If you don't have something nice to say...

I'm not going to spew an ungodly amount of hate and judgement in my blog post today, but I totally feel like it!  Sometimes you run across something (or in my case, someone) that just rubs you the wrong way.  I can't really put my finger on it, but this person is totally irking me.  If we're being honest, this person has irked me for many, many years. 

I fear I've said too much already.  I'm a big girl and I need to handle my issues.  And I will.  I just needed to say for the record...I don't like you (person who shall remain anonymous.)

In other news, happy Veteran's day! 

Thyme is on my mind.

Yes it is. 

Who knew that thyme was the key to amazing chicken noodle soup?  Probably a lot of you.  But not me.  Until recently that is.  It makes all the difference in the world!  Go figure.

Outdoor fun on Mommy's birthday

Last weekend was my birthday and we spent a lovely day at the Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim Hills. It was perfect.

My New Favorite Website

If you browse through the list of blogs that I follow, it should come as no surprise that I love interior design.  Up until this point in my life, I've either lived with my parents (until the day I was married, actually) or in an apartment.  Neither of which allows for much permanence/personality when it comes to decorating.  But alas, we purchased our first home earlier this year and I'm DETERMINED to make it as beautiful as I possibly can.  So far, I'm still dealing with a fairly blank canvas.  We haven't even put any artwork up on the walls.  For a while I was considering working with a professional designer, but then I decided I should give it a go on my own first.  I figure I have a ton of resources available to me as far as inspiration goes.  Plus, I definitely know what I like.  My husband and I aren't 100% on the same page in terms of style, but that's OK.  People always say to pick your battles...well, this is a battle I'm going to WIN!  Sorry dear husband, but I'm afraid I'm not backing down on this one.  I'm sure he'll understand.

Anyway, I came across this very helpful website, Olioboard, to help plan out my projects.  It's very easy to use and is great for compiling all the elements of a room into one place.  My first room to tackle is the 'formal living room', right off the front door.  It's nice and bright, but certainly not my "vision".  It's sort of a mish mash of hand me downs, leftovers from our apartment days, and bare walls.  Blah.  As soon as I get the Olioboard together for this room, I'll post it.  I can't wait to get started!

***Update!  I couldn't wait.  Here's the first pass at the living room.  I'm still missing things like curtains, artwork, and a coffee table, but this should give you a pretty good idea of my style.  It's sure to change as I work on it some more, but I thought I'd share the starting point:

Fatoush Salad

Tonight I made fatoush salad for dinner and it was delicious! It's a Middle Eastern salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, and pieces of Arabic (pita) bread tossed in a lemony dressing. Perfect for the summer. Here's how I make it:

Approximately 1.5 cups of tomatoes, cubed. Today I used baby heirloom tomatoes sliced in half, because it's all I had.

Approximately 4 Persian cucumbers chopped into bite sized pieces.

Approximately (are you sensing a theme here?)two green onions, chopped.

A couple tablespoons of flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped.

A couple handfuls of pita bread pieces, although I prefer using store bought pita chips. Since they're crunchy, they hold up a little better in the dressing.

Equal parts olive oil and lemon juice. I used the juice of 1 1/2 lemons, but you can adjust depending on how citrusy you like your dressing.

Salt and pepper, to taste.

So here's the tough part, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, toss with lemon juice/olive oil, season with salt and pepper...and enjoy! Here's what mine looked like tonight:

To Make a Long Story Short

So, a while back, I blogged about reading The Last Child in the Woods.  At the time, I was really optimistic about it.  I was a new mother (I guess I still am, so we'll say I was a "brand new" mother) and pretty much ate up any and all parenting books/blogs/TV shows that spoke to my inner mama sensibilities.  Well, it's been a few months since then and I figured it's time for an update/review of the book.  So here goes.  I hated it.  I didn't hate what it was about.  I think the idea of the book was great...kids need nature in their lives.  They shouldn't be holed up indoors playing video games all day long.  When they spend time outdoors, interacting with nature, they grow up more patient, grounded, caring, yadda, yadda, yadda.  So if I agree with the main argument of the book, why did I hate it so much?  I'm glad you asked.  Did you notice how quickly I was able to sum up the book?  Two and a half sentences was all it took.  Granted, I left out any mention of scientific studies used to prove the point, but how many extra pages could that add?  10?  15 tops? 

Which leads me to the main reason I didn't like the book.  And to be fair, it's a problem I have with a lot of non-fiction/non-biography reading.  Sometimes, I think certain books would be better served as a magazine article.  Or a short story.  Or a well crafted essay.  Pretty much anything that's less than 200 pages.  The Last Child in the Woods falls into this category.  After about 100 pages, I started getting tired of reading the same exact point over and over and over.  It really became a chore.  Even the studies he used to make his point were eerily similar to one another.  I actually blurted out at one point, "OK!  I get it!  Enough already!"  Not a good reaction. Sorry Mr. Louv, I am just not a fan of your writing.  It's nothing personal. 

Needless to say, I'm a little cautious when it comes to non-fiction reading after being burned so many times.  I really hate wasting my time, and I kind of feel that reading the same thing over and over qualifies as such.  So, I was a little hesitant when my good friend recommended Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell.  I've heard so many good things about Malcolm Gladwell, and have even read a few of his articles in the past.  But a whole book?  Was this going to be another exercise in beating a point over the head until it dies a slow and painful death?  Uggh, I hope not.

Well I started reading it about a week ago and am about 100 pages in.  Without being too optimistic, I have to say that this book kicks ass...so far.  But two friends, who I consider extremely intelligent and well-read, have assured me that it's as good as I think it is.  So, I read on.  Waiting for it to fall apart on me...

...but I'm hopeful that the curse has been broken.  Things are looking up.  Please Mr. Gladwell, don't fail me now. 

*I'll post a full review once I'm done.  I'll also tell you my thoughts on One Day by David Nicholls. 

Too funny not to share...

Work and Other Fun Stuff

As the little man has gotten older (he's a wise old 15 months now), he's become increasingly more active, curious, and social.  All great things!  I'm a proud mama for sure.  I'm running into some trouble with his outgoing-ness while working from home though.  When he was brand  new, he'd pretty much sleep all day, or at the minimum, he'd just hang out while I worked away on my laptop.  Ever since he's been mobile though, I find myself battling the need to keep up with him and answer an important work email/IM.  Or even worse, trying to manage a conference call with him crying in the background.  Not fun.  Lately I'm beginning to think it's a losing battle.  I'm great at multi-tasking, but a girl has her limits, right?

We weren't planning on sending him to pre-school until he was at least two, but I'm beginning to think it's going to happen sooner than later.  The good news is he's super social and loves playing with other kids, so maybe it won't be that big of a deal for him.  I don't think he needs to go full time, since I am at home three days a week after all.  Perhaps just 2 half days/week to start?  It will be good for him to play with other kids, and the fact that mama gets a few hours to herself for un-interrupted work is a nice bonus. 

We're still in the process of figuring all this stuff out.  We need to scout out the local pre-schools before we make any decisions.  But somethings gotta give.

Right Now...

I'm sitting in my parent's family room while I work away on my laptop. (Taking a quick break now, obviously). Baby's upstairs sleeping. Going on 2.5 hours now! There's a load of laundry in the washing machine and a full dishwasher doing it's thing. I'm thinking about our new house and how I want to decorate once we're able to move in, and feeling totally overwhelmed by the task. I need to remember that there are bigger problems in the world than where I'm going to put my couch. It's another beautiful day outside, so I'm planning on spending my lunch break at the park with the little man. Sure to be fun. Until then, back to work.

So long!

25 Manners Every Kid Should Know by Age 9

Today, Yahoo! had an article listing 25 important manners that every child should know by age 9.  I thought it was a pretty good list, actually, so I'll share it below:

Manner #1

When asking for something, say "Please."

Manner #2

When receiving something, say "Thank you."

Manner #3

Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.

Manner #4
If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation.

Manner #5
When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.

Manner #6
The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults.

Manner #7
Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, it's to compliment them, which is always welcome.

Manner #8
When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.

Manner #9
When you have spent time at your friend's house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.

Manner #10
Knock on closed doors -- and wait to see if there's a response -- before entering.

Manner #11
When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.

Manner #12
Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect.

Manner #13
Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.

Manner #14
Don't call people mean names.

Manner #15
Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.

Manner #16
Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.

Manner #17
If you bump into somebody, immediately say "Excuse me."

Manner #18
Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don't pick your nose in public.

Manner #19
As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.

Manner #20

If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say "yes," do so -- you may learn something new.

Manner #21

When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.

Manner #22

When someone helps you, say "thank you." That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!

Manner #23

Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.

Manner #24

Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.

Manner #25

Don't reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed.

**I think a lot of adults could stand to learn a thing or two from this list as well ;-)