Thursday, February 12, 2009

iLove


I love this little project from this month's Family Fun. These are for my little after school tutoring class. They are what I like to call "neon" Crayons, but since there are only 15 of them, they win the handmade Valentine while the regular class is getting store bought.

Thanks for all the Matryoshka love yesterday! That was such a fun project. Best of all-it used lots of bits and scraps that I had saved because... well...because I have a problem with throwing stuff away. I thought it up in the middle of the night and in the words of Hannibal from the A-team, "I love it when a plan comes together."

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Monday, February 9, 2009

Flickr Fun

My creation

I am on a crafty break for the duration of parent conferences and then my in-law's visit. In the meantime, some flickr inspiration for the latest Sweet Goodness Swap. Click on the photo for links back to each picture.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Memory Lane

Hudson & Weaver St.

My in-laws love to reminisce about the "old days" in the Polish neighborhood. This Christmas Cliff sat down to interview his 90-something Aunt Kate. Turns out her memories aren't so rose colored as his parents. As one of 12 children living in a small city apartment, her memories centered more on the work to be done. Times were certainly tight.

Cliff asked Aunt Kate to talk about was family recipes and meal times. In doing so, Cliff's father remembered his own childhood foods. He started cracking up and told us about breakfast.

The new immigrants made use of every scrap of food. (So unlike their future granddaughter-in-law) One favorite thing was a pork rendering that was sort of like a pâté spread served on toast. There is a word for it in Polish, but the kids didn't know any word for it in English, so they called it "lard." Cliff's father swears that it was delicious.

The other thing that the kids had was milk with a bit of coffee in it.

The story goes, one day his sister's kindergarten class was talking about breakfast. The teacher asked each child what breakfast foods they enjoyed. Some liked eggs others enjoyed oatmeal. Little Rita shared that she ate "bread and lard with coffee" for breakfast!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

8 Things Meme

8 Things about me:
1. I'm homesick for NJ.
2. I'm very sensitive and my new boss seems to be my kriptonite.
3. Valentines Day might be my favorite holiday.
4. Until I was married, I never had a date for Valentine's Day. But I have about 20 little Valentines each year and that's what makes it so fun!
6. Most of the time, I like cookie dough better than the cookies.
7. I already have a lot of ideas for next Christmas.
8. I can't start Christmas projects yet because I have no place to store them.

8 TV Shows I watch:
1. Early Today- I wake up very early.
2. Oprah
3. Ellen
4. The Practice
5. The Bachelor
6. 60 Minutes
7. John & Kate Plus Eight
8. Moving Up

8 Restaurants I Love
1. Sushi Dan's - Studio City, CA
2. Nellies -Waldwick, NJ
3. Simply Crepes Rochester, NY
4. Lucille's Weston, FL
5. Croce's- San Diego
6. Chilli's (Especially the Quesadilla Explosion!)
7. Deny's or Bob's Big Boy
8. The Reunion- Sea Breeze, NY

8 Things that happened today:
1. I went to work in a real funk.
2. Most of my students did really well on their reading assessment.
3. I felt better.
4. Enjoyed my Lean Cuisine Chicken Club Panini-'specially since they are on sale at Ralps $1.77!
5. We skipped PE.
6. Listened to Working on A Dream with the hubby...
7. while we enjoyed a kick'n taco salad he made!
8. I called for a sub.

8 Things I look forward to:
1. A good night's sleep
2. A doctor's appointment/mental health day tomorrow!
3. Time off in May and June
4. Time at a B&B in April
5. The Oscars
6. Starting a family
7. Buying our first house
8. Someday...getting a dog.

8 Things I wish for:
1. A device that would allow me to speak my mind, enjoy the reaction, rewind and say what is expected, polite or politically correct.
2. To go hiking in the woods in fall. I can't believe how much I miss fall leaves and fall air.
3. To successfully match Kate with this guy I know so that she would move to LA.
4. A duplex so both our parents could spend some extended time with us.
5. A basement or an attic to store my Christmas stuff and off season clothes in.
6. I'd like to meet the Obama's, Oprah, and Bruce.
7. A week or more to spend with my Grandpaw learning woodworking.
8. A family prom. We won't have any weddings for a while.

8 songs I just listened to:
1. Working on a Dream
2. Queen of the Supermarket
3. Outlaw Pete
4. My Lucky Day
5. What Love Can Do
6. The Wrestler
7. Dylan/ Will I. Am commercial
8. Let's Stay Together


8 Favorite Movies:
1. Practical Magic
2. Ever After
3. His, Mine & Ours - The old version.
4. Parent Trap- The new version.
5. Shawshank Redemption
6. When Harry Met Sally
7. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
8. Sixteen Candles

I tag...you!