Once upon a time I was an intern

Many years ago, before I spent my days and wee hours in front of a laptop, I spent my days and wee hours in front of a line editing machine at my college television station, all around campus and town interviewing people for the college newspaper, huddled over a light table for the college yearbook and tucked into a tiny booth for the college radio station. I was a journalism major to the geekiest degree.

My senior year, I was simultaneously the producer of the news (have I mentioned once or four-thousand times that I hired the lovely Jenna Fischer, now Pam from The Office, to be one of the anchors of the program I wrote, directed, edited and produced? I even have the scripts to prove it), had a weekly radio show, was Sports Editor of the yearbook (I know, I know) and was a contributing reporter for the paper. I loved it all so much and was so immersed in every aspect of on-campus media that it never occurred to me to be less involved.

At the time, my ambition was to be a columnist for Details magazine.

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Lil E Explains: "Life" and times in utero

Mommy, when I was in your tummy, one time I just floated up up up into your mouth.

Then...(leaning in close to my face with a loud whisper, wide eyes and words chosen with preschool precision)...I touched your...SALIVA!

And I said, "EW! Spit is disgusting!"

Then I wiped off my hand so I was all dry and I floated back down to your tummy again.

I liked to drink a lot in there. (Opening his mouth, sticking out his tongue and looking to the sky as if he is waiting for a mouthful of rain). I just drank and drank.

And I also did tricks in there! Like flip arooooooound. Oh, and wiiiiigle my booty. I would, like, stand up and run like this (running in place, also with mouth open and tongue out).

I just came out, though. I didn't like it much in there. But...I was just little then!

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Three perfect little things that mama loves

Occasionally, I splurge. I get a massage and spend a few hours in the tea room and eucalyptus steam at my favorite spa. I let the lovely lady at the nail salon add "diamonds" or painted flowers to my pedicure. I skip past the $3 bubble bath and spend much more on a petite bottle some of the crazy aroma combination expensive organic stuff.

These all hold great powers of de-stressing, especially when the muscle tension of work and parenthood and whatever makes up that day overtakes meditation, a big glass of shiraz or whatever else I pray soothes me for a moment or two. But there's also something to be said for the everyday ahhhs that are reminders to stop, breathe in, smile, feel good about my body, my state of mind, myself.

Here are three bits of sweet perfection on my counter right now:

1. Chloe perfume is sweet but still alluring and broke me for good from my sad, sad Sunflower addiction, still hungover from college.

2.  Sephora Super Shimmer Lip Gloss makes my lips tingle like they've just been kissed, except all the gloss stays on. It sparkles just enough and my favorite color, Gold & Glow, is sheer enough to put over a lip color or make nakey lips shine. There's a hint of vanilla flavor that might just make whoever's kissing you forget they're getting glossed too.

3. Emerita Day Face Cream is light and creamy and smells amazing. Some days I wait just five more minutes to put on my make-up so I can smoothe on just one more layer.

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