Husband, Food, WTF

My husband is so frustrating sometimes with the way he says things! I made him breakfast in bed yesterday (scrambled eggs w/ chicken sausage, spinach and feta). "How is it?" I ask. His response, "It's pretty good." What does that even mean? I say pretty good if it's slightly better than okay, or if I expected something to be really bad, but it surprised me and is actually, "pretty good." But his 'pretty good' equates to my 'really good' most of the time, but sometimes he means it the same way I mean it. Ugh. "Well would you want me to make it for you again?" "Sure...I would eat this again."

Another thing he does, I ask, "are you hungry?" He responds, after a decent pause, with "uuum...ya I could eat." What? You're either hungry or you're not. You want to eat now, or you want to eat later. What is this, I could eat. As someone who is always in a state of, I could eat, this response makes me furious. I like us to eat at the same time so we can, well, eat at the same time. Have our meals together and what not. I would much rather have him respond with "yes, let's eat," or, "I'm not too hungry, let's wait." Or even just yes or no would be fine.

He also says he doesn't think about food that much. Who the f*&% did I marry? A cyborg? Who doesn't think about food? I am almost always thinking about food, planning my next meal, thinking of what's for dinner, am I cooking or picking up, what will the baby eat, and so on and so forth. I pay close mind to my cravings as I believe they are my body telling me what it needs. He says he never craves anything other than food, when he's hungry :|

And last but not least, the often asked, never properly answered question. "Where do you want to eat?" I'll even give him options, do you want tacos, or sushi, or pizza, or sandwiches, but his answer is always the same - "Whatever you want." No...I just gave you our choices, now you get to pick, that's how this game works. "What are you hungry for?" "I'll eat whatever." He says I shouldn't give him to many options, or any options, but sometimes I'm open to more than one thing, and I'd like him to choose. YOU KNOW?!

Butter, Broccolli, & Baby

I want to know who put butter in their coffee and realized that instead of helping them gain weight as they planned, they found they were LOSING weight. This is sort of like when my mom said that my baby was nursing non stop because there wasn't enough fat in my milks and I should be eating butter and drinking cream. Except when that happened I'm pretty sure I gained at least 5 additional pounds of post baby weight, every woman's dream. Well apparently it was some wack job named Gary Asprey. He has a blog, a book, a podcast and it's just another diet like Atkins or South Beach. But better obviously because he tells you to eat a ton of butter, grass fed butter. He must be talking about wacky tobacky, how else would he have discovered the miracle that is butter coffee. This sounds like BS, and maybe a little bit delicious. My co-worker just ordered the starter pack for her hubbie to try. Which means her. 

Coffee blended w/ coconut oil, taste just like creamer!

I've been having the strangest cravings lately, nothing crazy, just new. Like brussel sprouts, and broccoli. Last night I ate a giant bowl of steamed broccoli with parmesan cheese and pepper at like 9 p.m.! It was so good. And now I want more, but doused in butter like mom used to make.

Do you watch The Bachelor? I thought Juan Pablo's season was bad, and it was, but oh man. This one is just awful. The girls running around drunk the whole time, The Bachelor himself delivering his cheesy lines with more cheese than even he knows what to do with. And he's made out with like half of the girls already and it's only episode 3 tonight.

This past month and a half has been ca-razy. I'm sure it was for a lot of people, but man. Time flying by and all that. We went to Minnesota because it has been ages since I've had a white Christmas. Well guess what? No snow. So dumb Minnesota. Thanks for NOTHING. Except for us all getting sick that is. I was puking. Baby and husband had major sniffles, which are just now clearing up. The next journey to MN will be a warm weather one. So the very worst thing also happened in MN. The very worst thing, that's not really the very worst, but kind of. We left our camera in the center console of the rental car. We still haven't gotten a call to say they found it. Sadly I don't think we will be seeing it again :(

I've been told that as a parent I am not allowed to complain about being tired. I knew what I was signing up for, apparently. And I did, I do not deny that. I am actually a very high functioning person when tired, which almost makes it worse. Like I forget I'm tired. I finish tasks with complete confidence, tucking the file happily away, and completely forgetting everything regarding the task. That is how tired effects me. Confidence? When sleep is plentiful I lack finality upon completion of a task. I like to let the file sit on the corner of my desk for a few days in case there is any follow up, or in case I forgot to do something. Which is oft the case in my line of work. Well anyways, he seems to be starting down the path to better sleep. Now if I could just let him out of our bed and into his crib :/

Flynn will be 9 months in 6 days, and he just cut his first tooth! It's a crooked lil number on the bottom and boy is it cute. I was pointing my finger at his nose and he lifted his lil chin up and gave my finger tip a few bites until I realized he was showing me his tooth! And when I noticed boy was he ever proud! His vocabulary is growing everyday, and the other morning at 6 a.m. Carlos rolled over in bed and Flynn totally whispered da-da. We both heard it, he was looking right at his papa when he said it, but that's been it. My heart just weeps with love for this baby boy who is mine. He has such sweet temperament and is already a little jokester.  We are so blessed.

Into the Gloss Weekend Workouts

I haven't even watched episode 1, but episode 2 has new moves I haven't really seen before. Variety is the spice of life, and I've found mixing up my simple moves makes them much more effective. These workouts are also perfectly my style, short. 

Episode 1: modelFIT Full Body Workout

Welcome to our latest feature, the Weekend Workout—a video series aimed at keeping everyone accountable to those pesky “stay fit” resolutions. The first installment comes courtesy of modelFIT. Vanessa Packer (co-founder of modelFIT and bonberi) demonstrated modelFIT's signature small movements for us (but for you, really), in her apartment, proving that you do not need to leave your apartment to stay active. Published on Jan 10, 2015.

Episode 2: Arms For Abs  
In this week's episode of the Weekend Workout, join Karen Lord, of Karen Lord Pilates Movement, in her Arms for Abs routine. Learn how to work your arms while also using your abs, which is basically like killing two birds with one set of light hand weights. It's five minutes and the only other equipment you need is a floor. It's almost too easy. Published on Jan 17, 2015.

Episode 3, Legs for Butt

Take a break from your hand weights with Karen Lord's Legs for Butt series—a floor Pilates routine aimed at working the legs, powered by the core and glutes. It'll take 15 minutes and if you've got some nice carpeting, you don't even need a mat for this one! Remember: the burn means it's working. Published on Jan 23, 2015.

Tomato Potato

I used to work at an Italian Deli in downtown Long Beach which was frequented regularly by cops. I sometimes asked them clever questions like, fight any crime today? So clever, right?! 

Police Officer: You know those guys that sell porn on the corner?
Me: No...
Police Officer: Really? You don't ever see those guys selling porn out of a cart?
Me: No, never...
Police Officer: Well...one of those guys got shot today.
Me: Good.
Police Officer: What?! He's just trying to make a buck, poor guy. Of all the people to rob...
Me: Well I think he deserved it, selling porn on the street?!
Police Officer: Porn.
Me: Yea, that's disgusting.
Police Officer: CORN. He was selling corn.
Me: Oh...that's messed up then.

Anyways, have you ever had that corn? It is seriously AMAZING. As are most things doused in mayo and cheese powder. And easy too. All you do is roast some corn on the cob, douse it in mayo (as previously mentioned) dump a ton of that Mexican powdered cheese on it (I think it's called cojita?) (the Mexican equivalent of powdered Parmesan cheese) and finish with hot sauce or chili powder of your choice. I prefer Tapatio. Let me tell, it is to die for, but not necessarily to get shot for...

p.s. Not my photo.

Where Should We Eat?

You know who I'm talking to. Were going to have dinner this week, but where should we go? We could do Lola's, or Michael's, or Beachwood, or anywhere. Right now I'm just wanting wine, with a summer wind, and some good bread and olive oil, but I'm trying to avoid bread, so maybe Michael's is out. I wish we had that fancy salad place near by...yesterday for lunch I had the most amazing salad, and it was so simple! Fresh organic spinach, tinned smoked trout from TJ's, and pomegranate seeds. Some almonds and sprouts wouldn't have hurt. So simple. So delicious. I should have taken a pic. Darn it.

A Birthday (!!!)

It is my birthday this month, yay. I will be 32. I was always pretty chill about getting older until my pregnancy hormones decided I should now have great fear of getting older and death. Oh well, I figure it's like some survival maternal nature thing.

 31st Birthday last year @ La Creperie

I have had great birthdays the last few years. Typically involving good friends, good food, and dancing of some sort. My birthday is on Tuesday, but we went bowling last night to celebrate. I hadn't been bowling in ten years, it was great fun, the place was the opposite of crowded, and the babe did fine, so we might make it sort of a thing. Or a once in a while thing anyways. I've been forgetting to take pics lately, darn tootin. Maybe I can drag my friends out again on Tuesday so we can get another epic pic.

30th Birthday 2 years ago @ models

The horoscope below says on December 12-13, you’ll have “great fun and enjoy a touch of luxury.” Well I have my company Holiday dinner on the 12th, and am going to my old company's Holiday party on the 13th, so that sounds about right. I will take this as inspiration to work extra hard on my hobbies this month too, sow some of those future seeds mentioned. 

Love this Repell-o-scope from ManRepeller.

Sagittarius

Happy Birthday to you, sweet Sagittarius. I know the holidays can feel super annoying because you’re like, “Hey guys, I was born this month too, you know.” Well guess what, eggnog head plus Leandra? Now you can feel extra special because — according to the One and Only Susan Miller — “for the first time since 1985 to 1988, Saturn will tour Sagittarius.” Your birthday this year is practically historic! What does that mean, though?

Well, Suzanna says that whatever you accomplish with Saturn stays with you for a lifetime. Work hard now and start achieving your dreams, because you’re in the sweet spot to do so. You may pop out a baby! (Not in the “OMG WHAT IS THIS THING?” sense but like, if you’ve been trying, it could happen now, and babies DEFINITELY stay with you a lifetime.) Or, you might do a lot of other cool stuff like become an astronaut or a human bagel. Saturn pushes you hard, and you may not actually see the benefits until 2017. This is sort of confusing because I think kids are less cute at age 2 than they are as hot-potatoes, but when it’s your own kid you’re probably way more excited about a baby that can run around than one who makes you hold his head up all the time. Babies are divas, huh?

And if you’re not into all this baby talk, Susan basically says this whole month’s going to be awesome and that on December 12-13, you’ll have “great fun and enjoy a touch of luxury.” Sounds like caviar and cheese sticks to me!

NPR's Book Concierge: Guide to the Best Reads of 2014: Kid Picks

NPR has posted their best books list for 2014!  and it's kind of amaze...just go look, it's truly beautiful. You can use the filters on the left to narrow down the 250 results nicely. My interest is piqued for many. I need to check out past years, I am always looking for my next great read! (NPR's Book Concierge)

These kids books sure look fun, some of them look smart, and some of them look real interesting. Flynn and I have been going to the museum a bunch so I love anything that further encourages his appreciation of art.

*These descriptions are not my own.

Ah-Ha To Zig-Zag: 31 Objects from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

By Maira Kalman

Maira Kalman's whimsical, sublimely silly alphabet book celebrates the newly renovated Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum by featuring 31 of her favorite objects from the collection — a quirky companion volume to My Favorite Things, her selection for adults. Flagged items include a medieval Egyptian cap and a 19th century English glazed earthenware poodle. Just don't look for the dog under D or P. Nope, you'll find it under E — for "the cutest dog on Earth…(Except for your dog)," with all the e's printed in red. And don't look for the letter O in its usual place because — "Oops! We left out O. Oh well. We all make mistakes." Expect giggles. — recommended by Heller McAlpin, book critic

The Odd One Out

By Britta Teckentrup

This wonderful children's book is full of challenges to find the "odd one out" — the one penguin sheltering a fledgling, the scared tortoise who has hidden his head, the bird who caught the worm. Reading the story and finding all the odd animals could take quite a while, but the illustrations are so beautiful you won't mind taking your time with each page. (For ages 2 to 5) — recommended by Sarah Handel, Weekend Edition staff

Thank You, Octopus

By Darren Farrell

Thank You, Octopus is a wonderfully wacky tale about a mischievous octopus helping his charge get ready for bed. When the boy grumbles, the octopus tries to tempt him with a warm bath. "Thank you, Octopus," the boy says — until he realizes the bath tub is full of egg salad: "Gross! No thank you, Octopus." It has some of the same naughty, talk-back-to-the-book fun of Don't Let The Pigeons Drive the Bus! another modern-day toddler classic, and it's funny enough for adults to enjoy rereading again and again. The illustrations are insanely detailed and I especially appreciated the New York Harbor setting. (For ages 3 to 5) — recommended by Anya Kamenetz, blogger, NPR Ed

Gaston

By Kelly DiPucchio and Christian Robinson

Three things happened to me when I read this enchanting picture book about a mixed-up French bulldog raised by a family of prim, proper French poodles: First, I wanted to crumple up the whole world and commission a new one painted by Christian Robinson. Second, I wanted a French bulldog even more than usual, which is saying something, because I already dream of owning one with an intensity usually reserved for diamonds or beachfront property. And third, I wanted to hug the book to my heart and never, ever let it go. I've only done the third — for now. (For ages 4 to 8) — recommended by Margaret Willison, librarian and book critic

Hooray For Hat!

By Brian Won

Hooray for Hat! is practically the Platonic ideal of a picture book. It uses simple, repetitive language to tell a simple story with a simple message: Bringing happiness to others makes you happy, too. Elephant wakes up GRUMPY — until he finds an amazing hat on his doorstep! But can his hat delight his grumpy friends, too? Where a lesser writer might preach, Brian Won manages to simply delight with his elegant story and bright illustrations. On top of that, the book's many characters and repeated lines invite both (1) the use of funny voices and (2) the shouting-along of familiar phrases; i.e., the two BEST THINGS to include in a read-aloud. (For ages 4 to 8) — recommended by Margaret Willison, librarian and book critic

Draw!

By Raúl Colón

The conceit of this beautiful, wordless picture book is simple — a little boy is drawing in his bedroom and imagines himself on safari, interacting with the animals he has only seen in books. The way Colón captures how it feels to be engulfed and transported by your artistic endeavor, the way he evokes the perfect endlessness of solitary afternoons spent working hard on what you love best — that's anything but simple. His warm-toned, dreamy illustrations invite you into the story, and the special details — like who the protagonist shares his sandwiches with — reward repeated readings. (For ages 4 to 8) — recommended by Margaret Willison, librarian and book critic

Quest

By Aaron Becker

I am almost loath to tell anyone about this magic book. If too many people notice it, Hollywood is bound to come knocking and turn this transporting, elegant story — a wordless picture book that's Harold and the Purple Crayon raised to the power of The Lord of the Rings — into something airless, bombastic and murderously trite. But to read this book once is to want to personally distribute one to every bored kid you've ever seen, Hollywood be damned. "Here," you'd say. "Flip through right now and spend the rest of your day trying to climb right into the pages. I'll wait." (For ages 4 to 8) — recommended by Margaret Willison, librarian and book critic

Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker

By Patricia Hruby Powell and Christian Robinson

It would be nearly impossible to write a bad biography of Josephine Baker, civil rights activist and superstar. Glamorous dancer, spy, sparkplug and owner of a pet leopard named Chiquita — not even the driest prose could make these facts seem dull. But to create words and pictures that match her electric crackle — that's a challenge. Patricia Hruby Powell's vivid, rhythmic poetry and Christian Robinson's arrestingly bold acrylic paintings accomplish something special by simply doing justice to Baker's remarkable journey from segregated St. Louis to performing in Paris. Your kids will be dancing around in banana skirts after reading this one. (For ages 7 to 10) — recommended by Margaret Willison, librarian and book critic

The Night Gardener

By Jonathan Auxier

When Irish orphans Molly and her little brother, Kip, find employment at a rundown English manor house in the desolate countryside, something, or someone, is set on destroying them. As servants to a once-rich family, the siblings are struggling to survive but hindered by a mysterious giant tree that encroaches on the house and into the lives of its inhabitants. Molly's dreams and heart's desire soon turn to horror as she must engage her bravery, wit and storytelling prowess to battle an evil ghostly presence. This totally absorbing tale reads like a classic and is not to be missed. (For ages 10 and up) — recommended by Lisa Yee, author, most recently of Warp Speed

A Movie: Her

We watched the movie 'Her' last week, I know it has been out for a while but I've been kind of reluctant to watch it in the first place. I mean, it's weird, right?

It was actually very insightful, I liked the range it showed with how we relate to one another, how we interact with others, how we keep ourselves separate...

My husband described it as a, "psychological thriller about love." He said it was emotionally riveting, and an interesting new look into the human psyche. I mostly agree with all of those things. My co-worker described it as a thought provoking love story; what are the implications of falling in love with something not human? It is really very scary to think about.

There are a lot of layers in this movie. It is thought provoking. It makes you look at yourself. It is interesting. More than this post about it anyways. I keep thinking about it. I am actually really surprised by how much I liked this movie, and I recommend it to everyone. You should watch it if you haven't already.

Music: Thanksgiving Road Trip Mix Tape

My friend's brother asked everyone on facebook to suggest a song to him, to put on a mixed tape for his Thanksgiving car drive down to San Diego to visit relatives. 

What a great idea, I am always so curious what other people are currently listening to. Not what's on the radio, but what their go to songs are. Like I just started listeing to Vampire Weekend, even though they've been around for quite awhile.

Anywho, I decided to make my own mix tape of what I would listen to on a car ride. If you would like to, please share your playlists with me! I sure would apreesh.
 

Attitude of Gratitude

The other night I was at the grocery store at the self checkout and I found $20 in the cash output. I looked around, and pocketed the cash, debating whether I should hand it over to customer service and thinking that would be the right thing to do, unless the person never came back, then keeping it would be the right thing, no? Well, right as I was finishing up I heard someone at customer service with disappointment in their voice, what did you say? I asked. Huh? Oh, I left my money in the thing. Sad face. I have it. Happy face! Oh wow, thank you so much! 

As I was leaving the store I saw a mother of a newborn and her small toddler getting situated in the cart. Do you need any diapers? I asked her. I have a ton of diapers in my car, and I don't need them so I wanted to give them to someone who could use them. I totally overstocked on diapers and Flynn just grows so fast! I was going to give them to my friend but we never ended up meeting up and they had been sitting in there for a month. I have newborn, size one, size two, and size three. Do you want them? I literally had a trunk full of diapers. Oh yes, yes please! This woman was with her mother and they both looked so surprised, the woman almost started crying. Can you believe this? The mother asked. No, it's like a dream, I can't even believe it. Turns out this woman's husband had recently died, and they were really struggling. You don't even know the blessing you are bestowing right now, God bless you, she told me.

I drove home that night with the most incredible lightness and happy feelings. I had truly never felt this way. I didn't go out of my way or anything, but it just felt so good to help someone out that really needed it. C laughed that night when I told him how amazing it would be to be Santa Claus. It really would!

Over ten years ago I was a nanny for this kind of awful family, the kid was great, the parents not so much. I wasn't allowed to stay at home with him ever, I had to take this boy of 8 out every day to the park, to the zoo, to the museum, to the movies. If he napped, it was in the car. The best part is that they never reimbursed me for gas, or offered any extra money for it. (He was special needs so I was paid through the state.) The real clincher here is that I didn't get my first paycheck for over a month and I was totally broke. 

Looking back now I see that I should have spoken up and asked for money, but I didn't know how things worked then. I was having a really hard time, I was almost out of gas, I had borrowed a ton of money from parents and friends, and I was just down. Out of nowhere this man approached me, he recognized me from years before when I worked at the grocery store. How are you? You were my favorite cashier! and he hands me $20. A couple of days later I was at church with the kid and an older, sweet lady tucks $20 in my hand. You're such a good mommy to him, you go get yourselves a treat. I told her I was his nanny, but she said to keep it anyways. 

I will never forget those kindnesses bestowed on me at that time, their generosity really helped me to adjust my attitude to one of gratitude. This season is supposed to be about GIVING, and I hope that I encounter more opportunities to offer something to someone in need, that feeling man, nothing else like it.

I also just remembered that my good friend had lent me over $300 at the time, and when I finally got paid, she said I didn't have to pay her back! Hah! Thanks Ann! 

Brussels Sprout Fiasco

Last night I was preparing one of my favorite dishes, roasted brussels sprouts with lemon & anchovies. I took my perfectly roasted brussels sprouts out of the oven, and as I have done a million times before, I placed the hot baking dish right on the ceramic counter. 

And it exploded.

Literally.

I had glass powder in my shirt. I found a chunk of glass later in my bra. A chunk lodged itself into my hand when I was digging out the glass shards that somehow made their way into the garbage disposal.

I should have taken a pic, but I was sad and in shock.

The worst part of all of this was that I couldn't eat my brussels sprouts.

Turns out, it exploded because the counter was wet. I have put hot glass on the counter millions of times, I guess it was always dry before...huh.

Meanwhile on the internet...

This is Lauren Conrad from the OC. 

Gosh do you remember that show? So awful. 

Pretty sure it's ruined our future :| 

but this haircut? Not awful at all. 

I think I might be getting it done on me tomorrow night. 

So thank you for that Lauren. You were always my favorite.

I love this Ostrich satchel for tablet, I can't tell 

though if it's just something you slide the tablet into, 

or if it folds so you can prop it up? 

Either way, ostrich leather is so gorgeous. 

I never realized that's what this is...

This little photo printer is so cool.

Polaroids are old school cool but timeless don't you think? 

There are so many options out there now for printing your instagrams. 

We have a bunch of magnets on the fridge of my favorites, 

but printing them as a Polaroid? I need this.

These agate bookends are awesome.

 Earthy. Heavy. Quality. 

And a good weapon if you have a burglar.

Just bought our plane tickets to spend Christmas in Minnesota.
This Jacket is perfect.

I don't care if she's everyone's favorite, 

she's my favorite too. Love her fresh face. 

Jennifer Lawrence for Dior

I know what I'm getting everyone for Christmas.
A burned copy of Seth MacFarlane Holiday for Swing.
Sorry, not sorry.

Music: Song on Repeat

I've been listening to Chad Valley ALL weekend. Maybe it's the roses but doesn't he seem kind of sweet and adorable? 

I have been a fan of his for quite a while now, I like a lot of his songs, but this song does something to me, something special. 



I'm really digging this tune as well. 

 
And this remake of 'My Girl'.
 

Spider Surprise

Last Sunday was a gorgeous day, it rained on Saturday and overnight so everything was crispy clear and clean! You could see the mountains! You could see the city! And it wasn't brown!

Going up into LA is so much easier now with the fastrak, i'm so glad they put those lanes in. "Ya but you have to pay." someone said recently. Your point? I'd pay double to not sit in LA traffic. Are you crazy? Have you been here? I hope no one else ever figures out how to get fastrak, it seems so intimidating, but it's really like the easiest thing ever. The museums at Exposition Park are perfect, there is an exit from the fastrak and one leading right back onto it when you're heading home.

This day we went to the Natural History Museum. We had to bribe the admissions gal to let us into the Spider Pavilion by purchasing a membership, apparently it was booked solid. I'm not sure where my aversion to spiders suddenly ran off to... 

My favorite thing about this museum is the dinosaurs right in the main hall, and the dinosaurs just in general. I love this stuff. The dioramas are nice and all but no, i'm here for the dinos. I also like looking at the gem and mineral room. I get a trip seeing the exquisite, amazing things that pressure and heat form in the earth. All of this stuff really is cool. Plus, you kind of feel like you're in a movie since so many scenes have been filmed in here.

The building itself is gorgeous, there is a beautiful rotunda graced with the enchanting sculpture below of sirens holding up a glowing orb. It is very nice to just sit in there and enjoy the space, and also maybe eat astronaut ice cream, and also maybe find a nice off to the side bench to nurse the babe.

So now the Spider Pavilion. It's usually the Butterfly Pavilion, but for specials it's sometimes for SPIDERS. These are HUGE spiders, like 2 inches long, on HUGE webs and there is nothing separating them from you. They are above you, behind you, right in front of your face, right next to your face. I actually only mini hyperventilated once. It is a very intimate encounter. 

This guy was five inches long :|

A lady was holding her baby and getting all up close and personal with one of the spiders, "oh wow, that's amazing." and her freaking baby reached out and grabbed the web mere inches from the spider and started shaking it. My heart stopped for a few moments. I got that sensation where you want to burst into tears super fast? You know that feeling? Awful, let me tell you...

But so it was actually really cool. None of the spiders were venomous obvs, and they weren't the hunter type, more the hang out looking cool until something gets snared in their web type. I did keep imaging the loud crunch you would hear if you stomped on one of them though.

There is TONS to see there that we didn't get to, like the rose garden and the whole upstairs...and I guess there is a downstairs too...we will be going back again soon.

What's the Best Escape?

Oh I just love this!

I have different escapes, sometimes it's just getting out of the house and reaching a destination other than errands, sometimes it's scuba diving, sometimes it's getting up early on a Saturday and washing the floors in my pajamas while everyone is still asleep. Really though, it's books. I can get lost in a story like no other. 

I especially love when I fall in love with a series. When I was in my older teen, young twenties years I read all of Anne Rice's books and I loved the immortal world she painted. The movie 'Interview with the Vampire' is one of my favorites.

I also really loved reading the 'Twilight' series. Vampires of a different nature. I got so sad when I finished the last book, I just picked up the first one and read them all over again!

Obviously Harry Potter is high up on the list. Nothing can even compare. I have read the series twice now, and am thinking I will do so again this winter.

Jane Austen's books, of course.

Michael Crichton's novels always blow my mind. I get sucked in so fast and finish the books within a day or two. Don't even try speaking to me.

'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. These books are adult, intense, rich, fulfilling. I thought the movie was done so well. The American version, I couldn't really get hooked into the Swedish version. I really do hope they do movies for books 2 and 3. Pleeeaaase.

'The Mysterious Island' and '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' by Jules Verne. LOVE. I wish I had read these when I was 12. 

'The Secret Garden' and 'A Little Princess' by Francis Hodgson Burnett. Again, I wish I had read these when I was 12.

I just finished reading 'In the Woods' and I really liked it, but it left a huge gaping hole at the end and I didn't particularly like that. Right before that I read 'Shadow of the Wind' which was very good. Now I'm reading 'The Goldfinch', and up next is 'Gone Girl'.

What is your escape? What are your favorite books? What are you reading right now?

Song on Repeat

I am so in love with this cover of 'Riptide' by MisterWives. I love the original by Vance Joy too, but the song sung in her sweet little voice is just so...sweet. I especially love how she sings the little story in the song about the guy moving to New York. 

I don't know how to embed just the audio file so you get this weird picture that is not theirs...

I was scared of dentists and the dark
I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations
Oh, all my friends are turning green
You're the magician's assistant in their dream

Oh, and they come unstuck

Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song
And I got a lump in my throat
'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong

There's this movie that I think you'll like
This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City
This cowboy's running from himself
And she's been living on the highest shelf

Oh, and they come unstuck

Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song
And I got a lump in my throat
'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong

I just wanna, I just wanna know
If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay
I just gotta, I just gotta know
I can't have it, I can't have it any other way
I swear she's destined for the screen
Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen, oh

Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man
I love you when you're singing that song
And I got a lump in my throat
'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong

All Hallows' Eve

This past Friday was Halloween, our first with the little babe. We played it very low key, no dressing up, no candy, not even any wine. We did however carve a pumpkin. Tip: If you leave a carved pumpkin in your house for 5 days, it might get reeeaaally spooky (moldy).

We ate greasy pepperoni pizza and watched The Conjuring and Poltergeist. I have seen The Conjuring before, but oh my goodness it is so scary! We mostly just think the Poltergeist is funny. Is it supposed to be funny?

Saturday morning it was all of a sudden very cold outside, it was literally like winter had just arrived overnight. It was also pouring rain! I love rain, I miss rain, we do not get enough rain in Los Angeles! So we just had a cozy morning in drinking coffee and roasting pumpkin seeds. They are so yummy warm out of the oven with just a little olive oil and sea salt.

I'm really excited for Halloween next year, Flynn will be older and we can probably take him out for a bit of trick or treating!