Author: Melissa

I cannot thank all of you enough for the comments, prayers and emails you have sent over the past few days. I cannot tell you how encouraging they were, how helpful they were as we made decisions about what to do, how much they meant to me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

So here's the update:
1. I am beyond impressed with Ellie's school. Within 24 hours of the bullying incident, we spoke with her teacher as well as the principal (and getting hold of the principal the first week of school is a minor miracle in itself). The bus drivers have been informed, as well as the school counselor. The bully has been reprimanded and made to apologize to Ellie. All of this was done with tremendous discretion on the part of the teacher which I greatly appreciated (I worried about Ellie being called a tattle-tale). I can't even tell you what it meant to have the principal call me and immediately say "I will handle this. I will take care of Ellie." It brought tears to my eyes.
Ellie came off the bus today with a huge smile on her face and turned to wave a huge goodbye to her friends.  (It was me who was crying this time.)
This is probably not the end of this, but we're felling much more confident about the whole situation. All I can say is I am soooo thankful that we got involved.

2. My husband got back yesterday after two weeks of traveling and, after such a stressful and draining week, we are running away from home.  We're trading in some of Husband's hotel points and heading to Baltimore tomorrow. We're going to enjoy the Inner Harbor, visit the Aquarium, and just be together. Sounds like the perfect happy birthday to me!!

3. For all my family who read this…

my uncle was featured in a video on Nascar.com!

4. And let me leave you with a few good reads:
These are just fascinating: What the World Eats and What the World Eats, Part II.
This is an interesting read as well: The High Price of Cheap Food. Warning – you may want to turn vegetarian after reading this one.

5. I'm out. Be back on Monday-ish.

Today Ellie ran off the school bus and into my arms, sobbing.

The bully was at it again. Ellie said that she sat with a friend near the driver, but after her friend got off the bus, the bully came and sat next to her. Ellie said no. She pulled Ellie's hair. Ellie said no and called out to the bus driver, but he didn't hear her because it was so noisy. Then she pulled her hair again, hard. Ellie said no and called for help again, but nothing happened.

As she told us this, much more information came out. Like how this happened more than once last year. Like how this girl was talking about her to the other girls. Ellie said she doesn't know what she is saying, because she whispers about Ellie to her friends. Like how this girl told Ellie to give her one of her backpack charms or she would pull her hair again. She said no. Ellie said she "got really angry" and pulled her hair again.

So I spent the afternoon holding my sobbing six year old daughter, as she tells me of how it  hurt when this girl pulled her hair, but it really hurt when she said mean things about her.  Wiping away her tears as she asks "Why?", trying to explain something that is so beyond comprehension. Wiping away my own tears when she asks how she is to be loving to someone like that, the way God wants her to.

I am so upset that I can hardly stand it. And I'm really, really angry. What kind of kid does this? I just want to go to this girl's house and… I don't know what. She's torturing my child over a $1 Hello Kitty backpack charm from Target? Are you kidding me?  And she waits until Ellie's friend leaves then moves up to sit with her!??! This is purposeful harassment. And how the girl never bothers Ellie at school, only on the bus where there are no teachers. And then Ellie finally told us the girl's name. I don't know if that makes it better or worse, having a name attached to the bully.

I talked to the bus driver yesterday, but CLEARLY that is not enough. My husband called the principal immediately after hearing all of this and I've contacted Ellie's teacher. I'm so over worrying about sounding overprotective or whatever. This is beyond just a little teasing and I'm getting involved.

And I'll be driving her to school tomorrow. I don't know what else to do. But I just can't watch my baby get hurt.

Now in case you've all forgotten, my birthday is this Saturday. I know you're excited. And I know what you're thinking.  "But its such a busy time of year! When will I find the time to send her a gift?" Well lucky for you, this morning I was over visiting Jenny – who happens to share my birthday – and saw her helpful gift list she provided for her readers. "What a terrific idea!" I thought. "I'll bet my readers would appreciate that!" Because I love to helping you guys out. Especially when it involves buying  me presents.

1. Pretty much anything from Ann Taylor Loft.  Especially this Ruffle-Trim Cardigan and the Rinse Wash Modern Skinny Jeans. 
I've also been wanting a  Ruffley white shirt for fall. How cute and feminine would that be, peaking out under a cardigan or blazer?
Or – dare I be so trendy – a vest?

2. A new watch. Something like this one from Lacoste: 
Isn't that super cute?

4.  If you buy me this, I'll make you cupcakes! Promise! I received the Cookies book last year for my birthday and it was fabulous. Did not help with the "losing the baby weight" goal, though.

5. I adore these boots:   
And oooo - these boots: I could go on for DAYS here. Gee, I love boots. Size 8, por favor. 

6. A Blackberry or iPhone. Either would be great, although I'd prefer an iPhone, purely for coolness factor that comes with all things Mac. Please include the monthly data plan or else your kind gift will be used as a very technologically advanced paper weight.

7. And, of course, diamonds and designer handbags are ALWAYS an appropriate gift. 😉

"Colin, COME."
"Colin, SIT!"
"Colin, STAY."
"Colin, NO BITING!!"
"Colin, don't chew the furniture."
"Colin, no growling at your Mama."
"Colin, no begging. Eat your own food."
"Colin, don't eat out of the trash can."

Hummm… You know, his favorite game is basically fetch. And here he is eating off the floor:

Only a dog would probably be more obedient by now. And much, much quieter. And would probably sleep more, too…

Ellie came home from her first day of first grade with tears in her eyes.

My baby is getting bullied. I purposely didn't write about this last spring when it started. But I have no idea what to do, I'm shocked that it is rearing its head already and need advice. 

Starting last spring, Ellie started getting picked on by a girl on her bus. This girl was 'saying mean things' to her and pulling her hair. Once she pulled Ellie's hair so hard that the rubber band fell out and her braid came undone. (It was all I could do not to climb onto that bus and take care of things.)

And today the girl was bothering Ellie again. Ellie was so upset:
"She doesn't like me. Why, Mom?"
"Why are people mean?"
"Why does she not like me?"
"What should I do?"
"Maybe I should just make her happy."

(BOY did we have a talk about that last one. You're going to let her pull your hair to "make her happy?" This lead to a long talk about how no one should touch you without your permission, how you should never 'make someone happy' by letting them be mean to you, standing up for yourself, etc.)

I don't know what she should do. I've suggested sitting with her friend or sitting up front by the driver.  I've talked about standing up for herself – telling the girl not to touch her and to leave her alone. And talking to adults – like teachers or the bus driver – who are there to help.

I'm in way over my head here. I have no idea what to do.

Here's my entry in the Mezzetta "Make That Sandwich" contest! This is a pumped up, more gourmet version of one of my favorite lunches – tuna salad made with roasted red peppers with a splash of red wine vinegar dressing. Wish me luck!

Italian Tuna Melt
2 cans of chunk tuna in oil
1/4 cup chopped roasted red pepper strips
2 tbsp finely chopped red onion
2 tsp fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
1 tbsp capers, drained and chopped
2 tbsp red wine vinaigrette (recipe follows)
thinly sliced provolone cheese
fresh baby spinach
4 slices Tuscan pane bread, sliced 1/2 inch thick (or other rustic white bread)

Preheat the broiler and set the rack about 4 to 5 inches from the heat source.

Brush bread with a bit of olive oil. Toast bread on a baking sheet, about 2 minutes per side. (Or use a grill pan, if you're feeling fancy.)

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix tuna, roasted peppers, onion, parsley, capers and vinaigrette with a fork. 
Place two slices of toast on a baking sheet. Place half the tuna salad on each slice of toast, then top with provolone cheese.

Place the baking sheet under the broiler and heat for 3 to 5 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Add fresh spinach and top with second piece of toasted bread.

Serve immediately. 

Red Wine Vinaigrette
2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
fresh ground black pepper and kosher salt, to  taste

Whisk together in a small bowl.

(Sorry for the terrible picture – the good camera is in Colorado with my husband!)

Did you share a "try this" recipe this week? Let me know! I'll add your link!

slow-cooked chili at busygirl
raspberry tiramisu at sunny side of life

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It's not that she's going to school. Or how old she looks.

Now that she is in first grade, she will leave our house at 8:20am and return at 4:10. That's almost exactly EIGHT hours.

It scares me to death that she will spend the majority of her waking hours away from me.

She still is so young. So impressionable. So vulnerable. So little.

How can this be right for her? Isn't the best, safest place for her at home? Am I sending her into the big, bad world too soon?

Clearly I'm having my annual back-to-school freak out.

So, maybe its just being in Vegas or something, but I'm apparently hot here.

And I'm not talking about the 300 degree heat. (Man ALIVE is it hot here! Yesterday I swore my flip-flops were melting.)

Every time I've turned around this trip, I have had guys hitting on me. Just this morning – and its only 9:30 here – I've been sitting by myself in Panera's enjoying my coffee and bagel with a whole day to myself in front of me – and I have had two guys constantly staring at me and another guy who  was actually bold enough to come up and talk to me and ask if he could sit down at my table. My jaw just dropped in what was probably a very unflattering way when that happened. Thank goodness I had my laptop so I could plead "work" as an excuse.

Husband and I were out by the pool yesterday, lounging in chairs (While I  read a book! At the pool!) and I actually stopped going swimming because the blatant attention from group of six guys was making me uncomfortable.  And my husband was right there with me! Rude!
(Note: Husband has been practicing his "evil eye" a lot on this trip.)

And don't even get me started about one of our waiters!
(Note to waiters: Don't flirt with the wife. Its the husband who is paying your tip.)

But I have a theory about this. I did not get a makeover, I'm not wearing anything sexy or suggestive. I'm still wearing my wedding ring. My new haircut isn't that cute. Its simply this:

MY KIDS AREN'T WITH ME.

I guess we should never underestimate how unattractive three kids makes us to the average guy 😉

Seriously though, without my kids I'm suddenly a "chick" again, as opposed to an invisible mom. I confess, at first it was a little flattering ("Yes! Still got it!") but by the time my plane landed in Vegas, I was tired of it. At least I have the trump card to get them to leave me alone… "Actually, I'm married with three kids! How about you?"

***UPDATE – NOW someone just offered to buy me coffee! And when I said "No, thank you," he offered to buy me a pastry. "Because I look so sweet." What the heck?