complimentary

I just wanted to say something about compliments. I don't know if you remember a post I wrote quite a while back (I'm not about to go fishing for it sorry) about how I am naturally judgemental without even trying. I hate that about myself and I'm working on it but something I like about myself is how easily I notice the good things about people. I am one of those people that will see someone in the grocery store with really white teeth and stop them to let them know. I like to tell people what they are good at and why I like them. It really makes me happy to be able to pinpoint something specific about someone and let them know.

Examples:

My friend Heather is awesome. In fact "friend" is too small. She is definitely one of my best friends. One of the things that I like the most about her is her ability to accept help. I know this may sound weird but let me explain. I generally don't like taking help. I am one of those people who is carrying two kids, my purse, a gallon of milk and squirming puppy and I still won't let anyone help me. Heather, on the other hand, says, "yes, that would be great." Without even putting up a fight. I love it! It makes it so easy to serve her and in turn grow close to her. One of my favorite memories of the first part of our friendship was when she agreed to let me bring her lunch. She was pregnant and hot and broke and hungry. It felt so good to be able to bring her those silly chicken sandwiches without her fighting me about it!

Another person I admire is Jessica. She is incredible in so many ways. She is so talented and generous and loving. My favorite thing about her is how genuine she is. Seriously, she will send me a text or leave me a message and say the kindest things. I save her messages for long periods of time because I know what she is saying is heart felt and real. The best part is that they are often just random and out of the blue. She is a ray of sunshine for me. I love her.

When I moved to Tucson I met someone awesome. Her name is Lili and she is so cool. I mean that. She is way COOL. I love that about her. I always want her opinion on things because her style is amazing. She has an eye for all things stylish and I love it. I can't help but envy her sometimes because it just comes so naturally to her. She is one of those people that if she ever gave you anything, you would wear it out, hang it up or take lots and lots of pictures with it. She's incredible!

Have I ever told you how grateful I am for my sister-in-law Jenn? She is the one person in Michael's family that I call regularly. I always know that when I talk to her she is going to cheer me up. She just has a light heartedness about her that makes it easy to be around her. You can tell that she loves making people feel special and that she thinks you are special. Because if you weren't special she wouldn't be your friend. ;) I am so lucky to have someone in that family that I can always sit next to, call or hang out with and not feel awkward or uncomfortable. She has welcomed me in to her home and life so openly that I have learned to love a little better because of it.

These are all examples of things that I notice about close friends but there are some of you out there who I don't know so well but still remember what's awesome about you too. I will never forget Sierra's giggly laugh or Ashley's ability to walk away from gossip. I think that Lindy is probably the best friend a person could ever have all around and Jeanette's skin is a thing of dreams.

I have great friends, great family and an awesome life. I complain sometimes but it's days like this when I am able to remember and see the good in people that I can be content with the way things are. I feel lucky to not only have these people, and soooo many more in my life, but I feel lucky to clearly see what I love about them. This is also one time when I am grateful for my big mouth so that I can continue to tell the people around me what I think is special.

skills

So not to toot my own horn or anything but I'm not a bad cook. You know what? I'm actually pretty good. I don't mean I am a Top Chef or an Iron Chef, just a pretty good housewifey cook. That being said, I really had to work at it. I remember once after high school I cooked chicken parmesan for some boys and fried the chicken in like a cup of oil. It was so embarrassing! Or at least at the time I didn't think it was but now I can't believe I did that.

The point I want to make is to let all of you out there know that if you aren't already a good housewifey cook you sure can become one. Let me just offer some unsolicited advice on the matter.

First start with recipes. Tried and true recipes. That's it. Seriously, follow it and you will succeed. After that, you can begin asking yourself what would make it a little better and start modifying little by little. My older sister made me a cook book with all of the family recipes for my wedding and it saved my marriage. Now there are little additions and notes in the margins because I have my own style and spin on things but in the beginning I never strayed.

Watch cooking shows. PBS plays them during the middle of the day. Martha comes on sometime before 1:00 p.m. and Food Network is constantly running something you can learn from (except Sandra Lee. That lady is horrible and wrong and her boobs are nasty just like her semi-homemade crap.) Just by watching a show occasionally you will start to get a handle on some basics. Things like complimentary flavor combinations, when and how to cook certain ingredients, and fun tricks like how to gracefully remove all of the seeds from a pomegranate (thank you Alton Brown).

If you don't have a TV or don't like TV, pick up a magazine, read a blog or go over to a house where there is a good cook and observe. I don't like it when people pass themselves off as "bad cooks". I truly believe that everyone can learn how to cook good food. It is definitely something you have to work at but it's possible for everyone. I feel like I am starting to quote Ratatouille or something!

Taste your food. When you are cooking, dip your finger in the balsamic vinegar before you add it to your sauce. Nibble a fresh basil leaf and you will see why people call it sweet. Have you ever eaten a spinach leaf whole, raw out of your hand with no fork or salad dressing in sight? Taste your food meaning all of your ingredients.

Along these same lines, use your nose. Have you ever walked in to your mom's house on Sunday and instantly started salivating at the smell of the pot roast? A light bulb should be going off. If it smells good, it will taste good. Maybe this is why we don't like to eat things that smell like poop!

Cook seasonally. This may sound very chefy, chef, chef, snobby but it's not. I don't mean that you should only buy the finest ingredients from the organic farmers market. I mean, don't cook spicy chili for a noon lunch on the day of the summer solstice. There is a reason we like pumpkin desserts and slow cooked animals in the winter. There is a reason we salivate for a bowl of chilled gazpacho in the summer. You will always like your food better if it is appropriate. I promise.

So there are some random tips. I think that having a desire and the confidence that you will succeed can make you successful in pretty much anything.This post may seem like it is totally out of left field but I have a couple of friends who doubt themselves but are so good at other things they work at. I know that if they just tried to cook well, they would. I promise that you can go from drowning chicken in oil to experimentally creating a perfect Thai coconut curry as long as you just commit and learn.

Now that I sound like this big expert snob I think I'll end. I have re-written this post so many times trying to make it sound less hoity toity but I can't. I'm sorry that it sounds that way but I hope you don't think I'm a total B for all of the things I said. Or that I'm super conceited or vain. Remind me to tell you the story of when a semi-stranger flat out told me that the first thing they noticed about me was that I was vain. Yeah, that's a good one. I digress. Go cook.

movember

No it's not a typo. Yesterday marked the first day of Movember 2009. What does this mean, you may ask? Oh nothing really. Except for the fact that my husband goes from being Dr. Michael Clark to Cletus Redneck McSleazy! I told him that he had to shave on Halloween and start the growth on November 1st to make it official. Instead, he cheated and stopped shaving a week ago. So unfair! To make matters worse, he has already received several compliments from co-workers at the hospital. Yeah, you thought doctors and nurses were well educated members of society. Turns out they are mustache loving rednecks like the rest of those trailer bound, barefoot and pregnant middle Americans. Hmph. Can you tell how much I like Movember? Not my favorite month. I have a feeling that as long as Movember stays a tradition in our household we will never have a child born in the month of August. Meh.

the halloween post

I'm sure everyone is going to do a Halloween post but you know what? I'm excited to see them! I can't wait to see the festivities and the costumes and the sugar loaded kids. Speaking of sugar, Jack has been living on milk and candy for the last three days. It was fun to see him hit the jack pot and fill up his whole pumpkin with candy but I'm not sure I can handle a cracked out kid much longer!

Jack is very attached to his loot. He has been taking 3-4 pieces of candy to bed with him every night since Thursday. And as much as I hate the candy, it's been great leverage. Our house is full with the sounds of phrases like, "take 3 more bites and then you can have a piece of candy." Or, "I'm gonna put you in time out and take your candy." Poor little fella was moaning in the corner during time out today and saying, "My candy, my candy Mommy. Please may I have my candy?!" (Yes he says "please may I have" like a well mannered little boy. Not making that up. However, that is about where his manners end.)Michael has officially decided that Halloween is his favorite holiday. He says that seeing Jack obsess over his candy like this illicits all sorts of child hood memories. Apparently being a candy-holic is genetic. :)

The jackpot after two trunk-or-treats and an old fashioned neighborhood trick or treat.


The dinosaur surveying his prey.


My Chiquita banana baby.


I love her face in this one. Maybe he tooted or something?


Right after I finished making her head dress I had to try it on her. I seriously could not stop giggling I was so giddy. She thought I was crazy.

probably a no-brainer

A few months ago I got an idea that I thought was pretty great. I'm sure many of you do something similar but for me this was the perfect solution to an obnoxious problem.

I created email accounts for both Jack and Violet so that I can keep a journal for them. I write them letters every so often and since it's via email it is quick to sit down and type about an event or a milestone. I also like it because I am not a scrap booker or a journal writer. It's nice to have somewhere private where I can tell them all the really special things. It's also nice to know that if I ever wanted to I could print the emails off and compile them or something. It's free and it's fast and Michael can write to them too. It may not be cute and crafty but it works for me.

What do you do along these lines for your kids?

the truth of the matter

My reasons for the disappearance are two fold. First, I had a friend in town for a week and second, I just haven't had much to say. I don't know why? I always have something to say! The worst part is that I don't really have much to say right now either. I guess I will just post some pics and try and channel my inner blogger for another time.

Daddy's trick. They are so proud of themselves.


The "bitter beer" face.


Who, may I ask, is this dashing young gentleman? Oh wait! It's my two year old son!


Now that's more like it.


Glasses are so fun for us since none of us actually require them.





Isn't he just awesome? I wish I had created him but instead I just bought him at Home Goods. (Don't you just tingle all over when you say that? Home Goods, Home Goods, HOME GOODS!!!) I love Halloween even more this year with this dude on my front door.

yikes!

Not to be a conspiracy theorist or anything but my friend Becky just posted the scariest story about her baby and formula. You should read it. So scary!

P.s. I just got off the phone with a person from Infamil. He told me that not only is the formula made in the US, all of the cans and containers are also manufactured here too. I know it is alot more expensive but just knowing that Infamil's formula is made here gives me a little bit of piece of mind. Anyway, just something to think about.