Friday, January 30, 2015
This Girl Can
I absolutely LOVE this ad. We actually saw it on television here the other night. Between this and the #LikeAGirl ad -- I'll have to post that one next -- society is starting to make some positive changes.
This girl can. Yeah, so I don't look like a celebrity or Victoria Secret's model, but I'm going to the gym. I'm showing up. For me. For my health. I felt absolutely ridiculous at my first Zumba class, but you know what... it gets easier. And you start to learn the moves. And I can't drop as low as some, or wiggle as fast as others, but I'm having fun. And getting my blood pumping. And extending my life. And showing my kids that exercise can be fun. And proving to myself that I can keep up with them if they want to go for a jog or register for a fun run... I can. And I will.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Ricciardo in London
So apparently the kids and I missed meeting Daniel Ricciardo. An honest to goodness current Formula 1 driver! Not by much... We saw a crew setting up for a film shoot this morning at the house around the corner. This is a pretty awesome house. We pass it going to and from school as it sits just across from Clapham Common. Ricciardo races for Red Bull Racing (which also explains why the crew were driving Infiti Q50s!
This afternoon on our way home, we could tell the crew was packing up. We watched 8 spare Pirelli tires get loaded onto the truck. Atticus and Wren were peppering one of the Red Bull guys with questions. Where is the race car? How will it get onto the truck? Was there really really a real race car driver here? Where'd he go? Why can't I meet him? How do you work the lever to get the car onto the truck? Can I watch? You get the picture. It was freaking freezing outside with crazy wind -- but the crew were really great answering all the questions. And, they told us to hold on for a few more minutes and we could watch the F1 car get loaded onto the truck. Pretty cool. The car was actually a bit of a hybrid between the 2013 and 2014 models. I'm not quite savvy enough to recognize all the nuances -- but it was really cool to see the car.
Did I mention that the pre-season testing began today?! I hope I impressed the crew by knowing that little tid bit of knowledge! I mean, come on... were they expecting a random American ex pat to know THAT? :-)
If I can figure out how to get photos back onto the blog, I'll get those posted. I know - I say that a lot. It's just that I take photos on the phone and then have to move them to iPhoto and then sync them to Picasa and then upload them from there into the blog. It's a bit of a pain. I'm sure there must be a better way...
This afternoon on our way home, we could tell the crew was packing up. We watched 8 spare Pirelli tires get loaded onto the truck. Atticus and Wren were peppering one of the Red Bull guys with questions. Where is the race car? How will it get onto the truck? Was there really really a real race car driver here? Where'd he go? Why can't I meet him? How do you work the lever to get the car onto the truck? Can I watch? You get the picture. It was freaking freezing outside with crazy wind -- but the crew were really great answering all the questions. And, they told us to hold on for a few more minutes and we could watch the F1 car get loaded onto the truck. Pretty cool. The car was actually a bit of a hybrid between the 2013 and 2014 models. I'm not quite savvy enough to recognize all the nuances -- but it was really cool to see the car.
Did I mention that the pre-season testing began today?! I hope I impressed the crew by knowing that little tid bit of knowledge! I mean, come on... were they expecting a random American ex pat to know THAT? :-)
If I can figure out how to get photos back onto the blog, I'll get those posted. I know - I say that a lot. It's just that I take photos on the phone and then have to move them to iPhoto and then sync them to Picasa and then upload them from there into the blog. It's a bit of a pain. I'm sure there must be a better way...
Monday, January 26, 2015
Get Thee To The GYM
I told myself while I was traveling that upon my return to London, I was going to join the gym. Good news - I actually joined the gym. Depending upon how you look at it, the gym is 1.3 miles away by foot. I think this is generally seen as positive? More exercise, right? So, even if I only walk there and back - I've already logged 2.6 miles. Not bad.
Shockingly, I've actually been going. It's taking a while to ease back into the swing of things, but it does feel good to be back. I've even taken a couple of Zumba classes. I think I may have mentioned those already... it's like Club Med crazy signs on speed. Dip, salsa, spin, jump, gyrate.... Good fun.
Alas... the working out thing is making me starving! So, now that I'm actually working out again, I need to tailor my grocery shopping to match. Fingers crossed I can start doing that soon. But, for now, I'm just happy I'm working out again. I know my heart and muscles will thank me later.
Shockingly, I've actually been going. It's taking a while to ease back into the swing of things, but it does feel good to be back. I've even taken a couple of Zumba classes. I think I may have mentioned those already... it's like Club Med crazy signs on speed. Dip, salsa, spin, jump, gyrate.... Good fun.
Alas... the working out thing is making me starving! So, now that I'm actually working out again, I need to tailor my grocery shopping to match. Fingers crossed I can start doing that soon. But, for now, I'm just happy I'm working out again. I know my heart and muscles will thank me later.
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Friends Make Everything OK
Atticus had a friend over yesterday for a play date. The boys did really well romping around. They played with LEGO, they dressed up and played knights, and race car drivers and firefighters. They ran around and had a grand ole time.
Today, we went over to our neighbor's house for a play and dinner. One of my closest friends here in London has a son in Wren's class and a daughter in Atticus's class and we live backyard to backyard. It's awesome. Alas... they're being transferred to Los Angeles in about 6 weeks and I'm freaking out. It's going to be hard on everyone -- the kids will definitely miss having their friends around the corner and I'll miss having a friend as well. I know moving doesn't mean you lose touch - but it does make the day to day a bit more blah when you don't have someone to chat with!! They're going to love living in CA though... and, now it's one more person to visit when we head out west!
It's tough making friends as an adult, and after having one other good one move at the end of last year, I'm feeling a bit selfish in not wanting them to go yet...
But, today was a good day. Lots of good kid fun, lots of good conversation, plenty of wine and laughs... a day to remember!
Today, we went over to our neighbor's house for a play and dinner. One of my closest friends here in London has a son in Wren's class and a daughter in Atticus's class and we live backyard to backyard. It's awesome. Alas... they're being transferred to Los Angeles in about 6 weeks and I'm freaking out. It's going to be hard on everyone -- the kids will definitely miss having their friends around the corner and I'll miss having a friend as well. I know moving doesn't mean you lose touch - but it does make the day to day a bit more blah when you don't have someone to chat with!! They're going to love living in CA though... and, now it's one more person to visit when we head out west!
It's tough making friends as an adult, and after having one other good one move at the end of last year, I'm feeling a bit selfish in not wanting them to go yet...
But, today was a good day. Lots of good kid fun, lots of good conversation, plenty of wine and laughs... a day to remember!
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Parent Teacher Conferences
Well... that was the plan for this morning, but let's back up a bit...
The plan was to let Atticus do Running Club this morning with the big kids from 7:50am till 8:30am. We would drop Wren at school with one of the of the nursery teachers for 15 minutes while Greg and I chatted with Atticus's main teacher.
Oh, if only life were so simple...
Atticus and I did make it to Running on time. Only minor drama because Greg and I aren't letting him wear his brand new trainers (tennis shoes) for running in the muddy common. I know they'll get dirty eventually, I just really had hoped he could wear them a time or two before tromping through the mud. I may cave by next Tuesday, we'll see... Instead of trainers, he was in his football boots (soccer cleats). From all accounts, this worked just fine.
Greg was walking with Wren and apparently Wren was feeling uber chatty and not in any kind of rush to get to school. I went ahead and went into the meeting alone. Now, the teacher and I have been chatting more regularly lately since we've returned from the Christmas holidays, so I knew what to expect. Essentially - since we've returned, Atticus hasn't quite been himself. He's just been "off" and we've heard that from a few of his teachers including the head of sports! Huh? He wasn't concentrating in sports? Red flag.
So - a bit of jet lag. A possible growth spurt (you should see how much he's eating at the moment), the hum drum dreariness of London winter when you can't get outside as much and the realization that he's at his half way mark. Historically, Atticus tends to act up more at his half years - starting way back at 1.5 years old. There is a book series that was recommended to me by my cousin written by Louise Bates Ames. Here are some of her BOOKS. I actually haven't read the recent ones, but I may have to order the Six Year Old book. In his early years, Atticus was textbook! But, who knows. In the meantime, I'm going to track the days that he wakes up of his own accord and the days that I wake him for school. I honestly think there's a correlation to how he acts in school on the days that I have to wake him in the mornings....
And - my neighbor is coming over later tonight so Greg and I can have a dinner date out. Yay. One of the many reasons I'm enjoying London. Our babysitter lives next door and we can have regular date nights.
The plan was to let Atticus do Running Club this morning with the big kids from 7:50am till 8:30am. We would drop Wren at school with one of the of the nursery teachers for 15 minutes while Greg and I chatted with Atticus's main teacher.
Oh, if only life were so simple...
Atticus and I did make it to Running on time. Only minor drama because Greg and I aren't letting him wear his brand new trainers (tennis shoes) for running in the muddy common. I know they'll get dirty eventually, I just really had hoped he could wear them a time or two before tromping through the mud. I may cave by next Tuesday, we'll see... Instead of trainers, he was in his football boots (soccer cleats). From all accounts, this worked just fine.
Greg was walking with Wren and apparently Wren was feeling uber chatty and not in any kind of rush to get to school. I went ahead and went into the meeting alone. Now, the teacher and I have been chatting more regularly lately since we've returned from the Christmas holidays, so I knew what to expect. Essentially - since we've returned, Atticus hasn't quite been himself. He's just been "off" and we've heard that from a few of his teachers including the head of sports! Huh? He wasn't concentrating in sports? Red flag.
So - a bit of jet lag. A possible growth spurt (you should see how much he's eating at the moment), the hum drum dreariness of London winter when you can't get outside as much and the realization that he's at his half way mark. Historically, Atticus tends to act up more at his half years - starting way back at 1.5 years old. There is a book series that was recommended to me by my cousin written by Louise Bates Ames. Here are some of her BOOKS. I actually haven't read the recent ones, but I may have to order the Six Year Old book. In his early years, Atticus was textbook! But, who knows. In the meantime, I'm going to track the days that he wakes up of his own accord and the days that I wake him for school. I honestly think there's a correlation to how he acts in school on the days that I have to wake him in the mornings....
And - my neighbor is coming over later tonight so Greg and I can have a dinner date out. Yay. One of the many reasons I'm enjoying London. Our babysitter lives next door and we can have regular date nights.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Biscuits... I mean Cookies
Oh the vocabulary...
Did you know that if you want a cookie in England, you order a biscuit? Odd. But if you're looking for something that is served with cheese and/or a dip -- those are called crackers. Sometimes. Other times they're called "biscuits for cheese". Oy the confusion.
Regardless.
There's a really pretty cookie shop that just opened on our high street called Biscuiteers. They make really fancy iced cookies. Really fancy. They're also about £3 per cookie or close to $5 each. Ouch. But they're sooooo pretty. They have icing classes at the store. Right now, they're offering buy one get one free icing classes. So, I bought a voucher. I'm not sure yet who's going to go with me or if I'll just do two classes? I suppose this is a late birthday gift to myself? I don't know - it just sounded like a good idea and so I went for it.
HERE is one of my favorite tins that they do called the Vintage Traveler.
Next time I post pictures of my cookies, they're going to look amazing! At least, that's the plan....
Did you know that if you want a cookie in England, you order a biscuit? Odd. But if you're looking for something that is served with cheese and/or a dip -- those are called crackers. Sometimes. Other times they're called "biscuits for cheese". Oy the confusion.
Regardless.
There's a really pretty cookie shop that just opened on our high street called Biscuiteers. They make really fancy iced cookies. Really fancy. They're also about £3 per cookie or close to $5 each. Ouch. But they're sooooo pretty. They have icing classes at the store. Right now, they're offering buy one get one free icing classes. So, I bought a voucher. I'm not sure yet who's going to go with me or if I'll just do two classes? I suppose this is a late birthday gift to myself? I don't know - it just sounded like a good idea and so I went for it.
HERE is one of my favorite tins that they do called the Vintage Traveler.
Next time I post pictures of my cookies, they're going to look amazing! At least, that's the plan....
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Grocery Delivery
Seriously people in America. You don't know what you're missing. Remember waaaaay back when -- there was a company called WebVan that tried to get started doing grocery deliveries. You people should have listened. This is honestly the best invention EVER, especially if you have children, or live in a city where you either don't have a car or don't feel like looking for parking if you choose to move your car. There's an app for my phone. So - I'm waiting in the queue to pick up the kids at school and suddenly remember that I need pasta for the playdate later in the week. Open the app, add it to the cart. Boom. Oh look, I have $40 in my cart - I'll schedule a delivery for tomorrow morning after I get back from dropping the kids at school. Boom. Next morning - a really nice man (sometimes woman) knocks on my door, carts everything into my kitchen for me, hands me a receipt, picks up my empty shopping bags from last time for recycling and away they go. Think of something you forgot -- just open the website and add it to the trolley for the next delivery. It's brilliant. Far less impulse purchases. Far less. That means less crap hanging around the house. Goooood idea!
Ok. That's it. Just wanted to share how much I love Ocado and their brilliant delivery service and their amazing customer service.
Ok. That's it. Just wanted to share how much I love Ocado and their brilliant delivery service and their amazing customer service.
Still No TV - September 6, 2007
Hmmm, since I last wrote we've been busy little bees. There was our first law school happy hour at Little Woodrow's. That was interesting. Mostly 2L and 3L students rehashing their summers. We left there and walked past MoMo's and I was quite excited to see Matt Powell up on the billboard. We rounded the corner, went up the stairs, and paid our $5 apiece. The door guy asked us then who we were there to see and we replied Matt. Well, turns out he cancelled last minute. D'oh! So, we asked for our $ back and went home to bed. In my younger days, I would have stayed to check out who WAS on the bill...but alas it was late, and still a school night so we headed home.
Saturday was our big day - the first UT home game. We had a late lunch over at Kerbey Lane (our weekly haunt) and then drove to a parking garage just north of campus to leave the car. I love Kerbey. Yum. We wandered campus. We went into the alumni center since I am an active Texas Ex. This was a bonus, because the alumni center is air conditioned. :-) And... they gave us fans on a stick to use at the game - BONUS! The UT cheerleaders game into the center and led a few cheers and tried to rile up the old folks. Then, we walked around the stadium to the student section. Why is it that the alumni always get the shaded seats and the students are left to melt in the sun? I'm ready for the shady seats! The game was good - our seats are pretty cool, right in the end zone in section 26. But it was HOT and I forgot how tiring it is to stand on the bleachers for 4 hours of football! Let's hope fall starts arriving soon.
Monday was our first anniversary. If you're feeling nostalgic, go check out our wedding photos. I'm hoping to get the domain name from our photographer once his year subscription is up. If that happens... I may eventually move the blog to that site. Of course, that means that I have to brush up on my HTML and other computer geeky skills. We debated where to go for our dinner and while the highly rated Wink was an almost, we chose to go to Melting Pot. I love fondue. So freaking good! It's hard to believe that an entire year has gone by. We're looking forward to many many more.
The rest of the week has been quiet, the only thing out of the ordinary is that we've been going to the gym in the mornings! Yeah us! It feels good to be back at the gym even if my arms are killing me. :-) This weekend is another crazy one. My friends Carla and Aron are coming down from Ft. Worth for the UT v. TCU game and I'm looking foward to seeing them. It'll be good times!
Just Call Me Chevy
I will be playing the part of Chevy Chase in less than 48 hours. Me, the two kids, the double stroller, the backpack with the laptop, the diaper bag, the two suitcases, the Elmo backpack, the ...
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Edited: This was the start of a post from April 2011. If memory serves, it's probably better that I didn't complete this post! Oy... that was a nightmare!
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Edited: This was the start of a post from April 2011. If memory serves, it's probably better that I didn't complete this post! Oy... that was a nightmare!
Recap of NY
Wow. A week in a New York City hotel room with a 3 year old is challenging. It has however made me realize how palatial our current house is... (and this house isn't even that 'big'). Kudos to the folks at the Times Square Fairfield Inn. They truly were wonderful. They were so nice to Atticus - saving cookies for him in the afternoon, bringing him breakfast in the morning, letting him play bellhop in the elevator by pushing buttons for everyone. I have to say, it was probably one of my most pleasant hotel experiences in terms of dealing with staff. Everyone was wonderful.
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Edited - I just found this draft from 2011! Wow.
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Edited - I just found this draft from 2011! Wow.
New Year's Resolutions
Bet I'm the first one to think of these. Ha! :)
But, since it's still in the first month of the year - I'm going to run with the theme. Actually, I'm not sure if these are really resolutions of a glorified to-do list. Open for debate I suppose.
Resolution - blog more. I mean really people. Both kids are now in school. Surely I can carve out 15 minutes a day to post some boring dribble about my day to day life that family (and possibly some friends) will find remotely interesting. :)
Today -- I tried a Zumba class for the first time at the gym. It was like doing an hour of crazy signs at Club Med except I didn't know the moves. Hopefully, I won't look like such the white girl with no rhythm next time! It was a ton of fun. I have to say - much better way to spend an hour than jogging on the treadmill or the elliptical. And I'm positive my heart rate stayed up and that I was getting in a full workout! And, as an added bonus - there was another school mom there, and it was her first Zumba class too. I got to dance around like a goofball with a friend and have a lovely chat and cup of coffee after class. Win win.
I'm also making more of an effort with the kids and playdates this term. In the fall, I was pretty lax and content to just come home after school -- but I think the kids get more than I realize from having some one on one time with a friend or two each week. So, Wren is going home today with her friend, Pippa and I'll pick her up after "tea". I know she'll have a blast playing - I'm just worried that somehow I'll look bad if she doesn't eat anything at Pippa's house. I know. That makes no sense, but hey - who ever said parenting logic makes sense?
And - with Wren at a friend's house, I'll be able to just pick up Atticus after his club and then figure out somehow how/where to feed him and how to get to Pippa's house! It's suddenly freezing too (literally freezing) so I may cave and book a mini-cab for the ride home from Pippa's house. It's only a little over a mile, but it'll be dark and cold by then and my desire to walk two tired children across the common I'm guessing will be nill... Guess that means I've already made up my mind about the taxi. :) (Note to self, grab cash before picking up Atticus for the cab...)
Now I'm off to get some domestic randomness out of the way and maybe then continue reading about ways to organize my life. Not that I've done anything of action - but I'm reading about HOW to organize my life. Good start, right?
But, since it's still in the first month of the year - I'm going to run with the theme. Actually, I'm not sure if these are really resolutions of a glorified to-do list. Open for debate I suppose.
Resolution - blog more. I mean really people. Both kids are now in school. Surely I can carve out 15 minutes a day to post some boring dribble about my day to day life that family (and possibly some friends) will find remotely interesting. :)
Today -- I tried a Zumba class for the first time at the gym. It was like doing an hour of crazy signs at Club Med except I didn't know the moves. Hopefully, I won't look like such the white girl with no rhythm next time! It was a ton of fun. I have to say - much better way to spend an hour than jogging on the treadmill or the elliptical. And I'm positive my heart rate stayed up and that I was getting in a full workout! And, as an added bonus - there was another school mom there, and it was her first Zumba class too. I got to dance around like a goofball with a friend and have a lovely chat and cup of coffee after class. Win win.
I'm also making more of an effort with the kids and playdates this term. In the fall, I was pretty lax and content to just come home after school -- but I think the kids get more than I realize from having some one on one time with a friend or two each week. So, Wren is going home today with her friend, Pippa and I'll pick her up after "tea". I know she'll have a blast playing - I'm just worried that somehow I'll look bad if she doesn't eat anything at Pippa's house. I know. That makes no sense, but hey - who ever said parenting logic makes sense?
And - with Wren at a friend's house, I'll be able to just pick up Atticus after his club and then figure out somehow how/where to feed him and how to get to Pippa's house! It's suddenly freezing too (literally freezing) so I may cave and book a mini-cab for the ride home from Pippa's house. It's only a little over a mile, but it'll be dark and cold by then and my desire to walk two tired children across the common I'm guessing will be nill... Guess that means I've already made up my mind about the taxi. :) (Note to self, grab cash before picking up Atticus for the cab...)
Now I'm off to get some domestic randomness out of the way and maybe then continue reading about ways to organize my life. Not that I've done anything of action - but I'm reading about HOW to organize my life. Good start, right?
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