I'm trying!

Oh, friends.....so many things on my mind and on my To Do list. I'm just getting back into the real world so if you're a friend in real life? I swear you'll hear from me soon.....

We have scarcely left the house for the last 2 weeks. Noodle has been sick off and on, I've been feeling crappy, too. Now Noodle's back at school and I'm starting feel human again.

First thing on my To-Do list today? Going with MJ to the Great Estate and to Crossroads Delicatessen. We'll talk about a cookbook MJ's writing and make it a "business lunch". I've mentioned Crossroads in this blog before. If you are from the Twin Cities, you must go there.

You must. No arguments. It's just good food. Not fancy frou-frou, but yummy. I love their matzo ball soup and their hummus. You will too.

Don't go to the Great Estate, though. Don't do it. There will be less for me to look at and possibly buy if you do.

So stay away.

Plus? MJ is looking for a desk/table like my office desk. And guess what? The last time we were there? We found a bunch of the pieces that go with my desk. Good lookin' stuff! And the next time I buy an upholstered piece of furniture? It's going to be from there. Gorgeous stuff.

Here's another thing I've been thinking about: New Years Resolutions.

Have you made one? Do you normally do that? If you have, what is it? That is, if you don't mind sharing......

I always do a lame one.....something little and attainable that I know I can succeed at. This year it's:

• Try and use my reusable grocery bags and get on the road to going "bagless". My sister, Myrna, gave me a great bag for Christmas that will help me with this. It's one of those Lands' End canvas bags with the pockets on the inside. I LOVE IT.
• Start walking the neighbor dogs a couple of times a week again. I used to do this a lot, but haven't been doing it at all lately.
• To start making more of an effort to see my friends. In person.

There you have it. Boring? Yep. But feel free to click on that little red and white "X" and get rid of me.

Because it's my blog. So I can talk about anything I want. And sometimes? It's going to be boring.

Aaaaahhhhh. Here she is, people. That dream dishwasher of mine. Did I buy it?

No.

Am I going to?

No.

I've decided to find a cheap one. Because I'm desperate. And while I WANT to spend $1200 on this beautiful hunka-hunka machine? I have too many other things to throw my money at right now. So I'm going to one of those discount appliance places to start looking for a good deal. I'm hoping to find one for $400-500.

I'm sick of looking at dirty dishes in my sink. Sick to freakin' death of it!

One more thing: I'm going to get all Fly Lady on all ya'll. Mmmmmmmhmmmmmmmm.

I need a little organization in my life. And while I used to be all psycho about how my house looked? I'm not anymore. It's cluttered and out of control.

And it couldn't be the HOURS wasted every single day reading blogs, could it?

Nnnnnnnooooooo. I'm sure it couldn't be that! I can quit that anytime I want.

I just don't want to.

It's New Years Eve, People!

Oh! You knew that? Because you're way more in touch with reality than I am?

Oh.

A couple of things I'd like to say.....first of all? It's my sister Myrna's last day of work!!!!!! Woo HOOOOOO! She has 3 weeks off before she starts her new job! There's nothing like a new job! You have no idea what's going on in terms of office politics yet, so there's SUCH a nice honeymoon period! Yay Myrna :)

Also, Myrna wasn't feeling well when we had our big family party on Saturday. She had a raw, red nose.
And you know what? She showed up anyway. How cool is that? Because I don't mind telling you? If there's any inkling of an illness AND an event at the inlaw's?
I'm soooooo skipping the in-laws.
Unless Michelle and Kris are there. Then I'll come.
Anyway.....Myrna played the dice game with us. Because that girl looooves a good game of 6,5,4.

My other sister, Dawn? Freakin' saint, people. And she knows why. And that's all I'm saying on my blog about THAT.

My Mom has had the Noodle for 2 days! Yesterday I slept until 6 am, blogged, then took a nap. Then I stayed in my jammies until about 4pm when I showered and changed into clean jammies.
I like clean jammies.

Oh! Guess what? Big party at my Pal Liz's house tonight! Woo hoo! My girls will all be there. A couple of the girls have aupairs, so we all throw some money at them and they watch the kids for us. The best part is that the hubbies all really enjoy each other.

You know what?

NOW is the time for a house tour!!!! Don't you think???
I had a heckuva time finding a suitable house this time. Nothing was hitting me.....until I saw the windows on this beautiful hunk of house.

Here she is! It looks gigantic, but is only 2500 square feet.

Ha. Only. That's a palace to me :)

Anyway, this one is in a great neighborhood in Minneapolis right by Lake Calhoun. It's got 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a finished basement with a family room. It's about 800k.

Ahhhhh....the white kitchen with the dark counter tops. Love it. And look at the window by the table!!! Cute, no? Heck, I love the table!

The formal dining room. You can tell the house is staged, but at least they didn't "set the table". I really hate when stagers do that. And when they put a breakfast tray on a bed. I hate that too.

The living room.

One of the sun rooms.

The office. Let's blog here together, okay? Okay!

One of the bedrooms. Dang. I just want to crawl into that pretty bed, don't you? And I just love those windows on either side of the pretty bed.

The basement family room. Don't worry....I'll fix it up. It'll be fine. Slap a little paint on those walls and it'll be good as new :)

Please have a safe New Years Eve. I have the feeling that the people who read my blog aren't big drinkers****......but please be very careful on the road tonight. Stay a good distance away from other cars on the road. You never know how much they've had to drink. Not to be morbid or anything, but last year we didn't even go to Liz's because I just had a bad feeling about leaving the house and being on the road. It's just not worth it.

Plus? I like to be in bed early.

Have a safe, healthy evening!

****(Edited to add.....if you enjoy reading this thing? Maybe taking a little nip here and there wouldn't be such a bad idea. It would bring a little sloshy excitement to your life. You probably need it.)

Whatchya Been Doin'?

Oh my.
Things have been relaxed and busy here

There have been overnight guests and sledding.

Parties and naps.

Lots of music and silence. It's been just perfect.

I went sledding with the Noodle and her pal, L.

More than once.

After the second time?
I've decided that I'm too freakin' old to go sledding. It's just not fun anymore to hurt my big old padded bottom on an icy mogul.

My friend Sandi got me an iPod shuffle.

Oh. My. Gosh.

I'm addicted to downloading music. I'm going to have to put a big ol' limit on the music that I purchase, people. I went to iTunes and started out with 10 songs. Some Hannah Montana for the Noodle and some Indigo Girls and Paul McCartney & Wings for me. I love the fact that those fabulous people at iTunes take an artist and list all of their essential tunes so you can easily find your favorite songs. Sooooooo dangerous! I found so many songs that I've totally forgotten about!
Like the ones from the Indigo Girls and Paul McCartney and Wings. Because when is the last time you thought about THEM?

Anyway, now I've been loading my little-bit of a cd collection into my computer and making different play lists.

I've decided I need to upgrade my iPod shuffle to an iPod Touch. Then I can listen to music while I'm surfing the net "on the go". You know - because I'm nothing if not "on the go".

And then, why don't I just get an iPhone? I mean, it's the same price as the iPod Touch, but there's a phone, too.

And remember how my cell phone is broken and I need a new phone anyway? Yeah! Let's get an iPhone, okay?

Okay!

Oh.....and never mind how much I hate talking on the phone and how I dread even checking my home voice mail messages and the fact that I never did set up voice messaging on my cell for the same reason I never check my home voice mail. Because I hate phones.

I always make so much sense.

Anyway. My friend, Kirst, has all of her music (and she has a TON of music) downloaded to her TV (somehow) so she can play her music throughout the speaker system in her home by using her TV!!! Her hubby, Frank, is a genius and has their house totally HOOKED UP, people!


Here's what else I've been doing:

Reading this book.

My pal, Kirst, has been telling me to read this so we can discuss it. As usual, I'm the last person on Earth to read it.

And I'm so sorry.

Because it was the best book I've read in a long time.

And it was very comforting to me - as person who struggles to put a label on her religious beliefs. The author completely explains my beliefs in a way that I have never able to do.

Check it out if you haven't already.

I hope everybody had a great Holiday!!!

Happy Holidays and Thanks!!

I just want to wish everyone reading this a Happy, Healthy Day. We're celebrating Christmas here at Elizabeth Hill: and this photo? Totally staged. Behind me in the dining room the table is full of wrapping paper scraps and a mess of ginormous proportions.

But there are things that I can't lie about: Every holiday I celebrate? I always think about how lucky I am. I love my little family and my extended family, my friends and my neighbors. And I just LOVE my new friends I've met in blogville. I can't believe how much joy you've all brought me. I love the inspiration, beauty, laughter and friendship I've received this year. Thank you all so much!

Here's what I hope for everyone: To try and understand each other, even if you don't always agree.

Let's all coexist and be kind to one another. And then let's teach our children this. Because it's important.

And to thicken your Gravy? Mix together equal amounts of butter and flour to form a paste and then add it to your gravy (start with 2 tablespoons of each). Let it cook all bubbly for a couple of minutes. And to make your gravy more flavorful? Bouillon. It's okay. MJ says so.

Her Mom, however, thinks you should suffer if you've already screwed it up.

Sorry about dropping the ball on the gravy, but you know? It's my way. It's what I do. Why should today be any different?

Love you all!

I WON I WON I WON!!!

Lisa at Take 90 West was having a photo naming contest and I won!!!!!

Cutz, you are not going to believe what she gave away! I'd like to take a moment to apologize for that crap paper towel holder you won from me:

"I'm really sorry I gave away a crap paper towel holder for your prize, Cutzi." But it's all I had. And I loved that thing.

But I'm sorry about that because Lisa gave away a 15-inch flat screen LCD TV to celebrate her 100th post!!!! Oh. My. GOSH!!!!!

And I won it!!!!! Woo Hoooooooo!

Thanks, Lisa!

God Bless Us EVERYONE!!!!

Oh. Another thing! Lisa exchanged emails with the Pioneer Woman! The ROCK STAR of the blogging world, my friends! Have you checked her out yet? Do so, because she's almost as funny as Lisa. Almost.

Dudes.

I'm sooooooo behind on Christmas this year. Working for the past 3 weeks and my little blog-stalking habit have NOT helped. But I finished my "Z" wreath and I will take a picture of it later, okay? I still have 3 more errands to run. I can only do 3 at a time before a blow a gasket because of the crowds of people. People are dumb heads. And I hate them all. Except for you. I love you.

Now I'm going to go and wrap gifts. Except I won't be wrapping my Nephew Smackie's gift. I'm sooooo irritated at LEGO. I ordered him a LEGO set in November and it was backordered and supposed to be sent yesterday. Friday they sent me a letter telling my it won't be in until the END of January. I need to go and get him a gift card from somewhere. I'm thinking Best Buy or something.....any ideas? He's 10.

I've got soooooo much more to say, but I need to get that wrapping done.

xoxo,
martha

Favorite Ornaments and Another MJ Story.

Are you ready, Internets??

I have a lot of food ornaments on my tree. It happened by accident, I think. I somehow got my hand on the Jell-O mold and fruit cake ornaments (you'll see them in a second) and a collection was born.

Pretty much my only collection, too.

Because I'm too much of a commitment-phobe to have a collection. Collecting requires some sort of discipline, perseverance and space (for display). I have none of these.

SO! Here's my FAVORITE!!! My old boss and buddy Kim gave me this one. It's supposed to light up, but remember my whole lighting-the-tree-saga?? Let's just gloss over all that and say that my new lights aren't compatible with my old light-up ornaments. Okay? If I think about it anymore than that, I will get all "bah humbug" on y'all.

How cute is this???? I ask you???? And I also got a shot of one of my first faves, the apple and orange crate! Cute!

The blender! I think Kirst gave that to me. There's a Kitchen Aid mixer, too.

My beloved Jell-o mold!!

The fruitcake!!!

Bread and cheese on a cutting board :)

Cake! You can see an apple and an orange above it.

3 in one shot! The chocolate candy, fruity drink and a kiwi.

Oh....and Zuddy got me a new one this year. I was going on and on about Linda's fridge ornament, so he went out to find it (but couldn't), and got me this one instead:

Sorry, it's a little blurry. Cute though, right?

Okay, so I'm totally behind in my whole Holiday schtick. Today? I want to make this look a little more festive:
I think an excellent way to start is to take the frozen pumpkins and dead kale outta there, don't you think???? I bought some greens put in the pot and I'm making my own wreath with them as well. THIS should be entertaining, people. I have my "Z" wreath form from my last years' Ballard Designs wreath and I'm going to give it a go and post a photo tomorrow.

Okay. My new MJ story:
Have you ever heard of the Roches?
They're a singing group. They have beautiful harmonies - especially when they're singing Christmas music.
So, MJ calls me the other night, She and Michael are going to a concert and she needs to know how to get to the venue. I give her directions and ask her who she's going to see? The Roches. Oh! I have one of their Christmas CD's. Okay! Have fun, MJ!

Now, for me? The story would end right there.

But not for MJ, people. Oooohhhhh no.

She got up on stage and sang with the Roches. No freaking lie.

That's all I know of that story right now. But a month from now? I imagine we'll be talking about this and she'll let the bomb drop that they spent the night at her house because they became best friends.

Another thing: I'm not sure I'm ready to out myself on this one yet.......but I was telling MJ about a concert that I'm going to see in January? First of all, she laughed at me.
Laughed at me.
LAUGHED AT ME.
Then she told me she sang at that one, too.
Okay. Really?

And truly? I'd laugh at me too. Only your true friends will laugh at you when you tell them a totally embarrassing deep-down musical secret.

Other people you think are your friends? Like your Internet pals? They'll sllooowwwllyyy reach for the mouse and "CLICK" the red and white X, never to be heard from again.

Seriously.

House Tour

Ahhhhh! Welcome to my vomitorium!

Poor Noodle is sick with the ickies for the second time! She was up all night and didn't stop tossing her cookies until about 11 am today. So guess what? I stayed home from work today to blog......er, I mean, take care of her.

In between my vomit-catching duties I've managed to put together another house tour, friends! My priorities are soooo where they should be, right?

This one is in my favorite neighborhood - right by the chi-chi grocery store where all the stinky people shop. I was just there last night on my way home from work, and it was actually okay - no stinky people. Yet.

Anyhoo.....here she is! Cottagy and cute. It's a 2027 sq. foot craftsman-style cottage with 4 bedrooms (all on the second level) and 2 full baths - one on the 2nd level and one in the basement. The list price on this one is $449,900 and the lot is 40x150. Here's the big problem with this one: No air conditioning.

Cute. Simple. 17x13 living room. 4 feet bigger than mine. You can't see them all, but there are about 4-5 beautiful armoires in the living, dining and sunrooms. There's a 360 degree tour online and I could see them on that tour. I'm sure they need all of them for storage, because every bit of this house is finished off for living.

This is one of the sun rooms. It's off the living room and faces the back of the house. It's 13x8.


The dining room. It's 13x12 feet. It has a window seat and a built-in buffet.

Another picture of the dining room. The stairs going to the bedrooms are on the door to the left of the built-in.

This sun room is just off the dining room and faces the front of the house. It's 13x9.

The totally inadequate kitchen. Man. It's pretty small, but it does look cute and clean. My kitchen is actually a foot smaller than this one! This one is 12x9. But this is why someone invented the kitchen designer, right?

Another shot of the kitchen. The range is directly to the left of the dishwasher.

The upstairs landing.

Little tot's room. Cute.

Nursery. Cute.

Basement bathroom. Behind that door is a sauna. Saunas are h0t. I don't like to be hot. Why doesn't anyone put a meat locker in their house? Why a sauna?

Basement family room 18x12. I would sell Zuddy to the lowest bidder for a bathroom and family room in the basement.

Yes. I said the LOWEST bidder. Sorry Zuddy. You've been a good husband and father, though. Kiss-kiss! Ta-ta!

Music studio in the basement.

So! What do you think of that one?

Amy.....FINALLY

Here she is!!! It's Amy! My Pal!


With her adorable and intelligent daughter, C.


A couple of weeks ago we went to Amy's church. Which is also my dear friend Hilary's church. Which is also my brother's friend Beez's (and his wife Leeanne's) church. Which is also my friend Sal's neighbor Char's church. Which is also my Mom's friend Sue's church.

Are you getting the idea? It's a large congregation and I guess there are a bunch of people I know that go to church there.

Anyway, they have this huge bash called Elva Kaffe (geez. I'm not sure I spelled it right). It's the Swedish custom of having 11 o'clock coffee while you do your holiday baking? I might be totally butchering this. But there are a few important things to know:

• Amy was chairperson of this event.
• There were free cookies.
• My dear friends Sal and Hilary were there.
• It was HUGE. There were crafts for the kids, food demos, craft demos, may pole dancing, bell choirs and free cookies. Really good cookies. Did I mention that?

We got there at 12:30 with plans to meet Sal and her girl Z. and Hilary and her boy, O.

Churches normally skeeve me out a little bit, but this one didn't! Maybe it was the cookies? Plus, there was a distinct absence of church ladies surrounding me and pestering me with questions. I was able to just BE there. Very important.

Anyway, here are my pals!

Amy, Sal, Z and Noodle. Z is two weeks older than Noodle. I can't believe how tall she is!

Here is Z again. Isn't she a cutie-patootie? She's soooo mature and smart. Drat! I never got a picture of her brother, N! He was running around with some other kiddos.

Ahhhhh! My dear friend and fellow recipe developer, Hilary, with her son O. Hilary and I were both student interns at the 1996 Pillsbury Bake-Off. And guess what? She bought Zuddy's childhood home....yup! Crazy small world, huh? (Which, by the way, is down the street from SAL'S childhood home!) O. just got his glasses. He's almost 4 now and is so sweet and smart. And pretty. He's just a pretty boy. Big, long eyelashes. And TALL. But so is Hilary. She's almost 6 feet tall. Tall drink o' water, people.

This is Amy filming her little girl doing the May pole dance. Look at all these blond Swedes here, people. Crazy Swedish Lutherans.

I'm sad to say, there weren't any Jell-O salads there! A Swedish Lutheran staple. It was a little disturbing, but I will let it go.

Because there were cookies. And it was about the cookies.

This time.

Kitchens for Cutzi

I got all gung-ho for about 30 minutes one day and found some kitchens for Miss Cutzi, who is thinking about freshening up her kitchen because she got a new paper towel holder! Ha haaa! Cutz, I'm not sure if you're looking to paint your cabinets, so I found some kitchens with painted and unpainted cabinets. First of all, everyone should go look at Linda's kitchen. If you click on the link, you'll see her cute blue cabinets. So cute. It looks really clean and sophisticated.

I love the counter tops here.

Same kitchen, different angle.

I love the wall color here. It would look great with some Kath Kidson stuff, no?

I love black counter tops.

This one looks great. I think it's well-designed, too. If my kitchen were slightly bigger, I'd love another little sink next to the cook top, like this one. And look at that little wine fridge (hiccup!)....fun!

This is a nice one, too.

Ahhhh....this one is great. So great that there are 3 pictures of it!

Cute, no?

Kitchens are great, aren't they? Maybe I should start doing kitchen posts more often. Because I like kitchens! Don't you?

Sure you do.

You love them, just admit it.

That's right.