I was thinking of an unrelated thing...

Nesting

2008-07-15T15:54:00.004-05:00

The general consensus seems to be that I'm 'nesting'. I cleaned out all our closets including the three year old junk boxes from our last move, so I guess it's true. I also Cleaned off my desk to set up my new computer (Yay!) and we are finally getting rid of the 8 year old monster of a monitor that has been taking up way too much space for way too long. (Double yay!) It's so huge it takes up the same amount of space as my entire new computer. I decided I needed to take a picture to show baby how technology looked before he was born.

I also built the new Ikea dresser we got for baby. Check out the cute fishy knobs I found
at Job Lots in CT!

3 weeks left, I think I'm just about ready.

Baby Shower

2008-06-02T11:48:00.003-05:00

Big Weekend

2008-05-27T08:28:00.002-05:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted anything here, but I had such a great weekend I feel inspired to share!

Chris left for Chicago Thursday night for the annual Applied Behavior Analysis conference where he was presenting his dissertation research. (Go Chris!) Rather than spend the whole weekend in the basement by myself I decided to go out to Sag Harbor to hang out with my Mom. My Dad was also away, so it was a girls weekend.
It started with perfect weather on Friday and a stop at Tanger Outlets where I found a great deal on comfy sneakers. I left Tanger expecting the usual Memorial Day weekend traffic nightmare in Southampton, but they've finally opened that second lane, and there was none! After 32 years of avoiding that stretch of road it felt like a miracle.

We spent all of Saturday checking out yard-sales, and found some great baby stuff. Highlights were a deluxe travel stroller, a brand new baby gate, and these cute little Adirondack chairs for the deck. (They need a little paint, but for $2.50 each how can you complain?)
Sunday was beautiful again so we went for a walk at the ocean, and ran into Rose's sisters. I've never run into someone from Queens in Sag Harbor before. Ended the day with much napping, and some potentially exciting news from Chris. (More about that later I hope.)
Of course there was the mandatory entitled obnoxious rich person encounter when we went in town for a movie, (how dare we sit in front of them) but I managed to get home Monday night with almost no traffic again, making it the best weekend in Sag Harbor I've had in a long time.

Damn Toasters

2008-05-25T15:36:00.002-05:00

My parents' new toaster totally looks like a Cylon!

LOLbaby

2008-03-20T10:57:00.001-05:00

It's a boy!!

2008-03-17T12:47:00.002-05:00

We just got back from the doctor and I'm so excited! I don't think I'll be able to sleep until Chris and I finalize a name choice. I wish I could have an ultrasound every day. I was in heaven seeing his little kidneys, and eyeballs, and the valves of his heart. So much fun!
Chris' exact comment when they told us the sex was "What do you know, modern medicine turns out to be more reliable than Chinese astrology." Hehe.

2008-01-04T14:57:00.000-05:00

The first ultrasound of baby Benavides! I can't believe how cool it is to see it moving around already. Hooray for modern technology!!

Swing Dancing Spiderman

2007-12-19T19:02:00.000-05:00

I love this for the weirdness, but also because Mary Jane tosses him around as much as he does her.

Diney Pixar Wall E promo video

2007-12-02T09:01:00.001-05:00

This looks like it could be something to get excited about...

2007-11-27T09:45:00.000-05:00

A quiz written by my very own sister:

Important QUIZThis is a quiz that I have created for my own less than credible purposes and I insist that you take it! *Please feel free to just insert your own questions wherever you feel like it. Or new categories too. 8D

CONCEPTS
1. Favorite Colors: Lavender
2. Favorite Shapes: Raindrop
3. Cutest Shapes: Polkadot
4. Favorite Symbols: *

NOUNSSS!
1. Favorite Animals: Tiny turtles, monkeys and kittens.
2. Cutest Animals: Anything really really small.
3. Favorite Accessories: Shoes!
4. Favorite Plant: Big big trees.

EDIBLES
1. Favorite Foods: Angel hair pasta with turkey meatballs.
2. Cutest Foods: Pastina
3. Favorite Fruit: Bananas and blueberries.
4. Cutest Fruit: Strawberry
5. Favorite Vegetable: Spinach
6. Cutest Vegetable: peas
7. Favorite Sweets: Chocolate croissant
8. Favorite Drink: coffee

Christmas Questions

2007-11-27T08:57:00.000-05:00

Roe tagged me for this Christmas meme... Corinne, you're it.

1.) Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate.
2.) Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? I volunteer to wrap other people's presents. Love it.
3.) Colored lights on tree/house or white? Both.
4.) Do you hang mistletoe? I have never been able to find the blasted stuff, believe it or not.
5.) When do you put your decorations up? My family generally waits until Christmas eve, but Chris and I do it earlier.
6.) What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Cranberry sauce.
7.) Favorite Christmas memory as a child? My parents took us into Manhattan every year to see the animated windows and Rockefeller center and for a carriage ride.
8.) When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't know how old I was but I remember spying on my parents from the top of the stairs.
9.) Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We celebrate Christmas Eve with Chris' family, so yes.
10.) How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Our little apartment sized tree had a food/candy theme.
11.) Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love snow, dread the slush that follows shortly thereafter.
12.) Can you ice skate? Once upon a time it used to get cold enough for the pond by my parent's house to freeze.
13.) Do you remember your favorite gift? My first stereo I guess.
14.) What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being surrounded by family and friends.
15.) What is your favorite holiday desert? Apple pie, and Lindt truffles.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? My family each get a new ornament every year. I love unpacking them and trying to remember who they belonged to.
17.) What tops your tree? A star.
18.) Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving!
19.) What is your favorite Christmas Song? I downloaded a jazz version of the nutcracker suite that I just love..
21.) Favorite Christmas Movie? Love Actually
22.) What do you leave for Santa? Cookies.

Hmm, what happened to no. 20?

Dunder Mifflin on Strike

2007-11-14T13:17:00.000-05:00

New Golden Compass Trailer

2007-11-04T17:21:00.000-05:00

I just re-read all three books, and can't wait to see the movie.

2007-10-04T16:40:00.001-05:00

Harborfest 2007

2007-09-18T18:43:00.000-05:00

It's been non-stop fun for Chris and I for about two straight months now (and it's not over yet!) We haven't had a quiet weekend at home in forever. I'm not complaining, but that's my excuse for neglecting the blog, email, phone calls, and countless other things. I can't believe the summer is over. this beautiful fall weather is my favorite time of year though, and it just makes me want to get out and do more fun stuff like the chowder tasting at Sag Harbor's 300th Anniversary festival:There were also whaleboat races and a truly delicious Avocado Lobster Roll, not to mention mind-blowing carrot cake with lemon-cream cheese frosting. Shoot, now I'm hungry.

No Spoilers Here I Promise...

2007-07-22T14:36:00.000-05:00

What do you do when you finish Harry Potter book 7? Go back to looking for funny stuff on the web of course:

If the end of Harry Potter was written by ______

No spoilers at all, just lol funny.

Update: Lots of readers have added their own 'as written by' in the comments. Don't miss the Dr. Seuss! Also, here's mine own contribution...

Jane Austen:

Harry, Ron and Hermione travel back in time to a ball Voldemort attended as a young man to try to learn more about where the Horcruxes might be. The young Tom Riddle sees Hermione across the room and is struck by her beauty. He asks her to dance but she snubs him, which infuriates him, but also makes him instantly in love with her. He asks all his friends who she is and is shocked to find out she's muggle-born. For days he tries to go on being evil, but with Hermione showing up everywhere he goes, he gives in, and confesses his love to her. Hermione is frightened. She and the others quickly flee back to the present time, but the young Voldemort follows them. Hermione grows to love him in return as he uses his power for good to try and impress her, and he is kind of cute after all. The world is saved and Tom and Hermione have a double wedding with Harry and Ginny.

Thanks!

2007-07-15T13:14:00.001-05:00

I huge thank you to everyone who helped make Chris' party yesterday such a good time. You're all great and we're so glad you could be there!

Beer Can Chicken

2007-07-02T20:57:00.001-05:00

We spent the weekend in Sag Harbor where Chris was very excited to try a recipe he found for Beer Can Chicken. It was delicious and juicy and highly entertaining!

2007-06-27T07:27:00.000-05:00

This looks so good! Golden Compass Trailer Thank goodness there's something to look forward to after Harry Potter 7.

Free Time

2007-06-05T16:54:00.000-05:00

I already sent this article (How not to Talk to Your Kids. The inverse power of praise.) to a bunch of people, but I've been thinking about it all day, so i think it must be blog worthy.

Aside from being a really interesting and well written article, it inspired a bit of personal insight for me. I had the day off from work today, and how did I choose to spend my free time? Drawing and painting? No. Reading about illustration? No. I was up at 8:00 on my day off reading about teaching. And I'm not even a teacher atm. In fact I've been reading about teaching/psychology in my spare time consistently for the last 10 years. There's really nothing else I can say that about. My point is, I'm feeling pretty confident that going back to school is the right decision for me. It's taken me a while, but I think I'm ready.

The bright side of baking heat...

2007-05-26T07:18:00.000-05:00

Squirting Mandy till she drips!

Cuties in dresses

2007-05-02T20:02:00.000-05:00

Sunday was a day full of little girls in dressy dresses. Cute!

Alligator Dance

2007-05-02T20:01:00.001-05:00

My niece at her Christening party last weekend.

In the mood to laugh

2007-04-25T17:37:00.000-05:00

I'm in a good mood today so I thought I'd share a few random links that made me laugh.

Pros and Cons of the top 20 Presidential Candidates - McSweenys

Review: Tylenol Go Tabs - The Impulsive Buy

Nutrition Facts Cookie - Boing Boing

Blood Elf Switcher - You Tube

How could I not be in a good mood when They Might Be Giants are one of the bands on an upcoming Pixies tribute album!! Somebody loves me!

Spring Showers

2007-04-16T08:07:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning and put my feet on the floor... into about 2 inches of water.

Shocking but not surprising.

2007-03-15T09:55:00.000-05:00

I read Freakonomics last year and really enjoyed it, but it wasn't until today I discovered the author has a Freakonomics Blog. So far I've read only this disturbing bit of information about pharmacies: "If Crack Dealers Took Lessons From Walgreens, They Really Would Be Rich," but I bet there's a lot of other great stuff on there too.

Tuesday by David Wiesner

2007-03-12T21:27:00.000-05:00

As my niece Amanda gets older she continues to find new favorites in my collection of children's books. The latest is Tuesday by David Wiesner, which I bought for myself when I was in school. Her reaction to this page is so infectious I felt like sharing it. The book has very little text so imagine Amanda pointing to the man and asking 'What does he say?' and I answer "Whaaa??'

Amanda then laughs hysterically and looks around the room to make sure everyone sees that she's found the funniest thing in the world. Repeat until I force her to turn the page.

No big surprises here

2007-03-10T14:35:00.000-05:00

Greed:	Low
Gluttony:	Medium
Wrath:	Low
Sloth:	High
Envy:	Very Low
Lust:	Low
Pride:	Low

Take the Seven Deadly Sins Quiz

Got this from Roe's Blog.

Meez Hubby

2007-03-02T11:59:00.000-05:00

I made a meez for Chris because it had to be done, and he wasn't going to do it himself.

They Won!

2007-03-01T19:53:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to say my brother won the Tropicana competition!! Thanks everyone who voted!
Kind of makes me think I should start entering some kind of creative competitions. I know they're out there I should stop slacking and find them...

Juice Baby

2007-02-16T15:13:00.000-05:00

My brother and his partners are finalists in the Tropicana's Fresh take on Portland film competition! Please help them win $10,000 by voting here: http://www.freshfilms-portland.com/voting

Their film is called Splash, and I absolutely think it's best of the 3. I'm so proud!

Questions

2007-02-13T15:24:00.000-05:00

Funness from Stacey's blog:

1. Name one person who made you smile yesterday? Chris

2. What were you doing at 8:00 this morning? Stressing

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Checking voicemail again (empty again)

4. What is something that happened to you in 1994? Chose illustartion as my major

5. What is the last thing you said aloud? Thank You

6. How many different things did you drink today? Coffee, Cranberry juice

7. What color is your hairbrush? Silver and blue

8. What is the last thing you bought? hair dye

9. What was the last gift you received on your birthday? Gilmore Girls Season 6

10. What color is your front door? Wood

11. Where do you keep your change? In Chris' pockets/the washer and dryer

12. What was the weather like today? blech

13. What is the best ice cream flavor? too cold and congested to think about ice cream

14. What is something you are excited about? Rufus Wainwright is recording a new album.

15. When was the last rainbow you saw? I don't remember
16. What size shoe do you wear? 8 and a half...

17. Where is question 17? On the other island.

18. Are you very random? Not at all, not at all, said the woman to the man, I was thinking of an unrelated thing. (It's a They Might Be Giants Song.)

19. Do you want to cut your hair? Desperately

20. Are you over the age of 25? Yes

21. Do you talk a lot? NO

22. Do you watch The O.C.? No

23. Does your screen name have an "x" in it? No

24. Do you know anyone named Charles? It's my father's middle name.

25. Do you make up your own words? yeppers

27. Are you typically a jealous person? no

28. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter "B": Brendan

29. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter "J": Jeff

30. Who's the 1st person on your received calls list? Chris

31. What did the last text message you received say? May I recommend a band called the Decembrists if you haven't already listened to them?

33. Do you have curly hair? No

34. What is the next concert you're going to? Can't afford concerts atm.

35. Who is the worst person in your life? Geico employees

36. How many times have you swore today? does typing Frack count? 1

37. What is something you say a lot? Um, no.

38. What is the last thing you ate? Corn bread.

39. Have you seen the movie "Donnie Darko"? No

40. Do you have work tomorrow? I don't know, hence the stressing.

41. Is marriage in your future? Already Married

42. When was the last time you said "I love you"? This morning

43. What should you be doing now? putting away laundry.

44. Do you have a nickname? Muffin (not my choice)

46. When was the last time you used a skateboard? high school

47. What is the best movie you've seen in the past two weeks? Haven't seen any movies recently.

48. Is there anyone you like right now? yes

49. When was the last time you did the dishes, be honest...? I washed the coffee pot this morning.

Woot a poll!

2007-02-13T13:36:00.000-05:00

One of the many things I couldn't figure out on Live Journal was how to add a poll. Please vote now to weigh in on what The Husband and I have had many bitchy conversations about: TV couples we are sick to death of, and wouldn't care at all if there was never another episode about them again. Of course this includes only shows I watch at the moment, which is why Clark and Lana aren't mentioned. I don't watch Smallville anymore, but mostly because I was so sick of Lana.

A failed experiment.

2007-02-13T13:06:00.000-05:00

Sooo... a while ago I decided I needed a blog seperate from SketchLABC, so I thought I'd try out Live Journal and started the Not Art blog. I like a few things about it, but mostly everything I want to do requires a paid subscription, so I've given up. So this is the new place for whatever I feel like posting that doesn't relate to art. That hasn't been much lately, but I feel a poll coming on...