Things of late

By Lyndsey ErcanbrackBy by lby lyndsey ercanbrack
Fabric shopping.

Wondering why it's so much easier to find fabric for my clients.

Area rug shopping.

Wondering why it's so much easier to find area rugs for my clients.

For the first time in my life, acne cream shopping. I know, I'm an absolute basket case due to this recent turn of events. Thus causing more acne. Thus causing me to be even more of a basket case. Thus causing...  (Vicious cycle)

Trying to self manage my OCD.

Dark circles under my eye cream shopping.

Trying to watch  No Country for Old Men.  I'm getting in about fifteen minutes a night. Still worth it. This movie has more classic one liners than any other movie. Of course barring all Clint Eastwood films.

Trying to figure out why my eight year old daughter's favorite TV show is The Discovery Channel's "I shouldn't be alive".

Jetblueing.

Wishing I had time to catch up on Dexter. I'm only two seasons behind.  Three years ago, I was obsessed with this show. No one watched it then.  Now everywhere I go people are talking about it.  The last straw was the other day at my brother's house. I noticed the  Dexter dvds on his counter and he asked me if I'd ever heard about it. Hello? I tried getting him to watch it three bloody years ago.

Cleaning up throw up. Poor Vivi. Poor Liam.

Still trying to get through Catching Fire. I've only been reading this book for five months.

Eating lots of carrott cake. My new favorite treat.

Soaking my muscles in the tub. M mm, I love this one.

Still trying to be the best mom and wife in the world. I have a feeling I'm getting closer...  Right.

Dinnering with girlfriends is one of my favorite activitays.

 Some People...

To the man in the Home Depot line that was charged $14.97 for a wire that you were  sure was at least $20.00. Yeah, that's right, you with the twenty five people in line behind you. Uh huh, the one who when the cashier told you she couldn't find the right SKU because Old Bob in electrical was at lunch and there was no one else there to find the right price, and  she was fine with charging you a comparable price, but you told her you couldn't sleep at night if  you didn't pay what you owed. Yeah, that's right  buddy... I was behind you. Tired, hungry and I really had to pee.


I would tell you...


Sleep well tonight.


But, I am sure you already do.

Come again?

It was a beautifully serene morning. I was driving Nadia to school and we were discussing her college options. She is planning on attending  NYU... Her idea, not mine. Of course, I couldn't be more pleased by this astute  and "quick on the uptake" (as they say) decision.  We were both getting excited as we were talking about where she would live, how she would get to school, the style in New York...  Everything was going just perfectly when I mentioned to her that NYU has a great architectural program. Again, her idea, not mine...


Or so I thought.


When she said...


"You know mom, I am not going to be an architect anymore."


"I am going to be a professional wrestler."


"Or a security guard."


My reaction?


#@$!&*%$


Ok sweetie.

My inspiration.

.

A little of this. A lot of that.

Perfect example of taking very traditional bones and kicking

 it up with modern furnishings. Great juxtaposition.

Traditional bones blended with contemporary colors. Love it!

(My living room is very similar.)

You can't go wrong with replacing upper cabinets with the

classic look of subway tile. Gives a very commercial feel. I love it

with the rough hewn lumber.

So timeless.

So romantic.

So perfect.
Are you noticing a trend?

(Traditional with a contemporary kick.)

By the look of the herringbone floors and ceiling height, I'm guessing

 Parisian apartment, circa 1890. I am in love with this

style. This is the very idea I fashioned my home after.

Who wouldn't want these yiddle sheepy's in their family room?

Oh, and great use of color. I am having a green sofa just like this one
being made right now.

Love, Love, Love this.

Shades of white with a punch of blue. So voguish.

Great archictural interest, I would rather have

small rooms (not that this one is small) with high ceilings than

large rooms with low ceilings. Any bloody day.

I love these balloon shades. The colors are stunning.

Very smart to pair them with this lovely damask wallpaper.

*I don't have a pink room, but I wouldn't mind one.*

H mm, why does this very traditional room look contemporary?

Have I taught you nothing my young padawans?

Very good, the color! This is my color scheme.

Now that we have the interiors straightened out,

Mandy can start designing my landscape...

I want this.

And this.

And this.

Am I asking too much?

I miss you guys
.

Jenny and Ang

I love this. What a cool girl.

The little things I adore
They  mean the most

By Lyndsey Ercanbrack

...movies that make me cry

...the smell of baby breath

...organizing drawers and closets
.

...watching my children laugh together

...randomly speaking in Spanish or French

...books that make me cry

...getting cozy on blustery days

...laughing with my husband

...speeding down hill on a bike

...seeing old couples hold hands

...playing competitive scrabble

...cream cheese frosting

...rain at the swimming pool
.

...watching my children play make believe (my favorite)

...remembering when

To German

                                 
Here is my baby. Lets just do it. 48 x 108. I want to keep the wood looking totally raw with just a clear matte lacquer finish. I am afraid the lacquer will make it have some amber hues, so perhaps a very diluted espresso stain will counter act that effect.

Dr. Seuss How did you get so smart?

Did you know that have always been in love with Dr. Seuss? It is true. I think my love affair started when I was just a wee babe and my dad would read the classics to us. Then, when I became a mommy,  The Dr. suess collection was one of my first purchases. I wanted to introduce my children to his visionary, picturesque world.  The imaginative characters, the rhymes and use of trisyllabic meter makes for a great frolic. I know that a lot of people think his books are full of  gibberish and tomfoolery. Gibberish? Not to me. Tomfoolery? Absolutely. That's what makes him so bloody great! ( And wise beyond his years.)

Sometimes I lay in bed and think about some of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes. Yes, I am 32. why do you ask?


Today you are you,                                                             
that is truer than true.
There is no one alive
who is youer than you.

If you never did, you should.
These things are fun and
fun is good.

And you will succeed?
Yes indeed, Yes indeed!
Ninety-eight and three-quarters
percent gauranteed.

Be who you are and say what you feel,
because those who mind don't matter,
and those who matter don't mind.

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me. (My fav)

When beetles fight these battles in a bottle with their paddles
and the bottle's on a poodle and the poodle's eating noodles...
...they call this a muddle puddle tweetle poodle beetle noodle
bottle paddle battle.
 
We are all a little weird and life's a little weird,
and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours,
we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.
 
If you'd never been born, then you might be an Isn't!
An Isn't has no fun at all. No, he disn't.
 
Poor empty pants
with nobody inside them. (My other fav)
 
I'm afraid that sometimes you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win 'cause you'll play against you.
 
All those Nupboards in the Cupboards they're good fun to have about.
But that Nooth gush on my tooth brush.....Him I could do without.
 
 
And there you have it...There are many more that I am absolutely mad about, but if I post them all, each one won't stand out because they are all so wonderful. Did I mention that I used Dr. Seuss references in a talk I gave in sacrament? Yes, It was a success. You can't go wrong with Dr. S.

Mitigation

In regards to my  "fact" post, I hope that I have not offended any of my Catholic or gay readers.  If I have, please accept my apology. And if you are a gay Catholic, I double apologize...

Someday...

I know this is laden with cheese...

You don't have to tell me twice.

 but I like it nonetheless.

This is style

Daryl Carter, you are a genius. And a true swashbuckler.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Welcome to the thirty second year of my life.
Let us make it an agreeable one.

 FACT  32 years, 32 facts

Bears are faster than... (Oh sorry, wrong set of facts)

 FACT:

1. I have had ulcers since I was eight years old. When I get stressed or panic, they still bleed.  

Writing lists help me to stay calm and functional.

2. My earliest memory is of  me eating finger paint at Mrs. Burgon's preschool.

3. My brother once convinced me that the blinking red lights I could see from my bedroom window was  The Great Wall of China. I believed him until I was 16 and driving down the road and saw those same blinking red lights.

4.While on the subject... when I was seven, that same brother told me that while the rest of my family belonged to the LDS church, I was a Catholic because I hadn't been baptized. I cried because I thought all Catholics smoked and mowed their lawns in yellowed wife beaters. I didn't want anything to do with that.
He and the rest of my siblings even made up a song about me and Catholicism, I would cry even more. Where was my mom during all of these hotfooted shenanigans? H mm, that's a good question.

5. My happy place is fabric, paint and old houses. Often times I fall asleep to them. (Or with them... but that's for another time.)

6. I'm not a feminist according to today's standards, but in some circles I am considered as thus. And
I am okay with that.

7. I pre-heat my sheets every night with a blow dryer. To me, nothing is more comforting than forced heat.

8. If I had it my way, I would wear sweat pants, tight t shirts and Uggs everywhere I went.

9. When my little children are emotional, I encourage them... thus making them more emotional and allowing  me to hold and comfort them longer.

10. I lack the desire to make friends. But when I do, I am loyal to the end.

11. Accents = automatically  fascinating and beautiful people.
 
12. I  listen to other people's conversations and critique what they are saying and how they are saying it. Sometimes I go as far as correcting them in a mumble. ( I know...  I need to get a life)
 
13. I have OCD to an extreme. More "O" than "C".
 
14. I am a bit of a procrastinator when it comes to certain things. The more work I have to do (like today, for example), the longer I will do something else. (Like this, for example.)
 
15. I talk to myself. And usually in an English accent. Also on this subject... I swear an awful lot to myself. The worse the word, the better I feel. Swearing to myself in an English accent always pleases me. (Feel free to email me at any time during this read and let me know if you think I need professional help.)
 
16. I get major offended when people say anything of mine  is "darling". Puke. (Unless it is used in  reference to my children.)
 
17. My mom has babied me my whole life. I baby my children and will continue to do so their whole life.
 
18. I don't alter myself  for anyone or anything.
 
19. Judging by the way I look, people assume I am high maintenance. I am not. Not even close.
 
20. I have received a few black eyes in my day... One from a mosh pit, one from snowboarding. My mom would have disagreed, but if you ask me, all were a badges of honor.
 
21. I am a very talented interior designer. I know what I am doing in this respect and I take great pride in it.
 
22. I have twirled my hair since I was a baby. Violently at times, rendering less than desirable bald spots in my hair... you were right Grandma.
 
23. I touch the tip of my  nose with my index finger when I am thinking.
 
24. I have several daft fears, but the biggest one is definitely my fear of mice.
Side story: When we were first married, Tom told me he saw a mouse in the kitchen of our apartment. I couldn't sleep that night, every movement, every noise, every thought was  that damn mouse. The next day I informed the landlord we would be out by the end of the week. (That's when  we bought our first house.)
***Tom has since decided if he ever sees a mouse again, I will find out over his dead body.***
 
25. I am psychic. Truly. (Which makes Tom's resolve on number twenty four futile.)
 
26. Not to generalize, but most gay women have a strong disdain for me . One yelled at me just the other day. I am still trying to figure out why.
 
27. I am not easily intimidated by people or things.
 

Sorry if this is painful for you, my sweet readers... I am enjoying myself quite a bit. Don't worry, I'm almost done.

 

28. I was the best driver in my entire drivers ed. class and the only one who got to drive on the freeway.
 
29. In reference to number twenty eight, I assume I was the best driver because when I was fourteen my best friend and I use to sneak her mother's car at night and drive downtown, just to turn around and come back. (Glenda, If you are reading this I am sorry.)

30.When I was little, my mom nicknamed me bizzy wizzy because I was always keeping myself  "bizzy". Nothing has changed there.
 
31. I amuse myself. I find me to be quite a kick.
 
32. Birthday? Hardly. I celebrate Birthweek.  (It's my favorite holiday)


And in other news...
Blue is my new favorite color.

I have no title for this one.

So it will remain title-less

By Lyndsey Ercanbrack

I am a very busy woman these days... So when I need to make a run to a store, so what if I require my children to eat at that store? In this particular case, I was running to Ikea to pick up a set of napkins...

Side Note: Ikea has very cool decorative napkins for all celebratory merriments.

So back to the story at hand...

Side Note # 2: I am going to start abbrieviating that phrase to BTTSAH, since I use it so often.

While casually mentioning to the children that we would be dining at Sweden's finest charcuterie for lunch, I never heard such an outburst from my sweet, yet extremely finicky children. And to think...  When I was little I was lucky to squeeze a drive through  happy meal out of my parents.  And, I would have done nearly anything for a dinner at the local Sizzler.  (Which my kids turn their nose up to.)  If  Ikea would have been around when I was growing up, I would have been in seventh heaven to blend my three favorite things together... food, furniture and fun. (Of course, I was not always a furniture snob... So Ikea would have fit that bill just swimmingly.) None was more disgusted with the idea of eating at Ikea as Garrett. In his exact words  "What? we are eating at that place??? That's like Walmart opening a restaurant and calling it 'Walmart  the Restaurant', and we eat there... It's not funny mom, it's disgusting!"  

So, my question/concern is this: Why are times so different that my children don't enjoy the little things? Things that would have put me on cloud cuckoo-land when I was little, don't do a thing for my children. They're not even phased by  them. I would be lying if  I said this didn't break my heart. The little things were what use to make me so happy. Those are the things I look back on with the most happiness.

I am wondering what little things they will look back on with fond memories?

Just something for me to think about.

Oh, and Garrett, You have eaten at Walmart... It's called the deli. ;)

Loves,

I am a wife. Mother. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Teacher.
I wear a  lot of different hats. As William Shakespeare said

"All the world's a stage."  He must have been talking to women.

 Indeed, we  have a lot of roles to play... But if we can be true to ourselves,  all the different facets of what make us who we are will shine through and allow us to be the women we need to be for all those important people in our lives.

This is a beautiful ballad from  a writer in England Named Nikki Dudley.
It's from her collection called exits/origins. So if you fancy a good read,
take a gander at this one...


“The sky is turning itself

inside, out,” you said

and the cars were barriers to our escape.

The sky flapped like a (bird) caught in

my mouth tasted like blood

as I looked up to check: turning/ plastic bodies rolling over.

EYE IMAGINE the what are, what are you looking

at stranglers? Please hold my hand.

“It scares me,” you said, flipping an eye shut/ drive towards

Ex- but don’t, please don’t, let the tires scream

Won’t jump out/hold on

Won’t jump on/hold out

Want to wake up in the darkness and know you’re a life, or is it beating, beating fortune?

Call

Not just any other day

Wow, It has been a busy few weeks. Lots of big events for our family. First, Nadia turned eight years old on February 12. Then Liam turned five on March 1, or as he use to say when he was little, the First of Marc. (I already miss those days.) I am having my birthday week next week, and we are in our final push for the new house... but the most important affair occurred today.

My precious Nadia Marie was baptized. It was a very virtuous and edifying event. She looked absolutely dazzling in her white dress, but that is not what made her beautiful today. It was her valiant  glow that lit up her face that made her unmistakably  stunning. I was so proud to see her make this noble decision to be baptized and receive the most glorious gift  in the world. It was clear that she too, was proud of her decision. Of course we had all our family there. Aunt Mandy gave an amazing talk on baptism and Garrett said such a sweet closing prayer. Afterwards, we partied  like rock stars at a restaurant where we ate way too much and laughed way too loud... Just the usual. It was the perfect way to celebrate Nadia and her very significant day.



I love you, Nadia!!!  I am so proud of you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIAM!!!

Happy birthday to the funniest, most tender little boy in the world. No one can make me laugh like you can. You are so talented and smart! But what I love most about you is your heart. It is so big and you wear it right on your sleeve. I love how you protect your sisters. I love how you look up to Garrett. I love that you have such an appreciation for music. It kills me how you can sing along with all the songs mommy sings to. I love your passion... but most of all, I just love you!

For Liam's big five, we went to Pirate Island. He really wanted to go to Chucky Cheese, but unfortunately, when we called to make arrangements they were closed for cleaning . (Ok, you know I'm lying because we all know Chucky Cheese has never cleaned, but that's what we shamelessly, selfishly told our son.) Honestly, as far as he was concerned as long as it got to be a pajama party, he didn't care where it was. So we all went to Pirate Island for a pajama pirate pizza party. It was very fun and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a fun childrens party. All of his aunts and uncles and grandparents were there and he had an amazing time. What a lucky boy to be surrounded by so many people that love him so much!