Christmas Vacation

Much like the rest of blog land, I’m calling it quits until the new year. Before I do that, however, I wanted to thank all of you for making this year an amazing one for me and my family. Not amazing in that I can live abroad for a year, support my family, or pay off my student loans from law school, but that large diet coke you spot me every month is aces.

Thank you for laughing–chuckling, whatever–at my dry humor that doesn’t always translate online. (Like maybe that whole first paragraph?) I’m thrilled most of you appreciate my rapier wit and impeccable comedic timing, or at least do a damn fine job pretending. It takes a special person to tolerate a blogger who writes about sculling mushroom brushes having an existential crisis, and your loyalty (and tolerance) is not lost on me. Of course, like a good narcissist, I’ve taken your acceptance and used it as license to do more of the same next year. 2011 will be my Year of the Blog. I want to grow it, yes, but I also want to push myself creatively and make my spot in your reader something more. More funny, more poignant, and more like something not usually seen in a parenting blog. How perfectly nebulous and unquantifiable! I also predict 2011 will be the Year of Next Time Create Measurable Goals.

Yes, it’s a tall order, and one that may not be possible to achieve in 365 short days. No, I don’t really know exactly what I will be doing in 2011 that I am not already doing now. Still, I feel like this is it, even though I don’t know why. This shouldn’t be surprising; how could I not feel like I can conquer the world (and blog land) with people like you in my corner?

I wish for all of you a wonderful holiday and Year of the Blog. Better yet, I wish for you a year worth blogging about.*

*The attorney in me feels compelled to clarify that while a “year worth blogging about” can include, but is not limited to, disease, disaster, heartache, and all manner of tragedy, I’m referring strictly to content that is warm, fuzzy, and packed with an embarrassment of Care Bears.

xoxo,
Jules

Wrapping, 2010

I think it’s funny that of all the things in the world I have to decide upon, it’s wrapping paper that comes easiest. An idea will come to me and and that is that. No flip-flopping, no weighing pros and cons, just this is what I want and now I need to go find it.

This year couldn’t have been any easier. I wanted simple kraft paper I could stamp, a thin velvet ribbon, and sprigs from the organic rosemary bush we brought back with us from our  last trip to the Tuscan countryside. Not really. Forgive me for poking fun; I get a chuckle from some of the things I read online. The rosemary has been here since we moved in and is completely overgrown. Lucky for me, it thrives under steady neglect.

I wanted a thin white velvet ribbon but everything was picked over and gone. I found this red one on clearance at Michael’s, and I actually like it better. The stamp was also on clearance at Michael’s, but I swear I had a different one  picked out. This is what I found in my bag, and I think it looks great. The ink is a really pretty Galaxy Gold by Tsukineko, which you also find at Michael’s. Are you sensing a theme? Clearance rack. Michael’s. Get yee there. The ink is discreet and shimmery, not at all the egg yolk you see here. I just fiddled with the color a bit so you could see the lettering.

I once read on a design blog that to keep your wrapping organized, you should create for yourself a “signature wrapping,” like a signature perfume or lipstick. Doesn’t that sound neat? I always wanted a “signature” something. The idea is to have one wrapping paper pattern or style and ribbon for all occasions. This allows you to buy in bulk and save money, but even what you buy takes very little storage as it is only one roll and a spool or two. I always thought that was a pretty slick idea. I think my signature wrapping will be kraft paper, simple ribbon, and a stamp. The stamp will allow me to mix things up a bit, as will the ribbon. Kraft paper you can buy for pennies in bulk, so it’s cost effective, but really I just love the look.

Nicholas’s teacher has a son, so I gave her a childhood classic in a snazzy cover. I hope she likes it as much as Nicholas loved giving it to her. You’ve never seen such excitement! He really got a kick out of it, even though in the picture above he was more focused balancing the book on his belly without dropping it.

A Lenten Update

A few people have wondered how the blog fast has been going.  In a word, great.  In another word, not so great. It’s been great because I have stuck to it, and easily.  What I thought was going to be a challenge has actually been rather painless, with the exception of missing out on the comings and goings of my friends.  What hasn’t been great is that I now have time for things like Twitter and responding to emails.  I had to quickly curb that last week because I was starting to replace one with the other.  It kind of defeats the point of the blog fast, wouldn’t you agree?

Even with the lure of social media, I’ve still been able to do a few things since Lent started besides make deodorant. On top of a few weekend adventures that included feeding the ducks and visiting one of the largest tackle supply stores in the United States (don’t ask), we celebrated two birthdays.

I made crackers.

I’ve been eating very clean and enjoying my GNOWFGLINS ecourse. [Side note--every time I post what I eat I am reminded of the blogging book, No One Cares What You Had For Lunch.]

My life wouldn’t be complete without testing paint.

I’m still participating in Souvenir Photo, which has been good at forcing me to leave the house. I made the mistake of choosing a magnolia tree in my parent’s front yard as my 6-week subject. That means once a week I have to, like, leave the house. Get in the car. Time things so that lighting is good, but different from the week before.

And, finally, I have been enjoying God’s grace, as my niece is home safe and sound (with antibiotics) from the hospital.  On Thursday I received a call from my sister-in-law telling me that my five month old niece was on the way to the hospital via ambulance.  From what little we knew from her exceptionally negligent daycare, she was 70 degrees, blue, and non responsive.  They couldn’t tell us if she was alive, and the twenty-forty minutes (it’s a blur) that went by without any of us knowing were the worst moments of my life.  I always imagined that praying on my knees would hurt given my weight, but it turns out that the fear and pain of the unknown TOTALLY outweigh the pain of suddenly dropping to your knees in prayer (and tears) from a standing position.  Who knew?

I haven’t done anything terribly exciting, and sometimes I feel like I don’t have much interesting to say (I made crackers! Wh00t!) but it’s a nice feeling to know I have been so busy living my life that I don’t always have time to blog about my life, you know?

Little Boy Valentines

Valentine’s Day at school can be tough for a little boy. Nothing softens the blow of all that pink like paleontology Valentines. You know. Little red boxes (fossil holders) filled with chocolate rocks and topped with a gummy tarantula found during a high-risk excavation. It’s all very daring and sinister, but in a loving way.

By the way–how cool are these chocolate rocks? Fabulous. And–get this–they are actually darn tasty, like Nestle Crunch bits.  I made sure to buy enough for 35 Valentines, and not an ounce more.

2010

And so it ends. In the words of my friend, Harvey, Whew! Glad that’s over.

Yesterday we had The Mister’s family over to celebrate Christmas. It was low key, casual, and a perfect reminder for me to focus on the one resolution I have planned for the year: celebrate more.

The Mister and I are born recluses. We would gladly and graciously decline every party invitation we receive with only a twinge of guilt.  We are no more hospitable at home, either.  As newlyweds, we at least had people over (very) occasionally. Now we can say–a bit shamefaced–we never have people over.

We can blame this transgression on our hermit personalities, but there is a good deal of perfectionism mixed in there, too.

The house isn’t decorated the way I want.

We need a new dining room table.

My cooking could be better.

Maybe people won’t have a good time.

It’s too expensive to entertain the way I would like.

We’re tired from soccer and baseball and homework and life.

We really aren’t that fun.

And many, many more reasons I can come up with to keep from entertaining.

This year I have decided to worry less about what people may or may not be thinking about me, my food, or my house.  At first I didn’t know what this meant or how I would measure my success, but I think I have come up with a game plan.  At least once a month, we will host a party (small or large, the size is irrelevant).  With people. And food.  Maybe invitations, although a simple phone call is okay, too.  Whether we celebrate the ordinary, the extraordinary, or the seasons, it doesn’t really matter.  The idea is to gather together friends and family without thought for the bathrooms in need of a remodel or the fact that the art of pie crust making continues to allude me.  (And for that, Pillsbury, I will always love you.)

January marks the first party.  I’m not sure who or what or when we will be celebrating, but with citrus season in full swing around these parts, I can tell you what the menu and theme will most likely revolve around. Unless, of course, you can think of something better. I’ve been looking online for books on entertaining, and I can’t seem to find any good ones that include children. I don’t want to exclude the boys and, since most of our friends have children the same age, it seems silly to do so. Alicia Paulson has been recommending the book Food for Friends for years now. My friend, Kara, recommends anything by Ina Garten.  Please do share your favorites.

So, that’s it.  My resolution for the year 2010 is to celebrate more.  I’m already a ball of nerves, antacid in hand.