Baby Baby Lemon

BHBC: Where She Went

Amy — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:52:03 +0000

photo via blogher.com

I have a surprisingly hard time with book reviews. I feel like no one reads them and no one cares and I don’t know if it is because of the books, the way they are written or the fact they are sponsored. I know there are more than a few people who skip/won’t comment/hate sponsored posts, but I don’t know how many people feel that way about book reviews.

I also wish I were from a y’all approved locale, because I really want to add “I sold my soul for twenty bucks y’all” to the end of that last paragraph. “It’s all about the bennies, yo” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.

This month I’m reviewing Gayle Forman’s Where She Went. I must say, this book was weird. Well, the choice of this book was weird more than the book itself. The book was more generic young adult. It was a part two (book one is called If I Stay). Seems like a strange choice, I don’t know how many people are going to pony up for part one just to review the second. I would get it now, but somehow I feel like some of the suspense of the first might be ruined by having already read the second. I’M SO CONFLICTED.

So. The Book. Where She Went has all the makings of a young adult book I should like. I wanted to like it, but I am left feeling it was just ok. It’s the story of the unrequited love of a boy for his high school sweetheart. After high school, he became a wold famous rock star, she an accomplished cellist. I just didn’t buy their love as being that eternal-magical-wonderful. She has a tragic past! He sacrificed it all! Pretty people! Scandalous past! Everyone is just so sad. The CW should totally option this book and make a show. It would be perfect.

Oh, and the main character’s name is Adam Wilde because of course it is. His nickname is “Wildeman.” Really. I feel like this book could have used a stronger edit. Or maybe it is just for people who prefer to have absolutely no surprises in their books. I don’t know. This one has really left me a bit mystified as to how to recommend it. I would recommend borrowing it for sure, if your library or a friend has books one and two.

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Baby Baby Lemon! I would appreciate your comments and feedback on the entry you just read, BHBC: Where She Went.

Wordless Wednesday: Hopscotch

Amy — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:47:42 +0000

I still don’t have my Disney pictures ready because I keep telling myself that I am going to do a nice job with them and procrastinating until the last minute and throwing something else up. Ergo, hopscotch. My sister was here last weekend and we had tons of fun playing with Spencer in the backyard. We introduced him to hopscotch with mixed results.

Checking it out.

Almost.

Jump!

And, no, we didn’t teach him helmet requiring extreme hopscotching, he was just learning to ride a scooter right before this. Safety first! Link up your wordless wednesday posts below.

Baby Baby Lemon! I would appreciate your comments and feedback on the entry you just read, Wordless Wednesday: Hopscotch.

Very Quiet Mother’s Day

Amy — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:32:04 +0000

We spent mother’s day recouperating from a week of illness and my sister’s visit. The most shocking turn of event was Spencer sleeping in until 9 o’clock. I don’t think he has ever slept that late and despite a week of 6 am wake-ups due to my own cold, I was able to sleep in until 9 too! Awesome!

And then we flew a kite.

I was feeling a bit blue on mother’s day until I saw so many of you gardening online. It was too windy and cold to do much here yesterday. This is Southern California, anything under 65 requires hiding indoors under blankets. I think starting next year, I’m copying the mother’s day in the garden tradition. And maybe that mimosa tradition.

Baby Baby Lemon! I would appreciate your comments and feedback on the entry you just read, Very Quiet Mother’s Day.

P366: May 6th – May 12th

Amy — Sun, 13 May 2012 04:51:25 +0000

Super busy week this week, everyone was sick with a variey of random mismatched illnesses, my sister visted desprite the toxic state of my house, plus Spencer had his Spring Program. Too much fun!

Sunday

Lazy Toy Story watching day.

Monday

Grandma's garden.

Tuesday

Potatoes!

Wednesday

Spencer's (stuffed) kitty visiting with the neighbor's kitty.

Thursday

Flying like Buzz.

Friday

Flying high.

Saturday

Scissor cuts paper.

Happy Mothers Day this Sunday!

linking up with Amy.

Baby Baby Lemon! I would appreciate your comments and feedback on the entry you just read, P366: May 6th – May 12th.

S is for Spencer. And for Stubborn.

Amy — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:21:41 +0000

Spencer’s preschool show was last night and I must say groups of 10 or so kids ages 2.5-4.5 singing in organized groups might be the cutest thing ever. In each class, there was at least one kid solemnly standing on stage, with the class, refusing to sing. Sometimes there was even a bonus pout. For the last few days, we’ve been trying to get Spencer to tell us what song he was singing with his class and every time he would tell us the ABC song. I thought he was kidding, after all the program was called “Wee Sing for Jesus.”

Spencer is a little bear.

Spencer’s class performed first. They all went up, stood on their tape and most of them sang their first song. Spencer? Clearly was singing the alphabet song. The song ended. They started their second song. Spencer again sang the alphabet song. He also decided this would be an awesome time to lift his shirt and show off his belly. He might have been inspired by his classmate lifting her skirt. It was off-key chaos, but it was truly adorable.

Strike a pose.

The rest of the classes sang their songs, with one class doing some sort of interpretive dance routine as well. Then there was a slideshow and back to the classroom for refreshments and an art show. Spencer was mostly interested in a bonus opportunity for playing with the school toys. When we got back in the car, we asked him what song he sang. He answered “ABC Song.” We asked him what song the rest of his class sang and he replied with a smile, “Jesus song.” So, he knew what he was doing all along. S is for Stubborn.

Art or tribute to twitter, you decide.

We grabbed some dinner on the way home. It’s always a gamble taking a toddler out to eat at 745 at night, but we we hungry. It all went so great until we were leaving and had to exit past the gumball machines. There was much screaming until he passed out cold in the car on the way home. ::shakes fist at sky cursing gumball machines everywhere:: Not wanting to provoke the beast, I just put him in bed clothes and all when we got home.

Still snoozing away the next morning.

I normally hesitate to post pictures of other people’s kids online, but that photo is so blurry and awful everyone is nearly unrecognizable.

Baby Baby Lemon! I would appreciate your comments and feedback on the entry you just read, S is for Spencer. And for Stubborn..

Simple Strawberry Sauce

Amy — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:29:05 +0000

Last minute mother’s day gift idea: simple strawberry sauce. This seriously is the easiest thing ever, always gets tons of compliments and tastes like it should be much, much more difficult to make. Plus, who doesn’t love a handmade gift in a mason jar! So thoughtful and so twee!

To make: put a 16 ounce bag of whole unsweetened strawberries in a small pan over medium heat and add a teaspoon of sugar. Simmer until most of the strawberries have broken down and liquid is released (about 15-20 minutes). Mash remaining chunky strawberries with a potato masher and turn off the heat. Let cool a bit. If giving as a gift, pour into a mason jar and tie a bit a ribbon around the lid.

This can be made with fresh strawberries, the riper the better. Cook it down before adding the sugar. You might not need it. This will keep in the fridge for about a week. It taste great on ice cream, pancakes, waffles, any manner of cakes and brownies. We had this batch with lemon pound cake and it was delicious.

If this looks vaguely familiar, I’ve posted my Secret Weapon Berry Sauce in the past, but this one isn’t pureed which makes it totally different. Plus I hate the picture on the other post.

Baby Baby Lemon! I would appreciate your comments and feedback on the entry you just read, Simple Strawberry Sauce.

WW: Central Coast

Amy — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:02:01 +0000

I’m getting behind on posting our outing pictures which is sort of hilarious because, really, we don’t go that many places. At the end of April, we headed up the coast to Morro Bay to an emergency vehicle car show. We went last year and the event is super fun. There are a ton of fire trucks and police cars and kids can climb on them and talk to personell. Spencer had a blast and he also wanted to go in all the vintage stores up and down main street. Unfortunately, this is the only good picture I have. (Well, also fortunately, because I think it’s cute.)

Note to self: don’t just think your camera is on auto. Actually check.

After the vehicle show we headed over to the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus to look at the horses and cows. I love that they have it open to the public. It’s a great place to take kids and let them get up close and personal with horses and cows and if you go in the spring: babies! Spencer loved it.

Such a fun day!

Do you have a wordless wednesday post? Link up below.

Baby Baby Lemon! I would appreciate your comments and feedback on the entry you just read, WW: Central Coast.

Park Stuff

Amy — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:58:12 +0000

I can’t be the only person who hates taking her child to the park because of the giant fit thrown when it is time to leave, can I? It’s gotten to the point where I actively avoid going to the park. Which sucks. We have fun at the park, Spencer gets some exercise and some sunshine, but leaving is so embarrassing. I have to threaten, cajole and beg. And that only works half the time.

Part of the issue is that he always seems to want to go at 4-4:30ish, which is theoretically fine, but then we can only stay about an hour because I need to get home to make dinner. The park is also packed with neighborhood kids then so the time to leave tantrums are extra excruciating. I also don’t seem to know how to parent a toddler, so there’s that.

I’ve had the most success with countdowns. We talk about the time we are going to leave, I let him look at the numbers on the clock on my phone. Then I start doing, 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 minutes left. I ask him if he wants to do one more thing. We slide or whatever. I say it is time to go and he throws a fit: crying, yelling, hitting, sometimes throwing sand. I normally let him calm down a bit and then I have to threaten to carry him home over my shoulder before we can leave. I hate every minute of it.

The other thing that is really starting to drive me insane are rented jump houses on the weekend. I’m half tempted to try a petition to get them banned. The generators are noisy, it is super confusing to little kids and in some situations I think they’re a safety hazard. That one pictured about had about 20 kids in it ranging in age from 2-tween all running to one side and trying to tip the thing over. Ugh. And the generator noise drives me insane. In releated news, keep of my lawn you crazy kids. ::shakes cane::

So, how do you deal with the park? Any suggestions?

Baby Baby Lemon! I would appreciate your comments and feedback on the entry you just read, Park Stuff.

P366: April 29th – May 5th

Amy — Sat, 05 May 2012 21:45:52 +0000

I don’t know if this was a busy week or a slow week or what. All I know is that after a few days of Spencer getting shortened, interrupted and generally crappy sleep, I’m exhausted. I don’t even remember the beginning of this week.

Sunday

And these are just the books that were in my nightstand drawer.

Monday

Off Roading

Tuesday

He's a bit puzzled.

Wednesday

bouncy fish park!

Thursday

Bookstore legos > home legos

Friday

Pajama painting.

Saturday

No amount of coffee can save today.

linking up with Amy

Baby Baby Lemon! I would appreciate your comments and feedback on the entry you just read, P366: April 29th – May 5th.

Lemon Life Lessons: Karaoke Edition

Amy — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:15:18 +0000

I have a new feature: fictitious questions from imaginary readers. Yay!

Dear Lemon:

That’s your name right? Lemon?* Why else would you have such a dumb blog name about you and your two babies. I know you used to do a lot of karaoke, even though you have never mentioned this on the blog. Do you have any suggestions for which classic rock songs a person should never, ever pick even if they think they sing them the best ever when they are alone in their car?

– Clancy Wiggum

Why yes Clancy, I do have some thoughts on this topic. How ever did you know?

Amy’s Top 5 Classic Rock Songs You Should Never Karaoke If You Aren’t in a Karaoke Competition and maybe not even then…

Oh Sherry Journey Why? First of all, it starts with an acapella into. That would be a bold choice, too bold. Also, Journey songs are really hard to sing.
Take It On The Run REO Speedwagon This song has a crazy weird musical interlude that lasts way longer than it should. And there is more singing after the music so it probably won’t fade out. It’s long and awful, you’re just going to have to stand there knowing everyone is mocking you for picking a super awkward song.
Take It To The Limit The Eagles Slow. Boring. And the take IT part that you picked the song for? Well, it doesn’t happen all that often. Might I suggest
The Joker Steve Miller Band Surprisingly tuneless. This is an excellent drunken group sing, just don’t attempt it solo.
Imagine John Lennon Just don’t. No one ever even likes covers of this song when pros do it. Exception: wedding karaoke See also: Hallelujah Jeff Buckley version. Leave it to American Idol auditions people.

*My name is Amy. I have one child. My blog is called Baby Baby Lemon as a (misguided) Simpson’s reference.

Happy weekend everybody!

Baby Baby Lemon! I would appreciate your comments and feedback on the entry you just read, Lemon Life Lessons: Karaoke Edition.