Tales of Me and the Husband

lately.

really (really, really!) trying to learn manual and the tulips were my subject.  
there are about a million more pictures like this one…
taking william out for ice cream when he made honor roll!  
go william!  we’re really proud of him.
super parker?
we’ve had this chess set forever but william just brought it down from the third
floor so now it’s been in regular rotation with these two…
daffodils to remind me that spring is on its way!!
(and a floating head)
these three made ‘movie trailers’ this weekend and i can’t
wait to show some.  hilarious.
our v-day dinner spread.
we had sweet potato burritos.  soooo good, recipe to come.

i look down in my fashion posts and i’m not afraid to admit it.

{shirt: c/o eshakti}
{pants: windsor store}
i had a friend on facebook recently question in her status, “why are bloggers always looking down in their fashion posts?”  when i read it i knew right away… GUILTY.  and while i would like to say it’s because of some legitimate reason–dog poop on my shoe, lindsey’s painting my toenails and i’m checking that she’s doing a good job–all completely valid reasons, i’m afraid, for me, it is merely this: i’m awkward.  it’s awkward!
so, hats off to you fashion bloggers who pull it off way better than i do all the while staring that lens smack in its face.  
(and thanks for bearing with me and my small attempt to contribute something to the world of fashion blogging all while looking down.  it’s a ruse but it’s a fun one.)
{a note about eshakti before i go: it’s pretty crazy, but you can customize every piece to fit you perfectly. and i don’t just mean length/width but also–oh, that dress has a cap sleeve but you don’t want a cap sleeve?  okay, customize, boom.  it’s pretty cool.  i gave my measurements before getting this shirt and it fits so well.  i mean, it’s a blousey shirt and it’s supposed to be but length wise?  torso and sleeves?  it’s rare to have those things long enough.  eshakti, you done good!}
and some of my fave eshakti pieces since you asked: this striped skirt, this blouse, and this dress.

a valentine’s day giveaway: $1500 gift card, ya’ll.

hey everybody.  happy, happy, happiest of valentine’s day to you and yours.  today brings something a little different here.  a giant giveaway with a million blogger hosts (hostesses?).  the first of its kind–on this blog anyway.  and while these aren’t something i typically do ’round here, a gift card of this size ($1500!  contributions from everyone below!) was too awesome a prize to pass up.  so, here it is!  a giant giveaway for a giant prize.  
the winner will be announced on the widget below on february 21st.  
and, that person will get the card mailed to them!
(i’m sort of hoping that the winner uses the card to buy a much-needed vacation to some fabulous place.  greece!  turks + caicos!  but, if you need it to buy a couch for your bare living room, or fix your broken down car, i’ll understand that too.)
Gussy Sews | Living in Yellow
The Shine Project | The Wiegands | JustLove.ly

Saturated Canary | Sugar & Dots | La Vie Petite 

Running on Happiness | Cupcake Mag | Oh Sweet Joy

House of Rose | Because Shanna Said So | The Pleated Poppy

Don’t Quote the Raven | Wonder Forest | KV’s Confessions 

Across the Pond | Tales of Me & the Husband | Crowley Party 

Julie Ann Art | Take Heart | Sparkling Footsteps

Aunie Sauce | My Keep Calm & Carry On | Rags to Stitches
The Chiffon Diary | The Daily Tay | Life of Bon
Eat Yourself Skinny | I Wore Yoga Pants to Work
(p.s. the widget is taking awhile to load on my blog for some reason…
give it a minute and it appears!  my apologies!
and if you don’t have a minute, visit another one of the blogs and comment there instead!)

to you, dowager countess. (spoiler-free!)

ohhhhhh dowager countess.  how do i love thee???  let me count the ways!
(also: spoiler-free post!  and comment thread too–please!)
let’s start at the beginning: steve and i have watched it all, straight up until the end of season three.  it was our second attempt because after one episode a few months ago i was all, “booooring.”  luckily we gave it another try because i was wrong!  i admit it!  i fell hard for downton (downTON.  TON.  TON.  do you know there are still people out there calling it downTOWN!  lord grantham would never allow it!  we must make it stop!)
and so, we watched it all.
i have a lot of favorites.  favorite moments, favorite characters, favorite scenes.  let’s talk about them, shall we?
anna is one of them.  oh, i love that anna.  she is salt of the earth, i tell you what.  and are her and bates not the sweetest couple on that side of the atlantic?  and sybil, oh sybil.  an english girl with a good dash of rebellion but not too much to make her obnoxious.  she’s just the sweetest.  and the relationship between carson and mrs. hughes?  i can’t decide if they’re like a precious brother-sister duo or if they’ll eventually fall in love.  but, i love them just the same.  and the way mr. carson talks about watching mary grow up?  that man.  he’s such a stickler for keeping things the way they are and always have been but at the same time has this sensitive side that surprises you.  and the opening credits??  the song, the camera work through the house… i just sit back and think, “ahhh downton.  bring it,” every time that familiar tune begins.  
i know, i know.  i’m talking about it all like it’s real.  in my mind, it is.
but dowager countess!  she might just be my favorite.  she can make an episode.  her voice, the inflections, the tone, the facial expressions.  she nails it every time.  maggie smith, you genius you.
i can’t say i have a favorite dowager countess moment.  every time she opens her mouth, i brace myself for another gem.   when sir richard carlisle says he’s leaving and may not see her again and she says, “do you promise?”  TEN POINTS.  or when she turns to lord grantham to order a drink when he wasn’t in the right attire, “oh!  i thought you were a waiter!” TEN POINTS.  they’re all tens.
she’s witty and quick and clever.  serious when she needs to be and has a surprising amount of liberalism in those bones for an elderly english woman.  
basically, she’s perfect.
just watch it.  ok?  if you haven’t, of course.  which, at this point, is probably very few of you.
{it’s all here — free and through the end of season 3!}

our weekend.

so, we can really get away with categorizing this weekend under one word NEMO but gosh so far you’ve got, what, six hundred and fifty two new posts in your google reader that have to do with the blizzard that was?  well!  make it six hundred and fifty three!

i’ll try to keep it fresh and simple.

we had a blizzard.  it kept coming and coming.  and it ended up being super fun because a) we didn’t lose power–this being the chief reason b) we have a snow blower and thus are not trapped by the never ending snow c) the kids already had the day off.  steve had the day off too which had him mostly hemming and hawing about how he could’ve easily taught his morning class because the snow really didn’t start until after that and blah blah blah STEVE IT IS A DAY OFF ENJOY IT.  we started friday morning on the right foot… with a roaring fire, watching seabiscuit (horse movies that make me cry for the win always), and popcorn.  and then it began to snow and basically didn’t stop for 24 hours.

william and jordan, always the adventurers, decided at about 8:30 pm friday night (mostly due to william’s prodding) to walk to a nearby gas station in the crazy winds and snowy swirls to get the really crappy hot (lukewarm?) chocolate that was undoubtedly awaiting them despite the fact that we had whole milk and starbucks hot cocoa mix in the house.  it makes perfect sense and so i didn’t question it.  what can normally take about a half hour took them about two but, like i said, i didn’t question it.

meanwhile, i sat by the fire, sending my wishes up to the power gods that we would keep ours and contemplating… should i shower now in case we lose power?  should i just do the ‘ol dry shampoo routine if my hair gets nasty and power’s gone for days?  that is, until steve informed me that he already filled the bathtubs in case of a power outage and so… last-chance cleaning was thereby thwarted.

what else?  well, we went sledding, of course.  and after a day of snow-play had us coming in the house too late to think about a gourmet dinner, i threw some frozen pizzas in the oven.  which brings me to my next point.  i consider myself a bit of a, oh, foodie?  i mean, i’m not a foodie like some people are foodies, but i’m like 70% foodie.  and i eat frozen pizzas?  is that even ok?  they’re red barons which, by frozen pizza standards, is pretty good if you ask me but still.  it’s embarrassing.  and even more embarrassing when i saw this pizza that ashley threw together that had my mouth watering.  (still too scared to attempt it.  but!  fascinated by the fact that some pureed san marzanos and salt is it as far as sauce goes!)

alright, moving on.  i said fresh and simple didn’t i?  the kids made a crazy snow maze on this tiny frozen pond by our house and, i tell you what, if i were a kid i would’ve thought it was crazy fun.  i did think it was crazy fun and i’m not technically a kid any longer so, you can imagine.  excited kids.  steve, parker and i visited for a bit and slid around.  it had little forts and everything.  they stayed all day and came home famished after a day of that good old-fashioned fun makes a parent happy.

that about sums it up.  thanks for the fun weekend, nemo.

the littlest dude.

i’m going to declare right now that this 18+ month old time is the best yet.  if you click on parker archives, you’ll discover that i’ve said that at every single age and, praise the lord, i’ve really thought it at all those times.  but gosh darnit, he is so much fun right now!!!  he is seriously my little buddy and he has stolen my heart totally and completely.  we go everywhere together and i feel like i know him so well.  he gets things–he gets that these pjs have construction trucks on them and his face was seriously, “look at meeee guys!” when he put them on for the first time.  he gets that we sing a bath song (the same one shannon sang to the older kids when they were little!) and he starts to hum it when i say, “bath time!”   he gets that we pray at dinner and he stops eating and puts his little fists up to his forehead.  he gets that some things he does are funny and he looks around waiting for all the laughs.  i think nearly every single thing he does is cute and, how’d i get so lucky, but i know he loves me.  he hugs and kisses me all the time, and seriously, is there anything sweeter?  i love, love, love being this kid’s mom.  
p.s. thank you so much for your votes over here.  i ain’t gonna win but it’s fun to be there anyway.  so, thanks!

sponsor giveaway: chapter one & co. + evgie wall decals!

today i’ve got two prizes for you! 
one winner, two prizes, the fun never stops.
first, the fabulous hooded scarf you see in green above from 
chapter one & co.!
i have this one and i loooooooove it. 
it’s so soft, so cozy, so lush.  handmade by alison!
and, lest we forget, this has been keeping parker warm all winter long.
and then from evgie wall decals, my newest sponsor,
a $100 credit!
they’ve got nursery decals, living room and hall decals… 
just what you need to perhaps spice up a wall in your home.
plus, they do custom decals!
so… two prizes, one winner.
what are you waiting for?
to enter:
{u.s. addresses only!}
+ leave a comment below and include your email address!
additional entries:
{leave a separate comment for each you do!}
+ pin an item from either and/or both shops – directly FROM the shop’s website
+ tweet or blog about the giveaway
giveaway closed!
ethomson is the winner of the chapter one giveaway!
+
tori is the winner of the evgie giveaway!
congrats ladies!

me + steve.

(this is definitely me trying to take a serious kissing picture and him not taking it seriously and, i think 
by the upturn of his toes, he backed away slowly just after the picture took.)

you know, me and the steve-man… though we be married, we don’t agree on everything.  (you don’t say?!)  and gosh, isn’t this whole live in the same house forever with this person that you agreed upon a funny thing anyway???  who ever thought it up?  and not only that but we’re gonna procreate?  i mean, you need to pass a test to get your driver’s license but some whispered sweet nothings, a little red wine and – BOOM – you find yourself raising another human being?!!

it’s crazy.

so, well, here are some things that we both agree upon and definitely do not agree upon.

// pillows, bed-sharing, and the like:
steve might be like half-assed, “where’s my pillow?” and if it doesn’t leeeap into his arms, he will just take mine.  (not if i’m currently using it.  that, my friends, would be cause for couch-sleeping.)  but, ew!  pillows should not be shared!  ever!  my head and my head only may touch my pillow.  right?!??  and on bed-sharing, beds are only for pajamas and clean ones at that.  do you lay on your sheets in your street clothes?  don’t even tell me.  so, yeah, steve and i have different bed-hygiene and his is way looser than mine so suffice it to say, there’s an imaginary line and he shouldn’t cross it.

// paul simon + his groovy beats:
i play a lot of paul simon.  from pretty much graceland to so beautiful so what i don’t think the man can do much wrong.  and some of those cds are like sweet nectar to my soul.  steve thinks a lot of his songs are too busy, too complicated, “too clever by half” (what does that even mean??!), too much what steve, magic in them!?!?  it’s just theeeee most ridiculous.  it really should be a deal-breaker when you consider my love for paul but i let this one slide.

// modern family:
we both still think this show is ace.  i don’t hear as many people talking about it anymore but we both will always get in bed with a laptop for an episode.  our favorite, if i haaaad to say, would be cameron.  but don’t make me say because phil and gloria are not far behind.

// travel:
though we’re strapped down by our army of kids and a lack of funds at the moment, we look forward to traveling together and, for now, the traveling in our dreams suffices and sometimes quite well.  we’ve got plans and we really like each other for the most part, so i look forward to hitting the open road with that guy some day.

// interior decorating:
we don’t always agree on this.  and while i wish he would just not have an opinion, he does.  so last night i asked him to, “show me the pinterest board that you’ve been looking at for a year plus hoping to make a reality one day.”  he couldn’t.  thus, his opinions count for 30% and mine for 70%.  i’m kidding, but only sort of.

// health food + healthy eating in general:
he gets back from his annual physical and, after hearing his cholesterol is a little high, starts going for the apples and pears and, you know, whole fruits in the house.  this lasts, oh, 3 days.  it happens every year.  then, he gets over it and goes back to foods that crunch in his mouth.  here’s the thing–he’s a pretty healthy eater.  eggs or oatmeal for breakfast and something veggie based for lunch.  but he’s not a fruit guy.  he says, “they’re too inconsistent.”  lays potato chips?  well, you know what you’re getting every time you reach into that crinkly bag.  i choose to eat fruits all year long and yes, even suffer through the occasional mealy apple.  he gives it 3 days.  i always laugh as he heads straight for the fruit basket after his physical.

// mexican food:
do you know that it might’ve been a deal breaker if we couldn’t agree on this?  mexican food is where it’s at.

// going to the movies:
we both love going to the movies.  and back when we were wee little chaps (what?) we did this fairly often.  and do you know… some people actually don’t care to go to the movies?!  we love it, me and steve-man.  give me that guy, a coke, a large popcorn, and a dark theatre and it’s pretty close to my heaven.

you and yours?  agree on most, disagree on most?

homiessssss.

royal canadian mounted police meets e.t. 
is asking if you’d vote for his ma’s blog over here on the homies.  
if you like us, anyway.  
(and thanks!)

fun pants… just don’t wear them everyday.

i am really, really, really liking the trend this season of the patterned skinny jean.  i want them in floral, i want them in dots (mine here!  cheap!  from f21!), i want them in damask, i want them in stripes.  i’ll take a bow print too!  (and while we’re at it — number 5’s shoes aren’t so bad either.)  
i want all the patterned pants.  
the only downside is that you can’t really wear them every day.  people will pick up on it.  they’re kind of loud, you know?  
can’t always win.
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