Wednesday, November 28, 2007

My Christmas Wishlist No. 2

I foolishly ask for books every year. Why is this a foolish act? Have you seen my To-Read list to the right down there? I seriously have over 2 dozen books waiting to be read, and yet I buy and ask for more. But how can I not request this new(ish) book from one of my favorite people on the planet?

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Oh I Wish

Why am I not currently dressed like any of these ladies? I need to get some of the cheaper versions recommended by the Frugal-Fashionista. The past few days have been nothing but drool inspiring over there.



Monday, November 26, 2007

My Christmas Wishlist No. 1

It's the time of year that you're thinking of all the goodies you hope to find under the tree. This year I'm hoping to unwrap this 36 piece set of markers from Martha Stewart. What are you wishing for?

Weekend Roundup?

Man, I can't give you a clear and concise list this week. And really nothing interesting enough happened to go into great detail. I was still sick, so this morning was the first time I left our apartment after getting home Thursday night. Here are some tidbits though:

-watch Thanksgiving Day Parade and dog show
-play Trivial Pursuit with the family and friends
-eat Jack-In-The-Box
-watch some What Not To Wear
-read more from You: Staying Young
-watch A Muppet's Christmas Carol
-research party tips and appetizer ideas
-look through past holiday issues of Martha Stewart Living and Real Simple
-make list of projects
-eat sweet & sour chicken and vegetable fried rice
-try and clean out some of the dvr'd shows
-have a Darcy marathon consisting of Part 2 of Pride & Prejudice and Bridget Jones' Diary
-sleep a whole heck of a lot
-think up some NY resolution ideas
-eat pizza
-watch Dick Tracy

So, as you can see, the past four days consisted of sleeping, eating, and looking at things, be they moving pictures or written words. Yep, that's pretty much all I did. I had a lot of stuff I was planning on getting done this weekend, none of which was accomplished. But I still don't quite feel like I wasted the time. I've been battling back and forth with this cold since the 13th, so I think these few days of rest may have helped me finally work through it. It would have been nice if I had gotten my spices organized. Or pulled out all my sweaters (hello, it SNOWED on Thanksgiving). But Josh took super good care of me and did the dishes through the whole weekend, so there isn't quite as much waiting for me now that I'm back in the land of the chore-doing living.

And now it's the best time of year! Yay for the Christmas season!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thankful

Just some of the things I'm thankful for right now:

-my husband
-my kitty
-zicam, benadryl, and my vaporizer
-dog shows
-four-day weekends
-best friends
-playing with little ones
-my favorite mustard
-sweaters
-time to bake
-eating well
-inspiration
-my family (even if it is huge and crazy)
-the rest of the holiday season
-wrapping and bows
-martha stewart's craft line
-cheese
-awesome tv shows on dvd
-did I mention my husband?

Monday, November 19, 2007

Weekend Roundup

Friday:
-Work, blech
-Run to Target for gifts
-Get haircut
-Gather things and head to Steph & Rodney's
-Eat Chipotle with the DeMeglios
-Grocery shop
-Prepare Italian lasagna while Steph makes Mexican lasagna
-Put together birthday banner
-Organize dishes for party buffet
-Play Guitar Hero III
-Go to bed

Saturday:
-Up early
-Shower
-Head to Party City for balloons
-Wash and chop lettuce for salad
-Bake the lasagnas
-Finish getting ready
-Play with Rylee
-Cut the lasagnas just in time
-Celebrate Rylee's 2nd birthday!
-Hang out with everyone afterwards
-Play more Guitar Hero III
-Gab with the girls over beer and pizza
-Play with Hannah, Miles, and Rylee
-Head home and get some shut eye

Sunday:
-Up kind of early
-Get ready and run to Target for new hair dryer and Thanksgiving supplies
-Take old dining room table out to dumpster
-Eat sandwich, yum
-Shower
-Dry and straighten hair
-Make roasted zucchini w/ thyme and garlic-roasted asparagus
-Clean up the ramekins that came crashing down from the cabinet
-Fix Kim & Alec's present very quickly
-Get asparagus out the oven and get out the door
-Have a great evening at the Pop-in-law's, eating turkey, dressing, green beans, zucchini, asparagus, and pumpkin pie.
-Get home and empty the dishwasher while dancing around to Dean Martin
-Put up a post at Small Time Cooks
-Order sis-in-law's Christmas gift
-Hit the hay

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Sick

Well, here I am, sick again. It's only been 2 months since my last scuffle with cold germs, but thanks to Saturday's Rock School show I'm down and out again. I am almost positive that I caught whatever I have on Saturday, as children are well known harbingers of illness. And Josh and I are both sick, and both started feeling bad at the same time, which means we probably caught it at the same time. We've never been sick at the exact same time before, so we'll see how well we can handle this. Not a very good week for it either- Friday I'll have to leave work a little early so I can get gifts for Rylee and Alec & Kim, get my hair cut, and then head to Steph & Rodney's for party prep. I'm gonna stay the night with them and then Saturday is more prep and the big party. Sunday we're doing an early Thanksgiving dinner with Josh's dad's family and I've got two veg dishes to prepare. I think I've decided on roasted zucchini with thyme and parmesan green beans. Everything else on the menu is meaty or starchy, so I think greens the way to go. As you can see there isn't a lot of room for wallowing in a giant pile of tissues. I've got to do my best battle on. I'm eating my fruits and veg to try and help build up my defenses- apple at breakfast, lentil soup, raw broccoli, celery, carrots, and cucumber at lunch. And a nice glass of cranberry juice in addition to all the water I'm chugging. Before long I'll get to have a comforting cup of peppermint tea. With all that goodness going in me it shouldn't belong before the germs are moving out!

Monday, November 12, 2007

Weekend Roundup

Friday:
-Work, blah
-Grab Chipotle for dinner
-Eat and watch Simpsons
-See Josh off to the recording studio
-Wash towels and delicates
-Watch What Not to Wear and Clinton Kelly's home renovation
-Finish up some dvr'd Ghost Hunters and Most Haunted and read Newsweek
-Fall asleep on the couch
-Wake up when Josh gets home, brush teeth, and climb in bed

Saturday:
-Rise and shine
-Make a nice fruit smoothie- pineapple juice, banana, bit of yogurt and frozen raspberries
-Watch Rick Steves and Rick Bayless
-Have toast and coffee
-Watch dvr'd Men In Trees- omg wolves!
-Try and learn Hotel California on drums from Josh
-Shower
-Get ready while watching WKRP
-Head to Dallas
-Have a great time at the Rock School show. Josh's students kicked butt!
-Visit with parents and kids
-Head back to Funkytown
-Grab some Jack In The Box
-Eat and freshen up
-Head to the Chat Room for We The Sea Lions show
-Head home and hit the couch
-Watch Graham Norton
-Night-night

Sunday:
-Sleep in
-Eat Josh's breakfast of eggs and toast
-Watch dvr'd Celebrity Rides with Burt Reynolds
-Work on weekly menu and grocery list
-Make drop off at Goodwill
-Head to Central Market for, gasp, more white dishes
-Stop off at Borders for the special holiday issue of Everyday Food and You: Staying Young
-Go home and eat Chipotle leftovers
-Watch dvr'd John Edward and Oprah episodes
-Josh gets home from errands
-Go to the grocery store
-Put everything up and order a pizza
-Grab a shower
-Eat and watch Simpsons, mmm chicken, black olives, and green pepper pizza
-Move to the bedroom so Josh can play his new PS3 game
-Watch Take The Lead while looking for Thanksgiving recipes
-Read a little and hit the hay

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Confession Time

I've come to the realization that I am addicted to the color white. Particularly when it comes to furniture. Seriously. I can't explain the obsession, but white is what I like. Our current furniture menagerie:




















And I will hopefully soon be welcoming this piece into our abode.




If only this obsession were limited to furniture.



Do you think there is a 12-step program out there for me? While we're at it I probably need to find an Ikea Anonymous group too.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Weekend Roundup

Friday:
-Sleep In
-Eat breakfast & blog
-Post piano on craigslist again
-Clean bathroom mirror, sink, counter & floor
-Tidy living room
-Tidy bedroom
-Intermittently watch BBC America shows while cleaning
-Do dishes
-Clean kitchen counters, cutting board, and sink
-Shower
-Grab some Chipotle
-Eat dinner and watch Simpsons
-Catch up on dvr'd shows
-Get friend's wedding invitation in the mail
-Start looking for dress to wear
-Put Josh to bed
-Watch a couple episodes of WKRP and read
-Hit the hay

Saturday:
-Sleep in
-Catch shows on PBS
-Reply to interested piano people
-Search through some gift registries
-Run errands to Target and Central Market
-Eat lunch
-Look through same friend's bridal and engagement pics- so pretty!
-Catch up on more dvr'd shows, yay Ugly Betty & Men In Trees
-Matt comes over to hang out
-Boys work on music while I watch TV
-Run to Rosa's for some dinner
-Watch Graham Norton while we dine
-Prep baked french toast for morning
-Catch up on dvr'd Most Haunted
-Finish reading Newsweek
-Watch some History International
-Hit the hay

Sunday:
-Accidentally wake up an hour earlier, darn time change
-Grab a shower before piano people come, good thing I woke up early in the end
-Help new owners shift piano out to their truck
-Make note to bake cookies for maintenance man Ruben and neighbor Gregory for helping with piano
-Dance with elation at being rid of the behemoth
-Pop french toast in the oven
-Start looking online for new dining room furniture
-Have french toast and coffee, I think I've found the right recipe!
-Convince Josh we should go to Ikea while we've got the big rental car
-Drive out to Ikea
-Work our way through the maze
-Leave with new bedside tables, dining room table, and hamper
-Get home, unload, and get to work
-Eat delicious sandwich Josh prepared to give me strength for furniture construction
-Put together hamper and bedside tables while watching This Old House- I'm so handy!
-Clear out old furniture and put new bedside tables in their place
-Grab some Sonic for dinner
-Throw together a quick menu plan for the week and short grocery list for today
-Retire to the much nicer bedroom and read some more Dorothy Draper before drifting off to sleep

Friday, November 2, 2007

Halloween: A Retrospective, Part I

2004: John & Yoko















Forgive my crooked wig, it was the end of the night and that thing was itchy!

2006: Bonnie & Clyde



























2007: Brad & Janet