TheHappyBirthdayGirl.

Dear Brianne,

     I am terribly bummed and sorry I can't come visit you on your birthday. This whole sick thing has been SO irritating!(You probably can relate to that more than anyone with those poor sick kiddos of yours)!

     At least we'll always have the swapmeet. By the way, you were so thoughtful to crawl under the nasty swapmeet table yesterday and grab Beckett's exploded snack container for me while I wiped the blanket of cinnamon sugar off him. Of course, had I just made a decision to buy/barter for that claw grabber, the whole table situation could have been avoided. 

     My only wish is that you get to enjoy some good downtime, some good Diet DP, and maybe a fresh Sprinkle's cupcake (for me). I have a feeling that YOUR only wish will be for the QT by your house to open up ASAP.

Hope your birthday is everything you wish for!

With lots of love, admiration, and endearment,

Alisa&Elliott&Beckett

Lemon-Honey Tea

It's that time again. And again. And again. 

Everyone is sick in Arizona because we don't know what to do with ourselves when temperatures go below the 70s. When I was pregnant, I couldn't take a lot (as in any) medicine to combat sore throats, congestion, and aches. I found a zippy little recipe online for lemon-honey tea that I just absolutely fell in love with and have quite often. 

Mugful of Water (approximately 1 c.)

Microwave for two minutes (or boil for you holistic folk) then add:

.5-1 T. Sugar

1 T. Lemon Juice

2 T. Honey

StirStirStir and...

WOW! 

Lemon Honey Tea. 

Fresh, Flavorful, Therapeutic. 

Original recipe found HERE.

Today Elliott, Beckett, Brianne, Brennan, and I ventured into the magical land of Apache Junction to go to a swap meet. Elliott was able to get a few handy tools there for dental waxing as per a recommendation of a lab tech at his school. In addition to accomplishing our mission, there were some impulse buys that consisted of Girl Scout Cookies (One box of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs if you must know). As well as a few *interesting* ball caps, a 3D wooden Koala Puzzle (for my ASU Storage friends--we're Koazy for Koalas), a prickly pear cactus, a deck of cards, and a belt. 

It was incredibly gross and crowded, but all the while still fun.

Hey, and at least now I know where to go for immediate girl scout cookies and half-price cacti! 

Steadier Footing

 I came across this on another exquisite and inspiring blog I read and just had to steal it! I am one who responds quite well to little reminders, post-it notes strewn everywhere, motivational posters, the classic usuals. I think this would do well to have above my computer here in case I ever have a spaz attack about school.

So I would look at it everyday then. You who know me can say it.

TO MY FACE. RAWRRAWRRAWR! 

Let's just read it, shall we?:

Elliott might be slightly hateful that I would even dare to forsake anything about our wedding day (though, he DID say that going to the Google IO Conference would MAKE. HIS. MAY! (as opposed to any other holiday--anniversary, first born's birthday, you know... meaningless events)shortly after which, I berated him with verbal hate of my own, possible thrown objects etc. etc.) but really. I came across... deliberately searched out... (whatever!) this stunning idea that I know I would have absolutely fallen for then. 

 Now, I am very much so a traditionalist, particularly when it comes to formal affairs. Though, what am I saying? I've been to maybe three formal affairs ever. I say this especially in reference to weddings. You have your classy invitations, classy dress, classy shoes (none of this new-age sneakers business), and classy cake. Well, if I could go back and do it all over again, I might substitute my cake--

 (SEE MY CAKE? SO PRETTY AND SO MAY!)

 For this type of "cake":

 I really never liked the idea of wedding cupcakes instead of wedding cakes, but Sprinkle's makes it look so... chic?, That I would do it (with them) in a heartbeat. 


PS: Please ignore Elliott's wedding ring on his right hand. He hurt the left ring finger (causing it to swell) in a rousing game of "dunkball" that week. 

New Slang

 I will forever be spoiled by Baby Gap. There's no other place that makes clothes this cute without being *too* overpriced (or offering enough sales to combat the over-pricedness). 

Speaking of overpriced, I've finally made a long-overdue decision to quit using Mac mascara and give Too Faced Lash Injection a try. A few bucks more than Mac, but SO much better, AND you get 50% more mascara. 

I bought this on special last Fall and can't wait to finally bust out my Pinking of You this Spring!

I love these bars, the ones they sell at Costco run close to 200 calories so I stopped buying them. I recently read THIS article, which further cements my absolute devotion to fiber. Creepy for being as young as I am? Honestly though, do your body a favor. Especially you mama's and future mama's. 

I don't get this ice cream thing I've been on, but I've found that the more "fancy" the ice cream, the less sick I'm going to feel. Figures. Anyway, perusing around Target (always a mistake), I spotted this fun find. This is perfect for us Arizona folk who want the taste, without the added "heat."  And seeee? Coffee Free! It is pretty rich still so it might not be for everyone. I also tried the mini Häagen-Daz, "Dulce de Leche" and I was in heaven! Anyone have other recommendations for Häagen-Daz flavors? Oh... sorry Starbucks Ice Cream, forgot this was about you.

 Elliott and I are in L.O.V.E. with Sandwich Thins! It has completely replaced normal sliced bread for us and is probably the greatest thing since. 100 calories each and so soft and doughy! Plus, you can get them in bulk at Costco for WAY less than Super Target... since I have no clue what legitimate grocery stores cost now. 

P57 is amazing for those thighs and junk in and around the trunk, but I realllllly don't like the Kelly Ripa, super ripped look so I'm sprinkling in my go-to gal for workouts, Tracy Anderson, for arms and abs. 

Seriously though, give both an honest try-- the entire workouts are still amazing!

I will always owe Brianne for letting me bum these videos off of her! Life changing!

 For Kacey, who requested that I mention this movie the next time I'm feeling bored and make one of these lists because it was, "Her favorite movie of 2010." Uh. Um... Here ya go?! ;)

 Ok, and I might as well mention my favorite movie of 2010:

 It's my freakin' favorite movie every year. What did you expect, "Salt?"

Ok, if we're going to get serious then I'll say, "Shutter Island." Underrated, intensely good, and who doesn't love that Leo?

A Special Kind of Cupcake

These cupcakes are the product of "Whipple Scrumptious Cakes." My fun friend Julie (whose maiden name is so awesomely "Whipple") knew of my cupcake fanaticism and decided to "whip" these up for me! Honestly, amazing. The fact that someone can create something so impressive looking AND tasting on their own is what culinary artists (and good cupcakes) are made of. The flavors were chocolate peanut butter with a peanut butter filling and vanilla with a cheesecake mousse filling. Now. I don't know much about cupcake fillings--that's a "Crumbs" staple and we all know I haven't tried them yet--but it didn't take me long at all to GET to know about cupcake fillings. Julie, your cupcakes were divine and I can't wait to experience more of your confectionery designs.

Thank you, thank you.

Everyone, please go on her blog, peruse a little, drool a little, and order some sweets! 

Now, speaking of culinary artistry: get a load of Elliott's and mine's pre-Valentine's Sunday dinner:

Ok, nowhere near the caliber of the cupcakes, but pb&j's on heart-shaped Sandwich Thins we're pretty cute I thought!

My Funny Valentine.

Beckett, your laughter is so perfect.

 I know you know how loved you are.

Plus, I had to just take all of my Valentine's excitement out on you since your Dad is at school!

 I love giving out Valentine's. I bought one for Beckett, one for Elliott, one for Elliott "from Beckett" and then one that had Chewbacca on the cover and went "Brrruuuuuuuuuurrr" when you opened it... Just because. I did end up returning that one though. This is Beckett's below: Can't get enough of the old fashioned business. "The Runaway Bunny" accompanied the card. I never read it before today and it nearly made me cry. I love the illustrations.

"If you become a bird and fly away from me," said his mother, "I will be a tree that you can come home to."

 

I told Elliott that tonight I wanted Wetzel's Pretzels because that place could practically be gourmet--they serve appetizers, main courses and desserts--they just happen to all be pretzels. 

And I'm ok with that. 

Elliott told me to "go for it," and I just might. 

This is love, people. This. Is. Love. Your slightly overly particular food lover of a husband consenting to pretzels on V-Day. 

Tomorrow is actually the "more special" day for Elliott and I (we celebrate our third anniversary of the day we got engaged) and I think we will celebrate sometime this week by going to Carrabba's. It's pretty much our "hangout" place. Not really... But we go there a lot and it's a HECK of a lot closer than Scottsdale so it's easily up on the list of food loves.

Like I said, I love turning any holiday into a week-long event. I live for it. They're just too fun not to.  

February Sights and Smells

I just love February. My second favorite month of the year, if you must know, and DON'T even ask me what my first is. Ok it's May, but you should know that. Ok, maybe you shouldn't, that's a little bratty of me to say. Really, I want a February baby. The air is crisp and cool, the month never feels dragging (you know, the whole 28 day thing) and Valentine's Day is just too fun. I am nearly halfway through my first class of my Master's program! Things are going pretty routinely and straightforwardly. As expected, not too bad AT ALL. Though, I still like to be my old paranoid self and ask thousands of questions and agonize over my ONE class. I once took 22 credits in a semester and never took below 18 in college. Still, I agonize over one. STILL! Anyway, the realization that I am overthinking it and need to smoke a mental j. sometimes (most times) since the class is fairly easy, has been therapeutic in itself. When I think of the end result I am motivated. Ecstatic. 2011 and 2012 will prove to be some pretty intense years for this family but I keep telling myself, "Really. Has 'it' ever been 'that bad?' Will it?" We all make mountains out of molehills and suddenly our lives are simply too busy, too stressful, and too taxing--to do ANYTHING. I think most of life's problems stem from internal factors rather from what actually happens to us. I'm preaching to the choir, of course. 


Back to February. Elliott and I naturally celebrate February 15th more than the 14th as that is the day we got engaged. It would have been on the 14th had Shutterfly mailed Elliott his/MY photo book (with a big picture of him holding a ring on the last page) in time! I don't mind one bit. Prolonging the holiday season has always been a favorite past-time of mine.  

Beckett Turns 9 Months; We Play.

Beckett, you are a riot. Lots of loves, lots of kisses, lots of screaming competitions to see who can get the loudest (starting out verrrry quietly). My house will not be a quiet house. Ever. I probably won't always like it that way but... I started it and probably won't be able to stop it! "Beckkkh,"You love your Lily (who shouts your name so clearly when you come to play) and all the rest of your cousins! You are bigger than most babies your age and older. I like it that way since it means you don't mind when we wrestle and grit. You like your routine. You don't like to be spun around and tossed in the air. It makes you nervous. Swing time didn't look very fun for you either.

I can't wait to have you as my Valentine this year. Unless Lily gets to you first!