Fall-back meals

I started having a conversation the other day with a few lady friends about the kinds of meals we fall back on when we're in a pinch, say, whenever a) it's 5:00 and dinner's been the last thing on your mind all day, b) you can't remember the last time you went to the store, c) you're feeling lazy, or d) all of the above.

For instance, I can't tell you how many variations on the soup-and-sandwiches theme I have prepared. Maybe two or three times a month, I'll just warm up some store-bought soup, like something a little more exciting than Campbell's (maybe lentil soup or butternut squash or tomato basil), and serve it with grilled cheese or open-faced sandwiches that I broil in the oven. These usually include bread (sometimes toasted, if I'm feeling gourmet), a slice of ham or turkey, tomato, and topped with cheese. Sometimes I'll even liven things up with a pesto spread, or something like that.

Anyway, it was fun to see what everyone else's staples were, so here are a few we discussed:

tacos
spaghetti (or any pasta dish with a bottled tomato or alfredo sauce)
hamburgers
breakfast for dinner
fried egg sandwiches
baked potato bar
fried rice
quesadillas

And sometimes it's nice to mix it up a little, so share some of your favorite fall-back meals for the rest of us lazy louts. If you'd be so kind.

Pretty cookies

This is what Anna and I made today — or what's left of them, anyway. I had eaten halfway through the green cookie at the bottom when I realized I should take a picture of the cookies before they disappear because the colors are just so pretty.

We had already eaten most of the cookies Anna decorated, so don't go thinking that she frosted any of these because she didn't. She's just not that good. Actually, she did frost the giant tree on the left and then proceeded to pile it with a 2-inch-high glob of white frosting, so the "snowy swirl" look is how I saved it. Was I an intrusive, meddling mother? Maybe, but just for a minute and over one cookie. But did I want it to look edible and get eaten? Yes.

Anyway, I'm here to tell you that frosting cookies is the perfect recipe for instant Christmas cheer. Happy Holidays, folks!

Cold season

After one of the worst sore throats I've had in a long time, I now have the best sick voice ever. I think it was worth it, because I can now reach the C below middle C. I could totally sub for one of the three tenors.

Annacdotes, Part 6

1. One morning over breakfast, Anna and I were having a discussion about the little rhyme "This little piggy" with your toes. When I got to the last one, the one that goes wee, wee, wee all the way home, she said in kind of a disgusted voice, "Does that mean he went potty all the way home?" That made me laugh, especially because I have never referred to that substance as "wee wee" (or made that connection myself, for that matter). But then I had to explain that the "wee" in the rhyme was like a little pig squeal and, naturally, we had to practice our pig squeals for the rest of the morning. Awesome on the eardrums.

2. Anna handed me several balls one day and said, "Mom, can you show me how to jiggle?"

3. I decided it was time for another talk about obedience one day when Anna had repeatedly gotten into something I repeatedly told her not to open. (I'm hoping one day this concept will click. One day...) After some discussion, Anna said she was ready to apologize. I knew things had really sunk in when she said, "Mom, I'm sorry for obeying." I helped her remember that she DISobeyed and that's probably what she meant. And then I said, "Next time, you need to do what I ask." She said, "Okay, but next time don't ask me to do anything!" Again, her logic astounds me.

4. In an overly sad voice, Anna told me one day that she went by the fire and it burned her. Since it was totally out of the blue and no fire was around, I kept asking her to repeat what she said. Finally when I figured it out, I said, "When was this?" She said, without missing a beat, "Five years ago when I was two."

5. Sometimes, hopefully to tease her out of a bad mood, I'll ask Anna why she's being such a crabby pants. But she will correct me every time, depending on what she's wearing (if she's not wearing pants): she's been a crabby skirt, crabby dress, and even crabby leggings.

6. Speaking of cranky Anna... Anna is a master pouter. She's got the sad face, the slumped shoulders, and the silent treatment down. I have no idea where she learned such things. Luckily, her pouts last about 30 seconds, but still. One day she was sad about something I said and wanted to pout in the dark. (I don't know why.) She kept demanding that I turn off the light. When I asked her to speak to me in a nice voice, she kept demanding. When I kept at it, asking for some manners, she said in a huff, "I don't know how to ask nicely." "Yes, you do," I said. "No, I don't," she spat. "And I don't want to be teached either."

I felt like I was talking to one of the newsies.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

We took Anna to see this over the weekend. In a word, it was fantastic.

We laughed. A lot. Anna was glued to the screen the whole time, but she'd basically do that with any movie. And I've always loved Roald Dahl, so it was a win all around. Go see it.

My favorite new invention

I guess it's not really new or even considered an invention now, but I LOVE it when grocery stores have disinfectant wipes by the carts. Love it. I would even kiss all the employees to show my thanks — if it didn't cancel out any disinfecting I just did.

An interview with Anna

Here's how a conversation with my three-year-old went the other day:

Q. If you had a baby girl, what would you name her?
A. Sofa.
(This is especially funny because I have a niece named Sophie, so I'm pretty sure that's where Anna got this name—the idea for it, anyway.)
Q. How many kids are you going to have when you grow up?
A. So many.
Q. How many?
A. 25 girls and 26 boys.
Q. Whoa. 51 kids?! Where will you live?
A. In California with you.
Q. And you'll bring all your 51 kids?
A. Yes. Or maybe no.
Q. Wait, so you're going to leave your 51 kids and come live with me?
A. Yes.
Q. Where will your kids live?
A. In the high school. That will be their house.
Q. What are you going to be when you grow up?
A. A mom!
Q. That's a great job. Are you going to have another job too?
A. Yes.
Q. What will it be?
A. You.
Q. Me? I'm going to be your job? You're going to take care of me when I'm old and infirm?
A. Yes.
Q. As your job?
A. Yes.

Isn't she priceless?

Recycle

A long time ago, I told my sister about these funny warnings that came with some really cheap and sketchy pasta pots that we were given for our wedding. After I read the warnings to her, she posted them on her blog. But since it's been years since the post and now that I have a blog and now that we were joking about these the other day, here they are for all to enjoy. (And enjoy again, if you have been a longtime Jen's Log reader.)

Reading these never fail to make me laugh. In fact, I glued them into my Book of Things That Make Me Happy. Also, the wording and spelling here are 100% consistent with the original instructions, so read carefully.

WARNING

1. The products cannot be allowed to be wash on the non-stick surface by metal scourer/other metal cleaning utensil.
2. The prosucts cannot be allowed to operate by metal kitchen untensil for cooking (suggest to be nyloin or wood material).
3. The products cannot be burned/fired without the liquid putting inside of the products over 2 minutes.
4. The products cannot be cleaned up by dish washer machinery.
5. The clean up the products is allowed to clean by water and then using the cloth to dry up.
6. The burning/fire temperature cannot be allowed over 220 degrees Celsius.
7. The bakelite handle cannot be directly fired.

Take special notice of #2 just for the spelling fun ("nyloin"? I don't want to use anything made out of that) and the wording of #3. What? I also like the incredibly interesting uses of the word “allow,” as if the pots have a mind of their own so they shouldn’t be “allowed” to “operate by metal kitchen untensils,” even though they might want to. I also like how the word “burn” is used all the time, as if that’s how we cook in this country. We burn and fire things. And we may have tried to directly “fire” the bakelite handle, for no reason, if not for the warning. That’s just a funny visual for me, imagining someone holding just the handle directly over the stove in an attempt to cook something.

Princess Fever

Otherwise known as the Obligatory (Yet Understandable Because She's So Adorable) Halloween Post.

Anna wanted to be a "golden princess" this year. She was very specific about this request, as she loves all things princess, and since I was born wearing homemade, hand-me-down, or scrounged-up Halloween costumes (I'm pretty sure I sported quart jar rings for gigantor earrings more than once or twice), I decided I would make her a golden princess dress. Myself. I wanted her to have a good ol' fashioned Halloween, like the kind I used to have. And since this is basically her first coherent Halloween, I wanted to start her off right.

And, what in the world was I thinking. What a job. But I'm actually glad that I did it. I don't think I'm going to become the next... (who's a famous seamstress?) ... Julia...Bernina, but I'm glad that I can now follow a pattern to some degree and that her dress mostly resembled the picture on the front. And I'm a little more self-sufficient, now. So if you can get past a few quirky alterations and a somewhat wonky zipper, I think it turned out fine.

And she loves it. I've seen more twirls in this thing than any other dress. So mission accomplished, I say.
Also, I really liked how, while we were out trick or treating and when people would compliment her on her dress, Anna was quick to inform them that she wasn't just dressing up—because she was, indeed, a real princess. She was so in character.

And continuing the princess ailment she is currently suffering from, she even wanted a princess carved in her pumpkin. She did the digging and I carved a pretty cute freehand princess, if I can toot my own horn yet again. Let's retitle the post something about that, since that's apparently all I can talk about.

Here is my latest work of art. Post your compliments below.

Nature bracelets

I know the time may be long since past for this particular activity for some of you (snow, anyone?), but Anna and I had such a good time doing this that I had to pass it along.

I found an idea online where you make a bracelet out of clear tape, with the sticky part out, and stick on cool flowers and things you find outside on a walk. Anna LOVED it and I think the bracelets even turned out pretty cute. I'd totally wear them.

Favorite books from my childhood

I loved any book about Amelia Bedelia.
Whoa. Tiny picture. In case you can't read the title, this one's "Parakeets and Peach Pies."
The slightly-unnerving "Doctor De Soto." (You shouldn't write children's books about animals in danger of being eaten. It's just not right.)
This one was a favorite of my mom's so it became a favorite of mine.
"Tikki Tikki Tembo"
"The Magic Fish." (As a sidenote, I think it's funny that I grew up thinking I had read Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea" because I got the title confused with this favorite. Strangely, Hemingway's book is nothing like this one.)
Basically anything about the Berenstain Bears
And anything about the Little Critter
And the nightmare-inducing "Mr. and Mrs. Pig's Evening Out." Have you read this one, the one with the wolf babysitter? What were they thinking?
I love this little guy.

And these were just a few off the top of my head. I love finding some of these at the library and taking them home to read to Anna. They totally take me back.

What are some of your favorites?

Annacdotes, Part 5

1. Anna has a special blanket. I tried hard in the beginning to keep her from getting too attached to it, but ... like mother like daughter, I guess. I sucked my thumb, as a kid, while I rubbed silky material and she sucks on her fingers while she holds her pink silky blanket. It's a necessity for every nap and at night, and it makes several appearances throughout the day. Basically, it's her little buddy.

It's become such a large part of her life, however, that I sometimes still get a little nervous when I need to tell her it's time to wash it or she can't sleep with it tonight because we left it somewhere. But her response always surprises me. Even now. She's always totally mature about it, saying something like, "It's okay. I'll sleep with it tomorrow." or "Oh, good. Thanks for cleaning my blanket, Mom." Seriously. She really says stuff like that. So even though I totally failed at keeping her from becoming too attached to an inanimate object, at least she can still be reasonable about it.

2. After a recent interview, Anna informed us that she was going to have three children when she grows up. She will name them Moon, Chair, and Smoothie. She doesn't want to have a cat, but she will have a dog and a cow—which she will also name Smoothie. When asked if she will get married, she said yes, she will marry a man and his name will be Martha. A perfect plan.

3. Anna turned to me while on the potty the other day and said, "Mom, I like to wipe while I'm on the potty. That's one of my favorite akvickities."

4. Anna saw a wilted flower in the kitchen one morning that she had picked the night before. She got all sad and moaned for a while that her poor flower had died. But then she got a solemn and reconciled look on her face and said, "But it will be resurrected." I ask you what other 3 year old knows the word "resurrected" and knows how to use it correctly ... even if it's applied to a dead flower. She's brilliant, if you ask me.

5. When we were in the car the other day, Anna started singing the word "loser" over and over again to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Nice.

6. I have had to dissuade Anna several times from picking other people's flowers, and I make a big deal about her needing to ask first to see if it's okay. When we were out and about one day, I picked some little wildflowers for her and, after the exuberant thanks she gave me, she paused and looked at me reproachfully and said, "Did you ask Jesus if it's okay?"

How did she know they were Jesus's flowers, I ask you?

Little Red Riding Hood

What does it say about me that every time I read Anna the story of Little Red Riding Hood, my wolf-in-grandma's-nightgown voice has a very husky British accent?

In excess: bananas and giant zucchini

It is a truth universally acknowledged that you will never be able to eat all of the bananas you buy before they turn brown.



But if this unfortunate circumstance has led to the invention of banana bread, it's not all bad. Besides the traditional banana bread, which is always a favorite and almost always requires the addition of chocolate chips (though Trevor would disagree), what else do you do with old bananas? My sister makes a mean chocolate banana bread, which is moist and delicious. I also like to peel and freeze ripe bananas to put in smoothies.



But one of my favorite ways to use old bananas is to make chocolate banana muffins. (Since "muffin" is in the name of the recipe, I like to tell myself that they're a perfectly acceptable breakfast food. Totally false.)



Double Chocolate Banana Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar (I use a little less)
  
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1-1/3 cup mashed ripe bananas (I just use 3 bananas.)
  
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1 cup (6 ounces) chocolate chips

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, combine bananas, oil and egg; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Yield: about 1 dozen.



Now for zucchini.







(Don't you love google image searches?)







My sister also has a knack for finding good zucchini recipes. These Lemon Zucchini Cookies are SO tasty, and I'm also a sucker for the dense and delicious Chocolate Zucchini Cake she makes that she likes to top with ganache. Mmmm.... And I'm not kidding you. It's divine.



Chocolate Zucchini Cake



1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. oil

1 3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. sour milk (or buttermilk)

2 1/2 c. flour

4 T. cocoa (my sister adds more, so it depends on how much of a chocolate freak you are)

1/2 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

pinch of salt

2 c. peeled and finely shredded zucchini (press out any excess liquid)

1/2 c. chocolate chips



Sour milk:

1 t. vinegar or lemon juice

1/2 c. milk

Add together and let stand for 5 minutes



Ganache:

Melt together some chocolate chips and cream in a double boiler. (Sketchy directions, but my sister said she melts about a half a cup of milk chocolate chips and a handful (?) of semi-sweet and then adds cream to desired consistency. Does that help?)



Beat butter, oil, and sugar well. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and sour milk. Sift dry ingredients and beat into mixture. Stir in zucchini. Pour batter into a greased and floured bundt pan. Sprinkle top of batter with chips (or stir into batter if you want). Bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until done. Cool in pan 15 minutes and carefully remove to finish cooling. Spread with ganache and enjoy.



*A quick tip: Don't try to make this in the off season when you get a craving and use store-bought zucchini. There is a bitterness and a stronger flavor to smaller zucchini, so opt for the milder taste it gets when it gets huge.



So what do YOU do with your old bananas? And even though the time is almost past for this year's zucchini harvest, did you find any recipes you're going to keep around?

A new do

I tell ya, I have such a hard time cutting my hair. I'm always glad when I do it, because it's nice to have an actual style and I'm also such a lazy bum and hate taking a long time to fix it. But having naturally curly hair gives me ulcers when I think about cutting it short. This is because when my hair gets short, it has a propensity to be a) old lady hair, b) triangle hair, or c) both—my biggest fears. But those fears were not realized and I think I came out ahead after this haircut.

Here's the before...

(I didn't crop Anna out of this photo because she looks simultaneously like a total ragamuffin and a little demonic. Amazing.)

And after.

So it's your basic A-line with some longer chunks up front for a bit of added funk. And I kind of feel a little bit flapper when it's curly, but who doesn't like that? So far so good, I think. I like how fast I can dry it and that it has an actual style. Pretty fun, huh? Now, why didn't I do this sooner?

Guilty pleasures

* vanilla ice cream cones from McDonald's (unnaturally white and so delicious)
* vanilla ice cream cones from McDonald's (I love them so much, it was worth putting it twice.)
* Pink (the singer)
* The Terminator movies
* The Twilight books (Actually, these are more like a drug. Yes, I inhaled and was forced to continue at an unhealthy pace until I was done. I'm not proud of it, but it was definitely more extreme that just a guilty pleasure. But I'm clean now.)
* Monster Ballads, the CD
* naps
* reading a book while Anna takes a looooong bath (when I should be cleaning the bathroom or doing something else productive)
* Tom Jones (the singer)
* white bread
* rereading Harry Potter books (or any other favorite)
* eating a tub of Ben and Jerry's all by myself (I used to do this in college and would stretch one container out for at least a week, or so. Now I marvel at the self-control I once had.)
* funeral potatoes

Yours?

Show and tell

I have very little crafting ability. I do have some, but it's on a very amateur level. I know one crochet stitch and I can sew a straight line on the sewing machine — and that about sums it up.

Not to toot my own horn, however, this post is to show what one can do with this tiny bit of knowledge. Basically, I learned that you can still make cute things even if you think you're pretty unskilled.

So instead of using a bunch of different crochet stitches, I like to focus more on color combinations and decorative elements when I crochet. I've made a few scarves and afghans, but this summer I experimented with a couple baby blankets and things I could add to them. I think they turned out quite well ... for being made by such a novice.





Sure, there are some bumps and lines that are less than straight, but that adds to the handcrafted (or perhaps personalized and awkward) feel, right? Right?

I've basically been crocheting my one stitch for more than a decade (I think I can trace the roots of this knowledge back to a personal progress project or two), but sewing is less familiar to me. But with my mom on metaphorical speed dial, I was able to successfully sew something recognizable:

This one even has darts. Darts!

This blanket was definitely a labor of love. I learned a lot on this one, but at least the scars don't show ... too much.

A question posed

What do you think it says about one's blog if the two posts that produced the most comments were about toothpaste and gross candy?

A tasty treat

I was reading an old email I had sent to my sister and this was the advertised, content-matched link up at the top:

POOPARCELS - www.pooparcels.com - Because Not Everyone Deserves Flowers

Poo parcels?! You're darn right, I was interested. And what a catchy slogan. So go on. Just click on it, if you can handle a small amount of crassness, and find out about poo-shaped chocolate treats you can send to friends... or enemies, I guess. But mostly friends. (A word of warning: The "sh*t" word is plastered all over the website, understandably, but I nonetheless found the idea pretty funny.) Anyway, check it out if you need a laugh or some new gift ideas, because apparently these kinds of packages can be applied to any holiday or event, as the website will tell you.

I don't even remember what kind of content was in the email to my sister that resulted in such an advertisement, but I don't doubt that it applied. You look at the website and tell me when it wouldn't be appropriate to send someone — anyone — a poo parcel.

Annacdotes, Part 4

1. Potty training with Anna has been interesting. We stopped and started several times, for various reasons, but once we finally got down to business, it went better than I ever dreamed it would. But now she's kind of over the excitement phase of going to the potty and she's currently in the "I'm-too-busy-to-bother" phase, as though taking a potty break is just asking too much. One night before bed, I told her it was time to go to the potty and she said, "But I just went!" Knowing that wasn't true, I said, "Oh yeah? When did you go?" She said, "I think, like 30 years ago." Ha. Her story totally didn't add up. Point 1 for Mom. Now if she only understood logic, I would be able to use this argument against her. Point 2 for Anna.

2. During breakfast the other day, Anna totally out of the blue asked me, "Mom, do you have a closet?" Surprised, I laughed and then started saying something about there being one in the bedroom, but then she cut me off and said, "No, you don't. Go fish!" What silliness. What a funny joke. What logic. She's a wonder.

3. She likes Raisin Bran.

4. This was how we celebrated Pioneer Day. How could you not love this girl?

So stoic. Like a true pioneer.

Yes, that is a stalk of rhubarb she's eating. And despite the look on her face, she really liked it and ate the whole thing.

This dress, by the way, was on loan from Trevor's mom who made it years ago. Isn't it amazing? Anna couldn't wait to wear it. We decided that she could be either a pioneer OR Anna of Green Gables.

5. The first line of the latest story Anna was making up: "There once was a watch named Phil."

I can't wait to hear how that one turns out.

This also reminds me of how she recently began to recount the story about the two kids who went up a hill to fetch a pail of water. Anna's version featured "Jack and Bill." Funny. (I thought it was just a terribly contemporary retelling of the classic nursery rhyme.)

Gross Candy Party

A few days ago, my sister and I stopped at the store to stock up on some treats before we headed to a showing of Harry Potter. We looked over the bulk candy section and I jokingly asked her if she wanted a pound of burnt peanuts, one of the world's least appetizing candies. After a little chuckle, I started thinking about how it might be fun to host a Gross Candy Party, to give some of the least desirable, often forgotten candy a chance to shine — because who in the world actually buys and eats them? I guess somebody does, because they keep making it. Anyway, want to come to my party?

We started listing off all of the candies that might make the gross cut, and here's the lineup so far.

burnt peanuts

and these

circus peanuts

(What are they even made of? Nothing at all related to peanuts, that's what.)

and chiclets

a.k.a. candy-coated gum that that rivals the taste and chewiness of a scrap of paper

And these.

I saw this picture in my search for something else and couldn't resist putting these on the list too. These ones are called "Sundae Neapolitan Coconut." What? That's like 8 flavors too many all in one little candy. Sick.(Quite honestly, Brach's may have to host the party. I could almost put their whole line up here.)

I think a lot of people might disagree with me, but I never saw the draw to candy corn.

Boston Baked Beans(To be honest, I may not have ever actually tried these. But the name sounds sick. Candy makers, it's a good idea to avoid naming candy after dinner food.)

Instead of "The original candy wafer," I think the slogan should read, "The first candy ever made" or "Tastes like chalk!"

Any others you'd like to add?

Happy Birthday to Steph!

Me and Steph. This picture was taken ages ago, but it's still cute, especially in a neither-of-us-look-like-that-anymore way.

Stephanie is my sister and today is her birthday. In her honor, here is a list of things I love about her. I could have gone on and on, but I had to limit myself.

10 Things I Love About Steph
1. Her passion. She feels strongly about most everything, and it's usually (he he) about all the right things. She has much devotion and integrity, this one, and I have always admired that about her.
2. Her love of all things France. She has been to France, like, a hundred times and usually comes back with a fun shirt or three for me and is always willing to share her chocolate or day-old pan au chocolat. I also love that she totally opens up her predominantly French wardrobe to me any time there's a need. Her enthusiasm for France is definitely catching.
3. That we started a Christmas Cookies and Candies baking day tradition a few years ago. I love that day.

My other sister Jen and Steph, showing the results of their baking day the Christmas I was away in Poland.

4. That we also made it a tradition a long time ago to do mildly rebellious things whenever our parents went out of town, like dye Jen's hair or buy lots of chips, gummies, and donuts at the store and watch a movie. (Hellions, I know.)
5. That she has a secret crush on Steve Perry's voice.
6. That we can always share a love of Willy Wonka, Pretty in Pink (a.k.a. Pudding and What?) North (12th? West? Remember when we couldn't remember the name?) Avenue Irregulars, P & P, Gilmore Girls, Friends, Charmed, and many other classic shows. I also love that when Jen and I were at BYU and Steph lived in Provo, she would totally make us dinner once a week on Thursdays and we'd eat, laugh, and watch Friends together. Those nights, when we were away from school and filling our bellies with good food, were absolutely heavenly.
7. I love that we can bond over our naturally curly hair and empathize when the other is caught in the rain and suffers from chia hair.
8. That she has her own brownie recipe totally memorized and that they are some of the world's finest.
9. That she's like the best aunt ever. She LOVES her nieces and nephews and always spends so much quality time with them, reading to them, laughing, and teaching them all sorts of silly yet delightful things. Everyone loves Steph.
10. Umbrellas. (That one's just for you.)

Love you, Steph! Happy Birthday!

Regurgitation

Anna's been sick today. I have cleaned her up after 3 bouts of vomit (with several spews per bout), changed her clothes twice, cleaned floors and furniture each time, and now she's sleeping. Hopefully she will stay that way.

I have washed my hands approximately 50 times, changed MY vomit-covered clothes once, and now I feel like I need to be run through a sanitizer.

But as I was scooping up some vomit off the carpet with a spoon after Bout 2, my mind turned back to the time I threw up on Halloween of 1990. What a memory. I was 8 years old and just putting the finishing touches on my costume before heading out for some trick or treating. I was dressed up as a business man. (We can talk about why that may have been a questionable cross-dressing decision later, but I thought it was ingenious.) I was wearing a suit and tie (I felt like such a rogue), a black hat, and I was carrying a briefcase. So dashing and quite a costume for an 8-year-old girl.

But I needed help with my tie. I had been ignoring rumbles in my stomach all afternoon, but trick or treating was far more important. So this pressing need took me into the kitchen to ask one of my brothers for help tying my tie. Figuring he was the most experienced, I asked my oldest brother for help who was there visiting with his new wife of one month. He started to work on my tie, but then things started to close in on me and I started to get very, very clammy. I woozily moved away from him and said I needed to get out of there.

I threw up three times before I actually made it to the bathroom, with one spew landing on the borrowed black hat I was to wear that night. Rough.

Later, my sister in-law told me that my mom asked her to grab a spoon so she could get in on the clean up, telling her she "better get used to this." And there's no time like the present. My mom is awesome.

I went to bed with a glass of sprite, and my kind older sister went trick or treating for me. Many people thought she was totally full of it and looked skeptically at her extra bag, but I guess she was pretty convincing because I remember getting a LOT of good stuff that year. Though my other sister's black hat has never been the same, I will always remember with fondness that Halloween.

Strawberry sensation

So Anna loves strawberries. Always has. She LOVES to eat them and asks for them at least daily. She requested a strawberry cake for her birthday weeks in advance, without any parental suggestion at all, and it's also her favorite kind of ice cream. It's nearing an obsession.

Here's the pretty cake I made. It was pretty, alright, but I didn't think the taste was fantastic. But Anna didn't mind. (I actually think she only ate her ice cream. Nice.)

My pretty girl with her pretty cake.

For her birthday, my sister Jen sent her a cute old-school strawberry shortcake summer dress (so adorable) and material to make a strawberry pillow, which she purchased off of ebay, I believe. It was such a fun present.

Now, the pillow material was also rather vintage. It was made in 1980, and when I ironed it before I sewed it together, it emitted a smell of pure Old Lady's House. But that only added to the fun.

Making it was really pretty simple. The material came with lines printed on it so you knew where to cut it out.
Anna needed to help.

And then I just sewed around the edges, snipped a few places after I realized it was incredibly misshapen once I turned it inside out, and then we stuffed it and sewed up the bottom. Viola!

Love the tongue.

And trying to eat it. Can't you see the obsession written in her glazed eyes? I told you so.