2007 November « leta joy

Archive for November, 2007

Revelation

November 30, 2007 at 2:12 pm · Filed under we are family

Well, it’s official. Baby number two is on his/her way due to arrive in June. We saw the little stinker this morning on a hand-held ultrasound at the OB. Apparently we get a “real” ultrasound at the next appointment in five weeks.

It’s been a very long twelve weeks, people. There has been lots of puking (me), crying (me & Arwyn), sighing (Bubby), and eye-rolling (me, Arwyn & Bubby). The house is a pit, Arwyn’s been watching 10 hours of tv a day (not really, but it feels like it some days) and I’m busily creating life from the couch. So this might explain why my posts might have been slightly lackluster lately. It’s a little difficult to get excited about much of anything when you are locking yourself in the bathroom to hurl your guts up from one kid, already guiltily berating yourself about your parenting of the first kid and wondering, “Does this get better, easier or end EVER?” I’m getting a little suspicious that the answer to that is no.

Ok, now it’s a pregnancy blog.

Permalink Comments (3)

This is Not a Cooking Blog

November 28, 2007 at 3:47 pm · Filed under crafty

I made it through the month of November without the plethora of friends and family that have birthdays this month overwhelming me. I still haven’t bought myself those presents I was supposed to get (I let Bubby off the hook this year and decided to shop for myself), but I didn’t miss anyone else’s big day. My time will have to be somewhat delayed. Like my brother says when I beat him at something, “Every dog has it’s day in the sun.” I want to get these and these (green nubuck?) and shop here a bit and maybe over here some too.

This is a birthday card I made for Juju’s dad. His birthday is Friday, the last birthday of the month on my list and the only one in November who warranted a handmade card. Juju’s dad is good people. I love all you other November birthday people too, it’s just the way it was this year. All will be revealed in good time. I swear this post might even make sense later on. No, really.

We have a three week break in the birthday season, and then there’s that whole Christmas thing coming up. Gift cards for everyone this year!

Permalink Comments (1)

My Mom’s Pumpkin Pie is Better Than Your Mom’s. Is Too.

November 26, 2007 at 7:32 pm · Filed under holiday celebrate

I am all about giving thanks and enjoying family and the turkey and all that goes along with it. However, this year Thanksgiving was determined to kick my ass. Or maybe I brought this on myself. I need to start being nicer to people. I think the universe is mad at me. I did pick on my oldest nephew a lot at my mom’s house. But it was so easy!

The majority of our family dinners were on the weekends, so on Thanksgiving day I took the next logical step and decided to paint my living room (again). In 35 degree weather with the windows open. Bubby helped with the first coat and my wonderful mother-in-law helped with the second one when Bubby abandoned me to go to work on Thanksgiving day. Either I am getting old or I am a much bigger wimp than I used to be because painting did not agree with me this time. The last time I painted the living room I fell down the basement stairs and nearly killed myself. This time I jacked up my shoulder something fierce and spent the next two days on a heating pad. I think its time to start hiring out the painting. Maybe my nephew needs a part-time job. Thanksgiving night the paint fumes drove me to my in-law’s house where I holed up in their basement with my old person cream and free cable. I watched four hours of Little People Big World and I have to say that was the highlight of my day. At least the living room looks good now. That Shrek green wasn’t cutting it (look at that! I was all “we love the green!” minds change, people). I haven’t taken any pictures yet, so you’ll have to trust me when I say Benjamin Moore colors rock, especially Meadow View. In the November issue of Home Companion they created four different looks in rooms all painted this color and I decided if it was good enough for Mary Engelbreit, it was good enough for me.

Saturday we made the two hour trip to my parents house. Arwyn had been at Aunt Banana’s house so I hadn’t seen her in a few days and surprise! She had diarrhea. So, I spent the next several hours making trips to the potty every 10 minutes or so with her. It wasn’t pretty. She slept the whole way home (poor thing had to be exhausted, I know I was) without any accidents and we all collapsed in a heap on the floor when we got home.

Today we are in recovery. Arwyn seems to be fine, but now my sister has whatever bug she had. So, Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I’m hoping for a peaceful, serene holiday next year.

Now, what to have for dessert tonight: leftover pumpkin pie from my mom’s or leftover ice cream cookie sandwich from my b-day?

Permalink Comments (4)

I Should Buy a Lottery Ticket

November 21, 2007 at 10:11 am · Filed under babes in blogland

I can’t recall how I stumbled across this wonderful site, but Ankel and Burblets is so very sweet. They have a store called Little Orchard and I recently won a $30 gift to their shop. Everything in it is absolutely wonderful. It is all handmade in New Zealand and organic to boot. I chose this adorable little linen lilac purse and it couldn’t be any cuter. Maybe I’ll give it to Arwyn in about five years or so. Maybe. Thank you Charlotte for the lovely gift!

Permalink Comments (3)

Books and Tees

November 20, 2007 at 11:46 am · Filed under crafty

One of my b-day gifts from Bubby was the Daring Book for Girls. I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet, I just gave it a quick glance, but it looks awesome! I would have totally loved something like this when I was a little tomboy. Caring for your softball glove! Friendship bracelets! Hopscotch! Chinese Jump Rope! It is half off at Borders tomorrow for members if you are interested. I can’t wait to read it cover to cover and try out some of the projects.

Here’s the latest Arwyn crafty t-shirt. They aren’t quite as fun for me to make now that I have a 3 year old Art Director dictating my every move. But I guess she gets what she wants this way. Purple Old Navy t-shirt from a yard sale. Sky Blue Jacquard textile color. Froggy face.

Now back to breaking up fights between Miss Bossy and the male charge.

Permalink Comments (2)

Let the Holiday Baking Begin

November 19, 2007 at 3:31 pm · Filed under cookin' it up

My contribution to the first Thanksgiving dinner of the season was sweet potato casserole (eh, it’s good but I wasn’t crazy about it this year) and thumb print cookies. I really made the cookies just because I wanted them and then decided to take them along because they don’t stay fresh very long. My motives were not very altruistic in nature.

I used a recipe that I ~~stole~~ borrowed from Juju’s sister when we were wee little lassies just learning how to bake in our mother’s kitchens. This was before I even knew what a “thumb print” cookie was and I ingeniously titled the recipe “Jelly Circle Cookies”. Quite creative of me, don’t you think? Thanks Mom, for all those Sunday afternoons you let me trash the kitchen and burn something in your oven. I wouldn’t be the accomplished baker I am today without all of those trial and error sessions with the kitchen window open so the smoke wouldn’t overpower us. And I learned how to put out a grease fire at an early age, which is a very useful thing to know.

Jelly Circle Cookies

1 c butter, softened

1/2 c sugar

2 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 c flour

1/4 tsp salt

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Add flour and salt. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet (I use a small scoop and a baking stone). Bake at 350 for 5 minutes. Push in center of cookie with spoon and add jelly (I used apricot and seedless black raspberry preserves from here). Bake 7 more minutes. Cool on wire rack. Scarf down as many as you can before they disappear. Apricot preserves count as a serving of fruit, right?

Permalink Comments

Waiting for TayTay

November 16, 2007 at 4:22 pm · Filed under arwyn dae

Our niece was in town from Texas this week. We got to spend a few hours with her today. We only see her a few times a year, so this was kind of a big deal. I’m always amazed that Arwyn remembers her since we see her so infrequently, but I always forget that A has the memory of an elephant (obviously she gets her memory skills from me) and doesn’t forget anything. Ever. Like the giant inflatable turkey balloon at the car lot from last Thanksgiving. And if you think the turkey is dressed as a pilgrim, you would be dead wrong. It is obviously a firefighter and you will be corrected.

The little pachyderm is currently napping in her princess shoes, gloves and wand. I hear lots of magic happening (i.e. things being hit with the wand) and very little napping. Hmmmm.

Permalink Comments

Inspired

November 13, 2007 at 9:39 am · Filed under babes in blogland, i buy stuff

I ordered an early birthday present for myself. When I saw the birthday rings on Amy’s site, I knew I needed one. Yep, needed. I chose a purple one and I wore it Saturday night to a wedding reception and my hand looked hawt. Note to self: wear it next Monday on actual birthday. It will look awesome with my usual attire of sweat pants and long sleeve t-shirt. I’m glad this job doesn’t have a very strict dress code.

Since I was ordering the ring and already paying for shipping, I decided it would be quite practical to also order the Santa & Mrs. Claus puppet (the site says they are available Nov. 15, but as you can see mine arrived with my order) as well as the sugar glitter. I can’t wait to see how I can injure myself using actual shards of glass while getting crafty. Expect howls of pain to be coming from the basement any minute now.

Amy runs a lovely site and always packages her goods with care. I’ve already reused the polka dot tissue paper for a baby gift. She also has a very sweet blog that I check regularly and then have to immediately check my bank balance to see if I can afford to buy one of everything.

Permalink Comments (1)

Root Beer Float by Leta Joy

November 9, 2007 at 9:15 am · Filed under cookin' it up

We brought home a lone bottle of root beer from New Harmony and Wednesday night I decided a root beer float sounded really good. So, instead of sending Bubby to Sonic, I made one myself. I used Sioux City Sarsaparilla, also known as The Grandaddy of All Root Beers. Apparently Sioux City Sarsaparilla is the drink favored by Sam Elliott’s character in The Coen Brothers’ The Big Lebowski. The ice cream we thankfully had in the freezer was Breyer’s All Natural - Natural Vanilla. It was really good, nice and creamy, and I slurped it down while watching an old episode of Desperate Housewives that I had missed. Not a bad way to spend my hour at home alone while Bubby took Arwyn to the bookstore, bless his heart.

Permalink Comments

Antiquing in New Harmony

November 8, 2007 at 4:20 pm · Filed under thrifty

A little unsure about labeling this post under “Thrifty” considering I paid $22 for one of these items (I’ll let you guess which one). But then, some of the items were 75% off, so it all evens out in the long run, right?

I don’t know when I turned into one of those people that likes diminutive pitchers (also known as My Mother) but I seem to have a growing collection. It was cute and yellow (she said defensively)! The dishtowel was my grandmother’s.

Arwyn thought these colorful little scoops were for her play dish collection. Hands off, sister! These are Mama’s toys. There is also a turquoise scoop larger than the orange one, but it has already found a home in the flour canister and I couldn’t be bothered to remove it and wash it (again) prior to the photo shoot. I’m lazy like that.

This little beauty will someday live above the kitchen sink. I think it is from the 50’s and it still works but it’s electric (boogy woogy woogy woogy) so we need to find an aesthetically pleasing way to run the wire to the outlet. This is what six years of marriage has taught me: I’ll hang it up there all willy-nilly and then Bubby will figure out a way to make it look good.

The coolest find. It was hiding behind some other junk AND it was in the 75% off booth. Score! Bubby got some things too, but I think he took his items to his other house (i.e. work) so I missed out on the photo op.

Permalink Comments (2)

« Previous entries