practically perfect . . .

2011-11-28T15:48:00.009-07:00

*Ladies and Gentlemen, the devil is real*

Now I know that this is not the site where one typically expects to see images of the supernatural, or musings on deity and the like, but today has just been one of those days, so as it is my place to write, enjoy this if you might.

I have been married more than 9 years, and during that time, I have been brought to realize the true nature of evil. Evil wants you as miserable as he is, he constantly confronts and challenges you in ways that you previously thought unendurable. He is nasty, hateful, and when I sense his presence, I feel anger, fatigue, and helplessness. I of course refer to, the adversary, the devil, my cat Kenshin.

That bugger has been with me since roughly a month after saying "I do" and his goal in life is to make me sorry I have ever met him. Well, it has worked. This afternoon as I sat home while the cable company worked on restoring my connection, I had offered the gentleman at my home a drink, and so just as I stepped into my front room to deliver it, the devil laid me low. I had barely handed my guest the glass when I heard a tremendous whooshing noise, and upon turning round to the kitchen, I saw Kenshin, the devil incarnate, had knocked off a gallon of egg nog from where it sat closed on the counter and had created an egg nog orgy for himself and the three other youngsters who are prone to follow his bad example.

One of these days, that damn cat will be gone. Please make it sooner rather than later!!

All four kitties, gorging themselves on my sorrow

Poor Gigi has been blind since birth and has never had to take a bath in the sink before, though she has never been drenched in egg nog before either. Thank goodness my sink was essentially empty to begin with.
Sad note, she has no clue that faucet is right in front of her nose. I kid you not. Luckily for us all, my cable guy suggested I photograph the evidence of this misbehavior to share with the world before I got about the business of once again, doing my floors.

2011-11-27T02:20:00.013-07:00

The Road Not Taken
             - by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

I started off on my adventure, ignorant to the fact that at the end of November in the Utah mountains, one would expect to see snow...

To someone else, this means something.... stay on course? Anyhow, it wasn't bad to start and the terrain looked manageable though slow going.

The trail quickly went from snow ankle deep to something more disheartening...knee deep!

Here is the exact point I turned back.  I looked above me on the mountain side and saw a merry group of cross country skiers making their way across the terrain.  There is no shame in turning about when one has short hiking boots and ankle socks where snowshoes and skis are the proper apparel.

My very own "Road less traveled." Rather than follow the relatively mild path I ventured out on, I decided to take the higher trail which offered more scenic views.  Please note, this ended up being the path that I was knee deep for the last 30 minutes or so of my adventure though the prospect of this is precisely what precipitated my turning back in the first place.

After I realized that my snow filled shoes and surprisingly warm calves (despite being repeatedly dunked in snow) might be a reason for concern, I began a sad attempt to run a portion of the "trail" to get to warmth faster.

The most beautiful cabin in the world! A welcome sight after 2.5 hours on the ice covered mountain side
Welcome home!

2011-11-26T12:06:00.007-07:00

* Remains of the day*

Thanksgiving still life

Spinach Salad

Sides

Haricots Verts

Coconut Pie

Peanut Butter Chocolate pie

Family Flop Time

PJ and Char watch shows as we nap

Dress up time! (Char layers skirts in her daily life too)
PJ regained her energies and showed off some cheer moves before we called it quits

2011-11-21T19:09:00.006-07:00

* Give Thanks*

Well, this year, I took off essentially the entire week of Thanksgiving in order to give thanks to the beauty around me, my home, and my family, and do something for each of them.
This week some of my goals are to:
Assist a friend in packing up her home to move
Teach Lisa how to make miracle rolls taught to me by Martha
Organize my kitchen with my new pots and pans (Thanks special Costco in Vegas)
Make a Christmas banner for work
Send off my paperwork to begin the completion of my basement renovation
Merchandise my closet and make it appropriate for my scrap-booking
Put up the rest of my Christmas decor (Since I will be in Texas for Christmas, I want to squeeze every moment from it)
Get the pantry repaired and sorted
Sort the basement and then put away seasonal items
Do laundry
Go to twilight
Oh, and make a huge Thanksgiving dinner

On the menu this year, I am considering the following:
Turkey-20 lbs
Julia Child's mushroom stuffing
Green Beans Fresh rolls with honey butter
Spinach salad with strawberries, candied pecans, and blue cheese
Goat cheese mashed potatoes
Southern sweet potato casserole
Cornbread pudding
Apple pie
Pumpkin pie
Peanut butter pie
Chess Pie
Tollhouse Pie

I have decided to be more casual than I usually am at this time and do a rustic burlap themed Thanksgiving with beautiful sticks, leaves, and twine rather than crystal, as I typically use at my parties. I will post photos as I get them as well as the recipes I end up using and any modifications. Bonne chance to you all~

2011-03-23T14:57:00.005-06:00

A few more photos that I just had to share~

The little ladies had a blast

Will loves that he finally figured out to master the funny face

This is one of my favorite shots of miss Lucy

Charlotte and Bea during the spa party

Will and Teesa love wrestling

Theresa helped teach me how to read

These are the faces of a contented pair watching a beloved movie (this is Teesa's favorite way to snuggle her blankie)

Lucy happy as ever

Here she is buried in the sand with Mommy and Poppa looking on.  Teesa got a bit confused which Benac family that she is in.

Happy Poodle

Lille and Grace mastered Boogie boarding

2011-03-23T13:59:00.012-06:00

 The Alabama beach vacation brought to you through the eyes of the children

*I'm Alive! *
 
Ladies and gentlemen, I still do exist! I  recognize that it has been close to a year since I posted. For that, I  apologize. As I wrapped my last post, my trusty laptop breathed it's  last, and at last I had to let it go in peace. My iPhone has worked for  my general internet needs as the home computer has generally been for  Brian's sole use, but as we just got back from the latest vacation to  the Gulf Shores in Alabama..... I have many pictures to share and thus,  as it is my day off and there is a free computer, enjoy!

Meet this years cast~

This year at the beach brought to you by Mr Bill

And the newly trained yuke playing Momma B

in attendance as well was the Morphis family...

Matt and Sabina

Catherine and Lille

Catherine and Grace

Max being loved with his parents

Catherine and Matt as the cold water strikes

Bea and Max go for a walk

next I present
the Billy Benac family. . .

Like father like son: Billy and Will both love to pull faces

Family portraits where the children act like themselves are so much more interesting. . .

Theresa loves her momma

Kelsey and Bill taking a moment for themselves

Theresa and Kelsey take a break to paint their nails.  This was the first time that Teesa got to use nail polish

The next family in attendance was the Flakes. . .

Penelope loved spending time with Lille

Sarah and Adam love spending time with each other.  Life is always just a little funnier with them

Charlotte morphed into the newly named "poodle"

Finally meet the John and Mamie Benac family:

 The little man Rowan putting in hard labor

Miss Lucy looks thoughtful as she enjoys her birthday treasure hunt

Happy 4th birthday Lucy!

Don't worry, it was Lucy's idea~

2010-07-25T12:49:00.008-06:00

*The feasts*

I made a promise to include another post regarding my latter half of the Dallas visit which included both a feast of lobster and that of lamb.  It is a great family tradition that we hold dear to take a mass of live lobsters and eat them until we are ill.  After that point, we take the remaining meat and shells and from there make a lobster bisque that would put Thomas Keller to shame.

*  I must admit though that as I write this, I use the word we rather liberally.  All credit is in fact to be given to my glorious and talented father.  *

First up was lobster fest.  This was a time when as young children, we learned how to eat a rather complicated food and enjoy its delicate flavor.

Max watched Brian prepare to eat his meal full of wonder
***

Mother displays the fresh out of the pot lobsters to the surrounding children.
***

All and all, we had a lovely meal~
***

Next we move onto my personally favorite meal of the year and the reason we saw fit to fly down for the weekend - lamb fest... I will continue with that one next

2010-07-24T11:01:00.008-06:00

* What a delight*

Recently, I have begun following the Fly Lady routines again (which you will recall from months past) and my life has once again become rather seamless.  I am more able to manage the stresses of work, I answer the doors when people come knocking free from CHAOS (Cant Have Anyone Over Syndrome), and last night, the most remarkable thing of all happened.... Brian invited over a group of friends to play cards for the first time in our eight year marriage!

Brian told me the night before that his buddies were headed my way, and rather than protest, or spend the night in a frenzy of activity preparing the house for guests, I smiled and went about my regular routines. The night of the party, when Brian and I came home from work, we spent about ten minutes getting ready for his guests to arrive.  It was darling, Brian put out a fresh roll of toilet paper, put grapefruit scented soap in the bathroom rather than using the usual one in the kitchen, he laid out a hand towel rather than use our usual bath towel from the morning, and then even encouraged me to make treats for his buddies.  So, last night I had five people in my living room, brownies, quiche, monkey bread, and a number of drinks in the kitchen, and lively music playing from the TV.

I made sure that they had all that they needed and then gave them some space as Brian seems to be most comfortable with his guests without my exuberance impeding his social mores.  I slipped out to run on our treadmill for an hour, took a cool shower, made myself a lovely cup of peppermint tea, did my before bed routines, and then went into our cozy and tidy bedroom to read myself to sleep with the lovely Anne Of Green Gables.  I nodded off, listening to my typically silent husband laughing and interacting with his friends in the front room - all because he felt comfortable enough to have them over on a moments notice thanks to the recent re commitment to my life and our home.

*Thanks Fly Lady!*

2010-07-20T23:50:00.011-06:00

preface-
i  have started several posts lately, but inevitably, i feel that when i  haven't posted in quite some time, the next one needs to be brilliant.   this is quite a bit of self inflicted pressure, so i have chosen to do  what my old college friend Marshall advised me worked best for  him.   he was an artist and often found filling the blank canvas a far  too daunting task as he was in perpetual fear that he would "mess up"  his new work by having an errant line, or something that was out of  proportion to the rest of the piece. he would often fail to do anything  for the fear of destroying his canvas.  his solution was a simple one,  simply start with the mistake.  he would slash a line of color across  the canvas in a bold and confident stroke and then from there, he would  allow the rest of the painting to form.  though he shared this with me  ten years ago, it has always been something i have called upon in such a case as this.  so, here is my  colorful stroke--
***

*Simple Gatherings*

Over the last month I  have been blessed to travel around the country to visit family and have  found myself once again impressed by the beauty not only of the people,  but of those things they hold close to them in their homes, and the  landscapes of the various places in the country.  Allow me to make some  introductions . . .
***

Before I left for my family tour, I purchased a lovely orchid to brighten the kitchen (but only after proper coaching from a dear friend of mine who is one of those illusive folks who can keep an orchid alive for years and years) His big hint? Neglect them for the most part and only water them once a week.
***

First up on the tour- I went to one of my favorite places to visit two of my dearest nieces.

Penny illustrates that for some, posing comes effortlessly. . .
***

While for others, it is a learned skill. . . (I fall into this category too Charlie)
***

It must be said though that after awhile, I find that what I am most drawn to in children's photographs are those of them just being themselves with silly faces smeared in chocolate and all. . .
***

 Well, well, this little love of mine does clean up rather nicely, though not too nicely. When dressing a little girl, I have found find nothing more sublime that a child swathed in pearls (often a great juxtaposition) and so while I stayed, I allowed the girls to drape themselves in some of mine.
***

After a few short days in Las Vegas, I then returned home for a brief rest before I headed out to Dallas with Brian to see the families. . .
***

Mother greeted us with excess and warm welcome. . .
***
where we all sat down to a simple but pristine supper. . .
***

followed by a sumptuous room for my Pooh and I to slip off to by ourselves for some respite from the summer heat.
***

We were able to head to the arboretum for a picnic and concert in the gardens with the parents and friends.
***

(mom and dad still look good soaking up the Dallas sites)
***

While later that night, our party was joined by John and Co.
***

Once the Houston crowd was in town, Mother decided to impress us all by making a quiche-like side dish that was divine in its utter simplicity (I must admit that the other "adults" in the room kept scolding me for stealing off bits of this heavenly dish prior to the prayer)  Know what? I still don't regret it!
***
Mamie impressed us all by making homemade crescent rolls that looked like chubby happy little babies all snuggled in. (hmm, we ate them though so perhaps not a great analogy)
***

Stay tuned for part two of the travels.... lobster and lamb fests!

*Side note*
My dear friends, I am aware of the fact that I have copious amounts of photographs embedded in some of my posts.  I like it this way.  I have found that this has become a living journal in many ways and I am stirred by photographs which is why I utilize them.  No fear though, they are easily passed by!

2010-06-13T22:14:00.003-06:00

*My favorite time of day*

I don't know if this seems silly, but my favorite part of time day or night is those tender hours when I lay in bed next to my Pooh bear. He is tough to track down at other times of the day, but at night, when we are finally asleep, I love that we are close together. I think about what it is in our daily routine that keeps us from being the couple we once were, but I take comfort in the fact that I feel we express our truest selves when no one else is around, sometimes we aren't even fully there. It makes me smile that rough as it can be after being married for almost 8 years, we still sleep with our foreheads pressed together, our legs intertwined, or lovingly in an arm nook. So, though days may be long and we may seem tough, at night and in the morning, the place I want to be most in this world is snuggling back in bed.

2010-06-09T20:27:00.008-06:00

*When Its Good Its Very Very Good But When Its Bad, Its Horrendous*

Today, with my peers, we attended the highly anticipated business seminar at the Jazz stadium. In my opinion, it couldn't possibly have started much better. Rudy Giuliani spoke on the importance of embracing the new technology revolution in order to be a success in business and life. He urged us to get iPods, iPads, Smart phones, Computers, use facebook, and twitter, and even get a higher degree online. He spoke of the importance of connecting with the world that exists around us. Giuliani stressed that this world has gone high-tech and us being bitter and standing belligerently against the tide makes us foolish. We should not be bragging about our ignorance, desperately clinging to the comfortable, choosing to embrace it our failure to evolve but rather have someone share their knowledge with us, and learn how this new frontier can enhance our lives and make our systems we have in place more efficient. There is no reason to allow ourselves to be intimidated by the new technologies as that is of no use to anyone. Giuliani politely disagreed with 'Bama and his recent remarks at Hampton University where he warned, "With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations — none of which I know how to work," Obama said, "information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation." Giuliani expressed that though essentially all technology has the power to create good as well as damage society if allowed, that is no reason to cower in the face of this revolution and stand idly by as society marches past. He spoke of the importance of expanding our minds by all means possible and most impressively, he sold me on ebooks.

In the second part of his lecture, he suggested a few ways for us to expand ourselves. He shared that he is currently taking an Italian class online and suggested we try not only that but to continue our more traditional education, and to be voracious readers. He recognized that there are those who currently aren't in the habit of reading and needed to learn to appreciate it and how it relaxes the mind. Simply by picking up a book on a topic that they are already passionate about until they are comfortable with regular reading time, and then to expand their reading selections to a variety of topics from there. In order to both enjoy reading and expand his mind, he shared his habit of always reading two books at once. One book is meant to teach him in some way and works educate and diversify his opinions while the other is simply a pleasurable read. As a result of this study, he has become literate on numerous topics and at the end of a long day, he looks forward to sitting down to take his personal time. Finally, he ended sharing the need to take our new found knowledge and listen to and debate people who have differing points of views in order to understand our world even better.

As the day progressed, I appreciated the remarkable opportunity to have the pleasure of listening to Zig Ziglar, John Walsh, Colin Powell, Mit Romney, Apolo Anton Ohno, Sarah Palin, (ok, she was a total moron when seen in person as she couldn't keep her thoughts straight wit a flatiron), and several others regional characters. Though a half dozen of the sessions were fun, inspiring, and thought provoking, a few were more in line with the late night slap chop/ sham wow characters or America's newest sweetheart, Tina Fey. I tried desperately to remember that the reason we were able to have all of these leaders fly out to speak to us is because someone has made this a profitable venture and could afford to pay them for an appearance. Though cerebrally I got it, there were a few who squeezed the life out of the chance to do just that and came within an inch of my sharp mental obliteration technique.

Bob Patelle was the most adamant opportunist of the presenters. Mid way through his seminar, he shifted us all into the land of late night television testimonials and pitched us all real good. Rather than discuss principles, he shared his website, rather than share knowledge, he praised his free lunch session between breaks, and rather than expand our interests, he hocked his courses which were not $3999, not $2999, not $599, and no not $399 but if you were one of the schmucks who is lead by loud music, a booming voice, and a quarter pound of charm, you could get his courses for the special one time offer of $99 !! Just because he wants to help you out and because he connected so deeply with this audience, he is going to send each of those lucky drones home with a free trial offer of his website, a free trial of his newsletter, a free coaching session with his "talented" life and financial coaches, and a TWO DAY ONCE IN A LIFETIME SEMINAR with him and his team in the upcoming months at a hotel near you!

Well, now is the time to take a deep breath shake it off, take just a moment, and then do as my newest buddy Giuliani suggested... take in all of the information possible-including likely morons whose point of view actually might have lowered my already tenuous IQ, and then filter the good from the bad keeping only the true gems. Oh, and its a good thing he suggested we have a sense of humor about life, so rather than be shocked and offended that a "cutie" basketball mom - sorry I might have liked her when she claimed hockey, but as politicians are chameleons in public she tried out a different persona today. Anyhow, though I'm an ardent opponent to the current administration, I find it shocking as this lady with the "precious" voice and perfectly teased hair who seemed completely ADD and incoherent was nearly the Vice President of this lovely country, I have Tina Fey to make horrendous encounters of this kind a bit more delightful in hindsight.

Thank you all and as Tina would say.... Have a good night New York!

2010-06-07T23:01:00.007-06:00

*Eloise at the Plaza*

Well fine, perhaps I am not Eloise and rather than the Plaza I'm staying at a lovely downtown Marriott, but I do still love the idea of taking full advantage of a hotel stay. Tomorrow afternoon, I work in Salt Lake and wont be returning home until roughly 7 PM. Though this seems reasonable, I have to be back up there the next morning at 6:30 AM for a huge event at the Delta center with thousands of people to listen to a leadership seminar given by the likes of Zig Ziegler, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin, Mit Romney, General Colon Powell and several more. Realistically speaking this means that the traffic will be horrendous, the parking would be impossible, and the stress of doing all of this with my peers as well as my District Manager and my Regional Manager present makes my eye twitch. So, not one to drive an hour and a half in the morning while battling deadlines, traffic, and peer pressure, I decided to chose easy. I used one of Brian's gift cards and got a hotel suite three blocks away from the event. Now rather than the drama, I have scheduled to have a girls night of shopping and fun downtown, a plush robe for a lovely bath, breakfast in bed, a wake up call and then a leisurely stroll to the arena. Now fingers crossed that it works out that these best laid plans are worth the extra few hours of sleep and some self inflicted pampering.

Evidence that Brian and I have actually successfully relaxed in the past. Hopefully we will have a repeat performance.

*update* the girls cancelled on me so I shopped alone, I ended up at dinner with some of the out of town managers and sat next to my DM trying to make conversation that would not result in her rolling her eyes in my direction, oh, and the demons who had the room next to mine at the hotel had their TV blaring until past 3 AM and held the social event of the season in the hallway directly in front of my room when mercifully around 3:30 or so, I was able to drown out the din with Celtic chants from my iPod. Looking on the bright side, at least room service woke me from my near coma-esque state with eggs benedict at 6:09 so I was able to make it to the stadium a full hour before anyone other than my work buddies showed up. At least we got to pick our seats, eh?

2010-06-05T15:45:00.008-06:00

*Today's Spring Cleaning*

So today I lack the will to work. This is an issue. So, what I have chosen to do is to use you as my manager, and share my goals for the day. Later, I will check in and see how I do. Here goes my list as well as some before and after photos that I have included. After all, everyone has times where they would cringe if company showed up unexpected... I may as well admit it to myself and share with you a few before and afters. Enjoy!

-Do more dishes
(to finally clean up from the lingering remnants of the memorial day party.

kitchen counters before

kitchen counters after

-Snuggle Brian on the couch watching How I Met Your Mother for our version of quality time
(this photo is just for us)

-Clean up the bathroom

The bathroom before

The bathroom after... everything in its place and smelling fresh

-Put away the cursed laundry

Before hand, even Bella looks clearly ticked

-Wash even more laundry
(no one is perfect so lets push that to tomorrow)

-Make the bed

Bedroom before

Bedroom after a good clean

-Photograph the house for Mom and Mary
(this is on mom's flickr album)

-Shower
(ran out of time, essentially ran in the hose rather than a lovely shower)

-Head out to dinner and a movie with Madison
(well we did get dinner, but went to Sephora rather than a movie)

-Finish my Capote book
(this is my before bed ritual which I will finish right as I finish this post)

hmmmmm i think that is it. Ta ta for now!

2010-06-01T19:59:00.008-06:00

*Some Days Make You Work For It*

Most days I am happy to head to work, but other days--- well, it's a real effort. Today was one of the latter. It is tough working at a job where the bigger the sob story the client gives, the more they are used to getting in fees reversed etc. This leads to an environment where people who view themselves as victims thrive. At times, this makes it difficult for me to be empathetic towards each story as often I have heard a version of it a dozen or more times a day. Today, I sought desperately to cling to the positive moments. The one I grabbed hold of was when the wife of one of the guys who works for me brought in her three year old twin boys to visit and chat for a few minutes.

At the ripe old age of 29 and with almost 8 years of marriage under my belt, I have finally gotten to the point where I am fixated on having my own children and doing something I consider a valuable investment in my daily life. Though working my regular job is important on the surface and I recognize that what I do can truly change peoples' lives, I want to make a difference in a smaller sphere. Rather than teaching virtual strangers financial independence and how to budget, I want to spend my time shaping the character and the memories of my own children. I can't wait to teach them how to sew, cook, tell a great story, journal, and travel adventurously. How amazing it would be to make a difference in my own particular way. It is surprising to say this aloud as for years I was far more interested in buying heels than diapers, and I didn't believe that I would ever feel that having children would be anything other than an opportunity to damage another human being. Suffice it to say, lots has changed in a year. So for now, until I have my own brood, I am adopting the children around me.

With that, please allow me to introduce you to a few of my favorite little friends in the neighborhood...

Adam decides to rock out in my glasses

Luke's effervescence makes me realize that having a boy might just loads of fun

Little dirty toes are just a few of my favorite things

Spencer and Adam were well behaved. . . for a moment

Thanks for hanging in there raising those boys Troy and Katie and giving me a reason to smile on days such as these

Megan and Cory, thanks for bringing Luke into my life. His kisses and piggie sounds always are guaranteed to make me crack up~

2010-05-31T21:49:00.005-06:00

*Summer Lazy Days*

Im not really a great fan of cherries but these were just too beautiful to pass up...

Kelsey and Brian stopped in to say hello...

Madison enjoys a day of rest...

Mary's recipe for tabbouleh...

*all and all, a lovely day*

2010-05-31T01:38:00.007-06:00

*Fancy a Peach/Blueberry Crisp?*

Tonight I have been in a bit of excited panic - note that as I write this it is 1:45 am and I have yet to feel sleeps restful hand. I determined a few days ago that I would hold a rather impromptu Memorial Day picnic tomorrow (or technically in a few hours) after I get off of work for just two or three friends. Well, we all want too much of a good thing at times, and now we have a pretty healthy group of people headed to 4th south at 4 pm for some good old fashioned fun.

Yes, I know this sounds idyllic: a BBQ in the freshly grown gardens in the backyard with summer fruit and lawn games, but pause for one moment if you will. I realized a few minor things this evening. People never stay in the yard. They will invariably wander into the kitchens to provide some assistance of some sort, and it will most certainly be appreciated. Someone will go to visit the powder room as we will be enjoying ourselves for quite some time, and invariably, a tour of the home will be requested which is a gift for the hostess to provide. All of this sounds lovely and should be but for one small detail... my house is a mess!

This is where many feel they ought to panic and spend the day dressing their home for company, but I am a special sort. What did I do today? Well I began a new Capote book, snuggled in bed with my Pooh bear (the hubby) played with the kitties, and got in some DVR Craig Fergueson, and then finally went shopping to get the ingredients for tomorrow. Simple enough but on the way to the store I recalled that I could really use a new camera charger as I have once again begun documenting my life for each of you and it would be a pity not to have photographs of the party. After running to multiple stores to get to one who had the charger in stock, Madison and I (my usual partner in crime) finally returned to my home around 8:30 where we proceeded to practice a new dessert for tomorrow night and where we added yet four more people to our little fete. After such a diverting day, we sat down and were delighted to discover that the newest recipe of the pear and blueberry crisp with a bit of vanilla ice-cream is truly one of life's little luxuries and perfect for our picnic. After the much appreciated brief respite to snack, Mads and I came somewhat into this reality and in one swift choerographed motion, bounded up and into the kitchen and front room like two desperate cats in water to once again make things somewhat presentable for tomorrow. Now, all I have to do is prepare the kabobs, shuck the corn, make the salad, ready the tabbouli, make the apple pie and the official version of the crisp we sampled tonight, clean the bathroom, mop the floors, tidy the laundry room, freshen up the little girls' room, prepare the back yard, and cook the food. Ahh, did I mention that I work until 2 tomorrow and I have everyone coming over at 4? No fears though folks as I was just reminded of a few simple truths. We can always cross our fingers, bless the stars that we only invite good friends over in the first place who love us and help us tuck away less flattering piles of daily life, and know that it is my party and it isnt starting without me!

We prepared the veggies for the skewers tomorrow
Fruits and veg are awaiting their entrance into the party
Here is the fruit crisp as we sliced the poached peaches and combined the ingredients for the crisp

2010-05-27T20:45:00.003-06:00

*Have a seat on my couch*

Yesterday was a crazy day at work! There I was at my weekly meditation session though traditionally, some may call it therapy, and right as we were getting into some good stuff, my phone began vibrating. Now, my people at work know that my Wednesday mornings are reserved for my personal time, and so when my phone rang as I sat on the couch, I assumed that it must be BIG. This is true! It appears that though my staff understands the importance of my Wednesday morning ritual, the state auditor for the bank had not been informed. Needless to say, I stopped mid-sentence, got the call, and bolted out the door for work. I do not believe that this sort of event which only comes by every two years or so is something that I would be able to follow my own timeline. Well, now it is all said and done and a big sign of relief as it appears that we did quite well. Hurray! So what do I recommend to bring yourself down from 60 mph to 0? For me it meant looking at fun websites, playing house in my head, and looking at the Alice Lane Blog. Enjoy the loveliness of my favorite store here in Provo which inspired my home. More photos on that coming up. ENJOY!
http://blog.alicelanehome.com/

2010-05-25T20:56:00.011-06:00

*Walk in my garden*

OK folks, I am back with all of you, and why not? It is spring and flowers are pushing up through despite the temperamental daily environment. Saturday we got my garden finished with planting and then Monday after weather in the 80s, there was what can only be described as a total snow storm which knocked out lilacs, african daisys and some of the weaker budding flowers. Let me take you on a tour of some of the scenes of my yard coming to life. Enjoy!!

My front entry after removing the spiral topairies with wisteria just planted to grow up the posts and across the porch. There are also the rust lanterns to welcome friends.

Window boxes upfront

A window box off of the front railing

Walking into the backyard on my pebble path. The swing is just out of the frame on the left and the shed and cutting garden are just on the right.

My sitting nook under my "popcorn tree" - a perfect place for a cup of tea

When the popcorn trees begin to bloom

My reading nook and corner garden in context next to the cutting garden

At the base of my ladder looking into the orchard behind. There are pumpkins, squash and zucchini below

My old wooden ladder from the orchard looking into the lilacs~

My favorite flower of all, english daisies

Tucked in my little corner of the yard, my favorite place of all... english daisies and soon a big peony bush.

A look through to the lilacs

One of my favorite photos. Anyone who knows me knows that I adore grape hyacinth. I took this before the garden was planted. Beautiful brown earth mixed with the different textures around it.

Somethings to marvel at

These were too beautiful to cut to bring inside and this way I can share it with all of you~

2010-01-10T12:12:00.007-07:00

*Boxing Day*

Now that the holiday season is over, just like you, I have the sad task of having to pack up what so many of us see as happiness.  So, last night, I wrapped up my Christmas tree, filled my newly purchased ornament snapware, and removed all traces of Christmas from my home.  It didn't upset me to remove the snowmen and nativities alone,  but the gentle reminders of peace, love, and hope that we are all better than the news states day after day.  Perhaps I shouldn't be so simplistic.  Why do I look to these symbols to remind me to love a bit more, or trust humanity just a bit more than I would typically expect to?  Well, because a bomber stepped onto a plane Christmas day and tried to create another horrific scene of panic and hopelessness.  Perhaps because people who are "too qualified" and desperate for employment are being turned down for positions like the ones that I offer because they have lost their current jobs due to downsizing, the stars, whatever it may be.  Perhaps because daily I have to look people in the face who are on track to lose their homes, their cars and so eventually their jobs.  So, for me, packing up the advent calendar, the pillows, the cookbooks and other paraphernalia, was more significant than in years past.  It was harder for me to put away those daily remembrances of the dream that we are better than the sum of our parts. That it will be OK.   That we can collectively fix this, and that we get to trust more and judge less.  So, for this new year here is to love, to safety, to security.  And perhaps I will put up some hearts and glitter for Valentines day to remind me to once again love my brother.

2009-09-14T19:06:00.004-06:00

*There is potential in this old house*

Sorry everyone, I was trying to email these to a few people, but it wouldn't work, so if you want to see some of the fun that is unfolding in the next week or two, enjoy. If not, no worries. PS- you might just get motion sick. Enjoy!

2009-09-07T15:17:00.005-06:00

*The Game Plan*

Ok folks, I do best when I have some sort of accountability so here is my to do list

Today since I got off work early for the holiday and have admitted to slumming around lately I get to complete the following:

Make homemade clam chowder ( I made corn chowder yesterday but it wasn't as creamy as I like it to be)

Do two loads of dishes

Hang up the current laundry piles

Do two loads of laundry

Change the sheets and make the bed

Wash the fabric to make the table linens for Kelsey's wedding

Iron Linens and sew table cloths and napkins

Choose the ribbon for each set of linens

Whew!  Well I will check in later and let you know how I do.  Today has been a cleaning day both at work and now at home.

*****

Ok, it is now 11:15 pm and I have completed the following:

Three loads of laundry, three loads of dishes, washed the fabric for making linens, incredible clam chowder (roughly the third thing I have ever made that Brian said is good!) changed the sheets on the bed, hung my current laundry piles.  Whew, a good night and I even got in watching waaay too much of my new obsession on television, Bones.

2009-09-06T23:03:00.005-06:00

* I am unfortunately an open book*

Here is a little bit about me.  When I am tired and stressed, a few things happen.  First, no people are invited over.  My home gets overwhelmed and dishes pile up on all surfaces.  It starts to smell like cats, and their hair seems to follow wherever I go.  My clothes stop getting hung up and instead get piled on my closet shelf.  I stop changing my sheets every few days, and making my bed every morning.  I start going to sleep later and later each night, and on the rare day that I don't work, rather than spend time with friends or working on projects, I sleep.... all day.  One day I woke up at 1, today I got out of bed around 11, but then ended up taking a four hour nap in the evening and missed seeing my sister and her children for dinner.  I stop cooking and doing the laundry.  My car fills with bags of what should be happiness while at the same time, my refrigerator becomes bare. I have now recently added a new symptom to my list... I stop writing.

Right now, I am blessed in many personal ways.  I love my husband.  I love how he knows what is best for me, even when I hate him for being right.  Fine, it is true that it is better for me to go bed to read and and get drowsy before he comes in.  Yes, I am crotchety and toss and turn for the first hour at night, but by the time he comes in to blow out the candles, I am snugly and sleepy.  I love that he has navigated the subtleties of my needs, and is supportive by allowing me to simply be without complaint.

So what is bothering me? I suppose that we all know that we become more vulnerable to stress from time to time in our lives for various reasons.  Sometimes this is due to finances, family, or work.  Currently, it is all of the above. It seems that the outside forces are more oppressive that I have been prepared to negotiate and of course, all of this happened to coincide as I thought it was an appropriate time to get off of my anxiety medication.  Hmm... perfect recipe for disaster.

So how does one get past this phase when work will most certainly become yet even more stressful and difficult, when a family member has chosen to continue to indulge their absurdities causing pain and isolation, and to cope with it all, I fell off the wagon for a short time financially trying to buy some peace and happiness? I don't know.  Tonight I decided that perhaps the thing to do was to simply chose to move on.  So, tonight, I write.  I have nothing to say except that I choose to rejoin the human race and I hope that you will indulge my rusty attempts.  So, here is to cleaning, to budgeting, to writing, to forgiving, to managing, to cooking, to working, and to smiling.  Wish me luck, and lets end this quarter in style.

2009-08-10T18:30:00.002-06:00

*Signs of the times*

As I drove home through my regular route, I noticed a cute college age girl sitting on a darling picnic basket on a billboard with scrapbook writing. It was darling. Vaguely interested, I read the caption assuming that it was for one of the local housing communities offering bliss and a happy home starting in the 200s. Not quite.

"Birth control makes all other choices possible"
- planned parenthood

Creepiest billboard ever!

2009-08-02T20:16:00.008-06:00

*P.S. I Love You*

I love it when you search my eyes.  I love feeling you breath on my ear.  When I hear the steady rhythm of your heart, I am daily grateful for the simple fact that I am in possession of it.   I marvel at the way I fit into your arm nook, and that though we have been snuggling for thirteen years, each night we drift towards each other in our sleep, and each morning we find our arms and legs twined together as if they are only comfortable when colliding.   I am the one with whom you have chosen to share your heart and hopes since we were children and I am learning to be a loving steward of those dreams.  You are the most gentle man I know, and I am sorry that I have been the cause of callouses in your heart.  I pray for our marriage to be the completion of our joy in this life.   Thank you for accepting the fact that though I may be perhaps a touch dramatic, I attempt to use that gift to issue dramatic and true apologies.  Thank you for being mine for the last seven years.  Happy Anniversary.

2009-07-29T21:45:00.008-06:00

Brad and Carli, simply the most lovely couple I have ever met

Berries in cream

Sea shells in the bathroom look good again

*Gilding the Lily*

Some things are encased in God given beauty.  My friends Brad and Carli are so stunning in their wedding photos, I described it as a perfect ad for a life insurance commercial, you know, protect the ones you love? Guess what, she wears a touch of make up anyhow.  I have young ones around me whose glow in their cheeks are like strawberries in cream.  They still are dressed well.  I love my bare feet.  I still get pedicures.  I have heard it said that God is truly an artist.  Anyone who may doubt this need only look at his color palate and creativity to confirm the statement.  And yet, he has given us Barb.  Like any artist, she has only one name like Cher, Madonna, or Martha.  Barb is an artist who has taken the beauty and simplicity of a shell given by God, and then gilds it, literally.  She has taken the tacky out of shells on a bookshelf or the bathroom and has left little painted miracles in her wake where ever she may go.  Forget less is more, sometimes, MORE IS MORE!  This teal and gold conch version is mine.  If you want your own, invite her over and perhaps the muse will strike again~

2009-07-29T18:40:00.011-06:00

Facing the bed: a vintage fan replica, Annie's art, and my jewelry station (note the red accents)

Our bed:his side with the Japanese print with red pops, my side with the photo of our feet with red again on the bed.

On his side of the bed I have some oversize pillows that we are just waiting on a basket and my collage I made of tender things of our relationship with a red backdrop.  I know, collages are silly, but mine rocks!

My dresser top with the old mirror, candles, and perfume.  I feel like an adult when I have some lovely perfume on my dresser.

*My bedroom project phase 2*

Last time, I showed you my latest home improvement project when I installed wainscoting in my room.  Today, I used Suzanne's great eye for arranging accessories (something which completely eludes me) and we went to town!  It started with a trip to my accessory shop in the basement where we pillaged for candles, depression glass, a retro fan, and all manner of lovely things to pull together the space.  Then, with the power combined genius, we started hanging mirrors, paintings, chandelier, and the like.  All I am missing now are photographs of us blown up and cleverly arranged, my new silver sage rug, and a french market wire basket to hold my oversize pillows at bedtime.

Ah, the thrill of fabulous~

2009-07-29T12:36:00.007-06:00

*Souvenirs*

My father traveled to Asia on a fairly regular basis when I was a child. I recall that though it was tough to see him go, it was always tempered with the satisfaction that when he returned, he came bearing gifts! I lived for these sorts of physical evidences of his love for us. A souvenir was his way of showing us that even when he was across the globe, we were there in his thoughts. I recall him bringing home paper fans, seaweed candy sticks (also known as yucky I taste like death sticks) and mega pumped up business class travel kits. I loved it when it was my turn to get the little black travel bag stuffed with mini toothpaste and toothbrush, sleep masks, floss, etc. This is something that I still look to see as an adult. Brian learned long ago, that when he goes on a trip, I delight in seeing (and have sadly come to expect) a token of his affection upon his return. In high school after a trip to Mexico, he came back with little rocks he collected over the week in every color of the rainbow. I would have never known it was possible to find a blue rock, or a yellow one let alone a perfect pink rock. After we were older and married, he went on a business trip to a work convention and knowing how obsessed I am with quality ink flow pens, he brought me home, to my utter glee, two gallon sized Ziploc bags of nothing but quality pens. It is now roughly 6 years later, and I still have an enormous box full of them, even after allowing a few sisters to raid my stash. Now that I am taking trips on my own, I have elected to continue this tradition myself. I have come bearing chocolates, books, and then most recently, a gecko.

Don't worry, you read it right. I returned from my latest romp to the humid land of Houston, and marvelled at the little critters that I just don't see in Utah. I was wooed by the lush grass, completely forgetting that in Texas, the grass fights back with an invisible terror-chiggers. I remembered that I was once again in the land of the cockroach and lizard. When I know that though I am in their territory, it is a temporary situation, I am able to enjoy the exotic nature of their existence. After returning home to my dry life in Utah, imagine my utter amazement then when I opened my suitcase two days after getting home, and something odd caught my eye. Right there, on top of my patent leather stilettos was an actual living creature. A gecko just ran onto my shoe and watched me, likely just as amazed that he had made it through the non-pressurized stowage cabin of the airplane as I. When I finally determined that I was in fact lucid, and this creature was here watching me, I went to get a glass to remove the new found friend. Returning just a moment later, he was gone. He may be in a nook of the still untouched suitcase, or perhaps scurried off to create a home for himself in the living room, maybe is is now fast friends with Mary Morey. Ooh, poor thing. I have a house of four bored kitties who love to chase flies and bugs.

*My only thought to my new house guest is good luck buddy*

2009-07-27T17:50:00.030-06:00

*This I Believe*

-Marriage is a process, not an event.
-The twilight series rocks! If you deny it, it is because you either haven't read them yet, or like to lie.

-Never eat the last bite, all the fat is in the last bite.

-Wickedness sometimes IS happiness.
-Yes, your voice really sounds like that.
-If you think that it is a hassle to shave your face, don't ask us to shave our legs.

-If it looks that good on you, get it in all the colors!

-Shoot, you want a boob job, satisfy your bliss.
-I love my body, learn to love yours.

-It is only money.
-Never hold a compliment.
-Fine, I admit it.  I am hard to buy gifts for. 

-Hitting on someone at their job is just rude, after all, they are being paid to be nice to you.
-Ohio, Iowa, and the Dakotas just don't count. No offense.
-Just like you find fault in my family, and think I have it rough, I am thinking the same thing about yours.  The good news is, we get to live our own lives, not each others.
-A photograph lasts forever so... yes, those pants do make you look fat.
-If you keep having problems with coworkers from one job to the next, YOU are the problem.
-Go ahead, you deserve it!
-Church is too long.
-Give until it hurts.
-Have you ever meet anyone who arrogance or cockiness look good on?  I haven't.
-Running is for gerbils on an exercise wheel.  We have adopted it, and that's cool, but lets not forget who it is made for.
-It is exhausting to be charming all the time, so give us a break.
-The better you dress, the better you are treated.  So do not go around wrinkled.
-Fish and house guests start to stink after three days.
-Never trust a skinny cook.

-The "Not to be rude" game is the greatest game of all.  Watch! Not to be rude but that shirt looks great on you! Or not to be rude but I love having you around.  No matter what, it is rude!
-Crazy is OK so long as it is unintentional and you rock at apologies.
-If your apartment is ugly, blame the landlord, if your house is ugly, blame the owner.
-I'm cancelling my subscription to your issues.  (thanks Ram)

-Not all babies are cute.  Some take your breath away, and not in the good way.
-People are nicer to your kids if they are dressed well.
-Though advice is fun to give, it may be wise to hold it in.  It can create scars.
-Smoking is tacky... I don't care how cool you think you look, you smell.
-Cheap perfume is never worth it.  Your budget punishes the rest of us.
-For you to ignore a family that loves you is your prerogative, but keeping your kids away from family that loves them, makes you evil.

-If I keep calling you a cute pet name like love or sunshine or sugar, that means that I don't know your real name.
-Reality TV allows us to be a voyeur in a socially appropriate way.
-Being constantly late means that you value yourself more than others.
-The more you horde, the less you have.
-I am a bad neighbour, and I like it that way.
-Cookies and cream ice cream solves essentially all of life's issues.
-Not all children are loved equally.

-Just because Bush was a total moron, doesn't mean that Obama rocks.  I know, lets keep spending monopoly money! But Bush was horrible, yeah, and?
-Often old people are abrasive so that we don't overlook them.  Squeaky wheel, right?
-All that is tacky is housed in Florida.  Google eyes on seashells, Miami airport, really?
-Men really do want a women to be home and take care care of them.  A hot dinner isn't that out of whack.  Maybe June Cleaver knows something.
-He with the most friends on Facebook wins.
-If you choose to have kids, they deserve to have you raise them.
-Blogging makes us feel that what we have to say is somehow important.
-I love my nieces and nephews that I see often, not those whose names I don't recall.
-I like to be superficially superficial.
-The more righteous you claim to be, the less I believe you.
-Overdrafts are because you are bad with money, not because the bank if out to get you.
-This post is slightly abrasive.

2009-07-20T22:05:00.007-06:00

*Listening is an act of love*

Yesterday I chose to sit quietly and just listen.  Shutting the world out, I luxuriated in omniscience.  I spent hours with voices filling me with the most beautiful confessions of love, sickening recounts of ignorance and hatred, and anecdotes of the splendor of decades past.  I welcome you to one of the truest forms of love for our fellow man, StoryCorps.  This is a project I came across through NPR (National Public Radio) which documents moments of every day Americans' lives.  Those seemingly trivial moments and memories which slip away with age, illness, and pain.  These are three minute excerpts of interviews between individuals who know each other intimately.  I listened in on mothers and children, parents and teachers, sisters and neighbors, laughing with them, sobbing, and learning from them.  One of the many that I repeated over and over again is a simple one called "Mom teaches Son That "Love is What You Do."  It is from March 5th and the whole episode is about 2 minutes.  There are a few things she said to her eleven year old son that were so beautiful to me, I thought almost instantly of how important it is to share them with you.  I bring you a reply from a Florida mother to her son's query of her happy and hard times with her husband.

"Marriage isn't always pretty.  I think sometimes we act like children and we need to be more mature about it because it is a privilege to be married to somebody and you need not to disrespect it like that, like sometimes we get angry and we do. . .I think your dad has taught me the meaning of love.  Love is as much a feeling as it in an action. . . to love somebody is not just how you feel about them, but what you do also." 
I am sure it may seem silly how moved I was but these few phrases, but I was struck with images of my own marriage of seven years.  How over the years, truthfully, we have not changed.  In our actions towards one another for the most part we are the same as we ever have been, but rather now, we have found peace and love through our treatment of one another. 

At work,  I chat. Clients come in to discuss their personal finances, and because of that, we often diverge onto other matters of importance in our lives.  We begin a true conversation of the battles we face "choosing in" to this life day after day.  One such conversation was held last week with a stunning and loving client Lillian. Lily is married to her second husband, and she wants passionately to be well matched.  She loves him.  She wants to be with him, and yet, she often feels a sense of lacking.  I shared with her a similar time in my own marriage, and how I was able to escape that empty feeling towards my spouse.  I told how there was a time when I just decided to pretend that Brian was the man of my dreams.  I pretended that we had a well suited partnership, and that I wanted nothing more than to be in our home together, and treat him as the man of my most intimate prayers.  I shared with her that as I treated him as my supreme match and love, eventually, I forgot that I was acting.  Despite the years of pain, sorrow, and loneliness, he became that ideal match for me.  As I treated my spouse, so he became in my eyes.  It isn't that he has changed himself, only that I chose to shift my focus to those divine qualities he possessed rather than those I found fault in.  How magnificent to be in a relationship with someone who chooses to see the perfection in us, rather than the failings.  After all, that which we seek, will always come true.

Please enjoy listening to this beautiful interview which caused me to contemplate what love looks like in my own life as I am sure it will cause you to do with yours.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101507281

StoryCorps website states, "StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening."

2009-07-15T20:03:00.004-06:00

*A new year , a new method of shopping*

This year, as you know, I am on a budget.  I go grocery shopping with a list, and I have stopped going to many of the stores that I had been known on a first name basis previously, and all in an effort to save money.  To prevent shopping for inspiration, I have begun instead shopping online.  To begin, I go to my favorite online stores and register for their emails and mail coupons.  After I get my discount coupon, I shoot over to my favorite stores, click the sale section, choose my size, and then order each of the items I am thinking about.  This past time, I ended up ordering about 8 pair of pants to my home to try on in my own space.  Here, there is no pressure, good lighting, and the rest of my wardrobe so that I can see how it fits with what I already own.  Of the eight or so pair of pants, three of them looked really great.  What about the rest? Simple, I can either drop if off at the store, or to be even easier, I can just throw it back in the mail for a return.  Et voila! I don't even get tempted by the new and expensive items, I don't distracted by that giddy feeling that comes along with filling a dressing room with lovely items, and I don't think that the sales girl is as concerned about my budget as she claims to be.  I worked in retail for years and it always happens when they have a few full priced items that they would just feel horrible if they didn't show me, after all, it is simply fabulous! So, the result of this latest shopping spree, only 3 pair of amazing trousers, not one of which is over $3o.  Yeah, this is sweet.

2009-07-14T20:54:00.004-06:00

*I just can't help it, she is so cute*

2009-07-14T15:33:00.008-06:00

*Fly lady's zone 3- the bathroom and one extra room*

Ok everyone.  He is the latest detailed cleaning list from the fly lady.  Make sure to check her out at flylady.com and see how her simple steps can eliminate CHAOS from your life.  (Cant Have Anyone Over Syndrome)

Bathroom Detailed Cleaning List
WASH AREA RUGS
SCRUB/WAX FLOOR
STRAIGHTEN DRAWERS/ CABINETS
CLEAN SHOWER STALL/ WAX (not the floor!)
WASH SHOWER DOOR
CLEAN MEDICINE CABINET
CLEAN SCALE
THROW AWAY EMPTY BOTTLES

and then chose your next room!

Extra Bedroom Detailed Cleaning List
POLISH FURNITURE
STRAIGHTEN DRAWERS/ CLOSET
CLEAN COBWEBS
WASH MATTRESS PAD/ DUST RUG
FLIP MATTRESS
WASH CURTAINS
WASH WINDOWS
CLEAN WINDOW
CLEAN BATH TUB
CLEAN TOP OF SEWING MACHINE
STRAIGHTEN BOOKCASE
STRAIGHTEN COMPUTER DESK
CLEAN OUT THE CLOSET
PUT AWAY STRAY ITEMS
FERTILIZE PLANTS

Children's Bathroom Detailed Cleaning List
WASH AREA RUGS
SWEEP/ SCRUB/ WAX FLOOR
STRAIGHTEN DRAWERS/ CABINETS
CLEAN SHOWER/ TUB STALL
WASH SHOWER DOOR
SCRUB BATH TOYS
WASH DOWN OUTSIDE OF TOILET
THROW AWAY EMPTY BOTTLES

Children's Bedrooms Detailed Cleaning List
POLISH FURNITURE
STRAIGHTEN DRAWERS/ CLOSET
CLEAN COBWEBS
WASH MATTRESS PAD/ DUST RUG
FLIP MATTRESSES
WASH CURTAINS
CLEAN WINDOW
STRAIGHTEN TOY SHELVES
CLEAN UNDER THE BED
CLEAN OUT THE CLOSET
PUT AWAY STRAY ITEMS
SORT OUT-GROWN CLOTHES
VACUUM UNDER BED/ CLOSETS
DUST BASEBOARDS
CLEAN FINGERPRINTS OFF DOOR/ WALLS
REARRANGE VIDEOS/ GAMES/ BOOKS

Office Detailed Cleaning List
CLEAR OFF THE SURFACE OF YOUR DESK
THROW AWAY PENS THAT DON'T WORK
SHARPEN PENCILS
THROW OUT ALL THE TRASH
PUT ITEMS TO KEEP IN A PENDING FILE FOR WED (desk
day)
DO NOT STOP TO PAY BILLS
STRAIGHTEN ONE DRAWER AT A TIME
TOSS OUT OLD RECEIPTS FROM OVER 7 YEARS
CLEAN OFF THE MONITOR SCREEN
FILL PRINTER CADDY WITH PAPER
ESTABLISH A PLACE FOR CURRENT BILLS
VACUUM UNDER DESK AND THE WHOLE ROOM
DUST FURNITURE
CLEAN WINDOWS
REMOVE COBWEBS
CHECK SUPPLIES OF PAPER AND PRINTER CARTRIDGES
STAMPS AND ENVELOPES

Laundry Room Detailed Cleaning List
WIPE DOWN THE TOP OF THE WASHER AND DRYER
CLEAN THE GUNK FROM UNDER THE WASHER LID
THROW OUT EMPTY BOTTLES AND BOXES
EMPTY THE GARBAGE CAN
CHECK SUPPLIES OF LAUNDRY DETERGENT, SOFTENER,
SPOT REMOVER
SWEEP AND MOP THE FLOOR
REMOVE THE COBWEBS
PUT AWAY ALL CLOTHES
LOOK BEHIND APPLIANCES FOR ODD SOCKS

I know that it looks like a lot of work, but remember, just do 15 min a day and eventually after rotating each of the rooms, you will have deep cleaned your home in no time!

2009-07-13T19:50:00.004-06:00

*Little stay-cations*

This is a recession folks, and so we need to cut the fat. I chose to generally not participate in the financial woe and act like business as usual except for one thing: I have a newly found love of stay-cations. I am working on one corner of my world at a time to dress it up, and make it a place that I can relax in right in the comfort of my own home. My favorite place at home this week is my bedroom. I love to come in at the end of the day, turn down the covers, turn on the bedside lamps, and cozy in for an hour or so as I turn the pages through another great book before I go to sleep. There is such comfort in these simple routines, and the cozy nests that we have created for ourselves. Where is that little place in your home that you love to escape to? What about it makes it so special? Want to share any pictures? I would love to see them!

2009-07-13T15:07:00.007-06:00

My writing nook with the requisite kitty

My favorite little chair in the world

* What a difference a day makes*

Ladies and gentlemen, if you know me than this next statement will not surprise you.  I am not a hands on home improvement guru.  Though it is true that I  at different times have hired people to do my yard, my lighting, my repairs, my landscaping, my cooking, my painting, my cleaning, my decorating, and my errands, that is not to say that I do not enjoy doing those things myself!  I adore learning to do new things!  I learned only a few weeks back the pleasure of spending an afternoon in the garden weeding, and now eagerly look forward to those days where time permits such activities.  I loved the few months I took before starting my current position when I spent the days organizing linen closets and working through Julia Child's baking bible.  The issue arises that though I love these things, I often lack expertise in proper execution, tools, and time to do them myself. This past weekend, I struck upon genius!

I asked about, and ended up hiring someone I know well to "assist me" with the installation of wainscoting in my bedroom.  It was perfect!   He knows that I talk incessantly, and take pride in doing things myself.  He also was, in a former life, a contractor managing all sorts of individuals and therefore had the needed expertise and management I sought, and he is a father to two boys, thereby able to tolerate my questions and insistence on stepping in to "help."

So, the day arrived.   He came over to my home on Saturday at 8 am and we headed off to Home Depot to collect our supplies.  I got to sift through roughly 80 types of trim and make sense of the scores of boxes of nails with his guidance, and then, for the rest of the day, he allowed me to be his "little helper."  Yes ladies and gentlemen, a reasonably intelligent 10 year old could have done the jobs that I was assisting with, but I got some valuable on the job training and had a total BLAST in the process.  I look at it as hiring a home improvement tutor of sorts.  This sounds reasonable of course, right?  Listen, how else am I to learn how to properly and safely utilize a table saw, or a circular one, or a reciprocating saw? How would I have even heard of all of these items on my own?! I came to master a brad gun, learned the true importance of measure twice, cut once, and came to the conclusion that caulk is God's little magic eraser. After just a few short hours, I was able to transform the space.  Now that there is the added bit of architecture in the room, it makes the space seem larger as the eye takes its time traveling the room. My bedroom now seems taller, and more substantive.  All in all, it is perfection!

Now just to be clear, I have not yet completed this room, but I do adore instant gratification, so I will post pictures now and add updates later.  Day one, I installed the wainscoting, and then day two, I patched, primed, sanded, and painted it.  I am still waiting on the silver sage floor rug that will float midpoint at the foot of my bed, as well as an incredible chandelier I ordered to replace the current version, and the large mirror will go horizontally across the then CLEAN dresser.  The dresser has new pulls awaiting instillation, and the new switch plate covers will be here shortly.  Whew! Ok, y'all enjoy now!

2009-07-08T20:38:00.005-06:00

*time to panic folks*

Grrreat, I just found out on facebook that I have a 10 year high school reunion in three months.  Sigh, how on earth am I to drop ten years worth of stress eating in just three months! Anyone out there have any miracle cream or a plastic surgeon on speed dial?! 

2009-07-06T21:50:00.009-06:00

*Histories delicious mysteries*

Everyone knows that all families keep secrets, those little things that they go to the death to protect.  Some things are just so terrible that little ol' ladies will boldly lie to family and friends faces, to their last breath if necessary.  Some of these things are personal histories, some are serial killer aunties in foreign lands, more shockingly still, recipes! My family's dark little secret falls into, well, mainly the latter.

We are proudly Croatian.  We hoot and holler as we watch Croats flying down the slope at the Olympics, we go to the mother land to serve missions for our church, and we even terrorize little campers as we take over massive reunion sites with hundreds of people.  That is when we are at our best!  We have take an entire lamb carcass, rub it down with herbs, and slowly cook it on a spit for hours, basting with a brush made of herbs.  Yes, some people were really freaked out.  Give me a break though, if you cant stomach to see where your food came from, you deserve to be a vegetarian! Sigh, sorry.  Of all of this though, we have one thing that we have hid, cheated, and lied about for decades! Well, we may be a rather loose term.  Those in my immediate family haven't had proper Croatian baking training to be in on the real secret, so it was not until my grandfather was passing on, that I got my first lesson in baking Pogacha and saw just how tricky the ladies in my family can be.

I went down to spend time time with my grandparents, and for the first time, I was really submerged into a mass of genuine Benac women who had been raised just outside of Chicago where my Grandfather was brought up in a Croatian neighborhood with his fellow Croatian immigrants. So, massed together I saw for the first time, the true power of generational recipes.

There is something so incredible to see how they are shared and passed on from mother to daughter for generations.  My Aunt Liz got this particular recipe after taking my Great Grandma Sabina's hand measurements of flour, yeast and so forth and quickly scooping them into traditional measurement devices time after time to get a realistic recipe put together.  She has now passed this on to the next generation.  I did start this with telling you there is a really big secret.  I know. This isn't me sharing my family history.  Just wait one moment.

Ok, so back to when I was at my grandparents' house... my Aunts Liz and Ellen took me under their wing and did their part to Croatianize me.  One night, in the midst of the worry and care, and we got together as girl friends in the middle of the night and cooked pogacha together.  Grandma participated with delight as Zara (her sister-in-law and some sort of cousin) watched on with almost giddy anticipation, she wanted to be on the inside our our tightly held secret and she knew that if she just watched close enough with her 80 year old eyes, she might actually determine what it is.

You see, Grandma Sabina was known for her beautiful pogachas.  They were a stunning yellow color, and family and friends always asked how she prepared it.  They would watch the ladies in our family bake these over and over again, and yet still the mystery remained.  The true question is, how with such scrutiny were we able to keep this secret to the golden hue?  Simple, we lied.  The bread is not such a lovely yellow because we added extra egg yolks.  Though this is a favorite line used for decades, no matter how hard you try, add a dozen extra yolks, it won't make a difference in the world.  After this sort of legacy, how was I, a novice, to keep it in the family without Zara witnessing our little slight of hand, after all, she had something to prove to her mother.  We danced around the kitchen aid a flurry of flour and shortening, waiting for that one millisecond that Zara got distracted.  We caught it at the same time, Grandma winked at me and I added the Benac family secret ingredient. . . 4 drops of yellow food coloring! Best part, after it all, Zara was none the wiser.  The pogacha came out as golden as ever, and once again, we were able to gloat as she fumed that our bread is just better! I'm sorry, its in the genes.

Why do I share this now?  Well I suppose it is because the rivalry seems to have belonged to a previous generation.  That was a generation where neighbors would compare their breads, taking pride in the subtle nuances between them.  Now, I am fairly certain that those older generations have all either passed on, or haven't the slightest inclination to search the blogosphere looking for buried treasure. These newer generations will have none of it.  Why my own mother doesn't appreciate our tightly held secret!  Oh, and not only does she not appreciate it, she pities Zara and the others finding it somewhat cruel that we even at that time of farewell, we found such pleasure in dear Zara's frustration.  Well, fine.  We may be horrible, we may be liars, but guess what? It is a bit of MY family history.  It is something that actually brought my grandmother and myself closer together.  I hadn't really enjoyed spending time with my grandma like that before, but in that one night as we baked with stealth and joy, our dirty family secret kept up together, the two of us against the world! Long live the new generations family secrets, I will defend you to the death!

*Oh, and the serial killer auntie... well to be fair, the town only speculates that she killed her husbands, and she lives in Croatia*

2009-07-05T14:08:00.006-06:00

*Fly lady and me*

I come from a home where I did not have to worry about things like cleaning bathrooms or bedrooms, ironing, and so forth.  Occasionally my dad would have enough of it and call us together on a Saturday to pass out garbage bags and make us follow him around the house on a cleaning death march.  Years later, I still have not adjusted to the idea of making my bed daily, doing the dishes, or the real purpose of mopping floors. I purchased and read several home cleaning encyclopedias, worked on making time in my crazy schedule to a cleaning routine, and got desperate enough to hire myself a maid.  What? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

When getting on the Dave Ramsey plan, I tried to cut costs where possible.  After a blissful several months of coming home to a sparkling home courtesy of my "house fairy," I had to take matters into my own hands and get a cleaning routine that fit.  Enter the fly lady.

Marla Ciley started Fly lady for those of us who need a bit more guidance in basic housekeeping 101. She has a series of routines that ask no more that 15 minutes a day to keep your home in order.  Check her out.  The nicest part for me was not having to hide in the living room when unexpected guests came to the front door, but instead I would let them in knowing that I had an orderly home that I could be proud of.

This week Fly lady's, her focus is on the kitchen.  Here are a few of her simple kitchen steps.  Go to her website to get the daily routine, and my ultimate favorite tool of hers, the weekly home blessing hour.

Ok so here is this weeks list detailed list.  Not everything needs to be done every month, by on a rotating monthly schedule, everyting will be completed.  Enjoy!

KITCHEN: DETAIL CLEANING LIST
1. EMPTY REFG/CLEAN THOROUGHLY
2. CLEAN MICROWAVE INSIDE AND OUT
3. CLEAN STOVE/OVEN
4. WASH CANISTER/KNICK-KNACKS
5. STRAIGHTEN DRAWERS/CUPBOARDS
6. WIPE FINGERPRINTS OFF WALLS
7. WASH INSIDE WINDOWS
8. CLEAN FAN/VENT-A-HOOD FILTERS AND HOOD
9. SCRUB DOWN CABINET FRONTS (only a few at a time)
10. CLEAN LIGHT DEFUSING BOWLS(GLASS GLOBES OVER
LIGHT BULBS)
11. CLEAN UNDER SINK/THROW AWAY OLD RAGS
12. CLEAN PET DISHES

2009-07-04T22:17:00.008-06:00

*Happy Birthday Liberty*

I know that many of you were out celebrating today in style: parades, BBQs, fireworks and general family togetherness.  All I have to say is, WHY NOT? Today is a day to celebrate Liberty! We join together and think of why is it so important to each and every one of us?  The answer is simple in my eyes.  Today I am grateful for the beautiful balance between art and science that Liberty gives us.  The truly gorgeous perspective that she shares with us all.  Her unique sense of style, her appreciation for the traditional mixed with contemporary elements.  So today, we as a country salute you.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY  MARY ELIZABETH LIBERTY  !

2009-07-03T21:51:00.008-06:00

*A different kind of lesson with Penelope*

Some people teach children how to count, others teach them colors. What does Penny learn when she is here? Well, this last time we went over all sorts of important skills. My little chef stood on a stool and learned how to properly hold a chefs knife, how yeast works and also why it is that an oven ought to be preheated when working with it. She learned how to stack sage, roll it, and then create a lovely chiffonade, and appreciate great fragrances by wafting the smells from the oven or stove safely towards her nose. Not too shabby since she did potty training just last year. The next important lesson? If only I can get her to appreciate not just the smell but the taste of great food.
I heard her ask her mom if she knew that she would one day be a chef. Later when she burned her arm on a jelly roll pan, as we held it under cool water her tears where somewhat soothed when she sighed and agreed that chefs likely had to get used to that sort of thing.

2009-07-01T11:30:00.007-06:00

*Mexican chocolate cake*

Here is a recipe that I found about 8 yrs ago that I loved so much that I used it for the groom's cake at our wedding.  I had never eaten anything quite like it with the cayenne pepper, balsamic vinegar, cinnamon and the like.  The result though is a bevy of dynamic flavors that is the furthest you can get from a bland cake. Try it out! It takes no time whatsoever, and is fun for kids to assist with as it is a dump and stir type of recipe.  Bon appetit!


Ingredients:
Cake:
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 c sugar
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa (I use dutch processed)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or ground Mexican chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 c cold water
1/4 c canola oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Chocolate glaze:
1 c confectioners sugar
1/2 c cocoa
6 tbsp water

10 fresh strawberries

Preheat oven to 350* Lightly coat an 8" cake round with cooking spray

To make the cake, simply dump all of the cake ingredients into a mixer and mix until smooth.  Pour into a pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool in the cake pan for 10 min on a wire rack.  Remove from pan and cool completely. (Note, I like to flip it out onto a piece of parchment paper to allow it to cool)

When the cake has cooled, whisk together the first three glaze ingredients.  Dip each strawberry into the glaze and set aside. Pour the remaining glaze over the cake and arrange the strawberries on top. Set aside to dry, about 30 minutes.



*Variations: Sometimes I chose not to do the dipped strawberries, and sometimes I do them with alternating white and milk chocolate and instead of arranging them on the top of the cake, I circle the base of it.  Today I chose to skip the strawberries alltogether and double to recipe to make 2 cake rounds that I split and made a 4 tier chocolate cake with the frosting in between each layer and then sprinkled powdered sugar over a lovely cake stensil for decoration.  Simple and delicious!

2009-07-01T11:22:00.003-06:00

*Charlie in sunglasses*

2009-07-01T11:15:00.004-06:00

Yes, she is a total diva. . .

and she knows it!

*The morning after*

2009-06-30T22:28:00.006-06:00

*Ladies after my own heart*

Tonight the ladies and I:

Made dinner from scratch
Set a lovely table
Tidied up the kitchen
Made smoothies
Went clothes shopping
Bought jewelry and various accessories
Loaded up on classics at the bookstore
Rearranged furniture to create lovely spaces
Snuggled up in down comforters and pillows to read books
Ate truffles
Took a bath before retiring

*All in all, a perfect night*

2009-06-28T22:28:00.003-06:00

Pretty Penny with the cookbooks

Looking up in the craft room

A fun nook in the girls' room

*Images of home*

2009-06-28T22:26:00.002-06:00

An arbor in the back yard covered in roses

a pretty place in the laundry room

Gigi playing in the garden

My new cherry tree springs to life

2009-06-28T22:13:00.011-06:00

*Penny and Charlie come to visit*

PJ and Charlie came over today with Sarah to play at my home. I had some of their fun little things down at their eye level and then just watched them. We went outside and cut fresh roses, made lunches, played in the garden, and gave each of them digital cameras to take pictures of whatever pleased them. One thing that I loved watching is how Penny took my entertaining glassware and added it to the shelves in her room. All in all, a great day.
I love having the girls come to visit.

2009-06-26T18:36:00.006-06:00

*Whats cookin'*

Today was another day of my vacation and my goodness, I love it. I set up many of the trinkets I found for the basement bedroom, read, talked to friends, and then decided to indulge. It has been overcast and somewhat stormy this afternoon, so I pulled out some of my favorite recipes and chose to make a rich french onion soup. This is a recipe that I got when taking a cooking class at Sur La Table and I had never realized that the true key to a marvelous onion soup is taking absolutely ages to caramelize the onions. So if you want remarkable onion soup without too strong of an onion flavor, go low and slow. My pot full of 4 large onions took an hour and a half or more to reach their golden potential. By this point, the bay leaves and thyme had fully permeated the onions. Later I tried my hand at a lemon meringue pie. Yummmm! Go ahead and try out the soup recipe and tell me what you think!

French Onion Soup

*Ingredients:
2 lbs medium onions, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced lengthwise.
3 springs fresh thyme (if you use dry as I did, just know that it is more potent)
2 Turkish bay leaves or 1 California
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 stick butter
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tsp all-purpose flour
3-4 cup dry white wine
4 c reduced sodium beef broth
1 1/2 c water
1/2 tsp black pepper
6- 1/2 in slices of french bread
1 1/2 pieces Gruyere, Comte or Emmental
2 Tbsp finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

6- 8-10 oz flameproof soup crocks or ramekins

*Preparation:
Cook onions, thyme, bay leaves, garlic, and salt in the butter in a 4 to 5 quart heavy pot over moderate heat, uncovered, stirring frequently, until onions are very soft and deep golden brown. At least 45 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in wine and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in brother, water, and pepper and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes.

While soup simmers, put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350*

Arrange bread in 1 layer on a large baking sheet and toast, turning over once, until completely dry, about 15 minutes.

Remove bread from the over and preheat broiler. Put crocks in a shallow baking pan.

Discard bay leaves and thyme from soup and divide soup among crocks, then float a piece of the toasted bread in each. Slice enough Gruyere to cover tops of crocks, allowing ends of cheese to hang over the rims of crocks, then sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Broil 4 to 5 inches from the heat until cheese is melted and bubbly, 1 to 2 minutes.

Remember that the longer the onions caramelize and the soup simmers, the better. This recipe is easily doubled to keep half until later.

2009-06-25T19:33:00.007-06:00

*Nesting*

There is something so magical about decorating.  The best part of designing a room is the creation of something out of nothing, so today, I spent the day in a wonderland of my own making.  I headed into a local design shop (Alice Lane) and spent hours invisioning the possibilities.  It is a special time in a gals life when trusty and somewhat rusty Ikea couch and other and furniture disappear, and a feminine couch with sinuous-springs and kiln-dried hardwood take its place.

To decorate a space, first I go ahead and find an inspiration piece.  When Mamie and I decorated Lucy's room, we started by taking a darling spode plate and pulled the colors into the rest of the space.  Then, we threw together a basket full of items that "seized" her, and after pulling together a large pile, we began to see a theme emerge. After getting to her home, we just went nuts!  We turned a wire wreath frame into a darling floral mobile above the bed, took old curtains and pulled them apart to line silky pink new ones, we swapped out the toddler bed for an cleaned up antique twin that Mamie grew up  sleeping in, and created some beautiful spaces where Lucy could thrive.  I had so much fun working to pull together that room and delighted in seeing how a newly created space could add such pleasure in a home.

As I have pulled together my own finances, I have seen what possibilities a debt free lifestyle can afford.  I have pulled together files of inspiration photos for months and a week ago, the decorating stars aligned.  Finally, I found a kindred decorating spirit out here.  It can be hard though to come into my life and offer suggestions.  Yes folks, I am aware.  I know what I like and I have no interest in paying someone to come into my space to infuse their personality and taste.  I have my own style that I love and am comfortable and confident in.  What I am looking for is more of a consultant than a designer. I want someone to show me options, which rug companies have better prices than others, what textures to consider, and then have them step back as I pull it together myself.  Suzanne does just this for me. It is amazing what life can be injected when someone comes into your space for the first time.  The way they are able to see things dispassionately, and suggest a fresh perspective on furniture placement is so intriguing! She sketched out quick ideas of rooms for me to play with.  I have taken these sketches and am now matching up pieces of furniture to the pictures in my head.

To start, I took my own advice and brought in a pillow from a crib bedding set I bought years ago that I absolutely adore as my inspiration.  It was important for me to have each of the rooms in my home relate to each other as my house is small, and besides, I have a budget! I need for everything that I bring into the home to relate so that if I grow tired of  a look, I can reach into a closet or another room and switch it up! So today, I polished off the look I want for my bedroom, and found the perfect touches for the girls' room in the basement and began my decorating binder.  I will post some before and after pictures so that it ends up a bit of a collaborative effort. What about out there?  Are any of you doing spaces that you are particularly proud of?  Feel like sharing?

2009-06-18T20:36:00.006-06:00

* I am. *

Daily, I get the opportunity to express who I am to myself and those in my sphere.  I find it remarkable though, how often I seem to forget to magnify that.  Today as I took a rare opportunity to garden and care for my home and space, I thought of an old quote, but a good one.

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.  We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.  It is not just in some; it is in everyone.  And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Marianne Williamson (often attributed to Nelson Mandela)

So when this came to mind, I chose to remind myself of who I really am.  So often, I allow myself to downplay who I am, as is so common with many of us.  I went through an exercise in a class I attended a year ago when they challenged us to verbalize what is unique about us, and to determine who each of us really is and why we each are here.  Here is what I found for myself:

I AM a beautiful, powerful, inspiring, loving daughter of God.

Through beauty, power, inspiration, and love, I bring forth honor, assistance, empowerment, and healing, creating a world of passion, light, liberation and compassion where all of God's creation live in abundance.

The challenge is to never forget our purpose despite the daily activities. So, I feel it important to really share not only who I am, but ask my peers to do the same.  Please feel free to share who you are.

2009-06-15T20:03:00.010-06:00

*Brilliant things I have really heard at the bank*

1)I don't understand how I am overdrawn $800! I kept checking my balance and the more I took out, the more it said that I had!

*Hmmm.... How do I explain that there is no magical ATM fairy that adds money to the account the more you take out of it. Oh, a world with no pesky negative signs to obsess about.

2)My account is positive now, but for some reason, the overdraft fees have not been reversed! My husband said that now that we have brought it positive you had to do it. So hurry up and reverse all $600 of fees, NOW!

*Well, I will start by saying, I was willing to go ahead and be super generous and reverse half of the fees. I get it, life happens. I informed the client that this is a one time customer service courtesy. My thanks? Oh, she actually yelled at me as she informed me that all other banks reverse all overdraft fees automatically when accounts are no longer negative. Yeah, I encouraged her to go ahead and call around to compare me to anyone else. I know I'm more amazing than anyone out there. Well, she spent the next month checking with every bank and credit union in town, only to then return still yelling to demand the half I originally offered, and you should know that I never got a thanks either.

3) I will hunt you down and kill you if you don't reverse my fees!

* This threat while delightful over the phone at work, picked up significance when the client called the customer service number hours later to let them the now detailed plan of my demise. The good news is that I got a paid day off while the police got involved and the local preacher man went to visit the jail.

and my favorite comment in general because it is so often said and yet so rarely true:

4) I didn't authorize that charge!

* My job is to take these charges seriously and begin a fraud claim, but the fun is to milk the time to watch the interaction between my clients. It is amazing how long many spouses take to fess up to their spending money as I sit there very slowly filling out the many pages of forms. Yes ladies, he did sign up to and get that free trial offer, and gentlemen, those are her clothing charges to her favorite store. Thieves don't usually have such similar tastes. Eventually, through small talk and light banter, our little chats typically end with each of the clients making their confessions while sitting across from me at my desk. Ah they joys of playing marriage counselor. It's ok! I was in one of those couples last year too! There is hope for us all.

*The sweet life of a banker*

2009-06-13T17:41:00.007-06:00

*Julie and Julia by Julie Powell*

From time to time, I get so excited about reading a book that I rush out to buy it thrilled at the prospect of coming home to dedicate myself night and day to its pages. Last weekend I felt the familiar pang when looking to get some Julia Child DVDs and the book Julie and Julia kept popping up. It is a story based off a depressed temp who decided one year that the best way to get her life put together was to throw herself headlong into a year of passionate cooking. She determined to do all of the roughly 560 recipes from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking with brains, liver and all. What is not to like? Stories of a woman in Queens learning to butcher meat, extract bone marrow and all sorts of delightful ingredients! So, I made up my bed with the most lovely sheets, turned on my beautiful crystal reading lamp, and burrowed in. It was exactly what I did NOT want it to be. The prose was clumsy, course and reminded me of a teenager who was overly excited about swearing without getting in trouble. There was far too much discussion of her politics and conversations of how Republicans (her former employers) were the scum of the earth. Occasionally she focused on the experiences of actually bumbling through recipes, but often those were glossed over for trite observations and lewd dialog. Towards the end of the book, she actually talks about a interview she held with a reporter from The Times and Julia Child herself discussing the author's Julie/Julia project. She wept as she talks of how in the interview, it became apparent that Julia Child hated her. Julie sobbed and has a chapter of her grief at discovering that her idol considered her a twit. I knew I was in good company! I think she is a total twit too! So, it almost killed me, but I went ahead and finished the book last night so that I could get a new book today and move beyond her terrible, terrible book. So, if the book is given to you as a gift, you don't mind reading a thinly veiled poser's self indulgent journal, enjoy! I just have one thing to say. . . NOT IT!

2009-06-11T22:34:00.002-06:00

*We are kickin' it into high gear*

Ok folks! I have had several people ask me about our progress with kickin' debt out of the house.  I have gone from the greatest spender on earth to the gal who just had to call my husband in the middle of his dinner with some business buddies absolutely giddy to let him know that I just hit "send" on the final payment on his credit card! (Let's be fair, his name is on the card, but my clothes, furniture and necklaces are on the bill)

So lets do a debt count down:

Last year I had essentially maxed out the following-

1-a car loan
2-an Ann Taylor card
3-a Lowes Credit Card
4-my personal Chase Credit Card
5- CompUSA Credit Card
6-Brian's Chase Credit Card
7-a Bank of America Credit Card

All totaling over almost an annual salary.

They say that the number one cause of divorce is money fights and money problems.  Please allow me to personally vouch for that.  In November, I went ahead and decided that it was time, as an official adult, to act like one.  (Yes, this may have something to do with the fact that I had recently started managing a bank and spent all day, every day teaching others that it is in fact a poor choice to spend more than they make) I finally decided to bid farewell to those days of buying everything I had ever seen, telling Brian that it had simply grown in the closet, or one of my mother's favorite lines, "Oh, I have had that for YEARS!"  It turns out that it is even more gratifying to have a happy husband than delightful accessories.  So, much to Brian's disbelief, I lined up each of our debts and began shooting them dead one by one.  As of tonight, we have paid off all but the Bank of America bill!

It is time to finish strong and not lose focus.  So where do we go from here? Well, I work for praise and rewards so I decided that was important to have the last credit card paid off by the end of August as my anniversary gift to Brian.  I will pay off our second mortgage as a Valentines gift to us both, and then I have hired a designer to pull together some finishing touches in my house as my birthday present to me.  Don't worry.  Both she and the furniture will be paid for in cash up front!  Sound like a plan? Yeah, lets see if I can keep up the momentum for another 8 months. . .

*Wish me luck*

2009-06-11T22:06:00.001-06:00

*Heaven*

I have searched out heaven my entire life. I have sought it in home, in nature, in my family. I have battled back and forth between the theory of it, and the reality of heavens existence. Tonight, it is settled within myself once and for all. Heaven is real. It is sold at Williams-Sonoma in a tiny bottle for $21. So go on, buy yourself some truffle oil, drizzle over pizza, and experience heaven in the sanctity of your own four walls.

2009-06-10T23:47:00.001-06:00

*Final Goodbyes*

What if this was the last time? My mother told me of a time she spoke to a cancer specialist who determined that of all the ways to die, he would chose cancer. I was horrified for years after only having shortly lost my grandfather to a prolonged painful battle with pancreatic cancer. It took until I started thinking of the family I began creating to revisit my stance. Shortly thereafter, I flipped. Though his perspective at first sounded so vile, so sacrilegious somehow, in this new role in life, it made much greater sense to me. No, I am not a person who is oblivious to the often horrific pain cancer causes its patients and therefore families. I have known people young and old who have died of it leaving their families. What I will say is that I also know those who have died in a moment. Those fathers who went to sleep, their snores alerting the family to their presence on a mundane day, who an hour later, ceased to be. Which is preferable? What an absurd question. It is one that haunts me though.

When my grandfather finally scummed to his cancer, it was time. We had all prayed that he would finally be able to move on. That he could be released from his broken body. Friends and family were able to spend months asking the questions they deserved answered, saying those whispered goodbyes, creating those final moments. We could sit with him in the bed, read allowed his life's stories, sing to him to bring comfort, quietly serve and honor him. Seeing myself now as a family member over an individual, this is my choice. It gives time for hurt to be mended, resolutions to be made, and plans drawn up. What about our friends and family who disappear from this life? Those who drift away in their sleep? I had always wanted to simply twinkle away. Painless. Instantly. Hmm.

Tonight I awoke disoriented. I was petrified. What if I never saw my husband again, my sibling, my spouse, my parent, my friend? What do I do with my time? What is my legacy for this world? What have I been doing with my life each day to honor those I live for? How have I let them know that I feel only adoration for each of them? How have I demonstrated that each of these people has made my life worth experiencing? Have I taught children around me to love? To laugh? To forgive? Have I demonstrated that true power is found only in the power that we have to serve others?

Yes. . . I am certain that each of you has pondered these things. I am no philosopher, and have no unique perspective to share. I know that none of this is profound, but at times in life, I have felt such intensity of "the moment" that it has choked me. I know that some who read this may consider it trite, but tonight the possibility of losing a loved one awoke me with shuddering sobs, heartache, and terror. I frantically called my husband over and over again until I awoke him on the other side of the country. I had to fill him with everything I wanted him to know should we be separated. So now what? What makes this any different than any other supposed epiphany? Nothing, unless I chose to make it different. So what am I doing? I am reaching out to all of you and letting you know how true the influence of family and friends in my life have been. I have little interest in acquaintances, those superficial passers by who refuse to be known, or allow others in to know them. I thank each of you for choosing to connect with me heart to heart and spirit to spirit. Thank you for forgiving me my folly, the pains that I have caused, the distance that I have shown.

Life is beautiful. People are my life. You are my life.

2009-06-08T17:14:00.003-06:00

*Kitchen Drawer Snobbery*

Fine, I admit it! I am a full blown snob. I see people like Sandra Lee using a chop prep, a cherry pitter, apple corer, ice cream scooper, banana slicer (banana bill you know who you are), even on my bad days, I judge garlic peeler folks.  Why do I judge such kitchen widgets? I feel a sense of real pride when I take the time to do things by hand.  This is the same reason why I judge those who brag about making a homemade quilt when they just machine quilted it rather than taking the four months to HAND quilt!

Pardon me?  I heard you!  No time to hand quilt, or knit, or cook from scratch? Yeah. Right.  Let me just ask you.  What do YOU do when watching television? My mother had a policy with me that there was no watching television without doing something with my hands.  It wouldn't seem like such a small policy would make a lasting impression, but in one summer, I fell hard for the soap "Young and the Restless" and that summer changed my life.  I sewed and hand quilted a huge star spangled quilt for my sister Mary as well as created a dizzying array of cross-stitched tea towels.  Sad?  Ummm no! I would have done almost anything for those precious episodes.  *sigh* Needless to say, still when I sit down to watch some of my favorite shows, I must keep my hands busy so I cook, or write, or make budgets.  Hmm. Though this is a pleasant sort of digression, perhaps it is time to return to the topic.

Ok, so why do I proudly tout that I am a bonafide snob? Well because I look down on the salad spinners of the world, the beef branders, the panini presser, the meatball grill basket, the non-stick burger press, the pineapple corer, the olive stuffer, the deep fryer, the avocado pitter/slicer! (Yes, I started off the top of my head and then went on to the Williams-Sonoma Catalog) How do people have room for all of that junk!  Want to solve your kitchen dilemmas? LEARN TO USE A KNIFE, GET YOUR HANDS ICKY! I concede that there was a time when I purchased a variety of sad little toys.  Toys that took up space in my quaint cottage kitchen.  For some reason after several purges my still unopened egg coddler remains, my far too expensive and non functional egg topper, my magic-cake baking strips which despite the label STILL allow the edges of the cake rounds to dry and brown, my candy/oil thermometer which has never touched oil, nor seen me make candy.  So now, before inviting something to join my little kitchen crew, I consider it for months!

Let me just give you some perspective on this.  I consider almost nothing before bringing it home.  I have a larger cookbook collection than the Highland Park Library.  A year ago, I turned Brian's messy home office into the walk in closet of my dreams with a whole section devoted just to high heels.  So why the hypocrisy? Why do I buy a pair of shoes in 4 colors and it took me 7 years to decided it was time to purchase a handheld citrus juicer? Hmm... I like to think it is because I am a purist and take pleasure in standing back judging the excess of others, but really, maybe it is something deeper.  Maybe, I'm just jealous of the gourmands kitchen large enough to hold it all.

Ok, now it is your turn:

Please, let me know the most absurd one trick pony that YOU have in your kitchen .

Check out the vegi-chop! You will never need to use a knife again!
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sku5834783/index.cfm?pkey=ccook-tool-top-rated

2009-06-08T11:53:00.002-06:00

*Mental Health Day*

There is nothing that bothers me quite so much as sick days at school or work. I know that this may seem odd, but it is so unfair! I never really get sick, and so while my colleagues all get a week a year that they can just sit at home vegging out, I go in day after day the picture of perfect health. Don't worry. My mother raised me right. To equalize this, my mother taught up the importance of "mental health days." You must know what these are... those days that you could not be paid to work. Those days where if you are there, you are secretly obsessing about, well today it was the state of my kitchen sink. Oh, and my house was sloppy, my laundry room deserved some attention, and the furniture placement in my front room is just wrong! So I did what I was raised to do. I went to work at 7:30 this morning and then left sick at 11.

I was mentally off today and kept feeling that I was going to throw up (though it is possible that rather than being ill, it had something to do with the fact that I was wearing a turtleneck and occasionally those make me gag). Regardless of the reason, it is time to move on. So, what is on the docket for the rest of the day then? Well, first is a blog post. Gimme a break, I don't do confession so this is my new forum for playing out my guilt. Next I am baking snickerdoodles, and another batch of homemade pizza for dinner as I want to use the leftover pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese. Oh, and it was perfect that I got to come home and see Brian off to the airport and make him a great lunch so perhaps that is karma telling me that I made the right choice? Ok, I know, it is a bit of a stretch! Well, off to baking!

*I recognize that the picture seems a bit off for this post so I will proffer an explanation. When my mind is blurry and overwhelmed, Brian leans his forehead against mine, and every time, life is clearer/better*

2009-06-07T19:11:00.001-06:00

Whats cookin'

Tonight before Brian leaves town, I decided to go ahead and make him a rather basic dish to make him lonely for home cooked food. So, for dinner, I ended up making him a beautiful homemade margarita pizza. I am working on preparing things completely from scratch as Mme Julia Child's cooking philosophy has penetrated my heart. The dough is a simple recipe out of my Williams-Sonoma Savoring Italy book (pg 58). I chose to make the pasta sauce by hand, but really to keep it very simple with just some crushed tomatoes, oregano, garlic, a nice chiffionade of sage, salt and pepper. I will let you know how it ends up. After all, there is nothing like simple beautiful ingredients to make a perfect meal~

Ok, the update! The pizza "simple dough recipe" was more a labor of love than anticipated. Hah! This is why I love to practice recipes and then mark up the pages of the cookbook as I go. (Yes, it might be said that I have more notes in my cookbooks than bibles). Regardless, I failed to do something so basic, Mme Child put it in her foreword to her Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The true delight is that I JUST READ AND HILIGHTED IT LAST NIGHT!
It reads:

"We urge you, however much you have cooked, always read the recipe first, even if the dish is familiar to you. Visualize each step so you will know exactly what techniques, ingredients, time, and equipment are required AND YOU WILL ENCOUNTER NO SURPRISES."

Had I done so, I would have known that the dough is kneaded and then rests not just for the 2 hours I anticipated, but after punching it down, it needs to rest for ANOTHER hour! Why I didn't think of this very basic dough rule is beyond me. Anyhow, who doesn't want to eat dinner at a quarter to eleven! There is a rather remarkable comment to report, Brian actually said that it was good! I know that this doesnt seem signifigant, but in the almost seven years that we have been married, I can think of no other time this has occured. All that Brian has essentially ever said, is that the food was "fine". Tonight I got a "good!"

*Marriage is all about little victories*

2009-06-07T14:13:00.002-06:00

         *Things I live for*

*Cooking for family and friends*Mary's Lemon bars*Any time spent aboard a sail boat*Snuggling intently with Brian every night as we sleep legs intertwined*My nieces and nephews*Reading books before bedtime*Paris*My precious and very closest friends*Pride and Prejudice*Budgets*Sense and Sensibility*My home*Sewing*New paint colors *Martha*Fresh flowers from my garden*Home grown veg*Singing*Travel*Down comforters*Chest walls*The beach*Fine sheets*Books*A made bed*Dinner parties*Dressing up*Ladies gloves*Cheeses*Fine dining*Late night solitude*Phone calls from Nieces*Brian*My sisters*Brunch*