Miguelina

Some things just don't translate very well...

Most of you know that our family is an international bunch. My husband's from a German-speaking country - that means we have easy access to some of the best chocolate in the world, and it also means that we have quite the collection of German-language kid's books.

Chocolate? Always good.

German children's books? Well...it depends.

Maybe Americans are raising a generation of wimps, I don't know, but I'm pretty sure that I can pick up pretty much any American children's book and it'll be as bland as vanilla and full of positive lessons and happy endings. I don't mind. That is not the case with the books we get in Europe. To be fair, I don't speak German so I don't know if I'm taking the pictures out of context, but some things are just obvious.

For instance, take this book:

At first glance it looks like one of those busy illustrated books that toddlers love. I love them too, because they keep the kids busy - they love finding things in the illustrations and I can easily tell my kids what the things in the picture are. I do it in Spanish, because we like to keep the kids confused.

Anyways, my innocent three year old pointed at the picture of the group of kids in the school yard.

What are those kids doing?

I'm a little bit blind, so I just told him that the kids were playing. You know, like he does at preschool.

Then I took a closer look at the illustration, and I realized that maybe? Telling him that was probably not the best idea.

This illustration is the thing that school phobias and night terrors are made of.

Why are the little kids beating each other up?

Why is the "doggie" so angry?

Why is that lady just watching?

WHY?

I don't like those German story books. You should see the old-fashioned ones.

Thanksgiving morning

Hello! I'm spending the morning at Butterball headquarters - where many of you are calling wondering what to do with that frozen turkey.

(Don't panic! Call them and they'll tell you what to do!)

That's a chocolate turkey cake. It took all day to make.

I'm only here for a few hours, and then I'm headed home to be with my kids and husband. I'll be home before naptime is over, so they've hardly missed me. When I spoke to my three year-old this morning he sang the Banana Phone song and wanted to know if he could have sweets. It was 8 AM. I can't wait to see them, but I have to admit that this Thanksgiving is more exciting than any I can remember. (With one notable exception, of course.)

I don't know about you, but I'm not used to spending Thanksgiving morning with the Today show crew and the rockstar ladies that work here.

I want to take those lights home. They make you look awesome.

It totally beats cooking.

Speaking of rockstars, let me introduce you to Marge:

 

I've been following Marge around all day, because she just did the Conan O'Brien show (watch her in action here) and Hugh Jackman was there that day. THE WOMAN MET HUGH JACKMAN. I'm insanely jealous.

I think I'll have some cake. It'll make me feel better.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The art of not getting anything done

I love making lists. Packing lists, shopping lists, to-do lists...I am a list-making queen. I'm also a world-class procrastinator, and don't think for a second that the two aren't related. Add in my innate laziness and a fancy new toy, and what you have is a recipe for disaster.

(Well, not really, because disaster implies that I managed to do something to screw things up. I guess what you really have is a recipe for...nothing.)

Case in point - my new phone. It's awesome. Great, even. But I soon learned that it doesn't display my to-do list from my iCal and I went into panic mode. How was I supposed to walk around without my to-do list? The one that I spend hours creating and revising and just looking at? It would not do! So I spent hours at the App store looking for a solution.

Did you know there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of to-do lists available for your phone? And that they all do the same thing - you know, list the things you need to do? You'd think it would be an easy thing to do, choose one and move on. But, oh no, I had to spend time signing up for free accounts and testing and reading reviews and comments, and next thing I knew I had spent 3 hours looking for a to-do list application.

It doesn't make any sense. I could have done the same thing with a Post-It note.

(Better put that on the list.)

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On another note - are you cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year? Then you need to read this, because today is a VERY important day.

Also, go here to read my Q&A with one of my favorite people at Butterball. She's funny. You'll love her too!

Chat with Chris

So maybe you didn't get a chance to chat with me when I was at Butterball last week? (WHY? Were you too busy for me?) Maybe we didn't get to answer your question during last week's inaugural chat? (Sorry about that!) Or perhaps we're getting really close to Thanksgiving and all the procrastinators out there are starting to worry about next week's dinner.

Well, lucky you.

Chris will be in Chicago tomorrow answering your questions. You can chat with her from 12-2 EST by logging on to Butterball.com. You read her blog, so you know she's funny and witty - now's your chance to chat with her. I have, and I can guarantee you that she's worth it.

Have fun, Chris!

Sunday Night

No matter how long it's been since I've had an office job, Sunday night is always bittersweet. Every day is pretty much the same for me, but I still can't get over that Sunday night feeling where you try to make the weekend last a little longer by trying a little harder. Too bad it never works.