Friday's Five Fav

Friday's are hard for me.
I am absolutely dead tired and therefore pretty much useless.
This week I feel more run down than normal.
I've had some terrible nightmares lately and have REALLY been trying to kick ass at work while still doing the Mom/wife stuff.
Let's not mention that the wedding is 11 weeks away.
Oh my.

So, I thought I'd participate in the Friday's 5 Fav...

1) My Monster's Eyes:
He has the biggest, bluest eyes ever.
They speak of pure innocence and whenever I look into them I can't think of anything other than the amazing overwhelming feeling of safety and love.
Not to mention and even bigger desire to keep that innocence in those eyes.

I love when the blue gets bluer when he sees me and cries out "Mommy".
I love when they get as big as saucers when he sees a choo-choo, hears a plane, or we pass the fire station and the big red engines.
I love when they well up with tears just before a tantrum and he looks up to check if I am paying attention to the pending drama.
I even love when those eyes are closed and the now massive weight of his once tiny body is sweating on me.

Baby Monster Eyes:

Big Boy Monster Eyes:

2) New Music.
I love finding a new muscian or a new CD.
I recently heard Ashton Shepherd's latest album and I REALLY love it. Word of warning...it is super country and full of twang. I adore it. Ping on itunes then suggested that I listen to someone named Margaret Durante. She's fairly new (also very country) but I really like her. I call this guilty pleasure music. It is fun to crank up as I am flying over the back road hills after a seriously long day at work. I feel 17 again and, even if it's just for a minute, I am simply Kate.

3) My Nikon.
This could be on my favorite list every Friday. I love that trusty Nikon. I have a D100 that was once my Pops. He handed it on to me when he saw I enjoyed photography. I still have a TON of things to learn but I am honored that my Dad thinks I have some talent. Even more honored that he gives advice and listens to my numerous (read: 6 million) questions. I, like many of my blog friends, have more pictures of our children than anyone can even believe. But every single time I capture that perfect expression in his big, blue Monster eyes it is so worth it.

4) Snail Mail
I still thinking getting snail mail is fun. I mean the suspense of what might be in that mailbox gets the better of me everyday. My Grammie passed away just two days before my birthday and when I got home from the funeral there was a letter from her in the mail. I never cashed the birthday check (obviously) but I still think that I'll see one of her lavender or pink envelopes addressed to me in her swirly cursive. Corny, I know, but the anticipation that there just may be a letter from her in there somehow makes opening the bills a teeny bit better.
I even love the junk mail. Sometimes I open the stupid credit card offers just so I can open it.
I am such a dork.

5) Night time pitter patter
I love that sound of the turn of the door knob, the creak of the Monster's door opening and the groggy pitter patter of his feet. First he drops off his pillow and bankie. Then runs back for Jorge, Buzz, and Superhero. Lastly, he climbs up the side of the king bed (this involves some grunting and "ugh" when he finally makes it), curls up into the side of me, and within one hour manages to take over 99% of the bed.
I love the drool.
I love the 90% rotation.
I love when he is completely asleep but pets my hair to ensure that I'm there.
I love that I don't get any sleep.
I love being Mom...not just on Friday's...I love it everyday.

Friday's Fave Five

(on a Sunday)
hehehe!

1) Naps
I'm not sure what my deal has been lately. Possibly coming off being so sick and then jumping into a stressful audit for me at work and work load that I feel I'm drowning in but I have been so so tired.
D has been wonderful with letting me nap and trying to work on the tile (which LOOKS amazing...pictures to be posted soon) all while watching the small monster.
Still not sure what my body is experiencing but I can sometimes hardly keep my eyes open.

2)Talking to Little O
He has started to say "lub dub" (Oliver speak for love you). I love coming home to that and I'm so jealous of my sitter for getting to here his ramblings.
I especially love hearing him in another room carrying on full 2 1/2yo conversations.

3) Cheese
I love cheese.
I really do.
I had this black pepper cheese the other day..mmm
and I bought some gouda...mmm
and tomorrow I'm making ricotta after work...mmm
and HEB has the BEST extra sharp cheddar.
Central Market has an amazing black truffle cheese.
I probably get most of my food intake from cheese.

4) Nights like tonight.
It's Oscar night.
I haven't seen one of the movies.
A) I live in the middle of nowhere.
B) I work. A lot.
C) I have a toddler.

I haven't been to a movie in over a year but tonight I'm making mini corn dogs and spinach artichoke dip, grabbing a bottle of wine and a case of beer...oh and the diaper bag...and toy story backpack...and some sippy cups...and jim jams (for O, not me) and headed to our friend Brin and Skyler's home.

There is nothing better.

5) Lucinda Williams
She has new album coming out on March 1.
There are no words for my excitement.
She got me through my divorce, my 17th year of life (dear god), most of College, a road trip out west with the family at 13yo.
She's been my go-to girl musician.
I'm nearly dying with excitement at hearing the total album.
I've pre-ordered the CD and the Album.
I feel very strongly that a TRUE artist creates an album-not a single.
I want to sit and listen to how Lucinda will change my life this time round.

P.S. May 6th...Stubbs...ME...Front Row...

Sorry it's Sunday!

Okay, I know it's Sunday but I needed this and since I got home from work at 6pm and then took a 2 hour nap and awoke to a child with a fever...Friday's post just didn't happen. Neither did posting it on Saturday due to watching 3mo old baby Jack and Little O and D at the same time. HEHE!

1) Music. Not quite sure how to even begin to explain how important music is in my life. It has shaped who I am, inspired me to do things I never thought I'd do, and it drives me to and from work everyday. Don't even get me started on how much it's affected my brothers life.

My TOP 5 Artists of all time:

• Lucinda Williams
• Tom Petty
• Bob Dylan
• Franki Valli
• The Broderick
  

2)My GPS. I have no idea how people survived before the invention of the GPS. I would be lost 100% of the time and I'd have to quit my job because me stats would be so low from never being able to find clients home. I might just have to marry my GPS. But since I thank him on a daily basis that should do for now. Not sure why I call him a him since he has a British female voice. Hmm....maybe I have a gay GPS. Ok Kate, stop talking about your GPS. Stop it.

3)My bread machine. So I REALLY LOVE gouda cheese and I ususally buy this one certain brand but they were out so I had to buy this other brand. Needless to say I very much didn't like it. So, yesterday I was thinking "gee, I hate to waste all that cheese and money what can I do with it". Then my AWESOME brain said "bread"!

So, I...

• proofed 2 1/2t yeast in 1 1/4 c warm water
• put 3 cups flour, 2 t. sugar, 1t. salt. 3 cloves chopped garlic, 2 T. oregano, 1 c. shredded gouda, 2 T. EVOO, and 1/2 c. sun-dried tomatoes into the bread machine
• added the liquids
• 3 hours later... the house smelled amazing and I had this...

and this...
SO YUMMY!

4) Vintage Clothes: I love to dress up. Not all glam glam like your going out on the town. I just mean dress up. I think it stems from my days as a costume designer. You will rarely catch me in pants, and only occasionally jeans. I don't even own sweat pants or stretch pants. I don't even own a t-shirt. I love the hunt for a good vintage find. The feeling that it's unique and has a history and a story. I especially love when I find one that fits me just perfectly or one that is a little damaged and I can fix or alter.

5) Day's off: I have tomorrow off because of Martin Luther King day. I am ever so grateful for this. 16 hour days, five days in a row are very tiring. Even though I did some work on Saturday and will call two clients tomorrow at least I'm at home and I'm resting....sort of...I have an appt. at 9am with a seamstress to look at my wedding dress pattern. I'm thankful I have my GPS to help me find the store. hehe!

This is pinkpancakes signing off...

A Tad Late (but much needed)

1) I am thankful for snail mail. There is nothing more fun than getting a card/letter/magazine. Especially since most of my bills are paid online there is never the dread of "ugh and double merde there might be an icky bill to pay". It's always just "YAY new recipes to read!", "YAY a card from Gigi and Papa", "YAY a letter about how much energy I save if I unplug my phone charger", "YAY a CHRISTMAS CARD", "YAY an ad for Time Warner", "YAY the same Victoria's Secret catalog I got yesterday".


2)Goodwill's. They seriously have to be the coolest store ever. Yesterday I needed to go to Kohl's to get my brother a pair or jeans. They cost 40 bucks. Then we hit up two of our favorite Goodwill's and I got all of the following for the same price as the jeans:

• retro ash tray for Max and the band
• 6 HUGE ceramic pots for my indoor garden
• a vintage circle skirt
• a pink cashmere sweater
• a cute top for Momma
• a skirt for Momma
• a retro "Texas" light for Max
• a cast iron RED dutch oven (never been used)
• a Land's End down vest for Little O
• a pearl snap shirt for D
• ten more silver forks for the wedding
• a pumpkin shaped basket
• a felt covered journal for Mom
• 2 unopened red star towel hooks for Little O
• 2 jackets for baby Jack
• a pair of wingtip shoes for Max
• a vintage (1953) cookbook from the Japanese Embassy Chef
• a burnt orange linen skirt
  

And now my Christmas shopping is DONE! Don't worry about Dad (his gift was done a long time ago).

Goodwilling to D and I is like therapy for our relationship. We both love the thrill and the hunt for treasures. Since there is so little we have in common it always brings us closer together.

3) Central Market. Now most people like Whole Foods and think it's "all that and a bag of potato chips". Not me. I like their liver pate and that's it. For all other foodie type foods I ADORE CM. Sometimes I don't even buy anything I just like to eat with my eyes and look at the vegetables I've never heard of and the different cuts of meats and the sushi being rolled and the mussels and scallops. I LOVE to sample whatever they have. You can ask to try anything in the store and they will open it for you. I drool over the cheese selection and they'll order anything that you find (usually I find things online that I want to try). They even ordered me 1/8lb of fois gras. Since it runs about 130 bucks a lb. that's all I could afford. I want to move into Central Market. Party in the wine section, eat in the cheese section, dance with the fruits and veggies, warm up in the bakery, and sleep in the flower shop.

4) Wine Stoppers and little cheese knives. I love quirky little wine stoppers and kitschy cheese knives. They make me happy. I have quite the collection but that has never stopped me from wanting MORE, MORE, MORE. My latest purchases have been a hand-painted mexican wine stopper and a ladybug cheese knife. There was this lady in Lakeside (where my Aunt and Mom summer in true style and class....by which I mean using tape to hold the shower hose on) who was selling some odd jelly concoctions (beets and peach marmalade etc) and had this HUGE basket of little cheese knives. I thought I'd died and gone to cheese knife heaven. I hope she's there this summer (minus the odd jelly stuffs). Once upon a time Sam (the ex) bought me a 3 inch high wine stopper that had tassels and beads and blown glass ribbons. I think it made it through one of bottle of wine before I broke it. But I loved it so much. See? It's the little things in life.

5) The Broderick. D says I like them just because it's my brother's band. I suppose that is part of it but, trust me, if he played heavy metal I'd be much less into it (as in not at all). I'm pretty sure I listen to them non-stop. Especially their new songs. I'd love to share them with you but they haven't been released yet so I have been worn to secrecy. I even like their old, old, old, sings. After D made that comment I got to thinking. Do I just like them because it's Max? Then it occurred to me that I like them because a) I can relate to the songs because I know Max so well and I know his past and b) I understand the story behind the song. With many of the songs I remember the moment he is singing about or I remember the conversation. I understand the dynamic and the between-the-lines meaning of the lyrics. I also love to dance so that may play a part. I'm sure I scare people on a daily basis with my crazy car dancing.