New Trip Mascot

I know I've already written about my school trip mascot, Peavis, but today I found a perfect mascot for my summer trip to Europe. Taking Peavis to Europe didn't seem practical since it is not a school trip and he/she is huge, so I've been contemplating making a trip mascot for a few weeks, since all the hotel and transport plans are pretty much done. After going to Paul's Photo to buy a lens cap (long story involving my little brother selling me a video camera), I puttered around Tuesday Morning next door. Fortuitously, I found GNOMAD there, a figurine meant for travel with a tracking website included in the package. I'll have to rename him, of course, but I think I've found the perfect four-inch companion for my cousin and I to take to England, Amsterdam, and Paris. That Amelie movie had a traveling gnome...those Parisians will love him so much they might steal him from me. Gnomad, I'll never trade you for a really good croissant.

Home Improvement Meltdown

Maybe starting a blog during home improvement was a bad idea. I haven't posted all week because I've been busy picking out outdoor lighting fixtures, new doorknobs, screen doors, etc. Our 80's looking house desperately needed an upgrade from it's red, white, and blue exterior, so we sandblasted the claw-like beige stucco off the house, got a smooth coat of mocha-ish stucco, and we're awaiting the veneer stone to cover the previous brick. This upgrade is long overdue, but stressful, and I think it's totally excusable that I had a little meltdown on Tuesday. I mean, after the phone and cable lines got disconnected twice, along with ample mess everywhere, I couldn't make anymore decisions. I just wanted to sit and watch a little TV, which wasn't working at that moment. Thank goodness the cable was fixed before the Lost finale on Wednesday. The mess and fret and meltdowns are going to be worth it in the end, when that ugly blue trim is gone for good.

SJP Bitten Clothing Line

When my husband said to me, "Carrie Bradshaw is on Oprah, do you want me to Tivo it?" I said, "Sure, sounds good..." I figured she was promoting a new movie or something, but I found out that SJP has a clothing line through the Steve and Barry store chain. The first place I heard about Steve and Barry's was on an HBO Real Sports profile of Stephon Marbury's Starbury basketball shoes that cost only $14.95. SJP's line features items for less than $20, from jeans to coats to cute shoes. The Bitten line also offers sizes 2 to 22, which is ground breaking. Now, I'm going to have to take a field trip to Buena Park, Culver City, or Orange to the closest Steve and Barry store after the June 7 introduction of the SJP line.

Everyone needs a personal mascot.

I recently chaperoned a group of eighth graders on a trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City. The middle school mascot is a Sea King, so in homage to the school and the movie Bring It On, I made a spirit stick out of a cardboard tube, paint, foam, and googly eyes. The stick has a sea king and queen on either end and is painted with the school initials, PVIS. Our Gettysburg guide called him Peavis and the name stuck. Peavis made the trip more fun and gave our boring tourist photos some spice. Everyone deserves a spirit stick or their own mascot, be it a garden gnome or an image printed on matching shirts, especially on a trip or outing.