tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31350060789505228102024-03-13T08:30:49.239-07:00The Brant HouseTinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-49518558388573952222016-07-05T08:30:00.000-07:002016-07-05T08:30:03.958-07:00Home again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I’m not good at pauses. I’ve always had the hardest time coming back after little breaks. If I put down a book for more than a day, I’m unlikely to pick it back up. I have to be really invested in a show in order to wait and watch the new season as it airs instead of waiting until multiple season are on netflix (hint: there’s only been two of those, ever). When it comes to writing, this is even more true. <br />
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I have excuses. Many of them are certainly valid. How do I write about lighthearted matter when there have been two deaths in the family, several serious health issues, job insecurity, financial struggles, and more. More and more and more and just when I think it’s finally done, even more. How can I write something without sounding as wound up and brittle as I feel? And what do I write about? <br />
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The last few months have been very hard, but not without their fair share of beauty, either. We’ve got a busy summer planned, and it feels like it's nearly over already. But, we've been to the fair and the bay. We've borrowed stacks and stacks of books from the library--I'll have a book post up soon, I think. We're hoping to take the kids to Comic Con (fingers crossed), and we have swim lessons and out of town guests planned. We're trying to do this summer thing as best as we can.<br />
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As I type this, my two boys are building forts in their room, my
husband is tearing out our kitchen floor, and I’m trying to figure out
how I’m going to manage all our meals for the next few weeks with only access to a microwave. Summer!<br />
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<br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-10851744128013478492016-03-09T07:00:00.001-08:002016-03-09T07:00:01.926-08:00Early 2016 Book Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I must have set a personal record for how few books I’ve read this year so far. I’ve only read 13 books since the beginning of this year, and two of those were graphic novels. I just can't seem to finish anything I pick up lately. I find myself listlessly thumbing through new books and daydreaming about older comfort reads, but not able to finish them either. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Feverborn-Fever-Karen-Marie-Moning-ebook/dp/B00SEF63AY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456890078&sr=1-1&keywords=feverborn">Feverborn by Karen Marie Moning</a>. The 8th book in her Fever series. I vacillate between really liking and really disliking this book. Unlike most of her books it seemed as though nothing happened for a huge chunk of the book, and then there was a sudden cliffhanger ending. To be fair, these books are known for cliffhanger endings. But I can't remember feeling like any of the other books had chapters of narrative with nothing progressing plot-wise. On the other hand, the character development is fantastic.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-Broken-Thompson-Patricia-Briggs/dp/0425256278/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456893103&sr=8-1&keywords=night+broken">Night Broken by Patricia Briggs</a>. A re-read in preparation for the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Touched-Mercy-Thompson-Novel/dp/0425256766/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457452158&sr=8-1&keywords=fire+touched+patricia+briggs">next book in the series</a> which came out yesterday. I’ve been a fan of this series since the beginning, but this wasn't one of my favorite books in her series. Urban fantasy, 8th book in the series (with an additional four books in a spin-off series). One of the few series I recommend to people just coming in to the Urban Fantasy genre, begins with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Called-Mercy-Thompson-Book/dp/0441013813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456893473&sr=8-1&keywords=moon+called">Moon Called</a> which often goes on sale on kindle for $2-ish.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/White-Curse-Workers-Holly-Black/dp/1416963979/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1456893165&sr=8-2&keywords=white+cat">White Cat</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Glove-Curse-Workers-Holly-Black/dp/1442403403/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456893183&sr=8-1&keywords=red+glove+holly">Red Glove</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Heart-Curse-Workers-Holly/dp/1442403470/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456893203&sr=8-1&keywords=black+heart+holly">Black Heart</a> by Holly Black. Fantastic books. They're YA, which made me hesitant to pick them up, but I am so glad I did. Cassel grows up believing he is the only non-magical person in his family of magical grifters and con artists. Over the course of the trilogy he learns otherwise, and has to come face-to-face with his con artist/grifting heritage. I love con artist/grifter movies, stories, shows, etc. mixing that and magic just makes my little heart sing.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grifter-True-Crime-Avon-Books-ebook/dp/B000N0WTL0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457377412&sr=8-1&keywords=son+of+a+grifter">Son of a grifter</a>. Like I said before, I like reading/watching this sort of thing. This is a memoir about notorious mom-and-son grifter team, as told by the other brother. I found this book fascinating. It's hard to believe that they were able to get away with as much as they did for as long as they did. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Photo-Guide-Perfect-Fitting/dp/1589236084/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456893251&sr=8-1&keywords=the+complete+guide+to+perfect+fitting">The complete photo guide to perfect fitting</a>. This is a great sewing book, with pictures of different fitting problems and solutions to those problems. The only problem was I couldn’t find my fit problems addressed in the book. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Colette-Sewing-Handbook-Techniques-Seamstress/dp/1440215456/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456893273&sr=8-1&keywords=the+colette+sewing+handbook">The Colette sewing handbook by Sarai Mitnick</a>. I’ve been reading <a href="https://blog.colettehq.com/">Sarai’s blog </a>for a very long time. I love her simple approaches and clear instructions. This book was surprisingly helpful for my fitting problem, even though I picked it up only to check out the sewing patterns.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Media-Porter-Books-Create-Perfect/dp/1440239614/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457378127&sr=8-1&keywords=joi+mahon">Create the perfect fit by Joi Mahon</a>. Still working through this book. Joi's method includes measuring out just about every measurable inch on a bodice and adjusting your flat pattern accordingly. She covers almost every possible problem you can have and how you would resolve it. I'm going to put it to use on my next two projects and see how it goes, but this may be a book I end up buying for reference. Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-8452317148647236522016-03-07T07:00:00.000-08:002016-03-07T07:00:03.729-08:00Nesting doll dress progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Progress on Simplicity 1419. There are still a handful of issues that need to be tackled on this dress, but for now I'm calling the bodice good enough. Sleeves (in doll fabric) or sleeveless? </div>
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The armhole and sleeves are a bit tight--I can't lift my arm easily, so that needs to be fixed and I want to change the sleeve so it's a bit longer and straight across the arm instead of diagonal. </div>
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There is a bit of wrinkling still at the shoulders, but I think I'll live with it on this one. I also hand-sewed down an extra dart (almost a princess seam) that goes from the waist up through the bust dart, but I don't think it's too noticeable unless you're looking at it closely in person.<br />
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I should probably should take it up at least two rows of dolls, maybe even three. It lands about 2-3" below my knee which isn't a good length for me. And looking at these photos I'll probably take out the zipper so I can re-cut the skirt so the first row of dolls don't have their heads cut off. After 10 different muslins for the bodice I just got a little impatient and wanted to get this thing done.<br />
<span id="goog_1030813398"></span><span id="goog_1030813399"></span><br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-80160095762853024942016-03-02T07:00:00.000-08:002016-03-02T07:00:02.459-08:00Some days<br />
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2016 has not gotten off to the best start, but I’m still hopeful it’ll
turn around. It’s hard to post about anything lighthearted when all I
can think about are the family, health, and other heavy topics which
have taken up all of my time and energy. </div>
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I’ve
been meaning to do a post about Spark Joy by Marie Kondo. I read her
other book, The life-changing magic of tidying up last year, and jumped
on the chance to read this new book. It’s a step-by-step illustrated
guide to her method of tidying. It's fantastic, but just came at the
exact wrong time for me. I'm both inspired to clear out all my clutter
and frustrated because I just haven't had the time to tackle things in
the KonMari way.<br />
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What little free time I have had has been spent bouncing from one project to the next. I still need to tackle the last few fit issues of my nesting doll dress and sew up quite a few other projects in order to clear up my sewing nook. This weekend I picked up some pretty flowers and planted them. A little garden time did a world of good, I think. <br />
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Spark Joy was provided to me for an honest review from <a href="http://www.bloggingforbooks.com/">Blogging for Books</a>.Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-78193959155617145422016-02-11T10:55:00.000-08:002016-02-11T10:55:35.296-08:00snapshots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I always have trouble getting going again after taking a break from things. I feel like the next thing I do should be really special, like I need great pictures, a new great (completed) project, or a fun adventure to blog again.<br />
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We’ve been taking advantage of some really warm weather lately and heading out to the bay, Balboa Park and the park at every opportunity. <br />
My preschool drop-off spot always has the best light for car selfies.<br />
Matryoshka dress. There were a bunch of fitting issues, so I had to scrap this and buy another yard of fabric for a new bodice. You can’t tell in this picture, but there was a crazy amount of ease in the upper bust, all the way down through the waist. <br />
I finished a project! Yay. Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-25714661201589851502015-12-31T13:52:00.001-08:002015-12-31T13:52:25.488-08:002015I blinked and the whole year was over. This year I realized I’m very much a homebody. I like my routines. Here’s my 2015, in list form:<br />
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<li>I got glasses(!), which I only use when I’m reading, watching tv/movies, or driving at night. </li>
<li>I made regular tv/movie dates with my best friend and actually kept them.</li>
<li>I spent way too much money on really crappy clothes that didn’t really last the whole year. </li>
<li>Sewed a few skirts, a pair of pj pants, some dino hoodies, and attempted several dresses that ended up not fitting. </li>
<li>Watched my little ones grow. </li>
<li>Went “camping” with a friend at a friend-of-a-friend’s cabin in Palomar.</li>
<li>Saw a few friends move away, some only an hour away, some as far as Alaska. </li>
<li>Had a lump(s)-in-boob scare. Had a mammogram and found out it wasn’t anything to worry about.</li>
<li>I saw my mother go through a double mastectomy. She just finished her second-to-last reconstructive surgery. </li>
<li>Had my house cleaned on a regular basis.</li>
<li>Went to the San Diego Fair.</li>
<li>Bought too many bento supplies.</li>
<li>Watched both my kids take swimming lessons without me in the water. </li>
<li>Watched my big guy repeatedly jump from the diving board in to the deep end at swim class (he loves swimming).</li>
<li>I saw my baby start preschool with his big brother.</li>
<li>Bought a new laptop.</li>
<li>Went to the Library about 1,000 times. </li>
<li>Dyed my hair purple. </li>
<li>Got a bazillion grey hairs.</li>
<li>Went to San Diego Comic Con (and took both boys)</li>
<li>Took the boys tent camping.</li>
<li>Watched as both boys hiked Stonewall Peak without being carried at all. </li>
<li>Watched Game of Thrones, Orange is the new black, and Peaky Blinders.</li>
<li>Read 120 books. </li>
<li>Went thrift and estate sale shopping more often than I should have.</li>
<li>Toured the http://www.nautiluslive.org/ e/v nautilus, one of only two dedicated ships of exploration in the world, and took photos with ROV Hercules. </li>
<li>Watched my big guy learn to ride a bicycle. </li>
<li>Showed my boys Star Wars for the first time.</li>
<li>Welcomed a new niece in to the world.</li>
<li>Had breakfast for dinner way too many times.</li>
<li>Went to the zoo about 1,000 times.</li>
<li>Moved my two boys in to twin beds. </li>
<li>Saw Star Wars VII twice, once in imax 3d.</li>
</ul>
Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-81813637460012316392015-11-19T07:00:00.000-08:002015-11-19T07:00:04.713-08:00Camping<br />
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Saturday we met up with some friends and their 2- and 4-year-old boys and hiked Stonewall Peak. The hike could not have gone any better. The weather was clear and crisp but not cold, and the kids were fantastic. This was the first real hike for my boys, and I'm so glad to say that they did really well. Not a complaint from either of them, and they walked (ran!) the entire way without any fuss. <br />
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After the hike we headed to our campsite at Green Valley Falls, set up camp and had lunch. The way we worked it out, our family brought most of the camping gear, and theirs brought the food. It worked out really well, and I would definitely do it that way again. <br />
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Everything was pretty fantastic right up until around midnight, really up to that point it went as well as camping can go. But around midnight is when I realized that the down sleeping bags we borrowed and all they layers I was wearing just wasn't going to cut it. I couldn't get warm. I tossed and turned and froze all night, and as the night progressed I realized I was getting sick. At 3am, it was clear: I was definitely sick with a cold, and of course, that's when it started raining. <br />
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So, when the kids woke up at 6-ish, we made short work of tearing down and packing up the campsite and drove our soggy selves home.<br />
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All in all, it was a good time, and I would absolutely camp there again...in the summertime. I have always maintained that I am not a cold-weather person, and this just stood to reinforce my belief. I'm not made for chilly weather at all. <br />
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<br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-36850549647197257132015-11-05T11:05:00.000-08:002015-11-05T11:05:16.561-08:00Snapshots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, that was an unexpected blogging break! I had some posts lined up, but the scheduling didn't work out. So here are some recent snapshots.<br />
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We've been taking every opportunity to head out to the park the past few weeks.<br />
I could stare at the patterns in this cork tree for days. <br />
Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups every day. Oh my god, so good.<br />
Halloween! Tinkerbell took Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper trick-or-treating.<br />
This was taken down the street from my house yesterday. We had such amazing clouds.Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-19683081084176521322015-10-26T07:30:00.000-07:002015-10-26T07:30:00.756-07:00Five interesting things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Found around the internet:<br />
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1. <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/funny-sign-urban-art-michael-penderson-australia/">Artist leaves funny signs around Australia for people to find.</a><br />
2. <a href="http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/09/100-year-old-footage-of-legendary-artists-monet-renoir-rodin-and-degas-working-and-walking-near-their-studios/">100-year-old footage of legendary artists</a>.<br />
3. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OphxvFob0j0">Adorable French animation about Jinxy Jinks and Lucky Lou.</a> <br />
4. <a href="http://www.ayoungmansfollies.com/">A woman buys a trunk filled with hundreds of photographs, negatives, letters, and miscellaneous ephemera, and puts it all online.</a><br />
5. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/albums/">Images from the British Library online</a>Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-77312339972972956402015-10-21T07:00:00.000-07:002015-10-21T07:00:04.345-07:00October Book Report<br />
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I have been reading so much! That photo there was one haul from the library, and the next day I picked up an additional five books. A couple of the books in that photo will be on the next book report, because of course I jumped around in order once I got reading. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Russia-OligarchsA/dp/1476771898/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443919055&sr=8-1&keywords=once+upon+a+time+in+russia">Once upon a time in Russia: the rise and fall of the Ogliarchs by Ben Mizrich</a>. This was a big detour from my normal reading, but was an awesome book. I had a bit of trouble with the authors voice, but the tale itself is so incredible and crazy unbelievable...and real, that I got over the voice thing, and was thoroughly entertained.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Chased-Moon-Novel/dp/0553385593/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443230139&sr=8-1&keywords=girl+who+chased+the+moon">The girl who chased the moon by Sarah Addison Allen</a>. A re-read. I love how Sarah Addison Allen weaves magic in to the everyday—wall paper which changes dependent on ones mood, mysterious lights in the dark, a giant, and cakes that can call to lost loves.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scam-Fox-OHare-Novel/dp/0345543165/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444793247&sr=8-1&keywords=the+scam">The Scam by Janet Evanovich</a>. Fun, light, easy read. A little mystery, a lot of action and a cast of amusing characters. Honestly, her books rarely take me more than a couple hours to finish, and are the equivalent to an episode of a slightly silly, rom-com meets detective show. It’s not thought provoking literature, but it’s a great way to unwind, and exactly what I needed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-Park-Rainbow-Rowell/dp/1250012570/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444793282&sr=8-1&keywords=eleanor+and+park">Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell</a>. Young Adult set over the course of a year in 1986, two teenage misfits fall in love. Even if you're not in to YA novels (which I'm mostly not), this is one you should pick up. It tackles some tough stuff in a beautiful way. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fangirl-A-Novel-Rainbow-Rowell/dp/1250030951/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0WCZ09QW09F13VY161F7">Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell</a>. I love a good coming-of-age story. It’s Cather’s first year of college and she’s learning who she is without her twin sister or her successful fan fiction. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Husbands-Secret-Liane-Moriarty/dp/0425267725/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1444793071&sr=8-5&keywords=Liane+Moriarty">The Husband’s Secret by Laine Moriarty</a>. This is one of those books that kept popping up everywhere (along with eleanor & park by rainbow rowell). The Husband's Secret tells the story of three women whose lives are intertwined and changed by a letter. Cecilia, who finds a letter written by her husband to be read in the event of his death. Tess, who moves to Sidney after finding out that her husband and best friend/cousin are in love, and Rachel, who is still mourning the murder of her daughter over twenty years ago.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Big-Little-Lies-Liane-Moriarty/dp/0425274861/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8">Big Little Lies by Laine Moriarty</a>. Another multiple narrator book by the same author. I think this was my favorite of the three Moriarty books I read. Celeste seems to have it all—beauty, wealth, adorable twin boys, and the perfect marriage—at least in public. Madeline and her ex-husband live in the same town, and although Madeline is happily remarried, it still hurts that their teenage daughter wants to live with the ex-husband and his new wife. Jane is a young single mother with a mysterious past, whose 5-year-old is accused of bullying on the first day of kindergarten. Lies, mommy-wars, abuse, bullying, and murder.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Alice-Forgot-Liane-Moriarty-ebook/dp/B004XFYN9M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1444793071&sr=8-3&keywords=Liane+Moriarty">What Alice Forgot by Laine Moriarty</a>. What if you suddenly couldn’t remember the last ten years of your life? After falling and hitting her head at the gym, Alice wakes up believing she is 29, pregnant with her first child, and a very relaxed woman. In reality, Alice is about to turn 40, has three children, is going through a divorce, and is busy, busy, busy. Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-31567709966367502702015-10-14T09:00:00.000-07:002015-10-14T09:00:05.475-07:00Currently<br />
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<b>Reading:</b> So much! Every so often I request a bunch of books at my library, and they typically come in 1-5 at a time over the course of a month or so, but suddenly I've been getting stacks of books in at once. I’m almost at the end of my hold queue though, so recommendations are always welcome. <br />
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<b>Listening:</b> I’ve been on a total Smiths kick lately. One of the YA books I read recently quoted a Smiths lyric and it made me so nostalgic for their music. I’ve also had the Adele song Rolling in the Deep stuck in my head every day for the past week or two. Am I the only one who wakes up with a song stuck in their head? <br />
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<b>Watching:</b> Orange is the new black and Once Upon a Time. I find Orange is the new black really interesting. Once Upon a Time is a total guilt watch for me. I absolutely adore the costuming and I love the premise. <br />
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<b>Sewing:</b> I finally finished a basic gathered skirt that’s been sitting in my unfinished projects pile for months. Now I've got to get back to working on the dresses that I can't seem to get right, and the other dresses that need to be taken in. <br />
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<b>Planning:</b> camping, a sudden change in halloween costuming, maybe a trip to disneyland, and what to do to celebrate my 34th birthday on monday!<br />
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<b>Loving:</b> the park. play dates. pool parties. kid-free friday mornings. halloween. birthdays!Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-42061220252376026162015-09-30T09:00:00.000-07:002015-09-30T09:00:05.936-07:00Pumpkin Patch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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“Summer was a lady who didn't give up her spotlight easily.” —Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells<br />
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I
have always loved both summer and fall, and here in San Diego the
difference between the two is subtle at this time of year. With
temperatures well in to the nineties most days, it’s hard to believe
summer is really over.<br />
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This weekend we made our annual trip up to <a href="http://batesnutfarm.biz/">Bates Nut Farm</a> in Valley Center. The
boys climbed on tractors. We fed the alpacas, goats, and sheep,
delighted by the soft lips nuzzling the palms of our hands for every
last kernel of corn.<br />
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We admired beautiful quilts made by women
using antique hand-crank sewing machines, and sampled decadent peanut-butter-and-chocolate-swirl fudge.<br />
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As the morning edged from warm
to sweltering, we were met with a most welcome surprise—one of our local
ice cream parlors had a booth, and so we bought two cups of the most
delicious handmade chocolate ice cream—such a perfect treat for such a
hot morning. <br />
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And of course the pumpkins! Fields of pumpkins
straight out of a fairy tale in every shape and size. Pumpkins as big as a
wheelbarrow, and piles of round, fat, bright orange, jack-o-lantern pumpkins.
Stacks of short, squashed-looking cinderella pumpkins in shades that ranged from bright
orange to soft white, dusty brown-orange, and even a deep green. Bales of hay
propped up bins of dried corn, and there were gigantic boxes piled high
with all sorts of different gourds and squash. <br />
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The boys chose the sweetest little striped pumpkins this year, and spent the drive home hugging them.<br />
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<br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-83545718939215236712015-09-22T09:00:00.000-07:002015-09-22T09:00:00.618-07:00September book report <br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Deceptions-Cainsville-Kelley-Armstrong/dp/052595306X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442854477&sr=8-1&keywords=deceptions">Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong.</a> I love urban fantasy. It’s my guilty pleasure, and Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite UF authors. This was a re-read of the third book in Armstrong’s Cainsville series, which is about a girl in her early twenties who finds out that she’s adopted and her biological parents are notorious serial killers. Her quest to find out more about them leads her to an old and secluded little town with deep roots in Welsh mythology. This series straddles the line between urban fantasy and horror.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/History-World-6-Glasses/dp/0802715524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442852626&sr=8-1&keywords=history+of+the+world+in+six+glasses">A history of the world in six glasses by Tom Standage</a>. How six different beverages (Beer, wine, alcohol/spirits, coffee, tea, and coca-cola) had enormous effect on history. I read it during spare moments, so it took a couple weeks to finish. Interesting read, but not something that captured and held my attention very well. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Red-Rose-Chain-October-Daye-Novel/dp/0756408091/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442853516&sr=1-1&keywords=red+rose+chain">A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire</a>. I mentioned this is in my <a href="http://thebranthouse.blogspot.com/2015/09/currently.html">Currently post</a>. Urban Fantasy, ninth book in the series. Good read.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Job-Fox-OHare-Novel/dp/0345543130/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442853540&sr=1-2&keywords=the+job">The Job by Janet Evanovich</a>. A re-read, in preparation for the fourth installment in this series which is in my library queue. Fun, very light, formulaic, amusing read. Nick is a con artist, and Kate is the FBI agent in charge of brining him to justice. Hi-jinks and slapstick humor. I read this book over nap time. If you like Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series you'll like this. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Things-Art-Nurturing-Boys/dp/1414322275/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442852785&sr=8-1&keywords=the+art+of+nurturing+boys">Wild things: the art of nurturing boys by James Stephen</a>. I read most of this book, but stopped at the chapters about parenting teenage and adult boys. It's mostly common sense parenting stuff. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hyperbole-Half-Unfortunate-Situations-Mechanisms/dp/1451666179/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442853569&sr=1-1&keywords=hyperbole+and+a+half">Hyperbole and a half by Allie Brosch</a>. I love her blog, and a lot of the comics/stories in the book are straight from the blog. Her illustrations and the way she tells her stories are hilarious, even when the subject matters are not. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Found-Pacific-Crest-Trail/dp/0307476073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442854039&sr=8-1&keywords=wild">Wild by Cheryl Strayed</a>. After her mother’s death and her own divorce, and with no prior backpacking experience, twenty-six year old Cheryl makes the impulsive decision to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert, through the length of California and Oregon, to the boarder of Washington—alone, and almost completely unprepared. I’m know I’m really late to this one, and honestly I picked it up thinking I would read a chapter or two and put it aside, but I devoured this book in two nap time reading sessions. Very well written, and definitely fueled my growing desire to go camping. <br />
<br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-20181347332760769232015-09-18T11:03:00.001-07:002015-09-18T12:09:07.853-07:00snapshots<div style="text-align: left;">
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Just a few snapshots off my phone from our week.</div>
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Sunday swimming at a friends house.<br />
Monday buddies at the aquarium.<br />
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view of the pier from the aquarium.<br />
A hot and rainy Tuesday.<br />
Book haul
from Wednesday's trip to the library. Maybe I'll do a monthly book report.<br />
Thursday, finishing the hem on the
grey skirt I started months ago (almost finished anyway...).<br />
Friday
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Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-25355342749362184142015-09-15T09:30:00.000-07:002015-09-15T09:30:01.196-07:00stillness.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This park feels like some of the best memories of my childhood. My parents constantly planned day and camping trips to get us out of the house. Often on weekends, we would grab some snacks, a small toy or two, a book, and drive out to some place where we could climb around on rocks or sit in a creek and watch dragonflies and lizards dart by for hours. <br />
<br />This is the church of my childhood. There in the dappled gray, brown, and silver-green of the oak trees. The surprising bright yellow-green of new acorns. The lichen and moss in every shade of green, gray, and even dream-like silvery-blues. Dragonflies in reds, blues, and greens so bright they look like jewels among the cattails, or camouflaged, with translucent wings humming as they dart from place to place. The sound of water over rocks. The smell of leaves crushed underfoot, and of warm sunshine on rocks. In the stillness and the shiver of leaves in the wind. <br />
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I want my kids to remember days like these. I want them to learn how to be bored and how to find joy in being by yourself and sitting quietly. To find the faces and shapes of tangled roots and dirt and water and rocks and branches, and to make up your own stories about such places. To learn to listen and enjoy the silence. </div>
<br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-3047895851061004712015-09-09T21:14:00.000-07:002015-09-09T21:14:35.715-07:00weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is what one small part of a really good weekend looks like. <br />
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It was one of those rare weekends where things just seemed really
good. Not to say we didn't have a few bumps here or there, but they were
few and far between.<br />
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We spent Saturday day hosting a yard sale and having dinner with a neighbor and my best friend.<br />
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Sunday
we went to breakfast, and even though I got a little queasy after
eating too much eggs benedict we headed out to one of our favorite
little hideaways and spent some really good quality family time.<br />
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Monday
we spent the entire day at the bay with cousins and friends. It was the
first time I've really, truly let go of schedules and didn't worry
about naps (I knew going in we weren't going to nap unless the kids
completely melted down). I let the kiddos eat what they wanted, when
they wanted. I didn't worry about what they were doing (as long as they
were in view), and it paid off with kids who mediated themselves and
played nice the whole day. <br />
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<br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-14495308469046739772015-09-08T15:15:00.002-07:002015-09-08T15:19:42.660-07:00Five interesting things<br />
1. <a href="http://hellogiggles.com/prop-no-one-noticed-fight-club/">The prop that went unnoticed in Fight Club</a><br />
2. <a href="http://hyperallergic.com/232676/sum-of-the-arts-25/">Sum of the artists</a><br />
3. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/campanion-app-surging-in-popularity-2015-9">Companion app</a><br />
4. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jul/22/rain-is-sizzling-bacon-cars-lions-roaring-art-of-sound-in-movies">The art of sound in movies</a><br />
5. <a href="http://archaeology.org/news/3669-150908-standing-stones-durrington-walls">Standing stones found two miles from Stonehenge</a><br />
<br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-53491013616458373262015-09-04T11:14:00.002-07:002015-09-04T11:40:06.709-07:00Currently.<br />
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<b>Reading:</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing-ebook/dp/B00KK0PICK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1441341059&sr=1-1&keywords=the+life+changing+magic+of+tidying+up">The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo</a>. This book inspired a huge purge of clothes and toys. I also just finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Red-Rose-Chain-October-Daye-Novel-ebook/dp/B00S75OKPQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1441341091&sr=1-1&keywords=a+red+rose+chain">A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire</a>. This is the 9th book in her Toby Daye series, which is about a changeling (part human, part faerie) detective/hero in modern-day San Francisco. This installment has Toby out of her comfort zone and it was filled with as much magic, blood, and mayhem as one would expect from a McGuire novel. I enjoyed this book, but wouldn’t consider it McGuire’s strongest/best. <br />
<b><br />Looking forward to:</b> Kid-free Friday mornings! Now that both boys are in preschool three mornings a week, I’m going to have some free time to myself. I can’t even say how excited I am about those three hours each week where I can focus on my hobbies or work without worrying that I’m ignoring my kiddos. <br />
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<b>Planning:</b> Halloween costumes. Our big halloween event is just around the corner and I’m in full planning/procrastinating mode. I’m making two Jedi costumes, plus a pirate costume, and possibly a mermaid costume. <br />
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<b>Loving: </b>circle skirts. lightweight quilts. dresses and skirts with pockets. getting rid of stuff. eggs benedict. vanilla iced lattes. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Levis-Juniors-Straight-Jean-Medium/dp/B0055XFRXC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1441389363&sr=8-4&keywords=levi+524+too+superlow">levi 524 straight leg jeans</a>. grey high top converse. new star wars merchandise. balboa park at night.Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-89871775445913802892015-08-14T18:39:00.000-07:002015-08-14T18:39:05.709-07:00swimIt is hot. Too hot to think. Today was the last day of the boys swim lessons. It was a great day to be in the water, and I am so envious of the kiddos.<br />
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Today: diving off the diving board, swimming underwater, "scooping turtles", playing with batman in the water, and trying not to melt in this ridiculous heat.<br />
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Tomorrow: new phone shopping, a luncheon with my aunt-in-law, and an afternoon birthday party for a darling boy. Maybe even sorting through the photos and arranging a post about the family reunion last weekend. <br />
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<span id="goog_1295797682"></span><span id="goog_1295797683"></span><br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-57940319799177439532015-08-03T09:00:00.000-07:002015-08-03T12:51:37.703-07:00NautilusWe've been housebound for the past few weeks, sick with a nasty virus that made the rounds and left us with a lingering cough and two restless boys who have watched way too much tv. But last weekend we had the opportunity to tour the Nautilus, and has sick or not, I wasn't about to miss that! Luckily the boys were over the worst of the virus, and it was just me who had to shuffle along zombie-like through the whole thing. <br />
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<br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3135006078950522810.post-9419434370070955262015-08-01T16:44:00.003-07:002015-08-01T16:44:55.068-07:00New thingsHello! Welcome to The Brant House. I’ve had this blog sitting around mostly unused since 2009-ish, but recently decided to start fresh, so here we are. <br />
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My name is Tina and I live in San Diego, California. I have a husband and two amazing boys. You can usually find me reading a book, wrangling a kid or daydreaming about whatever my current obsession is. This is my place to share photos, make endless lists and goals, daydream, ramble and share all the little moments that make up our day-to-day lives.<br />
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It turns out I have a million photos of my kids but almost no photos of myself, so here's a bad selfie taken in my car. But hey, you can kinda see my purple hair, so that's something. <br />
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<br />Tinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220659711864678411noreply@blogger.com0