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My Enemies

I read an article the other day where it was mentioned that Paul Newman was on Richard Nixon's enemies list and that this greatly amused him.

The concept of an “enemies list” seems so incredibly humorous to me – like something Mr. Burns would have (does he have one?). So naturally, I thought to myself, Who would be on my enemies list … if I were to have one. Here's what I came up with.

1. Sarah Jessica Parker (bitch stole my baby name)
2. Michael Vicks
3. anyone who gives me unsolicited assvice vis a vis my kids
4. people who cut in line
5. Barney
6. whoever makes up the time tables for when McDonald's does and doesn't serve breakfast … I hardly ever want breakfast from there, but it's always after they've switched to lunch at some absurdly early hour
7. The RIAA/MPAA
8. Nicholas Cage … don't know why, but that guy seriously bugs me
9. mimes
10. the aliens that abduct my father-in-law
11. the “customer service” reps at any cell phone company (particularly the ones that accost you in the mall)
12. this guy (his wife is lovely too)

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Monday’s Menu

A sample of what we are eating this week:

Sunday: pumpkin pockets from the Toddler Cafe cookbook (got this from the library)
Monday: turkey meatloaf, roasted butternut squash (will save, puree and freeze the extra for Ben) and asparagus
Tuesday: I am working late and Matt is bringing the kids to my moms before our parenting class … so dinner on the road somewhere, I guess
Wednesday: shepherd’s pie …. will double this and stick the extra in the freezer
Thursday: spaghetti with summer squash and mushrooms
Friday: pizza with pesto and tomatoes … or go out

In addition to the dinner items, I made a bunch of baby food for Ben on Sunday: pureed corn, pureed peaches, pureed blueberries. I also made a batch of Applesauce muffins, but something went wonky with the timer and the got all burnt and rubbery. So … will have to do take 2 later this week.

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Weekend Update

We had a lovely fall weekend. The weather cooperated with us admirably and we got to enjoy the activities we had planned.

Friday we went to the gym in the morning and my plans for the afternoon (namely to work on the house) were squashed when I got tag-teamed by the kids. No one wanted to nap. Everyone was cranky. But luckily my family came over and watched the kids that evening while Matt and I cleaned up.

Saturday we had a birthday party for one of Tabby’s friends to attend. It was a very fun event and Tabby talked about it the rest of the day. After that, we ran a couple of errands and beat it back home so Matt could meet a Craigslist buyer. He sold his old camera and old table saw (to two different people) as we cleaned up the house and the kiddos napped.

That evening, he and the kids went with my mom and sister to the aquarium and the aquarium restaurant while I hosted my mom’s group game night. It was a great group and we laughed a lot and drank a little and played a few games even.

Though I felt the red wine this AM, we headed off to the gym and had a great workout. We followed that up with a quick trip to the farmer’s market (honey crisp apples … yum!). The balance of the day has been spent napping, doing laundry, watching football, and cooking.

Just about perfect.

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What to Post?

I've sat down to write something out about 5x now. And always I discard it as something valuable only as a sleep aid. We are busy, but it is not really the interesting sort of busy. It is the mind-numbing whirrrr busy of routine. I like it. Things of note.

• If my dear Papa (mom's dad) was still living, he would have been 90 years old this past Tuesday. I still miss him.
• My parents celebrated their 37th (!!) wedding anniversary yesterday. Just … amazing.
• My sweet boy is 5 months old today. He is oh-so-charming. So lucky to have him!
• Tomorrow is my “day off” but as I am hosting game night and my house has been taken over by various projects, it will, in practice, be my “clean up the freaking house already day.”
• I love Glee. Also Gossip Girl. And still Top Chef. And Mad Men.
• I just finished Escape, the story of a woman trapped in the Fundamentalist Mormon Church Cult. Riveting.
• Now reading Wishful Drinking, by Carrie Fisher and The Poet, by Michael Connelly. As different as possible, but both really enjoyable so far. The former, a witty collection of autobiographical stories and the later a thrilling serial murder mystery set (at least part) in Denver.
• I have Drunko Bunco tonight. Yay.
• I had awesome “Autumn Couscous” from Whole Foods today. Contains Israeli couscous, butternut squash and cranberries (among other thing).
• I ordered fall shoes for the kids today … 1 pair for Ben, 2 for Tabby (seems unfair, but she needs them more than him). She got a pair of brown Mary Janes and a pair of dark purple Cons and he got a pair of Robeez with Ugly Doll style monsters on them. Too cute! Also $120. Yikes.
• Have not taken the camera out in a loooong time. Need to … have no photos of Ben scarfing his “solids” yet. He is too cute.

I can't think of anything else. Happy almost Friday!

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13 Lucky Links

OK, so back to the model where I don't overwhelm with links. Or try not to anyhow.

• The Kitchn, one of my favorite foodie sites, is holding a “Quick Weeknight Meals” contest. Lots of good recipes to be had.
• eco friendly steam dishwasher @ Unpluggd
• how to craft a good answer to Why should we hire you?
• nerdery: how to access your home files from anywhere (am I the only one who frequently wants to do this??)
• Ohdeedoh has a great roundup of 25 DIY projects with kids
• look at these great old wooden filing drawers used as a media center … I could think of about 100 things to do with such cool looking pieces
• love these cute little anti-coloring books on Etsy
• I seriously ♥ these DIY scratch-off cards
• build a wall with star-light bricks
• a cute, artistic way to capture that first day of school
• check out this amazing color schemer that is based on a google search
• some fun restaurants to take the kiddos to
• awesome ideas for first birthday gifts

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Cloudy With a Chance of Soup

People around the Denver Metro Area woke up to fall this morning. Temps are in the mid 50s, it's cloudy and rainy and it's supposed to stay that way all week. I don't think I'm alone in saying, “Yay!” I honestly love all of the seasons and am happy to see each new one come. Winter is about the only one that wears out its welcome on me and as for the others, I always feel they could be a bit longer. Fall is especially this way. It never seems long enough.

I love that in fall it all seems to slow down a bit. Everything is a bit more home-centric. We stay in more. I have lots of memories of the last few falls of being at home on Sundays, watching football, making food and folding laundry. Our favorite recipes are fall recipes. Last night I made Rachael Ray's Spinach Artichoke Mac 'n' Cheese (this was good, but I accidentally picked up Danish Fontina instead of Italian, and I think it put the taste just a bit off). Tonight, we're eating Panera's Broccoli Cheese Soup. There are many more making their way into our line-up. Turkey Bean Chili. Meatloaf. Tamale Pie. Beef Stroganoff. And possibly one of our favorite meals of all time Cheesy Baked Chicken with Butternut Squash Risotto.

Please share your favorite fall recipes with me. I'm always game for new ones.

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Making Room for Ben

 


I had such fun decorating Tabby’s nursery before she arrived and honestly, I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t prepare a special place for Ben as well. Partially, the basement remodel allows us to give Ben his own room since Matt will move his study to the basement. And as it has become evident recently that Ben needs his own room, Matt has agreed to temporarily relocate his office to the “retreat” off the master bedroom (where I have my desk) so that we can move Ben sooner rather than later. This will mean, unfortunately, that late-night work (which Matt does on a fairly regular basis) will have to be done from our living room. It is a bit of a sacrifice on Matt’s part to give Ben a (hopefully) better night’s sleep and to give us our bedroom back. I really appreciate it. And of course, as an excellent bonus, I get to design another fun nursery. Yay! The above is my styleboard (so far) for Ben’s Nursery. Continue reading “Making Room for Ben”

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Links for YOU

I have been busy collecting links for YOU. I hope you're grateful. hehehe

• thought this what are we having? shower was a cute idea. Try to ignore to trolls in the comments. Geez.
• I cannot believethis shirt only got 2nd place!!! LOL
• thought this landing area fortransient items was a neat idea
• the Simple Dollar has a good article on raising financially fit kids
• this safe is awesome looking, but it might defeat the purpose since I wouldn't want to hide it
• I am not in the market for a crib, but if I were, this one is gorgeous!
• fun projects for/with kids: painting with a plastic comb, making paper, DIY wrapping paper, baby photos banner, doll houses, broken-crayon monograms (these would be great teacher gifts!, reusable sandwich keepers, alphabet block magnets, attractive kiddy couch
• a primer on canning peaches
• if you're not into being a pirate, here is the run down on getting legit copies of software for less
• cuz it just wouldn't be a link post without a tree house reference: the salvaged treehouse ♥ it!
• a cute, if somewhat limited way to store hair accessories
• I am probably too old to be interested in the pugmo fitness scooter but it looks very cool!
• other than the excellent ones Ani sent me from Pampered chef, I have mostly found chip bag clips kinda useless … these are kinda interesting though
• this rainbow cake makes my teeth hurt! But it sure is pretty.
• I am thinking Ben's room might need some raingutter bookcases
• feed 10 people for around $20 … a budget dinner party for any night of the week
• Yoshihiro Moritake's entire online sketchbook is worth a look, but I especially love the great wallpapers
• teeny tiny, darling circle kitchen ♥ swoon ♥
• Budget Travel brings youthe world's weirdest hotels
• for you iphoners there is a new book coming out, the best iPhone appp
• hide your passwords in a floppy disk
• a roadtrip playlist for you AND the kids
• DIY spring tote, baking mixes, toddler beds, favor boxes, dorm room, SIGG bottle
• great organization downloads