Well, I guess we can close the file on that one.

March 9, 2010 | Arts and Crafts

Have I mentioned that if the title doesn’t make sense, it’s most likely a quote from the best movie of all time? Speaking of which, henceforth, the 7th of March shall be a Zesty holiday, the day that The Dude was finally honored for the fabulous actor and tremendous human being that he is. Did you see that acceptance speech? I didn’t know it was possible to love him more.

It’s been a while since I’ve done anything crafty, but I managed to complete a quick and satisfying project recently that I must share with you. I found this mirror at The Barn Sale a couple of years ago, and it’s been patiently waiting for me to find the time to paint it. Well! I finally did. Check it.

I’m quite pleased.

Speaking of Martha-type projects, have you been to Home Depot lately? YOU GUYS. They’re carrying Martha Stewart paint now. That’s not the cool part. The cool part is, the colors are amazing, and that’s not all! Each one has this little symbol in the corner that indicates with which other colors it coordinates.

Isn’t that so cool? We three were on our way out when I spotted the display, and I turned to SB and said, “I’m going to need a few minutes.” Oh! And also, on the back of each color, she even suggests woodwork and ceiling shades.

Thank you, Martha. Thank you.

Mini-Break in San Diego

March 2, 2010 | Travel

We had a fabulous time!

The highlights included:

1. Walking on the beach on Friday. It was so warm and bright, and the Pacific was big and wide and crashy. SB and I took a long walk, our pants rolled up, our feet happliy experiencing the sand, our shoes dangling from our fingertips. There may have been some skipping.

2. The middle rainy day. One of the best things about a rainy day is the permission it gives you to do something low key and indoors. There’s no need to feel like you SHOULD be doing something more adventurous, you can’t. You simply MUST curl up and read a book and then go see a movie. If it had been sunny, I’m sure we would’ve had a Big Day Out, and I’m sure it would’ve been great, but reading and movie watching was just splendid. Both are delicious and rare activities at this moment in my life.

3. Dinner at The Red Pearl Kitchen. You guys, this place was sah-WEET. It was super glamorous, with big, dark booths, red walls and flickering lanterns, and beautiful people everywhere. My cocktail was a work of art, my dinner was perfect, and the company was excellent. Incidentally, we all remarked how the service was both superb and performed by ridiculously attractive humans. The remarkable part being that you don’t expect super pretty people to be so nice. Funny, that.

Here are some of my favorite shots from the trip.

Okay, vee proceed. But only if there is no funny stuff.

February 25, 2010 | Bits and Bobs

Hello there, peeps. This is one of those posts where I come here and chat about whatever real fast because I know there’s at least 2 or 3 of you that check here every day and I hate disappointing you.

Hmm. Let’s see. What’s been going on? Ooh! How about some updates!

I quit that fruity yoga class. I know! I’m so lame! But it turned out that due to a couple of things I didn’t consider at the time, I was going to have to miss 3 of the 6 classes, and they were really strict about showing up every time. So I told a small fib about child care and got most of the fee credited to my account for more yoga. But also, the book we were supposed to be reading was SO BARFY. The worst kind of poorly written hippie drivel. And this is not my inner midwestern republican talking, this is me, the lefty-cloth diapering-baby food making-HIPPIE. It was bad.

Did I mention the running? I don’t remember. But I think it’s safe to say, now that I’ve been doing it for almost two months, that um, I’ve been running. This is pretty monumental for me, because I’ve never been a runner. But I’ve decided I’d like to be, and even though it SUUU-HUUUCKS some times, I would like to cultivate myself into a running-type person. In the spirit of my predictable over-achieving nature, I’ve registered for the Seattle Rock and Roll Half Marathon in June. Sometimes, when I think about running three times as far as I am capable now, I get the Nervous Tummy, but then I remember I can just walk whenever I want to, and who cares?

Clark is the coolest. I can’t believe how much fun he’s getting to be. He is a genius and can say the following words:

Hi
Bye Bye
Mama
Dada
Hot
Vroom
Cheese
Banana
Hop
Birdie
Quack
Cracker
Tree
Apple
Shoes
Moo
Up

We have a list going on the chalk board in the kitchen. His new trick for the week is nodding yes, which is super cute and also useful.

Ooh! This weekend we’re going to San Diego with another fun couple and leaving the boy with his grannie. It’s a great time of year for good deals on flights and hotels, and about a month ago, we all kind of spontaneously just booked it. I’m really excited, though since I sometimes like to fret just to fret, I’m now thinking we shouldn’t be spending money and that I am going to miss my Clarkie. I will get over it, I’m sure.

Y.O.G #22

February 16, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

1. I’m thankful that my dad still gives me Valentines. This one had fishing trivia on the back, too.

2. I’m very grateful for this weird early spring we’re having. No Snowpocolypse here. It’s going to be almost 60 all week! I keep thinking that any day the weather gods are going to snatch it all away, but flowers are blooming everywhere and all the trees are budding. Check out these crocusses from my walk yesterday!

3. I’m thankful for free art. FREEEEE! There was this spot in the living room that really needed some art. I knew I wanted something in mostly oranges or reds, probably some kind of letter press-y or etsy find. I’ve always really liked this, but despite my desire to decorate, we’re in a bit of a spending freeze at the moment. But then! The other night after a late happy hour I found the new Beautiful Angle poster! And I happened to have the PERFECT sized frame just sitting in a closet, containing something I’d decided not to hang up in the new house. Huzzah!

4. Once again, I’m thankful for my child’s health. I’ve seen blood twice in the last two days, but he’s a strong and healthy boy and he’s fine. Both times, Clark fell and smacked his face into unforgiving objects, both times he was within my reach. It’s a good thing he was with me for both injuries. I’m sure I would assume that anyone else hadn’t been watching him closely enough.

I give you, Black Eye Baby.

That’s right, for weeks to come, as it changes to all of it’s myriad shades, I’ll have to tote around a baby with a shiner.

Good thing I took these really cute pictures of him just before:

It’s like Lenin said.

February 11, 2010 | Bits and Bobs

The following exchange occurred recently.

Me: (conversationally) So, what’s going on with your pants?

SB: I rolled them.

Me: On purpose? Are you going for a bikeride?

SB: Actually, GQ says that you can roll your jeans now. It’s the next big thing.

Me: Yeah, well, that may be true, but everyone but GQ thinks you’re a dork.

Then we laughed. Then he let me take a picture of his pants for you all.

While getting the above shot off my iPhone, I found this one. How cute is this? And yes, it’s way past time for a baby gate at the top of our super tall, straight down to the bottom stairs, but it’s finally installed. The worst thing was, we had it purchased and sitting in the hallway for weeks. We were definitely tempting the gods on that one.

Ooooh! Let me show you some pretty pictures from the 20’s party I went to.

It was a GREAT party. The venue was perfect and everyone totally got into dressing up. If by chance you would like to see the whole gallery it’s on my website, password “flapper”.

Swings

February 2, 2010 | Bits and Bobs, Clark, I'm so ashamed.

Firstly, a yoga report. It was an interesting afternoon. I ended up leaving my house a little too late, so I had to run to get there on time. As I jogged toward the studio, yoga mat in one hand and journal in the other, I suddenly had an image of myself and just cracked up laughing. Can you imagine what a douche I must have looked like, running down the street with a yoga mat and a journal? You know, in case I felt like doing any stretching, or needed to jot down a few thoughts mid run?

And speaking of douchey images of oneself, I have GOT to figure out a way to shut off my inner cynic. This class I’m taking is going to be pretty cool, I think, but it would be a lot better if I could shut off one of the voices in my head. It’s like I’ve got a middle-aged, midwestern republican living up there who always has to tell me what a hippie I am. As I sit in a circle, sharing thoughts, or worse, interpretive dancing, all I can hear is that guy making fun of me, telling me what a silly, liberal, priveleged fruit I am. This is super lame, because that negativity is so not me! I’m a joiner and an excellent sport. I’m perfectly happy to freestyle dance in a circle with other grownups on a Sunday afternoon.

Further evidence of this privelege, check this out:

I accidently paid $8 for some chocolate covered hazelnuts. I thought that sticker said 50% off. SB had to point it out to me. I’m sad to say this is not the first time I’ve been fooled by expensive nuts. One time at Metropolitan Market, home to many guffaw-worthy, yet tempting and delicious grocery items, I accidently bought a $22 nut sampler. I didn’t look at the price when I picked it up, but when I was checking out and my apple, sparkling water, and nuts came to $27, I did a poor job of hiding my surprise. I’m ashamed to admit, I was too embarrassed to put them back.

Thanks all for your advice with the sleeping. It’s pretty effing bleak around here right now, as far as that’s concerned. I feel as if he’s a newborn again. In response to several of you who suggested eliminating the second nap, I’d be happy with ANY nap at all during the day. I completely agree with Amy in the comments though, and this is what he needs from me right now,
and it won’t last forever. As it stands, there is no sleeping unless one of us is holding him, day or night. Which means I get nothing done while he’s napping, and I don’t sleep at all after his first waking, so I’m up from 2am-7am. He better rethink some of this if he doesn’t want to be an only child. Wait…

Lastly, I’ve hopped on the Words With Friends bandwagon, so if you want to play, I’m ZestyJenny.

Ooh! Here’s some cuteness for you. Clearly, I found myself far too amusing:

* title: There’s a funny little moment at the end of recess across the street, when I hear the bell, the kids all run in, and if you look out the window right then, the playground is deserted but all the swings are still moving. I love it when I catch it.

The soul would have no rainbow, if the eyes had no tears.

January 31, 2010 | Clark, Year of Gratitude

The title is a quote from the cover of a girly hippie journal I bought because I thought it was pretty. Unfourtunately, I failed to notice the hilarious, Guffman-esque quote before purchasing it.

Speaking of souls and tears, however, YOU MUST HELP ME. We are in all out sleep refusal around here. I’m desperate and I’ll take any advice. Maybe a combination of ideas will work, so let me have them. Here are the stats. I await your diagnosis. Before he got sick a couple weeks ago, he always went down easy. He had two long naps per day, and went to bed at 7 every night. (He still woke up 3 times per night, but now I realize how good I had it. Depressing.) Now, we fight and fight and fight for all sleep. This whole day has been an unsuccessful nap attemp. He just cries and cries! Or, falls dead asleep repeatedly, only to spring up and start crying the second you lay him down, like some sort of weird reflex. We’ve tried everything, including letting him cry for up to 5 minutes, but you guys. You guys. He gets so upset that he barfs. BARFS. Which is of course, the most soul crushing scenario. (Am terrible parent! Also, Barf to clean up. A baby to change, etc.) Anyway. Please help me.

So, this YOG thing. A friend of mine logged into her google account from my iPhone and didn’t log out. When I next went into my Reader, I was of course actually in hers. There, in her feeds, was Zesty Enterprise with like, 15 unread posts, all YOGS. It looked really boring to me, and not like something I’d be super motivated to read. Not only that, I don’t like feeling like I HAVE to do something because I SAID I would, you know? Instead, I think I’ll just stop making dumb rules for myself and just make an effort to post about good things, under the YOG category.

In other navel gazing news, today I’m starting a six week yoga class called Resolve to Evolve. I’m supposed to bring a journal. I hope to report that it helps me to stay on my health and exercise wagon, all while calming and centering me and whatnot. I’ll let you know.

Y.O.G #21

January 30, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

1. Obama. You guys. You MUST watch Obama at the Republican Retreat if you haven’t already. It just blew my damn mind. I can’t believe I just watched a politician of any sort speak so frankly, much less the president. As my friend Erik said, if you want to feel really good about the vote you cast, just watch it. Obama totally called out politics! He pointed out the pink elephant in the room, the tailchasing, obstructionist rhetoric that is Capitol Hill. I can’t freaking believe it. What a fantastic and honorable leader we have! He is So. Awesome.

2. A fun night out with friends. Last night a group of 8 of us went to see Kathy Griffin. She was SHOCKINGLY funny. I’ve gone to many a comedy show of someone I adore, only to feel a touch let down. But she BROUGHT IT. I laughed so hard and so much, I know I missed out on a lot of funnies. I’m so glad we went!

3. Next weekend, we’re going to a friend’s 20s themed thirtieth birthday party, so today, SB and I went to Northwest Costume and found fabulous things to wear. I’m so excited! It was really fun trying on the surprisingly large collection of fringey dresses they carry, as well as pawing through drawers labled “Flapper Headbands”. So, hooray for dressing up and huzzah for having friends who throw fancy dress parties!

More Original Songs Tee Em

January 28, 2010 | Clark

I’ve written before about how poor Clark must endure all the silly songs SB and I make up. One of my recent favorites is not exactly original, but is surprisingly entertaining when clapped along with a happy toddler:

If there’s poopy in your diaper clap your hands!
If there’s poopy in your diaper clap your hands!
If there’s poopy in your diaper and you really need a wiper,
if there’s poopy in your diaper clap your hands!

(OMG. I apologize to the childless among you. Did I just lose you for good?)

Another one I sing all the time goes like this:

You can’t have my coffee.
It’s not for you.
I’m so very sorry.
Does it make you feel blue?
You can’t have my coffee.
You have to wait til high school.

(sometimes I substitute coffee for beer and have a good snicker.)

YOGs aplenty #18-#19-#20

Year of Gratitude

I keep staying up way too late watching the Sookie Stackhouses and not YOGing before bed. Speaking of which, if anyone knows a way to see Season 2 before May, legal or otherwise, let me know.

#18
1. Long snoozy walks with my boy,

2. that include giant iced tea mommy treats,

3. wherein I get to enjoy these cute little monkey feet.

#19
1. My BICYCLE! I love to ride my bicycle! I love to ride my bike. I love to ride my bicycle! I love to ride it where I like.

2. Jamie, my hair lady. I’ve been with Jamie longer than I’ve been with SB. I got a much needed hair cut yesterday and she can always tell me exactly what I should do.

3. Watching the kids across the street. I get SO much enjoyment from watching the kids on the playground across the street from my house. It’s like an ant farm or a fish tank or something.

(BTW, imaginary internet friends, that is most definitely NOT my SUV parked out front, for the record.)

#20
1. Writing. Writing brings me so much joy, so much clarity. Whether it’s here, or in my journal, whether it’s making a list or keeping a fitness diary, I looooove writing.

2. My friend Marguerite.

3. My morning nap. My boy still does not sleep well. From 7-9 am most days, I get to put in earplugs and throw the covers over my head. I smile from ear to ear, as I sink into a delicious, delicious sleep, unlike any other sleeping, where I do not have to listen for Clark. I swear, it feels like the only real sleep I get.