I’ll admit it.  I’m living vicariously through my daughter, wardrobe wise at least.    Here are some of her cutest outfits from the recent past and where to find them.  In the future, I am going to try to just post the outfits from the week, but to start out, here is the highlight reel.

Sweater: Dwell Studios for Target, Dress/Leggings: Genuine Baby (from Target), Socks: Baby Gap

Tights & Hat: Baby Gap, Shirt: Circo (from Target), Skirt: Old Navy, Legwarmers: My Little Legs (From Amazon), Sweater: Genuine Baby (from Target)

Skirt and Shirt: Baby Gap, Leg Warmers: My Little Legs (from Amazon), Socks: Trumpette

PJs: Circo (from Target)

Hat: Target, Sweater: BlaBla, Jeans: Baby Gap, Shoes:Robeez

Hat: Old Navy, Vest: Genuine Baby (from Target), Jean Jacket, Checked Dress and Jeans: Baby Gap, Socks: Trumpette (and apparently too small)

Hat: Handmade gift, Sweater: Dwell Studios for Target, Onesie and Jumper: Carters, Tights: Baby Gap

Shoes: Robeez, Jeans: Baby Gap, Shirt: Imps and Elves, Sweater: Genuine Baby (Target)

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With any new feature on Sheriff Peanut, we appreciate your feedback.  Is this a stupid idea for a regular thing and you hate it and want to stab me in the eye?  Is this the best thing that has ever happened to you?   Let us know in the comments!

As I am laying on the couch being a slug trying to recover from last night,  I am trying to come up with some resolutions for 2011.   I always make the same ones, exercise more, lose weight, pay off credit cards, etc and I never do it.   I am probably not going to make any hard and fast resolutions this year, but will just try to keep chugging along with resolutions from years past.   Do you have resolutions?  Have you been successful in keeping them in years past?

I have to say, I loved 2010.  Despite the complications, I loved being pregnant, and of course I love having the world’s sweetest baby.  My job is going well, everything is coming up Norah!   Here’s hoping it keeps up for all of us!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wow, I really didn’t read much this month.  Only one book.   I guess because technically I finished Sunnyside from last months reviews in December and I am halfway through another book (to be reviewed in January).  Well, on to it.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I’ve been hearing all about the new hot trilogy for tweenagers, and because I am 12 years old, and have been looking for my new Harry Potter,  I gave it a shot.  I am glad that I did, because this is gooooooooood.  I actually gasped out loud during part of it.   It was a white knuckler all the way through.  I can’t wait to read the next two.  Without giving too much away, it’s set in the future, in what used to be the United States.   Aside from the Capitol, which is lush with resources, the rest of the country is a veritable wasteland, divided into districts, with most of its residents dirt poor and starving.   After a thwarted uprising decades earlier,  the Capitol came up with the Hunger Games, in which a boy and a girl is randomly selected from each district, brought to the Capitol and are pitted against each other in a fight to the death.   I am not going to tell you anything more, but trust me when I say it is a quick and entertaining read.   Thought it’s a young adult novel, it’s really pretty violent, just as a warning.

Books I Read is a monthly review of, uh, books I read that month.   I guess it didn’t need explanation.

Half Baked by Alexa Stevenson

Half Baked (The Story of My Nerves, My Newborn, and How We Both Learned To Breathe) is a memoir about the trials and tribulations regarding Alexa Stevenson’s fertility.   Stevenson, a young, midwestern, female,  Woody Allen type (neurosis and big glasses, what else can I compare her too?) gives birth to her daughter Simone 15 weeks early, after years of trying to get pregnant.   Her struggles with fertility issues, pregnancy and dealing with a helpless little infant in the NICU read as the most emotional of emotional rollercoasters.  I found myself crying, laughing (a lot, actually…she is really quite amusing), and mostly nodding in agreement.    I realize my situation is different than most of her readers would be, and I also realize that had Ramona and Simone been in the NICU at the same time, Stevenson probably would have scoffed at my situation (“Only 8 weeks early?  Call me when you have a REAL problem.”), but this book spoke to me so much. Every emotion, preconception, and theory that Stevenson seemed to have in the NICU, I had as well.   Fortunately for me, Ramona didn’t have any of the dramatic health issues that poor lil Simone did, but don’t worry, she turns out alright. I follow Alexa’s hilarious blog Flotsam, which is in and of itself worth a few hours of perusal. I’m glad I stumbled upon it AFTER Ramona was out of the hospital, and really glad this book didn’t come out until RJ was comfortably settled at home.

Deadwood by Pete Dexter

My brother loaned me this book, presumably based on my love for Lonesome Dove.   It’s a fictionalized historical novel focusing mainly on Wild Bill Hickok (with other famous Westerners like Calamity Jane), set in the Dakotas.  Or Wyoming or wherever.  Listen, I ain’t no atlas.   I don’t know how I came to love novels based in the Wild West, it’s really strange for me, actually, but this one is a winner.   Lots of prostitutes, savages, weirdos, prospectors, law men, violence, cats, Chinese, syphillis, I could go on and on.   Not too long, either.  By no means is this anywhere near the Majesty that is Lonesome Dove, but it’s a pretty darn good read.

Sunnyside by Glen David Gold

Boooooo.  I have been waiting years for this book to come out.  I LOVED GDG’s first novel, Carter Beats the Devil, which was a fictionalized novelization about a magician*, but this one left me a little cold.   Again, with the fictionalized historical stuff, this book focused mainly on Charlie Chaplin (who was quite the cad, btw), World War I, and the Golden Age of Hollywood.  It was ok, some parts were semi interesting and I think my brother will really like it, but all in all, it was an awful lot of words that went nowhere.   None of the 4 story lines effectively tied themselves together enough for my liking, and there were a lot of loose ends left, er, loose?  Flapping in the breeze?  I mean, whatever happened to Charlie’s mother?  To the Golod’s?  To Leland Duncan?  To the soldiers in Russia?  I NEED REAL CLOSURE!

*I admit that I am a total nerdlinger.

With any new feature on Sheriff Peanut, we appreciate your feedback.  Is this a stupid idea for a regular thing and you hate it and want to stab me in the eye?  Is this the best thing that has ever happened to you?   Let us know in the comments!

Sigh.   Why aren’t I more organized?   Just when I got into the rhythm of blogging, our internet/cable got shut off.  I have no idea why.   Oh wait, yes I do.  We were behind on the bills.   So while we got that sorted out (we decided to go with Clear internet and streaming Hulu and Netflix- mediocre at times….) and I got all set to blog again…my website was gone.   I forgot to renew my domain name.   So that took about two weeks of back and forth with this idiotic company, but I am finally back.   And now its the holidays.  I am going to try to keep up, people.  Wish me luck!

I love my RSS Feed.   It’s one of the best things that ever happened to me.  And I read A LOT of blogs.   So, I’ve decided that I will imitate the popular Twitter feature “Follow Friday” and every Friday, I’ll introduce you to one of my favorite blogs.

Today’s featured blog is The Hairpin.  I recently discovered this site when Edith Zimmerman became their editor.   Edith’s old blog used to contain sporadic pictures of her awesome and hilarious ‘food sculptures’ and then sort of morphed into a truly bizarre collection of short stories.  It appears that she no longer maintains the old blog, and I can’t see how she possibly could with the amount of content she supplies for The Hairpin.

The Hairpin bills itself as a ‘ladies blog’ but honestly, it only hit me yesterday that it was even mildly femme-centric.   It’s hilarious, smart, and a throughly interesting read.  There is no specific theme to their posts, just what you would probably categorize as ‘general interest’, heavy on the interest.  Typically if a blog has more than 30 posts a day (yeah, you heard me!), I unsubscribe, I mean, for reals, who’s got the time?   But I am actually sad when I run out of posts on The Hairpin.  It’s THAT entertaining.   Seriously, these bitches are funny. I feel like they are my friends.   Um, that’s sad.  So what, leave me alone.

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With any new feature on Sheriff Peanut, we appreciate your feedback.  Is this a stupid idea for a regular thing and you hate it and want to stab me in the eye?  Is this the best thing that has ever happened to you?   Let us know in the comments!

This year I am thankful for my New Lil’ Fam™, specifically my delightful daughter, my ever-so-helpful husband (seriously, he’s great), a dog that lets the baby pound on him even though he could eat her in one bite,  and that Ramona’s extended hospital stay is but a distant memory with no repercussions in her health/development.  What are you thankful for?

One of the new things I want to do with this blog is post about some of my favorite things, big or small.  Things that make my life easier, better, prettier, whatever.   I’m starting with one of the most affordable guilty pleasures I have…the always changing, always adorable napkins from Ikea.   Using a napkin instead of a paper towel to wipe my gaping maw as I sit on the couch watching “Real Housewives of Whatever” and eating Spaghetti-os out of a can for dinner just makes me feel that much more grown up and fancy pants.   And they are super cheap and super cute and constantly changing.  Next time you are in the market for Harveflarn, do yourself a favor and pick up some Dribbla as well (I swear that was what the last pack I picked up was called!).

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Our New Lil’ Fam™ is going to our dear friend Julia’s in lieu of visiting relatives.   Thanksgiving was a big family meal when we were all living at home, but as we all got older and moved all over the country, I can’t remember a single year that any one of us came home for it.    It’s just so close to Christmas, and that’s where we Utleys go buck wild.  Not really, but we usually all get together for that and condense all our fighting into one special holiday instead of breaking it up over two.    Anyhoo- as I was saying, we are going to Julia and Mark’s and I really think I got off easy this year.    Normally, I volunteer for like twelve different dishes (although being a vegetarian, most people scoff at my offerings- their loss!) and always end up regretting it Thursday morning when I am overwhelmed and behind schedule and tired and possibly hung over and faced with the sad reality of the over confidence I had in my multi tasking ways.  While I did offer to make 4 or 5 dishes this year, Julia kindly rebuked and I am making a paltry two.   A glorious, glorious paltry two.  A paltry two made all the more delicious (oh yeah, baby, pun intended) by the realization that we were heading over at noon and that if I had any more on my plate (ahem.), I would surely be in tears at 9 :30 am.   So, bright and early Thursday morning, I am making a spinach salad with poppy seed dressing, strawberries, sunflower seeds, and red onions,  AND my go-to salsa recipe.   Sure, not very Thanksgiving-y, but we’re getting there 3 hours before dinner- plenty of snackin’ time.  I also bought a big bunch of brussel sprouts, just in case I have extra time, because I clearly have a relaxing problem.

I started making this salsa 15 years ago, modeling it loosely on the pico de gallo from El Cid, my favorite Mexican restaurant, when I was tired of jarred grocery store salsa not measuring up.  I actually prefer this salsa to be blended with a hand blender but every time I bring it to a party that way, I get protests, so apparently most people like it chunky.

Disclaimer:  This recipe is super easy, and I am super loosey goosey, figure it out as you go along.   So consider yourself warned if you are the type of person who needs exact measurements.  That just ain’t my bag, man.  Oh and I am not going to say “Wash the cilantro.”  You’re an adult (presumably), you can figure out what produce you need to wash.    But yeah, you should wash the cilantro, that shit gets really dirty.

Start off with a large can of diced tomatoes.   Yes.  Can.   I made this with fresh tomatoes for a while, never achieving the El Cid taste, and one day when I was feeling to lazy/poor for fresh tomatoes (give me a break, I was 20), I substituted fresh for canned and never turned back.   I don’t know what it is, but I suspect because canned tomatoes are semi cooked? Maybe?  I have no idea.   Rumor has it that El Cid puts ketchup in their salsa.  I won’t go that far (mainly because I am afraid I will overzealously [ps not a word, apparently] squirt in a whole bottle and waste all that chopping), but trust me on this canned thing.    Ok, so drain the juice out of a large can of diced tomatoes and put the tomatoes in a bowl.   Chop up a red onion (I start with a half, depending on the size and play it by ear), de-seed and chop up two jalapenos, de-stem (you know, if you feel up to it) the cilantro (Did you wash it?  I’m sort of feeling guilty that I left it up to your discretion….can you please wash it?  Thanks so much. ) and chop a half a bunch.   Add juice of one lime or like 3 seconds of juice squeezed out of one of those cute little bottles shaped like a lime, one clove of garlic either through a garlic press or minced really tiny and a pinch of salt.   Oh crap, you were putting all that stuff in the bowl with the tomatoes as you went along, right?   Shoot.  Do that now.  I’ll wait.   Alright…   Then comes the add ons.   Add one or more of the following at your whim, or in my case, my pantries whim.   A drained can of black beans, chopped mango, or a drained can of corn.  Or all three.   Dealer’s choice.   Stir it up, refrigerate for a while, if you have time, and then dig in.

For my next recipe post, I promise I will be much more regulated.   Peace out.

welllllllll….It’s been a while since I blogged.   I started the blog and about a month later got a full time job and just sort of abandoned ship.   I had plans to revisit, and then procrastinated.  Then I had a baby, our own lil’ Sheriff Peanut, Ramona.   She’s awesome.    You’ll hear more about her later.    I’ve started reading a lot more blogs as a result (sort of like Dr Spock for the future…no, not that Spock… Aw forget it.) and found myself wondering, constantly, “Why aren’t I doing this?”  I know the answer.  I’m tired, have too many projects, am out of the habit, etc.   But I’m really going to make more of an effort this time around, I swear.   My early new year’s resolution is to have two entries a week.   Wish me luck!

Now, about this Ramona.   She was born 3/1/10, two months early.   She spent the first two months of her life in the hospital, but she was always healthy and in great shape…just a little small…and fetal.   She’s now pushing 9 months old and she’s thriving.  She’s pulling herself up/standing with help, babbling, waving (her own special kind of wave which looks like she’s asking for the check) and she cut a tooth today!   She’s a smiley, happy, extremely well dressed little girl and we couldn’t have been any luckier.   Especially now that she sleeps through the night.  Stay tuned!