Parenting Question: What Would You Do If Your Child Went Missing for 3 Hours?
February 27, 2010 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 9 Comments
Awhile ago, I wrote a post after my boys had gone missing in the neighborhood for about 45 minutes. At the end of that post, I asked a similar question to this post’s title: What would you do if your child(ren) went missing?
What’s prompting me to ask that question again today is a little jaunt down memory lane.
When I was 8-years old, I wanted to go shopping. The mall was 15-20 minutes from my house. My mom was gone. I was left home to babysit my 4-year-old sister. Leaving an 8-year old home alone could be fodder for an entirely different post, but I’ll stick to the point. I had to be resourceful. When a girl “needs” to go shopping, a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do, right? For me, that meant calling our local taxi company and hiring a cab to take me, my 7-year-old girlfriend, and my 4-year old sister to said mall. I.WAS.EIGHT!
A little background. My grandma was an alcoholic. She had lost her driver license and so whenever we visited and she wanted to take us anywhere, we’d always have to go in a taxi. It was the only reason I would have been exposed to them as they weren’t abundant in the city of Mesa, Arizona in the 70s. I thought it was totally normal for a person who couldn’t drive to use one to get somewhere they desperately needed to go—like the mall!
Back to the story!
Part of my being resourceful also included borrowing some of my dad’s money and figuring out how to not have the neighbors get in the way of me reaching my final destination. The solution? To have the taxi pick us up in an adjacent neighborhood about three blocks away in front of a stranger’s house.
Mission accomplished!
We spent 2 1/2 glorious hours at the mall. I only had about $3 to spend, so I bought my sister some earrings. Tell me if I wasn’t the most thoughtful sister evs. I didn’t make sure she left the house with shoes on and she ended up shoeless on our journey to the mall, but I bought her earrings. Doesn’t shopping trump everything?
Back to the homestead. My parents had returned home shortly after we had left. My mom called my friend’s house, looking for us. She went around the neighborhood. She started getting worried. And then she found it. My clue! See… I wasn’t totally cold hearted. I didn’t want my mom to worry…too much! So, I wrote a note: “Mom, I’m going to Reed Park… in a taxi.” Sure, it was a half truth, but that last part was all the clue it took for her to call our local Dial-A-Ride and find out about our adventure.
The taxi driver dropped us off exactly where he picked us up, which required us to walk 3 blocks back to our house. We had lots of stares and heard lots of whispers as we made the trek. I didn’t really have a chance to make a grand entrance or say goodbye to my friend when we reached my lawn, because I was whisked away by my nervous mom who marched me right down to my bedroom.
I wasn’t allowed to play with my friend EVER again. Apparently, her mom thought I was a bad influence. WHAT? I was resourceful!!! I saw a need and I met it with limited resources and only a pinch of stealing and lying.
The up side: My sister’s feet returned to their original color. Her ears glistened with the new earrings. I had a huge adventure notch on my belt. And I had given my parents a wild ride! Everyone’s looking for a little something to spice up their life, right? That was me: life spicer upper!
But no matter how many positive spins I put on this story, the fact of the matter is that while I knew I was a shopping diva, in my parents’ eyes, they had two daughters who were MISSING, which was more than quite a scare!
What would you do if your child went missing for 3 hours?
Thrift-Store Shopping How-To’s From a Nordie’s Gal!
November 15, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 11 Comments
I am proof that you can swear undying devotion to Dillard’s and still rock it when it comes to thrift-store shopping. What’s the key to my success, you ask? My uber stylish friends (USFs) who just so happen to love all things vintage and make sorting, frugality, and thrift-store shopping an amazing art instead of the crazy chaos I thought it would be.
Looking to find a stylish steal of a deal and have fun while doing it? Don’t take it from me, learn a few tips from the pros, my USFs—Allison from Petit Elefant or @petit_elefant, Carina from Jet Set or @jet_set, and Melissa from Isly or @melissapher.
Here is what I learned this past weekend while thrifting in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah!
1. Get Organized and Connected!
While the actual shopping was fun (yes! I admit it!), the whole thrifting experience would have been void without friends. Sharing your finds is half the fun, so having one person organize the event—invite people, create a schedule, e-mail information—was extremely helpful. Before the outing, I loved knowing who was going, getting pre-shopping tips, organizing carpools, and chit chatting back and forth on e-mail to generate excitement.
(From left: Allison, Marie, Emily, Carina, and Melissa)
2. Prepare an Itinerary.
Receiving a schedule of the thrifting events was awesome, because it gave us a play-by-play of the day’s activity. That way, if we had to arrive late or leave early or only had a certain amount of time we could be there, we could plan accordingly.
3. Provide Pre-Shopping Tips.
For non-thrift-shopping gals, receiving a few helpful pre-shopping tips like these made the whole experience easier:
- If you’re looking to buy furniture, measure the space in your house and bring the dimensions with you so you don’t buy a piece that is too large or small for the space.
- If you’re looking to buy clothes or shoes, wear clothes that can easily be removed and put back on.
4. Choose Vintage Stores Close in Proximity But With a Variety of Products.
When shopping with 10+ gals, especially on a snowy day, make sure to schedule your stops close together. We went to several stores within walking distance and then drove to another two also within walking distance. I loved the diverse mix of products in each of the stores. I bought a red hat in Retro Rose and a cute silk dress at The Green Ant. Other stores sported bottle collections, furniture, a vintage Jack-in-the-Box, and extensive jewelry collections.
5. Tempt the Palate.
What’s an outing without food? Starting and ending on a delicious note not only kept everyone’s tummy’s full and happy, but also provided an extra opportunity for socializing.
Choosing the eateries also played a role in both setting the tone and wrapping things up in savory style. We went foreign for breakfast with Belgian Waffles from Bruges and to Gormandise Bakery “famous for its spectacular desserts” for lunch.
6. Open Your Mind and Your Pocketbook, But Not Before Haggling.
Being a non-thrifting gal myself prior to this event, part of its success for me was simply being open minded. I didn’t think the silky number would fit and wasn’t in the mood to try things on. Peer pressure got me into the dressing room and out of the store with a cute dress perfect for me at a great price ($20 folks!). Of course, I had to be willing to pull out the pocketbook. Frugal isn’t free! But, I did learn the price is always up for negotiation—a little friendly haggling!—one thing I wouldn’t dare do at Nordie’s.
7. Capture the Event!
One of the funnest parts of the experience was taking pictures as we went from store to store. Check out the entire activity on Whrrl by clicking here!
A seasoned thrifter? New to the game? Leave a comment with your tips, questions, or advice.
Who Starts a Diet/Exercise Program Right Before the Holidays?
November 7, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 5 Comments
Think I’m crazy for diving in to an exercise regime right before the holidays? Don’t get me wrong! I’m not giving up cheese. And, I will definitely have some of my MIL’s sugar cookies. Daily life and my holidays wouldn’t be the same without them.
But, since I decided I’m done having kids, I’ve been dying to shed 20 pounds and no time like the present to make that happen. What a better way to start off the new year… healthier and in a better position to shop, right? LOL!
I’m not gonna lie! As much as I’ve been wanting to start exercising again, winning a pair of shoes gave me the perfect bit of motivation at just the right time. I had completely forgotten first and foremost that I even entered the giveaway. And second and most importantly, that the prize came with a “Change Your Body in 30 Days Challenge” from Earth Footwear led by Leah, @bookieboo on Twitter and the marvel behind #mamavation.
So, in an effort to stick to the challenge, I am going public, admitting my exercising ways, and Whrrling about my progress (power of positive thinking, right?). Feel free to join me as I Whrrl my way skinny…. er, healthy!
I’d love to see your comments on my stories. I’d also love to have you join in the fun and get healthy with me. Just tag your Whrrl stories with #mamavation and #gno and let the weight-loss love fest begin. And, because every goal needs a prize (IMHO), let’s set a date now to go virtual shopping in February as a #gno IRL! Are you in?
Here’s my first Whrrl of a story!
Giveaway—Enter to Win $200 in Shoes & Ice Cream From Famous Footwear!
August 23, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 638 Comments
Did you know that two things most all women share is their love of shoes and ice cream? Famous Footwear blends these two ingredients together on its site Make Today Unexpected, which gives us women the chance to discover our style and flavor in a most unexpected way.
I just went there, took a short quiz, and found out my personal ice cream flavor is “Double Bubble Sorbet,” which means that I have the following ingredients: “tons of fun, a few rays of sunshine, a little bliss, some flirtatiousness, vivacity, brightness, and spunk.” Who knew? LOL!
I can’t wait to hear what your flavor is when you enter this stylish, not to mention FABULOUS, giveaway!
Prize
Grand Prize
Two lucky winners will receive the following. (See entry requirements below.)
- $100 Famous Footwear gift certificate
- $100 Ice cream gift basket, including ice cream, toppings, and sauces
Coupon
Whether or not you win this week’s giveaway, make your back-to-school shoe shopping spree a little more affordable by visiting MakeTodayUnexpected.com where you can enter to receive $10.00 off your next Famous Footwear purchase of $50.00 or more.
Entry Requirements
To enter for a chance to win, you are required to do four things (make sure you leave a separate comment for each of your entries).
Note: Entries that do not follow all of these requirements will not be considered.
- Take the ‘Find Your Flavor’ quiz by clicking here. Leave a comment on this post with your flavor and e-mail address.
- Become a fan of the Famous Footwear’s Make Today Unexpected Facebook Page. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Make-Today-Famous/112646406371?ref=ts)
- Follow @maketodayfamous on Twitter.
- Post these messages on Facebook and/or on Twitter and leave comments here, linking to your messages:
What’s your flavor? Find out by clicking here: http://www.maketodayunexpected.com/#/quiz. PLS RT
GIVEAWAY! Enter 2 win $200 in shoes & ice cream from @maketodayfamous #famousfootwear. http://bit.ly/Vq5Qf PLS RT
Extra Entries
You can earn up to four extra entries for this week’s giveaway. Leave an additional comment for each.
- Become a Famous Footwear REWARDS club member (free).
- On the Make Today Unexpected Facebook wall or on Twitter, post something unexpected that has happened to make your day or week more positive and link to it here.
- Make Today Unexpected in your life by commenting on this post: http://bit.ly/2qVE5X.
- Post the following message on Twitter and/or Facebook and leave a comment here, linking to your message:
Download #FamousFootwear coupon 4 back-to-school/fall savings: http://bit.ly/fogQH PLS RT
The Fine Print
No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Famous Footwear and Mom It Forward employees are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Sunday, August 30 at midnight PDT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered.
Frugal Living—How to Avoid Impluse Purchases
July 2, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 1 Comment
You go shopping for some toothpaste, and end up with a yellow belt that you’ll never wear. Oh the regret! Here are ways to avoid impulse purchases:
1. Decide on the why first.
Buying a four-hundred dollar running watch doesn’t make you get up at 6:00 am every morning and hop on a treadmill. That’s because owning an item doesn’t mean actually using it.
“The reason you’re not taking long baths is not because you don’t have the right bath oil, but because you have three kids and no time.” happiness expert Gretchen Rubin argues. “You buy the bath oil as an expression of your desire to change something in your life – but that purchase won’t do it.” It’s best to take action first, buy second.
2. Automate your life.
The more you can automate and rely on services to do the work for you, the easier it will be to avoid impulse purchases. There are a host of services like Peapod, Mint, Netflix, Pandora - and soon Alice too – that make your life easier by allowing you to plan your purchases and finances.
“More than anything else, the psychology of automation is critical to successfully getting control of your finances,” financial guru Ramit Sethi reports. And the less time you’ll spend at the store, and the more time you’ll have to spend on things that do matter.
3. Reclaim your space.
“You don’t need an army of spare, unloved knick-knacks or piles of old newspaper,” Sara of On Simplicity argues. “Clutter isn’t armor; letting go of it doesn’t weaken you in any way.”
Items that you might use someday tend to just sit around the house. An organized home allows you to have a clear mind so that the next time you’re faced with an item that seems like a “must-have,” you’ll know it most certainly is not.
And if all else fails, just freeze your credit cards. Literally.
- What works for you?
- What habits keep you from buying things you don’t need?
- How do you avoid impulse purchases?
This article was written by the folks at Alice.com, bringing you convenience shopping and free shipping. Check out Alice.com for all your cleaning supplies.
Topic Talk—Holiday Shopping
November 25, 2008 by jyl johnson pattee · 2 Comments
Enjoyed GNO Monday night? Had fun getting to know other GNO Gals? Here’s a way to get to know them even better… through their blogs.
Give it up for these GNO blogesses for giving us a great start to our holiday shopping season!
- Barb at The Coupon Cupboard
- Cindy at Mom Maven
- Cori at Notes of Complicated Simplicity
- Debbie Delicious Baby
- Mamanista
The Coupon Cupboard offers great advice for eBay shopping. New to eBay? eBay veteran? You’ll love this post.
The holiday crunch is right around the corner. Don’t let this become another year of scrambling for gifts and paying much more than you have to. If you’ve never tried eBay before, now is the time!
Some shy away from eBay just because they’ve never tried it before, some have heard horror stories about items paid for and not received, while still others have preconceived notions that eBay is too confusing and not worth the effort. Not so! Buying on eBay is easy, you’ll save money, and best of all, it’s fun!
Mom Maven promotes gift-card presents, but also includes some fantastic watch outs
for using them.
…Complicated Simplicity talks about one of her favorite traditions—Black Friday:
Black Friday. You either LOVE it… or HATE it.
For me? Deal hunting is a year round sport and in my family,”Black Friday” is not just a day to shop …its a day of tradition! We look forward to it all year long!… I’m serious! It’s right up there with Christmas…and why shouldn’t it be? Next to getting shoes, handbags or diamonds … getting an amazing deal is one of the few things in life that puts that twinkle in a gal’s eye…. and actually getting a deal ON shoes, handbags or diamonds? OBVIOUSLY, the ultimate Utopia.
Delicious Baby provides terrific tips for traveling with children this holiday season. This was one of my favorites:
Blue Painter’s Tape
My articles on 10 Reasons to pack Duck Tape when you travel and Babyproofing using blue painter’s tape were so unconventional that they got a lot of attention when they were first published. If those don’t convince you to pack a small roll of tape, consider the fact that BlueTape is endlessly fascinating for toddlers, and a great way to make a (removable) race car track on your hotel room floor.
Mamanista, in the hottest toys for 2008 section, reviews many great products that promote “creative pretend toys,” such as this one.
Play tents create special spaces for their little occupants. My mom used to toss a sheet over two chairs and this simple cave miraculously transformed into whatever I could imagine. If you are looking for something more substantial, your little one will love the Gigatent Fantasy Palace Play Tent (Amazon – $48). Another favorite is Le Cafe ( KB Toys- $40).
Thanks to these amazing GNO Gals for their Topic Talk posts.Wanna be featured? Please comment here or e-mail us at mommygossipgnoATgmailDOTcom and provide your BLOG URL,
linking to the holiday shopping post you’d like to contribute.
Wanna follow your favorite GNO Gal Pals? Visit Mommy Gossip—GNO’s Who’s Who page to follow or to be followed on Twitter.
GNO’s Grand Giveaway—Get in on the Goods!
November 20, 2008 by jyl johnson pattee · 49 Comments
Mommy Gossip—GNO and ThoughtfullySimple.com are teaming up to give MANY lucky winners lots of fabulous FREE swag at GNO’s Grand Giveaway Monday, November 24 from 5-10 p.m. PST (that’s 8 p.m. for you east coast gossiping gals).
Five hours of free finds? Can it be true? Yes! But wait… there’s more! This week GNO is “talking shop” as in…. shopping with one of our favorite mommy bloggers—Jenni from Jiggety Jigg! Black Friday tips? You got it. Online sites to check out? We’re in the know. Mom-made shops? Absolutely. In fact, all of our giveaways are from mom-made or mom-owned shops. And, all products are created from the best materials, utilizing the best methods.
So, how can you get in with the virtual “in crowd” and snag some cool stuff? Take it step by step. I promise it’s painless and worth the potential pot of gold at the end of the GNO rainbow! Get ready. Get set. Go!
(Image courtesy of tinyprints.com. Enter to win a $25 gift certificate.)
- RSVP using Mr. Linky below. Remember, Mr. Linky is a tricky fellow. He remembers the last URL you entered, so be careful. Make sure to enter your TWITTER URL and TWITTER ID, not your blog or website URL. If the URL doesn’t start with “http://twitter.com/“, it isn’t right. As an example… mine is http://twitter.com/jyl_mommygossip. Be sure to follow those on the list. GNO partiers are all about making new Twitter friends.
Don’t know what Twitter is? Don’t have an account yet? Visit twitter.com to learn more and to sign up. This is the key to get into Monday’s GNO party. Once you have a twitter account and ID, come back here and RSVP using that information.
- Go to ThoughtfullySimple.com. And this next part is important! View the slideshow to see all of the giveaway items. Then, click on the ones you are interested in winning and complete the required information to win that item. (Typically, this involves visiting the shop’s site and commenting there.)
- Join your favorite or new friends—the GNO Gal Pals—for a virtual bash on Twitter on Monday, November 24 (note the change in day) from 5-10 p.m. PST. Yep! We changed it this week just for you east coasters. What would a virtual shopping spree be without you?
- OPTIONAL: Wanna be featured on Topic Talk next week? For all you newbies, this means you get your post and blog featured here on the GNO blog. Just submit a holiday-shopping-themed post URL to mommygossipgnoATgmailDOTcom. It can be current or ancient— it just needs to be yours and on topic!
See! Wasn’t bad. Just a few simple steps and you are almost there. Can’t wait to see you Tweeting it up on Monday. What are you waiting for? Get going on GNO’s Grand Giveaway in partnership with Thoughtfully Simple.
Looking for the RSVP list? Visit the Mommy Gossip—GNO Who’s Who page to follow your favorite GNO Gal Pals on Twitter or to be followed.
