This week is a short week for us here at the Blue House. We’re closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving (and post-Thanksgiving shopping) as I’m sure most offices are. And there’s nothing I like more than a good holiday full of family, friends and food. But why is it that the days leading up to such a holiday oftentimes are the most stressful days of all?
Granted, I’m not the one cooking the bird this Thursday, but I’ve still got a lot on my plate. We’re traveling out of town for the weekend, which means laundry and packing — and with a 1-year-old you can never pack too many clothes! I’m dreading my trip to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients I need in order to make my “dish.” And, to top it all off I’m running in a 10K Thanksgiving morning. (If you remember from my previous posts I use the term “run” very loosely.) I wonder if the List has anyone who specializes in “holiday help” that I could hire? Or, at this point, I think I’d hire someone just to run the race for me. I know, I know, it’s my own doing. Sigh …
But I know that if I can get the laundry done and clothes packed, if I can tidy up the loose ends here at work, if I can successfully contribute a “dish” to the big meal AND somehow cross the finish line (other than on a stretcher) — I know I’ll have a house full of family and fantastic food to look forward to. And I couldn’t be more thankful.
Staci is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. Her favorite foods are sushi and chocolate (but not together). Staci enjoys mowing the lawn, and she can also make a mean s'more.
No, I’m not talking about the summer solstice. I’m talking about the end of Daylight Savings Time when, on that special November day, we revert back to standard time and set our clocks back one hour. I love it — but I might be alone in that sentiment.
I usually hear the grumblings of those who think DST is ridiculous. Folks who “miss” the sunlight (here’s a tip: It’s available in the early morning!) and whine about how dark it is all the time. But the thing is, no matter what the clock says, winter means less daylight hours and more darkness. That’s just the way it is. Since there’s little to be done about changing the Earth’s axis and rotation, I say we embrace the extra time.
How did you use your extra time? Did you return phone calls, clean your garage, write someone a love letter or go out for a jog? Or perhaps it just meant another hour of pre-game drinking before Sunday’s bevy of football games. My guess is most of us slept right through this small, but significant gift. That’s what I would’ve done — if only someone had explained the concept of DST to my 1-year-old. He had no idea. Instead of waking up at 7:30ish, he was up at 6 a.m. He had his breakfast, played and was ready for his midday nap by 10.
So much for the extra hour being a thing of celebration!
My biggest concern quickly became whether or not I could somehow keep him awake and engaged during the day so he wouldn’t want to go to bed at 5! Luckily my sister and her husband were in town and helped with diversionary tactics. I thought the day would never end. Good thing spring is around the corner and I can give this hour back.
Maybe next year I should plan a little better and get ideas from the List on how to best spend that extra time.
Staci is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. Her favorite foods are sushi and chocolate (but not together). Staci enjoys mowing the lawn, and she can also make a mean s'more.
Good grief. It felt like it was at least 90 degrees this weekend. And it’s October. Where are my crisp autumn days?
Actually, I should bite my tongue. I’m sure the cool, windy, rainy weather will be here before I know it. I just wasn’t expecting the July-like temperatures while I was out and about this weekend. My poor car’s air conditioner usually gets a much-needed break this time of year, but not lately. And I refuse to turn the house air conditioner back on, much to the chagrin of my family. But they’ll be OK. I just keep the curtains closed to block out the sun and the windows wide open to welcome any sort of breeze. I mean, it’s October. No A/C in October. Continue reading ‘It’s too hot for fall’
Staci is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. Her favorite foods are sushi and chocolate (but not together). Staci enjoys mowing the lawn, and she can also make a mean s'more.
I truly enjoy this time of year. Some may lament at summer’s passing, but I’m fine with saying ‘goodbye’ to 90-degree weather and Saturdays spent indoors with the shades drawn. It’s just too hot. And, as I glance down at my decidedly pale legs, I’m reminded that the sun and I aren’t BFFs. I’ve spent the past three months dodging its cancer-causing rays and wondering how people can tolerate living in the tropics! But as my corner of the world slowly starts to tilt and the sun becomes “less hot,” I find my weekends are quickly filling up with outdoor activities. Continue reading ‘Autumn brings corn mazes and caramel apples’
Staci is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. Her favorite foods are sushi and chocolate (but not together). Staci enjoys mowing the lawn, and she can also make a mean s'more.
Uh-oh…am I the dreaded nosy neighbor? 
Now, I won’t go on your side of your privacy fence to sneak a peek (as Kristy’s did), and I won’t go out of my way to bother you with idle chitchat while you’re doing yard work (as Mandy’s does), but I do pay attention to my surroundings. Continue reading ‘Noticing neighbors is natural for me.’
Staci is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. Her favorite foods are sushi and chocolate (but not together). Staci enjoys mowing the lawn, and she can also make a mean s'more.
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A colleague of mine is a runner. Actually, several of them are, but this particular individual surprised me when I saw him on the treadmill. No iPod, no headphones, no T.V. — he just hopped on and started running like there was no tomorrow. Needless to say, I was impressed. I “run” but I’m no “runner.” I just do it because it’s the quickest way for me to work up a sweat (takes about 13 seconds) and lose weight (takes about 3 weeks to lose 1 pound. How’s that for pathetic?). Continue reading ‘Sometimes, people surprise you’
Staci is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. Her favorite foods are sushi and chocolate (but not together). Staci enjoys mowing the lawn, and she can also make a mean s'more.
And I know I’m not the only one to feel like that. I think it’s funny though, how some things seem to be a waste of time (like cleaning the house — I mean, it’s just going to get dirty again) while others seem to go by in the blink of an eye (like your wedding day).
I experienced one of those “not lasting long enough” moments this past weekend when my son celebrated his first birthday. Continue reading ‘Sometimes, there’s no time’
Staci is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. Her favorite foods are sushi and chocolate (but not together). Staci enjoys mowing the lawn, and she can also make a mean s'more.
I don’t have a pet.
Shocking, I know — especially if you’re a faithful reader of the Blue House Blog. It may seem that everyone here has a furry companion waiting on the stoop when they get home. And that perception would be fairly accurate. I think I am one of maybe three magazine staffers who is sans critter. But (guilt) I’m OK with that.
Not that there hasn’t been ample opportunity to adopt the seemingly endless supply of strays that wander
through the neighborhood. I think the word is out among street dogs; “Want a home? Go to the Blue House. There are still three people inside that don’t have dogs yet.” It wouldn’t surprise me to find them all lined up outside the door one morning. Sitting there, all combed and smiling, begging for a family. Continue reading ‘Outnumbered’
Staci is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. Her favorite foods are sushi and chocolate (but not together). Staci enjoys mowing the lawn, and she can also make a mean s'more.
One day, I’m going to retire. This day is by no means in the foreseeable future, but it’s out there. Taunting me. It knows I’ll be well into my golden years by the time I can afford to leave the workforce. It knows I’ll probably have more medications and doctor’s appointments by the time I punch my last timecard. However, the one thing my retirement day does not know for sure is how much money is going to be socked away in the National Bank of Staci.
Financial planning is not my strong suit. Continue reading ‘Richie Rich? Um, maybe not quite yet.’
Staci is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. Her favorite foods are sushi and chocolate (but not together). Staci enjoys mowing the lawn, and she can also make a mean s'more.
In case you’re biting your nails with curiosity, wondering if I actually finished the Mini-Marathon or if I ended up in the back of an ambulance somewhere along the course, you can rest easy. I survived. My colleagues have heard me regale the events of the day, but just in case I missed anyone I can sum it up thusly: I ran, I walked, I ran some more, I walked a lot more, my legs ached. I crossed the finish line and ate a banana and a cookie. All in just three hours. Would I do it again? Sure, why not? After all, they do give you a cookie at the end. 
Alas, my cookie-eating days are limited. Continue reading ‘Survival of the fittest’
Staci is an associate editor at
Angie's List magazine. Her favorite foods are sushi and chocolate (but not together). Staci enjoys mowing the lawn, and she can also make a mean s'more.
