CURRENTLY QUOTING // Children

While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.
-Angela Schwindt

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
- George Bernard Shaw

VENT SESSION // Kids can be so mean!

I knew that getting settled and making friends would be a challenge but I had no idea it would be this difficult.  We've lived in the new house for 3 months now and still haven't really met anyone. Knowing we would likely move to the city we currently live in I enrolled both kids in gymnastics at one of the local studios thinking we would meet some other families in the area and maybe make a friend or two.  Boy was I wrong! Even when the kids seem to connect and enjoy hanging outNone of the parents seem open to making new friends. We've also been going to various parks and even there the kids we've encountered have been mean and the parents are closed off and unreceptive.

Just the other day while at the park my 2 year old son was told by another little boy to "go away", "get out of here", "leave us alone", "don't follow us" and not willing to share the park or take turns on the slide.  And unfortunately the parents are too busy on their smartphones to pay any real attention to what is going on. I probably wouldn't be so bothered by it but since we are new to the area and are actively searching for new friends I think I'm overly sensitive.

Even my daughter while at the park said to another little girl and her mom that we are new to the area and would love to meet up again sometime. The mom just looked at her, gave a half smile and said, "it's time to go" to her daughter.  So frustrating!!!

MAKE LIFE EASIER /// Dry Cleaning Valet

I don't know about you but dropping off and picking up dry cleaning has always been a dreaded chore and often times is forgotten until my husband runs through his suits and dress shirts.  I first heard about door to door dry cleaning service about eight years ago when my mother in law mentioned she had a friend that started a pretty lucrative business picking up and then dropping off peoples dry cleaning. I didn't think much of it at the time since neither my husband nor myself had enough dry cleaning to bother.

But when my husband began working for the company he is currently with he would often need to wear a suit. That's when the dry cleaning started to become an extra annoying chore. He would regularly forget to put it in his car, forget to drop it off, then forget to pick it up. Or the dry cleaners would be late opening so he would then be rushing to get to work on time. And then if I dropped off or picked up the dry cleaning I'd have both kids with me so I'd have to lug everyone in and out of the car... It was absolute madness!!!

Then when we moved to OC and lived in the apartments we became spoiled. The complex had a dry cleaners on site! It was so easy and my dear husband always had a fresh shirt and suit. No more stress. It was awesome!

So... when we bought our house the dry cleaning started adding up and my hubby would have to dig to find the cleanest pair of pants. It became a chore I dreaded and then finally it dawned on me that we should be taking advantage of a dry cleaning valet service.

 I did an Internet search and found that our  local dry cleaners offered the service for FREE!!! All I had to do was stop by the cleaners, provide them with our name and address and give them a credit card for automatic payment. They in turn gave us a laundry bag and door hanger. Our pick-up and drop off days are Tuesday and Thursday. So if they pick up clothes on Tuesday they will drop them off on Thursday and if I have clothes for them to pick up on Thursday they will drop off on Tuesday. And it I need something sooner I can run it and drop off and often pick up the item the same day!!!

So, if you find yourself dreading a trip to the dry cleaners look for one that offers door to door service. They are everywhere! It is super convenient and I'm telling it will change your life!