New Year's 5 Resolutions

1. Get back to doing yoga/pilates a few times a week. I was doing this 5-7 days a week before I got super pregnant and it felt really good. I want to get back to that.
2. Be less abrasive with the kids. We all can get a loud and sassy with each other around here. And in order to keep my sanity and keep my kids more tamed down, I need to set the example.
3. I bought a craft a day book for an entire year and I'd like to try to complete it in 2013.
4. Get my kids to try more different foods. Gonna have to get creative here so my kids are eating more healthy and setting better habits for life.
5. Write more. Always.

A very geeky Christmas

What are you getting your kids for Christmas? We tried not to go super crazy over the kids this year. We really tend to spend a lot on them throughout the year as it is. So I wanted to make sure each item felt "special" by either being something we don't usually buy or that they've been asking for a long time. Here's what we came up with...

Back to 5 Things a Day

1. Starting today I decided I'd let the boys pick a country and we'd learn about how that country celebrates Christmas or other religious holidays like Hanukkah (or "Harmonica" as Luc called it, accidentally). Tonight Lucas told us about the menorah and dreidel. And Holden picked Germany so we learned about the Christkind and a tradition of getting presents or a switch in your shoes on Dec. 6th. Tomorrow Luc wants to learn about Thailand or what he referred to as MY Asian country.
2. I've been watching Korean dramas almost non-stop the past week or two. I finished Flower Boy Ramen Shop and You're Beautiful. Now I'm watching Heartstrings.
3. Mina has been cooing and babbling a lot lately. Bill said she's going to start speaking Korean since all of my shows are in Korean and English subtitles.
4. I wrapped presents and put them under the tree last night. Ash said that's Santa's job and I got chewed out. One less present for him. (Kidding)
5. Mina is 4 months old now (as of yesterday). She has her checkup tomorrow. Going to see how fat she has gotten and hopefully good news that she's developing okay despite being born so early. I think she's doing great but I'd like some reassurance. I may be blinded by her cuteness.

All I want for Christmas is...

Last day

Day 30 - three wonderful things that happened this month

1. President Obama was re-elected. Best thing ever.

2. Bill's family came to visit. His grandmother got to hold Mina which was a really sweet thing to watch. She's the first girl in this family since Aunt Jennifer was born 50 years ago.

3. The boys won an Angry Birds basket at the school fundraiser. It may seem like a silly thing but Lucas had mentioned before that we never win anything. Sometimes it's just nice when it feels like the Universe hears you.

Days 27-29

Day 27 - a silly self-portrait
I take hideous self portraits of myself almost every day. Jennie and I send them back and forth randomly throughout the week. So I have oodles but I'll leave you with the gem below when I got Bill involved with my shenanigans.

Day 28 - a skill i'd like to learn
I can sew pretty well by hand and do really basic stuff on a sewing machine. But I'd like to be able to sew actual clothes for Mina. I see the cutest stuff online from brands like Misha Lulu and I want to learn how to do that. It doesn't look that complicated. It's just adorable fabric with sweet embellishments. Maybe I should just take some sewing classes and get myself a newer machine.

Day 29 - something i never tire of
Friends. The show. I could turn it on at any time of day, any episode, and I will watch it. If it was on TV 24-7 I couldn't turn it off. IT Crowd is another show I can watch like this. Actually I feel like watching IT Crowd right now...

Days 25 & 26

Day 25 - the contents of my purse
I don't carry a purse when I have a baby. So here are the contents of my diaper bag - bedecked in buttons and tchotchkes: gum, cough drops, lotion, angry birds band-aids, Hello Kitty wallet, coupons, Target receipts, diapers, Vaseline lip therapy, change of clothes for Mina, headband, extra socks, immunization record, wipes, puzzle books, ibuprofen, nursing pads, keys and sunglasses.

Day 26 - something i'm looking forward to
I'm looking forward to the awards assembly at school on Friday. Holden is getting his Honor Roll certificate.

Day 24 - something that makes me smile

I think this is my favorite picture of Mina so far. And she's pretty much like this all the time. I've never seen a baby smile and laugh as much as this one.

Day 23 - eight things you didn't know about me

1. I'm only 1/4 Thai. But I'm also 1/4 Lao.
2. I want to live in Paris some day.
3. I'm really sensitive to certain odors and have a strong sense of smell. I'm very particular about which scents I buy in detergent, deodorant, etc. I can smell weird things in the house that are overbearing that Bill can't smell at all.
4. I've been thinking a lot lately about going back to school. I don't plan to do it soon but after the kids are more grown. I value my time at home with them too much right now. But I've always wanted to be a teacher. Or maybe do cancer research.
5. I think it would be fun to pack the kids up in an RV and travel the US for a year. I would love to teach them about America by experiencing it and not just reading about it in a text book. The more realistic goal is to at least take a trip this summer for a few weeks in our mini-van.
6. My mom lost a baby right before me. I've always wondered what it would've been like to have a sibling close to my age. I've carried that around with me and it made me want to have my kids close together.
7. When I was little I wanted girl twins that I was going to name Rachel and Rebecca. Now I would never want twin girls and I'd never name them that.
8. I hate the sound of aluminum foil crinkling.

Days 20-22

Day 20 - something that means a lot to me

My Asian heritage is really important to me. Some people recognize it physically immediately and others look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them half Asian. Which for some reason is slightly insulting but this is how I look. I always wanted to look more Asian. But I'm happy it's a part of me no matter what I look like on the outside. One day I would really love to go Thailand and meet my Mom's side of the family and explore the land and culture. Some day.

Day 21 - a self-portrait

*see below - no filter - eye wrinkles in all their glory*

Day 22 - what i love about my job

I love that I get to work from home.

Day 19 - myself, one year ago

My hair was a lot longer. And I put makeup on for this picture. Probably the only time the entire year that I did. I look younger too. I saw some cool yearly photo project of a family of 5 - parents and 3 boys. The father barely seemed to age until his late 40s. But the mother aged pretty drastically in her mid-thirties. So I guess this is my time to get old quickly.

Day 18 - what i wore today

We sat around in our PJs all day yesterday. So here is what Mina and I are wearing today. I've scored two Marc Jacobs shirts for her off eBay for $5. Retail is $50 which is just damn ridiculous.

Days 16 & 17

Day 16 - someone who inspires me

I will forever be inspired my daughter. No little girl should be raised to think she is less than who she is. Or to not believe in herself or know she can become whoever she wants to be. I always wanted a little girl so I could raise her to realize how amazing she is and hopefully also be a good influence to other girls. Mina will always inspire me to be the best I can possibly be so she knows she can do it too.

Day 17 - my family

When we get a table at a restaurant and they ask How many? and I say 6, it still blows my mind a little every time. We are now complete.

Days 13-15

Day 13 - something i'm proud of
The kids got their report cards with lots of As and I'm super proud of them. Lucas got into some trouble last year. Nothing major but acting too crazy in class and talking too much. This year he's matured so much - other than a little chattiness occasionally his teacher said he's been doing really well. Holden had 4Bs and 1A at the mid-term and brought it up to 4As and 1B so I'm just super proud of how hard he worked to get those grades up. He made the Honor Roll which makes him feel really good and helps motivate him to keep getting good grades.

Day 14 - style inspiration for the season
So far I haven't really had the chance to enjoy fall weather much since it only cooled off last week but it's still 70s some days. I bought two new pairs of leggings from AE - polka dots and some tribal Aztec-ish ones. With boots they are super cute. I want to be able to wear some cute fall tops with them. Soon...

Day 15 - three blogs i always read
I read more than this but here are just a few I've been enjoying a lot lately. 
Treesalldance.com - a friend, fellow mom and knitter whose words and images inspire me
Suri's Burn Book - written in the voice of Suri Cruise, critiques fellow celeb kids' fashion - hilarious!
Bleubird blog - Simple and charming. 

Days 10-12

Day 10 - a favorite recipe
My favorite recipes are for Thai food that I try to make like my Mom's but I never wrote them down.

Day 11 - three years ago today
November 11, 2009
We were living in Florida. The boys were 6, 4 and 2. Holden was in the 1st grade and Luc was in Preschool. We were making plans for our big trip to Disneyworld. I think Bill had applied for a job in California and we were hoping we could move back.

Day 12 - the last item i purchased
I just backed a kick starter project for an organic children's clothing line called "Kinds Stoff". They have 19 days to go and need $9,000 more. Their stuff is cute so I hope it makes it.

*3 years ago*

Day 09 - a close-up of my day

This morning.
Crocheting. Community.

Day 07 & 08

Day 07 - a song for the day
Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness

Day 08 - three inspirational quotes
I don't know if all of these can be considered inspirational but I'm not really a quote person. So these are just ones I like.

"I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn’t matter whether you’re black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you’re willing to try." - President Barack Obama

"However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act upon them?" - Buddha

"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure." - Luna Lovegood

Day 06 - a book i'm reading

I can never read just one book all the way through before starting a new one. I need to be into a few and it depends on my mood at the time.

1. World War Z (Max Brooks) - I've been working on this one for a while. I don't think it's a very easy read because there's not a typical storyline to follow. But it's interesting. Kind of like reading a textbook. Which I like to read.
2. Emma (Jane Austen) - I've seen the movie and mini-series (and Clueless) so I already knew I'd love the book. Such a great story of love triangles that the British are so good at pulling off. I'm obsessed with Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters lately.
3. The Woman in Black (Susan Hill) - I just started reading this one but can only read it when Bill is around because I'm a scaredy cat. I saw the movie which I loved and now I have to read the book too. I want to see if the book is as spooky as the movie. So far, so good.

{I read this interview with Sophia Rossi and they had photos of her bookshelves. I was intrigued and saved the pictures. I want to check some of these out.}

Day 05 - my hometown

I lived in Oklahoma most of my life. But I still consider my birthplace in Kansas - the place I lived until I was 5 - to be one of my hometowns. My grandma lived there for a long time after we left and my brother still lives there with my nephew. There's not much to do because it's so small but I have such great memories with family there. My nephew graduates from high school this year so we'll probably be going back. I'm really looking forward to it because it still feels like home after all these years.

30 Days Hath November

Dee found this 30 Things Hath November blogging thingie and I want to jump in too - here's a little catch up on the first few days.

Day 01 - a place i'd like to travel
There are a lot. And my go to answer is usually Tokyo, Japan. But now that I've immersed myself in all of these British period TV shows and movies, I really want to go to England. London would be awesome but I'd love to tour the countryside, wandering around looking for castles.

Day 02 - a favorite movie
Wonder Boys. This movie epitomizes my dream alternate life as a novelist and college English professor at a small private university on the East Coast.

Day 03 - something i never leave the house without
A child. Whether it's 1 or 4, I pretty much always have a kid with me. Occasionally I do get to make a trip to Michael's or Walgreen's alone and it feels like a mini-vacation.

Day 04 - a friend i adore
I have many I adore and I should maybe start a blog called A Friend a Day so I can write about all of them. :) Today I want to write about my friend Vann. I met her on Xanga when Holden was a baby and she was only 18. I've journeyed with her as she grew into a woman, found her dream career, met a wonderful man, got married, bought a house and got pregnant! She asked me to be a bridesmaid before we even met each other in real life. I think that's a testament to our friendship and how well you can get to know someone online. And when we did finally meet it wasn't weird at all. It was like we had hung out every day in person up to that point. And we had - just on our computers. I'm so glad she's my friend and I'm so excited to see the next phase of her life as a new Mommy!

Autumn Love

1. We had such a great Halloween. The weather was beautiful all day. Ash and I carved one last pumpkin. After school the kids were in the best happiest mood. We had a fun early dinner together. Lucas and I made a last minute paper craft. Then we dressed up and headed out. Mina didn't cry once and actually fell asleep in Bill's arms as we walked around. We just moved to this neighborhood so it was nice seeing all of our neighbors out. I love all the little kiddos in their costumes and seeing parents dressed up too. There was one house decorated scary and the kids loved it. One house gave out big Snickers. The weather was cool but not too cold. It was just perfect.
2. Cancer has been on my mind this last week more so than usual. I kind of always think of it after losing my Mom. And now I have a close friend whose dad just went into hospice yesterday after only very recently being diagnosed. Winston is doing Movember. And Aunt Catherine is doing a 3 day walk in Arizona for Susan G. Komen. I have honestly been thinking hard about going back to college after all of the kids are in school and getting into oncology to become a cancer researcher. I have some investigating to do to find out if it's something I realistically want to do and would be good at.
3. I have been making tons and tons of hats for friends. I want to get them done soon because there are a few I have in mind for kiddos of my own too. I really want to make Mina and I matching fox hats. I've been attracted to little foxes lately. Just so cute. And the color suits her little ginger noggin. I also have some blankets to make and Christmas presents for family. Lots to do!
4. I need to get my wisdom teeth taken out. Ugh.
5. I started watching Community over again. I stopped after the first season but now I'm starting at the beginning. Love this show.

Growing boys

1. I hate the word 'shrooms.
2. I tried on a pair of size 10 jeans on Holden this morning and they wouldn't even button. This kid is by no means fat but apparently getting huge right before my very eyes. He'll be 10 in about a month.
3. We watched Sponge Bob this morning and I remembered when Holden was 2 and the only baby in the house - we used to do a funny dance to the intro song. We danced in a circle, I tickled him and then I fell on the ground and he jumped on my back and hugged me. Got a little blubbery just thinking about it. My first baby.
4. The big boys have been really enjoying reading lately and it makes me so happy. Bill and I were big readers as kids and we were a little worried that our kids wouldn't like it since they're into video games which we didn't have at this age. But they've both been reading up a storm. Lucas is so excited that he can read chapter books and tells me every time he finishes one. I just dug up a dozen chapter books I had bought last year for them that they weren't interested in. And they're blazing through them. It's a wonderful thing when your kids can watch TV or play games but instead want to curl up with a book.
5. Decorating pumpkins tonight!! I gutted them yesterday since no one likes that part. So just carving and painting tonight. Fun!

Almost Halloween!

1. I love Halloween! I loved seeing all of the costumes people were posting online this weekend from parties. I do miss those parties we had before kids. We don't have enough friends here to have parties of our own now. Oh well. But I'm looking forward to Wednesday and taking my cute babies around the neighborhood. Bill and I are dressing up too of course. It'll be a surprise to the boys. Lucas has been begging us to tell him.
2. Watched Once Upon a Time all day. Still trying to catch up from last season. The Red Riding Hood episode was awesome! Also I love Ginnifer Goodwin in EVERYTHING.
3. I've paused Mina's (my) shopping spree... temporarily... I bought her a ton of great stuff. Now I'll let her wear some if it before I let myself shop anymore. She is going to be small for awhile and be able to wear things longer at least for the time being. Although she did grow quite a bit this week I can tell!
4. We didn't carve pumpkins or decorate them today. I have paint and puff paint so hopefully we'll have time for that tomorrow night.
5. Fell asleep at like 8:45 tonight. I'm awake now but just barely. Posting this then back to sleep.

Friends and Hipsters

1. Our TV died (again) on Monday. We've had so many issues with it. Luckily we had a warranty up until a few months ago. But until I can work some mojo on the manufacturer I figured we could get a new one. The picture has been going bad for a while. Bill found one online at Costco and Target that he wanted. So we went to a random Target yesterday just to see how it looked in person and it was on clearance for $200 off. No idea why but what a score. It's 55" - 5" more than our last one - and looks HUGE! I didn't know I was such a sucker for a big TV.
2. We had visits from friends all week. I love when our friends visit since they're so spread out around here. It's always a bit of a drive for any of us to get together. And Ash is so cute. He just wants everyone to stay for a sleep over. He is such a people person.
3. Mina slept for 6 hours straight last night!! This baby is incredible! I slept so good. I haven't felt this rested in months.
4. Bill has been off work this week and it's been so nice having him home. I just like to hang out with him all the time.
5. This week at school is Spirit Week with a different theme every day. Today is western wear and of course in our house we don't have a single piece of western gear. We had to improvise and Luc picked out jeans, an Indiana Jones tshirt from woot, orange plaid, red scarf and black fedora. This kid is so hipster and doesn't even know it. I love him.

La La Land

1. Would someone please tell me why it's suddenly the new thing to put animal heads and antlers in baby rooms and nurseries?????
2. We went to LA today to see Winston. There are a few things we can always count on happening when we go. We'll eat good food, see weird people, shop at cool stores and see a celebrity or reality star. If you saw my Facebook status you'll know this was fulfilled on this trip...
3. Good BBQ is hard to come by in Southern California. We went to Baby Blues which has a scantily clad pinup girl holding a bottle of sauce as its mascot. The interior has wooden chairs hanging from the rafters as Holden pointed out. The tables near us were filled with men with handlebar mustaches, the Shahs of Sunset and a contestant on the X Factor. Oh yeah, the food. Excellent pulled pork and ribs. Tasty potato salad. The corn was grilled and rolled in Parmesan and squeezed lime - um... AMAZING! Terrible Mac-n-cheese and so-so cornbread. But overall for LA BBQ I was impressed. Lots of choices of sauces.
4. Driving down the street...
Bill: I just saw a guy with clown makeup.
Winston: Was he dressed as a clown?
Bill: Noooope.
5. I had heard there were special edition Hello Kitty shirts at Johnny Cupcakes and was going to ask Winston to get me one. Then we decided to pay him a visit and it's the first thing he brought up - he knows me so well. Their store is so cute!! It looks like a retro bakery and they display their shirts inside cake freezers and glass pastry display cases. There is a wall with faux oven fronts that randomly open and little bursts of steamy mist come out. And one wall is a giant oven that are actually doors into their storeroom. I bought a shirt and I was so excited that it actually fit. I've ordered tees online in the past from places like teefury and woot but the largest women's size never fits me! I have big boobs I realize but I know there are boobs bigger than mine and it annoys me they don't accommodate larger chested women. But this shirt fits perfectly and it's super soft. And it's Hello Kitty!

Pumpkin Time

1. Watching Happy Endings right now. Max may be my favorite TV character ever.
2. I found my black jeggings today. They've been missing since the move and they're my favorite pants. So this is a big deal.
3. Bought Pocket Clothier for my iPhone last night. Can't stop playing. Can't. Stop. Playing.
4. I got my 1st Brit Kit for crafting and I'm not that impressed. It's a party pack with DIY confetti and LED balloons. They're cool but there's not much crafting involved. I'll probably try one or two more to see if they get better since this was the 1st one. But I was hoping for something better.
5. Went to the pumpkin patch and had a blast. The kids jumped on hay bales, we pushed them on a tire swing, ate cotton candy, hay ride and pumpkins!

Making stuff

1. I never knew what nicknames I'd actually call my kids until they came along. I thought I'd call Mina Mimi but now that she's here I haven't done it. You just don't know what will naturally come out when you meet them and see their little faces and connect with them. I call Holden, Holdeeno. Lucas is Lukey. Ash is Ashie Poo. And now Mina Muffin.
2. Mina slept for 7 1/2 hours straight yesterday! She had been up all morning and afternoon which isn't like her. When she woke up she was in an amazing mood - so alert and engaged with us. I think her tiny brain grew and she turned into a different baby after that sleep. Jennie told me to wake her up because she was afraid she was sleeping too long. But she woke up on her own, hung out with us, pigged out and slept a good night's sleep. So sweet and cheery this morning. And now back to sleep.
3. While she was asleep I was able to finish a bunch of hats I had started. I can whip them up easy throughout the day even with interruptions. But I need some quiet time to do the details like flowers and faces and stuff.
4. Animal Practice got cancelled. I guess no one was watching it because if you had you would've found it hilarious. The last episode with the scene with the monkey and the puppet? I watched it twice.
5. I went to the Salvation Army on 50% off day yesterday and got a big bag of clothes for $27. Jennie is going to use it to make stuff for Mina. And I am going to try to get inspired to do stuff too. My sewing machine is old and beautiful but not easy to use. I like to sew by hand. So we'll see what I come up with. I really like the dresses of Misha Lulu and Matilda Jane and they seem relatively easy to replicate for a fraction of the cost. Plus I've seen some crochet pieces on the Misha Lulu stuff so that's something to explore too.

Why she is my best friend.

Jennie left this afternoon. What did we do while she was here?

We shopped and talked and laughed and cried from laughing. We made ugly faces and ate tons of food that was delicious and terrible for us. She held Mina and we watched Bridesmaids and tried not to pee ourselves. I did her nails and got glitter all over her finger and she cooked my kids the best spaghetti noodles they've ever had. We made fun of our kids and looked up random people on Facebook. We ate Thai food and almost cried when the Hot Beef tasted just the way my Mom made it. We took terrible pictures of each other and bought our little girls matching outfits.

It was pretty perfect. And I miss her already.

It's almost Friday!

1. I made a spicy sausage penne dish tonight. Bill said it was probably the best thing I've ever made. It was pretty delicious I have to admit.
2. I think Bill and I decided on our Halloween costumes. I think it'll be cute. But you know I can't tell you.
3. Got my AE stuff and I love all the tops. The bow sweater is so cute.
4. Jennie will be here tomorrow!!
5. Finished Ash's room and it turned out super cute. He said, "Mom you did this all by yourself? Great job!"

Sleepy Sleep

1. Watching X Factor - I watched the 5 piece boy band they put together and I couldn't stop smiling. They were SO CUTE! I haven't watched One Direction but if they're that cute I can understand why people love them so much.
2. Mindy Kaling is just the cutest thing.
3. I want some glasses like the Asian girl on Underemployed.
4. Mina slept for 4 hours straight tonight!
5. I'm so happy with how the boys' room turned out. They said they were excited to go to sleep in their new room. It made me so happy. I worked on a pennant banner for Ash's room tonight. And now I'm working on a pom pom garland too.

Earthquake

1. Mina was a grump today. I didn't hold her enough and she apparently wasn't okay with that. She's on me now and sleeping soundly. I love when she sleeps so hard her face looks smashed.
2. There was an earthquake this morning just a few miles away. Don't tell Jennie who will be here Friday. She never reads this. I told the kids who slept through it and Ash said he thinks he felt it in his arms.
3. I'm apparently the only person on eBay who buys Zara for my daughter. I keep getting the best deals!
4. If you've been reading my blog you know it's been a battle getting Holden on track with school stuff. He has 3 Bs and 1 A for his midterm progress report which is great but I'd like him to bring those Bs up. Yesterday he brought home two big tests and a writing project -all As. I'm really proud of him for working hard on those. It's all coming together thank goodness.
5. I've almost bought a wreath at Target every time I've been there this month. But I hate how overpriced they are in season. So I checked Pinterest for ones to make and just didn't have what I needed at home and it's too hard to shop for DIY stuff with kids. I ended up just putting something together from random stuff at home and I like how it turned out. I'll still buy a wreath on clearance after Halloween for next year though.

Wow this is quite the SAHM post.

1. Holden's class is doing a Winter Fun themed basket for our fundraiser at school this year. I can't think of anything better for a knitting mom to contribute to!
2. The kids had to go to school today on this weird fake holiday but they're off on Friday which I think is more fun. I wonder if I can get them out of the house for an IKEA trip? Baby needs a crib.
3. I have a hard time narrowing down my options when there are lots of choices - when it comes to pretty much anything. I've been brainstorming ideas for the boys' rooms and hadn't decided on anything... until today. At Target there happened to be two sets of matching bedding (black, grey, red, orange) on clearance for Holden and Lucas who share a room. And then another set in aqua bluish and white for Ash. So it's decided on their color scheme. I'm going to do a video game theme for the big boys. And cars, rockets, bicycles for Ash. Going to pair his fave color orange with blues and it'll be perfect. I'm going to make up the big boy room while they're at school so it's a surprise for them when they come home. Will post pics later this week!
4. Watching Elementary with Jonny Lee Miller and then finished an Emma series with him as Knightley and, well, I think he's nice looking very much.
5. For dinner tonight I made sautéed mushrooms and panko crusted chicken stuffed with spinach, tomatoes and ricotta. So. Good.

Friends & Heels

1. I don't know if glee has just changed too much or if it's me but I don't like it as much. Plus the songs aren't always that good anymore. - okay the last episode has some good music apparently (watching now).
2. We're watching that Guys With Kids show and the material sucks but the guys are hilarious. And who doesn't love Tempest Bledsoe - or all of the Cosby kids for that matter. Best family ever.
3. How do other women wear heels all the time? The few times I've tried, my feet just hurt so bad and I walk so awkwardly in them. I guess it just takes practice. I wonder how much more ladylike Mina will be than me. Probably can't be less.
4. Is it possible for one little girl to have too many clothes? Just say no.
5. Jennie will be here Friday. This is the FIRST time my best friend has come to visit me at my home since I got married. It's such a big deal to me and I'm so excited.

Pumpkins & Markets

1. We're trying out abcmouse.com for a month before I decide if it's worth paying for. So far I really like it and Ash seems to be learning new things from it which is the goal.
2. We got all the kids psyched to go to our local pumpkin patch and they were closed! They had the hale bales all set up and no pumpkins. They usually have them out by now and hay rides. We get our Christmas tree from this same farm every year too. I'm worried with the owner's health issues that they're closing down and didn't see an update on the website. :(
3. I looked up the knitted cowl that Dee is doing for her knit along and I'm already confused and it's probably so easy. I want a knitting partner so bad.
4. I either want to go to the community flea market or the farmer's market on Saturday. I'll just pack up the kids and see where we end up.
5. I'm so happy it's finally cooling off. Holden actually said it was cold. And it was probably 60 degrees. Haha

Too cool for cute

1. Does anyone watch Project Runway? If so who's your favorite designer? I love Sonjia. I want her to design me a wardrobe.
2. I went to Toys R Us and checked out Heidi Klum's Truly Scrumptious kids clothing line and it's pretty meh. It's not ugly but nothing about it really appealed to me especially the girls stuff. The monster print for the boys is cute-ish.
3. On X Factor Demi had spikes on her shoulders and I wanna do that so bad!
4. I'm ready to get another tattoo.
5. The boys have been wanting to hold Mina all the time and it's so cute. Holden and Ash are always sweet with her but it really gets me when Luc asks to hold her. He always acts so tough and too cool so it's adorable when he asks.

Boots.

1. The debate was disappointing. There were a lot of issues that just weren't addressed. People say Romney won but I don't feel like he said anything of any significance. But then again neither did Obama.
2. I'm hooked on a bunch of kids clothing blogs now thanks to Dee. I don't want to rush the time but it will be fun to dress Mina up more when she can sit up or crawl and walk. I like her to be super comfortable while she's just a blob. Haha Thank goodness I have Vann's cute headbands to keep her stylish.
3. I would live in a one room craphole just to see what it's like to love in London or Paris for like a year. We would just spend every second outside exploring. And own lots of rain boots and umbrellas.
4. I scored a ton of clothes from AE.com today with 40% of clearance and an extra 20% off. Can't wait to get my stuff!
5. Can I start wearing boots when the temp drops below 80 degrees next Monday?

FIVE

1. My baby turned 5.
2. My baby isn't a baby anymore.
3. Am I still allowed to call him my baby?
4. Not gonna cry.
5. Why does he look so big?

I wanna wear leggings, dammit!!

1. Ash and I went to Target to buy the ingredients for his birthday cake and he asked for a store bought cake! So we ordered him a Hot Wheels cake. I was a little sad at first but then felt pretty relieved actually. Haha Like Jennie said - you wanna do it all but... Sometimes it's nice NOT to when your kids give you a chance to breathe.
2. If my kid knows his vocab words already it is stupid to make him do flash cards. Busywork is bullshit.
3. The final contestant on The Voice blind auditions was great. His bullrider dad... OMG.
4. Can anyone recommend kid's clothing and/or women's that you love that may not be a brand I've ever heard of? Some obscure little label or etsy shop or something? I just discovered Thief & Bandit today and I love the little kids leggings.
5. 102 degrees today. So pissed off. But supposed to drop to 84 by Thursday. Fall, I miss you.

Sherlock Holmes & Nutella (that sounds dirty)

1. I wish I could remember what it felt like to be a baby and be snuggled by my Mommy. I bet it felt awesome.
2. I made some yummy chicken and potatoes tonight. The chicken just had a coating of Greek yogurt, parmesan, garlic powder, seasoning salt and pepper. And it was so juicy and tender. I have a hard time not drying out my chicken when I have too much going on around dinner time. But I nailed it tonight.
3. Elementary is good. Johnny Lee Miller is great. Hot and great. I don't think I'll ever get sick of Sherlock Holmes films or TV shows. I love them all.
4. I wanna try to make some Nutella no bake cookies tomorrow. And then eat them all in one sitting.
5. Teresa has inspired me to make an October horror/suspense reading list. I want to fit in some reading in my life. I miss it.

Diet Coke table

1. Bought a new coffee (Diet Coke) table today. Bill still has to put it together. It was 50% off at Target so if you shop there as much as we do you might be able to figure out which one it is.
2. Mina had some baby acne and I was putting a little breast milk on it but I didn't think it was helping. I tried again yesterday by putting on a lot more and it has totally cleared up! Her skin looks normal today. Crazy.
3. Signed up for my first Brit Kit. Going to cancel jewelmint.
4. I can figure out just about any crochet pattern but knitting really confuses me beyond basic stuff. I wish I had someone to knit with in person. I keep seeing so many beautiful projects I'd like to work on.
5. I got my new glasses today. I really like how they look with my new hair too. I wonder if I'll ever want long hair again.

Rebel Hell Yeah

1. Does anyone watch The X Factor? That girl who sang Tomorrow... Oh my...
2. Bill cooked dinner tonight. He's started mixing the sauce into the cooked pasta in a skillet and man dies it make it so much better. That's what happens when you watch lots of Food Network.
3. I love Rebel Wilson.
4. My friend Nick is driving from Denver to Atlanta and he stopped in my family hometown for the night. I called him and apparently his mom and my dad were both born in this little town in Kansas. So weird!
5. We took Ash out to this Chuck E. Cheese like place for an early birthday treat since we can't go on Tuesday on his actual birthday. Lots of fun!

Sporks & Socialism

1. It's almost October. That just feels crazy to me. And why does it still feel like summer here? Boooo.
2. I really enjoyed listening to Bill and Holden talk tonight. Bill was asking him opinions on taxes, salaries and college. Holden is quite the little socialist but I suspect most kids are.
3. I just watched an HGTV show in Vienna and it makes me want to go back to Austria so bad! I went with the OSU wind ensemble when I was 19 so it's been awhile. I'd love to go back with Bill and the kids.
4. What kind of side effects do any of you have when you're on birth control?
5. Ash is so excited about his 5th birthday next Tuesday. He has given us a wish list of Hot Wheels sets, video games and infomercial crap. And a spork.

Banana. Hammock.

1. I'm always surprised when my friends talk about how their kids are obsessed with certain celebrities. I knew of them when I was little especially certain singers. But my kids are totally clueless. They really only know them by characters they play like Thor or Jack Sparrow haha. I'm actually happy about this though. I hope they never care about that crap. I would love for them to enjoy film and music without caring about the whole stupid celebrity b.s.
2. I made banana bread with roasted pecans and some yummy crockpot chicken today.
3. Mina laughs and chuckles while she's sleeping and it is THE CUTEST thing ever. I wish I could record it in time.
4. I want a hammock.
5. I've been scouring Pinterest for ideas on embellishing my old clothes with things like elbow patches, bows and little shoulder details. I'm compiling a list of projects! For the kids' clothes too.

Chicken & Caramel

1. The salted caramel mocha frappuccino at Starbucks is the greatest drink I've ever tasted. Hooked!
2. When I used to shop with my mom at the dollar store she would constantly ask me "How much is this?" and I would repeat $1. Every time. Until I would get so annoyed I'd be like "Mom it's the dollar store. Everything is $1!!!!" but I always found it hysterical that no matter how often we went and how many times I would tell her she would still ask. Yesterday when we were at Dollar Tree there was an Asian man in line in front of us and he asked the cashier "How much is this?" and she of course said $1. I thought of my Mom. And then Ash audibly said "That's why it's called Dollar Tree. duh!" Me = Mortified.
3. I used the new Dyson today and I feel like I have a new house.
4. Just watched Ben and Kate. HILARIOUS! Laughed the entire time. Great cast.
5. I made roasted chicken, green beans and potatoes. Olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper. So easy. And tasty. The only change I would make next time would probably be to not use skinless breasts so there's a little more fatty flavor. But otherwise really good. I added some Italian feta crumbles too.

Kiwi Crate - Farmer's Market

We received our first Kiwi Crate which is a Farmer's Market theme. Ash was SO excited! It came with two projects. One was a farmer's apron. He decorated his apron with special fabric crayons - all supplied in the box. The only thing we needed of our own was an iron to make the design stick to the apron if we wash it.

The second project was fruits and vegetables. He had to lace them together with a shoelace which is so great for motor skills. And it was nice to see him sit for about an hour working on something that didn't need to be plugged in (computer, TV, video games, iphone, etc.)... He sewed the pieces together for a carrot, stuffed it with cotton balls, then traced a stem and attached with a pipe cleaner. Everything we needed was in the box, including scissors.

Then a part of it that I thought was especially cool were the play activities. It came with paper coins and dollars so we could play market. He wore his apron and sold me a carrot.

Me: I would like a carrot please.
Him: How much money do you have?
Me: $8.35
Him: (takes all of my money, gives me a carrot)

It was a lot of fun and we aren't even done yet. We have an eggplant, apple and pear to make. And even more activities to play with the stuff he makes. I'm so glad he enjoyed it. For $20 I really think it's worth it. If you sign up, I get a $10 credit. Get your friends to sign up and it's only $10 for you too. Or google coupon code and see what you can find, which is what I did. Here's my link: http://www.kiwicrate.com/Refer?i=AnnaR3