loooooong time.  I'd been avoiding it because when I was in my early teens my dad would make me weed and I hated it.  Yes, hated.


(my little helper.  not!  i couldn't even get her to pick up and hold the gloves for a picture.)

 I was pleasantly surprised that though weeding is hard on the knees, it's actually less of a chore and more of a calming, peaceful exercise.  It felt meditative.  I loved it.  And the girls enjoyed running around in the sun while I had some quiet time.  Lovely.


(my real helper is in the background, dutifully watering the beds.  britt is clapping her hands with an auntie, whom you obviously can't see in this pic)

 I thought about how I should do some inner weeding.  I thought about a little incident we had this morning.    I was a lot less than perfect mommy.  I haven't been sleeping well (remember, sore throat/coughing) and so am pretty tired, plus I never go to bed before midnight.  Tired and me don't work well together.  It doesn't help that I may be a bit hormonal at the moment.  It also is unfortunate that Britt is getting her fangs, causing her to be extremely grouchy.  And then Ash decided to be whiney.  All of these on top of a huge snafoo with PayPal this morning and we were late getting out the door to music class.  Ash was whining, lost her balance, bonked her head (not hard, I might add), and started crying.  Britt was already screeching.  I was at my wits end.  I shouted at both of them.  I hate yelling more than I hated pulling weeds as an adolescent.  I wish I could say I was immediately sorry and contrite.  I wasn't.  I rushed them brusquely out the door and didn't even say sorry until Britt was in her car seat.  Then I turned around to see to the look on Ash's face.  She was so sad and having shoe malfunctions AND she didn't even ask for help (she always asks for help when she can't make something work).  So obviously I was Scary Mommy.  I saw that trembling lip and looked at myself through her watery eyes and I did NOT like what I saw.  This is when I decided being late was worth saying sorry, helping her with her shoes, and showing her that I loved her and didn't mean to be a mean mother.  She is such a sweety and super quick to forgive and forget.  **thankful**


(wanting me to pick her up.  as per usual.)

 I need to work on patience.  I need to weed the vices of temper, crabbiness, and the habit of staying up late (doesn't help with the tired part) out of myself.  My children need me to do this too.  Starting today, I am going to put this weeding at the top of my daily to-do list.   Wish me luck!

Today I Have A Sore Throat.

I'm not sick.  I've got allergies.  Which causes sniffles.  Which causes drainage down the back of my throat (tmi?).  Hence, the sore throat.  It was hard to sleep last night with all the ticklish, scratchy, cough-inducing rawness going on back there.  I tried cough drops.  I tried lemon tea with honey.  The cough drops did zip-diddly-squat (that means nothing).  The tea was temporarily helpful.  Do you have any suggestions?  I'll spare you and refrain from posting a pick of my tonsils.  **chuckle**

Other than that, I've been busy with the auction I had going on Facebook, filling sugar scrub sample orders, chasing rascally girls, making waffles, cleaning occasionally, reading when I get a chance, laundry (of course), enjoying the sun (FINALLY!!!), and doing a bit of gardening (a very little bit).

Now, to explain the picture.  It has nothing to do with allergies.  I am participating in the Paper Mama's Photo Challenge this week.  It was taken in June of 2009.  Ash's first ever swim.  The theme of the challenge is Friends and this photo works for two reasons.  Ash and her daddy are great friends and Ash also considers water (and dirt, but we'll save that for another challenge) to be friend as well.  :)

(I know, it's so big that poor Tony has words on his face, but Ash's splashed, funny face is so cute and deserves to be shown in a bigger pic, right?  Right.)



Today I Bandaged Up Some Boo-boos.

I remember as a young single adult scoffing at the over use of Band-aids many parents indulged in.  I had taught and baby-sat many, many little kids and as I saw it, too many parents put bandages on their kids at every cry, whine and whimper - on owies that were often minuscule and imagined.  I vowed to never be such a silly softy.  My kids weren't going to use Band-aids as a crutch.  My kids weren't going to cry at every little hurt.  My kids were gonna be tough!  Band-aids just encourage kids to make stuff up!

HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAAAAA!

Ok.  Whatev young, silly, clueless Jamie!  You didn't have kids and didn't know what you were talking about (no offense to my currently childless readers; I promise you will have a similar story to tell someday because I have many).   Poor Ash's little legs look terrible.  The kid loooooves being outside but she is always falling down.  Must take after her mother.  I remember, as a child, staring at my bruised, scab-covered, sticker bush scraped legs and thinking they were soooo ugly. 



Today Ash was running, excitedly, to go get in the car.  Well, she tripped, fell hard on her knees and then tipped forward and bumped her forehead too.  So sad!  Let's just say that after several episodes like this one, we are currently running low on Band-aids.  They are wonderful little creations - the colorful, characterized ones, anyway.  They are happy and bright.  And they distract the sobbing child while you clean their wounds.  They also make the hurt lessen by at least 85%, I swear!



*chuckle*  I had everything figured out.  I'll probably think the same thing about my current self 10 years in the future.  What about you?  What immature vows have you broken? 

Today I Was Amazed By Stop-Motion Animation Talent!

Honestly, I'm speechless. I have nothing interesting or witty to say about this. I think it's so creative and a delight to watch. Hope you do too!

Today I Was So Happy to See Blogger Working Again.

I don't remember it ever being quite so long before.  And my post about the carrot cake oatmeal was gone for a little while.  So weird. 
**confused**

Two things to talk about today.

1.  I am so happy to see the sun!  It was warm enough to leave our jackets on the hooks.  Ash isn't taking naps anymore. Booooo!  So, I got two buckets, filled one with water, threw in a sponge and showed her how to transfer water from one bucket to another with the sponge.  Kept her entertained for a half hour, at least.  My kind of toddler activity!  **laugh**

(yes, she did stick her head in the bucket. why do you ask?)

2.  Molly and I got our etsy shop up and running.  We have lots of ideas for fun things to sell, but for starts we're selling sugar body scrub.  I've given this as gifts before and then have had people ask for more.  We have, of course, tested our products on ourselves (and willing friends) and this stuff is goooood.  Plus, the ingredient list is all pronounceable and recognizable.  Two important "ables," if you ask me!  If you're looking for a really nice, natural body scrub please give ours a try. 

Hope everyone has good things planned for the weekend.  I'm gonna go hit the sales at Old Navy and Gymboree and then a birthday party.  Yay!

Today I Ate Carrot Cake Oatmeal.

OH. EM. GEE (as in goodness)!!!!!!

I'm an oatmeal lover.   Not that nasty stuff you get in a little brown packet (though in a pinch, it'll do).  I'm talkin' about the yumminess you get cooking oats, water (no milk for my girls, remember), and raisins on the stove top (or in the microwave on busy mornings).  The oatmeal I ate for breakfast today was sooooo delicious!!  Seriously, it's a recipe that takes everyday oatmeal up by several notches.  You can find the recipe directly under the photo (click on "source"). 

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I did make some changes (of course).  No milk, obvs, so I just amped up the water amount.  I'm not a big fan of walnuts, so I used of the rest of my silvered almonds.  I opted for toasted coconut  because it's the only coconut I have on hand.  And I was a bit more heavy-handed with the brown sugar than the makers of this recipe advised.  :D  I used regular yogurt (only for myself) and it was like the frosting on the cake. 

If you like oatmeal and carrot cake, make this!  And if you have a delectible more-than-the-average-oatmeal recipe, send it to me por favor!