Happy Birthday Little Blog

My little blog and I have been together for one year now -- a happy, happy year.

Some people hold cool giveaways or contests in honor of their "blogiversaries." Isn't that a dreadful word? I am not going to do any of those things.

I thought I would just repost the first post I ever wrote. I really liked it at the time -- and I still do.

New Project! New Project!

I have been working, working working on a new project for the past two weeks and now I can finally share it with you all.

I am the new Chicago "City Expert" (their words, not mine) for a fabulous website called Savvy Source. I cannot tell you how excited I am to be involved with this project!

The site is designed to provide parents of preschoolers (ages 2-6) information on local preschools, classes, and activities. And that is where I come in. I am going to be posting to my Being Savvy: Chicago Blog every day (yikes!) about great (often free or low cost) activities for you and the little people in your life. Truth be told, this job is easy because Chicago has so much to offer families with little ones (after all of my research, our summer calendar is filling up already).

I hope you will check it out and leave a comment (a nice one, please). And if you aren't local, check out the drop down box, see if your city is listed and go check that blog out.

Now back to work . . . .

Some Sappy Reflections On My Brendan

Forgive me for a moment while I gush about my boy.

Brendan and I had our last Montessori Parent and Toddler Class today. Each class, the teacher hands out a clip board with a Montessori-related quote and the parent is supposed to make some reflections on their child. You would not believe the stupid things that I write (i.e. "Brendan seems happy today."). At the end of the session, the teacher gives each child a little bound book of their parent's reflections. I absolutely know that there will be a day when my children are the floor belly laughing about the totally uninspired things I wrote about them.

Today, the quote went something like this: "The first task of any Montessori instructor is to reflect on the individual personality of the child. Write about your child's personality."
I wrote, "My child is pure sweetness." What else could you possibly say about Brendan?

Her Debut

The Southern Belles in waiting.

And more waiting.

Then she dazzled.

A beautiful ballerina (with flowers from her cousin Finn).

This Is How Tired I Feel Today

A Ballet Dancing Dilemma

Eleanor has been taking ballet classes for about a year now. She loves them. She is cute as can be in her ballet outfit. The whole thing has been delightful.

Until now. This Saturday is her first ballet recital and it just seems . . . so intense for a four-year-old ballerina.

Here is a run-down of the recital experience thus far. First, we bought the costume (a $75 Southern Belle get-up). Just wait -- I am sure I will be posting pictures. Then we bought the tickets for the entire supportive family to attend. Next was the hair and MAKE UP demonstration for the parents. Turns out, Ellie doesn't have enough hair for a proper ballerina bun, so they want me to buy a blond hair piece to attach to her pony tail. Doesn't that seem silly? In order to attempt the hair, I have already purchased gel, hairspray, and bobby pins. I am still on the hunt for a hair net and this fake hair piece thing that sounds totally gross. And make up? Really? I am inclined to say that I don't want her to wear make up, but then I wonder if I won't be making it into a bigger deal by not letting her have a little lip gloss. Then I bought the video for those who aren't able to attend but still want to catch the big debut. Wait, there is more.

Ellie and I have to be at the venue at 10:30 on Saturday morning for a dress rehearsal, then a hair fix up (which we will surely need). Parents are supposed to wait with the dancers and bring a packed lunch (pb and j for both of us). The show starts at 1:00 and Ellie's class goes on at 2:00. Then the dancers have to stay for the final bow which will take place around 3:00.

I am getting tired just thinking about it. What a long day! Is this even going to be fun for her? I am not sure I have it in me to be a stage Mom.

Am I crabby? Or is this nuts?

Six Random Things About Me

My Chicago Mom Blog friend Cindy (check out her thoughtful blog here) tagged me to list six random things about myself. She actually tagged me about a month ago and I am just getting around to it now (with apologies for my tardiness). Here goes.

ONE: My favorite book is The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. When I was dating my (now) husband, he bought me a first edition and I absolutely knew that I had to get him to marry me.

TWO: I am a little bit obsessed with grapefruits. I probably ate over one hundred grapefruits this past winter. I like grapefruit-scented candles, body scrub, cleaning supplies, dish soap -- pretty much whatever I can find.

THREE: Despite the fact that I am nearly thirty-two years old, I still have trouble telling my left hand from my right. I am serious. Those who have driven in a car with me can attest to this bizarre handicap.

FOUR: I have a container of powedered, sugary hot chocolate hidden in the back of one of my cabinets and I make myself a secret cup when my kids are napping. Addict.

FIVE: One of my favorite indulgences is the $7.99 bunch of oriental lilies from Trader Joe's. I put them in a vase next to my bed and the oh-so-lovely smell tricks me into thinking that I am waking up in a B&B in the south of France, heading downstairs for a breakfast of freshly-baked croissants.

SIX: I am the slowest runner on the face of the earth. Strangely slow. Always last in gym class slow. If my toddler got up a good head of steam, he could beat me in a foot race.

Now for the tricky part -- who to tag. I don't have too many blogging buddies and I have another tagging waiting for me to do later this week, so I am going to break the rules and only tag three people.

Christina at MamaNeena

Carrie at My Funny, Funny Family

Jen at the EcoChic UrbanOrganizer

Here are the rules ladies:

Link to the person that tagged you.

Post the rules on your blog.

Write six random things about yourself in a blog post.

Tag six (my amendment: tag however many people you want to) people.

Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their post.

Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.

Well, that was kind of fun!