"Dear Genevieve...

I could really use your help!" If only I really could get HGTV's Dear Genevieve to come decorate my house! While we're there, why not throw in some "Curb Appeal" too.

So we've been homeowners for almost 5 months now and I still feel like we just moved in. We're adults with full-time jobs, a kid, a dog and now a mortgage...so it's a little understandable that we haven't had the time nor the money to really invest in the appeal of our home. But its starting to get to both Isaac and me. Our yard needs a major overhaul! And we need - desperately need - to decorate!!! We need to make our home a HOME! But where do we start??? We already wrote a list of things we want done to our home, in order of priority and how much they will cost, but it seems like everytime we save, something comes up. New tires, dental work, a wedding...etc...AND we still have to save up for our HONEYMOON!!! Ayi yi yi - when does the madness end!!!

MY wishlist for our house (in no particular order):

• GRASS in our yard - actual grass that is worth buying a lawn mower for
• A fence
• DECOR!!! Well we have some decor but it is not up because we have to fix some spots on the walls - and I need to repaint
• A new bedroom set - Ikea has worked for us, but it's time for us to upgrade
• Decide whether or not our "Spare Room" is going to be an office with a futon or a guest room - and then decorate it as such
• A Dining Set - we have the dining ROOM - my perfect RED dining room, but it is being used as extra storage space :(
• Organize the garage so one of us can actually park in there
• DECOR!!! Again - I emphasize the decor part

Planning a wedding, trying to save for a honeymoon, starting a new job (starting my CAREER), and trying to be a good homeowner all while being the best mom I can be to a toddler who loves to say "NO" is not an easy task...

Thank God it is Friday - Momma is ready for a margarita!

A Working Mom

In my quest to find the secret to being a working mother and how to balance work, the house and of course motherhood, I found this article and thought I would share:

Pssst, Here's Some Dirt About Squeaky Clean Working Moms

by Lori A. Cascone

My friend subscribes to an e-mail discussion list for working moms, and she passed along a series of messages based on a rather passionate discussion. I thought it my duty as a writer with a sarcastic edge to spew some verbiage about the discussion, being I deem the subject matter right up there with abortion rights and equal pay for women.

Let me preface this with the fact that I'm only one-half of the working mom role. I'm the working part, not the mom just yet. Thus, I thought she sent me the e-mail because it was an interesting thread about marital stress. Or perhaps a list member admitted she was having a steamy affair in the office. Hmm. I was intrigued.

But these working moms weren't all a-flutter about the libido-enhancing herbs. They were engrossed in none other than a lively, impassioned discussion about the methodical finesse of cleaning. That's right. As in scrubbing toilet bowls, scouring refrigerators, wiping bathtubs, and mopping kitchen floors. Now, not only was I intrigued — I was also shocked.

I Worship Thee!
Please don't hurl tomatoes at your computer screen, but I must admit I've formed the habit of stereotyping working moms as cleaning klutzes. In a word: unclean. Not on themselves, but rather, in their homes. And the reason is because (get ready for a compliment) I can't fathom how a working mom has time to cook dinner for her family, let alone scrub shower stall tiles, when she only walks in the door after 6 p.m. every evening.

Then, of course, there's the inevitable fact that she awakens several times a night to breastfeed, burp, and diaper change. Not to mention that she rises and shines before the birds to get herself ready for another hectic day before awakening her brood and getting them ready for their day. I'm exhausted just reading that. And to think — she still carries the weight of eliminating dust balls? Go figure.

In a nutshell, here's what I surmised from this e-mail discussion: Working mothers really are superwomen. In the midst of all the muss and fuss that goes along with any given day, they're actually deeply concerned about keeping their homes in tip-top shape.

Like the pop song "I'm Every Woman," they really are every kind of woman (am I getting corny yet?).

They're modern, yet mindful of the "good old" traditional values of a warm, clean, welcoming haven for their spouses and kids — so important in this day and age when the home is considered a mere way station sandwiched between school, sports, and sleepovers.

They're multitasking geniuses, capable of perfecting their many roles with a keen sense of time management (and a sense of humor).

They're smart, but modest — these women trolled the Web and hoofed it to libraries in their quest to find the best sources for achieving the stature of "domestic deity."

And they didn't brag about it either — though they were probably on the Web at 2 a.m. while rocking their baby back to sleep or in the library zipping around the aisles while they waited for their 10-year-old's karate class to end.

But enough of the admiration. I figure all the information I extracted from those e-mail messages may have an impact on working moms everywhere. I'll share the wealth, and perhaps one day refer to this article if ever I become engrossed in maternal madness and start to panic over how to — gasp — fit a proper cleaning method in my own chaotic home. Either that or I'll simply rely on what popped into my mind the first time I read the threaded discussion: 1-800-HOUSEKEEPER.

Quotes From Panic-Stricken Moms
(Names have been omitted out of respect for the moms' privacy — no one wants their mother-in-law knowing these blunders.)

• "It took me an hour to clean a bathroom, and I have three! First, I started wiping the sink, only to figure out I had to clear it off first. I went on to scrubbing the toilet, but oops! I had to rinse the brush in the sink, and then realized I had to clean it all over again!"
  
  
• "This is my daughter's last week at childcare, and then she nervously starts her pre-K class. Me? I just hope I can figure out whether I'm supposed to vacuum or dust-mop the wood floors!"
  
  
• "I never can keep it straight what has to be done first, and almost inevitably, I have to redo something."
  
  
• "I've recently subscribed to four cleaning lists to help me in my confused and domestically challenged life."
  
  
• (in response to that last quote): "I think that borders on masochism!"

Recommended Reads

• "Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House," by Cheryl Mendelson Says one working mom: "This explains how, why, and when to clean things and take care of your home, in general. I really like the book and refer to it at least once a month." (If you'd like to buy it online, check out Amazon.com.)
  
  
• "Speed Cleaning," by Jeff Campbell The same mom says this tome gives the nitty-gritty about how to clean as efficiently as possible — the author even assigns roles if there are two or more cleaning mavens in the house. (If you'd like to buy it online, check out Amazon.com.)

Pink Eye

What girl doesn't like the color pink? I like pink frills, pink clothes, pink flowers, but not pink eye. Pink eye is not flattering, it doesn't feel good and it just plain sucks. At least now I know what my terminator eye is and now I am home from work. I'm kinda bummed I couldn't go back to work because I need to solicit more, but I'm kind of glad I can come home and just relax.

Now what to do? It is VERY rare I have the house to myself...really the only time I do is when Aiden is asleep and Isaac isn't home, but even then I have to be quiet or am rushed to get everything done before he wakes up. Part of me just wants to lay on the couch and part of me wants to clean up. I probably should lysol the whole house though... I guess I can sit tight until my prescription is ready.

Aiden had to be picked up from daycare yesterday because he was having bad diarreah, but no fever. Since he can't go back until it has been 24 hours since his last BM, I am just sitting at home with him. Although I hate missing work, it is nice to just relax this morning and hang out with my little man, especially since I won't see him much this weekend. He's so cute...just sitting on the floor watching TV letting mommy drink her coffee :)

So while I'm sitting here, of course I am playing on facebook. I mean it is too early to even open my work email and I'm not awake enough to do anything around the house. So back to facebook...the good old world of facebook. It's the one way you can check up on people that you really aren't friends with but once were. I'll come right out and say it, I had a friend in my life that was my best friend and is no longer in my life and I hate it. I hate what happened to us and I hate that even after I tried to reconcile, she had already shut that door and moved on. The only thing I can see on facebook (since we aren't friends on facebook) are her pictures...and from her profile picture, it almost looks like she has an engagement ring. If she does, I couldn't be happier for her! At the same time, saddened even more because I can't tell her that. What happened with us hurt, she hurt me...and the way I acted at the time because of what I was going through hurt her as well. But for 3 years she was my best friend and the person who knew everything about me. It sucks that the things we used to talk about happened are now happening and we can't talk to each other about it. It was like going through a bad break up, except we were best friends and then just stopped. It's been almost 2 years since we last talked... Even though I still can't understand what happened and it angers me, I would much rather move on and have my best friend back.

M.I.A

So I realize I've been a little MIA with the blog, but I've had a LOT going on. I have now been with the Sonesta for a month, my routine has changed (or become non-existent I should say) and Aiden has developed a new vocabulary.

The new job is great, but it definitely comes with its downfalls. There are people who are in "sales" but don't really have to sell. People come to them looking to buy a product (so there really isn't much skill needed) or people just manage accounts and sell to an already existing clientele - again not much needed there other than product knowledge. What I have to do complete cold calls - go out there and search for a contact, then pray for a lead, then even better a contract! So it's been fun and exciting to start establishing those contacts and build those relationships, but it's also been quite the hunt. Because the schedule is also a little stricter - at least in the mornings, I have not been able to make it to the gym in the mornings and I'm too tired at night...in addition to that, I have to come home and cook, so I can't really go right after work. I'm trying to create a new routine though and work something out with Isaac so that I can feel a little less stressed. And working out helps :)

Aiden is growing right before our eyes...he's becoming so independent now. And stubborn lol, but I guess that was expected being that he is the product of Isaac and me. His newest favorite word is "NO" and he has learned what a temper tantrum is. He's quite good at it too, very dramatic.

Oh yeah, we also got our engagement pictures taken!!! They came out so great and I can't wait to see the rest of them! Now I just have to find the right save the dates and get them sent out. Ayi yi yi...so much to do and so little time! So there's my update in a shell: busy and stressed!