Is it Monday yet?
Any normal person looks forward to long weekends. Ali and I fear them. Are we the only parents who don’t know how to entertain our child? My mom tells me that Maya should learn to play on her own. I agree but I’m kind of at a loss on how to execute that. While I try to figure that out I will continue to do everything I can to keep her occupied.
This morning I figured what better way to keep ourselves busy than to organize? So we tackled her room. While I sorted out her Lego situation, Amelda Maya tackled her shoe closet. I was equally impressed with her idea to put her shoes in her Barbie piano as I was at how many shoes she actually has.
While we organized Ali set up a video camera utilizing the Legos that I’d just finished putting away:
Maya took a break from organizing then to Skype my mom and then her friends in Pakistan and Germany. While she chatted I pretended not to feel like a loser because I had nobody to Skype. To keep my mind off my pathetic social life I read half of this amazing book I stole from my mom’s house:
Afterwards we took a trip to Trader Joe’s to restock our very empty fridge. We came back for a lunch of Macaroni and Cheese…well Ali and Maya did as I am still Flushing Fat. I had a bland omelette with some equally bland eggplant. I only ate it because I was too hungry to think of anything else. The best part of this plan? You don’t want to eat because nothing “allowed” is very appetizing.
The conclusion of lunch coincided with me begging Maya to take a nap. She resisted for an entire hour and then finally succumbed:
Abby Cadabby and Baby Doll were forced to take a nap as well. And apparently I didn’t need to buy her a bed after all. Maya prefers the floor.
When nap time concluded we went on a drive to Malibu to watch the sunset. The weather was amazing – about 70 degrees and perfect.
We were all in good spirits for a change. Except Ali who was darting in and out of the PCH traffic on our “leisurely Sunday drive.”
As we drove we enjoyed apple slices covered in cinnamon and a super sweet orange.
Upon returning I embarked on dinner – soup and calzones.
The soup turned out well although Ali said it was “missing something.” While he tries to think of what that “something” is, here is the recipe for a “pretty good” soup:
Carrot and Leek Soup
1/2 pound of carrots
2 leeks, trimmed and cleaned
1 chopped onion
1 T olive oil
2 cups vegetable broth
1 T ground cumin
1 t salt
Heat oil in a nonstick pot, add onions, carrots, and leeks and cook about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Add spices and vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Using a blender, blend in batches. Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Only a few more hours until its Monday. I think we are all counting the seconds. Maya included.
Throwing up is hard to do
This morning I was determined that Maya and I would get along. I made pancakes to start things off on the right foot:
But Maya wasn’t impressed. Instead she decided to build herself a tent in the living room and hide from the offending pancakes:
It took all my energy not to make her shift everything into her room. I have a bit of an obsession with things being in order. A pile of Dora blankets in my living room isn’t exactly my idea of appropriate decor.
After we sorted the Dora situation out I decided to make an effort and get dressed in something other than my favorite yoga pants. I exchanged my sweats for jeans. How great are Paige jeans? I swear nothing fits like her jeans do. I love them. Anyway, the cooler 65 degree temperatures allowed Maya and I to dust off a few of our warmer clothes:
We tried to channel Ralph Lauren. I don’t think we succeeded.
We headed off to Palos Verdes for lunch. Thanks to my very restrictive diet these days, there was nothing for me to eat. Flushing Fat is harder than I imagined. But I am on Day 5 of 14 so I am 35.71% done. Yes I do fractions to make me feel better.
Since I always try to look at the positive side of things, here is the silver lining for the afternoon – I didn’t get to eat much but at least I was able to enjoy this beautiful sunset from my in-laws house:
After the sun went down I realized I was starving and needed to eat pronto so we decided to hit up Paul Martin’s for dinner. I almost went here a few months ago for a birthday dinner but Maya got sick right before we were supposed to leave and we didn’t make it. So I was thrilled that we were going to make another attempt. On our way down Maya told me her tummy hurt and then proceeded to throw up.
Score: Maya 2, Paul Martin: 0.
Maybe I’ll make it there one day.
After cleaning Maya and the car up we trekked back to Westwood – Ali drove at 85 mph and I turned around every few seconds to ask Maya how her tummy was. We deal with the stress of vomit in different ways. Luckily we proceeded without incident.
After a much-needed bath for Maya and a load of much-needed laundry for her Ralph-Lauren-esq outfit, Ali and I settled in to eat Paul Martin-esq food courtesy of the Whole Foods deli. For about $7.50 I had a piece of salmon, some salsa, and roasted veggies. Not a bad deal at all. The best part? I didn’t have to cook it or clean it.
After dinner I felt kind of full so I headed down to the gym for some American’s Next Top Model reruns and some treadmill. When I came back up 45 minutes later Maya had fallen asleep on the couch. We were scared to move her to her room because we knew it wouldn’t be easy but Ali finally got brave. She woke up yelling nonsensical things but things that definitely didn’t sound polite. I told Ali that instead of a “mean drunk” Maya is a “mean sick person.”
At last she is in bed and I pray that the meanness and sickness will be finally over tomorrow. It’s been a rough weekend!!
Friday was Black
The day started out promising…a family brunch with my mom, dad, brother, Ali and Maya. We went to The Blvd in Beverly Hills. The city was beautiful with all the Christmas decorations. This is the Christmas tree in the BH parking structure of all places…
The entire parking lot was decorated better than my house has ever been.
The hotel was beautiful too…I loved this centerpiece:
My mom explained that I could easily replicate this at home if I bought the silver vase at Pottery Barn and the silver flowers at Michael’s and then fresh roses, but it seemed like way too much work and we both knew I’d never make it happen.
My mom asked if she’d be on the blog so here you go Mom:
This was the only picture I took today that came out fuzzy. Naturally its the only picture that none of us are blinking in.
Maya decided to pick today to be the most misbehaved she’s ever been. Seriously, in her whole entire life she hasn’t been as naughty as she was today. I think I said: “Maya if you don’t stop it right now I am going to lose my mind,” at least 5 times today. I wasn’t as concerned about losing my mind as I was shooting myself in the head.
To distract herself Maya decided to strangle her dad:
Better him than the defenseless penguin though:
I was so mad I told her she couldn’t watch TV and then I kicked myself because I knew that I was really only punishing myself. I look forward to that peaceful 30 minutes more than anyone should. So its 7pm right now and I just told her to go to bed instead. I’ll definitely get a lot more peace and quiet tonight but its a trade-off because then the whole thing starts again tomorrow. The only difference is that we’ll be starting at the crack of dawn.
Wish me luck.
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
