Thursday Thoughts - I hope you know that this will go down on your permanent record

1. Philly trees, please.

2. It's me. This week has been a fucking week and we're not finished yet. Deadlines and tech issues and house chaos and back twinges got me like whoa.

3. But aren't these dogs adorable. Bender is a hard dog to photograph. We're working on it.

4. Add these to my Christmas list.

5. I never made it to the grocery store until last night. I meant to go Monday. I've been cobbling together lunches and partaking in the office holiday food gift assortment. I need vegetables. Does your body ever tell you you need vegetables?

6. I'm going to start keeping track of how much time I spend clearing shit off the dining room table. Shit is out of hand. Basically the only good thing about the shore house being closed is there is no shore shit that lingers from week to week that's either coming back from there or going to there. Literally the only good thing.

7. Show Us Your Books friends! This is your reminder that the Favorite Reads of 2019 link up is FRIDAY, December 27. A week from tomorrow. Also, take a minute to check out the memoir of a college friend that's coming out in July and consider pre-ordering it because there is simply no better way to support a smaller author - Raising a Rare Girl: A Memoir. Heather is a beautiful, evocative writer, her insights are amazing, and she gives you permission to laugh. This is about raising her daughter, who was born with an ultra-rare syndrome, Wolf-Hirschhorn. Heather also wrote Teaching in the Terrordome: Two Years in West Baltimore with Teach for America which I loved as well. The winner of the SUYB December giveaway is up too. Congrats Stephanie!

8. For your consideration: a chart and accompanying article showing how taxes on workers have essentially replaced those on corporations - when will half of the goddamn working class stop fighting for and defending billionaires and corporations and unite to fight for themselves? How the rule of law is the principle that protects every American from the abuse of monarchs, despots, and tyrants and an opinion piece on why there's a dire threat to it with the fucking lunacy going on defending this president right now. Also, impeached. In the words of The Violent Femmes in Kiss Off (and part of the phrase in the intro to Van Halen's Hot for Teacher), I hope you know that this will go down on your permanent record. Even if the Senate chooses cowardice, you will always be impeached for believing you are above the law. And yes, anyone saying this is a waste of time if the Senate will do nothing...public record is important.

It's good when people get the answers they are seeking. There are a lot of people out there who are not knowledgeable about this process...some who actually participated in it when they impeached Bill Clinton in 1998, so weird. Maybe they forgot. Some who went to school with me and I know we were taught this. Willful ignorance is gross. 

9. Reminder:

10. Ecards: are you with me?

This time next week, Christmas will be over. Time is crazy. 

What appears after the hyphen in Thursday Thoughts is a song lyric to whatever I'm listening to when I start to write the post. This week is Kiss Off by The Violent Femmes

How to Protect Yourself & Your Child During Pregnancy and Birth

Happy Wednesday that I thought was Tuesday and I could actually use an extra work day this week so not cool. I'm sure the title gave away that this is a guest post, and it's from Maggie Hammond, proud momma to two littles and one too many furry friends. Passionate about alternative medicine, the great outdoors and animal welfare.

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Every new mom will want to protect their child, from the minute they find out about their pregnancy. This also includes best caring for yourself in order to be the strongest and healthiest you can be during your pregnancy term and for the birth of your new bundle of joy. During pregnancy, you may face a host of challenges and fears, and nobody can say how easily you will handle the process. What matters is that you take whatever steps you can to protect both you and your baby.

Make the Healthiest Choices

Maintaining a balanced diet is one of the best things you can do for both you and your baby during pregnancy. A balanced diet means a wide variety of food, including fish, meat, eggs, fruit and vegetables, and staying hydrated.

Not only is a healthy lifestyle essential for you and your baby as a base need, but it can also help to limit the risk of birth defects and complications. By adopting healthier behaviors, you’re increasing the chance of giving birth to a healthy baby. 

However, it’s important to note that – despite your best efforts – a healthy baby isn’t always guaranteed. Conditions such as cerebral palsy can be unavoidable in terms of no clear prevention methods. To best protect your baby in this circumstance, your medical professionals need to detect early and take risk-reducing measures. In cases where this has failed to be done, you have every right for cerebral palsy claims against medical negligence.

Take the Relevant Vitamins 

Your doctor will be able to recommend the right vitamins needed during the course of your pregnancy, but folic acid is of huge importance in terms of preventing problems in your baby. You can take folic acid before you get pregnant if you have decided to try for a baby in order to best prepare your body, and it should be taken every day. 

This is the main vitamin to focus on during pregnancy, but you can consult with your medical advisor regarding any other vitamins. 

Exercise Regularly

It’s easy to think that lots of rest and avoidance of over-exertion is essential for the safety of you and your baby, but that’s not the case. It’s, of course, important not to strain yourself during pregnancy, but regular exercise is crucial for health purposes. Find an exercise that is comfortable for you, and be sure not to overdo it. 

While exercise is important during pregnancy, the best options will be ones that avoid contact or the risk of falling, therefore stretching such as yoga or leisurely walking is better than contact sports.

Arrange a Stress-Free Environment to Give Birth 

In order to encourage the healthiest, most natural birth, you need to make the environment right for you. Stress can serve to disrupt the natural birthing procedure and a build-up of anxiety will cause more harm than good. Decide where you would feel most comfortable giving birth, at home or in the hospital, and ensure the environment is optimized for your comfort and needs, which you have every right to. 

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December 2019 Recommendations

While it is entirely possible I will discover something that changes my life in the next 13 days, even then I wouldn't write about it on a recommendations post because this shit has to be tried and true to be included here. So here are December's recommendations on December 17.

Fruitables Pumpkin & Blueberry dog treats - I get them from Chewy, but Amazon has them too. My dogs love them and even the older dogs with their old dog teeth and penchant for spitting a lot of shit out like picky people snarf them down.

Kleem Organics Vitamin C Serum (affiliate link) - Yesterday this had a $6 off coupon, and it was only $16 to begin with, so run your ass over and check to see if it's still there. In case you're new here, this is the real MVP of my face. I started using it twice a day in April 2018. Every time I re-order, I will re-share, in case you missed it one of the other times I've mentioned it, because it's a holy grail item for me.

Metagenics Magnesium - I used to take other brands and they didn't help. This brand kicks ass. I get it from my acupuncturist. If you have any type of sleep issues, try magnesium first, but try the right brand. I think you can ask your healthcare provider for Metagenics.

SOJOS polarized sunglasses (affiliate link) - Sometimes cheap sunglasses please me and sometimes they don't. These do.

Enjoy yourself. This season isn’t only about making sure other people are happy and all the things are bought, done, and made. This season is for your relaxation and enjoyment too. 

Weird ass pillow for neck pain (affiliate link) - I have struggled with pillows since my pinched nerve situation for the past two years, talked with my acupuncturist ad nauseum about pillows, and spent a lot of money trying things out trying to eliminate the neck pain I was waking up with. This weird ass pillow is the thing. If you have neck pain, I would recommend this a million times. For most of my life, I was a cushy pillow and propped up sleeper and I don't care that this is none of this. The relief from pain is worth the adaptation. I bought it for $45 and as of yesterday it was $36.

What are you enjoying recently?

Happy second birthday to my nephew today!

TWTW - the last one at the shore

Friday  was a solid day - rolled into work a little late in festive plaid pants; had tacos with coworkers at Mission Taqueria; popped into MAC to buy prep-n-prime and Russian Red lipstick and instead of paying $37.5 for those two, I got those plus a gloss for $29.50; had after work drinks with a coworker at on the 60th floor of the Four Seasons; dashed many blocks in the rain to my company party at Barbuzzo which came off super well; attempted McGillin's but it was crowded and people were sweaty and I'm not 25 as evidenced by pulling a muscle in my back at lunch; and fell out around 1 am.

Saturday I was up before clearing the dining room table and putting other shit right at the house, then I tossed the best friend dogs into the car and headed to the shore for my swan song weekend. We went to the beach  that was completely shrouded in fog and had a walk and a run around, then I got my favorite bowl from Bungalow Bowls, started tossing shit and packing shit up, popped around to Bennie's to get lobster bisque to bring home for Sunday dinner, pulled the porch furniture in on the ground level, and we headed back to the beach for quite a long shelling session. It started out gray but the light came back right as the sun was going down and it was fucking magic, like a special parting gift. I ordered from Randazzo's for dinner, finished a great book, and the best friends were totally passed out from so long on the beach both in the afternoon and closer to dark. 

Sunday Up for the sunrise and it was a lovely goodbye for now.

I stopped to get iced coffee on the way home since it was a no making/bringing food from home weekend, finished packing up and emptying fridges and unplugging shit, pulled the upstairs porch furniture inside, took pics of various things, and loaded the best friend dogs up for a final run around on the beach before dropping a book off at the library, taking the trash out, and heading out of town. I filled up with gas and everyone loved Bruce with his head out the window. At home I restored some order, opened packages of Christmas shit and my awesome new strap for my cross body purse, threw dinner and laundry in, ran the dishwasher, and started making 498 grocery lists for the upcoming weeks, 

Weekly food prep: Breakfasts are breakfast burritos from the freezer. Snacks are oranges and key lime bars. Lunches are I'm not sure yet...I only need three and I don't need them until Tuesday so I'll figure that out at the grocery store Monday night. Dinners are ginger ale roasted corned beef that I made Sunday and tonight I'll roast carrots and get some potatoes going and saute some cabbage. I never did quesadillas last week so I think they're happening this week.

This is the first year that I didn't cry driving home on Sunday after closing the shore house down (well, my part...the professionals come today to winterize so there are no busted pipes in the spring). It absolutely is crying time though...I cried both Saturday and Sunday before I left so maybe I got it all out? LOL. It's hard to consciously close a place for a few months where I feel my best and clear my head and am outside more and active more and present more and all of the things that make me a well functioning person. We have plans this year to start doing things every year to make it a viable year round house. Until then it is not an exaggeration or being dramatic to say I'm not my whole self when it's closed and I can't stay there. I'll be back before I know it. 

Thursday Thoughts - merry Christmas time come and find you happy and there by your fire

1. In case you don't know what to get me for Christmas.

via The Sweet Feminist

2. Witness my camera getting shittier as apple wants me to update my phone.

3. I still have a cold and fatigue which makes it hard to get things done at home and I'm tired of a lot of shit right now including tired of being physically tired, blowing my nose, and coughing. Also, why can I smell nothing except urine in the street and my own sweaty feet after walking all over the city in velvet Toms? Like if you have to not be able to smell things, let’s not be able to smell those things for sure.

4. All I've managed to do consistently this week is work because everything is hurtling forward toward next Friday when many people are peacing out. I've worn Doc Martens twice and someone asked me if they still sold them. LOL forever. Yes. Yes they do.

5.  I am in the process of updating like over 500 blog posts that dropped the signatures off of them. One of them contains the recipes my mom uses for Christmas cookies which I share every year. I can't find it, so here they are again:

Granny’s Sugar Cookies

1C butter

2C sugar

2 eggs

4C flour

4TSP baking powder

1TSP salt

1TSP vanilla

Combine. Refrigerate. Roll and cut out. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

Mom’s Molasses Cookies

3&3/4C flour

1TSP baking soda

1/2TSP salt

4TBS unsweetened cocoa powder

3TSP cinnamon

2TSP allspice

2 sticks butter, softened

1C sugar

1 egg

1/2C molasses

Sift dry ingredients together. Cream butter and sugar together. Add egg. Add molasses and stir well.  Combine with dry ingredients. Refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours. Roll and cut out. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Can be iced with sugar icing or topped with sprinkles. 

6. I’m working from home today and at lunch I’m hoping to get my dining room table cleared of the shit that has been strewn across it for what feels like months.

7. Right about now is when I start thinking I don’t have everything for Christmas.

8. Kudos to Finland, and Megan Rapinoe, and Greta Thunberg, and the USWNT. Fuck yeah, ladies. No kudos to the bully in chief who cyber shit on Greta before and after this cover. He'll go away at some point, but the people who support his behavior will remain and that's the real problem - don't lose sight of that. Double down on rooting misogyny, racism, and hypocrisy out of your personal life - there's no place for it means there's no fucking place for it, period - and triple down on Senate races in 2020. You don't win those, nothing matters. Vote and talk about voting and drive people to vote and you get the picture.

9. Reminder:

10. Ecards. 

Happy birthday to Meem, yesterday. And today would be my Gamma's birthday!

What appears after the hyphen in Thursday Thoughts is a song lyric to whatever I'm listening to when I start to write the post. This week is Christmas All Over Again by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers