Life Archives - Page 71 of 96

Memories of a GenX childhood

August 11, 2014 by Jana 14 Comments

I grew up in the 80s. And I maintain that my childhood produced the greatest things ever. The proof is that most companies are rebooting pretty much everything that started when I was a kid. And even the reboots are crap compared to what we had. I wish that was just the old lady in me talking but really, it’s just true.

Because, let’s face it, it’s hard to get better than any of these:

The Oregon Trail. The best way to get out of class and score computer time on my school’s one computer. Also practice my buffalo killing skills ’cause you never know.

The Muppets. I go to no effort to hide my love of all things Muppet and it all stems from watching The Muppet Show on Monday nights with my dad when I was a kid. Fun fact: I got a Scooter doll when I was finally potty trained. You’re welcome for that information.

Fraggle Rock. I still can’t look at a radish without making a Fraggle comment and I can name all the main Fraggles faster than I can name state capitals. #noshame

Mike and Ike. My mom was in a bowling league and I had to go to the little daycare thing they had. I hated it and my mom bribed me with these. I might still get them today and they still remind me of bowling.

Saturday morning cartoons. The Smurfs, Gummi Bears, the Snorks, Shirt Tails, and so many others. Cartoons in my day trump all the shit they have now.

You Can’t Do That on Television. The originator of green slime and the beginning of Alanis Morisette’s career. You’re welcome, kids today.

Charm necklaces. How I loved, and rocked the shit, out of charm necklaces. I had so many charms and the ones with the bells were my favorite! They complimented my pastel colored Swatch watch spectacularly. Why haven’t these come back?

Friendship pins. Were your Keds decorated with safety pins lined with beads so small you could barely pick them up sometimes? Mine were. And it was beautiful.

Sweet Pickles books. My favorite books as a kid, and my parents bought me the whole set two years ago for Hanukkah and I read them with my daughter who now reads them to her dolls. And the cycle continues. Which is fine because they who’ve really good lessons and are fun to read. This one was and is my favorite.

The Hamburgler, Grimace, the Fry Guys. Say what you want about the food, but McDonald’s knew what the hell they were doing with those characters. I think we need a campaign to bring them back. Who’s with me?

The greatest TV theme songs ever. My favorites? The Dukes of Hazzar d and Greatest American Hero. And that’s just the beginning. I could do a whole post on 80s theme songs.

Also included but not pictured: The Great Space Coaster, The Magic Garden, Lite Brite, Popples, bubble tape, Dolly Pops, Cabbage Patch Kids, Garbage Pail Kids, banana clips (that I could never wear because of my ridiculously thick hair), and jelly shoes.

What do you guys think? What are some things from the 80s that trump all the crap they have now?

Friday favorites: volume 15?

August 1, 2014 by Jana 11 Comments

How the hell is it August? Wasn’t it just June like yesterday? No? Well, that’s okay because August means school starts soon and while I love my daughter, if she doesn’t get out of my house, I’m going to lose my mind. And is it wrong that I’m already planning what I’m going to do the first day she’s back at school? (Pedicure and nap, if you were wondering.)

That said, it’s time for another round of Friday favorites except I don’t know exactly what edition this is because I have become an blogging slacker as of late (and I apologize to my blogger friends for the lack of commenting I’ve been doing. I can’t get my shit together long enough to write a comment). So I’m picking edition 15 because it seems like a good choice and maybe an approximate value. Math has never been my strength.

Favorite song

Rise Against, Audience of One. There are not enough words for how much I love this song. I feel music the way some people feel paintings or poetry and this song brings out all the emotions for me. It’s not a life changing song but it definitely changes my mood each time I listen (also, I love that it’s one of those songs that about one thing but it can be interpreted to mean so much more)

Favorite frugal find

I am in the midst of a makeup bag overhaul and when I was cleaning out old lipgloss, eye shadow, and the like, I realized I had 6 MAC items that desperately needed to go. Enter MAC’s Back To MAC recycling program where if you return 6 (or more) eligible items, you get to pick out a free item (lipstick/gloss, eye shadow, or something else I’m not remembering). I purchased new lipgloss recently but I definitely needed an eye shadow refresher. And I got one. For free.

Favorite book/TV thing

Rick Springfield, “Jessie’s Girl” singer extraordinaire, wrote a memoir. So of course I have to read it. And I picked it up from the library yesterday. Along with some others:

I have no favorite TV thing this week because quite frankly, I’m pissed with TV. More specifically, I’m annoyed with On Demand And Netflix. Because none of them are showing any of the episodes of any show I need to catch up on. Complete first world problem but that’s okay because Ebola is no joke and I’ll take no new episodes of The Following on On Demand any day.

Favorite internet reads

So many good finds on the internet this week (and weeks past. Big ups to Pocket for being a great place to store these posts so I can use them). Like this post on Mashable about 90s song that are darker than you think. Some I knew, some I didn’t. Or this post on how to quickly travel through all 50 states (if I had a bucket list, this would be on it). Or if you need to waste kill some time, take this quiz, Which 80s Cartoon Are You? (I got Muppet Babies, which, given my Muppets obsession, is perfect). You can also check out this post I wrote on Monday detailing promises I made to my friends without kids.

Favorite quote

Favorite funnies

I shed a golden retriever every day

Bryan is genius.

This made me laugh so hard

It’s better that we get along

It’s all about the tactic

Have a great weekend y’all! If you need me, I’ll be on my couch, binge watching the final 6 episodes of The Killing.

Linking up with Amanda

A (long) note to my teenage self

July 28, 2014 by Jana 18 Comments

Welcome to the Notes to My Teenage Self linkup. After you’re done reading my letter, feel free to add yours or check out some of the other ones.

Dear teenage Jana,

I know. It’s pretty strange that you’re receiving this now, given the fact that I’m all old and you’re hanging out in 1994 at the ripe old age of 17. But I figure you’re getting ready to start your senior year of high school and it might be a good time to impart some wisdom on you to help get you through your final year in what is pretty much a flannel filled hell. I know you can’t wait to get out of those walls and start your new life but for a moment, I want you to sit back and appreciate what you currently have.

For starters, you live rent and expense free. You pay for nothing except CDs, concert tickets, books, and nail polish (incidentally, your spending habits don’t change much in your 20s. Or 30s). Enjoy the lack of financial responsibility and stress but, while you’re at it, learn how to manage money. It’s a lot easier to learn when your feet aren’t to the fire and also, it’ll prevent you from getting into debt as an adult. Trust when I say that getting into debt is fun but getting out is worse than first period math.

Second, spend time with your sisters. Especially the little one. Sure, you guys are making some memories but you’ll be moving out soon and she’s only 7. You’ll miss more than you’ll want to admit and you’re going to want more than Friday nights watching Boy Meets World and driving her to piano lessons to cling to (oh, and convincing her a monster lives in the hole you kicked in the wall and making her scared to go up the stairs? It’s funny but don’t do that. It’s kind of mean).

Third, all the stuff you’re worried about? Like finding friends you can trust or having a boyfriend or not fitting in or thinking you’re fat and ugly or feeling like the rest of your life will be exactly like it is now? I get that you’re concerned but believe me, you’re worrying for nothing. Let it go. In just a few short months, you’ll find some of the most amazing friends ever (and you’ll still be friends with some of them, all these years later) and you’ll realize that they like and appreciate you for YOU, not someone you think you need to pretend to be. Boyfriends? Don’t worry about that shit. That’ll happen (including, in 2 short years, meeting the person you’ll marry), too.

And as far as your appearance, learn to enjoy exercising and eating healthy now, make it part of your routine, and you’ll feel so much better. Because feeling good and attractive really starts with liking who you are in the mirror and no one but you is in control of that. And by taking charge of it now, it’ll make it much easier on the old lady version of you. So if you could do that, I’d appreciate it.

Now, let’s move on to the life advice.

You are talented and creative. Use that to your advantage and when you get to college, pick a major that will make you happy. Keep some practicality and ability to get a job in mind but if you choose to pursue something you love, you will be successful.
Believe in yourself. You are smart and you truly can do anything. Never let anyone, family, friends, or other, make you doubt that. If they’re making you feel bad, they’re not worth your time. Don’t let their negativity sink in. Deflect that shit like you’re wearing Teflon.
You know how you try hard to be nice to everyone? Keep doing that. Even if it backfires and you still wind up at home alone on a Friday or Saturday night, just keep being nice. You’ll love yourself for it and learning to love yourself, and having to live with yourself, is more important than any date or party. And for the record, assholes are everywhere, in every phase of life. It sucks but you’ll eventually learn how to sniff them out and avoid them.
Do your homework. Read. Learn. Work hard. Go to class (except gym. Go ahead and feel free to skip that, which I know contradicts my earlier advice about being healthy but gym is pretty much the worst). Never be ashamed or embarrassed about being smart. Smart girls are awesome and although the names Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling mean nothing to you right now, you’ll understand when you’re me (and this piece of advice will make total sense).

I apologize that instead of a few short notes, you’re getting a fairly long letter. But you’ll come to realize that you are a verbose gal and once you get started, it’s hard to stop (also, you use words like “gal”). It’s one of your charming quirks.

My point is this–who you are is just fine. There is nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, wrong with you. I know it doesn’t feel like it now because high school is one long fucking nightmare filled with people who seem to have it all together. But believe me, they don’t. They are just as confused and awkward and full of self-doubt as you are. They’re just better at hiding it.

So love yourself, be confident in who you are, and remember that it’s almost over. Enjoy the good moments (and there will be more than you think) and don’t let the bad ones define you.

See you in 20 years.

Go Blue Hens!

Fondly,

37 year old Jana

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Promises to my friends without kids

July 27, 2014 by Jana 29 Comments

About a year ago, I wrote a post detailing the frustrations I felt towards some of the statements moms with multiple children make to me, the mom of an only child. It was a ranty post, with shades of anger, but I stand by it. It drives me crazy that motherhood has basically become a competition; competing for the smartest, most accomplished children who are impeccably dressed with perfectly healthy, organic, balanced, and nutritious lunches cut into all sorts of fun shapes that they eat before they spend hours of crafting and playing in their perfectly clean, Pinterest worthy home.

(Which begs the question, who are these mothers? How do they do it? Because I can’t keep up with that, y’all, but I’d really like their secrets.)

And in this game, the more kids you have, the more points you get, effectively making you a better mother. I say that’s all horseshit and not simply because by those standards, I am an epic failure of a mother. I am about as far from a perfect mother as one can get but my kid is happy, healthy, mostly well adjusted (would I really be doing my job if I didn’t give her at least a little bit to talk to a therapist about?), and creative. She also know she is loved. Which is really what matters most.

It makes me sad that we still see our worth in terms of our kids’ successes and accomplishments, and we, as women and mothers, are so competitive about it. And let’s not even discuss how poorly we collectively treat women who don’t have kids (I can’t stand the word “childless” and refrain from using it whenever possible).

And I’d like to change that. Starting with this post.

While I can’t guarantee I’ll be perfect, here are some promises I’m making to my friends without kids:

I will not ask you, ever, why you don’t have kids. It’s none of my business, it’s your choice, and I don’t feel that you need to explain yourself to me. We can be friends even if you’re not a parent. I’m a mom but that’s not all I am and we can bond and connect on that level.
I will never ask you when you plan to have them. Same justification as #1. Also, maybe you never plan to have them or you can’t or you simply don’t want them. Actually, you know what? If you don’t want them, and you know you don’t, I commend you for not bowing to any sort of pressure.
I will never tell you your life is incomplete without children. While my life is certainly better because of my daughter, that doesn’t hold true for everyone (well, with their own kids. Not my kid. I’m pretty sure your life is just fine without her). There are plenty of people with fulfilled lives that don’t involve children.
I will do my best not to shove too many pictures of my daughter down your throat. I love her and I think she’s the cutest thing ever but I’m pretty sure you don’t. So if you’ll indulge me for a few minutes, we can put that behind us.
I will do my best not to talk about her all the time and/or bring her up in every conversation. I get that it’s a boring subject. I have other topics to discuss. Like what’s going to happen on the next season of Sons of Anarchy or the amazing recipe for buffalo meatballs I made over the weekend (with buffalo sauce. Not actual buffalo) or the books you’ve been reading. So we can talk about that instead.
I will not judge you for treating your pets like they are your kids. Because I get it. I have pets, too, and they do become your furkids. I will not mock you for dressing them up, sending them to daycare, or taking 84792 pictures and posting them to Instagram. Maybe even though I have a human child, I still do that with my dogs (my cat is another story. She can be kind of an asshole sometimes).
I will try really hard not to be jealous of the fact that you don’t know who Sam and Cat are. Or that you don’t have the theme song to The Haunted Hathaways stuck in your head for days. Or the fact that you have no clue about the “plots” of kids’ shows.
I will try to refrain from using my kid as an excuse for why I can’t do things with you. Unless I truly don’t want to do something but can’t think of another reason not to do it, in which case using her is fair game.
And, finally, I will support any and all decisions you make regarding children. I will not offer unsolicited advice on this topic, I will be an ear to listen, and I will completely understand if you choose not to throw (or attend) kid friendly parties.

And a bonus promise: I will try to never start a sentence with anything on the variation of “Oh, you don’t have kids, you don’t understand”. That’s just a bitchy thing to say.

Friends without kids, I want you in my life. I like you in my life. And I don’t want the fact that I have a child to interfere with our friendship. I will do my best to uphold these promises and in return, I ask you for one thing.

When we’re out together, no matter where we are, please, please let me pee alone. It’s probably the only moment of solitude I’ll get all week.

Friday favorites, volume 13

July 18, 2014 by Jana 10 Comments

I don’t know about you guys, but this summer is wreaking havoc on ability to get shit done. Ordinarily, I’m pretty productive, staying on top of everything I need to do and accomplish but as of late, I do nothing of value. Let’s rephrase–I do nothing. It’s not like I don’t try but I get about halfway finished and then say fuck it and go about my day, reading the internets or a book or playing RummiKub on my iPad or binge watch White Collar. I keep telling myself that school starts in a few more weeks and everything will get back to normal.

It’s good to have dreams.

As for my Friday favorites, it’s the one streak I’ve kept alive this summer so let’s dive into that so I don’t feel like a complete failure.

Favorite song

When you’re home all day with a 7 year, what you listen to pretty much goes down the crapper and I treasure the few moments each day when we actually agree on a song. Like this one.

Favorite frugal find

When we went to pick up our painted ceramic figures from a paint your own pottery place in our town, we found out that they have tye-dye. I was not spending $15 for one shirt (especially knowing she was going to want to do more than one) so I went to the craft store, found 2 shirts and a kit, and I had a 25% off coupon. That means we got two projects for roughly $10 instead of $30. I don’t even mind the fact that I have blue hands now.

On other note, the craft store had Halloween projects on display. HALLOWEEN. For shame, Michael’s. For shame.

Favorite internet thing

Steph mentioned it yesterday but it’s worth repeating because my inner grammar nerd freaked out with glee when I saw the Weird Al Word Crimes video. I’m sure you’ve seen it but if not, here it is:

Also on my list of internet things I loved are this BuzzFeed post on sister tattoos (one of my sisters is on board. We need to work on the other) and this Huffington Post post (because flying with a kid is hard enough without people hating you simply because you need to bring your child with you. Trust when I say, most of us are trying our hardest to control them. Those who don’t, well, they deserve the hate).

Favorite book/TV thing

This one’s a combo.

As if Gone Girl and Dark Places being released as movies this year isn’t enough for me as a Gillian Flynn fan, I read that Sharp Objects is going to be a TV show!!! I don’t invest in many new shows (because inevitably the ones I like get canceled) but I will be giving time to this one. Because Gillian Flynn.

Favorite quote

Favorite funnies

I need to be prepared

Thanks to Nadine, I understand why this is funny.

#sorrynotsorry if this song is now stuck in your head

LOOK ME IN THE EYES!!!

Next week, I’m on vacation (sort of) so I’ll be sharing some older posts with you guys. I hope you like them! I’ll be sharing lots of pics (provided I remember) on Instagram so if you don’t already, follow me over there!

Have a great weekend!

Linking up with Amanda.

Memories of a GenX childhood

Friday favorites: volume 15?

A (long) note to my teenage self

Promises to my friends without kids

Friday favorites, volume 13

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