Ornament Exchange

I'd like to invite you all to join me in an Ornament Exchange!  Here is how it will work. 

1.  If you are interested in joining in on the fun, email me at lifeinthebatcave@yahoo.com with your name, address and blog link by December 8th.  If you have any specific preferences such as you don't want to mail out of the U.S. please let me know.
2.  I will email you with the information of your recipient by December 10th.
4.  Purchase (or make!) an ornament and put it in the mail by December 15th.
5.  When you receive your package, put a picture up on your blog!  I will post a linky around the 20th so we can all link up our posts. 

A Date With Myself

I need to know, is it normal that I have never been to a movie all by myself?  Logically I know I don't need another person there to enjoy myself, it isn't like we can talk during the movie.  So why have I never thought to go alone before?

In case you haven't yet figured it out, I went to the movies today.  By myself.  For the first time.  Ever. 

I love Harry Potter and couldn't wait until The Deathly Hallows hit the big screen.  My friends either aren't into Harry Potter OR want to hit the theater on opening weekend.  I like to avoid the crowds so I would prefer to wait a few days or more.  The other problem with going with my friends is trying to find an evening that works for everyone involved.  I for one don't have many free nights available. 

So to avoid missing it on the big screen, I went to a matinee today.  Going during the day the theater was quiet and I saved myself a few dollars on the admission fee.  Going by myself saved me from interruptions.  Since nobody was there to witness it, I even purchased myself some popcorn and a soda and called it lunch.  It was like taking myself on a date. 

As for the movie itself, well I love, Love, LOVED it!  I think it is a shame I have to wait so long for the second installment!

Pass Me the Remote

I love to unwind on the couch in front of "trashy" TV.  Among the shows that have been known to make an appearance in the trashy lineup are The Real Housewives, Jerseylicious, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Big Brother, and I'm sure I'm forgetting to mention something. 

My husband can't understand how I can watch these shows but for me it is about escape.  After meeting the demands of life all day and evening long, I just want to unwind.  I want to watch something that doesn't "require" anything of me.  I can blankly stare at the screen and clear my mind.  Or, I can think of something else like planning out my next day.  Many times I'm multi tasking and on have my laptop snug in my lap while I'm watching TV.    These shows allow me to do that. 

I also think it is a little bit therapeutic.  When I'm having a bad day or feeling a little blue I get the affirmation that my life isn't so bad.  I just have to watch the train wreck that is unfolding in front of me on the screen as a reminder!  Take the Housewives alone.  How many of them have we seen foreclose or file for bankruptcy?  Their misfortune translates to my happiness in the span of the hour they are on TV.  Perhaps a little sad, but true. 

Tell me, what is your favorite trashy show?  Maybe I'm missing out on something!

Weekend in Review: Petz Fantasy

The holiday season is FAST approaching and as parents we are always looking for great new ideas for our kids.  Personally, I like to try and surprise them with something that isn't on their extensive list.  Some years this is harder than others.  However for this holiday season I'd like to introduce you to Petz Fantasy Moonlight Magic. 

Recently I was contacted to review Petz Fantasy Moonlight Magic for Nintendo DS.  It sounded like a game that my 6 year old daughter would enjoy so I eagerly agreed.  The premise of the game is simple enough:  a child that may want a pet in real life gets to explore caring for a pet in a virtual, and in this case magical, world. 

When you play the game for the first time you will be able to choose from 2 eggs.  When you make your selection you will gently tap your egg until your new pet hatches.  After you meet your new fantasy pet you will be able to choose a name for it.  You then need to begin to care for it.  Each pet has 3 basic needs that need to be met: fun, hunger and cleanlisness.  You meet these needs by playing games in the bedroom, backyard, kitchen and garage.  In each game you will have a chance to discover your pets favorite items.  By finding 3 of its favorite items you will level up.  By filling all of the needs bars, you will then be able to access a Magical World.  In the magical world you navigate a new game to collect stars.  Stars unlock new outfits in your pets closet and by earning a gold medal in the challenge you will be able to unlock a new pet.  There are 20 magic pets to hatch in all.

As a parent of a beginning reader, I am always concerned about games having too much reading or reading that is too difficult.  I found that even though there is some reading with this game my daughter was able to easily navigate the game.  She took it out of the package and began playing it without any initial help from me.  Bonus! 

What my daughter has to say on the game:
I really like it because it is fun to go into a magical world.  It is really really fun to unlock a new pet and I get to name it.  I have a lot of pets so far and my favorite is Smiley.  I also like to take my pet into the closet and pick out a new outfit.  Sometimes I can't keep my pets need bars full and my pet begins to cry but I can make her stop crying pretty quick.  I can also pick which pet I want to play with.  PS:  It's fun! 

Want to surprise your child this holiday season?  You can purchase it  here!

Disclaimer:  While Ubisoft provided me with this game to review, the opinions I've expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Ubisoft, Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

Battle of the Thermostat

Each fall my husband and I engage in battle.  The Battle of the Thermostat to be exact.  I complain it's cold and I want to turn the heat on.  He complains it's too early in the season and refuses to turn it on.  He tells me it is 68 degrees in the house which is a perfectly acceptable temperature and to put a sweater on if I'm cold.  I bundle up and keep pitching my fits.  Once the heat is turned on for the season we continue our battle all winter long.  I inch the thermostat up, he inches it down.

My husband always loved when I was pregnant because I had my own little heater inside of me keeping me warm.  I didn't keep pushing up the thermostat which in turn kept the gas bill from creeping up.  I loved having babies in the house because he didn't fight me on the temperature as much, he figured our little loves needed to be warm.   However there are no more babies around here.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't need to keep the house at a temperature that allows me to walk around in a tank top and shorts all winter long.  I'm just asking for a temperature that doesn't require me to be dressed for the arctic when I'm inside my own home.  And if he'd like me to come to bed wearing less than a winter parka, hat, gloves, socks and snow pants, he might want to consider readjusting that temperature setting.  Just saying.

Weekend Retreat

This past weekend I took a time out.  I packed my bags, kissed my family goodbye, and left for an undisclosed location.  Where did I go?  Away with two of my girlfriends. 

These two girlfriends and I used to travel to conventions for the home based business we all had.  Two years ago was the first time in a few years we weren't flying out to the convention and I suggested we should still go away.  We researched a perfect spot that was big enough for us to take along our scrapbooks and we booked the weekend.  We scrapbooked, shopped, ate, watched the Olympics, laughed, cried, all the things girlfriends do in a weekend together.  And we began a tradition.

This past weekend we converged for our time together.  I ate, scrapbooked, ate, laughed, ate, complained, ate, shopped, ate,  slept in, ate, and left my worries at home.  I came home a few pounds heavier on the scale but loads lighter in spirit.  I felt refreshed and ready to embrace my family. 

I realize that we may not all be able to escape for a weekend, however, I think taking time to recharge your batteries is so important.  Even if you can only squeeze out a few hours once every few months for coffee with a friend, do it.  DO IT!  You will be a happier person for it.  Life throws out so many stressors and we keep ourselves busy to a point of frenzy.  We need to take a few moments to unwind and recharge.  It does wonders for our mental health! 

Me?  My next weekend is already on the calendar. 

Wishes for my Children

My own recent befuddlement with my life has had me thinking about my children and their futures.  I began thinking of a list of my wishes for them.  Over all I just want them to be happy and healthy.  But a mom can always hope for the best for her kids!

I wish for my kids to:
fall in love with their soul mates
raise children of their own
have that one irreplaceable friend
be close with each other
always watch out for each other and have each others backs
find a career path they feel they were meant for
never feel the crush of a broken heart or loss
never have to struggle to pay the bills
feel they can tell me anything
always have their health
to always love themselves
know what contenment really is
always live close to me
always spend the holidays with me
keep family close
have strong morals and values
help others
know no self imposed limitations
how to spread their wings and fly
be free of fear
develop hobbies
take the time to get to know themselves and understand what makes them tick
explore...their passions, the world, anything they can!

Fate

This morning I had a job interview scheduled.  I made arrangements for a neighbor friend to watch my children and get them to school, prettied up my resume and layed out my clothes.  Then around 4pm yesterday I received a phone call saying they were cancelling my appointment because "they were going in another direction".  Ouch.  They hadn't even met me yet!

So this morning, instead of going on my interview another friend of mine asked me to meet her for coffee.  I figured since I wasn't planning on being around today anyway, why not!  After coffee I ran a few errands and browsed around a store.  Upon returning home I got busy doing jobs that I don't get paid for:  planning a craft for Girl Scouts and a fundraiser for Cub Scouts.

While I didn't mind the extra time today that I hadn't planned on having, I thought back to the past two months and my job search.  Now mind you, I'm not busy each and every day looking for a job, I tend to go in spurts.  I'm still undecided if I really want to return to the work force.  But I realized I've had a few similar incidents where the job I applied for no longer exists, isn't where it was published to be, or the company just isn't hiring. 

I've decided it is the fates trying to tell me something.  The universe is telling me it isn't my time to go back to work. 

There has to be a reason why before I had jobs almost fall into my lap and now I can't even land an interview.

Over coffee this morning I was telling my girlfriend this realization and now I am on a mission.  I'm on a mission to figure out what my purpose is.  I'm not always a big believer in things happening for a reason, however in this case, I think I believe I'm supposed to have a greater purpose. 

Now to find what it is.

Pet Peeves: Second Edition

On Life:

People who go through the exact change line in tolls but aren't ready with their money.  If you aren't ready then go to the person.  Those lines are meant to move slower.  Exact change lines?  Toss and go.  (I live in Jersey, we have a lot of tolls!)

Airlines and their baggage fees.  Do they really thing we are going to go on a plane without taking any bags?  Guess my next destination will need to be to a nude beach.

People who CONSTANTLY get up during concert/sporting events.  If you really can't sit still for more than 10 minutes at a time maybe you should catch the game at home on TV the next time.  I came to watch the event, not the back of you getting up and down or having my foot stepped on each time you pass.  At the very least, request aisle seats the next time. 

People who carry their dogs around in "purses" and think it is perfectly acceptable to take them everywhere they go.  Pets are not people.  Pets do not belong in the grocery store, the doctor office, the school or anywhere else I frequent indoors.  Yes, the park is acceptable, but not running ON the playground equipment chasing kids off.  And please clean up after your dog. 

People who bash others for things when they are guilty of doing the same exact thing.  It would be nice if we all practiced what we preached.

Books that have a ton of spelling and grammatical errors.  It makes me want to take a red pen to it and send it to the publisher.  I've been encountering them a lot lately.

Grocery store baggers who don't know how to bag.  Cleaning products don't go with anything else, heavy stuff doesn't go with crushables,  and meat does not go with produce.  When you overload a bag they break, even the reusable ones. 


Related to Blogging:

Bloggers who use the strikethrough on every other word.  It is distracting and makes your post hard to read.  It should be used sparingly.  Used properly it has a great effect. 

bloggers who refuse to capitalize and write their whole post like this.  they also seem to not like to start new paragraphs.  You come across as lazy and uneducated.  I won't be back to read again.

Check out my first edition of pet peeves.  Yes, I know I have issues.

Time

I've learned that time is all about perspective.  Four days equals 96 hours no matter how you add it up.  However, have you noticed that sometimes four days seems to fly by in the blink of an eye while at other times the same 96 hours seems to last forever? 

Not sure where I'm going with this?  Let me give you some examples.  The four days before Christmas for example seem to fly by.  We feel we won't have enough time to finish up our wrapping, our cleaning, our baking and cooking.  We fret that we forgot to do something.   We swear we had more time and can't figure out where it all went.

Vacation is another example of how time flies.  We bask in the relaxation and fun of our destination and are sad to realize that our time has flown by and it is time to return home and to reality.

Now, take that same four day time period and apply it to the kids being home for an extended weekend.  A weekend I still can't comprehend for the life of me why we have.  (But that might be another post all together.)  The point is my kids had two days off from school this past week making this a four day weekend.  96 hours of togetherness with my children.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love my kids and I truly enjoy spending time with them.  However, these 96 hours do not seem to be flying by like the examples given above.  In fact this morning alone feels as if it has lasted forever.  Monday still seems a far way off.

I tried to prepare for our weekend off.  I polled the kids for some ideas of what they would like to do, I contacted friends we don't get to see enough of for play dates, and we visited the dollar and craft stores for projects we could make for Christmas presents.  Throw in the day trip I planned for one day and my son's soccer game on Sunday and I figured we could fly through the 4 days.  I figured since we had enough planned they would be able to be content entertaining themselves during the down time we had.  Apparently not. 

The first two days went by without incident but today time has seemed to stop.  This morning though I've had to redirect behavior, referee arguments and fights, and put an end to incessant whining.  This morning has been enough to feel like 4 days.  I'm anxiously awaiting the play date this afternoon to occupy my kids and help speed the passage of time once again.

The upside?  We are a little more than half way through our weekend.  45 hours and counting.

What IS that?

Today is a day where I have hit a new milestone in my life.  What milestone could that be, you ask?  Did I hit the lottery?  Start a new job?  Discover that I was inheriting triplets?  Oh, no.  That would all be too good.

Now, I knew this day would come.  I am nearing 35 after all.  However, I just never thought it would really come.  I've been taunting my bald husband since I met him.  I've been teasing my friends that they turned gray first.  I've been gloating to those same friends that I color my hair because of the drab brown it turned, not because I have to. 

Well ladies, today I discovered my first gray hair. 

This is what happens when you actually take time to look in the mirror. 

At first I tried to tell myself that it was a really light piece of highlighted blonde that didn't soak up the red the last time I had my hair done.  Then I searched all the other hair on my head.  I finally yanked it and examined it closer.  Yep, there was no denying it any longer.  It was gray.

After I composed myself I made a beeline for the phone and promptly called my hairdresser (who happens to be a friend of mine).  I asked her if there was any way she could possibly fit me in on Monday morning because I had just booked a job interview for Tuesday.  And then I told her I what I had just found.  She congratulated me.  What?  Well, I guess that is better than laughing at me.  I'm sure she is saving that for Monday.

Election Day Blues

So what does one do when faced with election day and there is truly nobody running that you want to cast your vote for?  I feel that skipping the vote is throwing away a valued privileged as well as letting the people I don't want representing me win.  But what if I'm still not comfortable voting for their opponent?

The race for our congressman is between someone who loves to spend my money and votes opposite of my interests vs. someone inexperienced. I'm beginning to think the inexperience isn't such a bad thing. At least he hasn't screwed me over. Yet.

A local race features one of my college professors on the ballot.  I sat through her class every single night thinking that the woman was delusional.  A visit to ratemyprofessors.com will tell you how others feel.  I wouldn't vote for this woman if my life depended on it.  But once again, I'm not loving my other options!

In my state, I actually have to vote on a ballot question to keep the state from breaking their own laws. Does anyone else see something wrong with this?

Then there are the other issues.  Such as I love how a Do Not Call registry was created yet the politicians conveniently allowed for themselves to be exempt.  The amount of phone calls I have received in the past week borders on harassment.  I'd like to send out a message to the politicians:  The more you call me the more you annoy me and the more likely I am to vote for someone else.  You have interrupted my family time, clogged my machine with your rants, and haven't left one solid reason for me to listen to you and certainly not to vote for you.  Right now the majority of calls are coming from one political party which at least leaves me an option.

Let us not forget the ad campaigns and how upstanding they are. Hey politicians:  Lets stick to the facts that actually affect the bottom line shall we?  Lets stop the mud slinging and the threats and all the general nastiness.  The ads are making me want to vomit. 

I don't know what you base your vote on but right now I'm thinking a write in for Mickey Mouse is a better option than what I've been presented with on the ballot!

Halloween Parade

I'd like to present you with our parade of costumes that have been donned in this family over the past few days:

Me and Baby Girl all dolled up for a Masquerade Ball

The Boys and I dressed for our towns Halloween Parade

Our Cub Scout Pack of Legos took 3rd place

My 50's Girl, Rock Star and Skeleton ready to storm the neighborhood

See what the other SITS Girls are putting on parade today!