Little Big

- To those of you who donated to the Serio Family Fund, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

- The month is waning, which means we will know sooner rather later if Anthony will be laid off. I would gladly accept any positive vibes anyone has to offer. Whatever happens, I know we will get through it, and right now I’m controlling my intense anxiety by working out and trying to think about it as little as possible. Obsessing over things won’t change them, or else I’d be a unicorn by now.

- Do you enjoy card games? Do you enjoy fun? My friends Sunday, yarn warrior and hellhound sweater-purchaser, and her partner in crime Mike, anonymous viking and slayer-of-cakes, have created a wonderful new way fritter away your time called BAD NEIGHBORS.  It’s a simple card game that they made from scratch like some sort of wizards. Each card is hand-drawn and hand-painted, which means, in addition to owning a brand new game you will also own over fifty works or art. But wait, there’s more! You can get your own personalized family card for your game by sending them an email. I used my ad money to buy a copy because I just can’t wait until I’m rich to unleash zombies, vampires, aliens and demons on my closest friends. I’m also in the running to become a special collectible card or a famous baseball player. I forget which. It’s really not as important as buying this game.

- One time Isobel noticed that Anthony was particularly sweaty after a workout. “Daddy!” she said, “You are all covered in slobber!”

- Last weekend I attended a mini-shower, just a “sprinkle” for my dear friend Ellen whose baby boy is due in early spring. This is her second boy and since she already has everything they’ll need her sister and best friend organized and afternoon of girl talk and fondue instead of the more traditional baby shower. The shower was held on their family farm deep in the furrows of an almond orchard. My favorite part (that didn’t involve shoving massive amounts of cheese in my face) was going around the table and offering our personal good wishes and hopes for Ellen, her husband, her two year old son and her new baby boy. I felt like a fairy godmother, bestowing my wishes of a restful infant and fast recovery. I also shared with Ellen something my mom told me. “You never think you will love anyone like you love your first child. But then you have your second one and you completely do.”

- Springtime in the Valley means cold mornings, warm afternoons, and cold evenings again. We’ve been making the most of early spring by picking wild flowers. Really, they are weeds, and we’ve been having lots of fun looking up their names and tidbits of folklore. I’ve already had to point out stinging nettle to Isobel and we’ve been investigating which plants are edible. Henbit is her favorite flower her favorite so far.

- Isobel is still thriving in preschool. When I ask what she is up to her teachers reply that she is consistently most interested in the play food and kitchen area, or the dress up area, or the painting and crafts area. She asks to paint every day and this is always what she is most excited to do. This makes me so happy because these are the exact things I’ve been doing with her at home. It makes me feel as though what I’ve been giving her on my own as a parent is exactly enough and exactly what she needs. Doing these things at school gives her the benefit of independence and social interaction.

- Whenever I ask her what she did in school that day, Isobel always excitedly responds by telling me, in detail, about snack time. That’s my girl!

Links for Spring. It’s not even the Vernal Equinox yet but I have a bad case of Spring Fever.

Scrapbook: Home Life. Photos of daily life.

Thrifty Giving: Silver & White Presents for Angela. The little black dress of vintage housewares.

Fuck Cancer. A reader said it best: “This is what the internet is all about. Helping people.”

Sir Terry Pratchett on Libraries. “I read everything in the damn library there was.” Excuse me, but it think it’s raining. On my face. Via @pnkrcklibrarian

Favorite TV Reruns May Have Restorative Powers. There’s a reason I watch all those Star Trek episodes when I’m in the throes of anxiety.

Home with Dada. “A dad’s delightful homage to the chaotic, giggly joy of spending the day with his 21-month-old son.”

The Art of Yo Gabba Gabba. Awesome. Via @deborahurewicz

Goodwill Sweaters Could Have Demons In Them. I wish I could claim I was the Carrie who wrote in to ask this. Via @1000Cranes4Scot

You had ONE job. Thank you, @MommyMG

I answer a reader question once a month. Do you have a question for me? I’d love to answer it! If it’s a short one I’ll answer it here. If it’s more complicated, I’ll give it its own post. You can leave your question in the comments, @-reply me on twitter, email it to me at alittlebigblog@gmail.com or send me a messenger pigeon. Don’t actually do the last one, though. My cat will eat it. Be sure to let me know if you want me to include your name and link to your blog or shop. Anonymous questions are fine, too.

- I’ve begun listing my photography in my etsy shop, so if you or someone you love has bare walls in need of adornment look no further. I’ve uploaded all of the photos above and then some, and I have a ton more photography to list over the coming weeks. If you’ve seen something you’d like to purchase here on the blog or on my flickr stream, let me know and I’ll set up a listing. I can print in practically any size you like, so if 8×12 isn’t your cup of tea, just let me know. It’s my goal this year to contribute meaningfully to my family in a financial way.

- Oh, and hello, readers! Nice to see you again after the year-end break. I’ve missed you and I’ve missed writing Snapshot posts. They are my favorite.

- Isobel and I both caught the flu right before New Year’s (though Isobel is convinced she had “the floop”) and man, it was a bad one. It’s reached epidemic levels at this point so if you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet I urge you to try and do so. Isobel’s went into bronchitis so we spent the early days of 2013 at the doctor’s office.

- My favorite thrift store in the world, Treasures to Find, has lost their lease and is closing their doors forever come early February. I am distraught. They will continue to run estate sales and occasionally appear at the local flea market, so if you are local and want to stay in touch be sure to sign up for their email newsletter at the store.

- Someone came across my blog the other day by searching “soothing pee sounds” so if you are here now because of that search, I’m sorry to disappoint you. I have no pee sounds to offer. Surprisingly, that’s not the strangest search item to have brought people here, my favorite being “annoying labia.” Julie Strange suggested I get it embroidered onto a pillow so I will remember it always. “Little Big: Home of the Annoying Labia.”

- Next month I will be hosting a giveaway courtesy of Let’s Die Friends. Kelly will  be sending me one of her adorable heart pins to give away, so be sure to look for it.

- Isobel’s favorite game right now is for one of us to get her Care Bear stuck on a fan blade. We then have to turn on the fan and watch the Care Bear fly off in a random direction while Isobel shrieks with delight. It’s the little things, people.

- Speaking of the little things, her absolute favorite present from Christmas was a cardboard box. For about a week she played with that box every day for hours on end. Really. She watched Doctor Who in it. She sneaked around in it Solid Snake-style. She wrapped herself up and pretended to be a baby in a box.

Scrapbook: New Year’s Eve 2013 – Best New Year’s on record. Kingston couldn’t help but break dance.

Home Movie: Falling Down Laughing – Isobel laughs so hard she can’t remain upright.

Thrifty, Healthy Habits for a New Year – I nag because I love.

Wishing You Joy – Our Christmas card. I only made it half way through our list this year.

Woman accidentally posts recipe in the middle of her Obama rant on Facebook. I laughed until I cried, and then I made Stefanie laugh until she cried. This really is the best thing ever. Via Mattbelly.

Nic Piper will make a drawing for you. “Oh, by the way, there’s no age limit so if you want to get your small kids to submit some words or a story then go ahead.  Brilliant.” Love this! Via @nicpiper

Women are good for economic stability. Via @Pamela_Drouin

On depression and getting help. Depression is the scariest thing I have ever experienced, through my self and through others. Via Rob Delaney.

I answer a reader question once a month. Do you have a question for me? I’d love to answer it! If it’s a short one I’ll answer it here. If it’s more complicated, I’ll give it its own post. You can leave your question in the comments, @-reply me on twitter, email it to me at alittlebigblog@gmail.com or send me a messenger pigeon. Don’t actually do the last one, though. My cat will eat it.