Somehow I stumbled onto a necklace tutorial on the blog Little Miss Momma
I immediately decided that Sommer and I needed to attempt these and plans were set in motion for us to go across the bay and stay with her and Mike on Saturday night.
First we had an amazing dinner at Harry's Hofbrau, then cupcakes from Sprinkles, (Sommer and I each split a coconut and a German chocolate one...mmmmm), then after bedtime for Luke we headed to Michael's and prepared to "get our craft on."
The little petal necklaces were the easiest things EVER! Seriously! Look up the tutorial.
Materials Used:
$0.99 cent chain from Michaels
old t-shirts for fabric
one sheet of felt
Scissors
glue gun
pearls for add glam (optional)
We also made extra puffs that could serve as little embellishments on sweaters or bags. So fun!
Here is our assortment of craftiness:
Petal pins on Sommer's sweater
Chair spinning
Luke's favorite word of the weekend was "Dog." Here he is pointing toward the living room where Maggie McMaggerton was barking.
Showing off my wearing of the petal necklace to Sommer via text on Monday morning. Ignore the dorky girl in the picture and just focus on the super fun necklace.
A couple of weeks ago we took a fun little weekend trip to Southern California. The weather was absolutely beautiful! I didn't realize how sick I was of yucky gray NorCal until we went over the Grapevine and the sun burst out. It was nearly 80 degrees all weekend. So amazing! The purpose for the trip was work-related for me. I had to host a reception for alumni before a basketball game against Long Beach State. I brought the boys and we hooked up with Justin's brother and mom in Hollywood and had a fun day in Long Beach before I had to go to work.
Justin was excited that the Long Beach Aquarium allows you to touch real sharks.
This is me working:
The next day we took a little morning walk on the beach and then drove to Huntington Beach for the sole purpose of getting Hula Pie at Duke's. The most amazing dessert ever. Not even joking.
Jeff and I bought matching wayfarers. Except his are real and mine were the $16.99 version. :)
We enjoyed a little bit of time on the beach and soaked in the sunshine for awhile.
It was a great weekend. Until...Luke and I drove home so I could go back and start the work week while Justin stayed behind an extra day to take care of some business. That night as he and Jeff were cruising through the Hollywood & Highland shopping center, just steps away from Jeff's apartment, they saw a movie being filmed right there on Hollywood Blvd. Upon closer inspection they discovered that it was a scene from the new muppet movie. (Due to hit theaters in November 2011.) For any new readers out there (or those just not paying close attention), the muppets are like my favorite thing. Ever. I have known about this new movie for AGES. I have a Kermit light switch plate in my bathroom and 3 muppet lunch boxes, 2 Kermit puppets, 3 Kermit stuffed animals, a Kermit snowglobe, Kermit Christmas ornaments, Muppet coffee table books, and a sticker that says "I appreciate the muppets on a deeper level than you." I can quote many lines from various muppet movies and own at least one muppet movie soundtrack. (There I go giving away my total dork-status again while trying to drive home a point.) Anyway, the scene being shot wasn't just a silly little scene with one or two muppets. No. It was a full blown dance number with EVERY SINGLE muppet in attendance, as well as human stars Jason Segal and Amy Adams and a couple hundred human extras. Seriously? And I missed it.
Here's what they saw. Fast forward to about the 1:45 mark to see the dancing. The two tiny people in front are the two human leads and all of the muppets are in the back of the shot in front of the El Capitan theater. They're even swaying. There was muppet swaying and I missed it!!!
This probably would have trumped my visit to the Office set, which is really saying something. At least the boys were kind enough to take pictures and video so I could share in the experience. And say repeatedly, "I can't believe you're not here! I can't believe you're not here! This is the coolest thing ever!"
The Official Pacific Ring program has been the bane of my existance for three years. We finally "unveiled" the ring last week at a "flash mob-style" ceremony in the student center. I tend to shy away from event planning duties, preferring to sit behind the computer and do marketing related things that don't require me to seek help from other people. (Can you tell I was never a "group project" type of girl?) :) Unfortunately, my job does require coordinating any and all alumni events related to students, and the "Official Class Ring" fell under that category.
I was nervous for everything to go well, but ultimately was really pleased with the result. I had a display case built by a local plastics store (the design inspired by an official University event planner), picked out some velvet lining and fun tiger print to drape a funky stand I bought at HomeGoods, busted out the glue gun, rallied the dance team, the pep band and a young alumnus emcee and we "unveiled" the ring at a surprise ceremony in the student center at lunch time.
We had a good time...and this video gives kind of an idea of the result. Yes, I am proud to take credit for asking the dancers to do a little number to "Single Ladies" AKA "Put a Ring On It."
Here are a few of my favorite food-related things of the moment!
String Cheese and Wheat Thins I use this combo as a healthy and filling mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack. Sometimes I also drink V8 with it, which Justin calls "the most disgusting drink ever."
Fat Free Cool Whip and sugar-free Jello So sweet and creamy it feels like an indulgence, but it's only like 50 calories!
Spinach and Salad Pizzaz! I feel so healthy when I eat spinach, like my insides are doing jumping jacks or something. Add some "Salad Pizzaz" and some Girard's champagne dressing and you have the perfect, healthy(ish) side dish
Animal Crackers Not particularly healthy, but I love grabbing a quick handful of these yummy favorites when I come home from work or before going to bed. And Luke can eat them too!
What are your favorite snacks? Healthy or otherwise?
Songs that make me want to hit "like" repeatedly on my Pandora station of choice:
Your Song - Elton John
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
Don't Stop Believing - Journey
Love Song - Sara Bareilles
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Anything from the Rent soundtrack (the Broadway version - not the motion picture)
I love mascots. I may have mentioned this before. I loved being one at a couple of points in my life and I enjoy interacting with them at events to this day. I mean, how fun is it that you can make a fool of yourself in complete anonymity while dressed head to toe as a big crazy character?!
Not so fun for Luke Perry.
The first time Luke met Power Cat he was indifferent. We took a (pretty bad) picture together. No big deal.
The second time didn't go over as well. Powercat was wearing a Santa costume. Luke's lower lip dropped, quivvered, and then his whole body literally shook with fear. After 20 minutes we were able to go in for a picture with Luke safely in daddy's arms.
Last night at a basketball game it became clear that mascot fear is in full effect as Luke let out one of the loudest wails I have ever heard come out of my son in a social setting. Even when Powercat was waaaaaay down on the court dancing around, Luke pointed and made the saddest, most frightened face I've ever seen. (I couldn't quite capture it at the pinnacle of fear.)
Way up at the top of the bleachers....Note the lower lip quiver and the finger ready to point at the offending "kitty."
Powercat waaaaaaay down on the court.
Mascot fear. I did not anticipate this. I hope it is just a phase.
One of the great things about working for an institute of higher education is the fabulous week of "seasonal holidays" between Christmas and New Year's. I immensely enjoyed my week off. Here are a few of the things I did on my winter vacation.
#5
Hung out with my favorite guy
We went to the park, read lots of books, snuggled, hung out with both sets of grandparents and even went to the snow for the first time.
He wasn't too sure about it.
I also got Luke's new big boy carseat installed by the CHP. Seriously, I feel like you have to be a MENSA member to figure out those installation manuals.
We also went to a wedding...
(and I had my hair cut WAY shorter than intended...)
...and Luke rocked this black and red number (kind of dangerous color combo where we're from)
...and showed some serious attitude with this awesome knit hat.
One of the great things about working for an institute of higher education is the fabulous week of "seasonal holidays" between Christmas and New Year's. I immensely enjoyed my week off. Here are a few of the things I did on my winter vacation.
#4
Did some organizing
I didn't get as much organizing done as I would have liked (too many naps), but I was able to clear the rest of the 6-9 month clothes out of Luke's closet and restore order to my t-shirt drawer - one that hadn't been able to close properly for years. I have been holding on to some of my favorite shirts for ages. Most of them are from my late college, super athletic days and are a bit on the small side. I decided it was time to bite the bullet. To make myself feel better I took a photo of my faves and told myself it was okay to blog about them. This way a piece of them will live on forever (or at least until an apocalypse or massive server collapse takes out the Internets.) I actually never really wore the "Spartan Spirit" one, but it has been with me since high school and was just too awesome to part with.
Oh and, I can't forget this one, which I actually sported (under a suit jacket, of course) during the 2003 oscar edition of the local television show I hosted/produced back in the day.
Bottom Line: The t-shirt drawer is now half-empty and shuts like a dream. Hooray!
Tonight as you slept I took down your Christmas tree. It broke my heart to do it because that tree brought you so much joy. You and daddy picked the tree out together on one of his days off. At first it made daddy sad to buy such a small tree, but in the end I think he realized it was a good decision and made life a lot easier for all of us.
You were very proud of the tree.
Everytime we would turn on the lights you would point vigorously and make a funny sound that I think was your way of saying "oooo...ahhhhhhh." You would also say, "zibberyflibbet," which I'm gonna go ahead and claim as your attempt at "Christmas tree." It was like you thought I could do magic by making the lights go on. (You respond similarly when I turn on regular lights, so maybe it's not that impressive - but it still makes me feel like a super hero.)
When anyone would come into the house you would (again with the pointing) "show" off your tree with the sort of pride I didn't know a one-year-old was capable of showing.
You did these things EVERY DAY for four weeks. It may have been one of the cutest things I have ever seen you do. And trust me, there have been A LOT of cute things.
The tree was one of the first objects I really saw you identify by name. As we watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in the living room, every time they would reference the "tree," you would look out into the dining room and point at your tree. EVERY TIME.
Your love of this tree will forever be a hallmark of "Luke's Christmas at Age One." (At least for me.)
I'm sure that, in the grand tradition of one-year-old boy attention spans, you won't even remember the tree tomorrow.
But I will.
(And someday, when you're a bit older and you hear mommy cursing the dried pine needles all over the house, you'll appreciate why the tree has to go away in January.)
One of the great things about working for an institute of higher education is the fabulous week of "seasonal holidays" between Christmas and New Year's. I have immensely enjoyed my week off. Here are a few of the things I did on my winter vacation.
# 3
Took LOTS of naps
Aren't naps amazing? It had been AGES since I'd gotten a nap and last week I think I took one almost every day - usually during Luke's morning nap time. One day he even let me snuggle him during a nap. That was the best ever. :)
I wasn't going to post any pictures from Christmas, but then I went through my camera and found these gems that needed to be shared.
Christmas 2010
He wasn't sure what to think about the mechanical Santa.
How are babies and dogs alike?
They both get excited for treats.
The Linus shirt had to make an appearance for a photo opp with last year's Christmas present - the "Linus blanket" from Urban Outfitters.
Testing out the new bowling set with Grandad.
Look at that form!
Yup, Luke got a pony for Christmas.
Trying to eat a bottle of body wash and rockin the snow boots and ski hat.
The things we are allowed to do to our children when they are young.
We almost lost him in the Christmas melee!
I realize these are all of Luke, but if there were any cute ones of Justin or me, trust, I would have posted them. Hopefully we'll be cuter in 2011. Until then Luke will have to carry the Perry family mantle of cuteness on his own.
