March MADNESS

Holy BONKERS, y'all.

It has been a while since I last posted.

Here is a quick rundown of what has transpired:
I read some books. (finished Portia's book, the Harry Potter Series, Strength 2.0 and am currently on Even Cowgirls get the Blues)
I went to some parties.
I turned 26.
I drank some beer.
Survived a Blizzard.
I went to the gym a few times.
I met some new peeps.
I lost five pounds.
I drank some beer.
I bought a dining room table.
I got a new guitar. (thanks big brother)
I got a sewing machine (thanks aunt sara.)
I signed up for a half marathon.
I had to stop quilting for a tick. (hand cramps)
I found out that Tank Sushi delivers (OH MY GOD!!! BEST DISCOVERY EVER!)
I drank some beer.
I watched some movies.
I saw some old pals.
I drank some more beer.

Exciting, right?!?


Sure.

In addition I've been thinking about getting back in the saddle about crossing some stuff of this New Year to do list/ ditch the ones that I no longer think I want to do/ should do.

Lets review. Here was my original list:
1. Read DOUBLE the number of books I read in 2010. (I read 23 books-- so in 2011 I will read 46!!)
2. Buy a dining room table (so that I have a place to put a sewing machine!)
3. Finish two quilts.
4. Run a half marathon.
5. THIS IS THE YEAR I WILL READ INFINITE JEST!
6. Bike with Caitlin to Milwaukee for a weekend.
7. Start the process to getting my Montessori certification!!!!!!
8. Visit my big brother in the mountains and his lovely wife-to-be.
9. Go camping!!
10. Set a new PR in the Proud to Run 10K.
11. Lose 20lbs. (YIKES!!!)

Reflection/ Responce
1. Yeeeah- I don't think I'm going to read forty six books this year. Last year I read 23- this year I'll go for one more- 24.
2. DONE AND DONE. I BOUGHT A DINING ROOM TABLE! WOO HOO! that is crossed of the list.
3. Hand cramps have put a halt in production, however I still see myself cuddling up with two new Kat Paddock quilts by the new year...
4. I have signed up for the Chicago Rock and Roll half marathon!!
5. I HAVE TO READ INFINITE JEST-- I HAAAAAAAAAAVE TOOOOOOO!!!!
6. Sadly, for personal reasons FAR too personal for a blog, number six will not be happening.
7. This will not be happening either- I am in the midst of a very exciting quarter life crisis. WHAT WILL I DO WITH MY LIFE. I not know. However, I AM in the process of figuring out what the next step will be. This is both exciting and terrifying. Maybe my "to do list" for next year will include a new life "action plan."
8. I am hoping to visit Brian and Jess sometime in August...
9. Who wants to go camping with me??!?? totally still on.
10. STILL ON! I will make this year's Proud to Run my BIT*H
11. I've lost five lbs already--- 15 more to go! It is totally a struggle... especially with my love of beer, sandwiches and tacos. mmm tacos.

So there is that. Onward and upward. Looking forward to crossing some things off this refined list!!! :-)

A Delicious Weekend...

This year for Christmas Caitlin bought us a cooking class at the Chopping Block in Lincoln Square. The title of the class was, "Eat, Drink and be Merry." (She knows me SO WELL)



Our menu:
Sausage and Herbed Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Sauteed Beef Tenderloin with Herb Butter
Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
and Pumpkin Donuts with Cinnamon Suger
(and of course... two glasses of wine or beer per student!)

We had a WONDERFUL time and are already setting our sights on the next class to take!

As far as books go- the Harry Potter quest is going well,The Philosophical Baby has come back OFF the book shelf and into my messenger bag and (speaking of food) Portia De Rossi's new memoir Unbearable Lightness is currently decorating my bedside table.

I'm not usually very good at juggling more than one literary project at a time... so we'll see how this turns out.

Here is Portia talking about her book on Ellen (I have to admit... this made me cry):

pillers and a quilt...

--I made these pillows when I was at my parent's house in Ohio. I used a Moda charm pack called "whimsy" and my Mom's Pfaff sewing machine.



-- This is my first quilt! It is actually something called a "cheaters cloth" in the pattern of "grandma's flower garden." I'm using it to learn how to hand quilt. My next project will be a jelly roll quilt made out of strips from Moda's line "breakfast at tiffany's." I'm pretty excited about it!



I'm now heading back into my bed to snuggle with my cat Weeble and Harry Potter. Happy Sunday FUNDAY!

COVERS

A few weeks ago I posted the Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's song, "Home." I just saw this cover on a friend's facebook page and it was too cute not to post on here:



Enjoy!

so this is the new year...

2010. Done and DONE.

2011, its really good to see you. You are shiny and new and I love you already.

In my last post I talked a lot about starting Alison Gopnik's book The Philosophical Baby. I have to be honest, I haven't really read any of it since then. WOOPS!

I got distracted with my project to re-read all the Harry Potter books (am now working my way through Book Four of the series.) I'm having a great time picking up on things I missed the first go round, giggling about the silly situations that I'd forgotten and simply getting swept up in the magic of it all.

My reading time has also taken a bit of a back seat to a new hobby: sewing. When I was visiting with my parents for Christmas my mom taught me how to use her sewing machine and how to hand quilt. I made four pillows and am currently working on my first lap quilt called, "grandma's flower garden." Pictures coming soon!


The New Year is a time when most people make resolutions.
Instead of resolutions I'm making a to do list (in no particular order):

1. Read DOUBLE the number of books I read in 2010. (I read 23 books-- so in 2011 I will read 46!!)
2. Buy a dining room table (so that I have a place to put a sewing machine!)
3. Finish two quilts.
4. Run a half marathon.
5. THIS IS THE YEAR I WILL READ INFINITE JEST!
6. Bike with Caitlin to Milwaukee for a weekend.
7. Start the process to getting my Montessori certification!!!!!!
8. Visit my big brother in the mountains and his lovely wife-to-be.
9. Go camping!!
10. Set a new PR in the Proud to Run 10K.
11. Lose 20lbs. (YIKES!!!)

Every time I cross one of these things of my 2011 to do list I'll be sure to let you know. Perhaps I'll even have a celebration of sorts. WHO KNOWS! The year is filled with possibilities!

Enjoy this beautiful song by my favorite musician, Jill Andrews (best served with a Founders Imperial Stout:)

Holidays and Baby Brains

Chicago has turned white with snow, Christmas lights adorn the streets and little holiday fests are popping up in the different neighborhoods. This weekend Cait and I walked down to the square for a little shopping and a peak at the local christkindl mart. When we came home I made some chili and mulled cider to take the chill off our bones. Cait settled in with the first season of Dexter and I polished off The Shipping News by Annie Proulx.

Annie Proulx's novel is wonderful from start to finish. A beautifully crafted story with engaging and unique characters, The Shipping News is so full that the reader almost becomes a part of the story. I can't recommend this book enough...

Now I'm working on Alison Gopnick's non-fiction book, The Philosophical Baby. For so long people thought that our children were simply not capable of advanced thinking. In the last ten years the research has shown us that the first five years are the most developmentally productive of a human life.

As it says on the cover copy, "In a lively and accessible tour of the groundbreaking new psychological, neuroscientific, and philosophical developments, Gopnik offers new insight into how babies see the world, and in turn promotes a deeper appreciation for the role of parents in shaping the lives of their children."

Ok Ok Ok. I am not a parent- nor am I CLOSE to being a parent, BUT I AM someone working in Early Childhood, looking toward advancing my education AND well... I think baby brains are awesome and totally interesting. Can't wait to share all that I learn from Gopnik's book.

I've also decided to re-read all of the Harry Potter books-- and OH, IS IT A JOY!!! When working through all the HP fun, I recommend taking a trip down to the North Center/ Lincoln Square Bar, THE BAD APPLE , and grabbing a Butter Beer (with a side of the cheese curds, because they are simply delicious.) :-)

welp... things got cray cray

Ok. So. Last summer I started this blog to chroncile my quest to read 25 books in three months.

Alas. Life got in the way. I directed a beautiful show about love with my wonderful theatre company called Genesis Ensemble (check us out), and that took up pretty much ALL of my time and energy. I MEAN ALL MY TIME AND ENERGY!!!!!!!!

Now, as we make our way into December of 2010, a time when people start crafting the age old "new years resolution", I intend to reinstate this crazy blog. Maybe I wont be reading 25 books in three months (I am back to workin' my day job with the little ones a the pre-school,) but I WILL be reading a lot, drinking delicious brews and riding my bike all over this beautiful city.

For instance, I am currently in the thick of it with Annie Proulx's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Shipping News. A hilarious and moving account of an American family transplanted to Newfoundland, The Shipping News is quickly becoming one of my favorite reads of 2010. I am savoring every chapter of this book and although I am excited to see where this story takes me, I DO NOT WANT IT TO END.

Many thanks to my Aunt Mary who gave this book to my mom and to my mom for not noticing when I stole it from her book shelf last Thanksgiving!!!

And now enjoy this music video (served best with a Magic Hat Winter Howl):