Monday Mishmash: 07/16/12

Hi, lil pumpkin!

We've had a busy few days at chez Roper!

• On Friday Hope had an early morning orthodontist appointment and she chose hot pink bands.
• Then I spent Friday morning at work clearing out my desk so new cubicle units can be installed on Monday. 
• Friday afternoon I had my first ultrasound. Everything is going great so far.
• I spent Friday night glamorously -- I cleaned out the fridge and made out a grocery list.  
• Saturday was a blur -- I had a lovely nap in the afternoon and afterward I braved Publix with my friend Rachel and the kids.
• Saturday night Sam fell asleep at 8:30 and I spent the evening reading The Bell Jar.
• Sunday morning we all cleaned house and then we had a delicious BLT lunch.
• Sunday afternoon while Atticus napped, Hope played, and Sam painted I snuck away for some introvert time. A large cup of chai and an afternoon of blog-post writing (in fact I am writing this a day ahead of time!)
• Since it is Sunday right now I can't tell you how the evening will be....I envision sloppy joes and watermelon for dinner, baking cookies, making gazpacho to chill overnight, ice cream, crocheting, and cuddling on the couch with Sam. 

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!

Monday Mish-Mash: 05/14/2012

-- On Saturday Hope went to Six Flags with the Middle School Band.  They also competed in a competition and got Superior markings.  Go Hope!
-- Since Hope was out and Sam was working at the tattoo shop, I went to my parents' house after nap time.  Atticus really enjoyed Papa's Strawberry Pie.

-- That evening I pretty much just hunkered down with some Elizabeth Bowen and read until time to pick Hope up.  I got to the Middle School around 9:45pm (luckily Atticus was home with Daddy) and encountered the worst traffic ever.  We finally got home around 10:30.  I should point out that I live less than 5 miles from the school.
-- Sunday morning was PERFECT.  I woke up around 7am.  It was raining outside.  My bedroom looked very, still and blue and clean and peaceful.  Sam was sleeping and Atticus was curled up beside me nursing.  Shortly thereafter Sam and Atticus woke and Sam said he would watch the kiddos while I slept late.  I GOT TO SLEEP UNTIL 9AM!!!!!
-- While I was asleep (and Hope was still conked out in her room) Sam and Atticus went shopping.  When I woke up I had a brand new 12-quart stockpot and some Pyrex storage dishes!  This is in addition to the poet stamps he bought me the day before.  I'm so spoiled.  He also bought me a Mother's Day latte.
-- We spent the morning puttering around the house and I went grocery shopping.
-- That afternoon (after naptime, of course) we went to Sam's art opening at Inman Perk.  Here is a bit about Sam's art (by moi).
-- The best pictures of Sam's art are on the Inman Perk website.  He also designed a label for Inman Perk's charity coffee blend:

Have a Heart Charity Blend!

-- ALL the proceeds from the Have a Heart blend go to my St. Baldrick's participants page and will help me reach my goal of raising $1,500 for pediatric cancer research. 
-- We had a wonderful time at the art opening.  Sam's already sold several works and the kiddos were well behaved for over two hours.

Wee artists at work (aka being silly and eating chalk)

-- When we arrived home I hung out for a bit and then Sam gave me the greatest introvert mom gift around:  time alone.  I went to JoAnn and bought some scrapbooking supplies (omg another hobby?).  I had pizza and chatting with my friend Naomi at Atlas Pizza.  Then I went home, brewed some tea, listened to the rain, and enjoyed my perfectly still house.  It was lovely.  I even journaled a bit.

A wonderful weekend all around.  Today was alright at work and I only cried once.  I'm trying this optimism thing on for size!

I hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day!

Monday Mishmash: 04/23/2012

Scored this owl lamp from a friend! 

-- Friday was an awful, awful, awful day.  I wish I could blab about it, but I promised the parties involved I would not blog about it.  Let's just say Middle School girls are mean.

-- Saturday was much better; it was Readathon day!  I'll do my official post tomorrow.  It will be a bit more introspective than my typical Readathon update (at least that's what I'm hoping).

-- I'd like to say that The Bronte Myth is absolutely fascinating.  I am so glad I'm reading it post-Tenant of Wildfell Hall.  I think this would be a great book to read BEFORE one tackles Elizabeth Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bronte.

-- I'm also re-reading The Collected Stories of Elizabeth Bowen; I'm pleased to report that I am affirmed in my belief that Elizabeth Bowen is one of the best short story authors EVER.

-- Hey, be prepared to be beaten over the head with this -- donate money to cure pediatric cancer and I WILL SHAVE MY HEAD.  Thanks to everyone who has give so far!

-- Yesterday was a busy day with grocery shopping and a five-hour long late-night shift at the library.  But the afternoon was fabulous!  I took the kids to a playdate at the park and we spent nearly two hours outside enjoying the outdoors.

--  Sam is super excited today because tonight he is going to see Rammstein with his friend Andrew.  I am super excited because I AM NOT going to see Rammstein!

-- I cannot wait until Friday -- my birthday -- I'm going to spend the morning with Sam hanging artwork at the coffee shop and then we are off for a kid-free weekend.  Plans for the weekend include: high tea, book shopping, art museum viewing, great food, looking at dinosaur bones, and two nights in a hotel (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

-- Two more quick bookish things!  It is Muriel Spark week and I will be cracking open Memento Mori as soon as I finish The Bronte Myth.  AND I picked my audiobook; I'm listening to Good Omens by Terry Prachett and  Neil Gaiman and I'm loving it. 

Okay.... my work break is over.  Time to go get back to work.  Have a great week, y'all!

Monday Mishmash

Mom-troverting

Heather at Capricious Reads is one of my blog heroines.  I asked her permission to copy her "Monday Rambles" idea.  I feel like when one wants to borrow a blog idea that is a feature one should give a nod to the idea-creator.  Anyhoo, I already do a "Readerly Rambles" and so I didn't want to do another Ramble -- of course it could be argued that a fair amount of my blog is just rambling -- so I decided on Monday Mishmash.  That truly is what it is -- a mixture of stuff from the weekend, upcoming events, random thoughts, and bits and bobs of life.

--  Blog Break... not so much.  I was going to take a blog break, but then I missed it too much.

-- Friday was such a bad day at work, but the weekend was fabulous.  Hope went to grandma and papa's house for the weekend so it was just the boys with me at the house.  On Saturday Sam took Atticus to the local car show and out to run errands and visit friends while I spent some "Mom-trovert" time at the coffee shop.  After journaling, reading, and a smidgen of knitting I caught up with some college friends who were visiting for the day. 

-- On Sunday my coffee maker broke which was a very sad and solemn occasion.  Sam and I went to the coffeeshop for a latte and then grocery shopping with Atticus.  I handled the grocery shopping and coupon wrangling and Sam walked around with Atticus.

-- Atticus does the cutest things now:  if you sing "shake your booty" he wiggles, if you say "dancing feet!" he dances, and if you say "silly walks" he does the best Monty Python silly walk through the house.

-- I've renewed my love of the solitary walk.  I've been dropping Atticus off at daycare and then walking a mile or two around campus before heading into work.  I slip my headphones on, listen to music, and enjoy the trees, birds, sky, and scent of honeysuckle in the air. 

-- Today I listened to Sigur Ros, Arcade Fire and the Amelie Soundtrack.  The other day I listened to Minor Threat.  That may tell you how varied my musical tastes are. 

-- So far, the highlight of my day (this mishmash brought to you by my lunch break) is my chicken salad wrap.

-- Hey!  This weekend is Readathon!  I'm pretty excited.  I never read as much as I think I will, but I'm going to do my best to read 500 pages.  That's my personal goal.  I think it will take me 8 - 10 hours of solid reading.

-- I have even more exciting news... next weekend (the 27th - 29th) I'm taking a mini-birthday trip with Sam to Atlanta.  We're planning on book shopping, museum visiting, high tea, and plenty of coffee consumption.  I'm really looking forward to it.

-- On the downside, I didn't win the weight-loss competition.  Sad face.  I am still kicking it with eating right and exercise and hopefully I'll loose some more when I weigh on Friday.