This is on my list of top 10 websites that have improved my life: http://organizedchristmas.com/
This is my 4th year following the site's 6-week Christmas Countdown. My family's last 3 Christmases have been more peaceful, joyful, and meaningful than I dreamed possible, thanks to the countdown. I'm betting this year will be the best ever as I learn more each year from the countdown process.
This year’s countdown began 10/21/07 but it's not too late to catch up. It requires about 2-3 hours/week of work on Christmas prep and by December 1st, you are totally ready for Christmas. By nature, I'm an 11th-hour-addict but honestly, the last 3 Christmases, by December 1st, the only thing left on my to-do list was "enjoy the season". Try it, you'll be amazed!
The site has a sister site that I also love, http://www.organizedhome.com/. I especially love the section on freezer cooking. If you don't know what that is, you should. I find it euphoric to walk in the house from a day of playing tour guide for visiting family or friends, excuse myself for 5 minutes to take homemade lasagna from the freezer, pop it in the oven and then wander back into the living room to chat with everyone while the lasagna bakes. Within 30 minutes my guests notice the aroma of dinner cooking and start wondering how I did that while also realizing they are as hungry as they are tired from the day's adventure. I just smile and relax knowing that a delicious, home-made dinner is minutes away; relieved that I didn't have to persuade my husband to drag his tired body back out the door for takeout, and thrilled not to be wasting a week's worth of grocery-money on one dinner. And of course I share my secret with my guests – I can't keep something so good to myself!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
UW Campus is Unbelievably Gorgeous in the Fall
We decided to tour the UW Campus Saturday and we couldn't have picked a better day. I wish we had taken more pictures. We were astounded by the architecture and landscaping. The library's reading room looked like a cathedral chapel. The leaves are all changing right now and the effect was marvelous. It was a storybook day.
A Lovely Day at the Seattle Center - Umbrella's Optional
Friday we visited the Seattle Children's Museum with friends. There is a fabulous exhibit there now called Moneyville. It was a little over our heads but would be awesome for kids that can read.
The weather was gorgeous and after enjoying the Museum exhibits we basked in the sun by the Seattle Center fountain. Isabel's friend bought her an umbrella from the museum for her birthday (usually quite useful in Seattle) and the girls insisted on using it in the sun.
Thank You Grandma!
Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) is a favorite around here and knowing that, GranMary created this gorgeous dress-up for Isabel. Belle wears it as often as possible and doesn't understand why it won't work for church.
Happy Birthday Isabel!
Isabel turned 4 this month. We celebrated with family and friends. In preparation for the event I asked her what gift she wanted and what kind of cake she would like. I was suprised by her very specific answers: An ironing board and a pink and purple cake with polka dots and Princess Belle on the top. She was pretty pleased with the results and can't wait to turn 5.
Blueberries for Belle
Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey is one of our favorite books. We got to live the story a few weeks ago when we went blueberry picking at a nearby farm. We even took a break to sit down in the dirt between the rows of blueberries to read the story.
Taking the Bus to the Library
The Seattle Central Library is one of our favorite places to go. It has the best storytime we've ever been to, fabulous book displays that are meant to be touched, stacks and stacks of books and adorable miniature modern furniture. We decided to take the bus with some friends this time--quite the adventure. Sunday, August 05, 2007
Getting our Little House on the Prairie Fix
Isabel dragged my barely used knitting needles out of a closet and said, "Mommy, I need to knit some clothing for my babies because they are poor and have no clothing (her babies are a couple of stuffed animals - an elephant and a dog). We have been reading Little House on the Prairie and I'm guessing that's where she got the idea. Wanting to encourage her interest in the domestic arts but aware that even a determined 3 yr old will not be able to wield two knitting needles I scrambled for an appropriate response. Then I remembered something I read several months ago about finger knitting with children. After a brief Google search I found this site: http://www.knitty.com/issuesummer06/FEATfingerknitting.html
15 minutes later we produced a small chain of stockinette stitch. (I hope my terminology is correct – I can barely cast on.) Isabel was thrilled with the process and the result. She needed my constant help but I don’t think it will be long before she can do it on her own. Family beware, you may receive some fingerknitted gifts for Christmas this year.
15 minutes later we produced a small chain of stockinette stitch. (I hope my terminology is correct – I can barely cast on.) Isabel was thrilled with the process and the result. She needed my constant help but I don’t think it will be long before she can do it on her own. Family beware, you may receive some fingerknitted gifts for Christmas this year.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Long Live Hogwarts
SPOILER WARNING: Don't read this if you haven't finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and don't want to be spoiled!
As I turned the last page, read the last line, and closed the last of the Harry Potter Books, Deathly Hallows, I threw my arms into the air and shouted for joy. I was thrilled not just because Harry overcame death and sorrow but because Hogwarts did too.
I, like many fans, was dreading the end of the Harry Potter series—I felt like the magical world that so captured my imagination would suffer a kind of death with the end of the series. I was afraid that rereading the books would never feel the same again because I wouldn’t be looking for clues to tell me how it would all end. I also feared that the magical world and particularly Hogwarts, would be so changed that it wouldn’t feel like home anymore.
I relished the trip on the Hogwarts express at the opening of (nearly) every book, anxiously anticipating the adventures that surely awaited us (me and Harry) at Hogwarts. I knew we would face plenty of villains and danger but the laughs, thrills, friends, and triumphs would more than make up for it – in fact the evils enhanced my appreciation of the good. Neville’s 10 points to win the house cup at the end of SS wouldn’t have meant much without a year of Malfoy and Snape’s bullying and Neville’s own lack of confidence. And the hunt for clues was of course, the best part of it all; the exhaustive search for a tiny bit of information that would be the key to guessing the ending of the book and ultimately the ending of the series.
As the series progressed, returning to Hogwarts each year felt less and less like it should. The evils began to outweigh the good and in DH, it was a truly terrible place to be. I was heartbroken. Hogwarts was my escape, my safe place-- not just Harry’s. I’ve spent years now counting on a trip to Hogwarts to give me a laugh, lift me from a foul mood, and transport me from the daily grind into the wonderful world of Harry Potter. As DH progressed and I saw what had happened to dear old Hogwarts, I could hardly bear it. Hogwarts was dying along with Harry and I couldn’t see how JKR would ever be able to restore it to its former glory.
And then she did.
Through a series of amazing plot twists and her unique brand of genius, JKR brought Harry back to life, and with him, dear old hoggy warty, Hogwarts. As Harry and Ginny herded their family through King’s Cross, waved at all their old friends, and attended to last minute scolding’s and reassurances, I wondered how I ever doubted the permanence and reliability of Hogwarts. Of course it would always be there! Platform 9 ¾ will ever remain a gateway into the magical world.
I realized that the first read through of the series was a like a first kiss and the hunt for clues, akin to that terribly exciting, consuming, twitterpaited, beginning of a relationship. Both are fantastically thrilling and can never be duplicated but in a great relationship, it’s what follows that’s really amazing. I’ve reread most of the HP books at least 7 times and I’ve loved them more, every time. And it wasn’t just the hunt for clues that made it great—I discovered more to appreciate with every reading. It was like falling in love over and over again.
As I reached the end of DH, it didn’t feel like an end at all. It seemed to me, more like the closing of a circle. Jo’s beautiful ending breathed immortality into the series. I can’t wait to go back and read all 7 books with an understanding of the end in mind—there are now so many layers of meaning imbedded in this story that like Hogwarts, I doubt if I will ever discover all her secrets.
But I will keep seeking them—and now I know that the laughs, thrills, friends and triumphs will never end.
Long live Hogwarts!
As I turned the last page, read the last line, and closed the last of the Harry Potter Books, Deathly Hallows, I threw my arms into the air and shouted for joy. I was thrilled not just because Harry overcame death and sorrow but because Hogwarts did too.
I, like many fans, was dreading the end of the Harry Potter series—I felt like the magical world that so captured my imagination would suffer a kind of death with the end of the series. I was afraid that rereading the books would never feel the same again because I wouldn’t be looking for clues to tell me how it would all end. I also feared that the magical world and particularly Hogwarts, would be so changed that it wouldn’t feel like home anymore.
I relished the trip on the Hogwarts express at the opening of (nearly) every book, anxiously anticipating the adventures that surely awaited us (me and Harry) at Hogwarts. I knew we would face plenty of villains and danger but the laughs, thrills, friends, and triumphs would more than make up for it – in fact the evils enhanced my appreciation of the good. Neville’s 10 points to win the house cup at the end of SS wouldn’t have meant much without a year of Malfoy and Snape’s bullying and Neville’s own lack of confidence. And the hunt for clues was of course, the best part of it all; the exhaustive search for a tiny bit of information that would be the key to guessing the ending of the book and ultimately the ending of the series.
As the series progressed, returning to Hogwarts each year felt less and less like it should. The evils began to outweigh the good and in DH, it was a truly terrible place to be. I was heartbroken. Hogwarts was my escape, my safe place-- not just Harry’s. I’ve spent years now counting on a trip to Hogwarts to give me a laugh, lift me from a foul mood, and transport me from the daily grind into the wonderful world of Harry Potter. As DH progressed and I saw what had happened to dear old Hogwarts, I could hardly bear it. Hogwarts was dying along with Harry and I couldn’t see how JKR would ever be able to restore it to its former glory.
And then she did.
Through a series of amazing plot twists and her unique brand of genius, JKR brought Harry back to life, and with him, dear old hoggy warty, Hogwarts. As Harry and Ginny herded their family through King’s Cross, waved at all their old friends, and attended to last minute scolding’s and reassurances, I wondered how I ever doubted the permanence and reliability of Hogwarts. Of course it would always be there! Platform 9 ¾ will ever remain a gateway into the magical world.
I realized that the first read through of the series was a like a first kiss and the hunt for clues, akin to that terribly exciting, consuming, twitterpaited, beginning of a relationship. Both are fantastically thrilling and can never be duplicated but in a great relationship, it’s what follows that’s really amazing. I’ve reread most of the HP books at least 7 times and I’ve loved them more, every time. And it wasn’t just the hunt for clues that made it great—I discovered more to appreciate with every reading. It was like falling in love over and over again.
As I reached the end of DH, it didn’t feel like an end at all. It seemed to me, more like the closing of a circle. Jo’s beautiful ending breathed immortality into the series. I can’t wait to go back and read all 7 books with an understanding of the end in mind—there are now so many layers of meaning imbedded in this story that like Hogwarts, I doubt if I will ever discover all her secrets.
But I will keep seeking them—and now I know that the laughs, thrills, friends and triumphs will never end.
Long live Hogwarts!
Monday, April 10, 2006
Mommies and Daddies, get some rest!
I see so many exhausted parents every day. At the library, shopping, the park, church, anywhere families might be. When I hear about their sleepless nights and hopeless declarations like, “I don’t think I’m ever going to get more than 3 hours of sleep again,” I can hardly contain myself. I remember that exhaustion. I remember yelling out to my husband at 2 am “You better come take this baby for her own safety!” I also remember the glorious day I discovered “The Secrets of the Baby Whisperer.” I was so glad to find advice that was practical and doable. The author, Tracy Hogg, doesn’t advocate anything extreme. She won’t tell you to sleep with your baby or suggest that you leave a crying baby all alone.
It took a few months and several readings (really – you need to read it several times before you’ll really “get it”) but I trusted Tracy and dutifully followed her method until my 2 month old began sleeping through the night. I remember the first time she slept from 10 pm – 5 am and I rushed to the gym in exhilaration – I felt ready to run a marathon! I continued to follow her method until Isabel was sleeping 12 hours a night and taking 3-4 hours of naps every day. At 2 years old, she is still a fabulous sleeper. I know every child is different and no one is going to get the exact same results but I truly believe in the principles Tracy Hogg teaches. She covers just about every area of childcare and I used most of it. I especially like her approach to personality and her charts that decode every facial expression, body movement and sound that a baby might make.
This is the book I recommend most often. I wouldn’t read it without the companion book, “The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems.” The author wrote it on her deathbed (she died from cancer in 2004), hoping to answer all the follow up questions parents had or ever would have. It contains some essential information that’s not in the first book. I also liked “Secrets of The Baby Whisperer for Toddlers.” It helped me recognize and work with my daughters emerging personality.
Consult the Baby Whisperer like I did and get some rest!
It took a few months and several readings (really – you need to read it several times before you’ll really “get it”) but I trusted Tracy and dutifully followed her method until my 2 month old began sleeping through the night. I remember the first time she slept from 10 pm – 5 am and I rushed to the gym in exhilaration – I felt ready to run a marathon! I continued to follow her method until Isabel was sleeping 12 hours a night and taking 3-4 hours of naps every day. At 2 years old, she is still a fabulous sleeper. I know every child is different and no one is going to get the exact same results but I truly believe in the principles Tracy Hogg teaches. She covers just about every area of childcare and I used most of it. I especially like her approach to personality and her charts that decode every facial expression, body movement and sound that a baby might make.
This is the book I recommend most often. I wouldn’t read it without the companion book, “The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems.” The author wrote it on her deathbed (she died from cancer in 2004), hoping to answer all the follow up questions parents had or ever would have. It contains some essential information that’s not in the first book. I also liked “Secrets of The Baby Whisperer for Toddlers.” It helped me recognize and work with my daughters emerging personality.
Consult the Baby Whisperer like I did and get some rest!
Saturday, April 08, 2006
There's a name for people like me?
My husband has always teased me about my need to help everyone, everywhere. We'll be at a party with other couples and someone will mention how exhausted they are from getting up at night with their 9-month-old baby and I'll jump in with a monologue on sleep training. After a couple minutes I will notice his amused smile and realize I'm doing it again! Even though I know most people aren't looking for a solution to their problem - they are just venting - if I've got one, I feel compelled to share it.
I've also been known to drive my friends nuts with questions. I remember being in England with a dear friend who I love to learn from. After spending several days together touring the country, my litany of questions almost sent her into a nervous breakdown. I didn't realize I was driving her nuts - I just wanted to know everything about everything. She remains a patient and faithful friend of mine, who I continue to learn from.
It wasn't until I read Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point" that I realized I was a Maven. He described one Maven he knew as "pathologically helpful." He said that we Mavens have an emotional need to solve other people's problems and that "To be a Maven is to be a teacher. But it is also, even more emphatically, to be a student. Mavens are really information brokers, sharing and trading what they know." How happy I was to discover I'm not the only one. This blog is my attempt to share and trade information without being quite so annoying. I'm sure you'll let me know if I've succeeded.
And by the way, I highly recommend The Tipping Point:How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. By Malcolm Gladwell.
I've also been known to drive my friends nuts with questions. I remember being in England with a dear friend who I love to learn from. After spending several days together touring the country, my litany of questions almost sent her into a nervous breakdown. I didn't realize I was driving her nuts - I just wanted to know everything about everything. She remains a patient and faithful friend of mine, who I continue to learn from.
It wasn't until I read Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point" that I realized I was a Maven. He described one Maven he knew as "pathologically helpful." He said that we Mavens have an emotional need to solve other people's problems and that "To be a Maven is to be a teacher. But it is also, even more emphatically, to be a student. Mavens are really information brokers, sharing and trading what they know." How happy I was to discover I'm not the only one. This blog is my attempt to share and trade information without being quite so annoying. I'm sure you'll let me know if I've succeeded.
And by the way, I highly recommend The Tipping Point:How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.
By Malcolm Gladwell.
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