I'm failing at this blog.
Well, I'm kind of choosing to fail. And I'm choosing to fail because as I surmised in my first post, this really does feel like an exercise in megalomania. I really don't need another reason or venue to be thinking more about myself - I'm pretty stellar at that while I'm doing everything else.
I don't think I'm going to close the blog down, though, because in it I have rediscovered my love for writing. It's so hard as a stay at home mom to preserve a sense of self, and I forgot some of my own talents. But I'm truly not balanced enough to dedicate an hour a day to my own production when there are so many other things to do and people to care for. Someone is always getting left behind. That's kinda the whole reason I'm at home anyway; not to vacation or to use my kids as an excuse for years of "me-time" but to do the job of being a mom of babies and wife to the best of my ability, which currently requires me to be at home (cause I'm the worst multi-tasker in the world!).
So for now, I'm not sure where this is headed or when/if I can find the time to return to the day-to-day posting. The desire is there, and will remain, I think. Farewell Day-to-Day Dane. Hello reality.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Books, Bubbles, and Bags
The Summer Reading Program begins!! Each day, we are keeping track of how many books Pinkalicious reads with an adult. Ultimately we're aiming for five books a week. If she completes this goal, she earns a prize from the library each week. I wanted to make her a special library bag for her books, so we went to JoAnn's and she picked out the fabric. I was SHOCKED that the entire thing was not pink!!!
Today we checked out six picture books - she is so eager to begin! While we were there, we saw a performance by The Bubble Man.
Today we checked out six picture books - she is so eager to begin! While we were there, we saw a performance by The Bubble Man.
These are the pictures that make my heart sing...
Pinkalicious' current favorite book (we're on our third check-out)
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Podunk Can be Fun!
Yesterday I complained on Facebook that I was feeling podunk as a Vtown resident. Although being podunk requires me to drive to a "big city" to hit what I feel are basic stores, it also provides special opportunities that I only read about when living in a "big city."
Today we went berry-picking at Rancho Notso Grande (thumbs up on the name!) with lots of friends. It was loads of fun and truly the fulfillment of a life-long dream since my first reading of Blueberries for Sal by Robert McClosky when I was little. Pinkalicious and I even read it again last night in preparation for today. Both my mom and grandma warned me about all the spiders in the bushes, to prepare to be brave for my daughter and pick without regarding them. I only saw one the entire day, and it was 1/4'' long from leg to leg. But one rare treat was a face-to-face convo with MFBFFM Christi!!! I think if our kids weren't there, I could have talked to her all day! Enjoy the highlights of our berry fun day!
Today we went berry-picking at Rancho Notso Grande (thumbs up on the name!) with lots of friends. It was loads of fun and truly the fulfillment of a life-long dream since my first reading of Blueberries for Sal by Robert McClosky when I was little. Pinkalicious and I even read it again last night in preparation for today. Both my mom and grandma warned me about all the spiders in the bushes, to prepare to be brave for my daughter and pick without regarding them. I only saw one the entire day, and it was 1/4'' long from leg to leg. But one rare treat was a face-to-face convo with MFBFFM Christi!!! I think if our kids weren't there, I could have talked to her all day! Enjoy the highlights of our berry fun day!
Blueberry Bushes - our first stop!
Pinks, the Baeza girls, and their Grandma Kathy
SO thankful for them, Pinky's second family while I corraled the Monkey.
Pinkberry!!!
The Hubs calls this her Twilight photo
Fuzzy limes? Nope. Walnuts!!
Back to blueberries, the most interesting berries to Pinkalicious.
It helps that they were the only berry without any thorns or pricklies.
The most interesting until she discovered the Backlunds and something shiny!
Check out these monster blackberries! They are the first fruits of this season.
Blackberry blossoms and a honeybee!
Thorns abound in the blackberry bushes! I went in alone!!
The fruit of our labor
All tuckered out!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Turn Around
Pinkalicious came shopping with me today at Target. It was kind of weird because she used to go everywhere with me, but now that Mr. Monkey is here, it feels like a treat to get away just the two of us. We were going for supplies for all the cleaning/organizing that I'm doing. Check out my before and after of one of my "hot spots," my night stand. Judge away, friends!
In Target I was purchasing a binder for myself to organize my To-Do lists, weekly menu planning, etc., and as I went to grab a cute one for myself, Pinky spotted a Hello Kitty binder. "Mama, I need the Hello Kitty binder for me," she exclaimed. I asked her for what she planned on doing with it, and she began to tell me about how she will make sections for practicing her writing and her drawing and her lists....
As she finished talking I noticed two women come into our aisle, a mom and her college-age daughter. The daughter began telling her mom about why she liked a particular planner/calendar. This had both the month and the weekly outlook; it had a pocket for her to keep new contacts' business cards; there was a section for birthdays; it would be perfect for college in the fall, Mom, don't you think? It was a surreal moment for me. Looking at the two of them, I felt like I was watching Pinkalicious and me in one of those Ghost of Christmas Future experiences. Today it's a Hello Kitty binder for preschool practice, and very soon it's a planner for college. We bought the binder. It was a totally emotional purchase on my part. Now is the time for Hello Kitty binders and Cotton Candy LipSmackers and Princess nighties.
My mom used to sing me a lullaby when we would be up all night with my ear infections. It just came to me, a song called "Turn Around." So poignant for today. Love you Mom!
Turn Around
Where are you going my little one, little one
Where are you going my baby, my own
Turn around and you're two
Turn around and you're four
Turn around and you're a young girl
Going out of the door
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around and you're a young girl
Going out of the door
Where are you going my little one, little one
Little pigtails and petticoats
Where have you gone
Turn around and you're tiny
Turn around and you're grown
Turn around and you're a woman
With babes of your own
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around and you're a woman
With babes of your own
Where are you going my little one, little one
Where are you going my baby, my own
Before
After
In Target I was purchasing a binder for myself to organize my To-Do lists, weekly menu planning, etc., and as I went to grab a cute one for myself, Pinky spotted a Hello Kitty binder. "Mama, I need the Hello Kitty binder for me," she exclaimed. I asked her for what she planned on doing with it, and she began to tell me about how she will make sections for practicing her writing and her drawing and her lists....
As she finished talking I noticed two women come into our aisle, a mom and her college-age daughter. The daughter began telling her mom about why she liked a particular planner/calendar. This had both the month and the weekly outlook; it had a pocket for her to keep new contacts' business cards; there was a section for birthdays; it would be perfect for college in the fall, Mom, don't you think? It was a surreal moment for me. Looking at the two of them, I felt like I was watching Pinkalicious and me in one of those Ghost of Christmas Future experiences. Today it's a Hello Kitty binder for preschool practice, and very soon it's a planner for college. We bought the binder. It was a totally emotional purchase on my part. Now is the time for Hello Kitty binders and Cotton Candy LipSmackers and Princess nighties.
My mom used to sing me a lullaby when we would be up all night with my ear infections. It just came to me, a song called "Turn Around." So poignant for today. Love you Mom!
Turn Around
Where are you going my little one, little one
Where are you going my baby, my own
Turn around and you're two
Turn around and you're four
Turn around and you're a young girl
Going out of the door
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around and you're a young girl
Going out of the door
Where are you going my little one, little one
Little pigtails and petticoats
Where have you gone
Turn around and you're tiny
Turn around and you're grown
Turn around and you're a woman
With babes of your own
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around and you're a woman
With babes of your own
Where are you going my little one, little one
Where are you going my baby, my own
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Writing Good
I was reading a friend's business website today and saw a grammar error. Immediately my inner alarm rang and my mental red pen circled the problem. Halfway to writing an email to her, I stopped myself, realizing that it might not be received well. This is growth, friends.
As a child, my mom always corrected my poor grammar in a loving way (just to clarify). There is no such thing as funner. Things can't be more better. He and I can go to a game, but they have to throw the ball to him and me. You are well; you look good. With my affinity for language, I soaked up these corrections and Mom and I together became the Grammar Police correcting all errors on television, magazines, and the like (cue super hero music and capes). I remember bringing papers home from the teachers at school and my mom correcting their mistakes and sending them back to school with me. The thought process behind that being that she would be mortified by an error in a letter she sent home to her students' parents (my mom is a teacher), and she wanted to help my teachers so that they wouldn't recycle their letters, and thus, the mistakes, for a new set of parents. I was raised that correcting the grammar mistakes of someone you know is a way you show that you care about them so that they will speak and write intelligently and not embarrass themselves (as opposed to mocking someone you don't know, like the waitress holding a glass and asking, "Is this any of your guys's drinks?" That's gold, Jerry. Gold.).
This history has produced me, the amalgam of word nerdliness and love-your-neighbor-through-grammar-rules religion. And it is therefore with affection and concern that I want to email my friend about her sentence. I am hesitant, though, that I will come off as offensive or snobby when all I want to do is to help her be as professional as possible. So what do you think? Should I chill out or should I tell her? What would a normal person's reaction be?
Note: I have given permission for my mom to email me with mistakes she sees on this blog. To date, I have made five corrections. (By the way, Mom, the title was on purpose. Please don't email me.)
As a child, my mom always corrected my poor grammar in a loving way (just to clarify). There is no such thing as funner. Things can't be more better. He and I can go to a game, but they have to throw the ball to him and me. You are well; you look good. With my affinity for language, I soaked up these corrections and Mom and I together became the Grammar Police correcting all errors on television, magazines, and the like (cue super hero music and capes). I remember bringing papers home from the teachers at school and my mom correcting their mistakes and sending them back to school with me. The thought process behind that being that she would be mortified by an error in a letter she sent home to her students' parents (my mom is a teacher), and she wanted to help my teachers so that they wouldn't recycle their letters, and thus, the mistakes, for a new set of parents. I was raised that correcting the grammar mistakes of someone you know is a way you show that you care about them so that they will speak and write intelligently and not embarrass themselves (as opposed to mocking someone you don't know, like the waitress holding a glass and asking, "Is this any of your guys's drinks?" That's gold, Jerry. Gold.).
This history has produced me, the amalgam of word nerdliness and love-your-neighbor-through-grammar-rules religion. And it is therefore with affection and concern that I want to email my friend about her sentence. I am hesitant, though, that I will come off as offensive or snobby when all I want to do is to help her be as professional as possible. So what do you think? Should I chill out or should I tell her? What would a normal person's reaction be?
Note: I have given permission for my mom to email me with mistakes she sees on this blog. To date, I have made five corrections. (By the way, Mom, the title was on purpose. Please don't email me.)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Blue is the New Pink and Shoes are the New Bows
With the addition of Mr. Monkey to our family, my thoughts have shifted from pink to blue. At first, I was bummed about this because I am such a sucker for pink and frills, but my love and appreciation for boys clothes has been helped along significantly by my discovery of Gymboree. With Gymboree clothes, I can be super matchy-matchy and still retain his masculinity. Thanks to Trish's Gymbucks and Joy's coupons, I scored an adorable elephant ensemble that is coordinated down to the shoes. And this brings me to my new love - baby shoes. I never went for them when Pinkalicious was a baby, but now that I can't decorate Mr. Monkey's head with bows, I have found reprieve in shoes... tiny, adorable, shoes.
Below are pictures that we took today in honor of Mr. Monkey turning 3 months old! Time has flown by but not in a sad way, instead in an amazing, wonderful way. This was the last thing I imagined for myself a year ago. Resignation lead me to a new set of imaginings. However, here we four are, and I am soaking up every second!
Our scanner doesn't work well with photos, so I had to take pictures of pictures. They are sub par, but I hope you enjoy the sweet faces of my dear children with me. I am happy to share them with you.
Below are pictures that we took today in honor of Mr. Monkey turning 3 months old! Time has flown by but not in a sad way, instead in an amazing, wonderful way. This was the last thing I imagined for myself a year ago. Resignation lead me to a new set of imaginings. However, here we four are, and I am soaking up every second!
Our scanner doesn't work well with photos, so I had to take pictures of pictures. They are sub par, but I hope you enjoy the sweet faces of my dear children with me. I am happy to share them with you.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Day 1
Today is Day 1 of the cleaning contest. And in Day 1, the assignment is to shine the sink. As you can see, my sink was in drastic need of some shining! The process was big at first involving several cups of bleach, some baking soda, soft scrub, tooth brushes and scrub pads. The idea is that this will be the last time I will need to clean so deeply if I keep up my daily shining routine.
The fruits of my labor. This bad boy is that shiny when dry!
Hopefully this shining proves more fruitful for me than Jack Torrance. "All work and no play...." It's pretty clear that all work was hardly my problem.
Also on Day 1, as per instructions, I went around my home and took pictures of all the places that need decluttering. That photo session ended with a pit in my stomach. I was intending to show you all my "befores" as a form of extra accountability but in the end I have too much pride. When I do finish an area, I will post the before and after. Keep your ears tuned for my mother's shrieks of mortification.
The fruits of my labor. This bad boy is that shiny when dry!
Hopefully this shining proves more fruitful for me than Jack Torrance. "All work and no play...." It's pretty clear that all work was hardly my problem.
Also on Day 1, as per instructions, I went around my home and took pictures of all the places that need decluttering. That photo session ended with a pit in my stomach. I was intending to show you all my "befores" as a form of extra accountability but in the end I have too much pride. When I do finish an area, I will post the before and after. Keep your ears tuned for my mother's shrieks of mortification.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Penne with Five Cheeses, House with Four Baezas
Tonight was a success!!
I got the table set. Notice my anniversary flowers featured on the table!
Here are the leftovers. It was delish! A BIG thanks to Becka for helping me figure out the timing in one casserole dish. I do not have to feel a failure that I don't have gratin dishes.
The Hubs suggested adding shrimp next time - brilliant man! I think that by using whole wheat pasta, there was more liquid in the sauce that would have been absorbed by regular pasta. Also, the suggestion to dab butter at the top was weird, as all it did was create pools of butter. I'd nix it next time. We all were full from the pasta and Jaime's delicious salad (with homemade croutons - HELLO!!) so there are leftovers for tomorrow. Bonus!
Check out the cutest hostess gift EVER! Jamus totally made it herself and I don't want to cover it up with a cake! To see how to make your own, check out Jaime's blog "The Baeza Blog" on the list of blogs I'm following.
All in all, I was silly to stress. The floor was still unmopped and unvacuumed and there were watermarks all over the counters. The company made it a wonderful night. The company, and the fact that I did get to shave. =)
I got the table set. Notice my anniversary flowers featured on the table!
Here are the leftovers. It was delish! A BIG thanks to Becka for helping me figure out the timing in one casserole dish. I do not have to feel a failure that I don't have gratin dishes.
The Hubs suggested adding shrimp next time - brilliant man! I think that by using whole wheat pasta, there was more liquid in the sauce that would have been absorbed by regular pasta. Also, the suggestion to dab butter at the top was weird, as all it did was create pools of butter. I'd nix it next time. We all were full from the pasta and Jaime's delicious salad (with homemade croutons - HELLO!!) so there are leftovers for tomorrow. Bonus!
Check out the cutest hostess gift EVER! Jamus totally made it herself and I don't want to cover it up with a cake! To see how to make your own, check out Jaime's blog "The Baeza Blog" on the list of blogs I'm following.
All in all, I was silly to stress. The floor was still unmopped and unvacuumed and there were watermarks all over the counters. The company made it a wonderful night. The company, and the fact that I did get to shave. =)
Hopeful Planning
We're having friends over for dinner tonight and I'm trying a new recipe. I know you're not supposed to do that, but I wanted to. I'm making Ina Garten's Penne with Five Cheeses because somewhere I have become deluded to think that if I make the same dishes as Ina, I will be as great of a hostess as Ina. Only time will tell. Currently my house is still decorated for spring, the floors unvacuumed, the table half-set, and the only thing that has been shaved is the Peccorino Romano.
This is how it's supposed to look:
I'm hoping it will turn out.
Ingredients
4 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut in small chunks or cubes
½ c. freshly grated Peccorino Romano
½ c. shredded Fontina
2 T. ricotta
¼ c. crumbled Gorgonzola
1 ½ c. canned crushed tomatoes
1 ½ c. heavy cream
6-7 fresh basil leaves, cut in small pieces 5 T. salted butter
1 pound penne
Instructions
Preheat oven to 500 F.
1) Bring a large pot to boil and then add1 pound pasta (no oil). Cook this 7-8 minutes
2) While the pasta is boiling, shred your cheeses and mix all the ingredients EXCEPT butter in a large bowl.
3) Add your cooked pasta to the bowl and mix well.
4) Pour pasta mixture into a baking pan--you can use ramekins here or a small casserole dish.
5) Dot the top of your Five Cheese with the diced butter pieces.
6) Bake at 500 for about 10 minutes
I'll let you know how it goes! They'll be here in less than 2.5 hours! Ah!
This is how it's supposed to look:
Ingredients
4 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut in small chunks or cubes
½ c. freshly grated Peccorino Romano
½ c. shredded Fontina
2 T. ricotta
¼ c. crumbled Gorgonzola
1 ½ c. canned crushed tomatoes
1 ½ c. heavy cream
6-7 fresh basil leaves, cut in small pieces 5 T. salted butter
1 pound penne
Instructions
Preheat oven to 500 F.
1) Bring a large pot to boil and then add1 pound pasta (no oil). Cook this 7-8 minutes
2) While the pasta is boiling, shred your cheeses and mix all the ingredients EXCEPT butter in a large bowl.
3) Add your cooked pasta to the bowl and mix well.
4) Pour pasta mixture into a baking pan--you can use ramekins here or a small casserole dish.
5) Dot the top of your Five Cheese with the diced butter pieces.
6) Bake at 500 for about 10 minutes
I'll let you know how it goes! They'll be here in less than 2.5 hours! Ah!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Eight and counting...
In our wedding program I had several of my favorite love poems printed. This one was a hope of affections to come, and today, I can claim them as my own. I love you, dear husband.
To My Dear and Loving Husband
by Anne Bradstreet
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
Summer's Horizons
So here we are teetering between May 31 and June 1, Pinkalicious is done with preschool, MOPS is over for the year, The Hubs is running finals at work, and any remnant of a schedule is out the window. I am almost twitchy at the thought of the wide open months ahead. To combat this, I've been considering how I wanted my summer days to look, and while I was scribbling out my weeks today, I received an invitation to join a contest. It's not a Seinfeld contest, though let me assure you that I am master of my domain, queen of the castle. Rather, it's a contest between friends based on organizing our homes and building a routine for keeping it clean. I'm SO jazzed!!! It couldn't have come at a better time!
Entering summer is usually a bit painful for me. As a stay-at-home mom, I go about my day with the kids doing whatever is scheduled within our weekly routine. But when summer comes and The Hubs finishes teaching, he is home day after day and I'm thrown for a loop. I love him, I feel so lucky to have extra time to spend together, and these weeks of togetherness as a young family each year are precious, but there is about a week of transition for me where he is totally in my space. On the flip side, at the end of the summer I spend about a week wondering what I'm supposed to do now that he is back to work. It's all in my brain. My little twisted brain. I think this contest is going to help give some structure to my day like I've been craving.
Today I bought the book Sink Reflections that we are basing our routines on and I read through chapter 1. I hope to get further along tomorrow during gymnastics practice (the one constant in our week that I can rely on. At least until Vacation Bible School, and swimming lessons, and vacation... just breathe, Dana.). There's a point system for keeping track of our chores and it looks like we're moving in baby steps, which is promising. We are beginning June 2 and ending August 26. Wish me luck! Winner takes the prize money!!
I'll keep you apprised of my journey - blogging is definitely on the schedule.
Entering summer is usually a bit painful for me. As a stay-at-home mom, I go about my day with the kids doing whatever is scheduled within our weekly routine. But when summer comes and The Hubs finishes teaching, he is home day after day and I'm thrown for a loop. I love him, I feel so lucky to have extra time to spend together, and these weeks of togetherness as a young family each year are precious, but there is about a week of transition for me where he is totally in my space. On the flip side, at the end of the summer I spend about a week wondering what I'm supposed to do now that he is back to work. It's all in my brain. My little twisted brain. I think this contest is going to help give some structure to my day like I've been craving.
Today I bought the book Sink Reflections that we are basing our routines on and I read through chapter 1. I hope to get further along tomorrow during gymnastics practice (the one constant in our week that I can rely on. At least until Vacation Bible School, and swimming lessons, and vacation... just breathe, Dana.). There's a point system for keeping track of our chores and it looks like we're moving in baby steps, which is promising. We are beginning June 2 and ending August 26. Wish me luck! Winner takes the prize money!!
I'll keep you apprised of my journey - blogging is definitely on the schedule.
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