Lookie Lookie

Isn't she faaabulous? Emily Barletta rocks my world.

My Contribution to the Election Season

Thank you, Carly.

Who wants to make these with me?

LUMINARIES!

List of References

I was telling someone recently about the laundry list of families I've babysat for in my ten-year, ahem, career. (I obviously cling to that fact.) When I said I've put upwards of one hundred children to bed, those eyebrows sure raised, but I'm thinking my estimate is spot on. Here's my list...starting at the very beginning.

Abby, Luke, and Emilee
Erin and Morgan
Heather, Lacey, and Conner
Jonathon, Olivia, Aubrey, and Sam
Allison and Lindy
Alyssa, Stephanie, Alex, and that middle one that liked to snuggle
Nick and Aly
The three kids on the cul-de-sac whose mom NEVER vacuumed
Annie and her two sisters that vomited in Stonegate
Kylie and her brother (lived across from Abby and Emilee)
Nathan and his gorgeous blond sister (Mom named Valerie, Dad with mullet)
Macy, Mallory and Meredith
Christian and Bre
Aaron the brown-eyed wonder
Magnolia family with BMW and insomniac girl and boy
Meredith on Mercer Island
Alex and Elise
Maya and Stella
Cline and Henry (I'm Kelsey's stand-in)
Aidan (once)
Jack and Scout
Jillian and Willa
The Eckerts (Aubree's stand-in, once or twice)
Max and Sebastian
Ezra and Sol
Clara and Annabelle
Henry and Katy
Collin and Miriam
Nia and Gabrielle

Okay, so that's 62. BUT THAT IS A LOT OF TWINKLE TWINKLE. And I bet my mom will remember at least five more.

EDIT: I already thought of four more: Hailey, Haden, Connor and Grace

Women Advocate for Peace in Liberia

I found this trailer on the Apple site, and I can't wait to see it in a few weeks. Check out the story here.

Test

Want to check out what we're watching? (DW)

HELLS BELLS

This is a big deal, people. A big freakin' deal. And frankly, if anyone would like to judge me for being concerned by this news in world torn by war, injustice, famine...go ahead. But tonight, I am mourning the discontinuation of the best thing that happened to me as a child (well, top ten, at least).


Samantha Pennington, the doll that inspired me to pray for the repopularization of daily formal wear, is being laid to rest this Christmas. Pleasant Company is letting her go. After twenty years of being an AMERICAN GIRL DOLL. I'm just, shocked.

Too dramatic? Ask anyone who had one of these dollies and you will reconsider.

More Serendipity

Dustin snapped this picture today on a sidewalk in Seattle. Reminded us to keep praying...

Why It Matters

This video came from a friend of ours, Kevin Korver. Of course, I appreciate the message, but I thought the cinematography was gorgeous, tender.

PRIZES! FUN PRIZES!

One of my favorite artist blogs is Treasuring, and she recently linked to a contest on yet ANOTHER incredible indie craft site, Indie Fixx.

Here's the best part--Indie Fixx is hosting an awesome contest (ends Nov. 14) for the following sweet prize packages (full of inspirational craft goodies, the ones that haunt my dreams all night long). Heckuva deal, I say!



Or, this one!



Wish me luck, and don't forget to enter yourself, too! :)

There will be no white flag above my door...

I'm a babysitter. The kind that starts in seventh grade and then catalogs the children she has loved and kissed goodnight and played dress up with and buried in sand at the beach and stuck bandaids on and put in timeout and said goodbye to when they moved away. In fact, 2008 marks my own personal silver anniversary of babysitting. So I feel like I've come a long way.

Which is why I am no longer interested in taking care of kids whose wealthy parents refuse to treat me like an adult. I am not thirteen anymore, thank you very much, and no, I will not let you round down my work hours when you talk my ear off because you've come home from suuuuuuch a good movie. There are too many families in my life that have invested in me, taken me into their homes, allowed me to soak up their good juju and learn from their love. I don't have time for you anymore, and I'd rather go without a latte than spend the evening looking at your expensive drapes, knowing you'll try and cheat me out of a measly five bucks.

So today I wrote an email to a person who lives in what I would guess is at LEAST a million dollar home in Seattle, and it felt really good to stick up for myself. "I understand that you typically pay less than $15 an hour for your three preschool children, but I am doing my best to make ends meet (let alone get ahead) in a city that has sky-high education costs and not enough affordable housing, so you'll understand when I say I simply don't have time to feel guilty about my prices. All the best."

Yours,

Holly Wood V.B.Ex. (that's Veteran Babysitter Extraordinaire)

EDIT: Yes, I got the lyrics wrong and changed the title. Sorry, Dido.

Calgon, Take Me Away

Caller: Hi, I need to make an appointment to speak with a career counselor.
Sugary Sweet Secretary (SSS): Okay, great! Um, how about you drop in this afternoon?
Caller: Hmm, I thought the drop-in sessions were mainly for "quick questions." I'm a relatively recent grad looking for a full-time position.
SSS: (Silence).
Caller: This isn't really a "quick question," it's more like, "What do I do with my life?"
SSS: (Preceded by weak laughter) Oh, what was your major?
Caller: (Silence)... English and Spanish.
SSS: Ahhhkay. Well let's set you up with a longer appointment then. How's Friday?
Caller: I am WIDE OPEN.

Porkbarrel My Arse

I'm so sick of hearing folks complain about all the frivolous porkbarrel attachments that got lopped onto the bailout bill. First of all, there was no choice, unless Americans decided to suddenly live without Tivo and professional sports and all the other luxuries we mop up on a daily basis. Second of all, politicians are PAID to work (read: manipulate) the system in service of their constituents. Isn't that pretty much the way it works?

But more than anything, has it occurred to the big complainers that this bill passed with some really *important* additions? Like, I don't know, more comprehensive mental health coverage? Or fringe benefits for bike commuters? Or additional funding for rural schools?

I'm not saying that all of the add-ons were legitimate, they're obviously not. But let's not kid ourselves into thinking this doesn't happen ALL THE TIME. HELLO.

Congratulations, America, you're so not smarter than a fifth grader.

Serendipity, Indeed.

This morning I took a walk through a very foggy Seattle, and I admit to fretting a whole lot about the current transitions and unknowns in my life right now. I was frustrated, I was listening to something moody on the little red shuffle, and I was discouraged. And then I walked right past this little bit of love, and I'm convinced it was sent to me straight from heaven. You're right, little brick house, I need to trust a little more.