Here’s what I could tell you; that it’s sometimes exhausting to raise a special needs child. It’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and if you mess with my son, I will go all Mama Bear Advocate on you until you stop. I will also say bad things about you on Facebook.

I could tell you that my cousin is very sick. That she was pretty much fine and then was suddenly diagnosed with THREE DIFFERENT types of cancer and is in critical care. Get your papsmears, ladies. Make a note and schedule it as soon as you possibly can.

I could mention that I can never, ever get the laundry done all in one day like my husband can and that he constantly rubs it in my face. Or, I could talk about how I don’t understand why The Voice is on EVERY night.

Maybe I’ll mention how hard it is to be vegan with Twix bars in the house, that I could buy a new pair of shoes just about every day or that I wish I were a piano virtuoso.

I could say that I think guilt is an incomparable emotional experience and if you don’t have any, then you’re not someone I want as a friend. If you don’t feel guilty about something, then you don’t care enough. Or, I could say that my dog is the best snuggler in the world. For real.

Or I could just show you a picture of my 78 year old mother beating my daughter at arm wrestling.

I’m 41 years old and my mom still scares me.

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For the third time in three months, a woman I know has sliced her hand and/or fingers while working in the kitchen. I think this is a sign. You’re welcome, ladies.

First it was my sister with an avocado and a dull knife, then it was a friend with another avocado and another dull knife. She got her tendons involved and ended up with surgery and nice little hospital stay. She’s actually an over-achiever, so this wasn’t a big surprise. Hi, Karen!

Today, my friend Melisa was cutting an apple with a very sharp, very big knife, when she cut off the tip of her finger. After talking to her I decided to revisit this post about when my son did the very same thing. Ironically, Melisa left the first comment on that post, so the finger chopping has come full-circle. Mustafa is pleased.

Even though it was five years ago, my son still remembers his finger-splint, named Tapper, quite well. But I think Melisa may have him beat in the memorable-finger-splint department. Just a hunch.

Bird courtesy of Melisa at Suburban Scrawl

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Today’s post on road trip advice is sponsored by Kia and can be found on my review page, here.

Come over and tell me what your best road trip advice is. You may be surprised to hear mine.

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When I used to go to the salon to get my hair dyed it drove me crazy that I had no where to go but home afterward. It seemed a waste of a good coiffing.

Since we’re being slowly suffocated by medical bills over here, I’ve been dying my own hair. In case you haven’t tried this yourself, you should know that ALL THE BOXES AT THE GROCERY STORE LIE. Despite the untruths, I colored my hair today.

I wasn’t about to let my supposed-to-be-blond-but-really-turned-out-orange hair go unnoticed, so I went to the thrift store. Because nothing lifts you up after dying your hair in your half bathroom quite like looking through other people’s cast-off clothing.

To be honest, I’ve always been what I refer to as “a good shopper” even when I didn’t need to be. I love a good deal. This is evidenced by the huge increase to our bug spray and sunscreen collection…in October. I cruise the end-caps at stores and scope out the off-season bargains because it pains me to pay full-price when I know I could have bought it six months ago for half the cost.

I look at the thrift store like I’m getting hand-me-downs; hand-me-downs that I keep closed tightly in a plastic trash bag until I have the time to wash them in scalding hot water.

Today I scored:

Banana Republic sweater dress for $1.99

Gap winter coat for $3.99

Evan Picone sweater for $2.99

Old Navy long-sleeved t-shirt for $.99

I also bought another sweater, a sweatshirt and a very pretty belt. I spent $20.00 total.

Then I went to Target for toilet paper, razor blades and hearing aid batteries and spent $64.00.

And, THAT right there? Is why my hair will stay orange.

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