worst mom in the world?

I was feeling pretty good today. I dropped kid #1 at camp while my husband dropped kid #2. I came home and did some work. Picked up kid #2 from school, brought him home for about two seconds before we had to get up and leave again to pick up kid#1. Kid #2 falls asleep on the drive there (a ten minute drive). That's the kind of summer we're having. We are frickin' run ragged.

Fun Mommy decides to take both kids to Islands as they're both screaming that they're starving. They act as if they didn't have lunches packed lovingly by my husband (thanks, honey!). Then Fun Mommy says let's go to the toy store because we need to get a birthday present. We spend a fair amount of time roaming the aisles for Star Wars Legos (hope you're not reading this, Taj) and also choosing a Clone Wars backpack for Kindergarten and a Toy Story 3 lunchbox for preschool, year two. We pick up a magnetic responsibility chart for the burgeoning Kindergartener. We pick up a large container of sidewalk chalk because what the hell, Fun Mommy is here! THEN, Fun Mommy takes the boys to Rite Aid to get ice cream. It's a big day.

We get home and before we even get inside the boys want to play with the chalk. Great, I think. I'll just sit here on the warm sidewalk and they will draw peacefully. It will be lovely. For a minute or two, it was lovely. Then Nate dared to make a tiny, lightly-drawn line too close to Zach's masterpiece. Oh boy. The $#!* hit the fan. Angry Zach took over and wrote "I HATE NATE" all over everyone's drawings. Nice. We discussed hate talk and how that word is so bad, etc etc etc blah blah blah. He knows this. Then the violence began and once Nate was thrown to the ground, Fun Mommy was so far gone...no one even had a memory of her.

It was straight up to bath for them and then there was splashing and shooting each other in the eyes and Now-Exhausted Mommy just wants them to go away. I forget at what point after which beating of his brother I had to pull Zach out and make him go get dressed himself. Not long after, Nate was pulled out. Both ran away laughing (at me) and wet and they both fell on the hardwood floor hallway because they were so slippery. Had the ice cream gone to their heads?! It was chaos and turmoil and whining and crying and Daddy is texting and saying it's going to be another long night and it's already about 6:30 at this point. During the school year, the kids go to bed around 7. This summer, it's been more like 8:00 or 8:30 and they're getting up earlier and earlier! Kid #2, who usually naps for two hours everyday, has not napped. It is Meltdown City and I am the mayor. The mayor who wants to quit.

"OK, everybody is going to bed NOW!!" I bellow as they run naked from room to room, jumping on my bed, scaring the cats and making the dog cower in the corner. "AAAAAHHH, I pee-pee'd on the floor!!" Nate replies.

Fabulous. "BED!!!!!!" yells Mean Mommy. "But Mommy, dinnnnnnnneeeeeerrrrrr!" they whine at me. Fine. I'll feed them if I have to. So I took them downstairs and fed them 1/2 a lemon yogurt each and some slices of salami. I know. I suck. The truth is, they weren't even hungry and I knew it. They didn't finish their oh-so-delicious dinner that I so lovingly prepared (what?). I knew they just didn't want to go to bed. In any case, on a typical night each kid comes out of their room at LEAST three times and usually a lot more from the little one. Not tonight. They're TI-RED. Not a peep yet.

And I have to tell you, I might be joining them in dreamland pretty soon myself. There's not much of a fight left in me today.

Goodnight.

I have officially launched my business.

This weekend, I held my first Trunk Show. It was the launch party of my new business in which I am an independent stylist for Stella & Dot. The party was a HUGE success! I had about 20 friends drop in throughout the morning, some bringing other friends, some coming solo without knowing a soul but me. I think everyone had a ball. Girls standing around chatting and looking at beautiful jewelry, drinking coffee and mimosas? What's not to like? I have to say, even without the jewels, it sure would be nice to have Saturday mornings like that more often.

I'll share here what were the biggest sellers:

Everyone LOVED the Aimee Locket necklace. This was one of my first purchases, as well. I have been stopped on the street to receive compliments on this one.

Quite a few people picked up the Bardot Spiral Bangle; an easy versatile piece.

The Stackable Deco Rings were another popular choice. I think it's amazing how similar they look to my wedding band from the posh 23rd Street Jewelers.

<----$49

+$2000 ----->

All in all, the party was a success and I can't wait to do it again! Phew. Relief.

And...my new purse!

Ta-da!! I just ordered this from the Nordstrom anniversary sale. It's by Cole Haan. And I'm really excited to open the box, pull out my brand-new beauty and put my stuff in it. There's nothing better than a new purse. Seriously.

My first blog post.

Wow. I'm actually blogging. Here goes...

So, I've been going through an interesting time lately -- adding thing upon thing to my already very full docket. Not only am I taking care of the boys every day - driving them to and from school and to their activities, feeding them, bathing them, diapering them (well, one of them), reading stories to them and hopefully not yelling at them (too much) - I have started taking Interior Design classes at OTIS and now I've started selling jewelry with Stella & Dot.

I have a TON of homework for my class and I am so excited about my new jewelry business, I'm spending loads of time on that, too! I am staying up very late every night and actually enjoying it.

I do have my concerns - as always: am I being an attentive enough mother? (probably not.) Am I being a good friend/daughter/granddaughter/sister-in-law/step-sister? (I try? But time is so minimal...) Am I spending quality time with my boys? (I do try, but it's so hard to get things done and have quality time, too.) Am I keeping their minds working? (ummmm...am I?) Am I being a good wife? (I haven't cooked dinner in ages so maybe not.) Am I keeping the house clean? (No, Mirza does that. Straightened, yes. Organized, for sure. That's my forté!) Am I keeping the house stocked with all the things everyone needs? (yes.) And then there's my own selfish concerns: have I exercised? (not in ages.) when will I be able to get my hair cut and colored? when can I get my nails done and my eyebrows waxed? Can I buy anything cute to wear so I'm not in sweats all the time? Shallow? Maybe. But that's the facts, Jack.

Anyway, this constant series of questions is annoying, yes, but I may be able to sort through some of it here. I find I am always in the midst of trying to figure something or other out for the kids. Sometimes I'm trying to figure out something for or about myself. I am definitely a work in progress. Or maybe I'll just be on the search for a really cute purse. Interesting? Probably not. But that's my life for now. I've got to try to enjoy...