A little bit of Bah Humbug

Well, it has already begun, and I am trying so hard not to be a grinch this holiday season, but I am having a little bit of a hard time actually getting in a festive mood. 1. ) The global warming that is taking place, and the complete lack of even a brisk evening is really making it hard to believe that today is December 1st. 2.) After shopping for Jay's birthday present last night I encountered so many absolutely clueless and rude people I have no desire to even leave my house. 3.) With work and the store I have had no time to go get my Christmas tree or put up any decorations. In fact, there are still corn stalks in front of my house. (Hey, don't judge). 4.) I have no idea what to get anyone for Christmas, am not sure what Jay and I are going to do for our friends and family and I am at a total loss of where to begin. 5.) Now that Jay is working as a chef, it is quite possible that he is going to have to work on Christmas eve which is the night that we have our family over to our house and do the big Italian 7 fish feast. Uhg, 6.) Seeing as how Jay is a chef, it is also likely that he will have to work on New Years eve which is our 9 year anniversary. Yes, 9 years. Yowza. Any suggestions on how to jumpstart the Holiday Spirit? Please!

Banners In Massachusetts...

On the drive in this morning there was a debate on the radio about a city in Massachusetts that is requiring the removal of banners that have been posted throughout the years for sports accomplishments.

So, essentially, a team wins a title of some sort, they make a banner and hang it in the main square. They have been doing this for 20 plus years. Recently, the Mayor has announced that the banners have to come down because they don't foster a sense of community because they are solely for sports. Parents have been complaining because they don't have banners for the accomplishments for the Chess team, Academic Decathlon, etc.

My question to you is... Do you think the students really care? Is it the parents that are making a big fuss, or do you think the students are genuinely upset that not all student accomplishments are posted? Speaking from experience, I was on Mock Trial, in the Band, on the Debate team and we won our fair share of big awards and I could have cared less if it was posted on the Tollgate "Rock." They would make the announcement on the PA in the morning, it would be in the Beacon, and that was that. Enough said. I was cool with that. Maybe some of my peers were secretly hoping a sign would be hung near city hall. I don't know.

I also played Field Hockey and they made a way bigger deal about that than anything else I did, but it never trivialized my other accomplishments. Maybe I just don't get it because I don't live in a city with sports banners. Maybe I don't get it because there are three public high schools and 2 private high schools in my city and it would have been a total cluster if there were signs posted for all of these awards.

Part of my frustration is that I just don't understand the "everybody wins" mentality that exists nowadays. It stunk to lose, but it made me work that much harder to succeed the next time around. I feel like taking these banners down is just one more step towards this "everyone wins thing." So they have sports banners. Big deal. They have been doing it for years, why change now? I think that these students are probably sitting in their rooms, mortified that their parents made such a stink.

Wouldn't it make more sense to just start hanging banners for other activities than to take everything down? Common sense people. Call me crazy.

Back from the Dead

What's missing...do you see anything? Do you...Do you? Look Closely. It's The Shoo!

There is something to be said about blogging. You miss it when it is gone. Although I will still need to work on the blog for Little Birdie, I was not ready to let go of SmallShoo. Not yet.

So, whether anyone out there is reading or not, I am going to continue to post my silly, unimportant quips, sayings, stories, and life's lessons. Mentally, I need to do this. Emotionally I need to do this, and quite frankly, when you work 7 days a week, there has to be something that you get to do that is all about me. Smallshoo is just that; My little sliver of nonsense that makes me sigh and say...Yay.

Welcome Back to the New Adventures of Smallshoo

Well...We knew it might come to this...

As many of you can assume, life has just been crazy in the Powell household. With Little Birdie growing by leaps and bounds everyday, a new Chef in the house, my sisiter, brother-in -law and niece in the neighborhood, it has become harder and harder to keep up with my mussings. Not to mention, I have little time for life, so I feel like I have nothing to talk about!

Just kidding. I will always have things to talk about.

Anywhooooo, Small Shoo at Large may be taking a little bit of a break for now because I have found that I need to focus some of my free time (hhaa ahaha, funny one) on a blog dedicated to Little Birdie - crafts, stationery, and paper delights! It just seems like the logical thing to do.

Small Shoo at Large will remain, and check back from time to time, as I am sure there will be posts again someday. But for now, I encourage you to vistit my new Little Birdie Papercraft facebook page and the soon to be "Birdie" Blog . Name to be determined so please pass along suggestions. Please Please Please.

I have a poll with a ideas people have given. Please don't hesitate to shout out some more.

Does this Make Sense

Just asking...and I don't mean to offend anyone, but does this seem off at all:

Mother of 1 - laid off and has chosen to not actively look for a job because, and I quote, "it would mess with her system."

System being:
Collected TDI from employer
Collected unemployment
Collected unemployment extension
Receives free healthcare from the state and is enrolled in WIC

Yet she,

Drives an Escalade and just bought a new coach purse and matching sneakers because they sparkled.

Hmmm, call me crazy but am I detecting a smidge of abuse when it comes to the system.
But hey, what do I know. Right?

It's Been a Hell of a Week at Sea Sir!

Holy Macaroni!

The last week of April was totally Insane at the Powell House. Updates All around!

On Thursday the 21st, Jay and I headed South to sunny Key West Florida for the nuptials of our good friends Steve and Leanne. I'll have pictures to post shortly of our trip. Needless to say, we had an absolutely amazing time and loved, loved, loved our time there. I can certainly see the two of us venturing back there again. The sun was hotter than anything I have ever experienced...even hotter than Bermuda, but it was a blast. Thank you to Steve and Leanne for including us in your special day.

We returned home on Tuesday so that Jay could be back in class for the end of his culinary trimester. Upon our return, Jay found out that he was accepted by the Capital Grille in Providence for his final Co-Op. This is big news for Jay and a long time coming. He will be starting there in June and (provided he doesn't burn the kitchen down) they will be extending him an offer of employment upon completion of his co-op. Yippppeee.

The excitement continued on Thursday when we got the call that my sister was in labor!! (keep in mind people, her due date was May 17th!!) Good thing that little peanut didn't decide to come out with I was in Key West! So on Thursday evening, we drove down to the hospital in New Jersey and waited for our little peanut to arrive. And waited. And waited..and waited. I was probably the only American who was actually awake to watch the royal wedding. What the heck else was I going to do, right? At last, at 11:00 on the money friday morning, my niece Amelia Alyce Riley made her grand entrance. (There was debate about naming her Her Royal Heiness Catherine Elizabeth, but it got squashed pretty quickly)

we oooood and ahhhhed and then Dad and I had to hop in the car and drive back to RI for the weekend festivities. A mere 24 hours in NJ was not so bad considering all that happened :)

Oh, and did I forget to mention that while awaiting the arrival of said lovebug, my mom received the news that she had won the "Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science. " Not too shabby for a first grade teacher from little Rhody. She will be honored by the President in DC the week of May 17th. Among the many events planned for her award is a Dinner with the President at the State Department and events at the white House. Yup..ah huh...that's my mom!!

To finish the week strong, we had Little Birdie Papercraft's Open House on Saturday and Sunday. My store made it's grand debut to the people of Historic Pawtuxet Villiage. Pictures of the store, of Amelia, Key West and everything else to follow. The Open house was a success and it generated a ton of traffic. The people of the village were amazingly supportive and so many of them, as well as my friends and family came by to spread the word. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. All of the long nights and hard work have paid off and here's to hoping for more weekends like this one!

All in all it was a jam packed week of excitement. I really don't know how May will be able to top this one....

I Used My Shovel

I am not sure how I feel about the fact that on March 31st and April 1st I actually had to use my snow shovel. I felt like I was in some weird dream last night and this morning when I found myself in a coat, hat, cloves, and armed with a shovel. How disappointing. April, you have let me down. Hmpfff.

I will give you exactly 1 week to redeem yourself. After that, you are history.

It's All About Creating the Right Mood

So I have decided that I need to Feng Shui my office. I don't know what it is lately, but I have been getting such unhappy vibes from my office. When I am sitting at my desk I am totally tense, can't shake off the feeling of the "uglies" and am totally constricted and confined. Even when I fling open the shades and let the sunlight in through my giant office window, my inner mood remains unchanged. Not Good. At first I thought it was sesaonal depression, but I think it is just that my office needs a change of pace.

I am beginning to think that I need to move things around and get a change of office scenery to try and fix this. Not sure how the folks up in the IS helpdesk are going to feel about relocating my desk just so I can feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Not sure what I am going to do..but something must be done. I have had everything in the EXACT same place for almost 4 years. Yikes! I gotta spice it up a bit. Hmmm where to start.

It's March

And it is still cold and yucky out. I am so ready for Spring to come. Really I am.

I am imagining myself sitting outside in my back yard, fire pit lit, a cocktail, all while I eat cheese and crackers all day long. Maybe lay in the hammock to mix it up a bit. I can feel the breeze now, gently blowing the tree branches that are covered with beautiful green leaves. The weeping cherry in the front yard is just beginning to lose its petals and all of the the lilies are popping up and beginning to bloom. The veggie garden is planted and I can see small little specks popping up through the ground. The smell of grills being lit for the dinner rush. I can faintly hear the sound of Ginger meowing as she sits at the screen door, wishing she could come outside and sit with me.

Oh wait..that's right. I am actually standing in the kitchen waiting for my English muffin to cook so i can go eat at my desk. Foiled again.

Oh Spring Oh Spring where art thou

Little Birdie Papercraft & Design Studio Receives WeddingWire’s Brides Choice Award™ 2011

Cranston, RI - February 17, 2011

(2/2011) WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce that Little Birdie Papercraft & Design Studio (Little Birdie Papercraft) has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Custom Invitations and Social Stationery.

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Little Birdie Papercraft’s past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Little Birdie Papercraft stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Little Birdie Papercraft for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Little Birdie Papercraft is among the very best in custom invitations and social stationery within the WeddingWire Network, which includes the leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee.

For more information, please visit Little Birdie Papercraft‘s WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/ LittleBirdiePapercraftandDesignStudio.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.
About Little Birdie Papercraft & Design Studio
Little Birdie Papercraft is a custom design studio located in Cranston, Rhode Island, specializing in unique, hand-crafted, boutique style invitations, social stationery and corporate announcements. Little Birdie has a variety of design categories to help their clients choose the stationary that best fits their wants, needs, and budgets. Owner and Creative Director Lesli-Ann Powell has been creating unique and handcrafted cards, invitations, and announcements for more than 10 years.

The Great Thaw of 2011

Could it be that the sun is here to stay? Oh Please Oh Please Oh Please say yes!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the winter. I mean how could I not..I was born in the middle of a blizzard for crying out loud. But this winter has just been down right harsh and I have truly had my fill. I am done. All Bets Off. Game Over. Fin. Donsky.

I walked outside after work yesterday and it was still light out. THANK YOU! It is absolutely the worst thing ever when you wake up in the morning to go to the gym and work and it is dark, and then you leave work and it is dark again. Thankfully I have a window in my office, but it sometimes doesn't help. My body was craving sunlight, and yesterday mother nature delivered.

This morning for the first time in months I didn't use the automatic starter in my car. My hair didn't freeze into little brown icicles when I left the pool . And it was downright balmy when I left the house for work. I actually was not ready to cry either when I realized I was going to have to get out of my car to pump gas.

Alas, my poor little figure is not nearly ready for warm weather, shortsleeve shirts and shorts. So if only Mother Nature could give me the happy medium for a few months so I can kick it into high gear, that would be okay too.

What I don't want to think about is what all of this thawing snow is going to do to my back yard. Ugh. Soggy, muddy mess. Jay wants to get out the lawn roller and even everything out, fix the fence and lay more fill and reseed. So ambitious! I will gladly watch him do all of this from the comfort of the deck..once it becomes a deck again and not a giant, snow covered mound.

Stop, Drop and Roll

Precisely what I did yesterday in the middle of the street in Cranston. Picture this, 8 am Sunday morning, I am walking along the side walk to the gas station in search of 2 AA batteries. Most stores are closed so I know the gas station is my only hope. I am happily marching along with my brand new leather purse in tow (thank you Coach outlet in NH). Inside: 2 cell phones, a Kindle, keys, remote starter, etc. (keep this in mind).

As I try to walk into the gas station, a giant mound of snow is blocking the side walk. I am forced to walk along the street and make the turn in to the station this way. Just as I round the corner..BLACK ICE. ughhh.. I go flying, arms waving in the air, legs straight out from underneath me. I know that I am going to fall hard so I put my hands out to break my fall. I hit my wrists and chin on the cold, wet, icy pavement. I roll down the small hill that is the driving entrance to the gas station. My new purse goes flying through the air as if it had wings. I see it land in the middle of the road. NG. Just as I start to get up to retrieve said purse...I see it take flight again! This time after being side swiped by the car going a zillian miles a minute up the road. My new, beautiful cream colored purse is now covered in back slimely slush. Agggggggggggggggggggggggggg

I grabbed it off the road, walked into the gas station, got the batteries and two coffees and walked home. Wet, Cold, bruised, and utterly crushed. I sat down to survey the damage. Oddly, not a single thing got broken inside the purse. I have a new found appreciation for the protective cases bought for my electronic devises. And the new purse...wiped clean, and only one very tiny battle scar on the bottom.

UNBELIEVABLE! I came out in worse shape than the bag.

Creamy Tomato Soup

I just need to let everyone out there know how much I love Panera's Creamy Tomato Soup. I have been trying to eat better over the past few weeks, and I very rarely go out anymore. But our Sales folks have been in the office all week we have been having catered lunches. Today was Panera and they had their tomato soup in house.

Holy deliciousness batman. It is absolutely amazing and I can't get enough of it. It is unfortunate that we have to make sure that everyone eats because quite frankly...I think I would drink the entire jug of this soup. I LOVE it. It may be a new found weakness for me, knowing that there is a Panera in walking distance from my house. Oh dear. Houston, we could have a problem.