a simple wish list...

folksy flannels - anna maria horner

Does that help, sweetheart?

just click the picture to the link, and buy.

go ahead.

click.

...are you clicking?

you're not clicking.

that's okay.

I have everything I need.

I just want to savor your love and affection

for Christmas.

and gift cards.

click already.

there are brains in the kitchen.

I don't usually watch daytime television. Well, ever, really. But while I was cueing up Kung Fu Panda yesterday morning, Rachel Ray was on and I caught a glimpse of that funny guy Tom from the old Ed bowling alley show. I watched for a minute, because he's funny, and then remembered why I don't watch daytime television.

Because they're smart.

The smart people manipulate you with these previews of what's coming up, and what's on tomorrow, and go to our website, and have this free stuff, and look what you missed...and you're a sucker.

Well, Rachel said she was sharing cool kitchen tips in the next segment, and I became a sucker. Don't do it.

3 segments and 50 million impatient kung fu chops later, there was Rachel in her kitchen. (bright lights and a choir of angels) With beautiful gadgets. And just when I thought the can opener on waxed paper would bring me good tidings of great joy...she got to her last tip. I knew it was fate that brought me there to the kitchen of Rachel Ray that morning. She was beautiful to me.

The hanger cookbook holder.

brilliance.

I hung a cookbook up all day. Just so I could look at it.

And then my cute hanger looked all naked and chilly.

So the smart people dared me to do this.
The not-naked-anymore hanger cookbook holder.

Thank you smart people.
Don't call me at 10:00 am. Me and Rach are busy.

Here is my previous solution to reading big books in the kitchen.

The naked-hammered-pliered-shut spoon cookbook bookmark...holder.

she does good work.

happy weekend.

blast that rabbit.

the Velvet one.



I told Dani she could read until 8:30. So she comes wandering out of her room at 9:00 and just sits down, like, no biggie. Up with the A-dults. jUst hangin'.


Girl, lights were out at 8:30...she says they have been out. she just can't sleep. she's uncomfortable.


The reason why becomes ever so evident as I walk her back to her room.
She's placed every whoppin' stuffed animal ever created on her bed, like a Fair Paraphernelia Party, but without the stank of corndogs, barely leaving a corner for her curled up little body. Wha, huh?!



"Chuckle. chuckle. WEll this is why you can't sleep, hunny. What's going on?"

"What?" says she. "They each need my individual attention. "

"But, uh, don't you think you'll be a much happier sleepin' child if you weren't overtaken by a gagillion stuffed entities? I think they'll be okay. "

"No. Says the Velveteen Rabbit."




ponder ponder. remembering. childhood...crying...wailing...over that blasted rabbit



"Okay. I get it. Let's at least push 'em over then."

"That was a sad book, mom."

"I know."





And there they'll stay.

Princess Peepers & Tuesday Mourning

I love this book. WRitten by Pam Calvert and illustrated by the incredible Tuesday Mourning; she is the best.

The pictures are so beautiful, and the story is sweet. A well written tale of a fashionable Princess with fancy spectacles who tries to fit in. But, of course, quickly learns she'd rather stand out.

Jake recently got glasses, and said he felt silly. I had a hard time convincing him being different isn't wierd, it's just different. And cool.

Jake hates all things pink-ish, shiny, and frilly. Even runs from it. but I found him yesterday in our chair reading pRincess Peepers. When he was done he smiled and said, "Hmmm. cool."

Love it.

Kacie set the book on her pillow and pointed at the pictures for 35 minutes, straight! That's huge for an attention span of negative 50 million.

TuesdayMourning is my favorite. Check her out...

nOW buy the book.

The Blog Book, via navel gazing

Go over to navel gazing and check out the blog book she's putting together for the nie nie fund.

It's called Sometimes LIfe is Funny...written by bloggers.

That's you. You're a blogger. A popular demographic.

So hurry, the deadline for submissions is September 30, like soon.

I've submitted some cover art, for fun. Because I'm feeling abmitious. This lady is in big blog status, so the chances of being included are like, major milk spittin' funny and I got 3 Degrees in Design from all the fancy schools my artsy parents own and I'm chummy with Martha Designer goodness. NOne of which fit my description.

But maybe not. Sue, we're on a first name basis, she doesn't know it, might be looking for totally normal dorky folks like ourselves. Um...I did not just insult my readership. YOu guys are the funniest dorky folks I know.

So go.

spill it about the wolf guy.

Has everyone finished the book yet?

Are we allowed to talk about it?

I have only read the first book, but I catch a bit of the drama from Team Edward, or otherwise. It seems the Moms For VampireLove Club has agreed to stay hush hush till the rest of America has had a chance to borrow the book. Sure, I could google a review, or read the book (duh), but it's easier to ask. If we wait for me to read them, I won't know how her non vampire super powers save the world or not until I'm old enough not to care. That's a bummer.

So does she pick the wolf or the vampire? Do they find a solution to their...um...can I say violent passion problem; kids versus eternal life sorta dilema?

Just a few details to fill my soap opera whodunit crave. That's all I ask. Open forum.

If you haven't finished the books, just don't read the comments and you'll be safe.

Okay, go.

i have two new favorite books.

When I was in New York, I picked up this book at a Paper Store. Not A Box, by Antoinette Portis. I immediately fell in love its paper bag cover and simple illustrations. The boys can recite the book themselves; it is a perfect comprehension level. And it teaches such a creative lesson on imagination. I love it.

Then we started out the summer with the Book Fair. Mo Willems was there signing books; we caught a very entertaining question & answer session with him. I was fascinated. He is incredibly talented.


Andy has loved his Pigeon books, so we bought one of those to get signed, and we bought this one for Joey.


I am IN LOVE with the Elephant & Piggie series after getting this book. It's illustrations are adorable sketches of characters you'll like right away. You understand each of their personalities and their hilarious relationship as you follow their fun & follies. We laugh out loud when we read this book, and I can't wait to buy more.


I haven't started reading a real book yet. I've got A Wrinkle in Time on my nightstand, but I choose to sleep instead. I promise I'll read, soon. My brain needs some grown up thought processes to chew on.

thankyou, Leslie Patricelli

Can this be more perfect?

Oh my gosh. I love this book. We're goin' out.

That's LESLIE PATRICELLI.

There's more. About loudness. Blankies. Yuckies. Binky's....

Something new and exciting for me...

I read. Sometimes.

In fact, I just finished a real book. It only took 5 months.

Not reading because you don't have time is obvious. I don't have time to blog, either. Not reading because it takes you a good week to come out of the place you just stepped into is a little more real for me. However, I made the decision to enlighten myself with the world of fiction to catch up with my fancy pants read-ee sisters who appear so sophisticated and intellectual when they talk about books.

So I leave a little early to pick up the kids from school, park in the car ride line, hope the boys fall asleep while we wait, and I read a chapter. Or half. Or less.

Has anyone read this book?

I know, it's not thick at all. 5 months, gimme a break.

I claim total ignorance when I bought this book. An impulse buy in the aisles of Target because I liked the cover. I was thinking Chronicles of Narnia or something. Intrigued, after reading the back...

If you start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old-boy named Bruno. (Though this isn't a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence.

Fences like this exist all over the world. We hope you never have to encounter one.

It wasn't until the 4th chapter I caught on that this book was serious. Even with the reference to "Out-With", I was still waiting for the talking goat. Duh.

John Boyne's ability to portray Bruno and Schmuel's naivety caught me. I was put on the level of my children, looking up, wondering what I'm talking about. Making my own interpretations. Never considering...the other side of the fence I suppose.

I kept reading. Interesting book. La-dee-dah. Then...Chapter Nineteen.

Oh...my...goodness. What? No.

It's taking me a while to get myself out of that place with Bruno and Schmuel.

So I need a new book. Shannon Hale, the Goose Girl? I own A Wrinkle in Time? I've never read Narnia? Peter Pan? Ope, I forgot Corrie bought me Tuesdays with Morrie for Christmas. Oh, and Narnia, 4 years ago. Um. thanks.

All of you Read-ee girls, give me a good one. Knowing at this rate I can do two, maybe three books a year (sad), which book do I choose. Out of all the places you love to go, and people you love to go to...give me your best. It's like the one trip buffet; you've got to be careful you only put the most delicious on your plate.

I'm not up for the vampire thing. The werewolf talk threw me off. Huh?

the OK book

uh...it's awesome. I picked this one up off amazon, after browsing a bit. I just got it in the mail today, and I love it. Love. It.

If you go now, it's on sale for $5.99. I paid $12.99, not sure how I missed that.

It's an awesome lesson for kids, and adults, by Amy Krouse, with very simple, but lovely, illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld. It is fantastic for the perfectionist child, and adult, of which I am familiar.

The world is just full of things to do.

And it's fun to give them all a go.

But what if you're not good at everything you try?

What if you're just OK?

What then?

We're spending a little extra time with the book tonight.