Thursday, February 28, 2013
A View From the Play Room
Not surprisingly, the play room has always been one of the duo's favorite rooms in the house.
Lately, we have been letting William George join his sisters upstairs for some play time. He will give a "bye" kiss at the top of the stairs, and then turn on his heel to run into the play room.
His sisters have shown him the ropes and will turn on his favorite music and help him with all of his favorite toys.
Although he has an entire alcove devoted to his toys, he prefers to wrest away whatever the duo are playing with -- not caring that their toys are princess-themed.
For the most part, the duo are good sports about the entire process.
They will help him find sunglasses, a working phone, etc.
However, they draw the line with their iPods. Those they will not share.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
When Good Things Happen
The below clip has been circulating, but it's here also, just in case you may have missed it.
Overheard
Overheard at dinner during the dessert course:
Twin A: Mom, I think I changed my mind. I don't want cake; may I please have a fruit roll up instead?
[Twin B: Busily addressing something on her plate.]
Mom: Very nice asking... but there are a couple of problems... first, you have already eaten your cake. Second, your sister got the last fruit roll up.
[Twin B: Still busily working.]
Dad: [Addressing Twin B with full, legal name], did you just ball up that entire fruit roll up to stuff into your mouth in case you were asked to share???
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Enumerated Update
Hello and happy Monday. Did you have a good weekend? What's that you say? It's Tuesday?Already??? Yesterday was busy-busy-busy so I'm just now carving out a minute to check in.
Here's the situation:
1) SALES: Last week was THE WEEK of the consignment sale. I went to a large consignment sale Wednesday and procured a few things for the trio's spring and summer wardrobe. I needed a couple more things (literally) so went to another sale Friday afternoon. We picked up a few extra things..... and..... drum roll... two new chairs for our keeping room. LOVE them. We spent Saturday morning giving that room a make-over. The project was complicated by the fact that we need to seriously EDIT our entire home and eliminate about 50% of our accumulated goods. After working all day Saturday, we took the monkeys out for Mexican as a treat for being helpful while we worked.
2) ARTS: The duo kicked off the weekend by going to a children's theatre production Friday, and William George and I took the opportunity to attend story time at our library. Since George behaves like a wild animal sometimes in public (and privately as well, for that matter), we've been putting this off, but I have to say he did great. Maybe a little inhibition is a good thing for him to experience from time to time.
Of course, Skip says he was merely "casing the joint" and that he will "throw down" next time.
3) CELEBRATIONS: We had to reschedule my dad's birthday lunch from last weekend (turns out, 3/5 of our family members (Skip, Gracie & Lauren) had strep last week) for Sunday. We had a great visit, and cannot apologize enough for William George shouting: "Cake! CAKE! CAKE!!!!" repeatedly until he was served. He is going through something of a menace phase at the moment. Happy, HAPPY to Dad!
4) OSCARS: Did you watch? I missed the red carpet (bedtime prep routines, etc.), but watched the show through the best picture award (i.e., practically the very end). I did feel a bit hungover the next day; that's a lot of self-congratulatory excess to absorb in one sitting.
My favorite dresses/red carpet looks are:
A) Charlize Theron, B) Anne Hathaway (I realize the dress is controversial. Skip and I spent about ten minutes debating the... issue last night. I don't think there's an issue. The dress has darts. Period. Rachel Zoe is Hathaway's stylist; she wouldn't steer her wrong. Or... at least Zoe was her stylist, before this dress.), C) Jessica Chastain and D) Jennifer Anniston.
I normally don't drink the Charlize Theron Kool-Aid, but she looked amazing. I keep looking at the Jennifer Lawrence dress... wanting to like it... I feel like I should like it... it's Dior! I definitely don't like it better than the aforementioned dresses.
As for the wins themselves, I'm not sure how Jennifer Lawrence edged out Jessica Chastain for Best Actress. Also, I think the Argo Best Picture win was an attempt to correct the Affleck directorial snub.
Other than those categories, I'm sure the Academy members will be thrilled to know I concur with the remaining selections.
5) SMARTS: When you give compliments to your children (or other people's children), do you praise the person or their process? We read a few books addressing the perils of person praise when the duo were much younger, and we made an effort to praise their work versus their aptitudes or gifts, i.e., we praised them for working hard to learn something versus simply telling them they are smart. During the preschool and kindergarten process, we must have lapsed into reaffirming how intelligent we think they are because I often hear them both saying, "You're so smart," as a compliment. And, I also find written evidence of this line of thinking all over the house:
So. They really listen, don't they? Even when we think they don't. And you might be thinking, "We can't even tell someone s/he is smart now*?" Of course, we think our children are smart (I think yours are, too, of course), and we think they are beautiful, etc., etc. Last week I stumbled across a blog post entitled "The Curse of Praise" by Amy Hackworth, and it served as a good reminder. We will not stop telling our children they are smart, but we will be careful to celebrate their hard work even more.
*The research indicates doing so is tantamount to praising someone for being (naturally) thin or tall or strong... attributes we have no control over, whereas we have complete and total control of our work ethic and self-discipline.
6) MOBILE VIEW: Skip is the iPad user in our family. When Santa upgraded him to the iPad 4, I started using his original iPad, mainly as a reader. Until then, I had never viewed this site on an iPad. Because some of you utilize an iPad to visit here, I need to apologize about the mobile view. While Blogger's mobile view is perfect for the iPhone, it doesn't translate to the iPad... it's clunky... and just not good. The problem appears to be limited to the older software so hopefully I am the only one viewing the site with the older version.
So... your turn... what's happening with you?
"No Snow"
Although William George has only seen snow on two occasions - once a few weeks ago and last weekend when we had flurries -- he still asks for snow each day.
"Snow?" he will ask. Then he goes to the window to make his own weather assessment.
Then, he shakes his head "no," and says, "No snow." Most days he then confirms "rain". Oddly enough, he doesn't have much experience with sunny days so he hasn't mastered "sun".
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Oscars
As we head into Oscar weekend, I am pulling for "Lincoln" in all categories. I also like "Argo" and "Les Miserables," but my heart is with Lincoln and Daniel Day-Lewis.
Daniel Day-Lewis recently commented on portraying Abraham Lincoln to W magazine.
Daniel Day-Lewis recently commented on portraying Abraham Lincoln to W magazine.
I miss playing Lincoln. Very much. I miss the proximity to his character. There was a time in my life when it wasn't clear whether or not I would amount to anything. I was fearful about my future. In England, people were hell-bent on certifying me--to them, the way I work as an actor is the system of someone who is unhinged. As a young man, when I saw the early movies by Scorsese, I saw a way to be, a kind of liberation. In those movies, America seemed like a place of infinite opportunities. In Lincoln, we tried to show that sense of grand democratic possibility. We created a world I didn't want to leave.
For those who may prefer the red carpet, please check out The Red Carpet Project via NYTimes.com for a fun retrospective of 15 years of red carpet history.
Do you watch the Academy Awards? Do you simply glimpse the entrances on the red carpet, or do you stay tuned until the bitter end? Who are your favorites this year?
Friday's Quote
Why shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction Fiction, after all, has to stick to the possibilities.
-Mark Twain
-Mark Twain
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Newsies
I may have mentioned one (or one hundred) times that Gracie and Lauren are completely enthralled with Kit Kittredge. They have read the books, watched the movie and enacted every possible scene and circumstance imaginable. Back at the beginning of December, Skip was out of town for a week for work, and they decided to write an entire newspaper to keep him apprised of the week's activities. I just found their notes on my phone.
Fun on the Playground!
Gracie and Lauren report having an awesome time on the playground Monday playing "rainbow powers" with Valerie.
Musical
Today's practice with Mr. G. was covered by Ms. B, although instead of singing they watched two movies. [Editor's note: Movies? Were they at least musicals?]
Jumping Jamboree!
PE class featured jump rope in the gym.
Big Apple
Miss P was absent because she was in New York City.
Big Apple News
Miss P returns! She had lots of photos that she shared with the class.
Playground
Excitement occurred when the girls ran away from the boys. The boys were being "bad guys" and were trying to take their "rainbow powers" away.
PE roving reporters Gracie and Lauren got involved in the action and ran six laps!
Extra! Extra!
Christmas parade TONIGHT! Get there early for the fireworks display!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Hermes
Via Hermes.com
I read Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster when it was published in 2008. The upshot is that the corporatization of luxury brands (e.g., LVMH, PPR Luxury Group, etc.) has meant that shareholders demand maximum profitability, meaning that luxury goods are less luxury and more mass produced and are subject to shortcuts to keep profit margins high, e.g., the luxury Italian handbags that are "Made in Italy," but are actually manufactured in a plant in China and then shipped to Italy for a final buckle to be installed, thus meeting the minimum requirement to qualify for the "Made in Italy" claim*.
The research that went into Deluxe revealed that only one true luxury brand remains**: Hermes. Founded in 1837 as a saddlery, the company has evolved into the ultimate luxury brand.
Six Little-known facts about Hermes (via Harper's Bazaar):
1. The length of thread necessary to make 1,000 Hermes scarves is equal to the distance between the earth and moon. One silk moth yields one scarf.
2. The Kelly bag is made with 35 pieces of leather and 680 hand stitches.
3. A silk colorist works with a chart of 75,000 hues to create new color schemes each season. [And I thought they primarily used orange and tan leather.]
4. The leather ateliers receive more than 600,000 skins per year. Each skin has a bar code to keep track of its origin and specific treatment.
5. Hermes's start in fine jewelry came from working with silver to trim saddlery--the house's first clients were horses, of course!
6. A Birkin bag can take up to 25 hours to create.
My second take-away from Deluxe had more personal application. With Hermes' handbags costing approximately $10-12,000, owning one will be highly unlikely for me. In this instance, we can safely invoke the word "never". What could cross my path, however, is the availability of counterfeit goods, also discussed in Deluxe. Although I was never a fan of such goods, the conditions under which such products are made (by the youngest of children) are unthinkable. There are several examples that will challenge any notion that counterfeiting is a victimless crime. While I may never own anything from the esteemed Hermes brand, I also will shun any counterfeit product.
*We have a similar story with our keeping room furniture. We purchased a coffee and end tables in Asheville, North Caroline a few years ago. The tables are locally produced from local wood by local artisans, but the finished materials are shipped to China for assembly and then shipped back for sale.
**Chanel would qualify as a distant second.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Etiquette Schmetiquette
Although rarely do I find myself quoting Allure magazine, their Beauty by Numbers is always a smartly (likely because the column is a direct lift of Harper's Index) put-together listing of trivia.
Since etiquette is intriguing simply because of its origins and the richness of the customs espoused by propriety, I have always been interested and try (try!) to avoid missteps. You would think parenthood would reinforce that commitment, but my three helpers add a degree of difficulty in fulfilling some of the most common expectations. For example, the instances of having to abruptly terminate in person conversation due to a fleeing child are too innumerable to count. I hope I come off more as "harried, preoccupied mom" than "rude ender of conversations". Even correspondence from the quiet of our home can be difficult, as I have found completed thank you notes that were never mailed or have inverted addresses to recipients or have found a list of notes to send that were never sent. As quiet as Skip and I are, our residence is home to a special kind of chaos. We love the makers of that chaos, and this is a short season that we are celebrating (not enduring, but wholeheartedly celebrating). We will return to better manners as soon as possible, but in the meantime we apologize for our faux pas, of which there are many.
Etiquette by the numbers (via Allure magazine):
2800 B.C.: Approximate era when Egyptians began greeting each other with a handshake; because the right hand would be the one to bear a weapon, presenting an open hand was a sign of peace.
71: Socrates' age when he died, in 399 B.C. As an older man, he complained: "Our youth now...have bad manners, contempt for authority...."
1600: Year William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing was published. It was considered one of the first English comedies of manners.
1676: Year the phrase "faux pas" was first used to describe a social error; in French, it literally means "false step."
18th: Century in which the word "etiquette" was coined in France. It referred to a ticket explaining how to dress and act that required to enter French court.
110: Number of rules for living in society, written by a French Jesuit in the late sixteenth century, that a young George Washington copied into a list he titled "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation."
2nd: Rule that read: In public, "do not put your hands to any part of your body not usually discovered."
89th: Rule that read: "Speak not evil of the absent, for it is unjust."
1: Number of months that author A. J. Jacobs tried to live by Washington's rules in 2009.
1922: Year Emily Post published Etiquette in Society. She gave advice on making introductions, holding a fork and avoiding sun freckles.
1964: Year Audrey Hepburn, playing flower seller Eliza Doolittle, learned diction by speaking with marbles in her mouth in order to impersonate a high-society debutante in My Fair Lady. One of her memorable lines: "The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated."
1977: Year Diana Spencer entered the Institut Alpin Videmanette, a Swiss finishing school, where she learned to arrange flowers and compose the kind of thank-you note for which she later became famous.
$20,000: Tuition for a six-week program at the Institut Villa Pierrefeu, the only Swiss finishing school that remains open today.
45: The number of tests the students take during their residency. Business etiquette is a part of the curriculum, but so is napkin folding.
5: Number of points the Southern Etiquette Society lists for making a proper introduction: Smile, make eye contact, shake hands, say your own first and last name, and repeat the other person's name.
27: Number of years that Judith Martin had been writing the Miss Manners column when she received a National Humanities Medal in 2005.
47: Percentage of Americans who have texted or used social media during a meal.
2012: Year the Prince Charles Cinema in London began employing volunteers in black costumes -- "ninjas" -- to scold patrons using their cell phones during a movie.
16: Number of months that Lena Dunham dated her college boyfriend. After their breakup, his mother messaged her on Facebook, saying, "Hi, Lena - Bill and I remember you with such pleasure and fondness! But it's time to sever the Facebook connection so I'm going to block you. We wish you all the BEST!"
.....
Thoughts? Impressions? Personally, I wouldn't mind being tutored in business etiquette at the Institut Villa Pierrefeu, but have no interest in napkin folding. How about you?
Since etiquette is intriguing simply because of its origins and the richness of the customs espoused by propriety, I have always been interested and try (try!) to avoid missteps. You would think parenthood would reinforce that commitment, but my three helpers add a degree of difficulty in fulfilling some of the most common expectations. For example, the instances of having to abruptly terminate in person conversation due to a fleeing child are too innumerable to count. I hope I come off more as "harried, preoccupied mom" than "rude ender of conversations". Even correspondence from the quiet of our home can be difficult, as I have found completed thank you notes that were never mailed or have inverted addresses to recipients or have found a list of notes to send that were never sent. As quiet as Skip and I are, our residence is home to a special kind of chaos. We love the makers of that chaos, and this is a short season that we are celebrating (not enduring, but wholeheartedly celebrating). We will return to better manners as soon as possible, but in the meantime we apologize for our faux pas, of which there are many.
Etiquette by the numbers (via Allure magazine):
2800 B.C.: Approximate era when Egyptians began greeting each other with a handshake; because the right hand would be the one to bear a weapon, presenting an open hand was a sign of peace.
71: Socrates' age when he died, in 399 B.C. As an older man, he complained: "Our youth now...have bad manners, contempt for authority...."
1600: Year William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing was published. It was considered one of the first English comedies of manners.
1676: Year the phrase "faux pas" was first used to describe a social error; in French, it literally means "false step."
18th: Century in which the word "etiquette" was coined in France. It referred to a ticket explaining how to dress and act that required to enter French court.
110: Number of rules for living in society, written by a French Jesuit in the late sixteenth century, that a young George Washington copied into a list he titled "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation."
2nd: Rule that read: In public, "do not put your hands to any part of your body not usually discovered."
89th: Rule that read: "Speak not evil of the absent, for it is unjust."
1: Number of months that author A. J. Jacobs tried to live by Washington's rules in 2009.
1922: Year Emily Post published Etiquette in Society. She gave advice on making introductions, holding a fork and avoiding sun freckles.
1964: Year Audrey Hepburn, playing flower seller Eliza Doolittle, learned diction by speaking with marbles in her mouth in order to impersonate a high-society debutante in My Fair Lady. One of her memorable lines: "The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated."
1977: Year Diana Spencer entered the Institut Alpin Videmanette, a Swiss finishing school, where she learned to arrange flowers and compose the kind of thank-you note for which she later became famous.
$20,000: Tuition for a six-week program at the Institut Villa Pierrefeu, the only Swiss finishing school that remains open today.
45: The number of tests the students take during their residency. Business etiquette is a part of the curriculum, but so is napkin folding.
5: Number of points the Southern Etiquette Society lists for making a proper introduction: Smile, make eye contact, shake hands, say your own first and last name, and repeat the other person's name.
27: Number of years that Judith Martin had been writing the Miss Manners column when she received a National Humanities Medal in 2005.
47: Percentage of Americans who have texted or used social media during a meal.
2012: Year the Prince Charles Cinema in London began employing volunteers in black costumes -- "ninjas" -- to scold patrons using their cell phones during a movie.
16: Number of months that Lena Dunham dated her college boyfriend. After their breakup, his mother messaged her on Facebook, saying, "Hi, Lena - Bill and I remember you with such pleasure and fondness! But it's time to sever the Facebook connection so I'm going to block you. We wish you all the BEST!"
.....
Thoughts? Impressions? Personally, I wouldn't mind being tutored in business etiquette at the Institut Villa Pierrefeu, but have no interest in napkin folding. How about you?
Monday, February 18, 2013
Enumerated Update
Happy Presidents' Day! In honor of the holiday, go see Spielberg's Lincoln, if you have not had a chance already. We are really behind in our movie watching and will be watching the Academy Awards without benefit of having seen many of the films. Since there are now a dozen of nominees in each category, we have no chance of being prepared.
Heading into the week, here's where we are:
1) Bieber Fever: My appreciation is extended to the girls' classmate who introduced the duo to Justin Bieber last week by distributing Valentine's cards emblazened with Bieber's image. Even though it was a long shot, I was hoping to avoid the Beibs.
2) Day in the Life: I have really been meaning to document some of our daily schedules again this year (otherwise 2012-2013 will be a blur). While this intention has been rolling around in my mind, I read this day in the life post last week. See? Some people really do live like Carrie Bradshaw -- even moms of small children!
Why don't we live in a metropolitan area again? Wait, that's right... we want to be close to family. We like having a few thousand square feet in which to bang around. We like owning and driving our cars and parking them in our basement for free. We also don't love crowds. But the take-out would be nice... as would the other amenities.
3) Manicure: I would be hard pressed to remember the last manicure I received. Maybe four years ago? I have a tough time spending money on manicures because a) I do a decent job painting my nails, b) poor ROI - the polish immediately chips or flakes within 24 hours and c) although I would like to dress this up a little, the bottom line is that I am frugal. I realize frugality isn't glamorous, but there you have it. I am far more likely to authorize funding for a pedicure for the opposite reasons above, but I haven't had a pedicure since before William George was born. Maybe I have had nail activity of any kind, say three times in the last six years. It's not a high priority for me. Anyway... my point is this... I was driven to the nail place out of necessity. My cuticles were in disarray. I won't give you details because, yikes, who wants them? They were really bad, and not just from an aesthetics point of view either. They were painful, and they were wound-y. Since my motivation was not cosmetic, I should have been able to file the appointment through my group health carrier or at least use my Health Savings Account debit card to fulfill payment. That manicure would have met the standard for reasonable medical necessity.
With an extra hour in my schedule, I popped into one of those walk-in places and asked for their best "cuticle" person. I either gave her the challenge of her career or forced her out of the industry.
4) Apple: Jobs nailed technology consumers when he said they don't know what they want until you show it to them. When we are given retina display with the iPad 4 and iPhone 5, we suddenly realize we cannot bear to look at the older screen of say, the 4S (or in my case the 3GS). It's analogous to watching football footage from the 1980's - unwatchable! When we sit down to work in front of the iMac, we may not even realize the machine is silent. That is, until we sit in front of another machine and immediately think, "What is with all this noise?" All those squirrelly sounds emanating from a basic laptop and the constant circulation of the fan is unsettling. Suddenly, we cannot live without the zen quality of Apple.
5) 3-D Printing: I'm reading Makers by Chris Anderson. I just got to a sentence, a section about 3-D printing at the molecular scale, that made my brain feel as pliable as Play-Doh.
Today there are "bio printers" that print a layer of a patient's own cells onto a 3-D printed "scaffold"of inert material. Once the cells are in place, they can grow into an organ, with bladders and kidneys already demonstrated in the lab. Print with stem cells, and the tissue will form its own blood vessels and internal structure.
Although my children will someday embrace that concept as accepted fact ("Oh no, you need a new kidney? They can print one for you, right?"), I keep rolling that information around in my mind.
That's about it for us. How was your weekend? Are you one of the lucky few enjoying a three day weekend? We were battling illness this weekend. Unfortunately, we ended up canceling all of our weekend plans and have had the tissues close at hand. Visiting the pediatrician is at the top of our to-do list this morning.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
On Valentine's Day
When holidays (even the ones made up by Hallmark) fall during the week, there always seems to be a rush to accomplish everything we need to do. This is totally the case with this post, as I fully intended to have this up yesterday, but the business of remembering to send cards to school, etc., etc., threw me off.
Anyrate, this is as close to a DIY post as you will ever see on this site, as I am simply not a crafty person. Having said that, the duo were eager to create cards that stretched beyond the basic Disney Princess and Hello Kitty options. They wanted to roll up their sleeves and actually make something with their own hands. To help them meet their objective, their DIY-challenged mom found foam hearts, glitter pens and foam heart stickers.
We were careful to select blue or white for the boys. We finally had to use red, but we put a boyish spin on those by using blue pens for a red/blue Spiderman feel.
The most difficult part was waiting for the glue to dry. After that, stickers were applied liberally. The duo have put in the requisite 10,000 hours on stickers, qualifying them as experts in the field.
Really dig in; more is definitely more on Valentine's Day.
They were so excited to take their personalized, hand-crafted (ok, partially hand-crafted) cards to school, and their friends loved them.
We hope you had a wonderful day. If you were with people you love, we hope you felt appreciated and special. If you are single, please make sure you do something nice and indulgent for yourself, if you haven't already.
Anyrate, this is as close to a DIY post as you will ever see on this site, as I am simply not a crafty person. Having said that, the duo were eager to create cards that stretched beyond the basic Disney Princess and Hello Kitty options. They wanted to roll up their sleeves and actually make something with their own hands. To help them meet their objective, their DIY-challenged mom found foam hearts, glitter pens and foam heart stickers.
We were careful to select blue or white for the boys. We finally had to use red, but we put a boyish spin on those by using blue pens for a red/blue Spiderman feel.
The most difficult part was waiting for the glue to dry. After that, stickers were applied liberally. The duo have put in the requisite 10,000 hours on stickers, qualifying them as experts in the field.
Really dig in; more is definitely more on Valentine's Day.
They were so excited to take their personalized, hand-crafted (ok, partially hand-crafted) cards to school, and their friends loved them.
We hope you had a wonderful day. If you were with people you love, we hope you felt appreciated and special. If you are single, please make sure you do something nice and indulgent for yourself, if you haven't already.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Food: Sautéed Chicken in Mustard-Cream Sauce
In an effort to introduce new options into our menu, we tried the below recipe (taken from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food) recently. We had everything on hand except for tarragon, and that was easily procured at Wal-Mart. The best thing I can say about this entree is that the return on investment is very high. This is truly a 20-minute meal but is packed with rich flavor.
Sautéed Chicken in Mustard-Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dried tarragon (or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh)
1) Sprinkle each chicken breast with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken; sauté until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes, turning once. Transfer to a plate; keep warm.
2) Pour the wine into the hot skillet; cook, stirring, until reduced by half, about 1 minute. Whisk in the cream, mustard and tarragon. Cook, whisking, until thickened, about 2 minutes.
3) Pour any accumulated chicken juices into the sauce. Right before serving, drizzle the cream sauce over the sautéed chicken.
Yum.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Trapunto
Let's talk clothes, shall we?
I still have a closet full of work clothes. When I bowed out of the workforce (I usually joke and say I retired!), I quickly realized my closet was lacking in the casual, every day department. I had always worked, and every single purchase was geared to wear to the office where I spent most of my time. Luckily, the vast majority of my wardrobe is more business casual, as most southern cities (and my former employers) skew more toward casual attire with the slight exception of a section of suits that have not been worn since the day I stopped going to meetings. I don't miss them. The shoulders of the suit jackets are dusty, but the majority of the clothes are fine for every day. Still, unless I am wearing yoga pants, people often ask, "Why are you so dressed up?"
Now, I am hardly ever "dressed up," but I do get "dressed" about 65% of the time. The rest of the time, I am comfortably wearing yoga pants and fleece or, as in today's case, my Alabama Crimson Tide "back to back" championship sweatshirt. (Can I get a Roll Tide?) Incorporating the winter items into a more casual look is harder, but the spring/summer transition has been easy. My secret weapon? Pair casual sandals or flip flops with dresses and skirts. That tiny change takes the outfit from the workplace to a completely casual look.
And that brings me to the Trapunto dress from Target. Target distributes this dress each year in different colors. I have prior versions of this dress in about seven different colors. When I first purchased this dress several seasons ago, I loved it. LOVED. When I realized the dress was available the next year, I purchased a few more, and was over the moon to discover the new version had pockets (no more dropping my iPhone! a place for my lipstick!). POCKETS! In subsequent years, the pockets were nixed, and although I wasn't happy with the decision, I purchased more dresses because they upgraded the fabric.
Purchasing a new Trapunto dress has become a spring ritual, and one has to shop early to get the best color selection. Two years ago, I greedily waited for the dress to go on sale and was left with an unflattering green. Imagine my disappointment to discover that this year's version is...... (wait for it).... sleeveless.
Sleeveless. I could write a thousand words on how wrong that is. Instead, I will remind everyone that we live in the south... where the temps climb to two hundred degrees... and how there is no way to wear a simple cotton sweater over this dress without sweating profusely. Does Target really think we are all sporting FLOTUS's arms? Because... I know I am definitely not.
I still have a closet full of work clothes. When I bowed out of the workforce (I usually joke and say I retired!), I quickly realized my closet was lacking in the casual, every day department. I had always worked, and every single purchase was geared to wear to the office where I spent most of my time. Luckily, the vast majority of my wardrobe is more business casual, as most southern cities (and my former employers) skew more toward casual attire with the slight exception of a section of suits that have not been worn since the day I stopped going to meetings. I don't miss them. The shoulders of the suit jackets are dusty, but the majority of the clothes are fine for every day. Still, unless I am wearing yoga pants, people often ask, "Why are you so dressed up?"
Now, I am hardly ever "dressed up," but I do get "dressed" about 65% of the time. The rest of the time, I am comfortably wearing yoga pants and fleece or, as in today's case, my Alabama Crimson Tide "back to back" championship sweatshirt. (Can I get a Roll Tide?) Incorporating the winter items into a more casual look is harder, but the spring/summer transition has been easy. My secret weapon? Pair casual sandals or flip flops with dresses and skirts. That tiny change takes the outfit from the workplace to a completely casual look.
And that brings me to the Trapunto dress from Target. Target distributes this dress each year in different colors. I have prior versions of this dress in about seven different colors. When I first purchased this dress several seasons ago, I loved it. LOVED. When I realized the dress was available the next year, I purchased a few more, and was over the moon to discover the new version had pockets (no more dropping my iPhone! a place for my lipstick!). POCKETS! In subsequent years, the pockets were nixed, and although I wasn't happy with the decision, I purchased more dresses because they upgraded the fabric.
Purchasing a new Trapunto dress has become a spring ritual, and one has to shop early to get the best color selection. Two years ago, I greedily waited for the dress to go on sale and was left with an unflattering green. Imagine my disappointment to discover that this year's version is...... (wait for it).... sleeveless.
Sleeveless. I could write a thousand words on how wrong that is. Instead, I will remind everyone that we live in the south... where the temps climb to two hundred degrees... and how there is no way to wear a simple cotton sweater over this dress without sweating profusely. Does Target really think we are all sporting FLOTUS's arms? Because... I know I am definitely not.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Put Me in the Zoo
We have readers now. They can read and spell... so the days of spelling words around them are over. I spelled the word "nursery" the other day to keep George from comprehending the word, and Gracie even knew how to spell that. I haven't posted a big announcement about reading because the progress has been so gradual. Lauren was especially frustrated at the beginning of Kindergarten because she couldn't read at a satisfying (to her) level. Like most children today, they knew all of their sounds by K3, and they were reading "readers" in K4. Lauren wasn't happy with the readers; she wanted to read actual books. Within the first few weeks of Kindergarten, they were able to read age-appropriate books. Their reading comprehension has soared thanks to their love of chapter books and especially the American Girl story collections. They are now required to read a book on their own each night before they are treated to the next chapter of an American Girl book.
Not to be outdone, William George has a new talent as well. In the fall he discovered a new favorite: Put Me in the Zoo. His favorite page reads:
We do not want you in the zoo.
Out you go
Out, out with you!
Not surprisingly, he has been able to say "out with you!" for a few months now, and that phrase is his personal philosophy.
We are so excited to introduce them to all of our favorite books!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Enumerated Update
We didn't do much this weekend. Skip worked most of the weekend, and while the trio ran wildly through the house playing, I caught up on a rather significant backlog of magazines.
1) Runner's High: Lauren ran two miles in PE last week. Gracie had a cold and was feeling a little down so she stopped at 1.5. They are so into running right now.
2) Washable: I have been plagued for months by marker stains on the girls' clothes. Here's why:
The markers "Preferred by Teachers!" are not washable. Note the exclamation point following the teacher endorsement. All year I have been wondering what kind of parent would send non-washable markers with their school supplies... what type of reckless and irresponsible mother/father/guardian would do that... and then I see that the unsuspecting parent was coerced by Crayola's proclamation that the non-washable markers are better, in fact preferred, by the world of academia.
Nice job, Crayola! Exclamation point!
3) February: I had high hopes for February, but now I'm hanging my hat on March.
4) Exception: Except that today is my Dad's birthday so we will be singing loudly and off key as soon as the trio are picked up from school. Happy Birthday, Dad!!! If William George decides to sing, you'll be in for a real treat. He uses volume to make up for any enunciation issues. We are looking forward to a celebratory lunch! And when George throws his food? That means he loves you.
5) Readers: I tend to be an early adopter with most technology, but I have drug my feet on electronic books. Lately, I have fallen in love with one electronic aspect that is a tipping point: the preview. In a much earlier time of my life, I insisted on finishing every book I started. I stubbornly completed many works by Russian authors by refusing to put down a book. Post-children, the time allotted for reading is much more limited, and therefore, I cannot waste a single minute. The preview is critical for weeding out books that are not going to make the cut, pre-purchase and, just as importantly, pre-trip to the library.
6) Cashmere: Today is Monday; it is rainy and cold. Accordingly, I have on black pants, a black cashmere turtleneck sweater, and a scarf. I kind of resemble a ninja, but at least it's not pajamas.
7) Prabal Gurung: Gurung is the latest designer to collaborate with Target. His 92-piece product line was available in stores and online yesterday. This collab returns to a more Target-friendly price point. I like the products, but am not really a floral person. I scooped up the Nolita Tote and the Long-Sleeved Tee in Nolita print online, and I will pair those items with a black skirt to tone down the yellow.
And that's about it. What is happening with you?
1) Runner's High: Lauren ran two miles in PE last week. Gracie had a cold and was feeling a little down so she stopped at 1.5. They are so into running right now.
2) Washable: I have been plagued for months by marker stains on the girls' clothes. Here's why:
The markers "Preferred by Teachers!" are not washable. Note the exclamation point following the teacher endorsement. All year I have been wondering what kind of parent would send non-washable markers with their school supplies... what type of reckless and irresponsible mother/father/guardian would do that... and then I see that the unsuspecting parent was coerced by Crayola's proclamation that the non-washable markers are better, in fact preferred, by the world of academia.
3) February: I had high hopes for February, but now I'm hanging my hat on March.
4) Exception: Except that today is my Dad's birthday so we will be singing loudly and off key as soon as the trio are picked up from school. Happy Birthday, Dad!!! If William George decides to sing, you'll be in for a real treat. He uses volume to make up for any enunciation issues. We are looking forward to a celebratory lunch! And when George throws his food? That means he loves you.
5) Readers: I tend to be an early adopter with most technology, but I have drug my feet on electronic books. Lately, I have fallen in love with one electronic aspect that is a tipping point: the preview. In a much earlier time of my life, I insisted on finishing every book I started. I stubbornly completed many works by Russian authors by refusing to put down a book. Post-children, the time allotted for reading is much more limited, and therefore, I cannot waste a single minute. The preview is critical for weeding out books that are not going to make the cut, pre-purchase and, just as importantly, pre-trip to the library.
6) Cashmere: Today is Monday; it is rainy and cold. Accordingly, I have on black pants, a black cashmere turtleneck sweater, and a scarf. I kind of resemble a ninja, but at least it's not pajamas.
7) Prabal Gurung: Gurung is the latest designer to collaborate with Target. His 92-piece product line was available in stores and online yesterday. This collab returns to a more Target-friendly price point. I like the products, but am not really a floral person. I scooped up the Nolita Tote and the Long-Sleeved Tee in Nolita print online, and I will pair those items with a black skirt to tone down the yellow.
And that's about it. What is happening with you?
Friday, February 8, 2013
A Second Quote
William George has ushered in a new phase... the curiosity phase. His curiosity, coupled with his less-than-gentleness, leads to a great deal of breakage and mayhem. For a couple of Type A-er's, this phase has had an unsettling effect. As you read this, there are still two boxes of Christmas presents sitting on the landing of the steps leading upstairs. Six weeks into 2013... yet there they are. Largely this is because 1) I am usually "spotting" William George as he climbs or descends the stairs (no extra room to carry boxes) 2) ANY activity on the steps during naps wakens George and 3) most of my waking hours are spent cleaning up the many, many, many messes he makes each day. Instead of making any progress with projects, the daily routine involves barely keeping one's head above water in the tidiness department.
The dining room is also still overrun with toys from Christmas, and the closets are all a disaster zone again. Honestly, I have no idea when or how I will clean them, as my "helper" is ever present and insists on being a hands-on participant. This isn't a confessional; this is merely the state of things at the moment. It is in this mindset that I ran across the below quote (via MightyGirl.com):
“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.” -Haim Ginott (via The Happiness Project)
Such a timely reminder.
Friday's Quote
Never let life's hardships disturb you. After all, no one can avoid problems, not even saints or sages.
-Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Food: Glazed Pork Tenderloin With Pineapple
Remember last week's quick and easy recipe? Well... this week's recipe is equally easy and has the added benefit of not involving Bisquick. (Obviously, Bisquick has not sponsored ANY of these posts and likely will not be a blog sponsor at any point in the future.)
This entree is really yummy, and it has a nice presentation as well. I say that less from a place of foodie pretentiousness and more from a place of wanting to intrigue my children enough to want to eat their dinner. Either way, pineapple always adds an interesting element.
We followed the literal recipe, which was taken from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food.
Glazed Pork Tenderloin With Pineapple
Ingredients:
4 slices pineapple (each 1/2 inch thick)
3 tablespoons dark hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed
Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
Quick Ginger Sauce (recipe below), for serving
1) Heat the broiler. Place the pineapple slices on a foil-lined baking sheet.
2) In a small bowl, combine the hoisin sauce, ginger, garlic and mustard.
3) Place the pork on the broiler pan fitted with a rack. Brush with the hoisin mixture; season with salt and pepper.
4) Place the pork in the broiler, about four inches from the heat; place the pineapple in the oven. Broil the pork until it registers 155 degrees (F) on an instant-read thermometer, 15 - 20 minutes. Remove from the broiler (let rest at least ten minutes before slicing; the temperature will rise to 160 degrees as the pork sits). Turn the pineapple slices; cook until browned in spots, about ten minutes more.
5) Halve the pineapple slices; arrange on a platter with the sliced pork. Drizzle the pork with pan juices; season with salt and pepper. Serve with the quick ginger sauce.
Quick Ginger Sauce
2 tablespoons dark hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon soy sauce
Fresh ground pepper
In a small bowl, stir together the hoisin sauce, pineapple juice, ginger, and soy sauce; season with pepper.
Delish. Enjoy.
This entree is really yummy, and it has a nice presentation as well. I say that less from a place of foodie pretentiousness and more from a place of wanting to intrigue my children enough to want to eat their dinner. Either way, pineapple always adds an interesting element.
We followed the literal recipe, which was taken from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food.
Glazed Pork Tenderloin With Pineapple
Ingredients:
4 slices pineapple (each 1/2 inch thick)
3 tablespoons dark hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed
Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
Quick Ginger Sauce (recipe below), for serving
1) Heat the broiler. Place the pineapple slices on a foil-lined baking sheet.
2) In a small bowl, combine the hoisin sauce, ginger, garlic and mustard.
3) Place the pork on the broiler pan fitted with a rack. Brush with the hoisin mixture; season with salt and pepper.
4) Place the pork in the broiler, about four inches from the heat; place the pineapple in the oven. Broil the pork until it registers 155 degrees (F) on an instant-read thermometer, 15 - 20 minutes. Remove from the broiler (let rest at least ten minutes before slicing; the temperature will rise to 160 degrees as the pork sits). Turn the pineapple slices; cook until browned in spots, about ten minutes more.
5) Halve the pineapple slices; arrange on a platter with the sliced pork. Drizzle the pork with pan juices; season with salt and pepper. Serve with the quick ginger sauce.
Quick Ginger Sauce
2 tablespoons dark hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon soy sauce
Fresh ground pepper
In a small bowl, stir together the hoisin sauce, pineapple juice, ginger, and soy sauce; season with pepper.
Delish. Enjoy.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Artists
How do children who normally love being outdoors spend a chilly winter day? Inside... painting, of course. We add a little color, get creative and enjoy making a colorful addition to their portfolios.
How do you occupy the winter months?
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Movie Night
We have a new Friday night tradition: MOVIE NIGHT! We tried having movie night in previous years, and the then-younger audience was not quite ready to sit in one place for that amount of time. Since they are enjoying their American Girl movies, we decided to air "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" and see how it went. They grabbed their Kit dolls, and we popped popcorn. William George, on the other hand, walked around demanding "Belbo" (that's George-speak for Elmo) the whole time, but we were able to appease him by bringing his monster truck into the family room.
Last weekend we missed movie night, and they were bummed when Sunday night rolled around and they realized movie night did not occur. This week we were sure to carve out time to air Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front.
We may not have seen all of the movies that are nominated for Oscars, but we are having a fantastic time watching movies as a family.
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