weekend update

Mo modeling my weekend find

Last weekend =

birthday party with cousins and a fun caricature artist

garage sale shopping with Jeni

pick up soccer

singing White Lines with Laura

Hairspray with Katie

good times.

tired

This pretty much sums up how me and the hubs have been feeling lately.

It's like jet lag but worse it's holiday-lag. It's all the activities -- swim, ballet, choir, scouts, etc. -- starting up again. That combined with my work more than doubling in the last couple of months (don't get me wrong I want work) and the hubs putting in fairly regular overtime, it's been exhausting.

Oh, and we just got the second car back along with a HUGE bill.

The light at the end of the tunnel: we have a vacation planned for Spring -- just around the corner and already all saved up for...

ignore the man behind the curtain

My friend Jayne told me this morning she sometimes get mad when she comes over to my house because it seems "perfect and clean" (her words).

For those of you who might be disillusioned into thinking I am a neat or organized person -- above is the state of my dining room right now.

Other rooms in my house unfortunately follow suit.

I could make up excuses about work deadlines, holiday parties, etc. but the bottom line is I'm kind of a slob. I've always been one, and I'll probably always be one.

Thank you Song, for bearing with me.

man crush

Katie and I watched our team win the championship last night.

Katie: Which one is your favorite player?

Me: I'm going to have to go with Todd Dunivant.

Katie: How come? Isn't Landon Donovan the best player?

Me: Umm... well Dunivant is dependable honey.

Katie: How are you dependable playing soccer?

I then spent the next 5 minutes defending my choice, e.g., he is a solid defender, he has good positioning, etc. all while being peppered by my questioning daughter who was clearly skeptical of my decision.

Real reason: While he is dependable on the pitch, he's smart (Stanford grad), he's a professional athlete (my husband will make a joke here because he plays soccer), oh, and he's easy on the eyes...

random wednesday

If I had my druthers:

blue chairs for my dining room

Filter for my new 50mm lens

Red Funkis clogs

Calcutta marble counter tops (totally not practical, but just love the way they look)

50 mm lens + baby e

After months of pondering and much discussion with a number of people I finally bought a 50mm lens.

I'm liking the clarity (prior muffin shots) and portraits you can do with it.

I took some picture of my friend Katie's baby the other day and was pretty happy with the results.

Baby E was not happy anywhere but on mama's lap, but with a low aperture setting I was able to get some decent shots without seeing too much of mom.

a million different settings

That's what my camera is capable of however, I mainly shoot in the auto and the "no flash" settings.

To learn more about SLR basics I attended a workshop last weekend.

Now, I've been told about the basics of my camera before by my husband who knows a lot about SLRs and has taken classes for work.

But, I think I needed to learn from someone (like Jen) whose aim was more in line with mine e.g., to make things -- like my Little Wickies -- look pretty and fun.

That's not really my husband's goal when he takes pictures for work.

The workshop set up was ridiculously cute (if you follow Ruby and Danni's blogs this is not a big surprise).

Not my best shot of the day, but these were our lunches, and I had to show you.

The food and goodies were as good as they looked.

I know I ate way too many macarons which were really, really good.

Outside of what the hosts brought for us to take pictures of, the location itself was really beautiful.

The old craftsman house was super cool. I have a penchant for wrap-around porches. If I had one, I would paint its ceiling just like this one.

And, of course the goody bags were fun inside and out.

Among the goodies, I'm loving my new camera straps from iMo and knitty bitty (yes, two - I had decide which one to put on first!)

More pictures here, here and here.

To more pretty pictures in "M" mode!

I'm getting good ... compared to a kid

I've been enjoying having a piano and been reteaching myself some music.

I'm about half way done relearning a Sonatina and was feeling pretty good about my progress. Here's a sample of me playing (on our untuned piano with an with a sticky A that doesn't always play).

Like I said I was feeling good... Until I saw this 11 year-old playing the same piece.

Oh, and this is how it's played by a a 6 year-old.

In the end, it's like art. You perform the act because you enjoying doing it, not because you are necessarily very good at it.

Oh, and if you're interested (totally understand if you aren't at this point) this is how it's really supposed to be played.

mixed up

I have a guest post over at Ricebabies today where she is beginning a series on mixed race families. Check it out if you're interested in learning some random facts about the Little Wickies.

Hope you're having a good Monday!

i am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things

I frequent two different book clubs.

I have to admit I almost force myself to participate in them because while I enjoy reading, I tend to gravitate towards authors that are -- well, dead.

The book clubs read more current literature which I feel I would ignore almost completely if it weren't for their picks.

I just finished Sandition by my perennial favorite author Jane Austen. It was a version that was completed by an anonymous writer since Austen died a mere 11 chapters in.

Not my favorite Austen book, but I did enjoy it.

I also just finished the audio book version of North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I mostly listened to it while working out.

However, as I got engrossed I found myself ignoring my family completely as I listened to it while performing such tasks as dishes after dinner.

The BBC film version of this movie is excellent.

I picked up an Edith Wharton book at the library and am going to tackle that next, but am looking to take up a more current novel as well.

What are you reading? What are your favorites?

a tale of four night stands

Two things have prompted this post.

1) I've been playing with my new speedlite.

2) I like nightstands. I know peculiar, right? I feel they are tell-tale about the person. Maybe I'll make a coffee table book on nightstands someday.

What's on your nightstand?

Here are ours...

We all have painted rocks on our nightstands. I painted the two for the girls, and Katie painted the two for us.

Mine is the most cluttered -- but if you know me well it will make complete sense to you.

crazy eights tag

I got tagged awhile back by G over at Small Burst of Everything -- hop on over to her site, it's really cute.

So, the game goes:

Go to the 8th folder in which you store photos

Select the 8th photo

Post it and tell the story behind it

'Tag' 8 other people.

When I saw that Lyndsay and Roberto's wedding was my 8th folder I thought: oh this will be good. This shot is from their reception in Gunajuato, Mexico which was in a word: crazy.

Every 20 minutes or so different props were brought out. Wrestling masks, headbands with fruit on them, aprons, wigs, hats and of course, balloons as pictured above. I had never experienced anything quite like it -- let alone at a wedding. Even the band changed costumes at least 5+ times!

And, here's who I'm tagging.

Miyo

Aubrei

Candice

Laura

Tabitha

Kati

Stasia

Chris (see this as an attempt to get you to resuscitate your blog)

Like G said, it's just for fun, so don't feel obliged.

i've come a long way, baby

I am so frickn' domestic these days all I can do is laugh sometimes.

I recently made jam for the third year in a row.

As I was dropping cans into an enormous pot of boiling water with my new fancy canning tongs (which I LOVE) I thought back to my days spent in suits, when I would have a headset virtually permanently attached for conference calls, when I would spend hours on currency Web sites trying to figure out budgets in different countries.

Oh how my life has changed. And, for the better I might add.

Instead of approving Web site design and copy, I create my own jam labels.

Instead of telling executives what to say to the media, I help my four-year old memorize her prayers for Bible school so she can get a prize.

Instead of planning trade show events, I make weekly tents, caves and forts.

I now know where every park is in my city. I know all the words to the song "Trash Truck." I can whip up a dinner that includes every food group in less than a half hour with no advanced planning.

I'm thinking of adding these as bullet points to my CV. What do you think?

The best thing about my job bar none: I get to look at these two mugs all day long.

futbol & four-year-olds

Confession: I watch soccer on Spanish stations.

So you have to understand it's pretty darn exciting when soccer is actually on English-speaking stations -- and in HD to boot.

Yes people, I'm talking about the World Cup.

What I'm loving perhaps even more is watching with my girls.

Each match we get our globe out and find the countries who are squaring off.

We see how far each is from the U.S. and because I'm talking with Kaitlyn the conversation usually digresses into how long the plane flight would be to each country, how hot it is there right now, if they are in the same/different season we are in, how many people live in the country, etc.

Focus girl!

I'm trying to make this marginally educational -- the point is to watch soccer!

Here are some Katie-isms while watching World Cup soccer (and just think we're only in group play right now):

- "Mama, can we watch Butter Cup soccer together?"

- "What is that buzzing, why does it sound like bees?" (referring to the loud vuvuzelas you incessantly hear)

- "Which team has more players?"

- "Don't score white team!"

- "I think we should root for Germany because it's closer to us (than Serbia)."

And btw, the score should have been 3-2.

me try sew

That pretty sums up my level of needle-and-thread literacy.

A while back we were lucky to receive some scraps of fabric over at rice babies. She was even so sweet as to include a note offering to sew the pillows together once the girls had colored them.

Apparently my lack of sewing skills has permeated the greater blogosphere.

We had a bit of a slow afternoon so I let the girls have at it with some fabric markers.

Maddie would only color on that left-hand window for some reason. I even tried turning the fabric to face a different direction thinking she was coloring what was closer to her. But alas, she kept coloring the same window.

After, I suggested -- to the girls horror -- that we sacrifice a little-used stuffed animal to finish off our pillows.

In the end I climbed up into my linen cabinet, brought down a vacuum-packed bag and found a pillow that we weren't using.

My finish work on the pillow is -- well, let's just say it's sub-par.

But the Little Wickies don't seem to mind.

in a race

to back things up.

What? You ask.
Katie ran her first "race" this weekend (a 1-mile fun run).

But, it got me to thinking. I feel like I'm in a losing race to back up the zillion pictures we take monthly.

My system -- if you can call it that -- is to burn photos on to CDs.

I am seriously behind. No really, like July 09 behind.

I've been looking into external drives (I've heard ClickFree is a good one) as well as online photo storing sites (Flickr as well as online storage options).

I know y'all take photos.

What do you know? What is your system?

Input please.

i'm "it"

I was tagged by Jozen over at Lola's Girl to give a little information about me in 3's.

In case you just like to look at pretty pictures, I've thrown in some I took out the window on the way home from a recent trip through the central coast.

Here goes...

3 names I go by:

1. Becky
2. Rebecca
3. Mama

3 jobs I have had:

1. Freelance writer
2. Director, Burson-Marsteller
3. Mom/Chef/Chauffeur/Maid

3 places I have lived:

1. Chicago
2. San Diego
3. Pleasant Hill, Calif.

3 fave drinks:

1. Tall nonfat latte
2. Room temperature water
3. 7 & 7

3 TV shows I watch:

1. Rules of Engagement
2. Glee
3. How I Met Your Mother

3 places I have been:

1. New Zealand
2. Tahiti
3. France

3 places I would like to visit:

1. Spain
2. Japan
3. Australia

3 fave retro TV shows:

1. Bewitched
2. Charlie’s Angels
3. Cosby Show

3 fave dishes:

1. Gnocchi at Trattoria Contadina
2. Roasted chicken with stuffing
3. Anything chocolate

3 things I am looking forward to

1. Sunday – soccer, flea market, girls afternoon/night out for Miyo’s birthday!
2. Katie’s preschool spring show
3. Our San Diego vacation

3 people I am tagging:

1. Miyo
2. Jen
3. Kati (assuming she's not in labor right now).

p.s. Anna, I would have "tagged" you if you had a blog.

disgusting the few friends we have

I'm a self-proclaimed DIY-er.

This means I do things myself. It does not mean I do them well.

A couple of weeks ago I gave our ledges a fresh coat of paint.

before

Last week I started spray-painting the shutters black.

I called our friend Ray who is a professional painter to ask a quick question. He immediately started laying into me about how I was doing it all wrong.

He is a very passionate person and I daresay can get a little rilled up at times.

An encapsulated version of our conversation went like this:

"You're what? With spray paint, why?! What kind of spray paint?!"

"Um, the can says wood, metal and more."

"Ugh, I'm getting nauseous hearing about all this."

after

Recently the crest from Katie's cape starting falling off. (Yes, we still have this cape -- and mask I might add).

So I pulled out my pathetic-excuse-for-a-sewing kit and set to work.

Suffice it to say, I am a terrible seamstress.

Hey Miyo, does this make you want to throw up in your mouth a little?

And, no that's not extra thread, that's a knot which I somehow created. If I cut it off, I fear the stitching would probably all come out.

the nanny? so cliche

I love that Spring seems to usher in traveling art exhibits in Southern California. I've done a pretty good circuit over the past month or so. I saw the Renoir sketches at the Getty -- also saw this and this.

I'm partial to paintings, though I do usually check out the other art on exhibit. I haven't taken the Little Wickies with me yet. Maybe soon.

One my favorite Renoirs is Gabrielle and Jean (pictured right). I always thought this was such a sweet picture of a mother and child. When at LACMA I learned that it was his nanny and his boy. Renoir also painted her in the nude all. the. time. I know, it's art and he found inspiration where he found it. But still, I'm a wife after all.

Gabrielle (the nanny) is more than prominent in so many of his paintings. She's the one in the beautifully renown painting which graces the banners currently hanging in the streets of Los Angeles (left).

Do you think his wife rolled in her grave a little when they placed that painting on the cover of the Website and brochure, and then on the banners?

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side note: my article "Caught Mid-Stride in Life" appeared in the magazine Mommies Magazine if you want to check it out.

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loving my new camera

Thank you again for your two cents in regards to cameras. Santa and the husband colluded for one of the best ever Christmas/Birthday gifts -- a new SLR!

While I'm still playing with and learning how to use it, I'm loving being able to take better shots, especially indoors.

Here are some recent pics I snapped of Mo.

a little too much light splotching around, but love this pic of Maddie.

Mads can pretty much do a somersault already.

Clapping for the success of stacking the cups Maddie-style.