Erin Mary

Homemade Costumes to the Rescue

2011-11-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

Homemade Halloween costumes tug at my heart strings; there is something about the get-ups that are obviously homemade that get me everytime. I like their imperfections, as opposed to the mass produced costumes with perfect lines and straight stitches.

That's not to say I haven't seen some super cute ones out there that haven't caught my eye. Mitchell's first Halloween he dressed up as a skunk. I don't think I could have pulled that one off (I was talking about making the costume not wearing it).

So stinking cute...

Fast forward three years and I had two little boys who were both interested in being super heroes.

We put our heads together and came up with Star Man and Lightning Man:

These costumes were fun to put together, and easy peasy!

Here are the steps I took to turn my little angels into superheros:

1. The cape and mask were store bought, we glued lightning bolts and stars cut out of foam onto the masks.

2. I bought girls' leggings (Don't tell JD, he thinks they are track pants) and folded the lace on the bottom under. I am actually keeping the leggings, I mean track pants, for when we go up north to the cold country for the holidays.

3. The belt is made out of felt. I cut it to the desired length and glued on the black felt buckle. I sewed snaps onto them, but needed a little tape at last minute for a little extra reinforcement (we are a lot of tacos at dinner that night).

4. The shirts were my favorite part to make and basically cover the extent of my sewing capabilities. The method is reversed applique, a technique that I learned from my good friend Rachel, over at Stitched in Color. Here are the steps as I remembered them:

a. Draw or trace desired design on fabric (white long sleeved shirts in this case) using a sharpie or fabric chalk, depending on whether you want your line to be visible or not. I used sharpie and it did run a little bit in the wash, but didn't ruin anything.

b. Pin the fabric that you would like to show up under the shirt, make sure the fabric reaches beyond the edges of your design.

c. Stitch along the line that you've drawn, so you are basically sewing the fabric to the article of clothing.

(I apologize because I stopped taking pictures here. I think I got too excited about the end result, I didn't stop for much. I bet you can still follow along, you smartie, you).

d. Using sharp scissors, cut the shirt inside of the stitching, revealing the fabric underneath. If you use a shirt that is made of cotton, the edges should roll up once you wash it.

And that's it. The boys loved their costumes, and I loved watching them save the neighborhood.

Our little guys made out like bandits, I mean super heroes. As soon as they went to sleep that night I purged their pumpkins of all candy that was simply sugar or loaded with food coloring (except for dum-dums, once in a while you need a sucker on hand for emergency situations. And they're so small, right?). We basically saved the chocolate bars. Many of which were sent off to work with the husband (I didn't ask if they were going to the break room or into his desk, I won't ask). I'm hoping the boys slowly start to forget about the chocolate bars (fact: they have hardly asked for any, It's me I'm hoping forgets about the chocolate bars).

Hopefully next year they will want to be something else simple that I can create in just a few steps. Or maybe I'll become a fabulous seamstress in 2012? OK, enough dreaming, I'm off to forget about chocolate by partaking in apple crisp.

P.S. My very talented husband put this short video together feat. Star Man and Lightning Man- check it out!

Eat a Whoopie Pie

2011-10-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

I rather like chocolate. And pumpkin. I couldn't get the lovely couple out of my head so I decided to give these pumpkin whoopie pies of Miss Martha Stewart a try. I quite liked them. They are supposed to be mini, but you can see from the picture I got a little carried away with the chocolate cookie part and they are not, in fact, mini.

I did have the thought though, that there was too much chocolate to pumpkin ratio, so next time I will either make smaller cookies, or make extra filling. I will probably make extra filling, because if you are going to eat a whoopie pie, you should eat a whoopie pie.

Below is the recipe with a few slight changes.

For the Cookies

Ingredients:

1 3/4 C. white whole wheat flour
3/4 C. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. coarse salt
1 T. unsalted butter, softened
1/4 C. vegetable shortening
1/2 C. pure cane sugar
1/2 C. packed brown sugar
1 large cage-free egg
1 C. whole milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Method:

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
-Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into medium bowl; set aside.
-Place butter, shortening, and sugars into the bowl and beat at medium speed for 3 minutes. Add egg; mix until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in half of flour mixture, then add milk and vanilla. Mix in remaining flour mixture.
-Drop about two tsp. dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, about 2 inches apart. Bake 12-14 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks and let cool 10 min. Place cookies directly on wire rack and cool completely.

For the Filling

Ingredients:

4 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 C. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 C. 10 x sugar (confectioners)
1/4 C. pumpkin puree
Pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg

Method:

-Using electric mixer, blend together cream cheese, butter, and 10 x sugar on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg; whip until smooth.

-Arrange cookies by placing desired amount of filling on flat side of cookie, top with another cookie

Enjoy!

I would say these aren't a great option for making ahead as I wouldn't want to leave them sitting out too long with the cream cheese filling, and putting them in the fridge makes the cookie part a little hard. You could make everything ahead of time and plan to arrange them shortly before serving. Don't worry about putting leftovers in the fridge, there won't be any left over.

A Very Marley Christmas

2011-09-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

I had to share this sweet moment with you.

My neighbor asked me to watch her daughter for a bit the other day. I knew the boys would be elated because they love playing with her. When she arrived, instead of their usual routine of running laps around the house, they crawled up on the couch to read a book that Olivia had brought with her. My first thought was that I could finish cleaning the kitchen and get a head start on dinner (yeah for being productive!), but when I heard her reading, I just stopped.

She read the book to them so carefully, doing the different characters' voices WAY better than I would have. It was so sweet the way that they hung on every word, and how she stopped to explain things like "Don't touch Christmas lights, it's electricity and you can get shocked, like lightning." or "Do you know what a toboggan is? It's a sled. Do you remember when I let you borrow my sled last winter?". At seven years old, she had so much to teach them, and they soaked it all in.

I did too. So much so, that I forgot about getting dinner started. Luckily it was just grilled pizza. Wait, did I say "just grilled pizza"? So not appropriate, as we had something new: baked potato pizza. I think I'll make it again for company this weekend (not just any company- sister and my sweet, baby niece!!). Maybe we'll snap a picture to share before it's gone. Perhaps, we won't have the chance.

a side table

2011-09-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

I had this table.

Actually, it wasn't quite so bad to begin with. But then, way back when (two years ago) when I was a bit ignorant about painting and staining furniture, I decided it needed to be darker and I put a coat of stain on it.

Just like that, right over the stain that was on it. I actually thought it was that easy (pathetic, I know).

As you can imagine, not having sanded it first, the stain didn't soak in. It merely coated the table making the table glossy and like something from the 80's (there's nothing wrong with the 80's).

Exhibit A:

A sad table, indeed. So I mustered up the courage to paint the little guy. The process was a bit more sophisticated the second time around.

Step one: A coat of white primer. Step two: two coats of creamy white paint. Step three: A thin coat of a brown gloss that was painted on and wiped off right away. Step four: A little sanding around the edges for a bit of a "distressed" look.

At first I wasn't sure if it looked fabulous or just a little bit dirty. But eventually I fell in love with the little side table.

Exhibit B:

I couldn't find a replacement knob that was price I was looking for (free), so I wrapped some jute around the existing one and voila. Oh, how I love jute.

And white. It's fresh, clean, classic, but not outdated. It's a love affair I have going on here, folks. I can still appreciate the beauty of natural wood, so I won't go on painting everything in my house white. But there is this hutch...

The PSL

2011-09-05T05:51:00.000-07:00

One of my very loyal and adoring readers (my sister) brought it to my attention that there was not merely enough enthusiasm in my last post in regards to the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Confession: I was trying to play it cool.

What I wanted to say was:

Loyal and adoring readers, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is here!!!

It really is a special moment when a Pumpkin Spice Latte lover realizes the wonderful day has arrived when the coveted fall beverage has become available. I think I broke the PSL code when I didn't immediately send a text to share the good news. Can you forgive me? I will buy you a PSL next time we are together. Surely that will erase any negative feelings regarding me and the PSL??

Anyway, there was a reason I didn't immediately send the memo out to the world. Don't tell anyone, but I wasn't exactly supposed to be served a PSL yet...ssssshhhhhhh. They made an exception for me.

I'd like to tell you it was because my hair was done just so, there was a sparkle in my eye, my outfit was cute. But alas, none of this is true. I had just run in the door from a rain storm, there were black marks under my eyes from running mascara, and I could hardly see because the wind had blown my hair all over my face. I was trying to carry a diaper bag and purse, while corralling two excited youngins. Frankly, they felt bad for me. And I'm OK with that. I'm just happy because

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is Back!!!

Pumpkins

2011-09-03T07:03:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin season is upon us, friends. I enjoyed my first pumpkin spice latte of the season last night (I know, I know, that's not real pumpkin but it's a sure sign that pumpkins are imminent).

I can just barely contain myself, there are too many good things to say about this orange jewel. I think I'll start by sharing a photo of my favorite fall decoration...

More pumpkin goodness to come.

Hey, you guys

2011-08-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

Aw heck, I'm just going to come out and say it. I haven't written a blog in a while.
Partly because I have been too busy with summer plans and little guys. But also because I thought, "How should I begin a post after not having written in so long?".

And then it came to me.

"Aw, heck" seems fitting, since I'm somewhat southern now: we always have sweet tea in the house (OK fine, it's not nearly as sweet as a true southerner would make it, but it's good), I say "right quick" a lot, and sometimes I even let a "y'all" slip out (although as a true northerner, I still prefer "you guys"). And you can sometimes find me sweeping the front porch watching the storms roll in...

Well I do have a few recipes and crafty things to share, but why rush things?

I think I'll leave you with a few of my favorite pics from the dog days of summer...

The boys first Red Sox game

A visit to the farm

4th of July in Boston

The arrival of my sweet baby niece

We were all smitten.

I'll write more before long, promise. I'd write more now, but I have a porch to sweep ;)

four

2011-07-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

I wish I could pause time, really I do. My little man turned four this past week, what?! I guess I should confess that I am not totally sad to say goodbye to the threes. Just in case you don't have kids yet, or they haven't turned three- there is no such thing as the terrible two's. I feel a little bad to be the one to break this two you, but the general consensus between my mama friends and I that three is much less fabulous than two.

It wasn't all terrible though, and actually when I think back to this past year, I hardly remember the rough days. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Really, honestly, truly- being a mom is the BEST thing in the world, and I loved celebrating Mitchell man's fourth birthday with our family Cat in the Hat style...

Love my new produce bags!

2011-06-17T18:57:00.000-07:00

I used to be surprised at how many people weren't using reusable shopping bags. I'm not sure why someone wouldn't use them, knowing how wasteful traditional plastic bags can be. Although I shouldn't judge the plastic bag users- sometimes I forget my bags at home, and once in a while I still opt for the plastic because they can be convenient to have for, well, um...dog poop. Sorry, no way around that one.

Oh yes, I know, there was that study where they tested someone's reusable bags and found they held more germs than the county fair port-a-potty (they say the same thing about your computer keyboard- just sayin'). But you can wash them friends! As a matter of fact, I washed mine tonight and even sprayed down the removable bottom part- good as new. Doesn't sound like an exciting way to spend a Friday evening? Well, I was listening to some Mumford and Sons and sipping sangria while my boys (all three) wrestled in the next room. It was actually a pleasant experience.

Anyway, lately I have been surprised at the number of people who are using the reusable bags. The other day, the person in front of me, the person behind me, and the person at the next register over were all using them. It was like we were a little posse- sort of.

And now I'm excited about my reusable produce bags- I'm always getting comments from the cashiers on how much they like them. Don't I look totally cool with the bags thrown over my shoulder?

Who needs a Longchamp when you have one of these? OK, I do.

summer veggies

2011-06-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

On the heels of my last post, we have had an abundance of summer veggies over here that we have been loving. One of our favorite meals came accidentally last night when I threw a whole bunch of veggies into a bowl and added a little ranch. I also realized it was high time to start using some of the summer squash (his friend, the zucchini, was long gone and happily abiding in our zucchini bread).

For the salad, (I'm sharing this because I love salads but often have a mental block about what to add to them):

Start with a spinach, and red leaf lettuce mix (or whatever suits your fancy)
Add: tomatoes, cucumbers (peeled, chopped into small cubes), banana peppers, fresh corn, dried cranberries, grilled chicken, and feta. Um... YUM!

For the summer squash ( I can't believe I used to consider summer squash my least favorite vegetables. Rutabaga, cabbage and mustard greens now each top that list. Not everything in our vegetable box is deletable- I'm just happy I discovered that you can add beets to chocolate cake :). Oh sorry, the squash:

Cut squash lengthwise, put cut side down on lightly greased tinfoil. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Add some fresh herbs if you have them (parsley, oregano or basil would work). Place on preheated grill for 25 minutes. Open foil and top with some feta.

I know what you're thinking, "It's not fair to put feta on the dishes and call them great, feta makes everything taste amazing." Well, that's true. I used the feta because we had it, but these dishes would still be fabulous without it!

Post Script- Add the feta.

green smoothies

2011-06-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

I have loved, loved being a part of our first CSA these past few months. The veggies are wonderful and have added a lot of variety to our menu. Perhaps one of my favorite discoveries is the green smoothies we have been making (with a tip from a friend) using collard greens. Really, you can not taste the greens, only the delicious fruit. I love that sneaky feeling of watching the boys gulp down their leafy greens, always asking for more...

Our favorite fruits to add are: bananas, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and mango (not all at once, but whichever ones we have). We also add some milk and a little yogurt- drink up y'all!

rainy morning discoveries

2011-05-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

We had an intense rain storm the other evening (I actually felt the house shake with the thunder, and it caused a car alarm to go off). In the wake of the tornadoes that have happened recently it was nerve racking, but we were quite lucky, and no damage was done. It did, however, leave our yard a somewhat muddy mess in the back, which is never fun for taking Remy out in the morning. And then the boys wanted to come with. "Um....no". That was my response when I thought about taking them out in the wet mess, when breakfast hadn't even been made and there was not (yet) a spot on their clothing. But they realllly wanted to come AND they put their shoes on without help."OK, come on" (in that "I-just-gave-in" tone).

And that's when we made some rainy morning discoveries.

a friendly turtle

a nervous millipede

a pair of delicate blue eggs

And our morning was made. We had plenty to discuss over pancakes, and no one came inside a muddy mess- definitely worth it.

say yes to chocolate and peanut butter

2011-05-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

I wish I could say that I came up with this recipe, or even that I was the one who discovered it after scouring through many cookbooks, but alas, it was the good folks over at Smitten Kitchen who shared it first.

I highly recommend this chocolate peanut butter cake. It's truly fabulous and not too difficult to make. I made the cake a day ahead and chilled it before frosting as suggested, which turned out to be great advice.

I say indulge. Birthday or not, it's worth it!

A Somewhat Fabulous Idea

2011-05-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

At some point in my childhood I stopped eating bread crusts. Then, a dear family friend told me that if I didn't start to eat them I would never be able to whistle. After giving it some thought, this made perfect sense to me, and so bread crusts became a regular part of my diet.
My children don't like bread crusts. Someday when they are a little older, I may pull out the threat that if you reject the crust you will live a life devoid of whistling, but right now they are a bit young for that.

Confession: I cut the crusts off of their sandwiches. I know, I know, how enabling right? But I realized that when I don't do this, they leave about 1/4 inch of perfectly good sandwhich that their teeth can not get to without biting into that awful,terrible, crust. With a knife, I can cut it precisely and most of the sandwich is saved.

But what about all those crusts? They were getting wasted, so I decided to turn them in to croutons. So Easy! So yummy! Here's how:

Cut crusts off bread before making the which, and cut into cubes
Coat with extra virgin olive oil
Sprinkle with sea salt, freshly ground pepper, and a little bit of garlic powder
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until crispy

That's it! These are great on salad, or better yet- homemade macaroni and cheese.
I might have eaten them by the handful while preparing dinner tonight...

Some Rest

2011-04-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

Our nap times have been somewhat sporadic these days (not good).

Mitchell hasn't napped for a while now, but he sometimes fall asleep late in the day, which causes him to stay up waaaay too late. Once he falls asleep for a nap, he can't be woken up. I know someone else who like to take naps, and falls asleep hard and fast. Although in my defense, I think I'm a little bit narcoleptic, so let's not get in to that.

Landon has been going into his room for nap time around 1:30 everyday, but for about a week has not been falling asleep and instead, out of boredom, strips himself of all clothing. and diapers.

Today I decided to implement a rest time for both boys from 1-2. This would ensure that mama has some alone time to nap, err I mean, do the dishes. And also that both boys had the opportunity to nap (even if they didn't fall asleep) and we wouldn't have any ruined bedtime routines or have any bare, unpotty-trained bottoms.

It worked! The boys stayed in their room playing quietly without putting up a fight and I was able to get a few things done (really, I did).

Around 4 o'clock, Mitchell asked to watch the "Muppets go to Space" (we are on a big space kick over here). I obliged, and went to do more dishes. Upon returning I found my well-rested boys, fast asleep...

Maybe the rest time in separate rooms will work better next time...

Grilled Pizza

2011-04-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I've kept this from you for so long. We enjoy this deliciousness almost once a week. Our favorite pizzas to make are: barbecue with caramelized onions (heavenly), spinach and feta, and cheese and pineapple for the little guys. Go ahead and give it a try, you WON'T be disappointed (I promise the dough won't fall through the slots in a gooey mess)...

Here are the steps:

1. Preheat Grill
2. Roll out pizza dough (I've made the dough at home, but frankly I'm not that good at making anything to do with yeast, so I prefer to buy it in the bakery section of our grocery store)
3. Coat one side with olive oil and corn meal
4. Place on grill for about 4 minutes or until bottom is crisp
5. Remove from Grill and add sauce. P.S. You never need to buy jarred pizza sauce again, simply follow the recipe at smittenkitchen for Moderately Easy Tomato Sauce . I added some fresh basil- perfecto!
6. Add cheese and other toppings and place back on grill for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

GO!

Coffee filter garland? Don't mind if I do...

2011-04-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

I found myself with a whole lot of coffee filters that I didn't have a use for. Don't get me wrong, I am an avid coffee drinker: a java junkie, latte lova, coffee queen, OK, I'll stop. Anyway, I use a reusable coffee filter in the mornings (maybe I won't feel so bad about my addiction if I'm saving trees at the same time?) but I bought a package of coffee filters in order to strain some homemade yogurt (Yes, you have to make yogurt at home. in your crock pot. it's so good) but I only used one filter from the package.

So naturally, I googled "What to do with extra coffee filters" and that's when I found a jem. A Miss Pam Garrison posted once upon a time about a garland she made after seeing a window display at Anthropologie (Best Store Everrr)(Sorry, Target. Don't worry though, you are a close second). Her creation is fabulous and hopefully she doesn't mind that I just had to make one of my own.

you like?

las flores

2011-04-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

I am head-over-heels for this Springtime we are having. The weather has been simply delicious and I'm glad to see that even my northern peeps are getting a taste of it. The flowers in bloom here are gorgeous. I often have to force myself to keep my eyes on the road while driving and not simply stare out the window (don't worry, I've done a pretty good job at saving my wide-eyed gazes until I am in the passenger seat).

And now comes the sad part. I don't have any of this fabulousness in my own yard. There is one small branch of a blooming dogwood that I can see out my back porch, and I find myself sneaking a peek whenever I walk by.

I'm sure my days of flower planting will come soon enough. And maybe one day, I will have the weeping willow I've been dreaming of.

Anyway, while walking into one of my classes yesterday I saw some azeleas and thought "aaaah to have some of these in my yard, in my house..." and then one of my sweet, sweet students came in with some handpicked flowers from her Nana's house. My day was made.

a birthday

2011-02-20T17:40:00.000-08:00

We had a small, but wonderful birthday celebation for Landon this weekend complete with...

happy birthday bunting

homemade party hats

a creative birthday boy

strawberry cakes

and a few close friends

We had a sweet day that could only have been made better with the presnece of our MA, NJ, and Puerto Rico family and friends. More celebrations to come!

a moment (and chocolate financiers)

2011-02-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

This morning I was baking these fabulous chocolate financiers that I disovered on Smitten Kitchen (one of my faves).

Generally my little guys like to bake with me, but today they were happily playing in the room beside me, so I had the kichen to myself. After several minutes of playing, I heard both of them pitter patter upstairs. I planned to check on them after a few minutes, but time escaped me- I was basking in the quiet moment. I realized that at least fifteen minutes had past, and the brothers were far too quiet up there all alone.

As I nervously walked upstairs, all I could picture was that they had gotten in to my beads (again), taken all the clothes out of their drawers (again), or maybe they were drawing a mural on one of the walls (this has yet to happen). I thought to myself, "I am so angry. They are both going to have a time out for this one, AND they will have to take a marble out of the jar. Should I also take away a privelage?"

I just knew it was going to be bad.

So I creeped around the corner and that's when I saw...

this.

Comfort and Joy

2011-01-17T10:47:00.000-08:00

I am a sporadic blogger, your pardon is appreciated though :) I do have more recipes and thoughts to share with you in 2011, so keep coming back, ok? I'll start the year of by sharing some photos from our Christmas season. I feel blessed that it was marked by comfort and joy. We spent our time creating...

tender moments

handmade bows

gifts from the heart

family memories

oh, and a little visit with Santy

Chai Me

2010-12-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

It's been really cold here lately (am I allowed to complain about cold weather when I live in SC?). Anyway, no matter where you live, there's nothing better on a cold day than wrapping your hands around a warm mug, eh? Today I was craving some chai; my aunt Susan shared a cup with me over Thanksgiving that some friends from Kenya had made for her with fresh spices, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I tried to recreate it by doing the following:

Combine: 3 black tea bags

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. allspice

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

12 ounces boiling water

Steep 5 minutes, then add 6-8 ounces of milk (I might have used cream, but not a whole cup of course ;).

Keep on medium heat for 3 minutes, making sure milk does not boil.

Add some natural cane sugar and/or honey (I might have used both ;).

be warm!

i'm in love with a cookie

2010-11-16T19:34:00.000-08:00

How should I put this? I'm in love with a cookie. I adapted the following recipe from one found on one of my favorite food blogs, simply recipes. I made some healthy changes to the Pumpkin Cookie recipe I found there, so I shall share it here so you can fall in love too...

Ingredients
3/4 C. butter at room temperature
1/4 C. applesauce
1/2 C. packed brown sugar
1/4 C. granulated sugar
1/4 C. honey
1 C. pumpkin puree (my best batch ever was the one pictured above, made with the pumpkin from my dear friend Rachel's garden. Canned pumpkin would also work though.)
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 C. whole wheat flour
1 C. unbleached white flour
1 1/3 C. quick or old-fashioned cooking oats
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg

Method
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
-Beat butter, applesauce, honey, and sugar together until fluffy.
-Add the egg, vanilla, and pumpkin puree- beat another 3 minutes.
-In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
-Slowly add mixture to the wet ingredients, until well combined.
-Drop spoonfuls onto cookie sheets and bake 10-12 min. Cool on tray for a minute and then transfer to rack.

Eric Carle Wall Clock

2010-11-13T17:11:00.000-08:00

When I was in high school my parents bought me a book of Eric Carle tissue paper that can be used for making just about anything. I remember feeling so understood. I loved that they knew I would adore the book, using it for countless art projects. It has, however, been used sparingly (it's been over ten years!).
I don't want it to ever end...

Recently, Mitchell, Landon and I, decorated a plain wall clock using said tissue paper. The boys loved that they could rip the paper and glue it on; there wasn't much precision involved so they could easily help, and I could work on it while watching TV in the evening. Needless to say, we were happy with the end result. It did use up more of the precious paper than I would normally use on one project. But just look at Mitchell's smile:

The clock adds a touch of color to their barren walls. Plus, I can probably find more Eric Carle tissue paper, and if not- I'll make some!

Egg-Free Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

2010-10-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

Went searching for an egg-free sugar cookie recipe the other day. Not because we dislike eggs, are vegan, or are intolerant, we just didn't have any. We had been visited by the neighborhood hob goblin the night before, who left us a mickey mouse shaped cookie cutter (the kit also included orange and black icing, although we omitted that because of the dangers of food coloring, read more here). And Mitchell wanted to use the cookie cutter something fierce, so we decided to try out the following recipe adapted from one found on Mamapedia:

2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar (I used a little less than this, but they are "sugar cookies" so I didn't half the sugar as I usually do)
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons pureed pumpkin (because I can't not use pumpkin lately)

Method:
Combine the flour, salt, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon. Cream the butter and sugar. Blend in the sour cream; and then the dry ingredients. Chill for 1 to 2 hours. Roll out the dough until it is 1/2" thick on a floured smooth surface (you may need to add extra flour at this point). Cut with cookie cutter and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

The verdict: success!

Free Music Download

2010-10-04T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of Paolo Nutini's music, my favorite song of his being Jenny Don't Be Hasty. I'm also a fan of free (I have yet to meet a soul who isn't) so why not check out this free download of a new song of his, Growing Up Beside You? I'm not sure how long this is good for, so now is the time to be hasty and add it to your collection pronto.

Betty

2010-09-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

OK, I admit it: I am a mini-hoarder. I've posted about this before, searching for advice on whether or not I should keep my prom dress, wedding cards, a ceramic snail, and other miscellaneous items. Well tonight I was going through a box (my intent was to find my embroidery thread, which I did find, might I add) and I came across this beautiful array of memories:

Pictured: a small portion of my bead collection, some extra pieces to a yo-yo quilt, a vintage postcard from my sister all the way from Worcester, MA, a medal from the Philadelphia marathon (um, not a placement medal by the way, but one that indicates that I did, in fact, finish. My time will not be revealed), a Kermit the Frog push pin (I have a whole entire bag of these that I bought when I was in high school. Why? Not sure, but for some odd reason I can't part with them. Any Kermit lovers out there? I will be happy to part with them if I know they are going to a good home) and lastly, drum-roll please, the keys to my first car: a 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra named Betty. Seriously, Betty holds a special place in my heart. When I think about that car miles of memories come flooding back, and I smile.

And that's why I'm OK with being a mini hoarder. I feel blessed to have such rich memories, and I enjoy being able to reenter another period of my life by opening a box. A little unorganized? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.

at it again

2010-09-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

When I was in high school I bought a huge bucket of beads, I wasn't sure what I planned to do with them, but I was smitten. So I began making jewelery. I could write for a long time about how my obsession with beads grew, how I bought them every and any chance I had, how I made necklaces for every possible outfit combination I could think of and so on. But let's fast forward a few years to when I began college, got married at 19 (yeah, kinda crazy), graduated and began teaching full time, moved from MA to SC, moved back to MA from SC and had two adorable little boys one year apart, then moved back to SC again. So it's present time and I found a box in our garage that hadn't been opened since 2005. I opened it up, and staring back at me was large, unorganized, yet beautiful collection of beads. I think I screamed, or said something that scared JD, but either way I was delighted. And so I began beading again and I can't stop. This latest creation is a style I've been partial to these weeks and it's a belated gift for a friend of mine. I hope she likes it :)

it's a keeper

2010-08-04T18:59:00.000-07:00

And you thought I wasn't a part of the blogging world anymore, HA! I am, albeit sporadically, still here. The following post is meant serve as a bow around my finger.
Every once in a while I will make a stellar dinner. Is that OK to say? After eating every last bite, Jason and I will look at each other and know that the particular meal was a keeper. BUT, when I go to menu plan, I tend to forget any meal I've ever made. It's a mental block really, perhaps just so this little post would be written.

Below is a list of my favorite meals to prepare, with a bit of side information. I'll continue to add to it periodically, so that I can glance back when I'm off to the grocery store and have forgotten my faves. So here it goes:

Turkey Tacos: fresh corn from the cob, avocados, and tomatoes. Note, hard shells are making a comeback.
Salad with Marinated Chicken: fresh spinach and romaine, tomatoes, grapes, feta, grilled chicken (marinade: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, onion, garlic, basil). Note, cornbread is fantastic with this meal.
Pasta Fagiole & Wheat Ciabatta: large pasta shells, homemade sauce, pinto beans, Uncle Tony's recipe (enough said).
Turkey Burgers & Sweet Potato Fries: made with ground turkey, cooked spinach, sautéed onions and garlic. Note, if there is someone out there that doesn't like sweet potato fries, I want to meet them. Also, this burger topped with caramelized onions is phenomenal. Anything with caramelized onions is phenomenal.
Grilled Pizza: LOVE!!!! whole wheat pizza dough, whatever toppings are on hand (new fave: hummus, feta, kalamata olives, chicken- thanks Ang!) Brush dough with evoo, grill each side 3 min. add toppings, grill to perfection.
Shepard's Pie: Ground Turkey with shredded carrots, onions, allspice, corn, mashed potatoes Note, it took seven years to make a good mashed potato, still haven't perfected it. Don't forget the whole berry cranberry sauce.
BBQ Chicken Chili: Shredded Chicken, BBQ Sauce, grated carrots, onions, chili powder, salt, pepper, tomato paste. Served on a roll- fabulous. With homemade mac and cheese- even better.

Wowza, I love this list and hope to keep adding to it. Maybe you can help, what's your favorite meal to prepare??

Singer-Songwriter

2010-06-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

Since my last posting, I've gotten a plethora of requests for more videos (OK, really just my folks). But, I do have a few gems on my computer- some of which I watch often, all of which make me smile. Here's a video of Mitchell singing a song that he made up all by himself... (This one's for you Mom and Dad!)

Brothers

2010-05-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

I LOVE seeing my two little guys, Mitchell (almost three years old) and Landon (15 months) together. Their relationship is so sweet and getting more so by the day. They certainly have their "moments", but overall they get along so well and seeing how they love each other melts my heart everyday.

Landon wants to be just like his older brother. If Mitchell sneezes, Landon sneezes. If Mitchell is laughing, Landon laughs. If Mitchell decides it is more efficient to drink his applesauce, Landon does the same- you get the point. I can relate; growing up I emulated my older sister (often this was endearing but sometimes, probably got to the point of annoying). We've since become best friends- she has forgiven me for all the times I wouldn't leave her alone, and I have forgiven her for such things as cutting my hair (thus causing me to cry) and dressing me in clothes from the Limited Too that got me in trouble at school.

There have been times when I've thought it's too bad that I don't have two girls so that they can have the "sisters" bond that I have shared with my sister, but I have learned that the bond between brothers can be just as special. Here are two video clips of Mitchell and Landon playing together the other day. They make me laugh every time...

milk mustache

2010-04-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

The other day I noticed that Mitchell ended up with a tried and true milk mustache after breakfast. I couldn't help but take a bunch of pictures, a few of which would be a great compliment in the 'Got Milk' campaign...

South of the Border

2010-04-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

I was planning to write a blog about our big move back down south, but Jason beat me to it. So instead I'll share with you the link to his well written post about our transition. Since moving back three weeks ago today, we have been settling in quite nicely, although we are missing our MA family and friends quite a bit. We are happy though, to be back in our home and in a neighborhood that we have been enjoying immensely. Our street is full of little kids, which has made for lots of outdoor fun (should I dare mention how amazing the weather is?). Mitchell and Landon have met many new friends which has kept them busy and happy. We are looking forward to our visit up north in July, something we talk about with the boys often. We are taking advantage of the time though and are happily awaiting visitors!

Happy Birthday Landon!

2010-02-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

I really can't believe that Landon is about to turn one this week! It seems like just yesterday I was writing about his arrival and the worst toothache I've ever had...

In honor of his birthday I'll tell you a little bit about him and how he has changed our family over this past year. From the start he has always been a sweet heart, our little buddy, and a tough guy. He is generally happy to join along is whatever is taking place (although early on he wasn't a big fan of sleep, but I can say that he is offically sleeping through the night, and so are we!). He is easy going and anxious to join in the family fun, epsecially if it's wrestling with Jason and his big brother, Mitchell. He loves watching Mitchell play and interact with others, and he lets us know that if we give something to Mitchell, he wants one too. They really get along quite beautifully (save a few moments when they both want the same toy, drink, etc.) Some of my favorite moments are in the morning after breakfast- I'll finish my coffee (probably on to the second cup at this point) and the boys will play with their toys and talk and sing. It's too sweet, and I want to remember those moments forever.

Landon loves to dance, gaze at lights (as do most babies, but he seems especially into them- he can do the sign, and 'light' was his first word after 'dada' and 'mama'). He loves slides, playing with his cousin Brody, eating (as long as it's not 'baby' food), and especially loves spending time with our family- they light up his face and cause him to smile the biggest, cuest smile you will ever see!
As you'll see in the photos below, Landon is just the cutest little guy. We love having him around and couldn't imagine life without him. We are so so thankful for him and can't wait to continue to watch him grow!

Haiti and Perspective

2010-01-18T17:18:00.000-08:00

My first post of 2010 is not an update about our family (although I am sure there will be one soon), an attempt at being a gourmet chef (more recipes to come too!), or an anecdote about our days with our two boys (I am guilty of not sharing enough of these sweet stories with you). I just needed to take a moment to reflect on Haiti in light of the earthquake that hit last week. Jason and I have been following the story via the NBC Nightly News and online articles, and each time a segment about the country airs I have immense sorrow for those suffering through these times. It is truly overwhelming to think of the total devastation both physically and emotionally that thousands of people are going through. The sorrow that I feel is the kind that hits you in the gut, makes you feel weak, and puts you into perspective. I am helpless, knowing that at the present moment, there is not much that I can do. The one thing I am sure of is that I can not go about these days acting as if the pain of so many people does not exist. I will be thinking, praying, and hoping for the country of Haiti as I continue to realize that my problems are not so problematic after all. I will be hopeful for those that are still hanging on, and I will feel the joy of those that have found loved ones. I will continue to empathize with the people of Haiti and consider the ways that I might, in some way, become part of the story.

Rem Blog II

2009-10-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

After my post about Rem Dog, I have had many thoughtful and concerned readers ask me how he is doing and if we have found a solution to the barking. The answer is a very enthusiastic: YES! Thanks to some of the comments from y'all,we decided to bite the bullet and try a bark collar. We reluctantly headed to PetSmart where the helpful associate confirmed that the collar was guaranteed to solve the Remmer's barking without harming him in the process. We picked one out that actually emits a beep before a zap (something about some guy named Pavlov and classical conditioning) and we began putting the collar on him when leaving, as well as keeping him upstairs in the condo, so that he couldn't nervously watch out the window for us. He used to spend hours just looking (and barking) until we came home. Within days, our problem was solved. Once we created the routine of bringing Remy upstairs with the collar, he actually seemed to look forward to it (with Mitchell chasing him all over the place and Landon grabbing his tail, I can imagine Remy gets much needed respite when we leave). I can happily say that we no longer have to use our cell phones as a dog monitor, and we can leave the house without the fear that our neighbors will complain. To all of you who we offered Remy to, I humbly retract the offer. Remy Roo is a wonderful family dog, and even though he gets in the way (we don't have much space to work with right now), can be a bit annoying at times (aren't we all), and I stress out about whether he gets enough exercise (the days are becoming too short), he is a DeStratis for life and we're happy about it!

me like it

2009-09-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

I have crossed a few things off of my list below, but have yet to post a blog about our summer (I have until the 22nd, right?). I've started it, but I'll just have to keep you in suspense for a few more days... Until then, here is a video of Mitchell man enjoying some ice cream the other night. He has become our little chatter box, and every conversation we have with him is just as sweet as this one.

Summer Time

2009-08-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

Summer has definitely come to a close and Fall is upon us. I am looking forward to crisp air, hearty dishes, all things pumpkin, and most of all, the fun fall memories we will create with our little guys. Speaking of which, I am happy to be sitting down to finally write about our dog days of summer. I am so grateful that I have been able to stay at home with Mitchell and Landon over these months, and I will certainly treasure the moments we had together as a family, especially when the day comes when I begin teaching full time again.

Over these months we've had all sorts of excitement which have included:

Celebrating Mitchell's second birthday at the Tornado's game. We had a wonderful day surrounded by family and friends, and even a special visit from Abu!

Venturing in to Boston for the 4th of July to watch the fireworks with boys in tow. They both did great, probably better than I did. I guess Jason is starting a new streak, we'll see if he can beat 12 years in a row!

Heading to New Jersey to visit with Chris and Kim (who are such wonderful hosts!). We went to the Jersey Shore, Linvilla Orchards, and spent some time relaxing at the house. We played a little American Idol on the Wii, and although I've never been known for my voice, I really impressed the judges with my version of "Hey There Delilah"

Our annual family vacation to Cape Cod, which was nothing short of wonderful. The week was full of beach trips, boys playing and laughing, shopping, relaxing, good food, even better company, birthday celebrations and family portraits on the beach. Really, family vacations are the best and we are already counting down the months until next years trip!

hunker down

2009-08-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

I think that in general, "To Do" lists are far too underrated, especially for people like myself (any other extreme procrastinators out there?). I've come to realize that if I actually write down some of the things that I would like to accomplish that day, I am more likely to get them done. I know that this is not a new concept, but it is one that I should probably incorporate into my day. So, I guess there is no time like the present (you never thought you would hear those words come from me, did you??).

To Do

1. Write blog for July - Add pics and videos, and talk about how amazing Mitchell and Landon are and how much I am enjoying motherhood
2. Take chicken out of freezer
3. Send that gift to a good friend whose b-day was in July
4. Go to library and get "The Lace Reader" before I get kicked out of book club for not reading the book again
5. Brush Remy's teeth
6. Organize crafts
7. Finish making and then send out Mitchell's thank you cards - acknowledge that the cards are a month late
8. Go to Target
9. Work on Mitchell and Landon's baby books (order photos)
10. Send a note to those amazing friends I have been thinking of, but haven't contacted in a while

OK, I am starting to feel a bit overwhelmed, so my list will end here for tonight. I am going to go get a good night's rest so that I can hunker down and start crossing things off my list (yes, tomorrow!).

enjoying the ride

2009-06-14T13:31:00.001-07:00

And what a bad blogger I have been. It must be because I have been so busy baking homemade bread. OK, so I've only baked one loaf so far, but it was quite delicious and I plan on making more! We really have been keeping busy though, hanging out with our two cutie pies. The month of June seems to fill up and go by so fast every year...

Landon is 4 months old now and growing so quickly. The whole family thinks that he looks like a tough guy and that he will be a football player. I'm hoping he opts for soccer, but we'll see. Anyway, he has the sweetest disposition and the cutest smile ever. We just love him so much. He's blabbing away lately, but yet to roll over (should be any day!).

Mitchell is almost two (and that sums up a lot right there!). He keeps us on our toes, but we love every minute of it (ok, not every minute), but he truly is a joy to have around. He loves being silly and making the family laugh. Now that he's talking even more, we can see his perspective on things (last week I was wearing an apron and he called it "mommy's bib"). He LOVES horses and any kind or sport- What a fun little guy.

Jason and I are hanging on for the ride and enjoying parenthood. Jason was able to hang out with Landon all this weekend while I have been recuperating from having my wisdom teeth out. Mitchell spent the weekend with family, and had the time of his life. I was on the couch napping,and I loved every minute of that...

Anyway, here are a few recent pics for you to enjoy! peace

sweet tooth

2009-04-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

I went to a discussion group the other night about sugar. The speaker was Tracy Harrison, a certified health counselor from Hopkinton, MA, who runs a company called "Purpose". Tracy did a wonderful job of describing the harmful effect that sugar has on our bodies, as well as drawing attention to the immense amount of sugar that the average American consumes. We certainly learned a lot of information, much of which was very thought provoking. Here are a few facts that I jotted down from the meeting:

The absolute best diet change that one can make in order to improve his/her health is to reduce the amount of sugar consumed.
A bottle of coke contains approximately 1/2 cup of sugar. Also, in many cases, "healthy" foods, such as yogurt and granola, contain as much sugar as that bottle of coke.
Sugar actually can become an addiction. Over time, our taste buds are "deadened" so we need more sugar to satisfy that sweet tooth of ours.
Our body considers all refined carbohydrates (ie. bleached flour) as sugar.

It can be overwhelming to think about cutting all refined carbs from one's diet. I'm not sure that's totally practical for many of us, but I do think the goal of significantly reducing sugar intake and eating healthier can be attained.

Our family has decided to do this by:

Avoiding high fructose corn syrup
Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables
Adding more whole grains to our diet
Drinking more water (we love the seltzer!)
Making our own fruit and vegetable juice (still on the lookout for a juicer, but found a free juice recipe book from someone online!)

There are lots of other changes I would like to make (like baking our own whole wheat bread), but we'll take it a few steps at a time. I've reassured my husband that I won't be taking all things sweet away. We'll still be eating chocolate chip cookies (I'm going to be trying a recipe calling for maple sugar soon), and you bet I'll still be drinking that coffee with a sugar (or two), but we will be calling on mother nature to provide more of the food we consume, and surely our bodies will be thankful for it!

Rem blog

2009-03-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when we are out at a restaurant as a family you can hear barking coming from our direction. Mitchell will say "doggy" while JD starts speaking into his cell phone, "It's OK Remy, we'll be right back, go lay down". The barking quiets, only to start up 10 minutes later and the process of calming the pup down begins all over again...

Yes, we have resorted to using our cell phones as a dog monitor so that we can calm Remy down when we leave. Since moving to a new condo recently, Remy has developed some separation anxiety when we are not home. He expresses his anxiousness by barking, which turns to a howl once he gets going.

We have never had this problem in the three years that we have owned him, but there are several issues outside of our control that we believe have led to his anxiety. If you want our diagnosis of the problem, let me know and we can talk dog psychology together. Either way, we need to find a solution because we have gotten complaints from the neighbors, and emails from the condo association. We have tried all sorts of modifications to get him used to the idea that when we leave, we will be coming back for him. I also tried calling the vet recently to inquire about medication for our nervous nelly, and was told to contact the local animal behavior specialist. I looked up the specialist's information, only to learn that a consult starts at $200, and a 30 minute phone conversation is $65...

The only other thing that we haven't tried (besides getting another dog to keep him company, which is out of the question) is an anti-bark collar. I'm hesitant to do this for obvious reasons, but I have to say that I am starting to consider it as an option. Before all of the animal activists start writing letters, please know that we are running out of options here. We can't leave our cellphones on forever (plus Remy is starting to catch on), he can't always come with us, or go hang out with his cousin Marcus (although the D'Orazios have been extremely gracious in letting us bring him there when we need to), and we can't continue to avoid leaving the house so that he doesn't bother the neighbors. These things are impractical and are taking a toll on this familia. We don't want to have to find Mr. Remy a new home, so perhaps we should try and land a spot on Cesar Millan's, "The Dog Whisperer". In the meantime, this desperate dog owner is welcoming your suggestions...

A Beautiful Morning

2009-03-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be honest, there are some days when I really miss teaching. I miss the challenge of motivating a room full of high school kids to conjugate Spanish verbs in the appropriate tense, of creating tests and quizzes that are pedagogically accurate and reflective of what we have done in class, of interacting with colleagues (oh the joy of adult conversation!), and establishing a positive rapport with my students. Oh yeah, and getting a paycheck was nice also, although it was arguably minimal compensation for the work being done... Sometimes, I don't look forward to leaving the "Employer" section of documents blank, or filling in "homemaker", even though I know what I am doing is important and worthy of a title.

It has been part of Jason and my plan all along that I would stay home with our kiddos as long as possible, and it's something I have always looked forward to being able to do. However, occasionally I stumble upon a morning when teaching would be the more desirable option. They are usually the mornings followed by a sleepless night (would you consider three hours sleepless?). They are the ones when Mitchell, who is usually happy and easy to please, is throwing his oatmeal on the floor and yelling about waffles. Remy is running around like a fool, knocking over everything in his path because he saw a squirrel run by, or better yet, a cat. Landon is only three weeks old, but he has had those mornings plagued by gas, when his cry is deep and his legs are curled up (bring on the mylecon). Mitchell might be crying for a snack or for me to read his Elmo book to him, while Landon is crying to be held or changed, and Remy is using a stuffed teddy bear as his chew toy. These are the mornings when teaching doesn't seem like such a bad gig... Then there are moments like today.

I had just finished my latte. Over these weeks, I have come to master the art of making lattes at home; watch out all of you baristas out there, these cuppas are fantastic! Mitchell had thoroughly enjoyed his eggs and toast- there was no mention of waffles, and much to Remy's disappointment, not a crumb hit the floor. Landon was sleeping happily in the Beco (read more about these wonderful carriers here),and Mitchell was dancing and playing his guitar, while I sang to James Blunt's "Beautiful", and Remy watched us contently, curled up on the couch. It was one of those sweet and perfect moments that reminded me how lucky I am to be able to stay home with our little guys. These are the times that I will think of when I am asked what I do for work, or who my employer is. I certainly look forward to teaching Spanish again in the future, but for now I will be cherishing these moments and focusing on teaching the two most precious students that I will ever have.

New baby and a toothache

2009-02-21T04:24:00.000-08:00

So we are absolutely loving life with our new little guy. Landon is a happy, sleepy newborn who gets cuter by the minute! He seems to have nights and days mixed up a bit, but we are working on that... Mitchell is adjusting well and doesn't seem to mind that his brother is around. It helps that his abuelita is here from Puerto Rico, so there is one more person to give him some attention.
Jason and I are so grateful for all of the help that our friends and family have been for us. We have had so many people bring us meals, it is so nice to know that we have so much support!
I am recovering well also. The most traumatic part of this experience has been a toothache (yes, a toothache!) that had me driving an hour to the oral surgeon shortly after being discharged from the hospital. Luckily, my sister is a wonderful dentist and she sent me to the right person who took care of it for me. As I was driving on the pike, wondering if I should be behind the wheel on so little sleep, so little nourishment, and some codeine still lingering in my system, I was picturing the scene from Cast Away when Tom Hanks takes out his own tooth with an ice skate. If you've ever experienced this kind of pain you know how excruciating it can be (yes, comparable to giving birth!). But all is well now and I am enjoying every moment with my family, toothache free!

No Soup For You

2009-02-21T03:44:00.001-08:00

Apparently there is a series of books out that are entiteled "Chicken Soup for the (fill in the blank)'s Soul". I had no idea... Well, Mr. Jacobs the President of the publishing company, has politley asked that I change my blog name since it is a violation of their trademark. They must have realized that my followers are growing exponentially and this must have been threatening. So I'm sorry, but no more chicken soup for you. But don't worry, I am in the process of dreaming up a new name...and suggestions?

Landon Cosmo DeStratis

2009-02-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

...and so all I had to do was write a blog (see below) about Landon arriving soon and he did. If only I had known that it would be that easy! Well, it wasn't exactly easy, but Landon arrived this morning at 2:53 AM weighing in at 7 lbs. 6 ozs. and measuring at 21 inches long! We are so thrilled that he is healthy and thriving and we are loving every minute!

any day now...

2009-02-14T14:16:00.000-08:00

For about four weeks we've been telling y'all that the baby "will be here any day now". Well apparently we were off about how soon this little guy would make his appearance. With Mitchell arriving at 35 weeks, we (along with the doctor) assumed that baby number two would also be early. Besides the history, I've also had a couple of false alarms that led me to beleive that he was on his way. Well,he's not here yet, but he will be soon (this time we mean it b/c my due date is fast approaching and surley this belly can not get much bigger than it is now...).

We also wanted to let you know that though we originally told you that this little one would be named "Cameron" we've changed our minds and have chosen a new name. Sorry if we've thrown you for a loop, but we love the new name and we'll let you know what it is as soon as the big day comes!

Smile, it's 2009!

2009-01-07T19:01:00.000-08:00

Clearly, I have not been a faithful blogger lately. However, I think I would be breaking even more blogging mores if I didn't close out 2008 with a quick year-end update and highlight some of my goals for 2009...

2008 was eventful, emotional, a bit stressful, but also exciting for us. The best part, as you can probably tell from the pictures and videos we have posted, was watching Mitchell grow while enjoying parenthood immensely. The stressful part was having to move a few times, and still waiting to sell our home in SC (I am quite hopeful that we will have a closing date in 2009 :). The more significant emotional events were the losses of my grandmother Shirley and Jason's grandfather Cosmo. There were some difficult months as a result, but how lucky we both are not only to have spent their last days with them, but to also have so many wonderful memories that we talk about often, and that we will share with our family for years to come.

Our Christmas this year was wonderful. It was great to watch Mitchell enjoy all of his gifts, his favorite one being his new guitar from Auntie Sue and Uncle Tony. We are still having fun with all his new toys and we are especially grateful to have been able to spend wonderful time with our families.

And that brings me to 2009. We are looking forward to welcoming Cameron into the world and living out the year ahead as a family of four (plus Remy!). I have several goals besides keeping my eyes open despite the sleepless nights...They include: being more creative with free time (will I have free time?), keeping in touch better (yes, yes, this was one of my goals for 2008), finding ways to volunteer, and continuing to read and learn more about keeping our family healthy (physically, spiritually and emotionally). I might not be great at updating about all of these things, but I will be posting pictures and maybe sharing a few stories here and there. Maybe I'll even find time to write a few humorous posts now and then, I'd love to make you smile in 2009.

Coldplay

2008-12-30T18:09:00.000-08:00

I have some blogging to do, and I plan to get on that....soon. Until then, here is my new favorite video of Mitchell and JD hanging out, listening to some good tunes.

happiness

2008-11-30T07:26:00.000-08:00

So our little guy Mitchell has such a sweet, cute, funny personality- we can't get over it. He brings so much happiness to our family, it's amazing. Here are a few shots that his Auntie Kelly took of him having a good time recently...

3 months to go!

2008-11-28T19:54:00.000-08:00

I have neglected to put up pictures of my growing belly, so I hope this doesn't come as a shock to you...
Overall, everything is going well, and we are anticipating Cameron's arrival just about 3 months from now!

Stuff

2008-11-20T10:12:00.000-08:00

I think I need some advice. The short story is that we have moved to a new place where we have less space than we have had in the past. As a result, I have been going through our belongings and trying to organize and find a place for them. As I go through boxes and containers (that haven't been opened in several years) I have started to wonder if I am a pack rat.

I have never really considered that I have a problem when it comes to getting rid of things. Sure, I always had an extremely messy room as a kid, which I shared with my poor sister who is the most organized and neat person I know. Usually it got so bad that one of two things would happen: either she would get fed up and clean it herself, or she would divide the room in half with masking tape and tell me that I couldn't cross the line until my side of the room was clean (I should mention that the doorway of the room was on her side, and I would take her actions serious enough that I would jump over her side and out the door, just not serious enough to actually clean the room)...

Over the years I think I have become a much tidier person than I once was. I have always made sure to keep the house looking clean and clutter free. I thought my junk drawer (you know, the one everyone has in their kitchen with takeout menus, spare change, scissors, mail, pictures, etc. etc. was normal, even though Jason labeled it as "the drawer of doom". Oh, and I had a couple of these drawers). Thanks to these drawers and other secret spaces, I became really good at hiding all sorts of "stuff" that I have been holding on to. I am now at a point where I don't have the room to hide it. The dilemma that I now face is that I'm not sure which of these treasures I should keep and what needs to go. Here is a list of a few things I have been holding onto and my excuses for keeping them:

*High school prom dress (I might wear it again?)
*Wedding cards (Should I toss them or keep them?)
*Passes and detention slips(to laugh about the times I was "being disruptive in class".)
*College binders (Someone might need a 13 page Spanish paper on Frida Kahlo someday...)
* A white seagull feather (Story: my cousin gave me the feather when he was little and I decided to save it to show to him one day. Now he's 16 and I think if I showed him the feather he would be thinking "what the....")
*Notes from dear people (I would never throw your note out:)
*A lot of old purses and bags from Sally's (Salvation Army, such memories of those trips!)
*Thousands of beads (It's possible I will take of the hobby again.)
*A ceramic snail (It was a gift.)

I should probably stop here because this list could go on for some time. I guess the question is: Am I being a pack rat, or do you hold on to these types of things too??

Cell Phone Woes

2008-11-08T08:10:00.001-08:00

I seem to have bad luck when it comes to cell phones. Last week, I put my cell phone through the wash and it is no longer working as a result. So, Jason and I dug up an old (it's ancient) cell phone, and hooked my number up to it. That was a good temporary solution to my cell phone woe, except that I didn't have any of my numbers programmed into it, they were all of Jason's old contacts (thanks to cell phones I have a total of three people's number's memorized...). The other day, Mitchell was playing with the new old cellphone (probably wondering why it looked so big) and he put it on manner mode, so I couldn't hear it when it rang. While trying to fix that, we accidentally locked the phone (and when I say we, I mean Jason) and have no clue what the code to unlock it is. Now that it's locked, it is useless to me. So, I know this all seems rather trivial, and it is. But my whole reason for writing is to let you know why I haven't returned your call or message. You did call, right??

An Eventful Fall

2008-11-04T12:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been meaning to post for some time now, but you know how it goes... We have been keeping busy up here in MA and have had an eventful fall so far. I enjoyed a weekend away at the Cape with some wonderful ladies from book club,

We took a great trip to Puerto Rico where Mitchell got to hang out with his abuelita and meet some family members (and learn some Spanish of course!)

I had another weekend away for the annual McGrath ladies shopping trip to Maine, and we've also had the chance to spend a lot of time with Mitchell's cousin Brody.

My belly continues to grow daily (Cameron arrives around Feb. 25th)
and Mitchell is always changing too! Here's a quick video of our little guy with one of his favorite snacks...

Good Friends

2008-09-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

Remy and Mitchell have always gotten along well. Mitchell does get on Remy's nerves every now and then, but generally redeems himself during dinner when he feeds Remy the food that he doesn't want (actually even if he wants it, he'll fork it over to Remy when he begs for it). Here's a quick video of the two of them, you'll see how funny Mitchell thinks Remy is these days...

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is Back!

2008-09-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

I love fall for so many reasons. Among them: wearing sweaters again, going to the apple orchard, a bunch of cool people's birthdays, spice scented candles, apple dumplings from the orchard, the smell of crisp air, and anything and everything pumpkin. I thought I'd write a blog about the pumpkin spiced latte and then I realized that I already have. Please excuse me for recycling an entry form a previous blog, but isn't this just one more way to go green....sort of. Any way here it goes:

"I suppose you could say that I really like coffee. There's something about the experience of buying a coffee that brightens the day, especially when it tastes good. Often times it's the transaction that's the best part: deciding on the right drink, ordering from the barista, and the anticipation of finding out if it's a good one. These things make the experience worth talking about. Of course, it's heightened when you can go with another coffee lover. That makes the coffee taste ten times better. And you can talk about how good it tastes, and how much better you'll feel after drinking it, and that leads to talking about everything that has ever crossed your mind.

I think I'll continue to drink a coffee (or two) a day. And I won't try to convince the non-coffee drinkers out there to start drinking either. Oh, and if you haven't tried the Pumkin Spiced Latte from Starbucks, you're crazy."

Ok, so I guess the blog is really more about coffee in general, but hot coffee on a cool day is just another reason why fall has taken place of summer as my favorite season. Anyway, enough reading already go get yourself a latte!

Big Brother II

2008-08-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

If you read Jason's blog, you may already know that Baby D number two is on the way! He also mentioned that I've "been doing a great job managing it"...he was lying. He was actually just being very nice, because he knows that if he says the wrong thing I might start to cry. I've been know to cry lately for things like: a missing sock, the NBC Nightly News, burnt toast, and several touching commercials.

I have also been living on a diet primarily of bagels and ramen noodles (I justify the ramen by only using half of the sodium laden flavoring packet). Don't worry, I have managed to also eat a lot of fruit and I'm finding clever ways to disguise meat and vegetables. Also, if I haven't answered your calls or emails lately it's only because I'm napping (yes, this is the truth whether you called at 10:00 AM or 2:30 PM).

Despite the fact that I'm a little bit of a mess this time around, we are so excited for February when things will get just a little bit crazier around here. Can't wait to find out if Mitchell will have a little brother or sister!

coffee

2008-08-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

I've decided to write about my disappointment with flavor shots. This has been on my mind for a few years now, ever since Dunkins and the rest of them decided to save on costs by using flavored syrup instead of brewing the coffee. Even Honey Dew uses the syrups now...

The other day I stopped by Moonstruck Cafe on Rt. 20 in Charlton. Now there's a coffee shop that I'm quite sure will never sell out to the flavor shots. I had my all time favorite: A Jamaican caramel iced coffee, light and sweet. It was amazing. I felt like I was in Jamaica...almost. Keeg tells me there are a few shops on Park Ave. that seem somewhat questionable from the outside, but they brew their flavored coffee and it's delectable. I think I'll check them out...

123 Filson Bluff Drive

2008-08-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

I thought that I should fill yall in on the fact that our home in SC is now on the market and up for grabs. Anyone interested in heading south to an up and coming area with a whole lot of GREAT people? Here is a link to an article that lets you know why Irmo is one of the best places to live in the US!

We certainly miss SC and the wonderful people we met there. I know that when winter hits this year I'll miss it even more. We're glad to be back here in MA because we wanted Mitchell to grow up near his family, but I wanted to pass this opportunity along if you know anyone that would be interested. Here's a link with all the listing info you need...

Mitchell's smile

2008-08-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick video of Mitchell's favorite smile. He started doing it for the camera when he would have his picture taken, but now he does it for just about everything. Strangers really seem to love it, and so don't we. It's the first thing we see each moning. Who wouldn't want to wake up to that?

Remy needs a friend

2008-07-30T12:06:00.001-07:00

A few months back I posted my first ad on craigslist:

Need a friend for Remy
We have a 2 y/o beagle mix (45 lbs.) who loves to play! Do you have a dog who needs a friend? We would love to find a fenced in area and a pup who wants to run around with Remy. Let me know if you are interested.

Unfortunately, I didn't find what I was looking for, but I did come across a petition for a dog park in Worcester. Remy loves running around with other dogs (he misses his furry friends in SC very much!), and this would be the perfect way for him to get out all of his energy... SO if you are from the Worcester area (or even if your not and you just can't resist Remy's cute face) and you think a dog park would be great, click here and sign away!

one and a new cousin!

2008-07-28T12:22:00.001-07:00

July was a fun month for us! Mitchell turned one on the third. We are so grateful to have enjoyed such an exciting and eventful year with him. He is such a sweet and fun little guy to be around, parenthood is more than we ever imagined it would be!

We also welcomed Mitchell's cousin, Brody Christopher Bouchard, into the world on July 21st. He's a little peanut who surprised us by coming six weeks early. We can't wait to hold him and play with him when he comes home from the hospital. Looks like we have another fun year in store for us!

The Dilemma

2008-06-22T22:03:00.000-07:00

I recently finished reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollen, and I need to write about it because I didn't want to return it until I posted here and it is now (very) overdue. That's the story of my life...

Anyway, it is an enlightening and interesting read about "the natural history of four meals". This might not sound like a particularly exciting topic, but it is. In the book, Pollen discusses the dilemma that us omnivores are faced with when we walk into the market: we are bombarded with food choices that can not only be overwhelming, but that are also really, really unhealthy for us.

A rather large portion of the book is dedicated to corn - a grain that is found in nearly 30% of everything in the grocery store: from the wax that makes a cucumber attractive and shiny, to the soda that contains high fructose corn syrup. HFCS is an extremely unhealthy sweetener that is found in too many products these days (it's hiding in many juices, yogurts, breakfast cereals and even ketchup).

Pollen also spends a considerable amount of time discussing the meat industry today and the problems that are lurking on many farms and slaughter houses. One of the major issues being that the majority of cattle are currently fed a diet mainly of corn- something that their stomachs were not intended to digest. One veterinarian that Pollen interviewed commented on the fact that most cows are slaughtered before they have been at a feedlot for 150 days, which is actually good, because the diet they are fed would destroy their livers in around that same time span.

I was also surprised to learn that mad cow disease is a result of cattle being fed parts from already slaughtered cattle. Pollen discovered that the even though the FDA has banned this practice because of the illnesses it caused, they have made an exception for blood products and fat.

So I discovered many interesting things, even more than I mentioned here, but the quote that I've been thinking the most about is on page 136: "...farmers who get the message that consumers care only about price will themselves care only about yield".

I'm a bargain hunter by nature. I love saving money. I'm that person who gets in your way in the aisle because I am frantically searching through my coupon book (which has a snap that conveniently hangs from the grocery cart). Sometimes I save so much money in stores I tell Jay to hurry and start driving because they may figure me out, they may realize that my coupon already expired or that I used more than one coupon on one product (by mistake of course). I've even been to a store where I saved more money than I spent. I always look for the lowest price, and so in the past I have sometimes chosen not to buy organic, cage free, or grass fed products because they are often more expensive. But I'm learning that it's not always about price. Sometimes the healthiest choice is the more expensive one. HFCS is cheap, but not worth the negative health effects.

I have definitely seen a change in my shopping habits since finishing the book. I haven't joined a local meat or vegetable co-op yet (although I've thought about it), but I've been choosing more organic foods and making sure not to purchase items with HFCS. I've been reading labels closely, and thinking more about where the food I am purchasing came from. I'm still saving money though. I'll always check my receipt twice to make sure they didn't overcharge (which they often do, so check your receipt!). I'm still cutting those coupons, reading those fliers, and comparing prices to make sure I get the best (healthiest) deal possible.

honey lover

2008-06-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

I should admit that there are many instances where I prefer to remain ignorant about the food that I am eating, so I had never really given the process of honey making much thought until recently.

I am a honey lover. I like it on my chicken, french fries, some vegetables, in tea, and I became a huge fan of the honey latte from Starbucks this spring. I'm not sure if I could give honey up, but the following snippet is making it a little easier.

"Bees suck nectar from flowers with their proboscis (mouth). The nectar mixes with saliva and is swallowed into the honey sac where enzymes from the saliva break down the nectar into honey. The nectar is never "digested," it is only transformed into honey by the saliva. Upon the bee's return to the hive, the honey is regurgitated, dried, and placed into the honeycomb. Beekeepers then extract millions of drops of honey from the cavities of the honeycomb by using a machine that applies centrifugal force to the comb." (http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-palate-honey.htm)

secret

2008-06-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen one of those blogs about cooking? There are several out there that speak fondly and cleverly about food while boasting recipes with step by step directions and pictures. I am always impressed by these blogs and I have often wished I had a blog about food, and so tonight I do.

I think that everyone out there needs to know about this recipe. I thought about keeping it a secret and not sharing it with anyone. That way, I could make it when guests come over and dazzle them with my culinary expertise. They would have no idea how easy it is. But this recipe was shared with me, so I suppose I should stop thinking selfishly and share it with you.

So hesitantly, I am about to teach you how to make sweet potato fries.

Begin with either one or two large sweet potatoes. This will make enough fries to feed 2-4 people.

Note: These vegetables are loaded with vitamins A and C. Clearly, they have never been known for their appearance.

Peel potato(s) and cut into strips. They are rather difficult to cut because they are so hard and oddly shaped. They will also dull your knife. However, the gastronomical results are worth it.

Coat lightly with olive oil (extra virgin, cold pressed is the best). Sprinkle with kosher salt and ground pepper and spread out on cookie sheet.

Bake at 425 for 20 minutes or so and you will be rewarded with the best kept secret out there. So easy, so healthy, sooooo yummy! Paired below with spinach and feta turkey burgers on whole wheat english muffins.

¡Buen Provecho!

Photos

2008-04-09T07:53:00.001-07:00

We had some photos taken this weekend (high five to Gayle Bannister for taking some great shots!). Here are a few of my faves...

a greater good

2008-04-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

When Jason and I moved to SC, there were many things that I missed about MA. Naturally, my family and friends were at the top of the list, but right underneath them was Dunkin' Donuts. There was only one Dunkins that was a fifteen minute ride from our house and the employers were sometimes questionable (if you want a story about them, just let me know, because I have a few). I decided to write the company a letter letting them know how much I missed hazelnut iced coffee. I told the company that I missed having them around and I was a proponent of more DD's in the South. Whether or not that actually came to fruition I may never know, since we moved back to Ma, where there is a Dunkins on every corner.

However, I was rewarded for my loyalty because a few weeks later I opened my mailbox to find a pound of Dunkin' Donuts coffee waiting to be brewed and iced.

A couple days later I emailed Trugreen ChemLawn. I had a new confidence that all I had to do was tell a company how much I liked their product and I would be rewarded. After letting TruGreen know how much I adored their ability to turn SC crabgrass into something...green, I told them they were welcome to transform our lawn (which was really pitiful) and use us on their website for before and after pics, free of charge.

I was ecstatic to receive a call back until the nasally lady on the phone said: "maam, we don't do things like that, but if you would like a free estimate we would be happy to come out".

After that letdown, I took a hiatus from emailing companies...until tonight. This time, my motive was unselfish. This is what I told them:

"I have always been a fan of Newman's Own products. I love the all natural ingredients, as well as the competitive prices (the limeade is incredible!) Tonight was the first time I realized that the proceeds of Newman's Own go to charity (sometimes I think I live in a cave)...and I love Newman's Own even more. I will continue to buy Newman's Own and I'm even going to blog about it so my friends can enjoy and contribute too!"

So please buy Newman's Own and you can drink all the limeade you want while enjoying contributing to a greater good at the same time.

2008-04-04T06:26:00.000-07:00

On Cheerios, an Easter visit, and Loss

2008-03-28T05:56:00.000-07:00

Wow, I'm a really bad blogger aren't I? If you're reading this it probably means you haven't given up on me and my lack of posts lately (either that or I've sent you a link begging you to read my blog). I guess you can say we have been pretty busy around here. I'll give you a quick update, bullet style:

*Mitchell is almost 9 months and is absolutely amazing. He can eat cheerios all by himself, he can say "da da","ba ba" and "ra ra", he can brighten your day with the sweetest laughs and smiles ever,and he can almost crawl.

* We almost bought a house last month. We had a closing date and all, but the deal fell through. Looking back, I'm actually glad it didn't work out and we're looking forward to renting a condo in Worcester as of April 12th (and yes, you're most definitely still invited over).

* We had a really nice Easter in NJ at Chris and Kim's, where Mitchell had the chance to see his Abuelita. Once again they fell in love and we can't wait for the next visit!

* Most significantly my family has been dealing with the death of my loving grandmother. Our hearts have been broken by the loss of such an important part of our lives, but we are cherishing the memories of family dinners, tap dancing, brownies, laughter, and loads of love...

no bagel

2008-02-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

diastema

2008-02-13T17:53:00.000-08:00

I used to have a little thing for David Letterman (before I knew Jay, of course). I think it was the space between his teeth. That, and his admirable sense of humor. I still enjoy his show and I've even been known to come up with my own Top Ten list once in a while. Someday I'd like to be a guest on his show. Anyway, here is a video of Elvis Perkins performing on The Late Show back in June. My buddy Jeff introduced me to the song and I'm crazy about it. Please note that my admiration for the song has nothing to do with the fact that it speaks of sleep :)

silly boy

2008-02-06T06:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a recent picture of Mitchell. Everytime I look at it I laugh, he's a silly boy!

call me out

2008-02-02T19:41:00.000-08:00

My anonymous friend requested a blog and I'm glad you did because I have been meaning to write one. I guess I have this problem where I tend to put things off for a day or two ("para mañana" as the Spanish say) and then time passes and it seems like it's too late. This seems to happen to me especially when it comes to returning calls or emails (perhaps it's the Spanish in me).

I'm actually not sure exactly what it is, but once the moment has passed I sometimes feel as though I have missed the opportunity, and that now I can't answer the voicemail or email because it's been too long. Even though I really want to. Does this ever happen to you?

So I want to call yall back, I really do, but I've missed the window. So please call me and leave another voicemail because this time I'm going to return your call before the moment escapes. Go ahead and make the call and if I don't call you back you have my permission to leave a comment on my blog for everyone to see. Hasta mañana.

6 month well

2008-01-23T10:07:00.000-08:00

Today Mitchell had his 6 month well visit with his pediatrician. He weighed in at 18lbs. 10 oz. and he's 26 inches long. I was relieved to find that he's in the 50th % for height, because it's no secret that one of his parents is a little on the short side (I told Jay he shouldn't be self conscious about it though, a lot of guys aren't 6 ft.)... Doc said everything looks great and we can begin to give him meats now rather than just fruits and veggies, although I'm not sure he'll like anything more than he likes his sweet peas. We also had to get some vaccinations this month, which always worries me because of the bad rap they've gotten. But, his doctor assures me that they are necessary and safe for my boy. I did make sure that he only received vaccines that were mercury free, which gave me some peace of mind.
All in all, it was a good visit and our sweet pea continues to do very well!

The Perfect Job

2008-01-20T17:49:00.001-08:00

When I was in high school, I had the perfect job. I worked for a man named Bob who owned a gourmet food distributing company. I was referred to him by my computer teacher, Mr. Lucier. It was in his class that I successfully typed 53 wpm, without using the home row. I did data entry for the company that he ran out of his home after school and on weekends. I generally worked 8-10 hrs. per week and I made $8/hr. I made up my own schedule and went in when it was convenient for me. Bob was a really nice guy; I saw him at a restaurant a couple of years ago and he bought my friends and I a round of drinks. He was a great boss.

Two summers ago I had my second opportunity at what I would consider the perfect job (I consider teaching to be a career and not a job, so that doesn't really count). I worked at the Splash Pad at the YMCA in SC checking in members. I sat at a picnic table outside the park with a tent and a fan and smiled as the guests scanned their cards. The summer heat could be brutal, but I would stroll on over to the water for refreshment and then continue reading whatever book I was in the middle of.

The other day I thought I had found my third opportunity to have the perfect job (I am currently looking for part time work a few nights a week and one weekend day). I saw an add in the paper that a park in Worcester was looking for an "appointment setter". The description was vague, but I thought that setting appointments sounded like a very nice job and a park would be a great place to work. So I called to set up a time to meet with the manager. "Oh yes, I'm very familiar with the park" I told him on the phone, because I didn't want to sound ignorant. After our conversation I proceeded to google the park name and up came the web page.

This is when I discovered that the park was actually a cemetery.
I nervously called both Kelly and Jay who convinced me to call back and get a little more information before going to the meeting we had set up for the following day. This is when I found out that my perfect job consisted of calling people (from the "park" at night mind you) who had already purchased plots, in order to set up appointments for them to visit the park for new information.

I decided to cancel the meeting and I hung up the phone, realizing that my third attempt at the perfect job was unsuccessful. I'm hopeful though. I have been pretty lucky so far and I think I can still type 53 wpm, which must impress someone out there....right?

The moose story

2008-01-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

Today Remy and I were taking a walk at Moore State Park and there wasn't anyone else around. It was totally quiet and peaceful; the trees were blanketed in snow and the waterfall was being powered by a loud rush of water that created a song you might hear on one of those CD's comprised of songs heard in nature. And as we were walking I wondered what I would do if I saw a bear. Remy would surely chase it. He's been known to go after animals that he's no contest for, like skunks and deer. Once he went after a baby otter and the mother almost took his head off.

Would I try to run from the bear? Would I hide, or maybe play dead? I have no idea... but then I was reminded of the time I was driving on Rt. 31 in Holden and I saw two moose (or is it meese?). They came out of nowhere and gingerly crossed the road as if it were totally normal for them to be doing so. I was awestruck and really glad I hit my brakes when I did.

I've proudly told the moose story to all sorts of people. I hold onto it like a badge and take it out whenever the timing seems right. I wish I had taken a picture of it so I could remember it more clearly, but I think I'll just blog about it so that it can live in my memory (and yours) forever. Or at least until the day the internet gets overcrowded because of people writing pointless stories like the time they got chased by a bear...

Missing SC

2008-01-14T17:53:00.000-08:00

I thought I should write a tribute to South Carolina. After living there for two years, I now have a greater appreciation for southern living and some of the great people we met there. Here are just a few of the things I miss about SC:

-Filson Bluff and the great neighbors we had there. I miss our walks around the loop and life on the end of the cul-de-sac.
-wearing cropped pants and sandals until November and letting my big winter jacket collect dust in the closet since the weather there is amazing all year round.
-eating cinnamon ice cream with m&m's from Marble slab (at least once a week)
- Enjoying brownies and Idol with the Dickson family and playing with Owen, Noah and Hannah
-Eastlake community church and the friends we met there
-playing a game of Yuker with Adam and Angela after another great meal
-going to the duck pond with Remy
-Panera lunch dates with Marie Claude (2nd block prep was the best...)
-Irmo High and the good laughs I had with some of the best students ever
-Charles- the cashier from Publix who was the most genuine and nice employee Jason and I have ever encountered.
-BBQ ribs and chicken wings that easily knocked a northerners socks off
-Friday walks at the Congaree
-trips to Charleston where the horse and carriage rides never got old
-hanging out with JD in our first house, talking about all the things we were enjoying about life in SC (many of which are mentioned above...and some of which we have yet to discover)

aficionado

2008-01-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Readers,

I'd love to write more, but the Patriots are on. It doesn't matter that Kel and I are actually watching a design show. We're from New England and we're proud fans. Oh, and when they win,we're buying t-shirts...

Confession

2008-01-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

I'd just like to point out that this is my fourth day of blogging in a row. Impressive huh? I also realized that some of my previous blogs are rather long, so this one will be to the point. I need to be honest and tell you (how many of you are there?) that I have ulterior motives. Besides keeping in touch, I am writing this blog because after 20 days I just might, might, be able to make money blogging. If you want more info. let me know and I'll let you in on it.

Who needs sleep?

2008-01-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

If you know me well, you know I like my sleep. I've been called a narcoleptic before, but really I'm just great at falling asleep. I think I've been known to close my eyes and be out within 30 seconds, no lie.

I'm not one of those people who can sleep in until 2 PM or even noon on a Saturday. But I do (did) love waking up around 9, taking the Rem dog out, having some breakfast, and then falling back asleep until whenever.

I'm a great napper too. Not one of those people who can't nap because they wake up too groggy afterwards. Whether it's one of those 20 minute power naps or a synapse- connecting 3 hour nap, I can bounce back in a matter of minutes.

In high school my mom would frequently try to get ahold of me at Kayleen's house where I'd go in the afternoon to hang out, and I'd be sleeping. But who could blame me, they had the most comfortable white leather couches in the world. I still think about those couches.

Avi used to get so frustrated when I slept over because we would spend all sorts of time getting ready to watch a movie, and when she came downstairs with the blankets and popcorn, I'd be sleeping already. The movie hadn't even begun.

One time I scared Aly to death when we were in college because I fell asleep on her futon while waiting for her to get back from the shower. She had no idea I even entered the room and I woke up suddenly which scared the hell out of her.

I've been known to sleep a good 12 hours, and not even when I'm sick. I know most people are only supposed to need 8 hours of sleep, but I'm convinced I need more than the average person.
I have a few more good stories about sleep, but this could go on for a long time. I'm sorry if I exhausted the subject (yes, that pun was most definatly intended). I'm only reminiscing because in 6 months I haven't had one full night of sleep. But you know what, it doesn't bother me that much. All he has to do is give me one of those big gummy smiles at 4 AM and I forget that I ever cared about sleep at all...

Sucker

2008-01-09T17:46:00.000-08:00

Well folks, I've done it again. It's kind of like that time I got a scratch ticket in the mail (It came in one of those valupack envelopes that has coupons for slipper socks and new windows) that said I had won ten thousand dollars. I was in junior high at the time and I ran all the way to my gram's house down the street to show off my new winnings, but she wasn't home. I don't actually remember who broke the news to me that it was a scam, but I'll never forget the disappointment I felt when I realized that I hadn't actually won anything at all. As a matter of fact, I still have that ticket somewhere amongst all sorts of other memorabilia and I'm willing to dig it out for proof. I think I've hung on to it as a reminder that you can't always accept everything at face value.

Today a postcard came in the mail saying that a local gym is doing a fitness study and is looking for volunteers for a 21 day program. You better believe I called up to schedule my first appointment and get ready to take advantage of some free gym time while also contributing to the greater good of the fitness world. I couldn't wait to spread the news and let some family members know that I am now part of an official study. However, after I blurted out the reason for my excited state they looked at me pathetically and said "honey, you've fallen for a marketing scheme..." All of a sudden I was back in junior high with the ten thousand dollar ticket in my hand, running up the street to gram's with a naivety that would follow me home.

Don't tell your English teacher

2008-01-08T16:37:00.000-08:00

Well here we go, my first official blog. I created the site in October and meant to begin writing then, but I put it off. However, now it's 2008 and I plan to keep in touch better and this is one way I'll do it. Of course, all of you lovely people who I want to keep in touch with will have to read this, so I'll try to make you come back asking for more...

Right now Jason and I are hanging out at the folks house (we plan to be in our own place soon now that our SC house has been rented, and we would love to have you for dinner once that happens) and I'm thinking about taking Mitchell to library hour tomorrow morning. He's a big fan of the songs, books, and hanging out with his friends. He's been going since he was three months old, so we're hoping that he'll have some impressive social skills and a love for books. Which reminds me that I'm supposed to be reading the book Rebecca for my book club and I haven't picked it up yet. I will have to do it tomorrow.

I'm not usually interested in this particular type of book. Last time I was supposed to read Emma for a book club I ended up reading the spark notes instead. Jason said that was very "high school" of me. However, I may have known more about the characters' relationships, plots and subplots than anyone in the group! So for all of my friends who happen to be procrastinators too, I reccomend that you check out sparknotes.com. Yes, even as a teacher I am promoting the use of spark notes. Just don't tell your English teacher I said so, and don't you dare use an online translator when passing in a Spanish paper.