In the News

A few months ago, Matt and I made friends with the owners of the local cooking school. Its two ladies who opened the school about 9 months ago. They host all sorts of cooking classes and are trying to build their business, especially in the children's cooking classes. One of the owner's of the school is adopted, and the night we met her she spoke in-depth to Matt and I about her life as an adoptee. She told us she wanted to meet Chloe and she got the chance to only a week later when Chloe's pre-school went on a field trip the cooking school. She loved Chloe and she called only a few days later to tell me that the local newspaper was going to feature the cooking school in the newspaper's magazine insert in the spring. The newspaper wanted to feature the children's cooking classes in the magazine but the time the newspaper wanted to take photos was not when they had any children's classes. She asked if I would be willing to bring Chloe in and cook with her at the school in a made-for-Chloe cooking class while a photographer took photos.

I have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the spring magazine to see what shot(s) were selected. Not realizing the magazine was in today's paper, I did what I usually do when the paper arrives, look at the front page. When I did, I realized that I was on the front page with two of my friends at a house tour. True, you really can't tell it is me, but hey, I know myself and so do my friends, who the proceeded to call and ask if I saw myself on the front page and if I saw Chloe in the magazine.

Yes, Chloe and I are all over the local paper today. I just love the photo of Chloe cooking (that's my hand BTW). So, for your viewing pleasure, here we are....

Forever Family Day #3

Chloe on FFD #3
One thing that hasn't changed about Chloe in three years is she still loves to help dandelions spread.

It's amazing how in one instance (our current adoption from China) time can drag out and in another, time can race by.

I can hardly believe it has been 3 years since we became A Family United . It was on this day, Mother's Day in the U.S., that we officially became the parents of Qu Le Wen and from that moment forward she was formally known as Chloe Elise LeWen.

The years have flown by. So much has changed in our lives since we became a forever family. By Chloe's 1st FFD, we had moved from Texas to NJ. The 2nd FFD, found us well-settled into our new lives and waiting for a sister for Chloe.

This 3rd FFD, marks a new chapter, Chloe is beginning to understand the meaning of FFD--that she is adopted, she was born in China, she had birthparents in China and she was a 10 month old when we 1st met her. She says it matter-of-fact now. We haven't entered into the questioning.

Chloe gets to go eat tonight with Daddy and our guest, Tom, who Chloe enjoys visiting with, because Mommy has a meeting. She keeps telling me that she wants to go to her favorite restaurant--Outba*k Steakhouse! We shall see if that happens or if on her 3rd FFD she gets over-ruled by Daddy & Tom.

Chloe got to pick out some toys from the toy store. Her favorite is the Bar*ie horse that eats (she could care less for Barb*e, just the accouterments). She also had a friend over for a playdate. I asked Chloe what was so special about today and her reply was, "It's special because Daddy got to drive your car!" True, but it's a little more special than that....

***And just to keep the records intact--on this date, Chloe is 46 months old, weighs 36 lbs. and is 40.5 inches tall.***

The Valley of Vegetables

My sister bought this book for me a while back:

It's a fabulous book full of ideas for gardening with kids. Very creative stuff inside. Several months ago I ordered some plants and a raised garden kit. Matt and I set it up about a month ago and our local nursery delievered the soil for the garden. Chloe and I planted Walla Walla onions, garlic and some English peas (just for the fun of it) and we are getting ready to plant two kinds of tomatoes, bell peppers and eggplants. I will post more photos after we plant.

In the meantime, Chloe has been studying about how seeds become plants and our basement walls have been plastered with posters about how seeds become plants. I was so proud the other day when Chloe was playing in the basement, turned and looked at a poster, pointed and said, "Hey, that's what's happening in our garden!". Very clever indeed.

Even though it may be a little too advanced for her to "get", this is my favorite poster on our basement wall. I think it's cute and Chloe likes to look at the veggies and tell me which ones are "too spicy" for her (which is her way of saying "I don't like this vegetable").

2008 Camping Trip #1

Chloe and Mommy taking a photo. It's dark, but there is a lovely lake behind us.

Chloe and Daddy roasting marshmallows on the campfire.

For the weekend we went camping in Pennsylvania, about 10 miles from the Delaware Water Gap. Its not too great a distance and is relatively easy to get to.

Of course, our first camping trip couldn't go without some hitches.

We forgot the walkie-talkies and when we arrived at the campground on Friday night it was dark. Matt drives and I direct. The campsite was not a pull-thru and had trees and rocks on either side making it a fairly narrow entrance. Luckily, Matt didn't hit anything, but we did have some heated discussions on how I stink at talking loudly and directing.

While setting up camp we noticed that our kitchen counter split into two by the stove. The road to the campsite was winding and bumpy with open grate bridges. We assume that the twisting of the trailer caused the split. We dropped the RV off at the repair shop on Sunday to get this replaced. Lets hope its under warranty.

It rained.

The camp had an indoor pool and we forgot our swimsuits. A trip to Wally World rectified the situation.

We made smores on Saturday night in lieu of cake for my birthday. Chloe didn't like them. I never thought I would meet anyone who doesn't like the combination of graham crackers, chocolate and toasted marshmallows! Much less have it be my child!

The Birthday

Saturday was my 35th birthday. Normally, I don't give two cents about my age and really, half of the time when people ask me how old I am I really have to give it some thought. It just means very little.Up until last Friday, I was approaching turning 35 in much the same way. I didn't care. That's until Chloe's soccer class.

I guess age means so little to me because I have always been the youngest. So, I kind of enjoy turning one year older and knowing that I am still my parent's youngest child, the youngest among all my close childhood friends, the youngest in my marriage, the youngest among my friends and cohorts in NJ (or so I thought).

Friday at soccer it was mentioned that Saturday would be my 35th birthday. One of my close friends mentioned how I was "the baby" of the group when another pal chimed in that technically she was the baby. How could that be I wondered to myself...you have to be at least 3-4 years older than me. NO, NO, she was 5 years younger than me! Thus began the spiral...everyone that I know that is younger than me came popping out of the woodwork. Thus, my eternal bubble of youth was burst!

It's not like I never knew there were people younger than me! Its just that some of these women are very accomplished and they achieved things I am still struggling to acquire...they've done things that I thought made them much older than they were. It was the kick in the pants I needed. I can't keep putting things off because it is hard work. Friday was the jolt I needed to shore up some plans to motivate me to get fit. So, for my 35th year on this planet I am going to kick it into high gear and shed 35 lbs. (one for each year)!

Back from Texas

I am pleased to report that our return flight from Dallas to NJ was uneventful (except for the flight delay in taking off). We had a great time seeing everyone and "warming up". We returned to NJ with temperatures in the 50s. Our heating is still on in the evening...will it ever warm up?

Below are some photos of the remainder of our trip with captions for explanations. Chloe holding "Chickypoo", one of the six Rhode Island Red chicks that PaPaw bought for her. PaPaw set up the lights, feeder and cage for the chicks in the garage of their home so Chloe could mother them. She checked on the about 4-5 times per day. We had to hold each of the six chicks every time. She named each one: Chickypoo, Fluff, Fuzzworth, Penny, Piggy & Zee.

PaPaw & Chloe at his booth at the Farmer's Market. If you are ever at the McKinney or Frisco Farmer's Markets look for "PaPaw's Farm".

A random shot, I know, but I felt compelled to photograph two of the best food products from Texas. And, no, they weren't enjoyed together.

Matt holding our nephew, Harrison.


Chloe and cousin, Bryn, posing on the turtle statue at the Dallas Zoo. Everyday was nice and warm except for the day we all decided to go to the zoo.

The Lonestar State

Chloe sporting her new Barb*e fishing pole.

I am SO happy to report that we made it safely to Texas! Chloe and I had a scary incident on the flight and I thought it was OVER for us. About 35 minutes into our flight, air traffic control asked out pilots to go up to 34,000 feet, not realizing that there was another aircraft at 34,000 feet only a few miles ahead. The breakfast and beverage service was at our aisle when all this occurred. I had just been handed my coffee and Chloe's apple juice when our 787 made an abrupt nose dive and roll to the left as it got into the jet wash/wake of the aircraft ahead. One woman was injured and the entire beverage cart hit the roof of the plane and spilled its entire contents on the left side passengers (which was the side we were on).

I was so scared! Chloe was just upset her Chex cereal was now pasted to the left wall of the plane along with her juice. I was happy to be alive, shaken and sitting in my coffee. The remaining three hours of the flight was luckily uneventful but when we landed everyone was still shaken.

Today we went to PaPaw's farm. After arriving we were "stalked" by PaPaw's cows as they followed us around the farm only a few feet ahead. Chloe was a little nervous about our bovine friends and she took some warming up to the chickens. It didn't take too long for her to warm up to the chickens and enter the coop and pluck out some eggs.

After surveying the property, picking some wildflowers for BeBe, pulling carrots and radishes and harvesting strawberries we settled into an afternoon of fishing. Chloe and PaPaw didn't have the fishing pole in the water for 10 seconds when they had a bite. Chloe's first fish was a half-pound catfish that Chloe decided to set free (with PaPaw's help of course).

Chloe took to fishing like a fish in water (pun intended) and it wasn't long before she was demanding we drive into town to purchase her her own fishing pole. At lunch time we drove into town and went to Wally World for a fishing pole, kiddie sunglasses, kiddie chair and some nightcrawlers. Chloe was all set.

Chloe loves her new fishing pole and she must have caught 10 fish, if not more, in total---it helps when your PaPaw stocks his fishing pond. Chloe enjoyed holding the nightcrawlers and having them wriggle in her hand. Her favorite activity after she tired of fishing and catching so many fish was feeding nightcrawlers to the chickens. She thought this was hilarious.

We plan to return to PaPaw's farm for some more fishing later in the week. Maybe this time will catch the BIG catfish---and it won't be catch and release. Gathering eggs.
Chloe and PaPaw pull some radishes.
Chloe's first catch!

Preparing for PaPaw's Farm

We've enjoyed some lovely weather here the last few days. Spring has definitely arrived. Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. And, if you can't tell from the photo below, it looks like I need a new outside thermometer. It was warm and lovely yesterday, but this is NJ, not Arizona. It was 78 degrees, no where near 101!

In preparation for going to Texas next week, I took Chloe to a local farmstand that has a petting zoo. Chloe liked feeding the goats. She wouldn't feed the sheep and she was a bit unsure of the Scottish Highland cattle. We will see how she does with the cows on PaPaw's farm. The good news is she liked watching the Banti chickens, so she will definitely enjoy the fowl on Papaw's farm!

Of course, as luck would have it, it is supposed to be sunny and nice here in NJ next week with above-average temperatures. During the time we spend in Texas, it is supposed to be really warm the first day we arrive and rain the rest of the time we are there. Next time I am coming to Texas in August when I can certainly get my fill of HOT weather!

The Baptism

Chloe was baptized today. The running commentary has been, “Pastor Bert put water on my head!”

In all honesty, we were a little nervous about how Chloe would act during the ceremony. Right up to the event Chloe kept telling us she didn’t want to be baptized. But once she learned that mommy and daddy had both been baptized and her friend Gianna had been baptized she thought it was ok.

During the ceremony Chloe was a little shy, burying her face in Daddy’s shoulder. But afterwards, she seemed to enjoy all the attention and the book and cross she was given by the church. She also liked the bracelet Mommy & Daddy got for her.

Of course, everyone that has asked her about the baptism has been immediately told that “Pastor Bert put water on my head!”

Soccer Camp

We’ve had some lovely weather here. Thursday was warm and gorgeous. Today was cold and wet. YUCK! Of course, as luck would have it, Chloe began soccer outdoors today. I had to bundle her up. She loves soccer so she was quite the trooper. She is attending the same camp she went to in August and it is amazing to see how she has advanced in her coordination.

Fundraising

Chloe lining up to sing at the children's concert.

Chloe on stage.

Spring had sprung here in NJ…FINALLY!!!! Spring is such a glorious time of year as everything awakens from a cold slumber. It is also a busy time as everyone holds off on any events or activities until the first sign of spring. The past few weeks have been a bit busy as we have had one event after another to attend.

Two of the events were fundraisers. One was a casino night fundraiser for our Newcomers’ organization. It was a great party but a couple of drinks and a few bidding wars had us writing a large check and walking away with 7 good auction items.

Five days later we attended another fundraiser for Chloe’s pre-school. Each year the pre-school has an event where the children of the school sing and there are baskets auctioned as a fundraiser. I only bid on one basket (and didn’t win it) but I won the biggest prize of the night----the 50/50 prize---I won $215! I made back some ground from the casino night.

I guess my winning streak stayed with me because later in the week I won an outdoor fire pit from a local garden center at a luncheon I attended. WOOHOO!

A Boy and His Toys

Matt officially got his motorcycle endorsement on his license last Sunday. He apparently got motorcycle fever as well. NO, a scooter wasn't good enough. Today he bought a new toy.

So, now we have the whole menagerie of toys in the garage:

(The two bikes and the Porsche, in the garage, are Matt's toys. The scooter and the little quad bike are Chloe's toys. ;))

The Fashionista

For the last two weeks, living with Chloe has been like being on a episode of "Wh*t NOT t* Wear" but with a three-year old as host.

Episode 1:
Setting: Leaving the house to go to pre-school
Plot: Chloe tells Mom, "I don't like the outfit you are wearing. It's too bluey. I like you in pink. Take it off." After Mom tells her she's not removing the outfit, Chloe replies, "Well, I don't like your shoes either."

Episode 2:
Setting: Chloe's Mom & Dad's bedroom.
Plot: Daddy asks Chloe if he looks nice for work. Chloe's response, "NO! Your tie doesn't match". Daddy responds, "But it does", and sets off for work. Later that same day at dinner Chloe asks her mother, "Mom, do you think Dad had a good day today?" Her mother says, "I hope so," to which Chloe replies, "I don't think he did. His clothes didn't match."

Stay tuned for more episodes....

Easter

Chloe and her Easter basket of goodies (most of which came from BeBe who had sent a massive box of Easter stuff weeks prior).

Chloe and I spent Easter together, without Matt. Unbelievably, Matt had a motorcycle course on Easter Sunday to complete his license. I thought for certain the class would be canceled because it was scheduled on a holiday, but it was a full class!

Chloe woke up early on Easter morning to discover her basket. Well, in truth, she already knew about the basket of goody's as she snuck downstairs Saturday night to discover me filling the basket.

Chloe and I went to church in the a.m. There were no children's services that day, so Chloe stayed in "big" church the entire time. She was really very good, except for the 501 questions I got during the service from her. Here's my top 5 favorite questions from Chloe at church on Sunday---

1. Why does that man have a hole in his head? It was the choir director and he is balding from his crown out (sporting the "friar" look).
2. Are you sleepy? Why are you closing your eyes? We were praying.
3. Do you like this song? I don't. It was the Hallelujah Chorus.
4. Why is Jesus fishing? She was pointing to a stained glass picture of Jesus depicting the "fisher of men".
5. Can I go sit with Gianna? This comprised about 420 of the questions asked as she repeated it over and over. Gianna goes to pre-school with Chloe and our church---she's Chloe's best bud and her family sits in the pew behind us.

After church service, the children decorated bags and had a Easter egg hunt. Chloe and I then drove to see Matt at his motorcycle course.

Chloe, in her Easter dress, hunting eggs.
In the late afternoon, after Matt returned home, Chloe insisted we take her for a bike ride. Chloe and Matt walk to church on Sunday's and she loves to "wall walk" the wall on one of our neighbors yards. Today she decided to take the wall on her bike. Chloe riding her bike on the wall---assisted by Daddy, of course.

A New Look & Title

Some things have changed on the blog, if you didn't notice. The new name of the blog is "A Family United". It was "All About Chloe". More evident, we got a new look, thanks to the fabulous Diana at Custom Blog Designs who did a great job and was so easy to work with.

I had had the idea to Photosh*p some photos of Chloe into the shapes of the states/countries of our origins (from left to right on the header: NJ, TX, China & England) for a while. The idea just sat there but I couldn't muster the creativity to actually design it all. I purused others adoption blogs and came across one that I thought was spectacular. It was designed by Diana and I knew that she was the one to redesign this blog. I contacted her, told her what I was thinking with the state/country photos and that I loved the other blog she designed. I sent her the state/country photos and bam, she turned this design out quickly!

Part of the redesign was to alter the name of the blog. Yes, our lives are still "All About Chloe" but we hope to add to our family, so we took the re-design opportunity to change the name as well. The url still remains the same.

Hope you like it---we do!

Visiting the Easter Bunny

Chloe had her photo with the Easter Bunny yesterday (notice the bunny ears on Chloe--again?)

March Madness

It's March and that means it's NCAA basketball time. I don't play the brackets, but I do tune in to see The Hogs (my alma mater) play. I stayed up last night to watch the Razorbacks take on Indiana and was completely driven mad by C*BS flip-flopping between games. It was insane, I'd be watching the Razorbacks and switch on would come another game and then switch back to the Razorbacks to check in on the score and then switch on to another game! FOR THE LOVE....STOP!


I guess you could call me a fair-weather fan---I only watch college basketball during March Madness. It is one of the only times of the year I can tune in to see The Hogs play without purchasing it and it holds such fond memories-I was a junior in college in 1994, the year that the Razorbacks won the national title. As insane as it may sound to some---it ranks in my Top 10 of the most memorable days of my life. Before you say get a life....I say you didn't attend a university that won a national championship while you attended---the euphoria, the parties, the joy! What a hoot! What a memory.


Just for giggles--I searched and found this scrapbook page from my senior year. I couldn't find my junior year scrapbook (its lost in the catastrophe that is my basement). My senior year March Madness party was much more subdued---Arkansas battled for the national title but lost.

Getting Ready for Easter

Thursday was the Easter Party at Chloe's pre-school. True to form, Chloe had a special outfit to wear. I think it is absolutely darling. The Easter party outfit---the jeans are really cute and have appliqued bunnies in grass at the bottom.
At the party, Chloe was given some bunny ears as a gift. She instantly put them on and has been wearing them since. (She even went to bed with them tonight) The bunny ears---Chloe had them on when she left the pre-school classroom and bunny hopped all the way from the classroom to the car.
Later in the day Chloe and I dyed Easter eggs. Chloe was really very good at this. I feared that I would have dye all over her and the house, but she was very careful. We made tie-dyed eggs with sparkles and used the wax pencil to color on eggs and then dip them in the regular egg dye.
Chloe did a great job with the eggs. I, however, was another story as I broke 3 eggs.

Chloe insisted that we make a "Arkansas" egg. I don't know why--she had NO prompting from me. Perhaps she has some money on Mommy's alma mater in a March Madness bracket?

This is a drawing of Mommy.

Chloe drew a picture of Daddy on this egg.

After we finished with the eggs, I was cleaning up and Chloe got into her Easter treats from school. She found a stamp and went wild with it. She had pink stamps all up her arms and on her face....

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!, originally uploaded by pookie2shoes.

Easter Party

Saturday morning we went to an Easter party for our Newcomer's group. It was supposed to be outside, but was moved indoors at the last minute because the ground was soaked. Despite the indoor location, the kids still managed to have a good time wading through the 1000s of Easter eggs on the floor of the banquet hall.

After the hunt, the Easter Bunny made an appearance (and Chloe wasn't scared of him this year) and then the entertainment began. Matt and I had more fun making fun of the entertainer. She is apparently a big hit with some kids. We found her a bit odd.

Chloe looking for Easter eggs. Yes, those are her Easter overalls for this year---just gotta have them!

Chloe giving the Easter Bunny a high five.

Chloe(on the far right side of the photo) clearing out of the way from the entertainment.

Happy Birthday Matt!!

Matt's birthday is today, Saturday, March 15. We plan to go to dinner tonight sans Chloe for a date night.

Chloe picked out the cake and couldn't wait for Daddy to get home.

Welcome to the World

We would just like to post some "shout outs" to the newest member of our family,

Harrison Alastair, who was born Saturday, March 8. Harrison joins big sisters Bryn & Gemma. Chloe was all grins to hear that she had a new cousin.

We also just received the exciting news that my pal, Stacie, gave birth to her daughter, Zoe, this afternoon. Thanks to Zoe's Daddy Steve, for giving us the call to let us know that all was well with mom and baby.

We can't wait to see these new little ones in person when we travel back to Texas next month.

Experiencing Technical Difficulties

Life has some funny twists and turns and can take you in directions you never imagined. I have to share my latest twist.

I am in Jun*ior Leag*ue. When I am not griping about it, I love it. I like to volunteer and give something back. I like to take charge and do good at the same time. It gives me purpose. This past year, I transferred my League membership from my TX League to the local League in NJ. My assignment in my new League was to serve on a committee that plans, organizes and implements an all-day workshop for pre-teen girls and their mothers. The focus of the day is to discuss issues facing pre-teen girls---cliques, cyber-bullying, low self-esteem, etc. Somehow in the course of all this planning I was asked to make a presentation at this workshop. I was asked to present on the media's definition of beauty and how it can effect self-esteem in young girls and women. I would be the only speaker of the day who was not on the "speaker circuit". Everyone else speaking at the workshop was an expert, a professional.

How did I get chosen? Hmmm, I still trying to figure that one out. It seems my past as a teacher of pre-teens was the main qualification. Oh, the group also cited that I was loud and direct, which I hoped was a compliment. Oh, and I had also done some research into the topic after one of our committee meetings...apparently I was the only one on the committee with a grasp of how to Go*ogle information and presto, I was an expert!

I spent countless hours researching information and putting together a presentation. I became a facilitator for the Dov*e Rea*l Beaut*y Campaign, read through countless papers published in psychology journals, talked with a graphic artist at a magazine, read books, published articles, various blogs and websites on the topic. I gathered so much information, it could probably take me two hours just to spout through all the statistical data I found. It took me three days just to whittle down all my information into what I thought was the most important and most-digestible information to give to 10, 11 and 12 year old girls. I then spent another 4 days putting the PowerPoi*nt presentation together. I spent one of those days learning how to properly compose a Pow*erPoi*nt presentation because I despise Po*werPo*int. I think it is a great program, but I hate it because it is COMPLETELY misused by people. How many of you have been READ to as someone clicks through slide after slide with about 400 bullet points on it, reading each and every one of those bullet points to you?AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! It is torture!! I mean, just type it up in an essay and let me read it on my own! Powe*rPo*int is presentation software, made to enhance a presentation....not a program to blast what should be an essay onto a wide screen and lull people to sleep with word after word "flying in" and making whooshing noises. But, I digress.... I wanted to make certain my presentation looked professional.

Fast-forward to this past Saturday--workshop day. I wasn't nervous about my presentation, I was more eager to be done with it and I wasn't just a speaker at the workshop, I was a committee member and I had jobs to do, so I was kept busy. I was speaking at mid-day in the main room in front of all the participants. The main room was used all day, keeping me from having a run-through. When it came time to give my presentation, I had 5 minutes to set up. (Do you see where this is going?)

Earlier in the day I had removed the first of three videos in my presentation in an effort to cut time from my presentation...I was trying to help regain time we lost during registration and had set us back some 20 minutes. I kept the original presentation in its entirety and saved the modified presentation separately. A decision I would soon regret.

Our workshop was held at a college, and we had the tech. supervisor of the college present to help set up the speakers. He was a nice man, but a little too overly-helpful. Because I had embedded video and my presentation was created using Po*werPoi*nt 2007, I had to run my presentation from my laptop. The ever-helpful technology man insisted that he connect my laptop and then insisted that I use his mouse to advance my screens (he insisted using my touch pad on my laptop was TOO difficult). Well, he couldn't get my laptop to recognize the presentation system in the room. He tried over and over again, eating up my 5 minutes of set-up time. I now had a room of 150 people, staring at the podium, where I was standing, frantically trying to get the stupid presentation I had spent 100s of hours preparing for set-up. Then it came to me...the age-old wisdom learned by a teacher shut in a room with 30 screaming kids and a DVD player that won't work....IF IT WON'T WORK, TURN OFF THE POWER THEN TURN IT BACK ON. YES! The magic cure-all. When the tech. guy went to get back up support, I turned off my computer and then turned it back on...voila! We had my desktop photo of Chloe in full-three screen display, just in time for tech. guy to reappear and inform me that it was now working (thanks, Captain Obvious). He then insisted on pulling up the Pow*erP*oint presentation himself. I told him the name of the presentation and two-clicks later I was ready to present. Light down...lets roll. Below is my recount of my presentation....

Hello...blah, blah, blah.(click to next slide)... Seeing isn't believing....blah, blah, blah...(Click to next slide)...what the? What's this video doing in this presentation? It's not supposed to be here!! Oh my goodness, he clicked on the original presentation, not the abbreviated presentation....great, just go with the flow, act like nothings wrong, just do the original, longer presentation...good the video is over, moving on (click to next slide)...WHAT!!! Why did this thing start over??? (click again) WHAT!!! Why is it on this video now!----Enter technology guy to inform me that the mouse he insisted I connect to my computer is not working (thanks again, captain obvious) he removes mouse, I click on correct slide while still presenting I might add!!!....blah, blah, blah (click to next slide which is another video) WHAT!! NOW THERE IS NO SOUND? Great technology dude accidentally unplugged the sound cord connected my laptop! Re-connect cord....blah, blah, blah..who is this dude in this ugly flannel, plaid shirt taking a photo? GO AWAY!!! Blah, Blah, Blah....thanks and remember no BODY is perfect.

That's my recollection anyway. The first few minutes were torture as I tried to keep the presentation going with glitch, after glitch, after glitch and then some man literally underneath my podium taking photos of my nostrils. I wanted to stamp my feet after my presentation because I knew I could do better than that!!!! I felt like I let everyone down, especially myself after all the time I put into that presentation. If I could only have a do over. I told myself that I should just be relieved it is over and that now I can relax. And so I did.

Well, today I come back from the gym and I have a message. It seems even with the technical difficulties, the workshop evaluations from the attendees reveal that my presentation was one of the most popular! Apparently several commented on how they loved my message and my photosh*op before and afters of celebrities. I then get a message from a mom whose daughter attended the workshop to tell me that her daughter had some friends over on Sunday and she overheard her telling them that they should look more closely at advertising and then proceeded to tell them about my presentation. I felt so much better...even with the technical difficulties the message got across.

But, here's the twist. I was just contacted by the workshop chairwoman. She has been contacted by another speaker at the event (one of the professionals who flew in to speak at the event) and she wants to negotiate with the League to use my presentation. They have been also contacted to bring my presentation into some of the area schools.

Needless to say, I am feeling a lot better about my performance on Saturday and can't wait to see what unfolds next.

Weekend Photos of Chloe

DSC_0008, originally uploaded by pookie2shoes.

I thought I would share some random photos taken of Chloe over the weekend. Enjoy! View them all on one page or in a slideshow.

Make mine a Double Tall Cappuccino, Extra Dry

Out with the old...
As a wedding present to ourselves, Matt and I bought a very nice coffee/espresso maker. It lasted nearly nine years, which is really good considering we never de-scaled the thing (ultimately causing it's death). So, after it's death we bought a mid-priced coffee maker, nothing spectacular. It lasted 6 months before it clapped out. We then purchased the coffee maker above. It survived about 6 months too, until it decided it only wanted to make a half pot of coffee instead of a full pot. Somehow it would evaporate 5 cups of water, most of which condensed in the control window. It would also not brew the same tasting coffee everyday. It was a crapshoot as to what we would get. All that combined forced us to retire this coffee maker and seek out another, more reliable model. We didn't want anything fancy, just a dependable model that would make a good cup and would last longer than 6 months. I guess that's easier said than done.


We decided to skip over the mega-stores where you can get your bath items and your kitchen gadgets and go to the experts, the coffee geeks, the ones who drink espressos all day and talk about what their favorite bean is to roast. Unfortunately, the top choice in the area is closed on weekends...having convenient store hours apparently interferes with their coffee roasting parties. So, we sought out another reputable store, one that solely dealt in making and preparing gourmet foods. A store we knew would have knowledgeable staff, test what it sells and stand behind what it sells and have it's fair share of coffee geeks on staff.


We entered the store to find a large crowd in the coffee maker section. All were huddled around the espresso machine they were demonstrating. Many to get a free espresso/cappuccino and others just to check it out and monopolize the sales staff with talk of roasting beans. We stood there, checking out the coffee makers and getting annoyed that we couldn't get a sales person because they were discussing coffee while sipping a latte. Finally, the crowd dissipated after getting their caffeine fix and we were the only ones left standing...the people who were actually there to buy something, not just get a free drink.


It started out innocently, just asking about the basic coffee makers and which one the salesman thought was the most dependable and made the best coffee. But, I guess with the swarms of people no longer blocking the view of the espresso machine on demonstration, it was too sharp not to catch our eye. Next thing you know, Matt's drinking an espresso and I have a latte and we are standing in the check out line waiting to purchase our very own automatic espresso/cappuccino maker.


But, the way I figure...it cost twice as much as the one we bought 9 years ago. That means it should last twice as long...RIGHT??? If this machine dies, we could be devastated and not because of the cost---I am in love with the machine and have been sporting a caffeine buzz since we fired it up.
In with the new! Cappuccino anyone?