Favorite Childhood Books

1. The Little House on the Prairie books (my favorites were Little House in the Big Woods and These Happy Golden Years)
2. Strawberry Girl
3. Number the Stars (this was probably my favorite book)
4. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
5. Island of the Blue Dolphins
6. Bridge to Teribithia
7. A Wrinkle in Time
8. Camp Sunnyside series- did anyone else read THESE?
9. Amelia Bedelia books
10. The Story of Ferdinand
11. Harry the Dirty Dog
12. The Boxcar Children books- and plenty of reenactments with my cousins
13. Summer of my German Soldier
14. Sarah, Plain and Tall
15. Hatchet

What I Ate Today

1. Breakfast- Larabar and almond milk
2. Lunch- Brown beans and lentils and kale chips
3. Snack- Raspberry blueberry strawberry spinach smoothie
4. Dinner- Mushroom, red pepper, onion, black and green olive, broccoli, spinach pizza
5. Snack- Banana slices and cinnamon sprinkles

Curious Things You May Not Know About George A. Custer

1. He loved going to New York City and watching theater on 5th Avenue
2. His wife Libby wrote books and gave lectures to help mend his reputation and preserve his legacy after his death
3. He scented his hair (a source of pride for him) with cinnamon oil
4. Little Bighorn may not have been such a disaster had he not been betrayed, or left hung to dry, by his fellow commanders
5. His mustache was legendary. You, too, can have that look for the low price of $45.
6. He was last in his class at West Point and had a long list of demerits (I think he was a prankster)
7. He was a Civil War hero- one of the youngest generals of the war
8. It was widely known at the time that he saved Gettysburg
9. He and his wife didn't like to be apart and when they were, corresponded with beautifully written, romantic letters
10. During much of the Civil War, Libby would be nearby staying in a tent
11. Little Bighorn left him and about 210 men dead
12. He was gifted the surrender table from Appomatox Courthouse
13. When invading Indians, he often had a marching band strike up his favorite song, Garrey Owen
14. Along with him, 5 of his close relatives died at the Little Bighorn massacre
15. His family called him "Autie"
16. Surprisingly, his body was not mutilated, nor was he scalped upon his death
17. He had webbed toes.

More Amazing Movies

To accompany THIS LIST
1. Out of Africa
2. Good Will Hunting
3. A River Runs Through It
4. Gangs of New York
5. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
6. Winter's Bone
7. Lady Jane
8. Lonesome Dove
9. East of Eden
10. Brokeback Mountain
11. Edward Scissorhands
12. Legends of the Fall
13. Beginners
14. Last of the Mohicans
15. In America
16. O Brother Where Art Thou
17. Benny & Joon
18. About a Boy
19. Mystic Pizza

What I Shouldn't Be Awakened At Midnight To Do

1. Lift up our queen-sized mattress by myself to retrieve my dog's small rawhide stick that was trapped between the footboard and the mattress
2. Assure my daughter that no one "swiped her baby" (her baby named Sunshine Bright Polly) and that it was just on the floor by her bed
3. Dress and diaper my son, because he apparently stripped naked before he fell asleep
4. Clean up dog vomit from the crate because I suppose the rawhide excitement got him all nauseous

Tom's List of Oh-No-No's That Would Cause Him To Break Up With A Girl (From Parks & Rec)

1. Not being familiar with 90's R&B music
2. Having a low minimal acceptable thread count for sheets
3. Never seeing a Paul Walker movie
4. Not caring about Blu-Ray
5. Owning less Uggs than he does
6. Still using an iPad 1
7. Reading a lot
8. Disagreeing on "Who Wore It Best"

Today's Going-Ons

1. The kids slept in until 9:00
2. We spent the morning at the Magic House
3. Hopped over to Great Harvest for 9-grain and Dakota half loaves, a loaf of Cinnamon Chip, and a Savannah Bar
4. Lunch at Whole Foods- hot pizza and cold salad bar veggies
5. Quick grocery run in Whole Foods- potatoes, organic popcorn kernels, yogurt, milk, cereal, Gardein strips, frozen peas, and kids vitamins
6. Had my car washed, inside and out. When the man closed the doors for us, W told him, "Oh my! What a gentleman you are!"
7. Gassed up my car because I heard gas prices will be going up in the next few days. I at least like to pretend I know what's going on.
8. Home for a walk with the double stroller and the dog...our excitement for the day was seeing someone getting cuffed and arrested in the park
9. Back to the loft- the kids watched The Three Musketeers while I fell asleep on the sofa
10. I made some lentils in the rice cooker and brown beans and nutritional yeast "cheese" sauce (from Veganomicon) on the stovetop
11. The kids appetized on blue corn flax seed chips dipped in nutritional yeast dip sitting on the island while I cooked their dinner- quinoa, lentils, and whole wheat orzo with olive oil and Murphy Sprinkles
12. We had Hillbillies for dessert (an idea I got from my sister- stir chopped walnuts or random nuts into melted dark chocolate chips and then cooled in globs on parchment paper in the fridge. Sister, I have named them Hillbillies for no apparent reason.)
12. Bath and (because A went straight from work to going out for the night,) early bedtime for the kids
13. Thursday night TV for me- Project Runway, Parks and Recreation, The Office, and 30 Rock

Some Maybe Controversial And Surprising Things I Don't Like

1. Oprah
2. Time zones
3. Time changes
4. Dr. Seuss books
5. Tim Gunn
6. Coffee
7. Jeans
8. Peanut butter
9. Sufjan Stevens music
10. The NFL
11. Apparently, I have a ton of these, from my "dislikes" tag
12. Pretzels
13. Hot fudge
14. Talking about politics

Little Things I Think I Need

1. A donut pan
2. A car detail
3. A new iPhone and a cute little case
4. Necklace
5. New house slippers
6. Earbud headphones. Mine only have one functioning bud.
7. Vitamix blender
8. Road trip here and here
9. A new keyless entry key for my car. Mine only works 50% of the time.
10. Food processor

Random Bits

1. W woke up at 8:00 and came into my room and whispered, "You can stay sleeping, momma. Can I work quietly in the art center?" Then R slept until 9:15. My life is sometimes too good.
2. I have spent the morning trying to change my daughter's opinion of Ryan Adams.
3. Lowpoint: starting to cry because the robe I was wearing until 3:00 had to be put in the washer because  the bottom of it got in the toilet. I was feeling fragile.
4. Surprise, surprise, W didn't enjoy the pureed bean and nutritional yeast dip I just made. No surprise, no surprise, R and I gobbled it down.
5. The new blogger format makes me crazy.
6. 200 days until the St. Louis Art Fair 2012!
7. THIS is amazing. I think my friend Jill could quickly train for a marathon using this.
8. I am so sad that Downton Abbey is over for the season. I don't feel too secure concerning Mary and Mathew.
9. THIS can accompany my previous Almost Famous post.
10. After listening to THIS chapel session, I can hardly contain my excitement for next month's The Head and The Heart show at the Pageant. I can't quit listening to Rivers and Roads. Charity's bit around 3:15 makes me cry every single time.
11. W is wearing her Minnie Mouse slippers and R his Mickey ones. Those cute little feet running around the loft are making me so happy today.
12. Also making me happy is both of my children singing along to Rivers and Roads right now.
13. In a very un-me culinary move, there is a 9X13 pan of Rice Krispies Treats on the counter right now.
14. I am starting to work on a bluegrass mix CD for my dad. He appreciates things like that.
15. My children have reached the age where just saying bathroom words is hilarious to them. Dislike.
16. THIS is my dream future home item. A beautiful must-have.
17. Ravioli lasagna's for dinner tonight.
18. My favorite texting buddy, my little sister, just got an iPhone. I love those blue texts.

My Favorite Ryan Adams Songs

1. Come Pick Me Up- My favorite RA song. This one should've been there instead of Sweet Carolina on my favorite songs of all time list. Love.
2. Desperate Ain't Lonely- so, so good. My first listen of RA was in high school when one of my friends found a CD case on the side of the road, and he let me take the Whiskeytown CD because I thought the cover looked interesting. What luck! This is a Whiskeytown song from Faithless Street.
3. Harder Now That's It's Over- I remember buying this album in a record store in Fort Smith, AR and immediately loving this song. It's one of those "always in my head" type of songs for me.
4. A Kiss Before I Go- I'd love to two-step in Texas to this one
5. Oh My Sweet Carolina- Emmylou! He did this at a show I was at several years ago, and no one was singing the harmonies. It was like Christmas without a tree. So I sang them loudly so that everyone around me would be grateful. I'm SURE they were.
6. Hey Mrs. Lovely- I only have a poor quality recording of it and it's still that good.
7. Midway Park- this one reminds me of college...its the first track on a Whiskeytown album, so it started me off on most of my road trips to Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Fayetteville.
8. The Bar Is A Beautiful Place- was a bonus track of Gold. Beautiful place, beautiful song.
9. Why Do They Leave- all of Heartbreaker could be on this list, really. But it's not. That "simple cards and things" is one of my favorite lines to sing along to.
10. Gonna Make You Love Me- this pops up in a lot of our family dance parties
11. The Battle- one of the best. Classic RA and Classic my favorite kind of song.
12. My Winding Wheel- especially the Live Bartclay version
13. La Ciegena Just Smiled- Got a little teary-eyed driving down the actual La Ciegena last year. It's such a sad, sweet song.
14. Sweet Lil Gal- (Live at le Bartclay) so much restraint and so lovely
15. Wonderwall- Unless you were under a rock in the late 90's, you know this was an Oasis song, but Ryan Adams gives that song life. It's one of my favorite covers, right along with Ray LaMontagne singing the BeeGee's To Love Somebody and John Mayer doing Free Fallin'.

All My Eating Out This Week

1. Monday night family pizza- Imos mushroom and black olive and a house salad
2. Wednesday night Rosalitas with Whitney and Aaron- spinach and mushroom quesadillas and a couple margaritas
3. Friday date night with my husband to Bailey's Range- Veggie Burger with delicious fries and rooster dipping sauce (which I think was just mayonnaise and sriacha?) and some Ski soda
4. Saturday lunch with W at Jennifer's Pharmacy- egg salad sandwich and chips and half of a strawberry chocolate banana milkshake
5. Saturday night out for Lauren's birthday- Vegetarian Tacos and chips and salsa at Diablito's Cantina and then shared crepes (apple and brown sugar, dark chocolate, and nutella strawberry) an a glass of Malbec from Sasha's on Shaw

Why I Love The Film Almost Famous

1. The soundtrack, obviously. Every song is breathtaking, not just the ones on the official soundtrack album.
2. The scene at the beginning where Anita shouts, "Feck You!" and "This is a house of lies!" And goes down the list of banned things ending with the commercialization of Christmas. And the mom talking about Simon and Garfunkel looking like their on drugs.
3. The little not-a-big-deal scene of Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons singing Small Time Blues together in the hotel.
4. The family whistle. I think we'll have one of those.
5. The movie is wonderfully cast. I read once that Russell's character was written for Brad Pitt, but he didn't get the script. His loss. But all the characters seem to be born for their roles and have great chemistry.
6. I love, love, love Penny Lane's character. She is so perfect...one of my all-time favorites.
7. That beautiful scene on the bus after they pick up Russell from the high school party when they all start singing Tiny Dancer. Russell in his towel and swim trunks and sad face. Lovely and devastating at the same time.
8. The name Ben Fong Torres is always in my head. I love the way it sounds.
9. Jason Lee's neck beard hair is righteous.
10. "Does anybody remember laughter?!" -Sapphire
11. Frances McDermott plays that mother spot on. She is respectful and never really annoying, and she delivers her crazy lines so perfectly..."Don't take drugs!" and "Rock stars have kidnapped my son." and "I know what's going on."
12. The clothes, the music, the attitude, the energy of that time...I would have been a great band-aid.
13. I just realized after years and years of watching it that Jimmy Fallon is their new manager that the label sent over.
14. I love that it's a part fiction/part true story of Cameron Crowe's teenage years writing for Rolling Stone.
15. Penny Lane dancing alone on the stage was really pretty and another favorite scene of mine.
16. I would have swiped a reject t-shirt too, just like William did.
17. Penny is my favorite character, but I am at a loss of who would get second...Sapphire (probably), William, Russell, Jeff, or Lester Bangs? They are all so good.
18. It's a great picture of life...how characters/people alone are just that, but are given purpose by their interactions with one another,..like they all need each other to survive and to mean something. Especially if you can picture "music" as a character.
19. I love rock-n-roll movies.
20. "The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone when we're uncool." -Lester Bangs

Random Trivia

1. The same actor does the voice for Winnie the Pooh, Kaa the snake in Jungle Book, the stork in Dumbo, and Alice in Wonderland's Chesire Cat.
2. When KFC's slogan "finger lickin' good" was first translated in Chinese, it came out as "eat your fingers off."
3. Donald Duck was banned in Finland because he doesn't wear pants.
4. The US government doesn't allow for living people to be pictured on stamps.
5. A donkey will sink in quicksand but a mule will not.
6. The G in g-string stands for groin. How about that?
7. Don McClean's song American Pie was named after the plane that Buddy Holly died in.
8. Eric Clapton was born to an unwed mother and grew up believing his grandparents were his parents and his mother was his sister.
9. Nutmeg is poisonous if injected intravenously.
10. Deborah Winger did the voice of E.T.
11. Simon & Garfunkel's original band name was Tom & Jerry.
12. A fully ripened cranberry can be bounced like a basketball.
13. The word "testify" comes from when in Roman court, men would swear on their testicles.
14. Walt Disney was going to make The Little Mermaid a lot earlier, but was stopped because of World War II.
15. Your thumb is about the same size as your nose.
16. Coca-Cola was originally green.
17. An average person's yearly fast food intake will contain 12 pubic hairs.
18. The University of Alaska stretches across four time zones.
19. Soundgarden got it's name from a pipe structure in Seattle that hums in the wind.
20. The only member of ZZ Top who didn't have a beard was Frank Beard.

My Bed Rules

1. I cannot sleep without a flat sheet and some type of blanket on top of me. Even if it's 100 degrees. I think that it keeps me safe.
2. In the wintertime, we sleep with an extra blanket between our sheet and duvet. It's an electric blanket that has a satiny-ribbony edge on the top. I hate the way that edge feels, so it CANNOT, under any circumstances, touch my face. I literally freak out.
3. I like to sleep on two pillows, and the top pillow needs to be pushed back about 4 inches so that it makes for a smooth ramp for my neck and head.
4. I'm extremely picky about my pillows. Not too hard, not too soft. My favorite pillows are the latex foam rubber ones from Bed Bath & Beyond.
5. I will forevermore only use Dwell bedding. THIS is our current set.
6. I like to be tucked-in down my body, and cannot handle if my husband is too close as to break my "cozy seal."
7. I like the blankets to be pulled up enough so that they cover my ears and mouth, just below my nose and eyes.
8. I typically fall asleep on my back, but actually sleep throughout the night on my side with the top leg pulled up pretty high bent at the knee and dropped down onto the bed.
9. I can't sleep without washing my face and brushing my teeth and hair.
10. I can't sleep without something blowing in my face, so fans of all types are a no.

My Arkansas Loot

1. New Patagonia coat that I'm in love with that was half-off at Ozark Outdoors
2. A Royal Robbins jacket that is super cute
3. Cropped tan chinos from JCrew
4. A chambray shirt from JCrew
5. Collared black blouse from Anthropologie
6. Striped top from JCrew
7. A beautiful cutting board made by a friend- it's my new favorite thing, Kerry!
8. Old family photos and a mirror from my grandparent's house
9. A fur coat from my grandmother
10. Multiple jars of Mexican Villa Sweet Sauce
11. Earrings from The Box Turtle

Right Now

1. Stayed up too late with my parents making heart shaped crayons and talking doomsday (what's new?)
2. Although my parents have three guest rooms, I'm sleeping in the same bedroom as both of my teeth-grinding children.
3. My belly is churning a bit still from my weird mix of a dinner- 2 slices of leftover ZaZa's pizza, a bowl of avocado and sweet potato chunks, and a bowl of apple cinnamon instant oatmeal. And peach cobbler.
4. My back hurts from sleeping on a extra firm mattress for 8 days and being bent over most of the evening party crafting with my sister.
5. I am feeling guilty for not posting a list every day this week. I've just not been feeling it.
6. I can't remember my dream last night, but I remember it was beautiful. I hope I dream a beautiful dream tonight.
7. Tomorrow I have a Stoby's breakfast date with my dad.
8. W is sleeping right now holding a handful of my hair. Too precious, and a little uncomfortable.

Today

1. Woke up at my parent's house around 7:00 to drive to Crane with my dad, little sister, and R.

2. Stopped in Harrison for a little grocery shopping

3. Took the scenic route to Crane to visit some of my vague childhood memories

4. Visited with my grandparents at the nursing home- I felt like I was valuable there because I found my grandpa's missing hearing aid

5. My son will do ANYTHING for a few peanut M&Ms, so I was able to get him to give hugs to my grandparents and snuggle with grandpa (which I'm sure made grandpa's week).

6. Drove over to my dad's farm so he could haul off some manure dirt. He and my sister shoveled about 18 buckets while R and I walked around and tried to win over the cows. R really wanted to ride one, but they did not oblige.

7. Went over to my grandpa's house to check on the fence and look at a Civil War burial marker

8. Drove to Branson to eat dinner with my brother and his family- "Branson Melts" and guacamole.

9. A quick stop at the gas station and the Harter House to stock up on some Mexican Villa taco sauce.

10. Back to my parents house by 10:30.

Our Purchases At The Natural Grocer in Harrison

1. An oatmeal raisin Luna bar

2. Hint water- pomegranate tangerine

3. Package of GoGo applesauce

4. Stacy's pita chips

5. Athena hummus

6. Tofurky slices

7. Rice cheese slices

8. Serenity Farms Ezekiel bread

9. Sing Buri cashews

10. An Amy's enchilada

My Own Little Personal Hygge Last Night

1. Squeaky-clean washed face and my hair pulled back in a high pony

2. Fleecy pajama pants and a long-sleeved tissue tee

3. Cuddled up in our leather recliner under my fleece Kanakuk blanket

4. Watching Project Runway and Parks & Recreation

5. Drinking a hot chai tea latte with a little squirt of chocolate syrup for good measure

6. My little dog curled up next to me

7. Kids sleeping quietly in their beds

Nice Day Morning Errands With R Yesterday

1. To OK Hatchery in Kirkwood to get a multitude of heirloom seeds for my dad

2. Since we were already on Argonne, we HAD to stop in at Great Harvest and pick up a loaf of cinnamon chip bread for french toast. And a blackberry peach Savannah Bar.

3. Over to Penzey's for freeze-dried shallots, cinnamon sugar, Italian Herb mix, fajita seasoning, and Arizona Dreaming

4. Since we were already in Maplewood, we HAD to stop in at Kakao for vegan truffles to take to my sisters this weekend

5. To Bare Escentuals for makeup for me

6. To Whole Foods for a couple items- yogurt, tortilla shells, broccoli, sweet potatoes, grapes, and salsa

7. Schnucks for groceries- last night was fajitas with friends and we had to load up

8. To W's school for pickup

For My Brother-In-Law Ryan On His Birthday

1. I like to call him Rhino.

2. Once he and I and my little sister Tracy (not his wife, that's my other sister) went to a Counting Crows concert and some people offered us a hit off what they were smoking. His declining their offer was as casual cool as it comes.

3. My son loves him and remembers often a fun day he spent with Ryan and his two sons just doing boy stuff.

4. He really loves our family, not just because he has to. He seems to genuinely enjoy our crazy bunch.

5. I think his Diet Coke addiction paired with his strict veganism is just too hilarious.

6. He is a huge Illini fan. I am a huge Razorbacks fan. My brother's a huge Mizzou fan. I like that.

7. He once had a strange interaction with a Tia & Tamara commercial that just killed me.

8. When the Lord of the Rings trilogy was coming out in theaters at Christmastimes, we'd go see them and for a time, and calling each other Orcs was a huge insult.

9. He's been around our family for like 18 years. That is crazy to me. I do feel like he's been a part of our family forever.

10. When my sister was pregnant with her firstborn, I rode back from Florida in their car with them. She slept the ENTIRE way home in the back seat. He and I talked the whole time and listened to the new Matchbox 20 CD on repeat.

11. He is my favorite person to watch get tickled and laugh. It's a riot!

12. He is very talented and good at everything he does.

13. Back before he was a big-shot in the wireless communications field, he was a third grade teacher. One year, I helped him set up his classroom.

14. He always drove the saddest grandpa-type cars, but now he has a cool car that suits him, and that makes me really happy.

15. I just asked W what she likes about Uncle Ryan, and she said, "I like that he's big and strong."

16. He indulges my sister in what the world might consider her craziness- her diet, her flamboyant parties...he loves it all and thinks it's great fun.

17. He is one of the hardest workers I know.

18. He is a good and patient and kind father. My husband and I often have "What Would Ryan Do?" moments in our parenting discussions.

19. My sister has a vegan blog and whenever she posts photos of him, strangers always comment on how hot he is, often to the point of inappropriateness. It's about the food, people!

20. I just asked R what he likes about Uncle Ryan, and he said, "Him's a fun man!" Perfect.