It’s Picture Day!
I was going to bake a loaf of homemade wheat sandwich bread today. It is my life’s mission to bake a big fluffy loaf of yeasty, crusty bread that I can cut into slices and build big beautiful sandwiches with. I have a recipe. I have some special ingredients. I have a vision. But I have no time. Today is cleaning day. Today is soccer practice. Today is a PTA meeting. Today is Picture Day! I’m under the impression that Picture Day has... Read More
Make a Run For It
I’d hoped to have another Wacky Wednesday video for you tonight, but I haven’t washed my hair since Friday, I’m sure I have broccoli in my teeth and I’m also quite certain that there is pee on my pants. I’m not sure if I should at least be happy that it isn’t my pee. If that’s not enough, my creativity keg has been tapped and sucked dry, and cramming six Saltines in my mouth in a minute just doesn’t sound very appealing right now. We’ve... Read More
Monkey Pea
There is a brand new, very temporary member of the Pea household. Gigi came from school with “Malibu the Monkey” yesterday. I’d caught wind the first day of school that there would be a “class pet” that each student would get a turn taking home. Gigi also informed me in a very serious tone that they were NOT supposed to sleep with Malibu. The hands on her hips and furrow in her brow told me that her teacher had been very clear on this... Read More
A Comfortable Fit
After nearly seven years of marriage and two kids, I’m finally ready to make a commitment. For the past five and a half years, I have been unemployed. Oh, I’ve been working. But having your name said five times in a row before talking your kid out of using questionable language doesn’t pay the bills. “Mommy. Mommy. Mommy. Mommy. Mommy.” What Gigi? “Does ‘kick’ rhyme with ‘dick’?” Yes, but let’s think of a different... Read More
A Few Acknowledgments
The “writer” part of my brain is fully spent. And now you have to suffer because of it. I finished up my book edits today and went as far as to write one of the most difficult parts of the book for me so far: the acknowledgments page. How could I possibly try to pinpoint only one page worth of people to acknowledge? “Readers” and “healthy living bloggers” made the cut (that’s you!). My mailman did not (I hope that’s not... Read More
Over It
Once upon a time, I was a law clerk. I felt pretty self important with my Department of Justice badge, my Department of Justice parking spot and my Department of Justice cubicle that I defaced with my full-sized Britney Spears poster, a “XOXOXO” frame with a picture of Pea Daddy and I from our “Law Prom,” and on my solitary hook, an ill-fitting polyester suit jacket that I’d bought on clearance in case I ever had to go to court. I was living... Read More
My Personal Trainer
Lulu has been potty trained for several months now. While we were in Disneyland, we made the leap from wearing a Pullup overnight to simply wearing “big girl panties.” I was happy to do the test run there for the sole reason that if there was an accident, I wouldn’t be the one changing the sheets. Don’t worry, there weren’t any wet beds, so we didn’t forfeit the right to have chocolates on our pillows. Phew. We carried this transition... Read More
Love in a Cup
Someone’s getting a little big for her britches. Gigi has been in kindergarten for a week and three days, and today I realized she has been grooming me the whole time. Each day as we pull up or walk to the front of the school, she’ll make what I presumed was an off-hand remark. “Oh look, there isn’t a free parking spot out front.” or “I better run ahead, I think I’m late!” I didn’t think much of it. It never even dawned on me... Read More
Peas on Film: Peas.0 (VIDEO)
House rules: 1. Don’t hit your sister with an umbrella for calling Wednesday “Wacky Wednesday.” 2. Pea Daddy isn’t allowed to fold towels. Ever. When you open the linen closet and nearly drown in an avalanche of terry cloth, you’ll understand why. “Towel wads” don’t stack. 3. Don’t say the “B” word. (Butt) 4. You must wear some sort of pants or skirt underneath sheer tutus. ... Read More
Disneyland: The Vegan Friendliest Place on Earth?
We’ve been back from Disneyland for a week and a half now, and I’m still surprised. Surprised that today was the first time I’ve cleaned a toilet and mopped the floor (we’ve been busy!). Surprised that Gigi was playing “Disneyland” this morning and was almost in tears because there was a “20- minute wait for the Teacups!” I love the imagination, but she needs to learn to have it work for her instead of against her. Surprised that... Read More
Taking Care of Business
We had a jam packed weekend. My Blackberry Cinnamon Rolls needed to be reshot for the book, so the family had to suffer through another batch. Poor tortured souls. Can you hear the screams of protest from here? And then there were the batches… and batches… of cookies. Lulu and Gigi failed to understand that they were intended for bake sale bidders, birthday girls and giveaway winners. . And I hope Pea Daddy’s middle finger isn’t any... Read More
If Pictures Could Talk
I wish it would stop raining…or at least that it would rain pickles. I wish Mom had bought sleeves. Seriously, woman, why the vest? Your torso was cold but your arms were burning up? Gigi may have signed up for soccer, but I didn’t sign up for this. Why were all the other numbers afraid of “7?” Because 7 8 9. Pink socks will make you, jump jump. Hey, I have a pink ball at home, if you want to trade that boring grey one… Pea aggressive…PE-EE... Read More
A Day of Mystery
I’m totally stumped as to how to thank all of you for your prayers and support based on yesterday’s post. How about a post on a Friday night, when I’m usually deep in my couch, a glass of red and my DVR? Here you go. First, some good news: though Rachael isn’t out of the woods yet, they removed the pump this evening and her heart is beating on its own. If all goes well she will be out of the ICU and into the cardiac unit tomorrow.... Read More
Friends
I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. And that there are strength in numbers. And that things happen for a reason. And that Cirque du Salahi is the stupidest book title ever, but that has nothing to do with the reason I am posting tonight, when by all outward appearances I probably shouldn’t be. It just so happens that “talking” to you all is one of the best parts of my day–a time when I can make all the crazy... Read More
Carpool Cool
I intentionally wore a dress today so that I didn’t have to worry about where my jeans hit my waist, if the back pockets took up most of the rear and if they were tapered down into white Keds. You see, I was in full “mom mode” today. A lot like when I made the transition out of Nordstrom’s Brass Plum into Point of View, I thought, “I’m much too young for this!” (As an aside, if you are over 22 and still... Read More
Smart as a Whip
I was a little disappointed when I learned Gigi would be in the afternoon kindergarten class this fall. I essentially wanted her to be done with school by noon so we could have the rest of the day to do what we wanted. I underestimated the amount of time it would take to get ready for school. How silly of me. She is a Pea after all. Gigi hopped out of bed this morning, on her first day of school, threw on her “after pajama clothes”... Read More
Softening the Blow
We’re home. It was not a smooth transition. Gigi cried a good portion of the way home. Huge tears fell down her cheeks, and such a sincere pained look crossed her face when she admitted, “I don’t want to go home!” that I choked up myself and said, “I don’t want to either, Geeg.” I was less embarrassed by our public display of affection for a theme park than I was to be that person on the plane that is... Read More
A Grand Hotel
To recap our Disney trip without mentioning our hotel would be a mistake. And I’ve now decided that staying anywhere other than Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Lodge on a family trip to Disney would also be a mistake. Though I wish I could tell you the hotel comped any portion of our rooms for this review, that would be a lie. And though I may be exhausted, have full blown bronchitis, a suitcase full of dirty laundry and Pillow... Read More
Postcard From the Peas: Day 2–Real Life Princesses
A real life Princess… is sometimes cranky before her royal breakfast. likes to drive her own rocket…or teacup…or spaceblaster, no matter how goofy she looks. doesn’t care if she gets pickle juice on her dress. Totally worth it. knows she doesn’t need hair extensions and blue eyeshadow to be beautiful (for three year-olds, really?!), but a tiara and some glitter do make her feel special. knows when to follow... Read More
Postcard from the Peas: Disney Day 1
I don’t even know where to start to tell you about all the fun we are having here at Disneyland. And we’ve only been here seven hours. I already have more photos than I can manage, and we haven’t even seen a Princess yet. Now a Playmate…that’s another story. Don’t worry, I won’t make you wait long for that one. Eventually I’ll get around to organizing my photos into neat little posts detailing our... Read More
Pack It Up, Pack It In
Let me begin. My day was packed, but sadly, not my suitcase. I still have 9 hours. That’s a lifetime. The hardest part of packing is making a list. I’m so anal meticulous I think that if I made a mistake I would have gotten out the White Out. They have places for people like me. You will note that there’s no “white jacket” on that list, though. But if there were, it would be in the “Layers” category of... Read More
The Cupcakes That Almost Weren’t
We said that this year Lulu’s birthday celebration would be moderate. We’re leaving for Disneyland in less than 36 hours, so I wasn’t about to throw a huge party, stay up all night piping frosting hair onto a Dora-shaped cake or run all over town looking for a blasted Pillow Pet. She’d probably want a Taylor Swift cake anyway. She’s not your average three-year old. (source) That’s a little frightening. I... Read More
Happy Birthday to Lu
It’s hard to believe that three years ago today I was cursing enough to fill three Swear Jars due to four, that’s right FOUR, failed epidurals. . You were completely worth it. I gaze at you with such wonder and adoration–that all eight pounds of glorious and PERFECT you could have come from me. I didn’t think I could love you more. And someone else held you in the highest of regard as well. Okay, two “someone else”s. The... Read More
A Fluff Piece
That last post was a little heavy, huh? I completely underestimated the amount of thoughtful feedback and support I would receive, via your comments and emails. I really cannot express to you how much it means to pour your heart into writing something that you feel so passionately about and to have others, even others with completely different views, respond with such positivity. I have such respect and high regard for you all, and it makes me... Read More
Making the Connection
It’s not often I get on a soapbox. It’s not often I even open a soapbox…cleaning isn’t really my thang. But for today, I hope you’ll humor me, because while humor usually is my thang peppered with some recipes, what I want to talk about today just really isn’t funny. You see, last night Pea Daddy and I passed up the Arrested Development and Tosh.0 episodes we had saved on the DVR and watched The Cove. There’s... Read More
