I have 2 little rules in my house.
RULE #1: NO SHOES ALLOWED
I don’t allow anyone inside my home with their shoes on. It doesn’t matter who you are, you must remove your shoes at the door if you wish to come inside. The only time I will make an exception is if you have some type of medical condition that requires you to keep your shoes on. Although a medical note would be appreciated ahead of time otherwise I might be a little skeptical. I don’t want my carpets or my tiles getting all mucky from the bottom of people’s shoes. Even though I know there will be someone there to clean up for me that doesn’t mean I purposely keep a messy/dirty home. I’m a very tidy and neat person. The no shoe wearing policy has always been in effect for as long as I can remember and in my opinion I think it’s a pretty good one to have.
RULE #2: NO SMOKING ALLOWED
Over 90% of my friends smoke. When they visit and feel the need for nicotine they know they must light up outside. I use to tell them if they had to light up they were to do so at the end of the driveway by the sidewalk. Some felt that was a little too extreme especially during the cold months so now I permit them to smoke in the garage which I’m not too thrilled about but hey, what kind of friend would I be if my guests left with frost bite?
Earlier this week The Boys of Summer {the 3 older ones} got a taste of how serious I take rule #1.
One afternoon the boys were shooting hoops in the driveway. In case you’re wondering we specifically bought the hoop for them. You really didn’t think I shoot hoops did you? That afternoon I was catching up on a few things when I started to feel the floor beneath me shake. The cause of it: No it wasn’t an earthquake. It was 3 sweaty teens who came trampling into the house and headed straight into the kitchen. All I could focus on was their shoes and at the same time was on the verge of having a severe panic attack but managed to hold off from having one. I said, “Out! Out! Out! Out! Out!” Like cattle I herded them out of the kitchen and onto the patio through the sliding doors. They all looked at one another while shrugging their shoulders and gave each other looks that meant, “huh?” Through the patio screen door the Freckled Twin {FT} asked:
FT: Why did you kick us out like that?
ME: You broke rule # 1.
FT: What-- no drinks allowed in the afternoon? We're thirsty.
I nodded my head no. If you can believe it {because I still can’t} the 12 year old rolled his eyes when he figured out what rule I was referring to.
12: We wore our shoes in the house.
Had it not been for the eye rolling I might have given the boy a prize for guessing correctly. The twins looked down at their feet. The Non-Freckled Twin {NFT} spoke.
NFT: Aw, come on. Give us a break! We were outside playing in the driveway. It’s not like we were in the mud.
ME: It doesn’t matter. As you know this house is a shoeless-free zone. No one is allowed to wear their shoes in here.
FT: Yeah about your no shoe wearing rule, we were talking about it the other day and we need to tell you something about it.
ME: Alright, go ahead.
FT: We don't like it so can you get rid of it?
They complained they were slipping and sliding on the floor in the kitchen and foyer when they wore their socks so I suggested an awesome alternative: GO BAREFOOT! In the house I always am with my pedicured feet and polished toes. Even the 3 year old refuses to wear his socks now. He loves the idea of being sock-less. When I suggested to the boys they walk around barefoot, they shot down the idea. When I asked why I was given the following response:
FT: Because we don't live in Bedrock.
Being the wonderful person that I am I came up with a compromise. I offered to take them shopping and buy them slippers. This time before I even had a chance to blink they said no. According to the boys of summer slippers are for old people, like grandpa.
ME: I will find you something stylish, modern and fashionable. I promise.
NFT: Forget it. Squirt will just end up hiding them. Whenever grandpa visits he always steals one of his slippers. His toy~box is filled with mis-matched ones.
I looked over at the 3 year old. He was on couch having a snack and watching the animated movie Planet 51. I made a mental note to myself to ask him later about the slipper stealing thing. Getting back to the boys of summer, long time readers of my blog are well aware I have been called stubborn by my sister on numerous occasions. On that day I was called stubborn not only by 1 of the boys of summer but by all 3 of them, all because I wouldn’t ease up on rule #1. I told them I was sorry but it’s just something I wasn't going to ease up on or even get rid of. After they removed their sweaty shoes I permitted them back inside the house where they returned into the kitchen to cure their dehydration.
Update: One of the twins has adapted to walking around the house sock-less while the other 2 continue to slip and slide. All 3 however continue to complain that I need to abolish rule #1 and allow guests to keep their shoes on, especially if that's what they prefer.
One morning while out for my run I thought about what the boys had said to me. I started thinking, “hmm, maybe rule #1 is a little too strict and perhaps I should ease up a bit and let guests chose whether or not they want to remove their shoes.”........Nah!! My house, my rules. Rule #1 shall live on.
So now I ask you this my lovelies: don’t you think removing shoes not only promotes a more relaxed atmosphere in the home but from a comfort perspective, doesn’t it seem so much nicer walking around on the carpet without wearing shoes? Those of you who wear shoes in the home: try going shoeless for a week or even better go barefoot. All day your feet are in your shoes so why not set them free my lovelies? Here is something else to consider: did you know that walking around barefoot {around the house} is the easiest way to keep your feet muscles strong?
Sometimes I see those posters from the 50's with hubbies sitting around smoking and reading as their wives are cooking or vacuuming in their heels. That’s definitely something you’ll never catch me doing: cooking and cleaning that is. As for wearing heels in the house: I absolutely love wearing high heels but never inside.......unless of course I'm in the bedroom.
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The other day I was sitting with my little buddy and eating a couple of tangerines with him. Not only have I convinced him to go barefoot like me but I've also got him eating tangerines like me too! I decided to question him about the slippers.
ME: A little birdie told me you like taking your grandpa's slippers and hiding them. How come?
3 YR OLD: Because it's fun watching grandpa look for them.
Coming from a 3 year old I think that's a pretty darn good answer!
3 YR OLD: Because it's fun watching grandpa look for them.
Coming from a 3 year old I think that's a pretty darn good answer!
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And now to my plants.........
If someone had told me when I first started this blog I would be writing about my plants I would have said they were nuts but here I am doing it.
Last Friday I wrote about the unfortunate demise of my tomato plant so I will instead be writing and posting updates about my Topsy Turvy Chili planter.
I didn't post a picture of the chili planter only because not much has improved this week. It looks exactly as it did last week. {see post below} HK has been taking very good care of the planter by watering it everyday and even feeding it Miracle Grow and yet it still will not produce any chilies. I don't know what we're doing wrong.
Here is something interesting: The same day we put up the Topsy Turvy Tomato planter HK also put a tomato plant in a pot. {Which by the way like the chili planter Mother Nature did not murder}
If someone had told me when I first started this blog I would be writing about my plants I would have said they were nuts but here I am doing it.
Last Friday I wrote about the unfortunate demise of my tomato plant so I will instead be writing and posting updates about my Topsy Turvy Chili planter.
I didn't post a picture of the chili planter only because not much has improved this week. It looks exactly as it did last week. {see post below} HK has been taking very good care of the planter by watering it everyday and even feeding it Miracle Grow and yet it still will not produce any chilies. I don't know what we're doing wrong.
Here is something interesting: The same day we put up the Topsy Turvy Tomato planter HK also put a tomato plant in a pot. {Which by the way like the chili planter Mother Nature did not murder}
For some reason the tomatoes in the pot are growing much better and faster than the ones that were in the Turvy.
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My loyal and dear readers it’s finally Friday.
Whatever your plans are have a fantastic weekend.~x
XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess
