Tales of Me and the Husband - Page 105 of 207 -

November 8, 2013

sunset on the front lawn.

Last weekend Parker and Steve were outside raking. I use the term loosely when it comes to Parker. Raking, shoveling, picking up rocks, playing with sticks, dragging tools around the yard. I was inside cooking dinner when Steve yelled for me to come outside. The most gorgeous sunset was coming to life right there in the sky and it’s been awhile since we’ve seen a really spectacular one. This was beautiful (even though the trees made it such that we couldn’t see it a long ways). The clouds turned from white, to pink, to orange, to gold, to wispy gray until the sun went down. Everything was aglow with a pinkish hue. We sat on the lawn and watched it until we couldn’t see it any longer.

Sometimes I have moments like this one where I’m reminded that life is really good. And I love those moments.

November 6, 2013

Be brave.

Thankful by Josh Groban on Grooveshark

So, just today I started listening to one of my favorite Christmas albums. Josh Groban’s Noel. I know, it’s really freaking early and I think this is the earliest that I’ve given into the longing yet. Most of you are probably eye-rolling and, lest you write me off, so am I! Really! But hear me out: I needed something good, something promising, something hopeful. I’m just feeling a little bleh. This is not a true funk, no, but a little mini one? Here’s the thing with me. I feel things way too deeply. I feel my own things, I feel everyone else’s things. I know that I’m not the only one, and I know it’s not some curse, but shit, sometimes I just wish I could be more casual, more blasé. It’s a blessing and a curse, really. I go to bed thinking about that Danvers teacher who was killed and how the kid just took himself to the movies afterwards. I wake up thinking about the parents of Newtown who are coming up on the year anniversary without their kids. Sometimes Steve begins to tell me a news story he heard, he begins it, “You won’t believe this,” and I know it’s going to be bad and I have to actually stop him. I tell him that I’m emotionally tapped out (which feels like such a cop-out. Isn’t it my responsibility? To know what’s going on, no matter how terrible? To shoulder one another’s sadness?). I can definitely work up a tear, or ten (it’s the latter), when I consider the passage of time in my own family, and how they’ll eventually leave these doors and go out into the world that, to me at almost thirty, seems pretty crazy.

It’s not all bad. There are times I feel so much joy, like real almost tangible joy. Too good to be true joy. It’s the sweetest high and it seriously permeates every little bit of me. But the bad stuff is so much louder, more memorable than the good. It makes me angry. Is it myself I’m angry with–that I let it get to me? Is it the world I’m angry with–that my kids have to hear this stuff, see this stuff, go into a world with this stuff? Both? The kids came home, having heard about the teacher’s death while at school, and I told Lindsey at the dinner table, “There’s a lot of good. Sometimes it feels like it’s all bad, but I think we just hear more about that and remember it more.” She agreed. Now, I just need to convince myself.

picture

November 5, 2013

apple egg pancake.

My favorite meals are the ones that are low on ingredients, high on flavor. That’s why Ina Garten will always be my favorite celebrity chef. No head-scratcher-what-aisle-do-I-get-that ingredients. Just lots of butter, some salt, a few select ingredients. Good quality this, good quality that, and the perfect meal comes to fruition on your stove top or in your oven. Have you ever watched her show? When we had cable, I used to DVR it. Watching her show was akin to sitting down with a favorite novel. She made it look so effortless. I felt my body relaxing while I watched her mix and pour and stir. Always in a collared button-down, but who cares? She’s Ina. And while I might not make it look just as easy breezy as she does, her recipes are so attainable. There’s nothing fussy about them. I’ve made several of them, and they never disappoint. With other recipes, I feel I need to give them a trial run first, only Steve and the kids around to test it out, before I’d serve it to company. With Ina, no trial needed. They’re winners every time. (My favorite cook books of hers: here and here!)

With all that Ina talk, you’d think I’m going to share one of her recipes but alas, I’m not. It is a recipe reminiscent of hers, however. Easy, quick, attainable. But it looks a bit fancy. The way the edges puff up, brown and crispy, the call for a dusting of powdered sugar on the top, the way the apples sit higher than the batter, just a little bit soft from their brief sauté in a little bit of butter. I’d like to believe Ina would serve this to her overnight guests. With some pink flowers in the middle of the table and Jeffrey proclaiming, once again, that she’s a great cook.

Apple Egg Pancake

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
3 eggs beaten
1 t sugar
dash salt
1 T butter
dash of cinnamon
1 large apple, sliced
brown sugar
lemon juice, optional

Mix milk, flour, eggs, salt, & sugar. Set aside. Fry apple lightly in butter. Butter a 9×13 pan. Pour batter over apples. Bake 500 degrees for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Return to oven to brown. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with maple syrup.

I’ve skipped the last part (the sugar/cinnamon/oven to brown bit) and it’s still delicious. Let me know if you make it!

And I should add, it’s pretty light so I find making two of them is better than one for us. If you’ve got some tasty sides–home fries or bacon–one could suffice. Recipe credit would have to go to my Mom, who gave it to me ages ago, and I’m not even sure where she came across it.

November 4, 2013

roll call.

{top: h&m (old)}

{skirt: c/o joules}

{tights: target}

{shoes: zappos}

something about this whole picture makes me think i should be about to do roll call… you with me? moving on. i love a high-waisted skirt and heels get up. and this skirt from joules is sooooo pretty. i was unsure what to pair it with, but then decided to go boring and do navy — tights and shirt — cause this skirt does enough already. a red lip can count as an accessory, right?

November 1, 2013

halloween on beacon hill.

we’ve talked about going to beacon hill for halloween for a few years now and we finally decided to do it this year. it wasn’t without its share of drama even though it had been discussed loooong in advance (what?! but! our friends! and our neighborhood!). in the end though, guess what, everyone was really glad we went and thought that it was the coolest. parents know best (like 99% of the time anyway). i mean, beacon hill! on halloween! what could be better?!

the place was dressed to the nines, monster mash blaring out some windows, creepy organ music out others, crowds and candy and costumes, fake spiderwebs stretched across gourd and cabbage filled window boxes, and lots of people manning their beautiful stoops with the smells of their dinner spilling out onto the streets, a glass of red wine in one hand and their candy bowl in the other.

parker got the hang of it pretty quickly but at first was quite reluctant to reach his hand in giant candy bowls and take a piece of candy. i mean, what goes through toddlers’ heads? i’m sure he wondered if this was something that routinely takes place–a giant dress up festival with candy for the taking–after he goes to sleep each night. he had his first red tootsie pop, attempting to gnaw on it right through the wrapper when i wasn’t looking. he’d been eyeing that very one from the moment it hit the growing pile of candy in his little pumpkin.

afterwards, we grabbed a pizza at upper crust and ate it in the common. a successful night. what’s cuter than kids in costume? hope your halloweens were fun!

October 30, 2013

a dress for all seasons.

{dress: asos}

{jacket: asos}

{tights: h&m}

{shoes: c/o shoemint}

{sunglasses: rayban}

so, this dress. i feel like calling it a dress for all seasons isn’t overstating it. a fun flat makes it fit for summer, tights and a knee high boot and collared shirt underneath and you’ve got it for winter. a red lip and black heel and you can even call it fancy enough for a holiday party. fancy it up with jewelry, bring it down with a belt and a pair of skinny jeans and it’s for every day. basically, the perfect dress. right??? RIGHT???

October 29, 2013

Our last cruise on the lake.

Stay by Alison Krauss on Grooveshark

My parents were here this weekend. And just before that, last week, they were renting in a funny little place in Wolfeboro. I say funny because it was one of those, how shall I say it, very country type places, more than sufficient, yes, but certainly not fancy. Parker and I went up before the rest of the family could join (School and work! What party-poopers!) and then they came up at the end of the week to spend the night. Before the rest of my crew arrived, we headed into Wolfeboro, got dinner on the water. I don’t often get my parents all to myself. With sisters, my family, whatever, it’s unusual to be with the two of them without a lot of other people around. I have to admit, it was sort of nice. I love those two, I mean I loooove those two. I wish I saw them more, I’d see them nearly every day if it were up to me. And what’s a huge bonus is that they have the greatest relationship with Steve too. We all just really enjoy each other’s company and I’m really grateful. So many family relationships can be so complicated. This one isn’t and I don’t take it for granted.

We met Steve, William, and Lindsey on Friday night to go for a sunset cruise. Now, you have to understand that the weather had turned pretty cold and it was 45 degrees. “Steve. Are you sure about this? We don’t have to go out on the boat.” I might as well have told a kid he couldn’t have his candy. So, as you can predict, we went out on the boat. A last ride of the season and a quest for a great sunset. (The sunset was good, for sure, but not great.) Even so! We had a lot of laughs, at least four blankets on each of us at the same time, cheese, crackers, and red wine. And as long as we frequently sat on our hands, we didn’t suffer frostbite. Success!

Really, it was so fun. When we showed up at the boat and the kids and Steve were already there, Steve just had this look of, well, giddy on his face and he couldn’t have been more excited. It’s pretty sweet to see him that way, out of the daily grind, and in his happy place. He had on a U.S. Navy suspender outfit on cause, of course. Shannon bought them for him at a yard sale however long ago, and he sometimes whips them out for snow-blowing and extremely cold boat rides, naturally. He claims they’re really warm but I just think he wants to look cool. After the frigid boat ride, we hopped back in our cars, heat on full blast, and drove back to Wolfeboro. The men picked up some pizza, we got back to the room and had a pizza feast. Then, hide-a-beds pulled out, pajamas on, we watched a DVD of Alison Krauss and Union Station (one of my Dad’s absolute favorites). I fell asleep listening.

That night, it was like musical beds. William was a bed hog (seriously, like sleeping with an octopus), so Lindsey ended up on the floor at some point between 12 am and 2 am. Steve and I took our hide-a-bed mattress off the pull out and put it on the floor, Parker woke up and ended up in bed with us, flailing about till Steve bailed and tried to get in bed with William, waking Lindsey and having her get on the sofa. My Mom came in at some point after hearing an exclaiming Parker (what, kid?! Too hot?? Too cold? What?!) and offered her bed in another room. I told her absolutely not and sent her back to sleep! Then, when sleeping with William proved unsuccessful, Steve moved onto couch cushions on the kitchen floor. I was awake through it all though in the same place. Couldn’t sleep, imagine that. Nevertheless, it was nothing some bad coffee the next morning couldn’t sort of cure. Despite that most ridiculous summation, it was fun. And then we had them back to our house till Monday morning which was really great. We watched Ellen’s Here & Now, listened to music, ate steak tips and green beans, and apple pie. I showed my Mom how to work some of her phone apps, they helped us talk out our one-day dream kitchen, and we just hung out. It’s nice being around the ones you love.

October 24, 2013

six things i’m enjoying lately + a little “thanks for reading” giveaway.

1. caramel jar caramels: holy sheeet, they’re so good. i reluctantly shared some with the whole family, including my in-laws, and can i say that i should’ve just hidden them and sneaked them one at a time when no one was looking?? hindsight…

2. parenthood: duh. joel’s still my fave guys. but, i sort of love them all. kristina, she’s high on the list. and actually amber is too. heck, they all are, don’t make me pick.

3. being a mom: that goes without saying, but sometimes it’s still worth repeating. this is the greatest gig ever.

4. this season: in falls past, we’ve had some major winds that have blown all the leaves off the tree before we really got to enjoy them. they’re sticking around this year. in fact, even up at the lake there was tons of color and i thought they’d have already fallen up there. not so, not so. fall, you done good.

5. mum+bub detergent: so you have to know this about me first. i am BIG into smells. i love fresh smelling laundry but since parker came along i was only using unscented stuff. and i seriously missed that fresh laundry scent. enter mum+bub. their line is my favorite ever. i’d already had their lotion and baby soap. and then i discovered (much to steve’s dismay) that they make detergent! i legit smell every piece as i fold it. problem: the price. suffice it to say, i’m using it carefully and asking for it for christmas every year from here on out. it is unreal. sandalwood, i think that’s the key scent.

6. you guys: for real. you guys come here day after day, leave nice comments (i read them all), love on me or my family, offer your advice or support. sometimes i get blah about blogging or only see the bad sides of it, but you guys are a definite positive. thanks. for real. and because i’m always talking about products i love and telling you to go spend your money on them, how about a giveaway from me to you? this blog wouldn’t really be this blog without you so as a thanks for reading and a thanks for clicking my affiliate links and sometimes making me commission, or being sponsors, or just being a supporter in general, i’m going to send these caramels to one of you. one pound of heaven. heeeeaven. and they’re really coming from me to you, this is not a sponsorship thing! (oh the things you have to say as a blogger…) also, fyi: i was really not a die-hard caramel person but these made me a believer.

go ahead and leave a comment with something you’re enjoying lately and i’ll pick a winner over the weekend. (also, caramel jar only ships to the u.s. but even if you’re from elsewhere, i’d love to hear what you’re enjoying anyway!)

thanks again and have a great weekend.

and p.s. if you have a shop/business and are interested in being part of a holiday giveaway, shoot me an email! itsahuntlife@gmail.com

ETA: allyce is the winner. and thanks so much, everyone, for all the sweet comments. you guys are the best.

October 22, 2013

one brave boy.

this past weekend i was up at lake winnipesaukee for a girl’s weekend. three kids and three friends (here are the little people i speak of!). when kids went down for naps, we’d talk (and i took a bath in a big jacuzzi tub which felt altogether fancy since the tubs we have at home are not the luxurious bathing kind!), have wine, eat snacks, share stories. it was really relaxing and a nice break from real life. not to mention a place with spectacular views of one of my favorite places in this whole world? perfect.

saturday night, the kids all took a bath together and we got the cutest video full of giggling from our little ones. we had them all jammied up, ready for bed, and i just began to do some dishes while they ran around and played. parker was running with the biggest smile on his face. in the next room, i heard a crash and then some crying coming from my friend’s daughter and then from parker and while running around the corner my friend said, “there’s blood.” ugh, that memory still makes me cry. it was coming from a big gash on parker’s forehead. my friend explained that the kids ran into each other for a hug, and then he crashed down into the corner of a wall. to me, the cut looked enormous and so deep. i was so scared but, would you believe it when i tell you i held it together and kept my composure??? i really did. i talked to him, and held paper towels on it. since we were away from home without knowing exactly where the nearest hospital was, i asked my friend to call 911. i told her the address (having literally told myself, just the night before, that it’d be good to make a point of remembering in case there was ever an emergency while here. weird.) and she made the call.

i kept holding parker, talking to him, keeping him calm, explaining that the ambulance would come and nice people would help his boo-boo. he was totally sad, that sort of eyes filled with tears without actual crying (the kind that breaks my heart most), but was keeping calm. we got into the ambulance and he held my hand and held a moose that the emt gave him (the emt also put a bandaid on the moose’s head–so grateful for nice people in those situations). even cracking a little smile when the emt did peekaboo with the moose. he was wheeled in, in his carseat ON a stretcher which is heartbreakingly adorable. they gave me the option for sedation (which has some side effects, takes them awhile to come out of, and can give them terrors) or just some topical anesthetic which is sometimes a problem if kids flail and freak out. i opted for the second having confidence that he could handle it and that, if necessary, we could pick the second option. this boy is brave, i’ve seen it before, but i couldn’t have prepared myself to be as impressed as i was by him. they put some numbing cream on his cut, twice over 40 minutes, and then came in to do the stitches. they wrapped him in a sheet to keep his arms down, and then had him lie down. i got right on top of him, with his face a few inches from mine. he was scared but i kept talking to him, about his scooter, about gracie, about the game he played with william the day before, about how the nice doctor was going to make his boo-boo feel better. the doctor stitched him up — seven of them!! — without him so much as moving his head. this picture was taken not ten minutes afterwards (by my sweet friend, ashley, who came straight to the hospital once i’d left with the ambulance.) while he watched some daniel tiger on my phone. during all of this, i called steve and asked him to come (at first, a nurse had said sedation was the only option and that it’d be several hours till we’d be discharged) and by the time he and the kids arrived, parker was already done and all smiles. and this was like 10 pm! someone who was in the hall right outside our room said, “wow. not a peep from him.” he gave steve the tightest hug, held onto his moose, and we drove back to the house we were staying.

when we went into the house, parker went right to the “scene of the accident” and pointed to it saying, “boo-boo.” i barely slept that night, but parker slept soundly between steve and i except when we woke him at 3 am to ask him questions that he’d know the answers to making sure he was ok. the next day, he was back to normal, though i hovered more than usual and felt fairly traumatized by it. and finally, when he went down for his nap that day, i let out a cry. i’d been so scared but hadn’t really had time to cry or feel relief that he was okay until then. such a delayed emotion but i guess it can be that way.

this wasn’t my first rodeo (i’ve done the hospital three times with daredevil jordan so far!) and while i’m sure it won’t be the last, i’d love it if it were. there’s something so unnatural with being in the hospital with your child. and i know that is some people’s reality. i don’t even have words for how terrible that is, how desperate that is. when you worry about a child, it sits so heavy on your chest. no matter what you’re doing, it’s ever present. i’ve only had little glimpses. no comparison. i can’t imagine it being a reality.

in summation, parker is the bravest little man, and i could not be a prouder mama.