snowflakes & sugarplums

Jon and I took Mazlyn on our yearly Christmas date to the Nutcracker a couple nights ago. Just her and us. Which is a nice change of pace, if only once a year.
Some snippets: A woman at the door gave Mazzy a little stuffed mouse, and she asked for another one for her baby sister (aaaww). When Clara's little brother broke her nutcracker, Mazzy said, "oh, I've done that before." (too true) Champagne and cookies at intermission (which makes the second act that much better). When the snowflakes were done dancing, Mazzy said "I hope they have jackets."
When we finally got home and tucked her into bed, she said "I'm going to have so many good things to dream about."
And that's why we do it every year.

music to my ears

I hadn't gotten very far into angry chicken's music list before I came across this video. Now I'm stuck, because how can it get any better than two Swedish sisters aged 18 and 15 that kick this much ass?!

So, thanks amy for your bloggy philanthropy, and thanks First Aid Kit for giving fantastical visions for my own daughters.

Enjoy. How could you not?

She's Crafty

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GOOD Enough for Me

Not that we're in need of a better choice than the guy we just chose, but here's just one more candidate I wouldn't mind getting behind:

Stickers for Free

Are you as happy as I am about our new President?

Do you want a free sticker to celebrate?

Go get one!

http://pol.moveon.org/shepstickers/

I mean, who doesn't love stickers?

Victory!!

it belongs to all of us.

"This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change.
And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other."
-Barack Obama, from his victory speech-

After a long dark night, it is finally morning again in America.

And the coffee never tasted so good.

*photos by Brooks Kraft for Time*

Viva la Eleccion!!

Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod! It was beginning to feel like this day might never actually come, but here it is.




What do I do, though? I already voted two weeks ago. Carry a rabbit's foot? Do a rain dance? Pray? Make an animal sacrifice (and finally put that damn rooster out of it's misery)?



It's a sunny day, but freezing cold. Is this a good or a bad omen?

Perhaps like most of you, I'm super anxious (read: equal parts excited and worried) about tonight. I've made my plans to have my best homies around me, either to celebrate or to comiserate with. Is that enough? I feel like I could burst with all my hopes that Obama will win, but I live in California, a state that doesn't really matter, apparently.


And since I don't live in Virginia, I guess I'll just have to wait and see...

just like everybody else.

*photo by Callie Shell for Time*