peskypippi.comBecause I have a lot to say…

Mama always said, “When you get a present, be sure to write a thank-you note. It’s the right thing to do.”

Times have changed, but manners should not.

In lieu of forcing your children to write thank-you notes to their gift-givers, simply take a picture of your child holding the present (gift card, ugly sweater, Legos, whatever) and email the picture to the gift-giver. Or post it on Facebook.

Presto. Done.

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Whew, no thank-you notes looming.

Manners? Check. Make Mama proud.

Just another helpful tip from Pesky Pippi.

Want to know what’s playin’ in Pippi’s ride? You don’t? Well, I’m gonna tell you anyway. And, oh by the way, what are you listening to?

Remember the mixtape? You don’t? I do. I played those suckers until the tape would start to unravel. And then when it started to unravel, I’d pull it all the way out and let it curl on the floor. Just for fun.

The other day, I was the lucky recipient of a personalized audio mix CD with all my favorite songs—carefully selected by my husband–just because. And that sucker is packed. And eclectic. Just like me. He knows this.

A mix CD? Way better than a bouquet of flowers.

And now I can rock out in my car when I’m not listening to Free to Be You and Me (see related post).

Check out what I’m listening to:

• Adele
• The Rolling Stones
• Alison Krauss
• UB40
• Black Eyed Peas
• Madeline Peyroux
• M.I.A.
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Michael Franti
• Cake
• Pitbull
• Beastie Boys
• Jack Johnson
• AC/DC
• Soundgarden
• Lily Allen
• Jem
• Norah Jones
• MC Hammer
• Lenka
• Ke$ha
• Wayne Wonder
• Neko Case
• Jimmy Buffet
• Radiohead
• Ludacris

I would rather have a mix CD, with songs I love, than an ol’ bouquet of flowers…any day.

Because I can buy myself flowers.

I can’t believe I got my first real cell phone just three years ago: a Verizon LG Chocolate. Then came an iPhone 3G. This spring, I upgraded to the iPhone 3G. OK, my very first phone was a Tracfone. And it was a beauty.

In my line of work, it is imperative for me to be connected and productive with email. Here are 18 more reasons why I love my iPhone:

1. 6 MP camera. I can take pictures and upload to Facebook right then and there. AND it has a flippy thing so you can easily take pictures of you with your buddy.
2. Mirror. When flipped, the camera doubles as a mirror. Perfect for checking blueberries in teeth. See blog about just that.
3. Facebook. I love me some Facebook anytime, all the time. Post pics on the go. Carry on conversations throughout the day.
4. Notes. You can keep grocery lists, Christmas lists, weight loss tracking, and blog ideas. So when I’m driving along, I can open a “Note” and write “toilet paper” on the grocery list. (While pulling over to the side of the road. Of course.)
5. Scrabble. I told you I was a little nerdy.
6.  Jewel Quest. Dang it, I can’t get past a certain level.
7. Harbor Master. It’s a game where you unload ships and send them on their way. Don’t let the name and my lame description fool you; it’s fun!
8. Twitter. I can Tweet while out and about. Though, dang it, why do they make it so hard to find the stupid # symbol on the touch screen? Oh and auto-correct. It bugs me and I’m gonna write about that in an upcoming post.
9. The App Store. This is a dream place for buying any app. Most apps are cheaper than The Dollar Store, at $.99 each. But I did pony up $4.99 for Family Feud, which is fun to sit around and holler out answers to “Name the Top 18 Reasons Why Women Love Their iPhones” and other such questions.
10. Amazon. Enough said.
11. Ringtones for everyone. My boss’s ringtone is Boom Boom Pow by The Black Eyed Peas. And every time it rings, I smile. Until I remember it’s a work call, which usually means work.
12. EBay. The other day, I bought a 36-pack of fart whistles. Just like that.
13. Calculator. So handy!
14. Calendar. Music to a planner’s ears.
15. Fandango. I can check movies’ schedules and just pop in. Admission: I haven’t been to a movie in the theater since Horrible Bosses.
16. Alarm. My wake-up song is “Dream On” by Aerosmith. I find that a little ironic, don’t you?
17. Movies. I have Elf loaded for those situations when you-need-the-kids-to-shut-up-and-will-they-just-watch-a-movie-in-peace. So you hand over your phone to their little, greasy fingerprinted hands.
18. Stud finder. As in, where the heck do I hang up this picture on the wall. Did you know there’s an app for that? Who knew.

I love my phone. I even paid to have Swarovski crystals put on the phone cover…

Psych. It’s just a sticker. $1 at Michaels. I call it: Bargain Bling.