Shannon’s World

Eliza sent me a hilarious excerpt from Girls’ Night In…a collection of short stories from some great authors like Jennifer Weiner and Sophie Kinsella. The story I read was by Meg Cabot and about a particular event planner and the trials and tribulations one goes through. I haven’t read anything by Meg Cabot, but am going to add that to my list of books to read.

My reading list currently includes: Friday Night Knitting Club, My Life in France by Julia Child, American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld and The Shack by William P. Young. I’d also like to read Oprah’s latest recommendation The Story of Edgar Sawtelle but judging by the list above, it will be summer before I get around to it!

It looks like Girls Night In is out of print, but you can still find used copies – if the rest of the stories are like the one I read they’re fun, entertaining and easy to read. I recommend it!

p.S. Mike broke my status bar…something about trying to make enhancements/improvements…hopefully it will be back soon – the blog looks empty without it.

I had debated buying the Charley Harper Memory Game at Old Navy for L but I saw this at Black Eiffel and like it so much better. I have a tub of material upstairs and this is a great way to use it.  Template and directions here.

Now I just need to find the time to make it!

I’ve found a few blogs (that are new to me) that I enjoy and thought I’d share:

Dooce

GOOP (Gweneth Paltrow)

Eddie Ross (former Martha employee – I really enjoyed his Christmas ideas!)

I enjoyed a fabulous girls weekend with 3 friends from college. I don’t think I could have wished for a more perfect time (w/ the exception of one of our usual suspects not attending because she was under the weather). The weekend included great food, honest & heartfelt conversation, kir royals, Nick’s, some volunteering at Gamma Phi and shopping.  This is the 3rd year for this trip and I am already looking forward to next year.

Special thanks to Mike for being such a great Dad. He and Libby had a quiet Friday night thanks to the fact that Libby didn’t nap at Mom’s Day Out! Saturday they went to the library for two hours and then to Costco for some shopping, food sampeling and lunch.  I returned home in time for Mike to head out to celebrate Brent’s 30th (Happy Birthday, Bishop!).

Libby’s hair is starting to get long and thicken up. The front still needs to fill in and even out, but I think she looks pretty cute with her pony tail.

Heather and Brent were kind enough to come hang out with us and bring dinner last Friday!  Heather made a great meal and was kind enough to share the recipe.  I’m hoping to make it next week – it was excellent and the perfect kind of meal for a cold night.

Chicken Divan

1 or 2 packages of frozen chopped broccoli
3 cooked chicken breasts cut or shredded
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 cup of mayonnaise
1 tsp lemon juice
1 cup of shredded cheese (colby jack or Sharp)
1 tbsp margarine
1 package of cooked noodles (I use no yolks)
bread crumbs or cubes
 
Prepare broccoli according to package instructions, drain.
Put cooked noodles in 9 X 13 pan
add broccoli and chicken
combine soup, mayo, and lemon juice and pour into pan.
Season with pepper and lemon pepper
Sprinkle cheese on top
add butter to dish
If desire put bread cubes or crumbs on top
bake for 30 min. at 350 degree

We hope everyone had a great holiday and that 2009 has started off well.

A lot happened over my nearly 2 week hiatus….here’s the latest:
- Libby is working on cutting 4 teeth. She’s been sleeping pretty well, but tends to be a little pickier at meal time. Soon she’ll have 7 teeth on the bottom and 3 on top….with lots more to follow, I’m sure!

- Libby’s vocabulary and pronunciation are expanding everday. She is starting to speak in sentences and Mike and I are amazed at the new things she is saying every day. Libby has also started to repeat a lot of what we say as well, yesterday marked her first bad word. Mike dropped a full gallon of milk on the floor yesterday and said “SH*T!” to which Libby responded “sh*t?”. Probably only the first of many similar situations….I got a good laugh as I was going back to the car to unload more groceries!

- Libby says the alphabet, counts to 15 and can spell her name. Visually, she doesn’t know her letters and numbers yet, but she can count and say the letters.  Mike’s got a good video of the ABCs here.  We’re working on colors and shapes.

We’re looking forward to what the new year has in store for us!