Countdown

Where have all the days gone?!  Our Christmas celebration always starts on Christmas Eve day, so we're down to one more day of crazy preparation.  We traditionally spend Christmas Eve Day with Casey's family about an hour north of here, then my family will converge on Freistadt Road on Christmas Day.  It's even more frantic this year because, in addition to being gone Christmas Eve day, all four of my siblings and their families will be here, so about 17 people will sweep through, eat, open gifts, and be on their merry way to other festivities.  I do love it while it's happening, but oh, all the things that need to be done beforehand!

I've been living off lists, which only seems to help when I actually remember where I put the lists (!).  And if it's not on the list, forget it.  I've already left my wallet behind (thank you, Hannah, for finding it), somehow misplaced a bottle of wine, and I hope not to set foot into another Target until next year.  I technically finished shopping last week, have all the gifts wrapped, tagged, and bagged to go.  And still, more names and gifts to buy keep popping up.  Today will be spent cleaning house and preparing as much as possible for our Christmas feast on Friday.  I better put "breathe" on my list of things to do.

Miss Z and I have spent the past few weeks making gifts and other fun things.  She is already so crafty and creative, it boggles my mind.  I'll say, "that looks great," and she'll respond, "it's not great yet."  Making gifts may take a lot more time and planning than just browsing store shelves, and thank goodness for 40% off coupons at JoAnns, but I'm quite pleased with the handmade gifts we were able to create.  Who needs an overpriced plastic ornament from Hallmark when you can have a lovely Miss Z original?

The downside to all this is that my insomnia is back.  Because, of course, I've been crazy with all my Miss Marketing things at work, and Miss Z's terrible two phase has decided to take permanent residence, and blah blah blah its never ending.  I'm hoping the insomnia is just taking advantage of the stress of the season and will pack its bags soon after the new year.  At this point, I'm flying on adrenaline and refueling with caffeine.  But truly, the joy of the season is so evident on Miss Z's face that it's worth everything.  I can hardly wait until Christmas morning when it's just me, Casey, Miss Z, and Simon doing our own thing before more madness ensues.

So if anyone is still reading this, we wish you a Merry Merry Merry Christmas! (Which reminds me of a t-shirt a friend of mine saw at the airport: "More people are reading my t-shirt than your blog."  HA!)

Bring on the Holly Days

I can’t believe that next week is already Thanksgiving, which is the official kick-off to my holiday season (never mind that the local department stores have been fa-la-la-ing since Halloween). This year I’m trying to take some of the commercialism out of our festivities, so Miss Z and I are planning a good old-fashioned handmade Christmas. She has already proven herself a mean glue-sticker, and it makes a momma so proud to see her using the craft punch like a pro. The difficult part will be to find projects appropriate for a 2-3/4 year old glitter maniac (better get the vacuum ready, dad), and what better resource than my go-to gal Martha Stewart and her bevy of crafting beauties.  These glitter snowflakes are definitely a good thing.

I'm also excited that Miss Z is now old enough to be a real participant in celebrating Christmas. While we don’t commemorate the birth of Christ, I’ve always loved the unspoken joy and warmth that seems to be more prevalent this time of year. There really is something special about Christmastime, and watching Miss Z take in all the shimmery lights and colorful baubles certainly helps fuel that feeling. Most of all, I hope we can show her that the spirit of gifting and giving is more alluring than must have toy lists and presents, presents, presents. And if means we’re ensconced in glitter until January, so be it.

Day of Reckoning

For the last two weeks my husband has been quietly shaking his head at my stubborn refusal to see a doctor about my hacking cough and general malaise.  Well day two of this unbearable headache found me limping to the clinic to accept the diagnosis: influenza and a sinus infection.  Now the nausea accompanying the antibiotics I must take for the next five days is worse than the actual symptoms.  I don't know why it always is so difficult for me to accept that I too am human, but to my dear husband I say: You were right.  Again.  Now I'm going to bed.

P.S. This is one of my favorite pictures of Simon, who is a real inspiration for getting enough rest!

The Day the World Came Home

The image on my header is from the Sundance catalog circa 2002.  I find it to be so serene and comforting that I've not only kept it all these years, I also bought the hammock it was meant to sell.  The hammock was a surprise house warming gift for Casey after we bought our first house and it's spent every summer in our backyard ever since.

Now when Miss Z sees the picture she asks, "Who's sitting in our hammock?" and I realize what a small world she lives in.  And I suddenly feel the great responsibility of broadening her world while protecting and preserving it.  Miss Z is my absolute joy; full of light and wonder and so stubborn and determined to find her own way. She is an undeniably perfect mix of the best and worst of me and Casey.

Everything I've done for Miss Z thus far has come naturally, born from a deep love and respect for her growing person.  And I marvel at what an extraordinary gift my mother gave me.  Even in her short life she was able to instill in me a mother's instinct; a place of let it go and let it be; a place where home is a big red hammock where Miss Z and I can swing together, bravely watching the world open up before her.  And there's no other place I'd rather be.

Sunny Day

It's been gray and rainy so often here that the other day I had to stop and think why the front living room looked so different--it was the sun shining through the window!

Here's Simon welcoming our absent friend back, perhaps coaxing her to visit more often.  We are definitely not looking forward to "falling back" and losing another hour of sunshine this Sunday.

Alas, just another gray day on Freistadt Road.

Some Day

So when Miss Z becomes the next Annie Leibovitz (minus the massive debt, of course) we can note that she received her first real digital camera from her parents in October of 2009.  It's a gently used, pink, 5MP Nikon Coolpix that mom hunted down on eBay. As you can see, Miss Z loves it and is quite good with it already.

Unfortunately, I am a person who can only tolerate having my picture taken after hours of primping and mental preparation.  Miss Z, however, says to me: “Mom, if you don’t go stand over there and let me take your picture, I will be very sad.”  Do you think that’s what Annie says to Brad Pitt?

Day By Day

I bet you're wondering if I've already run out to things to say on this blog.  Well, not quite.  I have literally lost my voice to this horrible cold.  Not that it relieves me from any of my life duties, but it has been exhausting trying to get by with a whisper.  I hope I'm on the other side of sick, but only time, and a good nap, will tell.  So for now, please accept this orange chicken in my absence, because for some reason it makes me smile to see it.

Sick Day

I've been wrestling with this nasty cold all week and it finally pinned me today.  It's sitting heavy on my chest, pounding me with painfully sharp coughs.  I haven't felt this run down in awhile so I'm reaching  for my comfort foods.  My mother used to make the best congee when we were sick, but I don't have the patience for that right now (it takes hours).  Second runner up is wonton soup.

Mine won't look as pretty as this picture, but oh boy will it be yummy.  Ground pork mixed with lots of ginger, black pepper and spring onions, simmered in broth with a splash of sesame oil just before serving.  Who wouldn't feel better sitting down to that?

A Gray Day

It's been raining all day; one of those ugly days where the only good thing about it is the bitter wind ridding the world of the weakest umbrellas.  My 45 minute commute from the office to home is never fun, but on days like today the time stretches at every braking tail light, so what's a girl to do on such a gray day but think about color.

As a designer, I love color (okay, the right colors) and I go through different periods of favored colors.  Not too long ago I was using a lot of sunflower yellow, but here's my favorite color right now: Reverie Pink. (Are you shocked?) This swatch is from Sherwin Williams and its the color we painted Miss Z's big girl room. I love that it's bright without being garish; happy without being too cute. It reminds me of sticky cotton candy on a bright summer day; it reminds me of Miss Z (who looooves pink) and it makes me smile to see it. So from Freistadt Road to you, here's a little Reverie Pink to cheer you up on a cold rainy night.

A New Day

I stole this segment title from a friend of mine who went through a rough time a while ago.  After she emerged from her protective shell she declared it "A New Day."  I'm hoping her resilient and positive spirit provides good feng shui for my new blog.  

So why, pray tell, am I blogging?

1. Me: a writer, a designer, a student of life.  And at the end of my day I think I might like to put my Doogie Howser, MD hat on and click clack some thoughts on the old keyboard.
2. My daughter: Miss Z.  Already 2-1/2 and already all sorts of amazing.  Who wouldn't want to share that?
3. The kindred spirits who have scattered: I miss the heart to hearts, the philosophical emails, the wine-induced crazy laughter.
4. I like to share.  And you are welcome to do the same.