Listen Up

Maybe it's because as a little girl I would lie in bed at night and listen to my Dad play Chopin or maybe it's all the Stevie Wonder he would blast on the stereo. Whatever the case I'm a sucker for a band with a piano (Rufus Wainwright, ALO and Ben Folds to name a few). The Gabe Dixon Band is little known but amazing. They've opened for big names like Paul McCartney and Alison Kraus so you know they're good.

Listen up here (click on the "play music" button).

Do Yourself a Favor....

...and read this book:

(for ages 18 mo-4 yrs)

And while you're at it this one too:

In my quest to be a good mama I've read every parenting book I could get my hands on. John Rosemond's books are the best of the bunch. He writes all about a return to traditional parenting...parenting with common sense. Love it, love it, love it!No new age psycho babble from this guy.

Whenever I need a parenting confidence boost (or a smack upside the head) I look to Mr. Rosemond. I love that he admits his mistakes/missteps as a parent, I love that I laugh (a lot) when I read his books, I love that most everything he says makes perfect sense and I love the results.


P.S. Also fabulous (and available cheap on Amazon) are:

John Rosemond's Six-Point Plan For Raising Happy, Healthy Children

A Family of Value

Parent Power

I Love My Job

When I'm in a hurry I give Sage a boost out of the car. It's a chance for a little nuzzle and kiss/hug. Today as I carried her out she said," You're my bestest Mommy."

That's the bestest compliment I could ever receive.

Listen Up

The way I feel about Mason Jennings is the way I feel about dark chocolate. At first taste I thought, "Blech! Gimme the good stuff." But after a while I started to appreciate the rich flavor...now I savor it. Mason is an acquired taste; give him some time and you'll grow to love him. He sings "Ballad For My One True Love" one of my fave songs of all time.

Listen up here.

Faith Like a Little Child

Our bunny Buttercup escaped the other day. Sage and I went to give her a snack and she was nowhere to be seen. We searched high and low and Sage said a prayer, it went like this:

"Heavenwee Faver, yank you that we can find my bunny...(pause) soon and that she'll be somewhere."

We searched some more after that prayer but no bunny. Shane came home and we searched some more, still no bunny. Shane reminded Sage that even though we didn't know where Buttercup was Heavenly Father did (kind of like that scripture about not even a sparrow can fall without Him knowing). Sage was always optimistic, fully trusting that we would find the bunny because we had prayed.

The next day a sign appeared by the mailbox. Someone had found our bunny. We called the number and a teen named Laura answered. Here's the story: Laura was on her way to work when she saw a little bunny grazing. She suspected that it was a pet so she picked her up, carried her 1/2 mile to work (Coldstone), put her in a plastic bin for the night while she scooped her heart out, bought some bunny food at a neighboring pet store and walked home after work, bunny in tow.

What a sweet girl. Sage and I decided that a hero like Laura deserves some peanut butter blossoms...so we're making some after nap time.

Listen Up

I love a good love song...Joshua Radin sings one of my favorites.

Listen up here.

The Trip That Almost Was...

We've rented lots of vacation spots through Craigslist, all with great success. Shane and I planned to get away this weekend to Malibu for his triathlon and just to be together. We had a place all picked out and paid for (via Craigslist). Then the owner emailed me a couple days ago to tell me (short version) that her place was no longer available and she would mail us a check. Huh? Since when does that happen? Needless to say I was bummed. No Getty Villa, no dinner at Real Food Daily, no walk along the beach at sunset...Ce la vie. We'll try again soon.

Joy School

Last year we did what you might call free-style Joy School. Four friends and I all took turn teaching our kids twice a week. Lots of fun. This year we're down to 2 kids but we're doing real Joy School with all the bells and whistles...the very same Joy School that's been around the last 30 years or so. Today was Day No. 1 and Sage and I are loving it already.

Listen Up

Surprisingly (or maybe not), BYU has a great music scene. I love me some Provo indie rock...one of my favorites is the now defunct Sunfall Festival. They woulda coulda shoulda been famous.

Listen up here.

Saturday Night

Watched this:

Ate this:

The flick: We both loved this documentary. We were a little worried when in the first minute of the film Farmer John ate dirt from his field and had a lady dancing behind his tractor but that actually had nothing to do with the movie. The farmer is a well spoken, intelligent man who never gave up inspite of daunting odds. Pretty inspiring stuff.

The grub: Portobello Mushroom Burgers with Red Peppers and Gorgonzola...if I may say so myself, amazing. Recipe here.

English Is a Crazy Language

S: "Can I have a ride in the coower Mama? (she gets in our big huge cooler and we push her around)

A: "Not right now...I'm pooped."

S: (incredulously) "You pooped in yer pants?!?"

A: (no answer, trying not to laugh)

S: "You're going to poop in yer pants?"

I explained.

Labor Day

Laguna Beach was a sea of umbrellas

New suits for Shane (finally!) and Sage...both brown.

Life is always better at the beach

Listen Up

With song titles like "For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti" and "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland" I was quick to judge the guy as a crazy...that is until I actually took a listen. His music is beautiful and spare. I find myself really moved while at the same time trying to figure out what the heck he's singing about. Such is the enigma that is Sufjan Stevens.

Listen up here.

Yum

The other night some friends and I tried out a little creperie called Lulu's. Piggie that I am I ordered two crepes...an Au Naturel (plain but topped with lots of butter and strawberry jam) and an Almond Joy (coconut, toasted almonds and chocolate). The crepes were like heaven! I can't wait to take Shane; crepes will make a perfect after date treat.

Lulu's Creperie Cafe
24781 Alicia Pkwy, Suite E
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(Behind the Laguna Hills Car Wash)