"What did you do on your first day back?" we ask LittleMan over dinner. "Mostly we learned about ducks," he replies between bites of salmon. "Ducks? What about them?" "Ducks starts with D." Suddenly I remember. The Letter Project. Dammit. (Dammit starts with D!) The Letter Envelope is due every Wednesday morning, every week for about 20 weeks. Each week, the Letter Envelope must contain 4-5 images culled from magazines, newspapers, etc. which represent words that start with a letter of the alphabet. (Why only 20 weeks? you alphabet aficionados might be asking. Are ... [READ MORE]
An Object in Motion, Stopped
January 7, 2014 by Leave a Comment
We never did give LittleMan that haircut. He started the 2014 semester with his usual sticking-out 'do, despite our best intentions. We never got to those last few loads of laundry, either; or the thank you notes (deeply grateful though we are...we're working on it, I promise); or The Pile on the kitchen counter that desperately needs to be sorted through and filed. We did not research the bunk-bed purchase, and I did not update my blog (although I will say with some satisfaction that 2013 was my most prolific year yet, nearly meeting my goal of a post a week). We are still figuring out ... [READ MORE]
Delinquent
January 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Was anybody else utterly thrown off by the fact that Thanksgiving was a week later this year, thus shortening the usual Christmas build-up by nearly ten days? I was. And so I find myself in January, still reeling from the whirlwind, with another season of memories logged, a heap of sparkly clothes ready to go to the dry cleaner...and very little to show on the blog front. What am I looking forward to now? Some rest, a lot of very clean eating/drinking/exercising/ living, and the days making their slow march towards spring. Also, a few mellow dates with the husband now that ... [READ MORE]
This Crazy Life
December 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
MORNING: Wake. Work out. Pack lunchboxes. Shower. Attempt hairstyle. Put on shoes. Put little feet in little shoes. Put little arms in little sweaters. Gather bags and children. Battle carseat. Drop-off. Drop-off. Check email on phone. Drive. Arrive. Check email. Check Gilt (I confess). Work. AFTERNOON: Check calendar. Check time. Call babysitter. Call another babysitter. Stress about babysitters. Pencil in shopping time. Work faster to leave work earlier. Drive. Park. Procure Legos/scarves/jewelry/glassware. Procure gift wrap. Procure dinner. Drive. Pick-up. ... [READ MORE]
Holly Jolly (and How)
December 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
There is one thing my children Will Not Do. (There are 10,001 things my children Will Not Do. But anyway.) There is one thing my children Will Not Do that my husband and I desperately wish they would, and that is Pose for the Damn Christmas Card, Dammit! Every year it's the same thing. We gussy them up and we go to the hotel lobby or the majestic downtown office building with the epic tree or the off-the-hook elves-in-classic-cars display and we let them run around a bit. The photo session commences: We cajole. We plead. We clap and dance around and wave our hands over our ... [READ MORE]
Back to Red-ality
November 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Style board from The Eagle's Nest (Jess Davis) Lately I am making a daily read of Damsel in Dior. The posts are pretty to look at and easy to digest; the clothes are generally affordable (despite the Damsel's penchant for crazy handbags), and it's a nice bit of escapism to read style tips from a gal who does not face the same daily fashion hurdles I do (i.e. chocolate-covered fingerprints on silk shirtdresses or trouser hems dragging in muddy soccer fields). I give her dubious credit for this summer's perhaps frivolous -- but very fun! -- ankle-strap peep-toe spree (you can see some ... [READ MORE]
A Planet With Two Suns
November 19, 2013 by 1 Comment
Tatooine is a planet with two suns. It's always hot there. And dry. - LittleMan, on Indian Summer Our apartment gets freakishly hot this time of year. It's a long space, with south-facing windows along one side (no cross-current), and when the sun hangs low in the autumn sky it feels like it's sitting right on our deck, beaming straight into the livingroom. I love the light -- LOVE it -- but with so many outward signs of the changing seasons (longer shadows, shorter days) the warmth feels...stubborn, somehow, like Nature dragging her feet, and it can make me impatient: I'm ready to ... [READ MORE]
