Mar 04

30 for my 30

For the last couple days, I’ve been thinking about writing a different kind of post to commemorate my birthday today. This birthday in particular has vexed me. Can you guess which number it is? I’ll give you a couple hints:

1. I just purchased this:

2. Which was subsequently followed by this:

3. And then this:

Ok, smartypants. You probably guessed that I turned 30 today. But, no worries. I’m not even breaking a sweat. CLEARLY I’m totally unphased by this milestone. You might even go so far as to say I’m COMPLETELY comfortable and confident in my own skin.

Well, I thought it might be fun *more youthful* … if I shared 30 FASCINATING things about myself for this birthday blog post. So *drumroll* please.

…

I bring you…

The Noob Mommy 30

[things that may or may not be fascinating but are going on this list anyway]

1.  It takes me way too long to write a blog post. An inordinate amount of time. In fact, if you knew how long it took you’d immediately unsubscribe and demand a refund.

2.  I love fonts. Obsessed with fonts. I have so many loaded up onto my machine that when I scroll through, it gives my computer an embolism. My favorite font? Anything that looks casual and classy.

3.  I love gardening. I love plants, flowers, and just watching things grow and go through the cycle of life. I’m looking to have more ivy and geraniums, as well as veggies and herbs. Is it summer yet?

4.  I have a foot thing. Whoa… whoa… I can explain. It’s not like a fetish or anything! Jeez. Who do you think I am??! But seriously. I can’t stand when people have nailpolish on their toes that resemble the Polynesian islands or any other scattered land mass for that matter. I’m extreme like that. As far as nailpolish goes, it’s either all there or completely bare. No in between please. And I’m not even going to get started on cracked feet.

5.  Ok, actually… the foot thing deserves another place on this list: talons. Talons only belong on endangered birds. Now, that’s all I have to say about that.

6.  I almost went into television news before teaching. I turned away two job offers at news stations after I graduated from college. There were a couple reasons why I decided to do so, but I don’t regret the decision at all.

7.  My choice of airplane beverage: Ginger Ale. Oh, and speaking of airports … I always have to pick up some magazines at the airport store. It’s a ritual.

8.  I am very anti-social. I feel completely awkward 70% of the time, and it is really difficult for me to meet new people or even keep in touch with my closest friends. Therefore, I am 200% 300% grateful for my closest friends for putting up with me and accepting me for who I am.

9.  My sister and I are 5 years apart, but we believe we are long lost twins. If she were to have her own blog, it would be the young, sassy, single version of mine but actually funny. (See #1 about refunds.)

10.  I wish I was doing a better job at speaking to Noob Baby in Mandarin. No excuses.

11.   I have a thing for books. And yes, this time I mean fetish. The smell, the colors, words, illustrations, pages… (you’re going to have to excuse me for a moment :) )

12.  I love ice cream.

13.  I live for pizza.

14.  Or vice versa.

15.  I was once an extra in the movie Jawbreaker. You can actually see me in one of the scenes. My claim to fame.

16.  I suck at budgeting. I mean seriously S-U-C-K. They invented the credit card for me. I’m going to talk to someone about creating a Noob credit card. But instead of rewards points, they just explode when you max out.

17.  I believe food should be the 8th deadly sin. It can be a source of joy, pleasure, communication, expression, connection, creation, imagination, and destruction. That makes it a sin, but a damn tasty sin.

18.  I’m thinking you’re bored right now.

19.  I’m sleepy and I wish I had just turned 19 so I would be done by now.

20.  I always cut Noob Baby’s hair. Last time I gave her a mullet (by accident). I’m ashamed.

21.  I miss traveling. It’s something I live for. When people have the means to travel and don’t, I feel frustrated and angry. My feelings on this matter are best  summarized in this quote:

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.  ~St. Augustine

(Refer to #11 about books)

22.  I think Noob Daddy is my #1 lurker. The day he posts a comment, well… let’s just say someone’s gonna get really freakin lucky.

23.  I know 23 to be a prime number. I was a teacher, remember?

24.  If Amazon.com were to go out of business, I would probably have to kill myself. Or, never purchase anything again… which is kinda like the same thing.

25.  Is it weird to get butterflies in your stomach when you go to Costco? I do.

26.  I got married when I was 26. Noob Daddy and I had never lived together, and I think it was so worth the wait.

27.  I just started making my own earrings. I need to get back to that, but I also need to read a bazillion books and think of 3 more “fascinating” facts about myself.

28.  I’m not sure if I’ll go back to teaching after I’m done pumping out the noobs. There’s just a lot that I would love to do. And also, I just said “pumping out the noobs,” which some might consider unteachery.

29.  My two most recent girl crushes are P!nk and Kim Yu-Na (the figure skating gold medalist). I can’t stop watching P!nk’s Grammy performance and Kim Yu-Na’s free skate. I cry every time. WTF?? PMS a little?

30.  It makes my day when someone posts a comment. It freakin blows my mind when I get emails from readers that like my blog. I think my subscribers, commenters, and lurkers are all absolutely fabulous. Thank you and good night.

11 delicious comments

Posted in Random

Feb 22

Tactile Fun For Toddlers

For the past two months, Noob Baby and I have been going to a hands-on “art” class for toddlers. Every week, there are several stations for her to explore. There is play-dough, paints, stamps, and a tactile station where the noobs get to scoop and pour beans, seeds, peas, oatmeal etc. to their hearts’ content. It seems that the tactile station is always the biggest hit with this age group.

Every Tuesday, I leave the class thinking … “I’m so glad I don’t have to clean that %$&@ up.”

Ok, well I would *never* be so crass. But in my mind… which is sort of a cross between the mind of a 14 year old boy, a repressed school girl, and a sailor an angel and a fluffy kitten, I thank the heavens that for once I don’t have to clean up another one of NB’s messes.

Ok, strike that. One time, I did actually think … “I’m so glad I don’t have to clean that %$&@ up.” It was the week the instructor had a table covered in shaving cream. I would liken it to mud wrestling for kids. Thankfully, oh so thankfully, I was able to maneuver NB out of the disaster zone several times. You might think I was being a wuss, or overbearing, or uptight or whatever… but I will say that the mothers who did participate did not seem to enjoy it. At all.

0% satisfaction. 100% disgust. 200% regret. So not worth it.

I have decided that there are, however, a couple tactile ideas from the class that can easily be done at home which don’t require a hose down at the end of the activity. One of these is what I’ll call a Bean Box.

Just a warning: If your noob is still putting EVERYTHING in her mouth then you’ll want to either watch her like a hawk or wait a few months to do this. Beans are definitely choking hazards!

Assembly is easy peasy (pun intended :) ). Just fill a tub or any medium sized container with beans. I decided to use a storage container with a lid so I could cover up and reuse over and over again (or until the beans start to mold, develop bugs, or other strange decaying activity that I’m envisioning as I type this. Seriously though??). Throw in some old measuring cups, scoops, plates, or other sandbox type items. I find that saving scoops from old formula containers, Whey Protein, or coffee canisters are very enjoyable to NB.

The types of beans you use is totally up to you. I found pinto, black, white, as well as split peas, lentil, and barley. Finally, set some sort of cloth down to catch all the beans that will inevitably spill everywhere. A thick reusable tablecloth works, splat mat, tarp, or anything else you can dig up. Be prepared to have to wrangle in the stragglers though. We did this out in the backyard today, and it was easy to sweep up the mess.

Question: Will stray beans turn into beanstalks?

Answer: It is decidedly so.

Want to Go Green? Use colorful bird seeds instead and score bonus points with the birdies. I’m sure they’ll be happy to clean up the mess.

Don’t mind cleaning up white powder from your noob’s clothes? Use uncooked plain oatmeal. I found this messier, but NB liked it just as much as the beans and seeds.

Hope you have fun with this. It’ll be a great outdoor activity on a sunny day!

1 delicious comment

Posted in Random

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