Listen, listen, listen, listen…these videos are so funny.  I’m sure you’ve seen them already, but feel free to watch them again.

Writer/Creator Graydon Sheppard appearing in episode one of "Sh*t Girls Say."

Because they are SO funny.  And (unfortunately?) SO true.

(Is that a coffee? I might get one.)

I grew up in Maryland so you would think I’d be used to a little cold weather.  You would think I MISSED cold weather since I now live in Jacksonville, Florida.  I did miss it a tiny little bit when we first moved down here five years ago.  But now I’m so used to living in a warm climate that the cold weather completely throws me for a loop.  Sure, even in Florida, we should expect a small stretch of cold days in December and January, but usually it’s never terribly cold here.  But the past couple of days (and nights!) have been really cold.  Well, really cold meaning low 30′s. And really cold meaning fleece jackets and (gasp!) hats and mittens.

The kids have been having fun with it.  They don’t mind it that much.  I just wish it was accompanied by snow. It’s hard knowing my kids will never experience a true snowfall. (Aside from the fun soapy one at the local Winter Wonderland.) They will never run out to build a snowman or zoom down a hill on a sled.  I know I can take them on a fancy vacation to a ski resort, but it’s not the same.  It’s not how I remember it.  I remember putting bread bags over my socks before I slid on my boots.  I remember making dozens of snow angels all in a row on our front lawn.  I remember catching snowflakes on my tongue.  I remember the sweet moment when the guy on the radio said school was canceled and I could turn over and go back to sleep.

But, then again, I also remember waiting at the bus stop in zero degree weather with tears running down my cheeks from the wind chill.  I remember slumber parties or basketball games getting canceled because the roads were too icy.  I remember shoveling the driveway only to do it all again the next day because more snow fell while we slept.  I remember the METRO being delayed while I stood on the platform jogging in place willing my body to warm up.  So, no, I don’t miss the cold northern weather anymore.  And I can always take the kids up north in the winter to experience it all for themselves.  In the meantime, we’ll be here complaining about today’s high of 60 and making plans to hit the beach NEXT week.

Today was the day!  The Missoni for Target line debuted in stores and on the Target.com website.  I strolled over to my Target store around 9:00 AM because I wanted to get this super cute cup and saucer set:

Nope.  Not there.  All I found were some empty shelves and frantic women running around and snagging everything they could get their hands on. The rain boots?  Gone!  The martini set?  Gone!  Forget about the cute bike.  It wasn’t even sent to the store.  BUT, I decided to head back to the women’s clothing department and get some goodies.  I snagged a bunch of things to try on and ended up with these:

The Textured Space Dye Gold Shimmer Cardigan

I bought the matching infinity scarf too.  I’ll wear them both with black pants, but I’ll also throw on the scarf with a casual jacket and jeans.

The Blue Open Cardigan

I actually love that this piece, and the previous piece, don’t look full-on Missoni.  There were a couple other sweaters with brighter colors and bolder zig zags, but I prefer the subtlety of these two.  I love this blue one to wear over a white tank with  jeans.

Annabel was my shopping buddy, so I had to take her to the little girls department.  (She was off from school today.  Lucky girl.) She picked this out.  She’ll be sporting this ensemble for Thanksgiving.

 The Purple Zig Zag Tunic Sweater Dress and Matching Leggings

Then, for some crazy reason, my daughter, who hates hats, wanted a hat.  We found a cute winter hat for $9.99 and she would not take it off.  It will go really well with her pink winter coat, so I threw it on the pile.

And I am the queen of the comfy blankie.  I scored the very last throw in the store.  I saw it sitting by itself on a random shelf in the bedding aisle, so I scooped it up.  I was so excited.  I love that one side of the throw is black and white and the reverse side is that signature Missoni print.

The Purple Fleece Throw Blanket

I’m still in search of my Missoni for Target cups and saucers.  I tried online, but the Target.com website crashed around 8:00 AM.  It was finally back up at dinner time.  But the cups and saucers?

SOLD OUT.

Did you buy anything from the Missoni for Target line today?  Or are you headed to eBay? (I’m tempted to bid on those gosh darn cups.)

Missoni has launched a 400 piece collection for Target which includes clothing, accessories, home decor, and kitchen items.  You’ll recognize that colorful zigzag pattern.  The pieces are reasonably priced and super cute.  The collection hits stores (and will also be available on-line) starting September 13th.  Everything will be there until October 22nd OR until supplies last.  I bet these items will fly off the shelves so be sure to check them out early.

Oh, they have a BIKE too.

Isn’t it the cutest bike ever?  Jessica Simpson and Jessica Alba think so too.

For our Friday night date night, the hubbie and I went to the zoo for their annual “Brew at the Zoo” charity event.  The highlight was (surprisingly) not all the free beer and food samples.  The highlight for me was some alone time with these tall guys and gals.

I love giraffes.  I love them because they are tall like me.  I think their skin color is breathtaking.  I was able to feed a giraffe but darn my camera phone.  The photo came out really blurry.  I need a new phone, but that’s a story for another day and a wish for Christmas.  But I did get this cool shot.  Check out her huge tongue!

On Saturday night we all went out for a family dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.  I was craving some avocado egg rolls.  And a glass of pinot.   The kids love the bread basket and they split the pasta dish from the kids menu.  (That was a tip from our waiter and he was right. It was an enormous portion.)  We walked over to the ice cream parlor for dessert. We ate our drippy cones outside on a bench while the sun was setting. 

Annabel was done first and opted to do a little light reading while she waited.

You gotta love Florida.   We’ll still be hanging outside in our T-shirts and shorts (and Hello Kitty skirt sets) for at least another month.  Happy October.

As part of last week’s family road trip, we stopped off at my sister’s gorgeous house in Maryland for two nights.

It’s really great because her kids and my kids are super close.  We love that they are cousins and friends too.  They run around and play and color and dance and swim and are mischievous together and it’s just the best.

The first night there we had a fun make-your-own mini pizza dinner. Then my sister said we are having S’MORES for dessert. 

“Um, when did you get a fire pit in your backyard, Sis?”

NOT NECESSARY.  All you need are three ingredients and a microwave.  Hey, this is my kind of dessert.

(I don’t cook. I bake.  A little.)

My sister said the s’mores were her daughter Maddie’s idea.  So here is the super simple recipe for:

MADDIE’S S’MORES

* Take one graham cracker square

* Place two squares of Hershey’s Chocolate Bar on the graham cracker square

* Place four mini marshmallows on the chocolate

* Top with another graham cracker square

* Nuke in microwave for 20 seconds and enjoy!

The kids just loved them!

Don’t you just love the chocolate mouths?  And that’s Baby Luke having just the graham cracker. (Next year, Buddy.)

The adults loved them too.  They went great with our white wine and game of Balderdash that night.  Have you ever played this game?  It is downright addicting. 

Just like the s’mores.

We just got back from a week long road trip to visit my family in Maryland and North Carolina.

We make this trip ALOT.

But there was something very different when I pulled into my parents’ driveway this time.

The tree in the front yard was gone.

The tree was getting old and my parents were worried about the super large branches actually falling on the roof of the house so they had it removed.   Well, everything except the stump.

That’s getting picked up and taken away next week.

It reminded me of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein which, IRONICALLY, Daniel got from his godmother as an early birthday gift.

I love that book.

I love trees.  I think it has to do with my love for old things and shade.  I love a big, old shady tree.

I’m not overly obsessive.  I wouldn’t protest and live in a tree.  But I MIGHT hug one.

My kids know how much I love trees.  We’ll be driving in the car and Daniel will point to trees all the time and say, “Mama, you like that one?  You like that tree?  You love trees, right Mama?”

I do love trees.

My dream is to have a birch tree in my front yard.  They are just so pretty.  I have the “Silver Birch Forest” screen saver photo on my laptop computer.

It makes me happy.

So it’s a little sad that the big old tree in the front yard of my childhood home is gone.  

But it makes sense.  It was a giving tree. 

It gave me and my brother and my sister some great memories.

And now it just gave one to my son.

Thanks, Tree.

I just saw this on John Mayer’s blog. He saw it on this website.

WAKE UP CALL.  THIS IS MY GO-TO DRINK!

Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Sugar-Free Syrup, anyone?

Harmful Drinks in America

11. Worst Espresso Drink
Starbucks Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with Whipped Cream (venti, 20 fl oz)

660 calories
22 g fat (15 g saturated)
95 g sugars

Sugar Equivalent: 8½ scoops Edy’s Slow Churned Rich and Creamy Coffee Ice Cream

Hopefully this will dispel any lingering fragments of the “health halo” that still exists in coffee shops—that misguided belief that espresso-based beverages can’t do much damage. In this 20-ounce cup, Starbucks manages to pack in more calories and saturated fat than two slices of deep-dish sausage and pepperoni pizza from Domino’s. That makes it the equivalent of dinner and dessert disguised as a cup of coffee. If you want a treat, look to Starbucks’ supply of sugar-free syrups; if you want a caffeine buzz, stick to the regular joe, an Americano, or a cappuccino.

Drink This Instead!

Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Sugar-Free Syrup (grande, 16 fl oz)

260 calories
6 g fat (4 g saturated)
38 g sugars

WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE. 

As a parent to two little ones, I am constantly asking myself, “Wait, what just happened here?”  “What did I say wrong?”    This video is the perfect example of how a fun moment can turn ugly because of something completely unintentional.  I love that the sisters are so concerned and Dad’s comment at the end?  CLASSIC.

It’s 2010 and here’s a quick list of some things I’m loving as we start this brand new year (and brand new decade!):

1. American Idol is back!  I know that means Glee is gone, but it’s so great to settle back into a Tuesday/Wednesday, and soon to be Thursday, American Idol schedule filled with all the cool and crazy singers.  One of my favorites so far? The cute country girl who is going to ride on an “aeroplane” for the very first time.  That’s what the show is all about.  I love it. One thing I DON’T love: no Paula Abdul. 

2. Oprah is back too!  I’ve already seen a pair of black jeans I need to buy.  I’ve already sat with tissues crying.  I’ve already grooved to Lady Gaga.  Thanks Oprah.

3. Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew on VH1 and Jersey Shore on MTV. I. CAN’T. LOOK. AWAY.

4. I know Kate Gosselin SAYS she hates her new $7,000 hair extensions, but I think they look super cute.

5. And finally, TEAM CONAN.