Weekend Read: Magazines, Magazines, Magazines

This weekend I am committed to catching up on all my magazines that have been piling up over the past two weeks.  Due to my inability to find time to read magazines (and my previous post on reading more books), I have cut down the total number that I subscribe to but I just cannot give up some of my favorites.  I absolutely love Harpers Bazaar.  This is followed by InStyle, and Elle.  Every now and then I will throw in Vogue and Vanity Fair.  Though I love reading books, I adore getting lost in a hundred pages of fashion and (believe it or not) some great short stories.

How Much Do I Owe?

Let's go back to 1994.  I was a sophomore in High School and would make a steady income off of the neighborhood babysitting jobs at what I considered an amazing rate, $6.00/hour.  Flash forward to 2011 and what the hell happened?  I am now paying anywhere from $10 to $15 an hour for a 16 year old to watch my children.  And the term "watch" is used loosely.  Considering all three of my children are in bed within 30 minutes of their arrival, there is minimal "watching" that actually occurs.  After that it is a night of MTV, talking on their cell phone and eating my food.  I understand there are a number of factors that may have caused this increase (inflation really exists, I know), however, an increase of 150%?!  Regardless of what we are doing, there is always the additional $50-100 spent to ensure we are actually able to go.

The sad part of all of this?  I don't even care.  They could ask for $20 an hour and I would be willing to pay it.  Why?  Because if not for the babysitters, this mother would never get out of the house and would go insane.  End of story.  It is just too bad my FSA account won't approve my babysitting fees as a part of "Mental Health".

One of My Favorites: Dr. Perricone High Potency Eye Lift

Thanks to total exhaustion and genetics, I have terrible dark circles and bags under my eyes.  Or at least I did.  I have been on the search for a great eye cream that would actually show results.  After trying numerous brands, I was about to give up when I came across Dr. Perricone's High Potency Eye Lift.  Ah-mazing.  When I made my original purchase I was extremely hesitant due to the price (yes, $95 for a small bottle of eye cream is a lot) but within a few weeks, I saw a noticeable difference in my dark circles and bags.  I have now been using it for 6 months and LOVE it.  Yes, it may be pricier, but it is a small price to pay to not look like I got hit by a truck every morning.

Oh How She Has Changed Me!

This week I had the opportunity to do something I had never done before and something I would probably never do if I only had my two boys.  I dined at the American Girl Store in Los Angeles.  I was a bit hesitant about visiting.  I just did not understand it.  A store about dolls.  How great could it be?  Apparently pretty flipping amazing.  I never thought I would be "that" mom but the second I walked in, you would have thought I was 5 years old.  I absolutely loved that they set up highchairs in the dining room for the dolls.  And obviously they needed those tea cups to drink.  Oh and the selection of clothes were just too much to take in.  My 11 month old and I were in pure heaven.  It finally had hit me.  All those things women say they will never do or embrace with girls, just don't have girls yet.  It is apparent that no matter how hard you try, you are sucked in.  I loved every second of our day and we will definitely be going back.  Only next time, we will bring Baby Girl's new little friend......

And she will probably wear her new outfit.....

You may think this is absurd, but what can I say?  I am officially the mother of a girl.

Designer Obsession: Elizabeth and James

When I want something that is going to be flattering, sexy and just plain beautiful, I always fall back to Elizabeth and James.  I must admit, when I first heard that the two little girls (okay, not so little anymore) from "Full House" were going to be fashion designers, I was a bit skeptical.  However, when I made my first purchase of their line, I was sold.  Now I have a slight obsession with their clothing as it fits my style perfectly.  Not over the top, one of a kind and always on trend without being too trendy.  Here are a few new pieces from the line that I have already emailed to my husband for Mother's Day ideas:

"One Minute Please"

My poor children.  They hear this phrase all the time.  Whether I am trying to empty the dishwasher, fold some laundry, or mopping the floor, they ask me to play with them and I will automatically respond with "one minute please".  The problem is, it is never a minute.  Once I am done with that item, I move right on to the next thing that needs to get done around the house.  I find that on the majority of days, I will spend most of it "doing chores" instead of playing with the children.

Sadly, I think I am not the only other mom out there that does this.  There is never enough time in the day to get everything done.  I take pride in having my house in order, dinner on the table and all the laundry put away before my husband gets home.  Not that he cares.  It is more for me.  That is what I do not understand.  Why does everything have to be perfect?  If playing with my children means sacrificing that last load of laundry, I am sure the world will go on.  For some reason I just don't always make that choice.

Well yesterday I did.  Yesterday I came home and my boys asked if I would play with them.  We went into the playroom and for over an hour, I played with my three children without a care in the world.  Dinner was not done on time, laundry was not put away and there were dishes in the sink.  And you know what?  Something amazing happened.  I heard "I love you mommy" more than I ever do when I am sweeping the floor.

What is this thing they call "Date Night"?

My husband is good at a lot of things.  Scheduling and planning date nights are not one of them.  And it drives me crazy.  I am his full time social planner.  The guy comes home from work on Friday to a fully planned and organized weekend that ranges from baseball games to dinner with friends to weekends away. He does not have to lift a finger and his social life awaits.  All I ask is that every now and then, he plans a night out for just the two of us.  You would think I have asked him to do the impossible.  I bring it up for days, weeks, months, and still I see nothing.  Finally I cave and plan something.  And every time I get so annoyed at myself because I should not have bailed him out.  So I am taking a stand now.  The guy needs to be responsible for something.  Maybe I should stop calling it "Date Night" and start calling it "Sex Night". I can almost guarantee "Sex Night" would be planned within an hour.