When you wear new ballet flats for the first time that apparently have teeth and a mind of their own and are determined to chew your Achilles tendons raw.

Thoughts I’ve been thinking

- We’ve been in the midst of a major project for the past few weeks (the one that kept me at work until after midnight last Friday).  We may have bought ourselves some additional time, but we won’t know until about 4:30 today.  Fingers crossed this pans out, because the deadline is tomorrow.

- Related: doing business in California sucks.  Waiting at the office at nearly 8 p.m. for someone to send you something because it’s only like quarter to six there, or not being able to actually speak with people until 11 a.m. is really annoying.

- Our grill (a very generous housewarming gift from my parents) arrives this weekend!  We left our old POS grill behind at the condo, and I’ve been regretting that with all the warm temps.

- If we get our extension, I am GTFO to meet KB for some drinks and seedling exchanging.  And by “seedling exchanging,” I mean she’s giving me plants.  I got nothin’. 

- My cousin’s husband, Chef Tyler, is in town this weekend for the restaurant show and will be staying with us.  Is it rude to make your houseguest cook for you all weekend?

- Working from home on the deck > working from the office.  Duh.

- Blackhawks!

- Parsons’ (just around the corner from us) is FINALLY open and I am so pumped.  We drove past the opening night on our way home from the Blackhawks game last night and it looks killer.

-Summer!  Rose!  Grilled things!  Standing Friday happy hours alternating between my roof deck and G’s roof deck!  It’s going to be a good one.

I have been a not-so-secret admirer of the Horchow Amelie table for some time now.  My crush intensified when my friend M bought a real live version for her condo a few years ago.  Shiny without being gaudy, feminine without being girly, it’s pretty much a perfect mirrored piece.  I dreamed of my very own with navy velvet, wainscoting and a lovely rug for our frunch room.

As luck would have it, M now has an infant approaching the six month mark. 

(btw, he is THE CUTEST and has THE BEST CHEEKS and I might steal him for my own because he is just that great)

Little Man O is soon going to start pulling up on things, and so M has decided that, much like when a man has to sell his two-seater sports car when he has a kid, it’s time for the fancy mirrored coffee table to go.

I mean, if it HAS to go, it should go to a loving home, right?

Right.

A perfect solution.  I get my dream table at a fraction of the price, M can visit whenever she wants, and Little Man O’s precious little face stays intact (although I think those cheeks would break any fall!)

This article features three of my favorite things:

1.  Chocolate labs

2.  My alma mater

3.  A heartwarming story.

Well this is neat.

I am now taking applications for new best friends who want to buy me a $7,000 light fixture. 

Happy Mother’s Day (and a double-fisted cheers) to the lady who

…raised two toddlers while getting an MBA from Kellogg.

…taught me part of first grade herself during the CPS strike in the ’80s.

…coached countless soccer teams.

…made sure she was home every day in time to drive us to volleyball, guitar, music lessons, soccer, baseball, swim meets.

…took me on the college tours junior year and was sufficiently embarrassed when I cried during the entire tour of UW-Madison because I was SO sick that day.

…taught me how to cook and the importance a great meal with the important people.

…helped me plan the most beautiful wedding.

…worked in South America for several weeks, with lots of presents and stories to share when she got home.

…could throw Thanksgiving dinner for 30 people blindfolded and with one arm tied behind her back.

…established our every Saturday, 7:30 a.m. Green City Market routine.

…showed a tremendous amount of grace and composure in the face of adversity.

…taught me that life is too short, to take the trips and opportunities that present themselves.

…and has not only been the best mom ever, but is one of my best friends.

I love you, Momma!

The band Supper Club is getting back together again!

I generally like Joss & Main quite a bit but I cannot figure out for the life of me how this faux floral arrangement is $525.95, marked down from almost ONE THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS.

- I’ve been super busy at work this week.  Unfortunately, I have a massive case of writer’s block this week, which is not so good considering what I’ve been working on all week is a written piece.

- I burned my arm on a pan earlier this week and it HURTS.  It’s also in the worst possible spot - the part of my arm that I rest on my desk while typing - so it’s made writing this thing even more painful.

- I am fairly certain the people across the street are dealing drugs out of their house.  We are turning into geriatrics because we sit and watch the comings and goings for hours.

- The corn risotto stuffed poblanos in the Smitten Kitchen cookbook are super delicious (albeit somewhat time-consuming and mess-making).

- This weekend, I’m hosting a shower for one of my good friends’ wife - who has turned into one of my favorite people and close friends.  She’s having a little girl and I DIED over all of the super precious dresses while shopping for gifts.  D and baby A are definitely NOT getting practical gifts.  Whoops.

- I loved my mom before, but I am really liking the retired version o-f my mom.  I mean, who else can I email at 1 p.m. on a Tuesday with a request that she develop a delicious pink sangria recipe by this weekend (and it MUST be pink!) and have taste-tested results by 5 p.m.?

What’s up with you?