Edible Panties!

I'll start off this post by stating the obvious: this is not a post about potty training (though I guess I could mention we are ever so close to "graduation but still not 100% diaper free), nor is it an announcement that we have in fact started using THESE that came so highly recommended by so many of you when you found out we were cloth diapering part-time.

But it is to say that Holden has experienced (yet) another first. We took him to the Blue Botique last night! Here he is carefully surveying the 'BAD GUY' section of costumes:

Now before you get too judgmental on me, the purchase was not for my own personal collection (*Besides, I really try to steer clear of buying pasties/sex-toys when I'm pregnant, just as a general rule). But we needed to pick up gifts for a cousin's Wedding Shower (i.e. who would be responsible for the shock factor if not Mr. Suite-Mangum and yours truly?), and although Harmon's is great for buying local, their sensual oil and edible thong collection just wasn't what I was hoping for.

So in our list of things to do, item number 3 on the FHE errand list: Sex-Shop with Toddler.

I knew we were in for fun when we pulled up to the storefront and Holden pointed to the mannequins in the window with their lingerie and wings and said "Butterfly." Ahhh the innocence of youth.

As you can see from the following picture, I'm raising a concerned shopper:

Holden fell in love with a cake-topper that had a bride pulling her groom on the ground by the tie. "I play with this?" He kept asking. And at one point, he also tried to duck under the doors that marked off the special "ADULTS ONLY" section of there store where the merchandise is even more...scandalous, shall we say? Such an explorer, my little guy.

But needless to say, the mainstream section was titillating enough for all of us.

And yes, I recognize this is not a store for children - but I really wanted Danny to help me pick something out (he is after all, the funny one in the relationship...and it's for his side of the family, so his filter is always a little better than mine).

Thanks to a very knowledgable saleswoman who took us right to the section we needed for an easy purchase (his and hers gifts -- you can use your imagination on this one); and we were in and out of the store in about 15 minutes.

My favorite part of the adventure was when one pink haired and very pierced sales clerk turned around towards Holden, and her appearance took him aback for a moment. He shook his fists near his belly like he does when he's cold or to signal he's a little scared. I'm just glad he didn't shout "BAD GUY" before we left.

It's become more apparent every day that I'm out of the running for any "Mother of the year Awards." (Especially when I share these antics with the world?!?!?) But I will say we are having fun.

Ahhh parenting - never what you expect, is it?

East Side Pride

A friend of mine in high school used to say, "Once a cove dweller, always a cove dweller." Well, Danny and I are not exactly “in the Cove”... but tonight, I totally felt "of the Cove."

First off -- I think we're going to get passes at COVE Fitness; which is good news because I got ever so tired of people mistaking me for J-Lo's body double when I was a member of Lifestyles 2000.

Also, I've been shopping at Dan's a lot lately... which is like Millcreek’s answer to a Mormon "Trader Joes." There's a real sense of pride that comes from paying $2.50 for an organic tomato, you know? But seriously, I love that place. It's like policy at the store that if you ask them where an item is located, instead of saying "try isle 12” or something... they WALK you there. Seriously, it's not like it's a giant wholesaler's warehouse and you'll get lost in the place... the entire store is practically the same size as the bakery section of Costco...they just have fabulous customer service… and I love how everyone smiles when you shop there… although, I was having a great hair day yesterday, so that could be it too.

Suburbia is sooo rad… We live within 2 miles of 2 grocery stores… going shopping downtown was such a pain… the parking, the drive… everything seemed to take longer; the irony, eh? I mean, you live downtown to be close to the action; and then one day you wake up and realize that being able to buy Orange Juice a couple of blocks away is a real luxury….

Tonight, I dropped by Smith's Marketplace on 33rd South for some fabric softener, powdered doughnuts and a headphone splitter as Danny and I head for Ohio tomorrow; and we're trying to make it through the entire first season of the OC before next week (we might just accomplish this daring feat). As far as the doughnuts, I felt too guilty to purchase since apparently my body thinks I’m some sort of winter animal that needs to store of reserves in my ace-of-base for the season… ahh, if only a front bum were as popular as self-deprecation, I would be famous.

Anyway, I picked up the Seventh Generation fabric softener with no dyes, totally bio degradable, and then I found myself in the isle with all the Burt’s Bees and hippie-chick lotions... and suddenly I’m paying $2.00 for recycled tissues to blow my nose in, and purchasing chlorine free dye and this eco-friendly dishsoap… (oh well, at least they’re cheaper than a Dan’s tomato.)

I’m feeling all Milcreek-esque, right? I've got this season’s Coach patchwork in tote (thank you husband), sporting a pair of yoga pants and some grapefruit pink Uggs that absolutely fit their namesake (Ugh!) This is the life man…. Now that our rent’s cheaper, we can finally afford to go organic. All I need is a gas guzzling SUV and I’ll look like one of the natives… but no, maybe a Prius or something (did I spell that right?)

And in case my husband reads this (and we don’t keep any secrets)… darling, in case you’re worried about the price-point associated with “GOING GREEN” or in my case (spending our GREEN) you should know that I used our “smith’s marketplace card”… and with the vast savings we incurred from that little number, we can’t afford not to buy!!!!