Thursday's things...

My state, my town, my college town

Yesterday my state...my town...and my college town were left devastated by an F5 tornado. A tornado that stayed on the ground for over 2 hours. The destruction is overwhelming...from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham and points north and south. The emotions overwhelming. The husband, the toddler, our two dogs, and I are so very lucky to have made it through this but we are saddened for those less fortunate...and there are many. And so, "Thursday's things" are put in perspective for me today...and my focus has shifted to those "things" that really matter...I love my state, my town, my college town and all the people who call it home...and I hope and pray that we can make it through this. We are a strong people, us Southerners...we stick together and I know eventually we will be okay...but for now, my heart is heavy and my emotions overflowing.

above image - view of the masive deadly tornado as it crossed through the downtown area of my town yesterday.

image credit: jtkola

Thursday's things...on Friday

a good night's sleep

Well, here I am...posting "Thursday's things" on Friday, but alas, the husband, toddler, and I are on vacation and usually a good night's sleep is what you find on holiday but, we have decided to endure the task of transitioning the toddler to a "big girl bed" during our trip...basically due to the fact that we have no other option here. As the toddler and the husband slumbered away last night, I sat motionless, wide awake... trying to hear a thump or thud or peep. Luckily, we made it through the night...the toddler seemingly a little older this morning, and me, well...a little sad that she's growing up...and craving a good night's sleep. Today we dug the deepest hole in the sand, made handprints, and dipped our toes in the water. And so, tonight, we will all sleep because all of us are, well...a little more grown up.

image credit: louvre; Jastrow

I do

The husband "put a ring on it" 12 years ago today. It's hard to believe that we've been together so long. He's been a devoted husband that has put up with my crazy ways, shopping sprees, irrational fears, laziness, and my less than Martha Stewart-esque tendencies. He's been a best friend, someone to lean on, someone to get in trouble with, someone to...hang on to. I love him with all my heart and am lucky to call him the husband! Thanks babe for all your support, patience, and understanding...you're the bomb! image credit: Ann Wood via Weddingbee

ten little piggy's and a mean old fox

As a lover of JCrew and...despite their not knowing me save for a few million dollars I've spent with them, I feel the need to come to their CEO's defense. In the screenshot above , Jenna Lyons is shown painting her son's toenails with pink nail polish that (lucky for me) is available for purchase at JCrew. There is no problem with this photo, no problem with the fact that she and her son are spending time together. If he wants his toenails painted pink then so be it. Who is anyone to judge this? Well, apparently Fox News felt it appropriate to berate this 5 year old's mother for "blurring his gender identity". Dr. Keith Ablow went on to say via Fox News that "JCrew pushes transgendered child propaganda". How so Mr. Ablow? With t-shirts and jeans and sweaters and shoes and nail polish? I suppose I'll step up onto my proverbial soapbox and say...as a mother, I think that it's sickening that people, strangers, media mongers, have the ability to pass judgement on someone's, er...mothering. Unless a child is in danger or is being neglected, there is no reason to question how someone spends time with their child, or dresses their child, or paints their nails. The article goes on to say that this child will never have to endure the taunting and teasing of middle class peers...seriously? Who are these people? My final word...kids will be kids, kids want to do things adventurous, outside of the box, they want attention, want to be noticed, and well...if Essie's Pink Parka nail polish does the trick then why not? He's five, he's laughing, his Mother is laughing, they're together, having fun...living in the moment. Fox News, you should be ashamed to allow such babble. And so, I leave you with this...a definition that, well...explains the aforementioned attack. fox/fäks/ Noun: A carnivorous mammal (Vulpes and other genera) of the dog family with a pointed muzzle and bushy tail, proverbial for its cunning. Verb: Baffle or deceive (someone). Essie's Pink Parka Nail polish available here at JCrew image credit: JCrew

Thursday's things

Dyed Eggs

I love the smell of dyed eggs wafting through the house. Granted, I know it's just the smell of vinegar...but there's something about that smell that reminds me of standing in the kitchen over the stove with my mother watching...waiting...trying not to break them...trying to get the color just right. And, subsequently trying to get the egg back onto that little wire handled device that came with every egg dying kit in the 70's and 80's (though I'm sure the kits have evolved over the years). While I haven't dyed eggs in a very...very long time, I am super excited to share this excitement with the toddler! We'll stand in the kitchen...I'll let her pick the colors, we'll set them to dry, then hide them for her to find...and so, the tradition will begin again.

image credit: back seat driver

dressed the part

As May slowly creeps our way, I'm trying to assemble a wardrobe for a trip to the Garden State where the husband and I will be attending the class reunions at Princeton University. And as I always do, I'm slaving over my thoughts of possible ensembles. My palate will consist mostly of orange and black as those are the PU colors, as well as some safari-eqsue khaki, and my lobster print dress that is, well...not orange or black but East Coast worthy just the same. All this planning and consideration got me thinking...do you plan every detail of your outfits? Do you think about it for months or days or weeks before an event? For as long as I can remember I have put a great deal of thought into my wardrobe. In high school I kept a calendar and logged every single outfit I wore...every single day so as to not repeat too close in proximity, and so to replicate as needed. I would pore over the items in my closet...every hanger. I had just a small standard size closet growing up but the parents kindly vacated the coat closet in the hallway for my overflow. Hours I would stand in that hallway...picturing myself walking up those grand stairs at school...how would this look...how would that look? And now that I'm all grown up and with a house of my own and clothes in every closet of the house except the toddler's, I still stand...sliding the hangers...envisioning the look, the accessories, the shoes. When I was gainfully employed, and after the toddler was born I didn't always have time to pick out each upcoming day's outfit with such precision but, every night as I would lay my head on my pillow I would arrange my clothes in my head until I fell asleep...a little paper doll dream of sorts. Fashion has always been a passion of mine...an addiction. It will forever be something that brings me joy. And so, as I arrange the Ivy League trunk show in my head...I've decided that my life is sort of a costume party...and, for every event, every party, every work day...I have an outfit.

image credit: Naomi Alessandra

Thursday's things

Crawfish Boils

It's that time of year...whether you love them or not (I definitely do)...crawfish boils in the South are what spring time is made for! The husband and I are attending our annual shindig this weekend and can't wait!

I can already smell it thick in the air...good times, good friends, and good food!

p.s. a gentle reminder to not touch your eyes after devouring a table of crawfish, corn, and potatoes is always appreciated by me...that spice on your fingers will get you every time!

image credit:bite of the best

verbiage

While looking up a word in the dictionary the other day I came across the word "Horse" as I thumbed the pages, and was struck by it's definition... "A large hoofed mammal (Equus caballus) having a short-haired coat, a long mane, and a long tail, domesticated since ancient times and used for riding and for drawing or carrying loads." So distinct...yet odd. Of course I know what a horse is, and yes, all that was described is indeed true but to see it on the page as such seemed so austere. Which lead me to look up other animals...next came "Pig"... "Any of several mammals of the family Suidae, having short legs, cloven hooves, bristly hair, and a cartilaginous snout used for digging, especially the domesticated hog, Sus scrofa domesticus, when young or of comparatively small size." Seriously? Next...I tried "Goat"... "Any of various hollow-horned, bearded ruminant mammals of the genus Capra, originally of mountainous areas of the Old World, especially any of the domesticated forms of C. hircus, raised for wool, milk, and meat." I couldn't stop. Why had I never looked these common animals up before? And then...the best one yet..."Human"... "Humans, known taxonomically as Homo sapiens are the only living species in the Homo genus of bipedal primates in Hominidae, the great ape family. Anatomically modern-appearing humans originated in Africa about 200,000 years ago, reaching full behavioral modernity around 50,000 years ago. Humans have a highly developed brain, capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problem solving. This mental capability, combined with an erect body carriage that frees the hands for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of tools than any other living species on Earth. Other higher-level thought processes of humans, such as self-awareness, rationality, and sapience, are considered to be defining features of what constitutes a "person". Like most higher primates, humans are social animals. However, humans are uniquely adept at utilizing systems of communication for self-expression, the exchange of ideas, and organization. Humans create complex social structures composed of many cooperating and competing groups, from families to nations. Social interactions between humans have established an extremely wide variety of values, social norms, and rituals, which together form the basis of human society. With individuals widespread in every continent except Antarctica, humans are a cosmopolitan species. As of January 2011, the population of humans was estimated to be about 6.89 billion. Humans are noted for their desire to understand and influence their environment, seeking to explain and manipulate phenomena through science, philosophy, mythology, and religion. This natural curiosity has led to the development of advanced tools and skills, which are passed down culturally; humans are the only species known to build fires, cook their food, clothe themselves, and use numerous other technologies. The study of humans is the scientific discipline of anthropology." I have to say...I felt a little like Diane Court in Say Anything with that big dictionary of her's all marked up with all the words she had ever looked up. Or did I? Now that I think about it, I felt more like Lloyd Dobler...I've never looked these words up before...at least not that I remembered...never really thought about it or cared. And so, I've decided that I will make a point to look up new words every day. Not big, over the top pretentious words, (even though I do love those just the same)...just simple ones, simple things, like cow and duck and biscuit...things we live with, things we talk about...words we throw around and never really know the definition. And...how cute to maybe print these up, frame them, and hang in our hall or the toddler's room? Why not, right? While my dictionary adventure wasn't exactly as exciting as "Googling" yourself, your friends, or potential lovers, (you know you've done it) it's still exciting to see what Merriam and his colleagues have come up with. And...of course this new obsession of mine should be marked with the purchase of a new dictionary...a cute one, right? I'm thinking leather bound...maybe pink or croc embossed. We shall see. Now...stop searching the "A's" for "Ass". It's not as funny as you would think! For a look at some super cute dictionaries (that just beg you to look something up) click here. Or here for a smaller version... image credit: jennibick