Hidden Valley Ranch

So I got back wed from saying good bye to a fellow American who is headed back to the states after being here 7 months. It seems due to to the awful economy- alot of expats are being sent home early ( no worries I am sure similar to booze, and smokes, pizza will keep us here for our intended stay). Anyways- my friends said she had some US contraband supplies to pick up- I am still laughing as I type on what she gave me.

1- 6 bottles of hidden valley ranch and 12 packets of the dry stuff -( her mom would bring them when she came to visit)
2- a case of Cincinnati chili seasoning - they live in St Louis but I guess they like the chili
3- Seven Seas Italian dressing (15 dry packets) -she must have hated the British salad dressing choices
4- 50 packets of kool aid- granted her kids are 8 and 10- but CJ and Casey Jane do not need to inhale sugar water. However Chris and I will enjoy and remember summertime in the 80's
5-Ramen (by the case) - another mom mule trip
6-tortilla, chips, salsa, and every taco seasoning imaginable- guess we can now celebrate cinque de mayo in style

The 3 year old Drama Queen

Where did mummy leave casey alone with dad and CJ- to go to the grocery store- wish I would have at least stopped and had a martini to deal with monday morning mommy guilt. Thanks preschool for sharing my drama queen art work!

Random Thoughts

1-timing- chris comes home from work friday night and lets me know that he invited some colleagues over for dinner sunday night and that one of them is from South Africa- so please make something "meaty" instead of my usual chicken dishes. What exactly is meaty- and I would like a little more than 36 hours notice - not even mentioning that sunday is the best night of tv in England- Lost (yes the new season) and the Hills.

2- Michelle Obama- pretty lady but HATED the yellow dress and coat ( I know some of you love it). Let's see if your husband looks like a marathon runner and you are not as "runner body like" nix the heavy brocade fabric in pale pastels- (stick to solid dark colors and yes I know it was cold so they added extra layers to her dress but she could have had NASA design a fabric to withstand the elements)

3-Sambuca- yes another sambuca shot was consumed at a birthday dinner in Notting Hill on Sat night (no Hugh Grant was not seen). It seems 2009 is the year of the shots for Marina. ( we were home at a respectful 11 pm and yes I drove CJ to swim class on time in the morning)

4- Hip Nana's- my mom is sending me YouTUBE videos and no they are not of beyonce remakes (love that song Put a Ring on It- definitely the new single gals anthem) -it was the Cornell Glee Club take of "Ave Maria" but hats of to Nana with the utube.

5-new teachers- CJ is loving his new teacher (old one is on maternity leave) and more importantly the new teacher loves our CJ. "Mom- Miss W says I have a fantastic brain and a great imagination."

6-pocket money- British version of allowance. I'll be honest after the elf on the shelf flew back to the Northpole and won't reappear until next holiday season- chris and I needed some motivators for the kids- so coins are given on sunday for certain tasks be done during the week and it seems to be working

So I am throwing a brunch for 15 or so ladies this morning to honor my friend who is having her second baby any day. As I mentioned before this little (she is so petite and young- I think she like 27 - I keep trying to remind my late 20's were so fabulous) New Zealand girl has the best attitude about life. She not only was displaced from her home for a month due to faulty electrical wiring but in general she just rolls with whatever comes her way. Her and her husband are both the " glass is full type of folks"; which by the way is so refreshing to be around. Even though her pregnancy has had complications she is so positive and uplifting (I know a very cheezy adjective). Anyway her positive energy attracts people- ( not to mention she is a makeup artist which anyone with kids or a job needs eye makeup tips to look less tired). So here's a little Wednesday toast to anyone out there that thinks everything will work out- (which it usually does)- keep it coming!

Weeekly Confessions

1. Went over to a friends house friday night with chris- ended up in their bar area playing pool (which I am awful at) and doing flavored sambuca shots (banana, licorice, and vanilla)- ended up buzzed (btw I play better pool when buzzed) for which I came home and made no sense in a ridiculous conversation with the babysitter (chris just shook his head and finally said, "I think Jane just wants to go home.")

2. We headed to the Natural History Museum where CJ was enthralled with every dinosaur exhibit- poor kid wanted mom to read ALL the details and when I tried to abridge the lengthy notes he would call me out. "Mom- I think there is alot more words about this dinosaur than you said."

3.Actually emailed 2 friends (very good friends) on why I didn't get a Christmas card- I am a bit sensitive that our move across the pond has deleted us from some lists (I am sort of addictive to cards of friends, kids, dogs, cats, etc)-of course I find out that one friend had technical difficulties with their cards and ended up with no cards this year - and the other friend who was busy hanging with Hollywood celebs did not have my address- for which I said your kids are cute but just send me the photos of you and the stars.(BTW I completely know this is breaking every etiquette rule in the book- but if you didn't send me a Christmas card you owe me a photo bday card!!)

4.After complaining about the weather here- it was an awesome weekend (45 degrees) and I had friends in Chicago reminding me of subzero temps and 2 days of entertaining kids without school. (please note the weather here is NO way near as cold as Chicago, Detroit, new york, Boston but it still awful compared to TX)

5.I am sort of in to texting everyone (blame the iphone)- weird I use to rip on my friends that texted and now I am one of them.

6.Related to weather- Chris always prays for a rainy weekend so pizza sales go up- which sort of annoys me since the rain is usual top on my complaint list.

7. Casey Jane was being a pistol on friday so we were getting ready to go to ballet class and she was being awful in the car so I did a u turn and we skipped ballet (she cried in her leotard for a good 45 min) but mommy had her last nerve broken.

8. Got invited to a concert (Keane) for which I know none of the music- so I am such a dork downloading songs so I don't look like a complete jacka%# at the concert.

My Pathetic Attempt at Fashion in England

Above photo is my sad attempt at style in the rain:) Week is kind of dragging by- might largely be due to Chris and I staying up way too late sunday and monday for NFL and GG's. I was pretty depressed watching the globes by my lonesome in flannel pjs that Chris started his "Maybe we should go to a museum this weekend pep talk". I appreciate the effort as I know chris doesn't really want to be at a museum unless it revolves around sports or mountain climbers.

Good news is I persuaded 2 of my British friends to join me on Monday feb 23 (in flannel pjs) for a champagne fueled oscar watch (the good news is I can edit out all the boring awards no one cares about. We also booked a trip to the canary islands (part of spain) which should give me such me needed sun. CJ has a playdate tomorrow where the "mum" called to request what sir cj would like for his tea (supper).

Random notes from the GG's

I know I am way late with these as I had to watch the GG's 18 hours after they completed and instead of drinking wine with girlfriends in Chicago or Texas gossiping about the stars - I was solo in England in my pjs and blankets (I still had wine at least and chris got home from work for some recaps). Plus some of our coverage was through SKY so we have awful British and commonwealth countries (Australia, NZ, Canada, Ireland, etc) star counts. (the commentary is pretty funny as they rip on Hollywood yet all these Brit stars eventually sell out to CA, last time I checked Kates (Beckinsale,Winslet), Emma Thompson,Ralph Fiennes, all spend significant time on USA soil)

1-Red Carpet- Seacrest is annoying- he tries to hard to ask real journalism questions- I liked E girl better which isn't saying that much

2-Loved jolie, loved winslet, loved Beyonce, loved Sanda Bullock (normally I can't stand her) Did not like (ny resolution stop saying HATE) Jen Morrison (girl from House), Debra Messing, Colin Farrell (was he chewing gum as he presented?), Drew Barrymore (AWFUL hair)

3- Poor Rumer Willis- how awful to have your mom look as good as Demi does- pretty annoying not even mentioning the Ashton part

4-Jo Broes- I am usually a HUGE boy man fan- the jonas brothers were so awkward even for me

5-any nominee in Heath Ledger's category like they had a chance in he$^ of winning.

6-Loved the casual atmosphere of the GG's-champagne fuels better speeches:)

Globes

We finally saw the sun today- it was freezing the whole week here. Chris and I started looking at planning a vacation for march and we originally were thinking skiing but the whole time we looked at the ski pictures- I kept shivering and realized I wanted to do the apres ski more than I wanted to be freezing on a chairlift- so we have scrapped that idea and are thinking sun/heat.(unfortunately alot of the really warm places in march are near some hot turbulent areas (Dubai/Egypt)- so we shall see what we find. We might be huddling under a heat lamp in London for our break.

Today is going to be a long day-its the golden globes and no its not the oscars but I like the red carpet for the GG just as much as the oscars.(plus its cool they sit at tables and eat/drink during the award show). I also like that it includes tv and movies . They are broadcast at 11pm here- so will at least get to see some of the red carpet before bedtime. I have seen a fair amount of the movies but am still way behind schedule.

Stars I want to see:

Brangelina-I am a Jolie fan- think she truly is gorgeous and thinks she actually wants to help children all around the world. Not sure if she was a home wrecker but she has done enough penance with the 6 bambinos.

Reese/Jake-like them separately hate them as a couple- I am old school and really liked my "cruel intentions" couple of Ryan/Reese.

Kate Winslet- love her and most movies she is in

Brothers&Sisters Cast (minus Sally field)- love the show and the cast minus Sally Field. She's a tad annoying as a meddling matriarch.

Hugh Laurie-I have a sick relationship with House. I am so attracted to his brain and his complete disrespect for establishment. (btw this is one of the few shows we get that is current)

Entourage- I am a huge Johnny Drama fan- Ari is too much and just knowing he a big arse in real life is annoying.

Mad Men- awesome show love the whole cast and writers for this show.

January Junk

So I waited to blog as I had nothing non depressive to say. Got back last weekend and both chris and I noted we didn't have that warm fuzzy feeling that usually happens when you get to your home after a vacation- we had a lukewarm timeshare not really our home feeling. Then I took down my christmas decorations which always depresses me anyway- especially since its freezing here. I did come home to a zillion cards of happy children/families on christmas cards- which made me smile. School started and at least both kids were excited to see their friends and get back to bday parties and afterschool activities. Bith chris and I are starting the headache of getting our drivers liscence in England. We have to drive to a place to have them examine our picture since we have no one that is from England that can vouch that they have known us for the last 2 years. Then we mail our passports in ( I HATE the idea of letting my passport out of my locked cabinet- this stems from all my conspiracy theories that float in my head)- Then 3 weeks later we can sit for the first of 3 tests- seriously folks with all this red tape I should have asked santa for a driver for christmas. At least some friends have promised me a blowout champagne party once I get that liscence in hand!

What I did on my winter break

As I type this blog I am laughing at the homework we were to complete on break including some paragraph on "what I did on my winter break"- alas my little guy isn't going to do homework on our last day stateside. The blog took a backburner to the holiday festivities. We had no kiddy illnesses- no delayed flights- saw family and friends in TX and MI. As I typed before -I shopped - we still have a drug store run- chris and I are a little pathetic trying to stock up on everything for the next 9 months. Chris made his annual fatal flaw with the Xmas gift- this time the thought was there but again that poor guy can't win (matching mother daughter outfits from Lucky for Casey and I- now note he bought me jeans (who in their right mind buys jeans for another person- he claims he described my figure to the 16 year old at somserset mall:) and jeans for Casey Jane who HATES all pants in general.) At least the Morris family can laugh that Chris has kept his perfect record of crazy gifts. ( lest we forget the black shirt with deodorant stains in it from someone trying it on)

Now a quick run down on "what I did on my winter break"

1- read- all the Twilight series and yes I am Team Edward and yes I would wake up at 3am to keep reading the books because they are so addictive - kind of lack crack for the sweet valley high set.

2-saw movies- 4 christmases -(sort of funny and predictable but a large fountain drink and popcorn can make anything good) Valykerie (chris's pick- I am on the boycott Cruise team but the movie was pretty good)

3-shopped- hit all the sales and looked sort of ridiculous in a depressing MI economy to be shopping so much but c'est la vie (baby marina misses Nordstroms!!!)

4-competed - played the wii and tried to knock chris out in boxing/tennis- played bocce for real and my brother dad and I killed the in law team!!!! Bowled with my in laws .

5-ate so much tex mex it was ridiculous-pei wei, olgas, red robin, smith and wollensky, brunch, bacon, beef, and of course starbucks (shouts out to my dad and my father in law who would bring me a starbucks latte daily (I know I am spoiled)

6-made snowmen, snowangels, let Casey wear minnie mouse costume to christmas eve mass to avoid a tantrum (new years resolution separation of church and disney)

7-got asked a gazillion times if we like living there- became a master spin artist of avoiding the question as I don't know the answer yet.

8-tivoed tv- caught up on Gossip Girl, The real housewives, office, etc

So yes I am sad to be headed back and NO I am not letting chris fly back solo- we are a family back to England we shall go. The adventure continues- now we shall see how we fit 3 weeks of shopping and christmas loot into these suitcases!!!