good grief

It was a packed weekend, as it had promised to be. We are just starting to get back to normal around here, though the birthday cards are still up and the new presents haven't yet all been examined. Our little guy loved his pizza and pool party Saturday afternoon and all the fanfare that went along with it. The big highlight for him was when his dad sneaked him down the water slide (it's a big one, you have to walk up about 3 flights of stairs to get to the top.) He can't stop talking about it. It's good motivation for him to work on his swimming. You have to be able to swim by yourself to go down. A few lessons and some practice time in the water should do it. Before long he'll be slipping and sliding all by himself.

Also Saturday afternoon we got a visit from Preppy Rider, who stopped by on her way to visit her parents. We met little Margaux Patricia, and let me tell you, she is a doll! It was so nice to see my sweet friend. Never mind what she is writing on her blog, she is a natural mom, with all the confidence and grace in the world. She looks great, too. I kept telling her that I can't believe she just had a baby. You should see her in action, she's already a pro.

Saturday night my husband and both of our parents attended a black tie dinner dance, a fundraiser for a cause that is close to our hearts. Part of the evening was a live auction, which was fun to watch. Afterwards there was a band, dancing, more fun. It was great to just be out, all dressed up. When was the last time we did that? Too long ago.


And yet with all the happiness of the weekend, there was sadness, too. My dad's younger sister, Marie, died Saturday afternoon after an intense battle with ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed in the fall and fought all through the winter. She was just a year younger than my dad. Last week she was strong enough to visit with my parents when they saw her in the hospital, but she had developed pneumonia in the last several days and couldn't keep up her fight.

Reading over this post, I realize that something my mom said this weekend rings true. Saturday we were all witness to the circle of life. A young boy's birthday, a new baby, sad news on the phone about a life taken much too soon. Tremendous happiness balanced by grief. You can't understand one without the other, you wouldn't want to. It just makes you grateful for every day. Even the days without parties and balloons.

mom my ride

We haven't crossed into minivan territory - yet. So I can watch a video like this with at least a little detached amusement. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEFE3B0Rje0

new roommates

Tomorrow is my son's 5th birthday. What a milestone!

A special birthday deserves a special gift. And what do you get for a little boy who loves to swim, loves fish, loves everything to do with the water? An aquarium! We picked it out together on Sunday afternoon. It's just the right size for his room. Inside there are 2 new little betta fish, Dorothy (like Elmo's friend) and Big Fish. Dorothy is the little glob of red up there in the photo.

New roommates, indeed! And that's just the beginning of the celebration around here. We have grandparents coming to town, and a big birthday bash at the pool on Saturday with friends, both sets of grandparents, and cousins. All complete with pizza and cake. What a lucky little boy! And, what lucky parents we are to have this little person in our lives.

that little blue tank engine

Dontcha just love Thomas. Dontcha just love how he and his friends can roll in on that fancy railroad of theirs and take over a life! Well, two lives, actually. When not managing train schedules on the Island of Sodor, my two little guys like to put on their Thomas jammies, or eat meals off of Thomas plates, or watch Thomas videos, or *now* play Thomas games and puzzles on the computer. Mommy and her sons, fighting over the laptop! Who would have guessed that these days would come so fast?

advice for new mamas

A friend of mine had a baby recently. And, as you know, with a new baby comes lots of advice on how to handle a new baby. She's getting it everywhere and from everyone. Family, friends, books, doctors. Solicited and unsolicited. Good intentions and....maybe not so good intentions.

When she was telling me about someone in her life who scared her a little bit, telling her how her baby will change and what she can expect over the next few months, I couldn't help but think of Ming. My dad's mom, up there in the picture with me, when I was about 5 or 6. She had 9 children. You'd expect that a mother of 9 would have more than enough qualifications to classify herself as a true expert on child rearing. Not so with Ming. She would have described herself as the complete opposite of an expert.

The thing was, Ming was such a wise owl. She was a history buff, had a memory like a steel trap. But she was also thoughtful, calm. It was always a good thing to get her perspective because she looked at things from different angles. She was our oracle.

Shortly after I became a mother, I asked her what it had been like to raise 9 kids. How she knew what to do. She told me that there was a lot of mystery in it, even for her. She said, "I thought I knew all there was to know after having 3. I was ready to write a book! But then I had a few more, and realized that I knew nothing."

This echoes the advice she had given me at my baby shower. All guests were asked to write down their advice for the mother to-be. The responses were just what you'd expect. Comforting: Enjoy every moment. Logical: Nap when the baby naps. Funny: Find a good scotch, bourbon or Canadian whiskey, and don't always follow those 'moderation' rules! My own mother, who has 4, had sage advice: Keep a sense of humor.

But Ming's advice I remember the most.

She wrote, Don't have any! I changed my mind and my opinions hundreds of times. Try to relax and enjoy it (or is that sex?)

Yep. Straight from the oracle's mouth.

all on my watch

My children have incurred significant bumps and bruises over the last two days. And just who was responsible for them, while they were running into things and falling off of things, and falling down? Me. I know, I know. It goes with the territory of being a mom. You can't prevent accidents from happening, especially when you have little, rambunctious boys who like to run and jump. Still, it makes me feel bad.

My 2 year-old has a big goose egg bruise on his forehead after falling into the train table in the basement Tuesday afternoon. He was nearly inconsolable about it and had to get into his crib immediately afterwards to cuddle with his blanket. That seemed to do the trick.

Yesterday, my nearly 5 year-old tripped and fell into a table, landing right on his nose. We started out at the pediatrician and ended up in the ER afternoon to get 2 stitches across the bridge of his nose. BTW, did you know they have new medicine technology, where a nurse can numb an area of skin by placing a Q-tip covered in the medicine on the affected area? This was OH so much better than having to see him get a shot!

So, of course, no pictures today. I did consider it, I thought I if I could get a certain angle you could see how my little patients are holding up. But they're a little sick of being fussed over right now. They just want some peace and quiet.

keeping busy

Ah, nothing to report on the bathroom. We had good intentions for getting the floor done as we headed into the weekend, and then an unexpected rain and snow storm took our time and attention. Poor, dear, husband went out to shovel the slush for "20 minutes" on Sunday and returned 3 hours later with the job finished at last. It seems that all the neighbors were out trying to collectively move the water on the sidewalks back into the street. But they got the job done.

So the bathroom must wait a wee bit longer...and I'll let you know when we get back to it.

Today's forecast makes me want to start a fire instead of plan a picnic. We're trying to keep ourselves busy. Later today we'll get into our snow gear and tromp around the backyard for a little while. For those of you at home with little people, how do you pass the time on days like today?

curio cabinet

It's been awhile since I have profiled a hand painted piece. This is one of my favorites (I think I say that every time...I suppose they are all my favorites?)

This wall cabinet came with the house. You can see it on the wall in the kitchen in the first photo. I wish I had a close up of how it used to look, but you probably get the idea. When we moved in we had a few things that were lingering around here. This cabinet, that old broken down chair also in the photo, an abandoned dresser. This was the only thing worth salvaging. Actually, I almost gave it away when a friend expressed interest, but thought better of it. Thank goodness.

Mary the artist worked her magic on it last year. The result, as you can see, is remarkable. She took my 4 favorite MacKenzie-Childs' Taylor patterns (2 of which, I'm sorry to say, have been discontinued), Aalsmeer, Bearded Iris, Stoke Gabriel, and Summer Frock, and wove them into a design that transformed the cabinet. And just look at it now! Yes, I love it. Can't imagine parting with it. Some day, oh, in about 60 years or so, I'll be loading up my things for the nursing home. And this will be at the top of the heap.

beautification

Our bathroom beautification project continues this weekend. I am looking forward to seeing how the floor turns out. It is not wood, it is a (cheap looking) vinyl tile, something we will not miss. The first time we painted the walls we just assumed that we'd be ripping out the floor soon after, so we didn't even put a sheet down, we just let the paint drip right on the floor. Well, that was about 2 years ago, so it's time to do something.

Here's the scene in the bathroom today. My 2 year old, probably like yours, has discovered the greatest game. Who knew unraveling the entire TP roll could be so much fun? To think that Mom and Dad didn't show him how to do this months ago!

cookies

Last night at book club* my friend Nicole brought Nestle Toll House cookies. Yum! I'm always, always a sucker for them. After trying hers, I said they tasted slightly different from what I am used to. She said she alters the Nestle recipe a bit by adding 1/4 C more flour (so the cookies rise higher) and ommitting the salt.

Last week I stirred up some Nestle cookie batter and froze half. That's what you see up there in the picture. Frozen batter is a little safer around here than cooked cookies. I can only manage about 1 spoonful at a time and can keep my cookie monster cravings somewhat controlled this way. So a few minutes ago I had a bite and I thought, well now, that does taste a little salty. Maybe I should try it without the salt.

So now I'm curious, what do you guys do? Do you have your own version of the Nestle recipe that works for you? Any suggestions you care to share on improving this delightful treat? My only thing is that I sometimes add extra chocolate chips. It's never a mistake!

****

*The book this month was The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, which I'm sorry to say I did not read. I meant to, but by mistake I left it home when we were away last week. Instead I brought with me The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards, and I thought it was excellent.

signs of spring

Our snow is melting. We have puddles on the driveway, streams down the sidewalks, rivers in the gutters. It's encouraging. Yesterday, when there was more snow than there is today, I took the boys out in their snow gear. They spent most of the time jumping in muddy puddles. It was great to see. I'll need to get them some rain gear before too long. Maybe some of those "wellies" that I hear about. I've never tried them myself, but they look perfect for kids.

The days are getting longer. In the middle of a Chicago winter, you have to turn the lights on in your house around 4 p.m. Now I can wait until after 5. We eat dinner with the blinds open because the kids like looking outside, even when it's dark they like looking out. Now they can really see things clearly. People walking home from the train. Late afternoon joggers. Cyclists. Meal time is getting more interesting again, even if what's on the menu doesn't always wow them.

Spring is always tentative at the beginning. These encouraging signs of it's approach may disappear before too long. That's OK. I think of it as officially starting on March 1st, so there's just a few more days ahead where I need to keep my chin up. You probably can tell from what I've written before that I am not a winter person. But I try to be brave. And I get a lot of help. Yesterday, for whatever reason, I felt discouraged and blue. But then my husband brought me these flowers on his way home from work. It turned my day around.

back to reality

What a week we picked to be away. While we enjoyed the sand and surf, the poor Little Cottage got pummeled again with snow, about 12 inches this time. Hearing about that made our vacation even sweeter. We tried to get everything we could out of our time away. The kids loved being in the water, loved the beach. It was so nice to see their chapped cheeks turn soft again, and to see their curls come out in the warm, humid air. aaahhhh. Loved it.

Speaking of nice, thanks for your nice comments the other day about Preppy Rider and her baby. Baby came on Monday last week, all is well, but I can't reveal any more! PR has her blog in mind and when she gets a chance I know she'll update you.

Now that we're home, we're tackling some winter projects. Here's one: painting our downstairs bath. This room and all its fixtures are originals, circa 1957 (or so?) Oh, this little room needs a major update, but we can't do it just yet. Part of the reason we're putting it off is that it has no fan, no ventilation system. And if we installed one, we'd have to know that the bathroom would be staying for awhile. But, see that back window in the tub there, that's looking out to our back porch. And maybe someday in the next few years we'd do an addition that would make the porch an indoor room (maybe with a new bedroom directly above it?) And maybe then we'd be interested in moving this bathroom to another location. Maybe this bathroom would become part of the kitchen. But, maybe not. Do you see our dilemma?

So, band-aid renovation this time around. We just finished painting the walls (they had been a pale, mint green), and I have a new shower curtain and new bath accessories. This weekend we are going to paint the floor. That should be interesting. I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out!

writing buddy

My thoughts today and for the rest of this weekend are with my dear friend Preppy Rider. Have you met her? If not, I encourage you to stop by her stable for a visit. She is heading into the hospital on Monday morning for a scheduled C-section. This is her first baby. PR, we are so excited for you and can't wait to meet your little PR baby!

Once upon a time, I was fortunate to see PR every single day. We worked together for the same company and reported to the same director. We started around the same time. The beginning of that job was kind of rough for both of us, and I know that part of the reason I made it through was the fact that I had her there to share in the experience. She is a listener extraordinaire, a compassionate soul, a girl with a wonderful sense of humor. She was my lifeline. We immediately bonded over our shared fears of our boss - "the Eagle" we dubbed him. We laughed over his confusing communication and our inability to understand it. We held our breath when he reviewed our work. We breathed a sigh of relief when he took off for a 2 week vacation. We celebrated when we realized - finally - that we "got" him and he "got" us. From that point on, everything was Ok. I think we both look back at that time now and see it as a special time - when we had a ball working together, living close to each other, and building our fabulous friendship. When the company shuffled its floors and put us in a corner office together (with a view of the lake, no less) we were in heaven. It was like being back in college, living with your best friend.

Not too long ago, PR met her prince charming, and he scooped her up and carried her out of town. Out of state! But thankfully, not out of my life. We've been so good about keeping up, visiting when we can, calling each other regularly. I marvel at how much we have been able to share by reading each other's blogs. How strange is it...you know you've embraced technology when you and your friend can read up on each other's lives and feel like you haven't missed a beat.

My wonderful friend PR is becoming a mother on Monday, and I am so happy for her. I can't imagine someone more suited for the role. PR, all my thoughts and prayers are with you. That little baby is blessed!

the nursery

This was how my youngest son's room looked when we bought our house. Just like our bedroom, it needed new paint and clean white trim to freshen it up:

Another angle that you can't see here is the corner where the Peter Rabbit dresser stands.

This was actually my oldest son's room when we first arrived, because he was the baby then. When I became pregnant with my youngest, my big boy moved into his big boy room. The nursery just kind of stayed on...So the crib and its ensemble have been in place now for about 5 years. I still love to look in the room and see it set up. Big boy rooms are great, but a nursery is special. The gentle curve of the rocker. The little change table. Most importantly, that sweet crib and all its fluff. There have been many mornings when I've come in here, bleary eyed, and looked at it wistfully, thinking that I'd love to just crawl right in.

Soon it will be time to plan his big boy room. I'm not quite sure what I want to do for him yet, but I'm starting to get ideas. Stay tuned...

worth its weight in gold

Best decision ever -buying a snow blower, that is. This was from last night. It took my husband about 20 minutes to do our driveway and the sidewalk. And our driveway is fairly long...

So...

Sunny today, still very cold...about 8 degrees out now...but the sun makes a difference. Psychologically. I guess, though, it's not such a great week here. The paper says "Chicago sinks deeper into misery" - as in, we lost the Superbowl, there's no end in sight to the frigid temps, now we have more snow. Remember the marquees I told you about as I drove through town last week? I saw one last night that simply said, Unbearable. Oh, dear. Next week we go someplace sunny and warm for vacation, so that's what we have to keep our chins up. And when we get back spring will be that much closer.

same as he ever was

It started snowing a little after 9 this morning, and it's still falling steadily. My oldest son was thrilled to see it when he got home from preschool. After we took off coat, hat, gloves, boots, he immediately flew to the window to watch it come down while I made lunch. He's always been a watcher, has always loved looking out to see what's happening. I was thinking about this as I snapped his picture. I was thinking that it reminded me of when he was a baby, not yet a year old, and how much he loved to be propped up on our couch so he could see the street outside. There he is, there's my little baby boy down below. See how comfortable he looks? You can see that we'd pull up the blinds so he would have a better view of the street. He could stay there for a long time, maybe 15-20 minutes. An eternity for a little person who couldn't yet walk!


Oh, it's hard to look at the difference in these pictures, hard to accept the changes that have taken place over the last few, short years. But, he's still small, he's still just a little boy. For that I'm grateful.

tagged by preppy rider

It's so easy to think of what to write on a day when you've been tagged to answer questions. Thank you, Preppy Rider!

I tag Cindy and the Sisters, Bossy, and homedaisy.


1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? On the water

2.What's your favorite article of clothing? my Dansko clogs

3.Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? Tall, dark, handsome. Sorry, I can't choose just one.

4.What's the last CD that you bought? Norah Jones

5.Where's your favorite place to be? With my family

6. Where is your least favorite place to be? in a crowd of hysterical people

7.What's your favorite place to be massaged? my shoulders

8.Strong in mind or strong in body? depends on the day. Most days both.

9.What time do you wake up in the morning? fluctuates between 5-7 a.m.

10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance? dishwasher. Close second is microwave.

11.What makes you really angry? passive agressiveness

12.If you could play any instrument, what would it be? I'd like to play the guitar like Sheryl Crow. I would like to look like her while I'm playing it, too.

13. Favorite color? sky blue. baby blue. light blue. However it's best described, that's me.

14.Which do you prefer...sports car or SUV? I have an SUV now, so I'll go with sports car. But I'm not really into cars in general.

15. Do you believe in an afterlife? yes

16.Favorite children's book? The Amazing Bone

17. What is your favorite season? SUMMER! It's -9 degrees here this morning.

18. Your least favorite household chore? gardening

19.If you could have one super power, what would it be? Time travel. I'm not sure if that's a super power. If it doesn't count, I choose the ability to fly.

20.If you have a tattoo, what is it? no tattoos. That's not me.

21.Can you juggle? no. Quite frankly, I'm not interested in learning.

22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to? Ming

23. What's your favorite day? Saturday

24. What's in the trunk of your car? nothing

25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger? cheddar cheeseburger

game day

The LC is in the heart of "Bears Country". Oh, to see the commotion around us! This was my son's art project at preschool this week. All the clerks at the grocery store, all the people at the gym, everyone is decked out in Bears jerseys. Every business has added a little GO BEARS to the bottom of their marquee. Someone down the street has one of those huge inflatable characters in their yard, a big Bears player. Cars are driving by with Bears flags flying off of them. The Trib is all about Super Bowl coverage. When we picked up dinner last night I noticed that someone had scratched "Go Bears" into the ice on the pickup window. Yes, things are at fever pitch around here, and it's fun to be a part of it. Keep your fingers crossed. My husband is a life-long Cubs and Bears fan. He's ready for his team to go all the way!

o blessed day

Thank you, February, for arriving today. For being short. For giving us another holiday to look forward to. For pushing January to the bottom of the rotation.

See you in 2008, January.

cottage news

Our neighborhood is changing. Remember me mentioning the tear downs? I wish I could post a picture of our entire street. It's crazy around here. It's almost every other house you pass...if a property is not for sale, it's for rent. The older homes that are for sale are being bought by builders. New homes are then being sold by builders. The rentals are temporary until the builders can tear them down. In the picture above (taken from my front window), the tan house with the sign in front is a tear down. The sale is for an already planned 4 bedroom house that will go in its place. We just learned last week that the little brick number to its right is being demolished shortly. The current owners want to build something new on that exact property. I will show you the progress as this happens over the next few months. Can you imagine how much my kids will enjoy watching it? If they thought power washing was fun, they are in for a real treat!

Today my husband is meeting with some fellow neighbors who have gotten together to guard our against our park being scrapped. 3 blocks down, at the end of our street, is the train station to the city. It is surrounded by a big park. One of our neighbor friends let the rest of us know that the city is considering making the park a parking lot, or perhaps transforming it into town homes. We are banding together to make our voices heard - we don't want any of that. The park is relatively small...it's so important to save the green space. But that's just a nibble of all the strange building news happening around here, all throughout the town. It's really something, and I talk about it almost as much as I talk about the weather.

just like mom

Over the weekend when I was with my mom we noticed all these terrific Valentine's hearts on people's front doors. We tracked them down at her favorite florist shop. This is mine, hers is slightly different, just as pretty. I know I wrote here before that someday I should do a post just on my mom. But maybe that's not necessary. You can probably already tell that I adore her.

smoooooooches!

Here's a close up of the little gator on our mantle. I'm happy to talk about him, glad you asked. Awhile ago I had considered doing a little post on him but then thought, "nah, nobody wants to see that." Yet I was sure you wanted to see the crack in my paneling. Go figure.

My dad brought this guy to us a couple of years ago. He (or is it a she? Just look at that pucker!) is a whistle. His back right leg disguises the opening, so sometimes if it's been awhile I forget exactly where it is. He's ceramic and breakable, and so isn't free to roam around on the ground with the other toys. That's why he stays up here. Plus, we like having him close by.

not that weird

hi there! I'm writing from my parents' house, where I have come to visit for the weekend. It's fun spending time with 2 of my favorite people. We are having lots of laughs and eating way too much. My mom was at my house last week while I did my work, and we flew here together last night. I just had to see how progress is coming on their house redecorating (beautiful!) Tomorrow I'm going home to see my guys...I miss them! They are having some good male bonding time together. Today it's the zoo (see above) and tomorrow I think it's the pool.

Anyway, I like these tag games going around. Fun to read what makes someone weird. I'm afraid my list isn't too interesting. I can't twist my tongue into a knot or anything like that. But, you be the judge. Maybe I'm being too lenient on myself and I am totally strange.

1. I have Lionel Richie's greatest hits album and I love it.

2. When I eat Campbell's chicken noodle soup, I spoon up all the broth first and save the noodles for last. Also, when I eat Crunch Berries I eat all the crunch pieces first and all the berries last.

3. When I brush my teeth I don't just brush, I multi-task. I check my email, turn on the tv, open the mail, or try to talk to my husband and kids (even though they can't understand me.) I guess just don't like to stand there, brushing.

4. When I have a Starbucks, I have to line up the label on the cup sleeve with the label on the cup, and the opening at the top of the cup. I like to have these 3 things aligned.

5. When I am sitting, I can isolate movement of my pinkie toe on my right foot. I can make it move out pretty far from the rest of my foot. I don't know why I can't do this on the left.

6. I twist my hair all day long. I have always done this and I know it's a terrible habit. Sometimes I get a really good twist going and I have to show my husband what I've created. Because he is who he is, he always says, "Yep! Good one." He's so good to me.

I tag Homedaisy, and anyone else who wants to jump in and play. Go for it!

go bears!

I'm going to be away for a week. Work out of town + a weekend out of town. So, I won't talk to you in awhile. But, I'll be thinking of you.

RaNae, thanks for tagging me. I'll think of my "weird" qualities. If I get stumped I'm sure my husband can help me. :) I'll post that when I get back.

Have a great week...and, Go Bears!

news from my mantle

The other day I was rearranging things on my mantle. You know how it goes, sometimes you look at something, and what seemed fine for so long all of a sudden just isn't quite right anymore. We put the speaker for my husband's ipod up there recently, so maybe that's what did it...it just disrupted the whole arrangement and made me think that we needed a change. So I took things down, moved them around a bit.

Then, when I found my slippers the other day, I also found this checkered vase. I thought it would be a nice complement to everything else going on around here. At 60% off, it was destined to be mine.

Yesterday my mother in-law was over and I showed her the dried flowers and twigs I bought for it. I hadn't yet taken them out of their plastic wrap. She liked what I chose. I said I liked them, but I hadn't had much time to scout around in case there was something else out there that would look better.

And do you know what she did? She drove over to a florist shop - in the opposite direction of her house - to look around for me before she went home. She said she didn't mind, that it's easier for her to get out of the house than me. When she got home she called and told me she liked what I had better than anything else she had seen. This is a lady whose home was featured on the cover of a decorating magazine. You can bet that I took her word for it, and got those flowers unwrapped pronto!

my pick-me-up

These I had to share. I found them at a store that is near my house, a small boutique. It's closing at the end of January. These were new for Valentine's Day and the owner had to mark them down 60%. Aren't they the cutest? If you see what looks to be little water droplets, that's actually on purpose. There are little pieces of (I guess?) plastic sprinkled on the flower petals to look like fresh morning dew. These slippers are a major upgrade for me. Last year I bought new fluffy pink slippers from Nordstrom that started to come apart within weeks of starting to wear them. Then I got some from Target. Target is good for many things, but not slippers. So I was in a quandary for awhile. I saw a lot of slippers out there that seemed really warm and comfortable, but I wanted fluffy and feminine. Not as easy to find as I would have thought. Then I found these. ooh la la! They totally do it for me.

this just in

My sister in-law forwarded me the following email message from Suzanne Roberts' Gifts (sister in-law is a very, very good shopper.) Anyway, here it is, just in case you're feeling inspired to buy a little "pick me up" next week. Perhaps this will help chase off those January blahs??

Dear Customers-

We will be having a special MacKenzie Childs sale all next week.

This will run through the dates of Monday the 22nd until Saturday the 27th. All Mackenzie Childs will be discounted 20% off.

There will be a special discount on the Buttercup and Bathing Hut line, 50% off.

We will be happy to special order any items that we do not currently have in stock. This includes furniture discounted at 20% off. Be sure to check with us on the freight cost.

Please visit our website to view the entire line of MacKenzie Childs. www.suzannerobertsgifts.com

Please call, fax, or email your orders before midnight on Saturday the 27th. Thanks so much!

-Suzanne Roberts

p. 214-369-8336 f. 214-369-5097 suzanne@suzannerobertsgifts.com

catching up

OK, somewhat boring but true, it's been a week (so far) of tackling the to-do list. Not a fun, house project to-do list, but one of those 'make appointments, cancel appointments, reschedule appointments' to-do lists. Oh, Friday, where are you? Get here quick!

This week and next week I'm busy finishing an old work project and starting a new one (maybe that's why my blog is so boring as of late?) Did I mention I do freelance work from home? I'm not sure. May have alluded to it at some point. Anyway, I'll come up with something more interesting next time...promise!

inside a snowglobe

We're getting a little bit of snow here today, though nothing like what was predicted. You can't see it in my picture, but there are little white bits floating all around outside. My older son is optimistic that soon we'll be running around again in our snow pants and boots, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen today.

Much as I like where I'm from and where I live now, on days like today (cloudy, cold, wimpy snow), I wonder, what would it be like to live somewhere sunny and warm? Like, Arizona? Or Florida? Or California? My kids would be so happy.

meg's beat

Yep, I am. As in, worn out. Sleepy. Last night's party was fun, but my eyelids are at the halfway point right now. The crowd stayed until midnight (or so?) and I went to bed at 1 (or so?)...up again at 6. My husband was talking to me a little bit when he came to bed, and then our oldest son was awake for awhile, and then I never really got into my R.E.M groove. The whole night feels like it was a light nap. Ever have nights like that? Let me say that my drink of choice last night was water. So, really, this is just old-fashioned exhaustion speaking.

The reading was fun. Among other things, I was told that I can expect some financial success in the foreseeable future. No one has ever predicted financial success for me, so this was a pleasant surprise. Perhaps I will discover or invent some great new gadget. Perhaps I will hock my collection of MacKenzie-Childs on eBay. Stranger things have happened.

In other news, I think I've developed "blogger elbow" from too much time at our ergonomically unfriendly desk. My hand and arm get tingly whenever I'm typing for more than a minute or two. So I haven't been visiting all of your fun sites as much or leaving comments as much. I apologize for that. I'm going to (reluctantly) call the doctor today to see what needs to be done.

zzzzz

company tomorrow

Tomorrow night is my turn to host the neighborhood bunco group. We've decided this year that each hostess, when it's her turn to host, can choose to either have bunco at her house or choose a completely different activity for the group. Like a night at the movies, dinner out, etc.

So, tomorrow we're meeting here, but instead of playing bunco, I'm having a friend of mine come by to read Tarot cards for us all instead. I thought it might be fun (especially since it's January) to see "what's in the cards" for us this year. My friend who reads the cards does this strictly for fun. She's a kind and sensitive person, too, so you don't have to be afraid of what she'll say. I wonder what the cards will say for me this time?

When the crowd arrives they'll see my new sign welcoming them in. That's it up there. I got it through a company called "Hung On Words". They make little personalized signs in any color combination you want, and you choose the words or phrase as well. The yellow's a little off in the picture, it's actually a pale yellow. But you get the idea. It's a cheerful little thing.

let's back up a minute

I feel the need to explain why I said my hair is an indulgence (see post below.) Generally speaking, I'm not shallow, but when it comes to my hair, I am.

That's a shot of my hair above. If you're a curly girl like I am, then you understand how often it feels as if your hair is the center of your life - like it or not!

Growing up my hair was just like this, only short. My older brother had short, curly hair, too. We are 2 years apart, and though my mom denies how often this happened, we were mistaken for brothers on many occasions. Many. Quite naturally, as a young girl I started believing that my curly hair was an unfortunate part of my appearance. Everything else was manageable, but this was...well, hideous. Nobody ever told me my hair was attractive. The kids at school didn't like it. I didn't like it. Hairdressers used to ask me how short I wanted it when I went in for a cut. I thought it was just my bad luck that I had been born this way.

Right before I started high school, my mom made an appointment for me with the hotshot hairdresser in town. When I went in for a consultation with him, we started talking about big changes. He told me that I would be beautiful once my hair was chemically straightened. And you know what? I believed him. Afterwards, everyone told me I looked great. Everybody. I was thrilled that I had found the solution to my problem. My self confidence sky rocketed. I happily went in for straightening every 3 months or so, and I was careful to not talk about my curly hair with people I didn't know well. Only my close friends knew my dark secret.

I continued happily going straight until my early 20's. When I was almost done with grad school I started looking around me and noticing that there were some beautiful curls out there. There seemed to be more options for curls, too. Curls didn't mean you had to wear your hair cut close to the scalp. Curls could be soft and pretty. I was curious.

Then I met a hairdresser near my office who had long, curly hair. She was ready to guide me back to my natural ways. Her enthusiasm was contagious and I decided to do it once and for all. I stopped straightening and started growing out the curls. Straight ends were snipped off as the curls took their place. My new look came into focus gradually, and I became more excited with each inch that grew out of my head. My then boyfriend (now my husband) cheered me on all the way. The transformation took about a year.

Now, as you can see, I'm all about my curls. I still visit the curly haired hairdresser and I buy my shampoo from a famous curly lady in NYC. I get a lot of comments (and truthfully, compliments) on my hair from people when I'm out. Funny, what used to embarrass me now makes me proud. I love being curly, it's a better fit with my personality. Perhaps my 8 year-old self didn't understand that being different was actually a good thing, but I don't hold it against her. Sometimes you have to grow into your skin a little bit before you can appreciate it.

tagged by homedaisy

This was surprisingly difficult.

A-available or single? It's going on 12 years since I met my husband.

B-best friend? My mom, Betsy, Lauren

C-cake or pie? Cake first (chocolate please), but I generally don't turn down any dessert.

D-drink of choice? hmmm...In order of how the day unfolds...The Recipe, diet coke, beer or champagne.

E-essential item I use everyday? Lubriderm

F-favorite color? sky blue

G-gummy bears or gummy worms? Bears, if I must. But only the red and clear ones. Can I get peanut M&Ms instead?

H-hometown? Columbus, Ohio

I-indulgence? My hair. Do you order your shampoo from out of state, too?

J-January or February? J is also for June.

K-kids and names? Bobby and Thomas

L-life is incomplete without? All my guys.

M-marriage date? July 17, 1999

N-number of siblings? 3 brothers - 1 older, 2 younger

O-oranges or apples? Granny Smiths

P-phobias or fears? Tidal waves

Q-favorite quote? "Don't follow the herd." - Dad

R-reasons to smile? I live in my dream house.

S-season? Summer

T-tag 3 0r 4 people...Preppy Rider, Jen, Deb

U-unknown fact about me? I have a new found love for Alison Krauss and Martina McBride. Am I becoming a country music fan?

V-vegetable you don't like? Brussels sprouts

W-worst habit? too much time on the computer

Y-your favorite food? homemade chocolate chip cookies

Z-zodiac? Virgo...and it shows

connectivity

Santa left a bluetooth in my Christmas stocking. That thoughtful guy. I've been using it steadily for the past week or so, mostly around the house. Yes, that's right. Around the house. So far it's great. I am guilty of accidentally hanging up on people when I have our home phone cradled between my chin and shoulder. This has been happening too frequently, always at the worst times. Santa saw a problem and he came up with a solution. He's just my type.

Not that I'm a big phone talker. I'm not. But, probably like you, I have a core group who I like to speak with regularly. I don't go for long sessions, just little check ins. My mom. My dad. My brothers. My best friend. My childhood best friend. College friends. Old work buddies. Fab city friends who design beautiful greeting cards. Other moms. My *of course* husband. Did I say I'm not a talker? Really, I'm not. I just like being in the know. And staying connected.

happy new year

Wow, it feels like I haven't done this in awhile. No, I wasn't away. I've been here all along, lurking and (only) occasionally checking in with you, keeping a low profile while I enjoyed the last of the holiday madness. Now that it's passed, I'm rested and relaxed, - so it's time to jump back in the saddle (like my cowboy friend up there) and get back to blogging business. Hello! How have you been? I missed you.

Christmas was lovely. My parents' visit was great, made more so because of my bachelor brothers' attendance. Really! It would have been fun had we just had my parents, but with the brothers there too it made for a nice dynamic. We weren't a group, we were a crowd. This, surprisingly, did not test the limits of the Little Cottage. No no! We were cozy but there were plenty of seats to go around. I meant to take more pictures when I posted my Christmas Eve shot. The little table came back out to much fanfare. We opened up our seating area by putting one of the couches on a diagonal. That made it easier to get to the gift mound under the tree. And yet there was still plenty of space for Santa to get in and out in a respectable amount of time. He's probably happy that we don't have our chimney fixed yet, eh? ;)

Anyway, looking forward to catching up more in the coming days. Happy New Year, everyone!!

Christmas Eve

thank you, Mary!

Yesterday out of the blue I got a call from Mary, the artist who painted my antique rocker, and also a few other things in my house. You may recall that I met Mary through my mother in-law, who has had Mary paint children's rockers for all 9 of her grandchildren. I haven't seen Mary since last spring, but oddly enough, I was thinking about her yesterday morning. I was thinking of a small hall mirror in my house and wondering if she would be interested in painting it sometime next year, but that's another story...

Anyway, Mary called after lunch and wanted to know if she could stop by because she had something that she wanted to give me. She said she had something for me and for my mother in-law for Christmas.

Well, you've seen the rocking chair and in time I'll get around to spotlighting Mary's other work around here (like the shelf that's on the wall there, partially hidden - that's one of my favorites), but this display speaks for itself. Mine is the little blue and yellow house (you could call it a cottage), and my mother in-law 's is the beautiful church. I wish you could see the windows that go around each building. Mine have shutters around them. The church windows are made to look like stained glass.

I have no idea what I've done to deserve this. But my house is so darling, so unbelievably cute, that I don't care. I am just happy that it's here and that, by default of my being related to my mother in-law, Mary sees me as someone worthy of one of her creations. Merry Christmas, Mary!

special gift

My Christmas gift this year is that my family is coming here. My mom and dad, 2 of my brothers, and my parents' dog are all arriving on Friday and will stay until early next week. I am so excited to have them here. Beyond excited. Usually we go to them...either before Christmas to stay through the holiday, or right after Christmas. My parents have come to celebrate with us before, but they came the weekend before Christmas, so technically they've never been here on December 25th.

I have a big family, and my parents were high school sweethearts, so everybody on my side pretty much lives in the same town (except me. Also, my youngest brother moved to Los Angeles this past spring but we're optimistic that some day he'll move back closer to home.) When we go for a visit, my mom cooks up a feast for us every day and looks after our every needs, both spoken and unspoken. She leaves us wanting for nothing. My dad takes us out to wonderful restaurants and insists on paying our way if there's anything we want to do - movies, a day at the zoo, a show. I always tell people that I get spoiled when I go to see them. I'm not sure if I can do the same thing for them exactly, but I can do my best to make sure they have as nice of a visit here as possible. I just want them to relax and not worry about anything. I want to cook for them. I want them to enjoy as much time as they can with my sons. I will (hopefully) make them feel like they are on a holiday.

no regrets

We are feeling pleasantly plump after the third weekend in a row of good food, good friends, and, oh yes, Christmas cheer! Wait a minute. Is it just me, or are my pants starting to feel a bit snug? hmmm. Must be my imagination. What's that, you ask? Why, yes, I think I would like to try your gorgeous dessert. Oh, and yes, I do need a refill! - thanks! A girl could get used to this schedule. Good thing the schedule comes to a natural conclusion on January 2nd.

This morning we joined my husband's parents and family for a Christmas brunch, and tonight my husband's parents came over for dinner. This is how our table looked as I was setting it (incidentally, I don't know how to manage blogger so that my pictures fall into the text where I want them. Does anyone have any tips?)

We also exchanged Christmas presents with my husband's parents. Look what they brought us! This is one of a set of folding tray tables that I had spotted in a store back in August. I told my mother in-law at the time how cute I thought they were...little did I know...she went out and grabbed them up for us right then and there. Each table is a different (painted!) beach scene. They are so cheerful. What a wonderful addition to our cottage!

and this too

My new handpainted Christmas sign...it deserves some recognition, too. I should have posted it earlier when spotlighting Santa. I just found it the other day when I ran into a shop to look for an "extra" gift for my dad that my kids could give him. Isn't that always the way it goes with shopping? You're out looking for someone else and find something for yourself, too!

santa

In the midst of the fun, the craziness, and the excitement of the season, there's still time to appreciate the beauty of handpainting in the home. This Santa bowl was painted by my mom's friend. Isn't he handsome? Love your beard, Santa!

from my mailbox

Here's a Christmas card that must be shared in blogworld. This came today from our dear friend B. She's a card-making wonder. Remember me telling you about my friend who hosted a card party awhile back? Well, that was her. You can see that she totally "got it".

B, you are one creative girl. Your homemade cards are always darling, but I really think this one takes the cake. We will have this displayed proudly in our home all season long, and maybe even next year, too!

correspondence

I made some very good friends during the short year that I lived in London. My friend Karen, who I met at work, was among the small group of people there who became my closest pals and confidants. Except she wasn't a pal, exactly. She was more like an older sister. There was a significant age difference between us, yet we had a real connection with each other that made the difference seem nonexistent. We talked and laughed together like true peers. Perhaps there is someone in your life - older or younger - with whom you feel the same kind of connection?

I didn't know anyone from the U.K. before I went there. Upon meeting her, I thought Karen was the epitome of what it meant to be English. She had the most perfect accent (when my brother visited and met her he told me that she sounded just like Mary Poppins.) She was very small and graceful; she had been professionally trained as a ballerina. Her hair and clothes were always neat neat neat, and she never said anything without purpose. That is to say, all of her words were chosen carefully, and she never said "um", or had any kind of unnecessary fillers in her speech. She was like a character out of a book.

Before I give you the impression that she was some kind of perfect, stiff English lady, let me assure you that I'm strictly talking about her mannerisms and speech. She was also wickedly funny, and she had a real devilish side. My job as a peon was fun because Karen made it so.

When I left she gave me this pretty box. Inside there was a lovely card and a gold locket for me to remember her by. It was a beautiful presentation - thoughtful, unique, carefully chosen. It was exactly who Karen was. I keep the box in a drawer with my stationery and use it for things that go along with correspondence - different colored calligraphy pens, stickers, gift insert cards. Sometimes I find a greeting card that I like I save it here until I know who I want to send it to.

At this time of year I am constantly reaching in the drawer for stationery and all the things that go along with it. And in seeing the blue box, I'm reminded of my friend.

pretzels

I heard back from my friend Ellen about the Oreo pretzels in the picture below, and also her other delicious pretzel treats. This is so simple it's almost silly to print. Still, here goes:

Hi!

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the pretzels - they are EASY - I just bought Target brand white chocolat chips, melted them in the microwave, and rolled in crushed double stuff oreos. The others were melted milk chocolat chips (Target again) rolled in tiny M&Ms or rolled in crushed toffee chips (sold in bags by the chocolat chips.)

See you soon.

Ellen

I'm in trouble

Last night was the cookie exchange at book club. I didn't go...just in case...even though I felt completely fine by then. But my friends saved some cookies for me. When I got home tonight this plate was waiting for me on my front step. How sweet is that? Thanks, reading buddies! The only thing is...in our household of 4...I am the only one who will eat these. My husband is way too healthy to go for a plate full of cookies, and my oldest son doesn't like sweets. My youngest son prefers store-bought cheapies over a homemade cookie, but we'll see. Heck, I can't make excuses, it's my own lack of willpower that is the real problem here. Everything on this plate looks good to me. See? This delightful surprise is both a blessing and a curse.

on the mend

We're on our way back to happy health here in the L.C. Taking it easy today, but that's just a precaution. Strange but true - I'm grateful the cloud of illness passed over us in December, when there are so many things to look forward to and being sick will soon be a distant memory. Feeling bad in dismal January just adds insult to injury.

Another reason yesterday wasn't too bad is that it gave me a chance to catch up on some of my current to-do's, and you know how many of those there are this time of year. I finalized the schedules for our neighborhood bunco group, and also the new dinner club that we are starting with neighborhood couples in January. Both of those things had been hanging over my head a bit. But not any more!

One thing I didn't do yesterday but need to do right away is complete my Christmas card list. I lost my list from last year when we upgraded our computer earlier this year. Hopefully it won't be too hard to recreate. At least my Christmas shopping and decorating is done. I will post a picture of decorations soon, but wanted to show you some pretty garland I am using this year. Isn't it fun? I bought it during our trip last year to Wisconsin. The trick is that it's supposed to hang vertically, because that's how the flying snowman looks best. I'm still not sure it's in the best spot, but I'll post a picture when it is.

comfy on the couch

The flu hit us all on Sunday afternoon. My husband and I are a little better this morning, but the boys seem to be feeling worse today. Which is the lesser of two evils? - all of us sick at the same time, or taking turns? As my husband says, "pick your poison". Hopefully this will be a short-lived thing. Even a marathon of Teletubbies movies can't sustain the little guys much longer.

12 degrees

Baby, it's cold outside!

snow day

Beautiful!! About 3 inches on the ground, and maybe another 1-2 headed our way? (no matter what those doubting blogging Moms may say)? We're going to stay in our jammies til noon.