Oakley Sunglasses



I hadn't seen the value to a good pair of sunglasses until I moved to Southern California. For the first few years, I had a string of cheap conquests from Target, but the sun in California is about one million times the strength it is in Pennsylvania, and I'm not exaggerating. One day after squinting my entire drive down the Coast Highway I decided I would splurge for a good pair of glasses and went on the hunt. I went in one surf shop and tried on one pair. This is them. I love them. They are my life. Thomas should give me a Mother's Day gift because of the way I baby these things.

I made this pasta dish last night for dinner. It's from one of my favorite recipe blogs, 24 Boxes. I couldn't wait to try it, I love asparagus and most of all I love goat cheese. The sauce is very simple and the entire meal comes together quickly. (I will definitely apply the sauce technique to other meals in the future.) I think I'm going to add some roasted red pepper next time to give more color and some extra pizazz, because we all need more pizazz in our lives!

Click here to download the recipe.

... well at least from the top of your car!

I'm very grateful to a loyal reader who when presented with a perfect opportunity took a photo that touches my heart.

Situation 1: I picked up my iPhone to put it in the microwave rather than the mashed potatoes I intended to heat only narrowly noticing my mistake.

OR

Situation 2: Thomas striding into the kitchen to let me know he's hungry but instead proclaiming, "I'm pregnant!"

Bird nest and handmade beads



I would never claim that my home fits into a certain decorative style. Everything that's in our we have on display has a good story behind it (like the sleeper sofa I scored for 50 bucks) or we just really like it (like all those martini glasses on every shelf, I really like those.) That includes this little bird nest. I found it nestled in a white rose bush, took it home and gave it a place right on our fireplace. It needed a little something more so, like colorful little eggs I tucked these hand-felted wool beads into their new home.

Here it is Monday again. We're all having a rough time getting started. The weekend went by too quickly and I don't think we've had enough time to recover. Friday started with a fun night of baking, drinking and playing Wii. Well, the guys played Wii while Jane and I talked about everything from unnecessary vodka packaging to Jazzercise moves. Jane says I no longer look like a marionette but rather a Rockette! Sadly I am a tiny bit too tall to be in the famous Rockette lineup, but I'm sure if I let them know I was available they'd change the height requirements just to let me perform.

Saturday was busy, Thomas and I ran errands where I tried to convince him I need one of these. My efforts have not been successful. But we did see the Matrix or maybe it was part of the Trench Coat Mafia, not sure. This guy was in a full-length black trench-coat. Did I mention it was an absolutely perfect 72 and sunny? I guess that's why I like going to Fry's with Thomas - for the ever-exciting people watching. We moved on and had sushi for lunch. Later we met up with a group of friends for a crazy night of cocktails and dinner.

On Sunday things didn't slow down. I got up for 8:15 am Jazzercise and even stayed for a second class immediately following the first. (I got overly excited because on Saturday I fit into a pair of pants that had been obscenely tight in previous months.) I came home to a recumbent Thomas so I decided to snuggle in and work on my knitting. I've been working on the Manos del Uruguay Four Seasons Throw.



Block 3 is really throwing me for a loop (pun intended). I don't normally make many mistakes on my knitting but thanks to Thomas tying me to a chair and propping my eyes open with toothpicks just to get me to watch a TV show he likes, I got all out of order on my rows. I was marking down that I had finished rows three ahead of where I currently was! It's his fault. I know it.

Even after minor defeat I was still feeling crafty and decided to haul out my summer skirt project. A few weeks ago I bought the Amy Butler Barcelona Skirt pattern from Sowing Sisters along with a cute fabric by Kitty Yoshida.



The pattern is a lot of pieces but it was a lot of fun to sew. It's fully lined with muslin and nearly done. I just have to stitch the hems. I hope to wear it on Wednesday, I know all my knitter friends will be so (sew?) excited about it! I wish I could sit down and finish it right now, but my Monday morning list of things to do is long, but I know I will power through it all because this charmer greeted me when I let the dogs out this morning.