How to deal, courtesy of the Gilmores

Last week I had a sad day when I realized that one of my guilty little pleasures had come to an end.

Backing up a bit, I always made fun of Gilmore Girls when it was aired originally, mainly because of the INSANE amount of dialogue. SO unbelievable that anyone on this earth could think and talk that fast, let alone 2 people, let alone a 14 year old girl. Almost as annoying as those ridiculously wise and eloquent-beyond-their-years kids on Dawson's Creek. Puh leeze.

But then reruns started to coincide with my baby's naps, and as it turns out, sometimes you need a ridiculous little escape from "believable" and for me, Gilmore Girls was just what the doctor ordered. I'd catch an episode here and there, and kind of follow along with the plot twists and whatnot. But then the last coupla seasons, I became really hooked.

Last Thursday I saw the series finale. It was, I have to admit, pretty good TV.

But this post is not about that episode.

It's about an earlier episode, one of the more genius episodes of any show I have ever seen EVER. You know, one right up there with the musical Buffy episode and when Kara Thrace comes back in a spaceship after exploding in a nebula.

Roll tape. (Feel free to skip to 1:25.)


Genius. Pure and simple. If only we could all hash out our issues like this, the world would be a better place.

Even the insane amount of dialogue* doesn't bug me. Instead, I kinda want to slow clap as I slowly rise to my feet.

And then invite my whoooole family over for dinner, sit them down and say, "Aaaaaand GO!"

*(Seriously though, can you imagine memorizing lines for this show? Sheesh.)

How to sew green, or HOLY CRAP I MADE SOMETHING!

As some of you know, my friend MK had her second baby about a month ago. Her FIRST baby (who is now almost 2, and I think we get to call him a baby until that point) is having a wee bit of a hard time with it. This is the same baby that I used to babysit sometimes, and who got to be my sort of "test subject" on occasion on what it was like having a baby in this apartment. He will always have a special place in my cold, shriveled, teeny tiny heart.

He also likes buckles.

So somewhere along the line I got it in my head that I wanted to get him something special that would be just for him, that would help occupy him when mommy was tending to little baby E, that could help keep his attention during church...

And naturally, it HAD to have buckles.

So first I searched online to see if such a toy existed. I found this one and I almost bought it like seven times. Then I found someone's blog that was doing a giveaway for that very same toy and I thought--FATE! I'm TOTALLY gonna win this!

I didn't.

Then, my dear friends, I decided something that may have changed my life forever.

I decided to MAKE one. And this was my process:

First I bought some of these.
Yeah, I went to a fabric store and everything. I got 4 sets of buckles and straps, and I came home and hand sewed the straps on. No big deal.

But then I had no idea what to do next. So I pulled in a consultant. Under a ruse of a friendly dinner at our place, I invited the area expert in all things crafty over and she happily brainstormed with me.

So the idea started forming.

And then I asked you if I could borrow your sewing machine. I borrowed one (thank you very much!). (PS it was a Singer, not a Brother, but I think very similar. And I liked it.)

I thought, "Man, I wish I had buttons and zippers and stuff to add to this strappy toy thingie."

And then I thought, "But I'm really cheap, and I don't know if I can handle another trip to the fabric store so soon."

And my next thought was, I believe, the turning point of the whole thing.
I thought, "Why not use parts of old clothes I was gonna throw out anyway?"

And that's exactly what I did.
And then I wound a bobbin. Thrilling.

I cut up a pair of baby pants that had zippers up the sides.
And a pair of baby overalls that had lots of snaps.
And a raggedy bib with a velcro closure. Then I stitched his name on an old pocket.

And many [MANY] crooked stitches, redos, mistaken closures, etc etc later, it all came together.
I am fighting...FIGHTING the urge to post close ups of all my mistakes. It would just make the post way too long. I find great comfort in the fact that little L will never give a flying buckle about any of them.

And I'm deciding, rather, to just focus on the fact that I did this! All by myself!

I thought my first show of craftiness was a fluke, but hey. I suppose in this brave new world, anything is possible. I might even be the next her*.

*yeeeeeeeah right!

A giveaway, people!

But first, CONGRATULATIONS to Bridge! She had a large male child today. And he is soooo cute. Why are there forty-seven states between me and that baby!

And so, partially in celebration of that blessed event, and partially because... I just wanna, I hereby announce:

MY VERY FIRST BLOG GIVEAWAY!!! I know, right? You're all IT'S ABOUT TIME!

Well folks, I actually have been mulling this over for quite a while. I'm not quite so crafty that I feel comfortable giving something handmade (though s t a y t u n e d for a full report of a parTICularly creative and fruitful holiday weekend in this household. Prepare, my friends, to be impressed).

So anyway, I've been thinking and thinking about what to give away, you know, wanting it to be cool enough for you guys and stuff (seriously). And then on our date night a few weeks ago, Mike and I hit my favorite bookstore and one of the books on the table jumped right up and into my bag. In FACT...

TWO OF THEM JUMPED.

And so, without further blah blah, I give you... the giveaway:
Oh folks. This book is GOOOOD. It is called The Secret Life of Food and it has the funniest, craziest, most creative ideas on how to style and serve food at all occasions.

I give you a few of my favorite examples:
Did you see that? SUSHI CUPCAKES, PEOPLE! These are made of candy, coconut, cream, and other various sweet delicacies. ADORABLE.

And who WOULDN'T want to come home at the end of the day and see this under the bed:
Ok, admittedly, some ideas are more usable than others. But there are some great Halloween ideas, and many fun general party foodstuffs.

You want this book. Trust me.

Here are the rules:
You have until July 20th to enter.
Enter by posting a comment on this entry.
I need at least 25 different commenters before I will part with this treasure. (Anne, tell me if that's rude:))
AND
If I have 40 commenters, I will give TWO books away ('member? cuz 2 jumped into my bag.)

I will pick winners at random in approximately 12 days.

And.....GO!

Baby, love, Chicks

Scoff if you will at the following statement; it is true, nonetheless:

The Dixie Chicks are a part of the soundtrack of my life.

Oh, Nelly. I love me some Chicks. That's right, and I'm not afraid to say it. Now, I'm not a big music person. What I mean is, I am definitely NOT "in the know" about the latest bands and what album you HAVE to have, but something about these gals just gets me, and always has.
I once longed for wide open spaces.
I have at times wanted a cowboy to take me away.
And I too, think Earl had to die.

I also have some very fond memories of attending a Chicks concert with a certain group of gals in Dallas back in '00. Oh the memories!

That horrible year of my life when all that bad crap happened (ahem, 2007 I'm looking at your ugly face), this album walked me to work and back every SINGLE day. All the anger, angst, sorrow, worry, hope I felt during that time had a voice. And that voice was one Natalie Maines.

I challenge you to find a song that captures the heartbreak of infertility better than the chorus of this gem:
http://www.rhapsody.com/dixie-chicks/taking-the-long-way/so-hard/lyrics.html
(sorry, you have to actually push the play button there. IT'S WORTH IT.)

...Or a lullaby more fitting and beautiful than this song (I sing this to my baby every night):


And now, the Chicks are once again giving me some love. I'm not quite sure how we discovered this, but my baby has a favorite song, and it goes a little something like this:

(Sorry if you were expecting a video of my baby; I wish I had one to post.) He KNOWS this song. He gets the biggest grin on his face when those first beats start goin' and then? He dances. Big time. He waves his little arms as if conducting music, he bounces his little bum, and he rocks his body. I love it.

Thank you, Dixie Chicks. Again. I have a feeling this isn't the end of our relationship.

And another...

I think I've found the best way to get comments: ask for advice! Thanks for all your advice. Because of that post, a friend of mine is loaning me her Costco Brother sewing machine for a month while she's out of town, so this will be a great way to try it out to see if I want one. I think for the limited amount of sewing I'll be doing, that might be a really good option. Thanks everyone!

Um, I need s'more advice though. Car seats. I need the next step up car seat that can be both forward and back facing, and possibly also converts to a booster, though that's not absolutely necessary. Ugh, I HATE making these decisions! Just drop one at my doorstep with a bill, would ya?

Also, I'm not spending over $200. I know, I'm a horrible mother. Unless you really really think I should.

And also also, have a great holiday weekend, y'all! We have absolutely nothing planned. So there's that.

Lastly, blog nerd=Blerd. Bam. Thanks, Emily!

This, that AND THE OTHER

Want to hear what a big blog nerd I am (has anyone coined a term for that yet? you should.)

I keep a list of potential blog topics in a spreadsheet, in case I'm ever stumped for something to say. Please [lie to me and] tell me I'm not the only one.

I just have a few random things on me mind this evening. No spreadsheet necessary.

Nope, my baby is not better. If forced to make an "either/or" decision, I'd say he's worse. I know it could still be swelling, but the doc said that would go down after a day or two. It's been more than that. Argh.

Flurg had a lovely playdate with the lovely Elliott today. I horrified myself by being genuinely jealous that the very advanced (I've always said so) E can already clap, wave, and point. Turns out I have a little "stage mom" in here somewhere. Must be the Texan in me.

Speaking of baby abilities, Flurg is full on standing now, unassisted. He does it for several seconds at a time, but actually prefers to stand ON things. Like the bed, or a pillow, or a book, or my stomach. No joke. I need to get pictures of this.

Can anyone recommend (or warn against) a sewing machine for less than $200? I've decided that I need one, and that is my limit. Thank you. Also, can I come to your house tonight to use yours for 20 minutes? Thanks again.

And if you could also tell me where I can get access to an indoor pool with my baby for less than $50/month? That would be great too. (That's what the local YMCA wants.)

And lastly, I've been meaning to do one-a-them giveaways for a while. Stay tuned....

The (only) highlight of the day

I'm kicking myself for not stuffing this gown into the diaper bag. I have no idea if that's against the rules or not.