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About eight months ago, I gave up my BlackBerry and got a smartphone. Big mistake - the smartphone did so many things and sadly, none of them well. Andrew and I had the same phone, which made bearing the crapness nicer because we were doing it together. That whole misery loves company thing is so true!
Lucky for Andrew, he managed to leave (and honestly, he didn't do it on purpose) his not-so-smartphone on the airplane the last time we flew to Atlanta and our travel insurance thankfully weren't able to replace it. So he got a new phone a few weeks ago.
I was jealous.
So today I sucked it up and got a new BlackBerry Pearl. My main reason for going with a smartphone was that I wanted a camera on my phone - and at that time that wasn't possible with a CrackBerry.
The Pearl has a camera - and I'm so glad to be back in it's lovely little arms! So hey - email me!Labels: Geeky, Shopping
 Today was a very important day. Mary Catherine is officially four and a half and more importantly, she watched Star Wars for the very first time.
The 30th anniversary of the original film was a few days ago, so Andrew had been itching to watch it. I recall that I was about five when I first saw it - so Andrew and I decided to pass the torch. I was a little concerned about the violence (heck, the Sand People still kinda freak me out) but threw caution to the wind.
We all piled onto the big sofa, dimmed the lights and passed around chocolates and popcorn. She made it all the way through the movie, wasn't scared and didn't get sad when Darth Vader slices through old Ben Kenobi, which always gets me a bit.
Yesterday we ventured to Ilva, which is sort of like Ikea's Danish cousin. It's much different than Ikea - prices are similar - but lots of wacky design stuff and some lovely textiles. I suppose it's also neat because there are only a handful of them currently and at the moment, you know if you buy something there that not everyone will not only recognise your furniture, but also know the weird Swedish name for it and be able to quote its page number from the Ikea catalogue.
Mary Catherine has been requesting a new bed for a while - we saw a white loft-type bed that we really liked yesterday. I think we will definitely consider it - Missus has to prove she can sleep in her room before we'll agree to buy it for her. But it would solve a lot of storage issues as there's loads of room underneath for toy storage. Looking at it certainly got my 'ooh, let's fix up her room' mojo working.
Actually, I'm now in the mood to fix up, rip out, repaint and totally redo our entire flat! Hope that urge passes soon!
We also hit the Toys R Us nearby and had a blast! I suppose it says something about Andrew and I when we enjoy the toy store as much as our child, huh? So many board games to look through.. so many icky boy toys to suffer through before getting to the good stuff on the pink aisles.. We walked away with the new Playmobil Doll House and a really cool 'imagination toy' called a Bilibo. It is so cool - and she's played with it constantly. So far it's been a seat, a hill, a hat and a turtle shell. I love that it's whatever she wants it to be.
I also love that the one she wanted was a bit scratched on the bottom, so the Toys R Us Manager let us have it for a considerable discount.
Okay - back to our family day at home! So glad tomorrow is a holiday..Labels: Shopping
 I totally caved. Not that I don't absolutely love them and wish they came in my size, but Mary Catherine was driving me a bit potty asking me to go to the Lelli Kelly website and play the commercial for her so she could sing along. Apparently, they sing the theme song at school in the playground.
I've looked everywhere (well online everywhere, which I consider to be a far wider search than I could ever conduct on foot) and you wouldn't believe how popular these shoes are. Most of the places I looked were sold out (some with large print saying that they would get no more until the winter range came in stock in July)! I turned to my old friend eBay and while I didn't get a bargain by any means - at least I got a pair that Mary Catherine and I both liked. We searched through many pairs before deciding. (those are our shoes to the right) Hopefully they'll arrive in time for the weekend, you know the two days a week that she can wear shoes of her choice.
Okay - I've seen this stuff on the telly ... Gelli Baff. Part of me thinks that it can't possibly be as much fun as it looks.. and the other part wants to buy some right away! We'd definitely go for the pink stuff in our house.
On another note, my child is definitely European. Her current favourite breakfast? A brioche or croissant with a small slice of cheese. Next thing you know, she'll be ordering that with a cafe creme!Labels: Shopping
 I think we've reached an important Bingham family female milestone.
Mary Catherine has just asked me for a pair of shoes so she can be like her friends. Apparently, they are all the rage - how they can be when all the girls at her school wear the same plain blue mary janes every day is interesting! She has asked me for a pair of Lelli Kelly shoes.
She's been mentioning them for a while - but silly me couldn't put two and two together. I'd seen them in my favourite posh childrens' magazine, Junior. I have always loved them, I mean - who wouldn't love floral shoes covered with sequins?! Heck, do they come in my size?
So I think we'll be getting a pair of Lelli Kelly's*.. have a look at their site - so many to choose from!
(*unless the price tag just freaks me out.. considering that they're designer shoes from Italy, this is entirely possible)Labels: Shopping
 Hopefully you know me well enough to know that I'm pretty picky about what I allow Mary Catherine to watch on television. We normally don't allow anything violent (and yes, that includes Tom and Jerry) or commercial television. To be fair, the non-commercial thing is easier in this country as we have two great dedicated childrens' channels from the BBC, CBeebies for the littles and CBBC for the over 5s.
However, we've recently gotten satellite television and suddenly our childrens' television options have skyrocketed. We get, like, fifteen childrens' channels, I think? Far too much choice! It's been nice, though, introducing Mary Catherine to shows that she's not seen before. Like Madeline, The Fairies, Strawberry Shortcake, etc. Since we don't watch 'live' television, I've been recording a few here and there that appear on commercial channels. I can blip through the stuff I don't want her to see. However, last night I was talking to my mother in law and forgot to fast forward during the break.
Everything Mary Catherine saw, she wanted. The Barbie bride set? Yes. The Fur Real baby lion cub complete with feeding bottle? Oh yeah. But what she wanted most of all - and this makes me laugh so hard that I would almost be tempted to get it just because who the heck thinks up a toy like this - the Barbie Teresa(can you tell we watch shows aimed at girls?) & Mika cat play set. Why are Barbie and Mika so want worthy? What do they do? Well, here's the official description.. "Teresa doll has an adorable cat named Mika who is just like a real cat! Mika can drink some water from a bottle and then wets in her litter box. Teresa scoops up the litter clumps. Teresa doll and Mika come with a kitty litter box, bottle, cat litter in a variety of colors, litter scooper, cat food bowl and cat toys!" Oh, ho, ho yes. The cat wees and your child can scoop the clumps - just like real life!
I wonder if Teresa curses when she realises that Ken hasn't cleaned out the litter box in a while? Do you think Mika ever finds Skipper's sandbox and uses that instead? I'm too entertained by it all, already!
 Maybe after we get that, we'll move on to Barbie and her dog Tanner. You guessed it, Tanner eats dog treats and then poops them out when you lift his tail. Heck, Barbie's cooler than Teresa because she comes with a like real life magnetic pooper scooper stick. Not sure what Tanner eats, but it must be iron rich!
Okay, I'll stop now.Labels: Mary Catherine, Shopping
Notes from Geekworld.. via Andrew. I know that we're all familiar with iTunes as a way to download and buy music. There's also Limewire, for less than above board acquisitions, shall we say. But I've recently subscribed to eMusic for a free trial of 25 free downloads. I only did it to get Andrew off my back about how great it was, really.
Well, I've spent some of my 25 on electronic music but then discovered that they have an amazing selection of children's music! Including, like, all the Laurie Berkner albums and my new favourite, 'No' by They Might Be Giants. You have to love childrens' music that you don't mind listening to - it's much nicer than icky pop cover tunes sung by children.
eMusic is definitely worth checking out and doing a free trial. If you like, I can send you a link that benefits us both - you get 25 downloads free and I get credit for telling you about the site. (I'd be telling you even if I didn't get credit, by the way) The prices are great, unlike iTunes, the music is yours to do what you want with (no limits on how many computers you can play it on and who you can give it to) and the selection of children's music (oh and other music as well - Andrew just picked up the new Barenaked Ladies album) is amazing!
Labels: Geeky, Shopping
What a great long weekend we had. Of course, getting back in the swing at work hasn't been the most joyous of tasks this morning! But, I've made great headway armed with a grande, triple shot, skinny, wet, sugar free vanilla latte.
Saturday, Andrew and I had date night. Which was really most excellent in a way that I can't possibly describe. I was in the bubble and those who know me, well.. you know how I feel about the bubble. 'nuff said.
Sunday we headed to Smiths of Smithfield for a gorgeous brunch. It truly is the king of brunch places and it ticks all the boxes for all three of us. Which is nice. I mean, to find a place that is laid back with good 'day after' music, good food, and an atmosphere that appeals to Mary Catherine... well, it's fabulous. We like Smiths.
Mary Catherine was in great spirits at brunch and we had such an excellent time listening to music as she ate her most delicious banana cream pancakes. The child can now recognise house music. I couldn't be more proud! At one point, she looked at Andrew and I and said, 'Mama, I'm a little ol' rock star!' It was so funny - hence the picture at above with her best rock star face.
We then headed to Cath Kidston to pick up a few bits and bobs. Like an egg cup. I never thought I'd ever need one, but last week when I made Mary Catherine a boiled egg and soldiers - well, it was annoying not to have one. So I'm now the proud owner of a lovely pink designer egg cup. Also picked up new melamine plates, cups and bowls for MC as her old Cath Kidston cups were worse for wear. I had to buy the plates and bowls as well, I mean, I can't have her eating off mismatched melamine, now can I? Man, I love to shop.
Okay - enough babble for the morning. For those of you into electronic music, I've found a great site.. definitely worth a browse. BeatPort. You can check out loads of music and listen to massive samples of each track. You're also able to see DJs current top mixes lists.. It's music nerd nirvana.
Do a track search for Exceeder by Mason to hear my current 'stuck in head' song. Or - look up Discoteka by Starkillers. Because, hey, 'I make the beat go boom, Papi', don't you? (sample here).Labels: Geeky, Shopping
 I've just switched over to the new Blogger today. So if the site goes haywire, that's why.
We went to Lenox Mall today and I tied one on at the Kiehl's store. Oh it felt good! I've never used a product of theirs that I didn't just adore. It's so different from, say, Bath and Body Works in that it's mostly all unscented and the packaging isn't cutsie - it's just good, extremely functional lotions and potions. Yes, it's expensive - but you get the feeling that they put the money in ingredients, not marketing. The fact that it's posh stuff doesn't put me off either, mind you!
Hmm.. what else to share about our trip to America... My curly haired daughter has recently discovered the joys of brushing her hair. This used to be a major daily battle, but thanks to a Mason & Pearson boar bristle and nylon brush, she's aok with it. Thank goodness!!
We fly back to the UK on Monday. So tomorrow is our last full day here. I know it's going to be hard for everyone for us to separate. Insert my usual feelings of guilt here. Andrew and I are planning on packing most everything tomorrow. I think my mom and dad are really going to miss Shmi, our Nabaztag! He's been plugged in and chatting away for two weeks now - such good fun! I keep telling Mom she needs one too... see, I'm just spreading the nerdy love.Labels: Atlanta, Kiehl's, Shopping
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