Back from Paradise

We're back! More on our amazing vacation later, for now here is a little taste from our trip.

Frugal Friday Confession

I. Shop. At. forever 21

I'm not 21, I'm not even 31, but the "forever" qualifier is good enough for me. And last time I was there, they weren't checking id's. However, the girl checking me out actually called me "Miss" (score).

So here's the thing. I never, ever pay full price (save that leopard print shirt), except at Forever 21. Everything is just so cheap. I buy a few of my disposable wardrobe items at there. Tops, summer dresses, tank tops, $5 sunglasses for the pool. And even this $6.80 necklace, paired with a $10 top.

I totally get why the Forever 21 concept is big enough to take over the empty Gottschalks and Mervyn's stores. Cheap, trendy clothing is probably better than expensive out-dated clothing. And then I started considering the seemingly unlimited disposable income of the tween and teen set. Those girls spend me under the table. Also, there is very little rhyme or reason to the merchandising in Forever 21. There is just too much stuff. I always get the sense that the store is one strapless top away from exploding all over Ann Taylor Loft. I visited the XXI store in Chicago and it is huge (huge I say, huge!). And I was comforted by the sneaky branding twist with the Roman Numerals.

I'm not advising you to head over to F-21 and start buying things willy-nilly. You have to abide by a couple of rules. 1) There are things in Forever 21 that make you look like you want to be Forever 21 (I'll just say it: hoochie mama). Unless advised by Stacey and Clinton, steer clear of the shirts pretending to be dresses, the tube tops and the leggings. 2) You have to try things on. The return policy is a pain (the clientele might be the sort that wears and returns) and the sizing is completely whacked. If you want to dress a size down, go to Banana. At F-21 you will almost certainly need a size larger. 3) Don't turn around when you see the bandana top in the window. There are hidden gems in this retail jungle, you just have to keep looking. Really, I promise.

I'm a shopper and I don't care what the 13 year olds think of me. I will brave F-21 with the kids to uncover a deal any day. This experience is not for the faint of heart. Happy shopping.

Friendly Advice

If you have occasion to run into this boy....


Be prepared for his favorite phrase: WATCH ME!

You might reply "okay!" but that is not enough... You must reply "Alright Keith, I'm watching you!" At which time he will proceed to jump from the highest point in the room, run around in circles and/or bust out a little jig. He's full of tricks this one.

Laugh and clap if appropriate, but please feel free to admonish him for any displays of naughty behavior.

We're all watching Keith and we're all amazed.

Keeping his diet straight

Do you like V8? Patrick does. Strike that, Patrick likes the idea of V8, the execution tickles his gag reflex. He picked up "kid sized" V8 (5.5 ounce cans) at the store this weekend. Yesterday he drank two, warm.

He calls them kid sodas and drinks them right out of the can. He brags that he is going to keep growing because of his V8 consumption. I say more power to him but gross.

Can you imagine his reaction if I asked him to drink V8?

Oh and he holds the can like ET holds his "soda" can. Because ET drinks too much soda (BEER) and falls down and it's funny.

Keith on the other hand has the eating habits of a malnourished goat (yes, he has been known to gnaw on a shoe) and will probably need glasses before he turns 4.

My little firecrackers

Patrick had the camera on the fourth of July. Here is what happened (mostly) from his perspective.


First we set up the tent for camping with Uncle Ben.


Then we swam at Donna and Katy's and had a lovely dinner, including fresh from the garden tomatoes.




Patrick was surprisingly brave around the fireworks! Keith kept asking to go home.



Uncle Ben made sure that Patrick got lots of quality shots. Katy too.



Then we went home and got ready for nighty-night. Well, Ben and Patrick got ready, Keith ping ponged across the tent for about an hour and half.



We woke up pretty easily (although we were visited by a skunk during the night) and had a fantastic waffle breakfast. The End.

You're not really old...

Until you bookmark the Urban Dictionary.

Where else are you going to find the proper usage of "Facebrag"

To use Facebook as a platform to brag. Normally about a job, internship, trip, purchase or anything else that nobody really needs to know but you'd like to tell everyone because you're awesome.

Sample Facebook Status: Jane Stephens is headed to London with her new iPhone for her 2nd JOB INTERVIEW!!!!! :))))

"Hey, did you see Jane's newest Facebrag? Eesh."

Friday is Frugal if you get it for Free

This post was going to read: I've. Got. Nothing. Instead I'm going to get a free EA Sports Active for Wii Fit. Free=Frugal. Mudpies and Mary Janes are giving it away for free.

My mom got a Wii and a Balance Board for her 60th birthday in February. Judging from the records she has been setting on Wii Fit, she uses it quite a bit. While my parents are gone on vacation for three weeks, we're using the Wii. By we, I mean me and my Mii (the rest of the Miis seem to be napping). I get on the balance board almost every night. Since the tv in my workout room needs a converter box (or to get pitched out the window for a shiny new flat screen) the Precor hasn't had much play lately. Two more pounds to go and it is all thanks to the Wii.

I have to have this new toy.