A Funny Turkey, A Cyber Sale, and a Gorgeous Tree

This last week was pretty crazy, as holidays usually are.  It's interesting now that I make my living being a business owner because as much as I'd like to say "shop closed for 2 days so I can enjoy family!" I know that's a CRAZY thing to do because this is probably my busiest time of year!

SO it was a balance.  A balance of being with family that I see but once a year, and a balance of working hard for the money.

Fortunately I think that balance went swimmingly.  On Wednesday my family from Puerto Rico (well they live in LA now) came to visit and we went around town!  It was a ton of fun.  I took them to the Clinton Library, to a park, and for lunch.  By the time we got home we were pretty beat but there was much to be done.

Come 5 o'clock and suddenly it dawned on me ...I hadn't gone to pick up the turkey!  Some expletives were definitely shouted and then I sent my awesome cousin's husband Lu to go pick them up.  WHEW that was close right?

10 minutes later Lu calls and says "what size was this turkey?"  I told him, just pick it up dude!  I have this all arranged ...

And he came home with the tiniest turkey and ham you've ever seen.  I mean, it's like Evan said ... we got a cornish hen, not a turkey.

We laughed our BUTTS off.  Seriously you have no idea how much we teased that turkey.  But the ham was even more laughable.  It was the size of my fist.  Not even kidding.

We're Puerto Rican.  We only know how to cook for 40.  SO the second my Mom got off that plane we already were laughing knowing she would flip a lid when she saw the little rotisserie chicken.

She just looked in the fridge, pulled it out and said "pero ... Cristy, que es esto?"

"translation: umm ... Cristy, what is this thing?"

Cue everyone laughing so hard we almost peed. 

WELL don't worry.  Thanksgiving was saved.  We're just so accustomed to seeing 30 pound turkeys that we didn't even realize that we were teasing the juiciest Turkey ever AND we ended up making my Momma's awesome turkey casserole AND having ham sandwiches the next day anyway!  GO figure!  Poor Turkey!

(PS Turns out Fresh Market gave Lu the wrong bag, but they charged us less so it all worked out just fine)

Cue yesterday when Evan and I decided to decorate.  We got out tree out and the next thing I hear is

"Sherman you moron!"

Sherman, our beloved sweet previously notorious big chewer ate ... well, parts of our Christmas tree!  HAHA!  SERIOUSLY?  couldn't make it up.

SO off we went to Target and bought a gorgeous new tree.  It even rang up $50 cheaper than we thought and then we used our new Target red card (credit card that gets your 5% off ALL Target purchases which for us, is a crap ton of $!).

We came home and I gotta say ... we put together one BEAUTIFUL tree this year! 

NOW for today ... you guys know I wouldn't leave people short handed!  I've got a cyber sale going on ALL DAY today in the etsy shop.  How does 12% off an ENTIRE purchase sound in these last few days of 2012?

Put in coupon code CM2012 for 12% off the entire thing! :)  HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Things I Never Thought I'd Say as a Parent

I've been thinking of making a little "book" about "things I never thought I'd say as a parent.  Having a 2 1/2 year old, and a BIG ball of personality in that 2 1/2 year old, things come out of our mouths that we just NEVER thought we'd say!

I need to write them down.  I need to remember these things b/c soon enough I'll blink and instead of saying funny things I'll be saying "stop texting so much!" or "I'd better not catch you kissing that boy young lady!"

So for now, these are weird things to say ... but they're SO funny.  I think it's a universal language between parents eventually and you don't even realize you're saying them.  But everynow and then Evan and I take a step back and say "did we really just say that?"

Here are some gems I can think of off the top of my head (for the record, yes I realize there is a theme around these)

"We don't eat while going pee pee or poo poo."

"Don't stick your head between your legs while going pee pee or poo poo because you'll get yucky stuff in your hair"

"I don't talk to you until you have underwear on."

"What's the rule?  No going outside without panties on!"

"We don't need to bring all the toys in this room.  Only a couple."

"We can only wear one pair of sunglasses when we leave the house."

"We don't need to carry a purse and lunchbox when we're going to the grocery store."

"Stop eating your boogers, that's yucky."

"Stop trying to pick Mommy's nose.  That's yucky."

"We only use the word penis and vagina when we're at home.  We can't shout that in public."

"Let's not tell everybody if they're a boy or a girl in public anymore ok?  Sometimes you get it wrong when it's difficult to tell and that can be really awkward for Mommy."

 "Stop hitting our booties and saying "nice booty!"  Mommy and Daddy can't do things like that to each other in front of you anymore because you're obviously picking up on things too much."

YEP, these are off the top of my head.  There are probably a million more!  I love being Liliana's Mom.  She gives us CONSTANT laughs.  Her honesty at this age is so scary, yes, but mainly endearing. 

Gloria's 4 months!

My dearest Gloria:

Here I am again writing you your monthly letter late.  I'm so sorry about that!  Truth be told the main reason we're behind is because we didn't take your pictures until a few days late because your Daddy has been working so hard.  I always want him to be with us for picture time b/c he basically insists on it, but when he leaves and gets home when it's dark outside it makes it difficult.  Fortunately we snagged one free moment that he was home (and left shortly thereafter) last Sunday afternoon to get some pictures.

You look unsure of the fact that Liliana's got you in a headlock. haha.

 Let's see, what can we say about you?  You continue to be SO stinking easy going and the main development you made this month is the art of smacking your toys.  You take your paci in and out of your mouth, you grab on to blankets as if they're your life support line, you hit your toys on the exersaucer, etc. You aren't as talkative as your sister except you have recently started to find the volume that your voice can produce and get a kick out of that.  It is a BREEZE to make you smile and laugh.  We basically just say HI and off you go smiling and giggling.

The best part about this is we don't tell your sister to do anything.  We just turned on a camera and she got in the chair, wrapped her arms around you, and wanted to smile and kiss you constantly!

I took you to your 4 month appointment a couple weeks ago and was SHOCKED to hear your stats: you're in the 60th percentile for weight but the 98TH percentile for height!  I knew that you were tall since we had you in 6 month pants but they were big on your waist.  But for some reason it really struck me as WOAH when they told me the percentage.  I couldn't get over it!  I'm hoping we've got a Volleyball player in you! : )

You're still wearing size 2 diapers and are still a fabulous sleeper.  You're going about 10 hours every night (about 8-6) and then get up to feed ... fall back asleep at 6:15 (yes it's VERY quick) and usually I wake you up around 9:00 so I can take you two to school!  You're eating 5 oz every 3 hours and 6 at night.  You still have issues with spitting up some after each bottle but the Doctor said that should start going away pretty soon.  I hope so because I'm not liking this whole soured milk smell! haha.

You look like a chubster here.  I love it! : )

My favorite thing on earth is seeing you and Liliana together.  When you're upset she'll say "Don't cry Gloria, your big sister Liliana is here and I love you!" (YES, your big sister has a heck of a vocabulary for a not even 2 1/2 year old ... 3 - 5 word sentences before 2 1/2?  PSH try that one at 13!) We have quite a morning routine where Liliana pulls a stool up to your bed and INSISTS on being the first person to give you a kiss everyday.  If I steal that thunder she insists on giving one more kiss than me.  She just wants to love on you constantly.  While I'm changing your diaper Liliana moves her stool over to the changing pad and tells you "Gloria you want to hear your ABC's?"  and proceeds to sing you all her favorite songs.  You look at her, giggle, smile, and grab her hand.  Seeing you two interact more and more is absolutely my favorite part of this entire parenting process.  Knowing the bond you two will have as sisters is indescribable and I'm so glad you'll always have a best friend, a confidant, and a person to laugh with forever.

BFF

Your Daddy and I are absolutely enamored by you and can't wait to see you grow more each month.  I love you darling.

Mommy

The BIG 1,000

For the last couple of weeks I've been working like a mad woman.  It's funny, I thought I would have SO much more time than what I do have!  Something at home always comes up (for example: did you know that in order to clean your dogs teeth they have to go under anesthesia, must be dropped off at 7:30 am, and will set you back $200?).  Yeah, those things had been put on the back burner for the last ... I dunno ... EVER and I thought I'd have time to do all of that and the business.  Turns out, the business is the most AMAZING, FUN, WONDERFUL experience and I just hit 1,000 sales today!! : )

I'm so stinking excited!  This has always been one of those "man wouldn't it be cool if I could sell 1,000?" things and I did it! : )

And though I need to get back to work, I wanted to put on a big sale, the biggest I've ever had.  For people that need Christmas gifts, or just want a fun, unique print I'm doing 15% off your entire purchase with coupon code YAY100015 OR if you get 3 + prints, 20% off the entire freaking order with coupon code YAY100020.

Yeah, I'm that excited about the big 1000.  This sale will last until tomorrow at midnight so shop around and PLEASE do tell your friends (that's how you build a business right?)!

Here's a link to the shop:  www.etsy.com/shop/prettyprintsshop

PS We just took Gloria's 4 month pics yesterday.  It has been a hell of a weekend and though I was in one pretty crummy mood, this made it better fortunately.  I'll actually update on life tomorrow (or the day after, or ... how about soon?)