#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Date Night with My Littlest

January 29, 2013 · Narrative

My creation
Tonight, Nick had a workshop to go to, so Madeline and I took advantage of the one-on-one time and had ourselves a little date. Although it is sometimes a challenge (and often requires a babysitter), I do my best to make sure that each of the kids gets time with me all to themselves. With this new workshop being a weekly event from now until May, my one-on-one time with Madeline just got a lot easier for the time being.

We ducked into a nearby restaurant for a bite to eat. About ten minutes in of non-stop chatter, she looked up and said “I talk a lot, don’t I?” Which is exactly why I know this time is so important to them. (And, funnily enough, exactly what Nick said the last time we went out alone together). They need the time with me without interruptions.

During our meal, we covered:

– if sharks can be trained to be good
– imagining how it would be if we could walk on chopsticks, and how we’d have to be careful
– how delicious the dumplings were (her first time with the gyoza kind; she loves Chinese dumplings, but only eats the insides)
– how her friend’s boyfriend threw a car at another classmate and hit him in the eye
– and how maybe her friend needs a new boyfriend
– how Madeline will pick a boyfriend when she’s 16 or 10
– but not now
– how artists learn to draw
– the habits of blowfish, how dangerous they are, and what they eat (she had just watched a tv show on blowfish)
– what we’d look like if we each ate 25 million edamame
– how one girl in her class was mean to her and she didn’t want to invite her to her upcoming birthday party. And when I asked if she needed me to intervene, I was told “No, I think I can handle it”
– the difference between the “rock on” sign (Aunt Beth will be proud) and “hang ten” (as shown above)
– how the bathroom of the restaurant we were in smelled like “Chinese perfume” (which is also known as “Asian restaurant with a diffuser in the bathroom”)
– and the difference between love and romance, and how they are similar, but different, and connected

And yes, I took notes.

Because this is the stuff I want to remember.

Forever.

And that was only about 15 minutes of our conversation, which lasted a total of an hour and a half.

And if it sounds like an exhausting 15 minutes, it was, but only in the very best possible way.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: date night

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    January 30, 2013 at 7:34 am

    I love a good Maddie conversation and you seem to cover every topic imaginable in as short a time as possible. :) Glad you’re getting to spend one-on-one time with your girl!
    Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Peruvian Bean Bowl with a Red Pepper Sauce and Fried Plantains

    Reply
  2. chris says

    January 30, 2013 at 8:28 am

    very cute…. im exhausted reading it.. need a drink now. :)

    Reply
  3. patsy says

    January 30, 2013 at 9:36 am

    one on one time is so important when you have more than one child! I’ve been setting aside time at home to hang out with each of my boys – while the other is doing something with their dad elsewhere in the house. It’s amazing what topics they want to talk about when it’s just the 2 of you.
    patsy recently posted..Game Day Snack: Cheez-it Bayou Blitz Mix & Giveaway

    Reply
  4. Aunt Beth says

    January 30, 2013 at 10:03 am

    Aunt Beth is very proud! Maybe she wants to join us at Bon Jovi …

    Reply
  5. paula says

    January 31, 2013 at 7:56 am

    I’ve always been able to get a lot of one on one time with Dan because of Nick’s sports, and up until the end of last August, he went to daycare where I work so we commuted together every day. But I wasn’t getting enough time alone with Nick, and with it being between sports seasons and Dan going to school locally now, I wasn’t getting enough time alone with Dan now either. The ex wasn’t getting enough time alone with either of them so we started splitting them up occasionally. It’s for their benefit and ours.

    I’ve noticed that the boys are getting along better since we started doing this and Dan is enjoying going to his dad’s more. He didn’t not enjoy it before but he was starting to lean towards wanting to be at my house. Maybe that should make me feel good but I prefer to see them make the transition back and forth without a second thought.

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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