[JessFinds] Saturday Zen

Hubby is back home and all is right in the world.

We have been together for 14 years (!!!) and I always feel like my world is off balance when we are apart. I don't know if that is a sign of a strong marriage or co-dependance, but I just know that we work pretty well as a team. Which is good. Because we will need to be like a team of oxen in the next few weeks. I think all the bad will be balanced out by some really good news. Soon.

Hey - Speaking of good news ... rumor has it that my co-blogstress Marie has landed a job. She did not think you guys were worth announcing it to. So, lets throw some blog hate over to Marie.  Lots of middle fingers and hissing. Congratulations sweetie! You are one of the most focused, determined women I have ever met and you are an inspiration to the rest of us lazy slackers. You were unemployed for what? Ten minutes? XOXO.

Back to me.

I have so much stuff that needs to be weeded out before we move and it would be great if someone could line up a robbery. Put that ad out on Craigslist that I need a burglar who disassembles and steals cheap IKEA furniture and kid toys. No home invasions. I don't want to have to go all Chuck Norris to defend my Bjorkinorkinbillyblat bookshelves.

www.yelp.com 

What ROCKS this Saturday? The Internet does. Specifically Yelp.com. We live in an area where you can post a question to a targeted audience and get instant gratification in tons of quality expert answers. For example:  "I am interested in neighborhood A and neighborhood B. What can you tell me about them? Which would you choose and why" I think I easily got 30 responses from people who live in those areas within 24 hours. It is so incredibly helpful! I would not use Yelp to, say,  diagnose a medical condition, but learning about local resources = awesome.

(MarieFinds) Holiday Spirit

Today, little miss Super Squirrel suggested that we should take her old tea set and give it to kids who don't have one. And when I suggested that in the coming weeks, we should sort through her toys to give some away, she offered up that we should take them to Santa Claus for other kids who don't get toys. Melted my heart.

(MarieFinds) Things I love about motherhood

1. giggly morning babies
2. squirrel saying, "Mommy, I love you with all my heart."
3. baby boy saying "Ma-muh"
4. watching the kids try new food
5. hearing, "mom, i like this!"
6. sweet good night kisses
7. the scream of delight my girl gives after she gets scared.

(MarieFinds) About 30 Words

That's what Baby Boy is up to ... including:

Milkoo (milk)
nigh nigh (which is his favorite joke and cuddle clue. also said when he is actually tired).
apple
ball
bye-bye
more
cracker (unviersal for all food)
ka ka - I am unclear if he is trying to say chicken or quack quack, but either way it is universal for all barnyad type birds right now.

I have been neglectful in my posting duties. We have been felled by the Spring sickness fairy and overwork.

more soon, and more more.

(MarieFinds) great savings

I just found this great site ... RueLaLa. Great boutiques, great savings. If you sign up now using that link, and you'll get a $10 site credit.

(MarieFinds) Christmas Lights

We are very proud of ourselves this year... we have actually managed to get the outdoor lights up, and the indoor decorations are done. We will get our tree and put it up next weekend I think. I still do a real tree, and so I like to wait a bit so it doesn't get too dry.



The Squirrel is SOOO excited for Christmas this year. She is way into it. I bought a nativity set last year after Christmas and all she wants to do is kiss the Baby Jesus. It is just about the cutest thing ever. The Lawyer put the outdoor lights up, and seeing her Daddy on the roof absolutely delighted her. She still totally cracks up when she talks about it.



We started what I really hope is a new holiday tradition for us on Tuesday night. We went to the Zoo Lights Festival, which was just a blast. It is so fun having the kids around this year. Baby Boy slept through that for the most part, but Squirrel was over the moon about all the lights and the elephants.

(MarieFinds) Adventures in Archaic French Cooking

First: Baby Boy loved his birthday party. He got trucks, and new crayons to chew on, and he got to eat all the fat drenched beans he wanted, and then there was cake! Sweet, sweet cake. Which he ate very daintily. I will post pictures when I have the pictures near me at a time I have time to post...

Now, for the cassoulet. That was a blast to cook. Seriously. A double batch was truly obnoxious, and I won't do THAT again, but a single batch? Sure. The Lawyer was all, we are doing a casserole for EVERY dinner party from now on! Seriously... it was in the oven, with nothing for us to do, and we actually got to hang out with our guests!

Auntie Lola and I cooked on Saturday, and cooked tons of pig fat, layered it all up, and called it yummy. Squirrel helped me bake cakes on Sunday morning, and then we drank wine with friends. My idea of a good party, anyway.

I will post pictures of cassoulets when they came out of the oven and the obnoxious amount of leftovers we had. As well as the cake eating.

Oh, and he started walking. On his birthday.

[JessFinds] It is just so NEW!

Finally! We finally have secured www.jessfinds.com! It only took 2 years! (horns, whistles, etc...)

It was time for a facelift. A little blog botox if you will (hee). I did not consult Marie - hope she likes it! Also new: We are members of the Mom Blog Network.

In other news ... My little holiday project is plugging along. I am swimming in tulle over at www.chichitutu.com. You can now follow Chi Chi Tutu on Twitter. Please follow me!