six for sunday

everything in my life feels so random right now, that a six for sunday misceallany post seems appropriate...

one. while april was organizing my pantry the other day (her specialty), i checked the mail and found this flyer...

since someone was at my house helping me clean, we both found it pretty comical. even better, was that it took about ten shots for april to re-create the face of the horrified woman on the flyer.

two. with all of the projects and spring cleaning going on at my house this week, i decided to finally take down the christmas cards/photos from the front door.

i usually leave them up until at least easter because all those smiling faces make me so happy.

after it was done, the space seemed so naked. 

what can i do to my front door to make it a happier space?

three. i figured out how to throw out ethan's pre-school projects guilt free! we hang it up on the fridge for a while, ooo and ahhhh over it to several people, take a photo of him with it, and then toss it! (sneakily of course, not infront of him) it's so freeing!

of course, i have saved a handful of things, but seriously, i wish i would've done this way back when taylor started bringing home the art work twelve or so years ago. he's only fifteen now, is it too late to have him pose with a few of his kindergarten projects?

four. my family came over for dinner tonight and for no real good reason other than taste bud delight, i whipped up these chocolate forest cherry cupcakes. yum.

i piped a little "nest" of frosting to house the tablespoon of cherry pie filling that went on top. it was the best part, next time i'm going to use a little more than i did tonight. i'm definitely going to make them again, they were as yummy as they were pretty. even rich liked them, and that's saying a lot.  i know i've said it before, but the wendy paul cupcake book, is so great!

five. this weekend i spent a chunk of time immaculately cleaning my office. it's so satisfying to get everything organized and dust-free, but so disheartening to know that it's such a high-traffic area that it will only stay this way for less than a day. 

so here's proof that it does get cleaned occasionally.

six. last week, i woke up way too early, somewhere in the five o'clock hour to take spencer to early morning wrestling practice. i found a certain teenager in her bathroom curling each and every inch of her very long, very straight hair with the triple barrel she got for her birthday.

apparently, this process takes hours and required her to get up long before the sun to get it done in time to catch the bus. and while very cute, especially with the flower, it just reinforced to me, the fact that i am so not a girlie girl.
i much prefer sleep over vanity.

whistle (or sing) while you work

over the last two weeks we've been having don bright, the singing handy man, over to help us with a few projects around our house. he came recommended from a friend, and i just assumed that "singing handy man" meant that he sang while he worked. well, he does that too, and it's delightful, but really his title comes from the fact that he performs a song for you with every visit. it's such a treat! on the first visit, by chance, he sang one of my most favorite songs, le vie en rose and i'm not ashamed to admit, i got a little misty eyed and was blown away by his big booming voice. of course i had to get him on video, and he graciously accepted.

 
 ( i always forget that you have to film the video landscape style, i remembered a couple of seconds into the performance to turn it the right way)

he was featured on local news several times back when he was a singing UPS man, so my blog is peanuts compared to that, but he was so fun that i had to do a post about him. the thursday girls were around today while he was here, so at least he had a bigger audience than just me to clap for him at the end. unfortunately for him, he's had to sing la vie en rose every time because i just love it too much to request anything else. fortunately for us, he's as talented at his house projects as he is at his singing, so we will definitely be calling him again!

i need a cookie

what in the world has happened to ameican idol? where have all the good singers gone? i am hoping that it was "first night" nerves because there wasn't really anyone either night that knocked my socks off. most of them were TERRIBLE, not like just ok, but genuinely awful. i do have some high hopes for a select few, like andrew garcia, crytal bowersox (thank goodness they made her brush her teeth!), didi benami, casey james, lee dewyze and lilly scott, but even they weren't as good as i thought they could be. i've been cheering for tyler grady because i think he's adorable and i love his style. i think they will get past their nerves and pull out some great performances. let's hope so anyway. another week like this one, and i just might have to do something productive with my time instead of watch tv.

but maybe the problem is me. 
maybe my standard has been set too high.
maybe what i really need...

is a cookie.

check list

re-surface bathroom shower and counter - check
replace haunted house looking light fixtures outside - check
replace brady bunch looking light fixtures inside - check
replace old, yellow-ish blinds - check
strip wallpaper (thank you patsy), sand and paint laundry room - check
do the eight loads of laundry that backed up while the LR was out of commission - check
clean out garage (thanks hon) - check
clean out storage - check
clean out boys' room, even the dark scary corners - check
thank the heavens above for my dyson so i don't have to touch the dark scary corners - check
make (so far), seven trips to the DI - check
take out dead tree and ginormous rose bushes in back - check
make a giant list for the handy man who's coming today - check
paint pantry doors - check
hang allie's drapes - check
spend a load of money at home depot on blinds, paint and light fixtures - check
go back to home depot two more times for fun - check

resolve my insomnia problem - CHECK!
maintain sanity - check-ISH
take before and after photos of everything - uh, whoops

i did take a few photos, which i will post when everything is done. still on the list, paint the kitchen, repair the bricks in the front, hang more blinds, hang drapes in my bedroom. paint my closet doors, and clean, clean, clean.
plus, probably a million other little things i'm forgetting. it's going to be SO great, and so worth it when it's all done! wish me luck!

for my dad

dear dad,

just because i know you'll be asking me soon why i haven't posted for a while...

here you go.

these are my to-do lists from the past three days. 

i don't know where saturday's list is, but it was crazy too.

i'll be back when i can catch my breath.

thanks for being my most loyal reader.

i love you.

-wende

concentration

practicing your name on the draw and wipe card requires a certain level of concentration.

this is serious business.

which calls for deep focus.

so deep, you have to purse your lips together.

so deep, you don't have time to pose for a photo.

ok, maybe just one. but no smiling.

but then, it's right back to business mister.

he's deep into it now.

when the tongue comes out, he means business.

no silliness ensuing here. 

only serious four year olds need apply.

after all, you're going to be writing your name for the rest of your life.

you want to make sure you're good and practiced.

to impress the ladies if nothing else.

"hey pretty girl, wanna see me write my name?"

six for sunday

nothing super big going on around here, so for now, all i can post are my random bits of life...

one. i'm so happy that chuck and american idol are back!

happy that captain awesome has played a bigger role this season so i have more time to look at him.

i almost forgot how yummy he is.

we already have a few favorites on idol, but i'm glad it's hollywood week coming up, i'm so done with the auditions.

two AND three. we should've bought ethan an ipod for christmas too. he's constantly pestering the teenagers to borrow theirs so he can play the games.

AND, i found these woody costume pjs online for so cheap i couldn't pass them up, i knew they would be a hit. he's been wearing them around the house with his cowboy boots non stop.

what's funnier than a toddler dressed as woody playing his sister's pink ipod on the couch?

four.  i bought a dyson! after years and years of needing a new vacuum every eight months or so (seriously), i finally talked rich into picking one of these sweet babies up.

i was so excited about the new purchase, that yesterday i vacuumed every inch of the house including dusty mouldings, blinds, window seals, cobwebs, and ceiling fans. i had to empty the canister SIX times. gross, but also glorious.

five. three words: good. mail. goodness. the first delivery, were these red farberware pots and pans that i've been coveting over forever. they're so gorgeous!

thank you april who found the killer deal and my mom who agreed to go in on them with her! second, my cute friend nicki spoiled me rotten with a fun box full of music, treats, home decor and delightful personal touches. i loved that she stuck this fortune to the outside of the box.

i'm so lucky to have such cute ladies in my life!

six. one of the best ideas i've ever had. last week at sunday dinner, i told the teenagers that they were going to be in charge of choosing a dinner that week, and that they would responsible for helping to prepare it. i'm realizing that although the kids have some cooking experience, taylor's leaving for college in 2.5 years (what the heck?!) and i probably ought to step it up in the kitchen department. taylor can't afford to lose any calories from his diet.

so this week, we had shepherd's pie, chicken & veggie stir fry and homemade pizza all prepared by teenagers. the best part is thoroughly enjoying my time with them in the kitchen.

the end.