She Likes Purple

#marchphotoaday

I'm crazy behind on about a dozen posts I want/need to write. Behind on my own deadlines, not behind because you're biting your nails to read them, I should clarify. 

Anyway, first up in my long list of need-to-write-those-suckers posts is a wrap-up of my March photos via Instagram. (Oh, hey! Raise your hand if you're desperately wishing you had invented Instagram this week? Me too!) 

(Here's February) 

"Neighborhood": This is the main street in my little town. We can walk here from our house and there are a handful of places to eat and hang out. It's such a sell for the area, and while I can't imagine living in Texas the rest of my life, I can absolutely imagine living here the rest of my life. (Which doesn't make any sense, I know.)

"Fruit": I snapped this in the produce section of Target. The lady waiting to actually buy lemons looked totally unamused.

"Up": This is the wood-paneled ceiling in our hallway. It's one of my favorite parts of the house.

"Window": This is the view out my office window. I'm lucky that I have my own office and my own big window, so we're going to focus on that and not that my view is horrible. 

"Clouds": I think this photo is a bit self-explanatory, don't you?

"Smile": Oh this kid. His hair is unruly and wild and it grows so fast, I can't keep up, and that's before you consider how lazy his parents are. So, he often looks like he needs a haircut. When I look back on all his toddler/pre-school photos one day, though, I know I won't sigh with regret over not cutting his hair more often. I'm going to instead remember how perfectly his crazy hair suited him. 

"5pm": Quitting time! 

"Your name": Kyle's first daycare made this card for me with a photo of him inside on my first Mother's Day. I have had it in my office ever since.

"Feet": Kyle's new shoes. He calls them his "skateboard shoes," which is definitely accurate but I'm also not sure at all where he picked that up. 

#febphotoaday

If you're on Instagram (or, hey, even if you're not) you probably know that in 2012 a list of photo prompts has made the rounds with specific hashtags by month. I like the idea mostly because it reminds me to take more photos, which I'm naturally pretty bad at. This is one reason (of many?) why I'll never be an uber-popular blogger. Most of the uber-popular bloggers take photos of their lives while I just watch a lot of tv.

I participated in February and probably will again in March and I thought I'd round up those photos here. I didn't take a photo every day, either because the prompts got weird (does anyone really want to see a photo of "inside my bathroom cabinet" because I'm pretty sure my Band-aids look just like yours) or because all the prompting in the world can't make me a completely different person, and I plain forgot some days.

"Your view today": This is my view most mornings, as I start my drive to work. I love that Instagram made my drive look kinda beautiful when it's really just annoying as hell.

"Words": This is a signed copy of one of our books, an anthology on The Vampire Diaries. One of the editors signed it for me at Comic-Con this year, and she signed it "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, and Lots of Vervain," which I love so much.

"Hands": Kyle's hands, playing with the camera he got for Christmas. 

"10am": We were at my in-laws, having a morning playdate with Kyle's cousins, who he just plain adores. Can't you see the happy written all over him?

"Dinner": I wanted to make something fancy this night, to impress all my Instagram friends, but my desire to be cooler than I am is usually trumped by my laziness. So, here's some hummus (which photographs horribly) doused in hot sauce with some delicious sweet potato chips.  

"Self-portrait": I look so sleepy! Or annoyed! Or sad! I can't tell what expression I'm really making here. I didn't mean it, whatever it is. Behind me you can see the Veronica Mars anthology cover that I have framed in my office.

"Makes you happy": Hi Mike! He does make me happy (as does his sweatshirt), but this particular day was my morning to sleep in, and I woke to bagels and coffee in bed, so I was happy for like 10 different reasons.

"Blue": Beautiful, beautiful (turquoise) blue appliance. I just realized the bowl is missing but it's because I had just USED my mixer (notice the mini banana muffins on the cooling rack in the background).

"Something new": New cupcake shop in town. Not just in town, my friends, IN WALKING DISTANCE IN TOWN. I can now walk to burgers, pizza, barbecue, Mexican, fried chicken, and now cupcakes. I can also walk to yoga, but guess which I walk to more? 

"Handwriting": A note I have in my office, that I hand wrote when work was particularly stressful for me. You can also see the quote here. 

"A fave photo of you": From our honeymoon. We were so tan and young and happy. We're still one of those things, at least. Funny though, about a minute after we took this (self-timer FTW!), I fell down the stairs of our villa, so the look of pure relaxation on my face was fleeting. Very fleeting. Because I was bleeding not long after.

"Where you work": Yep, that's my building. 

"Something you're listening to": When I thought of the prompt, this is what song was on my Pandora shuffle. 

***

Here's the list of March photo prompts if you want to play along this month! (You should, too.)

My 2011

(2007, 2008, 2009, 2010; first inspired all those years ago by Linda)

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

I ran a half-marathon, started a book club, got a Brazilian bikini wax (ouch), went to a Cubs game, visited Utah, introduced Kyle to some of Mike's family, watched my brother graduate high school. This was a year of a lot of firsts. Happy to see that in hindsight..

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

My list got dusty this year, but I have high hopes for 2012. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

A handful of close friends (including A'Dell) and then nearly every other friend got pregnant. 2011: the year of the belly! 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Mike's great-aunt's husband, who we weren't close to, but it turns out he was a pretty fascinating guy. I wish we hadn't waited to hear his stories until after he was gone. 

5. What countries did you visit?

Just the U.S., but I managed to get to eight states. That's something! Washington, Illinois, New York, California (twice), Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn't have in 2011?

I'd like to have a grown-up, well-decorated, well-organized, mostly-clean-most-of-the-time house.

7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

December 4th, my first half-marathon and December 25th. We had a really lovely Christmas this year and I'd like to keep that memory close.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

That pesky half-marathon but, also, every early morning or long run I finished this summer and fall. They were each accomplishments in their own right.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Anytime I yelled or lost my patience at someone in my immediate family always sucks it big time, and I'm going to try much harder in 2012 to keep my cool. I also gained most of the weight back I lost during Biggest Blogging Loser. New year, new start, my friends.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

It was a much healthier year for my family except for Mike's 75 Man Colds and a handful of daycare-caused things. Those were all annoying, but nothing will compare to 2009: the year Kyle was sick every two weeks. I am shocked I still have a job.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Every year it's always travel-related things: plane tickets, hotel rooms, nice dinners in new towns. I never regret the trips I take or the memories I make on them.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Is it super cheesy to say Kyle's? I loved the shit out of age two and I'm weepy over the thought of saying goodbye to it. Not because I don't want Kyle to get older, but I just fell in love with this age. He was hilarious, sweet, fun, and so funny much of the time. 2011 wasn't my favorite year in some ways, but I sure loved loved loved being a mom this year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I'll just say this: You can't argue with crazy. You can sip wine while crazy argues alone.

14. Where did most your money go?

Bills. Daycare. Our (stupid) car fixes. Travel.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

An endless list of things from new Gossip Girl episodes to trips to Vegas. But, I think what I enjoyed the most was our family road trip this summer. It was everything I wanted it to be and then some. Except Roswell. What a complete let down that town was.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Probably any song by Adele. I think it was the music industry's goal for 2011 to overplay every one of her songs.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Happier: yes
Thinner: unfortunately, the same 
Richer: yes 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Gone to bed earlier

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Comfort eat, stress, shriek, overreact, worry. Will I ever learn?

20. How did you spend Christmas?

We had such a nice weekend, at home, with our family, my mom, and Mike's parents. 

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

I loved it before, of course, but this year I fell in love with motherhood in new, cool ways. I also fell in love with some big ideas I've got. Stay tuned.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Shockingly: Friday Night Lights. Runners-up: Parks and Rec & Awkward. 

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

This isn't a person, but I really hated summer this year. It was just impossibly brutal and soul-sucking. If we ever leave Texas, I'll probably look back on this summer as the official catalyst.

24. What was the best book you read?

Water for Elephants

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I lamely didn't discover much new music this year that wasn't playing on a CW show. Maybe this is a good time to ask you for great music recommendations to carry me into 2012? 

26. What did you want and get?

I wanted a girl's night out dinner for my birthday. I wanted to finish the half-marathon without having to crawl across the finish line. I  wanted to see my brother graduate high school. I wanted happy family memories. Got, got, got, got.

27. What did you want and not get?

Those damn investment jeans. This year, you'll be mine, jeans!

28. What was your favorite film of 2011?

I didn't see much but I really enjoyed Midnight in Paris. All you nerdy writer types would, too. 

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 29 way back in January, and I had a gathering at my house and then went out the next night for a fancy dinner with all my girls. It was perfect.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Lottery jackpot, reliable cars, a less brutal summer, no commute.  

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2009?

Cute on special occassions, slobby at work. I have got to change that.

32. What kept you sane?

You, Mike, Kyle, Kristie on all those long runs, bad tv, sparkling wine, running, my book club, my running club, Pinterest. 

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Same, most years: gay marriage might be against your religion but that actually works out fine since no one is forcing you into one. People just want to be able to get married far away from you and your beliefs, and why we're still having this discussion at the beginning of 2012 is beyond me. I get angrier and angrier about it each year. 

(I am sure I don't mean you as in you but the more "general you" part of the population that is against this civil right.)

34. Who did you miss?

If you don't live in driving distance, I miss you. 

35. Who was the best new person you met?

At the beginning of the year, I got an email from Jen, a friend from college. We were in a few classes together and were also in the same sorority but were never that close. Anyway, she found my blog and the Biggest Blogging Loser competition, which she then joined. We began emailing more and more.

She was in Chicago at the time, so when Mike and I went for a long weekend, we met up with her and her husband Adam for a Cubs game, a lot of beers, and a delicious dinner. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

She then moved to Dallas this fall, and has become such a good friend. While I didn't officially meet her this year, it's been so great getting to know her and hanging out with a couple we really like. 

I'm also glad to have met and become close with some new blog friends: Erica, Julie, Caitlin, Kate, Tara, and a handful more. 

Good year for my circle of people.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

See #13.

Also:

- I need to start believing in myself as much as I believe in those around me. I'll be the first to tell you that you can do something, that you're awesome and capable and strong, but I get all negative and tough on myself in a totally similar situation. I don't know where that comes from or why but I learned this year that the only way to get me across any finish line (figuratively, literally) is to believe I can get there. 

- Life is not a linear experience and so many interactions come back to us, at some point. So be nice to people, as much as possible. 

- If you go to bed after midnight, you wake up feeling like you went to bed after midnight.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Not that this lyric really sums up 2011, but it was nice to hear it this year and then I kept returning to it for comfort when I needed it:

Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name
--"Murder in the City" by the Avett Brothers

***

I hope your year was happy, my friends, and I really hope that 2012 knocks it out of the park. I look forward to sharing next year with you and hearing all about yours in return.  

My Somewhat Neglected Year To-Do List

I love my year to-do list, but sheesh it's a little dusty, is it not?

There are still some things I hope to cross off before the ball drops -- create Kyle's book of letters, write and submit a piece on parenting -- and I have roughly two weeks to do it, so I better get cracking. But, there are many things I plan to carry over into my 2012 to-do list because I know I am happier and better when I go after my goals (even if I don't happen to check them off in a timely fashion).

2012 is a big year. I turn 30 in January, Kyle turns three (!!!!!) in February, Mike and I celebrate five years of marriage in May. Big stuff, grand stuff, happy stuff.

I know a new year isn't a quick fix or really any more of a fresh start than your average Tuesday, but it sure feels different. Especially this year. So, I'm putting together a new list, thinking about some big-time changes, and, yeah, happy for what's ahead.

(I have a good feeling about 30, my friends.)

In 2012, I definitely want to write more here, specifically. Working and half-marathon training and other-site managing and freelancing and toddler wrangling and just being plain addicted to my DVR turns out to be distractingly time-consuming stuff. I also second guess my posts way more than I used to and I want to quit that (tell me to quit that) because I like writing here. It makes me happy, no matter what I'm really writing about. So, 2012 is the year I get back to clogging your feed readers. You're welcome! 

Part of writing more means flat-out planning my posts in advance and that means writing more for my Real Marraiges series (I need to get an in-laws post up, but I just can't be the one to write it) and maybe starting a Working Moms series. (Totally and admittedly inspired by Ginger.) It also means just posting way more pictures of shoes I'm coveting. Good times, yes, I know.

Before I talk any more about my 2012 list (it's coming soon) and my plans, what do you have planned for 2012? Maybe your goals will inspire new ones for me, and, even if not, I'd love to hear what you're excited about. Houses, babies, trips, businesses, big ideas that are going to change the world, or, hey, cute shoes you want to buy? One thing you should know about this blog: there's always time for cute shoes.

The Blathering 2012: Big Easy Edition

That's right, the Blathering is headed to New Orleans in 2012 and you can register today, if you want. You should, too! That'll make it easier for me to know who to send my excited and probably a little annoying emails to, gushing about what fun we're going to have in ... well, too many months from now, stupid rules of time.

We plan to roll out more information as we have it (on the official website, which is a lovely splash page now but will have more information on it soon and on Twitter and Facebook), so follow, like, bookmark, insert appropriate social media lingo here.

(If you're wondering what on earth the Blathering is, check out my recap from this past year in Austin and two years ago in Sacramento.)

See you there? I hope so!

13 Things

I'm heading to The Blathering this week (hooray!) and am pretty stoked about it. I love Austin, I love the ladies I've met through the internet and through blogging, and I really love eating. Combine all these things, and the weekend's a win before it even starts.

If you're going, and we don't know each other that well, here's a little about me. (And here are the 13 Things I wrote pre-Blathering in 2009. Many of them still apply!)

1. I want to meet each and every one of the attendees. I love meeting new people, I love finding out what I may have in common with each person. Sure, it's possible we don't read each other's blogs (or don't read them often), but that's okay! We can still become fast friends, and I hope we do.

2. I like karaoke. If the night inches toward that outcome, I'll probably sing "Don't Stop Believin'" loudly and very horribly.

3. I'm training for a half-marathon, so while it's not really of character for me to get up early during a weekend away to run a bunch of miles, I'll be doing just that this weekend.

4. (So, tell me to put the third beer I'll most likely be drinking on Friday night down, ok?)

5. I co-edit and co-manage two awesome sites (Style Lush and Food Lush) that I'm really proud of, but mostly I'm ridiculously excited to have so many of the writers of those sites in one space at one time. (Not to mention, all three editors together for the first time. There will be excited screams, unfortunately for anyone with ears.)

6. I live in Texas, and I'm one of those annoying people who complain constantly about living here while getting stupidly offended if someone else talks badly about it (unless they too live here).

7. I like to have dessert on vacation. So, yeah, who's with me?

8. My phone dies a lot. I need a new, much-better battery, so if you're trying to get a hold of me and I'm not answering and that's becoming really frustrating for you, you now have something in common with my husband. I'll give you his number, and he'll probably answer, so you can commiserate with him.

9. I'll take a tequila shot. I probably won't take any other kind of shot. I don't know what this says about me.

10. I'd rather walk a mile than pay to park, but I realize that's annoying, so I'll try to curb that particular facet of my cheapness this weekend.

11. I plan to bring a big purse, so I can carry a pair of flip-flops with me when we go out at night. I love heels, I just don't wear them often, so this is how I reconcile the new me with the old. Wear the fun shoes! But bring back-up.

12. I have no idea when or how this will work, but I really want to steal away to my favorite Austin coffee shop and just read for a little while. Is there anything that screams VACATION more than reading, in a coffee shop, without anywhere to hurry off to afterward?

13. I plan to eat the heck out of some queso even though queso is readily available to me on a daily basis. (Remind me and Natalie to tell you our HILARIOUS queso story, by the way.)

***

You know, it's kind of overwhelming to travel anywhere to meet a big group of people, especially when you don't know every single person in that group. I'm as nervous as you are, but it'll be fine. We'll have a great time. We'll get to know each other better and leave with fun stories and deeper friendships.

We'll be reminded, for either the first or second or hundredth time, that the internet can be about making money and branding and social media networking and Klout and all that stuff that has its place -- and I actually enjoy a lot of those things! -- but the internet can also be about making real and lasting friendships.

The Blathering is about finally taking those friendships offline, sitting in a backyard with those friends, sipping beers and talking about life together.

See you in Austin!

Where I Force Mike to Record the Accent Vlog with Me

So, yeah, there's this vlog-type thing popping up all over the internet, and it's basically one big, crazy way of proving we all speak kinda weird. Except for me. I speak absolutely awesome.

You'll believe that for another .3 seconds before you hit play.

(While there's a special shout out to Natalie and Jonna (and Adam!), we love you all equally, you must know.)

So, do we have accents?

Good friends

The talented and oh-so lovely Natalie stayed with us, too quickly, over the weekend. I got to take her for burgers and then we talked until 1am about friends, our kids, the internet, good husbands, marathons, Matt Damon, and so much more. She's a breath of fresh, talented, intelligent air, and there's no better way I can think to describe her.

Sunday morning, she generously snapped some photos of Kyle and me (she owns and runs Hazeled Photography), including this photo. She captured my boy, just perfectly.

Kyle took to Natalie right away and while I showered Sunday morning, he told her everything she needed to know about Cars and puzzles and his favorite books. As she was leaving, she told him about her family: her girls, her dog, her cats. "Oh, your cats will love me," he said, nodding confidently.

You don't need a high Klout score or sponsored posts or an invite to some mega-exclusive retreat to win at blogging. You just need to meet someone like Natalie.

Trust me.

Elsewhere: The Frog & Snail Society

I'm over at the lovely Frog & Snail Society today, chatting about my favorite kid's book (the same book I've already chatted about here, even; it's that good!).

Head over and read my write-up and add the boy-celebrating site to your feed readers. Because boys are pretty ridiculously awesome as every single mom of a boy knows.

My Typical Day

Ginger offered up a pretty fun writing prompt about our typical day. I'm happy to play along. So, you know, here goes...

***

6:45 am: Kyle is up! I know this because instead of waking up to my alarm (that I set for around 7 am) I wake up to "MOMMY! I WAKE UP! MOMMY! I WANT CHOCOLATE MILK AND MICKEY MOUSE!"

7: I can occassionally get him back to sleep for a half hour or so. I usually can't and we get up and get the following: juice, breakfast, Mickey Mouse, snuggles. (In that order.) (He does not need chocolate milk no matter how many times he tells you he does. FYI.)

7:10: I jump in the shower and Mike gets up to hang out with Kyle.

7:20-45: Get ready.

7:45-8: Kiss the boys (Mike usually takes Kyle to school) and I'm out the door! I cross all my fingers that my usual hour commute isn't made longer by random traffic or an accident or people craning their necks to look at the accident on the other side of the freeway. My crossed fingers work about half the time.

9-11:30: Sit down, check email, start Pandora, check the news and work-related blogs, work work work email email email. Some meetings. Some calls. More email.

11:30: I usually eat lunch at my desk but every so often we go out. My favorite place near my office is Roma's, an Italian joint I wrote about over at Food Lush a while back. There's also a pretty good Indian buffet. Or a Denny's. You know, if that's your thing.

12:30 pm: More of the same.

1:30: A lot of my meetings are in the afternoon, so if I have one, I start prepping for it about now.

3: I NEED CAFFEINE. Either in the form of an iced coffee or Diet Coke.

5: I usually leave, but occasionally I work until 6 pm if Kyle is with Mike (he stays home Mondays) or my mother-in-law (who lives close and is a teacher, so she gets him every now and then).

5-6: Drive home. I usually call Cherie, Natalie, or my sister on my drive. Or, I make any number of to-do type calls. The drive home is always worse than the drive in because I want to get to Kyle pretty ridiculously badly.

6: I get Kyle and every single day I pick him up, he runs to me and yells out "MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY!" The other kids yell, "KYLE'S MOMMY!" Oh, guys. It's the best part of my day, hands down. I chat with his teacher for a minute, let him clean up, and we walk out into the awful, horrible heat and Kyle yells, "GO AWAY SUN!" Then I say, "What do we want?" And he yells back, "WINTER!" Brainwashing is fun.

6:10-6:30: Occasionally I have to swing by the store to get something for dinner or something for Kyle's school. I actually love the grocery store, so it's kind of a fun stop. (I KNOW.) The bank is in the same center, so I combine the two when I can. I just realized my typical day is kind of pathetically lame.

6:30-7: This half hour always varies. Sometimes: Kyle plays, we play together, when it's not so hot outside I openly weep we play outside, I do the dishes (Kyle helps), Kyle watches a movie while I start/make dinner, we collapse on the couch together and vow we'll sleep more (mainly just me on that last part).

7-7:30: Kyle eats and I usually eat with him. I start the "it's getting close to bedtime" warning, so he's not caught off guard. You'd think he'd never be, since it happens every night, but that warning is crucial, oh is it.

7:30-45: Bath (not every night, who am I, a superhero?), pjs, two books (although he'll always try to negotiate for a few more), and snuggles. This is my second favorite part of the day.

7:45-8: Clean up the kitchen, ignore the laundry, change into my work-out clothes, collapse onto the couch again.

8-9: Write, edit for Style Lush and Food Lush, occasional freelance work, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.

9:08: Mike pulls into the driveway from work and leaves the car running so I can get to the gym in time to squeeze in a run. Thankfully it's like three blocks away. I have about an hour, and that's plenty of time for now, but when my half-marathon training gets longer and longer, I'll have to do more and more morning runs. (Which means getting up about an hour or two earlier.)

9:45-10: Home and into a quick shower.

10-10:30: Talk to Mike about our days and anything cute Kyle said or did after school, maybe watch something together.

10:30-11:30: More writing/editing if needed. If not, more time with Mike.

11:30-on: I try to go to bed around midnight, but it all depends on what's on my DVR queue and on my to-do list. One last thing I do before heading to bed: sneak into check on Kyle. He's always sleeping. He never stirs even when I kiss him one more time. No matter how much he changes, I always have that moment at the end of the day, and it makes every other moment absolutely, hands-down worth it.

***

Your turn! What's your typical day like?

Pinning, Lately

So, Pinterest, are you on it? (You should be, and then you should befriend me, so I can bogart all your awesome ideas and links.) What I'd love even more than the site as it is now, is if what you just pinned would then magically appear before you. If it's art, boom! It's on your wall. If it's a pretty skirt, bam! It's in your closet. If it's yummy homemade Twix bars, voila! It's totally in your stomach. The ideas and creations are something but making them appear in my life without any effort or money would really be something.

Get on that, you!

Anyway, if you're not on Pinterest, here are a few of my favorite pins lately.

These are lyrics from an Avett Brothers' song, "Murder in the City." I love it.

This is what I'd like to do with my race medals, when I have more than one, that is.

I think I've finally decided on something like this for over our couch, but what lyrics/phrases to frame?

I'm a fan of this outfit. Someone make it mine.

Slow cooker chicken tikki masala. Going on the September menu.

Funfetti sandwich cookies. I think I'll make these for Kyle's teachers next week, when he officially moves classes. (I DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT IT. HE IS TOO BIG.)

I love the idea of framing a photo from a big day, surrounded by newspaper clippings from that same day. As long as you don't cut out clips from the crime section. That'd be less sweet.

A year of magical thinking. I shall absolutely do this in 2012. Remind me, though, would you?

Anything you've been pinning lately?

We have a winner!

For the champagne flutes I'm giving away.

Amy!

Who I know loves champagne, which makes me happy to give her these. Amy, I'll email you, friend, to make sure I have your address correct.

1000th Post Giveaway!

This is my 1000th post.

That is quite a lot of words.

Some of my favorite posts, in case you're new or interested or have reached the end of the internet and care to travel down internet memory lane with me:

My Love List
So Far, So Long
Secret Super-fan
Timeline Seventeen
There We Were, Here We Are
First Letter
I Hope I'm Wrong
More Than You
Keeping Up
The Year of the Rat
I Hope He's Found Her

***

I started a blog on MySpace and moved it over to Typepad on a whim one night in 2007 while Mike watched The Sopranos. I'm damn glad I didn't like that show and needed something to distract me from it. New blog tagline: Brought to You by Tony Soprano's Annoying Face.

Anyway, I don't know if you read often or just stop by every now and then or stumbled upon this space on this particular day because you were Googling random things about Veronica Mars but, oh boy, am I grateful you are here, no matter how often.

I wanted to host a little giveaway, to celebrate reaching 1,000 posts. I mean, that's worth celebrating, right? Having THAT much to say is a feat. An endlessly chatty feat!

What would be more perfect to give away than champagne flutes? My love of bubbles is well-documented (oh look, lots and lots of champagne), and even if you don't love them nearly as much as I do (how could you, really?), you should still have pretty glasses to drink from.

 

Two flutes, from Crate and Barrel, to anyone living in (or claiming an address in) the U.S. The bottle of champagne will have to be on you, but if you're looking for someone to sip with you, let me know!

Just comment below. You can comment with anything, favorite book right now, new favorite artist you've discovered, favorite Etsy shop, favorite thing you've cooked this week, something you're looking forward to, anything at all.

(I'll pick a randomly selected winner by Friday. Or Monday. Depending on how busy Friday shapes up to be.)

***

Last night, Kyle turned to me and said, "Claire called and is coming over to play and have juice." He was so sure that had happened, and when I asked him how she had called, he looked at me, annoyed, and said, "On the phone, Mommy." Like, GOD WOMAN, YOU ARE DENSE.

Kyle only knows Claire because A'Dell and I met through blogging.

I have a million other stories I could share just like that one. Stories that remind me why blogging is so grand. It's brought me good, good things, and I'll do it until the day it stops.

Food Lush on Facebook!

Speaking of food, Food Lush is all grown-up! It has a Facebook page, which officially means it's big time. Or maybe it means we created a Facebook page for it. The former sounds better, so let's go with that.

We'll include links to our posts and other fun, internet, food finds, so if Facebook is your social media drug site of choice, give us a "like" and follow along.

Food Lush on Facebook!

(And a big, huge amount of thanks for your continued support for both Lush sites.)

What to Do in New York City: Eat at Locanda Verde

Last week, I was in New York for work and just like every other trip to every other city, I had to seek out my best blog friends to catch up with. I didn't feel like I had much free time, but I did manage a few really delicious meals after work was done each day and one such meal on one such day was with Metalia and Jen.

Metalia, the local of the group, sent us a couple restaurant choices ahead of time, and I suggested we go to the one she'd never been to, so we could all try something new.

The place was Locanda Verde.

It was incredible.

When you're in New York next, make your way to Tribeca (a 15-minute cab ride from Times Square, where we unfortunately stayed) and then send me a thank-you note in the form of any of the crostini options (the blue crab was my favorite but thoughts of the sheep's milk ricotta will carry me through my Vegan Summer).

I'd also suggest ordering the La Fantasia di Cioccolato for two (even if it's just you; we don't judge), which is just a fancy ice cream sundae that I could not stop eating even though I was well past the point of full.

The menu is kind of sophisticated, true, which is what drove us to our phones to Google half the terms on the menu to figure out what the heck we might be ordering, such as guanciale (turns out: bacon!), but the food wasn't overly sophisticated at all. It was simple and flavorful and ridiculously good.

Although, sure, it also helped that while we waited for our table, Justin Long walked through the restaurant. He totally asked for my number.

(Except that he didn't, at all.)

If I was a good food blogger, I'd now insert my many near-professional photos of everything I tasted.

Spoiler: I am not a good food blogger.

Regardless, it was such a tasty meal with good friends. You should trust me and go as soon as you possibly can. Here's an idea, take me with you when you do!

My Five Favorite Fabulous Bloggers (Well, Five of A Million)

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

***

First things first, a little something about this post. I signed up through Clever Girls Collective to write this compensated post about five fabulous bloggers because that just sounded too good to be true. I already write about my favorite bloggers often enough, and I don't necessarily think getting a little money for a little something you already love doing is a bad thing.

(If I could just figure out a way to get paid to nap.)

One thing that was mentioned in the introductory email from CGC was, "How do you define fabulous, anyway?" And I loved that they 1) asked this and 2) acknowledged that the definition could very well change from person to person. I mean, one person's fabulous is another person's acid-washed skinny jeans, right?

How do I define fabulous? Extraordinary people who use their words, emails, notes, texts, posts, smiles, and truths to make things better. They are inspiring, but not necessarily in the vintagey-Instagram photo way, but in the "super decent and kind and hilarious" way.

***

My list!

1. Jonna. Are you reading Jonna? Oh, silly question, of course you are, and of course you know I am since I traveled to the East Coast and stayed with her for nearly a week! (I mean, you don't just up and TRAVEL somewhere and STAY with a blogger unless you think she's fabulous.) But why do I think she's fabulous? Well, a ridiculous number of reasons, but one that stands out is when Mike got some bad news from work about a year ago and it was financially tough on us and emotionally tough on us, and when I vented to Jonna, her response to me was: "Say the word, and I'll get on a plane and help you through it."

She meant that too.

2. Beth. I've never met Beth, actually, although that can't be right? Can it? See, she writes like she's chatting with you, over coffee (or tequila), so I feel we've been chatting for years. I just find her fabulous in that I know she's got normal problems and normal frustrations, but she's not trying to sweep those under the rug. She owns them, she makes jokes about them, and then she writes incredibly about them.

3. Elizabeth. I forgot -- until recently -- that Elizabeth wrote this post for me, as a guest post when I was out of town once. She's not only fabulous because she's clearly a fabulous friend, but because she's just Elizabeth, so grounded, so talented, so honest, and she grows tomatoes and remodels her kitchen and hosts a house full of crazy bloggers and still manages to run a site with me, and sometimes a superhero rockstar woman is just a great reminder that we can all do whatever we want, we just have to shut up already and do it.

4. Natalie. I've met a lot of bloggers and 99% of the experiences have been, well, fabulous, but when I met Natalie for brunch last March and then stayed overnight at her house again this March, I was struck both times by how unbelievably and incredibly kind she is. She's kind in a warm, confident way, and she's also beautiful and ambitious and talented (seriously, take a look at Hazeled, her photography site) and after all that, she'll offer you a bed to sleep in, a glass of wine to sip, and encouragement for whatever it is you're facing.

We live in the same state (admittedly, it's kind of a big state), but if we lived just a little closer, we'd spend an endless amount of time together, I'm sure (I hope!).

5. Hillary. I think Hillary is fabulous for a lot of reasons (she's cool, she's honest, she lives in Vancouver) but I just identify and relate to her in a way that's hard to describe. I see myself in her writing, and I feel like I really get her and what she's trying to say when she writes. (I've probably officially creeped her out by saying all that. Sorry, Hillary!) She also has great post titles, which is not an easy-to-come-by skill, you know?

***

I was asked to pick just five and that was not an easy task at all. I could have picked 50 more, but I went ahead and went with my gut and just wrote about the first five that came to mind. They are fabulous, inspiring, strong women, and, really, they should hear that as often as possible. 

***

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Me, Elsewhere

1. I shared the tastiest dessert I'm enjoying these days (and, yes, it's a wee bit trashy) over at Food Lush.

2. I'm waffling between sandals to wear this summer. (What say you?)

3. Some travel-related posts: Old Town in San Diego, dine at Island Prime, think Fort Worth for your next vacation (no, really!), how to travel cheaper, and our really fabulous Chicago hotel.

4. Finally, I re-capped the pre-finale episode of The Vampire Diaries (through a top-ten list).

***

(What have you been writing?)

Hey, thanks!

Thanks to everyone for the nice comments and sweet offers to hunt down those small children to beat them senseless for Kyle. It might not make sense to anyone tuning in late, but that really did mean so much.

Kyle's a sweet kid, but he's not super sensitive (at least, not nearly as sensitive as I am), so when things like The Park Bully Incident of May (what I'm now calling it) happen, he just kind of rolls with it. I try really hard to react similarly because when I do get upset, that's when he gets upset. Do you have any idea how often that child of mine heals me? He inspires me to react better in stressful situations and he can't eve use the toilet yet. Gosh, that's something. (Although it'll really be something when he can do both, am I right?)

This is just a very quick, popping-in-to-say-thanks kind-of post before I collapse in bed after a week of super late nights and emotional trauma on the smalltown playground. Phew, I need a drink! Anyway, there is Water for Elephants on my nightstand and Parks and Rec on my DVR, and even if there are jackass children out there (and jackass parents raising them), there are no jackassess currently in my house, unless you count Molly who got mud all over our couch and didn't offer to help clean it up or even appear to be the slightest bit remorseful. 

But, really, thank you.

You're the best Internet Aunties in the world. Kyle would give you each sloppy kisses if you lived close.

Belated Anniversary of All These Words

I always, always, always forget this blog's anniversary, and I have no idea why. I love this space more than I can really say. This space that's given me Jonna and Elizabeth and A'Dell (whose new baby I got to hold tonight) and half the members of my favorite Book Club and a guaranteed dinner date in nearly every city I visit and advice and love and laughter and a million more happy things including two sites I may have started but I certainly don't carry alone. In fact, when people ask me for parenting advice I usually say "start a blog!" and then I recommend they send me thank-you notes in the form of booze.

Blogging is a gift you give yourself, if you do it right and for the right reasons. Sure, it'd be fabulous to make a zillion dollars all because you write about your fabulous life and family but that's not all that realistic. (Not to say I'm going to reject anyone who wants to give me that amount of money because they think I'm worth it, not at all. Email me and we'll talk!) But, you don't do it for the promise of fame or riches or you'll always be disappointed.

You do it because sometimes your husband forgets to do the dishes for the NINE THOUSANDTH TIME and you know there's someone out there who will commiserate with you. You do it because your son has colic and you're scared he'll always have colic, so you throw out your desperate need to know you're not alone (and you aren't). You do it because you have a past with hating your body and hating your weight and that hate manifests itself in all sorts of crazy, unhealthy ways and you want to shed all that pain and you only know how to do it through writing.

You do it because you're a mother, and because this is a role you both never knew you could hope for and never stopped hoping for. You do it because you want to remember every inch of motherhood -- the good, the bad, the horrible, the beautiful, the rest of it. 

You do it because you're a wife, and before the baby and the job and the house and the monthly mortgage and monthly menus, you were simply in love, and there will always be a thread of that in everything you do and everything you write about.

You blog because you have to. Your hands start moving before the rest of you catches up. Writing is in some of us the way breathing is in all of us.

So, yes, my blog's anniversary was a couple week's ago, and I meant to celebrate it with more than a belated, much-too-introspective post, but this is me we're talking about. I freaking master the belated, introspective post.

Do me a favor, then, in honor of my Big Fourth Blogging Anniversary: Who is the best friend you've made through blogging? (Feel free to say one or one hundred names. I never judge.) Or, the best thing you've discovered through blogging? The best place you've visited because of blogging. Something good about the hobby, basically. I want to hear it.

If you never comment (or usually don't comment), comment today. I'd really love that. And, more than anything, ever, thank you for reading. Today, tomorrow, four years ago, whenever, just thank you.

Me, Elsewhere

Hiya. How has your week been? Highs? Lows?

So, what I have been up to when it comes to writing around the web? Glad you asked!

1. If you've been reading long enough, you know Kyle is The Boy of a Thousand Co-Pays (only a slight exaggeration). Silver lining to all that: I did actually learn a thing or two after all those viruses and fevers. What I learned and how to handle a sick baby over at North Hills Hospital blog.

2. My new favorite salsa at Food Lush (a Fort Worth company, too).

3. A really great Italian restaurant find in Dallas. So delicious and so cheap.

4. At Style Lush, I encourage you to love what you wear.

5. My travel-related posts: My five favorite hotels in Vegas (for walking through); my love for Wrigleyville and the Cubs; my plans to run the Rock N Roll half-marathon in Vegas for my upcoming 30th birthday; the best meal we had in Chicago: Tango Sur; and a few must-eats on the island of St. John. (Comment on all, please!)

6. My first post is up at C-Squared's new blog.

Happy weekend to you!