She Likes Purple

Without the internet...

...this adorable picture would never have happened.

And if this isn't a solid endorsement for blogging, I don't know what is. You too can meet someone with an adorable child who will cook alongside your own adorable child one day!

(You'll still have to clean up after them. The internet isn't made of magic. Yet.)

I have a smart husband

I tend to think Mike is the smartest man I know. You'll notice I didn't say the easiest to live with or the least frustrating because those statements WOULD BE LIES but the smartest. In all the right ways.

Like fixing things and knowing what to substitute with what in the kitchen and how to raise a baby with your sanity in tact.

See, we have friends who are having a baby boy this week, and Mike told me that the father recently came to him for advice and Mike told him this:

"You know all that advice you've already gotten? I'm about to give you advice that's better than all you've heard: fuck all that advice. There are a million other people who think they know what it takes to raise a baby but they don't know what it takes to raise your baby. So, go with your gut. It's probably right. You will feel insane emotion but you'll feel it when YOU feel it, not when someone else tells you you're supposed to feel it. And, don't let your wife Google. Nothing good comes from that. Also, enjoy the hell out of this ride. It goes by faster than you can ever imagine."

I got all silent and weepy when he finished saying this. Because yes, baby. Yes yes yes.

That's exactly what I've spent two years trying to say.

That's exactly it.

What To Do In Fort Worth: Scat Jazz Lounge

If you were in the middle of planning your next vacation, you'd probably not include Fort Worth, Texas on your short list. Now, I could lilst a dozen or so reasons why you should (including: you could see me!), but my bias might show as it's never going to be as cool as Chicago or have as much to offer as Boston. But it's my closest big city, and I really do love it.

I've already decided 2011 is going to be the year I do a few big things -- relax more, try to save a significant amount of money, run a half-marathon, and, well, become well-versed in my city.

I'm adding a lot of things to my list next year to do around the area -- things I would recommend to you if you ever did come visit but, also, things I've never actually done myself. Lame, right?

One thing I never knew I wanted to do and will now recommend to anyone with ears is to go to the Scat Jazz Lounge in downtown Fort Worth.

We went over the weekend because it was my mother-in-law's birthday and she had always wanted to go to a jazz lounge. I found the place by just poking around the internet -- how I usually find things for good or bad -- and I was so delighted because it was just the kind of place I wanted to take her. 

I made reservations, although you don't need them. It did get us a front-row table, though, which was really nice, especially for my mother-in-law.

You get to Scat by walking down an alley and then taking an elevator down to the club. It felt very speak easy-ish, which was fun and also made me wish I had worn something other than a plain old sweater and jeans.

I also wish I had ordered a dirty martini or a sidecar instead of a champagne cocktail. Next time.

It was just great, and I'm glad we went and I'm also glad couple at the next table went, the ones who got up multiple times to swing dance in front of us. They inspired me to add "take a swing dance class" to my list, too.

A Wish List Addition

Thanks to A'Dell for pointing me in the direction of this poster that both matches my kitchen color palette and is a eerily perfect for me.

{Photo credit: How Fab}

November Recap

Wait, it's December? What? Are you SURE? Wow, time, you're certainly not messing around this year.

November was great. I ran 6.2 straight miles for the first time in 28 years. I was met at the finish line by my mom and a glass of beer. If all races end like that, I can support long-distance running.

But even checking off that awesome accomplishment, I'm still struggling to reach my goal weight. When I do, I'm throwing the world's best party. The theme is going to be: Check Out My Ass. Or, Champagne's On Me! I think I know which theme Mike would prefer.

Thanksgiving was awesome.

Kyle is a talking, walking, crazy little boy.

Other things I totally forgot to tell you about:

*Kyle had a playdate with a little boy from school. I put a note in his cubby at school to try to desperately befriend his mom. She emailed! We met up! She's one of those cool, laid-back moms I hope to be one day. We also met at a really cool park I'd never taken Kyle to before, which rates right up there with lamest things I've ever deemed blog-worthy.

*I hung out (TWICE!) with an old friend from middle school! She lives nearby and has a little boy, and we had a playdate once and a nice dinner out sans kids once. She's hilarious, too, which is always preferable to friends who don't ever make me laugh.

*We drove up to Tulsa for a weekend to celebrate Turkey Day early with my grandma. There were four adults and a toddler and there was enough food to feed a football team. She's such a great cook, and it was warm and fuzzy having her cook for me and for my kid, too.

*Our heater broke. That sucked.

December is here and right after that 2011 is waiting for us. It's such a weird time of year. The time of year I'm all reflect, reflect, reflect, plan, plan, plan. It's like emotional whiplash! But, this year, it's nice, too. Because there's a lot of good to reflect on and a lot of good to plan for. And a lot of good smack-dab right now to just enjoy.

December is going to be insane, from now until it closes.

If you've been hanging around long enough, you'll know insane is a setting I'm rather comfortable with.

Happy last month of 2010.

#26: Check!

Hop on over to Style Lush for my handmade advent calendar reveal (and go easy on this crafting newbie). It's a little different than I originally planned, but I love how it turned out and the motivation behind it.

There are a few envelopes that still need to be filled up with Christmas activities. Any suggestions?

My Holiday Wish List

I like gifts. I know, how uncool of me! Does it help that I like giving gifts just as much as I like getting them? Now, don't get me wrong, I certainly don't think THINGS make my life better than, say, time with family or my son's big grin or a great meal with people I adore, but I do think things can be fun and I think finding that perfect thing to give that perfect person is just as much fun as getting that perfect thing from that perfect person.

So, yes, gifts are grand.

Also, my birthday is nine days after Christmas. (That would be January 3rd, for anyone who likes to throw internet strangers surprise parties.) I get gifts like two weeks of the entire year and that's it. I soak up every last damn drop of gift season.

So, what's on my wishlist this year? Glad you asked!

First row: 1. AE Skinny Jean; 2. Tiny silver heart wish necklace; 3. Great White Pitcher; 4. Langston's Ariat Cowboy Boots

Second row: 1. Green and white messenger bag; 2. Francesca's Red Hot Dress; 3. Wool blend neck coat; 4. On the Rise wine glasses

Third row: 1. Track Jacket (I want purple, of course); 2. KitchenAid mixer; 3. Tiny gold necklace; 4. Piped leggings

Fourth row: 1. Dangling jeweled earrings; 2. Cowl sweater; 3. Slouch Boots; 4. Large shoulder bag

So, what do you want this year?