a fine 2009

this year in pictures:
the revolutionary iPhone revolutionized my life!

our vegas vacation

lilah's 1st taste of food:
loves carrots

family vacation in san antonio
(carter at sea world)

carter calls daddy on the carpet

dr daniel r. poulsen II
celebrated our differences & 6 years of marriage

lilah sophia's 1st birthday party post

my brother peter gets married & i get a sweet sister in law, beth

blogging my cravings works!

first this:
then these:


the salon lady reminds me i'm not getting any younger
funny!

but, this had to be funniest moment of the year (click if you missed it):thank you Lord for the MANY blessings you have given us.
you are SO very present in the details of our lives.
and you, my lovely readers. you have made this blog more significant with each comment, email, contact. thank you for reading & sharing my life!

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Snow everywhere!

Our last day in NY & we woke up to snow everywhere! Hooray!
Woke up & bundled up & went out to play.
Carter ate up every minute of the snowball fighting & the sledding.

Lilah, well she didn't like it. But we sure tried.click to enlarge

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Just watched...It's Complicated

There's something about a Nancy Meyer's film that makes me want to jump in!
I want to live a day in the life of the leading lady. Her home is inviting; I want to cook in her kitchen & eat the delicious meals at her table. I want to work her fascinating job & have her admirable talents. I'd laugh & cry all at once like the leading ladies always seem to do for one reason or another. And Hans Zimmer would compose my theme song too.

Just watched It's Complicated. Meryl Streep was perfect again. She is Jane, 10 years divorced from Jake (Alec Baldwin), and still discovering who she is or should be, now that her youngest of 3 is off to college. The story line isn't all that interesting to me. Firstly because it attempts to make you believe that for certain reasons adultery is not only okay, but good. But, I can get past all of that nonsense in a Nancy Meyer's film because I love the music, the food, the friends laughing over dessert. I am entertained for the 1hr 54min by the photography that sweeps you up & gives you a glimpse into a life so different from your own.

I laughed SO hard at one part I just won't ruin for you, but I almost feel is worth watching the movie for all on it's own. Oh my gosh! I'm embarrassed just picturing it! So funny! I always need a good laugh.
I wish I had been able to see the finished product of the remodel. And I would love to be able to walk into The Bakery this morning for a latte & warm chocolate croissant (& I don't even like chocolate!) My favorite detail had to be that place. Pin It

Merry Christmas 2009

(click image to enlarge)

Photography & Card design by Cyndi duPont Photography

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Friday Finds...

Friday Finds...the most wonderful time of the year:

Christmas cards are coming in!

One of the highlights of the season for me.
Especially the photo cards or the cards that look like no other.

How do you display yours?
(& please say you display them & don't put them in a pile or a basket somewhere.)

I found these and more here at Apartmenttherapy.com:



Look at this cookie (fully edible, of course!, as all cookies should be )
Want more?
I thought you would! Click here for Pioneer Woman Cooks.

Make at home Starbucks Holiday drinks ...now where to get the cheery red cups that are almost just as alluring as the drink.



For the back-up "I-didn't-know-we-were-exchanging gift" or "person-you-just-don't-know-well-enough-to-buy-specifically-for gift" or "hostess gift" why default to a Yankee Candle when
Pier 1 has some whimsical holiday items this year:


(L to R: Red beaded star votive holders, White Jester stocking $30, Set of 3 $8.95, Red glitter tree candles $10 & $12)
Okay, the Jester stocking is a stretch! But I think it's fantastic! Pin It

Superheros in my shower

Opened my shower door this morning to find the usual suspects:
shampoo,
shower gel,
sugar scrub,
superheros,
soapscum (UGH!),
wait! superheros?!

Isn't it just the sign of toddlers living at home?
Earlier in the week my round brush was in my sock drawer, the remote was in the pantry, & my shoe was in the hamper. That's a 1 year old for you.
Right now, when I'm running out the door & need my other shoe it's not so cute. And when I've got wet hair & an appt in 20 min, it's super irritating to finally find my hair dryer in the toy box. But, one day, I'll read this post & miss this stage. I just know it. At least that's how I grin & bear it!

PS: The soapscum in the shower picture is ultra-embarrassing, living w/hard water poses all kinds of wars for a housekeeper...housewife, I mean.

Okay, so tell me about your little re-arranger!

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A few of my favs...baking edition

Confession: I've watched Julie & Juila nearly ever day since it came on on DVD
last Tuesday! Sick. I know.
It gets worse: I'd lie in bed at night unable to fall asleep, thinking "I've already kept it another night, & I can't fall asleep, I may as well get up & watch it again."
Every viewing but 1 has been after 11pm!
Each time I've found another detail I missed the last time.
It's just DELICIOUS!
I had to return it to the Redbox, for fear I'd never sleep again!

What gets you in the baking mood during the holidays?

Bakerella & PWCooks will help you if you need some inspiration. I'm lured in by the exciting recipes but I think it's the images & witty step-by-step instructions.

Being a flight attendant was an exciting experience, but I think my favorite job to date has been working at Williams-Sonoma! For the most part, I was the demo girl, getting to stand at that oven & use all the fantastic cooks tools to make delicious treats for the shoppers. With the generous employee discount, I managed to fill my cabinets with all the best!

These are a few of my wouldn't-even-think-of-baking-without tools:
(look for yourself, of surprise someone you love with something below)

The Kitchen Aid mixer & the Food Processor speak for themselves & do most of the work for you. Emile Henry 9" pie plate is oven/freezer/dishwasher/microwave-safe & bake a fool-proof pie. The combination of the half sheet pan topped with the non-stick silicone silpat = perfectly-browned cookies & little-to-know clean-up. Promise you won't know how you made cookies without this combo!

I sold Pampered Chef for a year after I moved to a city that has no Williams-Sonoma (GASP!) I enjoyed meeting new ladies & these are a few of my favorite Pampered Chef tools.

Pamperedchef.com (L-R)
Stackable NonStick Cooling Rack,
8cup Classic Batter Bowl oven/microwave/dishwasher-safe,
Mix n Scraper heat-safe to 650*, won't discolor


Is it just tradition? Do you bake alone or with pals?
Would your friends & family stand in protest if you didn't bake your famous ____?

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Friday Finds...PJs

Friday Finds PJs on Sale

just in time for the curl up & get cozy season
& you don't even have to get out of your current PJs to get them!

Nick & Nora PJ set for both me & my daughter!
Cheesy, I know, but too tempting.
Target.com
Women's $17, Kids'$15.

Free Shipping on purchase of $50

Victoria's Secret PJ sets
PLUS Free Slippers
$24.50

Go to: victoriassecret.com

Select your PJ set & slippers
Use codes: PJGIFT & ITEM30
*spend $50 & get free shipping using: FA919801

Frankie & Johnny Damask Cotton PJs $54.95
sleepyheads.com
Free Shipping: FREEGROUND
Get this set free when you buy a flannel set.
Use code:B1FJFGCF













Gymboree.com
Jingle Deal: $11-$15 for their Gymmies
(LOVE THEM, wash & wear so well)
Free Shipping (no minimum),
25% off EVERYTHING!
plus $25 Gymbucks for every $50 you spend

Then, please head add Pajama Time to your PJ gift for the 0-4yr old in your life!
It's our all-time favorite!
"Pajama to the left/Pajama to the right/Jamma Jamma Jamma Jamma PJ!"

Detailgal added:

My friend Heather told me about a great find I had to share:
"If anyone is nursing, here's a deal on really cool nursing covers: go to uddercovers.com
click on "Shop Now" pick the one you want,
enter promo code "Thankyou"
it takes $32 off, so you get a free cover,
only paying $8.95 for shipping!
I did it, it works!"

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Satin Sheets are Slippery

Like most daughters, I spent a good portion of my adolescence trying to change my mom.
Embarrassed by her clothes or her comments; you name it!
She was a single mom, focused on finishing school and getting us through life, but I felt her focus needed to be more on what she wore & how she did her makeup like my friends' moms.
One year I went to Lord & Taylor & bought her a black velour outfit for Christmas. If she was going to keep wearing those worn-out, faded-black stirrup pants & the Buffalo Bills sweatshirt (gag!), I was going to have to step in!The black head-to-toe look was ALL WRONG for my mom. It did nothing to accentuate her blond hair & pretty green eyes. She put it on that afternoon if I can remember correctly. She was smiling & proud to wear what her kid picked for her. Poor mom, I knew it from the moment she stepped out, this wasn't for her. "But all black is supposed to instantly slim & sophisticate?"
It would've been perfect for me.
Not her.

This might have been my first lesson in
giving what they want, not what you would want for them.

A couple of years ago I slipped up again. Thinking, "gosh her cookware could use a complete overhaul" I convinced my husband to spring for some quality cookware that we couldn't live without. Nice, right?
Except, she doesn't cook.
A year later she still had that spatula that gets used daily at our house, in the packaging!

TD Jakes writes a chapter titled "Satin Sheets Slide" in his book The Lady, Her Lover, her Lord. The message is the same; a woman may give her husband satin sheets thinking it is the ultimate in luxury, when in reality "satin sheets slide".
They aren't warm, aren't breathable, and wrinkle like linen.
He says spouses make this mistake all the time.
Giving what they would want rather than what their partner would want.

I'm shopping like most of you are for the perfect gift for everyone on my list.
I'm trying to keep in mind that I may LOVE little more than my espresso roast coffee, but my mom only drinks tea. While I would love to open an impractical, romantic, more-than-we-agreed-to-spend gift on Christmas morning,
my husband would feel warm & fuzzy if I stayed on budget!

What do they really want?
Not, what do you want for them. You know what I mean?

*My cousin uploaded this image of my mom before she started wearing the Bills' sweatshirt & I just couldn't wait to use it in a post. I realize it doesn't really match the title or message, but isn't it wonderful? Pin It

Snow Day!

We are still collecting holiday traditions for our young family. The few we have, I really look forward to come December. We trim the tree & decorate the house on Thanksgiving Day/weekend.Last year we did a Gingerbread train (click here to see last year's masterpiece).
This year Carter picked out a Gingerbread house. (which somehow turned out lots sloppier than last year & i had anticipated the opposite. hmm...)
We've added a book this year to tell the story of Jesus' birth.
The cover (pictured center) will hold pages from a Nativity coloring book I picked up.
Each page telling/teaching him a part of the story.

The construction paper links are new this year too. Anticipation is the point of this one. We linked 24 strips of Christmas colored paper together & will remove one each day until Christmas.Best of all, when Dec 1st came so did a snowfall! In Texas!
Dan was sick & stayed home. I had no plans that couldn't be canceled.
We had our very own Snow Day!
All of the crafts above were done while Lilah napped & after Dan had plenty of rest so he could join us. It was THE BEST SURPRISE!
Hot chocolate & hot coffee in snowflake mugs kept us warm by the fire.

If only every Dec 1st we could have a Snow Day!!

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