Sound the Sirens, Alert the Village

I know this weekend marked the "unofficial" start of summer, but I seem to have missed the urgent stay-at-home Mom alert that there are only 15 days left in our town's school year! 

15 days! 15 days! Didn't I just drop J off for his first day of kindergarten last week?!

Empty classrooms mean just one thing -- full minivans! Minivans full of energetic, eager, bored, overtired, restless youngsters and frustrated, desperate and frazzled mothers.

Obviously I've been dancing through my days in a daze! How could I have not realized the approaching doom! So very soon my carefree (yeah, right!) childless time will be gone, gone, gone!

And what lies ahead? 

82 days of summer! 

Dear God, what's to become of me!

82 days 'til my little monsters (but oh how I love 'em!) return to the safe confines of their classrooms and I can collect the shards of my sanity.

Oh sure, there's that whole "lazy days of summer" thing -- lazy for who? (Or is it "whom"? Oh h***, you'll have to live with my grammatical ignorance, 'cause it's too darn late to consult Grammar Girl. I'm claiming exhaustion as my defense.)

Sure there are day camps (My boys are too young for sleep-away camp, right?), the beach, bike rides, kite flying, field trips to museums, aquariums, parks and farms and an endless line up of play dates, but it's all ridin' on Mom's shoulders.

Don't call me Mom, Mommy, Mama or Mum...call me Julie, Cruise Director!

15 precious school days left, then 82 days 'til bliss returns...

So what's your plan for summer survival? Have a secret or two you'd be willing to share?

Excuse me, that's my Croissant!

At the risk of seeming a tad obsessed (I am confident that if tested I would score relatively low on the "fan" spectrum), I cannot resist sharing my moment in the Oprah spotlight.

After watching the show finale Wednesday evening, I could not stop wondering what the "morning after" would be like for Ms. Winfrey.

One of my theories...

"Will she savor her morning latte and a croissant while reading the newspaper..."

Before signing off, Oprah said we could email her, that she would be reading the messages, and if you receive a message from "Oprah" it was written by her very self.

I couldn't resist forwarding Miss Oprah a copy of my post!

Oprah --

The following is my blog post from last night after watching the final broadcast of the Oprah Winfrey Show.

An end is the flip side of a beginning -- we are all looking forward to the next adventure you will take us all on. 'Cause we know you won't be leavin' us behind!

Though there's no new show at 4pm today, I'm sure your cup is still running over (OWN is no small endeavor!), so I do hope you are enjoying some "down time" with those you love. Go ahead, have another tequila, dance 'til dawn...

Yesterday afternoon an email from Oprah appeared in my inbox...

Got your email.

Thank you for watching the finale. I could feel your beating hearts, along with mine, through the TV screen. I'm off to take a little rest, and then I'll get busy working on OWN.

Take care of yourself.

I'll write soon,

Oprah

A mass email, I'm sure, sent out to gazillions of dazed fans that have flooded her inbox.

Later still, another missive appeared in my inbox...

Hello friends,

I want you to know, the best gift you could give me are your wonderful words.

I've been sitting in cold, rainy, Chicago drinking Chai Tea, (and yes splurged on a croissant) reading all your wonderful emails. I am deeply moved.

Croissant? Croissant! Really! Did I just get a parenthetical nod from Oprah?

Millions of fans, millions of emails...I don't care, that's my croissant! 

What a kick to think Oprah read even a few of my words!

Good Morning, Oprah

The boys were finally tucked in & snoozing, I poured myself a glass of vino, curled up on the couch and tuned my trusty DVR to Oprah's big goodbye.

Oprah up there on the stage by herself was no surprise, reporters were interviewing the audience as they left the studio yesterday. News that "Oprah thanks her audience" quickly spread. But I was still intrigued.

Oprah has been inspiring, empowering and enlightening millions for 25 years, but the depth and sincerity of her words during that final hour of the Oprah Winfrey Show were...uplifting, transcendent.

Yes, I admit it, I've been a loyal Oprah viewer for YEARS, through the dark days of VHS to the modern DVR era, so I could certainly join the blogging chorus. I could consider the lessons taught, the impact on individuals and the world, and lament the END, but my thoughts are occupied by more basic, menial curiosity...

What will Oprah do tomorrow? After all the build up and fanfare, what will she be thinking when she wakes tomorrow with no shows to plan, tape or air?

Will she still set an alarm and go to the gym?

Will she wake automatically, then luxuriate in rolling over and going back to sleep?

Will she savor her morning latte and a croissant while reading the newspaper, then have a massage, facial and mani-pedi while debriefing and decompressing with Gayle and Maria? 

Can she relax into the wide open hours on her immediate horizon (I certainly hope so), or is her schedule still jam packed?

Is it possible to unplug when you've been the generator for so many for so long?

I hope whatever her day holds tomorrow, Oprah is calm, satisfied and smiling. 

You deserve it, Oprah! Thanks...for everything!

Techno Life Re-Assembly Commences

Thanks to the "Genius" at my local Apple Store my 5-year-old MacBook has its 2nd new hard drive!

Eight month ago, when my 1st hard drive crashed, I hadn't backed up in over four months. But I learned my lesson! And set an alarm on my iPhone calendar to remind me to back up every Friday afternoon during what should be "quiet time" in my household.

Unfortunately, the little distractions still work their dark magic! Fortunately this time it was only three weeks of lost productivity. I guess that's something to be thankful for? 

But sometimes there just ain't no justice -- after a week of damp & dreary, the sun is finally shining, the sky is once again blue,  and the bird are chirping for joy, and what will the Fortuitous Housewife being doing this lovely spring Saturday? Restoring, sorting, sift & syncing -- even with a back up, there's still work to be done on the road to full recovery.

And then there's that newsletter editor thing I do, the newsletter that's due for publication on June 1st! 

I had spent a substantial number of hours this past week pulling the various content elements together and making final edits. The sucker was 98% done when the meltdown occurred -- ain't that the way the techno cookie crumbles!

Biggest lesson -- it's time to open the Fortuitous Housewife a MobileMe account! I admit it, I need to idiot proof myself, my laptop and my work!

Silver lining in this whole messy, dark cloud? The Handsome Husband will get to spend a LOT of quality time with his little men this weekend. Sorry, honey!

OH NO!

The Fortuitous Housewife ain't feelin' very lucky or optimistic this evening...clicking noise coming from my laptop hard drive! This can't be a "good thing"!

I'm a semi-regular backer-upper, at least once a month, but that ain't often enough when you're facing the loss of a lot of work that is already overdue.

So I'm saying my prayers as I write this post on my iPhone that the "Genius" at the Apple Store can save all those hours of work, hours I wasn't playing with my boys. And most of all, save the pictures from yesterday morning of J & his newly missing top front tooth.

The departure of that front tooth was going to be the subject of my post this evening...how proud & excited he was, and how that new gap in his bright smile makes this Mom just a little sad, it being such a constant reminder that my baby is growing up WAY too fast!

Now I just want those pictures that captured a precious moment, not just for Mom, but for J too.

Fingers crossed!

Resolution Report Card

June 1st is almost here, half the year will soon be behind us, so I thought it a good time to revisit that list of resolutions I reluctantly made back in January.

First on the list -- Feed the Beast!

I had hoped to keep to a 3-times-a-week schedule, but kiddie colds, spousal stomach bugs and my knee surgery proved significant impediments. On the other hand, I have posted consistently and the list of topics to explore continues to grow, so I'm gonna give myself a "B-" on this one.

The most important thing is that I'm enjoying the blogging process. My mind is once again percolating with ideas and the only limitation is time. (Ain't that every Mom's complaint!)

In the 5 1/2 months since I started Fortuitous Housewife, so many family, friends, and acquaintances have stopped by to check out what I'm up to and for that I am sincerely grateful. 

And don't be afraid to comment on posts and share the Fortuitous Housewife with others! I'd love to see this corner of the blogosphere blossom into a village. (How's that for shameless self-promotion?)

Journaling

I am sad to say, other than rescuing the spiral-bound notebook from the bottom of a very tall pile on my desk, I have yet to crack open my journal. Definitely an "F" on this one, but I promise myself to try harder during the second half of the year.

Maybe a new notebook will inspire me? I just might have to throw this Gratitude Journal into my Amazon shopping cart.

Less Busy Work, More Play

I was doing pretty well on this one the first few months of the year. Everyday I was making little choices, letting go of one or two of the more menial everyday tasks, to make time for a little fun time with my wonderful, frustrating, charming and challenging boys. We were all loving it, and I discovered a wonderful little side-benefit -- their listening and overall behavior seemed to improved ever-so-slightly.

But I think I let myself get a tad too proud of myself and my  mothering prowess, and life seized the opportunity to engulf me yet again.  In recent weeks, I far too often hear myself saying "In a minute, just let Mommy..." Needless-to-say, that little extra benefit has evaporated, too.

So I'm recommitting myself to this one! At the quarter break I would have given myself a "B+", maybe even an "A-", but I think I've drifted down to the "C" range. Thankfully, there's still time to get my grade up! I'm thinking a little "extra credit time" will help with my grade.

The Mommy Voice 

Another resolution I thought I was doing pretty well with, but... 

In the last few weeks I've realized this one dovetails with my "Play" resolution. The less time Mommy shares the more time Mommy's voice is shrill. And we ALL hate Mommy's shrill voice!

Another grade in free fall, but I think I can catch it and turn the momentum around.

And finally, my scary kitchen secret -- DeCrumbing

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! As of this week, I am happy to report my cooking utensil and flatware drawers are pristine & clean! 

Here are a few humbling before pictures...

 

 It's a good thing health inspectors don't make house calls!

Drawers emptied, and now for the REALLY scary part...

(warning -- these are not for the squeamish)

But the end result was SO worth the effort...

At least I got an "A+" on something!

So, as the half-year mark charges towards you, how are you doing on your resolutions? Anything you would change, refocus on or add?

Bringing Spring In

The past two days have been damp, grey & dreary -- not at all a "good thing" when all a gal wants is to slip on the flip flops and twirl about in a breezy spring ensemble. The Fortuitous Housewife's normally sunny disposition is starting to feel a tad overcast. So, what's a gal to do?

First on the spring-spirit-lifting agenda -- nab a few springy duds while running the weekly errands. Thank god for Target (and Scary Mommy for the inspiration to spruce things up) & Old Navy! I can grab window cleaner, dog food and try on a few things, then pick up new white polos for the little men and slip into another dressing room to check out a few more things for Mom.

 

At Target I found a fun little black dress -- dress it up or down, flats or heels, and the best feature...POCKETS!

 

I also found a cute lightweight cotton dress that can run around town then head to the beach.

 


At Old Navy  I found the lightest, stretchiest yoga wear-inspired skirts -- perfect for the playground or play dates, and at $15 each I won't be worrying too much about popsicle-sticky hands. I grabbed three (black, grey & brown) and raced for the mini-van (after paying up, of course!)


Next up -- freshly painted toes! Gotta be ready for the next flip flop worthy day!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Thursday & Friday! (And praying the forecast improves for the weekend and week ahead!)

Finally, thanks to my inspiring friend at Everyday Treats, I got myself motivated and headed outside to clipped some lilacs -- it was time to bring a little spring into my world!

The whole house smells like spring now!

Super close up, 'cause I don't want y'all to see the sink full of fermenting breakfast dishes.

It's still dark & dreary outside, but I'm feeling ever-so-slightly brighter inside.

What do you do to brighten your mood on a dreary day?

Happy, Happy Mother's Day

The Will & Kate hangover is finally subsiding, just in time for another cyber tsunami. Brace yourselves folks, the Mom bloggers are going to savor every moment of the holiday limelight!

So what was on tap for the Fortuitous Housewife yesterday, you ask? I guess I will add my tale to the tide . . .

Earlier this week, Cook's Illustrated so kindly posted their "Mother's Day Recipe Booklet" on Facebook and I made the mistake of downloading and checking it out while my two little uber eaters were nearby. Suddenly the chorus chimed "Mommy, we should make those for you for Mother's Day!"

Unfortunately, Sticky Buns (yeast dough, brown sugar-cinnamon filling, rolling & cutting, brown sugar glaze and toasting & chopping pecans) are slightly ahead of my ambitious sous chefs' skill set, so . . . you guessed it, Mom was next in line for makin' Sticky Buns from scratch.

So, between soccer, baseball, play dates, and a short bit of retailing, I managed to make me some buns!

At first glance the recipe looked daunting and far too time consuming -- boy am I glad I persevered! It wasn't hard at all, the yeast dough rose perfectly and was very easy to work with, and, well . . . a few pictures say it all.

Even naked, these buns were HOT!

Don't forget the gooey, toasted-pecan topping!

These looked AMAZING...but it was still the night before, and Mama had to head to bed!

Mother's Day Breakfast ~ it just doesn't get ANY better!

Hold on...is that a turquoise bag on the table?! I must have been a VERY good Mommy!

Two of my favorite culinary enthusiasts.

After breakfast, the boys had more planned for Mom -- a field trip to the Museum of Fine Art to check out the Chilhuly exhibit. I was impressed when Jackson recently saw a picture of one of the pieces and remembered seeing some of Chilhuly's work at the Monterey Bay Aquarium when he was 2.5 years old! The kid really is part elephant!

I love Chilhuly's work -- the colors, the shapes, the textures -- I mean really, what's not to like! It's like a carnival for your eyes.

I was a tad nervous about a trip to MFA, the local house of "serious art" with a 5 1/2 and a 3 1/2 year old. Sure, we've done the Children's Museum, the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, but we had not yet ventured into the world of grown up art with our Padawans.

My little art lovers.

What a wonderful surprise, and possibly the best present of all (Even better the turquoise box with the white ribbon? Maybe.) -- watching my 5 1/2 year old fall for Chilhully and the whole museum experience! He has even added a museum membership to his birthday list, and is planning his subsequent visits to see the more "art".

So there you have it, my Mother's Day recap!

I hope everyone out there had a wonderful day celebrating and honoring motherhood!

P.S. I think I hear a Sticky Bun calling me. Maybe just one more bite? OK, maybe two.

What a difference a week makes!

Last Friday morning the world watched a "commoner" became a Princess, and this Friday we got to check out snaps of that very same Princess pushing her own "shopping trolly" into the local Welsh market. How quickly life returns to normal, even for a newly minted HRH!

In just seven days, sleep deprivation recovery was accomplished, and the celebrity rags filled news stands, grocery and drugstore racks with thousands of glossy wedding album pages. 

How strange it must be for Catherine to stand in the market checkout line with a posse of  Kate's staring back at her! 

The wedding may be behind us, but the passing of time hasn't  completely squelched the fervor & speculation! Celebrity TV, mags, websites & blogs are desperately squeezing every last drop from the wedding rock.

Did Pippa outshine the bride?  No! But her tush has a plethora of Facebook fan pages! 

Did Prince Harry & Pippa hook up after the wedding?  Might another Miss Middleton be welcomed into "The Firm"?

Sorry to say, I'm still savoring the spectacle a bit too, specifically the hats donned by the ladies last Friday!

Oh, to be invited to a proper English wedding! I love hats and so wish we Yanks hadn't abandoned the hat so completely, though Kentucky Derby still offers hat lovin' ladies a venue.

Princess Beatrice's selection has certainly garnered oodles of attention and discussion, and Facebook has scads of Beatrice pages.  Kristen & I put the DVR to good use that morning checking out her "look" more than once.

The hat was a undisputed fashion failure - but I think the overall spooky effect can also be blamed on the heavy-handed use of dark eyeliner. What on earth was Beatrice's thinking! Freaky hat and goth-inspired makeup = just plain creepy, especially before noon.

Here is my gallery of memorable chapeaus...

This is one bold blue statement!

What do you do when you've got a bowl stuck on your head?

Suck on a lemon, it would appear.

I loved this explosion of color.

Excuse me, Mama, there appears to be 
a jellyfish on your head!

This stylish Granny reminded me of my own.

Obviously officials didn't notice a UFO had slipped 
into the Abbey, perched atop this Lady's head.

So that's it, William & Catherine are getting on with their life, so I'm thinking it is about time we do the same as well. What do you think?

Yes, I did!

This post has been percolating in my brain since Friday morning, but hampered by two young men who fail to see the bliss of napping, and a hectic suburban weekend schedule, it took the Fortuitous Housewife a few days to recuperate after the Big Day.

Yes, that right my dears, the iPhone alarm was set for 4:15 AM on Friday, and I didn't dare touch the snooze! My teeth were brushed and I was headed downstairs by 4:19! The Cook's Illustrated "Sweet Milk Scones" were in the oven and the beverage & food buffets were all set by 4:45 (thanks to a little prepping the night before).

Angophile beverage service - English Breakfast Tea & china, bubbly & crystal.

Ham, scones & apple-spice muffins. 
Later, my pal, Kristen, added her super tasty Chili-Cheese Egg Bake to the buffet.

Cooks Illustrated's Sweet Milk Scone
Unfortunately, I rolled the scones out a tad too thin and baked them a tad too long.
This means I'll be making them later this week -  every treat deserves to be redeemed.
I'll let you know how things turn out.

While most of my pals opted for extra sleep Friday morning, relying on DVR's for later viewing, I am a purest, there's something special about being a part of it all when it's actually happening. 

Someday I will tell my grandchildren, maybe when we rise at dawn together to watch Prince William's coronation, that Grandma rose in pre-dawn darkness to watch William's Mum's wedding, her funeral and then Prince William's wedding. 

I guess it's become a point of honor for me -- I must see it live!

So I joined the estimated two billion other "guests" (one ABC reporter, Diane? Barbara? David Muir? Nick Watt?, said "one in three people around the world"), settling onto my couch, still in my PJ's, prepared to savor every moment of this "historic" and "fairytale" moment.

So glad my 3-week old pedicure was still presentable!
Gonna have to add that to this week's agenda.

I'm happy to report William and Catherine's carefully laid plans delivered! All the moments we'd been waiting for where served up on an enormous, highly-polished royal silver platter.

The dress - PERFECTION a la Princess Grace
I wish I had entered a contest! Though many may claim such "foresight",
I honestly had envisioned Catherine in something along these lines.

The morning repast.

The Beautiful Bride ~ Catherine Elizabeth

 

 

 

The pomp of The Ceremony

For a little comic relief...the Vicar with "Andy Rooney" eyebrows!

The Carriage Ride

The Balcony Scene...

and "The Big Kiss"

All elements present, accounted for and perfectly timed!

But I must admit one major disappointment -- I so wanted William to turn around and watch Catherine's unhurried walk down that long Westminster Abbey aisle! 

I wanted to see a spark in William's eye or the slightest widening of his smile when he first glimpsed his lovely bride! Isn't that part of the fantasy? Watching your groom waiting & watching expectantly as you leisurely make your way to stand beside him! 

I thought I heard one of ABC's commentators (maybe it was Katie Nicholl or Nick Watt?) mention that English wedding tradition dictates the groom keeps his eyes straight ahead, only seeing his bride once she arrived at his side...well I say BOOO!

At one point as we were rewinding, or maybe it was fast forwarding, the broadcast, Kristen and I looked at each other and realized the ringing church bells weren't coming from the television, they were coming from the churches just down the road. A truly unique, personal moment I will always remember.

And if you're wondering why there is only a shot of my flip flop clad feet...there are no photos of Kristen & me in our jammers with morning faces! I didn't want to scare you, my cherished readers, and I didn't want Kristen to never speak to me again.

All in all, William and Catherine's wedding...SO worth a little sleep deprivation!

P.S. And oh what fun to watch those confections of English milliners! But those chapeaus will have to wait 'til tomorrow! 

Photos via my Nikon, via our Sony, via ABC News