We are spending a lovely long weekend in San Diego at my parents’ house, and it has been relaxing . . . yet productive. Mostly productive, I guess. I’m super bad at relaxing. But it was fun.
Here’s a quick look at a few things that went down.
1. The New Liturgical Year starts today! So, Happy Catholic New Year to ya.
2. It was Thanksgiving. Turkey was had, Lord of the Rings was watched. We were thankful for things and wrote them on feathers.
3. The girls played dress up in the sequined recital outfits and faux fur capes of my youth, and Lulu admired Jack’s old Hokey Pokey Elmo from a safe distance.
4. Speaking of Lulu, she also had a birthday! Lulu is two. She is just such a joy.
Since her birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year, we are having a little party for her next weekend. I asked her what kind of birthday party she wanted to have and she said, “Pied Pedjus” . . . which just goes to show how awesome she is. So, a Pride and Prejudice second birthday it shall be.
Those illustrations are slightly adapted from the Babylit Pride and Prejudice book, which is Lulu’s favorite. I have every intention of having a small simple affair, but I have a history of getting carried away . . . so stay tuned.
5. We got together with Ashley of Between the Linens, and her sweet family. And a lovely time was had by all. But even though we are both bloggers, we have no photos to show for it. I guess we’re livin’ IRL-style, like this old lady . . .
6. The husband and I went on a date, just the three of us. We had sushi and saw the Hunger Games. The sushi was great, the baby was pretty good, the Hunger Games was kind of meh. I really liked the books when they came out, and enjoyed the first couple movies. But this one just missed the mark for me. The giant ocean of oil that appears from nowhere, stops just short of where it would be a danger to the characters, and then magically disappears? And it’s not slippery and doesn’t stick to shoes. That’s not a thing.
And the Eventually Biting Monsters will bite you, but not right away.
I thought the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale was presented in a very compelling way in the book. I liked that instead of choosing which man she liked better, it really came down to choosing between the two different people SHE was, when she was with them. I thought that was cool. But in the movie, she seems to just happen to end up with the guy she ends up with because of proximity. Which is less romantic.
7. Speaking of romance . . . Reign.
It’s teenaged Mary Queen of Scots and her entourage and the Dauphin of France and his bastard brother. If you’re looking to become very unproductive for a short time, go ahead and start it on Netflix.
Season one is really great (in a very soapy CW way, of course). The dresses are excellent, the romance is romantic and PG-13, and it’s pretty darn historically accurate. You will then probably go ahead and watch season two afterward. But when you do, remember that I tried to warn you that it was not romantic, and not in any way historically accurate. Also it seems to be alternately anti-Catholic and anti-Protestant, so, just anti-Christian? And, while it’s still PG-13, there are some very tragic things that happen to Mary that are hard to watch.
It still has dresses.
I will probably watch season three whenever that happens.
And that’s my honest opinion. But this is a sponsored post.
8. As I was already finished with Reign when I arrived in San Diego, I was able to complete a few projects I had had in the works, including a couple baby blankets that had been partially finished for weeks, and the plans for remodeling the new house (which we may or may not be able to do right away), and I put a few new things into the Cafepress shop at the request of you fine folks. You will now find Catholic quotes about coffee, and butterflies and Bible verses in there.
And there’s an all new Toy Story version of the Guardian Angel prayer, in the Etsy shop only.
It’s available in square or 8×10. I made it as a commission, see here to find out how to one made for you.
Have a beautiful Advent!
A Pride and Prejudice party! Very cool!
And the coffee quotes on mugs – also very cool!
I am glad you had a happy Thanksgiving. And congratulations on the new house! 🙂
It is sweet that your older children are still willing to do the thankful feathers and wear them!
Happy New Year! And I about Mockingjay except that the tar thing really did happen in the book so I don't think that was so bad.
True, but it just came across worse on film.
We had such a great time visiting with y'all, and yes, no pictures! I guess I need to take some blogging courses.
So, serious question for everyone: should I read The Hunger Games? I wibble wobble on doing it.
I enjoyed them. I think they are better written and more thought provoking than most other books in their genre. But if you don't like YA or dystopia, probably they're not for you.
Yay, a Pride and Prejudice toddler party! I love it! Lulu is totally my favorite 😉
I'm glad you guys had a good thanksgiving, it sounds fun!
And yeah, Reign is totally anti-Catholic AND anti-Protestant. Also anti-Reality so I don't take it too personally and just enjoy the pretty dresses and cool music 🙂 But you know what I do take personally? Nostradamus and how he suddenly got all clean-shaven before he exited the show. What's up with that? It totally didn't suit his character.
Yeah, I wondered if he was shooting some businessman movie that went long.
Elise (two last month) loves that book too. But she doesn't know to ask for it as a theme party. Thank goodness for me 😛 I think her party (also her eight year old sister's party since they share a birthday) was loosely princess tea party. The eight year old really just wanted the grown ups to dress up in their finery. Some complied. And felt silly. (Why keep all the old fancy dresses? Not sure but I love them.)
Wow. Thank you, thank you, thank you for doing these! I just got about 10 Christmas gifts! I hope you get a good commission!
Thanks Jacque!
Happy New Year!!!! Oh my gosh, a P&P party sounds amazing…I am definitely excited to hear more about it!!! I really like the idea of "thankfulness feathers;" and it looks like Frankie put "leprechauns" on his-that made me smile 🙂
Yes he did. Leprechauns are, apparently, one of the five things in the world for which he is MOST grateful.
what a wonderful weekend! And happy birthday to Miss LuLu!~!
And a show full of pretty dresses, you say? I do have an assembly line of christmas decorations to make…. 😀
Heheh, my two year old also loves that book, though he calls it "The Gentlemen Book" (obviously, as he's a boy he somehow thinks that Bingley and Darcy are the main characters somehow). The BabyLit series is just so great. 🙂
I love that. I have every intention of making my boys read ALL the Austen books.
Nana did all the cooking to give Kendra a five day vacation but not the kids who did the dishes
Thanks Nana!
Just ordered a beer glass for a friend for Christmas. Your creations are super!
Thanks Ann-Marie!
How did you watch season 2 of Reign? I was able to watch the first season on Netflix but haven't had any success finding the 2 and 3 seasons.
There are two seasons on Netflix, and the third season is airing on the CW right now, but we don't have cable. So I have to wait. 😛
Hey, where is Betty's feather hat? I love the sweet Prude and Prejudice party. That is so awesome. How fun, right? I'm so glad you had fun and were productive, I too suffer from inability to relax sometimes…ha-ha! Happy Advent Kendra!
I know, I know. She had one. She's wearing it in the Lord of the Rings movie picture. I just didn't get a close up of her somehow.
Coffee quotes! Now that I can get behind. Thanks!
I've been so consumed with preparing for Advent and baby #2 that I completely forgot about the Hunger Games! My hubby read the books out loud to me during our honeymoon, it was terribly romantic.. we're such nerds! Thank you for the beautiful posts about Advent last week, we're now embracing the season fully!
Kate is obsessed with that Pride and Prejudice book too…I might not give her the option and just copy you and do a P&P themed second birthday for her too! (In 6 months. But still.) I'm also nervous for everyone who sees the last Hunger Games and hasn't read the book. There are some surprises, I would say. 🙂
Lulu and I share a birthday! Did you know that November 26 just happens to be the date of the Netherfield ball as well? I hope she enjoys her party. 🙂
I watched sooooo much Reign last week until I realized, "I know what happens to Mary Queen of Scots eventually," and stopped when I realized there was no escaping her eventual history and I didn't like most of the relationships. I'm a baby who needs at least a couple lasting and drama free relationships in a show to forge on.
So I've really enjoyed Reign too, but was kind of uncomfortable with all the sex, so I just fast forward those parts which works out well, but umm one episodes, I literally fast forwarded FIVE times. It is on the CW, so not surprised, but a little over the top, no? Love the dresses and I really like Mary. As a history major though, I'm reading a nonfiction about her (was already aware of her eventual demise), and finding that interesting. Other things that bothered me: she and Francis are wayyyy older than when they were married IRL, but sitcoms about super young teenagers probably wouldn't get many viewers 🙂 Overall very entertaining, and ummmmmm Queen Catherine is ANNE OF GREEN GABLES!!!