Through a Child's Eyes

It's no secret that children see things differently than we adults do. They haven't lived long enough to be jaded cynics. Life is so much simpler when one is a child. I overheard a couple of different children say some really sweet and hilarious things this weekend.

On Friday night, Fabian and I had dinner at a Mexican restaurant out here in the 'burbs. It was filled to the brim with people, yet at one point, it was quiet enough for me to overhear a boy at the next table telling his parents "Tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life!". I have no idea what his plans were because I didn't hear the rest of the conversation, but it really got me thinking. When was the last time I had that very thought? Sadly, I can't remember. Was it the night before my wedding two and a half years ago? Probably not because I was too busy hoping that everything would be perfect. Could it have been last December before Fabian and I traveled to Europe for the first time? No, it couldn't have been. I was too busy checking things off my list and praying that all of our baggage would make it there.


Hearing that little boy say this really put things into perspective for me. I know I am too old and too "me" to really ever believe that tomorrow will be the best day of my life with that type of certainty, (or blind optimism) but I want to start thinking that maybe it could be. Once we reach a certain stage in our lives, we stop expecting things like that. We no longer declare that tomorrow will be the best day ever, but reflect on yesterday instead and think about how amazing the previous day had been.

On another note, Fabian and I had lunch at Cafe Express today because I was craving their Shrimp and Avocado salad. While we were eating, a very distinguished looking Mexican lady in her early thirties walked in with her mother and two adorable daughters, presumably aged four and seven. The four year old walked in and immediately had a look of sheer joy spread across her face as she exclaimed "Queso!" as she made a beeline for the condiment bar and begged her grandmother for some grated parmesan cheese. Her mom went to the counter and ordered, while the rest of the group sat down. The little girl looked like she was in heaven as she scooped the cheese into her mouth. I love food, but I don't remember the last time I was this excited about cheese or any other food. Well, maybe in Paris when I ate my first authentic French pastry!

A few minutes later the girls were giggly and mom said to them: "Quiero que se porten bien...I want you to behave." I tried so hard to hold my laughter in as the seven year old covered her ears as if she wouldn't have to behave if she hadn't heard what her mom said. She was a sassy one! It will be so hard not to laugh when my future babies do things like that. I suppose the moral of the story is that we, as adults, should remember to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. You never know, tomorrow could very well be the best day of your life.

Bloggers Who Lunch

Joni, Courtney, Me, and Carolina

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting and having lunch with three Houston bloggers, Courtney of In(side) the Loop, Joni of Cote de Texas, and Carolina of Carolina Eclectic. I had such a great time! I'll admit that I was a little nervous before I got there. I couldn't help but wonder: "What if they don't like me? What if we have nothing to say to one another?".

I was quickly put at ease as I was greeted by Courtney. Friendly and vivacious, she feels like someone you've been friends with for years. She makes you feel right at home and has a fantastic personality. Carolina was the next to arrive. Shy and soft-spoken, she is incredibly sweet, has a passion for minimalist design, and has the cutest three year old son. We were soon joined by Joni. I caught my first glimpse of her through the window, as she tapped on it to let us know that she needed to move her car. Joni exudes the kind of confidence I hope to have someday. Steadfastly opinionated, Joni is a woman who knows what she likes and isn't afraid to tell you. She was quick to let me know that my post, Do you want an A or do you want to learn? had upset her. Ever the consummate blogger, she shared tons of blogging advice and juicy gossip with us.

After we'd finished eating, it was decided that we would snap a few photos in order to properly document the meeting of the Houston bloggers. Courtney, Carolina, and Joni were properly armed with their cameras, but I had left mine at home because the batteries were dead. Carolina exclaimed "What kind of blogger are you?!" when I'd told them about my camera. Oh, the horror!

Courtney, Me, Carolina

Overall, I had a fantastic time and hope to do it again soon. It's always nice to make new friends who share similar interests.

I "borrowed" these photos from Joni since I'm the kind of blogger who forgets to charge her batteries.

This Week's Quote

Doug Wilson poster available through Keep Calm.

Rustic Glamour

I recently came across an ad for Hudson Furniture, a company that custom makes all types of furniture and accessories, but is best known for its beautiful, rustic tables which come in many shapes and sizes. I'm not typically drawn to a rustic look, but I can certainly appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of this type of design.

Upon browsing Hudson's website, I learned that they choose only to use trees that have lived 250-300 years and are located in places where they would have to be cut down anyway (like ruining a home's foundation). I also realized that they have some seriously gorgeous pieces. My favorite is the gargantuan English Windsor table shown below. Almost immediately, I thought that it would be perfect for glamorous dinner parties. The juxtaposition of tons of candles, flowers, and beautiful china would be incredibly striking against the rustic wood. The Hudson table reminds me so much of Aleksandr Petrovsky's dining table from Season Six of Sex and the City, though it is about half the size.

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Tricia, of I am Trish Marie. So, prepare to learn things about me you never wanted to know.

Here are the rules:

-Link to the person who tagged you.

-Leave a comment on their blog so that their readers can visit yours.

-Post the rules on your blog.

-Share the seven (7) most famous or infamous people you have met. Or go with the original 7 weird things about yourself.

-Tag 7 random people at the end of your post.

-Include links to their blogs.

-Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Okay, seeing as how I live in suburban Houston, I haven't had many celebrity sightings, so we'll go with 7 weird things about me. There are some things that I thought of immediately, but I had to really rack my brain to come up with seven whole things. I really don't think I'm that weird, but those who know may may think otherwise!


1. I am a bona fide germophobe. I can't tell you how much Purell I go through every day at work. My students are so amused by the fact that I refuse to touch the hall pass (God only knows what they do with it when they take it to the bathroom.) and that I sanitize my hands after touching almost anything! Some of them genuinely worry about me and ask if maybe I should switch brands so that I don't build up an immunity, but I tell them I'd rather take my chances than know that all of that awful bacteria is on my hands.

2. I have what I like to call "placement issues". Everything in my house, car, or classroom has a designated place and it should be there at all times. If you move something from its place, you are expected to return it to its designated spot once you've finished using it. No one in my life seems to understand how important this is. Instead, they just leave stuff wherever they feel like it and I am constantly having to put stuff where it belongs. I know things like this shouldn't matter and that I should let it go, but I can't. I'm sick, I know.

3. I am also very particular about my bedding. I can only sleep on a down pillow, otherwise my neck and head hurt. Also, the sheets need to be straight at all times. This has been kind of an issue since my husband is the type that likes to wrap himself up in a ball made of the sheets and comforter. First, we did away with a top sheet to alleviate the situation. He has gotten much better, though and no longer pulls the covers up so much that my feet are uncovered and my head is drowning. Now, if I could only get him to stop snoring...

4. I don't eat pork. Sort of. You see, I can eat ham or bacon, but I don' eat either very often. Ham is fine and bacon tastes great, but I always ask for things like sandwiches without bacon since it is so fattening. However, I can't eat things like pork chops or pork tenderloin. I know Anthony Bourdain would surely crucify me for this, but I just don't like the way it tastes. Oh, and I don't do sausage.

5. I pee a lot. I get up several times throughout the night to pee and have been known to go 2 or 3 times during a movie.

6. I consider myself a "lyrical genius" (jokingly, of course) because I sing around the house all the time. I like to take well-known songs and give them new lyrics about anything and everything. Call me a modern-day Weird Al Yankovic.

7. I know all kinds of useless trivia, mostly of the celebrity variety. I attribute this to the fact that I am addicted to Us Weekly, the Internet, and certain TV shows. However, my knowledge isn't limited to celebrities, so be prepared to lose if you ever dare to play something like Trivial Pursuit with me.

Now, on to the fun part. I am tagging:

Cote de Texas

Decorno

Me, Myself, and I

Mrs. PlainJane

PetuniaFace

Scented Glossy Magazines

Things That Inspire