Hump Day Happiness.

Meh. It's Wednesday.

How do you make a typically mundane Hump Day a little saucier? Well, I don't know about you, but I GIVE STUFF AWAY!

Yes, it's that time again, childrens. My bffs over at the CSN group of stores are offering another gift card to one lucky reader. I've said it before, but you can literally find anything on CSN's 200+ online shops. From upholstered headboards to shoes to fitness equipment...it's all there.

But wait, there's more! They've upped the ante this time to a whopping FIFTY buckaroonies. For real!

To enter:
Just leave a comment on this post telling me what you'd use the $50 on. That's it! Don't worry, I won't hold you to your choice if you win. Oh, and you must also live in the US or Canada (their rules, not mine).

Contest ends August 18 at midnight EST. I'll announce the winner on Thursday, August 19. You're welcome!

Daily Deal.

As part of my recent Twitter explosion, I've become a fan of Target's Daily Deal Tweets.

At 10 am every day, my phone chirps with the deal o' the day, which is always medium-ly exciting. Some days, it's a cool product at a great price and other days, it's something annoying like little girls' boots that I can't own. Oh, and the best part? It's always, always free shipping.

Today? IT'S THE NOSEFRIDA. 27% off (a friggin' STEAL at $11) and freeeeeeeee shipping!

I don't know how else I can break this down for you. (Find discussions here.) If you have a kid, if you want a kid, if someone you know has a kid, BUY IT. I promise you'll craft me a sincere letter of thanks the first time said kid's nose starts a stuffin'.

The Other One Where I Totally Embarass My Better Half.

Remember this doozie? Consider this part two in the "My Husband Is So Hilarious" series...

So Joey has this group of interns and co-ops that work with him. Don't know the difference? Interns are summer college students. Co-ops are high school students. Anyway, a few of them are "In-Betweeners," as in they've graduated from the hell known as high school but have not yet started their first semester of what will likely be the best 4ish years of their lives. aka college.

Apparently Joe thought it would be fun/torturous to come up with a nickname for the In-Betweeners. Here's how that went down.

Joe: What should I call you? It's like...you're not in college. You're like, pre-college.
In-Betweeners: Likely giving Joe a look of "wtf" at this moment.
Joe: Excitedly. I know! PKs! That's what I'll call you. The PKs! You know, like pre-college!

Now, I can only imagine what was going thru the In-Betweeners' heads at this exact moment. Options that come to mind are, "Joe, did YOU go to Kollege?" or perhaps "Kollege obviously worked for Joe!"

I mean, really. Someone should dunce hat that boy.

This Just In.

Lookie what I can do...

Notes To Self.

1) Draft blog post regarding Alex's 15 month checkup. Should highlight: hatred of shots, love of pediatrician, denial of toddler status.

2) Inform readers that another CSN giveaway is on the horizon. You're welcome.

3) Post adorable pictures from picking Kelli up from the airport. Check.

4) Admit openly that I have an obsession with baby Crocs and madras shorts with polos, as exhibited above and below...and pretty much every other picture currently on file. Popped collar optional.

5) Take a brief blogging hiatus while sister is in town. Through next Friday, if you're wondering.

Bad Mom?

I don't think I can properly estimate the number of times people asked me on vacation if I missed Alex. Joey asked me at least twice a day, and it was the first question out of nearly everyone that I was introduced to.

"I love him, but I do not miss him," was my repeated response. Queue big, blank looks in response as if to say, "Really?? I don't believe you."

By about Thursday, Joey didn't believe me, either. He was having a bad case of the "Missing Alex Blues" and really didn't get why I didn't. And I really, really didn't. Like, at all. And here's why:

1. I got to sleep in every.single.day. Oh, and nap whenever I wanted.
2. I got to have many, many margaritas by le campfire and not have to worry about getting up the next morning (see #1).
3. I was able to be in and around open water without the constant, heart-stopping panic of "Where is my kid?!?"
4. I was able to slowly chew and properly digest ALL of my meals. Including dessert.
5. I only had to bathe myself.
6. I only had to wipe my own ass.
7. I spoke in a normal, adult voice for a week straight.
8. My literary selections for the week did not include sentences like, "Where's my belly button?" and "Baby loves puppies!"
9. No strollers. No highchairs. No carseats. No squeaky toys.
10. What was that? Oh...that was the sound of SILENCE. Bliss.

Don't misinterpret the above - I love my kid more than Jimmy Choos and MAC Lipglass, but it was SO lovely to just be MYSELF all week. And not that I'm not myself when I'm in Mommy Mode, but it's just different. Not better or worse, necessarily. Just different. And I will openly admit that the squeals of delight and sloppy kisses I received upon our arrival home were pretty much the best thing, ever.

So in summary, it was nice to be away and it was nice to come back...and you can bet the farm that I will be participating in at least 1 kid-free week of vacation a year. It's necessary for my survival.

Customer Service Lives On! ...and tales of my woes to find the perfect purse.

I've raved about the fabulousness that is 1154 Lill on more than one occasion 'round these parts. But for those who are new or suffer from some form of acute memory loss, allow me to refresh: it's an upscale custom handbag salon in Chicago (and other locations) where super awesome girls like me go to create fabulous, trendy, one-of-a-kind bags. Basically, its an amazing, creative space filled with a myriad of canvas purse designs and hundreds of chic fabric swatches just waiting to be and mixed-n-matched to handbag perfection.

I have the Andi, the Samantha and the Charlotte, and recently made the pilgrimage to design my latest beauty, the Lexie. Yes, it's an addiction.

I know - it might be my best one yet. I simply ah-dore it! And the functionality and versatility of the bag itself is sheer perfection. Because of the links on the straps, I can wear it long as a messenger bag, short as a shoulder bag and even double-hooked as a backpack.

The ooooooonly thing I've found wrong with this purse is that the zipper pull is teeny weeny. Like, sometimes when I'm fumbling a cell phone, keys AND an infant (who is terrifyingly close to toddler status) I get frustrated and can't even find the stoopid thing.

And so, I did what any good PR girl would do in my situation: I wrote them an email about it.

I wasn't rude at all - in fact, my note was quite the opposite. I praised LILL for their designs, but noted that a bag in the upscale price range of $150+ should really have a bigger and better zipper. Also in true PR girl form, I presented both the problem and the solution: a zipper pull! I simply suggested that if manufacturing a new zipper was not an option, they should consider adding a fabric zipper pull (matching the shoulder strap fabric selection, natch) to improve functionality and ease of use.

And guess what? I got a reply...and an awesome one at that:

RIGHT?!? I mean, who does that? Companies that care - that's who. So, as if it wasn't painfully obvious to begin, I'm a loyal LILL girl for life.

And on the likely chance that this post has you itching for a new purse, the Lexie is actually on sale through Sunday. Go to their website and use promo code: LEXIE to snag your own, one-of-a-kind Lexi-roo for $120. Or design something else. Who am I to dictate your handbag choices?

You're welcome.