...That's not great.

A little CityMama link love never hurt anyone.

I discovered CityMama and her (at the time) Portland-mama blog in mid-2004, just after she moved to the city and gave birth to her second (lovely) daughter, Wallie. I loved reading her stories about raising kids in Portland, the city of my childhood.

So, when I heard she was hiring bloggers to writer city-centric posts for The Savvy Source, I jumped at the chance to be involved; and I am honored to be part of the Savvy Team.

Today was the BIG reveal (go there NOW - she has giveaways!) on her personal blog, and I want to welcome any readers who have made their way here. If you live in the Puget Sound, I hope you'll hop over to Being Savvy Seattle, where I am posting and insider's look each weekday on adventures and activities for you and your preschooler to enjoy. And if you have any insight to offer on Seattle, I'm all ears.

An announcement of sorts.

I have long been known as the go-to researcher amongst my family and friends.

"Just have Bethany figure it out and let us know."

or

"Have Bethany look it up; she has nothing better to do."

And, don't forget "The Packets" (inside joke for The Sister) from the family reunion in 2002.

So, when I heard about an opportunity to be the Seattle "City Expert" for the amazing on-line site, SavvySource, I jumped at the chance to be involved. I'll be the voice of Being Savvy: Seattle, posting daily about the great (free or low cost) activities that are out there in the community (I'm throwing a pretty wide net to include the general Puget Sound area). SavvySource is designed to provide parents of preschoolers (ages 2-6) information on local preschools, classes, and activities; and now they are rolling out "City Experts" in major metropolitan areas. Take a look; chance is there is a "City Expert" near you.

So, go on over, read up and leave us a comment. Let me know if there is anything in particular YOU want me to cover in my posts; the researcher in me will get right on it.

One of the many reasons I love my new MacBook.

Well, you all told me to get a Mac. What could I do? When the internet gives you advice - YOU TAKE IT.

I won't bore you with all the things I am loving about it (it just being a laptop rocks my socks), because you already know how great it is.

You see, taking obnoxiously cute pictures of my kids just got that much easier. Don't worry - I won't abuse this privilege.

This is why I love softball.

This is real sportsmanship (er, sportswomanship). Makes me proud to call myself a softball player.

The internets have spoken!

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! (anyone get the Wizard of Oz reference? no?)

I loved getting all the feedback. Nothing brings people out of the woodwork like a discussion of PC vs. Mac.  I had eight readers provide comments and another five or so e-mail me directly.  That is the most response I have gotten to a post EVER (including the time I admitted that I peed my pants when I was ten).  You people are polite, if nothing else. 

The overwhelming verdict is the Mac. I've pretty much convinced RD he should get a Mac, too, so we'll probably hold off and purchase both the next time we are in Portland. Which, if I had my way, would be tomorrow.

Only I am so exhausted from reading all those comments and e-mails I can't muster the trip. 

Mac verses PC.

Chicago trip story will return tomorrow (although, don't get too excited because how many ways can you say, "Then we watched TV from bed" or "Then I went into another Banana Republic"?).

I know, same story, different verse, huh?

Well, RD and I have decided that we will be purchasing his and her laptops with part of our income tax return (side note: we have to do an Oregon return for the first time this year, PAIN IN MY ASS; well, at least for our tax guy).  We have a perfectly okay desktop now, but there are times when we are competing for its use; whether it be for work or blogging or whatever.  Mostly whatever.

I have always wanted a Mac; ever since I left Macs behind for PCs my freshman year of college when it became clear that the "establishment" much preferred PCs (Macs numbered about eight in the computer center compared to the fifty or so PCs).  My only concern would be the ability to connect to my workplace, as currently I can connect remotely via the internet and have access to my email, files, financial systems, basically EVERYTHING.  Now, I think I am willing to give that up because other than the day that I work from home, I try (TRY!) not to work evenings and weekends. Even if I did purchase a Mac, we would still have our desktop available for that purpose. 

I want a laptop to be able to do the following:

• Connect wirelessly to the internet (even at my local wi-fi spot)
• Edit photos with Adobe Elements
• Edit videos with iMovie or comparable (own burn to disc)
• Upload photos to Flickr
• Play movies on the plane
• Blog (duh)

I won't be storing photos on the hard drive for very long or using this computer as my main iTunes catalog, so I don't need too much drive space.

I can probably get away with the same usability (maybe??) by purchasing a much cheaper Dell or other PC rather than a MacBook, but gosh I really want one.

Who can talk me into it or have other advice??

Yesterday at Whoorl.

Yesterday at Whoorl in her Flashback Friday, she reveals her favorite childhood item - her beloved blankie - which she apparently sold down the river for a Dilly Bar.  She asked us what our favorite childhood item was.  Here was my response from her comments:

My husband still has his childhood “bear” that he allows/forces our son to sleep with.

I’m not the most sentimental person, so the item that I can’t seem to toss out has nothing to do with a beloved bear or blanket. It’s my scoliosis brace that I wore for three years, from 5th through 8th grade.

This was a painful time, both physically (the brace made my skin blister and I would sabotage it to be able to spend a day brace-free) and emotionally (I was relentlessly teased and called RoboCop 3). And in the end, it didn’t even serve it’s purpose as I still had to undergo a major spinal fusion surgery at 18. But, each time we move or re-organize, I can’t bring myself to get rid of it. It’s a reminder that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and that there is nothing external that defines who you are as a person.

Plus, it cost my parents $1,000 and would YOU throw away $1,000?

I've got more to say about that period of my life.  I don't spend time thinking about it, even though I feel that it has created the person who I am today.  Until then, here's proof that I actually still have it.

Finally, a good explanation of what Twitter is.

Twitter, explained in plain English, by Lee and Sachi LeFever of CommomCraft.com. You, too, will soon be addicted.  (Thanks, potjie!)

Oprah's list be damned.

Apparently, Oprah doesn't want us ladies to be shlumpadinkas. (Yes, she is powerful enough to be able to make up her own words.)  As part of a recent episode (Shlumpadinka Makeovers), Oprah directed her minions to make over some shlumpadinka ladies, and instead of taking women to Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom, they went places more readily available (via location and price) to the masses (like JC Penney, The Gap and Sears).  All hail, Oprah!

Further, her stylist Lloyd Boston unveiled his list of ten wardrobe must haves:

1. Trench coat.
2. Black (or white) turtleneck.
3. Black trousers.
4. Tunic.
5. White jeans.
6. Dark jeans.
7. Black dress.
8. White denim jacket.
9. Black skirt.
10. Timeless cashmere sweater.

The only thing I really have to say is OMG, WHITE JEANS.

Moving on.

Now, you know the internets would have something to say about this.  And, BOY, did we ever.  Susan of Friday Style tasked us with coming up with our own list of ten must have wardrobe items. 

Here's my list of 10 wardrobe must-haves.

1. Dark jeans: high and low (one for heels, one for flats).  I love trouser jeans - especially ones that I can wear to work, too.
2. Black trousers: high and low (see above).
3. Turtleneck. Black is a great color to start with, then go for a punch of color.
4. White t-shirt. Make sure it's not see through and is nice enough to be worn on its own.  Choose a neckline that works on your body; whether it's crew, scoop or v.  Expand the colors to include black and brown.
5. Button-up shirt. The length of the sleeves will depend on your climate.  White is a great color to start with, but blue and grey are also lovely.  And, yes, the Oprah shirt, is a fantasic option.  I have it in light blue and pink checked, natch.
6. Khaki pants. These can be whatever color works for your style (I have khakis in tan, brown, and black).
7. Twill jacket (could also be a tailored jeans jacket). Dressy enough to pair with trousers, but could also work with the khakis or jeans. Would also look great over the button-up, white t-shirt or turtleneck.
8. V-neck sweater (not black).  Something in silk and/or cashmere. 
9. Three-season coat. This could be a trench coat and think about doing this in a bright color like blue or red.
10. Scarf.  Oh, how I love my scarfs.  I have them in wool and jersey.  Susan provides a great tutorial of ways to tie scarves, so there's no excuse for not being able to figure it out.  This can really sophisticate an outfit.

Now, I have a few more additions for those of us whose work wardrobe must include some dressier items.

1. All-season suit, preferably in black.  You may be able to combine a pair of the black pants from above with a matching suit jacket and save a bit of money.  Be sure to find the fit that works best for your body.  You'll have this suit for a while.
2. A dressy sweater set (not in black).  I prefer a sleeveless tank under a full-sleeve button up sweater.  You can easily break these two items up and combine with the other shirts above. 
3. Pin-stripped trousers.  We've got to mix it up a little bit.
4. Patterned top.  This can be a jersey knit or another stretch fabric.
5. Non-black suit jacket. Could be houndtooth, could be velvet.  Will be lovely, for sure.

And for the few summer months here in Seattle.

1. White poplin trousers (please make sure they are lined!).  They make everything else in your wardrobe look summery.  Somehow, white poplin trousers = perfect!  And white jeans = hideous.
2. Short-sleeved "stuff": a button-up, sweater and jersey knit.
3. Capris and/or knee length shorts.  I'm in my early 30s and no one needs to see my upper thighs unless we're on vacation.

Finally one "bonus" item.

1. "The Dress".  You may have noticed that I haven't previously listed a skirt or dress.  Frankly, I'm not often caught in one.  But I do think that it is important to own a few that look and feel great on when you need to wear one.  And, for the record, if you are a person that likes to wear skirts, you can easily switch out the khakis or jeans from above for a jean or khaki skirt.  Don't worry, I won't be offended.

Next up?  THE SHOES (via the direction of Merry Mishaps).  Which to me, is as important as (if not MORE important) the clothes. Because no matter what shape or size I am, I can always find shoes that fit.

Oh yah, I have a BLOG.

Well...ahem.

I had the weirdest dream last night.  I was at Blogher 2008, and for some reason, the women bloggers and some men bloggers, were choosing up teams for softball.  Why, I have no idea.  One of the team captians was LeahK, and people on her team were encouraging her to choose me (with my 15 years of softball experience, thank you very much!).  But I was still chosen in the seventh round. 

Now, I'm not one for dream interpretation, but is that weird or what?