Some days I feel motivated, others lazy.

Today I feel a little of both. Amelie was up coughing all night (which I think most of was on purpose). I suspect she likes spending time with her dad and was drawing attention to herself so he would go in and sit with her. We both went in 3 times each last night, and 2 of the times I went in she told me to leave with a very kind, "mommy, out."

Anyways, I was tired this morning so I took a little nap on the couch after I started some laundry. (Don't tell Tyler.) I say little nap because it was pretty short. Ami brought her Care Bears sleeping bag out onto the couch to watch some Care Bears Movie in, but got bored all by herself on the couch, so she came over and elbowed her way into my spot. I was curled up and dreaming about babysitting my niece and nephew when I got and elbow to the face, one to the chest, and then she butt-faced me.

She is still learning to use the potty so I Iet her run around pant-less in the mornings (plus all her undies are in the wash), and butt-facing is when she tries to sit her bare butt really close to my face. It's gross. Otherwise potty training is going really well. If she starts to pee when she is wearing undies she usually stops and finishes in her potty, and if she is pant-less she will go right into the bathroom to pee (or poop).

Sometimes when I am in the bathroom perched on the edge of the bathtub wiping poo off her ass and cheering that she just took a dump in the toilet all on her own, I have a mini out of body experience and have to stop and laugh. Now, I would not think to change my life or where it has led me, but before July 13th, 2008 (the day I found out I was pregnant with Amelie), I never would have pictured myself in that scenario.

It's also interesting because I straddle two totally different worlds during the week and on the weekends. During the week I stay at home with Ami and go to the Zoo, or open gym, or to the park, or for a playdate somewhere. Then on the weekends I'm off to work at a bar, to intoxicate a bunch of grown adults, some of whom I'm sure have children, and some who I seriously hope never do. After 10 years of working in the bar industry (barf, I never thought I'd reach the point where I could say, "I've been doing fill in the blank for 10 years now" and it makes me feel way old) I have learned that bartending is quite similar to taking care of a child. These so-called grown ups come in for a few cocktails or beers and by the end of the night they are stumbling and falling down, talking incoherently, and sometimes throwing things, peeing their pants, or throwing up. Sound familiar moms? I have to speak to them like they are toddlers, scold them when they climb up onto things they shouldn't, and take coasters away when they start throwing them at people. So maybe those 2 worlds aren't so different after all. Maybe bartending actually prepared me to be a mom.

And now I'm rambling.

What I really wanted to do with this post is say that I went back to Homegoods last night to snatch up a few more deals. Here is what I got last night.

I got this smaller version of the same stool from earlier. It was clearanced at $15 but I didn't have enough hands for it during my first trip.




and this jewelry box was not on sale, and was $12.99. I just really like it. I know my fingers are going to swell up this summer and I will need a place to store my wedding ring on those hot humid bratwurst finger type of days.




I had a pillow and a piggy bank in the cart for a long time that were of similar styles to everything else I bought, but I used a little but of self control and put them back. The 2nd trip I also got a cheese knife, a wire colander so I can finally rinse my grains and legumes, and some organic Ginger Ale that I am pretty excited to try.

After my lazy morning nap, I felt a wee bit motivated so I cracked open the coconut I bought at the co-op on Sunday. It was my first experience with one, and I'm looking forward to eating it once I get all the "meat" off of the shell.

My coconut cracking tools.






Then while I was on the phone with my mom, I kept my hands busy roasting some Chickpeas in the oven. It was easy and they are really good. I poured a can of Chickpeas in a colander and rinsed them off, coated them with some olive oil, salt and pepper, and put them in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Ami loves them. Then again, she just loves eating.








Since I was just talking about how well potty training was going, I thought I should mention, while I was posting this entry, Ami peed on the couch. I'm going to go clean it up now.

Bam, Jackpot!

This morning after breakfast Amelie and I went to TJMaxx/Homegoods. I have been savingsavingsaving money and really felt the need to get out to the store. We went mostly to get Ami some more undies, and I thought that maybe I could find a potato masher and and something small I could splurge on.

I didn't plan on spending more than $20, but I spend $157. I could not help it. They had TONS of stuff right up my alley AND on clearance. I'm embarrassed, but I was digging through the carts of stuff they wheeled out to stock the shelves. I guess I got to them before they did and I bought about half a cart full of stuff. I was trying to wedge all the stuff into my cart while keeping Ami strapped in the child seat that she was trying to climb out of.

This is what I ended up buying.

Loading the goods into the truck. A balancing act.




This is a stool and the top comes off for storage. It was on clearance for $19.



This is a soft ottoman type thing, it was $49. I normally would not spend that much on something like this, but I couldn't help myself. It will be perfect upstairs in the nook, or at the foot of our bed.


Here is a medium sized round storage box. I'm not sure what I will use it for, maybe in the bathroom or on a nightstand. on Clearance for $7



I'm very happy about this mini stool. I found it at the bottom of the crate of stuff. It was the most embarrassing thing I had to dig out because I had to unpack the whole crate to get it. It was worth it though. Clearance price, $19



And here is a mini trunk that was only $15.



I also ended up with a potato masher, a bathtub mat, a rug for the front door, several pairs of undies for Ami and a new sports bra for myself. Not too shabby!

I'm pretty excited about it all. I might go back later when I have a little more time to look and I don't have to bribe Ami with goldfish and songs to stay in the cart.