East Coast Girl

5 Reality tv shows that improve my quality of life

ermabasila — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:57:30 +0000

You guys. I apologize for being M.I.A. in the last week. Last week I was busy baking and icing delicious sugar cookies for a wedding as well as hemming my bridesmaid dress. For extra brownie points I took the fabric that I cut off the bottom of my dress to make Aiden a matching bow tie since he walked me down the aisle. The sucky part is that I lost the bow tie in transit from the bride’s mom’s house to the church. Still, he was cute.

Anyfart.

I spent most of the afternoon a couple days ago on my deathbed but after I emerged from the bedroom and Aiden went to bed, I was left alone with my first love in life: television. When I’m alone I like to watch the shows that I don’t like to admit I watch. Some of these are shows I have to thank for improving my quality of life in some way. Here’s five of them.

1.) Hoarders – Whenever I need motivation to clean my living spaces, I turn on an episode of Hoarders and it gets my butt in gear. I tell myself, “If you let your mess get this bad, you’re going to have to explain to someone why you kept all those sticky Dum Dum Pop wrappers.” [ Image via ]

2.) Intervention – I learned that drugs are bad and make you ugly. I don’t want to be drug ugly. [ Image via ]

3.) America’s Next Top Model – I used to watch marathons of this show it made me feel fat to the point that I’d want to start dieting and exercising again. Eventually I would spend a whole episode doing jumping jacks and sit ups right in front of the tv. Did it actually burn calories? Who knows. [ Image via ]

4.) Any of the Real Housewives franchise: It reminds me that I don’t want to become any of them. Unless I wake one day and decide I’d like to ruin my life. [ Image via ]

5.) Top Chef – I know what an amuse-bouche is and I know that Ted Allen loves him some ceviche. It’s almost like culinary school without the school. [ Image via ]

Runner ups:
16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom – I’m just glad I dodged that bullet by twelve years.
Anything Jersey-related. None of those shows made it on the list because I’ve yet to watch a whole episode of anything. I just know I’d hate myself for watching it and that’s not what this list is about.
Sex Rehab – I don’t have a problem.
Rock of Love – I know I don’t ever want to date Bret Michaels. Or I’ll ugly cry like this:

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Exploring the Arboretum

ermabasila — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:45:37 +0000

Last week Aiden skipped one of his naps. Adam had plans to meet up with his friend and scout out rock climbing locations that afternoon so I thought it was a good idea to take Aiden there to walk around and hopefully get him tired enough to take a nap once we got home. It was a brilliant idea! We walked around the Conn College Arboretum for about an hour and a half and Aiden fell asleep on the ride home. We decided to get Starbucks and drive around a little bit to let him sleep.

He was pretty knocked out because he didn’t wake up when we took him out of his car seat. Adam put him down in his bed and we thought we were golden for at least an hour. No dice. Twenty, maybe thirty minutes later, while we were using our laptops on the couch I heard a door squeak and a tiny voice mumble something. I looked behind me and there’s a wide awake toddler hiding in the dark kitchen waiting for us to notice him.

Ah well, it was good while it lasted.

(I’m warming up to the new Facebook Timeline. I like that I can personalize my profile page with a huge header photo. This guy is the cover model of my Facebook page.)

If you’re ever in the area in warmer months, you should take a walk here. Heck gimme a call and I’ll meet you there!

Connecticut College Arboretum – Native Plant Collection
across the street from the Williams Street entrance to Connecticut College at Harkness Chapel
Look for the double wrought iron gates with large golden leaves.

Kristen Bell goes ape for sloths

ermabasila — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:09:56 +0000

I know I’m about a week late but I finally saw this Kristen Bell interview from The Ellen Show. In my (currently imaginary) running list of best talk show interviews (B.J. Novak was the last one added), I gotta add this one. There’s something so funny and adorable that Kristen Bell’s favorite animal is the sloth and her boyfriend is the best for getting one for her birthday party.

The Week in Aiden

ermabasila — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:00:39 +0000

Last weekend we switched out Aiden’s crib for a toddler bed that looks like a fire truck. Aiden loves it. He also loves getting out of it when he doesn’t feel tired enough to sleep. Adam and I have done our share of escorting Aiden back into bed for nap and bed times. Adam is better at keeping composure during this process while I whine and cry as much as Aiden does.

My mom gave Aiden this small toy Santa Claus that sticks his tongue out when you squeeze it. Aiden is terrified of it. He’s fine looking at it, touching it with one finger, but once the tongue rolls out he runs away. I may have done this a few times just to see the scared expression on his face. I wish you were there.

Aiden and I went with Adam to the Conn. College Arboretum so he and his friend could scout out new rock climbing locations and we walked around. Aiden decided to skip nap so I thought I could get him tired from all the walking we did. It worked, but not as well as I’d hoped. He fell asleep in the car on the way home and stayed in bed for about ten minutes. I wish I could power nap like that.

Besides that, Aiden watched a lot of cartoons.

Also! Aiden has a new cousin named Emily Joy.

I could go for a nap right about now.

Adding to my repertoire

ermabasila — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:51 +0000

Johannes Brahms

For the last three weeks I’ve been rehearsing Brahms‘ Ein deutsches Requiem for our spring classical concert in May. I’m so excited to go to every rehearsal to work on this piece. Even if maestro has us rehearsing the first line over and over for a half hour straight, I give 100% of my effort now and each rehearsal after that with the knowledge that all this work will be appreciated come performance day.

The first time I heard this Requiem was a recording I listened to right before doing a workshop performance of it. The one-day workshop performance was the first time I’d ever seen the score, much less sight-read the whole thing through. (The sopranos sitting next to me were impressed that they invited me to join their choir.)

Performing it only allowed me to be about half as attentive to the music as a whole. I was mostly concerned with following the conductor while making sure I was singing the correct notes and following tempo, dynamics, accent markings, and pronouncing the German words correctly.

When you listen to it and follow along to the words you can almost feel emotions coming out of the music. One thing I hear people mention when they talk about Brahms’ Requiem is that Brahms so accurately translated human emotion through music that it nearly brings people to tears because it hits you right there.

I don’t know if that last paragraph sounded stupid. Bottom line is I love it because I connect to this music the most compared to other music I’ve experienced and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.

There’s so many beautiful things about this requiem compared to other requiems out there. I’ve performed Mozart‘s Requiem Mass in D minor and the Requiem by John Rutter and I love them both dearly but Brahms’ requiem is on another level. It’s kind of a dream come true to be able to work in depth and perform this piece with a remarkable choir.

And if you’re curious (I’m sure you’re not), a piece that runs a close second to my favorite choral piece is H. Balfour Gardiner‘s Evening Hymn. Both this and the Brahms piece had me in tears as soon as we sang the first notes. It’s just so… beautiful. The organ. The voices! This piece would be my theme song as I walk through the Pearly Gates in Heaven.

Okay now you know how much a nerd I am and how I love classical choral pieces. Do you have any favorite classical pieces or composers? Or are you only cool with Piano by Candlelight?

[ Image via Wikipedia ]

A list maker’s dream

ermabasila — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:00:07 +0000

To Do or To Procrastinate?

I write a lot of lists. I have written lists and I always have Notepad open on my laptop with a typed up list of things to do. When I lay down to sleep, I make a mental list of what I want to do the next day. I have lists for everything. Groceries, household chores, laundry schedule, blog ideas, craft show plans, and more.

I need to find a doctor who’s willing to perform a listotomy to make me stop making so many lists.

The photo above is my current notepad where I write my lists. Sometimes I use random scrap paper but I found this pad one day a few years ago. I don’t remember where I picked it up, maybe Target. It’s the ultimate in lists with categories such as “to do,” “to call,” “to buy,” and “to remember.” If I could add another category of to-do I’d add “to clean” because I’m always wanting to clean things. Nonetheless it’s my favorite note pad for to-do lists because I can organize my lists. It might be a tad obsessive compulsive but I have no problem with it.

What I love about list making is that I’m able to organize my thoughts and the ability to see things written or typed up gives me a sense of what my day will consist of. When I finish each task on my list, I can cross them off and the resulting feeling of accomplishment makes me feel good. I like that feeling.

Can I make a confession? On slow days (and by slow I mean I’m procrastinating on finishing the big tasks) I write down items I’ve already done just so I can cross it off the list and feel like I’ve done something. Eat and shower are usually these tasks.

When I want to compile a to-do list for the whole week, I like to use TeuxDeux. (They also have an app by the way)

I just might be a little crazy on the list making. What do you think? Are you a list maker? What is your list writing medium of choice, a notepad or a technological device? Or do you just keep all in your noggin?

Breakfast at The Shack

ermabasila — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:04 +0000

Adam, Aiden, and I went out for a late morning breakfast at The Shack last week. The first time I tried buttermilk pancakes was at The Shack many years ago. They were so delicious I vowed never to eat regular pancakes again. Oh. my. carbs.

That story is pretty useless because I didn’t get buttermilk pancakes this time. I got a ham & cheese omelet and I apologize for not taking a photo of my plate because I ate it up as soon as the food was served to me.

But here’s photos of Aiden counting crayons with his dad!

Visit The Shack Restaurants

441 Long Hill Rd.
Groton, CT 06340
860-445-5500
Additional locations in Waterford & East Lyme

Felines in Fashion

ermabasila — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:00:17 +0000

I’m super excited to see all these new designer (diffusion) lines that include cats in them.

1.) Jason Wu for Target. All you need to know is February 5th. Tomorrow. Get to your Target before the doors even open. There’s just the tee with the cat on it so I don’t know if there’s anything else but those dresses are nice looking…

2.) Victoria Beckham‘s diffusion line, Victoria, has cat prints on the blouses. See the quirky video:

Fear of Impending Two

ermabasila — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:17 +0000

I'm at about a 6.5.

Dear internets, I’m excited and afraid of Aiden turning 2 years old.

We plan to do a couple things when Aiden’s birthday rolls around later this month. A birthday party isn’t even in those plans. (I kind of just want to go out to eat instead of have a party. Chili’s, anyone?)

The first thing is that we’re turning his car seat around. This kid was patient enough to stay rear-facing for two years. No more using the back seat as an ottoman. He deserves to see what we see at the the same time instead of us telling him what’s coming up and waiting until he sees everything to hear his reactions.

The second thing is we’re switching out his crib for a toddler bed. This one gives me the most anxiety. Being in a toddler bed, Aiden can get out of it anytime he wants. He can get out of bed in the middle of the night. He can get out of bed as soon as he wakes up in the morning and come into mommy and daddy’s room and drag me out whether I like it not. Anytime he wants. If I could have it my way, I’d keep him in the crib for another year, at least. He’d be jumping over the side of the crib Dukes of Hazard-style before I consider getting a toddler bed.

I’m going to hold my breath and rip the band aid off at the count of three. It has to happen sooner or later and i’m reluctant as heck but you may as well grab me by the collars kicking and screaming.

Seriously, you guys. I’m getting the shakes just thinking about it. One night I’m going to be settling down to catch up on a month of tv shows and all of a sudden I hear little feet running down the hall and a tiny voice saying, “Mommy, milk?”

Uhhhh.

Mommy might have to start putting herself to bed early to avoid midnight confrontations.

To the parents who’ve been to the other side of the fence, am I overreacting?

[ Image via Mostly Lost ]

23 Months

ermabasila — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:33:24 +0000

Dear Aiden,

Last week was probably the easiest and most fun week with you compared to recent weeks. We got along so well and I had so much fun with you that I didn’t want to put you to bed. Dance party all night long!!

Then over the weekend you went back to your typical two year old self. A tantrum every hour on the hour, it’s already old news. When you have a tantrum you make the earth shake and wake the dead. It’s more rough on me, kid, trust me.

Then when I put you to bed, the slate is wiped clean, and we start fresh the next day.

Have you ever seen the movie, Groundhog Day? No? Really? You should watch it sometime.

You started saying four-word sentences and it blows my mind that you can do that. Whole, complete thoughts! Woah! A subject and verb in the same sentence?! Shut the front door! You understand things most of the time and pretend not to understand sometimes just to see how we’d react. You’re a real joker.

I can’t fool you anymore. The other night you asked for what felt like your tenth cup of milk that day. I didn’t want you to finish off the gallon in the fridge so I filled your cup with water and gave it to you while you sat and watched Spongebob. When you took a sip, I watched with bated breath hoping you forgot what beverage you asked for and just drink it out of pure necessity.

You handed your cup back to me and said, “Water. MILK!” All without taking your eyes off the tv.

You verbally bitch-slapped me.

Aiden – 1
Mom – 0

I really want to feed you healthier food. Except I can’t get you to eat broccoli unless it’s dipped in ranch veggie dip. Forget baby carrots, they just serve as spoons for the veggie dip. All last week you just wanted to eat buttered toast. If you had it your way and an easy reach into the fridge’s butter compartment, you’d eat whole sticks of butter.

Waffles are still a staple. I see nothing wrong with that because your parents love eating breakfast food any time of the day. It’s midnight right now but your dad just fried himself a few slices of bacon. I regret passing up on his offer.

Want some bacon, Aiden?

Love,
Mama

P.S. See more photos of Aiden on Flickr here and videos of Aiden on Vimeo.

P.P.S. Do you want to see more of Aiden in the coming months? Should I do videos? What kind of things are you curious to hear about in the life of a 2-year old?