Current Books: Hard Laughter by Anne Lamott.  Honestly as much as I love Anne Lamott, I’m not super into it…  This is one of her first publications so it’s a bit rough around the edges (as I know my writing is… I’m not criticizing, just comparing with her other works) but since I am die-hard committed to finishing a book when I start it, I am… fingers crossed the climax comes sooner rather than later.

Current Playlist: Since the David Gray concert that is all I seem to be playing, over and over again (a later blog about that night to come soon)…  In the meantime, I will put up with Jon and his eye rolling berating!

Current Guilty Pleasure: A recent shopping trip to Whole Foods has made me want to go again.  Can’t wait for Saturday!

Current Color: Wearing a lot of gray lately, kind of melancholy mood, it must be the sky turning dark purple at 4 o’clock that makes me feel this way…

Current Drink: Good Earth Organic Sweet & Spicy Tea

Current Food: Butternut Squash with Rosemary…  I make one or two every week this time of year

Current Favorite Show: ANTM, Major no brainer guilty pleasure show… Season finale on this evening

Current Wishlist: A new snow coat and pants to wear to Colorado next month

Current Needs: Clean out my desk that is hiding all my bills which really ought to be sorted by now.

Current Triumphs:  Going to the gym this week.  I really miss making this part of my weekly life.  Ugh, Hate restarting routines! 

Current Bane Of My Existence: Finances, what else is new, same Gina, different day!

Current Celebrity Crush: Um,  contrary to the girls at works opinions, I must say Robert Pattinson.  I know, I know, I’ve had my period well over ten years, really Gina, how hip do you really think you need to be?!? 

Current Indulgence:  Lorina Sparkling French Berry Lemonade.

Current Blessing: All the fun events that are just around the corner!

Current Slang: Um, hoping for some “Bling” this holiday?

Current Outfit: VS stretchy yoga pants and a sweatshirt

Current Excitement: Thanksgiving and spending time with family!

Current Mood: melancholy.

Current Link: sad to say, but probably my own personal GoogleReader lately!

Talk about a lean, mean, Lego-playing, tricycle riding, bodybuilding machine!  This kid is going to grow up with some MAJOR daddy issues, listen to the Romanian counting and you’ll see what I mean…

For those who may be unfamiliar with David Gray’s music he has a Bob Dylan-esque voice that is raspy, soulful, deep and tranquilizing!  Since I have an attraction to all things melancholy, he is my Favorite Artist Of All Time!  To say he is just talented is a belittlement; he is a song writer, composer, instrumental musician, and has a voice that could make Antarctica melt.  His lyrics paint beautifully descriptive pictures of true raw emotions.  So many times I have replayed a certain song over and over simply because it felt applicable to a situation going on in my own life. Does anyone else do this?

Clicking on Ticketmaster I discovered they were sold out, therefore I had to go to other websites, like StubHub, in order to procure tickets for the event.  Of course there is a huge markup fee, but hey, it’s DAVID GRAY and the last time he’s toured in the States (he is from England) was over 4 years ago!  Since I am a poor girl who lives paycheck to paycheck, I did everything short of getting on my knees and begging Jon to treat me to this concert.  I meant every word too — NO more dinners out, NO more movies out, THIS would be my Christmas present and then some….

Needless to say, because he loves me and I have the sweetest guy in world; it didn’t take much for him to see how passionately I wanted to go!  We then called up my bestie fellow David Gray fan Seychelle to let her know “the news”.  After I told her, she screamed into the phone: “SHUT IT!”.  She turned on the charms with her guy and convinced him to treat her to the concert also.  It works out perfectly as the concert falls just 2 days after her birthday.  That being said, the four of us will be sitting together November 8th at 8pm watching the Greatest Musical Artist EVER (my opinion of course, art is subjective)!

On another note:  My birthday falls on 8/8/80, my favorite number is #8, and the concert falls on Nov. 8th @ 8pm.  I am not superstitious, however still feel the need to mention this!

To say I am thrilled is an understatement!  I had the hardest time falling asleep last night and can’t remember the last time I have gotten this excited about something!  I feel like a kid in a candy store!  I have a concern that the night of the concert I will shed a few tears out of sheer happiness and adoration…

After thanking Jon about 15,000 times last night, I told him “This will be one of the BEST nights of my life!”, and I meant it.  It really will be.

View a live performance by David Gray of the hit song Babylon.

The day started with Claudia wanting to send a present to her friend Lesleigh.  She is learning how to write, so I encouraged her to handwrite Lesleigh a note that would be sent along with her gift.  We received personal stationary a few months ago from a friend who owns her own stationary company.  They are ADORABLY made, VERY reasonably priced AND you can personalize however you want!  Certainly worth checking out, they would make a terrific stocking stuffer! 

After we dropped the gift off at the post office we headed out to a local coffee shop and plant nursery in the area called The Flower Farm.  During this time of year they give free hay rides throughout their pumpkin patch, along the trail they have cute little stations and scarecrow type characters set up for the kids to enjoy.  This weekend, they had a craft event, booths with awesome smelling soaps, beautiful necklaces and amazing little trinkets.  With our coffee and hot cocoa in hand, we perused and admired all the stations and vendors.  After mommy said, “No” about 10 times we headed over to the pumpkin patch to pick out Claudia’s very own personal pumpkin!  Claudia took 20+ minutes carefully inspecting each one looking for the “perfect one”.  She found it!  A medium-sized, perfectly round YELLOW pumpkin.  She explained she liked that it was different then all of the orange ones….

We headed into the nursery to pay for our new and very festive YELLOW pumpkin when the clerk looked at it and said, “Um, I’ll sell this one to you for a buck.”

Nice!  Way to go, Claudia!!!  Thanks for being considerate of mommy’s budget, maybe I shouldn’t have told you “No” so many times!  Needless to say, I paid and with a very happy daughter (and mother) we left!  Attached are some pictures of the day, I forgot to take one of Claudia with her YELLOW pumpkin.  However, on the way home she informed me she did NOT want to cut and carve into the pumpkin.  Okay by me, carving is a real mess.  As I said, very pleasant Saturday!

Dora should have had the Yellow pumpkin face...

Where the Wild Things Are... this one's for you Amy!

Creepy Crawly Spiders!

However, at times it can be hard to find a recipe that we can make together. She is a bit of a control freak for a four-year old, who insists on pouring, and stirring, and cracking each egg; creating the batter and sometimes, a major mess.  That is why, when I came across this recipe I couldn’t wait to make it with her…  It is the simplest, yet tastiest fall treat and definitely worth the calories! 

See the below pictures of our eventful Friday evening, Julie & Julia moment…

Control Freak Claudia, mixing the batter

The batter, see her fairy wand next to the mixing bowl!

Then she put on my apron, "The hot air from the oven won't get me then"

Ready to glob onto the cookie sheet

De-lic-ious!

While reading a blog I stumbled upon this amazing site RagandBoneBindery and I feel IN LOVE.  Not only are the albums adorable but they are all handmade and have meticulous binding, something that is very important to keep an album or a book in tact over the years.

This cover choice is my personal FAV!

Pale Pink and Lime Green Poppies

I don’t have any reason to purchase from this site right now but my girlfriend does…  as she is getting married in just 3 1/2 short months.  Perhaps a guest book for the future wife?  I just emailed her the link to entice her!  That being said, if you have a pending wedding, a baby on the way, or want to purchase a very personal Christmas gift you should check out this site!  You won’t regret it, plus it’s a beautiful way to package your memories.

She is:

funny, but reserved
intelligent, but naive (rightfully so)
considerate, but can be bratty
absolutely lovely, but sometimes stinky
kind-hearted, but selfish at times (aren’t we all)
4 1/2 on her way to 5 years old
scientific and inquisitive
beautiful and sweet
lovely and makes my life complete!

It is both the greatest joy and at times a small challenge to be her mother.  But I’m so grateful!  Each and everyday, I thank God for the wonder of her life and all the things I can learn from a human being that is so small.  I look into her eyes and see wisdom and depth, but absolute trust.  I am doing my best, and I hope she sees that when she looks back at me.

Current Books: I just finished Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn.  It was a really fun book, about an 18-year-old girl who lives on the fictional island of Nollop off the coast of South Carolina. Nollop was named after Nevin Nollop, author of the immortal pangram, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Now Ella finds herself acting to save her friends, family, and fellow citizens from the encroaching totalitarianism of the island’s Council, which has banned the use of certain letters of the alphabet as they fall from a memorial statue of Nevin Nollop. It was a fun and simple read, finishing it in one afternoon.  Right now, I am between a couple of books: reading Anne Lamott’s Hard Laughter and nearly complete with  Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline, MD and Jim Fay.

Current Playlist: I was driving Jon’s truck the last few weeks, until this week.  He has a CD player in his Toyota, something my Rodeo does not have, much to my dismay.   That being said, while driving his truck I would listen to David Gray’s newest CD Draw the Line over and over and over and over and over again!  I absolutely LOVE Mr. Gray!

Current Guilty Pleasure: Gummy Worms, lately I have been munching on these tasty classic treats in bunches.  I should really stop.

Current Color: With fall peeking out from every window I can’t help but love that rustic barn red that so many leaves are reflecting.

Current Drink: Coffee and Crystal Light.  Both daily.

Current Food: Lately I have been making cheese toast!  NOT grilled cheese, as this is completely different.  No butter slathered on my exterior portion of bread, but rather, just a slice of whole wheat bread with a slice of Tillamonk pepper jack cheese on top placed in the toaster over for about 2 mins.  Yum!  Simple, easy and delicious!

Current Favorite Show: Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy

Current Wishlist: The PERFECT fall/winter boot so I’m fashionable!

Current Needs: Maid-Of-Honor dress for my BFF’s upcoming wedding.

Current Triumphs: Finishing up some details personally I’ve needed to accomplish.

Current Bane Of My Existence: Work is dead, as a doorknob, that won’t open.  NOT a good sign people.

Current Celebrity Crush: Matt Nathanson

Current Indulgence:  Waking up early in the morning to quietness and peaceful surroundings (you can imagine Enya music now)!

Current Blessing: Jonathan is pretty amazing, he makes me feel loved just about every single day!

Current Slang: Um, slang….  l8r!

Current Outfit: Jeans, Tee shirts, scarfs, funky earrings.

Current Excitement: Going to Colorado for the holidays with my honey.  Big things are just around the corner…

Current Mood: Excited about all my readers who are going to follow my blog!  This is me, on my knees…

Current Link: I am in love with this site as I can’t get enough of her insight and practicality! http://prudentadviceformybabydaughter.blogspot.com/

HELP!!! I CAN NOT figure out how to “link” other bloggers, web addresses, or my previous posts on my new postings?  Can someone send me the secret road to success?  Please.

“Really, let me feel it”, I said.

She handed me the pumpkin and I agreed that it was cold to the touch.  I reached back to return it to her and then she said, “Wow, your hands are cold too!”

My response, “Well, you know what they say, ‘Cold hands, warm heart’.”

With the most shocked look on her precious tiny face, she replied, “PUMPKINS say that?!”

I think this is karma coming back to bite me in the butt. I dated a guy once upon a time who had OBVIOUS cankles and my girlfriend Katy and I teased him mercilessly. For those of you who don’t know, cankles is a term where the calf meets the foot in an abrupt, non-tapering terminus.  I pitied the poor guy, but I also pointed and laughed a lot too.  Needless to say, our relationship was short-lived.  He had too many things stacked against him….

Now on to Steve Madden. Disappointing shopping, here I come!