One of THOSE Days

So today has turned out to be one of those days. You know the ones I mean, where the day starts out great and then somehow everything seems to go wrong in a quick succession of events that leaves your head spinning and wonder "did that just happen?". In this case the answer is yes, that did just happen. Be prepared people, this will be a TMI episode.

To set the stage, I think we need a little back story. I started on birth control pills at about 13 years old to control killer cramps and periods that seemed to last for months. I'll stop you now to say NO! I am not pregnant. Back to history. Way before there was Seasonique or it was cool to limit your periods, my OBGYN had me take my pills one complete box at a time, so I would take active pills straight for 3 months and have a light, cramp-free period four times a year. For reasons to be discussed in another post, I kicked the BC habit last February and returned to the land of the normal perioded. Man, having a period every month simultaneously sucks and blows. I'd forgotten what bad cramps felt like or what it was like to bleed like a stuck pig ever 25 days. It's now November and I'm still trying to figure out what the hell my body is doing every month.

Extremely disturbing anime period picture to follow. Proceed with caution.

First Wedding Present!!

Today, my honey and I get our very first wedding present! Well, technically it would be our second since my mother bought me some gorgeous placemats that were being discontinued, but she isn't giving them to us till the wedding. So, this is our first that we actually get from a member outside our immediate family! It started with a phone call from my mom, saying that a family friend had emailed to say we should expect a package, probably from Bed, Bath and Beyond. We quickly rushed to our online registry and were surprised to see no purchases made. We decided to check our other registry, Pottery Barn, juuuuust in case, and BAM! There it was. When we registered at PB they explained that we needed to register for some big ticket items that guests could give giftcards towards. This seemed to make enough sense so we registered for a gorgeous mahogany entertainment center and the matching coffee table. Never in a million, zillion years did we ever think we'd get to take either of these items home, but today one is being delivered! We were SO beyond any expression of shock, awe and gratitude and in about 4 hours we will be the proud owners of the gorgeous Hudson Coffee Table!

Hudson Coffee Table, from Pottery Barn

Can I get an OMG?? 

Can you wolf whistle at furniture?

I'm sure for most people a coffee table is just a coffee table, but we've never received a present like this before! Most if not all of my furniture is an antique I purchased myself (dresser, table, headboard & footboard), something bought second hand (aquarium, bed), a childhood relic (bookcase, couch) or ikea (bookcase, etc). I don't think I've ever received a gorgeous new piece of furniture like this before that's actual wood and not particle board, assembly required,  whoops we forgot to send those screws or punch the screw holes or some other variety of do it yourself required. Not that I don't enjoy stalking craigslist for good stuff or drilling new holes because the factory forgot to, I just can't wait to get my hands on this solid, mahogany gorgeous coffee table that should be perfect just as it is. 

Course now that I've said that I'm sure the delivery people will accidentally drop it or something, but if all goes well we should be getting it today!

Which unfortunately brings us to the next point. We live with my mother and sister. My bed frame, dining room table, couch and the rest of my house lives in our garage. Last night I had to go rearrange things, get rid of stuff and strap my bike to the wall  so that there is room in our icky garage for our gorgeous coffee table. It's essentially sacrilege to put something this beautiful in a garage that icky but I don't see any other options. We can't put it in the house because there's no room but we want to keep it in pristine condition. Do we ask them to open the box first to check it out and make sure it's perfect before storing it in the icky garage? Or put it right into storage? Gosh I hate to do this to such a pretty gift, but it won't fit in the bedroom :(

At least my honey and I made a deal, if someone gets us the gorgeous matching entertainment center we'll get rid an older beat up piece of furniture. I can't see that ever happening but just in case!

Vote!

Hello Readers!

It's November 2nd and that means.....Election Day! 

Get out there and vote! Or if you've already voted by mail, go you! 

If you need even more incentive, check out that nifty sticker there on my shirt! That's right, not only will you get to contribute to Democracy and determine who will be making political decisions on your behalf, you also get a sticker! Just make sure you make INFORMED decisions, do a little research and find out what you're voting for or against. 

If Haji can do it, so can you!

Meow.

Halloween Brownies!

Since we weren't trick or treating or partying this Halloween, I decided to make some epic Halloween brownies. I got the perfect recipe from Picky Palate for Shortbread Candy Corn Kissed Brownies and they turned out beyond delicious. To save you the trouble of clicking the link, here's the recipe.

Shortbread Candy Corn Kissed Brownies

1 family size brownie mix (9×13 inch size)

2 sticks softened butter

1/2 Cup granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar

1 3/4 Cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 bag Candy Corn Kisses, or any flavor you like, unwrapped

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare brownie mix according to package directions, set batter aside.  In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugars until creamy and light.  Slowly add flour and salt until combined.  Press shortbread dough into a 11×7 inch baking dish lined with foil and sprayed with cooking spray.  Top shortbread dough with 50 kisses then pour brownie batter evenly over top of kisses.  Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes clean from center.  Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

2.  Place remaining kisses in double broiler to melt.  Spread melted chocolate over brownies, sprinkle if desired and serve.

12 brownies

Now when I made them I made a few changes. I used an 11x13 glass pyrex pan and it made 32 nice sized brownies, not 12. I used Ghirardelli brownie mix and definitely couldn't fit 50 kisses in the pan, I fit 40 tops and they probably could have gone for about 65 minutes.  I also topped mine with melted kisses and covered them in a mix of sprinkles, though I needed more than one bag for the topping. 

Now, I present some remarkably bad iPhone photos after the jump:

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!!! I hope you, my imagined readers, have a fantastical evening filled with candy, costumes and pumpkins. Since I have no tiny person to dress up in an adorable costume, I give you this: a Harry Potter kitty cat.

Expelliarmus!

I would dress Button up if I had a cute costume for her, but all of Haji's never lasted more than one Halloween.  It's probably because I made them by hand when I was a kid and then he may have viciously, on purpose accidentally ripped them.

I would say that I'm going to be doing awesome, pumpkin, costume, and candy filled things this evening, but sadly my neighborhood is extremely orthodox so there will be no tiny people in colorful costumes running about or jack-o-lanterns glowing. Plus, my honey has to be up at the chipper hour of 5am the next day so parties are kind of out. I do, however, anticipate some awesome scary movies and good company, possibly with my favorite tiny costumed person.

What are you all going as for Halloween? All in, balls out Harry Potter style? Or writing facebook phrases on your arms ala lamesauce  my honey last year? I leave you with a terribly photoshopped photo of Button in a hat, and eagerly await your creative responses and costume pictures!

Dear Daddy, Love Haji

Dear Daddy,

I wasn't feeling well this morning so I decided to sleep in your spot. You know, the one by the window with no covering so it's nice and warm? And I was starting to feel better when my stupid sister jumped up to sleep on mama's face. I can't believe you brought me a sister, I told you I should have been an only child. Anyway, I was so upset that I might have thrown up on your pillow. And your comforter. Maybe the sheet a bit too. I made mama clean it up. She made funny noises when I puked on her chest, but it sure made my sister clear off. Stupid Button.

Love, your Best furry child,

Haji B.

5 Month Check In!

5 Months to the wedding and what have we been up to? Not a whole lot unfortunately. We're getting to more stuff but the things that require money slow us down!

• Decide on a wedding budget and hash out who's contributing to the wedding. 

• Make sure to appraise and insure your engagement ring.

• Start taking better care of yourself. Get in wedding day shape by eating right, joining a gym, and/or even hiring a personal trainer.

• If you're having an engagement party, set a date, draft a guest list, and order the invitations.

• Sign your catering contract and send in a deposit.

• Start looking for and auditioning local reception bands or DJs.

• Set up appointments with various florists to discuss options.

• Make sure everyone in the wedding party is aware of what you expect of them -- especially your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Provide a list of duties to the maid of honor and a list of to-dos to the best man.

• Reserve your wedding photographer and videographer. Decide on the packages you want, sign the photography contract, and send in your deposits.

• Choose your florist and send a deposit to reserve their services.

• Have engagement photos taken.

• Start researching ceremony musicians in your area and listening to demos. Also start forming an idea of what style of ceremony music you want, and any specific songs you’re looking for.

• Book your reception band or DJ, sign the reception music contract, and send a deposit.

• Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.

• Book your cake baker, choose a wedding cake design you love, and send a deposit once you've signed the wedding cake contract.

• Brides: Collect necessary measurements from bridesmaids, or ask that everyone gets measured by a tailor or dress store (specifically if you have out-of-town bridesmaids). Then ask everyone to order their dresses.

• Book your ceremony musicians: Sign the ceremony music contract and pay your deposit.

• Start planning the rehearsal dinner. Look for rehearsal dinner sites in your area and provide the host with contact information for your attendants and any other guests.

• Finalize the reception menu and service details with the caterer.

• Order your wedding invitations and wedding announcements (don't forget plenty of extra envelopes).

• Start looking through reception centerpiece photos. Figure out what flowers you like and which ones will be in season on your wedding day.

• Hash out your wedding flower proposal. Decide on your floral style, choose the right wedding flowers, and negotiate prices with florist. Once you're certain the contract outlines everything you agreed upon, sign it.

• Book a calligrapher in your area.

• Choose and reserve all tables, chairs, and any other wedding rentals you'll need for the reception (unless the caterer or site is taking care of it).

• Grooms: Start planning your groomsmen's attire. Tuxes or suits?

• Grooms: Start looking to buy or rent your tux, suit, or other formal attire.

• Book a hotel room for your wedding night.

• Book the rehearsal dinner site and finalize menu plans.

• Make sure your out-of-town guests know all the details. Add hotel reservation and city information to your wedding website and/or compile hard copies and mail out.

• Book your honeymoon flights and make all your other honeymoon travel reservations.

• Start addressing wedding invitations or drop them off with the calligrapher (you'll need to send them out at the three-month mark).

• Grooms: Decide on your groomsmen's formalwear. Let the guys know and ask them to get fitted for their tuxes (if need be).

• Brides: Choose your bridesmaids' accessories (shoes, jewelry) and either buy or pass along purchasing information.

• Grooms: Give all of the groomsmen the info they need to buy and/or reserve their attire.

• Pick out or design a ketubah or other marriage contract required by your religion.

The Great Termite Saga: Phase 3 AKA Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

We're home! Finally! We got to wake up in our own bed this morning and it was fantastic. Yesterday, we decided to be completely insane and do in one trip with two people what originally took three people two trips to do. We stuffed our two cars to bursting with cats, fish, clothes, cat accessories, fish tanks and stands and made the trek from Sherman Oaks to West LA. Luckily the whole thing was kinda like giving birth, it was awful and then you forget it. Not really at all, but you get the idea. At one point my Button ripped a hole in her carrier to stick her head out and cry for me, while Haji pushed out of his box and started prancing about the car meowing while I was trying to get through the drive-thru at In-n-out because everyone was hungry and grumpy. It was a long trip.

After dumping everything out at home, releasing the PISSED OFF cats and acclimating the fish we piled into bed around 2 or 3am exhausted ready to sleep for 17827823627537 10 hours. Sadly, it was not to be. At 8:30am the construction crew showed up 2 days early to install new unwanted lovely windows in the bedroom. We had to vacate the room so they could knock holes in my walls and displace the flow of the bedroom with a window half the size of the bed. The one window I was okay with extending by 4 inches is the one they forgot to order larger so it's now fairly small since the energy efficient vinyl windows have really thick frames. I would be upset but I don't really have the energy right now since my grandma just went in for her second emergency surgery to reattach her retina that has now detached twice in two weeks. My grandma just can't catch a break and is incredibly special to me so her being in pain is really hard to handle.

At least my favorite worker, a 23 year old guy named Kevin, had his wife bring their little 6 month old son, Christopher, over for me to play with. The little guy has big dark eyes, huge chipmunk cheeks and a head full of dark curls that make you wanna bury your face in his head. He had a cold as well so the occasional snot bubble and drool when he smiled just added to the charm.  I admit, I might be hugely a tad baby obsessed but loving all over everyone else's kids has successful kept me from producing one of my own so far so it's good in my book. It's almost as if I don't get my weekly dose of baby i'll spontaneously turn up col bambino, I won't be able to go to grad school and my family will disown me. You know, something along those melodramatic lines. My mom went so far as to tastelessly berate Kevin for getting married and having a baby so young, I think he was so shocked by her rudeness that he didn't know what to say. I tried to assume him that it wasn't just him and she does this to us all day and he, the guy living with his just married wife and unplanned son squashed miserably in his parent's house, gave me a look of greatest pity. Now I know it's bad. I have got to have a discussion about manners with that woman cuz she's clearly forgotten some of her Ms. Manners lessons.

I hope we can get more sleep tonight because the workers will be here again at 8:30am tomorrow, sadly without baby Christopher in tow.