So  here’s the thing, I’m a mom who’s really big on rules. From the time the kids were little, I had lots of house rules which I drummed into their poor li’l heads.

My rules started when they were 1 or 2, yeah, old enough to understand simple logic if I explain it slowly to them. Rules like no sticking your finger in there (pointing at the wall plug sockets), no playing with knives and matches, always hold mommy’s hand when we’re out and stay where I can see you.

When they were older, we had the one about remembering to greet and say ‘hello’ people to friends and family we meet. Then the one about respecting other people’s property like not touching or using their things without permission. If it’s one thing that really irritates me, it’s when kids start running all over people’s homes, upstairs and downstairs, and playing with their things.

These days, the rules (I think we should be somewhere around #302 by now ) are more like advice and reminders. The biggie is Facebook, not something I necessarily approve of. To me, nothing on the internet is ever private no matter what they tell ya. And never mind what settings the radio deejay tells you to click to make things private. ’nuff said!

But I have to be realistic here and expect that, well, peer pressure may occasionally triumph over Mom’s warnings. So House Rule #302 says they’re not to post their real names, pictures or private stuff about themselves. Now let me see, what’s House Rule #303?

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I’ve just finished baking a batch of my infamous cheese-crusted melt-in-the-mouth shepherd’s pie and they’re sitting in my oven waiting to be delivered to my two princesses at school.

Wednesdays and Thursdays, I have one finishing school at 4:00pm and the other at 5:30pm. My poor teens are up from dawn and at school from 7:00am with a measly 20-minute recess. That’s 10 hours straight, yes, even longer than working at an office. And of course, they’re most generously allowed a lunch break at 2:00pm.

That’s when I’ll be standing outside the prison school gate with a bunch of other parents waiting to sneak them lunch over the school fence!! I feel so sorry for my poor girls I just have to make them an extra special lunch to brighten up their day.

I pack their school lunches with a bottle of ice-cold water each and sunblock as they’ll be out in the blazing 95 degree sun all afternoon. Sometimes I throw in a couple of candies just for treats. These school hours are a real drag and frankly I can’t wait till they finish high school! Oops, look at the time, I’m off to grace the prison gates !

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We went to a wedding recently and Skye wore this earring that she made herself. My girls are pretty creative and love making their own jewelry.

Yes, she’s only wearing one side of the earring here… just like her mama often does! Blame it on that rebellious streak running through my veins. Some find it unnerving apparently. I’ve often been alerted by well-meaning folks saying “you seem to have dropped one of your earrings” – which I haven’t, of course, I’m deliberately wearing just one side !

On another note, note Skye’s flawless complexion without the need for Photoshop or treatment for wrinkles! Ah, to be young again and have skin as smooth as that !

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So officially I started back at the gym Monday. Well, actually it was the Monday before but after an hour’s worth of cardio, I was so sore I decided to give myself a whole week off. Nope, I didn’t feel any guilt at all, if that’s what you’re wondering !

After all, the gym has been under renovation for 1.5 months and I felt no guilt slacking off for that amount of time plus another 1.5 months on top of that… which brings us to this past Monday when I happily skipped into the new and improved gym, eager to get down to work on all those lovely new machines and so glad the good ol’ machines that I love are still there.

This is one of my favorite machines. I get to sit down, lean back and look like I’m seriously working out when, in fact, … let’s just say it’s the perfect way to slack off without anyone being the wiser . Yup, it’s definitely good to be back!

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So it’s been ages since we last went window shopping. And I really do mean ages! As in a whole month, maybe more !

We had to run an errand downtown recently. When it came lunch time, we decided to head for the nearest mall, all in an effort to avoid the wrinkles that come with lunchtime traffic. I swear shopping was the furthest thing from my mind .

Then again, is it even possible to be inside a mall and not take a quick look around? I mean, one quick look never hurt anyone, right? Surely a walk after lunch is good exercise, no?

Well, well, well, how were we to know love would be waiting for us? So unexpected, THIS!

Call it love at first sight! Ever the sucker for chunky jewelry, anything that’s even vaguely reminiscent of what the Queen of Sheba might wear is a must-have ! I love it. Raine loves it. Skye loves it. SOLD!

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After report card day yesterday, I took the kids to McD’s for breakfast.

Me: I’ll have 3 sets of Breakfast No. 2 please.

Server: Okay. (And a minute later, as if she’s seeing me for the first time!) Yes?

Me: 3 sets of Breakfast No. 2 please with 1 orange juice and 2 tea.

Server: Okay, (punching earnestly into machine) 2 coffee and 1 tea.

Raine : No, 1 orange juice and 2 tea!

Server: And your order?

Me : Breakfast No. 2!

Server: What’s Breakfast No. 2?

Me : Sausage McMuffin with Egg.

(I was tempted to say, “Look, there’s a huge menu signboard behind you with even better than outdoor home lighting and you’re asking me?!!)

Server: How many sets?

Me : Three!!

I took a good look at the young lady serving us.

• She looks to be 20, not 85.
• She has stud earrings on, not headphones.
• The clock on the wall says 10:42am, not 4:12am.
• There are no good-looking hunks within a 6-mile radius of where we’re standing.

Pinch me, somebody! This is not really happening!!

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