College Dorm Shopping Heaven

I started college at the only public, state-funded fine arts university in Alabama in the Fall of 2002 as a journalism major.

Although my roommates/dorm change situation would rival ANYONE (don't EVEN try), one of the best parts about sharing a 14x20 space with another person was shopping for all the things I'd needed to finally take the Big Step from living at home to living "alone". (I've mentioned before about my un-dieing love for all that is school-supply related)

Naturally, I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond and spent a nice chunk of the money I'd been saving throughout High School by working a slew of low-paying (yet, entertaining) jobs. My mom helped me with the necessities... and the things I "had to have" were on me.

At the time, I just wanted what was cheapest and was functional. I bought a baby blue reversible bedspread and my first "throw". It's amazing how excited you get over buying a blanket that's just yours. When I bought it, I remember thinking "I'm probably going to have this for a long time..." And that turned out to be completely true - Conner slept with it just last night.

The University of Montevallo's Housing Department sent out a list of suggested items: bath caddy, shower shoes, bed risers, under bed storage, shoe rack, extra-long sheets, a mini-fridge, etc.

Back then, it was difficult to even find extra-long sheets, and Sara and I (my eventual roommate after a merry-go-round-a-la-HELL of room switches) made the best of what we could find. She had curtains, and an amazingly soft pink duvet. We painted a desk that was surely circa 1950.

With no help, we managed to shimmy and sweat a love-seat from the depths of the attic in our Dorm Hall (the building is a historical landmark, it's over 100 years old...). The couch was NASTY, to say the very, very least. We covered it with my blue throw, then with a pink sheet and some pink fabric (in case you aren't following, Sara really liked pink :) ).

There was no space unused.

My bed backed up to the entry wall. At the end of the foot rail was our mini-fridge (I purchased!) on cinder blocks. With no space in between, next sat a tall, plastic stack of shelves (we used it for everything between a pantry, storage and books...), a garbage can was smashed between that bookcase and our in-room sink (ooh lala).

Sara's bed ran the length of the window facing the sink and met the back corner. Between the end of her bed and the sink was probably the only "free" space (necessary to brush your teeth) we had other than the middle of the room. Next to her bed, (with no room) was our dresser and on the other side of that was our love seat (facing the tv that was on top of the fridge). Right next to that was a sideways facing desk that we could never actually sit at, because the love seat blocked the drawers.

That took up every inch of wall space in our dorm. It worked for us, but I still believe that if we were to have taken that furniture out and tried to put it back in, it wouldn't have all fit....

Here's a visual for those of you who I lost 3 paragraphs ago:

So today, I received the College Sale Catalog from Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Just as I slobber all over school supplies every July/August, I drooled on this thing. The market for college-bound kids these days is EXPLOSIVE and they offer all the things I never knew I could have but totally needed!

The space savers! The nick-knacks! The all-in-one 11-piece extra-long coordinating bedding!

Like these things: (all courtesy of Bed, Bath and Beyond)

Fits under your mattress for easy access. How many times did I almost break my neck digging my cell phone out from between my 600 pound bed and the wall?

I LURVE that these have hoodies and aren't long - because I'm short, my robe always drug the ground - GROSS!

I had a long, plastic tub for under bed storage and anytime I needed something out, it was nothing short of an Olympic trial to maneuver. This thing has POCKETS! And a HANDLE! And is MESH so it doesn't weigh 4,000 tons when trying to bring it up or down THREE FULL FLIGHTS OF STAIRS! Swoon.

This thing is the Holy Grail of College Must-Haves that I didn't have... SIGH. It goes behind your bead to provide shelving above your head! It has a cup holder, a clip for your phone charger cord and a dock for it, adjustable shelving and hooks for your knick-knacks. I MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY STUDIED (mom, you didn't read that - it was a complete illusion...) had this been available...

WHY OH WHY DID THEY NOT HAVE THESE THINGS WHEN I WAS LOCKED IN DORM HELL??

I want a do-over!

Drum Roll.....

We have a winner people! Yes, 44 minutes late... but, you know... WHATEVER

The custom piece provided by Donya from The Pitter Pat House goes to:

Erica!

So, Erica... you have till Sunday night-ish to let Donya know exactly what you want and what size and whether she should make it while standing on her head... you know... WHAT EVER YOU WANT! (I'd like to personally request that you ask her to do this while also straining herself in some manner... but that's just how we roll...)

Anyhooters....

Erica, just head on over to The Pitter Pat House's BRAND NEW SITE and grab Donya's email. That way, Donya can get started on your amazing win. Oh, and we totally want pics once you get it!

Make that baby POSE!

To all those who didn't win, Donya and I have been scheming planning a future giveaway, so come keep visiting her site and this blog for details.

7 Quick Takes: I'm Midwest Bound!

--1--

I received one of those Nielson TV Diary things in the mail last week, and I almost threw away 5 perfectly crisp $1 bills (well, I almost recycled 5 perfectly crisp $1 bills)

I recall "doing" one of these things back in middle or high school, but I don't recall actually finishing it.

But, when I saw that they had included 5 bucks in with this "diary", my conscious wouldn't let me at least try.

Hooooooooowever, they sent only one diary and expect me to "log all additional tv's, the person watching, that person's sex/age, the time they started watching, the time they stopped, what program they were watching, what channel they were watching it on, or whether the tv was on but no one was watching" on a seperate piece of paper. I am also supposed to tell them the cable provider, list ALL THE CHANNELS WE RECEIVE ON WHICH TVS and which tv's have extra channels (and list those) as well as which have a DVR set up to it.

I mean, SHEESH.

We don't watch a TON of tv, but it is definitely on a lot on the weekends. If I had to go through each tv and list the channel name and the channel number, well.... on one tv that's like 400 things to write down! And we have TWO tv's like that!

They'd want something like this:

WZZA - Channel 13 - CBS (none of that is correct).

AND THEY WANT THIS times 300+ AND times 2 tv's??

On top of that, for 5 measily dollars, I have to record what we are watching and if two tvs are on who's watching what where, and blah blah blah. FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK.

Which inspires this:

Dear Nielson,

Make an internet version of this and you'll get better responses. Better yet, pay those people the 5 dollars, because that's how long it'll take on the internet. In WRITTEN WORD, this thing will eat 10 hours of my week (easily) and for that amount of time, I'm going to have to ask for at least minimum wage.

Sincerely,

A TV watcher that will most likely NOT keep up with this diary correctly.

--2--

I am bothered and bewildered as to which somebody broke my 'b' key. It's really making this whole "typing" thing difficult.

or

I am othered and ewildered as to which someody roke my ' ' key.

le sigh.

--3--

I took advantage of Southwest Airline's 48 Hour We Are Practically GIVING Away Flights Deal this week and booked a flight to visit my soon-to-depart the U.S. friend, Staci, and her awesomesauce of a family.

I get to go to KANSAS CITY... woot.

I've been to St. Louis, so is that considered the Midwest? Because if not, this will be my first mid-western experience.

AND, I get to stay on base where they might or might not keep B2 Bombers. HOW FREAKING AWESOME IS THAT?

(I have no idea why the government allows so much info to be available via wikipedia... maybe it's because this place is in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.)

I am totally stoked.

--4--

Obligatory 4th of July pictures.... now:

Cajun Shrimp Boil! Delicious.

--5--

RIGHT as I am walking out the door on Tuesday to pick up Conner from VBS/Summer School, the sky opened up. It was only a 15 minute drive to church, but by that time, this much water was already in the road...

We were SOAKED!

--6--

DaMomma and Ellie both wrote very thought-provoking posts on a certain celebrity that recently died that I am personally so freaking tired of hearing about.

However, these post share my exact same sentiments about a man that was clearly an addict and we, as a culture obsessed with celebrities, were his enablers.

If you were as disturbed by the media coverage and glorification of this certain someone as I was, please read those two posts (Ellie's even has pictures!)

--7--

On a more uplifting note, I'd like to mention (for the LAST time, swomise), that THE GIVEAWAY ends today... and if you happen to be a BAMA fan, Donya has a limited supply of houndstooth fabric for the winner's choice of outfit. (and for that OTHER team with no National Championship Titles in football, maybe she can conjure up some (puke) orange and (double puke) blue)

Remember - this giveaway ends tonight!

For more deliciously awesome Quick Takes, visit the Conversion Diary.

I Brought It

In college at UA, we had an awesome Rec Center. I have never been the "workout" type of gal, but after my first year (as a Sophomore) came around, and my then boyfriend was in Birmingham, I had to find something to do.

So, off I went. Frankly mah dears, I was looking forward to the steam room more than anything... it's awsomesauce for allergies and your pores... but my conscious kept telling me I needed to actually WORK OUT at the gym... Stupid conscious....

I hit the treadmill... I am of the "hate to run outside because there are bugs and hills and rocks and the potential to fall over cracks" variety, so the treadmill made sense.

I remember being very standoff-ish at first. There before me sat row after row of roaring running machines... FULL of Sorority Girls.

I should mention at this point that I wanted, more than anything at that time, to be one of those girls. Michael got me an "in" (and I made a friend or 3 in the process), but I couldn't pay for it. It wasn't until we were married that Michael told me he thought our relationship would have suffered, but he helped me get my recs and invites because he saw how badly I wanted it. Isn't that adorables??

Anyhooters.

I had a hard time making friends at BAMA that first year because so many of the girls my age were tied to their sorority. I knew virtually no one.

And there I was.... with 50 of them sweating their arse's off with their fancy music playing thingies (that I didn't have), Greek letters (that I didn't have) on their shirts about this party or that social and name brand water (that I didn't have).

I jumped on a machine in between two girls already running close to a box fan - I knew I was going to need some help.

I started walking, slowly, then speeding up. As soon as I got to a good jog, I realized I was going to be ok at this. I started getting lost in my thoughts, only periodically being reminded by my shorts to pull them out of my crack...

And it was sometime mid-hard run that I realized something: these girls that were there already running when I got there? They were STILL there. I started paying more attention to their speeds and how hard they were pushing themselves.

I upped my speed to a solid run to maintain my heart rate - the girls on both sides "beeped".

Had they just upped their speeds because I did???

Surely not.

Then, the girl on my left upped hers again, and I heard a barrage of beeping across the row and from behind me.

That's it... this is a competition.

I could resist - "beep, beep, beeeeeeeeeeeep"

I was running with The Best of Them... heart pounding, slamming water back from my re-used bottle with no label.

"Beep" from one girl...

then 15 beeps from the rest.

This was getting insane.

And FINALLY, after what seemed like an eternity of heart-pounding, aneurysm-ensuing, non-stop marathoning - one stopped... and 3 girls followed her.

I slowed down my pace to a jog to cool off, and I heard the "beep" again... about 3 more girls were slowing down as well.

Over the next 10 minutes of cooling off and praying I wouldn't just pass out, the treadmills practically cleared out. I looked down at my meter and was shocked - 3 and 1/2 miles.

I kept up the routine of running on the treadmill with the competition for 2 semesters, and honestly I always thought it was something very Bama.

Until, yesterday.

Michael and I joined the local Y, and we have been using a "satellite" branch close to our neighborhood. Ever since those college days of treadmill running, I've longed to get back on just to see if 4 years off the horse, making and birthing and raising babies had done anything to my ability to run a mile or two.

I ran on Saturday with Mike, as I mentioned...

But this time, Mike ran with me for 10 minutes. Soon, I was joined by 2 girls in Auburn shirts and soffies. Most likely, they were my age and even more likely to be minus aforementioned babies.

It was SO on.

I was already at a jog when they got on, so I decided to test my theory after they warmed up.

I "beeped" 3 times. Guess what? So did they.

I ran like that for a few minutes and upped my speed again - SO DID THEY.

There we were - pounding the treadmill practically in sync.

They would beep, and I would beep. No one was giving up.

Finally, the girl on the far end slowed down to a hard jog, and because I'd been running longer, I did as well. Her friend took all of 3 seconds to follow - I'm guessing she thought she'd won.

I looked down - 2.37 miles under 20 minutes "Not bad...." I thought.

Mike helped me do my shoulders in the Place Girls Rarely Go, better known as the Weight Area.

I also worked that awesome machine that does your inner thighs, you know? I'd marry that thing if polygamy were legal. Oh, and if marrying a machine were legal. Oh, and if it'd do the dishes. Yes, I'd certainly wed it then...

The girls did some of the same things... staying together and talking when they weren't listening to their MP3 players (Me and my iPhone... teeheeheeeeeeeeeeeeee)

Then, we go to leave and I walk to the Child Care room and pick up my 18-month-old and my 4 year old. As a family, we made small talk and I passed the girls on the way out the door.

I glanced their way and we caught eyes - they were a little shocked, to say the least.

I had totally won.

Not Me! Monday - Not My First

I've been wanting to do a Not Me! Monday hosted by the fabulous MckMama for awhile now, but I just... well... haven't.

(It's where you DON'T post a blog about the things you DIDN'T do or DIDN'T let your children do... because we are obviously all PERFECT people... get it? Right.)

So... here goes!

This weekend...

I most certainly did NOT want to murder my husband for watching endless amounts of crappy movies on SciFi and FX. Man, were there TONS.

When we did fireworks, we DID NOT load up our children in the car, drive to the back of our neighborhood to shoot fireworks out of the driveways of houses that are under construction. We did, however, clean up our mess.

During the fireworks, I most certainly did NOT light things and throw them.... (don't worry... I threw them away from the non-murdered husband and darling children)

I did NOT consume another 10 Kit Kat bars this weekend... NOT ME!

It's Summer, but that doesn't mean I let my 4-year-old LIVE off strawberries and chocolate milk ...

After joining the Y on Thursday (eek!), I most certainly DID NOT laugh at my husband when he tried to get off the treadmill and fell on his arse (well, face... really) - twice. (Actually, I really didn't laugh the first time, but when he tried to get up and did it AGAIN, I definitely DID NOT laugh then!)

I also DID NOT tell my husband I wouldn't blog about this... oops! Good thing I'm not!

It wasn't me that gorged herself on cajun boiled red potatoes for 2.5 days straight...

Today.... It's not me letting my children watch HOURS of tv today because I'm just plain SORE from running 2 miles on the treadmill (without FALLING like someone I know, NOT that I mentioned that)...

And lastly... That girl that just ran her plants outside to get some rain for the day in nothing but a long-ish t-shirt was most certainly NOT ME! (*blush*)

(It also is SO NOT ME that is hosting a giveaway for an adorable, customizable outfit for your wee ones! So DON'T enter by clicking the button in the top of the left sidebar...)

(this was fun, thanks Tamara!)

Church of Amanda Issues Its First Newsletter

It's Sunday again, and I'm not in church.

I've always been a firm believer of the mantra "Going to church makes you as much of a Christian as going to a garage makes you an automobile", but obviously church serves a purpose.

When I was little, my mom hauled my sister and I to church every single Sunday. My dad stayed home and did whatever it was he did when my mom was off toting us from one commitment to another...

It was a smaller church, but not too small. I can vividly picture the sanctuary and it's high wooden beam ceiling, the green carpet and the communion alter. I'd be able to pick out the play kitchen without quibble in a line-up of hundreds. I still remember the smell.

When I was a little older, around 10 probably, I remember it being my turn as an Acolyte and I was over the moon. I got to play a special part. I got to wear a special robe. I got to LIGHT A CANDLE!

A lot of my fonder memories as a young child stem from that church - the gym and dodge ball, my first Pre-K "performance" program (I was Summer (maybe Spring, mom?), we did the seasons - and my mom searched for DAYS for the perfect little outfit. It was a pink and white stripped dress).

I wandered around one day and discovered the church had a library! EEK! Nerd Alert: I scanned those shelves for what seemed to be an eternity.

My point here is, as I've said before, that church was home. People knew me and my family, I was comfortable, I was involved and it was a place to learn about the Lord.

Many of you pointed out in my Church of Amanda post that you feel similar to how I feel about finding and being comfortable in a church. If you aren't comfortable or if you are pressured then picking a church becomes much more difficult... and it feels impossible.

Should I attend some place every Sunday with my kids (and husband) in tow just because it's the right action? I don't believe so.

When Michael and I became engaged, we started going to church again and he left a church on 280 (in Birmingham) that he enjoyed but was more contemporary, and I'm an old-school gal. It wasn't a problem for him because the church we were switching to was the church he grew up in (Mountain Brook Baptist) and the Senior Pastor was such an amazing man.

So, we were baptized to join (my first actual baptismal as I had been Christened as a baby (Methodist). That was the first time I felt at "home" again in a church. The pastor was an amazing man, and still plays a major role in our lives as well as the boys (both boys have been "presented" to the church, and in a private ceremony, this BAPTIST minister CHRISTENED my boys... he's that amazing).

I never thought I could feel the same way I felt about my first church at another place - but this church sure fit the bill. No, it was the denomination of my choosing, but in the right church that doesn't matter. This place put very little (to no...) emphasis on the "baptist" part and more effort into being just a place to openly worship the Lord.

I found it so comforting.

And then, we moved here. As I mentioned in the Church of Amanda post, I have accepted the idea that we won't be going to a building with other people worshipping simultaneously, but rather attempting to raise the boys in a Christian atmosphere in our home.

It's just... so dang hard. I fear that the boys will not know of amazing Sunday School teachers and stories from the Bible (as they tell them). They won't practically pass out when they get a part in the church play or a job passing the offering plate. There's no hallways to explore or libraries to find. Yes, God is here in our home, but it's not the same... in some ways.

The Grandparents, both sets, keep bringing up that the "boys need to be in church". My question though is "why?". Because you want them to be involved? Well, Conner goes to school there and in a year, so will Chase. Because it's the "right thing to do" ? What if we aren't comfortable? THEN is it the right thing to do?

The best reason: Because you want to make sure they have a relationship with God? THAT I get - and agree completely.

In parenting, the fears are innumerable, but the fear of my children growing up without a Church Home definitely carries a lot of weight.

I'm praying that we find some balance.

I'm praying that we can raise the boys to the best of our abilities.

And to be completely honest? I'm praying we get to go back home sometime soon.

(And on a lighter note: Make sure and enter the Pitter Pat House giveaway hosted by The Mom Job... just click the image in the top of the left sidebar - maximum 4 entries per person and it ends this Friday!!)