Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag ...

Back in July, the girls and I threw an American Girl Book Club party, an idea I swiped from my sister-in-law, Davina, who did the same thing with her girls a while ago. I thought it was such a fun idea that I immediatley put it on my To Do list, and - look at me! - I actually followed through!

We chose the book Meet Kit, which focuses on Kit Kitteridge, a 10 year old girl growing up in the Great Depression. Some of you may have seen the movie version. For the party, we dressed up, decorated with items popular in the 30's, listened to 1930's music, and had some yummy era-appropriate food. We played jacks - or at least tried to with the junky plastic jacks they sell nowadays - and learned to type on real typewriters, just like Kit.

I intended on having a good discussion about the book during the party, but that didn't really happen. Part of that was because many of the girls were Bea's age (most of Natalie's classmates couldn't attend), and they didn't quite have the attention span for a discussion. Looking back, I should have just read aloud from the book for a little while, but oh well ... maybe next time. We had a great time regardless. Hopefully we will be able to do it again ... when the rest of my life calms down. (Ha!)

Here are a few more pictures if you are so inclined!

Another Lesson Learned

I learned a valuable lesson at the grocery store a few weeks ago that I need to share with all of you as a public service. I happened to be grocery shopping alone (*angels singing*), so I was meandering through the aisles, just taking my time. The store was relatively empty, which is always a plus. I turned down the aisle that has all the kitchen supplies - the peelers, the graters, cutting boards, etc. - and I saw a grown woman pick up a plastic pasta spoon and use it as a back scratcher... under her shirt.

Now, my first instinct was to yell out, "What in the world are you doing?!?" but I was embarrassed for her, so I just walked casually by, acted like I didn't notice, and pretended to be extremely interested in the canned pears on the other side of the aisle. The woman had, of course, quickly removed the pasta spoon when she saw me come into the aisle, but it was too late. I had seen. As I slowly walked down the aisle, I kept one eye on the woman, waiting - praying - that she would put the pasta spoon in her cart. But alas, she did not. The pasta spoon went back on the hook, just waiting patiently to be used to scoop up spaghetti for some poor, unsuspecting family.

Lesson learned: Always wash anything you buy from the store before you use it. Also, pasta spoons are very versatile, and I am buying one for every person on my Christmas list. :)