29 May

Category

Friday Firsts: First Time Shaving

7

(Read about Red’s first over at The Naked Redhead.)

Anyone who has been reading this “Friday Firsts” series should know by now that I have a horrible memory. Knowing that, I give you the story of my first time shaving. All dates are approximate.

Though I lack the beautiful olive-colored skin of the Italian folk, I swear to you, readers, my paternal great-grandparents came over on the boat from Italy. And while God did not bestow upon me some of the coveted attributes of the Italian people, he was gracious enough to bless me with copious amounts of dark hair on my legs.

Can you feel the sarcasm dripping from that last sentence? Well? Can you?

(I think) It was the summer after my fourth-grade year, and finally sick of sporting a forest on my legs, I grabbed one of my mom’s razors while I was in the tub and chopped through the brush (I said brush, people) as best I could. Finally unashamed of my legs, I threw on a pair of shorts and headed outside.

I had a great time playing with the neighborhood kids…until my sister joined us, noticed my smooth-as-a-baby’s-ass legs and sold me out to my mother. Nice. Thanks.

My mom’s wasn’t thrilled with me, even though I told her that it wasn’t my fault! The razor had fallen into the really, really, REALLY(?) murky water and just kind of, well, shaved a bit of my leg on its own. At that point, well, what could I do? I couldn’t walk around missing a patch of hair on my legs, could I? I *had* to even them out, and since I couldn’t regrow my hair at will, I had to shave it all off.

Made sense to me. Mom, well…not so much.

How about you? Was your first time shaving traumatic?

Want more? Check out the Crossover Blog archive!

29 May

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Asides

TMM Inspiration

0

Looking for some get-out-of-debt-inspiration? Then head on over to The Fierce Beagle to read Part 1 of Erin’s Total Money Makeover series of posts.

27 May

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Parent on Duty

1

I am so, SO grateful for my husband.

Josh didn’t get home from work until nearly 11 last night after having worked for twelve hours. Upon his arrival, he turned to me and told me how sorry he was that I wasn’t able to take time off from work to rest, and that he planned on assuming the role of “Parent on Duty” in the morning and letting me sleep/relax until he had to leave for work at around noon.

This morning? Boy, oh boy… my husband delivered.

Josh got up with Jude and closed the bedroom door, which allowed me to sleep in until 9! While I was sleeping, the boys watched a video or two, had breakfast, and Josh cleaned the kitchen, scooped the litter boxes, and swept the second bathroom. He also packed his lunch/dinner for the day (he won’t be home until at least 9 tonight). After breakfast, Josh got Jude ready and took him on a shopping trip to WholeFoods and left me home to drink tea/eat breakfast/read/relax. Have I mentioned how grateful I am for this man of mine?

I think I’m on my way to the upswing of this illness. All the congestion in my head is breaking up and moving out. Jude also seems to be a bit better, and again, for that I’m really grateful.

Right now it’s nap time for the boy, and I’m going to adhere to my husband’s orders to “rest when the boy rests.” After heating up my therapeutic rice sock, I’m going to lie down and cuddle up with my son. I’m working on getting Jude’s Flickr set updated, so keep an eye out for some new pics in the next day or two!

26 May

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Cough, Cough

1

Upon our arrival home from our trip to PA, Josh came down with a wicked sinus infection. He ended up staying home from work all of last week, and even today, he’s not feeling fantastic.

I had really, REALLY hoped that Jude and I wouldn’t catch any bit of what Josh had, but hoping is for suckers, I guess. My throat has been sore for the past few mornings, and today I feel horrible. Jude has had some goopey eyes for a few days, but had been fine otherwise. Until last night, that it. I’ve never really heard Jude cough before, but last night he coughed more than he has in the past two years combined. Okay, so he had two coughing fits. It wasn’t a ton, but it was a lot for him. Also, he went to be at 5pm yesterday and didn’t get up until 7am today. I think it’s safe to say that both he and I are a bit under the weather.

To treat Jude’s cough, I took a note out of Aviva Jill Romm’s book, Naturally Healthy Babies and Children. I mixed one half teaspoon of honey with equal parts fresh lemon juice and fresh ginger juice (squeezed from the gratings of a one-inch piece of ginger). Jude let me feed it to him on a spoon without any fuss. I’ll be making more for him (and for me!) after nap time today.

I’m planning a quiet day indoors for the boy and myself today. There’s a 60% chance of rain and with both of us feeling as crummy as we do, I think some videos, hot tea, and cuddles are in order.

25 May

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

What's for Dinner?

Menu for May 25-30, 2009

1

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After two week off from meal planning and regular cooking, I’m trying my damnedest to get back on the wagon.

Breakfast
Cold Cereal and/or Cottage Cheese/Greek Yogurt with Fresh Fruit and Toast

Lunch/Dinner
Pasta with Marinara Sauce
Rice and Bean Burritos
Homemade Pizza
Pasta with Fresh Basil, Grape Tomatoes, Garlic, and Mozzarella Cheese and Homemade Bread
ALT Sandwiches with Hummus and a Salad
Roasted Eggplant with Feta with a side of Brown Rice, Cumin-Roasted Chickpeas, and a Greek Salad

Want more? Check out the Weekly Menus archive.

Need more dinner ideas? Check out Jenna’s Chive Talkin’ Blog!

24 May

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Asides

Some Days

0

Some days I only like the boy when he’s sleeping. Today is one of those days. *sigh*

24 May

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Birthday Party

0

Yesterday we had a small birthday party to celebrate Jude turning two (2!) years old. Josh’s two sisters and his brother-in-law are here visiting for the weekend, so they got to join in the fun with us and our friends. We started the party playing on the play structures and with Jude’s new tee-ball set (thanks Grandma and Grandpa!) at the Touhy Park playground and then headed into our apartment for cake and ice cream. We finished out the day with a shopping trip to Target that ended up in a full-blown meltdown by the birthday boy.

(Much to everyone’s surprise) I made Jude’s birthday cake-an apple cake-and it rocked the house. I asked for recipe suggestions on Twitter, and a few people (namely Celine and Kathryn) came through for me. However, the recipe I eventually ended up using (with a few modifications) was from All Recipes. The original recipe is here. I substituted a cup of unsweetened applesauce for the oil and only used 1.5 cups of raw Turbino sugar. I also left the peel on the apples. The cake was super yummy and very moist. It was just sweet enough, and it didn’t need any icing (though a dusting of powdered sugar would have complemented it well). We served it with Breyer’s Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Chocolate Chip ice cream. Jude loved both of his sweet treats and ate a good deal of each.

My brother-in-law, Grant, has a really, really nice camera, so stay tuned for pics from the party and the rest of our fun-filled weekend!

I hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day weekend. Look for next week’s menu tomorrow afternoon/evening!

22 May

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Crossover Blog

Friday Firsts: First Make-Up

0

Friday Firsts: First Make-Up

(Read about Red’s first over at The Naked Redhead.)

I’ve given my mother quite a few gray hairs over the years. Drinking, partying… you get me. However, if there is one thing I didn’t give my mother grief about, it was make-up. Honestly, she got lucky. I was an athlete from a young age and rarely found the time or saw a need to pile crap on my face that would likely be sweated of in a matter of minutes. So, mom dodged having to deal with the “BUT EVERYONE IS WEARING BLUE EYESHADOW!!!!” argument, and I grew up plain-faced and lacking an understanding of how to apply simple make-up basics like foundation.

In high school, I occasionally purchased some concealer or powder; if I was feeling especially daring, I would try applying eyeliner. Their use was always short-lived. For the most part, and for better or worse (depends on who you ask), I’ve made it more than 27 years without having a make-up routine. At this point in my life, well… let’s just say that I occasionally wear chapstick.

Want more? Check out the Crossover Blog archive!

21 May

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Letter to Jude: Month 24

3

Dear Jude,

Well, Monkey–we made it! Two years of living and loving and laughing (interspersed with a touch of whining, crying, and screaming–but I’m not too concerned with remembering those times) are in the books. In the 24 months that you’ve been on the outside, I’ve barely ever left your side. We’ve woken up together and gone to sleep together; read together and played together; made messes together and cleaned together. You’ve made my life absolutely wonderful.

Last week we traveled to Pennsylvania to visit family and friends. Most mornings we played with Grandma Rose and Great-Grandpa. We ate breakfast at Abe’s a few times and played at Nay Aug park. You got to meet Jessica, a friend of mine from high school, and your Uncle Richie drove up from Philly to visit with you as well. We stayed with Uncle Scott and Aunt Demi for the duration of our trip, and you had so, SO much fun playing with Nolan, Eli, and Luke (and Chloe, their dog!). On Saturday evening, we prayed and played with the Peacemeal community (and your Uncle Doug). You really enjoyed yourself last week…so did Papa and I.

The cold weather has (finally!) broken here in Chicago *knocks wood.* This new development has made our days both easier and tougher for the both of us. On the one hand, we get to play outside! A lot! On the other hand, being outside all day makes it hard for me to get any cooking or cleaning done, and that has made our evenings a bit more hectic than I would like.

For your birthday, Papa and I got you a real toddler-sized acoustic guitar. You’ve been “strumming” your broom and push toy for a while now, so Papa and I though you might enjoy a real instrument. As soon as you saw the box, you started saying “a-tar! a-tar!” You quickly became accustomed to strumming the guitar strings, and in a matter of minutes, Papa had rigged one of his guitar straps to fit you! You had a great time tonight, rocking out and dancing. Your face radiated joy… I think you like your birthday gift.

Tomorrow we move into the third year of your life. I’m excited to see what lies ahead, but at the same time am sad that you’re growing up so very quickly. Sleep well tonight, little two-year-old. Rest knowing that Mama and Papa love you.

Love,
Mama

20 May

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Josh

A 31-Hour Journey

4

Dear Josh,

I’m setting this post to publish at 3:00am EST, because two years ago, at approximately that time, you and I began the 31-hour journey to Jude’s birth together.

Every month, around the 21st, I write a letter to Jude to celebrate another month of his life. Tonight I write to celebrate you and all you did for me during what were the hardest hours of my life to date.

Do you remember walking around the neighborhood during the morning hours on the day before Jude was born? We stopped for every contraction and you would hug me and hold me and help me relax. We looked at all the well-manicured lawns and picked which ones would be nice to sit down on if I needed someplace to rest. I think we called it “birthing waves grass” or something like that. I was in the midst of using my Hypnobabies cues, so it was appropriate.

What I remember most about those hours leading up to Jude’s birth is you. I kept you in focus, and you were always there for me. Do you remember what Dhyana and Mary said? They had never seen a couple like us before–a wife who completely trusted her husband, and a husband who was more attentive and present than anyone they had met at any previous birth. Normal life isn’t as painful as those 31 hours were, but the rest of the details of that experience still hold true: You are my focal point in life. I trust you without question. You are always attentive of my needs and present with me. I notice these things and want you to know that I know that they aren’t little or insignificant parts of our life together. I love you and I feel so, so blessed to have a partner as wonderful as you.

Love,
Me *=