HELP!

Okay, Ladies. I need your help. It's a total fashion emergency. We're talking total emergency.

I'm going to Italy this summer and it's going to be warm when we're wandering around, so I'm thinking a few cotton summer dresses. Plus, I'm totally vain. I'm going with a cutie patootie friend and she's going to be rocking the cute dresses.

Disappointment is not.an.option.

So.. where's your go-to for summer dresses? Think inexpensive. I'm working with a teacher's salary. On a budget. You know, to save for that vacation.

HELP!

I ordered a book from an amazon vendor and the book was described to be in very good condition. I took this to mean that it was, literally, in very good condition.

Upon receipt of the book I realized the edges were tattered and there was highlighting throughout. Am I just being too OCD or do you think I was misled? I don't normally complain, but I'm a little neurotic about the highlighting-- I don't mind it if I do it, or if it's neat, but this is different colored, and very sloppy. I did save about 50% by buying through this seller, but I just feel like I got duped. Thoughts?

I don't want to leave negative feedback, but very good to mean means little use and no highlighting. I would have said it was in good condition AND noted the highlighting.

HELP!

I need YOUR help..

Okay, ladies (and gentlemen?)...

I'm thinking it's time for a change around here. I'm thinkin' a new blog title is a must. While I'll always love my mid mid-life crisis, I think I'm ready for a new name.

What are your thoughts on this?

Phew!

I'm exhausted. I was reading some blogs and came across this via Mrs. Mindless. Which was pretty cool, a ruffled tee at a fraction of the price. Plus, it's DIY so I instantly loved it.

Fast forward to today. I get the brilliant idea to consult Mommy dearest who happens to be a master seamstress. I share the idea with her and she instantly says she can do it (and I actually believe her!) and was literally walking into Tar-jay to get the goods as we were hanging up.

Then, I came across a neat idea using ribbon and thread to make "flowers" and thought that might add some visual interest for the ruffles on the tee. I looked through my materials and Viola! I had all that I needed to make it- a plain white tee, black ribbon, black thread, and a needle.

What do you think ladies? I'm thinking maybe one or two more bunches, but every time I added them... well... they just didn't look right. And, when I put it on... any down below the bottom one will get pretty close to the shelf. The last thing I need is something to add to the shelf.

Books?

I am in need of a new book. Any suggestions?

Hmm...

Feeling like I want a little anonymity... but I don't know how to get it. I started this blog as a place to share my life, get advice, and vent. At first I was frustrated because I didn't have any readers (that I knew of, at least..) and so I shared my blog address with family and friends. While I adore that my family and friends from so far away can share my life with me, sometimes a girl needs a place to escape...

What to do, what to do?

Question..

Okay.. I know there are a bunch of readers out there who are teachers. I'm looking for some advice on literacy centers and morning message/meeting ideas. I'm trying to re-vamp some things for this year and I KNEW you all would be able to help!

HELP!

Help? Please?

A girl has needs, you know.

Here's what I'm looking for.. monogrammed flip flops and a monogrammed agenda (preferably an academic year, as I'm a teacher).

Where can I get these?

ETA: I'd like to get something that is classy and I'd prefer to do it through someone you all know and love.

Headache Help...

Okay, Ladies..

I'm looking for some help here. I've been having some pretty bad migraines and headaches lately. What can I do (besides prescription-strength meds because clearly, I have no access to a doc at 7:00 pm) to make these go away? We're talking wake up with a headache, go to bed with a headache. Regular 'ol asprin just isn't doing the trick.

What do you all do to help these?

On an unrelated note, I think Big Dog has finally wised up to our tricks. First of all, we've always used baby gates to keep her on whatever floor we're on (she's a naughty, naughty devil...) and to keep her out of trouble. We've never had to lock the gates, just had to lean them up and she's left it alone. Well, enter the teen years.. and now she's realized she can knock them over.

As if that wasn't bad enough, she's also decided that NOTHING will get her inside. I used to ask her if she was hungry and she'd go flying in. Or I'd even pull out the, "Where's daddy?" and she'll go running. On occasion, I'd even get away with, "Who's here? What was that?" and in she goes. Now? Nothing. I have to literally chase her inside. We used to do treats and I'm thinking we're going to have to go back to that to train her again. Then, we'll wean off the treats.

Vacation Ideas?

Alright ladies (and gentlemen?)... I need your help yet again.

Hubby and I are talking vacations. Here are some of the ideas we're tossing around.

• Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Key West- to explore the keys, duh.
• Glacier National Park- gotta visit before those glaciers melt.
• Arizona- to do some hiking, visit the Grand Canyon, etc. but hubby has one heck of a stress fracture and he's not so sure he'll be able to hike.

I suggested North/South Carolina, but we're not sure there will be enough to do to keep us busy. I'm a total beach bum, Hubby is not-- so we have to do some compromising, of course. Anyone out there know anything about vacationing in the Carolinas?

Any other suggestions? Keep in mind, we want it to be affordable so travel outside of the States is probably out of the question.

The advantages to doing the Carolinas would be the fact that we can drive, so we're not really stuck to any set schedule and can drive at our leisure. If we do Glacier National Park or Arizona, we're looking at a really long car ride- I'm not such a good co-pilot in the car- I'm either a horrible backseat (front seat?) driver or one heck of a sleeper.

What do we do?!

More HELP needed!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it.....

Find a cute denim skirt that is not too scandalous (short) and not too grandma (long). You know, appropriate for summer without showing the booty.

I've already looked at Loft, GAP, Target and Old Navy. Any other suggestions?

Help!

Okay... I've never been one to be the domestic goddess... my cooking, cleaning, and general house tidying skills can prove it.

(This is where you come in, dear readers...)

How on EARTH do you iron a dress shirt correctly? Hubby normally takes his things to the dry cleaners, but we just bought some new shirts for him and he'd like to wear them. We're also talking about skipping out on the dry cleaners (to save some $$) and doing his things at home. This means lots and lots of ironing.

I'm so sad I can't live up to the ironing skills of the dry cleaners. Please, please, please (begging isn't pretty, but I must do it sometimes...) give me some tips. I would hate for hubby to have to go to work looking like a bum because his wife can't iron to save her life.*

*Yes, I do know we're living in 2009.. and husbands can do their own laundry/ironing... but I'm afraid hubby might burn the house down attempting to iron.

Advice?

I'm looking for some advice, Ladies. I'm counting on you.

Okay, here it is..

Hubby and I? We just can't agree on the sheets. He doesn't like a top sheet and I need a top sheet. I just don't feel tucked in without it. How do we make this work?

Keep in mind, we're both really stubborn and won't go down easily. So the whole compromise thing? That's out of the picture.

HELP.

I Need Some Help...

Someone out there pick a number between 153-170.

First comment will be the number I use.

I'm not telling what that number will be used for, but I promise it'll be fun.

One more thing

I was told today I have an issue with confidence. While I totally agree with this (in my current situation)... I'm not sure where it came from.

Ask anyone who knows me in real life, I'm cocky. I'm arrogant. I think I'm top sh!t.

Why did this confidence go away? When can it come back so I finally feel like my old self again?

Sorry.. this is a "I'm feeling sorry for myself" post. But anyone else out there been through this before? I'm talking, a complete 180 degree turn around. One day I think I'm pretty awesome, the next I feel like I can't do anything right. Ugh.

A little of this..

... and a little of that.

The weekend seemed to fly by too fast, again. In between working on papers for grad class, trying to plan for the week, and securing a new project for my internship... I did not get much accomplished in any other areas of my life. I'm just having a hard time being so organized and planned at school that my home life seems to really lag behind. Any other teachers out there have suggestions? I'm just exhausted when I get home, so cleaning, cooking, and doing other things around the house just don't seem to get done.

Today in school I overheard a conversation between two of my students:
A fight was brewing between a little guy (who is a huge tattle-tale) and my little mini-me. Here's what tattle-tale said,"I'm telling Mrs. Italian-last name what you just did!"

Mini-me says, "Oh no you're not! That's not being respectful!" (um.. what?)

Tattle-tale thinks for a minute, "Well, you're not being respectful so I'm telling!"

Mini-me retorts with, "Fine go be a snitch, but don't you know ain't nobody like a snitch... once a snitch, always a snitch."

My mouth was wide open. But, they solved the problem on their own and tattle-tale did not want to be a snitch.

Annnnnnnd... I'm having such a hard time with weight watchers. Sometimes a girl just wants the juiciest, fattest, delicious cheeseburger. And some fries on the side.

Basically, I'm a whiner today. Sorry. I promise to bring you back to our normal programming just as soon as I figure this all out.