Random Friday Afternoon Happy

500 Pieces of Prudent Advice for My Baby Daughter

via Ohdeedoh

God, I love these. File this under, Why Didn't I Think of That? But at least I can point her to the link.

The Darker Side

Okay, in my attempt to distract myself from the copy editing I'm supposed to be doing and wade through the 5,317 items in my Google Reader, I came across this hysterical take on Thomas the Train meets railroad mafia and just had to share. Hysterical. Enjoy.

Baby Gifts

We are back from a FABULOUS vacation and I will try to fill you all in later, but right now there's no time.

I came home to a spotless house (best Husband EVER!!!), but the unpacking and laundry and trying to get back into the swing of things, along with an extra-clingy daughter (who thinks I'm going to disappear again at any moment) and a copy editing deadline looming, leaves me with a full plate.

However, I have a new niece!!! And Scarlet will be delivering her baby in another month or two. In light of all the baby goodness, I thought this was a great post about what families really need in the early weeks following a new baby.

Toddler Tamer, know that if I were there, I would be doing as many of these as possible for you. In the meantime, maybe you can direct your readers here.

(link via ohdeedoh)

First Tech Support Guy

All Dogs Go to Heaven

courtesy die Frau

FOXNews.com - Ohio Man Charged With DUI After Crashing Motorized Bar Stool - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

FOXNews.com - Ohio Man Charged With DUI After Crashing Motorized Bar Stool - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

Posted using ShareThis

Gives a whole new meaning to "drinking and driving"...

These Boots Are Made for Walkin'

Picking up where Scarlet left off almost exactly one year ago, I am in need of a new pair of boots. Rain boots. Boots for when I'm working out in the garden or playing in the yard with the Papoose, and the ground is wet, and it's too cold for my Crocs (which just so happen to also be the same ones Scarlet has...great minds, and all that). And I think Ouiser has some orange Hunter boots.

I was almost drawn in by the idea of getting the Papoose and myself some matching boots. I mean, seriously, can you imagine the cuteness? I'm not the type who would dress us alike to just be out and about, but just matching boots for the garden...? Come on, what, are you made of stone?

But then I realized that she would quickly grow out of them and I would be stuck, likely for years, with these:

Which are cute. But just not me.

So, in search of some that are more me, I find that I'm torn between several. So, a la Scarlet, let's put it to a vote: Which boots should I get?






And, lest you think I've forgotten the Papoose, I've got a bid out for these on eBay:

Love Me Some Dooce

I'm sorry, this is long, but it's the funniest thing I've read in a long time.

Another Style Quiz

Here's another style quiz (also from How about orange...), which I found to be MUCH more accurate than the last one, though possibly a little less fun. In this one, you rate pictures of different rooms based on the overall feel. My results were 47% rustic revival, 47% arts and crafts, and 6% modern elegance, which seems 100% true to me.

Let me know what results you get!

What's Your Style?

Ikea's website has a style quiz that's kind of fun.

They deemed my style Country Rustic, which is no surprise to me. That's pretty much what I grew up with.

They further classified my as 20% modern, 20% Scandinavian, and 60% country.

Hey, it's Ikea. What do you want?

Let me know what your results are!

(link via How About Orange)

Meme

After reading Ouiser's list of books on her bedside table, I was inspired to start a meme of the same topic. So here's what's on my bedside table, books and otherwise:

• Eat to Live, by Joel Fuhrman, MD (see previous post)
  
• Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters (my current book club read, very good, full of unexpected plot twists)
  
• Becoming Vegan, by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina (haven't started this yet)
  
• The Fiery Cross, by Diana Gabaldon (the fifth book in the Outlander series, historical romance with impressively accurate period details, addictive)
• How Babies Talk, by Roberta Michnik Golinkoff and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek (I first read this in grad school and it was great, very layperson-friendly; rereading it now that I have my own child)
• Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones, by Amy Butler and Colin McGuire (not so much reading this as daydreaming about making all the projects. I am so backed up on my list of projects that I could probably be booked for a year straight. I love Amy Butler, all her designs, fabrics, etc., and pretty much demanded the Husband by this for my birthday back in November. He didn't, but his aunt did. Thanks again, L!)
• Brsinger, by Christopher Paolini (this is the third book in the Inheritance series. The author was 17 when he wrote the first one. Great for fans of Tolkien and other fantasy epics.)
• A Greener Christmas, by Sheherazade Goldsmith (a gift from Ouiser, and I'm so excited to read it, but it doesn't feel exactly urgent in January...)
• a lamp
• a box of tissues
• a bottle of linen spray (I'm sure this has chemicals in it that are horrible for me, but I've had the bottle for years and use it every once in a while, and quite enjoy it when I do. I won't buy another, but do intend to use this one up.)
• baby monitor
• various hair accessories
• various parenting and home organization magazines

That's a lot. No wonder the table looks so cluttered. I'll probably soon be adding Eclipse to the pile, too, as I don't think I can hold out any longer. Ouiser and I saw the Twilight movie last Sunday and I haven't stopped thinking about the third book since then.

That's it for me. Die Frau: tag, you're it. What's on your bedside table?

Santa's Email, Hacked

Got this from the Husband and it was too funny not to share.

Haiku Mama

I didn't have the time or sanity to mention yesterday that the little haiku I tapped out on my keyboard was totally inspired by a book that the Husband's Aunt L bought while visiting last weekend. The four of us (Papoosekin included) were hanging out at our local caffeine refueling station, which also carries some of the best little gifts known to man. L and I were laughing riotously at this book. Thankfully, they also make one for papas because the Husband was missing the Mama jokes entirely.

Here's a sampling from Haiku Mama by Kari Anne Roy (best read, in your head, with a Japanese accent. Or out loud, if you don't think you'll get sent to cultural sensitivity training by your manager):

Flickering bright lights;
sound and stories called "movies."
They still exist, right?

**********************************

Learning the "mom look":
Squint eyes, frown mouth, point finger.
But try not to laugh.

**********************************

Swingset has no brakes.
Revelation to young child
as he's kicked in the mouth.

**********************************

Why the funny look?
Color of baby's poopies
not fascinating?

**********************************

Textured wall upgrade
not really worth the money
filled with finger paint.

**********************************

Hyper-exhaustion
sounds like an oxymoron
unless you are two.

What Kind of Tree Are You?

A few years ago, I attended a meditation meeting with my parents. We focused on ourselves as trees and were supposed to be thinking about our trunks and branches growing up, while I was overwhelmed with the feeling of my roots shooting down into the earth. I'm not entirely sure what that meant, but the group leader seemed impressed.

This morning I stumbled upon a fun activity at Seventh Generation that reminded me of that experience. Pick your tree shape, type in the ingredients that make you you, and watch your tree grow! You can name it and add it to the forest when you're done. I can't figure out how to show you my tree here, but if any of you are tech-savvy enough to do so, I would love to see yours!

Color Me Internet-Obsessed

A fun little time suck: Colorstrology

My color is Lyons Blue. Rowr. Kinda fun because blue is my favorite color. Apparently, I'm also imaginative, charismatic, and social.

What secrets does Pantone know about you?

*By the way, the Papoose's color is Chinese Red and she's perceptive, kind, and magnetic. The Husband's is Hibiscus (heh heh, that's another word for PINK!) and he's determined, persuasive, and...wait for it...SPARKLY! Oh, he's going to love me if he reads this.*

The Hell?

Check this out, then tell me if you're not as flummoxed as I am.

Methinks Oliver Stone has a death wish.

Vote for My New Banner

I've been working on some potential new banners for this blog. I think it's painfully obvious that I need one. Let me know whether you like choice 1, 2, or 3, or none (but if you say none, you'd better have some suggestions for me!).

I Get High on Baby Hugs

A friend posted this on our mommy-group website, and I had to share.

I'm especially fond of the Rage homage near the end.

Stay at Home Dad Rap - Watch more free videos

I like Winnie the Pooh, yo.

Yearbook Yourself

1960

1966

I gotta say, I'm kinda diggin' the '66 shot.

What's your best blast from the past? Yearbook yourself here.

(link via Robyn's Online World)