Toby and I celebrated our eleven-year wedding anniversary last week. We didn’t go out to dinner or take a romantic getaway somewhere. Nah, that’s not our style. We had a family day and Toby bought me a new laptop. You know, the important things. And believe me, getting a new laptop is sooooooo very important to me. I’ve been squeezing out every last drop of productivity out of my old dinosaur laptop for years now. It’s seven years old. Much older than most laptops ever even dream of living.

It didn’t play videos anymore. It took what seemed like a thousand years to turn on and shut down. I’d have to start the shut-down process and then walk away and do dishes or something just so I didn’t lose my mind waiting for it. The power cord was frayed. I’d have to pinch it and pull it and situate it just so to get the little green circle of light to turn on and then out of the blue it would flicker off and I’d have to do a rain dance or something to get it on again. And don’t even get me started on the battery. That thing was shot three years ago. So anyway, I loved that laptop dearly but I love my new one even more. I can’t even believe how great it is. It’s like lightning in a thin silver box. It blows me away.

Thank you, Toby.

What did I get Toby for our anniversary? Nothing. In my defense, he didn’t want anything. But still, I know. It’s kind of sad.

I probably sound like the most awful, unloving, selfish housewife ever. And I am in many ways. I get to stay home with my daughter all day and frolic in the waves at the beach or putz around the playground mindlessly while Toby slaves away at his job that barely covers our expenses. It really is a luxury to be a stay-at-home mom these days and I am really thankful. But I’d be lying if I said it was all peaches and cream. This year has been tough for both of us. The economy, mid-life crises, family dramas and just plain getting sick of each other because our small rundown house isn’t big enough for the size of the personalities it holds. It’s been a rough year. I just hope we look back on this year someday and smile because we stuck it out.

I think we will. Most of all for this little person we made.

The night before our anniversary I had explained to Bug that Saturday was a really special day. I think I might have overdone it because Bug woke up the next morning shouting like we were going to a party or something. “Happy Anniversary! Happy Anniversary!” she sang out as she danced around the living room in her pajamas. “When are we going to the anniversary?” Poor kid. I had to explain that we really weren’t going anywhere but that it was a special day to do special things. Special things that made us remember why we got married in the first place.

First we made crepes.

Crepes are special to me because before I met Toby I didn’t even know what they were. He’s the one who taught me how to make the pancake batter extra thin and sponge-y with added eggs. On our honeymoon we went to Seattle we had them every morning in Pike Place Market. I remember it so clearly. Walking down the steep sidewalk from our high-rise apartment, into the hustle and bustle of the street market. We’d wind our way around the stalls, past the vegetables, fruit and flowers and flying fish until we found the crepe cart where a woman served us giant burrito-sized crepes filled with strawberries and whipped cream and Nutella. It’s a good thing I lost twenty pounds before my wedding because I think I put five back on just during that week. Of course half of those pounds came from the three mochas I drank a day but that’s another story.

Crepes will always be special to me.

I think they’ll be special to Bug now too since they are now official “Happy Anniversary!” food.

After our special Happy Anniversary breakfast, we took a little trip to the Magnolia Bird Farm. I know most people will think visiting a bird store is the most unromantic thing ever but it’s special to us. We only go probably once a year and it’s a fun family thing we do together.

It’s kind of like going to a zoo that only has birds. You can walk around an outside aviary and look at all kinds of finches, parakeets, doves and parrots. There are palm trees and rubber plants growing in the middle and water drips down from the roof, creating an exotic jungle atmosphere. It’s not fancy. There is bird poop and mud everywhere and the cages are old and stained from years of use but it’s special and unique and something that most people don’t even know about. Since Toby has a giant aviary in his office that holds finches, we sort of collect birds as a hobby. We have spice finches and a few varieties of waxbills. We had a lonely orange waxbill that needed a mate so we were there to find him some friends.

We found all sorts of new friends.

Even a bunny! Boy did Bug want to take that bunny home but Toby and I have had experience with rabbits as pets before and we do not ever ever want to have a pet bunny again. Not unless we live on a farm or something where the bunny can stay outside and chew outside things instead of our electrical cords and furniture. Bunnies are bad news for small run-down apartments.

In the end we went home with one red waxbill, one yellow waxbill and two purply-blue waxbills. I forget their technical names but they are very pretty and supposedly get along really well with other birds. But best of all we went home with some fresh new memories of why we love the bird farm. They all know us there and this time they let Bug come inside the finch cage and attempt to catch her own bird. I’m glad she didn’t catch one though because the guy who works there who catches them is the master of catching birds. He’s super calm and quiet and then with a flick of his wrist he’ll swipe one out of thin air. Not unlike Mr. Miyagi catching flies with a chop stick

Then when they were boxing up our birds they let Bug pick out a fancy feather. That’s always fun.

I hope we have many more years of Happy Anniversary visits.

Good thing making calendars is not my job or I would be fired. I’m so sorry that I lag so bad.

Here is June and here is July.

Enjoy!

Oh Hai! Are you looking for my post about the behind-the-scenes of the Chinese New Year Lantern post?

Doh!

Why do I always promise things and then take days to deliver? I do not know. I apologize. Real life has been a bit hectic lately (as if the holidays and birthday-party planning weren’t crazy already but whatever). I’m just running behind. If I owe you an email, I’m sorry. My inbox is so overflowing I’m not even looking at it right now. I need an assistant.

Somebody a little more helpful than my current assistant! Just kidding. She’s a great assistant.

So here’s the story:

My latest project for Alpha Mom sent me to the deepest darkest Asian Markets that Southern California has to offer. I’m so thankful I have a Taiwanese friend to translate for me. I would have had some great photos from that market we ventured to but the management put the slap-down on picture-taking two minutes after I walked into the store. I don’t know if the no-camera rule was because they believe taking pictures causes bad luck or if maybe there were some shady business dealings going on there they don’t want documented. I’m thinking maybe both.

I love visiting Asian markets. I feel like I’m visiting another country in the safety of my own. The hanging duck carcasses, packages of pigs’ ears, counters full of scary-looking ginseng roots…it all fascinates me. Show me to the cookie aisle and I’ll be happy for hours cataloging all the different kinds of Pocky there are. Orange Pocky! Milk Pocky, deep dark “Men’s” Pocky, Hello Kitty Pocky! Why don’t they sell these at Ralphs? That’s what I want to know.

After I had collected a basket full of “inspiration” I headed back home to dream up a Chinese New Year craft. The funny thing is that there are already tons of Chinese New Year crafts for children. Google it. What could I possibly come up with that is original and fun? The answer is not much. The Chinese have paper crafts down to an art and hardly need my help. In fact, it seems a little silly to make your own lantern when you can buy one that lights up, blinks, sings a pretty song and spins around for about 59 cents. I can’t beat that.

But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t inspired. My Taiwanese friend and I talked at length about customs and what brings good luck and bad luck. I find it strange that many of the Happy New Year wishes are about making money. There are all kinds of elaborate gold coin arrangements that people give to one another in the hope that they will bring better business to their friends and family members in the new year. They even pray for more money for each other.

Not that Americans love the dollar any less than the Chinese but we sort of try to pretend we don’t. Love of money is the root of all evil and all that. I find it very interesting that wishing for more money is not at all shameful or considered greedy in Chinese culture. In fact, the more gold you can slather on a greeting card, the better.

I’m still coming off my distaste for all the clutter that goes along with Christmas so the thought of decorating my house with red and gold during January is a bit much for me, but I can appreciate the idea behind it. I don’t mean to dwell on money per se, but there is something to be said for wishing for practical prosperity for others. I wish peace and happiness and a sense of well-being of course…but I also wish for financial security for my friends and relatives. Maybe celebrating Chinese New Year could be a time to reflect on that. If only we could all give each other gold coins in red envelopes right now, we’d probably be a lot better off in the coming year.

Visiting foreign countries, foreign markets, talking about the tough topics with friends who come from a different culture is very good, I think. We may not embrace the different religious beliefs but that doesn’t mean we can’t take away some lessons from them.

When I was reading up on the Lantern Festival I was particularly taken with how it involves children. It is a time for being together as a family and being joyous. What’s more joyous than raising a lantern into the night sky? I picture full moons and children’s faces lit up by lantern-glow. It’s a very happy holiday. Optimism is always worth celebrating.

I didn’t manage to take photos in moonlight like I wanted to but I did include the kids and they loved it. I sometimes feel guilty for using my daughter as a model on this blog but at the same time she gets to experience things that I wouldn’t otherwise include her in. She loved the lanterns, as did Annalie. I would never force them to pose for photos if they weren’t enjoying themselves. Sure, sometimes I prod them to smile or give them props that work into my storyline but I don’t think that’s any more painful than taking a school photo.

I’m thankful for this job that lets me make a little money and be a mom at the same time. I hope my assistants enjoy it too.

I’ve got a new post up at Alpha+Mom about making little tiny snow globe soaps! Go check it out. It was really fun and SUPER easy. Probably my easiest craft idea yet. If you’re the type who usually passes over my whacky craft ideas because they cause way more mess than they are worth, then you might want to try this one. Super easy, super quick and clean up isn’t any messier than doing a load of dishes.

My result from the “Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz…”

You Are a Katharine!

Take the test and find out who you are! at HelloQuizzy

Especially the part about sometimes not being attentive to my kid because I’m too busy with my own activities. Ack.

I’ve been here a few days now and I’ve been having way too much fun. I’ve been meaning to take photos and put together a cohesive story outlining my thoughts about staying at the Actuallys’ but I guess I’ve been too busy to pick up the camera much. I’ll try to do that more in the future.

I did however, take a short photo-walk to the little downtown area during the lovely sunset light the first night I was here. I love it here. I want to move here. I can’t discuss the exact town they are in for privacy purposes but it has just the right amount of rural charm mixed in with urban sophistication that makes me feel like I’m home. I grew up on a dead-end country road with no sidewalks and I think part of me is always trying to recreate that. Someday I’ll find “my home.”

There will always be a part of me that wants to run down the rocky asphalt road in my bare feet in the summer night air and sit on the warm brick steps of the porch of the house I grew up in. I can still see every detail in my mind. The way the crab grass grew over the driveway. The smell of orange blossoms and water being sprayed into the air from a nearby sprinkler. The sound of some crazy mockingbird echoing the way the sprinkler sprayed through it’s ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-tdrtdtdrtdt! cycle from left to right.

Toby talks more and more about us staying put in Southern California. Even though I’ve lived here most of my life, it just doesn’t feel right. Mostly because where I live is not the country. I love the weather where we live. I love the beach. I love it all. But it’s not where I thought I would live for the rest of my life. I thought it was just temporary. I never thought Bug would grow up and go to school here.

Who knows what the future holds. But the more I walk around the Actuallys’ town and the more I fall in love with how close Mexico is (the broken sidewalks, the sound of Mariachi music floating out into the night air, the dry dusty roads, the oleander bushes pushing their buds into the bright blue sky…) the more I think I could make a home here.

Now if I could just talk Toby into it.

I love air shows. My Dad took me when I was a kid. It was the best. I remember riding on his shoulders and craning my neck to see the planes doing their loopty-loos. I remember how contagious my Dad’s excitement about flying was. He’s always loved airplanes and because of that I love them too. I’m not as fond of flying myself but I do love a good show with noisy planes and exciting explosions.

When Toby and I were dating we went to a few air shows and that was a positive experience too. I’m still proud of the photos I took of the “Wall of FIRE” way back when. I was really excited to share all this with Baby Bug but mostly I was excited to be doing something together with Toby, as a family. He works so hard and there is never enough time to do all the things we want to do. So this was a really big deal. We’d been planning it for months.

You know what that means: expectations high; possibility of disappointment even higher. I think I was already expecting things to go badly before we even left. I hate it when I’m a pessimist like that. Hello, self-fulfilling prophecy.

We left late and then there was an accident on the freeway that put us behind a whole extra hour. The traffic sent Toby into a foul mood that I thought for sure would ruin our whole day. Lunchtime was spent in the car grumpily not eating. The beautiful family-togetherness picnic that I had planned for us turned into one person eating while the other held the crazy, no-napping, no-eating, climbing-on-everything toddler. Not exactly what I had been hoping for.

Between the beer-guzzling slobs sitting next to us and the testosterone-driven teenagers bounding up and down the bleachers on both sides of us, I was afraid we might get stepped on, spilled on or killed. It wasn’t a walk in the park. The planes were noisier than I remembered. I did not pack any sort of ear protection for Baby Bug so she was crying and covering her ears. I was feeling like crap because I couldn’t stop her ears from possibly being permanently damaged and even worse I couldn’t hear a thing she was trying to tell me.

And then it rained on us! Which actually sort of panicked me. The thought of being part of a large rowdy crowd trying to get out of the rain while holding my sleeping toddler (who fell asleep in my arms at the beginning of the twilight show) really turned my protective mother-bear instincts up to full-gear. I could just see us being trampled and falling by the wayside into a muddy puddle, or worse: angry fans pressing us against a chain-link fence and we would all die a bloody death like those crazy soccer games you read about.

So there were a lot of negatives.

But you know what? As I look over my photos, I am remembering a lot of good things. We were together as a family. Toby wasn’t in a foul mood all day. In fact, he and Baby Bug had so much fun goofing off and discussing the events that it was impossible for me to hold onto my bad mood. I did my fair share of grumping but I laughed a lot too.

I think it wasn’t until we were walking the five miles (it seemed) back to the car in the rain that I realized how much I love my little family and how happy they make me. I’m proud of them. We are troupers. We can miss half the show and walk five miles in the rain together. We are tough.

I felt invigorated by the walk. I should have been exhausted holding Baby Bug in my arms that long but I was actually proud of myself. I couldn’t put her in the stroller because it had gotten soaked in the downpour. It was really strange. I know she is a light child but still, walking that far with my arms locked should have done me in.

I was thinking about how my body was created for carrying my child. I might be horrible at swinging an axe and terrible at playing baseball but I can carry my kid for an hour without complaining.

Baby Bug woke up when the fireworks started and instead of being grumpy because her sleep schedule was out of whack, she was just happy to be with us. Over my shoulder she babbled on about every color as they flew into the sky. I may have missed the show but I got an earful from my most favorite narrator in the whole wide world.

I meant to blog about all the little things, like the man behind us who saw Baby Bug’s distress and handed us a pair of ear plugs without saying a word. How impressed with the Marines I am. How seamlessly they directed traffic out of the compound. How amazingly efficient every person was at his job. How the Blue Angels were even more amazing than I remembered…but it’s taken me way too long to write this post already. Maybe those sentiments were meant to be saved for another day.

What I’m taking away from this is that my family is an efficient unit. We might be dealt some poor odds but we can still have a good time. Or at least some good times in the midst of a bunch of bad times.

Ooh-rah!

Also Toby took a movie. :)

I think I could write a book on all the fun things you can do when re-purposing toddler art. Maybe I will someday. But really, my book should be about how well watercolors soak into cheap IKEA roll paper and how prettily it can be cut up into other things.

I love this stuff. I can’t rave about it enough. If you like to draw or paint, then you know exactly what I mean when I talk about how the texture of a certain kind of paper can excite you. Okay, maybe that’s just me but I think I’ve read about others feeling this way too. Sometimes it’s the way the pen feels scratching along the paper or maybe it’s how bright vibrant blue watercolor soaks into it or how easily it cuts with a sharp pair of scissors. It’s almost like the paper is crying out, “Paint on me! Draw on me! Cut me up! Have your way with me!”

I don’t know that there is anything particularly special about IKEA paper. It’s heavier than regular butcher paper I’ve bought at supply stores (like Smart & Final) and a bit more porous. It soaks up paint well but it isn’t rough and fibrous like regular water color paper. (Your paint will definitely go through it and get whatever is behind it sopping wet but it won’t fall apart like toilet paper. You just let it dry and it’s good as new.) Here’s a close-up…it’s almost sort of hairy.

It isn’t really watercolor paper at all. If you are a real watercolorist you would probably hate it. I think it’s meant to be used with cheap student-grade acrylics or finger paints but I don’t care. It’s my favorite paper that I have discovered since becoming a mom. And it’s only $7 for 130 feet. I think it’s fantastic.

I keep Baby Bug’s easel set up on our patio day in and day out. Sometimes her artwork gets a bit weathered but only minimally. (We do live in the land of no weather, after all.) What’s nice about having the easel up at all times is that she is free to paint any time she wants and because it is just water and a palette of cheap grocery-store watercolor tablets, it’s never very messy. I don’t have to stress about her running inside and pouncing on the couch covered in red paint. It’s happened but it usually washes right out.

So because the easel and paint are always there, we have a LOT of paintings. I never throw them away. I fold them up neatly and stash them in the closet for another day. Sometimes the stack gets a little out of hand and then I pull them out and make something out of them.

Today we made window “dingle danglers.” I’m sure this has been done before and I’m sure there is a much more fitting name for them but that’s what we call them. They hang in the window and “dingle dangle” of course. Baby Bug came up with that name so you can take up your problems with her. I’m sure she’d be glad to discuss it.

All you do really is just cut a circle from a colorful part of a painting. I’m partial to the aquamarine sections. For some reason that particular color is the most vibrant and pretty in my opinion. Then you cut around and around and around until you have a spiral like this:

Then you can bunch them all up and take macro shots and pretend they are really cool complicated paper sculptures or you can hang them in the window and stand back and say, “How pretty!”

I think they would work really well for an under-the-sea theme party. You could paint some green and some blue and it would look like water or sea weed floating around. I suppose with brighter colors, you could drape them horizontally from corner to corner in a room and make them look like party streamers. Who needs make a trip to the party store when you can just re-purpose paintings that you probably wanted to throw out anyway?

I can’t promise you they’ll stay up for long. But they will provide at least a few minutes of entertainment for you, your kid and possibly your cat.

Calling all guest posters! Email me. I’m taking a month off! See you mid September!