not cool

i was at michael's craft store last night, picking up a few items.

while roaming the aisles i saw a display on california missions. not because michael's has turned into a history buff store, rather it was regarding the infamous 4th grade project that all california school kids must go through. you know the one where you pick a california mission and have to re-create it at home, then proudly (or not so proudly) display it at school? any ca school kids with me on this one?

i remember my project.

mission san jose.

i remember spray painting the corrugated cardboard for a tile like effect on the roof. i thought it was sweet.

painting cardboard white for the walls, trying to find green for the grass and bushes.

toothpicks, sugar cubes, it was all game.

completely frustrating but an important rite of passage.

last night i could not believe my eyes.

a company called Missions of California has cornered the market and ruined all the fun. they sell kits for each mission so all you have to do is assemble. oh, don't forget the glue. yeah, like that's hard. once the mission is assembled, you can buy all the accessories your heart can handle. here is a sampling:

bells
wood barrels
cannons
a graveyard
grass mat
monk with dove
monk with child
wishing well
wheelbarrow
corn stalks
oh, and lest we not make this culturally correct, you can buy your very own male or female indian. well, at least you have to pay for them now.

i'm sure the disgusted look on my face showed my true emotions. i think i even scoffed.

besides the fact that it hands the project to the child, it's pretty lame how the whole mission concept has been commercialized and you can buy statues of indian slaves to decorate your project.

i mean, is someone going to come up with a plantation kit where you can buy a female slave with a baby strapped to her back?

this company is brilliant. i'm sure they're making quite a buck churning these out. they should hook up with wal-mart, then it would be a real treat.

ok, i'm off the soap box. maybe that was a little heavy for a friday morning, but i had to get it off my chest.

my child will be making their mission from scratch!

brad pitt = tears

i came up with this equation after the last brad pitt movie i saw.

i pledge to be more hesitant before seeing another movie he is in.

aside from the fact that many of them are rated r or are not something i'd be interested in; however, if one seems to be a good show, i will hesitate until i hear from those who have seen it.

most recently i saw meet joe black. has anyone else seen that? i remember when that movie came out and i heard it involved someone dying so i skipped over it. a thought provoking movie, a great cast; who doesn't love sir anthony hopkins? it was on tv over christmas and i saw part of it at my gmas, but i didn't get to finish it. of course, i ordered it on netflix when i got home. i watched it alone. i proceeded to bawl my eyes out and curse the fact that i was alone.

my mind quickly traveled back to some of his other movies.

legends of the fall? tears

a river runs through it? serious sadness

the curious case of benjamin button? really, i still can't go there. i was sobbing after it was over. sobbed the next morning in the shower. i couldn't discuss the movie with aaron. it put me into a 3 day depression. i can never watch it again.

so...i've learned my lesson. i will use caution when approaching a brad pitt movie.

and never watch one in front of others where i'd like to keep a shred of dignity.

christmas miracle

i got this for christmas.

isn't it a beauty?

7 1/4 qt. french round oven in caribbean.

i just love the color.

it's even more stunning in person.

the le creuset outlet store in primm did not disappoint. i was hoping to get a 3 qt and call it a day, but they had the 7 1/4 qt for the 3 qt price. mind you, these are outlet prices, so i didn't even pay the 3 qt retail price. it weighs 13 pounds. i get to work on my biceps while cooking? sign me up.

i am overwhelmed with the options of what to cook first.

a roast?

a soup?

rolls?

browning chicken?

i think i'll fry up some donuts in it for aaron with my shiny new donut cutter.

i look forward to many years of cooking firsts in this pot.

better late than never, right?

hi everyone.

it's been awhile since i've blogged.

much has happened.

not many pictures have been taken.

i hope to scavenge the pictures i do have and post them soon.

it will be a trip down memory lane; all the way back to thanksgiving. that's right, 2011.

anyway, in the mean time, here's a tidbit to tide you over...

i'm pregnant!

the better late than never part is i'm 23 weeks along and just now sharing the news.

sorry.

aaron has posted things on facebook, so this may be old hat to some.

i had my reasons for waiting, with the biggest one being i'm a weirdo.

i pulled a jessica simpson at work and people were left wondering if i enjoyed the holidays too much.

however, my lack of sharing does not equate to lack of excitement. we are overjoyed! i am due in may and we are waiting to meet the little kicker before we pick a name and discover the sex.

i hope your 2012 is off to a good start!