Harper's First Snow

Release the Cuteness

Deep Acres Pups Waiting Patiently

Scarlett Johansson Sings

Scarlett Johansson sings One More Hour 

We have to admit we are in love with her singing.   Our love affair began a few years ago with the album Clean she made with Pete Yorn. Please find it and take a listen. Yes, it is one of our favorite albums.

One More Hour isn't on Clean. It's on the soundtrack for a movie called Wretches and Jabberers. We like it too. Although we are not sure they got all the lyrics right in this video. We had some other ideas. And we like them better.

We also love a funky little French number titled Bonnie and Clyde she recorded with this dude Lulu Gainsbourg. It's infectious. And in a good way!

HOLLA

 

We love the HOLLA doormat we bought at a cool little shop in the gaslight district in Vancouver.  We finally placed it outside our side door now that the construction workers are (mostly) done tromping in and out.  Check out reedwilsondesign.com if you want one for your very own.   Just now we ordered his HOWDY doormat for our front door.  We wanted to get the one below, but it is so obviously not true.

Happy Birthday Mr. President

We know it's ridiculous.   But those two extremely cute girls from 2 Broke Girls (we've never seen their show)  were on Ellen the other day and they just love this new app My Talking Pet.  With My Talking Pet, you just snap a pic of your dog or cat (or parrot or lizard....) and then record a message.  The app then makes your favorite pet talk (sort of).

Winger by Andrew Smith

I bought Winger by Andrew Smith for Ryan, our 14-year-old boy.  It had a "staff pick" sticker on it at the local bookstore in the northern Michigan town where we spend the summer.  And something about it interested me.  Could it have been the cover art and words?  When I discovered the main character is a 14-year-old named Ryan, I had to get it.

Well, Ryan has yet to read it.  But I did.  What an amazingly great book!  You have to read it.  You just have to.

I loved it.  Is it really teen fiction?  Am I immature?  Intellectually stunted?   I asked the author these questions and here is his reply.

"Is it "teen fiction"? Not the way a lot of people look at the genre. Here's why: I write ABOUT young adults and the adolescent experience, not FOR them. People who write FOR teens tend to get all preachy and condescending and become overly careful with what they say. I write about the adolescent experience because I think it is the most profoundly shaping part of our lives. And kids know when you're bullshitting them. If I view my approach as writing ABOUT adolescence, then I know I can put anything that is true and real in the book. No bullshit. So, no... you are not immature. Most of my readers happen to be adults. I write first and foremost for myself as the audience, so I write what I would want to read... and believe it or not, Winger still makes me laugh and chokes me up, too."

Winger more than lives up to its cover

And its back cover

Glamping

We are headed to Santa Barbara soon to visit our dear friend Moe.  Maybe we'll spend one night glamping at El Capitan Canyon.   Probably not this trip though.  Moe has a fabulous guest house!

El Capitan Canyon

11560 Calle Real
805.685.3887

Made up of cabins and tents (for those who are looking to "glamp" in large decked out tents with a double bed and electric lighting), El Capitan offers a rustic but luxurious way to experience the El Capitan Canyon and beach near Santa Barbara. Perfect for a family trip with kids, choose between doing your own cooking (each cabin has it's own "outdoor kitchen" with a grill/fire pit) and opting for super healthy meals at the Canyon Market and Deli.