Brussels Pix

Here's some very random photos from my last trip to Brussels in 2018. It's been so long since I've been back to Belgium and Ireland and I really miss those beautiful countries.

Xavier's First Tattoo

Yesterday Xave texted to let me know that he got his first tattoo. I'm fairly certain that he will one day cover over it, but since Syd is training as an apprentice in a tattoo shop, he wanted to be supportive and let her give him some ink. She's only allowed to do a handful of designs and so Xavier chose the classic sparrow. I really dig it! He got it on the inside of his forearm and is proud to tell one and all that his daughter did it.

Fun Facts with Star & Lauryn!

I said:

First pet - min-pin Woody

Secret talent - Six Degrees of Me

Biggest fear - I am fearless

Celeb crush - So many! Clooney, Depp, Tommy Flanagan, Lee Pace!

Favorite teacher - Mr. Sax, Mr. Weinert, Frank Mitchell, & Mr. Duffin, & Ms. Rulo

Favorite nursery rhyme - Jack & Jill

Favorite healthy snack - fruit

Favorite book - "Girl, Interrupted" by Susana Kaysen

Lauryn said:

First pet - hamster "Bufferbutt" aka Snickerdoodle

Secret talent - balancing a spoon on her nose!

Biggest fear - house centipedes (ahhh!!!)

Celeb crush - Jackie Greene & James Roday

Favorite teacher - her Mom!

Favorite nursery rhyme - Hey Diddle Diddle

Favorite healthy snack - baby carrots

Favorite book - "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger

Dolly Doughnuts!

Oh my gosh oh my gosh OH MY GOSH! This is SO exciting!!!

Survey Question of the Day

When did you last have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? My answer was: about ten minutes before I asked this of most of my friends and family members. In the end, I feel good that this staple of my diet is not something that only little kids eat.

Dave:

Xavier:

Melanie:

Marina:

Bishop:

Amy:

Wayne:

Zach:

Bella:

Sydney:

Emily:

Jaeden:

Lauryn:

Kayla:

Ask Someone (Lucy)

In what part of the world do you imagine me being the happiest?

Australia (So you can see the new Bluey episodes before they come to New Jersey)

What would you use to lure me into a trap?

vegan cupcakes

In a perfect world, who would I end up marrying?

Eric from The Little Mermaid (Jonah Andre Hauer-King)

What is your favourite moment we've shared?

Going to Grounds for Sculpture 

What name do you think suits me better than my own?

Oceania

What things remind you of me?

Stars, Grounds for Sculpture, and Bluey

What do you hope I will always remember about you?

My favourite Bluey character. Bingo. 

My answers for Lucy:

In what part of the world do you imagine me being the happiest?

Where you live now! Because it's close to friends and family, you have all four seasons, and your grandparents in Indy are but a plane ride or road trip away!

What would you use to lure me into a trap?

American Girl Doll accessories

In a perfect world, who would I end up marrying?

Even though he's much too old for you now, I really think as an adult, you and Finn Wolfhard would be a cute couple. He seems like a truly nice fella.

What is your favourite moment we've shared?

That October week where I got to stay over and take you to school, meet you at the bus stop, read to you, help you with homework, watch Hart to Hart, and bring you and Jackson up to Amy's farm to meet the chickens.

What name do you think suits me better than my own?

I dunno, Lucy Rose is a pretty perfect name for you...I guess if I had to rename you I would choose Alexa "Lexi" Rose

What things remind you of me?

Bluey, Goldfish crackers, Barbies, American Girl Dolls, Legos, colouring books, cute pens, pretty coloured markers, pencils, & crayons, crafts, and dimples

What do you hope I will always remember about you?

That I loved you the mostest and was weird and fun! 

Mother’s Day Krispy Kreme

On a different plane of existence on this mortal coil, one where  Bishop and I had that kid we once talked of having together, they would so get these for me for Mother’s Day this year. And they would not pass judgment as I hid my veganism in a shoebox and indulged in these beauties!

(ps - Probably close to fifteen years back, I asked Bishop if he’d consider having a kid with me. I wasn’t serious in the least, I just wanted a plan in place in case I changed my mind and wanted to become a parent. He said yes, with no hesitation, so long as he was able to have a role in their life, which of course he would. We never got farther than names, but it’s still fun to imagine what our child would look like and become.)

(pps - Jacinda Louise Aurelia Rosa June for a girl and Baldwin Atticus Apollo Robert for a son, even though originally we thought Thaddeus, but that never felt quite right. Baldwin does.)

It's Ann Jillian Day Again!

Every May 11th I can't help but be transported back through my vault of memories to the night I met Ann Jillian. She was radiant and kind and her husband was unbelievably dashing and warm. My behaviour, at age eleven, was, I'm certain, completely cringeworthy. The actual photo of Ann, Andy, myself, and an old school chum, is so bad that I can't bear to look at it. Me, with my mullet growing out into unflattering Farrah Fawcett wings, my teeth at pre-braces with a massive gap between my front toofahs, trying to appear grown up and wearing garish lipstick, which was only made worse by the enormous grin I was sporting, and topped off with a face so red that I looked like a weather-worn coastal fisherman. It is just bad. But remembering watching Ann walk around the green room until she came upon us is still so sharp and absolutely clear in my mind. What a genuine and gorgeous creature she is. I will never not adore her.

What I Love About My Best Friend

I said...

1. her gorgeous smile & laughter - it always makes me happy

2. her astonishing intellect matched only by her utter humility (humbleness)

3. the unconditional love she gives

4. her beautiful hair

5. her kindness & compassion

Amy said...

1. Your sense of humor

2. Your listening skills

3. Your way with children

4. Your flexibility & willingness to accomodate

5. Your hugs

BONUS 6. Your creativity & imagination

Chagrin Falls Daydream

This year has been pretty much the worst ever, which is saying something. Dental issues are out of control and I'm not even fifty yet! There seems to be no end in sight and apparently pain and discomfort will permanently be the norm for me. When things just completely suck-out-loud, I tend to turn to impossible daydreams as an escape. Today's was about finding a cute little house in Chagrin Falls, Ohio that's within walking distance to Fireside Books as well as those eponymous falls. This one is bananas expensive but it's absolutely adorable. Wallpaper for days, plus fireplaces, built-ins, and a sweet little front porch. I look at these photos and picture me living here in a pain-free existence, with all my teeth in perfect condition, no cracking noises in my joints when I walk, no menopause hot flashes!, and best of all, I'm happy at last. It's not meant to be, but it's fun to imagine this, even for a few minutes.

(The kitchen is so not my style and the bathroom with the fabulously hideous wallpaper is teeny tiny, but all that can be overlooked because it's an adorable, cosy, little home.)

Star's Take on Fairy Bread

I forget where I saw this recently but apparently Fairy Bread is a yummy little snickety-snack in Australia. Oh, I remember! I was trying to find out if any other parts of the country call "sprinkles" jimmies. I'm a Philly girl and so are my folks, so we always say jimmies. While, more than likely, looking on Wikipedia it must have taken me down that proverbial rabbit hole to discover Fairy Bread. Apparently it's white bread (yuck!) with butter and then covered with jimmies and those lil' nonpareil things. Thanks to Amy Sedaris' fun collection at Fishs Eddy, I was able to make this for afternoon snacktime. And y'know what? It's pretty good. Admittedly, I have the palate of a five year, so I guess it's not surprising that I dig this. On Sunday I'm bringing all the fixin's over to Mama Rosie's for Mother’s Day and have Lucy and Jax try it!

(In truth, I think if I'm feeling Aussie, I'll stick to multigrain bread, butter, and Vegemite.)

Lady Frederica Denny of Rosings Park

(pix kidnapped from janeaustenshouse IG page)