Heather Ann Melzer

November pain

I've been in such a funk lately and I can't help but smile when I see Jack in my favorite outfit of his, so hopefully this pic will help lift my spirits today.

I haven't been feeling well for the entire month of November and it's starting to wear on me. First the kidney pain, then I had some kind of stomach bug all last week, and now I've caught the kids cold and am coughing and have a sore throat and my head feels like it's going to explode. I feel so lazy lately - so not myself.

I tried to motivate us to put up some outdoor lights yesterday, since it was almost 60 degrees, but I couldn't really decide what I wanted to do and lights were sold out at Target and I only ended up putting them on one tree in the dark and Tom wants to redo it now. Ugh. I feel like I just don't have the energy in me to put up all the decorations and take them all down in just a few short weeks. Am I bah-humbug or what?

I'm trying. I put up a small tree in the dining room and hung some decorations I picked up at Marshalls yesterday, but the big tree will have to wait until this weekend, I'm afraid. I am excited to go Black Friday shopping, although with stores opening on Thanksgiving and earlier than 5am on Friday, I have no idea what our plan is. We're early risers, but 3am is a little much for even us. What was wrong with 5am anyway?

PS - Here's a link to the Black Friday ads (with pictures!) for you fellow visual learners.

Weekend hamster shopping was unsuccessful. Maybe we'll get lucky on Friday, although the girls would be happy with almost anything we got them based on their reaction to just about every toy in Target this weekend. 90% of their play is totally imaginative anyway - I swear they hardly every play with their toys. They're usually playing school or setting up cushions to make forts or rearranging chairs to play bus ride or something. That and making art projects are all they really care about, so art/craft kits would definitely get use.

I also started watching what I eat last week, since I didn't feel well enough to eat high fat foods anyway. I gained quite a bit since our Mexico trip and I'm trying to fit back comfortably in my jeans now. Maybe my decreased chocolate intake is affecting my mood? I must be going through withdrawal - lol.

Alright, I'm off to put on some xmas music and eat something to try and break out of this. I think I'll daydream about eating a piece of my mom's fudge on Thanksgiving - that's one thing I will NOT sacrifice :)

Hamster obsessed

So, I have an obsessive personality. Whenever I get into something, I get really into it, which is why I've always stayed far away from high addictive substances (not including espresso and chocolate, of course). A girl has to have some fun!

Kenzie put her Christmas list together the other day and it included this adorable creature here. Of course, I hadn't even heard of Zhu Zhu Pets until she mentioned them the other day. I did a quick Amazon search and saw them listed for 40 some dollars and thought - um, no. Then I did a little more research and found that Walmart had them on their site for $8, but they were sold out. And then a little more research revealed that I'd stumbled onto the Tickle Me Elmo toy of 2009 and finding one (and the cute accessories that go with them) this late in the game was going to be a major challenge. Another small tidbit about me is that I love a challenge - particularly one that involves shopping! So, the hunt is on.

So far I've seen nothing in the last 2 days. Rumors are that Toys R Us is stockpiling them for Black Friday and will be giving out a ticket to the first 100 people in line to get one of the cute little rodents. One?! Oh boy.

I have in-stock notifications set up on a bunch of different tracking sites and even a desktop alert from another, so we'll see how it goes. The stores around me are wiped and workers say that they disappear from the shelves the second they arrive. I even read a forum post yesterday by a Walmart worker who said that someone bought their entire stock in order to sell it on Ebay. Nice! I believe most stores are instituting limits with them now, which is great for those of us who aren't willing to pay the gotta-have-it-now prices. I could always make it a birthday gift for Kenzie in January if we don't score them now, although I'm going to do my darndest to find them because I know the kids would love them.

So, that's what's on my mind this week, along with a job that is completely off-the-charts crazy right now. At least I'll be sitting in the theater in a few hours after waiting months and months for it to finally come out. Team Edward!  LOL!

Is it wrong...

that the only gifts I've purchased for xmas so far have been for myself?  LOL!

I picked up my wintery slipper boots at the Bass Outlet store in the Dells last weekend, and I couldn't resist that adorable holiday mug at Starbucks this morning (or the new ornaments they have - eek!) I think I'm going to put up a little tree in my office that pays homage to my full blown obsession - I think I'd work harder if it feels like I'm in a Starbucks shop all day ;)

I have a few more things on my wish list, too - like one of these for all of the cupcakes we tote, and one of these to see if it will really make my cookies better. I've had my eye on one of these forever - would love a set with each of the kids' birthstones. And I had to gasp out loud when I saw this, and especially love the fact that you'll be able to make your own printing plates in the future. Can you say letterpressed business cards?  Love it!

I'm still at a loss as to what direction to go with the kids' gifts this year. I asked Jack what he wanted Santa to bring him the other day and said "a garbage truck". LOL! I was even more surprised to see that they actually sell garbage truck toys, and they're cute! Kenzie is completely headband obsessed, so this would be right up her alley, and these would be adorable for Christmas. I think the girls would love something like this, too, and Jack loves the scooter at school, so I know he'd love one of these.

I find it very hard to buy anything before Black Friday, though. Any other diehard Black Fridayers feel that way? Some stores are already advertising better deals than those scheduled for Black Friday, but I don't feel the urge to start shopping until the mad rush starts. I'm actually hoping to do much more ordering online this year, so we'll see how that goes.

Other than shopping on the brain, I'm SO excited to have tickets to see New Moon on Friday night! I apparently waited too long to order the tickets, since the theater I wanted to go to was virtually sold out. I snagged 2 of the last seats for the 6:30 show and am trying to prevent myself from buying one of these to wear to it - HA! I already feel like I'm dragging Tom to it (although he got me hooked on the series to begin with), so I think I'll wear something a little more age appropriate. He's having a hard enough time dealing with my new rain boots anyway. Such a conservative, he is.

Before I sign off today, I want to congratulate the winner of the Toms for the Whole Family giveaway. Congratulations, Jennifer Maddocks! A $200 gift certificate is on its way to her - how fun!

Never gets old

I think I've mentioned before that I've been going to the Dells for vacations since I was a kid. We never had money for big vacations and certainly none that required a plane ride, so the 3 hour ride to the Dells was the perfect little getaway spot. It's changed so much in the last 25+ years, but it never gets old. I love that it's close enough for a weekend jaunt, but far enough to feel like you're getting away.

We stayed at the Wilderness this time around and had such a good time. My sisters and their kids were in a 3 bedroom condo and we were in a 2 bedroom. We had full kitchens, so my sisters each took a dinner and we made breakfast Saturday morning. It worked out perfectly. We had italian night, mexican night, and made-to-order omelettes for breakfast (Tom was a cook at a breakfast restaurant in college). I also made a birthday cake for Katie and we squeezed in a movie night, too - I'll share those pics tomorrow.

Here are some of my favorite pics from the trip (after I made a trip to buy a new memory card since I left mine at home!):

 

 

I'm already ready to go back!

PS - Don't forget about the TOMS shoes giveaway!  Entry deadline is today at 11:59PM PST!

The perfect day off

Kenzie had off school yesterday for Veteran's Day, so when our friends/neighbors invited us on a play date, I decided to take the day off, too. We don't get to do much outside of family time, so it was really great for both of us. We started the day with Kenzie's first time riding a horse, then took a hike through a nearby trail, had a delicious lunch, and then the girls ran around the house making crafts, reading to each other, and playing Barbies. It was so neat watching the two of them together, and so nice to have adult/mom conversation, too.

I'm working today and then we're headed out to the Dells in the morning, although I've got 2 more calls I have to be on during the day. Things are really starting to heat up at work, which is a great sign that the market is starting to recover a bit. Usually this time of the year is slower for us, but we're seeing quite the opposite right now. Should make finding time to shop and decorate this season all the more challenging!

Speaking of shopping, how many of you have started knocking things off your xmas list? How many of you are like me and have NO idea what to even put on your xmas list? LOL It's almost mid November and I'm absolutely clueless this year. We've been slowly scaling back on the kids' gifts the last couple of years and I think this year will be even more so. We're out of room and I'd love to put that money towards finishing our lower level - kind of a Christmas gift for all of us.

I'd also love to plan a family vacation for next year, now that my buddy pointed out that Southwest will be flying to Destin starting next May (which will hopefully make those flights more affordable). Our last week-long family trip was to Orlando in April '07, so I think we're due, I just need to start banking up vacation days that have been sucked up by sick kids earlier this year and just general mental health days (ugh). Although another visit here with just Tom and I is very, very tempting.

In other news, I think I have another kidney stone (double ugh). I've had really intense lower back pain for the last couple of weeks and Tom brought the kidney thing to my attention. I spent a day really focusing on the pain and it most certainly is. I've been drinking water like a madwoman, hoping to get rid of it, and so far I still have crazy intense pain in the morning that gets a little better as the day goes on. Just trying to get through the weekend without a trip to the emergency room :(

If I was smart, I'd lay off the espresso, since caffeine only contributes to the problem, but the withdrawal headaches that result are equally as painful to deal with. Plus, my 10 year service gift from my company was a cappuccino machine and Tom is determined to become my favorite barista. This morning's attempt wasn't bad at all, which was pretty exciting. Anyone have any tips for making cappuccino at home? I think we need to watch this video together tonight and try again :) That is, before this comes on - new episode tonight!

What five looks like

I really truly can't believe that my little baby bird is a whole hand old today. I still have this image in my head when I think of her. My brain needs to catch up with reality, I think.

Birthdays are a big deal for kids, but for Katie, it's like the World Series, Olympics, and Christmas all rolled into one. Being the middle child means her opinions aren't always heard, especially with a very outgoing older sister and a demanding little brother who's become equally as vocal. Her birthday is a day where she gets to call the shots and have all eyes on her, and she lives for it. So much so, that she was up EVERY HOUR last night until it was officially time to wake up this morning and be 5. I am one tired mama :(

I found this adorable fabric a couple of months ago and made her a skirt and matching appliquéd top to wear today.

I am completely obsessed with hand blanket stitching. It's so fun to do while we watch Food Network before bed. Last night, that was after baking cupcakes and making some fun treats for her classmates. She chose the cupcake design out of Hello Cupcake and the chosen theme was the perfect excuse for me to try some Martha Stewart pumpkin treat bags (filled with yummy popcorn).

For the cupcakes, I:

1. Used orange food coloring to dye white frosting

2. Dipped the tops in orange sugar crystals

3. Used a wooden skewer to draw 5 lines that were a bit off center

4. Used orange icing (already in a tube with tip) to outline the skewered indent lines

5. Stuck the end of a pretzel rod in for a stem (the medium size rods)

For the bags, I:

1. Bought mini orange kraft bags from Michaels

2. Filled them 3/4 of the way with popcorn

3. Twisted the bag tops into a skinny stem

4. Wrapped floral tape around the stem, starting at the top, leaving 3-4 inches at the bottom for the curly tendril. Then I rolled the remaining few inches between my fingers until it was super skinny, and then curled it around my pinky finger.

A super easy, fun project - my favorite kind!

Now, to bake a cake for tonight and turn the kitchen into a My Little Pony/Rainbow dreamland - per the birthday queen's wishes. Oy!

An evil surprise

When we came up with our Halloween theme this year, the girls really wanted Tom and I to dress up, too. I used to love dressing up for Halloween, but the stress of getting three little ones dressed for the day has always kept me from adding one more costume to the mix. At the last minute, I decided to surprise the kids. I found a costume last Friday, and after trick-or-treating, I snuck down to the basement to transform into the Evil Queen. I snuck around the side of the house and rang the doorbell, pretending to be a trick-or-treater.  Kenzie stood there with a bag of candy in her hand and had NO idea who I was. Apparently, neither did Jack...

I couldn't handle my baby running away from me, so it didn't stay on for long, but it was worth it. Here's a pic of us all together...

And here's one more video for you. My nephew dressed up like Michael Jackson and was showing us the moves he learned last week. We were dying!

A little too authentic, perhaps (goodness). This is what our house is like all the time, by the way - loud, lots of dancing, laughing, toys everywhere. And can you believe how big Dylan is, hanging out in the back there? He was too old cool to dress up this year. Actually, he told me he was dressed up, like his sexy self (goodness again).

I have more Halloween goodness to share, but we'll have to take a slight break because tomorrow our Katie turns 5! I'm busy sewing, baking, and decorating (and running all around town looking for these and an alternative for these (wahhh!!) for her school cupcakes). Hmm...

At the Patch '09

We made a last-minute decision to venture out to the pumpkin patch last Sunday, and I'm so glad we did. It's been really cold here in Chicagoland, and I was holding out for a warmer day, but since Indian Summer passed us by this year, we had to work with what we had. It actually turned out to be warmer than we expected, though, so we got lucky. Aside from the puddles of mud from all of the rain we've had. We actually cut through the corn maze because we couldn't find our way out and we were sinking in mud quicksand - lol!

We went to a new farm this year - Kuipers in Maple Park. It's probably quite a jaunt for folks that don't live as far out as we do, but it was a really neat place and we'll definitely be back. It's a real working farm with a pumpkin patch and all kinds of things to do on one side and a full U-pick apple orchard on the other. After we ran around and played for a few hours, we walked across the street for some of their famous apple cider donuts. YUM! We also bought a bag of freshly picked apples and Tom said they were delicious (I'll have to take his word on that ;)

I was just saying last night (during our 2nd annual Pumpkin Carving Party), that I probably take more pics in October than any other month of the year - lots going on. Here are some of my favorites from our outing...

Is there anything cuter than a chubby little boy with a messy donut? Maybe...

Sneak peak

The race to finish up Halloween costumes, goodies, and digital fun is nearing the end - will she finish, or pass out a few feet before that finish line ribbon thingie? Hopefully with a few gallons of caffeine and a whole lot of luck, she won't fall short of her childrens' insane expectations and be a disgrace to herself - lol.

And I wonder where my girls get the drama from?

I'm stressed, to say the least. I'm honestly always stressed/overwhelmed, but it's usually a healthy dose that keeps me motivated. Today's kind is the KIT KIT kind (Keep It Together). I just chant that all day long as I insanely make lists and plan every minute of the day to ensure that I keep on schedule. I have last minute costume things to finish up, an interview day to prepare for tomorrow, digital goodies to finish (so close!), treat bags to make, on top of it being Pumpkin Patch day for the kids (had to dress them nicely for pics), wear red day for Kenzie (didn't we just have Spirit Week?), arranging someone to watch Kenzie since she has a half day today (thanks, Mom and Dad!), and trying to figure out how I'm going to pack everything up for tomorrow since I'll be gone before the roosters wake up in the morning and Kenzie has to get an early release to make it to K & Jack's Halloween festivities. Whew! I despise wishing time away, but Saturday morning has never looked so good.

At least this is convincing me that Christmas prep needs to begin the day after Halloween. I'd really like to enjoy the season this year. Who's with me?

He's just a little boy

Oh, the power he has over his mother. Can you see the twinkle in his eye when he realizes it? I've watched this video 400 times since uploading it yesterday - he is sweetness in a chubby little package.

As promised, below is a link to a directory of photographers in the US and abroad. If you'd like your name included, there's still time! Just email me the relevant information and I'll be sure to add it. If I've missed your information or a correction needs to be made, please let me know that, too.  Thanks to all of the wonderful photographers that submitted! :)

I'll make this a permanent link on the sidebar soon, but for now you can get there via this link:

PHOTOGRAPHER DIRECTORY