When she's older, she'll find a way to blame this all on me

I've got this problem. I'm having a hard time taking a good picture of my beautiful daughter.

NO, I assume you're shouting at the computer. Impossible! Having a hard time taking a picture of this gorgeous little angel? Come on!

Well, I assure you, it is like herding cats lately for one particular reason: She figured out that she can see pictures of herself on the display of the camera or cell phone. As soon as she sees the camera or the phone, she screams BABY!!!!!!!, reaches for the camera/phone, and cries and flails and freaks until she either gets it, or I say no and she melts into a puddle on the floor, so inconsolable that she will clearly NEVER BE HAPPY AGAIN, MOM!

Guess why I say "no"? Because just holding the electronic device nicely and looking at the picture is not on her agenda. No. She would prefer to push buttons, smash things, touch lenses, change settings, and basically destroy everything possible in 2.1 seconds. And she can't just look at the picture on a device an adult is holding. No. She must be touching. And destroying. So I say no.

Therefore, we have a lot of pictures like this:

And THIS, if I dare tell her "no":

The photos albums for these few months of her life are going to be a little *ahem* sparse. It's a shame. Josephine would tell you it's a crying shame. I assume you all agree. 

UPDATED WITH WINNER: Book Review: Make it Stay by Joan Frank (and GIVEAWAY!)

Make It Stay by Joan Frank is definitely different than what I have been reading lately -- in a good way. The plot revolves around a couple, and a majority of the story takes place while they are preparing for a dinner party and the husband explains the backstory of another couple (his best friend and his wife). 

To have almost an entire book unfold in an hour's time, yet follow years and years of events was unique. What was also unique about the book is that you could feel you know everything about both of these couples by the end of the book, yet you only read a little over 150 pages. The world Joan Frank creates is interesting, complicated, and full of twists and turns, but she doesn't need the now-customary 400+ pages to accomplish this feat.

You probably won't like all the characters by the time the book winds to a close, but I don't like a lot of people in real life. That makes the book all the more real -- who doesn't have a friend or a spouse's friend who really isn't the most wholesome individual or has made some life choices you wouldn't make yourself? But you're probably still friends with him or her, right? Not everyone's an angel, and relationships are complicated. So it goes in Make it Stay. 

Frank's writing style is also unique and lyrical. Her language is poetic and at times heartbreaking, and you find yourself caught up in long, winding sentences that evoke such vivid images that you can't break away. I wouldn't describe it as a light and fluffy beach-read, but it's also not a hoighty-toighty book that takes itself too seriously. It's deep without being pretentious and a quick read without being fluff, and that is hard to come by. 

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

And now, a BONUS for all those who made it to the end of the review! I have ONE COPY of this book to give to one of my lucky readers! 

To be considered for the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me the last book you read and your e-mail address so I can contact you for your shipping address. 

I'll use a random number generator to choose the winner and the book will be shipped to you by the publisher. I'll announce the winner on Monday, May 28th. Good luck!

If you'd like to read what other hosts on the TLC book tour had to say about this book, click HERE to see the schedule of reviews. If you'd like to learn more about the author, click HERE for Joan Frank's website.

I was provided a copy of this book but was not compensated for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.


UPDATE (5/29/2011): And now for the winner! I used random.org's random number generator, and skipping over a double comment and the comment from a TLC representative, I had six entries.


DRUM ROLL, please.


The winner was ....

Number 4, or Jill! Congrats, Jill! I have sent you an e-mail to get your mailing address. 

Funny Stuff My Husband Says, Vol. XX: Classic Literature Edition

SCENE: Jeremy, Josephine, Cleo and I are out on a walk on a lovely afternoon. We come up on someone in the neighborhood who is painting a new fence white. Jeremy leans in a whispers in an urgent voice:


Jeremy: Now, remember, NO MATTER WHAT HE SAYS, we DON'T want to help him paint his fence. 


Me: ...


Jeremy: No matter how fun he makes it sound, it's just a trick so we do all his work and he can sit and laugh at us! Avert your eyes and keep walking!


Me: Okay, Twain, you're right. Let's just keep walking.


(Okay, actually I laughed so hard I couldn't even say anything.)

Lemony Asparagus Pasta

The other night, I knew I wanted to use the delicious asparagus in my fridge, and I also thought pasta would be the easiest thing to toss it in. I originally thought I would just buy a jar of alfredo sauce and call it a day, but I decided to try to whip something up that would be a little lighter and brighter. I pulled this together, and let me tell you, it was tricky keeping myself from adding garlic and salt, but I DID IT, and came up with something that tastes different than anything I would normally make with asparagus and pasta. It's like I'm finally growing up or something!

Lemony Asparagus Pasta

Ingredients:
1 box of pasta (I used penne)
1 lb. of asparagus
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice and zest of one large lemon
1 cup Parmesan cheese
Black pepper to taste (I used very very little)
Optional: cooked chicken to toss on top


Directions:
1. If you are going to add chicken to this recipe, cook it up in your preferred method, because the rest of this process takes like 15 minutes, tops.
2. Bring big pot of water to boil and add pasta. Under-cook by three minutes.
3. While the pasta cooks, chop the ends off the asparagus and cut into about two-inch pieces.
4. When the pasta is three minutes away from being cooked, toss the asparagus in and cook the final three minutes. Asparagus should stay bright and not get mushy, so two minutes is fine, too.
5. In a large bowl, toss in the cup of Parmesan cheese and zest the lemon on top. 
6. Strain the pasta and asparagus, throw in with the cheese, toss the olive oil on top, and juice your lemon on top of it all. Stir well, shake (or grind) a little black pepper on top, give it a final stir, and done! If you're adding chicken, stir it in or toss it on top, and you're all set.

If I were making this for only myself, I wouldn't have added the chicken, but I didn't want to see Jeremy's fake smile when dinner was just pasta and veggies! :) It was delicious and simple. The cheese was nice and melty, and I think lemon is just the perfect compliment for asparagus. 

If you try this or make variations, be sure to post your changes in the comments!

Thing #402 About Having a Toddler

They destroy their favorite belongings ... on purpose! 

Me: Josephine! There's a huge gnaw mark on If You Give a Cat a Cupcake! What the heck, kid?

Josephine: Hmm. That's really odd, mom. I'm not sure how this could have happened.
Me: Oh, really?

Josephine: Trust me, I'm just as shocked as you are. But honestly, I think it's fine. Look, it still works.

Me: Yeah, you have a point. I mean it's not ruined or anything ... HEY!!! 

 Josephine: I ... I ... I ... know how much you love symmetry. Just thinking of you, that's all.

Josephine: Yeah. Symmetry. It tastes good.