Blergh.

Yesterday, Daphne turned 35 months. Yep, she’s almost 3. If you ignore all the tantrums and power struggles, 2 going on 3 is a pretty magical age. I love hearing her interpretation of what’s going on around her. She comes up with some funny stuff.

Daphne is in full Toy Story 3 mode. Top on her birthday list… Woody and Buzz. Not Jessie, not retro Barbie. She wants Woody. And maybe another Mr. Toe Head (not Potato, mind you). Not that I should be making fun of her, I keep calling them Buddy and Wooz.

We haven’t talked much about preschool, which is just weeks away. I think it will be a very easy transition. I hope. The preschool is at our church and her class is just across the building from my office. The only downside might be that she’ll know I’m 30 seconds away and she might see me in the halls. Daphne is a really independent kid, so I’m not too concerned with her crying and wanting to be with Mommy. We’ll see.

I’m in full party prep mode, especially since the end of August is going to be ridiculous. We are still in the middle of the remodel/design project of the preschool which will have to be finished in the next 3 weeks. I’ve been working on the printables and spent tonight melting crayons into ice cream cone shapes. Surprisingly easy, even without a hard candy mold (I used a chocolate mold)! I’ll take pics soon. I still need to design and print the invitations this week. If we can’t get a decent pic of Daphne (which is usually the case), I plan on using this clip art.

I think it looks a lot like D.

Next year I think I’m just going to rent out a gymnastics place and keep it simple. It’s amazing how the little things like food and decor add up, especially when you have 13 kids plus parents on the invite list. I am looking forward to her party. My longtime readers will be very happy to know that I’m not making a cake this year. You won’t have to put up with any complaining about how cakes suck! Maybe about how cupcakes suck, but not a full blown cake. If I can’t pull off ice cream cone cupcakes then I should be ashamed of myself. After some deliberation, we are going with the Nordicware cone cupcake pan.

Hopefully we will get a chance to slow down and do something fun before school. Maybe go to the beach? That probably won’t happen. What a crazy summer we’ve had!

Excuse me while I go back to tossing and turning.

Until next time…

When I don’t do anything with it-

And when I spend quality time with my CHI-

The worst part of my hair, besides the grays, is how my curl is uneven. The back is curlier than the sides. Then I have this little patch to the left of my nape that is possessed. It’s my Bride of Frankenstein patch. My hair spends at least half the week in a ponytail, and my crazy BoF patch always sticks out unless I bobby pin it to death. I need to come into some money so I can pay someone to fix my hair on a regular basis. Or maybe I can just be like the women of my grandmother’s generation and go to the beauty shop and have my hair set once a week, then sleep on a silk pillow with a hair net. Hmmmm…

- And while I’m griping about my appearance, not only would I hire someone to come over and fix my hair but I’d also get eyelash extensions. Oh yeah! I have the most pathetic lashes- short and they naturally point down. I’d love to have pretty lashes just once.

- Enough about hair, let’s talk Predators. A few weeks ago my husband got a coupon from one of his co-workers to the Alamo Drafthouse theater. It’s one of those theaters that serves dinner and drinks. Genius, in my opinion. Do I want to spend $4.75 on a soda at a regular theater? No. Will I spend $5.99 on a margarita at the Drafthouse? Absolutely. Anyway, when my husband asked what I wanted to see my immediate response was “Predators!” Not what he was expecting. I’d always been a fan of the Predator/AVP movies and was excited to see a reboot of the series. Well, let’s just say I was glad we had a coupon. I thought it was predictable. All of the “woohoo!” moments in the film were rip offs from the original movie. I enjoyed the parody videos they played before the movie much more than the movie itself.

- Corpse Flower Lois has a fun Twitter account. The Houston Museum of Natural Science has a large plant that emits a rotting flesh like smell when it flowers. Very odd.

Image from HMNS

- And finally, I’m completely in love with the camera bags from Jo Totes. I think I can justify adding this to my birthday list, since now that I’m working again I need a bigger purse. Actually, I need rolling luggage. I’m not sure how I end up taking so much junk to the office.
Don’t you think the teal bag is adorable?

My preschooler just informed me that I have to tuck her back into bed. So, until next time…

The artist

I’d show you the result, but let’s just say Daphne is definitely going through an abstract expressionism phase.

Vultures invaded the neighborhood. We’ve seen as many as 30 or 40 on one street, pecking apart trash bags on trash days.

And I even did a little sewing for one of Daphne’s friends. I don’t love the Ariel patch I bought on Etsy. The fact that the fabric isn’t taut bugs me. Looks like Ariel has wrinkles.

The birthday girl loved it, so that’s all that matters!

- Started a new job.  As with any new job, the first few weeks are tiring.  Figuring out expectations, job description, asking a million questions until you get comfortable in your new role.  This is especially difficult since the person who was in my role for the last 3 years has another job and I didn’t have an opportunity to train with him.  I’m figuring it out as I go.  My brain is tired.  Luckily, this means I’m no longer having problems sleeping at night.  Woot!

- Took on a short term gig as project manager for a remodel/design of the children’s area at the church we attend.  I was probably crazy for agreeing to this.  I’m recruiting and coordinating volunteers, purchasing supplies, trying to come up with ideas for our mural artists, spackling and painting at 10 pm at night on a Thursday.  Last week, I played paint supply Tetris in the back of my Scion in the middle of a hard, sideways rainstorm with Daphne crying, “Mommy hold me!!”  (Why she wouldn’t stand inside the doorway, out of the rain, I’ll never know).  Have you seen the cargo space in the back of a Scion?  Yeah, not much.  Try transporting 16 gallons of paint, rollers, tape, etc. 

- Tried to help Daphne adjust to not having me home.  Still working on that.  She spends the first 5 min or so after I get home hugging me, giving me kisses and telling me, “I missed you SOOO much today, Mommy.”  Then she spends the rest of the evening glued to my side.  I know it’s a process, and as soon as she goes to preschool in August she’ll be so occupied with her new little friends that it won’t be so hard on her. 

- The rain storm meltdown I mentioned earlier… Daphne was sick at the time.  Like 104 degree temp for 4 days.  I spent the morning of July 4th in the emergency room with her.  She’s fine now.  While she was sick, however, no one got any rest.  Jenny=slurpee brain at this point.

- The homemade pickles were awesome.  A bit spicy since Penzeys peppercorns are potent.  We just finished the last jar. 

- Things I’ve neglected- completing Daphne’s preschool application, officially accepting the scholarship I got for this fall, coloring my hair, blogging, writing my pen pals and pretty much everything else that doesn’t involve work, Daphne and Home Depot.

It’s sad I already need a vacation.  I’m just ready to get through this transition period and find our groove again.

And since I needed a pic, here’s my favorite July 4th pic of my girl.  Yankee Doodle Daphne.

Life crazy right now for anyone else out there?

Daphne got to pick out a watermelon.  And she even brought her camera.  Like the Daphne perspective?

We got a watermelon, some locally grown peaches, pickling cucumbers and onions, cilantro and apples.  All for $10.  I think that’s a great deal!!

I was particularly interested in the pickling cucumbers.  After seeing so many of the bloggers I follow make pickles, I had to try it too.  A couple of pounds of cucumbers, grown right down the road in Rosenberg, TX.

Tossed with Kosher salt to draw out some moisture.

Layered with sweet onions slices.

Filled with pickling solution (slightly sweet and very tangy dill) and chilling in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

I think we are in pickle heaven.

The verdict after being refrigerated for 6 hours?  AWESOME.  I will never buy store-bought pickles again.  And as they age, they will get even better.  Like my ghetto reclaimed jars? I had a bit of sticker shock when pricing Ball canning jar cases.  I swear I was able to buy 12 jars for like $6 or $7 just a few years ago. OK, maybe it was 10 years ago. Walmart wanted $18 for 12 quart jars.  Um, no.  Especially since these are just refrigerator pickles and not something that I plan on trying to water bath can.

I got the recipe from Fly Through My Window and followed all their modifications.  I did use Penzeys four peppercorn blend and a few red pepper flakes.  Next, I might try this bread and butter pickles recipe from Smitten Kitchen.  Bread and butter pickles always remind me of the pickle bar at Goldie’s.   Now I know what I’m bringing to any BBQs we get invited to this summer.  Do you have a favorite pickle recipe?

Next up on my Things to Make from the Farmer’s Market list?  Maybe a peach cobbler and some gazpacho.  Yum… tastes of summer.

Today we spent time with the rest of the family.  Steaks and burgers on the grill.  And for dessert?  Bakerella’s burger basket.  Cute, huh?

Cupcake bun, brownie patty and sugar cookie fries.  Daphne and her cousins loved them, after Daphne realized it was dessert, since she won’t eat bread or red meat.  Yeah.

Everyone had their own basket.

The fries were a bit of a pain, as was putting together the red and white baskets.  But it was worth it!

I even got a quick shot of Daddy and Daphne.  I’m waiting to get D’s hair cut before doing a real photoshoot.  She’s my mini-me in this pic.  Hilarious.

Happy Father’s Day!

The fact that I bought her dress isn’t a big deal.  The big deal is that for the first time I bought her a kid girl size, and not a baby/toddler girl.  Awwwww….  And I enrolled her in 4 day/week preschool.  Then I thought about back to school shopping and backpacks and lunch boxes.   Wow, where has the time gone?

And back to the color pink… Daphne doesn’t say pink, she says paink- like paint with a k.  Reminds me of Bruce Springsteen’s Pink Cadillac song.  She sounds like such a hick.  I guess you can take the girl out of Alabama…

Actually I made these strawberry lemonade bars from Baking Bites.  Aren’t they a gorgeous color?  I ran out of strawberries, so I used a frozen berry mix, pulling out most of the strawberries and adding a few raspberries and blackberries to get the whole amount needed.

This recipe is a keeper!   Delicious, perfect flavor for summer and very easy to bake.  I used my Baker’s Edge pan for the first time on these and it made it so easy to cut/serve.  Hopefully the girls at my scrapbook night will enjoy them.

Yeah, Wednesday was my last day as a SAHM for a while.  An opportunity fell into my lap and I am really excited about it.  My title is Temporary Finance Administrator.  The temporary part is because I’m filling in for someone who is on personal leave.  Might be 6 months, might be 2 years, who knows.  It’s a 6 mile commute, which is awesome in a city as big as Houston where it’s completely common to have an hour commute;  part-time, so it will coordinate nicely with D’s preschool and my plan to get another degree or Master’s;  I already know and like everyone I work with.   And it will look good on my resume, which after 3 years out of the workforce needed a little help.   I couldn’t be happier. 

I was actually a little cautious with blogging about it.  We’ve had two years of just about everything possible going wrong in our lives and to have something good happen so quickly is a bit of a shock.   Maybe we are turning a corner now.  Gosh I hope so.

According to my spreadsheet (what, doesn’t everyone have a party planning spreadsheet? lol!) I should be in full party mode… stalking thrift stores for mismatched china, sewing costumes, designing invitations and centerpieces. Basically getting the handmade stuff out of the way, so I can focus on edibles, favors, paper goods, flowers as we get closer to the big day.

Just a few problems- I just haven’t felt like myself lately and have no desire to make anything. Sad but true. I’m like that little blob/pea in the old Zoloft commercials. Sigh. Also our guest list is growing. Daphne has more little friends to invite. And I know it’s going to be 100 degrees in August and the idea of making costumes and wearing hats and all that makes me hot just thinking about it. We’re going with Plan B. A big ice cream social party. More on that later.

So, instead of wasting months of Alice in Wonderland research, I thought I’d pass it along. Especially since it’s a popular party theme this year. Hope it helps someone!

Invitations- Love these from Etsy seller Viva La Violette.

And the best part? The text can be flipped so it’s only viewable through the “looking glass.” Awesome. A few more ideas… Print your own custom playing cards with the party info from mpix.com. Any leftover cards can be part of your decor. Free Alice in Wonderland Photoshop brushes are available here, if you want to design your own card.

Decor- Here’s the easy part… thrift store mismatched china cups (and if they break, who cares?!), paper lanterns, cards, croquet sets, “painted flowers.” Love this pic with the teacup wands.  And this one with the card house.  I had planned on doing my giant teacup in the center of the table with red and white roses (either real or felt) and maybe a playing card tucked in here and there.   This giant teacup:

And completely off topic, but why didn’t I pull that giant weed before I took this pic?   I need to clone that out in Photoshop.

Party hats and masks- I planned on doing a variety… Alice headbands, White rabbit ears (bunny ears from the Target $1 at Easter), Cheshire cat smile masks.  And I loved this Threadbanger tutorial for the Mad Hatter’s hat.

The birthday girl’s outfit- There are lots of options on Etsy.  I was going to do a blue peasant top and white apron/shorts set.  Or something like this from Lil Blue Boo with some Japanese fabric.

Activities- Since I knew it would be horribly hot, I purchased an indoor foam croquet set at Tuesday Morning for $7.  I had also thought about decorating foam teapot frames.

Cakes and cupcakes- I didn’t think too much about cakes, since I hate make them, but I did have a few cupcake ideas.  The latest What’s New Cupcake? book has instructions for a skunk/squirrel cupcake using the s shaped breakfast cookies as tails that I thought would be perfect for a Cheshire cat cupcake.   And these cupcakes from Flickr are amazing.

Treat bags- flamingo suckers from Oriental Trading, Alice stickers from Etsy, cheapy playing cards, Alice sticker book from Amazon.

I’m sure there more ideas in my Flickr faves and my Etsy faves, so feel free to browse around.

Happy party planning!