A dance, a breakfast, and a DJ

So... the photos say it all: Olivia (and Liam) at The Pittsburgh Field Club in Fox Chapel, preparing for dinner before the Shadyside Academy Snow Ball. Nice night - chilly - snow flurries - Christmas trees and twinkling lights at the club - perfect for a winter dance. The girls were all in their tasteful, formal best - hair and nails perfect - shoes and bouquets perfectly matched - and the boys look so grown up now in suits and ties - hardly recognize these kids - and some I've known since preschool - nice seeing them all again tonight. They will have a fantastic time.

Earlier today, hit Breakfast with Santa at Oakland Catholic (big alumni event). Santa, cookies, balloons, stories with Mrs. Claus - really fun.

And.... last night.... DID go to Girltalk and had a great time (I accidentally deleted a super cool photo from my phone so enjoy what I could scare up - craaaazy show - at the new AE amphitheater on the North Side :-).

We're predictable.

What did you guys do this day after Thanksgiving? This retail "Black Friday"?

We were, as I say earlier, pretty predictable - hung Christmas lights, cleaned the house, ate leftovers, listened to Christmas music in the car (I can't help it - Jose Feliciano's Feliz Navidad does take me back to nights driving back from my Grandma's house with my parents in the '70s :-). We did go to a family birthday party, so it felt like a continuation of Thanksgiving... Not sure what's on deck tomorrow - possibly breakfast with friends and / or bowling with friends, another b-day party, Olivia and friends playing football with the Central boys for a fundraiser in "The Turkey Bowl", drinks with friends late evening... All fun.

REALLY enjoyed my boys today. After a trying week of fighting, telling me I'm a "bad Mommy" for punishing them or sending them to bed, keeping this aura of general crankiness going for what seemed like forever..... we really bonded today - played outside, drew pictures, cuddled on the couch and watched movies (even the predictable day after Thanksgiving "Wizard of Oz") - so nice. They were even sad to see me head out on a pull-ups and breakfast food run to the store tonight. I always enjoy my girls too, but... the boys have been rough lately, and... this felt good today. All my angels :-).

Hubby has hijacked my computer lately, btw. Transferring all our old CDs to our computer - and... in the meantime, we are really walking down memory lane. Sitting next to me is a big pile of Smashing Pumpkins, REM, The Replacements, Weezer, Beastie Boys, 10,00 Maniacs and even like stuff we didn't know we had like Sade or Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Sisters of Mercy, The Church, The Cranberries (yeah - you heard me right - remember all that?!?!). This week has been a total musical walk down memory lane (thanks to Chaos Theory and both a Dead Milkmen VINYL thread, AND an Erasure!!! thread - again, you heard me right) - even the soundtrack to the movie Singles (remember THAT, grundge fans???). Anyway... I may be absent off and on .... and, then again, maybe not. We'll see.

Photo: Milo helping with those aforementioned lights (through Daddy's legs - on a ladder....what were we thinking?).

Zombie Gingerbread Update

Decorated. Voila! That's a lot of cookie "bling" :-).

Missed Conan O'Brien's debut on TBS last night, and he had Jack White on - bummer. Just heard a song by that band that even my teen loves right now - The Neon Trees (Animal - yes, I know - the song is now permanently in your head - at least for a few hours) - and the song is entitled "1983" - AND they reference crawling and eating lollies at the age they were.... well way back then. OK - I think I was definitely walking - probably doing algebra..... sigh.

Traveling...

Well - not me... I should clarify that. Hubby will do the Philly / NYC thing, and I will do school drop off, coordinate field hockey team photos, help with kindergarten, attend Mommy and Me gymnastics, make dinner, do bath / book / bedtime routine, help with homework, plow through those omnipresent piles of laundry.... I do love all (most) of it, so I'm not complaining - just doing another one of my reality checks.

Anyway - this morning went well (the teen was off school - did sleepover with Olivia B - got to sleep in :-) - Enzo has dress down for a donation to a charity - Milo has class photos and chose his own outfit - Lil happily packed her "lunchbox" and took a "sandwich" for morning out cuz she completely wants to be like her big sibs....) - take a look!

Another gorgeous day! Enjoy!

Oh - and enjoy this.... (more details later).... U2 has added a last date to their US tour - Pittsburgh! Not until July, but.... tickets go on sale this Monday, I believe :-)!!! Glad they are a ' travelin' here (to keep in the spirit of the post).

One last thing.... truly a gorgeous day for the Chilean miners (and this story had me so worried - CANNOT imagine myself in such a predicament - very scary for these poor men) who are being hoisted to safety today.... Read here.

Good Morning

I'm trying the new iPhone for a 30 day trial period. So far - LOVE it. Have a couple of apps on it now - Epicurious, Style.com, Whole Foods, Facebook - hubby loaded stuff on that he thought I would like - along with the latest Arcade Fire, Interpol and The National from iTunes. Soon - I will need to begin doing all of this myself - soon I will need to let go of Verizon Wireless - soon I will need to embrace that space inside me, which I know exists - that persona just waiting to get out that wants me to know everything and to be everywhere all the time. I think I may need to reign that in a bit....

Prayers for this boy's family on this day. He's a high school football player who collapsed and died on the field - similar to something that happened here locally a year or so ago (a Central football player collapsed as well).

Photo: Yeah - I'm already going crazy with the camera. This is my coffee (and my new coffeemaker) like 2 min ago :-).

Just about everything borrowed today.

Check out the new blog I'm following on my list - a family dinner idea place and beyond, really. Thanks, MW, for that.

Also, for you locals (and, by that, I mean Clevelanders and Pittsburghers), here are some restaurant bargains (thanks, SBC, for that) - Ibiza (Mallorca's tapas bar), Namaste India - others.

Again ... for locals (this time just Pitt), here are some upcoming events at our local Nordstrom. Some worth a look - some not so much.

And, honestly, this has been on my mind lately.... what to wear when I work out (looking like a non-geek does wonders for my self-esteem). Here is what Rachel Zoe says.... so I'm sure it will be "bananas" - "major" - all that ;-).

The Bakery Square Urban Active Fitness is offering a fitness workshop - alongside facility trainers - this Sat, 14 Aug from 6:30 am to 8 am - limit 100 (early risers, obviously) - first 50 will receive the opportunity for a free personal trainer, AND the event is supposedly going to be run by some big names in the fitness industry - though... did not see those announced yet. Might be fun - I'm still thinking on it....

This weekend is the Seven Springs Food and Wine Festival. Probably worth a look - unsure, currently, what the weather will hold for anyone interested.

I'm always prompting you all to join zulily, and... today is no different. Vive la Fete childrens' hand-smocked clothing is featured today - very sweet little Halloween dresses and outfits - with pretty little witches and pumpkins stitched across the chest - very retro - very classic - very cute.

I was made aware of an article on a boy from good old St. Bede. I believe he played in the band that performed at my fundraiser a couple of years there - also his Mom has photographed my daughter for a magazine (a "volunteer" type situation - in the marketing / advertising industry, our kids are often volunteered for such work :-) - this time, she and some of her friends modeled for a friend in need) - and, of course, many of the kids in my daughter's circle are aware of his impending and current success. Anyway, here is that article on this particular "hip hop boy" ;-). Worth a read.

And, speaking of St. Bede.... parents - we got a packet of info a week or so ago - Now - two more to check out, fill out and turn everything in.... mine arrived today. FYI.

And finally - saw this recipe - or a version of it by different names - from 4 different people - 4!!!! - bizarre - last week or so, so.... gave it a try and it is easy and tasty. In a nutshell, here is the recipe (fused from the different ones I was forwarded / happened to see / was given):

Beef Provencal -

1 to 2 pounds cubed beef
Equal parts onion and carrots (one and a half to two cups)
Lots of garlic - one recipe called for 12 cloves - another only 6 - crushed
Olive oil
14 oz diced tomatoes
tbsp tomato paste
1 cup beef broth
1 cup red wine
pinch rosemary
pinch thyme
salt and pepper to taste
pinch allspice or cloves
one bay leaf

Saute crushed garlic in olive oil until fragrant (use deep dutch oven-type pan) - remove and set aside. Saute beef cubes (salt and peppered a bit) until browned - remove and set aside. Pour in red wine - bring to a boil by scraping brown bits from pan. Return garlic and beef to pan - keep in med / high heat. Add carrots, onion then beef stock or broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, rosemary, thyme, more salt and pepper, allspice or cloves and bay leaf - mix well - bring it all to a boil. Cover (I just used foil) - and put the whole pan in the oven to bake at 300 degrees for 2 - 2.5 hours. Remove bay leaf before serving over noodles. This can also, apparently, be done in a slow cooker if you are so inclined.

And, finally, since we're in the kitchen .... Hell's Kitchen and Next Food Network Star have finales this week, and... well... Top Chef is about halfway done..... getting a little more interesting too.

See ya!

Hooray!

Olivia comes home from camp today! I'm sure we'll have a week full of school shoe shopping, etc. - in fact, I know we have to purchase some sort of highly coveted $100 calculator AND, I believe, field hockey practice is in full swing. The camp photos from the last night have not been posted yet, so.... we'll just have to wait to see her. Maybe we'll go to lunch.... I'm sure she'll want to get right back to her friends (those who didn't go with her, that is).

Good night last night .... Went to First Fridays at the Frick (see photo of Lil in her handmade butterfly mask - glitter and feathers - Ooooo :-). The boys (and even Lil) found some of their friends there and played tag and caught lightening bugs in the trees next to the kids cottage all night (they could even run through the beautiful little garden there). Hubby and I had cheese and fruit - saw some friends - chatted and relaxed while listening to music (were treated to some of Lil's dance moves ;-). On the way home, Milo stubbed his toe pretty badly but patched up nicely after a late night shower (some complaints this morning about the band-aid), and Lil had fallen on the way there (remember, we do everything at 9,000 mph), but... all in all, no problems (aside from one mean older boy who was maliciously throwing berries at my Enzo - why do parents let their kids do that - act mean, that is? At first, I thought it was part of the game, but it became clear it wasn't. I am not a fan of ostracizing or picking on one person. Weigh in on that if you want, friends - was on my mind for a short time last night). In fact, even end of night, sniffly Milo in stroller - happy Enzo basking in a good night with his friends and Lil, sweetly holding my hand as we walked to the car in the dark - happy Frick attendees stopping by a brightly lit antiques shop - all in our familiar school neighborhood - was good - calm and festive. Anyway, came home and watched The White Stripes' Canandian documentary - Under Great White Northern Lights - it was really good - good music - good interviews. GOTTA love the White Stripes.

No coffee filters this am - looks like a store run - for hubby ;-). Busy week - I'm glad to have a quiet morning (though there is talk of gummy bears for breakfast in the kitchen, so I better go intervene ;-).

COMPLETELY Random (from recipes to retail)...

Boots under $100 at Piperlime! I'm in!

Watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona last night and really liked it. If you've ever spent any time in Europe or in complicated relationships, you will relate. I am touch and go with Woody Allen films, but... this one - even with voiceover narrative - was really good (I mean, they're all good - some just speak to me more than others). Was it really 2008 when it came out?!?! I am soooo out of touch regarding movies. Anyway - made me feel better about my house full of half-finished canvases a la artist hubby - my coffee corner, constantly cluttered with spoons, french presses, sugar (all me :-) - my wardrobe and how some people are always referring to me as "bohemian" - my hot temper ;-). Worth a watch - definitely.

Checked camp photos for Olivia today. While we saw her friends playing basketball and doing yoga, we did not see her. Oh well - next round of photos.

Yesterday was a hugely productive day for me - I moved furniture, organized school paperwork, cleaned A LOT, and... somehow made it to Whole Foods where Enzo decided that he wanted to make fish for dinner - told the guy what we needed and everything. And we did end up with some yummy fish tacos for a late dinner (hubby busy at work - made me miss my workout, so... today, I need to be ON IT!): Marinated the fish (tilapia - very mild in case the boys wanted to eat some) briefly in a lime, chipotle pepper, salt and olive oil mixture - pan seared it - rolled it up in hand-rolled, organic flour tortillas with lime, hot sauce, lettuce, onion, cucumber, tomato and sour cream. So good.

Quick quest for input here.... I have begun to restrict my boys' media time. A good thing some days because it gives us a little more structure and discipline to our "lazy time". I have begun to notice, however, that they are obsessed with the Wii each morning when they get up, preventing me from watching the Today Show or from even reading and having any sort of quiet morning time in my space - the first floor - where I need to be productive. Selfish? I think not. I mean, it also causes fights and mean back talk. By contrast, though, Lilliana has become obsessed with some old-fashioned wooden pull toys I found while digging out yesterday. Interesting. So... my question: Do you restrict TV and / or media time? If so, how stringent are you? And... how do the kids react? You can email me if you like ;-).

Finally.... St. Beders (and I know some of you are still reading me this summer), our paperwork has arrived. Get it in ASAP! If you are lamenting the loss of summer, keep this in mind... we still have a couple of weeks left and schools like Woodland Hills Academy started today!

In closing, I'd like to share a bit of fluff.... that Lady Gaga made Vanity Fair's best-dressed list for being "original", which....is such a joke... given that she steals everything she says, does AND dresses in from Grace Jones and Madonna - who were doing her "schtick" years ago!

Quick note: The National is playing Pittsburgh on 25 Sept - get your tickets everyone - they are selling out!

Last quick note: Are you a Mad Men fan? If so, the 2010 casting call for a walk-on part is on.... get your photo in.... hopefully, the deadline hasn't passed. If so, you can still vote on those who DID get photos in.... until early Sept, I believe. Good luck :-).

And... I'm out. Happy, happy, everyone.

More for my list...

Or - I suppose I could call it another "random" post, but... if I do that, I may be tempted to do that ALL the time, and it would just get weird. So ... a couple more things....

First - again, thank you so much, all my friends and acquaintances. I'll say it again - I know some VERY cool people. I would like, one day, to have a sharing forum, so we could all tell our stories - vent, connect, etc. I'm getting there. And... I know I've said that before too, but... I AM - getting there, that is.

Second - another reminder to hug and cherish your kids everyday. I am quite heavy-handed in these reminders. No apologies - just an admission ;-). Anyway, this poor little boy in Oregon... where could he be? What happened? Tragic all around. Please read and pray.

Third - I am sitting in silence right now. I love it. No kids yelling (the boys love their room - Olivia skipped swim team due to rain - and Lil up coughing last night, so... still asleep - crazy) - no TV - no music (though, this morning, I drove my van to the body shop - hubby following me - we are finally getting much needed repairs from winter made - and... I was listening to music - always iPod or satellite radio - and I thought I was having a prolonged '80's flashback, having just heard the Replacements, but... it was a band / person called Fever Ray and the song was Triangle Walls - tres retro - liked it).

Fourth - Speaking of music and bands, the National and Broken Social Scene - ALL coming to Pitt soon. Details later :-).

Fifth - The photos. This is, apparently, what my 8th grader and her pals do when alone in her room. The rumpled body in the bed is my daughter - the girl in the foreground (valued friend, Kelly) has just woken her and is already skypeing or hitting Facebook. Note how the one photo shows her holding my Olivia's head - in the distance - between her fingers. Classic. Love the three faces - Kelly, Olivia, Olivia B - I've posted these crazy beauties before - great friends.

OK - and this is not another "thing" because it is not actually on my list - but, rather, on Design Mom's (see my blog list) for Next clothing - a UK line - women, kids, low shipping - worth a look....

Gotta go anyway - Milo just brought down a sword that was, apparently, damaged in battle with Enzo, so..... taped it together, but... may need to monitor the situation...;-).