Friday, February 18, 2011

A Good Laugh

Are you in need of a good laugh?

The conversation between my 9 year old and I before Valentine's Day:

H: Remember when you made a Valentine's shirt for D that said, "Chick Magnet"? Can you make me one like that?
Me: Sure, you want it to say "Chick Magnet"?
H: No, I want it to say:



Me (totally laughing): Are you sure? Will you really wear that to school?
H: Yeah, I will.



And he really did. Can you imagine what his teacher thought?

Everyone needs a kid like H. He just cracks me up.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Wish lists

More cute stuff. None of which I need. I just enjoy looking at pretty things.

From Old Navy:




I had a similar pair of shoes last summer. Wore them all the time. Same with the capris, only lighter fabric. I would love them in the darker rinse.

From Anthropologie:




I love, love, love the color of the top: Carie Red. Don't even get me started on the yellow dress. I normally don't go for animal prints, but I can't stop thinking about the jacket. The skirt is amazing on. (Incidentally, I could buy the entire selection from Old Navy for the cost of one of the Antro items. Oh Anthro.)

Urban Outfitters:

I am obsessed with pleats these days.

Talbots:

The. Perfect. Skirt.

From Gap:
(both on sale this weekend)

Tulle sleeves? I'm in. And this bow shirt says 'Hello Kate Spade' to me.

Just in case you were wondering: Since Valentine's Day these two now have a new home in my closet.

Banana Republic cardigan and Gap top. And bonus: both were really good deals.

What are you drooling over this season?

Thursday, February 10, 2011

I've seen it before.



Who is tired of movies where the leading man is a womanizing jerk who goes from girl to girl until he meets a completely fantastic woman he's not worthy of?

I sure am.

Some Valentine's Day Love

A little decorating for Valentine's Day.

Mantel:
Pillows I made years ago:
Your favorite and mine, the kissing picture:
A gentle reminder:

We cut out bunches of hearts and taped them to our windows. All sorts of shapes and different colors. It makes me happy every time I see it.



We also decorated bedroom doors. The girl's hearts were pinks and reds.

The boy's hearts were sports papers. (The boys were less than thrilled with the idea of having hearts on their doors. Boys are so weird. They went along with it anyway.)

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Summer We Read Gatsby: A Novel by Danielle Ganek

The Summer We Read Gatsby: A NovelThe Summer We Read Gatsby: A Novel by Danielle Ganek

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was such a pleasant surprise. One I literally just pulled off the shelf at the library and thought I would give it a whirl. How can a book with Gatsby in the title be bad? Four stars may be generous, but I had low expectations so 4 it is. What I liked about this book:

1. Quirky but not too quirky. Funny characters - especially Peck who I thought would be so annoying but became endearing.

2. Character growth. Huge character growth. This is big for me - I need characters that change and become better.

3. The author not afraid of a happy ending. If you are going to wrap it up nicely, you might as well put a bow on it!

4. No racy sex scenes and no raunchy parts.

5. Really funny epilogue.

Didn't like: occasional strong language (Peck!) and brief casual drug use.

After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy

After the KissAfter the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was a really different read, and I mean that in a good way. Mostly. This story was written from alternating perspectives: Becca and Camille. Liked that. Becca and Camille wrote in two different styles: Becca's parts were written in poems and Camille's a part was written free-verse prose (a little like stream of consciousness, if you ask me.) I liked that. In fact that is what kept me reading. I'm not much of a poetry girl, so it stretched me a bit. Also, while things were vaguely implied, this book was clean. Liked that.

What I didn't like was the intensity of the "love" of the teenagers. Drove me crazy. Really? At 17? I thought it was annoying, but it resolved itself in the end.

Overall, a great read especially if you are looking for something different.

View all my reviews

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

New Year's Resolution #2

Who says that Resolutions have to be declared in the first week of January? Not me. I like time to mull over. I like time to ruminate and define.

New Year's Resolution #2? NO MORE DISCLAIMERS.

What's a Disclaimer, you ask?

"My house is such a mess, I didn't have time to clean." vs. "Come on in, I'm so glad came over!"

"I would have made homemade cookies but I ran out of sugar." vs. Dropping off the store-brought version without comment.

"You probably already have plans but do you want to . . ." vs. "I am going to the park at 2, do you want to come?"

"I wanted to get you the gray, but I couldn't find it so I had to buy the green." vs. Simply including the gift receipt.

"I didn't turn out as good as it should have, I had to rip out the seam 3 times." vs. Not pointing out the flaws.

Another side of the disclaimer: being negative after a compliment or trying to downplay something great about myself.

You want an example of that?

Friend: "Your hair looks great."
Me: "It's all smoke and mirrors. I am the worst at hairdos." (I mean, what if I just said "Thanks!" instead?)

As I've thought about it, a disclaimer essentially does two things: 1) highlights negatives about myself or 2) turns the situation/conversation back to me - when it shouldn't be.

So, no more disclaimers.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Deal of the Day - Bread Machine.

My friend (the Enchantress) and I were walking laps at the gym post work out. She mentioned that she had made cinnamon rolls for her kids that morning. Casually. As if everyone just whips out cinnamon rolls.
_____
Me: Cinnamon rolls take forever!
Enchantress: I use my bread machine. It makes it much easier.
(Side note - the Enchantress is always making various and sundry delicious treats in said bread machine.)
Me: I've looked at buying a bread machine but they are really pricey. Maybe I will have to ask for one for Mother's Day.
(Side note - Sometimes asking for small appliances as gifts is so lame. When you could be asking for a the grey wedge Toms or the Sun Shades dress.)
Enchantress: Oh, I bought mine at the thrift store downtown. They always have 3 or 4. I bought it for next to nothing and it works great. My sister even picked one up there when she was visiting.

. . . Can you believe the genius-ness of the Enchantress? Take a moment to bask in her clever ways. . .

Me: I am heading down there today.
____
I am here to tell you that I did just that and picked up this little beauty* for $10. (Originally $20 but all the small appliances were half off!)

The Enchantress was particularly impressed that mine came with the instruction manual and recipe book (in their original plastic bag no less.)

Here is our first loaf of bread. (Half eaten.)

While I was there I browsed through the clothes and found a skirt and a sweater. (The skirt was part of a set with a fancy shoulder padded jacket, matching print. I passed on the jacket and donated it right back.)

I also picked up 2 sweaters for my teenager. $23 total for the 4 items and bread maker.

As I type, I have this recipe for cinnamon rolls on the dough cycle. Very nice.

*I nearly forgot the best part of the story, another friend came over and told me she has the exact same bread machine (different color) and they paid over $100 for it.

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