To keep or not to keep? That is the question.

As you know, several weeks ago we celebrated Bro's birthday. As you might know, I am a pack rat.

pack rat n. Informal A collector or accumulator of miscellaneous objects.

From what I can tell, from observing other close family members (ahem - Grand Matriarch), this is a dominant genetic trait in my family tree.

Bro has some Mylar balloons that have been floating in our living room since his party. (You know, mylar balloons are the thick silver balloons with pictures on them.) Unlike some of Lulu's birthday balloons (which tend to be related to her particular theme and, thus, of no good use from year to year), Bro's balloons were relatively generic and "Happy Birthday" in style. So, I thought that we could save Bro's balloons (four Mylar balloons in all) and use them again another year. This seems perfectly logical to me?

I inserted a straw into the balloons ends so that I could let out the air (a trick that DH didn't know -ha ha ha ha ha). Then, I deflated the balloons and folded them in a bag for next year. DH thinks that I am crazy for saving the balloons.

Have I gone too far? Do you save your Mylar balloons? If not, then what do you do with them? I hate to throw them away.

Note to self: In case I forget, I put the balloons in the top-level hall closet, next to the garden flags.

Great Backyard Bird Count

Don't forget that the Great Backyard Bird Count is this weekend. You just need to observe birds for 15 minutes. Most of all, don't forget to go online and log in your bird count.

Easy participation directions are here.

A checklist of common birds in your area is here.

Please check back with me to let me know which birds you see.

Oh, and have a happy Valentine's Day!

Garlic and Sapphires

I read Ruth Reichl’s Garlic and Sapphires.

I liked it for several reasons. First, this is the real-life story of a food critic, not just any food critic, but the food critic for the New York Times. So, I loved reading about the adventures of a food critic and what life is like working for the NY Times. I have somewhat always been interested in writing for a major newspaper and the newspaper process in general so it was fun to see that side of the news industry. Plus, it was very interesteing to see Reichl's take on the prejudices of the food industry when it comes to service to their paying guests.

I learned, however, that my taste buds are not very advanced, for lack of a better word. I’m not much for exotic foods. I wish that I could say that I would even eat something as mainstream as sushi, but I won’t .

Also, I liked the book because I didn’t have to worry about forgetting what was going on in the book if I didn’t get a chance to read it for a few days.

Garlic and Sapphires was a fun and pleasant read, especially for me since I enjoyed the glimpse into the life of a food critic and writer for a major newspaper. If you are interested in either of these two topics then you will probably like Garlic and Sapphires too.

Sunflower Still Life

I just read Lulu's school newsletter where they noted that they have been uploading the students' artwork onto Artsonia.

Once I got to Artsonia I did the appropriate searches and found this picture. I knew immediately that it was Lulu's. I love this picture. It was drawn in chalk. I am hoping to have it framed so that we can display it at home.

So, Artsonia is so great because the school uploads the artwork. From there, her friends and family can register as "fans" of her work. And, of course, we can also add her artwork to coffee mugs, shirts, and so on. However, the great part is that I can share this picture with you. She is so critical of her artwork and I really, really loved this picture. I'm so glad that Lulu's school put this on the web.

I mean, I know that she isn't the next Renoir (or whatever that guy's name was) but I just really, really like this picture. Plus, it really, really bothers me that the artwork comes home just shoved into a bookbag because then it gets wrinkled and ruined. This one made it home safe and sound.

America's Next Top Model

I was taking pictures off of Lulu's camera and putting them onto the computer to free up some memory on her card. I found these shots that she took of herself. She is so funny!



I also found some pictures that she took of her friends while they were at Girl Scout camp last year. Those were priceless. I can't wait to put them into a slide show and send them to their parents!

Siblings

I am an only child. I enjoy being an only child (for various reasons). Lulu was an only child until recently. This all seemed very normal to me.

Then, with the birth of Bro, I discovered the love of a sibling. Recently, I was tagged on facebook and asked to list 10 random things about me. One of my entries was, "Watching my children relate to each other as siblings has been one of my life's greatest joys." I have not stopped thinking about that statement ever since I wrote it and should have included sibling in my 's' list.

Just this morning DH and I were rushing to get out of the house. I ran downstairs and found this sight. Seriously, this is it folks. No posing here.

It melts my heart to see them together. Lulu has doted on Bro as much as any proud mother would. Bro, on the other hand, will let Lulu hold him all of the time - sometimes jumping out of my arms to get to her.

What do you think is better? Only child or siblings? Although, having said that, I still really don't feel the need to have a sibling in my life.

Donuts

Every Friday of the legislative session, someone from our office brings in donuts. Today was my day to bring them in - all 4 dozen of them.

I prepared my family to be ready for me to leave early in the morning, so that I could get the donuts for work. They insisted that I bring donuts for them too, which meant that I had to go out into the world and get the dounts and bring them back and then head back out into the world for the second time (at the crack of dawn).

I did as I was told. I got up bright and early, as the whole house was asleep. I got ready for work and walked to my local Dunkin' Donut shop. Yes, I walked; if I cut through the woods behind my house, I can get there and back in no time.

I bought the donuts and used a 50% off coupon (thanks Mom and Dad) from my coupon book - the highlight of my morning. Plus, I grabbed a vanilla latte for DH and myself.

On a side note, I know that we are in an economic downturn and that businesses are closing everywhere - including Starbucks. Well, two (not one, but two) Dunkin' Donuts have opened up in my neighborhood within the past year. And, judging from the crowd at the donut store this morning, America REALLY does run on Dunkin'. How many people can one Dunkin' Donut store hold at 6:30 in the morning? Apparently, a lot.

I crept back into the house - everyone still sleeping. I woke up my DH and told him that I had coffee and donuts waiting for him downstairs. He smiled. "Really?" he asked. Really! Then, I woke up little Lu and she was excited too. DH eats the cruellers and Lulu grabbed the glazed; I thought she would have grabbed the one with pink icing and sprinkles. Who knew?

I took the rest to work. Yum!


By the way, which coffee do you think is better Dunkin or Starbucks? I am NOT a Starbucks snob, but it is the preferred coffee store within walking distance to my office. The other coffee shop is less than clean. I only get the regular coffee - no yummy mochas for me (except for today) - so, it isn't that expensive. Confession: I don't even go to the coffee shop that often anymore; saving my $$ for the kids, ya know. Still, I was shocked to see that Dunkin is the preferred coffee.

Winter ONEderland Cake

Before I got sick with the flu, we celebrated Bro's birthday. I made the Snowman cake and I was fairly happy with the results. If I had to do it all over again, I would add more of the sugar cubes. DH and Lulu agreed that he needed arms, which I did not add because I didn't really have a way to get them on once the snowman was iced. Plus, DH wanted me to make a 3-ball snowman; you notice that mine is only made of 2 balls (like the one that I was copying). Also, I don't know what happened, but the cake was a little lopsided.

Anyway, here he is.

"Happy Birthday to Bro."

Bro eats cake.

Here he is licking his plate. This clip is a bit staged because he stopped licking his plate right before we started filming.

All in all we had a great time. We offered lasagna for the meat eaters (store-bought but better than nothing). Our non-meat dishes included: hearty butternut squash and corn chowder, divine spinach salad, bountiful beer bread with ranch dip, and awesome artichoke spread with crackers. Thanks to everyone for the great veggie suggestions. Our nanny said that she does eat pizza, so we could have had pizza-for-1 (love it) but it just didn't turn out that way.

Is anyone else out there an amateur cake baker? I'd love to see your cakes.

I thought that I looked cute.

So, I did it. I bought a new shirt. I never, ever buy new clothes for myself. I am lucky enough to be the same size as my mom and she buys tons a fair amount of new clothes for herself so I just wear the ones that she doesn't want need anymore. Don't know what I'll do if I actually do lose these 20 10 pounds or she stops going to the gym. Well, if she stops going to the gym then I really WILL have tons of new to me clothes.

Back to my story. I bought a new shirt. Kinda like this one pictured here which is now on sale on e-bay. My shirt came from Kohl's and it was majorly on sale and it is new and it is not black a cute color and it goes well with black pants and it is cute and I look so cute in this shirt. I mean, when Lulu hugged me good-bye this morning she said, "Mom, you look so cute today!"

Fast foward to my day at work. I got on the elevator with a co-worker and he asked me, "So, are you in the matronly way again?" (or something like that). I played it off and said, "No, not yet," because everyone has been asking me when hubby and I will try again. Well, then he said, "Oh, you just have some extra weight to lose?" Yes. He really said that... and, there were other people on the elevator with us. I mean, how embarrassing is that. So, I replied, "I know. I do have more to lose. Probably won't lose it all before the next one comes along though." Then, the elevator doors opened and he left. The doors closed and I had to ride up one more floor in complete silence with the other folks on the elevator. I bet they had something to talk about when they got back to their offices.

I adore this particular co-worker and this is fine, but... I thought that I looked cute today.

Healthy

I'm back and Tamiflu is my friend. Next year, I will get my flu shot. Never never, never, never, never again will I laugh at the wimps smart folks who get their flu shot each year.

A most wonderful thing happened to me while I was in bed and curled up in the fetal position. I was tagged... for the very first time! Me? Little ol' me? Sitting in front of the computer and curled up in my jammies... and I was tagged with a most beautiful butterfly award. Thanks Mim!

The rules for this tag are as follows:

1. Put the logo on your blog.

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3. Award up to ten other blogs.

4. Add links to those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message for your awardees on their blogs.

I think that some of the coolest blogs are:

The Bird's Nest

Mindless Musings on My Average Life

The Croissant Family

Our Day to Day (a new blog, I know, but give her some time... she's really cool)

20 Something and in the Air Force (because I used to babysit her when she was little and now she's all grown up)


Coming up: I will post the birthday cake pictures, Bro graduated to a forward facing car seat, and DH set out some bird feed to attract some birds in anticipation of the Great Backyard Bird Count.